#garla

[tredlocity]

[voltrohgodwhat]

Nobody:

Brain, unifying with fingers to mistype: Hey if you cook garlic bread into Zarkon shapes, does that make it Galric bread

[emondanexxus]

Garla Underwater. <3

[michelledrawz]

All together now! The complete set of Silent Hill posters~ all traditional mixed media using watercolor, ink, and colored pencil (the text is added digitally). All my posters are currently 20% off in my shop for the month of October!! Go get some art for those walls! SHOP LINK

[s3cr3t-l0cat10n]

So, we've got a new update...

[taylor-pink-blob]

DND NPCs for my campaign (garla is my PCs favorite smile)

so we got Guy is a Halfling Rogue (he/him) who's a member of a crime syndicate in our world called The Red Clovers, or just The Clovers, which one of my PCs is also a part of.

Garla is a half-orc (she/her) who's the tavern keeper of an inn/tavern called The Frolicking Dolphin. She also works for The Clovers in secret but she doesn't seem to stoked about it.

Earf E. Turr is a goblin necromancer (she/her). She lives in a little grove next to the town of Phinmorse. She's spooky and has a magical wooden arm. She has an agreement with the mayor where she helps out with undead problems that happen in the town, in return she gets to live in her little grove (which is property of the town)

also mortimer but the pcs don't know much about him, other than he's the bad guy

[renfaires]

Yes, I made my own birthday breakfast. I would love to show off to my goddess Garla since it’s her recipe, but I refuse to get instagram so you hellions get to see instead.

[vorosbegy23]

HEAR ME OUT !! OKAY NOW EVERY BODY LISTEN IT'S HAPPENING!!!

I belive in Galra Vi supremacy

[voltronisanobsession]

Hii, sorry if you aren't willing to write for Voltron anymore. But I discovered your blog cause of the name, so I thought why not try? So here is one of my yandere ideas.

Yandere Voltron with isekaid reader? Basically, the reader was from real life, till they died. Either by truck-chan, or to a disease. But given their life was already very shitty, they didn't really care much. At least. Till the reader wakes up in their favorite show. Not as a main protagonist, or not even as a side character in one of the many episodes. Nah, the reader simply wakes up as an unknown character on some random planet. A planet that hasn't isn't a part of the Garla Empire, and reader paln to kept it that way. Eventually, Voltron starts to get on the move, and main characters meet reader. Except, reader doesn't really realized that they are now the main character of the story. So despite, being very perceptive of everyone and everything, they some how don't know that the characters are becoming yandere. One by one.

Again, sorry if you don't write about Voltron anymore, if you want you can ignore this completely. I just thought you might want to hear the idea. Don't let the Karens bite you, fight them off with the power of the shows you like if needed, and remember to take care.

Yandere Voltron with Isekaid!Reader

OMG STOOOPPPP I LOVE THIS SMMM!!!! AND THIS BEING A YANDERE ASK?? It's like all those batfam fics i read, i'm so happy you thought of this. I will always write for voltron, don't worry pookie

This might be long, hope you enjoy😅

A series of very much unfortunate events, readers life goes from crap to ok to crap again. Readers death was very short and brief on their end. In your world, Voltron was just a silly little show that you watched to get away from reality, a show you loved so dearly. So never did you imagine to be isakei'd into that same very world.

I like to think this was caused due to voltron traveling through different dimensions, like that one Altean reality. Kind of like an event that perfectly aligned, readers death and them escaping the reality.

Of course at first reader doesn't know where the HELL they are. Exploring this new place, its not hard to convince yourself you miraculously made it to heaven with how beautiful everything was. But it isn't long until they find the residents of this strange world. You live a good and easy life the weeks after your arrival as the townspeople openly accepted you into their world.

Reader has many similarities to these aliens, yet its very obvious that you take on a more humanoid appearance compared to them. Perhaps you share a similar skin tone, like green or blue. Maybe your eyes are the same shade as theirs. Despite this, your physical appearance is more human than alien without a doubt.

Reader only knows they're in the Voltron universe due to how often the townspeople talk about the Galra and Voltron rescuing imprisoned planets. Like I can imagine reader immediately jumping into someone's conversation to get more info, only for them to get weird looks

"Galra? Voltron?! Like from the show?? They're real?"

*Cue confused faces*

"Show? Um, I don't believe they're based off a show. They've been doing a lot of good for the universe!"

Its easy to put two and two together, but have no fear! Reader, being SMARTTT, already knows that they're in the Voltron universe. And if anything happens to the plot causing it to go astray from the og, it'll most likely have devastating consequences, so its a good thing that they're stuck on this unknown planet!

Especially one they don't remember ever being on the show!

Until some divine intervention wrecks that very idea one day with a giant mechanical lion falling from the sky.

You make sure to keep your distance from whatever paladin is staying in the village. It's not hard to do so with how many people lurk the streets to see a paladin of Voltron

But of course nothing ever goes Isekei'd!Reader's way when they bump into the one person they've been avoiding. It's as if time literally stops as they're eyes meet.

DUN DUUNNN! SHIRO! (My mans😍)

He's surprised to see someone almost like him after seeing all the townspeople's appearances. Shiro's seen some pretty wacky looking aliens so its almost like a slap in the face to find someone so human in the village.

Before he can even say anything though, you quite literally run away from him, leaving the black paladin in a state of confusion and curiosity. And since you're running AWAY from him, he figures you probably know the reason why his lion crash landed on this specific planet when it was fine before.

Cue to you trying to outrun him. Emphasis on TRYING. Cuz there's no way you could ever outrun him.

Once he catches you, its safe to say you're now permanently apart of their story. You, however, fail to realize that. It's hard to not reveal everything to the man in front of you, but some things may or may not have slipped out your mouth.

"HELLO STRANGE PALADIN! Welcome to our, um, planet? Uh, if you could get off of me Shiro, that would be amazing cuz I currently am freaking out right now!

"Keith is probably looking for you so get that black cat working and get outta here haha!"

With all of readers rambling and bad avoidance, Shiro can't shake off a growing feeling in him. Was it endearment? Pity, annoyance? Protectiveness? Possessiveness? Shaking the dark thought quickly, the man already knows you know more than what you're letting on.

"How do you know Keith?"

"Ummm we're cousins?" You're internally smacking yourself as the man in front of you raises an eyebrow.

SKIPPING SOME STUFF CUZ THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE LONG SO LETS JUMP TO THE YANDERE SHITTTTT😝😝

Being introduced to the team, they all seem to be drawn to you. Like there's some invisible force dragging them to your very being. It's sort of like an inner battle for them, allow themselves to get dragged into whatever this is willingly, or fight against it and fall harder into it.

Reader is kind of their unofficial prisoner, but not really a prisoner? So while it is very cool to meet some of their comfort characters, they accept the fact that they are now living in their world. They have no idea what the others are feeling or thinking, so they're kind of on their own from now on.

Some paladins I think that would willingly allow this divine obsession take place in their hearts are Shiro, Lance, and Allura.

Shiro was the first to find them, so it only makes sense that his obsession would take place first. He would mistake this new feeling as a need to protect. If reader is younger than him, then get used to being treated like a child. He doesn't mean to coddle you, but with how you seem to have ZERO survival skills and an air of childlike amazement at everything, he can't help but want to keep that to himself.

Lance is an easy going person, and very open to meeting new people. He's the easiest to fall into his yandere tendencies. He's basically a puppy whenever reader is around. He doesn't see anything wrong with his feelings ignoring how twisted they get the longer he's around them. You capture his attention as you don't necessarily push his overbearingness away like he's used to with everyone is. It's not like you can with how he's practically glued himself to your side.

Allura is a bit more on the umm condescending side? I don't want to say condescending, but she does feel like she has to help you learn space life. She enjoys teaching you about the ship and her planets history, of all the planets they've visited. Allura might actually see herself above you as she believes she holds more experience and knowledge of the universe than you do due to your previously mentioned childlike amazement. I think she might even see herself as your teacher, a master, and you her student. Little does she know that you are much familiar with the things she speaks of.

Now for the paladins that would be hesitant in the growing obsession, Hunk, Pidge and Keith.

Hunk is naturally a wary person when it comes to new people. Especially if he feels the vibes are off. I mean, here comes in a new person on the team that happens to know a little bit too much about them, about him! Like how do you know his name before meeting him? He's hesitant on being near you but seeing how kind you are to Lance of all people causes his a rift in his feelings. Maybe you aren't a bad person after all? He'd start growing a bit more protective of you each day the longer you guys hangout. Is this a good thing or a bad thing; only time will tell.

Pidge is standoffish to anyone who seems to know more than what they're letting on. She can tell it on you face when you look at her with a sense of familiarity despite her never having met you. She tries her best to block off the feelings of wanting to get closer to you, to hear you laugh at her jokes the same way you do with Lance and Hunk. There's not much she can do (does she even fight it anymore at this point) when you begin approaching her, mentioning some of her interests to continue talking to her. You seem to know exactly what to say to lower her guard, and she honestly doesn't know how to feel about that.

Keith is a double edged sword tbh. He'd be hesitant to get near you with these unfamiliar feelings flooding him. So he would either awkwardly get used to your prodding or he'd be quite aggressive with your presence. If we're talking about earlier season Keith, than I think he would most likely be the latter. He'd try interrogating you when know one's around. He'd try to get you to admit to something, anything to confirm his growing emotions are of suspicion instead of interest. He's immediately conflicted though once you turn emotionally at his barad of questions and accusations. He apologizes in a quiet voice and leaves, but one things for sure. He never wants you to look at him with the same fear you just did moments before.

Reader is just trying to get the plot to continue because hellooo?? The universe needs saving??

Reader knows EVERYTHING about the show and about the people they are now personally familiar with. However, they fail to realize the dark turn of events their presence brought to the team.

Sure they're acting a little unusual to how they normally would be on the show but it's not that big of a deal, right? Right?

Unrelated, but can you imagine how they would react to finding out reader is from another universe?? Even if you were to reassure them that you wouldn't be able to go back anyways, their paranoia would skyrocket.

If you were to die in their universe the same way you died in your universe, there's a chance that you'll get transported to another world! A world where you'll live without them. A world they'll never be able to reach. A world without them.

That thought alone terrifies them, so that's honestly when the true horror kicks in. BUT THAT'S FOR A DIFFERENT TIME!!!!

Everyone is wary of you at first, but with the strange emotions growing in them, they can't deny that your presence brings them an overwhelming sense of peace.

Their possessiveness will definitely set some alarms in your head but you stay in denial. You don’t want to believe that you may have, irreversibly, changed the Voltron universe.

A big question to think about is if you're gonna regret being isekai'd into this universe because they won't stay sweet for long.

[xjulixred45x]

Lotor x Pearl!GN! Reader

Request: Now that the requests are open I want to do one about Voltron (again), about Lotor headcanons with a reader who is like a pearl from Steven Universe, who probably was a "gift" from his governess, I imagine that reader @ is a very scared but sweet person who is afraid of disappointing Lotor and that he will throw them away because of that (traumas from the past before meeting him). I just want some comfort from one of my favorite Voltron characters💕

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: Gender neutral

Warnings: allusions/mentions of past abuse, reader at first treated more like an object than a person, fear of abandonment, somewhat confusing timeline for the sake of the plot? HURT with Comfort, Fluff, non-canon ending of Voltron for my sanity :') Lotor What have they done to you?

You come from a very... special planet to say the least.

Especially you were born in a social caste that was considered the lowest, so you were trained all your life to be the future accessory of a powerful person. As bad as it sounded.

This was obviously not a pleasant process, especially with the Garla empire breathing down your planet's neck.

You could say that you got especially ruthless training, the slightest mistake was severely reprimanded, only to know that if you did it in REAL practice you most likely wouldn't come out alive...

Then the Garla Empire took possession of your planet. Everyone was terrified of what could happen, YOU were terrified of what was going to happen to you.

But fortunately? You were given as a personal servant to the Garla, along with many others, in exchange for not destroying the planet completely.

But you were lucky enough that it was your turn to serve the Prince of the Garla, Lotor.

This was before the Paladins intervened, so even when they arrived, this still stood.

To say that you were scared was to say, you were terrified of what was going to happen. What if he was one of those super strict princes? What if he had a bad temper? What if he got angry with you and got physical? And If it hurts you? Or worse?

You set out to be as correct and upright as possible for this new position, apparently you would be a gift, well, maybe you don't have to do much, you can do this.

Dayak barely talks to you, although the first time you meet her is only so she can give you a checkup to make sure you live up to her expectations, and fortunately you are and she seems very satisfied.

Before meeting this "Lotor" she gives you a tour of the Garla main ship in a vague way so that you become familiar with everything and thus adapt quickly before seeing Lotor. The ship is GIANT so it takes a while.

Although at least with this you can hear some people talking and whispering about Lotor, apparently the winner of the "Kral Zera", the first Half-Blood emperor and Zarkon's heir...someone to have fear apparently.

Let's just say they didn't make you feel much better.

But at the end of the day you finally meet him. Is he together with what appear to be the paladins of Voltron? And Dayak makes his presence quite noticeable (poor paladin Blue and especially yellow).

Before retiring, Dayak introduced you to Lotor, as his new personal assistant, to serve him in any way he wanted.

To your surprise, Lotor seemed just as off guard as you, it seems that he had forgotten the deal with the Kral Zera matter, it is understandable, but it was especially shocking when he apologized to you because he could not introduce himself properly, since he had a VERY busy day with the Voltron thing...

....weren't you supposed to come help him with that? What Quiznak?

You tried to tell him that, that you could help him manage that, but he said no! That for now he could handle himself well, but that you should give him time to think of something for you...

okay that was VERY strange

But a nice strange? Lotor was not like you thought he would be.

Even when he finally did what he had to do with the Paladins and Princess Allura (love of a person), he still treated you with a respect you weren't used to.

you were mainly in charge of his agenda with the other Garla leaders and works like that, together with the Paladins and Princess Allura, etc. It wasn't a heavy job, but it required attention to detail and you definitely went out of your way to make it perfect.

And contrary to what you thought, you received some recognition from your, so to speak, Boss (because Lotor hated it when you called him "master" or "owner"), Lotor was grateful that you helped him and that you were so diligent, He let you know when he kept you up to date.

You could even have conversations with him! It wasn't something you had been prepared for in the least, but it was nice, Lotor was someone very intelligent and even had an interesting sarcastic sense of humor. You learned a lot by talking to him.

In turn, Lotor learned more about your species based on his experience with you, although at first it was difficult for him, because you insisted on keeping a certain distance, but he was able to make his way through your walls.

He found you quite pleasant and even charming! Lotor always tried to see other species with equal respect, and for you to see him from such a high place (without the need for violence, just doing his job) made him feel very good about himself.

And the feeling was mutual.

It made you feel calmer about all of this, that everything was going better than you thought. You had ended up with an owner--ahem, Boss- who was nicer than you expected and everything seemed fine--

But then you made a MISTAKE.

You were trying to get used to one of the controls on Lotor's main ship and out of nowhere the controls stopped working. They didn't respond, didn't work and seemed glitched.

You realized that you had pressed the wrong places (used to the mothership controls) and that you had "messed up" this one.

But all you could think about was the trouble you'd get into with Lotor.

Oh no oh no oh no What am I going to do? What are they're going to do to me? They're going to have to throw me away, right? How can I get through this? What if they kill me? What if--

You were so panicked that when Lotor arrives you don't notice.

And it only makes you even more afraid.

Lotor asks what happened, but he starts checking the console on his own and realizes what happened, he knows what you did--

And you can't stand the urge to cry anymore.

Lotor honestly freaks out, he thought you would have gotten hurt and that's why you were crying so much, but you were apologizing for breaking the console, and saying that you were fine with being replaced with someone more capable as long as please, please don't kill you...

Even if he didn't show it much on the outside (it's a habit up to this point he's sorry for it), it hurt Lotor to see you like this. And even more so for something so small. Is this why you thought he was going to replace you? Kill you?? Although he sees that it's mostly because you've been traumatized before, so he's not offended (at all).

Lotor tries to calm you down, explain to you that it's not a big deal. It's not broken! It just needs to restart! Please don't cry! He's not going to replace you! Much less touch a hair on your head! You are save with him...

He ends up fixing the console to prove his point and you calm down, something like that, both of your emotions are running high.

From there, you are a little more alert for your possible "mistakes" and honestly, Lotor misses how you were before this little incident, now it seems like you are walking on eggshells (Whatever that means? The blue Paladin said it ) when you are around him.

He discovers that he misses talking to you more than he thought, he is not someone who gets attached easily, but finally having someone who respected him as a person and not as Prince Garla and that you are now in this scared state hurts him.

So it does something... surprising.

He asks the Paladins and Allura for help.

Obviously some make fun of him a little ahem LANCE AND PIDGE ahem, but for the most part they try to give him good advice on how to approach the situation, although they all have a common idea.

TALK IT DIRECTLY or let you adjust naturally again (which seemed unlikely without the former).

So he did it, he call you to speak alone.

Sincerely? You almost died of fright. This on your planet was a VERY BAD omen, VERY BAD.

so imagine your surprise when Lotor was REALLY alone when you went to see him, but you still remained nervous, this man could destroy you with just one arm after all.

But Lotor...just talks.

And he gets straight to the point, he does NOT plan to replace you, he does NOT plan to hurt you, he does not want you to think that you are so expendable, especially when he has come to enjoy your company so much, you can rest assured, mistakes happen, we ALL make them, he prefers that you make them. a thousand mistakes to not having you at all.

Being honest? It was quite nice.

And you were able to be more...at peace with yourself after that. Be the sweet assistant again.

If we talk about advanced terms of a romantic relationship, IT'S PURE FLUFF.

Lotor has shown that he doesn't give a shit about race, so he has no problem relating to you even if you're not even half Garla. What if someone has a problem? They won't have it anymore :)

If your planet is still under the control of the Garla, it is most likely that Lotor has forced them to have laws and a more egalitarian legislature, your people have not lived so well in decapheobes! Of course, there are those who are still not used to it and others who are directly against it, but that always happens.

Lotor is patient when it comes to old wizard habits, chances are you'll still be that way! But more as a consort😅

Get ready, now that it is certain that he loves you and that you love him too, there is no escape from affection. Lotor is aware that he's touch-starved, but when you discover through this that YOU'RE touch-starved TOO, it's like, the perfect mix.

Lotor is the most openly affectionate, which helps you gain some courage to do the same, although of course, when it comes to making the other person nervous, you never win (although Lotor MELT inside seeing you try).

Lots of physical contact!! Especially at events with too many people and where you can easily feel overloaded, it's a quick way to calm yourself down and for Lotor to be happy and calm (literally, if they want to calm him down they have to bring you into the room and he's INSTANTLY in a good mood again).

You have a friendship with Allura! She jokingly says that you're too good for Lotor, but in a loving way.

The Paladins don't understand how Quiznak, someone as sweet as you ended up with Lotor. Did they threaten you? Blink twice if so--

Your nature is now a little more curious, you see everything with new eyes, it is something tender for Lotor, for him most of these things are everyday, but for you it is something new and even unique, it is nice.

He also now handles your crises better when PTSD strikes, takes you somewhere spacious, keeps some distance so you can breathe better, and when you recover he is on you for the rest of the day, quite worried.

In general, Lotor sees his partner with equal respect and love regardless of their race, social status or how they met, he loves you regardless of everything or how you perceive yourself. You are his equal, his partner, nothing changes that.

Reblogs, shares and Comments are very welcome!!

[lilflowerpot]

I like to think the garla randomly get the zoomies. Like a random galra person could be just chilling the the most infectious erge to just run around and jump around just hits out of nowhere

This is soso funny asdvjahfsdk okay so adult galra might get... restless, from time to time, but with decaphoebs of discipline and experience they are able to control these urges until an appropriate time / place presents itself.

Kits, however, are fucking feral little things that will just go

[tredlocity]

[spaceaces00]

Extended Languages Headcanons!

Lance: Cuban Spanish

Hunk: Samoan & bits of Tagalog from childhood friends (helped him learn Spanish faster w Lance bc a lot of the words/roots are similar)

Pidge: some Hebrew (& binary code, Morse code, fuckin Latin, etc.)

Keith: knows simple Korean & the swears (was learning as a kid but oops #deaddad)

Shiro: knows basic Japanese (I like to think that he, like Keith, had a rebellious era so he hated learning but as an adult tries to pick it up again) also some Korean bc tween Keith was feisty

Allura: Garla, Altean (maybe some other planets bc of trade, balls, royalty things idk)

Coran: weirdly a lot?? Apparently went like planet party hopping and picked up a bunch of

I think everyone learns Altean eventually bc it’s the ship and it’s like a dead language 🧍but Lance and Pidge learn the quickest ok the concept of shit talking in another language

They definitely pick up phrases from each other (especially bc they don’t have any one to practice it with and they don’t wanna forget :(

[emondanexxus]

No peeking! Ft. my Oc Garla

[coolotplblogloadng]

Top 10 Klance ❤️💙 Fics

Ordered lowest to highest word count

The Ninth Wave by Anonymous 

12,535 words - Rated M

The ninth wave is the final and most destructive wave of a tsunami.

(Eight moments that made Keith and Lance care for each other, and another one that was bound to break them)

Cut to the Feeling by usernicole

15,776 words - Rated T

“Let’s do it again,” Keith says breathlessly. “Here and on every planet we come across. Let’s get married on every planet we can.”

“Are you joking?” Lance asks, incredulous. “You really want to get married to me on every planet we land on?”

“Yes,” Keith says, voice high pitched and shaky with residual adrenaline. “Yes. Every planet. If it feels like this every time, let’s get married ten, twenty, a hundred times.”

“Let’s break records. I want the universe to see us and be jealous.”

Or: Five times Keith and Lance get married, and one time they don't.

the currents you create by theoddoodisnude

18,501 words - Rated T

Some days, he woke up even more tired than he’d been when he’d gone to sleep, and willing his body to go through the motions was just—tough. Like wading through thigh-high water or running on soft sand that gave under the soles of his feet.

A Kiss is a Kiss (But it’s never like this) by GibbousLunation

25,285 words - Rated T

“How does this keep happening to us, every time.” Lance grumbled.

“You’d think they’d stop sending us on away missions,” he agreed.

Honestly, between the poisonous plants of their last planet, and Lance’s tendency to always end up on the business end of every blaster or pointy ended stick, Allura was just being inefficient at this point.

Or, five times Keith kissed Lance but the situation was less than ideal, and one time Lance finally kissed him back.

Due West by europa_report

27,284 words - Rated T 

“Why did the blue lion choose you?”

Lance’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. He was an expressive boy. He wiped the shock away quickly though, smiling easily as he took a small sip from the drink he held.

“Dunno. We had a connection, I felt it the second I stepped into that cave. You know, the one Keith-“

“I know,” Krolia said tersely. “I found it.”

-

Flashbacks to Krolia's interactions with the blue paladin, as the pair fight for survival on a barren planet, stranded on their way to Earth

sunflower by xintong

41,557 words - Rated M

On the morning of their first summer back on Earth, Lance receives a gift of sunflowers. A confession, a rejection, and the passage of time, all leading to the one person who's always been there for him.

you build your tower (but call me home) by parchmints

63,041 words - Rated T

In the land of Arus, the youngest Nalquodian prince—Prince Leandro—is hidden away in a little castle that overlooks the kingdom; a countermeasure to protect him from the Galran assassins that have sworn to take his life.

And in the tallest tower of the castle, behind a grimy rose window and under a dusty sheet, is an enchanting gargoyle that the prince finds himself compelled to visit every day.

Almost as if by a spell…

 How to Train Your Garla series by magisterpavus 

68,117 words - Rated M & E

“Shiro, I fucked up,” Keith blurted, wringing his hands. 

Echo a Spark by usernicole

72,609 words - Rated M

Lance learns to stand on his own two feet.

Trouble’s Making Everything Alright series by Mytay 

430,410 words - Rated M

Two Paladins become two rough and tumble mercenaries, donning their leather coats and gun holsters, righting wrongs (while committing a few heists of their own), and fighting to get off this bleak, crime-filled planet.

[varlaisvea]

... lattia mallari av malatu.

For day 4 of @tes-summer-fest: Thief

This can totes be read on its own, but is a continuation of days 1 and 2. It's also all on AO3.

Rated G-ish, veiled reference to sex, mild descriptions of racism

------

Va garlas agea, gravia ye goria, lattia mallari av malatu. "In the caverns of lore, ugly and obscure, shines the gold of truth." —Ayleid proverb

J’zargo curses every step on the way to Dawnstar. The Arch-Mage had to go to Artaeum—they say they do not trust the Psijic Order, yet when the Elf-wizards came calling, the Arch-Mage duly followed their kin through the portal. And they left J’zargo with a stupid errand, as if he is some assistant, taking care of the Arch-Mage’s unfinished business while they accomplish yet another spectacular historical achievement, no doubt. 

The moon-amulet had glowed in J’zargo’s hands, and then when he'd opened the also-glowing book… there were words that had not been there before. The fur on the back of his neck had stood on end—surely he could not return this amulet now; much larger things are at stake, or so the time-traveling Elf-wizard had said, when he came to fetch the Arch-Mage. This amulet was clearly far more powerful than its owner had let on—the Arch-Mage had said the caravan-guard told them it is only a stone, it is not worth your life. Likely the warrior-cat had no concept of what the amulet could do; such cats usually have minds as dull as their swords are sharp. A treasure like this is easily worth at least one life, especially an unimportant one… J’zargo could probably fry this ignorant cat to a crisp before he could draw his sword. Truly, a cat who does not know the worth of this treasure does not deserve it, especially not when J’zargo was the one who had unlocked its secrets, somehow. 

But, if the Arch-Mage does not keep their promises, it looks bad for the College, and the College cannot afford to lose any more prestige than it already has—then all of J’zargo’s study, hard work, and putting up with slight after slight would be for nothing. So J’zargo trudges through the snow and frigid winds, like a silly jeek who does exactly as he is told. No, he thinks bitterly, it is Zargo who trudges stupidly through the snow. J’zargo respects himself. J’zargo is not an errand-cat for the Arch-Elf.

It’s only once Dawnstar is in his sights that he fully understands this transaction will involve speaking to another Khajiit. A choke comes to his throat suddenly when he realizes he does not remember the last time he even saw another Khajiit, let alone had a conversation with one. It is a loneliness he’d anticipated when he came to Skyrim, but could never have prepared for. The trading caravans were the only other Khajiit he’d ever seen in Skyrim, and he’d distanced himself from them since the beginning—common cats who will never rise above camping in frigid fields, sleeping on the frozen ground, politely enduring suspicious glares and racist abuse for a bit of coin. He could not imagine they would have much to say to him, or he to them—J’zargo spends his time perfecting the intricate art of harnessing magicka, while the caravan-cats do not think very far beyond their next sale.

Nevertheless, their fire is warm, and they greet J’zargo with minimal suspicion about his mages’ robes. The caravan boss has surprisingly high-quality Pellitine moon-sugar—at least, if a Khajiit asks her for it—at a very reasonable price. She tells him with a sly wink that she always has quality goods for discerning buyers. At least this errand means he’ll have a steady source of good moon-sugar in the future, and won’t have to be as sparing with his supply.

J’zargo finds the cat in full plate, sitting off to the side of the fire, cleaning his sword. “Eh… hello. The Arch-Mage of Winterhold asked J’zargo to return this to you,” he says, pulling the amulet from his satchel. “It is yours, yes?”

“Ah! My amulet! I thought I’d never see it again!” Kharjo stands immediately, grinning with warmth J’zargo did not expect from a stern steel-clad warrior. He looks at J’zargo’s robes. “That Elf is Arch-Mage now? When I asked them to help with my moon-amulet, they were merely a dragonslayer, master thief, and Thane of Whiterun.”

“They seem to have a way of attaining authority, that’s for sure,” J’zargo says.

Kharjo notices J’zargo is not handing back the amulet. He looks at J’zargo with a questioning expression.

“Eh, when J’zargo had this in his possession… it, er… it made new words appear in certain books,” J’zargo says, by way of explanation.

“Jone and Jode,” Kharjo says. “I have never seen such things when I have had it.”

“It showed this one a hidden text that was supposedly about the first Khajiit Arch-Mage of Winterhold.”

Kharjo steps back. He seems like he didn’t quite believe J’zargo until he mentioned that detail. “The first Khajiit Arch-Mage,” he says, mostly to himself.

“J’zargo did not know whether to believe this thing,” he says slowly. “According to the story, he was seduced by a witch, who compelled him to teach strange dark magic at the College. The witch killed him and joined the Psijic Order, selling out the College in the process. Apparently the first Khajiit Arch-Mage was embarrassingly dull-clawed.”

“The witch was Altmer?” Kharjo asks, oddly surprised. 

“Er…” It’s a strange question, but J’zargo presses on. “The text did not say. This was during the brief period in the Second Era when the Order allowed mages of all races to join, so, not necessarily,” J’zargo says. Then, before he can stop himself, he asks, “you have heard of the Psijic Order?”

Kharjo laughs. “You sleek mages like to think all of your knowledge is so shadowy and secret! This one has been guarding caravans for the past twenty-odd years. The Psijic Order is just like the Dark Brotherhood and the Blades—everyone knows what they do, but very few know what they really do, yes?” His eyes turn to the necklace in J’zargo’s hands. 

“Ah, apologies,” J’zargo says, handing it to Kharjo slowly. Too slowly, probably; with every movement of the muscles of his arm, he wishes he had not chosen the honorable path.

Kharjo takes it and then they stare at each other awkwardly. “Er, bright Moons guide your steps, walker,” Kharjo says, but he doesn’t turn away, and neither does J’zargo. Kharjo hesitates, then turns to leave, then hesitates again. He looks at J’zargo. “Mother told this one a story about this amulet. There are, eh… similarities,” he says, wincing as he speaks. “Heh, it sounds silly when I say it out loud.”

“You must tell J’zargo, please,” J’zargo says, immediately kicking himself for being so eager and hot-headed. Too much time constantly ready to parry an insult from a man or mer.

Kharjo seems not to have expected that reaction. “Heh, I thought you would say every Khajiiti family has a silly story about some heirloom.” 

“That is true,” J’zargo says. “But recall that this amulet did some strange magic in J’zargo’s hands, and—” he looks down at his feet, then sighs. “And the information it showed me was not exactly clear on its own.”

Kharjo sighs too. “Well, when I was barely a teenager, I went on my first caravan trip. Mother did not want me to leave, but… I had to get out of Riverhold—”

“—that is not hard to believe,” J’zargo mutters, before he can stop himself.

“Ah, you have been to Riverhold.” Kharjo smiles kindly. “I miss Elsweyr bitterly, and of course I love my hometown,” he says, as J’zargo looks away from his gaze, “but…” He gestures, and J’zargo nods. “Anyway, Mother gave me this. She said to be careful, because it was cursed—of course, isn’t every ancient amulet? But mother also said that in her experience it had always felt protective.”

“A curse on your enemies, then?”

“Not quite,” Kharjo says. “I have lost it twice, and both times, when I returned home to visit Mother, she had some strange story about how some traveler or merchant brought it back to her. Both times she was afraid Kharjo had been killed, and was overjoyed to see him alive.”

“Heh, it is cursed to return to Riverhold, perhaps,” J’zargo says.

“Mother says its first owner was a mage adept, also from Riverhold. The story goes that he was secretly a Ziz Zhan assassin who had run afoul of the Zhan, and they killed him on his way to Winterhold to become a student.” Kharjo looks away, a bit sheepish. “Heh, apparently a witch brought him back to life with an enchanted pearl,” he holds up the necklace, which features a large, faintly blue-tinged pearl at the center of an intricate metal cage.

J’zargo stares at it, remembering how tempted he’d been to steal the Saarthal amulet—which, he now remembers, also had a large pearl at the center—when he’d noticed it just laying around the Arch-Mage’s quarters. He briefly considers swiping the amulet back from this cat’s claws and running away as fast as his legs will take him.

Kharjo cautiously watches J’zargo’s reaction. “Eh, us northerners and our back-country superstitions, hm?” he says.

“J’zargo is from Torval,” J’zargo says with southern pride.

Kharjo looks J’zargo up and down. “Yes, this is obvious.” What is that supposed to mean? “So anyway,” Kharjo continues, “having been resurrected, the mage expressed his deepest gratitude to the witch under the shining aurora, several times. When the witch was thoroughly subdued, the mage stole their pearl." He laughs. “I think that part was one of my ancestors spicing up the tale by mixing in Rajhin and Mafala, but it makes for a much more interesting family story, so Kharjo makes sure to keep it in. Heh, but of course, unfortunately for the mage, the pearl was already cursed.”

"This mage does sound about as dull-clawed as the Arch-Mage I read about," says J'zargo. "Everyone knows that stealing a powerful item from a witch has consequences, yes? Even Rajhin could not manage hold onto the power he stole from Mafala.”

“Just so,” Kharjo says. “Any Khajiit worth their whiskers is wise enough to fear a witch’s wrath.”

“Then, what happened to the mage?”

Kharjo laughs. “I don’t know; the story ends after he steals the pearl. But, the pearl was cursed—at some point, it was given to the Temple of the Purifying Moons in Riverhold, after their pair of Temple Pearls was stolen. Of course temples must house a pair of pearls, to honor the Moons, but the witch’s pearl would not bind with any other pearl, no matter how many sanctifying rituals or spells were cast. The Winterhold mage was long gone, and the pearl had rejected the blessing of Jone and Jode, so it was considered quite unlucky. Apparently, it was given to one of my ancestors who was an acolyte at the temple.” He laughs to himself, gazing at the amulet as he turns it over in his hand. “But, if we are talking about the same cat,” he says, “it sounds like the witch got their revenge eventually.”

“Who is to say?” J’zargo says with a shrug. “Khajiiti stories are not exactly known for their factual accuracy.”

Kharjo smiles like a crooked crescent moon. “Ah, but they are always true, yes?” 

Despite himself, J’zargo grins. “Ha, just so!” They both laugh, and then there is a long, not-entirely-comfortable silence. J’zargo spends it cursing himself for being so reluctant to leave this stupid necklace behind. It is only a stone, he reminds himself. It doesn’t help.

“It seems like it would be easier to simply steal back your pearl,” says Kharjo, scratching his head, “but this one has never really understood mages.” He smiles.

“Neither has J’zargo, if it makes you feel better,” says J’zargo with a chuckle, in his nervousness friendlier than he’d meant to be.

Kharjo is still turning the amulet over in his hand, his movements suggesting strong muscle memory, something he has done in idle moments for most of his life. “I have always felt safer with this around my neck.”

J’zargo forces a smile. “I wish I’d had more time to learn what secrets it could tell me, but…” he looks at Kharjo, at Kharjo’s beaten-up armor and battle-scratched sword, at the weary caravan horses, the unwelcoming homes of Dawnstar, the wind whipping in from the harbor, the other caravan members readying their tents, the setting sun. “Anything that makes Khajiit feel safer in this frozen place is a precious blessing.” He’s a little proud of himself for not saying that with a resigned sigh. “Jone and Jode watch over you, walker,” he says. He forces his feet to turn around.

“Wait,” Kharjo says. J’zargo turns, and Kharjo lets out a heavy sigh. “It is not curiosity alone that made you hesitant to return this.”

“No,” J’zargo says. “But nor is it greed, nor ambition.” He sighs. “J’zargo is as surprised as anyone.” They both chuckle. “It is… well, I do not actually know what the problem is, but… I think the College is in danger.”

Kharjo looks at him with something like pity. “More danger, you mean.”

“Eh, yes. I suppose. Anyway, I have been researching for days, trying to figure out what to do. I do not know what this Khajiit Arch-Mage has to do with anything, but…” ugh, “I think reading about him might help me find part of the answer.” So much time without speaking to a single other Khajiit has made him prone to oversharing. He does not like it.

Kharjo closes his eyes and breathes in. “Mother always said that Kharjo is not its final owner.” He sighs again, and looks at the amulet in his hand. “It is only a stone, right?” He smiles weakly and holds the amulet out to J’zargo.

Two minutes ago, J’zargo was still half-considering stealing the amulet as soon as Kharjo turned his back, but now, he feels sick at the thought of taking away something that could make a Khajiit feel less unwelcome and alone in Skyrim. Namiira take this frigid place. “No,” he says, holding up his hand. “The night is dark, and this one has his own fire,” he says. He conjures a tiny mote of flame.

Kharjo shakes his head resolutely. “Even if your Arch-Mage is not the same cat as my pearl-thief, the College of Winterhold was important to both of them. This pearl came from the other end of Tamriel to be in just the place it was needed, at just the right time. It cannot be a coincidence. Or at least, things make more sense if it is not a coincidence.” He looks at J’zargo pleadingly. “And you still brought it back to me, when you had every reason not to. Please.” Now he almost looks like he’s fighting tears. “Heh, it will make Mother laugh, when I tell her how I lost it this time.” He thrusts his hands at J’zargo again.

J’zargo takes the necklace and puts it in the inner pouch of his robes. “Thank you,” he says, not sure how to express the deep and unwelcome emotion he’s having. “You have made the cold snow feel like warm sands to me. I will repay this kindness. I promise.” He turns to leave, then turns back. “Keep your claws sharp in Skyrim, walker,” he says. He casts a ward over the caravan, the strongest he can muster. The moons are in Cathay; the ward will last for days. “Bright Moons light your path.”

For some reason, he can’t bear to look back at the caravan as he trudges away.