#day 5: end

[niaswish]

The Oathbreakers’ Trial

This is based on an au I introduced in 2020 for the NyxNoct week (Chapter 7 of the Heroic Start by Shiary on AO3).

Rating: Teen +

Warnings: Slightly graphic violence near the end. Implied character deaths.

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, implied character deaths, Nyx Ulric/ Noctis Lucis Caleum, eventual fluff, no major character deaths, Dark-ish Nyx, Royalty AU.

Chapter summary: The Lucian intruders are brought before Ramuh and the Storm for Trial. There is no doubt on their culpability, only the question of punishment for this new Oathbreaking.

Nyx strode into Ramuh's Temple with his Hunters at his back. The place was filled with his people, all waiting and watching the group of prisoners held at the center of the hall. He ignored the whispers that followed him as he headed to stand beside his parents and Selena. His Hunters spread on either side of the hall, watchful even as the Storm kept watch above them.

Nyx looked around the hall, tilting his head in acknowledgement of the Elders that stood by their Clan Pillar. The intruders had been stripped of all weapons, their injuries seen to, and all that was missing were the two who had escaped. Nyx held back the growl that wanted to escape. He wanted to go back into the jungle and track the princeling and that blond friend of his. 

There was nothing to do about it. The Storm would not allow Ramuh's royal sacrifice to leave Galahd, and considering how loyal the blond had been during their first meeting, Nyx doubted he would leave the prince.

As lightning struck the pillars behind Ramuh's statue, Queen Mirius Ulric, Voice of Ramuh, rose to her feet. Her eyes blazed with pure lightning and her voice held the rumbling of thunder. Through her, Ramuh spoke. "By the Storm and the Islands, let this trial begin! Those held in front of you have attacked you, and once more broken their Oath. I ask the Oathbreakers, do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

Nyx wasn't surprised as Marshall Leonis stepped forward. While his expression was steady, even almost bored, his eyes sparked with an anger visible to everyone in the hall. "We took no oath when you came to our home and demanded that we give up one of our own. We came only to recover what is ours."

"No Oath? Your King swore one in the name of all Lucis! Or do you claim to have forsworn your King and Lucis while wearing their colours?" King Gaius motioned towards the black crownguard uniform they were still wearing. "Which is it, Cor Leonis? Have you foresworn King Regis and Lucis, or have you broken another Oath before Ramuh?"

The man kept silent, though Nyx noticed his jaw clenching at the accusation. The silence drew on as Galahd and the Storm waited for an answer.

After it continued for minutes on end, Nyx stepped forward. "His silence speaks for itself as does the evidence we collected in the Hunters training caverns of Goary." When Leonis snapped his gaze towards Nyx, he smirked in satisfaction. With a nod towards Pelna, Nyx presented Ramuh's Voice with what they had found.

"Goary Training Cavern has multiple recording devices, visual and auditory, scattered throughout its grounds. We know this but these intruders did not. Hunter Pelna of Clan Khara, Hunter Sonitus of Clan Bellum; present the recordings to the Storm."

Pelna played the audio files first before Sonitus took over and showed the assembly what the cameras had caught. Discussion after discussion between the intruders and Lucis. Of planning how to find and 'rescue' Prince Noctis. Of the failed infiltration to find the prince's whereabouts.

The intruders had been there for days, ever since Pelna and Luche had found the empty boat almost 2 weeks ago, so only the discussions that provide clear evidence that Lucis broke the Oath were heard. And with each discussion, the intruders grew tenser as they realized they'd been overheard so often.

Nyx kept an eye on the Prince's retinue throughout. They were younger, more likely to react to revealing information. So far they were doing admirably well, keeping a blank expression though they kept glancing over at... Selena?

Nyx glanced at his sister. She met his gaze firmly, jerking her head towards their mother with a half-quirked smile. Oh? So whatever was going on had his mom's approval. Had Ramuh decided to test the Princeling?

Part of Nyx hoped so, something in his chest loosening at the possibility that his the princeling had not broken his Oath after all. Selena would have been able to find the intruders and bring the prince there quicker than Nyx and his Hunters. If Ramuh had allowed it then...

It didn't change the current Trial so Nyx nodded towards his sister before returning his attention to where it was needed. Once the last of the recordings were played, it was time for the Elders to make their Clan's opinion known to Ramuh. As Prince, Nyx's duty was to draw a random Clan name and invite them to state their Clan's thoughts on the Trial's outcome.

"Elder Khara, what does Clan Khara say?"

"Lucis has broken a second Oath so soon after breaking their previous one. They have shown complete disregard for our lives and culture. Clan Khara asks Ramuh to give us his blessing to declare war against them."

"Elder Bellum?"

"Clan Bellum agrees with Clan Khara. Lucis must pay for their slight against Galahd and Ramuh."

"Elder Lazarus?"

"Clan Lazarus is of the same mind. Furthermore, we have yet to receive the land promised to Galahd for their Oathbreaking. Clan Lazarus suggest that our first strike is to claim what is owed."

One by one, Nyx called upon the Elders and listened to the Clans thoughts. Once they had all said their piece, Nyx turned to his father and asked, "And what does the Crown have to say?"

King Gaius stepped forward, eyes sweeping through the hall, "The Crown has heard the Clans. There is no objection to the suggested course of action." The crowd started whispering to each other only to fall silent when Ramuh's Voice slammed their staff down on the floor. King Gaius turned to them and asked in a firm tone, "Galahd has found those on Trial to be guilty and Oathbreakers. The Crown offers War against Lucis as punishment for their transgression and that of their Ruler. What is the Storm's Judgment? What is Ramuh's Wisdom?"

Nyx watched as his mother's eyes grew brighter, lightning snaking up and down the staff she held with increasing strength, as she listened to Ramuh and the Storm. After a few minutes, a single bolt of lightning struck right in front of Cor Leonis, who didn't flinch at all. Nyx was slightly impressed, the man would make a good Galahdian.

"The Clans of Galahd call for War. And War shall be the path of the future. Let those who forget the weight of their Oath be reminded of it through blood and magic." Ramuh's Voice intoned. Their voice filled the hall with static and energy, filling the Galahdians with a thirst for blood, as they slammed the staff thrice against the volcanic stone floor. With each strike, the lightning snakes dispersed into the ground, leaving behind brilliant white streaks towards each Clan.

Just as the last strike faded into silence, a commotion broke out towards the Temple entrance. "Niflheim is attacking! Let me pass! Niflheim is on its way to attack you!" 

A young blond boy pushed his way past the crowd to stumble into the center of the hall. Nyx took a step forward as he recognized him. Their eyes met and Nyx saw the same fierce determination and loyalty he had seen in Insomnia. The blond set his shoulders back as he declared, "My name is Prompto and Prince Noctis has sent me to warn you of the Niflheim army approaching off your North coast."

Nyx didn't hesitate to give his orders even as he turned to his father. Instead, his mother's bright green eyes met his as she smiled and whispered. "Go to him and see who he truly is."

Nyx turned and ran.

[frenchublog]

[qualityrain]

[eastgaysian]

compiling a far from comprehensive list of palestinian fundraisers i'm aware of that are far from their goal (less than 25% raised) and/or stagnating. i will try to update this post at least every couple days - please check the op for updates.

if you can donate at least USD $15 (€14, CAD $20, kr160, £12) and dm me proof, i'll offer a colored sketch commission akin to these drawings (more details here). [EDIT: not accepting new donation comms at the moment until i've worked through my backlog; check back in a week or two!]

even if you're not able to donate that much or at all, please share, and follow the links to the fundraisers - there's much more important information for each one than i'm able to quickly compile into one list.

(created aug 2, updated aug 15)

Hazem Khalil (hazempalestine) - vouched for by bilal-salah0, who has been vetted - €6,015/50k (USD $6,556/$54.6k) raised to evacuate 7 family members

Mohammed Haboub (mohammedhaboubsblog) - shared by 90-ghost - kr85,347/300k (USD $8,108/$28.5k) raised to evacuate 4 family members, along with paying for rent and medical expenses - URGENT RENT + MEDICAL COSTS

Walid Al-Qatrawi (waled-family, waledps) - shared by 90-ghost, instagram - €2,164/€50k (USD $2,362/$54.6k) raised to evacuate a family of 5 with a child on the way - GOFUNDME HAD TO BE CLOSED, DONATIONS STAGNATING SEVERELY

Bilal Abed Rabou (bilalassadabedrabou) - verified by 90-ghost - €7,169/80k (USD $7,814/$87.3k) raised to evacuate a family of 3 + living and education expenses

Israa Alazaiza (isra-elazaiza, sarah-family) - verified #236 - CAD $5,480/48k (USD $3,946/$34,593) raised to evacuate 9 familly members - DONATIONS STAGNATING

Abdelmutei Al-Habil (abdelmutei) - verified by 90-ghost - €8,985/50k (USD $9,794/$54.6k) raised to evacuate 7 family members

Heba Al-Anqar (heba-baker) - shared by 90-ghost - €3,170/60k (USD $3,455/$65,499) raised to evacuate 7 family members + provide for living expenses - DONATIONS SLOWING DOWN

Salahaldin Hor (salahaldinhor) - shared by 90-ghost - €5,032/40k (USD $5,485/$43.6k) raised to evacuate 5 family members + medical and education expenses

Mohammed Atallah (mohammed-atallah) - shared by 90-ghost, organizer's instagram - €11,542/82k (USD $12,581/$89.5k) raised for a bone grafting procedure + rebuilding family home

Fatima Alanqar (fatma93-gaza) - shared by 90-ghost - €4,730/20k (USD $5,156/$21.8k) raised to support a family of 7

Mohammed Matar (matarmoh) - verified by el-shab-hussein - €1,119/€20,000 (USD $1,220/21.8k) raised to evacuate 5 family members, including a 6 month old baby daughter

Mohammed Iwais (mohdiwais) - shared by 90-ghost - kr156,227/500k (USD $14,842/$47.4k) raised to evacuate 10+ family members

Ahmed Abu Shammalah (ahmed8311) - verified by el-shab-hussein - €12,051/100k (USD $13,136/$109k) raised to evacuate 8 family members and provide living expenses - DONATIONS STAGNATING

Wafaa Resh (wafaaresh) - shared by 90-ghost, tiktok - €26,122/100k (USD $28,473/$109k) raised to support 15+ family members

Musab Abed (musababed) - shared by 90-ghost - £3,780/8k (USD $4,838/$8.7k) raised for living and education expenses

Fadi Zakkout (burningnightgiver) - shared by 90-ghost - CAD $10,310/50k (USD $7,423/$36k) raised to evacuate children who have been separated from their parents; their daughter Wafaa needs insulin

Malak Dader (malakabed) - verified by 90-ghost - €5,646/€25k (USD $6,154/$27.2k) raised to support a family of 6 with living and medical expenses + education

Shymaa Taiser (shymaafamily) - #141 - USD $10,878/$50k raised to reunite a father with his children in Gaza and provide for medical expenses

Yousef Hussein (adham-89) - shared by 90-ghost - USD $11,001/50k raised to evacuate 6 family members - DONATIONS STAGNATING

Sujoud Al-Sarsawi (sojid222) - #155 - CAD $10,587/45k (USD $7,623/$32.4k) raised for a single mother and her 3 children - DONATIONS STAGNATING SEVERELY

Siraj Abudayeh (siraj2024) - #219 - CAD $36,515/82k (USD $26,291/$59k) raised to rebuild a family home

[glassiskies]

in which aziraphale reverts to old habits, crowley is outraged, and they still do not talk about it

[pepperchanart]

Autumn background I made of the cephalopods!

Now I want apple pie :/

[alphaori]

Being into indie ttrpgs on Tumblr is a very funny experience because while you're ambiently considering designing a little game about idk, gremlins growing cabbages or whatever there are people who built this hobby from the ground up with 15 award winning published games and three podcasts and a knighthood from a small European monarchy just doing their thing on the same platform. Imagine this was the case for any other hobby. You go to shoot some hoops behind your house and LeBron James is just there

[lilybug-02]

An alarm clock sounds the end!

Bug Fact: Several insects can hear ultrasonic sound waves, including cockroaches, spiders, wasps, beetles, and flies.

First || Prev // Next

Masterpost

[cinnamon-flame]

Trying to get back my ability to draw wof dragons by drawing my favorite Sunny design

[slappyclappy]

really really good trio

[janedoe297-art]

HELLO???? I'm OBSESSED with their reunion scene 😭💘

.

.

.

((this is also availabe as a print!!))

[crescentfool]

reunion 🌸

[amelia-yap]

QUACK

[100jewels-between-teeth]

So many saying:

"Oh! Why do all the other romances in the epilogue get kisses while Astarion gets just hugs! Where is our kiss?!?!"

I think you're missing the point...

For non-ascended Astarion, nothing is more fitting or more perfect than that hug. Why?

This is a man that had been abused for over 200 years. A man who was forced to use his body to lure people against his will. A man who tells you that he has used his body sexually and otherwise that just the act of sexual intimacy has been tainted for him.

In Act 2, as he tells you all this, allowing an extremely vulnerable side of himself to be shown to you. Asking for reassurance that he was more than a cheap tool. What does Tav/Durge do?

They hug him. Hold him tightly. And the Vampire has no clue what to do because he, in 200 years, has never been touched like that unless it had sexual implications. For the first time, he is being touched for pure, vulnerable intimacy and love. And in that moment, he accepts the safety of your arms, and holds you. Craving not a touch of lust, but love.

So yes, a hug is far better than a kiss in my regard. At the end of the day, no matter what, he wants to feel that safe feeling of your arms. No expectations, just pure love.

[spielzeugkaiser]

[MASTERPOST] - Jaskier had good parents! Sadly his beloved childhood cat wasn't too welcoming once he came back home after the trials..

[spiderziege]

Hermit a Day May 5: Tinfoilchef