#everyone come join the manifesting circle

[maddiewritesstucky]

Sweetheart, what...you’re naked, what’s...did you wanna...are you making nudes? What, what is this...”

AURGHHHH fuck me sideways, the way you write this man just wrecks me 😭😭😭😂

WHERE IS MY SILVER STEVE I NEED ONE RN

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Listen I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Silver Steve is best Steve. 100% organic, pesticide-free, ethically sourced husband material. No one else out there is doing it like him, and that is both admirable and depressing.

[caratwithahat]

When weki meki comes back and they don't get a full album I will RIOT

[malusokay]

Glow-up tips that actually work from your favourite beauty girly (me)

Hot girls don't gatekeep, so here are some of my favourite glow-up tips that actually work. <3

Skin

Find a skincare routine that works for you!! It took me years to find mine, but now my skin is literally perfect. <3 (let me know if you guys want a detailed skincare routine!!)

Don't pick your skin, the less you touch your face, the better.

I believe ice rollers are bs…

If you struggle with dark circles, don't try fixing them through skincare. Most likely, the problem comes from your diet or stress.

Dry brushing is a game-changer!!

Use lotion after every shower and apply a body spray before the lotion is fully absorbed into your skin. You'll smell amazing for DAYS.

Don't try homemade skincare if you already struggle with your skin. I learned it the hard way, lol…

WASH YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES

Hair

The more heat you use, the more damage you'll have.

SILK PILLOWCASES

Never sleep with wet or damp hair.

Stop buying cheap shampoo and conditioner, also make sure to check the ingredients!!

Some ingredients to avoid: Sulfates, Parabens, Polyethene Glycols, Triclosan, Formaldehyde, Synthetic Fragrances and Colors, Dimethicone, Retinyl Palmitate.

I trim my hair every 3 months.

If you have damaged hair, invest in some Olaplex!! my favourites are N4c, N6 and N7. <3

Diet

green juice actually makes you feel better. I make mine at home and LOVE it :)

Balance is key!! I swear by the 80/20 rule.

Drink more water, even if you think you're drinking enough. DRINK MORE

Keto is BS <3

Focus on eating more protein. Usually, low-fat products have more protein, so I just try to buy those, lol.

I eat gluten-free, not by choice… But it did clear my acne, so…

Take supplements, get a blood test done, discuss it with a doctor and start taking whatever they recommend. GAME CHANGER.

EAT MORE VEGETABLES and fruits.

Lifestyle

Focus on being more active, walk more, workout, join a club or sport, dance, whatever works for you!!

I aim for 10K steps, I live in a big city, so I usually walk more than that but still.

Hobbies that don't include screen time. Trust me.

Find your personal style and ALWAYS dress up. <3

TREAT YOURSELF. Buy yourself flowers, and presents, go to your favourite restaurants, vacations!!

Read more. As a classics lover, I can't imagine a life without literature, but even if you don't like classics, any book is better than no book!!

Take more pictures. I've noticed that I have become a lot more present since I've started taking more pictures!! highly recommend :)

I hate to say this, but getting up earlier is lowkey kinda great... been doing it for a few weeks, and unfortunately, I do feel better... they were right...

Get a cat. :)

Mindset

Stop assuming that everyone hates you, they don't, trust me.

Journaling, manifesting, law of attraction, affirmations.

one of my favourite affirmations: "if I weren't capable, the opportunity wouldn't have come my way; I belong here." <3

Stop hanging out with people who drain your energy

stop consuming media that makes you feel bad.

What would the highest version of yourself do?

If you change your mindset, you will change your life.

Romanticise every aspect of your life. <3

As always, please feel free to share your own suggestions and glow-up tips in the comments! <3

✩‧₊*:・love ya ･:*₊‧✩

[angstywaifu]

Dain "Eyes On Me" Aetos

Summary: After an intense day of training Dain is giving you some one on one training despite not coddling first years. A/N: I never thought I'd see the day I'd be writing Dain smut.... but here we are. Warnings: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ONYX STORM. 18+ Minors DNI. Fingering. Oral F receiving. Unprotected Sex.

Masterlist | Links

“Again.” Carr commands, motioning with his hands for me to attack again.

Out of all the changes to our learning, I couldn’t deny this had been my favourite. Well, it was till I manifested a signet and now had to participate. For weeks I had sat in the seats looking down into the wide open area. Watching in awe as everyone used their signets, learning how to use them against each other. It was amazing to watch.

But now I had fire at my disposal, which now deemed me ready to participate in this class. And just my luck, Xaden wasn’t here to teach it. And Carr had told Garrick to step aside. Which I guess made sense as he did teach us how to use our signets. But I much preferred Garrick’s approach to this class than Carr’s. Especially after he told Bodhi to stop messing with peoples signets. Someone was bound to get hurt soon.

Carr had taken a somewhat annoying interest in me due to us having the same signet. He seemed to push me more than others. Expecting me to already be proficient with my signet. Which was a lot to expect from someone whose signet was not even two weeks old.

And now he was putting me up against a third year who had the same signet and was far more adept than I was. We circle each other, eyeing each other off to try find an opening. He steps forward, raising his hands to attack. I panic and stumble back raising my arms to defend myself, a flame barely flickering in my hands.

“Focus. You can’t afford to do this in battle.” Carr snaps at me from where he stands watching us.

I do my best to calm my nerves, raising my hands again. This time a stronger flame coming out, but it’s nothing compared to what my opponent sends me way. A thick stream of fire extends from his hands towards me. A yell escaping my lips as I stumble backwards, tripping over my own feet. Just before it reaches me, the wall of flames disappears as if extinguished. I look up to see a Bodhi my section leader walking over to us as Carr storms over to him.

“You lot need to stop interfering!” He bellows in Bodhi’s face before gesturing to a second year to step onto the mat.

“Then make this safer.” Bodhi snaps back as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“It won’t be safer in the real world. They need to learn here how dangerous it is. If they can’t survive here, then they have no chance out there.” I swear a vein is about to burst in Carr’s neck with how prominent they are.

“She’s a fucking first year.” Another voice adds as they join the conversation. My breath catches in my throat as Dain steps up next to Bodhi. “She’s barely had her signet a week and you’re throwing her up against someone who’s had three years to perfect it.”

“It’s the only way she will learn.” Carr snaps as he turns his attention to Dain who doesn’t even blink an eye.

“I can think of far better and safer ways to teach someone to use their signet than this. Find. Another. Way.” The way Dain’s voice drops as me seeing him in a whole new light.

We’d been friends before he left for the Riders Quadrant. I wasn’t as close to him as Violet, but I knew him well enough. And the man I see is a far cry from the boy who was always so kind and cautious around me. Making sure I was ok and understood the training or lessons we were taught.

Carr just scoffs in his face. “I’d like to see you do a better job.”

Carr pivots, heading back to the mat where the two cadets stand waiting. Dain turns towards me, his features softening as he takes me in.

“You ok?” He asks as he steps over to me.

I left out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding and slowly nod. “Yeah, I’ll be ok.” I tell him.

He smiles at me but a shout pulls our attention back to the mat. Just like before the third year sends a blast of fire towards a shrieking second year who scrambles backwards to get away. And just like before Carr does nothing to intervene as the flames get closer and closer. I cover my mouth as I watch in horror as she screams and drops to her hands and knees, the flames getting within inches of her.

”Wield! Defend yourself!” Is all Carr yells at her, not even trying to stop what’s happening.

She splays her hand wide on the mat and screams. Moments later the colour drains from the mat beneath her, turning it a grey colour. Dain reaches out and grabs me by the upper arms, spinning me around so my back is to the girl as Carr rushes to her.

”Eyes on me.” Dain says as he cradles my head in his hands.

I nod up at him, doing my best to focus on his eyes. But I know her death comes when his hands tense on my face, his whole body going rigid.

The rest of the day goes by with all of us essentially going through the motions. Death was common in the Quadrant. None of us were strangers to it. But having someone turn right in front of us was a different story. Despite that I found myself back and training in the gym with Dain. Today just proved I needed to get stronger. Needed to strengthen my signet. If not, I could become desperate. I groan as I push myself into a seating position on the mat where Dain had thrown me. He’d made it look so easy. The moves almost second nature to him. Which they were. He’d been training his whole life. I had not.

“Come on Y/N, get up and fight me. Use your signet.” He commands, his wingleader tone slipping in.

I force myself to stand, every muscle in my body screaming after flying, signet training and now this. My body feels like it’s about to ignite as it reaches for my power. It’s as if my body knows it’s the only way to defend myself right now.

I shake my head at him. “I can’t.” I tell him, my voice breaking slightly.

“You can. You can do this.” He tells me as he settles into another fighting stance.

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond as he charges at me. I instinctively pull at my power, flames rising in my hands in an effort to shield myself. Dain dodges it with ease, side stepping the small wall of flame I’ve conjured. I turn and aim the wall at him again but falter when I watch him panic slightly and stumble back.

“Shit, I’m sorry!” I cry out as I rush to him.

But Dain is still in training mode, using my lowered defences to rush at me, tackling me to the mat, pinning me to the mat.

”Don’t be sorry. This is exactly why we’re here.” He tells me gruffly as he looms over me.

”But I’m going to hurt you.” I get out between ragged breaths.

He raise a hand to cup my cheek, a smirk curling at the edges of Dain’s lips, his soft brown eyes flashing with something I can’t quite put my finger on.

”Gods, don’t I know it.” He murmurs as he lowers his face to mine.

I gasp as his lips brush softly over mine, as if he’s testing my reaction. When I don’t pull back he slowly presses his lips to mine. My heart starts hammering in my chest as I tilt my head, deepening the kiss as we both lean into it. I feel Dain’s breath hitch as I slide my hands up his chest, fisting the material of his shirt in my hands. His hands skim down my body, his fingers skimming along my waist causing me to shiver at his touch. He kisses my cheeks and tilt before moving to my neck, a moan escaping my lips before I can stop it. But that’s all it takes to break whatever restraint Dain still had. His hands tighten on my waist as he flips us over so I’m straddling his hips as he looks up at me.

I don’t know what spurs me to do it, here in the gym of all places where anyone could walk in, but I grip the bottom of my shirt in my hands, yanking the material over my head and discarding it next to us. Dain clearly doesn’t care where we are either as he sits up, pulling his own shirt from his body. My hands instantly fall to his chest, tracing over the defined lines of muscle like I’ve always wanted to. Dain’s body shivers at my touch, his muscles tensing as I trace over them. I gasp as Dain’s hands trace up and down my sides as he leans in kisses along my shoulder.

“Gods you’re beautiful.” He murmurs against my neck as his hands grip and knead my hips.

I blush at his words as he leans back into kiss me, feeling him smile into the kiss, the movement casing my lips to part for him. My fingers tangle in his hair as of tongues meet in a slow intoxicating rhythm, trying to pull him closer. I needed more of him. Needed him to consume me. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me to him as he leans forward, lowering me back down to lay on the mat.

He breaks the kiss to trace his hands down my chest and stomach, coming to rest on the waist band of the training pants I’d worn. He hesitates, his brown eyes staring into me. I nod at him, knowing he’s waiting for permission to go further. And I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. He hooks his fingers into the waist band, yanking my pants and underwear off in one smooth movement, and I was very glad I’d gone without my boots for our training session tonight.

I go to push up, reaching for the waistband of his own pants, put he pushes me back down to the mat. “Not yet.” He tells me as he leans over me.

I places a quick kiss to my mouth before he kisses down my neck, to my chest and then slowly down my stomach. I go to clamp my legs shut as I realise where his heading, but his hands fly out, keeping my legs open for him as he moves his lips further and further down. I gasp, neck arching off the mat as he places the first kiss between my legs.

“Oh gods.” I cry out as one of my hands grips his hair tightly, causing him to groan against me which elects another moan from me.

My whole body arches off the mat as his tongue swirls around my clit before dipping lower. His mouth alternating between licking and sucking. His movements are slow but deliberate, building the tension in me with each pass of his tongue. I gasp as I feel him push a finger inside me, my eyes squeezing shut as he adds another and thrusts them in and out, curling them with every other thrust.

I whimper as he removes them from me, but look up to see standing above me, quickly shoving down his pants. This was so unlike him. To give into the moment, to not care that anyone could walk in at any moment. But I wasn’t mad. I wanted Dain. And he wanted me. Maybe not forever, but right now I didn’t care. We were in the middle of a war essentially, none of us knowing if today would be our last.

I can help but trail my eyes over him as he kneels back between my legs, hovering over me as he places his hands either side of my head. I feel him prod against my entrance, sucking in a sharp breath knowing what’s coming. Dain isn’t my first, but something about this feels different. More intimate than any other time.

He rolls his hips, the tip entering me as we both groan at the feeling. He pushes further in, my body arching off the mat as I squeeze my eyes shut as pleasure washes over me, Dain feeling like he was made to be inside me. He slowly thrusts his hips, working his length in till he’s fully inside me. His hand caresses my cheek, my eyes fluttering open to meet his.

”Eyes on me. Think you can do that?” He commands.

I smile and nod up at him before he rolls his hips into mine, my fingers digging into his forearms as I try to anchor myself. He starts off slow, but it doesn’t take long for Dain to pick up his pace, hips sips slamming into mine. I have to force myself to keep my eyes open, especially when he hits that perfect spot inside me. Fuck, it felt so good. I moan loudly when he shifts my legs to lay against his chest, raising my hips off the mat slightly, causing him to hit an angle he wasn’t hitting before. I can’t help it when my eyes fluttering shut as I arch off the mat.

“What did I say Y/N?” Dain practically growls, causing my eyes to fly open. A new wave of pleasure coursing through me at the look in his eyes.

“Eyes. On. You.” I manage to gasp out as he thrusts harder.

”Good girl.” He praises as he leans forward and wraps his arms around me.

“F-fuck.” I moan out as he shifts us so I’m sitting in his lap, chest flush against his as I rest my forehead against his.

My nails dig into this shoulder as I start trembling in his arms, my body wanting to tip over the edge and come undone. So close. I’m so gods damn close. Shit. I wasn’t going to last much longer like this. This angle was easily going to be my undoing. And by how heavy Dain’s breathing has gotten I’m sure he wont be far behind me. I wind my fingers into his hair, pulling on his brown curls earning my a moan that rumbles in his chest, his eyes darkening as they look up at me. I meet Dain thrust for thrust, both of us panting heavily as we get closer and closer. I cry out as I tip over the edge, finally breaking eye contact with Dain as I tilt my head back as I shake and tremble in his arms. His cradles my head against his neck, I feel like the world is flipping as he places me back down on the mat. Dain’s thrust turn erratic as he slams into me, prolonging my orgasm as he chases his end. His hips falter as he groans, falling forward as he catches himself with his hands placed either side of my head. The only sound in the room is both of us panting as we catch our breath. Neither of us willing to break the silence of what’s just happened.

Finally Dain moves, rolling to the side as he pulls me with him an cradles me in his arms. His fingers lazily tracing patterns up and down my side as we come down from our highs. I turn towards him to say something, but the sound of the door jiggling has us both sitting up right. I know we didn’t lock that door when we came in, meaning in our rush Dain must have managed to lock it with lesser magic. But that means whoever is on the other side can open it with that to. Dain rushes up grabbing our scattered clothes before pulling me up as we rush over to them small gym attached to the gym just as the doors open.

”That was close.” I gasp out as he hands me my clothes.

”Too close. We’re never doing that here again.” He informs me as he hastily pulls on his pants.

”You plan on there being more?” I ask, trying to hide my smirk as I turn to pull on my own clothes.

”Many. Just not that public. Now hurry up before they walk in on you half dressed.” He tells me, his Wingleader voice slipping back in.

[lnfours]

* ✰. — supernatural | l.n

summary: this love’s possessing me, but i don’t mind at all ; a new year with the same boy, but in a different way.

warnings: fluff, another friends to lovers!au brought to you by yours truly, based off ‘supernatural’ by ariana grande, pining so damn hard, a hint of language, not proofread bc i can’t sleep and i have this on my mind

masterlist | listen

✧˖°.🪐⋆｡°✩

you weren’t really sure when things changed with lando. how the once platonic touches turned into lingering ones that left a fire burning beneath his fingertips. how quick glances turned into longing stares before the other would notice and a quick shift of vision. everything suddenly meant something.

of course, everyone had put money on it years ago. they all had a gut feeling that at some point, things would come clear to the both of you that you were meant to be all along. how all those past relationships, situationships and failed first dates never worked out because no one could compare. and as always, the two of you would always shut it down. quick to reassure your other friends that if it ever were to happen, it’d ruin a life long friendship which was far more important.

they didn’t want to hear it though. always giving a slight nod, a ‘sure’ or a ‘we’ll see about that’. and boy were they right. they were onto the both of you before you even started. assumptions slowly coming to life as they all watched how the two of you acted around the other all of a sudden. how he’d always have an arm around you, not in a protective way, but in a ‘i need you right here with me’ kind of way. they all noticed how you never backed away, how you’d simply melt into him as the night progressed. your head leaning back on his shoulder as you talked. or how you would slip a hand around his back, occasionally drawing shapes onto the thin material of his shirts. a simple giveaway to them about something you didn’t even know was happening yet.

but now it was new years, the house party buzzing with people and music and everything in between. a celebration of the end of another year and into a new one with new beginnings. manifestations of good things in the air as the music played through the speakers of the house.

you were sat on the couch, drink in hand as you laughed with some of your mutual friends. lando couldn’t help but keep glancing over at you, eyes dancing over the way your eyes sparkled in the dim lighting. how your eyes creased when you laughed and smiled, how suddenly you were all he could see in a room full of people.

“mate,” max’s voice brought him back to earth, “did you hear what i said or were you too busy eye-fucking y/n?”

lando turned to his best friend, eyebrows pulled together, “what?”

he was trying not to get defensive. trying so hard not to tell his best friend that he wasn’t eye-fucking you, but rather looking over at you lovingly. looking at you as his heart went a mile a minute, scanning over all the features of your face for the millionth time, but all of a sudden taking this time, right here, right now, to try to memorize it. memorize everything little thing that made you perfect to him.

“c’mon, mate,” max sighed, almost as if he was tired of the same story, “you’ve been staring at her for the past five minutes. when are you going to go tell her you love her?”

lando swallowed the sip of his drink, rolling his eyes at his friend, “i don’t know what you’re on about.”

“please,” pietra joined the conversation now, arm linked on max’s, “you’re a terrible liar. you both are.”

he looked at the blonde with curiosity in his eyes. you both are? what was that supposed to mean? could it be-

he was about to ask before she spoke, “listen, you’re both single. clearly you’re into each other, just go talk to her!”

and with that, the couple was gone. off to join the circle of people in the living room who were counting down to midnight. he looked at the time on his phone, twenty minutes to the new year. to the new chapter he had desperately been craving.

he took another sip of his drink before he felt a hand on his shoulder, a soft ‘excuse me’ echoing in his ears. he looked up, a smile on your face as you squeezed past the person next to him to stand beside lando. he was quick to wrap his arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him in the crowded area.

you smiled, tucking a strand of hair from your face, with your free hand as the other wrapped around his neck, “hey,”

“hey,” he smiled right back at you, “feeling okay?”

you nodded, “i am now, yeah.”

oh if his heart wasn’t already flying out of his chest, it sure was now. your smile alone could send him over the moon. your fingers absentmindedly reaching towards the curls at the nape of his neck, twisting them lightly between your fingers. you loved when he kept his hair a little longer than normal so you could do this.

little did you know, he kept it a little longer just for you to do it.

“want something to drink? i can go grab you something,”

you shook your head, “i’m okay, thank you,”

he nodded back at you, “so, find your new years kiss yet?”

you scrunched your nose, looking around the house, “have you seen the people here? i don’t think i’ll have much luck. you?”

he shrugged, “haven’t had much luck either, but i also haven’t even really been looking.”

you laughed softly, “you haven’t?”

he shook his head, looking past you to look at the clock. ten minutes.

“i mean,” he started, “there’s one girl but i don’t know if she’s into me.”

you raised an eyebrow, trying not to let your face fall as your heart went to your feet, “well, what’s she look like?”

he swallowed a sip from his drink, “she’s gorgeous, even when she thinks she isn’t, she is. she’s really smart, possibly the smartest in the room right now. and she likes to go out, but she’d much rather curl up on the couch and put a movie on or read a book or something. and she keeps me in line, knows when to bring my ego back to earth.”

you smiled softly, “she sounds great.”

“she is,” he scanned your facial features, “she’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”

you sucked in a breath, “is she here?”

“yeah,” he smiled softly, “she’s right in front of me.”

suddenly the world stopped. it felt like time stood still as you stood in front of him. it was like you two were the only ones in the room.

“lando,” you breathed out, unsure of what to say. every birthday wish, every shooting star, you had used for this very moment. and now it was unfolding in front of you, and nothing has made you feel so many things at once quite like this has.

five minutes to the new year.

he smiled back at you, the toothy grin you had learned to fall in love with no matter how much he picked it apart whenever he would take pictures. you loved the little gap between his teeth, the way the moles and freckles charted his skin like constellations. constellations just for you. it was right here in this moment that everything everyone has ever said started to make you realize it has been him all along.

“i know it’s scary and new and every thing we always thought was something that was going to ruin our friendship,” he said, “but i can’t help it. i’m falling in love with you.”

the people around you started counting down, “59, 58, 57…”

“i’m falling in love with you, too,” you said, eyes scanning over his, green with specks of blue and oh so pretty, “i’ve been in love with you since the moment we met.”

he stood now, pulling you closer to him. 30, 29, 28…

“i want this,” he said, “i want you. i always have, and im sorry it took me this long to finally admit it.”

you wrapped your arms around his neck as his snaked around your middle. he was holding you as close as possible, and although it wasn’t a new experience to be this close, to take in the smell of his cologne, the smell of his shampoo and the cream he used to style his stupidly perfect curls. it wasn’t new to experience everything that made him ten times more irresistible, but right now, your heart was about to fly out of your chest at the feeling of him being this close before. a step into uncharted territory and you were growing impatient by the second. wanting nothing more than to just call him yours already. to let the world know that he was yours and yours only. to let your friends know that they were right all along, ready to hear the ‘i told you so’s as long as it kept him right here.

“i’m sorry, too.” you said. and you meant it. you had wished this had happened sooner, you couldn’t help but wonder that if it had, where you two would be now. what your little life would’ve looked like right about now.

with ten seconds left on the clock, he smiled and mumbled to you softly, “be my new years kiss,”

you smiled back at the curly haired boy you’ve loved your whole life, “i wouldn’t want you to kiss anyone else.”

five, four, three, two, one…

there were yells of celebration in the air, the echo of the fireworks on the tv. everyone either toasting to the new years or ringing in a new year with their loved by celebrating with a kiss. but you paid no mind to any of it, to any of the noise circling around you as you took in the way his lips slotted against yours. how his lips tasted like the cherry lip balm you had lent him earlier on in the night with a hint of the whiskey he had been nursing. his hands holding you in place in front of him, yours wrapping around his neck as he took it a step further and licked against your bottom lip.

everything about it sent butterflies straight to your stomach because after all this time, all the dreaming about this moment, it finally happened. you two had managed to crack, let down the facade. and truthfully, it felt like a weight was lifted off your shoulders and it made you question why neither of you came clean sooner.

his nose pressed against yours and you laughed softly, meeting his eyes. he was smiling back at you, wrapping a strand of your hair around his finger before slotting it back behind your ear.

he licked his lips, the both of you basking in each other after years and years of pining, “wanna get out of here?”

“please,” you sighed, and with that he led you through the crowd around you. led you to the door of the house party, nodding and bidding his few goodbyes before heading out. you held onto his arm the whole way, until he was unlocking the doors to the mclaren parked down the street. he opened the door for you, just like he always had, and you slid in. this time as he closed the door, you couldn’t help but notice the shift of energy. the way everything was unfolding was nothing less than exciting.

he climbed in on the drivers side, starting the car before slotting his hand with yours.

“mine or yours?”

you shrugged, looking over at him with a smile, “doesn’t matter,”

he nodded, pressing your hand to his lips as he pulled away from the curb. and really, it didn’t matter to you. because you would follow him anywhere. even to the ends of the earth and back.

which, of course he knew that. because he’d do the same for you.

[tremsing82]

My Thoughts on Night Court

So when I read acotar for the first time this summer (2024) my 3 best friends were the ones who peered pressured me to do so and our group chat became my reading experience chat. It was fun. But they are all pro-night court and pro-bat boys. And though I can be open and accepting of the narrative for it moves the plot forward I did start becoming more cynical and posing questions of the ethics and moral standings of the night court. My first big question to my friend group that got them all to pause and think was:

>Is it morally and ethically ok for Hewn City to fight in this war when they are trapped under a mountain and do not have access to Velaris. And Velaris expects hewn city to fight in the war to protect their peace, yet Velaris does not have an army and the citizens are not and to volunteer. Now yes some Velaris citizens did go fight for Adriata but again Rhys never sent out a request for Velaris citizens to join the war effort against Hybern. And also is it morally and ethically ok for Rhys to essentially segregate hewn city residents who will eventually visit Velaris one day considering that was the only request Keir had when Rhys asked for The DarkBringers to fight in the war. Rhys said yes to that because he had already told his Velaris city leaders they can tell the citizens they can deny Hewn City residents from entering their establishments. So these hewn city soldier are gonna go to war possibly be killed leaving behind a widow and children, or they are going to be brutally mutilated with scars or lost limbs. And then they or their widows and children are gonna arrive in Velaris and be denied access to a bake shop to buy a cookie or a toy store and denied the ability to buy a doll all while they went to war to keep this place safe and protected. <

I truly don’t think Rhys would have went to war with Hybern to protect hewn city or Illyria. He went to war specifically to protect Velaris the only city he loves. And that bothers me. And makes me dislike and not enjoy the Night Court, but essentially i really don’t like Velaris. I think it’s a spoiled city of entitled judgemental people similar to its 5/6 leaders of the Inner Circle. Mor is claimed to be the emissary between Velaris and Rhys and Hewn city but she does absolutely nothing to showcase that title and job. Except to tell her father when Rhys is going to visit. She claims to be the only dreamer ever to come out of or born in Hewn City and I HIGHLY doubt that. She tell Feyre the story about how she dreaded the day her power manifested because she knew she would be sold into a loveless marriage the way her cousins had been. So you’re telling me your cousins enjoyed their status and their betrothals but you are the only one who hated this custom. The IC is all telling me that everyone is Hewn City is dark and evil, so even a new baby is touched by evil and deserves to never see the sky outside of that mountain it was born in. How is this ethical and morally acceptable. Feyre says once to Lucien in MaF that if you stare long enough into the darkness sometimes it will stare back, and this to me should be applied to the Hewn Cory residents. If all that they have is darkness and hate and hurt to live with it’s not surprising they all embrace that darkness and hate. They are not given other options. Should we the reader question the ethics of how the Hewn city is seen and talked about and even ruled?

So why do people argue FOR this Court? Why does the majority of the fandom hate to be asked these question or see these blatant issues for this court? Why am I told it’s all a mask that they all have to don to protect the innocents and freedom of a spoiled city that is so well hidden that it remains outside of the conflict happening in Prythian. The attack on Velaris by the Attor was the first time the outside world’s conflict finally reared its ugly head to its citizens. Yes they claim they felt bad for the suffering the other courts went through for the 50yrs of Amarantha’s reign but none of them told Rhys to break the wards hiding them, when he finally returned. None said we should band together and go help the other courts rebuild since we have remained untouched for 50yrs. They didn’t pull their resources together to send aid to the most hard hit villages and cities in other courts. They continued on with their days of holding theater production and eating safely at restaurants and going to nightclubs for 50yrs.

And I am suppose to be mad at Tamlin for starting to reissue his courts only form of revenue to ensure it continued ability to function. A tax that only happens twice a year and is only 10% of whatever a person has produced. So if a person has 10hens they only have to give over 1 hen. If a person has 1 hen that produced 10eggs then they only have to give over 1 egg. 10% twice a year, that’s not a bad taxation. Hell the river nymphs didn’t have to give Tamlin fish, he never asked for fish. He just asked for 10% of whatever they produced. They could have handed him 10blades of lake grass or a cup of river water, he would have accepted it. And heard their pleas for fish to be helped brought back into their lake. He wasn’t gleeful about having to find perpetrators of not paying taxes, he just knows this is how his court functions and runs. Rhys says we do a different form of tax, which to me I assume he means modern day taxation which is sales tax, property tax, and/or income tax. Which overarching means the citizens of night court are paying more into taxes than in Spring Court.

For the Illyrian struggles with female empowerment i struggle to always completely blame Rhys on this. I think Illyria has Rhys by the balls. If Rhys enforces his laws in Illyria again wing clipping and female oppression then he loses one of his strongest armies (which the fandom and SJM also claim is possibly the strongest army in Prythian 😒😪🙄). This is an army that is under his full control and cannot deny his decree to go fight or go to battle like the Keir can do with the DarkBringers. So if he starts killing Illyrian men for wing clippings or if he starts throwing Illyrian men into the barrack cells then he essentially will lose half of 75% of his army. He is definitely in between a rock and a hard place with how to enforce the laws that protect Illyrian women. A person on Instagram had a wonderful idea to help this conundrum; Rhys law should be if any Illyrian woman has their wings clip illegally from this day forward then the males in her household will also have their wings clipped. If they are not afraid of Rhys throwing them in jail or killing them then go to their biggest fear losing their access to flight. And enforce it. See how quickly the other males stop once they see one neighbors household have the patriarch and sons all lose access to flying. And it should be done in the city streets where all can see. Now granted this could turn Rhys into looking like and feeling like a dictator of a violent regime but truthfully I sometimes already see him that way anyway with how much he torment and degrades hewn city and its residents. Now like I said in the begging of this paragraph i don’t fully hate Rhys on this. My arguments for Rhys on Illyria is that he is the first high lord to make laws and changes to a society that has been free to do what they want in their traditions for possibly 15,000 years. He has put laws into place to help empower women. Emerie inherited her father’s shop because of these news laws being in place allowing women to own and inherit property. Emerie is progressive, she knew of the new laws and she seized them and used them to help herself. Other Illyrian woman have been oppressed for so long that the thought of finally using the new laws to enforce their rights to autonomy or property ownership or joining the army is scary for them. It’s gonna take more than a male high-lord and 2 male Illyrians to help them feel safe to express their freedom. Which I think will come in with Nesta moving the Valkyries training to the Illyrian camps to help the lllyrian females. They gonna see females learning battle strategy and fighting techniques that are designed specifically for females, they are going to see females who can’t fly conquering the blood rite. That will be the driving force for the female Illyrians to enforce the new laws that Rhys put in place to help them and free them and protect them. Rhys has the laws in place he just needs the people to start using them.

And I guess I will end this essay with I don’t hate Rhys or his IC (well most of them, I hate Amren and Mor annoys me for being useless). I just wish we could explore the other lands. Why must everything be so centralized to night court/Velaris. I know they have the ancient crabby lady (Amren 🙄🙄🙄) who has answers to Prythians lost history (which first she never wants to share willingly, second doesn’t always share all the truth, and lastly her knowledge is mostly night court focus).

-Day Court has the most libraries in all of Prythian with books written that are as old as their lands. Day Court is the only court with Pegasus, a rare magical animal that are dying/going extinct. Day Court is the court of the Sun. And what are suns but stars in the night sky. Suns are liquid fire. And the dread trove items which are as old as the daglan has sun symbols all over them and makes Helion feel uncomfortable which makes him think an ancestor of his might have own it or used it.

-Autumn court has entire strong bloodlines missing because they followed Theia into Midgard. A bloodline that just reappeared into Prythian in Night Court. I would like to know their history with Queen Theia, with how they helped fight the Daglan.

-I know the Daglan (acotar), the Asteri (CC), and the Valg (ToG) are all the same parasitic beings. And we know the fae of Prythian overthrew their Daglan. And we know in ToG on how to kill a Valg (fire and healing). And well I can only assume that Autumn court with their fire and possibly Day Court with their sun fire and possible healing magic were the ones that helped liberate Prythian from the Daglan in battles.

-And well we have a character, Lucien, that people kinda write off as not important to the world plot, who has parents from these 2 courts. But the majority of the fandom write him off because well he is not from night court, he is not a bat boy, and he is not a night court/rhys worshipper. And so we have all this foreshadowing but I worry that SJM is just not gonna do anything with it because it not night court specific. Now granted she might have us leave the night court finally and learn the importance of Prythians history through Day Court and Autumn Court. We know Eris was happy to share Prythians history with Nesta who was showing curiosity but Cassian was rude and stopped him. We might find out that Eris is a history nerd like Bryce. That he is researching his bloodlines and his courts involvement in the building and creation of Prythian. We might find out from Helion that Dawn and Day were once a single court but split to give the solar courts more chances of pleading their cases at high lord meetings where the seasonal courts had more sway in votes. We truly just don’t know anything about these courts and Night Court doesn’t want to know. So as a reader who likes to travel a world in a book I want to leave this oppressive and isolated land and meet the others.

[sparrowrye]

Demi Demon || Alastor x Reader, A2 part 18

Synopsis: It’s been over a year since we were brought under Alastor’s watchful eye. We’ve unlocked our Demonic powers, discovered our own talents, and began building the Safe Haven with Charlie and co. Alastor seems increasingly interested in the power we hold as one and intends to use it properly.

Previous part

Part 18: Blackwater

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Reagan and I weren't having a great week.

Reagan was starting to get teased about Lucas by girls who weren't her friends. Even some of the boys joined in and would make passing comments. She felt further and further alienated. It grew worse, still, when one of the girls made a comment on her magiclessness and she turned it into a fight.

After the fight, I knew I needed to get her out of the haven for a break. I needed it, too, after everything with Alastor. So I took her with me to another ring fight attack.

As promise to Lucifer, I asked Charlie to stay in the haven and teleport everyone back when we were ready. I managed to convince her by telling her we needed her to explain everything to the newcomers and get them settled. She jumped on it right away.

This ring fight was a legal one. Vox's technology was growing ever bigger and broadcasting the legal ring fights became a norm. There was one stretch of land that was unclaimed by any Overlords but was frequently checked on to ensure no Humans were plotting anything. There was no order, no law, nothing but a different version of Hell on the surface. It was effectively called the Badlands.

The ring owner had put on social media that the top five winners would be released. I knew better than to believe that. So I made sure to arrive before the ring ended to save those poor five souls from being killed anyways. I kept Reagan hidden safely in the forest well away from here.

After the last ring fight, I waited for them to announce the five fighters who could be released. Instead of killing them, they were put into an enclosed vehicle and driven away from the ring and town.

I shifted into my Dragon form and hastily followed in the shadows. I ran for what felt like thirty minutes before they arrived at a dark, double storied building. Unlike most other old buildings from before the Great Collapse, this one sat in the middle of a forest. It would be extremely rare for someone to just 'come across it'. It was hard to see its exact layout since the trees blocked the moonlight. The sun was rising but it wouldn't do anything until it came above the horizon.

I teleported Reagan to me and explained what had happened. "We'll go into town as soon as I see what this is," I said.

"Do you think it's Blackwater?" she asked. She was the only one aside from myself, Husker, Charlie and Alastor to know of Blackwater and his threats. We didn't want to panic the town but I felt she deserved to know.

"At this point anything could be. Wait here, please." I melted with my shadow, Alcine, and snaked into the shadows on the inside of the building. The first floor was plain. A large fireplace burned on one side and a circle of chairs sat in the center.

Each chair held one of the fighters, a metal headband strapped tightly on to prevent them from using magic. They looked exhausted and possibly drugged.

Before I could watch further, Reagan's yell caught my attention. I sprang back to her and manifested as my Dragon form. The man fell away from her and casted a bright blue shield over himself. I had never seen such magic and resorted to staying planted over Reagan, lips pulled back in an ugly snarl.

The man laughed. "Well well well, here you are. Gotta say, that was some show with your Striker fellow." He stood up and dropped the shield, revealing himself as the man who had teleported Reagan and I into Hell that one time.

The tendrils on my neck and back stood up sharper, my claws digging into the earth as I grew more nervous at the sight of him.

"The name's Finn, in case you forgot." He stood up and brushed dirt off his tailored clothes. "What is a such a lovely woman like yourself doing all the way out here?"

"What do you intend to do with those fighters?" I growled, half using magic to speak given my current form.

"What do I—What do I~ intend to do with them?" He began to laugh and even went as far as to lean against a tree. I shifted into my Demon form and helped Reagan to her feet, eyes never once leaving him. "I do love how much credit people give me. I'm not the master mind here. I'm the one who gets shit done, excuse my language. I'm the one people can depend on."

"Then allow me to rephrase," I hissed, "what does your boss intend to do with them?"

"Well that's a question for him, not me." He held one hand up to pick at his nails. His eyes shifted to something behind me but I felt nothing. There was nothing, no presence, no magic, nothing behind me. The wind was blowing against me so I couldn't smell anything either. My ears twitched and I stretched my hearing.

I heard breathing.

I spun too late. Something heavy and sharp connected with my head. I barely remember hitting the ground. I was spinning, seemingly infinitely, and couldn't ground myself. My magic was all over the place.

Cold water splashed my face, wrenching my soul back into my body and eyes snapping open. I coughed up the water that had gotten in my lungs and pulled against restraints on my wrists.

I lifted my head to find myself in a gray, blank room. Finn held an empty bucket in his hands and moved to put it down. As he moved, he revealed another man standing behind him.

This man wore a long, dirty brown coat and a black mask over the lower half is his face. His dark brown hair was short and messy, nearly hiding the pair of short red horns. He held his hands behind his back as he walked over to me, black boots knocking on the metal floor.

I straightened up, finally realizing what position I was in. Two chains pulled my arms from a higher position while two more chain my knees to the ground. I tried to sit up as straight as I could as the man stopped a hand's length away. His red glasses glared unemotionally down at me.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Ms. Python." His hands were sitting in his pockets. "The name's Blackwater."

My jaw clenched. This was him. This was the man creating all those devices. This was the man who kidnapped two Overlords who have yet to reveal if they're alive or not.

"What do you want?" I curled my claws into fists. My magic was still gone, the metal headband successfully keeping it out of my reach.

"A test subject."

"You didn't get enough from the two Overlords you kidnapped?" I retorted.

He shrugged. "They're still proving their worth to me."

Metal clanging caught my attention and I turned to see Finn pulling out the blood sucking device that was used on Spencer. I attempted to move but the chains kept me in my kneeled position. I let out a hiss when it hooked painfully onto my forearm. He turned on the machine and it began taking blood at an alarming rate.

"Let her go!" Reagan yelled. I hadn't noticed her tied to a chair in the corner of the room. "Take mine instead!"

My vision turned fuzzy when he moved away from me to stand in front of her. "Don't touch her," I slurred.

"You don't have to worry," his voice was light and uncomfortably friendly, "I don't kill children. But I will take some of that sweet blood." He ran his fingers along her exposed arm, causing her to pull away, eyes squeezed shut.

Finn took off the machine and packed it away. Blood dripped down my arm and stained my shirt. "She's magicless," I struggled to say. The world was tilted at a funny angle and my shoulders were hurting from the position they were being held in.

"Oh?" he sounded genuinely interested. "You're a true Human?"

"What does that mean?" she asked, voice quivering. He stopped his assault and took a step back to examine her fully.

"It means your family line has stayed pure since before the Great Collapse." When she showed no obvious sign of understanding, he let out a sigh and put his hands back in his coat pockets. "Magic was not a thing before the Great Collapse. Demons were leaked into our world and brought their wretched magic with them. They started having children with Humans and generations later, everyone had Demon's blood in them. You, my dear," he stood beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "are a rare, pure gem. You're not infected with their blood."

Reagan's eyes snapped over to mine. All I could think was - oh no.

He reached up to his face to remove his glasses and his horns. They were fake. "I, myself, am a pure Human." My eyes widened, mouth dropping open. He was a Human. He was a defenseless Human. No wonder he had made all those inventions. "And I'm so glad to have found another one to add to our family."

"Family?" she questioned with a tone of disgust.

"I've been all around the world and collected ten pure Humans. We're going to be the foundation of the new world. A world that isn't tainted by Demons." His eyes narrowed on me.

"We're not all bad," I tried, limply pulling against the chains. My energy was taking forever to return. "We've created a safe haven for everyone. A place where both sides can live peacefully together."

"That wont last long." He waved his hand dismissively. "Demons are ruthless killers and Humans can't fathom having anyone above them. It's better to return to the way things were before the Great Collapse."

"You don't even know what that looked like. You weren't there." I made a point on his age. As a Human, he was restrained to the age period of all other Humans that lasted under 100 years. Demons could live for centuries.

"But I know enough," he turned on his heel to face me. "My family line has made sure we stay pure. I grew up with stories about the old world, about their inventions, about their trifles. I've known since I was a kid that I was born in the wrong generation."

A thought came to mind. "You hate Demons and our magic, but you're giving out inventions that allow people to use that magic."

He hummed with a smile. "You're catching on." He moved away from Reagan to stand in front of me again. I had to sit back on my heels and crane my neck to keep our line of sight. "There's Demons and Slight Humans, which outnumber you all. If I bring the Slight Humans to the same level as Demons, it's only a matter of time before they hunt your kind to extinction."

"But then you have the same problem as before. Slight Humans are just replacing the Demons."

Blackwater moved to the case next to Finn. He opened the back and pulled out a vile of my blood. He held it up to the single light for a moment. It connected in my mind before he spoke.

"They require the blood of Demons to have that power. When the Demons are gone, what's left? Just Humans with small magic."

"And what? You'll kill them off somehow? Make them turn on each other?" I retorted.

"In a way." He lowered the vile and settled his gaze on me. "But we haven't gotten there yet. The problem remains of the Overlords holding power over us. I know your kind can hide away in Hell. This plan has to be full proof."

He tossed the vile to Finn who wasn't ready. He fumbled with it before it shattered on the floor. He picked his hand up from the shattered glass and looked uncertainly to Blackwater.

I wanted to ask him why he was telling me everything. I wanted to ask what I had to do with anything, or if I was just a means for blood caught at the wrong place at the wrong time?

My questions would go unanswered though, as Finn's blood made its way to my nose. Immediately, my veins seized and my throat closed part of the way. I pulled against the chains and slammed my back into the wall. It had been two days since I last had Alastor's blood. The smell of any blood was enough to make me crave it again.

Blackwater was silent as he watched. My foot claws scraped against the floor as I tried to pull away from the smell or to free myself to take some of it. My hair was on edge and I struggled to keep my snarls quiet. They turned into horrible, pained whines through gritted teeth the longer I went. At one point I even started to drool from the lack of oxygen and aggressive seething.

"You've probably never seen her like this," he said to Reagan. I glanced through my messy hair to see her staring at me wide eyed. My shoulders dropped, if they could in their position, and I tried wiping my face on my sleeve. I tried to restrain myself, pressing my back into the wall and staring down at the floor. All my muscles were painfully tight.

Blackwater roughly pulled my chin up and smeared something across my upper lip, just below my nose. The smell of Finn's blood was suffocating. I let out a screech and pulled violently against all of the chains. I tried licking it off but I couldn't lengthen my tongue without magic. Tears streamed down the side of my face from the pain and shame.

Blackwater's laughter reached past it all. "A true Demon thirsty for blood. I expect nothing less from Alastor's soulmate." He turned to look at Reagan. "Did you know about this?" She shook her head in response, eyes never leaving my writhing form.

"Not...not all...just me...just Alastor." I spoke through the spasms and clenched teeth. I don't know how any of them hadn't broken yet from the sheer force. My breathing was getting faster, my whines louder.

"This is the person you're entrusting everything to," he went on, ignoring my response. "Demons can't help but lie. Lie and manipulate. It's why they come from Hell."

Not true. Not me. That's not who I am.

I looked up at her again, face full of pain. I couldn't speak anymore.

Please. It's me. I didn't lie. I love you. Please trust in me.

I doubled over as my body pulsed. I screeched again, long and loud. They covered their ears. Blood dripped down my arms again from pulling against the chains. My foot claws were practically filed down from trying to stand up.

Reagan let out a gasp. Everything stilled and went deathly silent as I looked up. Blackwater had cut the ropes and gently pulled her to her feet. "Come dear, let's have a civilized conversation." With a hand on her shoulder, he lead her out of the room. Finn casted a glare at me, hand wrapped in a rag, and slammed the door shut.

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Author's Note:

Dun dun duuuuuuunnnnnnnn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist:

@wendigonamecaller @saccharine-nectarine

[breannasfluff]

Legend catalogs the reaction he’s noticed of each person with the newest hero.

Wild scares the ever-loving shit out of Four. The smithy steers far away whenever he can help it and his eyes swirl a riot of colors. Legend’s watched him circle the Champion at a prescribed distance—a good 10 feet away if he can make it. Situations that bring him closer result in a flighty energy that steadily worsens until Four bolts further away.

Hyrule spouts so much flowery language and courtly manners he gives Warriors a run for his money. The veteran didn’t know he even knew that many manners, much less how to use them properly. Yet every greeting to Wild is some drawn-out, overextended mess of words that leaves everyone confused. The champion doesn’t seem to get it, either, so who knows why Hyrule insists on keeping it up.

Warriors…well, Legend’s not sure what happened between him and Wild, but the captain is waging a one-man war against his chainmail. Some days he wears it and others he’s stripping as fast as he can. It’d be funny if he didn’t look so frightened. Or if the chainmail stripping didn’t coincide with Wild’s close attention.

Wind is too easy-going to stay away from the champion, but he doesn’t seek him out, either. When they stop at rivers or lakes to bathe, the sailor goes in the water before or after Wild, but never at the same time.

Sky looks perpetually ill, sometimes tripping over nothing when Wild runs up to him. The champion peppers him with questions about his loftwing, or his Zelda. The last brings a frown to his face and if Legend didn’t know the chosen hero was just that, he’d say Sky was jealous.

Legend? He thinks Wild is fucking awesome . Oh, he’s still scary as any monster—scarier, even. The champion brings with him the ache of cold teeth, like chewing on an icicle or eating cold food too fast. Prolonged conversation with him results in a headache.

There’s something wrong with Wild, but not enough to keep Legend away. After so many adventures, it’s rare to find something that surprises him so thoroughly. As long as he doesn’t start manifesting dream creations, he can stay.

“You want to spar?” Legend plants himself in front of Wild, ignoring Warriors choking behind him.

Wild looks up, eyes reflecting light in a way they shouldn’t. “Spar?” It probably hasn’t escaped his notice that no one will fight him, even in training.

“Sure, I need to loosen up.” Rolling his shoulders, Legend moves towards the open area Four and Hyrule were using earlier. The sharp spike of cold goes straight to his head and he futilely presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, trying to warm it.

Warriors, stick in the ass that he is, is trying to get them to stop. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea right now.” He casts about for an excuse, then shifts pleading eyes to Time.

The old man looks like he’s not paying attention, but the veteran catches the tightening in his shoulders and sideways glance. “Play nice, stay safe. Run through some drills, first.”

He’s not a child to be told what to do. Legend tosses one of the practice staves at Wild, not willing to consign himself to metal against the other. “Here, this should do.”

Wild runs a hand over the wood and bends it over a knee, checking it won’t snap. Then he nods and waits for Legend, who stares back.

“Drill?”

“What drill?” Wild’s head tips too far to one side.

Legend doesn’t answer, just starts running through some basic moves. Wild watches but doesn’t join in. Finally, he stops. “Forget it. Fighting or not?”

“Boys,” comes Time’s voice.

“Whatever.” Legend ignores him and raises his stick. “Ready? Go!”

Wild’s not ready, but Legend makes a wide swing to give him time to settle. The kid made it through his journey with whatever weirdness he’s got going on; he can handle one spar without chopping someone’s head off.

His follow-up swing is met with the crack of wood; Wild’s focus is fully on the fight, now. He stays on defense, then switches to offense, and then back again.

Wild’s style is…unique, in that it seems to be a mash of moves with little flowing grace, but he’s a proficient fighter. He’s focused and in control. He doesn’t turn into evil incarnate because he’s crossing blades—or staves, with someone. Warriors worries over nothing.

Legend keeps up, periodically landing faster hits to see how he’ll react. Through it all, the sharp ache in his teeth grows. It’s distracting and the adrenaline of movement isn’t enough to block it out. The tightening band around his head is an indication enough of the growing headache.

Finally, Legend steps back and raises his stave to signal an end. Wild stays poised for one, sharp moment, then steps back as well with a grin.

“Thanks, this was fun.”

Nodding back, Legend tosses the stave to the side and meanders across the camp. Time’s gaze burns, but he ignores it to settle next to Four, far away from Wild and his tooth-aching chill.

The champion may be awesome, but curse the Goddesses, Legend could do without the headache.

Read the rest here!

[vigilskeep]

[ID: reply from @sweetladyjustice saying “Out of curiosity, if you hc him as a mage (assuming incognito apostate if he’s cousland), what class do you play him in the game?”]

i play tristan as a mage! i use the non-circle mage origins mod to do it.

he experienced pretty unparalleled and unprecedented privilege in castle cousland. everyone there on the staff is an utterly loyal lifelong hire who the couslands have cultivated a relationship with for decades, people who helped raise tristan always offered new positions when their old one is no longer required, and that affords eleanor and tristan their safety. he can’t be stupid about it, he doesn’t walk around with a stave, but the household knows what he is and they don’t really bat an eyelid if they overhear a spell or two as long as it’s behind closed doors. even the chantry mother in the castle chapel is handpicked for loyalty and for her support of highever’s skirting of the rules. the caveat to his privilege of course being that he rarely gets to leave the castle and has certainly never left the teyrnir. classic gilded cage scenario

once he’s a grey warden, keeping it a bit secret no longer matters. it was why he was drawn to becoming a warden and choking down some bitter envy of ser gilmore, before everything happened; he could join his father and brother on front lines, and finally be freely what he is. but he never thought it would be really possible, as much as he argued about it, because of the risk to his mother’s status becoming known, and potentially oren if he ever manifests magic (something tristan dreads). his mother’s mac eanraig clan having storm magic in the blood is kind of an open rumour but it can never become more than that, lest the king or chantry ever come under pressure to take action. tristan could not and would not have gambled with any of that, whatever he wanted. after the origin, though, it no longer matters, in the worst way possible. it’s definitely a “be careful what you wish for” scenario

[stardustandash]

Fuck it, ask box quiet and I'm vibrating about both my Rooks, so I'm answering sppokyvalentine's 50 questions about Rook for each of them (in seperate posts).

First up is my first Rook, Aylin De Riva

1. How old is Rook?

27 at game start, turned 28 sometime after the Blood of Arlathan quest and didn't think it was worth bringing up. Varric wished them a happy nameday and that was enough for them.

2. How did Rook get the nickname? What do they think of it?

Varric gave it to them! Because they're a Crow, a corvid, and definitely not a typical one. Something else, but within the same family. Rook likes the nickname, as Aylin was actually their clan name and they took it on to remember them after joining the Crows, so it feels like having their own name again.

3. What was Rook’s life before their faction?

Rook was born into Clan Aylin on the borders of the Frostback basin. They were only five when the blight hit, and their mother, a smart woman, fled without the rest of the clan, taking her child with her. A smart move, as the Darkspawn tore through the area leaving nothing living in their wake. They moved northward, eventually settling in Antiva. Their mother apprenticed to a leatherworker, and they had a small life together full of stories of Dalish gods and monsters and myths.

When Rook was 8 their magic manifested in a strong way, and instead of going to the Chantry or the Circle, their mother approached the Crows and sold them to them to apprentice. It was hard, especially with the exchange of money, but Rook never faulted their mother for it, and even visited from time to time when they were able.

4. Which faction did they join, and why? How long has it been?

Answered above, and by game start it has been almost 20 years.

5. What was life like for Rook before joining the Veilguard?

They took the Contracts Viago gave them, though chafed at often being kept away from some of the bigger Contracts or more dangerous ones. They have a very "little sibling" like relationship with Viago and often argue with him about not being given a chance to prove themselves. They also tried to show him that they could do bigger jobs. Which ended with them blowing up their chances with the debacle with rescuing prisoners from the Antaam.

6. What was the reason that brought Rook to Minrathous?

It was the most antithetical place to Antiva they could think of after Viago exiled them. Or that's the answer they'll give if asked. In reality they just let Varric drag them around on his hunt for Solas.

7. Why does Rook agree to join the Veilguard?

They didn't necessarily agree, they were just kind of there, and then both Neve and Harding looked to them to make decisions and it spiralled out of their control from there.

8. What makes Rook a good leader?

Aylin is committed to the team. They will hear everyone out and try to come to manageable compromises with everyone, and never discount advice. They're not great, but they're trying.

9. What is Rook like on the battlefield?

Learning to fight openly rather than with Crow trickery and agility is hard, but as a mage with a preference for orb-and-dagger style fighting, you can find Rook in the thick of the battle.

10. Does Rook know their history? Do they know of the HoF, Hawke, the Inquisitor?

Rook knows the Hero of Ferelden through the Crows, but it mostly relates to the mysteries of House Arainai and the Crow that failed a Contract.

The Inquisitor they've heard more about, if only because they were old enough to be interested in the strange news from the South, and could see the Breach in the sky when it opened, though from Antiva it was only a distant green smear on the horizon.

Hawke they learned about from travelling with Varric and listening to his stories. I imagine they ran into a few old friends on their year of travels as well. They still have yet to read The Tale of The Champion though.

11. Does Rook keep up with current events? (How aware of the situation are they at the start of the game?)

Rook mostly only cared about Antivan news on their travels with Varric. Making sure House De Riva was still standing and there were no major upsets. Anything else didn't really matter to them. So no, they're blind as a bat on most things lol.

12. Does Rook have any family? Do they keep in touch?

Their mother died when they were 13, so no. They do consider Viago as their brother, and after making amends at the start of Veilguard sends letters regularly. While travelling with Varric they would send an "I'm still alive fuck you" every month or so.

13. Did Rook bring any trinkets/sentimental items to The Lighthouse?

No. They still have their rooms in House De Riva in Treviso, and consider that to be home, and their stay in the Lighthouse temporary. It makes it easier to not get attached to the comfort of life there.

14. What does Rook see when they look in the mirror?

An idiot, but they're trying their best.

15. What’s the first thing people notice when Rook enters a room?

Probably their long silvery hair. They went grey at 20 and never bothered to try and dye it.

16. Got any tattoos? What’s the story behind them?

They have a face tattoo, a Vallaslin of their own making. Their mother always told them that they were a way to honour the gods, but Rook just wanted to honour their heritage and went more for how elvhen artifacts look to them.

17. How’d Rook get those scars?

Aylin's most noticable scar is a long cut from hip to opposing shoulder. They got it on one of their first Contract jobs, when they were stupid enough to not check for any Crows the target might have hired. The man sliced her open with his rapier before she managed to fry him with lightning.

The look on Viago's face when they managed to stumble home is still something they laugh about.

18. Their fondest childhood memory:

Curled up with their mother next to a fire, listening to her tell stories.

19. What is Rook’s love language? What love languages do they respond best to?

Aylin is all about touch. Little gestures like pats on the arm or shoulder, squeezing hands beneath a table, leaning on them when sitting next to each other. It's making romancing Lace Harding very difficult, as they have to try and express themself through different methods.

And they respond best to quality time. Simply being around their person and having the confidence of knowing that they are safe to be themself with them.

20. What’s it like to see them smile? Their laugh?

Rook is quick to smile and laugh, and enjoys jokes and sarcasm. It's a bright smile, and soft, and makes them look younger.

21. What does Rook’s voice sound like? One of the voice options available, or do they have a different accent/voicecast?

I fell in love with the lilt in the voice of the UK female VA, and it's so perfect for Aylin. I think their voice would lie between the medium and low options, but the medium was great! When the lilt got stronger it was their Dalish accent peeking through!

22. Most embarrassing memory as a teenager:

They once took a Contract from Viago, thinking they were so special to get one before finishing training. They got all prepared and set out to hunt down the target. Which turned out to be a cat in the market. They were so embarrassed afterwards they didn't speak to him for a week.

23. What does Rook wear in the off hours? Do they like dressing up?

Rook likes soft clothes that are easy to move in. The casual Crow outfit fits the bill, but they also have something more similar to a lounge set stashed away in the Lighthouse for the occasional quiet day.

They'll dress up for a Contract that requires it, but otherwise no.

24. Does Rook have any nightly rituals before bed?

Aylin will set a sort of magical tripwire in the hall to hear if anyone is coming towards their room, and place a dagger on the nightstand and under the mattress.

25. How does Rook like to spend their free time?

In Antiva they like to sample foods from various cafes and stalls, visit galleries, and window shop at arms dealers. It keeps them moving around the city and able to gather information while also having a good time.

In the Lighthouse they'll sit with Varric, or borrow Bellara's serials. Often they just like to sit in Harding's room with her and listen to her talk about plants and stories from the Inquisition.

26. Rook is in charge of the grocery list. What’s on it?

Chocolate. Whiskey. Spiced nuts. Rice for Risotto. Cheese for Harding. An assortment of vegetables. Eight different types of coffee. milk.

27. When was the last time they cried?

Before the start of the game? When their mother died. After the start of the game they wept alone in their room after seeing the destruction of Minrathous and the Shadow Dragons that were hanged in the streets because of her choice to save Treviso. They do a lot of crying alone over the course of the game.

28. Does Rook have any pets/animal companions?

Aylin has never had a pet, but loves the cats that wander around Treviso. They have some dishes and food in their rooms there to feed the strays.

29. Any vices?

They do like a stiff drink. And events in the game definitely drive them to it. Though they do tend to limit themself to two pours, just in case.

30. What is Rook’s class? Did they choose it?

Rook is a mage! Magic chose them lol.

31. What specialization does Rook pursue? What called them to it?

They're a trained assassin through and through - they took the spellblade specialization.

32. How would a desire demon tempt Rook?

By telling them they could relax. That they didn't have to save the world. That they could just let all of it go, and follow the demon to a more peaceful place. Bonus points if the desire demon wears Lace's face after they get together.

33. What do fear demons look like to Rook?

Answered this one before - For Aylin I think fear demons look like undead, but wearing clothes or trinkets belonging to those they hold close. Like they’re being hunted down by dead friends, with the implication being that they couldn’t save them. Nightmares definitely get worse after the Varric reveal and the events of the endgame. Visiting the Necropolis with Emmrich and hearing his take on death and the undead does help with the fear somewhat, but not enough to make them shift into something else.

34. How does Rook begin their day?

They usually start with a round of stretching and balance exercises before going in search of coffee.

35. Ultimate comfort food meal:

Answered before - They love Antivan cooking, and their absolute favourite dish has to be sopa coàda. Which I definitely found by googling traditional foods to the real city of Treviso in Italy. It’s a slow-baked dish of layers of pigeon meat and bread, covered in cheese and pigeon broth. Its warm and hearty and simple, perfect for them.

36. What would Rook say are their flaws?

Their temper. Though they're fun and quick witted most of the time, they tend to jump to anger quickly. When paired with the fact that they're ready to fight anything at the drop of a hat it gets a bit out of hand. And they end up punching First Wardens in front of their men lol.

37. Does Rook ascribe to a faith?

They were raised Dalish, then thrown into an Andrastian culture. They don't truly believe in either, though supposes they make good moral guides, and understands why people do believe.

38. Did Rook have any relationships before Veilguard?

They had a couple flings, some with other Crows, but once with a bookseller in the market. Nothing that ever got very far or serious.

39. What is their room at The Lighthouse like?

Also answered this earlier - Aylin’s room is pretty bare bones. They still have their space in Antiva, why would they unpack here in the Fade where things might disappear? They have a few trinkets here and there: a vase of flowers from Harding and an ancient elvhen trinket from Bellara, books from Emmrich and a copy of Varric’s Tale of the Champion, a carved crow from Davrin and a newspaper clipping from one of the cases they and Neve solved together in Dock to

40. Describe Rook’s bed:

That green divan in the meditation room? That's it. That's what they sleep on for months while hunting down the gods. Their neck is so fucked.

41. What’s on their nightstand?

There's a vase of flowers, fresh cut from Harding's garden. And a dagger. Not much else, that's all they need.

42. Something Rook regrets:

Lol, every choice they made during the game?

They regret not being as Dalish, or knowing as much about the Dalish and their beliefs as they believe they should. They're an elf, they should know these things, like Bellara and Davrin, but they don't, and they feel rather useless for it.

43. Is Rook the type to gossip?

Not really, though they love to hear all the gossip. Being nosy is a Crow trait, after all. In the Lighthouse they like to sit in the library balcony and listen to the others gossip with each other. They don't share any of it, they just like to know what's going on.

44. What is Rook really good at?

They are very good at magic, and precise magic. Their affinity towards electricity meant that they had to learn control in order to not kill their allies and friends alongside their targets. The fear of hurting their friends honed their control into a thin dagger, able to navigate the smallest of openings to find it's target.

45. Who was Rook’s closest friend before joining the Veilguard?

Aylin definitely didn't have close friends before Varric and Harding wore down their walls with months on the road together. Viago was probably the person closest to them, but their relationship has always been more sibling like, as well as business like, than friends. After joining the Veilguard they quickly became friends with Bellara, with the others taking more time to warm up to for various reasons.

46. What does it take to earn Rook’s trust?

Not much, much to Viago's chagrin. Eat a few meals together, spend a few nights in the same place without trying to kill them, and Rook thinks you're trustworthy. Basically don't try to kill them right off the bat and Aylin will trust you.

47. What’s Rook’s temper like?

Like the lightning they summon, quick and bright then gone. It shows up when people don't believe them, or insult a friend. Though their temper rises and dissipates quickly, they do hold a grudge against people who made them angry. Solas gets a good showing of that while they talk in the Fade Prison meditations lol.

48. A color, flower, animal, and weather to describe Rook:

Purple, lavender, magpie, lightning

49. What will always make them laugh?

A bad (dad) joke. Or a dirty one. They dish them out endlessly, much to the annoyance of whoever's out in the field with them. It's also how they and Varric bonded so quickly. Bad jokes make for great friends, and laughing together is a quick way to bond. Varric is a master at working that angle and Rook fell for it 100%.

50. Are they a mystery, or an open book?

Neither. Aylin won't necessarily share details about themself unless they're asked. They're not trying to be mysterious or anything, they just know that the rest of the Veilguard is going through their own stuff and doesn't want to burden them with their own life story while the rest of them are still working out their own. But when anyone asks about their life they'll answer truthfully.

+1 What does Rook smell like?

Musk, lavender, and chocolate

[umepnnn]

3DOLC x ROE — results.

challenge created by @starliet and @cleostoohot 🖤

sorry (and not sorry) for the long hiatus cuz i'm enjoying life :)

so a few days ago i came across several posts about their challenge and i decided to try it out ! i didn't plan to post or anything so there wasn't a "what i'll be manifesting" post, but the results were so insane i had too make one.

ଓ affirmations i used:

regardless of everything...

nothing can ruin my manifestations

i always manifest within 3 days or less

i have everything i desire

ଓ what i manifested:

always confident and friendly, good at socializing

that's exactly what i did. i feel like a social butterfly at school and it's easier for me to join in convos now. making friends and having small talk just became easier for me. and i don't overthink so much anymore

being more included in my friend groups

i have a group i hang out with at uni for like 4-5 months now but i wasn't rlly active until this challenge LMAO now i'm like so comfortable with everyone and felt more like a part of the group. it also went like this with my other friend groups that i just started hanging out since this year. i actually speak to people individually now woah :)

getting closer with an SP

idk i thought this guy was cute so i just included this and at first the situation was: he's close with my friends but he's not in any of my friend groups so we don't hang much at all. but then after 2-3 days since this challenge, our mutual friend suddenly ADDED HIM into the group out of the blue and we all started going out and he is SUCH A GENTLEMAN to me + he added my socials as well hehe

school is fun, assignments are easy & no stress

literally came to school to chit chat and i'm not stressed at all. i get my work done on time and everything goes so smooth fr. and the best part is my classmates are the sweetest ugh SCHOOL IS FUN (they are the uni friend group i just mentioned up there) and they'd always gather around my seat lol and we'd chat the whole class.

bright smooth clear skin

same skin care routine – skin clearer than ever. no longer uneven dark spots or small little bumps <3 smooth like a baby's bottom :) my mom actually thought i was wearing makeup when i literally just washed my face n removed all the makeup !!

no dark circles

i slept like usual but my dark circles rlly went away since this challenge i'm actually surprised (even tho it should go away cuz it's the law lmao) and usually they'd still show when i have my makeup on but now it's wayyy less noticeable

friends from other countries coming to mine so we could hang out

just went out with one the other day lmao so check ✔️ i guess

everyone cares about me and is very nice to me

yoo my friends were so patient and attentive to me and even the taxi drivers are nice, they'd start convos and not in a creepy way. everyone is so nice for real <333

ଓ what i did:

i just read the list and affirm whenever i can, mostly focused on the 4D and know it's inevitable that they'd manifest <3 cuz it's already mine the moment i think i have it. and honestly the "nothing can ruin my manifestations" line helped me a lot.

other than that i did nothing in the 3D. i never initiated anything. they all just came to me just ✨ like ✨ that ✨

i got most of my desires within 3 days but i still continued affirming after 3 days cuz like why not? it's like i'm doing the challenge again or sum but yes i still get desired results after that.

btw i also listened to quite a few subliminals alongside doing this challenge just because i can xD even for the same desires and like they both manifested but anyways i'll make a separate post on my subliminal results.

© umepnnn 2021 – all rights reserved.

[note from a later date //29 jan 2024]

i have been on a hiatus since then until now, because i was busy with a lot of stuff i didn't have much time to learn and post astrology stuff here ~

i am still busy as ever and i don't plan on coming back here anytime soon (mayyyybee idk) but i still come on tumblr quite often cuz i loveee our astrology & manifesting content

and somehow today i checked my draft and saw this whole post here from three years ago i'm like wuhhh totally forgot.

BUT! everything i said is true fr like the "friends from other countries coming to mine so we could hang out" last year literally TEN of my friends came to my place (they're from 4 different countries) and I even went on trips with some of them — mind u i havnt seen most of them in like 2 years at the time

trust me manifesting is sooo easy just think u have it and u have it

thanks for reading and stay healthy stay safe everyone <3 cya

[shadesmcgee]

Two new dragon age oc got off the press and deeply doomed by the narrative!!

First boy's name is Veylin Avedrin and he is a mage who specializes in fire magic, and originally hails from Kirkwall. He grew up in the Kirkwall Alienage and despite being dirt poor, he was pretty happy with his life. He loved his parents and younger sister a lot. But his life changes after his magic manifests. His parents, knowing how awful the circle is in Kirkwall, are desperate to keep Veylin out of it, so they try to smuggle him out of the city. It works but at a great cost. Both his parents are killed and he's separated from his sister, Shaehari, in the process. He ends up in Starkhaven where rebel mages find him and teach him how to properly control and wield his magic, and eventually, when he is 20, wanting to help others, he joins the Grey Wardens. And then by 28 he joins the Inquisition as a companion. Little does he know that Shaehari has also, all these years later, unknowingly caught up with him and joined the Inquisition as well.

Second boy's name is Loryk Valchek and he is a Red Templar who originally hailed from Starkhaven. He was the middle child of a family of prominent merchants and had an older and younger sister. His father was a Templar as well, and because of this he grew up believing the there the pinnacle of justice and joined as soon as he was old enough to. And things went well for a time, but soon Loryk sees how corrupt the Templars really are and he becomes disillusioned with it. Even more so after a riot started by a Templar that claims the lives of his mother and sisters. But he can't exactly get out of it so easily, now can he? But then suddenly his branch in Starkhaven falls under Corypheus' control and soon everywhere he looks his colleges are taking red Kyrian. Loryk wants nothing to do with it, and he tries to defect. But he is caught and the red lyrium is forced upon him. And he finds himself a little lost to the power it brings.

After several months Loryk comes back to his senses and he's horrified as he fully realizes what he's down under Corypheus' order. Seeing what he's become and fully disgusted with himself, he sneaks out one night and goes to the only place he knows where his insider information will be of use. The Inquisition. Origonally kept as a prisoner, Loryk gives himself to the Inquisition, promising to spill secrets and plans, anything about the Red Templars and Corypheus they could want, on one condition: they let him live and try to right the wrongs he's done. The Inquisitor, Ulrich, is hesitant, but ultimately agrees. But he assigns Veylin to essentially be Loryk's keeper. With the orders of "put him down if the Red Templar becomes a danger to the Inquisition." Veylin agrees. And thus a shaky partnership between the two begins. And eventually, a spark of friendship grows between the two as they travel and fight together and they get to know each other, and later still, something more. The two fall deeply in love with each other, but they can't see it while everyone else can. It's dubbed "the worst kept secret in Skyhold."

[babe-a-yaga]

It's a shame the Shadow Dragons really got the shaft for content, because I really just have a crystal clear backstory head canon for my SD Rook, I know who she is, where she came from and what her motivations are, and I just don't have even close to this level of a concept for another Rook yet. I got maybe 20% through a crow Rook but a story wasn't coming together for me so I rerolled a new "canon" SD (my first play is the fuck around and find out playthrough for me in any dragon age, my "canon" protagonist comes later after multiple runs of ironing out details). It's kind of emblematic of what I feel are the major shortcomings of Veilguard overall though. There are a lot of brilliant components, but they're sanitized and underrealised in practice. Lucanis as a romance is the same. On paper, it's like he was built in a lab specifically to appeal to me, and the pieces are there for an amazing romance story, but they fumbled the execution. It could have stayed a slow burn, I think one extra scene, of spite/lucanis struggling with Rook disappearing into regret jail in the same vein as spite taking over with Illario, and acknowledgement of the time elapsed with her gone would have sold the entire thing exponentially harder! One more scene! But, I digress.

If they hadn't super glossed over the slavery thing in Tevinter, Shadow Dragon could have had some serious grit as an origin.

My headcanon for Rook builds on the official SD story of a foundling adopted into a military family. In Tevinter society, a mage being born into a Soporati family elevates the entire family to Leitan class. Like winning the Tevene lottery.

I have this vision of a baby Rook being abandoned by slave parents in hope they'd give their child a better life, Rook is found and adopted by soldier Mercar family, who are Soporati. They later have another child, a son. Rook grows up scrappy and boyish, alongside her adoptive brother, with some training to fight as they're both likely to grow up into soldiers.

Rook's magic manifests, she's thrilled, thinking the family as a whole will be elevated, but then learns because she is adopted, and the magic doesn't run in the Mercar bloodline, the rest of her family will remain Soporati. She struggles with this, but with the encouragement of her family, accepts her path and joins the Minrathous circle. She isn't an especially scholarly person, never has been, and learns enough to control her magic, but develops it into a scrappy orb-and-dagger style befitting her military "heritage" as opposed to a more refined, ritual based, studied mage.

As a young adult, her younger brother brother, with youthful aspirations of bettering the family his own way, runs badly afoul of some Minrathous crime syndicates that are less savory than the Threads we meet in Docktown. His crimes are just the short sighted cockiness of a young man, but faced with crippling debts and no clear way out, he takes the unfortunate avenue available to the desperate in Tevinter: he sells himself into slavery to absolve his family of his foolish debts.

Rook is only informed after the deed is done and there is no way to intervene. Disillusioned with the class structure that granted her opportunity but failed her family, and motivated to if not save her brother then to save everyone else LIKE him, Rook is now motivated to get involved with the Shadow Dragons and fight the institutions that lead to this.

She's like Neve, loves Minrathous, loves Tevinter, but hates it too. Hates it for not living up to what it could be. She's all scrappy fire to Neve's poise and ice. They become a natural pair, united by this common conviction.

I wish it didn't have to just be up to headcanon to rough up the smooth edges of Tevinter as it's presented to us.

It would also really play into this mirror-of-Solas dynamic in that she was forced into paths she didn't choose for herself until she couldn't take the injustice anymore and started fighting tyrannical systems.

It COULD have been spectacular. Instead it's disparate pieces of spectacular that were never really knit together. I want more exploration of Tevinter class disparities. Of slavery. Of Minrathous' cosmopolitan side to contrast the slums of docktown. Of Tevinter Soporati military culture! Dirty up Tevinter the way it deserves. Give the Shadow Dragons some teeth.

All of this *does* fit within the story we got, it's just left totally unexplored in game, which leaves me wanting.

[ryan-nugenthopkins]

📓⚔️🐉🏒⛸️

I've found a lot of enjoyment of translating skills and tropes into other media/medium/mechanics, whatever. This has led to me building out D&D character sheets for a good chunk of Edmonton and a few other players where the mood strikes me. It's less of a specific plot (I presume each team is an adventurer's guild running off and doing quests, monster of the week style) and more of a broad imagining of backstories and how everyone got together.

Here's just a list of the sheets I've built?

McDavid - Human Fighter (Banneret). Extremely generic build with notably low CHA. Plays a somewhat supportive role in his fighting.

Draisaitl - Tiefling Rogue (Arcane Trickster). First in his family to manifest their demonic heritage in generations, family didn't take it well. Left home and was a bounty hunter before becoming an adventurer. Most of his spells are to make up for his terrible CHA stat plus general utility.

Hyman - Human Paladin (Devotion). Came from a noble family and decided to use his strengths for good, much to their chagrin. The most traditional "hero" archetype you can imagine. He's just a good dude.

Nugent-Hopkins - Owlkin Druid (Shepard)/Monk (not enough for a subclass at the level I've built him at). Came from a circle of druids out in the wilds protecting the people from anything that may slip from the Feywild. He is admittedly the wildest character I built out of everyone. Ice and animal magic. The team hates his choice of creatures - they're bad at target selection.

McLeod - Aasimar Bard (Swords). Supposedly "destined for great things," then ran away to join the circus instead of dealing with that. Learned how to use his weapons and magic there. Joined the adventurer's guild a few years later. Magic is mostly disruption-focused with an offensive lean.

Bouchard - Elven Fighter (Arcane Archer). Another person from the wilds as a Ranger-style character but without the terrible class mechanics. Similar to Nugent-Hopkins, was charged with protecting the wilds from aberrations or preventing monsters from spilling out into more populated areas. Plays a sniper-esque role.

Skinner - Earth Genasi Wizard (Abjuration). Came from an area of the world with greater contact with the Outer Planes, or stranger dimensions. Learned a wide variety of magic before setting out and making a name for himself with his buddy. Defensive magic is his specialty, but he does have a gun if necessary.

Desharnais - Goliath Barbarian (Juggernaut). Met Skinner and decided to travel with him. Fighting style is essentially he plants his feet and doesn't move, but you can't move him, either.

Gagner - Human Cleric (Tempest). Older adventurer who prefers to manage the back end of the guild these days, but still absolutely capable of killing you. Outside the requisite healing magic, he focuses on destructive area of effect spells.

Yamamoto - Halfling Sorcerer (Wild Magic). Sorry buddy. Court aide to some powerful party in the local city. Hides under his cheerful goofy vibes to deal massive amounts of psychic damage.

Matthews - Air Genasi Barbarian (Desert Storm Herald). Comes from a different far off land (Arizona equivalent lmao) to gain working experience. He runs around and hits things.

Marner - Half-Elf Sorcerer (Lunar) / Warlock (Great Old One). Was expected to be a very powerful sorcerer from his family, but his magic never successfully manifested; took a deal with a... something to be at the level everyone expects him to be. Lies a lot - good thing he's good at that. His spell list is a mess: half of it's telepathy or psychic powers, the other half is his moon magic.

[0ccuria]

2, 6 & 14 for Val'eth <3

[30 Questions for your Tav]

2. Describe their tent setup! What’s on the outside? The inside?

His tent would be a hanging type with a makeshift platform underneath it, tethered to trees or anything that could hold it securely. He doesn’t like sleeping on solid ground. He’s too used to the rocking of ships and weightlessness within the Astral Sea. It’d be made of canvas, dyed a dark maroon, adorned with golden spiritual baubles and other effigies. Hanging on a wooden dowel by the entrance flap would be cured meats along with various creature parts and hides that he had processed himself.

Everything is in its place inside the tent. A vanity with a wash basin and his accessories would be sat towards the back, topped with meticulously organized skin and hair products – both mass produced and homemade. His bedroll is tucked and smoothed out every morning, with his folded sleepwear resting on top. There is a small meditation corner, circled with various herbs and Zerth prayer idols. He also keeps his knives neatly aligned on his weapon rack, going from shortest to longest, but setting his best and sharpest beside his bedroll.

6. How would the player go about meeting them in Act 1? What is their introduction?

Very early around the Nautiloid crash site, pinned on the water’s edge under one of the tentacles along the beach. As you pass him he calls out for help, struggling to free himself. You can either roll a strength check to help lift the tentacle so he can slide out, or if you fail that, he will point to his knife that is out of reach in the sand. You can then hand it to him so he can hack away enough of the meat to wiggle free. Once standing, he explains that he had seen you on the ship and becomes hostile, pointing the knife at you (he will reach for it instead if you passed the strength check). He demands answers that you can’t give.

Suddenly – your tadpoles twinge and make a connection. You see through his eyes, burning from smoke and ash in the air – you’re on the docks of Creche K’liir, currently under attack by the same Nautiloid that abducted you. Caught between fighting Ghaik and your own kin, you call out a name you can’t quite understand due to the chorus of battle around you. Your eyes frantically dart in every direction in search of someone, until you finally lock eyes with them climbing onto the ship. You halt, lowering your knife as the fighting drowns out and slows into a waltz of bloodshed.

She stares back, remorseless, as she hangs off the side of the ship before disappearing into an opening. You call out to her with poison on your tongue and the heavy weight of utter betrayal on your heart. Everything then speeds back into reality and finally – darkness. The connection wanes.

You can either explain your situation and mention that you had actually come across another Gith to talk him down, or you can threaten him back – to which he will respond with respect and sheath his knife. He agrees to join you if you help him find the other Gith, clearly having had unfinished business with them.

When that other Gith turns out to be Lae’zel, he is utterly defeated – she was not the one in question. Allowing a moment of disappointment and mourning to pass, he suppresses his emotions and gets straight to business by sticking by your side to find a cure – having lost everyone under his wing, you're the next best chance he has at not becoming a Ghaik thrall.

14. Where are they from? What was home like?

Despite identifying as a Githzerai, he was originally from Tu’narath and matured on Toril – specifically within a small Creche on the eastern realm of Kara-Tur. He had been raised and indoctrinated like most other Githyanki – strict education and physical training that left him beaten, bloodied and, quite frankly, mentally damaged. His love for ships and sailing, both ocean and astral, manifested very early on during his excursions to The Celestial Sea. It had eventually led him to come across Githzerai travelers that accepted him into their faith.

[theaenetworks]

The daunting task of holiday’s season can be overwhelming that keeps you constantly battling with stress. Especially when you’re looking out for perfect holiday season to share with family and friends, decorations, choosing colours and organising get-together, as a result of all these you will struggle to cope with the stress that comes with it. Choice of meals come with varieties, as different meals are prepared to attend everyone’s taste, when the holiday’s get tense and the constant worry about preparations, those are memorable and special time for families and friends, when you overburden yourself about perfect holiday season, what comes next is the manifestation of troubled mind, when you come short of expectations.

You never get the exhausted list of people you’re expecting, that’s why sometimes people commit to overspending and over prepare that they don’t get to experience the beauty of the season, and they struggle to cope with the stress. Kids are making endless list of what they want, and their friends keep coming. It becomes a never ending circle. To get ahead of the holiday’s stress, you need to prepare without overthinking, it will enable you join the get-together without frequently running around in the kitchen looking for meals to pass around at the dining table, it has to be simple and modest, with that you can get ahead of the stress, and have a relax mind embracing the moment and the season.

To get ahead of the holiday’s stress you need to work with the budget you have, be contented with the available resources, with this you have something to work with without overstretching the festive season by trying to make everything look perfect at your expense. When you get excited with the season, you might be disappointed that’s why you need to keep it modest and enjoy the simplicity at its finest with family and friends get-together. It makes them to focus on temporal picture-perfect situation neglecting long term feel good factors, when festive season is over prepared to get in the mood for the season, you miss those long term goals. Holiday season is all about doing your life routine in a special way, but that doesn’t mean overthinking to make it perfect.

Teamwork can make holiday’s season less stressful, it becomes a huge burden when you try to figure out everything on your own, but when roles are shared, everyone gets involved and it makes the task easier to achieve on time. It is fun for them to know that they will be able to contribute in their own capacity, it mustn’t be done in a particular way you want it to be done, it could be done differently but with the desired results. You need to ease off the pressure of taking care of everything and, allow family and friends to take part in the preparation. Show gratitude and be grateful how everyone carried their task to contribute for successful festive season, with this you can get ahead of time to deal with yuletide stress.

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