#duskwood ship

[incorrectmoonvale]

Eric: How's the most wonderful person in the world doing?

MC: I don't know, how are you?

Eric, voice cracking: I-I'm....fine.

[mindful-daze]

Jake: Valentines Day? I'm ready. *Sprays an entire can of AXE body spray on themselves*

[diariodelissa]

Jake was fascinated when he heard MC speak. He thought of many things. He thought about kissing her and leaning her against the wall. He wanted to undress her and love her.

MC noticed his blush and laughed. She passed her arms around the hacker's neck, hugged him tightly and gave him a long, deep kiss.

[incorrectnessduskwood]

Jessy: Lillies, come to bed.

Lilly: I can't yet, I have to finish this chapter.

Jessy: Why?

Lilly: I have to.

Jessy, whining: But why?

Lilly: I don't know but I have to.

[mishanym]

Jake: I cannot go without telling you.

The moment Jake came back online, MC felt like he was gonna say something important. This is exactly what LadyLotus the fortune teller in the dark site told them.

There is a person in your life to whom you are very important. But something unsaid is still between you.

MC: Without telling me what?

With bated breath and nervous mind, MC is waiting for Jake to tell them what Jake is going to tell them. They're worried that there's another thing Jake has kept secret that may endanger his life. Or maybe his condition is actually too dire at the moment so He feels like he needs to say this before it's too late. Something's been weighing his mind. And MC can feel it.

Jake: Something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time.

Jake knows this is something he has kept bottled up inside. There was a time when this was bearable for him, but as of late, many times these feelings are uncontrollable. He can no longer evade it, and he doesn't want to. MC showed him light in his darkest world. For once, he's happy. For once, he doesn't need to fight alone. He needs MC, he wants MC, and he doesn't want to lose MC.

MC: What do you want to tell me?

MC had a feeling about what Jake's going to say, but also scared. Scared that Jake is going to say what they feared he would. Because then their feelings will never be able to be contained anymore, and their hearts will be forever entwined, just like the destiny who brought them together. But strangely, MC doesn't want to tell Jake not to say it. They know that whatever risk they're taking, they're willing to take it. As long as it's with Jake. And maybe. Just maybe. Their feelings are already uncontainable.

Jake: MC I love you.

Jake has finally said it. All that he's feeling can only form into this thing he had never felt before in his life. Is this what they call love? But by this time, he knows. It is love. And he no longer wants to deny it. And it's important to him that this feeling isn't left unsaid. After all, this is what he wants and told MC before. He told them he didn't want anything to be unsaid between him and MC. He felt relieved but now that he said it, he felt strange. He could've told them about this a long time ago. Why now, Jake? Why do you have to burden them now with your feelings? Now, when you can't even assure yourself that you will get through this problem unscathed. When your pursuers are outside this very mine. Ready to capture you at any moment. When you have no solution yet on how to escape. Why, Jake? Jake could only think of one reason why. He needs to know how they feel. Or at least to tell them how he loves them. At the same time he wanted to make sure MC doesn't feel like they're alone in this. They're always together. Together in his heart too.

MC read what Jake said and felt overwhelmed by those three words. It shouldn't have taken them by surprise but actually reading those words on their screen gave a little shock to them. They squealed a bit. After all this time, finally Jake summoned his courage to tell them how he feels. What are they supposed to say back? Do they even have to respond? MC could choose not to say anything. Telling Jake how they feel might only put more burden on him. But is this what they want? When Jake sincerely offered his feelings, is this what they deeply wanna do? After a long wrestling in their minds, contemplations that felt like hours but actually only happened in split seconds, MC finally knew what to do. No they're not going to hold back. They're not going to think it's gonna be a burden for Jake to tell him how they feel. Jake said he doesn't want anything to be unsaid between them. And that is what MC wants too. The moment MC took Jake's call and took Hannah's destiny in their hands, together with Jake they knew they were destined to be. And as they said before, they will go to the very end with Jake. They will. As bittersweet as this is, they will carry on. And so MC replied,

MC: I love you too, Jake

Jake read this and he felt enormous joy. It was just a simple confirmation. Jake has known this for quite some time now. Known that MC also shares the feelings he has. But to actually see MC typing it out. To actually see it on his screen right now, at this very dire moment, Jake felt like his heart leapt to his throat. If he wasn't sure about this then, he is sure about this now. His feelings are being reciprocated. And now this confirmation, this simple confirmation, has given birth to a sensational feeling. A resolution. If he was already feeling desperate then, he's more desperate now to survive and elude his pursuers. He's determined. There's no way after this confirmation of love between him and MC that he cannot overcome this. He will survive this and find a way out. To be safe again. He won't let himself be captured or die. He's sure. Because that will separate him from MC. And he doesn't want that the most.

Good luck, Jake. I know you can do it.

What MC said to him minutes ago crossed his mind and stayed. It encourages him. And with that he summoned all of his focus, concentrating towards one goal. One goal. To safely go out of this mine, and into a safe hiding place. And to go back to MC.

AT ALL COST.

Note from author:

Hi friends and Duskwood Jake lovers! To me you're all sweet and precious! I'm Misha and this is shyly my very first fan fiction i ever wrote. Arghh I'm so shy right now tbh. I never tried writing one in my whole life but here I am. I guess Jake has given me much love and courage. The moment i get to know him he touches my heart so dearly, and I will never be the same again.

I wrote this because i was deeply hurt by the ending Everbyte gave us in Duskwood. And i couldn't move on from it. And I don't think I want to. ;) So i wrote this to give a perspective on how Jake and MC might be feeling in our last moment with him, and believing Jake who would wanna protect MC, he wouldn't want it to end like this. So let's trust that Jake will be back to us. Especially when there are so many people out there who love Jake. #IAmJake hehe. Also, remember what appeared on the ending screen, "Everything is going to be fine in the end. If it's not fine it's not the end." With this clue left by Everbyte i hope this means we're gonna see Jake again.😉

Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope you're having fun reading this as much as i had fun writing this. I'm open to any comments and to anyone who would want me to follow them and read their works.

I'm very grateful to be here.💙

[hacked-by-jake]

Alan x Poke x Phil(platonically)

Poke will steal Alan’s weapon at least once just because he’s too curious, and will look at it closely. But he will accidentally fire a shot that just misses him by a few centimeters on his foot. Can’t change my mind. 😂

[giu-world]

🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

[gvtted-ratz]

List of Fics/Drabbles/Headcanons We Made (all links go to our ao3)

Works: 25

@gvtted-ratz is the main writer and owner of the ao3

@rppik is the proof-reader and co-writer

It is not our responsibility to baby/take care of what you take in. So if you don't like something, do not read/interact.

Fem aligning/identifying ppl dni with our mlm works (we may end up blocking you if you do).

Only registered users can view/comment on our works on AO3.

Remember to read the tags/ratings on the works. We use them for a reason, and we would like you to pay attention to them for your own safety/comfort. None are/will ever be Fem!Reader. GN, Male/Masc, Trans Male, Neogenders, and Nonbinary only.

Rules for requests are here!

Marvel:

• Single-Standing Marvel Fics - X Reader (unfinished)

• Single-Standing Marvel Ship Fics - Ships/OTPS (unfinished)

• Sharpshooter - Frank Castle/Matt Murdock/Male Reader (complete)

• Hitman - Frank Castle/Matt Murdock/Male Reader (discontinued)

Slashers:

• Arkin O'Brien/GN!Reader (complete)

• All Slasher Fics - GN+M!Reader (complete)

• Alive - Jason Voorhees/M!Reader (complete)

• Odd - Hannibal Lecter/M!Reader (discontinued)

• Freakiest Freak - Hannibal Lecter/Billy Lenz (complete)

• The Collection - The Collector/M!Reader (complete)

• Slasher Headcanons - GN+M!+Nonbinary Reader (complete)

• Two Messed Up Individuals - Harry Warden/Billy Lenz (complete)

• My Life's So Pitiful - Mark Hoffman/Adam Faulkner-Stanheight (complete)

Homestuck:

• Romantic Dreams - Karkat Vantas/Dave Strider (Drabble) (complete)

Marble Hornets:

• Eldritch Deity - it/Its!Deity!Reader (unfinished)

• Single-Standing MH Fics - X Reader (unfinished)

Dead Plate (game):

How Much Do You Hate? (It's Not Enough) - Rody Lamoree x Vincent Charbonneau (complete)

The Batman (2022):

• All Riddler Fics - The Riddler/Reader (unfinished)

The Price Of Flesh (game):

• To Stare Is To Buy - GN!Hacker!Reader Series (3/10 complete)

Boyfriend to Death (game):

BEWARE - Lawrence Oleander/M!Reader

Duskwood (game-everbyte):

• You’re Looking In The Wrong Place - Richy/M!Reader/Phil (unfinished/possible rewrite later)

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2:

• Single-Standing CODMW2 Fics - X Reader (unfinished)

That's Not My Neighbour (game):

TNMN Headcanons - X Reader (in progress)

Do You Have The Guts? - Hoon Man/GN!Doppleganger!Doorman!Reader (complete)

Uncanny Valley (scopophobia studios):

Correct Ending - John Doe/M!It/Its!Reader (complete)

Will be updated whenever a new work is made/ finished

Feel free to send in some requests. Or just brainstorm in our box. We are happy to listen and try out sometimes. If we're uncomfy with something, we'll tell you.

Edit: Usually, we use it/its if it’s self-indulgent, since we're a dude who uses them and we have never seen them in fics. We make sure to put that in the tags if those pronouns are used.

[deathbydarkelves]

How do you handle travel time in Azeroth for your writings? The game lets you take a ship or zeppelin to a whole other continent faster than you can fly a hippogryph to the next city lol

I handle it realistically, or as realistically as the story needs.

I don’t know if we have a canon size for Azeroth (regardless the in-game world isn’t to scale lol), but when laying the groundwork for my AU I wanted to size it up to my own preference anyway. So I semi-arbitrarily decided modern Kalimdor is slightly smaller than South America (roughly 4,000 mi/6,400 km north-south, compared to S. America’s ~4,700 mi/7,500 km), and I use that as my general reference for the other landmasses.

I don’t pull out my calculator every time there’s a timeskip between chapters or a travel montage, because that’s a lot of extra work that really doesn’t add much in my style of writing. I go for semi-realism, not hard realism. But when drafting, I do look at the average speed of whatever modes of transportation my characters will be using, compare that to an estimate of the distance they’re covering, then add a little more to their travel time to account for physical and plot obstacles they’ll run into.

I also look at other adventure-fantasy stories and compare the scale of the story to the time it took. The entirety of Lord of the Rings takes place over about a year. So I sort of... compare the scale of my stories to Lord of the Rings and go from there, as one more way to guesstimate time taken. I'm very bad at visualizing numbers, so I gotta find workarounds lol.

The end result is that an on-foot trip from, say, Stormwind to central Duskwood will take about a week to a week and a half. In my AU hippogryphs, gryphons, and similarly-sized flying creatures can reach top speeds of 45 mph/72 km/h, so that same trip in a straight line, going at max speed whenever possible and accounting for necessary rest stops, would take VERY ROUGHLY three to five days.

When it comes to the sailing ships, I just use the irl speed of those as well. Traveling between the E.K. and Kalimdor via ship takes two to six months, give or take depending on your ship, the winds, weather, and the season. Zeppelins are a lot faster, but considering this is WoW and we’re working with… not-WWII-technology… I do considerably slow them down in this setting (to maybe a max of 40-60 mph/64-96 km/h, ROUGHLY). So the same trip between the E.K. and Kalimdor would take anywhere from a week to two months. Again, depending on the ship, winds, etc.

When it comes to that sort of intercontinental travel you do have to keep in mind everyone has to avoid the Maelstrom, which adds gods-only-know how much more travel time lol

So TL;DR it’s whatever feels best for the story, informed by real-world equivalents to the modes of transportation my characters use :)

[jakescomputer]

im bit late but um.. here's what halloween custom the duskwood characters would have.

2022 edition

--------

jessy would 1000% be something cute and fairies are really popular right now and she'd look really cute as a fairy with her red hair

cleo, hannah, thomas i feel like cleo hannah and thomas would go as alvin and the chipmunks. cleo would be simon, hannah would be theodore and thomas would be alvin.

lilly lilly would either be something funny or something basic. no in between. my guesses are either a police officer or i've seen a traffic cone costume and i think if lillys in a mood for fun she'd do that.

dan funny costumes all day every day i can especially see him being a pirate. especially wheelchair dan, he can transform the wheelchair into a pirate ship with just some cardboard and the groups help and voilà.

richy richys sense of humour is a bit dry. like, i can see him dressing up as a mechanic for halloween. he's gonna be all like "i didn't even have to spend any money and i got an awesome costume. it's a double win" BUT if and i repeat IF he decides to dress up as something else he would either have a couple costume with jessy and make it really cheesy (peanut butter and jelly sandwich or like something supernatural related [jessys idea]) or something funny but basic like...a hot dog.

jake jake wouldn't dress up. he's too serious for that. (mc bought him a computer costume and forced him to wear it. don't tell that to anyone tho, he's embarrassed) if he HAD to pick a costume by himself he would probably buy an anonymous mask (like a basic white boy) or have mc or hannah paint his face like that fryboy dude. he would cover his face tho whichever costume he was wearing.

phil would dress as a prisoner. because he is one.

alan would put his everyday uniform on and call it a day.

darkness a skeleton. simple, basic, creepy when done right it's just perfect.

[duskwoodgirl4life]

The Night Stalker

Chapter 1

The past 2 years had been crazy for MC she had found Hannah and uncovered the MWAF, which sadly turned out too be her friend Richy. Jake had not messaged MC in the 2 years the last message he sent was he loved her and that he had too go into hiding and would contact her when it was safe.

She tried too carry on with her life the best she could Jessy was trying too get MC too move too duskwood.

MC agreed there was nothing left for her in New York anymore, so she quite her office job packed her stuff and booked a one way plane ticket too duskwood.

The flight was long but worth it while on the flight MC decided too send a message too Jake even though she knew he wouldn't reply back.

MC: hey, just letting you know I'm now in duskwood the flight was long but worth it too be with friends. I hope your doing okay I really miss you, I will never stop loving you xxxxx

Finally the flight landed it was early in the morning, jetlag had kicked in and all MC wanted too do was grab her luggage and go meet Jessy.

After a few minutes MCs luggage showed up she grabbed her cases and went too look for Jessy. It didn't take her long too find the red head as she was shouting MCs name and running up too her.

Jessy: it's so good too see you, how was the flight?

MC: it's really good too see you too, the flight was too long and boring, I so need coffee right now

Jessy: don't worry we can grab some at the rainbow cafa on the way home they do amazing coffee and the best pastries

They reached Jessy's car and loaded the cases into the boot, everything else was being shipped over and would be in duskwood in the next few days.

They got in the car and drove into duskwood, making a stop at the rainbow cafa too grab coffee and pastries.

Not long after they reached Jessy's apartment building.

MC: wow your apartment looks amazing Jessy

Jessy: thank you, it's take me awhile too get it how i wanted it.

MC: this coffee is amazing btw

Jessy: told you they did amazing coffee

Not long after they got back too the apartment MCs phone started buzzing, the group chat was active for the first time since they found Hannah. Everyone was super excited that MC had moved too duskwood. It was still a strange feeling knowing that MC would not be meeting Richy.

MC still found it hard too believe it was really Richy that was behind it all, Jessy put on a brave face like always trying too be the one too make people smile.

Jessy: the others want too come meet you but I'll put them off for abit you go grab some sleep, if you want a shower fresh towels are in the cupboard outside the bathroom.

MC: thanks Jessy, I'll take you up on that sleep then shower.

MC went too get some much needed sleep when she woke up she had a message from an unknown number. She picked her phone up and took a look at the message.

Unknown: I know where you are, I know you feel the same way I will be with you soon X

MC looked at the message in disbelief she was almost sure it wasn't Jake but sent him a message just too make sure.

MC: hey Jake, I need too ask did you just text me from an unknown number? The message said they know where I am and they know I feel the same way, they said they will be with me soon. Please tell me it was you, please get back too me I'm scared Jake :'(

MC put her phone down and went too take a shower, when she got back she had another message from the unknown number.

Unknow: you are so beautiful, I can't wait too be in your arms.

MC looked in shock at the message she didn't know what too do, after a few minutes she decided too text Jake again.

MC: Hey Jake, please come online please!!! I really need your help, I've just got another message from this unknown number. They said that I am beautiful and they can't wait too be in my arms. Jake if you can see this please I'm begging you please help me I'm so scared. :'(

[gallavich-headcanon]

🦊 Nope, nothing forgotten! Just tired of not getting notified when you answer.

Very pleased to hear you're doing better! I wish you a continuing speedy recovery.

As for Nosho - I see you haven't heard of his OCs. They are. Trauma in persona. None of those poor souls stays happy for too long. He's an expert in cracking characters like raw eggs. Or porcelain dolls.

Short rundown of The Obsessions! Detroit: Become Human. Video Game. Sci-Fi, Dystopian. Androids have been invented a couple of years prior to the story. They are now found in every profession possible - Doctors, Maids, Police, even Sex Workers, everything. People lose their jobs because of it. People get mad, treat Androids like shit. Androids retaliate. There's a revolution. Your decisions during the game have an impact on the story. There's a lot of possible storylines. I ship two characters who have barely 10Min screen time (Max!) together, one of them having literally 60Sec of it and no line of speech. The fandom built those characters basically from scratch. It's hilarious.

Horizon: Zero Dawn. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU NEVER HEARD OF THIS FRANCHISE. I AM APPALED. LITERALLY MY FAVOURITE GAMES. Again, Video Game. Sci-Fi, Dystopian. Old world ceased to exist, got destroyed. New world was formed. Aloy has been outcast. She doesn't know why. On her quest to find out about her origin, she has to save the world and right a lot of wrongs. I'm sorry, but I can't say more on this without spoilers, and I highly recommed them. (2/3 parts are out so far, third one is in the making!)

Supernatural. You are so wise in not watching it. You'd be SO disappointed. The Queerbait is outrageous. Whatever happened past S10 is a mystery. Absolutely whack. Shit ending. Don't do this to yourself. I got into it when it was still good. And that was the only reason I kept watching. Had I known about that ending beforehand, I wouldn't have touched it.

Duskwood. I will add this even though I didn't mention it previously. Video Game. Horror/Thriller, Interactive Mystery. You are added to a Group Chat. A girl was kidnapped. She supposedly sent your number to her boyfriend who contacted you. They suspect you are the culprit at first. A hacker contacts you, wanting to help you to solve the mystery. If you play as a female character you can woo the hacker. It's hilarious. The Mini Games you have to play in between can be frustrating, but it's worth it.

K.

Hey twin k! How are you doing? Sorry it took me so long to get back to you 🧡 I’m finally back to the land of the living.

@creepkinginc you scare me now. This is a side of you ice never knew. Please never do it to our AUs 😨

Detroit: become human. Okay I see you with shipping characters that have barely been together on screen. I respect your choices but, respectfully, how do you do it? How is there enough to obsess over? Or is it all just headcanons? Wait one of them does even speak? Y’all are something else hahaha

Horizon: zero dawn. The word “dawn” will forever remind me of twilight. I am so sorry I just have never been a video game kind of person!! I don’t even own a tv of a computer! (I have a laptop which I love dearly but I doubt it strong enough for proper games, it’s doesn’t even have a disc compartment lol) this actually sounds very interesting. But like, can I read it or do I have to play to get the plot? Because I’m intrigued but I’m not gonna get into gaming probably. 😅 is there a proper fandom? A love interest?

Supernatural. Yep yep. I had a feeling it was too much queerbaiting that will never give us more than maybe one live confession and no actual relationship. I feel like supernatural-> shameless pipe line is for people who needed to recover from the queerbaiting trauma and get a gay happy ending.

Duskwood. Ohhh cool this is kind of giving pretty little liars vibe. Do you know how I know I live in a queer bubble? My first thought was “oh a lesbian hacker! So cool!” And then I realize… it’s probably a straight man. Hahaha I’m very into the interactive mystery part ( I love reading books from the pov of a detective or someone trying to solve a murder) but the horror part… is it gore? Or like scare to make me pee my pants? Because that’s not for me🙃 but the plot sounds really cool! What are the mini games?

Very impressed with your list of obsessions. Though I have a feeling you’re not satisfied with happy endings lol couldn’t be me. I need my HEA.

[incorrectnessduskwood]

You ship Thomas x Dan?

Hi, anon! I do, can you believe it? It started out as a joke and now I actually like the ship. What about you?

[books-of-the-great-leviathan]

Chapter 17- Luca

***

Sunset arrived like an armada in full splendor, a clash of scarlet and flame made brilliant by the volcano's smoky haze. The tide rose, washing clean the wrecks of An Gholam's bay, booming in their hollow hulls. Luca watched the sun sink below the horizon, spilling shadow as it went.

Across the darkening sea came ships.

Dozens, hundreds, until the bay of An Gholam became a sea of running lights and signal lanterns, shouts carried on the wind like birds, the water groaning under the weight of countless hulls. Luca had never seen such variety since Valeris's bay at the swollen height of summer, traders coming from all across the Inner Sea. Square sails, and triangular, and pleated like a fan. Twin-hulled ships slung low over the water's surface, skimming the waves like a landing seabird. Crews dressed in lightlock armor, made to float, or wearing strange leather masks, or painted jet-black and silently slinging ropes as they guided in their vessel. Massive ships, four-decked and carved with menageries of legendary beasts. Sea-orks in duskwood snarled from bows, sails of midnight blue and rust-red reflecting the sunset so they seemed to glow in the gathering darkness. Small vessels, sleek-sided and quick, pointed sails and rigging fluttering with countless pennants.

"See those?" Matteo said, pointing the vessel out as it sailed by. "Each one taken from a ship after her captain's slaughtered the whole crew."

Luca was only half-listening. A dinghy had been lowered over the side. In it crouched a cloaked figure, shimmering with shadow. Luca had asked Nadya on the matter, and the third officer had told him Sirin was taking a few supplies, a pistol or two, and booking passage on a supply ship leaving An Gholam that night. She'd be gone by the dawn, vanished into the Inner Sea. Where she was going only wind and ghosts could say.

He'd been too much of a coward to go to her, to catch the dinghy's rope before it was too late, to say a proper goodbye. She deserved more than their last argument. She deserved more than that by far.

Maybe this was what she'd always wanted. She had her freedom. No chains, no debts. She certainly didn't owe him anything. She'd saved his life, after all. She'd thrown her shadows and caught him before he could sink beyond reaching. She'd twined her darkness into him, had brought him back into the light.

Her hands, gripping his.

Her eyes, bright with the Leviathan's light.

Luca shook his head and turned away. When he looked again, the dinghy was gone, and Sirin was gone with it.

Puppy gave a soft whine. Luca looked down at it, and it gazed up at him, eyes round.

He scratched its chin. "I know," he murmured.

The ships gathered around the Fishcutter, their numbers becoming denser, ropes thrown from vessel to vessel and pulling taut, so that by the time the moons rose the bay was an island of ship decks and sails, masts thick as a forest, flags snapping at moorings and filling the sky with the billow and creak of canvas. Seabirds descended in flocks, carnivorous and clamoring, nesting on riggings by the hundreds. The smell of cookfires rolled in on the wind, roasting meat and fruit sap and the tang of rum. Songs, and howls, and music, too, the twangs and melodies of strange instruments battling for supremacy.

He heard gunshots, too, but neither Captain Irene nor Atana seemed concerned.

"There are always scuffles when the pirates of An Gholam gather," Atana said, standing by Luca at the Fishcutter's bow. "They're resolved amongst themselves."

"How many are there?" Luca could barely see the ruins of An Gholam through the thicket of masts.

"Too many ships to count," Atana told him. She turned, her eyes settling on an approaching ship. "Oh! Look!"

Avenues had been left between the vessels, broad pathways of water wide enough to allow two ships to sail abreast. This one took the entire avenue, a floating fortress, its triple masts jutting almost twice the height of the Fishcutter's. Its hull was black and crimson, glossy as lacquer, crusted in ornate patterns rendered in gilt. Its sails were red, too, each one webbed like a fin. Three levels of cannons glistened along its flanks, mouths shaped like snarling jaws, and its crew wore crimson sashes and waistcoats bright as its sails. Instead of a figurehead, a massive sea-ork's head rendered in gold jutted from the ship's prow, maw open wide as if to swallow down whatever crossed its path.

The magnificent ship cruised closer, swinging alongside the Fishcutter. Luca made out the massive man standing at its bow, one hand on the hilt of his blunderbuss.

"Lord Sabat!" Atana called. "It's good to see you again."

"Atana." Lord Sabat's voice boomed like a cannon. His red greatcoat was as gilded as his ship's hull, and on him, it was magnificent. His skin was so dark it shone blue, his oiled muttonchops curling in abundance from the sides of his square, brutal face. Silver rings glittered on his hands, and each fingernail was silver, too, not paint but steel, the metal pushed through some bizarre alchemy into his living flesh.

The gangplank was lowered between ships, and Sabat crossed, trailed by two of his crew, watching the crew of the Fishcutter like a pair of pit-hounds.

Lord Sabat approached Atana and bowed, sweeping off his enormous tricorn before sinking to one knee. "You've grown tall."

"You inspired me, Sabat. It's good to see you well."

"And you." He took her small hand. "I am sorry to hear about your father."

Atana nodded, looking down. Sabat rose, slowly, and faced Luca. "Is this the man who saw the Leviathan die?"

"Luca Valere," Atana said. "Prince of Lapide."

Sabat approached, his step quiet for such a big man. He prowled around Luca. "Never much liked Lapidaeans," he said.

"Never much liked pirates," Luca said, with a shrug.

Lord Sabat stared down at him, then barked a laugh. "You've a funny one, Atana."

"Not as funny as you think you are, Sabat," said a cold, hoarse voice.

Luca looked; so did Atana and Sabat. A second crew waited on the starboard deck. Luca hadn't heard footsteps, hadn't heard the approach of a second ship. It drifted alongside the Fishcutter: a battered schooner, its sails faded gray canvas, its hull much-mended.

Sabat drew back. So did Irene and Matteo, glancing at one another, Matteo's fingertips dancing over his pistol grip. The trio of newcomers was led by a white-haired old woman leaning on a cane, small and hunched and dressed in ragged shawls. Her crew wore light armor made of fish-skins, glimmering in the smoky haze.

"May I present," Matteo whispered to Luca, "The Eel Queen."

"Welcome," Atana said. She and the Eel Queen exchanged nods, and spoke quietly for a moment before the Queen turned her eyes on Luca. They were pale green, like the glow of some deep-sea fish, and they rested on Luca and Puppy for a long time before she spoke.

"I can see why we've gathered," the Eel Queen said. "This is...rare."

"Rare," scoffed Sabat. "Heretical, more like. Look at the creature." He advanced on Luca, reaching for a heavy hatchet at his belt. "I say we strike off its head and spill whaleblood into the sea. Free the Leviathan from the shackles of-"

"Touch Puppy and it's the last thing you'll ever do," Luca said.

"No one's striking off anyone's head," Atana commanded, her voice ringing over Sabat's. "Not yet."

Luca swallowed, his mouth at once dry. Niive approached from behind him, standing at his left side. Wind swelled at her approach, and Luca felt a charged crackle pass over his skin. Cereza stepped forward to his right, slipping his hand into hers.

"Stand down, Lord Sabat," Atana went on. "We're not yet gathered."

"Then hurry." Sabat eyed Niive, then turned on one heel. "I didn't come here for polite conversation."

He strode away, back over the gangplank. The Eel Queen retreated too, crossing back to her battered little ship without another word.

"They're afraid," Cereza said. "All of them."

"They're right to be. I don't think there's a soul alive who's stood in our circumstances. Sirin," Luca said. "Do you suppose-"

He cut off. Cereza's hand tightened around his. No one answered. Because Sirin wasn't there. Sirin was gone.

Luca let out his breath. Wherever she was going, he only hoped she'd be at peace. That was all he could give her now.

The pirate lords assembled one by one, ships circling the Fishcutter like sharks around a dying sea-ork. Sabat's, and the Eel Queen's, and two more besides. The next to come was a triangular-sailed caravel, elegant and maneuverable, its hull daubed deep cobalt. A pair of flat painted eyes stared from either side of its bow, and its crew were blue-skinned Isozi, each warrior woman competing with Lord Sabat in height. Its captain wore a headscarf round her long white braids, her bare arms rippling with muscle and pale blue scars.

"Noor," Atana greeted, and they held hands, Noor bending down to press her forehead to Atana's.

The last to arrive was a black Buyani icerunner, its hull reinforced with a spellforged steel plow for cleaving through sea-ice. Its sails billowed, each one vivid orange-gold; its flag carried the device of a roaring blue and red flame. Its captain, when she vaulted easily onto the Fishcutter's deck, was a young woman, a sheet of red hair swinging down her back. She wore an enormous hat with a red feather, her pointed face set in a grin. She approached without invitation, looking Luca over with a flick of her eyes.

"Well," she said, her Buyani accent thick and rolling. "At least he's handsome."

"You look a little young to be a pirate lord," Luca said.

"Looks can be deceiving. Who knows. I could be hundreds of years old and simply be wearing a youthful skin. Some witchborn have such gifts, after all."

"You're witchborn?" Niive said, doubt dripping from her voice.

The Buyani woman raised her hand and clenched her fist. Flame erupted from her skin: a crackling sphere of pulsing fire, blue at its core, flickering red where it licked at the night air. She opened her hand and the fire extinguished itself. Luca still felt its heat radiating from her.

"Careful," she said, with another flick of her eyes. "Don't get too close."

"Captain Anoshka Safi," muttered Matteo, as Anoshka sauntered away. "Really. Don't get too close. I've seen her cut a man's fingers off and feed them to her hounds."

"Sounds like just your type, Luca," Cereza said sweetly. Luca elbowed her in the side.

"My Lords," Atana called. "Let's get this started."

The pirates gathered on the deck. A table had been dragged from Irene's stateroom, scarred and battered. The lords assembled around it, sinking into carved wood chairs set with shell, armrests wrought in the shapes of reclining sarkyvors.

Sabat and Anoshka exchanged whispers; the Eel Queen sat on her own, pale, veined hands pressed to the wood. Noor leaned back in her chair, her chin lifted, her blue eyes set on Luca. Irene picked at her nails with a flensing knife.

Luca held Puppy. The little creature sat silent on his knees, paws on the table, eyes shining in the lamplight. The lords surveyed them like they were antiquities on display in the Royal Library of Valeris Palace.

"May we see the creature?" the Eel Queen asked at last.

Luca stood, lifting Puppy onto the table. It gave a small whine; he stroked its back as the pirates leaned forward to get a better look.

"Sweet little thing," the Eel Queen crooned. "Look how its fur shines."

"You can't say you believe this is some part of the Great Leviathan," Sabat growled. He waved a hand through the air. "Some exotic beast, perhaps. Some creature culled from an unknown island, brought here like a taxidermy chimaera to fool us pagan believers. Not the Leviathan."

"What's your story, Valere?" Anoshka asked, leaning back in her chair. "Surely a man as pretty as you with a nose as broken as yours must have a good one."

"How's this for a good story?" Luca said. "I was there when the Leviathan died. I watched it burn, heard its death-song. I was thrown overboard, and when I was, I spoke with it."

Murmurs broke from the assembled, from the crews watching at the surrounding ships.

"And what words did you pass with our god?" asked Noor, her eyes bright.

"I told it I was sorry. That I would carry it. Make this right." Luca's jaw clenched. "I might not have been the one to fire on it, but I'd brought its killers to its seas. I enabled the Witchhunters to find it, just like I enabled them to find An Gholam and burn it down."

"We have a tale where I come from," Sabat said. "A tale of the Korag Magra. The Ork Mother." He gestured to his own figurehead, the snarling golden sea-ork. "She is a goddess so dark no insect dares to gnaw her bones, no maggot brave enough to tunnel her flesh. The seas themselves conspire to hide her, the sun to steal the light from her presence and conceal her from sight. Only at the world's end, when all grows too dire for other options, does she return, coming to us in our hour of greatest need."

He set his eyes on Luca, gaze heavy as a blow. "I know prophets, Valere, and you are nothing close. How do we know you're not lying, too?"

"My sister, Princess Cereza, and our witch companion can attest to that," Luca said. Cereza nodded, and after a pause, so did Niive.

"He's not lying," she said.

"No," Atana said. "He's not. We found them in the middle of the Great Blue, clinging to a wreck, with this creature in their company. Would you care to suggest I'm lying, too, Lord Sabat?"

Sabat looked away. Irene stuck the knife deep into the tabletop.

"Seems the damage," she said, "has been right well done, don't you fine folks think? The Great Leviathan as we know it is gone, and we've all seen what damage that did. Our friends and comrades missing, the seas thick with dying fish. This plague of crystal."

"When the Leviathan is gone, all things suffer," the Eel Queen said. She curled her knotted old hands over her walking-stick, her long black nails biting deep into the bone handle. "The Leviathan is the world. The world is the Leviathan. The deep currents of the universe are as the godsblood that veins through its flesh. Its absence skews the turn of the firmament, the rise and fall of the tides, the pulse of life and death within us all."

Luca's hands tightened in Puppy's fur. "I'm sorry," he said, but his voice was crushed small.

"We don't want your apologies," Irene said. "We want a solution. I worshipped the whale just like you all did. I jammed its crystal into my own eye socket."

She tapped her whaleglass eye with one fingernail. "I felt it go, just as we all felt it. Heard its song in my dreams, just as we all did. Felt it die."

"It's not dead," Luca said.

"What?"

"It's not dead." He stood, lifting his voice. "Irene's right on every point, save one. The Great Leviathan isn't dead. Its body might be gone, but it's more than that, more than a sea monster or an overgrown whale. We all know that much. It's why we're here, isn't it? If it agreed to my bargain, if a part of it is still alive here in this form, then it must know there's a way out."

"Did it share this...way out?" Noor asked, her voice cool as rain.

"No," Luca said. "There wasn't time. I wish..." He trailed off, tracing a gash in the tabletop, then sighed.

"No," he repeated. He straightened his spine. Under his palm he felt the gentle pulse of Puppy's heart, the little creature's warmth leaching into him in turn, giving him strength. "I may have found the beginnings of a solution."

"Have you now?" Anoshka said, her eyes glittering with interest.

"Beneath the rubble of the temple are ruins. Ancient ruins." Luca reached in his waistcoat pocket and brought forth the broken chunk of whaleglass. The silver that bound it was spotted with tarnish, but no amount of centuries could dull the starlit glow of the crystal. "Witch ruins."

"Witches?" the Eel Queen echoed.

Luca nodded, and together he and Cereza explained as best he could what they had seen on the Leviathan's island, in the caverns beneath the temple, mummies and magic, whaleglass forged and broken, ancient wars and ancient bloodshed.

"They weren't what we think, not at the beginning," he went on. "They had power. Magic used in ways I can't comprehend. That knowledge was lost when they fell. I don't know how. I don't know why they lost their power. But I intend to find out, and I intend to use it. And to use your help, if you can give it. Your knowledge, your reach. Please." He ground his knuckles into the tabletop. "I have to make this right."

"We all have to make this right," Cereza said.

"You want our help," Lord Sabat said.

"Yes."

"And what are you prepared to give us in return?"

Luca glanced at Atana, then put on his best smile. "Lapide has vast fortunes-"

"I don't want your Lapidaean gold or your Lapidaean promises," Sabat snarled. He stood, knocking the table back. "None of us do. You see our city, Luca Valere? You hear the ghosts calling to you from the ashes?"

He swept a massive hand toward the ruins of An Gholam, the smoke drifting over the faces of the full moons. "We want justice. We want vengeance. We want blood. And we know you have the blood we're hungry to spill, onboard this very ship."

Luca blinked. "Wait. No-"

"Bring him out," Atana called, her voice icy.

Luca whirled toward her, but before he could speak, the hatch leading belowdecks was thrown wide, and Nadya shoved Azare onto the deck.

Shouts, jeers, howls and curses filled the air, a storm of sound: pirates beating on decks, gunshots, the clang of sword to sword. Sabat snarled, hand clenching his pistol. The Eel Queen drew her lips back from sharp canine teeth, while Anoshka's eyes flashed to flame. Only Noor didn't move, but the hatred in her gaze was enough to wither Luca's resolve.

"Atana," he called, but his voice was lost in the clamor.

He pushed away from the table, toward Atana, but Matteo swung in front of him, stiletto drawn. Luca fell back against Cereza.

Niive advanced, flickers of blue-white lightning crackling through her hair. "Shall I shatter these fragile little ships and send them all to feed the sharks?"

"No," Luca urged.

Niive shot him a look, but the sparks died down.

Nadya shoved Azare, and he stumbled forward, chains rattling from his collar and fetters. Blood streaked his face from a bruising gash over one cheek. Nadya's face was stony as she cracked her knuckles.

Atana rose and approached Azare.

"This is Captain Severin Azare," she announced. "Royal Witchhunter of Estara. The man who murdered my father, Remi Bateleur, and who commanded the spellfire that destroyed An Gholam. Tonight I sentence him to die."

Another wave of shouts and jeers lifted from the other ships. Azare stood straight-backed and rigid, his face betraying nothing.

"Nadya," Atana said. "Draw your pistol."

Anoshka stood. "No," she said, and the sparks glimmering from her fingers brightened to flames. "He burns."

"Luca, he can't," Cereza begged.

"Wait," Luca called. "Triune, Atana-"

"Enough, Luca," she said. "He burns."

Azare closed his eyes. Anoshka advanced. The flames flickered up her arms and neck until her torso was engulfed in a shifting, living wreath of fire. Swords beat swords, and feet pounded a hammer pulse from deck after deck, so hard Luca felt it in the backs of his teeth.

Desperation lit his nerves. He started forward again, but Matteo pressed his stiletto point into Luca's chest.

"One more move, pirate," Niive snarled.

"One more move, witch," Matteo drawled in return.

"Anoshka," Atana cried. "Burn-"

"Stop!"

The clamor fell silent. Waves whispered. Atana whirled, staring at Cereza as she burst from the crowd.

"Do you have something to say?" Atana said. Her eyes were bright with tears.

"Yes," Cereza said. "I do."

She lifted her eyes to the congregation. "I demand a trial by duel."

Atana's mouth dropped open.

"No!" Sabat roared. He shoved the table aside, so hard it skidded; Noor sprang to her feet and stepped smoothly out of its way. "No, no, no-" "How can you know about trial by duel?" Anoshka asked, her fire fading to a shimmering glow over her skin.

Cereza lifted her chin. "I've read all about your laws, despite what all of you might think. Azare, do you accept?"

"Princess, you can't do this," Azare murmured.

"Yes, I can." She pressed her hands to his chest, gripping his shirt. "Listen to me, Azare, you have to accept. If not for me, then for Alois."

A long moment passed between them. At last, Azare nodded. "Then I accept your trial."

Sabat ripped his enormous blunderbuss from his belt one-handed and leveled it at Azare's chest, cocking it with a sharp snap. "One more word, Witchhunter-"

Atana pressed her hand over the gun's muzzle. "Lord Sabat. She's invoked trial by duel. To kill him now would violate our most concrete laws, the laws my pa died to defend. Stand. Down."

"The girl is no pirate-"

"She doesn't need to be a pirate to invoke trial by duel," the Eel Queen rasped. "You know that as well as I do."

"Damn you all," Sabat snarled, but lowered his blunderbuss.

"Who by the Three are you going to have fighting your duel?" Luca said, shoving past Matteo and catching Cereza by the arm. "Either of you?"

Azare didn't look at him. "I am."

In his periphery, the crowd of crewmen and pirates on the Fishcutter's deck parted, as if pushed out of the way. People stumbled, shouting, cursing. Darkness snapped and coiled: a column of shadow, standing just out of the reach of the lanternlight.

Luca couldn't breathe. Cereza grabbed his hand again, her palm slick against his.

The shadow fell like a cresting wave, sweeping away to fade in smoky coils against the Fishcutter's railing. Sirin stood in its place. Her eyes were hard as black glass, their depths flickering with the remnants of her shadows.

The crowd stared, silent, shifting, hands going to weapons. Sirin paid them no mind. She stepped into the moonslight, and the shadows came with her.

She lifted her hands.

No, she said. I am.

[hacked-by-jake]

WAIT! Dan x Phil 💅🏻 Enemies to Lovers

Kajahiajwhaia ohhhhh. That, too, is a very good idea. Take it. Enemies to lovers is always good. 😌

[napiersworldzero]

Session Summary of 8/18/23

The party, Ten, Mavi, and Rome started in a town called Omepha (O-may-fa), in The Shaar, at the bottom of Firestep mountains besides Duskwood Forest. It is a small town, housing mainly adventurers who have come across and saved this town like our three heroes have. After moving into their new home/base, they explore town for a magic shop but only find a small store at the edge of town, untouched and seemingly forgotten by everyone though people have seen some people that come and go, enter and leave the store, usually looking guilty or on edge. Upon entering, they find a tightly packed, dark store. There is barely any room to move as there are shelves, barrels, boxes, crates, bins, packed with items and gadgets. There's knick-knacks and jewelry and books and scrolls and papers. So they explore for a while, finding clothing for the changeling Mavi, potions for the party, and Ten found an item an old friend had made several months ago. Before leaving, Ten and Rome paid their fine, for in the center of store is a pedestal with a small coin box with a sign that reads: "Pay Your Fine". Mavi snuck out, barely paying, and the building tripped them on the way out. They then went to 'Pigeon's Nest', the local mailing hub, where they found Micheal Lyral, and his three pigeons. For 20GP, the smartest pigeon will take your parcel anywhere within three days. 10GP takes your parcel almost anywhere within 6 days and he says the 2CP promises that it will leave the town. After much debate, Ten chose the 10GP and Mavi tries to convince the 2CP pigeon to come with her. They then leave, roaming until they receive a letter. "Come to Alamontyr quickly. Griffon Knights request your aid. Reward promised." Without delay, they head to Izma's Bottled Getaway, meeting Asa Quinn. There are shelves upon shelves with bottles and after some haggling, the party leaves with two bottles labeled 'Camel: One Hump'. When it was smashed onto the ground, a puff of orange, dusty smoke appears before disappearing with a camel in front of them. Mavi tries use her Folding Boat {Recoded as Ship in a Bottle} but only has string so the camel can't pull. Meanwhile, Ten was successful in animal handling and got one of the camels to spit on Mavi. Eventually, they are on their way to Alamontyr. During their travels they come across two encounters. The first is a lizardfolk who threatened the party 'with a taste of my blade' to which Rome quickly accepted, asking to taste it. This threw the bandit off-kilter as Ten, after giving the bandit plenty of warning, leapt off his camel and struck the bandit down without a second thought. As Mavi pulled the bandit to the side of the road, Ten whispered to his dagger before storing it away. While Ten was ready to leave this behind, Mavi decided to vandalize the poor bandit's face, writing her own name on it. The second encounter happened the second day of travel, come night, they found a large encampment of nobles and warmongers, setting up for a slave auction. Without a second thought, Mavi worked her way around they camp to free all the prisoners as Ten and Rome slew every single guard. Then Mavi garnered everyone's attention so Ten could Misty Step into the center, slay the auctioneer, and warn everyone to run. A devil warmonger remained, taking on Ten who slew him with no issue but a necromancer remained, taking on the three with no issue but she made the grave mistake of duplicating herself, her soul tied to both, and Rome slew the duplicate, killing the original. Enemies defeated, they moved down the road to find the rest of the freed people and those that remained traveled with them to Alamontyr where fourteen promised to remain there or near to be part of Mavi's dream pirate crew.

Session End.