#daughters of malika

[stardust-swan]

A Moroccan woman doing devotional acts for Lalla Malika. As you can see, she is wearing purple (one of Malika's favourite colours), as well as wearing makeup, accessories and jewellery (which Malika loves), spritzing herself with perfume (a traditional offering to Malika), getting her henna done (getting floral or fassi henna is a common act of devotion to Malika), burning incense in a mabkhara burner (incense, especially oud and sandalwood is also a traditional offering to her) and dancing to her rih which plays in the background (even if you don't understand Darija, if you listen closely you'll be able to hear a woman singing "Lalla Malika.") On the table in the background you can also see Moroccan pastries, which are common offerings to jnun in general, along with other foods like dates, sugar, dried figs and milk. Note that she is happy and smiley throughout; Lalla Malika's presence fills people with joy.

[ghcstcd]

Who is going to court Alundra and treat her right???

[nonuggetshere]

HECK YEAH FLUFFY BEE :D

Thank you for the OC content, it is very yummy.

AND a fluffie moth

[theanticool]

The good story. Khelif’s success at the Olympics has inspired a ton of young women to take up boxing in the country.

In Ain Taya, the seaside town east of Algiers where Amina boxes, what local media have termed “Khelifmania” is on full display.

Behind a door wallpapered with a large photograph of the gold medalist, punching bags hang from the ceiling of the local gym, and young girls warm up near a boxing ring surrounded by shelves of masks, gloves and mouth guards.

The 23 young women and girls who train at the gym — an old converted church — all dream of becoming the next Khelif, their coach Malika Abassi said.

Abassi said the women imitate Khelif’s post-win celebrations, hopping around the boxing ring and saluting fans. She’s worried that the interest in boxing will grow so rapidly that her gym won’t be able to handle it.

“We’re getting calls from parents wanting to sign up their daughters,” she said. “I’m the only coach and our gym is small.”

This is the important thing to take away from the 2024 Olympics. The positive impact all these athletes had on the youth.

[townsenddecades]

1323 – Day 4

Over the following months, the earl’s brother continues his visits to Malika, so that even the neighbours and the children eventually realize what is transpiring. The barbed comments by their neighbours – some of whom, like the older Watmores, remember Anne Townsend and her noble bastard – have no difficulty in getting under Benjamin’s skin.

They don’t argue over Malika’s dalliance. It is far too late for that. But Benjamin is quicker to anger over small things, which she finds difficult to bear without becoming irritated herself. They try to put a good face on it, but it’s obvious to the rest of the family that their relationship is suffering.

But there are happy tidings, in these months, too. Little Edwin has survived his first eighteen months of life, and while the crops aren’t growing as much as the Townsends would like, they are growing.

Benjamin and Malcolm spend some of the sunnier autumn days at the river to fish, which affords them no small catch. Malika, meanwhile, spends most of her days doing housework, caring for the cow in the morning and for the children until sundown. Little Edwin is getting more curious by the day, and she makes it a priority to spend some time teaching him all the skills he will need.

And there are, of course, her stolen hours with Clement Dudley.

She has realized early on that her lover – although she hates to think of him that way, that’s what he is – is at his most open after their roll in the sheets. She does her best to simply stay quiet and listen to him talk. And he talks a lot; at first mostly about hunting and Praaven society, about this or that noble or rich citizen, but eventually, he also speaks about his jealousy of his brother’s position, about his difficulties with his wife, whom he calls a ‘headstrong, impertinent wench’, and about his own son, just a few months old.

He is in an especially sour mood when he tells her that the countess is with child again.

“Of course, he fathers a child just when I have a son that could inherit. With my luck, it’s going to be a boy, too.”

“But doesn’t the earl already have a daughter?”, she asks, timidly, but Dudley only makes a dismissive motion.

“Why should my niece inherit if she has a male cousin? Our lands passing to another family is no good.”

She wants to ask more, but she has already gleaned that he doesn’t like it when she ventures opinions about politics. So, she merely smiles at him. “I’ll pray that everything will go smoothly for you. Perhaps the countess will have another girl.”

“Perhaps”, he mutters darkly.

She doesn’t ask for any favours that night, although she had planned to, but only dares it a week or so later, when he is in a calmer mood. They have again shared the bed and aren’t dressed yet. She takes a deep breath.

“My lord, I want to ask some advice.”

“Advice?”, he asks, sounding both confused and amused.

“You may know that the harvest season is coming up. My husband has planted fruit to sell to some vintners, but I have been trying to encourage him to get into nectar-making himself. But he is hesitant, because the cost would be so great and we would need to join the nectar-makers’ guild, for which we’d need to establish proper contacts.”

He chuckles. “Your husband is likely quite right about that, my dear.”

“I was wondering if maybe you know someone that could help us with the guild and the equipment. A great man like you must know a great many people.”

He turns away to put on his garments, obviously already bored. “I do, but I don’t see how your farming is any concern of mine. Our nights together have been enjoyable. Don’t make if burdensome by bringing business into it.”

She lowers her gaze, cursing herself for having gone about it so bluntly. “Of course, m’lord. I am worried for my family, that is all.”

“As a good wife and mother should be, I suppose. But you’re asking the wrong person.”

He leaves, after that, but tells her that he will be back. So she hasn’t driven him off, hopefully. She is far from giving up on her plan, even if her first attempt failed. That only means she has to be smarter the next time.

WATCHER’S NEWS:

Lady Viviane Penrith has aged up into a toddler. Sadly, that happy event is overshadowed by the death of her infant sister, Lady Margaret, due to her ill-health.  

Prev: 1323, Day 3, Part 2/2 <--> Next: 1323 Statistics

[klausysworld]

HI can you do a one shot in which the reader is gamer x YouTuber x dancer .

She has over 20 million subs on her all three channels.

She us dateing Klaus and he and his family do not know about her being a YouTuber .

Hope being her very big fan .They get to know about her being a YouTuber by hope.

They confront reader abot this .

Can you make it funny like they don't have any idea of what a YouTuber a gamer means .

Reader name : malika

Channel 1 name : gamer queen

Channel 2 name : white wolf

Channel 3 name : dancing doll.

Thanks

Simply adorable

“and we are live, this is my…step daughter? i dunno what do we call each other? we’re sorta just friends anyway so anyway we are here because Hope is going to teach me her newest dance routine. She has been going to lessons recently and wants to become a dancing doll 2.0” You introduced the kid as she adjusted the camera angle

“i think i should get my own name like twinkling tribrid?…that sounded..better in my head”

“uhuh sure it did” you muttered as Hope muttered different names that she thought would suit her

“right so now that we’re ready, lets-“

“Hey have either of you seen my paints….why is there a camera?” both Hope and yourself jumped to your feet and smiled suspiciously as Hope picked the screen up and ran off to the next room saying something to the followers.

“Paints are in the cupboard, top shelf, back left corner of your art room, i moved them cuz that way it’s easier to put the brushes on the bottom and the palettes in the middle” Klaus nodded his head as he eyed you for a moment

“what’re you and Hope doing?”

“dancing”

“dancing?”

“mhm you wanna see? we jump about and play loud upbeat music-“

“you know what? i think i’m just going to paint for a bit..i’ll see you in a bit though yea? Love you sweetheart” he softly kissed your lips before leaving the room and closing the door behind him

“may or may not have got that on the live” Hope giggled from the corner as you groaned and saw all the comments calling your boyfriend hot and irresistible.

A couple days later you were on your ‘Gamer Queen’ account and halfway through your game when Elijah walked in behind you. You didn’t hear him as you were wearing headphones talking to other players but he stayed and watched for a minute as you discussed what you needed to do. His confusion was beyond it had ever been before as be stood there awkwardly, it wasn’t until the person you were playing with asked who the guy was did you turn around

“Elijah! You’re in here! What’s up, you need something?” you desperately moved to block the screen and you muted yourself and spun round

“just leaving actually” he smiled quickly before striding out of the room

“shit”

It was when you were on your ‘White Wolf’ youtube channel filming that you were interrupted again. You were wearing your white headphones that had little wolf ears on the top and you were reviewing a video game that people had been begging you to tell them about. You were pointing something out when the door swung open

“i accidentally told Bekah and Kol that you were on youtube and now the whole family are watching your videos and cuz you talk about your gaming on the channel they might’ve clicked the link and saw you on that too… then dad said he saw you with a camera and we were talking about dancing and they may or may not have found the dancing doll account….” Hope spat out in one breath before panting heavily

“oh…that’s just great…right lets just log off and um i dunno jump out a window or something” Hope deadpanned you as you stared blankly back

“well!?” she exclaimed

“i don’t know!? they were never meant to find out! you said they were oblivious to the modern world!”

“they are! have you seen dad on his phone?? the man can’t even text he writes it with a pen!” we both spoke in harsh whispers before we heard a throat being cleared from the door and we hesitantly turned to see the entire family looking at us quizzically

“you’re still wearing the headset” hope mumbled almost inaudibly, you quickly took it off and turned the computer off

“sooo….nice day out”

“it’s raining”

“did i ask you Hope?”

a throat cleared again and Klaus raised a brow

“what’s a you-tube?” Kol asked making you sigh

“it’s an online social media platform, you can watch…or make videos and other people can see them”

“over 20 million people have been and still are watching your life?” Rebekah asked her confusion clear as she glanced at Marcel who shrugged and looked back at his phone

“well not my every living second, only the bigs i want to show-“

“why am i in this video?” Marcel cut you off shoving the phone in your face to show you a clip of marcel dancing in the kitchen making you and Hope hold in your laughter

“well-“

“for her dancey channel obviously!” Kol stated loudly rolling his eyes

“oh dear god” you mumbled pinching the bridge of your nose

“Malika, love, i would like to know what your little friends mean by the word ‘dilf’?” your eyes widened as you watched Klaus scroll through the comments of the video he was accidentally in

“shit! fuck! its nothinggg” you could hear Davina giggling and held in your own laughter as he kept scrolling. His face grew a little pink as he turned the screen off

“never mind i googled it, which i can do by the way by typing” Hope burst into a fit if giggles

“forgive me Malika but i still don’t understand the concept” Elijah mumbled and furrowed his brows as he studied the screen

“its for entertainment”

“not my kinda entertainment” Kol snickered and Davina smacked his arm

“oh but uncle kol haven’t you seen the super duper hilarious video of you yet? you know the one when you were convinced you were a rapper after you drank too much of dads best bourb-“ Kol quickly vamped over and pulled Hope into a bear hug

“ahahahaha you’re so silly, lets move on yea?” he picked her up and zoomed them out of the room along with Davina

“as long as it’s harmless i don’t see the issue” Elijah shrugged and walked off

“i’m offended i wasn’t offered a dance position if i’m honest” Rebekah pouted playfully before breaking into a smile and giving you a hug

“i’m glad you’re having fun Mal”

Klaus stayed with his arms crossed

“you never mentioned it”

“i didn’t want you to think it was weird”

he smiled softly and pulled you against his chest

“you’re simply adorable, always, you know this” you hummed in appreciation and hugged him back

“soo…you wanna play a horror game with me?”

[expirisims]

Rude Awakening

Wanda WAS still pregnant at the Summerville's beach party, I thought so! Well congratulations and it looks like Korey is a definite girl dad, that makes number three for him and I haven't even made it through an entire rotation yet!

Not sure which townie Mindy is, but yikes! I hardly ever get notifications of sims getting fired! I wonder what she did!

Pulled from slumber by a ringing cellphone and crying children. Malika is definitely close to that imaginary friend of hers, she plays with it all the time! Gotta say, in a full house like this, it is super handy.

It was off to work again for both Marley and Aimee. Considering the amount of children you are watching, girl, you should be charging more! Not us though...we can't afford it, LOL!

A while ago it was suggested to me that Cowplants make good paparazzi control...Now if you know me, you know that I've actually been done with the St. Bernie playthrough for weeks now, (part of the way through Pleasant Isle actually) so I hadn't even thought of that at the time this was played, buuuttt...there's always next round! These two ladies right here are the most ANNOYING Sim Paparazzi I've encountered in a while! What do you mean showing up this late at night to ring the bell! We have little kids, five of them, who are needing to get to sleep!

Just some appreciation pictures of the bright colors I used to decorate this home! This one and the one the Williams previously lived in are two of the brightest on the island! Also snuck in an adorable picture of Myles biting the head off what looks to be a Ken Doll, LOL!

Oh boy! Korey is surprise, surprise not paying on any of his three daughters and Freddie! Sir! I just moved poor Nickolas back to Ivy's home for the rest of the year and you already can't afford payments! It's the least you could do after leaving the poor kid in your DRIVEWAY in the middle of a hailstorm!

Working full time as a teacher and running after those five kids, and now on top of that you've got a big $50,000 loan to pay back...I'd be stressed too.

And it looks like one of the babies is crying again. And hey! Myles is still up too!

Turn that phone on silent for the night! You both need some sleep!

Tomorrow is Spooky Day, and while I don't think we'll do anything big, it will be nice to at least be off of work!

[richincolor]

New Releases

It's officially fall and the beginning of the spooky season! We have three spooky books out this week to start this magical time off right as well as the sequel to another one of Chloe Gong's fantastical Shakespeare's adaptations. Which of these will be your spooky season read?

If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

Cemetery Boys meets Legendborn in this thrillingly romantic, irresistibly fun YA contemporary fantasy debut following a teenage Chinese American ghost speaker who (reluctantly) makes a deal to raise her nemesis from the dead. Cara Tang doesn’t want to be haunted. Look, the dead have issues, and Cara has enough of her own. Her overbearing mother insists she be the “perfect” Chinese American daughter—which means suppressing her ghost-speaking powers—and she keeps getting into fights with Zacharias Coleson, the local golden boy whose smirk makes her want to set things on fire. Then she stumbles across Zach’s dead body in the woods. He’s even more infuriating as a ghost, but Cara’s the only one who can see him—and save him. Agreeing to resurrect him puts her at odds with her mother, draws her into a dangerous liminal world of monsters and magic—and worse, leaves her stuck with Zach. Yet as she and Zach grow closer, forced to depend on each other to survive, Cara finds the most terrifying thing is that she might not hate him so much after all. Maybe this is why her mother warned her about ghosts.

The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum ECW Press

The small-town mysteries of John Bellairs are made modern with a dash of Stranger Things in this spine-tingling supernatural horror-thriller. After his father returns from treatment for addiction, highschooler Vish ― lover of metal music and literature ― is uncertain what the future holds. It doesn’t help that everyone seems to know about the family’s troubles, and they stand out doubly as one of the only brown families in town. When Vish is mistaken for a relative of the weird local bookseller and attacked by an unsettling pale man who seems to be decaying, he is pulled into the world of the occult, where witches live in television sets, undead creatures can burn with a touch, and magic is mathematical. Vish must work with the bookstore owner and his mysterious teenage employee, Gisela, to stop an interdimensional invasion that would destroy their peaceful town. Bringing together scares, suspense, and body horror, The Grimmer is award-winning author Naben Ruthnum’s first foray into the young adult genre. This gripping ride through the supernatural is loaded with vivid characters, frightening imagery, and astonishing twists, while tackling complex issues such as grief, racism, and addiction.

The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde Feiwel & Friends

A teenage girl is pulled into investigating the truth behind her new boarding school’s decades-old legend in The Changing Man , this debut Young Adult speculative thriller by Tomi Oyemakinde Face front. Watch your back. BE BRAVE. If it was left to her, Ife Adebola wouldn’t be starting at Nithercott School. Because despite her being in the Urban Achievers scholarship program, her parents can barely afford the tuition. No matter who is trying to be friends with her, like her classmate Bijal, or how much the prestigious boarding school tries to pull her in, Ife is determined not to get caught up in any of it. But when another student, Malika, begins acting strange, Ife can’t help but wonder if there’s more going on at Nithercott than she realizes. Could there be any truth to the school’s decades-old legend of the Changing Man? Is there any connection to the missing older brother of her classmate, Ben? As more questions arise, Ife has no choice but to team up with Ben and Bijal to investigate. But can the trio act quickly enough to uncover who is behind everything, before one―or all―of them is the Changing Man’s next victim?

Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker Feiwel Friends

14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown – the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker – exploring mermaids like we’ve never seen them before! A Vietnamese mermaid caught between two worlds. A siren who falls for Poseidon’s son. A boy secretly pining for the merboy who saved him years ago. A storm that brings humans and mermaids together. Generations of family secrets and pain. Find all these stories and more in this gripping new collection that will reel you in from the very first page! Welcome to an ocean of hurt, fear, confusion, rage, hope, humor, discovery, and love in its many forms. Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown features beloved authors like Darcie Little Badger, Kalynn Bayron, Preeti Chhibber, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Julie C. Dao, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Adriana Herrera, June Hur, Katherine Locke, Kerri Maniscalco, Julie Murphy, Gretchen Schreiber, and Julian Winters.

Firsts and Lasts edited by Laura Silverman Penguin Workshop

An exciting fiction YA anthology that celebrates the new experiences and final moments teenagers face on their journey into adulthood from editor Laura Silverman and a cast of spectacular contributors. From first breakups and romantic vampire encounters to last band performances and the deadly end of a friendship, Firsts and Lasts is an anthology that is just as unpredictable as being a teenager. While each of these stories span different genres and styles, they all perfectly capture the big emotions–confusion, joy, uneasiness, and anticipation–that many teens experience as they grow up. Whether you are hopelessly in love and not sure how to tell your crush, going through loss and can’t fully process it, or just trying to figure out where you belong in the world, this collection of sixteen stories has something for every reader. Stories written by: Adi Alsaid, Keah Brown, Monica Gomez-Hira, Kika Hatzopoulou, Shaun David Hutchinson, Amanda Joy, Loan Le, Joy McCullough, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna Meriano, Nina Moreno, Tess Sharpe, Laura Silverman, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Diana Urban, and Julian Winters.

Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune #2) by Chloe Gong Margaret K. McElderry Books

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion. Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back. But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people? When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

[meushell]

Lantash and Martouf’s Biographies

Lantash of Kortin

Look at that adorable smugness. Rank: Sub Commander

Occupation: Security Guard/Diplomat/Operative

Larva Name: Shadow

Gender: Male

Quirks/Traits/Facts

• Passionate.

• Loves to love, and falls in deep every time.

• Arrogant and self assured.

• Excellent seamster.

• Loves photos/images of loved ones.

• Eats extremely healthy.

Loved Ones

Thirty Batch Mates:

• Flower, Stem, Dusk, Ocean, and Ice - Died with their first blending.

• Twenty-Five More - Including Kela’an (née Twig) and Jalen

Past and Current Marriages:

• Rósa

• Norak and Arada

• Valak and Leksi, then Valak and Corr

• Norak and Javari, Valak and Helge

• Jolinar and Rosha

• Kela’an and Samantha “Sam” Carter

Flings:

• Lantash has had many flings and multiple failed romances.

• Malek - They had a brief relationship.

Timeline / Hosts

Year 626 • Born with a strong interest in combat.

• • • Two hours old • He meets Jolinar.

• • • Three days old • Per’sus gives him the larva name, Shadow. 

Nurul - First Host - Year 633

Nurul, a highly educated warrior priestess, used her role to help her people against the Goa’uld. She escaped when the Jaffa came looking for her.

Not knowing the difference between human genders, or what he was, Lantash doesn’t have a preference for his first host.

Together, the two of them later save Per’sus’ life.

Hrafn - Second Host - Year 792

A young warrior. Lantash enters the marriage with Hrafn’s wife, Rósa.

Datu - Third Host - Year 955

Lantash’s host when Egeria is lost in 998.

They marry Norak and Arada. The marriage ends with Datu’s death.

Madoc - Fourth Host - Year 1113

A young scholar who was rescued from a labor camp.

Marries Valak and Leksi.

Coşkun - Fifth Host - Year 1302

The marriage with Valak continues. After Leksi dies, Corr joined the marriage.

Sindri - Sixth Host - Year 1381

The marriage with Valak ends after Corr’s death.

Archard - Seventh Host - Year 1568

Lantash remarries Norak and Valak, and their new hosts, Javari and Helge.

Shortly after, Lantash goes missing to the Tok’ra. Archard is captured and tortured to death by locals on a planet.

Raven - Eighth Host - Year 1611

Raven was another prisoner when Archard is killed. 

After almost three years, Lantash makes it home. He attempts to renew his relationships with Norak and Valak, but Javari is too angry about Archard’s fate. Realizing that he is only hurting his husband, Lantash officially leaves the marriage.

Kibar -  Ninth Host - Year 1723

It is with Kibar that Lantash first meets Selmak’s future host, Saroosh (1817).

Setta - Tenth Host - Year 1879

Setta’s Age: 19 to 36

With Setta, Lantash begins courting Jolinar and Rosha. Unfortunately, Setta dies soon after.

Martouf - Eleventh Host - Year 1896

A miner from Kiron. Martouf enters the relationship, and the four soon marry.

The Twelfth Host - Year 2006

Lantash is separated from Martouf for four months. They interact, but both have amnesia. After their memories return, Lantash reblends with Martouf.

Viator - Thirteenth Host

Lantash and Viator travel from the future and briefly meet Lantash and Martouf.

Martouf of Kiron, the 11th Host

Gender: Male

Pre-Tok'ra Occupation: Miner

Blending Age: Sixteen

Quirks/Traits/Facts

• Very religious and traditional.

• Uses beeswax candles for ceremonies.

• Eats healthy, but not as healthy as Lantash. It can be a source of conflict.

• Enjoys cooking.

• Does not like cats.

Appearance

• Blue Eyes - Later in life, he lost his right eye.

• Dark Blonde Hair

• 5'10" tall

• He lost most of the fingers on his left hand. He still has his thumb and most of his index.

Loved Ones

Family:

• Parents

• Marrow - Older brother. 

• Yirp - Adoptive brother. Best friend.

Mates:

• Jolinar and Rosha - Deceased.

• Samantha “Sam” Carter - Jolinar’s last host. 

• Kela’an - Blended with Sam after the marriage.

Children:

• Fourteen Clones - Included Marshal, Duplicate, Replica, Lance, and Copy.

• Iasis - Adopted symbiote queen.

• Malika Jolan Carter - Human daughter, named after Malek and Jolinar.

Grandchildren:

• Nine Tok’ra Clones - Twelve clones were made. Iasis adopted the nine who were still larvae after she blended.

• First Batch - Iasis gave birth to twenty-four larvae. This includes Jumper, Happy, Red, Defender, Roshe (née Earth, named after Rosha), and Einar (named after Per’sus host, Einar).

Timeline

1880 • Born . (Age 0)

1884 • His best friend, Yirp, is orphaned. Martouf’s parents immediately take him in. (Age 14)

1896 • His people are massacred. Martouf blends with Lantash. Only he and three others, Tur, Jordon, and Pekon, survive.  (Age 16)

1897 • Marries Jolinar and Rosha. (Age 17)

1953 • Promoted to Commander. (Age 73)

1989 • Participates in the Battle of Farra, an attack lead by Jolinar on Cronus. They are ambushed by Apophis.

• • • Mian/Jorda and Norak/Pekon are killed in the battle. (Age 109)

1997 • Rosha and Jolinar go missing. (Age 117) 

1998 • The Tau'ri find them. Martouf and Lantash learn that Rosha and Jolinar were killed. (Age 118)

2000 • Treaty with Tau'ri.

• • • Soon after the treaty, Martouf and Lantash go undercover. (Age 120)

2002 • They discover Goa’uld plans to attack the base on Revanna. They warn the Tok’ra to evacuate. (Age 122)

2004 • The Tau’ri treaty breaks. (Age 124)

2005 • Recalled when Relek and Tur are killed.

• • • Treaty reinstated. (Age 125)

2006 • Begins dating Sam. (Age 126)

2007 • They are cloned without their knowledge.

• • • Copy escape with Marshal and Lance. Martouf accepts them as his sons, but they don’t survive. (Age 127)

2008 • They marry Sam. (Age 128)

2011 • The Tok’ra learn that one of their own is a traitor.

• • • Sam rescues Iasis, a larva queen. Sam, already pregnant, blends with Kela’an on the condition that she be allowed to keep her child. Iasis is adopted.

• • • Lantash and Martouf are demoted for “fathering” a child.

• • • Several bases and outposts are attacked. Martouf and many others are forced to go into deep hiding. Hundreds are killed, and they lose contact with thousands more. (Age 131)

2012 • Malika is born. (Age 132)

2025 • Due to a death glider attack, Martouf loses his right eye and most of the fingers on his left hand. (Age 145)

2026 • Einar and Per’sus, who had been missing for over a year, return to the Tok’ra with symbiotes that they rescued. (Age 146)

2028 • Iasis and Malika blend. (Age 148)

2029 • Iasis gives birth to new Tok’ra and adopts most of the larvae that Per’sus rescued. (Age 149)

[kemetic-dreams]

Being a mixed race child and not looking like your Mom can be tough. This children's book emphasizes how a child can look different from their parent and still "match" in many important ways.

I was picking up my oldest daughter from preschool. I read a list posted in the classroom that asked, "What do you think is beautiful?" Malika's answer was, "I think my Momma is beautiful." Later, I thanked her for the complement. She asked if our skin color would match when she grew up. When she realized that we would never "match" she was devastated. This story tells of how I responded to her reaction, transforming a difficult moment in to one of beauty.

Hmm! Now antics make sense

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios Adventures

“Malika? Malika where are you? You were just here a second ago.”

Mark Mishra frantically tried to locate his cousin. He and Malika were at the Pleasantview Academy of Magic for the day, touring the campus as Princess Zarah Royal Academy students. Both were prestigious schools that taught the rich children of Pleasantview’s elite, but only one focused entirely on magic. The magical ability needed to be accepted at the academy was impossibly high. That or you needed to have the right connections.

Both schools had a friendly rivalry that had spanned centuries though several times during the year that rivalry would be suspended for festivals and events that briefly united the students. Today, Pleasantview celebrated the Feast of the Red Queen and both schools gathered together to celebrate.

Mark had intended to spend the day with his cousin, but Malika seemed to have other plans. She’d been nervous all morning, chewing her nails and making sure that her hair was absolutely perfect. If he didn’t know any better, Mark would have guessed that she was trying to impress someone.

Malika peered nervously around the room, trying not to bump into the expensive busts that decorated the hallway. How did the school keep so many valuable items just lying around? Her own school had a collection of ancient artifacts and expensive furnishings, but the students still ate snacks in the hall and bumped into shelves from time to time. Maybe it was magic that protected the things that looked too expensive to touch.

She tried to remember where she’d been instructed to stand. It was by the painting of a woman in a red dress, she was sure of it. However, to her frustration, most of the portraits in the hallway were painted in red dresses. Red was the official colour of Pleasantview, chosen millennia ago to immortalize yet another mysterious woman in a red dress. It was also the colour of blood and anger, two things that seemed to be encoded in Pleasantview society. 

“Malika! How are you enjoying the festivities?”

Malika turned to find Evren Thorne standing behind her, smiling politely. She had never really considered a magical career, especially considering her controversial nephew, Theo. Wbuna had warned her daughter about following witches. Nothing good came from magic, especially the demonic magic that had killed her father. Still, not all magic users seemed to be bad. Evren and his kids were friendly whenever she ran into them in Arkhelios, and Malika had only decided to come today to spend time with another magic user.

“It-it seems really great,” she stammered. “Have you seen a portrait around with a woman wearing red? I’m supposed to meet someone there.”

Evren laughed, still offering her a welcoming smile.

“There’s a lot of those around here,” he replied. “I assume you mean the Red Queen’s portrait? It is her holiday, after all. She’s down the hall to the right. Be sure to grab some of the cookies out by the kitchen on your way. Roman and the girls stayed up late baking them all. There’s probably still piles of boxes at home, waiting to be sent here. We’ll be eating them until they graduate at this rate, so grab some to take home with you.”

“Yes, Master Thorne,” she said politely, hoping that she got his proper title correct. Witches weren’t granted official titles by the government, they had either passed their mastery exam or apprenticeship, or were still studying magic. Given his formal robe and status at the academy, Malika felt pretty confident that Evren wasn’t still a student.

Malika followed the hallway like Evren had told her to and stopped in front of the first portrait with a crowned woman in a red dress. Surely this had to be the Red Queen. There was a crown on her head and a fortune in jewelry depicted. Malika’s mother barely had a nice pair of earrings to her name and this woman had earrings that looked like they could pay for a mansion if sold.

Under the portrait was a small gold sign that read “Master Spencer Maricourt, Coven Leader. Served at the side of Their Majesties, Queen Anastasia, King Rassilon I and Queen Raynah I.”

So not the Red Queen then. Dammit.

"Waiting for someone?"

Malika’s heart leapt at the familiar voice, and she whirled around to find Remy Maricourt watching her with an amused look.

"Remy! I found you! Thank god, I thought you'd never show up and I'd have to spend the afternoon with my cousin. That or join the coven. There's a lot of people from Arkhelios here. Wanda's made quite the impact."

"Hmm. Well, joining is harder than it looks," Remy replied, her face becoming uncharacteristically guarded. "Funny you should be waiting at this portrait. That bitch there is the reason my dad has such a hard time getting anything done. She was the last true leader of our coven and if you weren't descended from her exclusive bloodline, you're apparently garbage."

Malika frowned, trying to quickly piece together Remy's family tree in her mind. It wasn't like she hadn't gone over her family tree before; they had been secretly meeting for months now and Remy's family was a large part of why. As a Maricourt, Remy had expectations to live up to in Pleasantview and with her mother's Darktide blood on top of that, the pressure to perform was high. Adam faced the same pressures as his sister and their half-siblings, but with Theo on his arm, some snobs were willing to cut him a break. A blood demon descended from a Great house was just too enticing. Malika was just part alien, and aliens didn't command the same respect in Pleasantview as demons. Maybe in Strangetown, but not in these regal halls.

"Are you not related to her?" Remy asked, finally giving up on tracing her girlfriend's genealogy. "But your dad is the leader. The position is passed down a bloodline, isn't it?"

"Spencer’s only surviving son, Casper Maricourt, married Queen Raynah I. They had a son together, King Casper I. He killed everyone else in the family."

"Excuse me? The king did what?"

Remy shrugged as if the idea were a normal fact of life and not the most troubling thing she'd ever heard.

"Raynah remarried, had a million kids that should have inherited the throne. Little Casper was supposed to be Spencer's heir and lead the council. He decided that he wanted to be king instead. He killed every eligible sibling and his mother. Nearly killed his dad too. That's why Casper Sr has that huge scar on his face, haven't you seen it? He teaches at your school."

"Professor Maricourt was married to a queen and was almost killed by his son?" Malika gasped, trying to picture the soft spoken history professor fighting for his life. "But he grades papers and looks so young! He would have to be centuries old if that were true!"

When Remy shrugged again, Malika’s mind raced, trying to imagine any of her other professors being ancient and the parent of a mass murderer.

"See for yourself," she said, gesturing to another, less prominent portrait on a nearby wall.

An unscarred, youthful version of the now weary looking professor stood proudly next to a young teen who could have easily been his duplicate. Both wielded the famous wand of the Pleasantview coven, though only one of them looked content about their station in life. The younger Casper looked miserable, his face reflecting the anger that must have been raging in his heart. Just looking at his picture sent chills down Malika’s spine. There was something unnerving about the way his eyes focused on the camera lens. It reminded her a little of the way Kamalani once looked at her. After Omar's death and Kamalani being revealed as his murderer, Malika had had nightmares about the demon for months. Could she really handle living in a country where there was a Kamalani around every corner? Ones that killed their own family for power?

"Hey, he's dead, don't worry. He died a long time ago. Queen Maura’s ancestor defeated him and the throne passed to his kids…more or less."

Malika felt a reassuring hand squeeze hers and felt herself unconsciously start to relax.

"Sorry," Malika said, trying to regain her composure. "I'm fine, it's silly. I'm just being stupid. I just…I just think about my dad and what he must have felt in his last moments. About how Kamalani must have…how anyone could…."

"Hey, it's okay. I'm sorry, I should have thought about your dad," Remy apologized, hugging her girlfriend tight. It didn't matter who saw them together at the moment, Malika needed her more. "You could always talk to your professor, he might be able to give you some advice about grieving a murder." She paused momentarily, thinking about what comforting thing she could say. "Come on, I'll show you something."

Malika followed Remy down the hall and to the right, just as Evren had instructed her. Remy came to a stop in front of a portrait of a woman wearing a beautiful red dress. 

"This is the Red Queen," she said respectfully. "Queen Juniper Goss, the only daughter of King Casper of Pleasantview and Queen Holly of Crystal Cove. She protected the people of Crystal Cove from her father and made sure that Crystal Cove remained separate from Pleasantview after his death. She brought peace to her people her entire life and prepared the way for her brother to reign over Pleasantview. She was the beginning of the great promise made to our people and we honour her for it."

"Wow. She's pretty. That's who the holiday is for?"

Remy nodded.

"The Crystal Cove coven made the crystals below the portrait for the very first festival. You'll see more of them if you stay for the dinner later. Their king is Queen Juniper's son, King Liam. They have their own celebration and then he and Queen Claudia meet each other at the ruins of the royal tombs and we have a huge party with the Crystal Cove witches. Adam snuck some wine last year and got so drunk that he threw up. I can't wait to see what he does this year."

"So Queen Claudia is Juniper's daughter?" Remy asked, staring at the portrait curiously. "She looks a lot like her. She must have had her when she was really old. Liam looks like forty years older than her."

"Ah, well, not really. Claudia is her niece. The other half of the promise made to our people. It's complicated."

"Complicated?" Malika repeated incredulously. "I don't get it. If you can't rule a coven without the proper bloodline, how did the queen's niece override her son for the throne? Liam should be king of both countries, right?"

Malika paused, choosing her next words carefully. 

"How far have you gotten in magical lifestates class?" she asked. "Have you finished studying vampires? I'm pretty sure it's the chapter after vampires."

Malika blinked with surprise at the odd change in topic.

"We're at werewolves," she replied curiously. "Now you have to tell me what's going on. Not after a question like that!"

"Well," Remy started nervously. "Let's just say that what's dead doesn't always stay dead."

Malika gasped, images of Narcissa, Ian Chun and Tabitha Durant running through her head in horrifying detail. Wanda kept the zombie population of Arkhelios safe and far away from the public, but still Malika had had run-ins with some of them in the past. Between the horrid smells and frightening spasms of their body, Malika could honestly say that she was terrified of zombies, even if they were wearing a crown.

"The queen is a zombie?" she whispered in horror.

"Don't they teach you anything at your dumb school? Her father is a reaper! As in the Grim Reaper?" a familiar voice called out, ruining Malika’s mood in an instant.

Theo.

"Butt out of my conversations!" Remy snapped angrily. So much for keeping a low profile and their relationship a secret.

To her displeasure, her twin brother and Theo were intertwined on a couch, watching Remy with interest.

"So, you and an Arkhelian girl, huh?" Adam teased, making his sister ball her hands into angry fists.

"You're dating an Arkhelian guy!" she replied. "If you tell Mom or Dad about Malika, I'll make you regret it."

"Please," Adam scoffed, clearly enjoying having the upper hand for once. "You score even lower than me in school, I'm not afraid of what you can do. Besides, Theo's stronger than both of us combined. He'll protect me from whatever you try."

Adam stuck his tongue out playfully at his twin, but Remy didn't fall for his bait.

"No, but I doubt all that power will save you when I tell his parents that he's got his hand resting on your crotch."

Malika giggled as Theo and Adam pulled away from each other in an instant, each boy looking as embarrassed as Remy had hoped. 

"That's what I thought," Remy laughed. "I won't tell if you won't tell. Mutually assured destruction."

Adam glowered at his twin. As usual his twin had the upper hand. Going to Theo's parents with any allegations of sexual activity might just leave her twinless.

"Fine. Let's go get some punch, Theo. This area is getting crowded anyway."

Adam scurried off, dragging Theo by the hand, leaving Malika and Remy blissfully alone once more.

"Boys," Remy sighed dramatically. "Thank god you're a girl and have common sense. I can't imagine trying to date a boy and putting up with all of that. Sometimes I wonder if Adam and I really are twins or if he's just a jerk that was dropped off at our door one day. He's so frustrating!"

Malika giggled, thinking about her own complicated family tree. 

"Adam's not so bad," she laughed. "My own siblings can be a pain, but they mean well usually. Now Roman, that's a different story. Clearly he takes after his mom."

"Clearly."

The two girls laughed for a moment, despite their secret being compromised. Maybe they didn't have to hide their relationship from Remy's family after all. Adam had just teased them about liking each other, same as Remy often did about Theo. Maybe her parents wouldn't care about her not dating a witch. 

"What was Theo going on about anyway?" Malika asked, despite her reservations about zombies. If the undead were walking around Pleasantview, she needed to know about it. "Does the grim reaper really walk around Pleasantview making royal zombies? Do people really see him?"

Did he come for my dad when he died? Has Dad ever seen him?

Remy shrugged. 

"People say that he was seen when the Pleasantview castle burned down," she replied. "He supposedly wandered around the ruins, looking for the dead and killing anyone left alive. But that's just a story. Who knows what he really did? He's real though; I've seen him myself."

"Really?" Malika breathed. "When? What does he look like? Did he talk to you? Did he threaten to kill you?"

"Nah, he was just picking up his kids from school," Remy laughed. "They go to school here. Apparently they have enough magical skill to qualify to attend classes here. His partner is something weird too. Not a witch, but definitely powerful. You might run into them at the celebrations tonight. I'll introduce you if you want."

"I-if I want to meet Death? I don't know about that," Malika stammered. It was just her luck to have to shake hands with the embodiment of death itself. Why did she think that leaving Arkhelios would ever make her life less complicated? "Um…maybe? So the queen's father is death? How does he have a claim on the Pleasantview throne? How does he even have children?"

“Don’t worry about it,” Remy laughed, seeing the look on her girlfriend’s face. “I won’t introduce you. Baby steps. And the queen’s father isn’t death, he just works for him. Her mom too. Like I said, it’s complicated. But who cares about family trees and inheritances when we could be having fun? Lets go grab some cupcakes before they leave the kitchen. I’ll be pissed if Adam and Theo steal them all like they always do. Come on!”

Malika reluctantly grabbed Remy’s outstretched hand, looking over her shoulder at the expensive looking bust behind her labelled “King Casper I”. If things seemed dangerous and unnerving back home in Arkhelios, Pleasantview was turning out to be a waking complicated nightmare. There were so many rules and expectations layered with tragedy and greed.

She wouldn’t give up so easily though. Malika had made a promise to Wanda to do her best and she wasn’t about to break it anytime soon. Besides, if she went back to Arkhelios, when would she ever get to see Remy?

“Coming!” Malika replied and allowed Remy to lead her in the direction of the kitchen.

[stardust-swan]

The Female Followers of Lalla Malika (Daughters of Malika/Bnat Malika)

🪷 They are known for their strong will. They have high standards and are not easily swayed by superficial attractions. Not just any man can win them over.

🪷 Men are very drawn to them - especially married ones.

🪷 They are known to be very elegant. Their manner of speech is graceful, their manners are perfect, and they look their best at all times. They prefer high-end fashion, live in well-decorated homes with luxurious furniture, and exude class and grace, seeming like nobility or queens.

🪷 They command respect, but are not seen as stuffy or severe. They have a playful, light-hearted spirit, and bring laughter and joy wherever they go.

🪷 They are extremely dedicated to beauty and self care. One description I read says:

They are preoccupied only with themselves — their hammam, creams, perfumes, beauty routines, and stylish living spaces. They wear the finest clothes, high-quality fabrics, and gold jewelry.

🪷 Regularly taking time to focus on beauty is a must for Daughters of Malika. Creams, perfumes, cosmetics, fine clothes and henna are commonly used by them. Her followers are known for leaving behind a pleasant scent trail wherever they go. Baths and cleanliness are very important to them.

🪷 Like their Queen, they have a special relationship with perfume. Unlike most people, who just spray perfume and it smells normal, perfume on daughters of Malika carries an air of mystique and presence. Their scent lingers in the air long after they've left a room, and can even fill the street behind them. One small spray is potent on daughters of Malika. They wear perfume daily, not just on special occasions.

🪷 They are known for their cleanliness. They would never dream of going to bed sweaty, or leaving their house in a mess.

🪷 They are always well dressed, whether in casual situations or at formal events in Malika's honour. Their outfits often incorporate the colour purple somewhere. They are often seen in silk kaftans, high heels, and gold jewellery, but even in casual outfits they look put together, wearing clothes made from high quality fabrics. Their hair will be styled, nails will be done, and makeup will be immaculate.

🪷 Younger girls possessed by Malika wear light violet (resembling cherries), while adult women wear dark violet, symbolizing the maturity and dignity of the "queen of queens" (Malika dyal muluk, also called Malika zhawaniya).

🪷 They invest large amounts of money into beauty, having a strong affinity for gold and luxury perfumes.

🪷 Many of them wear a ring with a purple stone, as in mythology Malika wears a gold ring with a purple stone.

🪷 Women who embody Malika's spirit are said to often have large, expressive eyes, are spoiled, and possess very dark features.

🪷 They are social butterflies, and easily make friends. They are famous for their regal demeanour, and for their energy, joy, social skills, and laughter. Their mere presence can light up the atmosphere, filling it with joy and laughter. They naturally attract admiration, attention and love from the people surrounding them (but sometimes they attract jealousy too). This kind of charm is a divine blessing, not something that can be faked or bought.

🪷 They bring their divine blessing wherever they go, filling any place they enter with joy, blessings, vitality, abundance and luck.

🪷 Although they are humble, some people mistake them as being arrogant. They have a sense of pride and self-assurance. They know their worth and refuse to settle for mediocrity in their lives, relationships, or possessions. Their self-confidence is sometimes seen as charmingly arrogant, but it comes from a place or self-awareness and dignity. They are also known for their independence.

🪷 Although generally her followers live more conventional lifestyles like most of the population, Malika is known to be very accepting of those with lifestyles/identities that are outside of the norm in Morocco, like Jews, sex workers, unmarried women, modern women who like partying and wearing revealing clothing, eccentric women, and gays and bisexuals, so you are more likely to find those demographics among her devotees.

🪷 They are extremely diverse. Some are upper class, and some come from impoverished neighbourhoods. Their jobs include: housewives, retirees, hairdressers, office workers, students, sex workers, seers, ritual officiants, musicians, market workers, post offices, banks, schools, farms, or hammams. Their economic situations range from dependence on a husband or family for support, to financial independence achieved through hard work, to affluent lifestyles or marriages to wealthy men.

🪷 Depending on one's needs, Malika may adapt her attire and behaviour. A woman aspiring to be a scholar may perceive Malika in a form that aligns with intellectual pursuits. A woman wanting to marry may envision Malika in a dark violet bridal dress. For a woman seeking to enter sex work and attract clients, Malika might appear with instructions on attire, smoking habits, or other behaviors. A woman wishing to undertake a pilgrimage would never be advised by Malika to bring whiskey.

🪷 Women connected to Malika's spiritual presence attract gifts, wealth, and luxury naturally. People often offer them gifts, and they are especially known for receiving gifts of gold. They are used to receiving only the best. They are discreet; these gifts remain between them and the giver.

🪷 Their surroundings are always clean and well-decorated. They love luxurious decor and furniture, particularly Fassi-style saloons (luxurious, large Moroccan living rooms). Incense is never absent from these homes, and they love hosting lavish gatherings.

🪷 Some (although not all) followers of Lalla Malika also revere Lalla Mira, who has a similar personality to Malika but presides over different areas.

🪷 Women consider themselves to have a special relationship with Lalla Malika, although she has male followers as well. In some places, like Meknes, her devotees are mainly female, and certain songs and rituals may only be performed by women.

[ghcstcd]

Not to be absolutely filthy and nsfw in your ask box but I think Allie would be so good at holding hands. I think about it and I get that phantom touch of gentle fingers weaving and interlocking around mine. Ough you’re doing such a good job with her.

You're starting to sound like Malika with that filthy language of yours! How dare you speak of my daughter in such a way!!!!

(Allie loves holding hands. She's usually the initiating it, pulling people in, regardless if they make a sound. She sees you.)

[lettersnorth]

14 Associations: Aislinn North

Tagged by: @luck-and-larceny Thank you! I absolutely loved reading more about Malika

Animal: Sparrow. Constantly overlooked and unobtrusive but absolute masters at adapting. They’re everywhere. Forests, mountains, cities. It doesn’t matter. They’ll figure it out and they’ll survive. 

Color: Red dirt. I associate Aislinn with the red earth and canyonlands of the Gyr Abania landscape in her blood. 

Song: My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit. I have so many songs in Aislinn's playlist but every word of this is just Aislinn to a T.

Number: Okay, this is probably the nerdiest answer but that’s okay because Lin is an absolute nerd. Math is a language and she’s fluent. So the number I associate with her is 1.618. Which is the Golden Ratio in the Fibonacci sequence. 

Day or Night: Both? She burns the candle at both ends. 

Plant: Black-eyed Susan. It’s a tough, heat-loving wildflower constantly popping up where it’s not supposed to be. 

Smell: The soap she uses is probably something fresh and herbal. Lavender. When she’s not smelling like machine oil and alchemicals. 

Gemstone: Emerald. She wears an Ishgardian cut heirloom emerald pendant hidden beneath her clothing. She’s clearly not Ishgardian. It does match her eyes pretty well though.

Season: Autumn. Brisk and introspective. 

Food: Ginger. A nice, low level of heat normally but a punch in the face if misused.

Places: High places, deserts and other hot climates, libraries

Deity: Nymeia. Everything is a roll of the dice. Everyone’s a thread in the tapestry. There’s no sense complaining about where you are. No sense getting too attached to it either. It can all change in a moment. 

Element: Earth and Fire. 

Drink: Whiskey. Takes some getting used to but given time it warms to you. 

Tagging: @talion-graves @the-wardens-torch @fairwindsandblueskies @tea-and-conspiracy @daughter-of-fire-and-dreams @norhimorovine @rhotanored @clockwork-sparrow @pollux-xiv @riylli @pocketninja-ffxiv @rising-lotus @high-and-away @craftramsay @aces-and-kings And anyone else who wants to give it a go!

[luck-and-larceny]

Tagged by: @carnivalis

Thanks so much for the tag!

Tagging: @thefreelanceangel , @kestrelvylbrand , @charm-in-spades , @dumb-hat, @tough-bit-of-fluff ... Really anyone with multiple OCs who thinks this would be fun!

Favorite OC: Oh, come on now, I love all my children equally.

That's a lie. Sometimes I struggle with OCs and can't quite connect with them. Sometimes when I write or play them it feels like I've known them forever.

Still, I can't really settle on a favorite. I like so many of them! It might be Xifang, my red-headed, over-the-top, manic, thiefy character over on Gilgamesh. If you follow my OOC blog, crimson-thorns, the profile picture is of her.

Oldest OC: That's also Xifang. She started as an Exalted character.

>.> Do I gravitate towards certain character types? -hides every over-the-top, manic, thiefy character she's ever made behind her back- Certainly not.

Newest OC: Aurora Carries the Sky. Or just Aurora. Another Exalted character. She is NOT a thiefy character. Ha! She might be the other things though…

Meanest OC: Hmmm… Malika is maybe the meanest. She's certainly the most spiteful. And one of the most selfish. That makes her sound like she's not much fun to be around, but she can be! At least I think so. I hope so!

Softest OC: Oh, probably Saachi. She's a bit of a contradiction when she's at her best: strong, capable, and stubborn while simultaneously soft, vulnerable, and riddled with crushing uncertainty.

Most Aloof/Standoffish OC: Willow, my Reborn D&D Warlock. She's been given a second chance at life after making some huge mistakes with her first chance and she's still trying to figure out how to be less aloof.

Or Adelaide in FFXIV. She's the oldest daughter of a remarkably shitty noble house in Ishgard. On first brush she might come across as haughty and aloof.

Dumbest (Affectionate) OC: Long ago I had a character in Aion named Mistlethrush. She was exceedingly dumb and fun to play.

Liv, a character I've brought to FFXIV in a far less dumb capacity, was originally a low Intelligence character from a D&D game. I like to think her dumbness was a bit sweet and charming.

Dumbest (Derogatory) OC: Oh, I don't know. NPCs in games I ran don't count do they? If they do it's Jeryk from my Shattered Star campaign. He was the woooorst.

In FFXIV, maybe Xifang. I play her almost like an NPC. She's dumb if the scene/another player needs a character to be dumb at that moment. Usually it's at her own expense for humor. She usually deserves whatever consequences she experiences for her stupid schemes and poorly thought out plans.

Smartest OC: Willow. No doubt. The problem with playing high int D&D characters is that I, myself, am just average in intelligence. @_@

In FFXIV I think my most knowledgeable character is… hmmm. Maybe Adelaide? Or Liv (she's not low int in FFXIV). Malika isn't especially book smart, but she's got social/street smarts. She knows enough to be a problem… and frequently is!

Horniest OC: Yeah yeah yeah. It's Malika. She's a hedonistic character who believes that everyone should do whatever they want, whenever they want, to the extreme as long as it isn't hurting anyone else. She's excessive and exhausting.

OC you'd bang: Probably Malika. And I'd feel real weird, uncomfortable, and awkward afterwards. And probably she'd steal things from me that are super important to me and I'd think "Wow. I made a mistake." I think most people come away thinking that about her. I think she doesn't disagree with that assessment.

OC you'd be best friends with IRL: Saachi probably! But she'd accidentally make me feel like an insecure underachiever because she's so driven and ambitious and I'm, you know, often trying to figure out how to just stay home, eat a bunch of snacks, and play video games all day.

[townsenddecades]

Recap 1310 – 1319

The second decade of the fourteenth century was one of hunger, uncertainty and death. This was true for all of England and beyond and hasn’t left the population of the town of Praaven and its surroundings untouched.

But, even through all the losses they suffered, the Townsends have persevered, and have grown their family through several marriages and children. The three oldest Townsend siblings have started their own families, and although Edith is gone, her two children live on.

Despite their station, fate hasn’t been kind to the two noble families of the area, the Dudleys and the Pelhams, either, with only Ralph Dudley’s young daughter Maud as heiress to the family line after the loss of her four older siblings, while the Pelham legacy lies on the shoulders of two small boys and one little girl. Not even the Watcher knows how that will end.

But on to the recap.

The Townsend Family

Current Members: 8

In 1310, the family consists of Benedict Townsend and his six children: twin girls Anna and Edith, and after them son Benjamin, Simon, Gregory and finally third daughter Helen. The family is still reeling from losing Anne, Benedict’s wife, shortly after baby Helen’s birth. In the same year, Simon ages up into a child, and Benjamin ages up into a teenager. After those two birthdays, Anna marries her betrothed, George Crawley, and leaves her childhood home to share his family’s house in Praaven. 

In 1311, Benjamin too finds romance with his childhood friend Malika, who tells him plainly that she wishes to escape serfdom. He gains her father’s blessing for their interest in each other on the day of his elder sister Edith’s wedding to William Watmore, also a serf. She, too, moves out to live with her husband; the two have acquired the Earl’s permission to farm a piece of land in the neighbouring village of Mahlsberg.

Birthdays of 1311: Helen ages up into a toddler, while Gregory ages up into a child.

In the beginning of 1312, Benjamin makes his intentions towards Malika official by asking for her hand in marriage. The couple celebrate their betrothal by having their wedding night early, which leads to a very rushed marriage when Malika falls pregnant by it. While she settles into her new home, Benjamin travels to Praaven to talk to the earl about buying the rights to an additional piece of land, which he is granted. The year ends with Malika giving birth to twins, a girl and a boy, whom they name Amye and Malcolm.

In 1313, Gregory and Simon visit Edith, who tells them about how Anna and her once tried to find the witch of Lüghaven, who may know more about Simon’s own gift of magic. While this is happening, Benjamin, who has big plans for his family, travels to the abbey of St. Wright, where his mother once lived, to learn how to read. He also teaches this skill to those in the rest of the family that are interested. Spurred on by their brother’s success, Simon and Gregory travel to the abbey to learn how to paint. Gregory does so, while Simon is held off by a mysterious woman named Elea who he feels inexplicably drawn to. She seems surprised by him but tells him they will meet again.

This season’s harvest also turns out to be meagre due to constant cold. As Benedict had spent some years making a living as a carpenter in addition to farming, this doesn’t affect the Townsends too badly. In fact, they have enough money left over to start building a cottage on their new piece of land.

The weather doesn’t improve in 1314, neither for the Townsends nor for anyone else, and people are already starting to fear food shortages. Despite this, the twins age up into toddlers, while Malika falls pregnant once more, and gives birth to a little boy named Duncan later in the year. After that, the Townsends bring in a small harvest, which they hope will tide them over the coming months.

By 1315, nothing at all is growing due to the bad weather, and while the Townsend have food put by, it won’t hold out if the famine that is now starting to develop lasts for a long time. They get a distraction in the form of a visit by the same woman that Simon had met at the abbey two years before, who reveals that she is a witch and wants to train him once his magic grows. At the end of the year, young Helen ages up into a child.

Sadly, baby Duncan doesn’t cope well with the malnourishment, and becomes the family’s first famine victim at barely a year old. This tempers Malika’s joy at finding herself with child again by the end of the year.

In 1316, Malika gives birth to a little girl named Joan. Sadly, the deprivations Malika suffered during her pregnancy cause the baby to be born very frail, so that she dies after only two months. At around the same time, Edith’s husband William dies, and the family takes her, pregnant with her second child, and her little daughter Elsie in. A few months later, her son, Wilfred, is born. The pregnancy leaves Edith very weak.

 The year 1317 begins with Edith’s death; sadly, she hasn’t been able to recuperate from Wilfred’s birth. The Townsends vow to raise Elsie and Wilfred, now orphaned, in their parents’ stead. A few months later, Simon turns 13, and moves out to begin his apprenticeship with Elea, which means living with her and her daughter Mariora. Later in the year, an epidemic sweeps the countryside and carries many off with it, among them Helen, Benedict’s youngest child. She is the final famine victim in the Townsend household.

In 1318, Gregory meets a girl named Agnes at the abbey, where she lives, when he goes there to paint. She’s the illegitimate daughter of a sister that had died during the epidemic of the previous year. A few months later, little Wilfred ages up into a toddler, and at the end of the year, Malcolm, Amye and Elsie all age up into children. Gregory, now a teenager, also makes the acquaintance of a merchant from Praaven who is impressed with his painting skills.

In 1319, Malika becomes pregnant once more. Winter finally ends, which means that not only can the Townsends start to farm again, but they also have to say goodbye to Elsie and Wilfred, who move back to the farm in Mahlsberg, which has been taken over by their father’s brothers, to help them work the land. At the end of the year, Malika gives birth to another set of twins, whom they name Frank and Adeline.

The Witches’ Coven

Current Members: 1

This household is established in 1317, when Simon Townsend moves into the Ellesmeres’ hidden dwelling to be apprenticed by Elea in matters of witchcraft. Elea is a mysterious woman, far too young-looking, and seems to pursue her own ends in taking in Benjamin.

They live with her daughter Mariora, who is only slightly older than Simon. She warns him that he better know what he is doing, throwing in his lot with witchcraft, when he arrives; she herself does not have the gift of magic.

Not much else of note happens in this household; the longer he lives with her, however, the more Simon feels drawn to Mariora. He even tells his father on a visit to the Townsend farm in 1319 that he has thoughts of courting her.

The Crawley Family

Current Members: 4

Established in 1310, the Crawley Household comes to be when Anna Townsend marries George Crawley and moves into his family home on Praaven’s Castle Hill District. This is quite a change in circumstances for a girl who has grown up on a farm, but she does her best to adjust.

She becomes pregnant quickly after the marriage and tells her family of her coming child on a visit in 1311. Sadly, her little girl is born prematurely, and dies only a day the birth.

A year later, in 1312, Anna finds herself with child again. Luckily, this time around, her daughter, who they name Annette, is born strong and healthy.

She is pregnant again in 1313, much to the amusement of George’s younger sister Caroline, whom Anna has become good friends with. Sadly, the family’s hopes that this child will be healthy like Annette are dashed, and her son is stillborn.

In 1314, the Crawleys celebrate Annette’s aging up into a toddler. A few months later, the Countess of Petersmarch brokers a marriage between her widowed brother and Caroline, much to the family’s joy. Only Caroline is heartbroken, because she had been considering marriage with a merchant’s son whom she truly cared for. Cared for so much, in fact, that she had shared his bed; she confesses this and the news that she is pregnant to Anna. To save her from dishonour, Anna proposes a scheme to go away for a while, so they’ll be able to claim Caroline’s child as Anna’s.

Their plan works, and they return to Praaven with Caroline’s little girl, Theodora, in 1315 with no one the wiser. It is hard on Caroline, of course, especially when she leaves Praaven a few months after their return to marry the baron’s son as arranged, but at least her honour is intact.

The Crawleys suffer under the famine like everyone else but there are no deaths in their family.

In 1316, little Theodora ages up into a toddler. Other than the brown hair she inherited from her mother, she takes after her father a lot, and Anna and George (whom she had taken into her confidence as a matter of conscience) hope fervently that no one will question this.

In 1318, Annette ages up into a child, closing out the decade’s events for the Crawleys.

The Watmore Family

Current Members: 2

This household was created in 1311, when Edith Townsend married William Watmore, and moved to Mahlsberg onto a piece of land granted to them by the Earl to make a new life there with him.

Pregnancy follows marriage swiftly, and in 1312, Edith gives birth to a little girl, whom they name Elsie, after William’s mother.

Baby Elsie ages up into a toddler in 1314. By this time, Edith and William, who are only poor serfs and don’t have any provisions stocked, are very worried about the food situation, but vow to themselves that they will make sure their daughter has enough to eat, even if they don’t.

They get a bit of support from Edith’s father as the famine lengthens, but with so many mouths to feed on the Townsend farm, he can’t spare much.

Despite her malnourishment, Edith becomes pregnant again in 1316, much to the worry of her family, who has noticed how thin she has become. The constant deprivation takes a toll on her husband, who falls ill and dies. After his burial, Edith seeks shelter on her father’s farm with her daughter, while her brothers-in-law take over the farm in Mahlsberg. At the end of the year, Edith gives birth to a little boy she names Wilfred in remembrance of his father.

Sadly, in the beginning of 1317, Edith passes away due to the strain of Wilfred’s birth. He and Elsie are raised by the Townsends after that, and age up into a toddler (Wilfred) and a child (Elsie) in 1318. Both of them, but especially Elsie, form close bonds with their aunt/uncles and cousins.

When spring arrives in 1319, the two Watmore children return to Mahlsberg to help their uncles farm the land that had been meant for Edith and William, in hopes of bringing in a proper harvest this time around.

Robert Townsend, the squire

Current Members: 1

As the decade begins, Robert, at age 9, has been serving as a page to Sir Silas Ellesmere, the captain of the Earl’s guard, for two years. In 1311, he attends the marriage of his elder half-brother the Earl in this function. He is noticed by the new Countess in the coming months; they both like art, so she decides to take him on as her own page for the company, somewhat to the dismay of her brother-in-law Clement.

In 1313, Robert turns thirteen years old, and moves on from page to squire, a position he will hold until he can be dubbed a knight at age 21.

In 1315, he meets Katheryn Deane while he practices his archery, whom he is instantly attracted to, especially when she starts flirting with him brazenly. It is only when the Countess arrives that he learns that she is actually Lady Katheryn Deane, a cousin of the Countess and herself daughter of an earl. Robert realizes immediately that their difference in station means that he would never be considered as a match for her.

Despite this, the two of them spend much time together and grow close, enough so that in 1316, they share their first kiss. Robert apologizes profusely, but Katheryn assures him that all she wants is a bit of fun, and that provided they are discreet, no one will be harmed by it.

Their hopes are dashed in 1317, when the Earl announces that he has arranged a betrothal between his younger brother Clement and Katheryn. Robert is heartbroken despite his assertions that he’d always known that their romance couldn’t last, and tries to break their relationship off, but it is the perspective of losing him that makes Katheryn realize that she has come to truly care for him, too. They kiss and don’t part ways, but deep down, they both know it can’t last.

After Clement and Katheryn’s marriage, the Earl sets his matchmaking sight on Robert in 1319. As a low-born bastard, they shouldn’t be good, but the prospect of the Earl’s favour and Robert’s knighthood makes the de Bellefaye family, of French noble stock and residents of the town, amenable to negotiations. Their daughter, Elisaria, is only 14, but Robert finds her very sweet-natured and lovely and decides to agree to the match. When he tells a heavily pregnant Katheryn of this and breaks off what is left of their relationship, she is enraged, but he doesn’t feel he has any other choice.

It is agreed between the Earl and the de Bellefayes that Robert and Elisaria will marry once he has been given his knighthood.

The Dudley Family

Current Members: 7

At the beginning of the decade, the noble house of Dudley consists of Ralph Dudley, the Earl of Petersmarch, his brother Clement, his sisters Lady Elizabeth and Lady Gwendolen and his mother, also Elizabeth, the former Countess. Ralph is also betrothed to Mary Pelham, the youngest child of Baron Elbenhawke.

At the beginning of 1310, Gwendolen ages up into a child, which is followed a few months later by Clement aging up into a teenager.

The Dudley-Pelham wedding takes place in 1311, after which Ralph’s mother departs from Praaven with her daughters, to take up residence in the Dudley’s country estate while the new Lady Petersmarch settles into her role. She soon becomes pregnant, and, because she feels lonely, takes her husband’s bastard half-brother on as her page, which he allows, much to Clement’s dissatisfaction.

In the following year, 1312, Lady Petersmarch gives birth to a healthy son and heir named Arthur, much to everyone’s joy.

A second son, named Nathaniel, follows in 1314. Sadly, when the Dowager Countess and her daughters come to town to visit this newest member of the family, they bring illness with them; little Nathaniel and Lady Elizabeth (his aunt) both succumb to it. In the aftermath of those tragic losses, Clement decides to accompany his mother and remaining sister back to their country seat to get some distance from the castle.

In 1315, Lady Petersmarch gains a companion in the form of a distant cousin, Lady Katheryn Deane.

In 1316, tragedy strikes again when Lady Petersmarch gives birth to a stillborn son.

In 1317, Lady Petermarch gives birth to another child, a daughter this time, whom they name Alicent. Unfortunately, the tragedies that have been hounding the Dudleys for years continue, and the epidemic that sweeps the countryside that year kills both Alicent and five-year old Arthur, which not only leaves the countess shattered, but also the earldom without an heir. To prevent this, Lord Petersmarch arranges a marriage between his brother Clement and his wife’s companion Katheryn, unaware about the romance between her and his bastard half-brother. Lady Gwendolen ages up into a teenager that year.

The marriage takes place in 1318, and Lady Katheryn becomes pregnant soon after. Sadly, her daughter is stillborn the following year. The Countess fares better, and gives birth to a healthy baby girl, Maud, at the end of 1318, leaving her the sole heiress of the earldom as the decade ends.

The Pelham Family

Current Members: 5

As the decade begins, the family consists of Peter Pelham, Baron Elbenhawke, his son and heir Richard, his daughter Mary, and Richard’s betrothed, Lady Elinor Mowbray.

In 1310, Richard and Lady Elinor are married, in hopes that their union will finally provide the heir the barony needs.

In 1311, Mary, too, weds, which makes her the Countess of Petersmarch. Accordingly, she moves out of her family home, Elbenhawke Hall, into the Dudley seat, Praaven Castle.

In 1313, Lady Elinor finally gives birth to her first child, the son and heir they had all been hoping for. They name the child Richard, after his father.

A second pregnancy follows quickly in 1314, with disastrous consequences: due to birth complications, both Lady Elinor and her little girl die, leaving Richard bereft and with only his small son as heir. Even while mourning, the Pelhams start looking for another bride, and (after some help from Mary) approach the prosperous Crawley family, which has an unwed daughter, Caroline. The betrothal is accepted. At the end of the year, Little Richard ages up into a toddler.

The Pelham-Crawley wedding takes place in 1315, after Caroline returns from a long trip she had taken with her brother’s wife, Anna. The new lady of the house bonds well with her stepson, although her marriage remains a bit distant. She and Richard the elder do their duty, however, and she becomes pregnant soon after the marriage.

In 1316, Caroline gives birth to a healthy son named David. A daughter, Josephine, follows in 1317.

Then, tragedy strikes once again. A few months after Josephine’s birth, Richard goes hunting, and is gravely wounded in an ill-fated encounter with a boar. He is rushed back to Elbenhawke Hall, but it is soon clear that there is nothing to be done for him. He dies that night. Afterwards, Lord Elbenhawke asks Caroline to remain the lady of the house, even if she will not be baroness.

In 1319, Josephine ages up into a toddler, and Richard Jr. ages up into a child, ending the decade on an at least somewhat hopeful mood for the Pelhams.

And that is the end of the recap.

The 1310s have certainly been eventful, and at times I felt a bit overwhelmed with the management of it all. I have played the challenge before, but back then I didn't switch households as much, and let the Story Progression Mod do much of the management for me. It’s been fun to be more involved, in a way, but also stressful. That wasn’t helped by the extra management of the famine years.

But the famine is in the past now (although in real history, its effects lasted into the 1320s), and at least as far as event rules are concerned, there won’t be anything happening in the following decade. Historically, there was much turmoil, of course, due to the strife between King Edward II, his lords and Queen Isabella, which eventually led to Edward being dethroned and his subsequent death. I may mention that in regard to the nobles, but don’t plan on inventing any new rules to see if they are affected by it.

Either way, the future will be interesting.

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