#channeling Druid vibes

[notcatherinemorland]

tagged by @kallistoi !! first 10 songs on your "on repeat" playlist + tag people

Graceless by the National

The Fall by half-alive

Heather on the Hill (acoustic) by Nathan Evans

Glockenspiel song by Dog Is Dead

Years on by Novo Amor

Stray Italian Greyhound by Vienna Teng

Take me to Church by Sinead O'Connor

I want to know what love is by Foreigner

Stay Alive by Jose Gonzalez

Opaline by Novo Amor

I've been doing 3 separate play-by-post threads for my d&d pc, so all of these songs are from her current playlist!! My little drow cleric is not having a nice time in the desert dungeon crawl lmao

tagging: @photographerh @fireryn @caiternate @nightmarefemme @chiefskye @meggydolaon @worthlessclericbuild @royalwhitehorse @dracolizardlars @frogs4macattack @lesbianlizzybennet and anyone else who fancies doing this, please consider this a tag!! :D

[monowritestoomuch]

VA YOUTUBER D&D NEEDS TO BE UPON US

If VA YouTubers did D&D together, it might just be the most legendary thing ever, so let me make predictions:

Yuurivoice would be either a warlock or a wizard and would absolutely cast the funniest fucking spells, out of spite. He’d be lore-oriented, but at some point he’s get a little too serious and get silly OR he’d be a lawful neutral cleric according to my bug army D&D analysis bestie. I think he’s chaotic neutral, might just be me. He would undoubtedly be a cleric though. If he was a wizard, like I originally said, his ass would be casting a fireball any chance he gets.

Escaped would be a barbarian, let me cook, okay? I’m sure he could also be the DM, but he would TRAUMATIZE the party mark my fucking words. Anyway, he’d be chaotic evil, maybe chaotic good, but bro has not shown remorse for Crow or Chronus Seven and I haven’t forgiven him yet(could be chaotic neutral but hmmmmm). But he would have a giant two headed axe, bear with me now.

Escaped also gives me hella Astarion vibes but that might just be because of NIFODD. . .

I would love to tell you my ideas for PebblesASMR, because he is not free from me either lmao. I asked the bug army and got the response that he’d be a lawful evil, earth genasi sorcerer. Now, I don’t believe he’d be lawful evil, maybe lawful neutral? But I have a funny ass idea so here it is. Instead of being a normal player, I feel he’d just be a sentient sorcerer pebble with googly eyes. He would sit on Escaped’s shoulder and they would scheme or some shit. Believe it, I say those two would get along like a house on fire.

They would cook up some scheme and do the funniest of shenanigans together(someone please draw this it would be funny as all hell) and if Pebbles was an earth Genasi sorcerer and Escaped was a Barbarian, what do y’all think would happen? Me personally, the world would never see peace, or know it, ever again. The unbeatable duo that I’ve literally NEVER SEEN INTERACT LIKE WHAT.

Obi would be a Dragonborn, chaotic good. I’d say he’d be a true neutral warlock, maybe chaotic neutral or good neutral if you give him Zef or Timmy’s charms. In his Baldur’s gate, he’s a bard and he’s true neutral, however I have an idea of who would be the bard of the group. Who is his patron? I literally have no idea I’d say Bella (because the divines series has me in a chokehold rn and I can’t remember D&D gods) but maybe they have ideas? Anyway, Obi as a dragonborn is an elite masterpiece I came up with after listening to some TROY and getting in my ✨vibes✨. Would be peak and elite. Change my mind.

MAGE IT’S YOUR TURN NOW FACE YOUR FATE. *rubs hands together evilly* I’ve cooked up something for you—

Mage would be. . .either a neutral-evil wizard (harness your inner mlp friendship is magic) and would be a schemer (messing with folks for the fun of it{translation: traumatizing the masses}) OR Druid Wizard multi class, still neutral evil. Or as stated by you, *clear throat* a human spell caster named Captain Salad. From the old and noble Salad family. And her name isn’t captain she just doesn’t like her first name and thinks captain is a cool moniker. Her tactics involve throwing fireballs from a big stick at everything (amen would do the same tbh what a queen) and the stick isn’t even necessary she just found a branch.

Hear me on this ASMR VA Community, M would be a true neutral fighter monk multi class. I have nothing else to say but that they’d slay, literally. Would beat people up and not break a SINGLE sweat. Would also ironically be the peacekeeper, because this group is full of chaos and they seem the most sane?

Anyway, ShiningArmorASMR is up next and man would undoubtedly be a chaotic neutral, Artificer. My good sir gives me the most Arcane vibes out of everyone on this list. Inventor? Yes. Magic? Yes. Dude will channel the arcane as a master of invention and will be fashionable while doing it. Now, Ellis could be chaotic neutral, that would also make sense too.

Siren, Siren, Siren. SIREN’S SON TIME! He’d be either: A. A chaotic good/neutral bard, and I think he’d carry a lute, not a lyre, although he does give EPIC Apollo vibes. B. A chaotic good Druid. C. A lawfully evil bard. He really just gives me Halsin vibes from BG3 and actuslly has a fae character who has a SHOCKINGLY SIMILAR LOOK to Halsin. Coincidence, you say? I think not but okay.

Kabuya is him in Baldur’s gate. Warforged Barbarian, lawfully neutral (cuz of Biggs). Maybe a rogue if not a barbarian? In my mind, barbarian is obvious, as is being lawfully neutral, but along with M, he’d keep the peace in the group, just differently. He’d keep the peace by either a, glaring, or b, threats with a sledgehammer(that would be peak don’t lie or disagree). Either way, he’d be chiller? Probably one of the more logical ones within the party.

I have seen one of Scythe’s videos. It was a GOTCHA one. I’m planning on getting into his series but here’s what I’ve collected so far. Chaotic neutral/evil necromancer. His videos are very much horror esc, and hear me out when I say that man would rise an army of the undead to win a battle or simply put, a bet or wager.

As for GoodBoyAudios, who I am also planning on listening to! Fonzie thinks that he’d a a true neutral (added by critical roll) bloodhunter.

Atonal ASMR is a true neutral. I think that he might be a wizard of sorts? I’m honestly confused for him but I think he’d also keep a little peace in the group, but if he was a warlock instead of a wizard,(and keep with me) he’d be dedicated to the star god in his series. Even if it’s not canon to D&D I’m tired and it’s midnight and this is pure ideas and spite.

Nomads Tales & Audios, your time has come. A ranger, he’d be a ranger. Either lawful evil OR lawful neutral. He might not be keeping the peace within the group, but he’s going to have Deacons’ and Conners’ humor.

Finally, Daysprite would be a chaotic good Dragonborn sorcerer. Haven’t heard much from them YET! So I can’t do much judging, however, them as a Dragonborn would be sick as hell and a sorcerer kind of makes sense for them. Might just be their vibes.

If you have any more ideas reblog or comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

@fronzie , anything to add?

[zeggyzone]

d&d / fantasy valorant

has been on my brain. so here’s my little masterlist on what i think everyone would be.

DISCLAIMER

i’ve played d&d like three times so don’t expect all of these to be accurate/they’re my opinion :(

astra // astral elf monk

hey, i just think it makes sense. monks can deal damage and since astra derives her power from the astral guardians, it makes sense, no?

plus, i think she’d be really badass with astral elf genes…

breach // centaur barbarian

WALK WITH ME HERE. just listen to me. A CENTAUR. HE’S SO CENTAUR.

he’s very tanky and i think it very much fits his whole vibe— and if you think he’s annoying with two legs, he’s gonna be ten times more annoying with four. can totally see him absolutely destroying someone by bucking his back legs into someone.

brimstone // dwarf paladin

honor is huge for dwarves and i really want to play that in with brimstone. i want to say that kingdom could’ve been this crazy god thing but maybe i could look into that later. all i know is that he is a paladin with a heart of gold.

in a little doodle i did, i made him a tavernkeeper… so maybe he’s an ex-paladin now-turned a humble tavernkeep.

chamber // high elf artificer

i wanted to make him a ranger, but an artificer makes me giggle. probably because one of my d&d characters is an artificer and was loosely based on chamber. (she’s a rich tiefling seamstress of many talents, if you even care.) also you can imagine chamber as a tiefling too, but, i think high elf works better.

deffo still a weapons designer, maybe even a blacksmith. probably works closely with magic users to make custom weaponry to channel their mana in.

clove // fairy bard

look, as much as i’d LOVE to make clove an immortal god watching over the whole fantasy world, i just HAVE to include them as a fairy who CONTINUOUSLY breaks the 4th wall. it’s so funny.

clove would probably have DEADPOOL level fourth wall breaks, and constantly make jokes and references of ‘the real world’ and how they’ve ‘seen all of you before.’

cypher // tiefling wizard

WALK WITH ME HERE. he had his horns ripped off. WALK WITH ME.

he hides his identity partially because iirc tieflings aren’t exactly … liked by the public eye? i also like to think he uses his wizardry to fuel his whole information broker schtick. he uses arcane eye and everyone hates him for it.

deadlock // snow elf beast hunter

i know that beast hunters aren’t exactly a CLASS but come on. lets be honest with ourselves.

deadlock who lost her team to a rabid mythical beast, now dedicating herself to hunting them down and neutralizing them, one bounty at a time. i like to think that she doesn’t necessarily kill them if they can be saved, or at least put them down painlessly. otherwise, she aims for the fuckin’ throat.

fade // half-elf sorcerer

walk with me here. fade is a MAN in the universe OKAY walk with me. i made a hc video on tiktok where i made fade a half-elf sorcerer that is haunted by the voices in his spellbook. his character name is demir, and upon further research, i have found out that sorcerers CANNOT use spellbooks. (stupid, i know.) so work with that as you will.

i think she works for nightmare to feed it in return to find information on her father. she's a bounty hunter, but ONLY for nightmares and for information. you feel me?

gekko // tall-man druid

i think this one’s a given.

i’m practically making him beast boy, BUT IDGAF!!!! he has a connection with his buddies and often shifts as needed. he likes turning into a dog and cuddling. trust. his character name is oetam. yes, it's mateo backwards.

harbor // warforged artificer

this one is kind of me fucking around. as much as i wanted to make him a water based race, he was chosen to hold the artifact.

i think he was made by realm to be their historian and antiquities expert, but as soon as he was the chosen one, was shut out, just like in the cinematic.

iso // half-orc fighter

i know i could've put iso as a tiefling or something like that but i think him as a half-orc is cooler. he's tall, bulky, and TANKY.

i originally wanted him to be a paladin, because he could change oaths from hourglass to the protocol through a huge quest in sparing omen... that whole thing, but i think a fighter works better.

jett // air genasi rogue

let's be so fucking for real JETT WILL BE PUT ON SOME ROGUE SHIT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I WILL FORCE FEED IT TO YOU WITH A GOLDEN SPOON.

if omega earth isn't canonical in the d&d world (which i highly doubt) she has an evil twin that does shit on her name, henceforth, she has to hide. otherwise, same backstory.

kay/o // warforged fighter

HE. IS. WARFORGED. [actively shoving food down your throat]

very much strikes me as a robot learning how to be normal. definitely works along brimstone-- he got a job at the tavern and helps him sort out bounties and act as security. he's also totally a bodyguard for money.

killjoy // tiefling artificer

she's so tiefling u can't say anything. she's a PINK tiefling thank you very much. definitely a party girl, too!

i think she's the same idea as chamber, but she's paid by brimstone! i wanna think he took her in as his protégé but atp he might as well be hers. initially he wanted her to help with kay/o, but she just ended up control-freaking everywhere and upgrading everything in sight. she has matching names with oetam. it's aralk.

neon // wood elf ranger

neon is a speedster, so it makes sense to give her one of the fastest races in d&d (based on walking distance, at least). i wanna think she's a knight... stay with me here.

ex-k-sec makes sense for her to be a knight? so maybe she just has the title, but kind of just does contract work? also! the whole lightning thing... mayhaps cursed? or maybe just a lightning god didn't want her. choose which one you like out of those two.

omen // tall man-tiefling rogue

hear me out; he used to be a tall man, but after the whole 'incident' was turned into a tiefling. LISTEN BRO IT MAKES SENSE.

he works as a merc, sporting a cloak to shield his 'hideous' self. he frequents brimstone's tavern for jobs, and always emerges from the shadows instead of using the door. he's become accustomed to showing up after closing with the bounty, and in return, spooks everyone working there. killjoy had to hit her fantasy equivalent of an inhaler after a few spooks.

phoenix // dragonborn bard

[shoveling food down your throat] that is a fucking dragonborn if i ever did fucking see one.

and, he's a bard because he was in theatre school, duh. i like to think phoenix is a very popular entertainer but also uses his talents for other jobs on the side. otherwise... maybe he's a knight! i don't know. i like the performer idea better.

raze // dwarf alchemist

she was also in the d&d video! her name is razinho ('little raze' haha). probably a merc with a very, err, explosive personality. wandered in the tavern a lot and hit it off with aralk.

if i had to assign her a class, maybe a fighter or a barbarian.

reyna // vampire warlock

listen. i want to say that the vampire side of her is empress. she has to devour souls (or blood!) to keep empress happy. you see where i'm going here? [fade bulletin board spray]

she's tied to empress so long as lucia is sick. gekko and her met after she found him injured in dog form... guys please i love them so much.

sage // high elf cleric

her healing is a gift. come on bro. she's as cleric as it can get. while i think she also derives power from the earth (she's in fact a geomancer) i think the majority of her mana comes from the higher power that gifted her.

i want to think she also works as a ... well, sage. she does so back in shaanxi. otherwise, she's found at brimstone's tavern providing her healing. sometimes she goes into dungeons and does free revivals.

skye // dryad druid

[shoveling food down your throat] dryad skye [more food] druid skye. also isn't it crazy how THAT is the only skye picture we have. rest in peace.

i wanna think that her pack is a bunch of animal-shaped plants that she helped escape a garden. i think that's really funny. 10+ points if it's a garden belonging to kingdom.

sova // avian (owl) scout

a former knight in charge of reconnaissance. he left after a tragic accident.

he lives with his babushka and takes care of her-- sometimes he takes up bounties for extra cash, and brimstone is trying to work his way into sova's good side-- he could really use a scout.

viper // naga shifter alchemist

probably used to be a cleric but renounced her belief-- even better, after doing what she did to omen, she lost her power and took it as a sign to take up researching death.

yes, she is a naga. it makes so much sense, nobody talk to me. her and brimstone are old friends and she frequents the bar also because of omen. the reason he was sent to kill her should stay the same i think.

yoru // changeling rogue

last one! he was also in the hc video. except he was a fighter. his name is kurayami. no, not kuronami. he's a runaway samurai and hella edgy. oetam bullies him. demir, too.

changelings can impersonate people they've already seen, so maybe yoru uses paintings of his ancestors to decide on his identity. he has the mask still, too! he uses it when he's on his rogue shit.

thanks for reading! would love to hear what you guys think about these!

twitter | tiktok | archiveofourown

[box-dwelling]

This needs to be made. WAA (and extended family, we may get too big for one party but this may get split over a few groups) and who I think everyone would play. Also presuming 5e for the system.

Phoenix: cleric. 1000000% with his obsession with helping people? Absolutely wants to be the healer and the cleric spell list gives a lot of options for chaotic play.

Trucy: a coward would say sorcerer. They are wrong. She is a forever DM. Don't forget she isn't just a performer, she's also a stage director. Plus her desire to constantly cheer up her friends translates perfectly into campaign design. I think he has special effects set up and has Mr Hat come out for scenes with 2 NPCs

Apollo: there are two choices. Either he's never played before and is just a begrudging human fighter, or he and Clay used to play all the time and he comes in with the most insanely fleshed out well constructed min max multiclass you've ever seen. But it's not like an annoying minmax where it take away from the other players, it's min maxed in a way to cover the rest of the parties flaws and actively heighten them all. It is a solid 50/50 he either gives no shits or gives the most shits ever

Athena: barbarian. She is using this to get out her aggression and good for her.

Pearl: she's new at this and kinda nervous but I think she has a cute little elven druid made up. She was going to go cleric but didn't want to step on Phoenix's toes.

Maya: Sorcerer and an absolute powerhouse of one at that.

Ema: Wizard. Fully roleplays the whole scholar of magic vibe too.

Edgeworth: the most paladin paladin player to ever play. His character is mounted because of his knight chess thing and they start off heavily based off a steel samurai character but I think he then uses it to channel some of his feelings about mvk so he may well go oathbreaker somewhere down the line

Klavier: Do I need to say it? Bard. Horniest horny bard you ever saw. But I think he keeps it relatively pg for trucys NPC's and focuses his flirting solely on Apollo.

Simon: samurai fighter. Edgy backstory. Actively causes chaos at all times.

Franziska: is invite but doesn't play.

[inkdemonapologist]

Sammy is a bard ,prophet is a cleric , joey is a druid, what does this makes henry and jack?

I feel like you COULD play a version of Sammy Lawrence as a bard, but you'd really have to have to go into it with party dynamics in mind. Because Sammy is PROFESSIONALLY good at being a support role; as much as he complains about Joey, it seems clear to me that he wants someone else to have the big ideas while he uses his genius musical brain to make those ideas work. The specific skill Joey loved in him in TIOL was how good he was at making other people look good. So if you set up Joey or Henry as some sort of dashing hero and Sammy as the bard in the background making him succeed, it'd work. But left to his own devices, Sammy doesn't tend towards the bard's subtlety. He's not the sort to cast charm person, he's the sort to scream at everyone until they leave him alone. He runs in with an axe and zero plan because he's feeling big emotions. He's the least subtle and most gullible man on the planet. I've always seen Sammy as a barbarian whose passion happens to be music.

Joey's the bard. He says a thing that's visibly, provably untrue and contradicts other things that he himself has said and against all odds people believe him. Last time I pondered D&D classes for BatIMs, I think I gave Jack bard or rogue, and Henry either fighter or monk.

But then I realised you mention Prophet, who is only really a separate entity in the Cthulhu AU, so hm! The Cthulhu boys are tough to give D&D classes to, because the whole nature of Call of Cthulhu means that they often don't have "powers" so much as "horrifying things they've learned", so it makes more sense to look at the vibes of what they do than their literal abilities. In terms of how they come across to me, I'd lean more bard and/or some kind of mind powers for Joey, some kind of supporty/healy for Jack, and either late-bloomer magic or some kinda tank class for Henry -- maybe paladin, so then Pointy Henry can be a fallen paladin. But they aren't my characters, so the others would have to weigh in to be sure!

Sammy in Cthulhu AU is absolutely still a barbarian though; his only social skill is Being Very Intimidating, he's the least magical of the four boys, and next to Henry he's the most likely to channel his terror into rage and Just Punch It. Prophet is a little harder to place, because while he does canonically have to beseech his lord for his prophecies like a cleric does for spells, neither of the Sammys are really built for Magic outside of that, and Prophet's actual style of fighting is just a slightly stealthier version of Shepherd Sammy -- so, more Rogue, tbh. If you lean into Vibes instead of what they literally do, then Prophet's vibes more closely match a very loyal warlock -- he is not praying for spells and marching armoured into battle with an array of supportive blessings, he is seeking his patron's will and then sneaking through the shadows to do as he's asked, ignoring the party's needs unless he believes his lord requires him to help them.

[honourablejester]

While on the subject, my favourite subclasses (so far) for each D&D 5e class:

Artificer: Gonna be honest, I don’t do much with artificers, but just going on vibes, while I understand it’s not the most mechanically brilliant of the options, I still just love Alchemist. I just like me some bubbling beakers, you know?

Barbarian: Ancestral Guardian. I love Zealot, I love Wild Magic, I could be persuaded towards Beast, particularly for small characters (scuttly little beast barbarian gnome, I like the vibes), but it’s still Ancestral Guardian. I want to be a barbarian with a pack of ghosts following them around!

Bard: For the longest time, it was Lore, for similar reasons that Knowledge clerics are my joint first favourite clerics. It feels like the old Irish bards, the oral knowledge and magic, and I had a ghoulish little half-elven lore bard named Feyla Thenn who was a lot of fun. But recently … I really like Creation? It definitely does have that spellsinger vibe, singing things into being, and honestly the ability to just sing myself up 50ft of rope, or a grappling hook, or a ladder, or a key, is just … endlessly useful and fun.

Cleric: If I have to pick one, singular, then Twilight. But it is two, because every time I make a cleric, Twilight and Knowledge have a fist fight in my head, and the only reason Twilight wins is because it’s prettier. I like twinkling sparkly bits. But Knowledge is forever there, loyal and true, waiting for me to return to it. (Tempest is the runner up, because I like big booms and I cannot lie. Also ocean).

Druid: Stars. No competition. If I make a druid, they’re gonna be a Stars druid, unless there’s a compelling setting reason for them to be anything else. I like land druids, I’ll flirt with spores, but as a stars druid I get to turn into a mobile starfield and smite people, and there’s just no beating that.

Fighter: Like the artificer, I don’t do much with fighter, but both Rune Knights and Eldritch Knights have a bit of a draw to them. Particularly Rune Knights. I like the hulking, placid, but smarter and more dangerous than you think sort of vibes they have.

Monk: Again, not my class, but I do enjoy a Mercy Monk. I also weirdly have a fondness for the Sun Soul? I like shiny things and radiant damage, but also the Sun Soul gives me kind of anime vibes? Channeling your ki into a radiant aura. IDK, I’m just weirdly fond of the Sun Soul as a concept.

Paladin: As we’ve discussed, a threeway fight between Redemption, Watchers and Devotion, but my love of John Donne and the imagery of weary gothic knights in a world of darkness forever pulls me towards Devotion first. Though, you know. Cosmic horror definitely gives Watchers some points, and I like the mercy first ethos of Redemption.

Ranger: Fey Wanderer. I like skills and languages! For themes and imagery, though, Swarmkeeper. I want a warforged ‘scarecrow’ ranger with a flock of crows. I want a dhampir or changeling swarmkeeper with a swarm of moths. I like swarms. Swarms are good. I love the imagery.

Rogue: Phantom. Again, fairly big gap between this and the closest runner up. I really like ghosts? Like with the Ancestral Barbarian, I just really like ghosts, and the story potential of a character that is perpetually followed by them. Aided by them. I will also give some points to Swashbuckler, though, because I enjoy a good old fashioned daring scoundrel, and I really like swashbuckler movies.

Sorcerer: Aberrant Mind. Again, I enjoy the horror-themed subclasses? Though having played a Clockwork Soul, I also like their whole ‘return to centre’ sort of feel. And, you know. I enjoy a tempest cleric, so Storm sorcerers also get a look in. And Draconic, because ‘my grandma is a green dragon’ is always fun. I think sorcerer is the main class where I kind of like everybody and will give them all a whirl.

Warlock: Fathomless or GOOlock. Neck and neck. I do enjoy a Genielock, there’s fun to be had with Bottled Respite, and I have a fair few ideas for Celestial too, because I like the idea of being hired, on a mercenary basis, to aid the forces of good. I love the idea of some pragmatic deva somewhere just hiring, no convictions necessary, I will simply pay you in magic to fix this evil for me. It’s a great vibe. But Fathomless and GOOlock fill my cosmic horror love so well. I think the edge might go to Fathomless. Because tentacle. And also ocean. Heh.

Wizard: Illusion. Scribes and Abjuration hold joint second place, I love them both dearly. Bookish wizards and tanky wizards are excellent. But I love the diggy, trickster, seeker nature of illusionists. I love the playing with reality, the use of illusion to hide or reveal truth, the philosophical underpinning of a character that chooses, fully consciously, to pursue this school of magic. Also Phantasmal Force is an evil, evil spell, and I love it. Pick up the Metamagic Adept feat and get subtle spell, have a tonne of fun.

There are probably not surprising for most people, but I hadn’t gone through it by class before. So. Here we are?

[allsassnoclass]

💚 and mashton? or another pairing if they match the vibes better -megs

well @igarbagecannoteven, let's revisit the sorcerer/prince au, shall we?

mashton (sorcerer/prince): 💚 true love’s kiss / magic kiss / healed

“Michael?” Ashton calls, ears ringing and eyes stinging from the dust swirling through the air.  He coughs, the sound muffled against his damaged ear drums, spinning on his heel in a circle in a desperate bid to find his sorcerer in the debris.

A hand comes down heavy on his shoulder and he whirls around to find Luke pointing urgently, saying something that Ashton can’t hear.  Ashton follows his gesture and finds Michael lying on the ground, clutching his chest and writhing in pain.  Ashton can’t hear what noise he’s making, but he knows that it would stop him in his tracks if he could.  In his current condition, he just rushes to Michael’s side, crashing to his knees next to him and splitting skin in the process.

“Michael?  Michael, what’s wrong?” he asks, hands hovering uselessly as Michael’s body jerks.  Tears flow down his cheeks, eyes locked on Ashton’s with a desperation that cuts him to the bone.  His mouth opens uselessly, not forming any discernible words even if Ashton’s hearing was working.  Ashton grabs his tunic, pushing it up enough to see the black spiderweb spreading from Michael’s chest.  It hurts to look at, pulsing under his skin and unnaturally colored, like an ashy rot spreading out from his heart.

The fight is supposed to be over.  Ashton thought that once they killed the wizard, Michael would be safe.  He should have remembered that wizard magic works differently.  Michael’s magic is part of him; it won’t persist without him.  A conjured spell can survive without the caster.  This spell won’t stop until it has burned all of Michael’s magic out of him.

Ashton has never met a sorcerer who can survive without their magic, and he doesn’t want to.  He can’t.

They didn’t make it all the way here only for Michael to die on the floor of the throne room after the fight is over.  Ashton can’t let that happen.

“It’s okay,” he says, the ringing in his ears still persisting, but lessening slightly now.  Michael’s whimpers are breaking through the silence, ratcheting a vice around his lungs.  “You’ll be okay, Michael.”

Another hand falls on his shoulder, but Ashton shakes them off.  Michael’s body spasms, the black lines creeping further along his veins.

“It’s okay,” Ashton repeats uselessly, fumbling for the ring on the chain around his neck.  He yanks on it, breaking the chain and cursing when the ring slips out of his fingers and clatters to the floor.  He can’t afford any delays, not now.

“Ashton–�� someone tries to say, sounding incredibly far away.

“Hold him still,” he commands, finally getting the ring on his left fourth finger, the one said to have a direct line to the soul.  This ring is one of the only things his father left him, built up with stories and legends over the years and holding all of Ashton’s desperate hopes.  He needs it to work how he was told it will.

“Hold on, Michael,” he says, placing his hand on the dark part of his chest.  Michael hisses and bucks, something sparking where the ring touches the darkened flesh.  Hands land on Michael’s biceps, holding him at least somewhat in place, and Ashton follows them to find Luke and Calum doing their duty with grim faces.  He meets Calum’s eyes.

“Do it,” Calum says, the first clear words Ashton has heard since the explosion.  He nods once, threads the fingers of his free hand through the hair at the back of Michael’s head to keep him in place, and presses their lips together.

Ashton doesn’t have magic, not like Michael’s, and he was never taught to harness it like the witches and wizards or speak to it like the druids.  Sometimes, though, gifts are given to royal families.  Ashton has heard countless times of how his mother saved his father the first time he got sick, with his ring acting as a channel for the gift to manifest, the kiss anchoring them together so the gift could take hold.

His mother was bonded to his father for the rest of his life, even though the gift only heals once.  True love, according to the druids.  A gift that can only work if the two souls are meant to be tied.

Ashton never gave much thought to his gift before.  He doesn’t know that Michael is his true love.  Before, he always thought that there would be time to figure it out, but he thought he would have more time with his mother, too.  He’s learned that time is a luxury that kings don’t get to have.

He’s wondered, briefly, before.  Only a passing thought here or there that he quickly shrugged off: when he would visit Michael’s workshop and be told exactly what he needed to, or at Lauren’s birthday when Michael’s eyes lit up with the reflection of his fireworks while his siblings squealed in delight.  He hasn’t entertained anything of the sort since the invasion, too many other, more pressing matters to attend to.

He doesn’t know if Michael is his true love, but he needs him to be.  The other option is unbearable.

The kiss burns.  Ashton screws his eyes further shut against the bright white light behind his eyelids.  He can’t tell if it’s something happening outside or if it’s internal, and he doesn’t have time to wonder.  Heat flares from their lips and the ring around his finger, but he keeps his hand on Michael’s chest and their mouths together, hand fisting the hair at the back of Michael’s head in a way he hopes doesn’t hurt him.  The scorching heat ripples up his left arm to his chest, and Ashton can’t breathe for the way he can feel something unraveling inside him.  Still, he keeps them connected.  He needs this to work.

Something in his chest pings, like the string of a lyre being plucked.  Ashton can feel the vibrations throughout his entire being, some part of him stretching further than it has before.  He can feel the magic crawl up his throat, choking him, taking some vital part of him with, and pries open Michael’s lips as gently as he can.

Michael gasps in a breath, taking all of Ashton’s air.  He’s still alive.

Here, he thinks near-hysterically and he presses the flat of his tongue against Michael’s.  Take it.  Take whatever part of me you need to help him.

Ashton has only had one other experience with magic transferred in a kiss, when Michael gave him a glamor what feels like a lifetime ago when he rescued him.  Michael’s magic was like a cool drink of water, washing over him like a summer breeze.  It felt nothing like the burning that comes with Ashton’s kiss, but maybe Michael will forgive him for his clumsy inexperience.  He didn’t think the gift would feel like this, but maybe it does.  Maybe the fire means that it's working, rather than killing them both.

Something inside of Ashton’s chest snaps, and suddenly he can breathe again, the burning sensation dissipating faster than a puff of smoke.  He inhales sharply through his nose, painfully squished against Michael’s cheek, then leans back, just slightly.  Not enough to separate them, only to turn the kiss gentle.  An apology, maybe, for how he’s surely bruised Michael’s mouth with this process.

He waits one more long moment before he finally breaks the kiss, pressing their foreheads together instead, eyes still closed tightly shut.  The air around them is still, like the center of a hurricane.

What if it didn’t work?

Ashton breathes, trying to feel if there’s anything different that may be tying him to Michael.  He can’t tell what sensations are from the battle, the burn of the kiss, the awkward angle of him slumped on the floor, or magic.  Everything is an overwhelming kaleidoscope of unfamiliar hurt, and the silence of the room is far more unnerving than the ringing in his ears was.

A hand brushes back a lock of his hair, gently curling around Ashton’s ear and tracing his jaw.  Tears spring to Ashton’s eyes.

“Ashton,” Michael says, voice hoarse but so, so alive.

Ashtn opens his eyes and sits back enough that he can see Michael without going cross-eyed, wincing when one of his tears lands on his face.  His eyes are open and so, so green, his own tear tracks cutting a path through the dirt and dust stubbornly clinging to his cheeks.  He’s pale, but only as pale as he usually is, not unnaturally ashy, cheeks tinged pink.  His lips curve up into a smile, creases forming in the corner of his eyes.

“Did it work?” Ashton asks, voice thick.  Michael reaches for the hand covering his chest, clutching at Ashton’s fingers until he turns his hand over to hold him properly.  Ashton looks down at their joined hands, then the pale pink skin of Michael’s chest, where the spider web of rot has faded until only a faint white scar remains.

“You used your gift,” Michael says.

“You’re my true love.”

Michael’s face moves through something complicated that Ashton is far too tired to parse through.  He grins at the end, and that string in Ashton’s heart sings like he just ran a careful finger over it.

Oh.  That must be the bond.

“How do you feel?” Ashton asks, pulling Michael up until he’s sitting.  He shifts his own position, moving forward so they’re pressed together with his knees behind Michael’s back, offering him a bit of a backrest if he needs it.  Michael slumps against him gratefully, but doesn’t collapse or untangle their hands.

“Tired,” he sighs.  “It’s going to take a few days for my magic to grow back.  I might pass out soon.  But we won.”

“We did,” Ashton says, squeezing his hand.  Michael looks down, turning their hands so he can see the ring around Ashton’s finger.  It’s no longer the simple gold band that his father gave him, transformed instead into a silver ring with a sparkling purple jewel embedded deep within it, almost hidden by the silver strands overlaying it.

“Oh,” Ashton says, taking it off with a few quick tugs.  He holds it up towards Michael.  “This is yours now.”

Michael takes it carefully with a shaky breath, tilting it back and forth to examine it.  Ashton wonders if his father examined the ring with the same amount of care when his mother gave it to him after their true love’s kiss.

“Thank you,” Michael says softly.  Ashton watches him put the ring on his own left fourth finger, then brushes his cheek with the back of his hand, letting it eventually rest against his collarbone.  Michael meets his gaze, eyes shining.

“What’s next?” he asks.

There are a million different answers to that question.  They need to rebuild the kingdom and rebuild their defenses.  They need to clear the rubble from this part of the castle and reconstruct it, but first they need to find alternate accommodations for the night.  They need to issue a statement to other kingdoms to reinforce their stability, and they absolutely need to enter deep negotiations with the magical alliance.  They need to plan a formal coronation.  They need to see what castle staff they have left and take stock of the lower town.  They both desperately need a bath.

All of that can wait a few more minutes.  Luke and Calum have already started clearing the room, gathering other knights to move debris blocking the door as they give them a moment of privacy.  Lauren and Harry are safe with the druids.  The kingdom may be in shambles, but it’s his again.

Michael is alive.

“I just want to kiss you again,” he admits.  Michael grins.

“What are you waiting for, then?” he asks.  “Better get it in before I pass out on you.”

Ashton doesn’t wait to be told twice.  He draws Michael forward, gently but with purpose, and fits their lips together again.

There’s no burning with this kiss, nor cool rush flowing over him like water.  There’s only this: Michael’s lips, chapped and dry.  Michael’s inhale, a slight whistle in his nose.  Michael’s hand wearing his new ring, curling around the nape of Ashton’s neck.  Michael’s quiet hum, the sweetest sound Ashton has ever heard.  Michael’s smile, mirroring Ashton’s own and making it difficult to continue.

It’s a wholly unextraordinary kiss with absolutely no sign of magic.

It’s the best kiss Ashton has ever had.

[beecreeper]

5, 12, 20 for the Tav companion ask? For all of them? 👀

Aaaaaaaa sorry this took so long!!!! Big huge answers under the cut!!

5.) Describe their idle animations

Briar – laying on the ground and staring into space (undoubtedly tripping), drinking from one of her fermentation bottles, vibing with her spores by like vaguely gesturing with her hands and watching how they float around, idly fiddling with/twirling her scythes, crossing her arms and glowering, doing that bored arrogant looking picking at your fingernails using your thumb thing

Ferox – pummeling the shit outta his training dummy, nervously scratching the back of his neck, standing all tense with his fists as his sides, (not in camp clothes) adjusting his armor, cleaning his hammer

Molli – head bobbing side to side like she has a song in her head (she does), penguin arm flappys, playing either her concertina or her flute, sitting with her knees curled up into herself, nervously fidgeting with her fingers

Myrala – practicing some sword dancer type moves, swaying back and forth, brushing off her pants/skirt (I still haven’t decided an official design for her camp clothes), running her fingers through her hair/fixing her hair/fiddling with the hair pin, something like praying/meditating, idly rubbing at her hand stub (she still gets phantom pain sometimes but she doesn’t consciously think about it anymore).

Poppy – playing some kinda dice game by herself, chillin’ with her hands on her hips, shaking out her hair like a horse, I know that in game companions don’t leave their tents but Poppy needs to be prodding at a campfire, practicing with a cross bow, throwing knives, or throwing axes

12.) Does your Tav have any tattoos or scars? Why?

Briar – Briar has red tattoos all over her body. She got them originally as a druid, with a vague concept in my mind that they follow “energy lines” in her body and helped her connect to/channel her druid magic. Originally, the tattoos were a very pale green and were imbued with spore magic, but when Briar fully connected with Bhaal for the first time and slaughtered her circle, the tattoos changed to red! Like Bhaal was overwriting them with himself instead. In the AU where she rejects Bhaal, her tattoos go back to their original color.

Pretadpole she didn’t have any notable scars, but post tadpole she gets the obligatory durge autopsy scars and the orin lobotomy scar over her eye

Ferox – Ferox has a buuuuuuunch of scars. Most of them are from scraps and fights when he was a kid/teenager and was a lot more reckless/less good at not getting hit/didn't wear as much armor, though some new ones will crop up into his adulthood. The major ones I always make sure to draw include the big one across his face, the ones on his neck, and a big x shaped one on his chest, but he really does just have a variety of them all over. He also has pale yellow tattoos on his face that I truthfully I haven’t actually figured out the exact when and why of. I usually imagine them as being from the goblins, as a tribal marker or something like that. Probably got them relatively young too, especially since Ferox’s urge flares up in response to pain. If he was too old/too strong, the tattoo would NOT have gotten finished lol.

Just like Briar he gets the durge autospy scars and he gets his lobotomy scar on the side of the head.

Molli – Molli's got a bunch of scars from her time with Gortash stemming from various “punishments” she’d have to endure, concentrated on her back but also on her arms, legs, and chest. The most notable/unique/disturbing scars are the letters EG in Thorass script cut into the side of her neck, the inside of both wrists, and her inner thigh. Ya gotta mark your property after all

Myrala – Well the big obvious one is that Myrala is missing a hand. I’m gonna go ahead and count that as a scar lol. She got her hand cut off as punishment for stealing when she was about 11 or 12. The only other notable scar she has is one that I use to distinguish which timeline I’m using for her – in the timeline where she never meets Ferox, she still gets captured by goblins and has to escape on her own, getting a scar on her chin in the process. In the universe where she *does* meet Ferox, he takes that hit for her instead.

Poppy – Poppy has clear scratch marks over one eye. This happened when she was about 7 years old and the sketchy kinda creepy guy in her mercenary family turned out to be TOTALLY unhinged, shapeshifting into a big jackal and dragging her off in the middle of the night. “Plan” is a strong word for Billy but he was essentially planning on sacrificing her (to Bhaal in the AU where Billy is a durge and to some other evil god/demon thing in the AU where he isn’t). BUT her family chased him off in time so it’s fiiiiiiiiine she only got a little maimed and a little ptsd about it she’s fiiiiiiine

I haven’t given Poppy any tattoos but I’m realizing now that I totally should. She’s absolutely the kind of person who is getting spur of the moment stick and poke tattoos at a party. Probably stuff like skulls and knives and flowers

20.) What is their relationship to touch? Do they shy away from it? Do they need it to feel present?

Briar – Briar is the kind of person who seeks out more and more extreme physical sensations in order to feel something (emotionally speaking. She feels physical sensations just fine.). This is part of what she likes about sex, even though she’s teeechnically ace. Doubly so for pain and stuff. Any kind of slow or sensual or intimate touch is off the table, but less because of the sensation and more because of the emotional aspects. A gentle caress? Get that shit OUTTA here and choke me already. She doesn’t wanna remember that the other person is a person she just wants to do something exciting.

Ferox – Ferox has a fraught relationship with touch. He’s very sensitive to it and pain especially tends to trigger his urges. Out of worry/guilt, he tries to avoid physical contact with others if he can help it, but on the flip side that means he’s suuuuuuuuper touch starved. Give *him* a gentle caress and he will literally melt.

Molli – Molli is also super sensitive to touch and has a complicated relationship with it. She’s the kind of person who, under normal circumstances, would be very cuddly and physically affectionate and love to receive touch from the people she cares about. And she still *is* but... well now touch brings up a lot of bad memories and complicated feelings. She *wants* to enjoy it but her mind is pulled somewhere else. In general she doesn’t like brushing motions, leaning more towards pressure based/static touch (hugs, laying on top of each other, cuddling, holding etc)

Myrala – Myrala's kinda middle of the road here idk what to say. I think she’s maybe a bit more on the reserved side. Like, she won’t offer a hug but she will accept one. When she’s in a relationship she loves casually and gently brush against their skin.

Poppy – I don’t know if I would say whether Poppy particular craves touch or not but she IS the kinda person who is constantly casually touching other people. Pats on the back, playfully elbowing you, big ol’ friendship hugs after meeting you once that kinda thing. She will get in your personal space for sure for sure. Like I’ve said before she grew up with a rowdy mercenary group with frequently rotating members that all treated each other like family, so that’s the kind of social interaction she’s accustomed to.

[carnivorousyandeere]

The DnD Yans’ starter characters thus far (strong homebrew vibes):

Noe: a Metallic Gold Draconic-Orc Paladin. A princess born (hatched?) to parents who were wed for political purposes, she felt deeply called to martial arts and insisted on training with the knights. Once she was old enough and strong enough, she abandoned the throne meant for her to embark on the holy journey she felt called to. The guilt of escaping her family and responsibilities mixes eternally with her joy at adventuring. She’s deeply idealistic, and prone to getting in over her head in her determination to help others. Noe’s characters often share her idealism and hard-headedness, usually trending towards good and lawful alignments.

Millie: a Tiefling Rogue of Dispater’s bloodline— his direct child, and raised to be his eyes and ears in the human world, regardless of their own safety or comfort. They were raised to be strong, agile, sneaky, and above all loyal to protecting their father. They come across as rather laid-back and unconcerned with the goings-on around them, but they’ve got keen ears and pay attention to every little detail you think you’ve hidden. It’s almost impossible to catch them off-guard, and even if you do, they always land on their feet like a cat. Millie’s rogue gets to do things that Millie themself is generally too tired to actually do, or would feel guilty actually doing, though some part of them might like to— like gutting anybody who gets too close to their Darling DM.

Hymn: a Satyr Bard. Channeling their real-life love for music, Hymn figured playing a Bard would be pretty fun. They love the chaotic potential Satyrs are rumored to have. None of their characters really have deep backstories, as many of the characters they come up with are joke characters of some form or another; evil televangelist warlock, a Druid version of Shaggy Rogers who wildshapes into Scooby, a Druid who wildshapes into a horrible goose on a lovely day, etc. Despite this, their characters have a habit of unintentionally spawning heartfelt backstories and making deep connections with NPCs along the way.

Scott: a High Elf Warlock. Before coming to your table, Scott always played the same character over and over again under different names (a High Elf Wizard), but at your encouragement, and with much reluctance, he decided to “try something new,” and make his character a Warlock for his first time playing DnD with you. Everything else about the character is the same— personality, appearance. His character is always a solitary sort of person, who spends all of their time pursuing esoteric knowledge that others couldn’t possibly understand or appreciate. His characters always have a powerful grasp on magic.

[twixtandshout]

I spent way too long getting distracted by the sparkles that follow my cursor on your blog XD XD XD ANYWAY, you had talked about DnD character sheets for the LU boys and I'm here to ask about them! :D I don't know much about DnD but you were excited and I'm interested so feel free to tell me all about it!

Yes!!! Hi! :D There's a lot on them but I'm proud of them all. I guess I'll just pull out a couple things I think are neat from each of them? (And I'll try to keep things understandable for you, dw!!)

Sky: I don't remember what I already went through in comments, but I know he's your favorite so I'll try to pull out something new and interesting for you. Hm... I've got him with 14 levels of Paladin (swords and a bit of holy magic, sworn to a higher power), 3 levels in Warlock (magic granted as part of a pact with an outside entity), and 3 in Barbarian (hit stuff better when you're angry). Pretty sure I already talked about the storm stuff he gets from the Barbarian side of things – he gets some storm/lightning stuff and it's great – but I've made him a Pact of the Talisman warlock with Sun: his sailcloth is a symbol of his bond with her, and apart from acting as a parachute, it also lets him add a little extra to the roll a few times each day through her power when he fails a check. He's got a bunch of stuff that makes him really good at dueling, plus a couple extra feats that make it easier for him and Sun to talk 💞

Four: Four has. so many classes. I gave him 10 levels in Artificer, for making magic tools; then each Color plus Shadow got 2 levels in another class: Wizard for Vio (learn magic through study), Druid for Red (learn magic through becoming in tune with nature), Barbarian for Blue, Paladin for Green, and Sorcerer for Shadow (obtain magic through genetic accident/tragic backstory/general lottery). Generally Druids' main ability as a class is Wildshape, which is to say animal shapeshifting, but that wasn't the vibe for Red, so he's a Wildfire Druid, which gives him a living fire friend instead. Also, one of the magic things you're allowed to say your character knows how to make when you're making an Artificer is a living robot – I've quietly had him learn that, with the expectation that that's how he got Shadow back. :3 Other than that, he's just got a bunch of elemental spells basically!

Time: Time's got a couple levels in Bard (magic through music) and Ranger, but he's primarily a Sorcerer, with a slightly modified Clockwork Soul subclass – technically the flavor there's meant to be more "the underlying order of the universe" than "messing with time," but I just traded out a couple spells on the list and it works fine for him. :3c His background and his Bard and Ranger subclasses all involve the fey, though. He gets some fun stuff with glamours and charm effects, and, just for flavor, when he casts time stands still and you can hear/see gears ticking around him.

Legend: Lej's got a ridiculous number of classes too, and he doesn't have Four's excuse. (There's not even enough room on the sheet to abbreviate them all like I did Four's, so I just filled in the "class" blank "Yes.") So he's got a bit of everything! Pulling out a few interesting bits: he gets a whole bunch of sneaky stuff as a Rogue, as well as sizable bonuses to spotting lies and hidden objects. As a College of Creation Bard, he gets little visual symbol effects that float around him when he plays, and he can create a medium-sized object out of nothing, like that cane that lets him make boxes for some reason. As opposed to the more heroic Paladins of the Chain, Lej's Paladin subclass is the Oath of Vengeance, which among other things lets him channel divine power through utter a "vow of enmity" against an enemy, making his attacks more likely to hit until it's dead. I also gave him a few feats to really round out the knowledgeable veteran thing – he's really good at dungeon delving.

Hyrule: I gave Hyrule the Circle of Dreams Druid subclass, which is fey-themed and gives him a lot of healing abilities in addition to a little bit of teleporting. (He's got levels in Rogue and Sorcerer too, but apart from "he dodges real good, gets bonus damage for surprise attacks, and can modify spell effects," I don't have much to say on those for him.) Reflecting that he carries the Triforce, I borrowed the Radiant Consumption character feature from the Aasimar – as a bonus action, he can start burning, glowing brightly for 10' and doing radiant damage to everyone (including himself) every turn for a full minute. (A combat round in DnD lasts approx 6 in-game seconds!)

Wind: Wind! 2 levels in Rogue, 18 in Sorcerer. As a Halfling, he can reroll any 1 once. He can fly after casting spells (or grant flight to others), is immune to thunder and lightning damage, and he gets a feature to control storms! He can stop rain in a sphere, control the direction of wind, and hit things with lightning. He's also got Truesight and can make ghosts visible for an hour once per week, and I gave him the Quickfingered and Silvertongued feats, so he's great at pickpocketing and sweettalking people.

Twilight: Twi's largely a Ranger, with Exactly enough levels in Druid to give him Wildshape, because Wolfie. He's a Circle of the Shepherd Druid, which seemed fitting; he gets feyspeak as a language, can talk to animals, and can summon a hawk spirit to fight for him. As for the Ranger stuff, he's a Horizon Walker Ranger – the subclass description says they "guard the world against threats that originate from other planes or that seek to ravage the mortal world with otherworldly magic." He doesn't have a lot of spells – I don't think he'd use most of the ones I gave him, honestly, but the class says he gets some so I made the most of it – but he's really good at navigating, especially in forests, and he gets bonuses to track enemies. He's Also very good at vanishing in plain sight, seeing in darkness, and teleporting up to 10' before each attack.

Warriors: Seven levels of Fighter! Seven levels of Paladin! Six levels of Cleric! This boy is So Good at whacking things with swords, and he also channels magic/holy power as a representative of the god of War. As a Battlemaster Fighter, he's got a lot of tactical maneuvers he can use to set people up around the field or grant bonuses, and although his Paladin oath is baaasically the same mechanically as Sky's, he's an Oath of Glory Paladin where Sky's Oath of Heroism. He has a Peerless Athlete feature, he can Channel Divinity to vaporize low-level undead, and he's very mobile – he isn't slowed by difficult terrain, and he literally cannot be physically restrained.

Wild: He'd have a different level distribution if I kept what he had pre-nap, but I decided he keeps five levels in Fighter and then the rest is Ranger from post-nap. He's a Fey Wanderer Ranger (like Time!) so he gets some glamour abilities, and if something makes him save against charm/fear effects, he can redirect it and make that thing make the save against Him instead. He's great at navigating and disappearing in the wilderness, and he gets a couple teleporty things. He's also got a bunch of skills in cooking and making/finding healing food, and he regains more than the usual hp when he recovers, too.

[awellboiledicicle]

Hawke is absolutely going to be content to trust Astarion in a fight pretty easily, which is going to make the elf think he's going to be an easy mark. This is not helped when Hawke refuses to ask for money for helping the refugees.

That said Hawke has murder vibes the second Khaga starts shit. Like he's going to reveal the shadow druid things, but mostly by accident while doing his best to rob the shit out of this glade.

He's going to come around expressly through the same channels Isabella came around: Hawke's patented method of "If you're with me, no one touches you. If someone tries, i take their hand and their head. Now, let's go get drinks."

[pathwinding]

I used to want to be a druid. These are some (working, as of this post) bookmarks I had when considering that path:

Understanding druidry per ADF - https://www.adf.org/about ; https://ng.adf.org/article/adf-and-obod/

Long essay on Druid crafts, published under OBOD - https://druidry.org/resources/wild-crafting-the-modern-druid

The Druid's Garden, a personal website with many resources - https://thedruidsgarden.com/

*(I also specifically bookmarked this article: https://thedruidsgarden.com/2013/01/03/a-druids-indoor-altar-shrine-seasonal-elemental-and-spirit/)

Down the Forest Path, another personal website plus blog - https://downtheforestpath.com/

*(Plus her YouTube vlog - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkI8C2dqmUb-eatjxaDWXmw/videos)

The Druid Network - https://druidnetwork.org/

Druids in Cars podcast - https://druidsincars.podbean.com/

***

Bookmarked books that I had intended to read:

The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth by John Michael Greer

The Path of Druidry: Walking the Ancient Green Way by Penny Billington

Plus everything else on this list... https://www.reddit.com/r/druidism/wiki/booklist

***

Related stuff:

Celtic symbols - https://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-symbol-meanings.html

Cailleach, a Gaelic myth of a divine hag - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cailleach

Bealtaine Cottage in Ireland (she's more goddess-culture than druidism but I think I bookmarked it for the similar vibes) - https://bealtainecottage.com/about/

[lets-talk-spirituality]

Heyy can I get a reading about my future spouse and also a message from them?

Hi, we can see if anything wants to be revealed to you at this present time!

Future spouse, what do you want to say?

Agh! I’m tired of waiting (pulling hair out and feeling frantic). I’ve been doing everything right on paper (I’m getting like anxiety spiral and I’m seeing a feminine presenting person, could mean at this moment they’re in their “feminine” energy) Dating the right person—good school, good education, good parents, ambitious— all the shit! And it never works! They’re always boring or something isn’t right. All my friends are having these destination weddings (getting that they have money and are around rich people, getting NYC apartment vibes, like they go to the Hamptons for sure) and I’m just there being the one everyone is trying to connect someone to (I’m thinking they’re like early 30s and being pressured to settle down, energy feels masculine here, like seeing a guy in a suit for a wedding)

You know, I focused on my career and education like I should’ve, I went to a good school, worked my way up to becoming partner (I’m getting they may be a lawyer?) I get paid well, I like where I work and who I work with, my job is important (I’m getting that whatever legal work they do, it’s something advocacy driven or that’s what drives them, helping the little guy or whatever, like they aren’t protecting big companies is what I mean, it’s hard to describe but maybe it’s like they work for ACLU or something) Anyway, I’m a catch and I know it and all that’s missing in this white picket fence world I created is my loving fucking partner!

Why is everyone the worst? If you could only hear my dating horror stories. Sheesh. I feel like all the people left single are single for a reason, at least the ones I meet. Crazy girls asking me about kids and marriage on the first hangout like damn. I know we’re kind of at a make or break point for them but Jesus. Freaks me out. I don’t even know you yet lady! Fuck. (Shaking head)

So okay, can you just come soon? Thanks. I promise I have a beautiful world waiting for you and I’m clean. Seriously been on the straight and narrow (immediately I’m getting that’s part of the problem and I’m getting this like baddie energy vibe from you, like they see you as this umm hmm like choice that for the first time it’s not steeped in perfectionism, you spark adventure in their life and living more freely and that feels scary to them and also highly alluring, they see you as sort of chaotic and all over the place, like I’m seeing a disarrayed apartment and stuff, that may not be how you are but this is how they’re envisioning you in their mind, what they deep down want is someone to push their boundaries and comforts and to help them feel alive, to be reckless (it’s not really reckless just how they see it) like they have a thing for the femme fatale/bad boy trope and they picture you that way. )

Okay! Umm interesting the energy was kinda switching between masculine and feminine when the wedding thing got brought up. Then switched to more masculine the rest of the reading.

Card Pull

Druid Craft Tarot

Ten of cups, reversed— problems at home or in a relationship, children may be leaving home, a dream may be dying— everything needs to die to make room for the new and for rebirth to occur.

Immediately flew out and I asked what else they wanted you to know. This card to me reiterates what they were showing in the channeling, this viewpoint of life they have is rooted in perfectionism and it’s starting to die, that’s why they feel so chaotic in the beginning of the reading. Maybe they’re going through their Saturn return because it really feels like this stable sense of how life works is being broken down for them. Almost like everything they believed to be true feels wrong now and is being questioned. I think this is less about a relationship ending and more about the never finding quite the right fit. Some of the ways they view love and relationships needs to grow and evolve for them to get what they want.

Anyway! Hope this helps you. I’d say just keeping focusing on yourself. Would love to know how or if it resonates.

[hydralisk98]

Pale Taupe, Thalès and Parmenides (thread mainline 16^12, article 0x2B)

Follow-up to this previous article in the thread:

I do like the thesis of a short demo with a black bear mother and her host of cubs roaming the Shoshones' landscape (more precisely some forested mesas biome location)... But I am getting distracted.

Either way, back to the future we all deserve, really. In there was Kate, Ava & Shoshona (housecat) coming about, awaiting for your arrival.

More factions, sophont clades/species & religions

Communist Hard Radicals (likewise to the hardline/hardcore of the Lenin/Stalin slavic/east-asian harsh varieties)

Oracles Guild

Pohakantenna clergy

Angakkunngurniq clergy

Tala-e-Fonua clergy

Druidism clergy (aka druids, duh!) & overall nature preservationists' guild (Aremorici global organization)

"Kushite"-Pesedjet clergy (feels like it hints at my setting's overall vibe in a major manner tbh)

Canaanism clergy?

Daoism + Jainism clergy?

Tzolk'in clergy?

Intiism clergy?

Zoroastrianism clergy?

Bantu Ibadiyya clergy?

Chalcedonian / gnostic Ba'hai clergy

Coptic clergy (part of Ba'hai, a rising & growing minority group within Angora with major Pesedjet integrations)

Arianism clergy (part of Ba'hai)

Calvinism clergy (part of Ba'hai)

Chaldeanism clergy (part of Ba'hai)

Hussitism clergy (part of Ba'hai)

Nitta Corporation (corporate mafia family & commercial responsibles for Pinegroove's mega-mall complex until 4525)

Golden Sunsway (co-federated group of motorized riders, separate criminals, street gangs and other militarized right-wingers disrupting order)

Automaton Syndicates, Assemblies and other machine-based Worker-Unions

Sophonts' Internationale

Esperanto Pact (industrious focalised Brazil-Burgundy-Austria-Scotland trading council + pan-linguistic ministry)

Bronze League (proto-androids automaton and golems)

Iron Dwellers (robots-tier)

Silicon Servants (droids-tier)

Bionic Forest (synthetics-tier)

Crystal Fediverse (nanotech/nanite servos-tier)

Energy Dwellers (natural-istic biological, synthetic biologics & other post-machine lifeforms)

Shoshoni Union's Communal Cooperation Initiative (Syndicates, Cooperatives, Manufactures, RTTY Broadcasters, Computing Networks, Fediverses...)

Punic Trade Confederation

Samoan Association

Polish Commonwealth

Nisian Guild (remains of the Nisian authority made into a Assyrian-Cree-Moroccan trading bloc)

Inuit Polar Assembly

Enlightened Throne Authority of the Maya

A couple Gods in my setting (loose pantheon baseline for Angora?)

Rao, lawful good alignment, knowledge domain, god of peace, reason + pantheon ruler

Sune, chaotic good alignment, life+light domain, goddess of love and beauty

Trithereon, chaotic good alignment, ?, goddess of liberty and retribution

Istus, true neutral alignment, divination domain, god of fate, luck and destiny

Helix, lawful evil alignment, ?, god of law and discord

Hestia, ?, ?, goddess of family and homes

Pan, chaotic good alignment, ?, god of nature

Anubis, lawful neutral alignment, death domain, god of justice and death

Nephthys, chaotic good alignment, life & death domain, goddess of mourning, service and motherhood

Thoth, true neutral alignment, knowledge domain, god of wisdom and writing

Ptah, lawful neutral, knowledge domain, god of crafts and secrets

Umbra, chaotic evil alignment, tempest domain, goddess of the seas and progress

Worth pointing out I have a cool video coming about soon on my Odysee channel as I write down some topical video for the tech-curious women in my surroundings to get them into what I call GLOSS (gratis, libre, open source software) and related matters starting in base Windows. (May add a equivalent for macOS users afterwards. And will try as well to localize the closed captions in more languages than French and English)

[punsling3r]

Sticking to D&D because it's what I'm familiar with. Also, going with vibes as ofc the magic systems don't translate 1 to 1.

Marcille is a Necromancy wizard (Learned caster + forbidden dark magic). The few 5e wizard healing spells are all necromancy as well.

Senshi is a barbarian, but is a 1st edition barbarian when their key characteristics were aversion to magic and surviving in the wilderness, rather than their rage.

Chilchuck and Izutsumi each fulfil one half of the rogue archetype, with Chilchuck being the 'thief' (lockpicking, trapfinding) while Izutsumi is the 'assassin' (acrobatic and good at killing things).

Falin is trickier and (IMO) changes as the story progresses. In terms of the role she plays in the party at the start, she's definitely a traditional cleric. She heals, casts protective spells, is good at dealing with undead, and hits things with a mace. In universe she even wears an official healers uniform. On the other hand, she isn't religious, is very naturally gifted at magic (goes off instinct rather than book learned), and she practices gnomish magic which focuses on communing with magical spirits. Because of this the source of her magic may be much closer to dnd druids than clerics (although she lacks the defining ability of wildshape).

||After Falin is resurrected for the first time, her source of magic may be much closer to sorcerer as she is able to channel magic from the dungeon directly, and as a chimera and after her second resurrection she retains some physical characteristics of the dragon/chimera such as her pointed teeth and feathers covering her body, matching (at least aesthetically) the draconic soul sorcerer.||

Laois on the surface appears to be a Paladin; He is heavily armoured and uses a sword (and very briefly, a shield). He also picks up some healing/support magic later on. He also seems to have an easier time perceiving ghosts than the others, which could be a bit divine sense adjacent, even if the source of this power is either similar to Falin's innate magic, or a side effect of him ||being groomed by the winged lion early on to defeat the mad mage||.

However, we see the source of the rest of his magic is more on the learned side, being much closer to Marcille than Falin. He never uses magic offensively and we never see anything like divine smite, and lastly his monster/dungeon knowledge is very much tied to his effective fighting skills (he is a good fighter because of his monster fixation, he's not just a good fighter who happens to be fixated on monsters). Because of this and him never sing a bow, I think he fits much better into the pre-dnd, more Tolkien-esque ranger than the modern 5e archetype (although I think building Laios as a intelligence based 5e ranger would be pretty straightforward). And hey, both Aragorn and Laios become ||kings at the end of their stories||.

Bonus -

Shuro fits perfectly as a 5e samurai fighter.

Namari suits the more modern barbarian archetype quite well due to her brashness and short temper, as well as her being very lightly armoured but still tough. She probably has a bit of fighter in her as well due to her proficiency with a wide range of weapons.

Kabru is likely a fighter as well, with proficiency against human adversaries I think making him a good candidate for battlemaster if we stick to 5e archetypes.

||Mithrun is a wizard who learned every teleportation spell and nothing else.||

Guessing Dungeon Meshi character classes, just for fun! Marcille is obviously a wizard, and Chilchuck is a rogue. Senshi seems to be a fighter with one (1) level in ranger, favored terrain: dungeon. Falin functions as a cleric, but in a system without divine patrons.

Laios..... Laios is a paladin, but he's a pathfinder paladin. A tank with some limited healing capability. All his points slam dunked into animal handling to compensate for his charisma modifier.

[valraev]

My second set of dice give me Loki vibes, my father-in-law his dragonlance high lord vibes, and my friend perfect druid vibes. My first set sold the day after I pulled them (yesterday), and there are already people asking me to sell these ones. What a day.

I don't remember exactly what started me off on this journey. It was probably an Instagram post. A realisation that I could make beautiful things myself. That I would rather pay for the materials to make my own visions come to life than pay other people for my addiction.

But I can tell you what resources I started using.

First, I found a bunch of dice-makers on Instagram and saved the ones I loved in their own folder so I could easily find them later.

Then I started watching YouTube videos. Some of my favourites are made by Dreamy Dice, who taught me how to make the kind of moulds I use, the vented squish moulds. Rybonator is an incredible fount of knowledge and isn't afraid to experiment in his videos to show off the things that can go wrong. Wisdom Check Creations has a wonderful video showing off the polishing process. Those are my go-tos, but there are plenty of individual videos showing off the different techniques people use, and if you like the final look of a die in the thumbnail, odds are it would be a great instructional video.

Finally, I went on Reddit. It has the Discord pinned, which was one of the first things I clicked, and wow, what a change that made for me. Knowledge-sharing and a place to ask all the questions you have (and trust me, there will be many, and they will seem silly, but we've all been there or are still there -- you never stop learning) is priceless. They also have quick overviews of different processes pinned in the resources channel.

So if you're considering starting out, those are my main sources of information. I'll go into detail with what materials you need to get started in the next post and how I decided what I wanted.