#ciaran evergreen

[shi-daisy]

Family Ties

Day 5 for our cutie! Today on the agenda we have some slight sadness with brotherly stuff, cuz if Dorevan got his time with Tammy so is Ciaran these three are my babies! Can fall into both Threads & Daisies continuity or as part 1 of a twoshot with tomorrow's entry. I hope you like!

@tamlinweek

Tamlin Week 2024- Day 5- Shapeshifter

Family Ties

"Well, you're fluffy." Ciaran said as he studied his baby brother's form.

Tamlin was dizzily woobling around as he realized he now had paws, fur, and antlers. His unique shifter form was widely diffrent from Ciaran's who was an atropomorphic bird.

"What am I?"

"You look like a bear with antlers, your face is wolflike and so is your tail. I guess you could be counted as a chimera.

Nevermind that. You shifted perfectly on your first try, it's a sign of power."

"Oh thanks!"

He didn't mean it as a compliment. But the second Evergreen brother was too tired to argue with the wobbling little beast. He shifted back to his normal self, and sat on a bench.

As if it wasn't bad enough to compete with Dorevan's strength, now the little one had loads of power too. Well, at least if he didn't get the court he could fuck off to Summer and...No, not until their monster of a father was dead. He wouldn't put his mate at risk like that.

Ciaran took out his pipe and smoked, only then did he see Tamlin, slowly shifting back to normal and walking towards him. "Mama says you shouldn't smoke."

"Mama's not here."

His hazel eyes fell on Tamlin. It was unusual for such a young child to show such power, he prayed their father didn't break him too early. He and Dorevan were already loss causes.

'I need something stronger to wash this away.'

"Cece!"

He raised an eyebrow at the nickname. "What is it?"

"How come no one else can shift like us?"

Ciaran picked him up and placed him in his lap. "It's the Evergreen family's power. Since the beginning of this family line we've all been able to shift into creatures of our choosing, along of course with a form unique to us. The trade off...It's unstable magic. You gotta be careful, little one. We...We are all struggling with it."

"Oh...Are you well?"

"Fuck no kid. Never."

Tamlin leaned into his brother's hold. "Can I help?"

"Doubt it...Just be good to mom. Be a good person. Be better than me."

Tamlin looked up at him, hazel on emerald green. He smiled at that little face. "You're good! Being better would be hard."

Ciaran exhaled the smoke upwards as if not to hurt Tamlin. "You're still so fucking naive, kiddie...If Dorevan gets the court, I'll have to take with me to Summer. Roxxanne will spoil you rotten."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind, just know I'll get you out of here when we're able."

"Okay! Thanks Cece!" Tamlin said as he yawned and fell asleep on his brother's lap.

Ciaran was hoping his younger brother forgot this conversation as he grew older. He'd likely never live it down. Still he'd keep his promise regardless of remembrance.

***

In the end, he couldn't keep the promise. He died before Tamlin, he died the same day as their sorry excuse for a father did. So the little one took the crown.

Soon after, his beloved followed and he reincarnated with her. In every lifetime they were together, and the memories of the once Ciaran Evergreen were gone, still a pull brought this now gold songbird to fly to Spring.

His dear Roxy would guard their Summer nest, all while he visited the desolate court and the creature that seemed hold a connection to. Many whispered in Summer of the fallen Lord of Spring, but this didn't look like a lord. He was a golden furry beast, always shifted and alone.

Ciaran jumped until he was face to face with the creature sleeping in the floor, emerald eyes opened for a moment to look at him. He was puzzled and tired, but still smiled.

"Heh, you look like my brother..." He muttered before falling asleep again.

Ciaran tilted his head, they couldn't be related, the High Lord was probably confused. Still, he decided to take a rest.

He jumped over the man's head, it was fluffy. Ciaran got into position and decided to take a small nap.

They both felt somewhat safer in that slumber.

[shi-daisy]

Thanks for the tag @achaotichuman!

What should we call you?

Daisy is fine

How long have you been a Tamlin fan?

July 2017 when I first read the books. Tamlin quickly became a comfort during that time given my favorite artist passed away and this little fluff ball gave me joy during that sadness.

What drew you to Tamlin?

Everything! He has a beautiful design, he is funny, strong, kind, artistic, super hot and he is such a clumsy flirt. I love shy men and Tamlin just sold it perfectly.

Do you have a favorite headcanon for our Spring Lord?

Two words. Bisexual Disaster

Who's your favorite paring (platonic or romantic) with Tamlin?

I have way too many so I will list the ones i love most. I used to be Feylincien thrash with book 1 but at the moment I only ship Tamcien romantically and Feyre as their friend after acowar. I like the many ideas people have with Brilin. Neslin is a favorite both for romance and friendship and sorta crack but I like the idea of a political marriage between Tamlin and Cresseida turning romantic. They desrve love.

Have you named Tamlin's family? What are their names? Headcanons too!

Father: High Lord Oisin Evergreen- His beast form is a chimera. Cruel, cold, and distant Oisin could've been a better person if not for his upbringing. The man believes in the through love philosophy but sadly that didn't work out so well now, did it?

Mother: Rosabella Evergreen- Former peasent woman who worked as a shoe maker. When the bond snapped Oisin took her home and they married soon after. A little clumsy but very loving towards her children. Sadly she's way too attached to her husband and can't see past his flaws.

Eldest Brother: Dorevan Evergreen- More muscle than brains, Dorevan is as skillful warrior and fiercely loyal, sadly he is also competitive and was so desperate for his father's approval he turned against his younger brothers. Also suffered from chronic migranes since childhood.

Middle Brother: Ciaran Evergreen- The picture of excess and luxury, Ciaran drowned the sorrows of being the neglected middle brother in hallucinogens and whores. He's less violent and temperamental than Dorevan but still not to be triffled with. Before his death he wanted to mend fences with Tamlin. Was the last to die in the massacre.

If you were transported to the Spring Court what would your role be?

Court Jester I am hilarious. I also would be the mom friend to pick up Tammy and get him into shape! We gotta heal out baby boy!

Also executioner cuz if Rhysand sets foot on Spring I'll have his head on a pike. Try me!

While we wait from Tamlin Week, any recommendations?

Anything made by @achaotichuman and @praetorqueenreyna is bound to be genius

And if I can self add I have my own acotar fic series called A Court of Threads & Daisies! You'll find Tomlin and his family there plus tiehr oc's (our boy gets a happy ending)

In the coming months, weeks and days leading up to Tamlin Week, we'll be dropping some fun community activities. Feel free to participate as much or as little as you like!

Now that we've got the prompts out of the way, it's time to get to the heart of Tamlin Week. Everyone knows our High Lord Tamlin, and you’ve met our mods, but it’s time to meet you!

Introduce yourself through the questions below, and if you know someone who’d like to participate in Tamlin week, feel free to tag them.

What should we call you? How long have you been a Tamlin fan? What drew you to Tamlin? Do you have a favourite headcanon for our Spring Lord? Who’s your favourite pairing (platonic or romantic) with Tamlin? Have you named Tamlin’s family? What are their names? (Give us your headcanons too!) If you were transported into the Spring Court right now, what would be your role? (Sentry, Gardener, etc.) While we wait for Tamlin week, do you have any fic recommendations?

Tags: (add your friends here!)

We encourage you to check the notes to say hi to old friends, and welcome new names to our community!

[missy-hissy]

As is my tradition, I’ve got my Brothers Green (Ciaran, Breandan, Seamus and Niall) moving into Evergreen Harbour to start greening up!

[gsasustainability]

Lily Krempel, Ciaran Cannon, Chiara Mancini, Sculpture & Environmental Art

"Fire-flight" was a two week-long exhibition from the 23rd of February to the 6th of March hosted by the Hidden Gardens behind Tramway Arts Centre in Govanhill, Glasgow. The exhibition comprised of three works of art by Sculpture & Environmental Art students Ciaran Cannon, Lily Krempel and Chiara Mancini.

The premise for our collaborative exhibition was to bring people together in the cold of February and March in the sanctuary of the gardens; to bring awareness to the ecology of the site; the insects, birds and wildlife of the Hidden Gardens and to hold space for our human relationship to the natural world drawing together the ecosystem of the garden, its visitors, local people and students of the Glasgow School of Art.

Lily Krempel, Fire-dials

I spent five days accompanying our sculptures in the space of the woodland glade where the old tram tracks draw out from the gallery to the back of the hidden gardens. I watched as gusts of storm heaved with meteorological might at the soaring trees. The mammoth birches with waver- ing spines, forearms and fingers akimbo filled my view of Glasgow’s sky. If the winds breath whipped at the right height, the whirl of my ‘Dials’ would commence, momentarily spinning before that flock of air would cease to occupy the ether. With wind, came rain and hail, followed by the charms of soft white snow. The February cold seeped up from the chilled earth, crept under the skin of my steel-toe capped boots and settled snuggly in my muscles.

I made a metal structure of steel rods upon which five slender steel spinning ‘FireDials’ sit. The artwork is born out of a desire to disrupt the darkness of this time of year, to ignite our human yearning for light, our draw to warmth and to inspire awe for magic. At lunchtimes in the woodland glade I lit fires beneath the structure of the dials, activating the sculpture-work. The heat from the fire and smoke causes hot air to rise above cooler air, creating an airflow. If strong enough, it is directed in-between the segmented dial vents which in-turn revolve the steel spinning dials.

The dials are so named as they exist as a piece of equipment for rotation. A traditional dial is spun on a telephone or tuned to select a radio frequency or read to tell the time. The Fire-dials revolve as they trace the fire; its size, the direction of wind current, the rising temperature of airflow.

Inspired by memories of my grandmothers Christmas pyramid and angel chime candle ornaments, the origin of the delicate kinetic candle decoration dates back to the Middle Ages. It was traditional in southern and western Europe to bring evergreen branches, into the home and hang them in order to ward off gloomy, sullen feelings through the dark and cold winter months. In northern and eastern Europe tradi- tional candles were used to achieve this goal. The Christmas pyramid unified these two traditions, consisting of handcrafted kinetic elements hanging over a network of candles. A symbol of Winter celebration; a vessel for uplifting the spirits.

Ciaran Cannon, Vital Invertebrates

The work consisted of four insects placed on trees throughout the ‘Woodland Glade’ area of the Hidden Gardens. A lot of families visit the gardens, so the sculptures were intended to appeal to children and adults, and to encourage careful observation. Dispersed on trees throughout the Glade area, people had fun finding them. The insects’ bodies are made of wood from well-managed forests: pine, oak and walnut and. Their wings, legs and antennae are made from scrap metal, which I found on an ex-industrial site by the Clyde, among a pile of railway sleepers. The Hidden Gardens is located at the site of an ex-tram depot and the old tram tracks are still visible in places. I liked this resonance in the two sites; old transport hubs which are now taken over again by plants, insects and animals. In making these sculptures I wanted to show the importance of leaving space for nature to thrive again, for the benefit of wildlife and for our own recreation and learning.

Insects are often overlooked or thought of as pests, but they are essential for the wellbeing of all life on Earth. Insect populations have been declining over several decades due to the use of insecticides which bio-accumulate in plants and groundwater. We need to rekindle our relationship with the rest of nature and allow insects and all other lifeforms to thrive again. In making these sculptures, I was celebrating the vital role insects play in nature. They breakdown waste, pollinate flowers and allow the cycle of life to continue. And they are fascinating; entomologist and author, Dave Goulson, says that they are more incredible than any science fiction film - and its true! You could pick up an insect book at your local library and find out!

I’m a multi-disciplinary artist based in Glasgow. Environmental awareness is central to all elements of my art practice, from my approach to making through to what my art communicates. I use found and reclaimed objects throughout my work.

Chiara Mancini, Bird Feeder

Bird Feeder is a sculpture for birds. It holds food and water to help them get through the harsh Glaswegian winter, and it is designed keeping in mind recent discoveries about bird’s vision, such as their ability to see UV colours and their eye for symmetry. The feeder is decorated with a special UV pattern that is visible to birds only, while people can get a sense of what they’re missing by scanning a QR code at the bottom of the sculpture.

The artwork wants to celebrate the encounter and peaceful dialogue between cultures, species and other diversities, values that guided the design of the Hidden Gardens themselves. The shape of the sculpture is inspired by the features of the landscape inside and around the gardens, such as the trees, the Gurdwara and the chimney of the former tram factory the garden is built upon.

Scanning the QR code the general public can access pictures of the sculpture under a UV torch, revealing the invisible pattern. The birds would see this pattern at all times, as well as many other colours that we can never even imagine, as a result of their ability to see UV frequencies additionally to all the frequencies that are visible to us. Rather than allowing us to see “like a bird” this artwork is here to remind us of our limits, and about the fact that there is so much about our world that we cannot understand and that doesn’t revolve around us. More on Chiara's website and Instagram.

With thanks to the Hidden Gardens, Grace Mark, Leslie Black, Paula Mur- doch, Paul Walton, the wonderful team of GSA technicians, including Danny Main, Fraser Brownlee, Giulia Lazzaro, Joe Cherrie, Russell Lamb, Ruth Kirkby, and thanks to John Thorne and the GSA Sustainability Fund. Thank you to all who came and shared in the garden, particular thanks to musical accompaniments and spoken word by Finn Rosenbaum, Otis Jordan, Jameela Gordon-King, Isabel Coulier, Alan from the Hidden Gardens Mens Group, Maria Markaroff, Rowan Bazley and Maria Domingue.

[blufeniix]

some questions about your dnd cleric, if you don't mind. she is a half elf, correct? has her issue cleared up yet? and if its not rude, could i ask what has happened during your campaign so far?

Diantha Alcyone ,or Dia, is indeed a half-elf! Trouble is, she doesn’t know which parent was what (her surname is not her parent’s surname, but given to her by the Head Mother of the orphanage she was raised in). She’s an orphan who was left in the City of Light, Illumina, and was brought up with basically the options of being a Cleric or a Paladin, and ended up becoming a Cleric. 

And sadly, no, her issue of “You have one month of not letting anyone know anything is wrong or else your head explodes” has not been cleared up, mostly because some things came up and we didn’t get a chance to pick up again until tonight (been a month, give or take). EDIT: This issue just got cleared up at last nights meet so!!! Yaaay!!

Oh man, what has happened during our campaign so far? Good golly ok, sit back kiddos, cause this is gonna be a DOOZY.

First, let’s get the setting behind everything, and with that the original cast. This is gonna be a bit of a summary of what our DM @herr-doctor gave us; one of our current players were not here for the beginning, and three dropped out earlier in. Which characters join and which leave will be mentioned.

Our campaign takes place on the continent of Erimead. It’s a solid chuck of land surrounded on all sides by a “mysterious” ocean (called such because not many cities or towns are built along the coasts, tales of ancient sea atrocities and what have you). 

In the center, give or take, is the capital of Whiteshadow, a bustling melting pot of culture and magic, ruled by kind and benelovent King Guillame Alanus and his family. Whiteshadow is named due to the enormous snow peaked mountain at it’s back, acting as a natural shield from attack from the North. 

South of Whiteshadow is the mining town of Kiellen, close to the Dawn Mountains and home of our two past characters Damron and Ranvir. It’s been a WHILE and I don’t recall what Damron and Ranvir were. Human Warlock and Ranger respectively I think? They were also cousins.

Just West of Kiellen is Vox, the last oasis before or after the Singed Sands, an unrelenting desert where if you aren’t killed by the heat or sands, there are plenty of critters to take care of that for you.

Now, to the East of Whiteshadow is the Winterlands, a vast forest of perpetual evergreen and frost, supposedly housing the entrance to the Elemental Plane of Frost.

Towards the Northern peak of Erimead lies the Widowed Plains, a vast expanse of grasslands and plains, home to nomadic tribes of orcs and barbarians who, as one would imagine, do a great deal of roaming and pillaging. In the North-eastern portion of the plains lays what used to be the prosperous town of Illumina, home of the College of Life and Light, culmination of hundreds of years of research into arcane healing. Illumina is Diantha’s home, and Jelani, our half-orc barbarian, once belonged to one of the wandering tribes of the Widowed Plains.

 It was Jelani’s tribe that destroyed Illumina and killed a great many, but when faced with a few of his fellows trying to make sport of a elderly woman who would be no challenge Jelani found he was annoyed and killed them. In return, his War Chief Gnoth decided to off Jelani and leave him for dead.

Jelani was lucky Diantha had stumbled upon him, returning from a trip to a near settlement. She witnessed him save the elderly woman (who was the ‘Mother’ of the orphanage she’d been raised in), and decided to save his life. After some talking and travelling, the two decided to join forces in the hunt for Gnoth to get revenge. They ended up becoming best friends along the way.

Our heros, for one reason or another, find themselves in the small settlement of Shale, a pseudo-ghost town with very few inhabitants left, and fewer amenities. 

The town used to be a lively settlement, one that exported various earthen materials like cobble, sandstone, and various amounts of metallic elements. Starting about a four months ago, various citizens would seemingly go missing in the night, leaving everything behind. Searches were held, but more and more citizens went missing. Now, after all the affairs, only a fraction of the townspeople remain, comprised of the sick and the elderly, by the time our heroes arrive.

And that’s basically where the campaign starts. The characters are Damron, Ranvir, Diantha, Jelani, a Dragonborn whose name I cannot recall and the read more is broken oops, and Ciaran (a Tiefling Rogue, whose story has not been revealed to us yet).

From here on is going to be a VERY ROUGH summary of our adventures, so bear with me as I type this out. One day I’ll get around to properly writing our little adventure in story form and sharing it.

Shale Arc

The group meets at a bar. Diantha is searching for her companion Jelani, Damron and Ranvir are traveling together taking odd jobs I believe, and honestly I’m not sure what Ciaran was doing at the time. Upon being approached by a man named Gary, the group agrees to go into the graveyard and to the crypt to place his mother’s ashes in the family tomb, because the place is currently overrun by zombies and other ghoulies. 

Everyone agrees for various reasons, and heads out. Upon getting underground Dragonborn is found and joins the party, unsure as to why he is there or how he got there. Finally reaching the end, the group finds three Necromancers performing a ritural and using a woman assumed taken from the town as a sacrifice (we were not able to save the woman oops). The mancers are killed and we place the urn with the ashes, then return to town for reward. We can’t find Gary so we go to his home and meet his cousin, who says he was out (meeting someone or something?).

Anyway, we get to the path outside town trying to find this guy, and a Man in a Cloak™ kills Gary and sends a undead Giant after us. Jelani shows up to help (and happily fights the giant as I recall) and Man in Cloak™ leaves after a mysterious warning.

Returning to Shale we inform Gary’s Cousin of Gary’s death and give him some money and some words of comfort before setting out. At this point I believe Ranvir and Dragonborn took their leave from the game due to personal reasons, and so the two were said to have gone off their separate ways from the party.

The party (now consisting of Dia, Jel, Ciaran, and Damron) decides to continue forward (for some reason we were headed to Whiteshadow??? I can’t recall why it’s been so long I think we were all pissed and curious about Man in Cloak ™ ?) and on the way we came to a tower. I don’t believe there was a door, and only one window way way up high. We had to fight some giant spider thing, and were teleported inside. Upon getting inside, we are greeted by an elderly man by the name of Grayden Longbeard (voiced by our DM in a very Sean Connery like voice).

Once everyone is convinced that Grayden is an ok guy, we have a chat, and Grayden tells us about how he has been in the tower for a few hundred or so years, just guarding it for some reason. He tells us that something is indeed wrong, and that we should meet with the King at Whiteshadow. He gives us each an item (Dia recieved a Silver Raven Statuette I recall), and a gold coin to help us through the forest, and we go about our way.

I think this is also when Damron’s player takes his leave, and Damron goes on his own way.

Halloween Special; The Haunted Manor!

SO Halloween came around, and our DM set up a special Halloween episode. On their journey to Whiteshadow it storms, and the party reluctantly decides to take shelter in a old manor. After a bit of exploring they find a couple doors with holes in them where some circle thing should be placed, and a book on a table. A bit of debate over their choices, and realization that Jelani’s muscles and axe couldn’t take down the door to get them out, and Dia opens the book, reading off the first chapter.

The party goes through a cycle of read a chapter, fight a beastie in a dream realm where they CAN die, wake up to have memories erased except for Dia’s, Dia cures them so they can remember, and repeat. Three chapters they go through like this and finally are at a party with many guests. But oddly, no human guests.

The butler warns them to be careful before leaving, and the party gets to watch everyone die from poison in the food and drinks. Going upstairs to finish this, they are met with the lord of the manor, a racist old bastard ghost, who was killed by his butler after killing all of his non-human guests, among other horrible things.

The party finishes the fight, Jelani dealing the finishing blow, and after collecting a few items (I don’t think anyone got anything important except Ciaran, who got Ghost Carver, a odd dagger that, upon dealing the finishing blow to an enemy, takes their soul) they make their leave, watching as the manor begins to burn.

Monty’s Quest Arc (Dia, Jel, and Ciaran)

Upon exiting the forest, the party can see Whiteshadow in the distance. We end up upon a little Imp named Scree who has been chained to a tree in the sunlight, and the poor little guy was left to burn and be tortured basically. With some talking from Ciaran and Dia, Jel pulls the chain from it’s secured place in the ground, effectively freeing Scree. Scree thanks us and takes his leave, gifting Jelani with a stone that is engraved with some letter in Abyssal I think?

After freeing the critter we chase off the asses who put him there, a couple of dudes from Whiteshadow. They decide getting to work on time is more important than fighting us and head off. The party enters the city of Whiteshadow.

The party makes it’s way to the castle to meet with the King, but lo-and-behold, the guards outside the gate are none other than the dicks who chained up poor lil Scree.

It takes a minute of talking, but both parties walk away, deciding a fight in the city isn’t worth it. A man in a cloak approaches us (note it’s not Man in Cloak™), and gives us a card to a place called Monty’s Magnificent Marvels or something along those lines, saying that he can help. (spoilers it’s Monty who gave us the card)

The party head’s to Monty’s and is greeted by a rather… what’s the word, unique individual. Monty is a hoot, full of energy and sass. He says that he can get us in to meet the King, as he is one of the Kings aids and best friend, but for a price. We have to retrieve a Scrying Stone. The stone was sealed deep in some cave system by his Father or Grandfather or something, and he really needs us to get it for him, so we agree and he gives us a orb to use when we’ve found it for him to poof us back to him.

We’re sent into the cave system and wander for a bit before fighting some monster crustation thing (Chuul I think?). After that we wander a bit more, and end up being put to sleep by some Drow (Dia had to be put to sleep some other way than Jel or Ciaran b/c of her elven ancestery but I can’t remember h o w).

Que next meet party wakes up and WHOOPSIE we’re chained up in a dark room and seperated. Jel is at one end, and Ciaran and Dia are at another. Jel is set loose by Scree who shows up thanks to the stone he gave Jel, and after freeing us Scree brings us a few of our items. We fight with the Drow and discover that a burn on Jelani’s arm indicates that he’s been marked to be sold into slavery. Jel demands to know and is rightfully pissed, and thankfully Dia is able to heal the scar completely.

Lots of fighting Drow and Spider-Drow later, and we get to the end of the cave system and meet a friendly little Beholder who was made by Monty’s ancestor to guard the stone. Only, he’s never been inside the building housing the stone behind him, so after a quick talk he lets us in and we discover UH-OH no stone. And some stone creature just kinda. Chillin in the corner? Weird.

Oh and there is a hole in the back of the building leading further down.

After Ciaran and Dia (let’s be honest mostly Ciaran, after the scare with Jelani Dia is Not Herself) talk the poor little beholder down since he thinks he’ll just cease to be, we give him a new mission to keep him alive and! Off he goes!! Explore the world little dude, stay safe!!

After giving the stone creature a bit of gold it gives us one of it’s teeth, and then we go down the tunnel and find some icky fish people who are worshipping some shrine to an evil god. (this SCENE. The ROGUE ROLLS LOW ON STEALTH. THE 4 FOOT 11 HALF ELF FAILS STEALTH. No, no, Jelani, the 8 foot tall half-orc barbarian rolls a Nat 20 on a Stealth Check.).

Dia exhausts herself using a Hold Person on Fish Priest for the full fucking fight, as well as buffing Ciaran and Jel (I ended up using two concentration spells at the same time because none of us…actually realized I was doing it?? oop. DM let it slide tho, and I’ve decided that should it ever come up again Dia will be ‘punished’ with a sort of sickness? She is almost motion-sick and just rough off until she gets a chance to rest), and after getting back the orb we are ported to safety.

Dia almost punches Monty, but the two civilly sort things out (and are p good friends now tbh), and Monty gives the party a card to get us into the castle free and clear! As well as a discount at the shop and payment for our trouble.

Saving the King’s Family Arc

FINALLY getting into the castle to meet the King, the party is faced with a new threat. Enter CSI:VoC, as the party NOW has to look over the rooms of the King, his wife, and their children, to look for clues as to who could have kidnapped the Queen and the children, and where they could have gone.

Jelani mostly stands off to the side observing at this point, while Ciaran and Diantha pass ideas and clues back and forth and manage to figure some stuff out. A monk and a thief/rogue of some type broke in, assumed in the dead of night, and took the Queen and Children some how. With a little asking about we figure out about a location of thieves just outside Whiteshadow, and the party sets out to investigate.

Upon arriving at the location (a single building with a short stone wall surrounding it) late in the night, they notice off the bat that something is a bit odd. The yard has a handful of men patrolling around it. Party decides to stealth around, and Jelani is spotted. He hangs back and plays it off that he’s just some guy wandering around, and manages to get away from the men after talking them down (rather threateningly if I recall).

Diantha and Ciaran make it inside the building, and Dia takes this chance to put her new Raven to the test. She gives it a name (we all decided on Poe since I wasn’t informed I would need a name and command for it before hand), and gives it a message to give Jelani, and a command to lead him back to them.

The party finds two men in cloaks in the top floor, and after knocking them out, Ciaran momentarily gets her hand caught in a Mimic Chest. Sorting that out, the party wakes one of the men and questions him (Dia and Jel fall back on their merc habits), and don’t get a great deal out of him before realizing that (some how *jazz hands*) the other man has crawled away after being right behind them.

Party follows the blood trail he left down into the basement, and has a fight with a Elven Monk, a large Barbarian (goliath I think?), and a couple little dudes. The party cleans up house, and then begins the search for the Queen and the children. Discovering a staircase that leads them further down, they find the children safe and sound, though obviously very frightened. They talk a bit, and after finding out that the Queen has been brainwashed and sent back to Whiteshadow, end up having to rush out with the kids and the one thief from upstairs because WOOPS somehow the building is now burning from the inside.

Everyone makes it out safe, and (Look I’m still pissed over this, I am NEVER FORGIVING DM FOR THIS) Dia sends Poe with a message to beware the Queen ahead of them to Whiteshadow; Poe can mimic her voice and essentially ‘replay’ any message she gives him in her voice. The party travels and OH GOSH WELL POE IS JUST SITTING OUTSIDE (look I’m fuckin BITTER OVER THIS).

The party gets in just in time to get all the civvies outside as the Queen stabs her husband, and then comes to long enough to cut her own throat over the guilt. Diantha uses a healing spell on the King, and with his crown as payment uses a high level revival spell on the Queen (or maybe it was another healing spell??? I can’t recall I like to forget this day tbh) and saves them both.

And that’s how the party of outcasts became the heros of Whiteshadow!

Cthulu Fish Village Arc

Now, you’d think after saving the King and Queen of the Captial City would get you a break from your hero duties, but nah. Following this, the King asks the party to travel to a village and locate the Royal Scholar, who has not contacted them since she headed out to investigate a fishing village.

The party agrees and heads out to the village, which is a good week or so trip even by horse. They make a pit stop in a small town inn, and when they wake up WHOOP Sarenrae (Diantha’s Deity) decided to pick them all up and drop them off in a random building in the fishing village SO thanks for that miss Goddess ma’am RUDE.

The group goes through the town, avoiding most of the fishmen and fighting the ones they couldn’t and making it to the town jail where the Royal Scholar was kept, and a Great White Shark Man Sheriff slept. Ciaran tried to stealth up and steal the keys, but the Shark Sheriff noticed her (he had super high natrual perception I think?) and the fight started. Ciaran nearly got bit in half, but the party beat Shark Sheriff and freed the Scholar who introduced herself (telepathically) as Jadine.

Ciaran gets a crush, and Jadine informs them that there are Bad Things™ goin down, and request’s their help to take care of it. They agree, and the party follows Jadine down below the village to the source of everything; an ancient evil god, very large and very mean, with a couple evil fish men with it.

The party fight it, and Diantha deals the finishing blow, for it’s obvious intent to not repent for it’s crimes, banishing it back to it’s realm.

With that taken care of, the party returns to Whiteshadow with Jadine.

Hunting the War Chief Arc

One thing after another with the party, Jadine tells them of three incidents that need to be investigated. Firstly, a group of barbarians roaming the plains destroying towns and settlements, a forest mysteriously burning and tales of a monster, and an ancient relic.

The mention of the barbarian group, led by a Orc who appears engulfed in flames, catches the attention of Jelani and Diantha, and there is little discussion had before they decide they want to check it out first. Ciaran agrees, having little care where they go either way. Before they leave, Jadine gives Jelani a small red stone, and Ciaran a glossary of monsters (can I google that?). I can’t… recall if or what Diantha received.

And so, once again, the party heads out to the plains. They stop by a settlement first, but it is barricaded and they claim that if the party wants to come in then they’ll have to take the long way around. They agree, and the party passes through the ruins of another town on the way there. Ciaran, who is able to see the ghosts of everyone there thanks to Ghost Carver, swipes a magic lute from one of the homes. In the forest outside the town, late in the night, the party is approached by a priest from the town that was destroyed.

He asks for aid, and Diantha heals his injuries as best she can, and after giving him some food, he goes on his way to the town, to try and put the spirits of those still lost to rest.

The party continues on and come upon another settlement, clearly recently attacked by the barbarians. After a bit of talking they get the people to understand that they are there to help, and begin with the repairs and healing, while trying to plan what they will do when Gnoth and his barbarians return.

During the night, Jelani is dragged away by some kind of wolf-man creature, and ends up ‘killing’ it; but not before it bites him. Ciaran and Diantha wake, and when Dia notices Jel missing she takes off trying to track him, sending Poe to the air to find him. The three met back up and Jel tells them about the monster he killed, but when they get to the spot the body is gone.

Returning to the settlement, the party go back to resting, and the next day they have a choice to make. Do they go on ahead and meet with Gnoth, or do they wait for him to come to them?

With some argument from Ciaran, and Jelani and Diantha explaining their thoughts as best they can, the party decides to continue on ahead to the near city where seemingly nothing has happened. Diantha and Jelani are sure Gnoth has set up some sort of base there, while Ciaran thinks they should have waited to defend the settlement.

The party makes it to the city, and upon entering are met with a bustling crowd; something no one expected considering the whole ‘Barbarians pillaging everything’ going on.

The three got separated by the crowd momentarily, and someone approached Jelani and slipped something in his hand, telling him that he ‘dropped his pouch’ and carried on. Jelani put the pouch in his pocket and Diantha and Ciaran got back to him. Diantha noted the pouch as she approached, knowing full well that it wasn’t Jelani’s, but the half-orc insisted that it WAS his. Ciaran picked it from his pocket while he argued with Diantha, who got Jelani to see reason, and opened it, revealing three stones (ruby, emerald, and sapphire). Sure that they were stolen and that someone was trying to pin it on them, Ciaran insisted that they get rid of them.

Before they could, however, they were met with challengers; men bearing war paint, in markings Jelani and Diantha noted were the same as the ones worn by the lower ranking members of Gnoth’s tribe. They fought, and took one of the men back to a inn to question him (the barkeep was very understanding).

While questioning him, Ciaran used an alchemy jug (I think she got from Grayden?) to make acid to torture him. Before he could give much of anything, something thudded against the door. A note, handwriting Jelani recognized as Gnoths. The message told the party where to go if they wanted to face Gnoth.

Jelani runs out the door, looking for whoever left the note, Ciaran helping him, but to no avail. Diantha draws her magic necrotic blade Wounding, and offers the man one chance to repent. He cuts his throat on the blade.

Before leaving, Ciaran decides they should just toss the stones that Jelani was slipped into the jug of acid. Diantha tries to protest, but Ciaran just. Tosses them in.

Nothing happens.

The party ditches the corpse and leaves, following the route that Gnoth specified. On the way they find a cave, and do battle with Dwarves and a Giant who are holding a few women from the various settlements around the plains hostage.

During the battle, Ciaran’s knife Ghost Carver does something odd. The gem on the hilt cracks, and a strange black mass emerges from the cracks and stabs her arms. And then nothing. Jel and Dia do not see this. The party defeats the hostage takers and free the women, then continue on their way to Gnoth..

Gnoth was in the plains where he said he would be, at his side his Second, a Orc Druid by the name of Dura.

Jelani wasted no time in charging Gnoth, knowing he would need to get in the first blow if he stood a chance. Diantha and Ciaran kept their distance and the battle that followed was intense, and eventually became very one sided. Jelani couldn’t stay up and Diantha couldn’t heal him enough. Oh, and Ciaran got polymorphed into a cat by Dura.

Jelani died. At Diantha’s side, Jelani died, and for a moment Diantha died with him.

And then a red light shone from Diantha’s pocket, and there was the sound of something cracking. Diantha pulled the red stone Jel received from Jadine from her pocket, unsure as to how or when it got there.

And then Jelani lived again.

The fight started back again, and finally both Gnoth and Dura died, and Ciaran was released from Dura’s spell. Behind the large stones that Dura and Gnoth had once stood on was a Winter Wolf that was chained to a tree, assumed the companion of one of the Orcs.

Ciaran approached it quickly, Diantha and Jelani taking a moment to themselves. The wolf bit at Ciaran, and she got the other two to help her get the wolf loose. After checking the bodies of Gnoth and Dura, the wolf decided it would stay with Jelani. Ciaran was a touch jealous.

With that complete, the party returned to Whiteshadow.

The Burning Forest Arc

The party returns to Whiteshadow and speaks to Jadine and the King, and are rewarded with a key to a Keep in the city that is for their use when they aren’t travelling, and after Diantha goes to see Monty (with the rest of the party in tow). Monty is drunk, claiming to have been ‘celebrating the trios safe return’. Dia light heartedly scolds him, and thanks him before they have to head out to their next mission.

Once again the party is given no time to properly rest up, having to head back out again to a remote town with a forest that has, apparently without reason, burned.

The party arrives and questions the villagers, learning about a rumor of a monster- possibly a dragon- living deep in the forest. They also learn about another group of adventurers that have asked about the forest, and ventured out. The party is suspicious, and follows their path to the edge of the forest, keeping an eye out as they venture through the burned, ashen woods. They see no sign of the other party.

And then they come to the center, and find a girl. Suspicious, Diantha approches first, and begins talking to her, learning her name is Mara. Once Diantha is comfortable that all is well, she let’s Mara know about her friends, and then motions them to come forward.

And then the other party appears, and reveals that they are looking for Mara, though they don’t answer as to why. Ciaran and Jelani essentially take care of them, Diantha needing to only stay by Mara and keep her safe. She does cast Hold Person on one and they capture him. They learn very little, and decide to take Mara back to Whiteshadow with them.

On the way out of the forest, the party is attacked by two basiliks, and Diantha is paralyzed and then turned to stone. Ciaran and Jelani defeat the creatures, but are left unsure of how to help Diantha.

And then a woman appears; tall, elven, with ashen skin and long white hair. She cures Diantha (”You poor dear..”), and then gives the party a item, a warning of the town ahead, and takes Mara with her through a portal.

The party returns to the town, the man in tow, and get him put in a jail cell, and then take their leave. They camp out during the night, and when they wake the town is oddly quiet. They return to check, and find everyone dead, brutally killed.

In the jail cell, the man is blown, seemingly from the inside out, and a bloody sigil is drawn on the wall. A hand with an eye in the center.

They return to Whiteshadow quickly, Diantha wanting to speak with Jadine about the event.

The Ivory City Arc

At this point in time our newest member joined us, playing the Halfling Scholar and Arcane user Elowen.

The party returns to Whiteshadow, and fills Jadine in on what happened. It is then they are introduced to Jadine’s friend, a halfling scholar named Elowen. In order to complete the next task, the party has to travel to another city, part to learn about Vecna, part to find a Holy Item, and part to help Elowen learn about something herself. The party heads out with their newest member after getting a few drinks.

It takes around a week for the party to arrive at the city, and when they do they find that the city is quarantined, due to an illness that has been affecting the arcane users of the city. They manage to talk their way in (a bit of Dia making sense, a bit of Elowen sarcasm, and a bit of Ciaran and Jelani Sass/Threats combo), and head to the library.

They are locked out, and told that unless they can figure out what is causing the illness that is affecting a great many of the arcane users there, they will not open the doors for anyone.

Angry and tired, the group heads to the light house after learning that the source of a smog that is probably linked with the illness is coming from underground, and the light house probably has a link to an old sewer system under the city.

They venture down, leaving Jel’s wolf Hak at the surface (he’s plenty capable of caring for himself for a few days), and find a odd shimmering pool with a couple chests in them off the bat. Before anyone can question it, Ciaran hops in and begins wading through to the chests. She gets halfway before she slows, realizing the pool is actually a slime monster and she is it’s next meal.

Elowen banishes the slime to another dimension for a minute, freeing Ciaran (who checks the chests) and then gets out. She has aged a bit, but Diantha is able to reverse the damage done with a Greater Resto, and they carry on.

The group comes to a city. An underground city, that looks like it is made entirely of bone. Upon entering they have a few short chats with some locals and learn it is a ‘Dead City’ called “The Ivory City”. Dia is quick to cover her head with her cloak. Told to speak with the King, the party ventures through the city and finds a old temple of Sarenrae, and upon entering find a white and gold tome. Diantha takes it, and the party finds a few pages torn out around the  main room, before leaving to the palace.

The King of the Ivory City, Selat, greets the party ‘warmly’, and suggests that if they want him to help with their problem, they should help him with his. A Red Scourge is taking his gold, and he wants them stopped. He introduces his Jester, a bard named Symund (Ivory Symund he calls him) and says that Symund will be their guide through the underground to the Red Scourges domain.

Diantha agrees, shaking the finger (literally this guy is HUGE) of Selat, and gets a spell cast on her. A black ring around her right middle finger. Selat tells her it is so she will keep up her end of the deal.

The party travels a few days, fighting a few various creatures and learning about Symund. That he was an adventerer with a party 15 years prior, but that they were stopped by Selat; Symund kept as a play thing, his Paladin friend left to wander half crazy in a maze, and his other party members killed.

The party finds the Red Sourge, a group of goblins painted red, and a Red Dragon. The party fights and kills them all with the help of Symund, and finds Selat’s gold. Cursed Gold. Anything that touches it is swallowed up, consumed by Greed. Symund finds a scroll, but keeps it to himself, and upon being asked promises the group that it is a key to defeating Selat and getting them out. Promises that it isn’t a self sacrificing plan.

The night before they arrive, Symund pulls Dia away from the group and reveals that he can free her from Selats hold, and uses an experimental spell to remove her ring, and place it on his finger with his own ring. He says that it is part of his plan, and to trust him. To make sure the she gets the rest of the party out when the time comes.

Diantha agrees.

The party makes their way back, and confronts Selat, who reveals (Shockingly) that he never planned on letting them go. He agrees to let Elowen, Ciaran, and Jelani leave, and stops the smog from forming, thanks to Symunds smooth talking, and says he wants to keep Diantha as another of his toys with Symund.

Symund strikes, using the scroll he found and trapping Selat. The party does not know what exactly happened to Symund, as he forces them to leave the palace with Mage Hand, and then Diantha gets the party to flee with her.

Elowen is broken-hearted and furious, but they get out.

The party gets to the library, finally able to check it out. Diantha and Elowen stay at the library and research, learning about Vecna and a Maester, Jelani walks the city with Hak, and Ciaran finds the nearest bar and gets smashed.

When everyone is settled they find Ciaran at the bar, and the barkeep gives them a room and some drinks.

The next day, Elowen and Ciaran manage to find enough to know that Symund is ok, but no more than that. They all decide to return to Whiteshadow, emotionally and physically drained.

The Winter Festival Arc (current arc; Name may change??)

The party returns to Whiteshadow after a week of traveling, just as tired as they were a week before. But the city has changed, and during the time they were away the seasons are shifting; winter has arrived, and thus Whiteshadow is preparing for their Winter Festival!

The party meets Monty as they make their way to see the King and Jadine, and have a quick talk with him, learning about the Festival, and an upcoming ball that the party is of course invited to. They say they’ll think about it (spoilers they’re going anyway), and Diantha, Jelani, and Ciaran go to meet with the King and Jadine, while Elowen decides she wants to look about the Festival.

Elowen is approached by an old man (Grayden!!) and he asks if she has seen (the trio) about.

Before Dia, Jel and Ciaran can get to the King or Jadine, the entire city is frozen over in an instant. Elowen and Grayden included.

The trio return outside, and encounter a pale blue woman wandering the crowd looking rather distressed. She is surprised to see them free from the ice, claiming they are ‘touched by fire’ and asks for their aid. She introduces herself as Boreal, and explains that her queen is fighting with another Fey, and is losing. Her people are dying, their lives and power connected to their queen, and so the ice realm is freaking out and freezing over things it shouldn’t.

The party asks Boreal if she can release Elowen and Grayden from the ice. She only succeeds in freeing Elowen, claiming she is too weak to get them both. Saying it’s ok, Diantha agrees to help Boreal.

Boreal takes the party through a portal, and they are separated; Diantha in a room with Boreal, and Ciaran, Jelani, and Elowen each in a different place.

From their, Boreal has Diantha watch over everyone through three portals, while Ciaran, Jelani, and Elowen each perform a task for Boreal to help lower the power of the enemy army.

The tasks essentially go off without a hitch, and Ciaran, Jel, and Elowen each go through a portal to take them back to Whiteshadow. Diantha is releaved, but Boreals attitude suddenly shifts, and a rush of images Diantha isn’t familiar with rushes through her mind.

She realizes that it’s the party, performing the before tasks, but the scenery is VERY different.

Ciaran destroyed a shrine to the God of the Hunt. Elowen killed a city of Fire Elementals. Jelani killed the Father of Giants.

Diantha is in shock, and before she can properly react Boreal casts a Guias charm on her, preventing Diantha from saying or letting on about anything that has happened for a month. If Diantha ever does try to force her way through it, then she will die. Boreal says that it is because she hates Diantha; that she has her fathers eyes. Diantha is confused by this, but before she can ask Boreal sends her back to Whiteshadow.

The party meets up, and Diantha acts as if all is fine.

From there, they head back into Whiteshadow and decide that since everything is done for now, they’ll wander the festival and go to the ball. To prepare they all do a bit of shopping, and while Elowen waits on everything to be touched up, Diantha, Jel, and Ciaran finally go to talk with the King and Jadine.

They speak with the King, and he offers them a more permanent position; The Kings Shadows, a title that has not been used in many years. The party agrees (Jelani the least enthusiasically), and are given medallions that have an old magic on them, and allow them to communicate with each other even at great distances.

From there the party goes to Jadine and shares what intel they learned, and in turn learn that things are far more dire than what they originally seemed.

Agreeing to continue doing what needed to be done, Jadine sends the party away to prepare for the evening ball. Everyone needs a break sometime right?

The party attends the ball, pretty much doing their own thing; Ciaran at the food table keeping away from people, Elowen helping Jadine keep from having to talk to everyone, and Jel and Dia off at the side observing the party.

Diantha takes the quiet moment to ask Jelani what he plans to do. Five years prior to the start of the campaign they made their agreement to find Gnoth and get their revenge, and they’ve done that now. Jelani replies that sometimes things change, and when asked if he’ll stay, he replies that ‘Until every star in the universe dies’. It’s one of Jelani’s rare softer moments, one that is quickly ended by a drunken Monty approaching them.

After a bit of drunken babble, and more lighthearted scolding from Diantha, Monty asks Dia to dance and leads her to the center of the dance floor, deep into the crowd.

A few minutes after, Monty seems perfectly sober, and Diantha is confused by this sudden change. Monty looks… odd, not his usual cheery self, and he mentions that Diantha’s eyes have changed, that she looks burdened. Claims that she needs a vacation, to Riven, get some fresh air and a break. Diantha jokes that the lack of a vacation is a bit of what she signed up for, and he says that vacations are a bit different for everyone. 

He pulls her close, and leans down so he can whisper for her to ‘take this’ to Riven, and meet a friend of his.

He slips her an item, and then leaves her on the dance floor.

Diantha finds a golden dragon scale in her hand.

The party goes on late into the night, and after Ciaran follows Monty to his home to question him, getting little to no info, and then getting caught by Diantha sneaking back into the party (and NOT talking to her shame shame), the party returns to the Keep for a night’s rest. Before sleeping Diantha confronts Ciaran, and reveals the Gold scale Monty gave her. They talk about Monty’s odd behavior, and agree to see him in the morning and decide on whether they’ll go to Riven or not.

They all have dreams that night, some remembering more than others, and wake up the next day concerned; Jelani has a black hand-print on his torso, Elowen has a red chain ‘tattoo’ on her wrist, and Ciaran finds a 2-foot feather at the foot of her bed. Diantha has repeated nightmares of what they helped Boreal do, refreshing the situation in her mind.

The party discusses their findings, and goes to meet Monty, who they find has left already, claiming to be on a trip, and that he’ll return when he returns.

The party goes to ask the King, who doesn’t know where he is, and from there they begin their trip to Riven, which is only 2 days away. A quick trip by horse compared to most of their other trips.

The party arrives at Riven, and heads to the Riven Geological Institute, meeting Ash, a Gnome who works there. They speak with him, learning a bit about the place, but before they can get to the heart of the matter there is a loud commotion from the streets. 

A group of men are handling a dwarf woman roughly, holding her in the air. Ciaran, who can read lips, sees one, asking about ‘A Dragon’, but before they can find out any more the party winds up in a battle with them. The men talk about ‘Keeping the blue one alive” but the others can die. They tell Diantha that she can leave, they have no bounty for her, to which Diantha replies ‘Like hell!”.

The Bounty Hunters it’s revealed essentially… kill themselves. Using odd weapons (spoilers; it’s guns. experimental guns), they try shooting the party, but the guns end up misfiring 98% of the time and blow up on their users. Part of the street catches fire because of one of the guns blowing up and in turn causing some barrels with oil to blow and burn, but Diantha and Elowen take care of the fire.

The part catches one of the men, but he knows minimal. The group of hunters got their posters, happened upon them. Ciaran was the only one wanted alive, to be put on trial for ‘crimes’. Diantha knows, but cannot let on she knows.

The man is taken by the guards, and Ash approaches the party and thanks them for their help. They talk a bit more, and return to their previous conversation; why their here, and about the gold dragon scale that is decroating a great many things in Riven.

Diantha shows him the scale that Monty gave her, and Ash takes them to a secret place.

There, in a deep cave connected by some sort of magic door, they meet Lav, who… reminds them a great deal of Monty? And behind him, in a large cavern unseen by the party save for it’s breath, his master, a Gold Dragon.

When asked, Diantha tells Lav that Monty sent her, and this rings a bell with Lav. He offers his hand to Diantha, who takes his hand. He kisses her knuckles, and after a moment she notices an odd sensation.

She can actively think about what happened with Boreal. Lav smiles knowingly, and before anyone can ask Dianthas legs give out from under her and she falls.

Jelani rushes to her, Elowen close behind, and Ciaran is ready to fight Lav. Diantha finally explains that it’s fine, and after hugging Jelani and apologizing profusely, she explains to the party what really happened when they helped Boreal, and why the men from before had bounties for them.

Lav explains that (since Diantha shared a good bit of information) that the woman they described is named Auril, a Arch Fey and ruler of an Ice realm. He gives them a scroll that will help them open the door, but they have to find a way into the Fey realm themselves.

Elowen asks about Diantha’s father, and tho Lav can’t tell them who he is, he tells them that they should check the Fey; after all, he can tell (somehow?) that Diantha was born there. Jelani inquires about the Storm Ruler he’s dreamed of, and Ciaran inquires about Monty’s odd behaviour.

And that’s where tonight’s session ended! Remember, this is a basic skeleton of everything and there’s lots of details left out b/c I can’t… really recall everything, and I’ll do my best to keep up from here on out so you guys can follow our adventure too!

Holy wow we’ve been through a lot, and it’s been a really fun thing over all! If any of you ever get the chance to try out playing a DnD campaign, I highly recommend it; you don’t have to make it strict by the rules, just have fun and create a story with each other!

[theimaginesyouneveraskedfor]

Forgotten Vows XVIII

Chapter 18: Not the End

Thranduil could barely recall how he had found his way out of the forest. His elk had been waiting where he had left him and he wiped away the welling of tears in his eyes as he mounted the creature. It was all he had left. The only living beast to offer comfort to the elven king when all others had run away. Swaying with the easy movement of the elk, he found his way back to the inn from which he had skirted away in the early morning, tracking the path of his lost lover.

He could not blame her for reacting as she had but in a moment of raw emotion, he had been surprised at himself. It had been long since he had felt such overwhelming chaos within. She had sparked in him those years before the remnants of passions which had been shredded at the loss of his first love and her flight had buried them once more. Yet seeing the elfling, who in his heart he could not deny as his own, even if blood would say otherwise, it had thrown him into a whirlwind.

His heart did not cease its racing even as he greeted the frantic guards who halted at his sudden arrival and looked to each other in confusion. They had likely spent their day searching out their missing liege and did not so much as expect him to come riding up so lackadaisically.

He dismounted and entered the tavern without a word, passing the drunkards and guests within before climbing the stairs to his chambers. The venue was dingy and he had brushed away the protests of his escort at the state of the place, knowing he would spend little time there. He had chosen it because he had sensed her presence beyond the trees not because he sought a clean bed or hot bath. Sitting heavily on the sagging mattress, he looked down at his long legs, his leather boots still dirty with forest growth. Kicking it off, he closed his eyes and let his head fall into his hands.

He would not give up so easily, he could not. He had looked for years, for traces of Yeyette and those of his son but both had eluded him. It was with disbelief that he had stumbled upon her little forest home hidden between the evergreens and he had awaited her with the certainty that she would never appear. Yet when he had laid eyes upon her it was as if she were the only thing which existed in the world. And the elfling, how he could not stop thinking about her.

Suddenly, he stood with a new sense of resolve though he had little inkling of what to do next, he only knew he had to do something. Pacing the floor for a moment, he stopped before the cracked mirror which presented a warped reflection of his silver eyes. There was not much hope in the plan blooming inside his mind but it was all he had and he refused to slink home to Mirkwood just yet. A long road stretched before him and the only one he could see which led to Yeyete.

Thick sheets of snow formed hills atop those naturally curved over the earth, weighing down the hooves of horse and elk alike. Four elven guards rode alongside Thranduil as he crested the broadest of the slopes and he peered out over the pristine hinterland of the Frost Meadows. The wrought iron and oaken gates stood starkly in the distant, barely visible under the blankets of snow upon them. The last time he had spied the walls of the elven kingdom he had come to speak of the very same princess, though now the circumstances were not so appealing.

He expected little fanfare and even less welcome as he set off down the hillside, his elk carefully plunging its hooves into the endless snow. One wrong step and rider and steed would find themselves overturned, or even buried. While summer glowed in those other elven kingdoms of Middle Earth, the Frost Meadows was in the midst of their harshest and longest winter. It was news across the land that the snows had not melted since the old king had died.

Horns blasted as the arrival of the Mirkwood king was noticed and the tower guards harried to stand their posts, looking down on the five riders below. Thranduil brought his elk to a halt and looked up implacably as his banner-bearer cleared his throat.

“Thranduil Opherion, King of Mirkwood, seeks entrance to the kingdom of the Frost Meadows and an audience with King Ciaran of the Niqeth.”

Chatter ensued upon the ramparts before a rusted helmet peeked over the side and examined the party of pale elves. “King Thranduil of Mirkwood may enter but no audience will be given.”

“King Ciaran cannot refuse court to an ally,” The banner-holder, Eris, called up and Thranduil waved away more of his words.

“We will accept entrance and barter for nothing more.” Thranduil’s elk turned in its track impatiently, “It is cold and the snows deep. We are want to be under a roof more than anything.”

“Then you may enter,” The rusty-helmed guard replied gruffly, “One night and then you return to whence you came.”

“My king,” One of Thranduil’s guard, Orin began to speak but was silenced by his leige’s silver eyes piercing him.

“News of our arrival will not see us without visitors,” Thranduil assured as the great wheels of the gate began to turn and the doors slowly creaked inward, “The king must keep his public grudges strong but behind closed doors, he will tend to his duties.”

Orin silenced and the rest of the elven guard regained their placid expressions, only want to be done with the fool’s journey of their king. They had trekked across river and ice, grass and snow, plain and mountain, and all for a missing princess with no desire to be found. Thranduil had not told them of his meeting with Yeyette and they did not guess at it; they were bound to serve him and not ask questions.

The Mirkwood king was led through the gate with his five standard-bearers, the rusty-armoured elf introducing himself as Cullen before leading them through the frozen streets of the kingdom. The Frost Meadows were rustic compared to the splendor of Mirkwood but Thranduil knew of its hidden beauty; when the snow would melt away, it could rival even his own kingdom. Even with the winter, it had a certain touch of charm.

As his other visits, he was shown to the chambers of royal guests in the king’s own ancient abode; a castle bastioned with iron and silver and guarded by several wrought statues of snarling wolves. His escort was shown to their own lesser rooms and the king was at last, left on his own to await the calling of those who had sworn not to see him.

Ciaran was Bernard’s son  and he would come; he would likely be angry, but he was just as stubborn. So, the king draped one leg over the other on a cushioned chair and waited for another king to appear at his door.

Patience had often flown from him when it was needed but in dire times, it always served as his stronghold. Hours after he had planted himself in his seat and leaned his elbow against the carved arm of the chair, a knock came at his door and he stood, calling for entrance of his guest. However, it was not the king of the Niqeth who appeared before him but the Dowager Queen, her honey silk hair pinned back primly as she wore a black gown of mourning, though her husband had been dead for years now.

“Queen Thea, I--” He began to greet her but his words were cut off as she quickly closed the distance between them and her hand struck his cheeks sharply. He stood silent and passive, knowing he deserved much and more than her strike.

“You,” She scowled and her famed elven beauty showed the lines of bitterness and age alike, “My daughter goes missing and I hear nothing from you but a line of ink.” She pulled forth the crumpled strip of parchment from her sleeve, his broken wax seal hung from it still and he surmised she had been holding onto it for as long as Yeyette had been gone, “You told me my daughter would be safe in your kingdom.”

“I did,” Thranduil looked down guiltily and braced himself for another blow that did not come, “I know any apology I give is not enough to atone for the wrongs I have done you and your kingdom, but--”

The silver king was interrupted once more as the door whipped open behind Queen Thea and a familiar angry face appeared before him. Thranduil was barely able to marvel at Ciaran’s resemblance to his father before the Niqeth’s brawny fist took him in the same cheek as his mother’s palm. Thranduil kept silent but his eyes watered at the pain as he brought his hand up to hold his face and watched as Thea struggled to control Ciaran, holding him back with whispered words.

“You,” Ciaran growled, he had grown the same beard as his father since they last saw one another; the Niqeth were the only elves who sported such facial hair, “You drove my sister away! What did you do to her?”

“Before you feed us some pathetic lie, I will have you know we heard elsewise from your very son,” Thea turned back to Thranduil as she kept her hand on Ciaran’s, “Legolas at least had the grace to tell us in person of Yeyette’s disappearance…though I suspect he withheld some significant information of the reasons for it.”

“Legolas?” Thranduil choked out; he had found no trail of his son in all those years since he had fled, “Is he here?”

“He came and went,” Ciaran waved his hand in the air, “We asked if he was going to look for her but all he said was he was merely looking to get away from you.”

“Our own scouts have been searching for her, of course,” Thea intoned solemnly, “But it would seem she does not wish to be found.” Tears rose to the queen’s eyes but she held them back as she squared her shoulders, “She is her father’s daughter and she is of her own will.”

“Queen Thea, King Ciaran,” Thranduil began in the meekest tone he could muster, bowing his head slightly, “I come because I have found Yeyette…but I seek your help in bringing her back.”

“You’ve found her?” Thea’s eyes went wide and Ciaran steadied her with and hand on her shoulder as he looked to Thranduil.

“Where would you bring her back to? Mirkwood? She belongs here with us.”

“If she feels she belongs here, I would bring her here, though I wish her with me. All I can say is she should not remain where she is but she refuses to go home,” Thranduil explained as gently as he could, “She has a daughter now and the elfling is the heir to Mirkwood, as it were.”

“A daughter?” Thea seemed like to faint at the revelations, “I have a granddaughter?”

“You do…but there are things you must know, likely that which my son did not tell you,” Thranduil inhaled and readied himself for what he would say next, “About Yeyette and myself. Her marriage to your son. It is…complicated, but you must know of it if we are to get her back.”

Thea and Ciaran looked to each other with concern before slowly returning their sharp eyes to the Mirkwood king, “Speak,” Thea commanded, “And it better be worth it or you should find yourself in the snow with nothing but your ridiculous silk to keep you warm.”

[burycyclespeedway]

Home Internationals at Goshen...

Bury Cycle Speedway hosted the annual Home International series at Goshen Sport Centre on Saturday.  

As temperatures soared, Goshen Sports Centre, Bury, was the venue for this season’s edition of the Home Internationals.  The day’s action opened with the new Women’s Regional Best Pairs event at 10am, surely a prelude to a full international at some point in the coming years.  In the early stages of the match most races were shared, only Laura Watson and Emily Burgess from North and Scotland recorded a race win before the unfortunately fall by Burgess in heat six, which ultimately resulted in a trip to the hospital.  Slowly, British Champion Lauren Hookway took control of the match, producing three second half wins, which alongside two third places for partner Maddie Saunders, put South and South Wales in real contention on 31 points. Midlands' pair Chloe Whitehead and Elizabeth Wrigley had amassed points steadily throughout the match and drew into the joint lead with a final heat 7-2.  Similarly Lauren Jacobs, Chloe Pearce and reserve Charlie-Jane Herbert had just one heat win, but equally, didn’t lose a race on the way to their 31 points.  So, it was a three way run-off for the title.  Lauren Hookway made no mistake from grid one, followed by Lauren Jacobs and Elizabeth Wrigley, to give South and South Wales an inaugural victory.  Perhaps last word should be for Laura Watson, who impressively battled on, scoring well throughout despite racing solo for most of the match.

South and South Wales 31 (1st after run-off)  Lauren Hookway 21+1 (from 6 rides), Maddie Saunders 10 (6) South East and Eastern 31 (2nd after run-off)  Lauren Jacobs 19+1 (6), Chloe Pearce 7 (3), Charlie-Jane Herbert 5+1 (3) Midlands 31 (3rd after run-off)  Elizabeth Wrigley 22 (6), Chloe Whitehead 9+2 (6) North and Scotland 22  Laura Watson 17+1 (6), Emily Burgess 5 (2).

Next up was the Over 40s Veterans’ Home International, which turned out to be the beginning of a whole day of dominance for a powerful England squad.  Dropping just one point in first half of the match, the Three Loins' side of Mark Griffiths, Steve Harris, Norman Venson, Craig Marchant and Neil Howarth looked controlled and confident on a dusty and tricky surface.  Wales’ superstar Mark Winwood won heat three to prevent the perfect half for England and as the match progressed it was the Dragons who took control of the race for second place, with both Winwood and Dave Murphy scoring well throughout. Birmingham pair Andy James and Carl Winwood were also very competitive and on another day would have scored more for their efforts.  Stuart Raven came in as a late reserve, contributing well to the team score. Paddy Wenn was the stand out rider for Ireland, with two excellent second half wins, one from a grid four in heat 11 making full us of the first bend action inside him.  Evergreen Phill Hemming, legend John Murphy and joint team managers Gary Colby and Steve Copping gave good backup across the 18 heats.  Irrepressible Scotland Team Manager Jamie Ball had tried hard to muster a team bearing the saltire, in a competition that they had won last season, but in the end was forced to assemble a home nations’ select, with Northumbria’s Jason Keith heading the way, ably and enthusiastically backed by Bob Prince, Jim Collier and John Whetton.

It turned out to be an excellent day for the Comet’s most experienced first team rider, Neil Howarth (pictured below), now in his 27th season with the club.  Having been selected as part of the very strong England side, who dominated proceedings in the Over 40s event, Howarth proceeded to joint top score, alongside former World Champion Steve Harris, with a four ride 16 point maximum.  Teammate Mark Griffiths was also unbeaten as the side dropped just three points in the eighteen heats.  It was a consummately professional team performance. 

England 69  Steve Harris 16 (4), Neil Howarth 16 (4), Craig Marchant 15 (4), Mark Griffiths 12 (3), Norman Venson 10 (3). Wales 45  Dave Murphy 12 (4), Mark Winwood 12 (4), Andy James 9 (4), Carl Winwood 8 (4), Stuart Raven 4 (2). Ireland 39  Paddy Wenn 13 (4), Gary Colby 8 (4), Phil Hemming 7 (4), John Murphy 6 (2), Steve Copping 5 (4). Home Nations Select 25  Jason Keith 9 (4), Jim Collier 6 (4), Bob Prince 6 (4), John Whetton 4 (4).

Bury’s club coach and top-ranked referee, John Burston, was also at the heart of the action, officiating in two of the day’s fixtures, including the Veterans’ International.

There was a notable increase in both speed and competitiveness throughout the field of riders as the Junior riders took to the track, but England’s domination was again evident from the outset.  Four wins from grid threes in their first round of races set the tone for the rest of the fixture, as Wales and the Home Nations Select exchanged positions throughout, both on the track and overall.  Brandon Whetton unlined his credentials with four excellent wins, with Ed Morton dropping just one point to the speedy Carl Parfitt.  Parfitt impressed throughout to lead the Wales’ scorers, ultimately resulting in securing a second place fro the Principality.  Sean Bennett scored well from reserve and Callum Gower was consistently good, with the whole Welsh side contributing significantly to a final total of 41.  The brothers Bacon were on top form, as Pierce had three wins for England and Harrison a win and three seconds to top score for the Home Nations Select, local Stockport star Devon Campbell also impressing for the blues.  Another local, Sheffield’s Adam Watson, had his score trimmed somewhat by a heat 16 exclusion, but overall it was England who were in command taking 65 points, including a reserve three ride maximum from Wednesfield’s Haydn Rowley.  The Irish side scored consistently across the team, building a very creditable 32 points.  Here once again great testament must be paid to joint team managers Gary Colby and Steve Copping, who had assembled three teams, with reserves, at the three different levels.

England 65  Brandon Whetton 16 (4), Ed Morton 15 (4), Pierce Bacon 14 (4), Haydn Rowley 12 (3), Adam Watson 8 (3). Wales 41  Carl Parfitt 13 (4), Callum Gower 10 (4), Sean Bennett 9 (4), Ryan Winwood 6 (3), Billy Winwood 3 (3). Home Nations Select 40  Harrison Bacon 13 (4), Devon Campbell 10 (4), Josh Whetton 9 (4), Jamie Penny 5 (3), Skye Mitchell 3 (3). Ireland 32  Ciaran Collins 8 (4), Jimmy Wassall 8 (4), Katie Adams 7 (4), Ciaran Wenn 7 (4), Kieron Alton 2 (2).

As the day reached its climax, with the open age Senior event, the competition again stepped up, with passing and action in almost every race, even to secure the all important third places that make the difference in this type of fixture.  One thing didn’t change, as England launched their challenge with four wins in the first four heats, this time from grid ones.  Josh Brooke showed early on that his 2017 form is very secure, ensuring no doubt that he will again be amongst the favourites for the summer’s individuals.  Similarly Paul Heard, who dropped just one point to the impressively combative Leon Mower, who in turn top scored for the Ireland side.  Equally aggressive and impressive were Wales’ Dean Hook, Jack Harrold and Carl Parfitt, who were both at the centre of the action throughout the match.  As mentioned earlier, the Scotland/Home Nations Select manager, Jamie Ball, is the very definition of irrepressible.  In this match he proved his quality on the track, including a good win heat 13 and despite an exclusion in heat 18.  Brandon Whetton, this time riding at reserve for the Home Select side, again caught the eye.  In the end it was another convincing win for England, with a very strong four in Brooke, Heard, Lewis Osbourne and former British Champion, Zac Payne, reserve British Indoor Champion, Jake Read, weighing in with a win in heat 14.

England 64  Josh Brooke 16 (4), Paul Heard 15 (4), Lewis Osbourne 14 (4), Zac Payne 13 (4), Jake Read 6 (2). Wales 45  Dean Hook 12 (4), Jack Harrold 10 (4), Carl Parfitt 9 (3), Adam Bennett 8 (3), Mark Winwood 6 (3). Home Nations Select 37  Brandon Whetton 13 (4), Jamie Ball 10 (4), Nathan Groves 8 (4), Josh Hill 4 (4), Jamie Whetton 2 (2). Ireland 31  Leon Mower 9 (4), Harley Hamill 7 (4), Aaron Herbert 6 (4), Dan Butler 5 (4), Jonjo Slaughter 4 (2).

This week Thursday training returns from 5pm at Goshen, all are welcome.  On Sunday, current Division One leaders Stockport are the visitors, with Bury looking to continue unbeaten in Division Two.

Finally, thanks from Bury Cycle Speedway to all involved in the preparation, organisation and running of the day, including the three match day referees, John Burston, Graham Lush and Darren Kent.

[shi-daisy]

The Last Evergreen Heir

Hello everyone! We start the week for best book boy today and I am ready to bring feels. Here's a lil fic of Tamlin's eldest brother seeing snipets of his reign. (Follows A Court of Threads & Daisies continuity) Hope you like!

@tamlinweek

Tamlin Week 2024- Day 1- Heir of Spring

The Last Evergreen Heir

"If you end up getting high from eating those tulips I'm blaming Ciaran." Dorevan said as he held baby Tamlin.

The giggly baby had eaten more than half the garden, as his tiny hands were faster than Dorevan's adult ones. Still, as he looked back Tamlin had used his magic to make the flowers bloom again after her ate them.

"That's a lot of a magic for a tiny child like you...Does this mean you shall be heir?!"

Tamlin didn't respond he just tilted his head as the loud question and coed, reaching for Dorevan's face.

His eldest brother rolled his eyes. "Don't even think about it kiddo. It's between me and Cece, and I don't intend to lose the court to the stoner or to you, flower eater. I've been here longest and dealt with father before either of you were born. I'm the heir, do well to remember!"

But Tamlin didn't remember, because he was just a baby who didn't see a man lecturing him, or at least attempting to, he just saw his eldest brother carrying him back to the manor.

***

He'd said it, been cruel about it, drilled into the youth's head that he was not to threatening his claim.

It didn't matter. By process of elimination Tamlin Evergreen was now High Lord of Spring.

He could see his body as a ghost, he died reaching for his father who was but a spalt of gore on the wall. Rosabella was still on the bed with the life choked out of her, while Ciaran was slumped against the bed, trying to comfort Tamlin before he too joined them in death.

He knew the pair reconciled today, mere hours before Night came to them and slaughtered everyone in revenge. Dorevan tried to place his hand on Tamlin's shoulder as he cried for his other brother. Neither deserved the tears, but when had that ever stopped the musician from giving them all undeserved love?

"No more tears, you're the heir. It's time to toughen up! You'll do well...You'll do better than either of us..."

***

He'd been right, for Spring bloomed under the rule of the unexpected High Lord.

Dorevan remained a ghost while his parents and brother reincarnated. He decided to stick around and see what Tamlin would do as a ruler, someone had to tell him he did a good job, even if he couldn't hear it.

The flowers bloomed, the court was paradise, the people loved him and Tamlin remained ever humble and sentimental. He was indeed the best out of them.

'If only I'd seen it sooner, and been a better brother.'

Lamenting would do nothing now, but he did stand beside the throne and smiled, placing his hand upon Tamlin's head. "I'm so proud of you, I know mother would be too."

Tamlin's emerald eyes darted around the room, as if he'd heard him...

***

His baby brother wept again as another sentry was lost. Lucien held him in his arms while the pair kneeled on the floor, the other soldiers present grieved by his side, still none of them refused their duty. They never would, not with this High Lord.

Amarantha had cursed him...Bloody wench always gave the impression she'd be trouble, Dorevan just didn't think she'd be this much!

"Falling for a fae hating human...pity we can't make Jurian turn back from the ring, he's your type...Maybe I shouldn't be joking around."

Dorevan remained with Tamlin until he fell asleep in tears. The man tried to be though, well not tried, he was though.

"If I was in your position right now I would've jumped off the roof...You're a though cookie Tam. Let it out, they'll understand. I know you'll make it. You're a good High Lord.

***

Andras was with him when his brother brought the girl, and throught their cute romance that resulted in the broken curse and the restoration of Spring.

But just as he thought Tamlin got his happy ending and he could leave...the cursebreaker became a cursebringer tearing down the court that had been unwavering for milenia.

Oisin would be furious, Ciaran disapointed...Rosabella might understand but then again their mother was a saint and a sensitive sould.

Dorevan just broke, upon seeing the once proud ruler of Spring become but a beast swallowed by pain as he court emptied and left him tot he decay.

"We can't help him. Dore, we need to trust him. He'll rise again."

Dorevan wasn't so sure, he knew how frail his baby brother's heart was. He just hoped in time Tamlin would heal and recover, making the court bloom again as only he could.

"Don't worry, little one. We will look over you, until you rise again."

***

He wouldn't, not as High Lord of Spring or Evergreen Heir. Tamlin was now a civillian of Spring, after his wrists spilled crimson and he nearly joined him and the other ghosts of the manor.

Dorevan thanked Lucien a thousand times for saving his baby brother, but he hadn't been able to save his power.

"So, Tamarand shall be heir now?" He asked Daphne as they waited in the foyer with the other ghosts.

"I suppose so. Don't worry, he'll have Tamlin to guide him, he shall be good."

"I don't doubt that...I'm just saddened at the end of the Evergreen dynasty. This isn't how Tam would've wanted it to go."

It had been a shock, to meet a half sister in the afterlife and find out he had triplet half siblings. The two living ones were probably heading to the manor now, with the new Heir of Spring.

Still, even if he trusted things would work in the end, Dorevan's eyes couldn't be pried from Tamlin and Lucien. They seemed to think the same as him.

Tamlin is heir no more.

***

Though one could argue it didn't matter. That he was able to shine far brighter and work much better with another man as heir. Tamlin had carried the weight of the crown better than any man in his position could and now he was helping another be better than him, wiser than him, maybe even more beloved than him.

No, no that last one was debatable. Tamarand was an exemplary man, and he'd be a great High Lord. But all of Spring reveared and still adored one Tamlin Evergreen.

He'd been pulled back to life by Rhysand, just an experiment, a way to torment him and his baby brother more, but Rhysand didn't know that his own wife and cousin were on their side, and that between them all they'd put an end to his cursed reign and his circle.

He had the honor of fighting alongside Tamlin, and seeing how the little baby he once held had become a fierce warrior that helped snuff away the Night.

When the battle was over and he went back to Spring his with his family Dorevan had been able to see a court blooming beautifully. It was better than what Oisin could've done, better than what he or Ciaran could've done, it was perfection, achieved by the youngest and kept by their half brother. Truly the ending they deserved.

Dorevan walked the same gardens he did as when they were young. Tamlin was no longer a baby, and thankfully he didn't eat the tulips but rather he helped them bloom.

"You better not eat that or I'll blame Cece."

The youngest Evergreen chuckled. "Can't, he isn't here..."

"Yeah. I miss him, but I am happy to be back, and even happier to see you still standing here. I'll make up for lost time, and I'll be a better brother, I promise."

Tamlin leaned on his shoulders. "Thank you. I'm happy to have you back."

"There's something I don't regret though. Something I stand by even after centuries in the afterlife."

"What's that?"

"You were the best out of us three and I'm so very proud of you Tamlin. You let our dynasty go out on a high note."

Just like he did as a baby, Tamlin smiled with teary emerald eyes and a sense of pride.

"It was an honor to have been heir of Spring."

[missy-hissy]

After their success in Sulani, Ciaran decided it was time to up sticks and head over to Evergreen Harbour. The brothers thought they could do something to help the residents of Port Promise clean up their act.