#different magic types = the clans ofc

[carelesscuriosity]

what if... MTG but it's warrior cats

[broodwolf221]

oc asks for nessa: birth, kiss, enemy, ocean <3

answers this one million years late- lmao some of these were giving me trouble but i got there 😂 questions from here

BIRTH: What was your OC's first experience with birth? A sibling, a pet, their own child?

Honestly, she probably had another first experience with birth, given the nature of Dalish clans—probably was aware of someone giving birth, at least, although as a hunter she may not have been called upon to assist—but… giving birth to her own child was more important, so I’m going to focus on that instead.

I think it was very, very weird for her.

Solas was there by then, but things were still strained between them. They were together, trying to make peace with everything, and he was committed to her and the child, but neither of them had really dealt with any of their baggage. The pregnancy kept pushing everything else to the background. If she got argumentative, he’d begin getting argumentative back before he’d just deflate and apologize. Like there was no real ability to talk anything through. So there was still a lot of underlying relationship stress during the birth.

But he was at her side the whole time, and that helped. Magic and herbalism helped her with the pain of it, and I think it was fairly easy, as far as giving birth can be easy—it wasn’t one of those where the labor is like 10+ hours. But it was very bittersweet for her, for although she was excited about the child and had grown to like the idea of having a family with Solas, she had never seen herself as a mother and felt entirely out of her depth. Then there was the absence of Dalish customs.

While she may never have imagined herself as a mother, if she had, she would have been a Dalish mother. Her clan would have helped her prepare and guided her through the birth. Her child would have been welcomed by the entire clan. They both would have been cared for by their people.

Instead she was giving birth among humans, among Andrastians, and didn’t know the customs herself enough to even emulate some of them. In a way, she feels like she’s betrayed her child, that something was missing from the birth, some important aspect that she can’t know or understand.

But Nessa named her daughter Revas, freedom, and although her own faith had been shattered, she whispered the names of the Creators to their daughter and asked for their protection. The words felt wrong on her tongue, but to say nothing felt worse. She wanted her child to be Dalish.

KISS: What was your OC's first kiss like? Who was it with? Do they remember it?

Hmmm!!! Interesting. I gotta imagine it would be with a member of her clan. She's had crushes on clan members before, and I feel like she'd be the type to kiss someone out of mutual curiosity when they're both quite young. Having a big flustered puppy love crush and confession and awkward first kiss kinda moment. She does remember it, with a slightly embarrassed fondness lmao

ENEMY: Who was your OC's first enemy? What was that relationship like? Do they still consider that person an enemy, or have they moved past that?

The first time humans attacked Clan Lavellan and she was old enough to fight instead of being taken away into the wilderness until the fighting was over, those were her enemies. She developed a pretty extreme reaction to seeing humans after that, although it eased over time and with her clan’s dealings with humanity, but she still remembers the faces of those first humans she fought. It was also the first time she'd fought against people—hunting animals was different, although the skills she'd developed there did help her in combat with the humans.

OCEAN: When was the first time your OC saw the ocean? How did it make them feel? If they've never seen the ocean, do they want to?

I suspect she first saw the ocean with the Inquisition—her clan traveled ofc, but coastal ranges were distant and tricky because they were often populated, so imo a lot of Dalish would avoid them. Clan Lavellan did tend to travel along rivers and spend parts of the year by other bodies of water as possible though, given the opportunity to fish and gather materials only found there.

[milkshaketg]

pandoric resistant horses new breed like cold resistant horses. starter horse plus new breed for line of quests in pandoria.

multiple stables, keep different horses in different stables. no paddock? or limited paddock, and you gotta buy each barn.

SSO separately paid DLCs

Briar’s magic is different than Jorvik magic, giving her a different perspective. whether there’s a global network and Briar is a part of it and Jorvik is different, or they’re both outside it but different, or they’re from two different pockets. Briar can’t go back to her native magic source bc half blood something something idk.

River taught Midnight a specific skill (bow/arrow, throwing knives? specific type of magic) and Midnight thought she killed River with it and swore it off. but then like River comes back and :0 >:0 >:{

Flora was part of a pack of rogues

Silverpaw is injured and has to be taken in and cared for by Flora, maybe joins her group a bit before being able to rejoin her clan. still meets with her even after they “part ways” but Flora stops coming and she gets worried and goes back to find out what happened.

Flora gives Florastar a life

Silverpaw was training to be a med cat. she was kidnapped bc rogues need that sweet sweet knowledge. medical and spiritual. maybe also as random. Flora also has littermates bc she was born there.

Silverdusk is an elder once Florastar receives her nine lives. Flora mentions she’s so happy Silverdusk still remembered her and named Floradawn after her. before she can think about what that means Flora goes and suddenly gives her the life. Florastar obv goes to Silverdusk and is like what. maybe the story is told from that perspective of Florastar learning about the story.

their clan is fr just “the clan”

Silverpaw was gifted as a medicine cat from the beginning(spiritually). her mentor isn’t even fully trained, just some kit forced into the situation and half trained by another clan���s medicine cat. they acquire another apprentice by the time Silverpaw returns moons later; and Silverpaw is trained as a warrior because she’s already been taught many of the skills by Flora. her style of fighting and hunting always remains distinct from the rest of the clan. maybe she was already pregnant by the time she returned so she couldn’t become a medicine cat again. still regularly shares tongues with at least rogues ancestors, if not starclan.

previous leader of rogues died abruptly and they need to speak to them for Reasons so that’s why they snatch Silverpaw.

warrior cats except time hijinks.

two Whitepaws except presented as one except it becomes apparent pretty quickly there’s contradictions between the two.

goth clown girl(w bow?) sitting in boy’s lap who’s got his face buried in her shoulder and she’s glaring protectively. she protecting him.

“Nothing Rots on the Moon”

char trained in magic who’s kicked out and memories(and thought to be magic) erased, but they slowly rediscover it. they wake up having been already given a job and monotonous life so they don’t ask questions. just comically boring asf.

royal who is hopelessly in love with their servant. it’s one sided and they try and subtly woo them but keep fucking up bc class differences or whatever and they learn more and ofc eventually wind up together. lesbians?

HS oc named Muse who’s part of a prophecy but then it’s discovered that no it meant a muse of smth like classpect

getting stronger Cosmic is using Wasps Wing as a puppet to talk to Flora projecting onto her as if she were Universe

Universe grooming Flora just as Cosmic is grooming Wasp

Cosmic intends to make Flora and Wasp next generation main elements to continue his and Universe’s feud, but it falls through. he tells Wasp to kill Flora(not only she’s dead but yanno breed contemptment) but she doesn’t so he kills her instead, then goes to kill Flora but Twill jumps in the way and after she dies it’s too late to get Flora and he ends pissed. Twill tried to save Flora but wound up solidifying her death instead.

Universe “aren’t dying, they’re ending” as if there’s an actual difference.

chats with map tattoos. used as a human map idk among other things

isekai w guy in world of girls expect they’re all normal abt it and he’s a super cool dude. he’s got black hair with clowncore triangles under eyes and longer hair in front but short hair overall mayb beads in front(girl puts in?) he’s a wolf guy (but not kekonimi or were) and has to actually earn the girls trust.

girl stranded on ghost island but comes back doesn’t speak what she wants to say aloud bc she’s used to telepathy and covered in bumps and bruises because constantly running into things bc oops they’re actually corporeal now.

mechanism only able to be unlocked by an immortal bc they have all the time in the world to scour every book for a key to unlock it but some dumbass does it by accident without even intending to. they’re just like “huh,,, crazy how many corpses are here” of those who tried and failed them they just kinda do it.

River

Midnight

Unicorn(Moon esque name? beautiful) Euphemia

Swift

Lyrica

Snap Dragon who becomes Snappaw

outside clan cat who’s named X, comes in and is forced to be stripped of their identity by kinda asshole leader and named Ypaw. that leader dies, and next one who warriors them gives back their identity as YX. X is unconventional suffix. they become leader, but can’t give up either name so just go by warrior name while officially name is Ystar. it’s not really known which, Xstar or Ystar it is.

this is seen as controversial, bc first off rejecting Starclan blah blah but second off, insisting on keeping around your kittypet identity instead of embracing Starclan fully.

ooo also another clan where who the leader is is a secret so they also go by warrior name. deputy acts as leader.

Brightholly

Littlefox

Brackensnap

Ashpetal

Redwillow

Mackerelpaw

“nightmare leader from hell” Nightstar?

basically inherits big clan and kidnaps kits and kills to keep control. kinda mf crazy, and uses psychological torture and brainwashing to control her clan. she, after a LONG reign of terror(she was born before even the elders were apprentices) then eventually is defeated, and another is somehow appointed leader. mayb by starclan. Thunderclan. the thing abt the next leader is he’s young, maybe her kit or relayed? and constantly hears her voice in his head.

she cuts a deal with a clan or two to leave them alone if they don’t stand in her way.

territory with, like… a TON of clans like 6+ at least two in twoleg place, one on a farm? multiple in wilderness. cross clan kits okay, but they are raised in mothers clan. medicine cats can have kits if toms, there’s a foster mother, or there’s another second fully trained medicine cat already.

babie

pirate Cassandra somehow grows her crystals on her body somewhere and just snaps them off. or at least has to shatter a crystal to use it’s power.

Krystal and Treasure

Universe and Cosmic

Nova and Solaris

Twill and Wasp Wing

Lovelace and Terra

Hollyhock

Eclipsit

guardian angel who’s person is essentially sex trafficked and they take revenge on everyone who wronged her, and her ghost goes and helps the other women those men(and women) hurt.

it’s slow. they don’t get to go fast. they have to go through what those women went through.

fire flower

murder mystery where the narrator knows just a little too much… slowly realize they’re the murderer

Wasp Wing wakes up after being revived, and gets up… there’s someone behind her, someone also revived. it’s Flora. she knows it’s Flora, it’s all hyped up and she goes to grasp for her but. it’s Twill. or maybe she’s terrified to see Flora, but is devastated when it isn’t her. she’s like where’s Flora and Twill is like yeah where’s Flora but it’s like “Twill you ARE Flora, or at least you took her place.” this time bc Wasp is older and much more mature, she doesn’t blame Twill for taking Flora from her. she understands it wasn’t intended, or her fault. it was Cosmic’s, but even more just the laws of their universe.

mayb she becomes so grieved and just upset and unhappy near the end of her and Twill’s reign. but then is so at peace when she finally gets to go. they have a celebration of their cycle, and everyone gets to go out together, loved and surrounded by others.

[pinayelf]

do you have any headcanons about clan lavellan?

I do! Some are specific to my own clan lavellan lore and others are more general ^_^

They're fairly new to the Free Marches, in my story clan lavellan came from up north in Seheron and decided to move to get away from Tevinter slavers

Each clan has their own type of embroidery - so clan lavellan has their own methods and design their own heraldry on the aravels

Dalish clothing is colorful! Save for hunter armors (they need to camouflage ofc). They figured out how to make dyes of bright colors with magic

Each clan speaks both elven and whatever is the language in which they area they've been in the most. so my clan lavellan would know seheron since they've stayed up there the longest

I like the idea that clans can merge, should it be because of tragedy or just a smaller clan moving into a different area and need help getting started. some members of clan lavellan merged from another clan when they came across them on their way from seheron

I just never understood the barefoot thing like especially because the dalish are nomadic and I'm always wincing at the thought of SNOW. so in my heart they wear shoes jddjdkdj

ty for asking!

[legendofmarshie]

Okay. Okay. Wait. Listen. Hear me out.

Monster cultures.

To be very specific, monster FOOD.

Not food made of monsters (looking at you, monster extract), but the things different types of monsters would / could eat if they weren’t eternally stuck being Demise / Ganon’s primitive cannon fodder in his battle against the forces of light.

Just think of the POSSIBILITIES.

Almost every member of the large ‘Blin family (save perhaps the Hinoxes) is surprisingly good at grilling / frying meat to Hylian standards once they’ve been taught how. Bonus points for the meat usually being fresh because hunting is often a big part of their daily routine.

Back in ancient times, maybe Lizalfos knew how to do the insects-in-candy thing. After the Calamity, assuming they had a safe environment and access to the right materials, they’d probably figure out how to do it again. They would immediately get Link (wearing a Lizalfos mask) to try one. Link would try several. So would Zelda.

(The Yiga Clan aren’t monsters, but they belong in this post too. Besides whatever they can get from merchants, the location of their hideout gives them access to voltfruit from the desert and wildberries from the highlands. And then, of course, they’ve got mighty-banana-EVERYTHING. Plain raw bananas. Whole. Sliced. Roasted. Banana bread. Banana flour. Banana butter. Bananacue. Chips. Turon. Daiquiri. Pancakes. Pasta. I guess the moral is if you’re going to make one fruit the majority of your diet, get creative with it?)

And demons? HOO BOY. I imagine their pre-Surface War parties were WILD, so of course these rowdy rough-and-tumble beasties of magic and spite would need wild party snacks and drinks to match. Half the stuff they liked to use doesn’t even exist anymore, but anything with a punch or kick strong enough to make you want to tear your face off is in a demon’s wheelhouse. (That being said, they do enjoy heart container juice.) Outside parties, they use a lot of meat. Higher-ranking demons get first pick of everything, but they eat every possible part of the creature, including the usually-discarded guts. And blood. A lot of blood.

In his spare time (which he sadly doesn’t get much of anymore), Ghirahim has been rumoured to brew something he likes to call the Potion of Fight God(desses). Nobody knows everything that’s in it except for him, and he likes to switch up the Ingredience every now and then anyway. Let’s just say it contains things that humans and Hylians shouldn’t be ingesting on the regular. I believe if Ghirahim somehow met Astor, and didn’t immediately kill or maim him for being... well, Astor, there’s the tiniest chance he’d tell him the basic recipe (by demon standards). Then ofc Astor would snitch and go tell the Yiga Clan, who would make it without question. But, like, y’know, with an extra banana or two. Or ten. Or twenty. Cue mass hangover.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[writing-ro]

Fictober 19-3: “Now? Now you listen to me?”

@fictober-event​ // Set in a Multi-fandom Fantasy AU where most if not all kinds of fantasy creatures exist alongside humans, though the two cultures stay fairly separate, with many humans being afraid or prejudice against creatures.

Rating: T Fandom: Star Wars, Dragon Age Characters: Ahsoka Tano, Arista Amara (OFC), Oren Revik (OMC), Merrill (Dragon Age), Kato Shinin (OMC), Merida Mahariel (OFC), Tamlen (Dragon Age), Minaeve (Dragon Age),  Additional Tags: elf!Ahsoka, dragon!Oren, Temple exploration, Don’t Touch The Magic Mirror!, the monsters are basically the ra’zac from eragon acting like the darkspawn of Dragon Age, Three guesses who the statues are of and the first two don’t count.

She'd known something bad was going to happen. It had been gnawing at her gut since she was asked to lead the expedition. Merrill and Ashalle had been studying an old elven text and found reference to a temple. Merrill managed to use the context clues and some other old records and figured out the location and asked to go find it. The elders discussed and finally agreed to allow it, and asked Ahsoka, as one of the clan's best hunters, to lead the party. 

She told Arista of the trip, just so she wouldn't worry about her absence. Instead, she insisted on accompanying them. She had a fairly good grasp of Old Elven from her studies, and did have some talent as a mage, so she could be a help. Ahsoka had argued, that the elders would never accept her help, and that it'd be dangerous, but when Arista wanted something, she knew just how to run right over Ahsoka about it. 

So they set out, a party of seven: herself, Arista, Merrill, Merida, Tamlen, Kato, and Minaeve. Three mage scholars and four warriors. Considering the ruins were rather close to the Primian Kingdom border, that should have been more than enough to handle anything. 

The journey there took a week, and they found the ruins nestled up against a mountain, distinctly elven and covered in growth. They spent another looking through the first few chambers of the place, the ones accessible from the front door without need of another ritual like they had used to open it. Notes were taken, a few items collected, and catalogued, and each one made the scholars more and more excited to see what lay beyond. So, the eighth day in the ruins, the mages gathered together and unlocked the door. The hall behind was most impressive, gold and marble being visible even under centuries of dust. Strangely though, there was nothing inside, except a large mirror, twice as tall as any of them, standing on a dias with two statues on either side, one a elven man with a wolf sitting at his feet, the other a dragon with a elven woman kneeling at its feet. It, unlike everything else, was also completely clear of dust. 

“This place is beautiful,” Merrill said. “None of the clans have had the means to build something like this in centuries.”

“What is this mirror?” Tamlen asked.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Merida said, moving towards it with him. 

“Careful you two,” Ahsoka ordered and they flinched back just before they could take the first step up the dias. “We don’t know what it was for. Had to be important, if they locked it up so tight.”

“The room also suggests that hypothesis,” Arista said. “A vault wouldn’t have all this gold just put on the walls. Could this be a ritual chamber?”

“I don’t recall any rituals involving mirrors from the histories,” Merrill said. “Maybe there’s an inscription somewhere that can tell us what it is.”

They spread out around the chamber to look, brushes, brooms and rags knocking down dust which was then swept out the chamber with sweeps of magic. None of them realized that as more of the magic was used, the more was drawn to the mirror, and now the previously clear surface had become cloudy and mottled. 

“Did anyone find anything?” Minaeve asked, wiping her hands on a rag after polishing a plate on the east wall. 

“Nothing,” Marrill sighed as she looked in the last crevice on that wall. “Not a thing. This must have been one of those ‘everyone knows of it, so why should we write it down’ type things.”

“I think I might have found a passage,” Arista said, she and Ahsoka standing by the southwest corner of the hall. “Or at least where one used to be. The stone’s settled different than the rest.”

“Hey, the mirror’s changed!” Tamlen called, and the other turned to see him and Merida standing on the mirror’s dias, Tamlen reaching out to touch it. “I-I think I see something inside. A- It’s a city! But it’s dark, and cold and - WHAT IS THAT!”

“Tamlen!” Merida called, lunging for him.

“No!” half their group screamed as a flash of light from the mirror engulfed the two, forcing them to cover their eyes or be blinded. When they managed the blink the spots away, the two hunters were gone. 

“What just happened!?” Kato asked. 

“I don’t know,” Merrill said, moving a bit closer to the mirror. “Maybe our magic activated it somehow, but what it does, i don’t-” she cut herself off with a gasp as some things sprang out of the mirror, and Ahsoka and Kato drew their weapons while the mages grabbed their staves.

The things were humanoid, but wore black leather armor and black cloth over their faces. Wicked blades of black oily metal hung from their waists, and they made weird clicking and hissing sounds as they moved, looking over the party before drawing their blades and splitting into two groups to attack. 

“RUN!” Ahsoka ordered, but found herself and Arista cut off before they could follow those orders. Kato, Merrill and Minaeve managed to get to the door, and there they tried to hold position, Minaeve holding a barrier while the other two attacked the monsters. Arista tried doing the same for herself and Ahsoka, though it was hard to maintain it and attack.

Yet it seemed for every monster they cut down, two more would take its place. Eventually there grew to be so many, the clicking and hizzing was all that could be heard, and a sea of black separated the party. 

“Kato, go!” Ahsoka screamed over the horde. “Seal the doors and warn the clans, tell them to not send anyone else here!”

“Ahsoka-!” Kato called back, but Ahsoka screamed louder.

“GO!”

Merrill put a hand on Kato’s arm, and finally he relented he and Merrill backing up, Kato shooting the monsters while Merrill used her magic to grip the doors and pull them closed, the room growing darker as the light disappeared until all that remained was the strange, purplish glow of the mirror. 

“Think you can get that passage open?” Ahsoka asked. 

“I can try.” Arista let out another burst of magic that pushed the monsters back a few feet. “Hold them off?”

Ahsoka nodded and took a deep breath, then lunged into the fight. Her swords whirled around her in a dance of steel and gore, cutting down monsters and dodging their own return blows. As she fell more into the groove of the fight, she got faster and faster, where she could cut down several monsters before even one got a swipe at her. Those swipes she dodged, sometimes by a hair, but a miss was a miss, and the monster never got a second swing. A short wall of bodies was starting to form, but she never lost her footing. She was getting lost in the dance, and some distant part of her mind was saying it would be a story for the ages, if anyone were ever to learn of it. A elven knight sacrificing all to defend her lover and the world, taking out as many of these twisted foes as she could before her blades finally-

A grind of stone sounded behind her. “Got it! Come on!” A barrier pushed the monsters back a few paces and Arista’s hand touched the back of her shoulder. Ahsoka gave one last sweep of the monsters before turning and running after her lover down the passage way. 

However, the barrier was weaker than usual, and Ahsoka had not noticed the archers who had joined the first wave of monsters. Not until an arrow pierced her armor and into the back of her shoulder.

“AHH!” She gripped her shoulder, shoving Arista ahead when she paused. “We’ll worry about it later, for now run!”

The two ran for they didn’t know how long. The corridor was line with sconces of stone, glowing a pale blue, perhaps charged in the same manner as the mirror, or some other magic. Either way, it meant their flight was lit, and they managed to keep ahead of the horde. Every once in a while, there would be an ancient trap of some kind, always activated by the horde after their own passing, and right after a split in the corridor. A cross ways to the left and right, two sets of stairs going up or down. By unspoken decision, they always went right and up, hoping to find some doorway out. The traps slowed the horde down enough to give them some breathing room, but they would soon overwhelm it by sheer force, and Ahsoka could feel herself starting to fatigue, the exhaustion of fighting and the blood dripping from her shoulder causing her to slow. 

Finally, as they reached another junction, a giant pit trap behind them slowly filling with the bodies of the horde, she collapsed against the wall, barely keeping her feet under her. “‘Rista, go.”

“No, not without you.” Arista said, taking her hand, but Ahsoka pulled it back. 

“I’m not going to make it, I’ve lost too much blood. You at least have a chance to get out.” She raised her hand to caress Arista’s cheek, and Arista caught it.

“I’m not leaving you. Besides-” she smiled at her “-didn’t you once say you wished we would die together?”

Ahsoka couldn’t help the breathless laughter that left her at that. “Really? Now? Now you listen to me about that?” Still, Ahsoka pulled Arista close to her, burying her face in her hair as they sank to the floor. She wanted her last memory to be of her lover’s scent and the sound of her heartbeat, not the click-hiss-whoosh of the monsters and the smell of- burning bodies?

Arista screamed as a torrent of flame erupted out of the corridor they had just come down, almost drowning out the dying shrieks of the monsters as they were incinerated. The fire, heat, and smoke blocked the hall, and Ahsoka found herself growing more and more lightheaded. Black spots began dancing in her vision, and she started slumping in Arista’s hold, her lover’s calls for her to wake up becoming more and more distant. Right before the blackness overtook her, the fire finally dissipated, and she thought she saw the dragon she and Arista had met all those months ago, standing over the charred bodies and looking intensely worried about something.

[mochidoodle]

Houseki - 宝石

Since there’s been some curiosity about it lately, I’ve decided to officially introduce Houseki! Houseki is my original series made with the help of my faithful editor-in-chief @ukitakejuushiro​​​.

It all began with my first D&D character, a half-elf druid named Eizan Shen whose backstory I fleshed out over the past year. The story takes place in the elf nation of Liang (Chinese: 亮), meaning “light/brightness.” I incorporated my Asian heritage into a fantasy, magic-filled world brimming with all the classic (and favorite) fantasy story tropes. Sky-high towers and mages and dragons...a mix modern fashion with ancient Chinese wardrobes...and a set of unique customs built on Asian foundations. (ok now I sound like a chef on Chopped😅)

This explanation ended up hella long, so the rest is under the cut! I’m so happy people are curious about Houseki. It’s the culmination of my love for drawing, world-building, and storytelling (and anime ofc lol). Hope y’all enjoy my first original story!

The Kingdom of Liang

The prosperous Kingdom of Liang is a country landlocked on three sides, facing the sea on its west coast. It’s ruled by an oligarchy-monarchy mishmash I’ve yet to totally work out and three big political factions I won’t delve into too much now. The important thing to know is Eizan’s wife, Saya, connects him to the nobility because she’s the niece of the king. Her entire backstory is a wild ride involving a dispute for the throne, “dishonoring” her clan, and finding a family for herself. 

For the most part, the main plot revolves Eizan and his job. If you’ve read MTNN by Matsui Yuusei, you’ll figure out exactly who inspired Eizan...in fact he’s kinda like a (slight) Pokemon evolution of my favorite MTNN character (lol oops...)

Anyway, for that reason, I gave Eizan a similar-ish job. (I’ll keep Eizan spoilers to a minimum here because the campaign I’m playing right now has yet to reveal his deets... but if asked, I’d be happy to give’em!) We follow his adventures and meet his best friend, Taizi (a human) and his brother-in-law, Chai (an aspiring mage). 

Due to a horrific 100-year-long war (appropriately named the 100 Year War), Liang experiences the aftereffects of rampant xenophobia. Nowadays, border relations are peaceful and the xenophobia is minimal, but the bitter aftertaste of intermittent racism and elf elitism remains. 

We get a dose of this in Taizi’s backstory — Taizi and his human family were immigrant beggars rejected by the locals until Eizan’s father offered them a home and helped them get back on their feet. Ever since then, Eizan and Taizi have been the best of friends, like brothers. 

Meanwhile, Chai, the snooty son of one of the biggest royals around, learns what it means to be the “non-elite.” He meets Taizi, his sister marries Eizan (a commoner and a half-blood), and he becomes a working apprentice at the local woodshop. His is a tale of self discovery, treating people with fairness, finding his own goals, and opening his worldview when he crosses paths with characters from all walks of life.

Jade

One of the most important customs in Liang is the symbolism of jade. Jade is the most sacred stone, symbolizing a lifelong promise between two (or more) people. It is a vow of friendship, family, love, and loyalty. Jade is not to be gifted lightly. Royals tend to have a family and/or individual ring made of jade.

Most, if not all couples, will exchange unique jade pieces when they marry. I call it “Trade a Jade” (˚▽˚) For example, Eizan gave Saya her hair clip and she gave him a set of earrings. Sky gave Yuri a beautiful hair ornament, and she gave him jade chevron ear cuffs. (Couples do trade other items, but these happened to be similar gifts.)

Magic

The theory of magic in Liang is based off the number eight, representing harmony and balance. Mages use “anchors” to connect themselves to the natural energy of the world. While magic theory/technique may vary geographically, Liangese magic always utilizes eight anchors. A gate between the first seven anchors and the universe is established using your soul anchor (the eighth pillar, one’s own mana). The first seven are elemental anchors (fire, earth, water, etc) which draw power from the natural world. The stronger the mage, the purer the magic, meaning one can draw a greater quantity of power with a better connection.

Gemstones — houseki (宝石) — are used to enhance the channels established by anchors. Certain jewels even have elemental affinities. Stones with high purity resonate strongly and channel the best magic. 

Fun fact: If you take away the hat-shaped radical in the first character of Houseki, you get the word for “jade”...! 

Connecting to different anchors produces different spells. For example, combining several elements provides complex magics like telepathy and foresight. Using only one type of anchor creates create pure magic, such as straight up fire or water spells. However, magic is not produced out of thin air — it requires a trade of the user’s mana for the world’s energy. A spell’s strength still depends on the caliber of mage, not just what anchors they use.

Magic tools are very common. They use magic batteries made of gems/metal ores or simply rely on the user’s mana. Inscriptions and magic circles establish anchors if none are enchanted into the gems. High quality magic tools are made of metals with high magic compatibility. The more common items made from regular steel, stone, and glass include thoughtography radios, magic-infused cameras, and quartz crystal TVs.

Additionally, healing is possible by accessing life element anchors (found in your soul anchor or in organic objects) to summon sheer life force energy. Liangese healing magic is very advanced to the point where one can conduct brain and open-heart surgeries. However, the usage of certain magics is forbidden without qualification. Medicinal magic is limited to certified clerics, and alchemy is strictly prohibited unless you’ve graduated from the capital’s School of Alchemy. 

Note: Much sketchy underworld business revolves around black magic, illegal alchemy, and magic weapons trade.

Basic spells are taught in grade schools, but not everyone has strong magic affinity, so mastery isn’t a requirement. Most children continue on to a regular university, vocational school, or magic academy if they don’t enter a direct apprenticeship following primary education. Easy spells are frequently used in daily life to simplify tasks. For example, one can check the quality of materials or speed up certain processes using analysis/trace magic. Cooking magic is an entire art on its own, and very difficult to master.

There are laws banning time-altering magic and revival of the dead, but very few ever violate them. This is because these spells never end well. You can land in an eternal time loop or accidentally create a soulless, man-eating zombie. And then you die.  While spells that save someone on the brink of death in exchange for one’s own life force do exist, you cannot bring back the dead. 

There is only one exception to this, and even that singular instance required hundreds of years of research and preparation, not to mention the cost.

Finally, certain noble clans specialize in different magics, often attaining mastery of multiple disciplines. I’ll save that for a different post, but for now, just know that the Cheng Lis are primarily fire, alchemy, and space/time mages. Eizan is good with earth or plant-based spells (aka he has a great green thumb!)

commissioned art by Ling

Plot (???)

The plot of Houseki is still a work in progress. I have a general outline that I keep adding to as more ideas come. I’m writing out the fine details/arcs, which will include the dark underbelly of the royal world, black magic, a threat to the nation, the secret to life (?), and the truth behind the throne. Love me my cliches hehe~

Here are some character facts you might find interesting! ...okay, yes, my cast is like 90% one royal family and I have terrible naming sense (I legit named Taizi after my fave badminton player) but here ya go!

MAIN CAST 

Eizan Shen: A half-elf druid created for my first ever D&D campaign hosted by a friend! He’s a huge family man and an avid tea enthusiast. Very calm, levelheaded, and specializes in handling a knife...or many knives. (I don’t know where he keeps them...😨) Eizan gives off ultimate dad vibes and his most treasured thing in the world is his family.

Saya Shen: Eizan’s wife, a full elf born to one of the most powerful royal clans. She was supposed to be the first princess of Liang, but was disowned by her family when she rebelled from their ideals and married a commoner (and a half-blood, to boot). She’s an incredibly strong woman both mentally and physically, but also one of the warmest, most loving characters in the series. Oh, also her biceps are made of steel.

Chai Cheng Li: Saya’s little brother, a young mage prodigy who specializes in fire magic. He’s a tad snooty and arrogant, but at heart just a nerdy bookworm who loves magic. He grows up admiring his sister, feeling heartbroken when she “abandons” him and leaves the family, but later rediscovers himself and in his journey to become king. 

Taizi Ying: Eizan’s childhood friend. He and his family were immigrant beggars shunned by the locals until Eizan’s parents offered them a place to stay. After his parents died of illness, Taizi made it his life goal to repay the kindness that Eizan’s family showed him years ago. He becomes the greatest swordsman in the nation and earns great respect despite the human blood in his veins. 

Dae Ongaku: She is spunk in the form of a small elf girl, the one and only Dae. Head apprentice of the Shen Woodworking Company, her skills are nearly unrivaled. She’s known for her contagious smile, eccentric love of cheese, and her liveliness. It really isn’t a day without Dae Ongaku. (Character inspired and written by @ukitakejuushiro)

Sky Silvers: A cool and aloof elven ranger who befriends Eizan during our D&D campaign, later residing in the Shen household temporarily before he becomes a disciple of the greatest archer in Liangese history, Hanzhen Cheng Li. In the future timeline, Sky also ends up falling in love with Han’s daughter and marrying her. (Sky belongs to @ukitakejuushiro, and is her player in the campaign.)

Hanzhen Cheng Li: Youngest brother of the king and Saya’s uncle. Known far and wide as the One-Eyed Archer, Han is the strongest archer in all of Liangese history. He lost function of his left eye in the 100 Year War, hence his nickname. His wife passed away due to cancer, but thanks to my incredible plot armor (backed up by a decent magic theory), she will come back to life. They’re the cutest shit you’ll ever see, so I have absolutely no regrets. Best decision ever.

Yumiko Cheng Li: Han’s beloved wife, a cute little lady with a head of fluffy chestnut hair. She died approximately 75-85 years ago due to an incurable cancer, but I brought her back to life because Han was too lonely and I love her to bits. She is pure sunshine, the actual greatest good in this world.

Just look at this...how can you say no....

Yuri Cheng Li: Daughter of Han and Yumiko. Like her parents before her, she is a skilled archer, and her personality is a perfect mix of the two. She has a passion for fashion, art, and teaching, but her emotionally tragic past hinders her confidence and her relationships. Fortunately, she meet someone who helps her becomes brave again, and fate aligns just right :’)

Hokuzhen Cheng Li: We should finally introduce the King of Liang himself, shouldn’t we? Cheerful and easygoing, Hoku is a kind and intelligent king. He’s very perceptive of the state of the nation, while also keeping up with “hip and cool” trends much to his daughter’s dismay. He can be somewhat clumsy, often tripping over his massive robes. A good man with one too many dad jokes...

Alishan Cheng Li: The Crown Princess of Liang, named after the literal Alishan mountain range of Taiwan. She’s Hoku’s daughter and Saya’s cousin. Ali is polite and well-mannered but not particularly adventurous or motivated. She knows for sure that she doesn’t want to inherit the throne. Oh, and she loves food (especially mantou) ♫

Bonus:

Wakamori Yakaze: A spirit mage from the western island country of Kouhaku. Yakaze is Sky’s first teacher and Han’s best friend. Though he doesn’t appear in Houseki’s main plot, he’s a main character in Han’s spinoff story, which will rejoin the final timeline of the main series. Yakaze’s tale is one of angst and hopelessness and his journey to someday becoming whole again. Personally, I believe his friendship with Han is unrivaled, far surpassing both love and life. Keep an eye out for him in YUMI TO YA —弓と矢  (Yakaze belongs to @ukitakejuushiro)

ANTAGONISTS

Yan Wu Seigi: A cunning mage who runs an underworld spy network. He is the head of the Seigi clan (and political faction), but his heinous actions in the 100 Year War dishonored his clan, and they were stripped of their status. His sly methods and ulterior motives drive the underlying plot behind Houseki.

Akagi Kanshikan: Yan Wu’s adopted son. Akagi lost his family to a house fire when he was young. He grows up a wild, obsessive, and unstable youth who craves social intimacy but doesn’t know how to achieve it. His love for violence and lifelong training as an assassin don’t help much either. He meets Eizan during their school years and plays a large role in one of the more devastating arcs. 

Jimo Kanshikan: Akagi’s younger sister, a small, emotionless, and cold assassin. Trained to be a killer since her formative years, she is fast and deadly...but somewhere deep inside, she wishes Yan Wu would show her fatherly approval and she seeks warmth from her sibling(s). 

Shanmu Seigi: Yan Wu’s only biological daughter, a wicked poison enchantress who adores mind games. She supports her father’s regime but also has an evil plan of her own. The shame of their clan drove her to mother to madness, and Shanmu’s hand in her mother’s demise explains why she has become so twisted. Shanmu is a recurring antagonist who cleverly slips beyond reach of the law.

Hayazhen Cheng Li: The eldest Cheng Li brother, Saya’s father, and formerly the Crown Prince of Liang. He was once a benevolent man to his loved ones, but after an unfortunate plot twist, he begins seeking vengeance in the form of cruelly grooming his heir. Hayazhen is a key national figure and maintains strong influence behind political tides. 

Asuka Cheng Li: Hayazhen’s wife, mother of Saya and Chai. She supports her husband’s endeavors regrets her inability to help Hayazhen make wiser choices. Instead, she blindly takes his side, thinking it was the only way to support him. 

Junzhen Cheng Li: A stingy, arrogant second Cheng Li brother. He’s just straight up mean and rude, no holds barred. But no one gives a damn about him either lol.

SUPPORTERS & FRIENDS

Setsuna Reifan: A renowned healer who spearheads the movement for workers’ rights and class equality. She becomes an important ally to the main cast. 

Ichirou Reifan: Setsuna’s son, a member of Eizan’s team. A really average joe. Pleasant to be around, but not very interesting.

Hyouka Tsaomei: A quiet, sweet girl who specializes in illusionary magic. She loves strawberries. Her name means strawberry. Will kill for strawberry shortcake. 

Qiuzhen Rin Koori: Magic forensic specialist who only likes three things in this world — coffee, candy, and sleep. It pains him to get out of his chair, and it’s near impossible to extract him from his magic lab. 

Old Nao: Headmaster of one of the military academies in the capital. A kind man, but also incredibly ancient.

Torisu Bia: One of the Ongaku Daily Sun’s best political journalists. Doesn’t sleep much, loves to write, and gets her nose into sticky situations every now and then. Uncovers a great conspiracy.

Osamu Raisan: A bard of the royal court who plays the shamisen. Something about him is particularly ethereal and all-knowing...

Maikku Shantian: Another bard of the royal court. He sings. Loudly. A very popular bard amongst the populace. 

Layla Zanabaq: A local florist in the capital’s most immigrant-populated town, where Eizan and Saya live. Has a huge crush on Maikku. (Inspired and created by @harunnn)

Shu’un & Ranshao: Two of Chai’s university friends. The first is a salty little mage who uses familiars, and the second is the token idiot who only knows how to use explosion magic.

Paiya Yoon: Dae’s childhood friend and rival. She moves into the capital when she finds a new job there, rekindling their competitive friendship. She’s named after a papaya. Yes, you heard me, a papaya. (Inspired by @kyahgamis​)

Rem: Sky’s eternally sleepy childhood friend. Even while holding a conversation, there is a 99% chance he is asleep. May or may not be a ninja, but you didn’t hear that from m—

Collie: An archery kouhai from Sky’s youth. She looks up to him a lot and she flaps her ears when she’s excited, as if she might try and fly away. Collie is often mistaken for a boy.

Ra: A very Extra™ healer who has 100% faith in his skills (as should you). He calls people by their full name all the time (a power move), doesn’t skimp on eyeliner, and has known Sky since his village days as well. (Rem, Collie, Ra by @ukitakejuushiro)

FAMILY 

Ezi Shen: The plucky, curious daughter of Eizan and Saya! She adores the color pink and loves bows of all kinds: bow ties, ribbon bows, bow tie pasta, you name it! Ezi is quite the fearless little adventurer and one should consider it an honor to be invited to her weekly tea parties.

Daizan Shen: Eizan’s father, a master woodworker who owns the shop where Dae works. He’s a strict but fair man who earned great respect amongst fellow craftsmen with his hard work and skills. He and his wife serve as the liaisons between local mixed-race business and the corporate elf society. 

Meihua Shen: Eizan’s mother and Daizan’s wife. Though she was born to elite elven family, Meihua pursued her dream of being a seamstress. She now owns a beautiful dress and tailor shop. Despite being a pacifist, Meihua’s incredible intelligence was needed at the end of the 100 Year War, and she temporarily served as the head military strategist.

Tian Cheng Li: The only daughter of the previous king and sister to all of the Cheng Li brothers. Tian is an absolute riot who turns proper princess stereotypes on their heads. She is the root source of Saya’s spunky nature, the rebellious and boisterous Cheng Li aunt. 

Hayano and Irino Cheng Li: The notorious family twins, Tian’s youngest sons. They are the most chaotic duo of memes elves you’ll ever meet. They always have their hair dyed one wacky color or another. Lately it’s been orange (Hayano) and lavender (Irino). 

Hokkaia Hibari: Saya’s maternal grandmother, a very loving and tender woman who taught her grandchildren how to read and write. When the family dynamic turned sour, the children sought comfort in Hokkaia. She taught them to hope and dream :’) 

The Ongaku Family: Dae’s family of two fishermen, a navy boy, and the editor-in-chief of the Ongaku Daily Sun. They’re frequently so busy with work (coastal fishing, deployment, running the newspaper, etc) that they’re often absent from the household. As a result, Dae practically lives with the Shens nowadays.

Rei, Jun, & Maeno Cheng Li: The rest of Saya’s cousins. Rei is the oldest, an elegant but stiff woman. Underneath her guise of propriety, she seems lonely, like she just wants to have fun and be friends. Meanwhile, Jin is her stuck-up asshole of a little brother, a true snob. Don’t give Jin time of day, ever — it’ll get to his head. Finally, Maeno is the benevelent older bro of Tian’s twins. He has a soft, round stature and a warm smile.

Sei Ling Zhou: The former queen, mother of all the Cheng Li siblings, and the most renowned healer in history. She’s known for her quirky attitude and snarky clapbacks, having once turned down the proposal of the last king himself. Sei Ling will discover a never-before-seen spell that could very well be considered the “secret” of life...

Akira and Kawano Cheng Li: Akira is Junzhen���s wife and mother to Rei and Jin. She married into the family forcefully, desiring access to their magic libraries. Akira is not a stranger to getting what she wants. Kawano is Tian’s husband, a calm and steady man to balance out her spontaneity. He comes from a family that owns a fruit import company.

CUSTOMS

Jade: As mentioned before, the jade stone is the most precious and worshiped gem. Recklessly gifting jade would tarnish one’s reputation and belittle Liangese culture. Of course, they are understanding of mistakes, especially when foreigners are just learning about their customs.

Festivals: Liang has four big seasonal festivals — the Lantern Festival on the summer solstice, the Lunar Dance Festival in mid-autumn, the White Tiger Festival on the week of the new year, and the Jade Horse Festival on the spring equinox. People gather to pray to shrines, dance and sing, eat good food, and visit their families. 

Tournaments: Similarly, Liang also has four seasonal tournaments called “Medals.” Winners of the Medals, appropriately called Medalists, are recognized as the greatest master in their respective fields. (Minor competitions also occur, but these are the big ones):

There is the Swordsmanship Medal, which lasts five days and ends on the summer equinox (the day the Lantern Festival begins).

The Ceremonial Dance Medal in mid-autumn, which perfectly coincides with the Lunar Dance Festival. 

The Archery Medal on the winter solstice.

And finally the Horsemanship Medal during the spring equinox.

(all statistics are approximate and not quite final yet!)

Mastery of Arts: In Liang, mastery in any field (magic, arts, athletics, medicine, etc) is a very respected achievement. Oftentimes, masters are the older folks, hence why elders are held in high regard. An important plot point involves Taizi achieving mastery of the sword and winning the Swordsmanship Medal, defying classism and racism, and becoming one of the youngest and most respected masters of his generation. 

Market Day: A day-long event akin to an Asian night market or western farmers’ market. Shop owners, farmers, and restaurateurs gather in the central marketplaces of large and small cities alike to sell their specialty items. It’s a day to celebrate food and advertise your best goods! 

PLACES

Hisui: The capital. It has a circular layout and lies in the western central region of Liang. The Royal Palace sits at its center, hugged by a river that comes from the north. The Inner and Outer Capital are areas separated by the imaginary circle drawn by the river. This line divides the government and business sectors from the smaller residential districts.

Hayashi: Saya’s main hometown growing up. An industrial city slightly northeast of the capital.

Bing Harbor: Han’s city of residence in the northwestern province. It is Liang’s biggest port town, and thus the “gate” to the western world. Bing Harbor is known for its beautiful winter landscapes and seamless escape into vast forests.

Huamao: Eizan’s hometown, where he met Taizi. Known for its peaceful gorges, clear pools, and beautiful small cascades. 

Mountains: The mountain ranges surrounding Liang are classified into three different regions, each with their own specialty resources (i.e. mountain ore, lumber, etc). They are home to a few aboriginal clans. 

Huen: The southernmost Hisui district. It has the highest immigrant and non-elf population in the capital. This where Eizan currently lives. 

Haretsuki Lake: A large lake shaped like a crescent moon crashed into the sun. It lies in a valley to the southeast and has much historical relevance.

Here is a vague, incomplete map of Liang (still a really rough draft so far, and not quite the shape I want it to be...):

As you can see, I have great naming sense (´∀｀；) I either name on a whim or I throw in references to my family in some way or another... Anyway, I plan to change the shape and layout a bit. I’m not quite satisfied yet...

In conclusion... 

That...was a lot. If you made it this far, holy shit? Thank you?? Feel free to check out my Houseki tag and ask questions and just...please talk to me about my OCs omg I’m so excited ( ๑>ᴗ<๑ )

This is kinda my first big original “project.” I’ve always wanted to do something like this and I’m super excited to share it. Most of it’s on my personal docs or in chats with Danie, but I will share it all eventually! And I’ll update the (very unfinished) Houseki blog with all the formatting and plot, so stay tuned!

[sanjuno]

I'm trying to poke at my fic and; Why does it have to be emotional PAIN that awakens the sharingan? It doesn't really make sense. Like, in the warring clans era, ofc that's going to be the main way it happens, maybe even the only way. But, once the village was founded and kids weren't seeing their family die bloody at every turn, wouldn't it make sense that the sharingan would whirl into activity at great moments of JOY? The birth of a child, a moment of triumph, a sight of great beauty etc.

And, if the sharingan awakened as the result of joy instead of pain, would it be different? That might be interesting to explore. Thoughts?

It would be interesting but hard to do in reality, because the sharingan manifests as a result of a neurological shift due to a biochemical reaction in the Uchiha brain. It’s not necessarily pain that triggers the sharingan. It’s just that the side effects of pain-stress are a lot easier to ramp up to the point where the brain meat starts shooting off enough signals at once to hit on the right combination of hormonal hellfire to turn on the magic doom eyes. This pain induced stress-trigger is opposed to euphoria-joy you want to use, which is a state of altered consciousness that the Uchiha as presented in canon would need all the good drugs to reach, and even then it would need to be a joy so intense that it kicked off the chemical cascade in the Uchiha brain that somehow flips the sharingan on.

(Watch my brain run away now, nyoom thar it goes.)

Which would be hard for the Uchiha Clan as a whole to use consistently as a trigger, especially given that the neurological profiles of the Uchiha we meet in canon tend to lean more towards hyper-fixations, Aspergers Syndrome (which may just be me projecting on my favourite characters), and manic-depression. Not really the type of mental landscape that would allow for divine ecstasy as a sharingan launch code.

But you know the one canon example of an Uchiha activating a Sharingan out of Joy? Sarada.

Sarada was so happy that her father was back in Konoha that she activated her sharingan at the thought that her dad was right on the other side of that door. So Sarada is a limited but still valid example that it’s possible to activate the sharingan with mostly happy thoughts.

Meanwhile in the main canon we’re told that the Uchiha don’t get out much and that very few of them actually managed to activate their sharingan before the massacre. So obviously Tobirama’s plan to wrap the Uchiha in cotton wool so they don’t crack en masse actually worked, for the most part. It did mean that the Uchiha Clan circa. the reign of the Fourth Hokage were sheltered from the vast majority of emotional extremes.

Although if you’re really determined to have the Uchiha wake up the sharingan in a moment of joy nothing beats a sex pollen attack. Something ROOT thinks is going to be a poison that weakens them but really works more like Uchiha catnip in the water supply or dropped over the compound and suddenly every single Uchiha has the sharingan. Meanwhile every single Konoha shinobi who was kinda uncertain about if their Uchiha friend was really their friend now has an armful of jacked-up hyper-active pyromaniac with magic doom eyes and while the confirmation of affection is really nice to have could we perhaps not set everything on fire? Please?

Kakashi and Tenzo, currently wearing their Uchiha teammates like scarves: “What the fuck.”

Shisui and Itachi, flying high with the moon and with the Makengyou now: “I can see everything, Taicho. All the things.”

On a more individual basis, Obito arriving on the scene of Rin’s kidnapping before she gets the bright idea to suicide would mean a chance for Rin and/or Kakashi to tackle Obito and profess undying love and affection. Perhaps with desperate make-outs. Which would flip Obito’s silly brain from terrified to thrilled so fast he’d spontaneously manifest the makengyou.

Anyway, that’s all I can come up with off the top of my head. Hope it helps.

Also:

My previous posts on how the sharingan functions and the effect it has on the Uchiha who have it:

https://sanjuno.tumblr.com/post/166065900107/if-you-dont-mind-could-you-tell-us-your

https://sanjuno.tumblr.com/post/166061490687/if-you-dont-mind-could-you-tell-us-your

[sulevinblade]

OC Interview Meme

Tagged by: @mocha-writes (hopefully it tags you properly this time? But still, THANK YOU!!)

I’ll tag: @gremlinquisitor ofc, and anyone else who wants to do it! I don’t know who all among you may have already done it for your OCs but I love reading these!!

Since I did Ghilanel here, this one will be with Varevas. I’m... sorry, about him.

1. What is your name?

“You’ve lost my confidence with the very first question.”

2. What is your real name?

“Varevas, First of Clan Lavellan and Lord Inquisitor. I should make you use the entire thing for the duration as penance for not doing the least amount of background research.”

3. Do you know why you were called that?

“The end of it is just titles, of course, and I’m called those because I earned them, more or less. My given name is a variation of one given to at least one child in every generation of our clan in order to ensure someone carries our freedom forward. But no pressure.”

4. Are you single or taken?

“I am taken, frequently and to great mutual satisfaction.”

5. Have any abilities or powers?

“I love hearing them called powers because the implication is I went to bed one night unable to conjure a great fist of stone out of the loose Fade energy pouring from the rifts and then woke up able to do so. Maybe that’s how it looks to people who don’t possess magic of their own. I have many abilities, learned and honed through time and training. I have one power and that is closing rifts. I had nothing to do with that.”

6. Stop being a Mary Sue.

“I have no idea who that is.”

7. What’s your eye color?

“Green, light green.”

8. How about your hair color?

“Dark red. I’m thinking of growing it out.”

9. Have you any family members?

“My mother was killed by human bandits but my father is still alive, and I have one younger brother and a cousin with whom I’m quite close.”

10. Oh? What about pets?

“No, but recently we were in the Emerald Graves and I found a handful of caterpillars all climbing on some sort of communal nest or cocoon site. I didn’t really think anything of it and no one there knew what kind they were or if they were dangerous, but they did seem to respond to the sound of our voices. It was as though it startled them, but it looked like they were dancing, so I spent a few minutes teaching them different rhythms. I don’t think they cared for it but I never said I was good with animals. Bull thought it was hilarious.”

11. That’s cool I guess, now tell me about something you don’t like.

“I don’t like having my ancedotes dismissed. If we’re looking on a larger scale, I really don’t like that there’s an ancient magister threatening to destroy the world and start over and some people’s greatest concern is still how the ears of the person leading the fight to stop that are shaped.”

12. Do you have any hobbies/activities you like doing?

“I enjoy reading. My clan didn’t have many books and what we did have were focused on our history and written by other elves, which is very effective if you don’t ever plan on interacting with anyone other than elves ever. I can understand why many in my clan would have preferred that but I’ll take Skyhold’s library any day.”

13. Ever hurt anyone before?

“Oh yes, it’s a running joke. If you asked Dorian what my hobbies are, he’d tell you it’s indiscriminate murder, but I think I’m very discriminating.”

14. Ever… killed anyone before?

“I got ahead of myself with the last one. Well, asked and answered, but again, it’s not indiscriminate.” He looks unusually serious for a moment. “I learned my history and I know what indiscriminate murder looks like. What Corypheus intends is indiscriminate. What I am doing, as a representative of the Inquisition, is as thoughtful as it can afford to be. I don’t expect the families of people on the other side to thank me but I am doing what I feel has to be done.”

15. What kind of animal are you?

“A bear. Please ignore all follow up commentary from Dorian should there be any.”

16. Name your worst habits.

“I enjoy reading but I’m very bad at finishing books. There’s a stack of them beside my bed, all with bookmarks in them just waiting for my attention span to resolve itself. I don’t spend as much time here [in Skyhold] as I probably ought to but I’m not comfortable here. I interrupt Dorian’s research on a daily basis, though I can’t say that’s really all that bad since he still gets an impressive amount done.”

17. Do you look up to anyone at all?

“It’s disappointing to me that our differing opinions on the sovereignty of mages keeps Vivienne from giving me so much as the time of day because she’s achieved a kind of power and status that defies all expectations I have ever held for myself as a mage, and I was going to be Keeper of my clan. She’s competent, powerful, self-possessed, and a dazzling conversationalist. Many of those same things can be said of Solas but he also hasn’t kept himself apart in the same way so what admiration I may have for him is tempered by familiarity. We’re friendly, though I do still look up to him and now that he knows we share an interest in manipulating the energy coming from the rifts I think we’ll become even closer. Vivienne, however, is a class apart.”

18. Gay, straight, or bisexual?

“Gay. What a strange way to follow up your previous question.”

19. Do you go to school?

“And yet another unexpected turn! I began a mentorship under my clan’s Keeper as soon as I came into my magic. She ensured I studied other subjects as well but the main focus was history and lore; that’s a Keeper’s function, after all, it’s... it’s literally the name. Keeper.”

20. Do you ever want to marry and have kids one day?

“I haven’t really thought about it. I want to spend the rest of my life with Dorian but marriage is complicated for a lot of reasons, and frankly I can��t imagine anyone who takes the threat our world faces right now seriously daydreaming about raising a child. I want to make sure we have a world where raising families is still a possibility at the end of this but for myself, I don’t know.”

21. Do you have any fanboys/fangirls?

"I pay for my drinks at the Herald’s Rest just like anyone else. I really don’t care for being recognized even though I realize it’s inevitable. Except with you, though, you didn’t even know my name.”

22. What are you most afraid of?

“Fucking it all up. Absolutely just ruining everything. I like to keep my fears general so I’m always just a little terrified, it’s very motivational.”

23. What do you usually wear?

“I prefer light clothing that allows me to move easily. I need to ground myself in order to cast but I need to have my arms and body free.”

24. Do you love someone?

“I do. I never imagined that being an outcome of all this but I’m also lucky enough that he loves me back.”

25. When was the last time you wet yourself?

“Have you ever been gripped by the wrist and hoisted like a wet rag doll by a twelve-foot-tall creature made of red lyrium and avarice who wanted nothing more than to snap your hand off and kill you, knowing all your back-up had fled because you sent them away and the only outcome of this encounter was your death? You’d pee a little too, trust me.”

26. Well, it’s not over yet!

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he made me piss myself again, but this time I’ll be ready.”

27. What class are you? (High class, middle class, low class)

“Being the First of the clan meant I enjoyed certain privileges but our clan was not a wealthy one. My life here in Skyhold is an improvement in a lot of ways over life with the clan in that regard, and I suppose I am a lord now.”

28. How many friends do you have?

“More than six but less than ten. Draw your own conclusions.”

29. What are your thoughts on pie?

“Surprisingly difficult to make but worth it.”

30. Favourite drink?

“The water in Skyhold is the cleanest, freshest tasting water I’ve ever had, and it’s often bitterly cold too, so cold your teeth ache when you drink it. The castle is too cold to really enjoy that but I do enjoy it. Dorian thinks I’m mad but it’s the only cold thing I like.”

31. What’s your favourite place?

“My quarters, with all the doors closed and curtains hauled over them, a fire on and my lover close at hand. It’s the only way I can thaw out.”

32. Are you interested in someone?

“Keep. Up.”

33. What’s your bra cup size and/or how big is your willy?

“I've received no complaints.”

34. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

“Dorian tells me in Tevinter they have great indoor baths for swimming in. Given the option, one of those.”

35. What’s your type?

"Fire and Rift.” He pauses and sighs. “I don’t know that I could ever be with someone who wasn’t a mage. It made life in the clan very isolating because even as the First you were still seen mostly as competition for younger mages who wanted to keep their place in the clan. Having a ‘type’ never occurred to me. It still hadn’t when I ended up here. I don’t know that I have one. I love Dorian. I don’t need a type.” 

36. Any fetishes?

His eyes flash and narrow and Varevas leans forward in his chair. “Whenever possible, I try to convince Dorian to keep his clothes on when I go down on him. I get off on the smell of the leather and the jingle of all those ridiculous buckles and clasps keeping him bound up while I try to make him explode.” He maintains eye contact the entire time he speaks and there’s not a hint of color on his cheeks. “Dorian is an incredibly private man who would be profoundly hurt if I revealed anything factual in a situation like this, so do with that statement what you will.”

37. Seme or uke? Top or Bottom? Dominant or Submissive?

“We’re done discussing this.”

38. Camping or indoors?

“Indoors. Who doesn’t like being warm and dry?”

39. Are you wanting the interview to end?

“If that’s what it takes to end these questions about my private affairs then yes.”

40. Now it’s over!

“Brilliant. You can show yourself out.”

[rorykillmore]

are there any kind of dynamics or tropes that you don't have right now that you'd wanna do sometime?

hmmmm let me think…

y’know not that i don’t enjoy having my characters in like, mentor/parental roles, but i have or have had. a lot of those. and especially now that i play cordelia i’m trying to be conscious of like, it can be the kind of thing you burn out on after awhile, so one fun way to balance that out might be to get one of my characters into the opposite role! especially since i always love playing a character looking up to some kind of mentor figure. i think the last time i really did that wholeheartedly was with kara and ravage? so it’d be fun to explore something like that again!

apart from that... i’ve always really wanted to do a good enemies to lovers plot and never really got the chance to?? maybe because when two characters don’t like each other it’s harder to suddenly go “hey you wanna ship them!”,

on the other hand, i also really like the angst of friends-to-enemies and haven’t gotten to do a lot of good plots like that either... ofc that’s the kind of thing that needs talked out before you change a dynamic so drastically but

honestly the IDEAL is doing some long spanning epic plot that’s friends-to enemies-to lovers but i’d need the right characters and the right plot... 

another easy weak spot from my warriors oc days is like, some kind of forbidden romance or friendship (fox and the hound...) thing, which i’m not sure would be as easy to pull off on denny unless like. you’re playing two characters from two different groups who happen to be bitter enemies, like the actual warrior cat clans. or i guess unless you’re playing canonmates who know they shouldn’t be allowed to like each other for some reason?

oh okay maybe this is an odd sounding one but i wanna play like!! more best friends!! i feel like unless it was established in canon, best friends are kind of incidental on denny, like someone asks you who your characters best friend is and you just kind of pick someone they happen to be close to. but i want more best friends who PROCLAIM they’re best friends! and who act really best friend-y. i think in site canon dolores would probably call cloud her best friend but idk if some of my other characters like, consciously have one

i especially want like... a girl/girl set of best friends (that doesn’t turn romantic, as much as i also like that trope) because that’s an experience i can relate to that i haven’t played on denny in awhile, or like, maybe a trio of best friends who get into trouble together! those are always fun

okay or another one... i’m not sure how you would do this on denny?? but i think it’d be really interesting to play a dynamic where characters are like... either some kind of soulmates, or otherwise weirdly tied together by destiny. i’m a sucker for that kind of thing. i guess you’d either have to plot out something specific that requires that sort of connection ooor it’d have to be a case like way back when i played a character called sarafine, who was a type of magic user who like... canonically always had sort of soulmate-ish characters. but sarafine herself didn’t have a canon one so one day i just made a plot thread like “so hey does anyone want to do this??” and it ended up being really fun

i’m trying to think if there’s anything else i haven’t really done that i wanna do... oh like! either some kind of longer term fake dating situation, or fake marriage situation, or like some kind of marriage of convenience (tax evasion,). i just find it really interesting when characters get paired together under unconventional circumstances like that

or like, this also needs plotting out, but like a group of characters who go on some kind of journey, or even like a roadtrip together?? those are always really fun

i’m trying to think if there’s anything i wanted for any of my specific characters... i do want like. some nice, dorky heroes for siobhan to hang out with (/to grind on her nerves), maybe if anyone like that ever wanted to join the denny guardians. or i’d love like... more robots specifically for dolores to meet, because she actually really hasn’t met too many and she’s always lowkey feeling a little isolated. or for cordelia, i think it’d be interesting for her to have like... not like, an ~evil foil~, because michael kind of already fills that role,  but a magic user who’s a little darker and edgier who she kind of tangles with in a weird, complicated way. actually if i was gonna do a ship with her that wasn’t with misty, i’d probably be interested in something like that.

okay i’ll stop there because that’s a good many examples but!! plenty to work with at least

[tattooednursewrites]

Yep, Sure Am Speechless - Ch 15

Elizabeth (OFC) returns to her place as healer on the Avengers team after taking time off after her mom is diagnosed with cancer. In her absence, the Avengers have gained some new members, including Bucky Barnes. Heart eyes and flirtation abound.

Masterlist

Ch 15

There was a knock on the door as I finished zipping my bag shut and tossed it on the bed. I opened the door to find Clint, again holding Nathaniel on his hip, with a phone in his other hand. His face looked grim. “What’s up, Clint? I was just about to head down for dinner… promise.”

“Nat just called. They need you on a mission. She and the others will be here on the jet within the hour. She said it’s her and the twins. The others were already out on a mission… they left yesterday. So even with you she’s not sure there will be enough of you guys.”

My hands start flying… cursing. Nate isn’t old enough yet to copy the gestures so I don’t feel too guilty about it. And my hands continue to sign as I talk, emphasizing my words. “No. No, Clint, don’t you dare even think it. You are not coming with us. No way. I won’t allow it. Neither will Nat. We’ll be fine. You’re staying with your family. Retired. You’re retired.”

Clint waited until I finished. He quickly signed ‘ok’ before adding “but I don’t have to like it.” I followed him back downstairs. I ate quickly, the mood at the table dour. There were many hugs as I said goodbye to the kids and Laura. Nate gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek. Clint squeezed me tightly and whispered in my ear. “Thank you, Elle. Please be safe.”

I nodded at him as I pulled back, giving him a small smile. With one last goodbye I walked toward the field where the jet had just touched down, my bag over my shoulder. I waved to the Barton clan, who had assembled on the porch to see me off, and I stepped onto the jet.

Natasha was up front with Wanda, teaching her the controls, reminding me of my many lessons with Clint. Pietro was pacing slow enough that I could see him. It looked more like powerwalking than normal pacing, but at least he was visible. I dropped my bag on a seat and headed toward the front. I sat in the jump seat behind the cockpit and leaned forward.

“Hi y’all. Missed you. It’s good to see you, but I wish it was under different circumstances. What’s the mission?”

“I’m a bit shocked you convinced Clint to stay put,” Natasha said by way of greeting. “Oh, and good to see you, too,” she added as an afterthought.

“He wasn’t happy about it, but I used my loud voice, and he conceded. Clint may not like being sidelined, but he’s at home with his family so he’ll be okay.”

“I missed your presence, Ella,” Wanda said, squeezing my hand lightly. I gave her a squeeze in return.

“So what are we doing?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t another rescue mission.

“We got word of a new suspected Hydra base,” Nat started. “It should just be recon. If the intel is confirmed, we should try to take the base out if we can. If we can’t handle it ourselves, we’ll observe it and wait for reinforcements. I should also probably tell you this *might* be a trap. We got the same type of intel yesterday, and the location was on the opposite side of the world from our destination. I’ve been in contact with Cap’s team, nothing hinky yet, but I - *we*, think it’s suspicious that we’re being called away - as far away as possible from their current location. Vision is staying at home base, that way he can quickly get to either team if needed.”

“A trap, huh. That gives me the warm and fuzzies. Okay, well at least we can be extra cautious. I brought coffee. Clint loaned me his thermos. Y’all want a cup?” I got nods from Nat and Wanda, and turned to Pietro. “You want coffee?”

“Please,” he said, pausing his power-pacing.

I poured coffee into paper cups and handed them out. We were silent as we drank. Pietro was the only one showing obvious nerves, but I could see Nat’s tension, and Wanda’s magic was flickering without her realizing it. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

Wanda looked at Natasha, who gave a minute shake of her head, before turning to me. “The Hydra base the other team went in search of… the intelligence included information that a disciple of Dr. List’s was there. Steve said that you were familiar with him,” Wanda hesitated again. “His name is Dr. Pyre…”

I froze. I felt all of the color drain from my face. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck. I swallowed. “Yeah. Yeah, I know him. He’s the one that had me taken from my home. He *suspected* that I could be ‘special’ and wanted to see if his theory was correct. He finally began to believe I was ‘normal’ after… well… after he - let’s say ‘tested’ me. Extensively. Thankfully I was able to endure the tests. And I had enough control over my power to make myself heal at a regular rate, instead of at my usual speed. Luckily Steve found me before Pyre discovered my powers, or gave up and disposed of me. Steve got me out of there while Nat and Clint placed some explosives to destroy the base. I thought Pyre died when the team detonated the charges,” I closed my eyes, hugging myself lightly. “I guess not.”

Nat’s jaw was clenching over and over. She saw how I looked when Steve brought me out. I think that was why she warmed to me more quickly than expected. I looked at Wanda, whose magic was dancing angrily between her hands. Pietro had resumed pacing, this time he was a blur. I put a hand on Wanda’s, making her look up. “I’m okay, Wanda.” She arched an eyebrow.

“We all need to calm down a bit,” I said, standing. “More coffee? I think we have just enough for another round.”

Nat shook her head, but smirked and said “Sure.” Wanda smiled and handed me her cup. Pietro stopped pacing and watched me walk to my bag and grab the thermos. He walked over and squeezed my shoulder.

“Another cup would be lovely. Thank you.”

I nodded and filled his cup, before bringing the girls their cups. As I sipped my coffee a thought occurred to me. “Did Steve share any of my history with Pyre with the other team?”

Nat cut her eyes to me and they widened slightly. “No. Tony knows, because he was there. Sam knows only what you told him, but as far as I know, he doesn’t know this is *the* doctor. Bucky doesn’t know any of it... unless you told him.”

I shook my head. “Not anything detailed or specific, no. Not yet.” I went back to my bag, pulling out a thin hoodie, and pulling it on. When I went back up front Wanda looked at me.

“Cold?”

“Not really… Pyre, the ‘tests’ he did… it should have scarred me. My power prevented it. Hell, I’m lucky my power lets me get tattoos. The point is, if he is out there somewhere, I don’t want him to draw conclusions from my lack of scars. So, for this mission at least, long sleeves all the way.”

Nat shifted, her jaw clenching again. I expected her to insist I stay in the jet. Instead, after a minute, she turned to me with a small smirk. “So, Clint said you got the letter today.”

I winced. Crap. “Yep.”

“What letter?” Wanda asked, turning in her seat to look at me.

“Bucky wrote Elle a letter. Had me send it to her, since I wouldn’t share where she was.”

“Ooh! What did it say?” Wanda asked, excited.

I glared at Nat. “He just… apologized for avoiding me. Said I should come home.”

“That’s,” Wanda sighed. “Sweet, but disappointing. He should’ve written you a love letter.”

Nat laughed. “I think for Barnes, what he’s been through, that is a love letter, Wanda.”

I looked between them, my eyes narrowed and arms crossed. “It was a perfectly nice letter. Y’all leave Bucky alone.”

Pietro was just looking between us all. Finally, he shook his head and resumed pacing… this time at a more sedate speed.

The jet’s comms started beeping and Nat answered. Cap’s face popped up. “I just wanted to check in with you. I figured you’d have picked up Ella by now,” Steve said. I leaned forward and waved. He smiled. “You holding up okay, Ella?”

“Yeah. It was a surprise, of course, but I’m okay at the moment. How are y’all doing?”

“Still no movement at the base. I have a bad feeling about all this.”

Nat nodded. “I do, too. Something isn’t right. I don’t like it at all.”

Steve frowned. “Keep your guard up. Be careful. I’ll check in with you again soon,” Steve finished, giving us a chin lift before cutting the call.

“Lovely,” I said. “Two of the only people whose gut instincts I trust, and they both think this is bad news.” I sighed.

Nat chuckled lightly. “Yes, but we’re going to listen to our guts, and not do anything stupid. We’ll be okay Elle.”

*********

Steve turned to Bucky after he cut the transmission. Bucky was still staring at the screen. She was there. He saw her for a second. She didn’t see him, but he saw her and she was okay. Bucky sighed. He really didn’t like being this far away from her. Steve and the others seemed increasingly worried about her since yesterday.

When he’d asked Steve about it, Steve had said that it had to do with Elle’s run in with Hydra, but that it wasn’t his story to tell. Bucky understood, but it didn’t help the worry at all. Neither did her getting further and further away from him. He wondered if she got his letter before she left. Comms during a mission was definitely not the time to ask, but he couldn’t help but be curious. Originally he wasn’t planning to come on this mission, but Steve had asked him to, and he couldn’t say no. Especially not when he realized it had something to do with Ella.

Bucky and Steve walked out of the jet and headed back to the makeshift home base. He, Steve, Sam, and Tony were holed up in an abandon building not far from the base they were watching. Tony had somehow managed to get the power and plumbing to work, so it was more comfortable than it could’ve been. Bucky had never seen Tony so reserved and worried. Quiet. He had a feeling it had to do with Ella, and that concerned him.

When he and Steve entered the building Sam was napping, while Tony paced. As soon as Tony saw them, he approached Steve. “Is Ellie okay? Is she with Nat?”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, she’s with Nat and the twins. She seemed shaken, but okay. I could tell Nat wasn’t able to keep it from her like she wanted to.”

Tony shook his head. “And she calls herself a spy? Ellie must be so frightened. Maybe I should…”

“Tony, we’ve been over this. We need to stay in teams of four, just in case this is a trap. We can reevaluate if anything changes, but you know I’m right. We’re all worried about her. There isn’t anything to indicate that she’s in any more danger than usual. She’s okay. She’s strong.”

“I know. But she shouldn’t have to be, not about this,” Tony sighed. He shook his head and went back to pacing.

Bucky looked between the two, knowing he was missing some big piece to the story, and wanting to know what it was. It hurt thinking that Ella had gone through anything at the hands of Hydra, but not knowing what actually happened was worse. He knew what Hydra was capable of. The thought of Ella being subjected to their… talents… it was terrifying. Steve looked at Bucky and moved to stand beside him. He squeezed Bucky’s shoulder. “She’ll be okay, Buck,” Steve said softly. Bucky nodded and closed his eyes. He hoped like hell that Steve was right.

[ephemereon]

Get into my OC

Tagged by @ventures-through-thedas ! Thank you, I’ll do it for my warden for this round ;D

NAME: Aralc Naer’nay Mahariel

AGE: Born in 9:11 Dragon, she is 19 at the beginning of the 5th Blight and 30 at the beginning of Inquisition.

GENDER: Female

ORIENTATION: Pansexual

PROFESSION: Grey Warden - in personal canon : Warden Commander and Arlessa of Amaranthine

BACKGROUND:

Aralc was brought to clan Sabrae when she was young, and barely remembers her parents. She befriended Merrill, Hawen, Osheen and Tamlen. All five would go wander in the forest, complicating the hunters’ tasks.

One day Osheen froze a small stream where Aralc went fishing. They had to use Hawen’s sword to free her stuck leg. They promised not to say anything, but the Keeper decteted Osheen’s magic and told him he had to leave the clan, as they couldn’t accept more mages. The four friends tried to persuade the Keeper, but she was inflexible. So Osheen left.

A few months later, Aralc joined the hunter’s group in training and was noticed. She took part in long trips with Tamlen, and they became closer. Feelings grew and a chaste kiss was exchanged on a new moon night.

Around their fifteen years old, Aralc and Tamlen were considered capable of receiving their vallaslin. A particular ceremony was held, where both were tied to each other by their wrists, receiving their vallaslin. The clan saw a prospect of marriage, which delighted the Keeper. Some time later, the two lovers shared their first night away from prying eyes, in a clearing far from the clan.

One day, as she was hunting at the clan’s territory borders, she came upon an human camp. The latters would illegally hunt animals on the elves’ territory, without respect for their preys and nature. Aralc wanted to get backup, but she was detected by one of the hunters’ dogs. The humans released their dogs on her. Despite her agility and speed, Aralc panicked and caught by the dogs. Fortunately she escaped with minor injuries, thanks to the fast intervention of other hunters from the clan. But she kept a mistrust in human-trained dogs.

At the age of 19, while she was hunting with Tamlen, they met humans who directed them to ancient elven ruins. After encountering some creatures, they stumbled upon a mirror - an eluvian. Despite Aralc’s plead, Tamlen went to the mirror and disappeared suddenly.

Aralc woke up in the clan, and learned she was saved by a human, Duncan. She wanted to go back and search for Tamlen, but he was nowhere to be found. Duncan didn’t believe he survived. He told Aralc she was lucky to ahve survived, but she was now tainted by the Blight. Broken hearted, she accepted his offer to join the Grey Wradens and left the clan.

PHYSICAL

Body type: Athletic, muscular arms and thighs

Eyes: Forest green

Hair: Long red hair

Skin: White complexion, rosy. Freckeled skin. Tends to tan naturally.

Height: 5′5″ (1m65) (according to this)

Weight: 124 lbs (~56 kg) she has some muscles :p

SKILLS (S.P.E.C.I.A.L + M)

Strength- 7/10 She has the strength needed by an archer to carry and use her bow at any time, and also blades.

Perception- 11/10 As a hunter, she has to be vary aware of her environement and notice slight changes. She’s also very perceptive with people.

Endurance-  9/10 She is a hunter, she was trained for that. Running after preys, or darkspawns, what’s the difference.

Charisma-  8/10 Aralc was often told she was pretty, so she sometimes uses that to escape situations. But she can be quite diplomatic if needed too.

Intelligence- 8/10 Hunting means coming up with a plan and being able to change it at the last minute because things changed. Same thing on the battlefield. Quick and effective thinking is needed. She also likes to learn new things.

Agility- 10/10 Suple and agile all the way, light on her feet, barely hearable when she walks or runs. Precise with her blades, and sneaky attacks.

Luck- 3/10 ... I mean Tamlen. Just that should be enough to undesrtand. And ofc the Taint.

Magic- 0/10 She has no magic in her veins. But she doesn’t despise magic users, but is very careful.

LIKES

Colors- Greens, reds, browns, dark blues

Smells- Grass, rain, wood, pine,

Food- Anything really, she can survive in the forest :p knows what can be eaten and what can’t.

Fruit- mainly berries

Drinks- Water and some juices

Alcoholic drinks- Mead (Chasind sack Mead) and strong liquors - keeps you warm during cold nights

OTHER

Smoke: she tried a couple of times back at the cal, wasn’t fond of it

Drugs: ... elfroot ? :)

Driver’s license?: she can ride a hart, so probably a horse too. But she’s used to travelling on foot.

tagging anyone who wants to do it, or do it again for another character :D

[wondrousworldbuilding]

Hi there!!! Thanks for all the work you do on Tumblr! I love your posts and save them so I can come back later when I'm stuck on a rough spot. In fact, I'm on one now lmao. I have a magic-based world. The country in which the main character resides is (essentially) a magocracy; the gentry is obsessed with improving their bloodlines through selective breeding. This world's magic system is based around a pantheon of Lovecraftian-styled gods (cntd.)

(you know the type–distant, inscrutable, generally not fond of humanity). That’s about as far as I’ve gotten in concrete plotting. Currently, the plot centers around a foreign mage who gets sucked into the cut-throat world of the aristocracy when her mother offers her hand in marriage to the scion of a family seeking fresh blood to rejuvenate their lineage (a common practice in newly-formed clans, which are more experimental than established clans). 

 But I’m having a lot of trouble deciding which direction I want to take the story in. I’ve thought of a plot that centers around an extinction event in which the gods that sustain the mortal realm enter a “molting” period in order to evolve, which ofc messes up EVERYTHING. But I also want to explore the political drama of warring mage families, and I feel like a mini-apocalypse would overshadow that. Do you have any advice on how to balance those two elements? Thank you!

Hey, nonny!

It sounds like you have a well-developed world with some interesting elements. I totally understand having a difficult time figuring out where to focus within your story. Sometimes, there’s just too much to tell!

You have a few options that I can really think of. They all sort of hinge on the tone and angle of story you want to take. 

The “apocalypse” begins at the start. If these families were obsessed with breeding and carrying their magic legacy, then it might be really interesting to see how they strive to adapt to a new world. In seeing how it has changed, we get to see how it was. It can, I think, still be a political drama, with the “learning how to live in a post-apocalyptic world” is just what is happening in the everyday as your characters cling to their former way of life.

Warning of the coming apocalypse is given by the gods and the main story is the political drama as it is while possibly only a few characters urge the rest of the families to prepare for doom others don’t really believe is coming so they bury their heads in the sand aka their obsession. The POV here would be key.

The last option is to tell multiple stories within the same world. Write a story solely about the political drama, then write both of the two above. When you’ve got a well-developed, expansive world then you can easily situate multiple novels within its scope, sequentially or not (The Graceling Series by Kristen Cashore is one that does multiple vaguely related novels and does it really well, imo.)

You will also be able to make a basically infinite number of stories with varying amounts of intrigue based on your Point-of-View character choice. That’s crucial when you’re deciding what will be the main focus of your narrative. It might even be a good way to write one novel that successfully focuses on two different elements: do a duel POV book with one narrator being a member of the royal mage family and another as a commoner, or a servant, or something like that, and let their two stories interact, but give the reader two vastly different perspectives of the same large world. 

Sometimes you need multi-POV, but know what you’re getting into, and do it well.

I hope this was helpful for you!

[zephyr-fantasy]

SH 2.02 A Door Into The Dark

That was a wonderful twist with Dot! And I'm guessing that Dot got moved to the ship, which being shielded would be the reason Magnus couldn't feel her magic anymore? Like how Alec can't feel Jace when he's on the ship either. It was good to see Dot being the reason they could jump off the ship with the forcefield. Also, it doesn't seem that Valentine is killing Dot atm? Although it could probably go either way. But if he still feels that he can (mostly) control her than I can see how her abilities would continue to be useful to him.

Well, we now know who Jace finds washed up on the beach -- Gretel. I don't know how to feel about neither Clary or Jace even taking a seconds hesitation to maybe try to get her too? Eh, I guess I really don't know what I would do in that situation either, so... Idk. But hey, it appears that that will have lasting consequences too, with the preview to next weeks episode -- that and the fact that Jace was the one that brought her on the ship in the first place. In the books, Gretel was Luke's 2nd (with Alaric being his 3rd), I wonder if she was here too and what, if anything, that has to do with how pissed off the pack is at Jace.

I guess we now know why Alec is all unconscious in the next episode. I always figured it had to do with the Parabatai bond but couldn't figure out why he was more impacted? Makes a bit of sense now -- that and we know that Jace was impacted, even if only to a smaller degree. Wonder how much the aftereffects will impact Jace with the werewolves tracking him down. As much as I want Shadowhunters to continue showing how important the Parabatai bond is, let's hope that they stop with the "Alec is tracking Jace down when Jace is in the middle of a fight and it messes Jace up" aspect, shall we? At least, have Jace be the one doing the tracking next time, Idgaf! Although I'd prefer the idea (trope?) to go away for a season or two altogether.

I love that Luke called Jocelyn out on some things, that was really nice. Like, just because she had her reasons for doing things doesn't mean that she shouldn't be criticized for the decisions she's made. I remember bts stuff with the actress playing Luke's mom -- will that be next episode or later? I'm just curious if they try to get in contact with her to help Alec, it makes sense that they'd try every avenue.

I adored the scenes with Magnus and Simon! Not only did those scenes brighten up the mood a little but they really showed a lot about the both of them. Like how easy it is for Magnus to portal ANYWHERE. When the rumors that Magnus would be taking Alec all around the world for dates surfaced I thought it made a lot of sense -- why only have dates in New York when Magnus can literally take them anywhere and back with a snap of his fingers?

(Also why the whole months-long vacation that was in the books didn't make sense to me. While it's important to take a few days off together to relax and recharge it makes more sense for them to take long weekends off together and just portal to a different place each time. Why travel similarly to how mundanes do --even if they did portal from place to place-- instead of using that magic to one's advantage? Especially in regards to the tv show, they BOTH have a lot of responsibilities that the can't go away for months from.)

The whole Magnus giving a pep talk but not holding Simon's hand part was well done. I imagine that Raphael or some of the New York Clan's vampires already told Simon how these abilities work --we did see Raphael chiding him for not learning how to speed and sneak around in s1-- but it's up to Simon to actually put the time and effort into learning them. It's good to see him do so, even if it was on a fire-breathing cobra, lol. I love that Magnus was behind that cobra too! I also think that with Harry being allergic to cats that Magnus SHOULD have some type of pet. Something that he could probably still cuddle a little bit but can take care of itself mostly -- like a cat, so not a dog.

I LOVED THE KRIS! The fact that Magnus found it and was shown to be so breathtaking significant to him! Since it appears that they are giving him a new back story --no mention of the Silent Brothers when he was telling Simon of when he was a child learning his abilities-- it's possible that it's a family heirloom from either his mother's or even stepfather's sides of the family! Wouldn't that be awesome? Not so awesome that Camille had it, ofc, but at least he found it! I did kind of want to hit Simon over the head when he carelessly took it out of the box to try and open the puzzle box though! Jeez, Simon, oblivious much? Like, I get that he's focused on his own issues here, but how could he not see how delicately Magnus was putting the Kris into that box?! it's not just any old knife! No wonder Magnus knows he's not going to have a lot of patience for Simon already, haha.

Last but certainly not least, I so much love Alec and Izzy's relationship. I actually really was glad that Izzy followed after Alec each time he finished confronting Clary, even if she did go find her later to talk. As much as I'm glad that Izzy and Clary have a good relationship and Izzy will continue to be in Clary's corner, Izzy's relationship with Alec is more important and he's probably going to always be a big priority to her, and her to him! And yeah, maybe Alec wasn't all right when he confronted Clary at the punching bag but he wasn't all wrong either (kind of like it's silly to dismiss each time he tried to rein in Jace and Clary in s1 as simply jealousy. Like yeah, maybe he was a bit harsh about it because he was jealous, but he wasn't wrong about there being consequences either). I think Izzy at least sees where he's coming from and even if she doesn't agree with him get why he's acting the way he is atm.

I did love the scene between Izzy and Clary -- I'll be surprised if we don't see a couple extra Clizzy fanfic on Ao3 this week! I also loved the Clary and Dot scenes as well, and the part where Clary was glamoured from sight in the Art Academy. I wonder if a mundane w/o the sight saw a charcoal drawing create itself? lol

[reliquiaenfr]

slam DUNKS questions at ur lore like uhhhhh.,, 1, 10, 11, 15, 22, 31, 38?

and the crowd goes WILD! thanks man! ♥ questions here. under a read more bc there’s a lot

Write from the perspective of an outsider ofyour lair, what is their first impression? How have they discovered this group?How are they greeted?

i have actually written a short story from the perspective of an outsider to the clan! you can read it here. i actually love writing from the pov of a guest bc there’s so much creepy stuff that goes on in the lair that the residents are like ‘eh w/e that’s just another tuesday’ about lol. just for you epher:

Something had guided his wings around to the west. Despite being sure he could see a canyon snaking through the red rock below, he circled around the grassy plainlands and thickly treed flats towards the strait in the north. He couldn’t explain why to himself even as he did so, and he won’t be able to explain why to anyone who ever asks him (not even the lair’s residents), but a tingle runs down his spine when he descends towards the treetops so he skims them rather than trying to find a place to land.

And he finds a cove. The canyon spits sand and rivers out from beneath the trees and into the ocean and here there are docks bustling with activity. The tingling eases and he drops lower before tucking his wings to his sides and landing on the loose sand with a puff.

At first he is met only by the wary stares of beastfolk as they trot along the docks and pack crates onto their slender skiffs. Then a dragon spots him. The Imperial is huge and blue and almost impossible to look at, shimmering in the sunlight as if she can’t properly be perceived by regular sight.

She is polite and cheerful and touches her heart with her hand when she greets him, a smiling dragon (he assumes, anyway, he can hear the smile in her voice but it’s hard to see when she’s so luminescent). She shows him along the beachfront, pointing out clan members and explaining their purpose. A guard is always along the docks - to keep fights from happening between guests, she tells him, but the look in her eye suggests something else. There are merchants to trade with, should he feel so inclined; her son among them. But when the little Nocturne speaks it’s with a lilt and a smile and a turn of phrase that make his hackles rise without even looking at the wares. She points out the Assembly, in case he has something he wants to take up with the clan’s leadership. And eventually they make it to the Lodge, a place for guests to stay - for a small fee - and run by a bright little light spirit the Imperial introduces as Passage.

As she turns to leave him to settle in, however, she imparts one last piece of information - advice, even - and the gravity in her voice sends his stomach plunging to his feet.

“Do not leave the docks.” Those are all her words, no explanation is given. But he shivers all the same.

And when the sun begins to set a faint mist rises around the Lodge, a soft song can be heard over the waves in the cove, a strange tug pulls at his ribs to draw him into the woods. Resisting the whispers is the hardest thing he has ever done. But he thinks, perhaps, to give in is to surrender one’s life to this place.

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Are there any customs aroundhatching? Who is present? Is their any members who specialize in the care ofeggs or hatchlings? Are eggs ever hatched too early?

one parent is almost always present, but if not that’s okay too! the eggs are kept in an open sided series of rooms carved into the sides of one of the great big spires of rock that grow out of the canyon’s floor. it’s within the bounds of the lair’s magic so most outsiders will never see it. the lair is tended predominantly by inerri, but with help from select others including a collection of beastfolk who also use the spire to lay eggs/give birth when necessary. the nesting spire also doubles as the place where youngsters get their first education (dispensed by inerri, pencil, helix and anthelion).

there aren’t really that many eggs in the clan very often so when there are great care is taken to ensure they are tended properly. this often means making sure they are incubated to proper term. but yeah ofc sometimes an egg hatches early, some hatch late too.

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Are there any gestures present? Similar to ourwaves, nods, etc 

i assume this means gestures specific to the clan? bc i haven’t really thought about that much haha. there is a gesture used to signal respect where the first two fingers of a hand are touched to head or heart. it can be used when greeting dignitaries too, crossfire and seven do it a lot as representatives.

there’s also a little tail swish like okay. i use it a lot in my writing anyway where a dragon might use their tail to gently brush the tail of someone important to them - usually a mate - so i guess there’s that too. it’s a soft little thing like a real personal sorta pda, kinda intimate when done in public like an acknowledgement that this dragon is real special to them. idk if it counts tho.

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How do religious beliefs play arole in everyday life? Is there an organised clergy?

lmao they have fen and shiana so naw not really a clergy. religion is very individualised. there is what everyone calls the temple tree which has shrines built into the branches and around the trunk (it’s a huge tree) and it’s sorta just accepted that if you wanna do the worship thing you can go there and do that but if you don’t wanna then that’s cool too. there are no public services or anything. fen looks after the tree and shiana is referred to as a priestess but no one seems to care whether that means anything religious or not.

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What, if any, foods are considered a delicacy?How is food prepared? Is there any forbidden or taboo foods? 

taboo? nah not really. cannibalism is a big no no though. and look. fiend ate her own children. so like. yeah big no to eating other dragons. no to eating beastfolk also. there are seasonal restrictions sometimes, piper, ravelin and osprey are always really careful and vocal about not overtaxing populations of any sort of animal so if the like... deer herds are small one year they won’t eat too many of them and all that. they’re p careful about it.

but they’re a clan that’s like super bound to the natural world and are big on their fruits n vegies n fishing n stuff like that. real classic hunter/gatherer type clan. so processed foods like sweets are hard to find in the canyon and osprey ships them in so they’re kinda like a delicacy haha. there’s no communal kitchen either, food is prepared by the individual in whatever way they prefer so sometimes that can be influenced by the flight they came from. the lair is real chill about that kinda shit tbh. ain’t no shits given. do what you like.

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Are there any restrictions onmagic or spells? What and why? If not, does this cause any issues?

lmao no the clan is BUILT on magic. yeah this can be a problem tho like anthelion was all ‘yes guys i’m putting my magical alarm spell around this new lair so we don’t get surprised okay yes i’m doin this as we speak’ and they were all well MAYBE do smth different this time bc it didn’t stop fiend from killing HEAPS OF US LAST TIME and anth was all ‘fine then i guess i’ll do smth different’ and so she did some weird shit with the magic and now the lair is filled with magic that eats visitors????? like yeah that’s a bit of a problem.

sometimes the lack of restrictions means someone goes ‘oh fuck tarryn’s at it again’ and you look up and all the hatchling have grown like spines or weird purple blotches or dragons with fur are now all entirely BALD bc she put some shit in the water and now we all hairless great. or w/e like problems happen. it’s chill tho they live with it.

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Are symbols a significant aspect of life? Ifthey are, what are symbols, what do they mean? Are certain symbols worn? 

mmmm not really. the clan is SUPER relaxed about stuff so eh. they do have charms they give to any dragon marked for exaltation. you can read about pilgrims here. but other than that nah not so much.

maybe one day i’ll think of smth and go OH SHIT YEA that’d be a cool symbol to have !! but today is not that day so all my dragons are like lazy bums and they just hang out n chill all day lmao.