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imakemywings · 2 years

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At what point would Sauron have learned of the Istari’s arrival in Middle-Earth, and when/how would he have figured out who and what they are? What do you think Sauron was thinking/feeling when he did discover them?

Thanks for the question anon, I'm a little touched you care enough about my answer to ask XD

So I finished Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth before I left home earlier this month, and there was a chapter on the Istari! (I have a few more Saruman quotes to post later because it delved a lot into his relationships with Gandalf and Sauron.)

We know that Sauron was greatly weakened at the end of the Second Age, which culminated in the War of the Last Alliance. The only thing that seems to have spared him genuine death is the fact that the One Ring was not destroyed and a piece of his spirit survived through it (or something like that). He was basically off the radar of everyone except Mirkwood Middle-earth for quite a while. Basically everyone assumed he was dead, because all the evidence suggested he was dead.

My assumption is that he retreated somewhere (possibly at once to Dol Guldur, but I think probably just wherever he could land that was away from the aftermath of WLA) and was not paying attention to the rest of the world for a while. We know it took a long time for him to build his strength again so I can easily see him being basically comatose for a few hundred years.

The Istari seemed to arrive in Middle-earth circa T.A. 1000 (although it's possible the Blue Wizards arrived earlier?) so it's possible Sauron was aware of them from the moment they arrived, but I tend to doubt it. For one, because even if he was conscious and scheming at this time I don't think his spy network or his ~great eye~ powers were functioning well at this stage. Two, I think it's less interesting if he knew right away.

Furthermore, the Istari seem to have made some effort to be subtle. They disguised themselves as old men and were forbidden to match powers with Sauron etc. The Men thought Gandalf was just a Man who had learned magic through study, until they saw he didn't age, and then they assumed he was Elvenkind, so it seems like it wasn't common knowledge even among the peoples of Middle-earth who or what the Istari were.

We know that Sauron began to make noise in Mirkwood forest circa T.A. 1050 as "the Necromancer." He reoccupies the abandoned Amon Lanc, the dwelling-place of Oropher and his court (which becomes after known as Dol Guldur), and rumors of him are woven into The Hobbit, although even Gandalf seems ignorant of his true identity at that time. We see Sauron's growing strength in the corruption of the Greenwood, which becomes known as Mirkwood as his shadow spreads and poisons the forest.

By circa T.A. 2060, Gandalf and the White Council seem aware that it's likely the Necromancer is Sauron returned, which hints at the strength and expanse of his shadow over Mirkwood and the surrounding area (for instance, the northern fortress of Gundabad, miles away from Mirkwood).

By circa T.A. 2500 Sauron seems to have drawn many Men around Mirkwood forest into his service, so we can assume that by this time he is conscious and functional, at least enough to communicate and make plans.

Therefore his awareness of the Istari comes between 1000 T.A. and 2500 T.A. for a very rough window. I would lean towards sometime not long before 2000 T.A. as a suitable window for him to become aware of the Istari.

When Sauron heard of these "wizards" I think he would have two assumptions. Either:

a) They're con artists who've fooled dumb people into think they have real powers; or

b) The Valar are fucking around.

I think he probably started at a) and transitioned to b) because at the time he determined they might have legitimate magical power, he has plenty of reason to think these are Maiar. Sure they could just be randos with magical powers because weirder things have happened, but what are the odds?

I'm sure he heard rumors of them through his servants and his own efforts at spying, as the peoples of Middle-earth probably would have made a lot of noise about "wizards" in their presence. No matter how subtle the Istari are trying to be, they tend to stand out and are noted as people of power even if it isn't understood exactly who or what they are. Initially I'm sure Sauron brushes off the idea they possess genuine magic, but enough of these rumors and he might start to see truth in it, and then guess at the identity of these "wizards." He may even know some of them personally from his own time serving Aule--Saruman would be the most likely for that. If he was able to observe any of them, via his servants, reports, or through his own magical abilities, I'm sure he would have been able to identify them as Maiar. I'm sure he knew Saruman was a Maia when he put him under his service.

As for his feelings--pissed, probably. Sauron a) doesn't like opposition; b) probably got used to being the only Maia in Middle-earth during the Second Age.

In the First Age, he was one Maia of at least two, because Melian was in Doriath and the area where her power met Sauron's and Melkor's was noted to be a particularly fraught region avoided by anyone who had a choice. He was also lieutenant to Melkor (a role he played happily). But in the Second Age with Melkor gone, the Valar retreated, and Melian disappeared (presumably to hang around Namo nagging him for when Thingol could be reborn), I think he probably got used to thinking of himself as the baddest bitch on the continent. Now there's other Maiar here? No way--fuck off--this is Sauron's territory now!

Also, if there are other Maiar here, it's not a hard guess they're here as servants of the Valar, which means the Valar's "hands-off" approach of the Second Age may be coming to an end, and that must make Sauron nervous. Again, he's gotten used to Middle-earth being his playground and possibly even assuming that with Melkor gone, the Valar will never again see a great enough threat in Middle-earth to intervene, which means he can basically do whatever he wants an attitude that costs him his hotness. The Istari showing up counter that idea and I don't think he'd like that at all. If the Istari are here, does that mean the Valar might come back someday? I'm sure he vividly remembers the War of Wrath--and I don't think Eonwe and Manwe would be so generous with his claims of repentance and reform a second time.

Now, what about an alliance? If he can bring Maiar under his command--that would make him powerful indeed. However, I think he would be wary of partnering with them rather than destroying them because they have a potential to be such a huge pain in the ass. He chooses to take Saruman under his command because I think he sees that Saruman can be controlled with the Ring, but Gandalf? Radagast? I think he would sooner kill them and have them out of the way than waste time and effort trying to corrupt them, and then trying to keep them from insurrection.

So overall I think he views the Istari as potentially a real threat (being as they are Maiar, even if they are less powerful than he is, and they outnumber him, and he is greatly weakened, and he doesn't know they've been forbidden from matching power with him or really doing anything but nudging the people of Middle-earth to their own defense), and potentially a herald of things to come, and possible allies (although I don't think he would ever really trust them and it's possible he would have killed Saruman once he'd regained the Ring, just to ensure Saruman could never betray him, or just to ensure he remained unquestionably the most powerful being in Middle-earth).

Damn that got long.

#meta #tolkien tag #sauron #I have no thoughts on Tolkien clearly #mine #the silmarillion #lotr

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mortallyclearwonderland · 3 years

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Star Wars Alien Species - Kel Dor

Dorin was a dark and dusty planet in the Expansion Region. It was the homeworld of the Kel Dors, with an atmosphere of a unique gas and helium.

The planet was situated between two black holes, making access to the planet limited, while space travel for the natives was highly dangerous. Dorin's atmosphere contained very little oxygen, and barely supported life, although some flora did exist on the planet. This atmosphere mix affected the evolution of the Kel Dor, requiring them to wear antiox breath masks to filter out oxygen while off-world. Likewise, many non-Kel Dors visiting Dorin would have to wear breath masks of their own for the gases they required. Humans, however, could survive at least a short time in the atmosphere without suffering any ill effects.

The Kel Dors were aware of and used the Force long before they joined the Galactic Republic and the Jedi. This proud Force tradition was known as the Baran Do Sages. The Baran Do Sages often acted as advisers to rich and powerful Kel Dor families. Initially, their powers centered on weather-prediction, but as the Baran Do Sages learned more about the Force, they realized they had an affinity for detecting, and subsequently preventing, dangerous events. Wars and disasters were often averted simply by the insight of a Baran Do Sage. After joining the Republic, the Baran Do Sages dwindled in power and number, due to the Jedi's greater knowledge of the Force, and their taking of Force-sensitive infants. Those Kel Dors who were even aware of their existence considered them to be eccentric wizards. Some traditional families still sent Force-sensitive children to learn from them, however. Because of their obscurity, the Sages managed to escape the Great Jedi Purges, for the most part, unscathed.

Kel Dors were noted for their simple approach to justice, and they typically saw moral issues in black and white. On the one hand, the Kel Dor were noted for their hospitality, they would never turn away a stranger in need. Yet, Kel Dors were not averse to taking the law into their own hands, and had no compunctions about putting to death a thief who was merely stealing to feed himself.

Kel Dor surnames, like Human surnames, were based on ancient family trades or jobs, or even a description of a particularly famous Kel Dor in the family. The Koon family name, for example, meant 'explorer'.

Kel Dor given names were based, loosely, on the sounds generated by Dorin's unique atmospheric phenomena. This tradition was highly popular among the Kel Dors, and the upper classes considered it bad luck to name a child away from Dorin. Kel Dor names tended to be short, usually monosyllabic, due to an ancient superstition about the "wind spirits" of Dorin. Upon hearing the sustained wind-sound of a long name, so the story went, the wind spirits would have mistaken the child for one of their own, and carried him or her off to be raised as a wind-child. No one believed in this myth for thousands of years, but the effect it had on Kel Dor naming conventions remained.

The tradition of using the sounds of atmospheric phenomena meant that Kel Dor given names appeared to have almost no meaning to an outsider, but another Kel Dor who had heard the sound in question and could identify the phenomenon would understand the significance and meaning of the name.

Likewise, objects and techniques were often named after their purpose or effect. For example, the Baran Do Force technique ayna-seff, which caused brain activity to become undetectable, translated to "dead brain" in Galactic Basic Standard.

Dorin joined the Galactic Republic in 5975 BBY, and had direct representation in the Galactic Senate. Because so many Jedi came from Dorin, the Republic funded the construction of an enclave on the planet. The atmosphere limited the regular students to Kel Dor, although many Jedi of other species visited the enclave to learn from the Kel Dor masters. While its isolation allowed the planet to remain unharmed by the Old Sith Wars, nearly all Jedi at the enclave on Dorin were killed by Sith assassins following the Jedi Civil War. During the New Sith Wars, the planet was the site of a battle won by the Sith.

During the Clone Wars, General Grievous led an attack on Dorin, but the Galactic Republic defeated his forces.

Dorin fell within space controlled by the Galactic Empire during the Hunt for Zsinj of 7–8 ABY and was within the core territory of Grand Admiral Thrawn's confederation during his campaign against the New Republic in 9 ABY. Dorin was outside of Imperial space by the following year, during which it was attacked by Imperial forces as part of an offensive by the reborn Emperor Palpatine's alliance of Imperial factions. Dorin later joined the New Republic, and the Baran Do engaged in contact and exchange with the New Jedi Order.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the planet fell into the hands of the invaders. After 35 ABY, the territory of the Imperial Remnant expanded, and Dorin was within the borders of the Remnant during the Second Galactic Civil War of 40–41 ABY. In 43.5 ABY, Luke and Ben Skywalker traveled to Dorin to consult the Baran Do and their involvement in Jacen Solo's fall to the dark side.

Early in the reign of the Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire, Dorin was blockaded by the Imperial Navy. The Sith then ordered that the best and brightest of Kel Dor offer their service to the Empire, or their people would suffer. As a result many Kel Dor entered the Imperial service, though the blockade remained in place. A secret route onto the world, called the Dorin Run, was discovered by smugglers, though it lay so close to the black holes, that all but the most reckless considered it too dangerous to use.

Their skin ranged in color from peach to a crimson red. Most had dark, black eyes, although some were born with silver irises, a mark that was often seen as an affinity for the Force.

Kel Dors were, as a whole, considered an unattractive species due to their strange facial structure. Their noses were described as falling short of becoming a beak, with a gaping opening that descended to the mouth, a toothless chasm with drooping fleshy strands. In place of teeth, Kel Dor had an upper and lower hard-palate, visible only when they pulled their lips back. Framing their head were extrasensory organs which terminated in small black tusks.

Due to Dorin having a unique atmosphere composed of helium and a gas unique to their world, the Kel Dors were forced to wear an antiox breath mask and protective goggles whenever in atmospheres of a different composition. This equipment protected them from carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, which were fatal to a Kel Dor. The breathing mask also helped to amplify the Kel Dor's voice, as they were forced to shout to produce any sound when out of their native atmosphere. Without their protective goggles, Kel Dors were considered effectively blind when away from Dorin. They were also able to survive in the vacuum of space for a short time, though it was unknown exactly how long they could withstand it.

The Kel Dors also had heightened reflexes, a result of the extrasensory organs in their heads. As a species, they were thought to be typically quick and wise, but of a weaker constitution, when compared to other species. Kel Dors were also said to communicate with their minds using a form of telepathy. This form of telepathy was thought to be a Force technique known only among the masters of the Baran Do order, but was later exposed to be a lie spread by the Baran Do sages.

The average Kel Dor stands between 1.6 and 2 meters or 5.2 and 6.6 feet tall and weighs 70 kilograms or 154 pounds.

Kel Dor age at the following stages:

1 - 11 Child

12 - 15 Young Adult

16 - 44 Adult

45 - 59 Middle Age

60 - 69 Old

Examples of Names: Dorn Tlo, Plo Koon, Sha Koon, Torin Dol.

Languages: Kel Dor, or Kel Dorian, was the native language of the Kel Dor species from Dorin. Most Kel Dor were fluent in both Kel Dor and Basic, preferring to use Basic over their own language when away from their homeworld due to oxygen atmospheres making it more difficult to understand. It was easier to speak the language when in Dorin's atmosphere, though this did not prevent some non-Kel Dor from learning the language. Vylanthar Merric and Commander Doel Scherp both had learned the language, as well as the Jedi Bultar Swan and Ahsoka Tano.

#Kel Dor #star wars aliens #star wars species #Plo Koon #Sha Koon #Ahsoka Tano #Bultar Swan #Commander Doel Scherp #Vylanthar Merric

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lesbiansforboromir · 3 years

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Let me tell you all about a very personally satisfying HC I have that, whilst perhaps explaining some things within the books, is really just for my own enjoyment.

So, the idea originates in the concept that everyone in the Dol Amrothian line are very spooky. The close elven lineage and living near an old abandoned elven haven had particularly mysterious effects on the whole family. Sure there are Dunadain in Gondor and they can develop certain spooky traits, but the Lords of Dol Amroth start out spooky and usually stay that way. It goes up and down depending on the individual, but generally they are all uncanny at the very least.

Denethor can see into the hearts of men, yeah ok cool I guess. Imrahil goes down to the Dol Amroth harbour at dusk and whispers to the swans until midnight, he answers questions you were sure you did not say out loud, he can make you weep with genuine grief over a sadness he hasn’t even mentioned. Speaking with Finduilas sometimes makes you feel like time passes in an instant, or incredibly slowly, or not at all... except no... really... how much time has passed? Wasn’t it just morning? How is the sun setting already? Or, oh my gosh, I’m going to be late! Or... not..? it’s barely been a few moments, yet I feel like I just lived a lifetime...

Ivriniel insists this is all nonsense, doggedly, she refuses to acknowledge it, no matter how many political rivals raise her considerable ire and come down with a mysterious and debilitating illness the next day. Grandmother Duilindes is just straight up a witch. ‘It’s all for the honour of Eru’ she says placatingly, as she enters her rooms in the Palace that she forbids anyone else from entering.

Denethor had heard these rumours before meeting Finduilas and, sure, he sometimes feels like he is being hunted, only to turn and find Adrahil’s eyes on him. But Dunadain are just a little strange like that! Surely it’s been blown out of proportion. He believes this up until he comes to Dol Amroth as Finduilas’ suitor.

Denethor: Shall we take a walk after dinner? Everyone looks up from their plates in alarm Adrahil: Are you joking? Denethor: ??? Imrahil: It's the seventh day! The gardens aren't to be disturbed! Denethor, whispering to Finduilas: What does that mean?? Finduilas, chuckling: oh, Denethor!

He sees Imrahil whispering to the swans at one point and is about to call out to him before Finduilas quickly gestures him silent.

Denethor, whispered: What is he doing? Finduilas: Shh, if the swans hear us we'll surely be attacked. Denethor: But then shouldn't Imrah- Finduilas: SHH.

One evening Ivriniel sweeps in with a stormy countenance, muttering over Lord Garahel’s stupidity. The next morning Denethor hears Imrahil mention that Lord Garahel has been taken ill with some fainting sickness. The look he gives Ivriniel is enough for her to know his mind.

Ivriniel: Your imagination will run wild Denethor, I had thought you more reasonable. You think I, what? Cursed him? Don’t be ridiculous. Denethor, turning to Finduilas: Do you think... she knows she's doing it? Finduilas: Oh no, in fact she's determined to remain ignorant to it. Denethor: Can you... do that? Finduilas: I havent tried :)

At some point Finduilas had told Denethor that ‘Imrahil is the odd one of the family’ and by the end of the visit all Denethor can think is ‘by what metric??’

Denethor had to admit to himself privately that he was not at all put off by Finduilas’ nature, but he did have cause to worry what their children would be like. Finduilas came across Denethor, early after Boromir’s birth, rocking him to sleep and murmuring softly; 'I may have my failings as a father, I am sure I shall, but I swear they will be honestly meant, I love you so dearly my son... please do not curse me when you are older and I do not allow you everything you ask. I promise I only ever have your wellness in mind.' And she thought it was very sweet and proper, but she didn’t tell him he was wrong! And for very good reason!

Boromir was an unnerving child. He learned to speak just a little too quickly, and when he did he would often say uncanny things, too knowing things, indecipherable things that became daunting the longer you thought about them. He had such a powerful grasp of complex feeling that he would often solve arguments between adults, explain emotions back at his parents or offer reasons for another child’s behaviour that were so accurate it became uncomfortable.

3yo Boromir: (explains the reason Denethor’s secretary was distracted that day unprompted) Finduilas: (laughs) yes that's right! Denethor: It's.... TOO right. Finduilas: Oh well children are intuitive aren't they? Denethor, picking Boromir up: ... I feel under qualified to teach you things. Boromir: (baby-giggles but in a like way too knowing way)

And then sometimes Denethor would be sitting reading on a bench on a balcony in the early evening with Boromir contentedly playing with a fiddle-toy beside him, and suddenly his son’s voice would break the silence with; 'When I wasn't here I was colder, so I think I like it here, I'll stay. The air isn't as delicious but there's more to see.'

And then he’d go back to playing as though nothing was wrong whilst Denethor had an existential crisis.

Denethor: W.. where were you, before? Boromir: Well I didn't know, because I couldn't know, but now I can know things, just not that. I haven't decided if I like it.

He asks Finduilas about it as soon as he can find her and she just laughs, ‘don't worry he'll forget he knows that in a few years’ she says, as though that helps at all.

But in general this is as far as Boromir ventures into the ‘spooky Dol Amroth’ territory. Sometimes he mentions things he CHOSE NOT to do that suggests he is capable of more, but other than randomly forcing Denethor to consider his position in the universe and reading him for shit, the first five years of being a parent is fine for Denethor.

At one point, when Boromir was about two, someone asked Finduilas if they were planning for another baby soon. Finduilas laughed ruefully, as though everyone would know that was a foolish question. ‘Oh no, much too soon for that’ she said. Denethor knew he had to follow up on what the hell that meant later. But when asked, all Finduilas said was ‘Oh you know! If siblings are born too close then they align their powers. Haven’t you heard my father talk about my uncles?’ She says it with the same tone as reading something out of a parenting manual. Denethor doesn’t want to hear about Finduilas’ uncles, but accepts this is important and stops thinking about it.

And it’s a good thing they did wait because, whilst Boromir was unnerving, Faramir is straight up terrifying.

What Denethor realised was that Boromir had been showing restraint. Faramir however was very comfortable with his powers and saw no reason not to use them. Denethor would find himself lost in baby Faramir’s eyes, feeling unable to move simply because of the weight of his stare. Finduilas and Boromir would have to save him from Faramir’s grasp, an act that would make Faramir look very put out.

If people irritated Denethor when he was holding his youngest son, then just a glance from this child would make them drop whatever they were holding, Faramir grinning victoriously all the while. If Faramir did not want to take a bath then Finduilas would have to be present in case the baby decided to make Denethor relive his entire childhood.

Sometimes Denethor would come outside to see his toddler just surrounded by the street cats of Minas Tirith, conducting some kind of incomprehensible tribunal that all the cats appeared to abide by. At one point Boromir was holding Faramir when Faramir grasped his brother’s face and pulled so that their eyes locked. Boromir passively held Faramir’s intense gaze for a while in this charged and tense moment, before calmly looking away as Faramir pouted. Denethor once again begged Finduilas to explain, but all she had to give was a fond sigh and a ‘Aw, Faramir just wants to get to know him, but our Boromir is too canny, Ivriniel and I used to do that.’ Denethor is used to helpless bemusement and concern by now.

Now the SECOND part to this HC- YES I’M STILL GOING, THIS IS ALL IMPORTANT- the second part is that Dol Amrothians ALSO get a kind of ‘choice’. (This is likely not at all canon friendly tbh but uwu I can have a leetle canon noncompliance if it doesn’t effect the vast expansive canon... as a treat) It is far more unconscious and happens in childhood, but there is a point where a child will ‘decide’ to continue being spooky or to be more mundane. This never overrides ALL the spookiness, hence Ivriniel’s intermittent cursing and Finduilas’ occasional time dilation, but Imrahil still out spooks the lot of them. Amongst the family this is known as ‘settling’.

Boromir settles when he is eight. One day he comes to breakfast and Denethor looks into his son’s face and feels like he is suddenly more in the world, more in the moment. Boromir seems as himself as ever, but he makes friends easier afterwards. Whereas he had always been liked, now he is popular and has close relationships with children, rather than always seeming too distant. This also coincides with one of Gandalf’s rare visits. He had been trying to connect with Boromir, trying to engage him on very specific topics. Boromir had not been amused.

Denethor would never say that Boromir hating Gandalf’s vibes was the reason he settled for mundanity. Boromir had many good reasons, he is sure. But the fact that he chose that moment to settle, so that Denethor was allowed to watch Gandalf also realise that Boromir was no longer ‘apt to his hand’, well he might have gleaned some little pleasure from it.

The only aspect Boromir retains is his general resistance to such spookiness. Hence his frustration in both Rivendell and Lothlorien, the time distortion of those places not effecting him and the imposed rest not touching him, meaning he feels every passing day keenly. It also explains his resistance towards the Balrog’s doomful presence, as well as his heightened distress at Galadriel’s ability to see into his mind, where he had always been able to defend himself before.

Faramir on the other hand is seven when he settles, thoroughly content with his spooky powers and wanting even more command over them. It is with this settling that he becomes able to sometimes cause people pain for lying to him. Denethor... struggles as a single father for many reasons.

#erran vs tolkien #denethor #finduilas #imrahil #boromir #faramir #tolkien #lotr #urrr this isn't meta um...#it'll go into #soap operas in mannish sindarin #anyway #because it's fun #text post #long post

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angrelysimpping · 3 years

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the apocalyptic mod doesn't let me load data from my vanilla dol save? idk if it's an error or if it's intended that you play it with a fresh save, just confused bc world expansion does let me use data from the og game but then again they r different mods

yeah, from what i've played around with, it seems like it's still fairly new, but it's a v interesting concept. it doesn't seem like loading old saves would be compatible with the storyline

#i'll keep an eye on it #it looks fun!#mumbling n muttering

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tomurasprincess · 3 years

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hii i’m the anon who talked about eden’s save mission!! and i think i saw it on reddit, i’m searching for it rn, i’ll send the link when i see it, promise💗 and i discovered a couple things too!! did u know there is a jojo themed DoL which is named as “degrees of bizarre lewdity” ? and there is a “world expansion edition” and watersports version... and i heard they are going to launch a “doren edition” today!!! (you can find avaible versions on dolmods.net)

I have heard about the JoJo mod but it’s probably not something I’d play, since I’ve never watched JoJo and don’t have a ton of interest in it. But the world expansion and watersports…oh yes I’ll try those out.

Can you imagine Whitney pissing on you to establish dominance and prove you belong to them? I get tingly at the thought.

#video games #degrees of lewdity #tw: water sports #I just really like the humiliation aspect of it #Whitney totally would do something like that too

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elfyourmother · 4 years

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Gisele Surana: Warrior Sorceress of Light Masterpost (WIP)

Intro:

For all her life, Gisele Surana, apprentice of Ferelden’s Circle of Magi, believed the mysterious entity who guided her in the healing arts was a Spirit of Love from the Fade. Then came the Fifth Blight, and she became a Grey Warden, leading the desperate fight to save her homeland from the horrors of the darkspawn horde. At last, when Gisele stood atop Fort Drakon at the fateful Battle of Denerim, and laid down her life and her very soul to destroy the Archdemon and save all she loved, that gentle Spirit of Love revealed Herself as none other than Hydaelyn: the eternal Mothercrystal of the distant world which bore Her name. Instead of the oblivion she was promised, Gisele’s soul was ushered through the Lifestream, to Hydaelyn, thus reborn to a new life in the land of Eorzea, and an even greater purpose.

tl;dr:

What happens when The Warden from Dragon Age: Origins dies in the Ultimate Sacrifice ending, but their soul gets yeeted by Hydaelyn to become the Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy XIV?

That said, Gisele’s profile is under the cut, along with a collection of relevant links.

(warning: contains spoilers for various FFXIV expansions. It’s also Very Long.)

(5.0 - 5.3)

Full Name: Lady Gisele Surana Varlineau des Fortemps et Borel (as of 5.4)

Age: 29 (As of ARR)

Gender/Pronouns: Femme, she/her

Sexuality: Bisexual

Race: Wildwood Elezen/Rava Viera (she was transformed when pulled through the Rift to the First; reverted back post 5.3)

Home City: Ul’dah (ARR) / The Republic of Ishgard (HW onward)

Grand Company / Rank: The Immortal Flames / Flame Captain

Guardian Deity: Halone, the Fury

Nameday: 13th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon

Jobs:

Gisele is an omnidisciplinary mage, though her signature Jobs are Red Mage and Astrologian, which she helped to popularize. She learned the Samurai arts from Lord Hien and Gosetsu; her Samurai crystal belonged to Lord Kaien, and Hien gifted it to her as a lover’s token.

Main - Red Mage / Astrologian / Dancer

Secondary - Black Mage / White Mage / Summoner / Scholar / Sage

Melee - Dark Knight / Samurai / Paladin / Reaper

DoL - Botanist / Miner

DoH - Weaver / Goldsmith / Leatherworker / Alchemist / Culinarian

Ships/Catpiles/???:

FYI: I write everyone as polyamorous and bisexual unless otherwise stated

[In Depth Shipping Meta!]

Primary:

Gisele/Haurchefant/Aymeric/Estinien (ot4: heavensent) /Ysayle (ot5: saints and sinners) /Stephanivien

Gisele/Haurchefant (otp: silver dove)

Gisele/Estinien (otp: for the sky)

Gisele/Aymeric (otp: promises kept)

Gisele/Ysayle (otp: a rose in winter)

Gisele/Stephanivien

Gisele/Emet-Selch (otp: rose and pomegranates) /Hythlodaeus

Secondary:

Gisele/Thancred

Gisele/Urianger (otp: writ in the stars)

Gisele/Thancred/Urianger/Y’shtola (archon ot4)

Gisele/Hien/ (otp: silk and steel)/ Haurchefant (ot3: steel blossoms)

Gisele/Minfilia (otp: daughters of hydaelyn)/Thancred

Gisele/Ysayle/Y’shtola (ot3: dark is bright as fire)

Gisele/Ysayle/Vrtra

Gisele/Zenos (otp: wild hunt)

Non-WoL:

Thancred/Minfilia W.

Ysayle/Y’shtola

Lyse/Y’shtola

Thancred/Urianger/Y’shtola

Ryne/Gaia

Francel/Haurchefant

Aymeric/Estinien (otp: forged in fire)

Lucia/Hilda

Hien/Aymeric

Pipin/Nanamo

Sadu/Cirina

Krile/Tataru

Azem/Venat

Azem/Emet-Selch/Hythlodaeus

Denial City, Party of Me:

Gisele/Gaius (no tag)

Eorzean Bio (Cliffs Notes, detailed pages to come):

ARR:

- Gisele stabbed Urthemiel at the precise moment Bahamut was unleashed at Carteneau Flats. Hydaelyn used Louisoix’s summoning spell to “piggyback” so to speak and draw Gisele’s soul through the Lifestream to Her.

- “Here, think, feel” happened. Gisele awakened a full adult Elezen in Thanalan with no memory of her past, only her name. She meets Brendt at Black Brush Station and takes his wagon to Ul’dah, seeking out the Thamaturges’ Guild to learn magic from them. She gets the idea to join the Adventurers’ Guild, having no other form of income, besides doing odd jobs for the Order of Nald’Thal.

- Momodi assumed she was one of the many shell-shocked veterans of Carteneau who to turned to adventuring as a means to support themselves, and Gisele had no reason not to believe her. This is what everyone believes for a long, long time.

- Eventually, she met Thancred and he recruited her to the Scions. They become serious lovers.

- She joins the Immortal Flames around this time, and silently nurses a crush on Raubahn while developing an unlikely and close friendship with Nanamo. She goes to the other city states and joins the various guilds and slowly starts the process of becoming an omnidisciplinary mage, with her natural aptitude for magic and insane work ethic.

- Every time she got a crystal, she got back a few more of her memories, but everything was jumbled. Minfilia helped her to piece together what happened, through the power of the Echo

- At the Praetorum, when Gisele was fighting Ultima Weapon, all her memories came flooding back as a result of Hydaelyn giving her the power boost.

- As of the Seventh Astral Era, only the Scion inner circle knows Gisele’s true history and identity. This is also when she meets X’rhun Tia and becomes a Red Mage, which will become known as her signature discipline. They become fast comrades. “Sorceress of the Red” is the epithet he gives her, and it sticks as much as Warrior of Light.

- The Bloody Banquet almost destroyed Gisele emotionally. Haurchefant helped her pick up the pieces, when she and her surviving friends fled to Coerthas, and their long simmering UST came to a head and resolved itself in pretty spectacular fashion. By the time Gisele goes to Ishgard, she is known to everyone in Camp Dragonhead as Lord Haurchefant’s lover. He’s also the first person outside of the Scions she’s told about her real past.

HW:

- In Ishgard, she begins study of Sharlayan astrology under Leveva and Jannequinard, and at some point discovers her Dark Knight crystal to begin learning that discipline.

- On the Great Dravanian Road trip, Gisele falls for Estinien and Ysayle. Things are awkward to say the least, with Gisele caught in the middle of their feuding and playing mediator.

- Gisele and Estinien hook up the night before the fateful parley with Hraevelgr, and quarreled afterwards because Gisele insisted on staying to console Ysayle.

- She did go with him to the Aery though, and fought at his side against Nidhogg.

- Gisele saved Haurchefant at the Vault using Astrologian trickery. This was a major turning point for “Gisele and the lads” as I like to call them, and during Haurchefant’s long convalescence at the Congregation’s infirmary, Aymeric and Estinien (who have been long term lovers for years before the game events) become a triad with him. This goes a long way to keeping Estinien safe from the Eye’s influence.

- Similarly, Gisele saved Ysayle at Azys Lla with an unknowing assist from Minfilia; Midgardsormr’s deal with Hydaelyn notably didn’t extend to Minfilia, and she exploited that loophole in the geis on Gisele to give her just enough of a power boost to shield Shiva from the Garlean dreadnought’s hail of fire.

- While Gisele et al hunted down Pope Asshole and the Douchebags of the Round, Cid ferried Ysayle back to Ishgard, and Aymeric took her under his direct protection, placing her under the care of the Hospitaliers. (This had reprecussions later on, during the True Brothers of the Faith storyline.)

- Afterwards, the Scions unanimously voted to make Gisele the new Antecedent, though it’s largely a ceremonial/figurehead type of honor. They all still basically do their own thing. But they wanted to acknowledge just what she meant to them, and Thancred in particular believed Minfilia would have wanted it given her feelings for Gisele.

- The True Brothers of the Faith began as a cadre of Concerned Priests who found out that Ysayle was being treated at the Congregation thanks to a sympathetic mole in the Hospitaliers, and petitioned Aymeric as Acting Archbishop to try her for heresy. When he refused, citing her near-fatal injury and lingering ill health, that was the impetus for the assassination attempt. To the fundie wingnuts, this “softness on heresy” was proof positive that Aymeric had conspired with the Dravanians (and House Fortemps) in a coup against his father, and that the “peace” he sought was a sham to sell Ishgard down the river for sate his ambition for power.

- (The going conspiracy theory was that Ysayle and Gisele were heretical harlots who seduced Aymeric with their ~witchy wiles~ into doing the bidding of the dragons.)

- It was on Gisele and Alphinaud’s return journey to Dravania to beg Hraesvelgr’s intervention once again, this time with Aymeric, that Gisele and Aymeric’s long simmering UST boiled over and they finally gave in to their feelings and made their confessions (ironically, at the same camp site near Zenith).

- Ysayle and Haurchefant (who was mostly recovered by now) were physically present to help Gisele and Alphinaud pry the Eyes of Nidhogg from Estinien’s armor, thus saving his life after the battle on the Steps of Faith.

- Not too long after that, Ysayle was arrested by the Inquisition on the charge of Heresy Most High, over the bitter objections of Aymeric. It’s a long story that I plan to fic out eventually, but due to some crafty politicking, the Tribunal dismissed the charges against her and remanded her to Temple Knight custody. She was put on trial instead by Parliament. It was the trial of the century to put it mildly, the first real test of the Republic, and it ended with Ysayle’s acquittal on the charge of treason after an impassioned speech by Gisele on the floor of Parliament. But she was found guilty of conspiracy and sabotage, for the destruction of Daniffen’s Collar.

- Instead of death, which Aymeric successfully argued would jeopardize Ishgard’s new fledgling peace with the Dravanians, Aymeric agreed to release Ysayle to the custody of the Scions, who claimed authority in the matter since Ysayle has the Echo and the Blessing of Light. As penance, she begged to join the order, and Parliament agreed to allow it as a form of restitution. So that’s how Ysayle ends up a Scion.

- Job-wise, Ysayle is a Black Mage and a legitimate Allagan-style Summoner.

- Haurchefant begged to join as well, and did. He’s a Paladin (Ishgard has had its own Paladin tradition for a thousand years that has nothing to do with the Sultansworn). His Holy/Light-based powers are entirely the result of permanent disruption to his aether from Zephirin’s lance of light. Gisele mentors him and teaches him how to heal, and he uses his modest gifts quite well. Worth noting: Haurche is a spoonie, who deals with lingering chronic pain as a result of his near-deadly injury, and has not let that stop him from being a complete and utter badass.

- After the war, Gisele started a fashion house in the Jeweled Crozier named Atelier Surana, started with seed money from her adventuring and recompense from Teledji Adeleji’s estate. Ready to wear items are created by her apprentices--retainers of House Fortemps--to her incredibly exacting standards. Those who want her specific services pay outrageous sums for one of a kind bespoke couture. It’s a very exclusive list of clients, and Gisele only takes commissions once in a blue moon.

- Aymeric begins to formally court her around this time, also. The dinner was the start. (They had sex for the first time that night; the Fortemps Knight’s interruption came when they were in the afterglow.)

SB:

- Gisele et al were joined by Haurche on the journey to the Far East. But the night before they left, Gisele and the lads secretly got married, pretty much on a whim, with the quiet ceremony taking place in the little chapel atop the Congregation and performed by “Little” Mother Sephrenia de Vanion, the long time and much beloved Temple Knight chaplain.

- Gisele and Haurche purchased a small home in Shirogane shortly after arriving that serves as their home base away from Hancock and his weeb nonsense. Haurche dubbed it The Floating Lotus. (Ah, to be a filthy rich Ishgardian nobleman)

- Yes, Haurche got the Kojin’s blessing. Yes, he does exactly what you think with it.

- Gisele begins mentoring Alisaie in Red Magic on this trip, and Alisaie develops a crush on Gisele much the way her brother did in Dravania, much to Gisele’s consternation. (Haurche thinks it’s hilarious.)

- OTOH, he AND Gisele fell madly in love with Hien, and none of them especially felt the need to hide the relationship they had together. Even after SB they’re known in the Steppe and Doma alike as “Lord Hien’s lovers”. Everyone ships it.

- Hien gave Gisele his father’s Samurai crystal, and trained her in the Rijin School, along with Gosetsu.

- The Buduga tried to claim Haurche when the Oronir captured them all. Oil wrestling happened and Haurche lost for obvious reasons (bisexual stupidity). Gisele pulled rank and they relented, but they wrote a rather bawdy battle song in his honor about the “white haired warrior from the snows who’s hung like a dzo” and sung it as loudly as possible when they fought in the Nadaam.

- They absolutely sung that shit in Ala Mhigo too, btw.

- Ysayle was finally well enough for field work by the time the Qalyana Ananta summoned Lakshmi, and she helped Gisele defeat the Primal. Lesbian Sex Magic was involved.

- Fordola was killed in battle in Ala Mhigo by Gisele. Ysayle takes her place during the battle against Lakshmi in the throne room during the first patch.

- Gisele starts having weird sex dreams about Zenos after she kills him. She’s deeply disturbed by them.

- Not long after the Battle of Ala Mhigo, Gisele and the lads were officially married at Saint Reymanaud’s Cathedral in Ishgard. It was a suitably grand affair and was as much a celebration of Ishgard’s new beginnings as it was the love of her most cherished champions. (Yes, polyamorous marriage is legal in Ishgard.)

- Artoirel de Fortemps’ first official act as Count of House Fortemps was his wedding gift to Haurchefant, a final peace offering: the use of the family name. Haurche still keeps the “Greystone” as a matter of pride and honor, so after the wedding his legal name is Lord Haurchefant Greystone des Fortemps et Borel.

- Artoirel also made Estinien a Knight of House Fortemps, much to the latter’s flabbergasted consternation.

- Gisele saved Yotsuyu after defeating her as the Primal Tsukuyomi, and Hien agreed to let the world to think she died there at the Castrum. She lives at the Rising Stones and works for the Scions on a contract basis, helping Tataru with the bookkeeping.

- Ysayle was in Dravania meeting with Vidofnir when she collapsed, roughly around the time Y’shtola and Urianger did.

- Haurchefant was the last of the Scions to be summoned to the First, collapsing just after Alisaie did following the battle vs the Eredar Twins Varis’ bodyguards at the Ghimlyt Dark.

- Gisele joined Troupe Falsiam while biding her time, and this is when she became a Dancer.

ShB:

- Gisele found herself a Viera when she was called through the Rift and deposited in Lakeland.

- Haurche was on the First for a year by the time Gisele showed up. He stayed in Lakeland since everyone else was elsewhere, and for the Scions he was “mission command” so to speak, keeping tabs on everyone else. But he took Lakeland as his purview, and with the Exarch’s permission, trained the Crystarium guard in Ishgardian fighting techniques, war strategy and siege tactics, saving a ton of lives as a result, and basically turned Fort Jobb into another Camp Dragonhead.

- Haurche was admittedly extremely pissed off at the Exarch for the Scion-nappings and needed to get away from the Crystarium before he said something he really regretted. Jobb was close enough that he could coordinate with Lyna as needed, and still get correspondence/updates from his friends.

- Gisele reunites with him inside Holminster Switch during the Sin Eater attack on the town. Funny enough they kept just missing each other before then.

- Haurche’s extreme Light-attunement as a result of the old injury makes him light up like a Starlight tree to Sin Eaters, and they’re drawn to him like moths to a flame as a result. One of the reasons he became so respected by the guard even before he began to train them is because he’s so good at hunting Eaters.

- Ysayle, meanwhile, was on the First for five years, and took off on her own to fight the Sin Eaters after falling out with the others re: their plan to have Gisele to take down the Lightwardens. Her beef was that it ought to be her, because she also had the Blessing of Light and could do it instead (not out of pride, but to save Gisele yet another burden, because she loved her). Urianger bluntly said she wasn’t as strong in the Blessing and it was too dangerous and everyone sided with him.

- He was right, for the record. It really would have turned her into a Lightwarden the first time she tried it.

- She ended up in the Greatwood, running afoul of the Viis of Fanow, and barely escaped with her life to Slitherbough. She was with Y’shtola and the Night’s Blessed after that, and they knew her as Lady Vidofnir.

- Ysayle’s role was ultimately quite similar as to Haurche’s to the Crystarium guard, and she trained the Night’s Blessed in guerilla tactics that helped them a great deal in skirmishes with not only Sin Eaters but the Children of Darkness (and later, the Eulmoran soldiers).

- Ysayle and Y’shtola resolved a bucketload of UST and became lovers during this time.

- Gisele does not reunite with her until she reaches the Greatwood, and they have a handfasting conducted by Runar after the Qitana Ravel events. It’s the gayest most granola thing ever. Haurche cried more than anyone.

- Gisele tried to use Emet-Selch’s willingness to find common ground to sway him to the Scions’ cause, and in the process fell in love with him; it was greatly returned, though it ended rather badly at Mt. Gulg when she couldn’t contain the Light.

- Gisele and Thancred finally reconciled after their long awkward romantic separation following the events of Amh Araeng when Ryne assumed Minfilia’s powers as Oracle.

- She retrieved a shard of Hades’ auracite after the battle in Amaurot and crafted it into a gorgeous pendant that she wears over her heart. It’s her way of keeping the promise.

- Estinien joined the Scions following his return from Garlemald, because of Gisele.

- At some point during 5.3, Gisele turned back into an Elezen with Beq Lugg’s help. For the final battle vs. Elidibus, she used the Azem crystal to summon her old Thedosian crew to help her fight him: Alistair, Leliana, Zevran, Morrigan, Loghain, Sten, and Wynne.

- Emet-Selch returned and joined the Scions after they all came back from the First, not long after they woke G’raha Tia up. (It’s a full house at the Stones.) He currently goes by Hades d’Amaurot and as far as the world knows, he’s just a Garlean defector.

- Ysayle spends a lot of her time doing everything possible to aid in the reconstruction of the Firmament, and Francel’s vouching for her goes a long way toward softening people towards her.

- A certain Architect is also surreptitiously helping.

EW: (WIP)

- Upon the Scions’ arrival to Sharlayan, the extra Scions were introduced thusly:

Lord Haurchefant Greystone des Fortemps et Borel, Dauphin of House Fortemps. As an Ishgardian aristocrat and heir to one of the High Houses, he is using the vast wealth at his disposal to finance the rebuilding of the Students of Baldesion, and is personally offering his martial prowess as well.

Lady Ysayle Surana Dangoulain de Fortemps, priestess of Saint Shiva, and Ishgardian ambassador to Dravania. Retained by the Students of Baldesion due to her vast knowledge of Dravanian folklore.

Lord Hades d’Amaurot, Garlean scholar and historian hired by the Students as a consultant.

- When the Scions split up near the start, Haurchefant and Ysayle were part of the group that went to Thavnair; Hades remained in Sharlayan.

(TBC)

Thedas Background:

Pre-Blight Biography

Ships (anything post-DA:O doesn’t happen here, for obvious reasons)

Other Related Tags/Posts:

House Tour: (WIP)

Warden of Light AU (not really updated anymore but here for posterity’s sake, older posts might be outdated; probably where more crossover cosmology stuff will go)

AO3 Collection (longer fics in this universe)

Other Fics (short form fic, drabbles, challenge and prompt fills, etc. this is my general writing tag so you will see other fandoms in here if you go back enough)

FAQs:

Okay, but Why?

Because I started playing FFXIV during Stormblood and didn’t want to get too Involved, so I purposefully just rerolled my favorite OC as my PC, to try to trick my brain (I normally can’t do AUs because of how my brain works with these games). But then I got Involved, and decided to make it an AU of her canon DA story. I prefer it now, tbh.

Yes, it became pretty damn hilarious when Shadowbringers came out.

Note: this is not a crack ‘verse, this is my actual canon FFXIV ‘verse. Everything I write takes place in the same continuity.

Any NOTPs?

WoL/Exarch is really the only ones. You do you, it’s just not my cuppa for various reasons.

Are you/Gisele available for RP?

No. Please don’t take it personally, but I’ve had very uncomfortable experiences in the past RPing on MMOs, and prefer to write fic and meta about Gisele on my own. Occasionally I collab with my irl gf @dandelionofthanatos but that’s it.

Can I ask you stuff about her?

YES PLEASE, OF COURSE! I would prefer asks stick to her post-rebirth period though, unless it’s crossover cosmology/worldbuilding stuff with an emphasis on how DA fits into FFXIV here (eg: “What are the Ascians doing in Thedas?” vs. “What’s [insert DA character here] doing after she died?”). Reason being is my present love/hate relationship with Dragon Age has veered more into hate. I vastly prefer Final Fantasy XIV at this point and would much rather talk about it than the former.

Do you take fic prompts?

Always! If I don’t answer right away it’s likely because of lacking spoons or being busy/preoccupied. Rest assured I see them though and hold onto them if I don’t. Sometimes it takes me a while to write them!

#gisele surana #masterposts #master posts #warden of light au #trying to do some blog organization #for the benefit of new(er) followers #necessary spoilers for all the expansions under the cut #also: i hope someone caught the eddings reference #i know dandy will but XD #and yes the spoilers include 5.3

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oyasuminto · 3 years

Note

So I recently started playing dol with the world expansion mod and Whitney broke in to take me for a walk around town. It’s was? Oddly sweet somehow? It’s still good though and I’d recommend checking it out if you haven’t

I think I've heard of that scene!

#Not Writing #DOL Chat #Asks

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gamingchannelreborn · 3 years

Video

youtube

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🎮 Description Epic tales of old, be it of love, friendship, or glory, are in days bygone. A new War of the Ring is on the horizon, and the fate of Middle-earth now falls into your hands. An irrepressible dark power has been growing and seeping through every inch of Middle-earth. From Minas Tirith to Mount Doom, each faction is desperate to seize control over the One Ring and take dominion over Middle-earth once and for all.

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themxlodyofmiidnight · 3 years

Text

The world of Middle Earth... As most know, it is a wide and ever-expansive place - filled with many strange creatures, and even more unusual powers: magic users with skills unmatched; chiefly among them, being the elves and the wizards.

However... every once or so an age, there comes a mortal man, who fancies himself capable of becoming one of these powers. Each time, resulting in one of three things happening. The first, his efforts are a resounding failure; his dreams are crushed, he is humiliated, and all his dreams lost - a laughing stock, his life is over.

The second possibility: he has an unexpected success - whereby, either he chooses to use the power he has managed to harness for good, or he chooses darkness and attempts to lay the lands before him to ruin, and must be stopped.

Or, the final one - the mixed result: he benefits from the magic, without so much as a single thought of what the consequences may be once it works; the end results being oftentimes unfinished and unstable - leaving an unknown ending to the story of the one who decided to fiddle in such things...as well as that of whatever kind of magic he has been meddling in.

It was one such man, that she had sought to escape from. A pudgy man, of middle age and of medium height - with a balding head of stringy hair, and an equally greasy mustache that he prided himself in far too much - a horrible temper, and no patience. All his life, this man had wanted nothing more than to become a rich and famous person. Admired by all, and known far across the lands. In his infinite need to be seen and appreciated, this horrid man - Carver Ellum by name - had given away several things belonging to his sick wife, in order to bring up the funds needed for his latest scheme.

He had gained all he thought he needed, gleaned what he could from others, formed his own ideas to bring about his grandeur at last...and finally, the last thing that he did, was to seek out his needed “ingredients.” All while consciously making no efforts to remember the warnings that he had received from the person who had given him his knowledge. Dark magic was better than none, in the mind of a man whose heart was filled with nothing but greed...

Carver had kept her put away under lock and key; her world, after she was created in what seemed to his mind to be a ‘flawless’ success, consisted of a claustrophobic little stone room; one, with but a single small, barred window of which she could look out of. Although it was presumably too small to be escaped through even if it had had no bars, her foot was often chained to the floor, and she live with being ignored much of the time unless she was to be brought out when he wished to show her off.

It was a life similar to that of a neglected show pony: she was cleaned up and made to do tricks with her magic only when asked or told to; when she was shown off, then she was dressed better. When she was unneeded, there were days on end when he forgot to feed her, or intentionally withheld food from her when she displeased him. If not that, Carver had other ways of showing her how displeased he was with her. Most of which, were not very pleasant.

It was these things that the frightened, nameless woman had sought to escape from; had she known what dangers lay ahead for her in the world, she may very well have stayed put where she was...

***

Curled on the ground, she lay in great pain. Having collapsed trying to keep herself safe, she was bleeding heavily from several orcish arrow wounds. Her wings were crooked, as if they had been either twisted or something had landed on them and broken some bones - and around her, there was gathering a rather oddly colored pool of blood... curiously, mixed in with it, there were traces of frost and ice. The same frost and ice that was spreading down from the great hill of Dol Guldur into the rest of the forest below. Steeping that section of Mirkwood in what seemed like a growing winter — despite that by now, it should actually be spring; no frost or snow should have been able to remain in the warming temperatures. And yet..this cold, it bore an odd magical signature.

Unlike anything of the natural world, it was keeping the giant spiders from attacking the wounded woman, who had made it only to where she was, and been able to go no further. But only just.. Soon, they would return. Which is what she feared, though her consciousness was severely waning. Soon enough, the wounded, dirty, arrow-filled woman would not be able to keep her eyes open any longer.

Leaving her even more frightened - but unable to respond. Even to the footsteps she thought she could hear, coming to approach her. Whoever or whatever they may belong to, she could hope only that they would not hurt her. Or worse: end her already dwindling life.

{ Very belated starter for @thranduil-in-mirkwood - if you're still interested? }

#thranduil in mirkwood #{ starter! }#{ I just found where this was in my drafts. I really am sorry that it has taken me so long! }

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