#grimalkin sans

[ilovemlp39]

Did some Sans OC requests on a friend's discord server and yea (no I am not taking requests outside from the discord servers I am in with, sorry)

Credits

"Grimalkin" belongs to: @spaghettipal

"Yandere" belongs to: @tsukasa099l or yyasumiko (on Instagram)

[jqbasesave]

JQ Base Save - Dine Out Add-On | CC Free TS4 Restaurants

JQ Base Save | JQ Basegame Save

Available on the gallery ID: quiescence90

Or download the tray files from SFS

Now, two things I dislike for Restaurant gameplay in TS4 are: a) the kitchen and dining area are on separate floors; and b) there are lots of seating which usually means many of them remain empty. It's just my preference. So in this set you'll find that:

The kitchen and dining area are only on one floor - sometimes the other floor would be the bar area

There are fewer than 30 seats available - I find it's better for traffic

Most tables seat 2 sims - without mods, the game rarely spawns diner groups of more than 2 sims anyway

Sometimes there are high chairs but the game does not spawn toddlers or infants as diners - these chairs are for when you play as a diner and you want to bring a toddler with you

Lot info follows. Prices stated are not inclusive of lot prices.

Brunch by The Bayou (Municipal Muses, Willow Creek) - Dine Out GP only. Brunch menu

2. Rattlesnake Tapas Kitchen (Rattlesnake Juice, Oasis Springs) - Dine Out GP only. Mexican menu

3. Trattoria Magnolia (Preeminent Domain, Magnolia Promenade) - Get to Work EP + Dine Out GP. Italian menu

4. Skyview Restaurant (Skye Fitness, San Myshuno) - City Living EP + Dine Out GP. Experimental menu

5. Grimalkin Kitchen & Tap (Salty Paws Saloon, Brindleton Bay) - Cats and Dogs EP + Dine Out GP. Seafood menu

6. O'Malley's Saloon & Diner (The Cozy Corner House, Chestnut Ridge) - Horse Ranch EP + Dine Out GP. Diner menu. Watch the speedbuild here!

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Culture & Region

Part 3: Europe (Basque, Rome, Viking, Great Britain)

This list documents mythological and folkloric creatures of Ancient Europe, the British Isles and Scandinavia as found on Wikipedia.

European creatures from Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Greece etc. will be listed in a separate post. The same goes for Biblical creatures or creatures from Abrahamic religions and Goetia literature. The full list of creatures is here.

Basque

Basque people live in what is today northern Spain. Their language is the only surviving language in Europe that isn't part of the Indo-European family tree, likely because the Basques live in secluded mountain areas. I have listed some deities alongside creatures, but this is a full list of Wikipedia's Basque creatures, not a full list of Wikipedia's gods/goddesses/deities for Basque culture.

Aatxe; Aide air goddess; Akerbeltz; Amalur; Basajaun; Eate (Basque god); Egoi; Eki (Basque goddess); Fountain Women; Gaizkiñ; Gaueko; Herensuge; Ilargi; Inguma; Iratxo ; Iratxoak; Jentil; Lamignak; Mairu; Minairó also Catalan; Odei; Olentzero; Orko; San Martin Txiki; Tartalo

Proto-Indo-European

Proto-Indo-European (or PIE) is the reconstructed ancestor to all major European languages, excluding Basque and languages from later diasporas.

Dʰéǵʰōm; Proto-Indo-European Myth; Double-headed eagle maybe not PIE but Bronze Age

Roman

Abarimon (Pliny the Elder, whose source is supposedly a land surveyor of Alexander the Great); Aborigines_Roman myth\; Achlis (Pliny the Elder); Caligo, see Achlys; Aegipan (Pliny the Elder locates them in Libya); Albruna Germanic seeress attested by Tacitus; Amazons, Amazons (List); Anguiped also Greek and Iranian.; Antichthones; Astomi Pliny the Elder; Aura; Bonnacon Pliny the Elder; Caca; Caeneus; Caladrius; Calingae Pliny the Elder; Camilla; Catoblepas Pliny the Elder; Cimbrian seeresses mentioned by Strabo; Crocotta Strabo and Pliny the Elder; Cupid; Di Penates; Echeneis Pliny the Elder; Ethiopian pegasus Pliny the Elder; Faun, Faunus ; Faunae, Fauni; Faustulus; Forest Bull Pliny the Elder; Fraus; Genius; Genius loci; Gorgades; Hellusians Tacitus claims they live beyond the Finns; Hircocervus; Hooded Spirits; Hydrus Pliny the Elder; Ichneumon Pliny the Elder; Ichthyophagoi; Indus worm; Iphis; Kings of Alba Longa; Lampedo Amazon; Lares; Lares Familiares; Lemures; Mandi; Manes; Manticore; Monoceros Pliny the Elder; Monopod; Odontotyrannus; Orcus; Pandi; Phoenix; Phthisis; Pyrausta Pliny the Elder; Querquetulanae; Remora; Salamander; Seps; Silvanus; Strix; Syrbotae Pliny the Elder; Tarand; Theow Pliny the Elder; Unicorn; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Yale

Etruscan

Charun; Orcus; Tuchulcha; Vanth; Vegoia

Britain

Apple Tree Man; Ascapart giant from chivalric romance dating to 1300s; Asrai Cheshire and Shropshire; Barghest north England; Beast of Dean; Beithir; Billy Blind England and Scottish Lowlands; Black Annis; Black Dog; Black Shuck; Bluecap; Blunderbore; Bogeyman; Boggart; Bogle Northumbrian; Brag Northumbrian; British Wild Cats; Brown Man of the Muirs anglo-scottish border; Brownie ; Brownies; Bucca Cornish; Bugbear; Burryman; Butter Sprite; Calygreyhound; Cat-sìth; Cauld Lad of Hylton; Inspiration/Directories/Bestiary (Myth and Legend)/A-Z/Changeling|Changeling; Christchurch Dragon; Cirein-cròin; Cock Lane Ghost; Cockatrice (explicitly British); Cofgod; Colbrand (giant); Colt pixie; Cormoran (giant); Dando's Dogs; Drummer of Tedworth; Dun Cow; Dunnie Northumbrian; Elder Mother; English Fairies; Ettin; Fairy story (Northumbria); Fetch; Finfolk Orkney; Girt Dog of Ennerdale; Goram and Vincent (giants); Grendel; Grendel's Mother; Grimalkin; Grindylow; Gytrash; Habetrot (Northumbrian?? border counties between England and Scottish Lowlands); Hob; Hobbididance; Hobgoblin ; Hobgoblins; Imp; Jack and the Beanstalk; Jack Frost; Jack in the Green; Jack o' Legs; Jack o' the bowl; Jack the Giant Killer; Jack-In-Irons; Joan-in-the-Wad; Kilmoulis Anglo-Scottish border; Knocker; Knucker; Korred; Krabat; Lambton Worm; Lantern Man; Lazy Laurence; Lubberfiend; Martlet; Mary Lakeland (accused witch); Mermaid of Zennor; Morgan le Fay; Morgawr; Nanny Rutt; Nelly Longarms; Nuckelavee Orkney; Nuggle Shetland; Pantheon_the_creature; Peg Powler; Penhill Giant; Pictish Beast Picts; Pillywiggin; Pixie; Portunes; Púca; Puck; Puck_Shakespeare; Queen of Elphame (Northumbrian?? border counties between England and Scottish Lowlands); Redcap English-Scottish border; Screaming skull; Sea Mither Orkney; Sebile; Sheela na Gig; Shug Monkey; Simonside Dwarfs; Sockburn Worm; Spriggan ; Spriggans; Sprite ; Sprites; Stoor worm; Sweet William's Ghost; Tangie Orkney and Shetland; The Black Dog of Newgate; The Elder Mother also Scandinavian; The Hedley Kow Northumberland; The King of the Cats; The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh Northumbrian; The Queen of Elfan's Nourice; Thunderdell Cornish; Tiddalik; Tom Hickathrift; Tooth Fairy; Tree Elves; Trow; Unicorn; Wight; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; William of Lindholme; Worm of Linton; Wyvern; Yallery Brown

Isle of Man

Adene, elves?; Arkan sonney "lucky piggy"; Ben-Varrey see "Mermaid"; Buggane; Cailleach; Fenodyree; Glashan; Glashtyn; Jimmy Squarefoot; Moddey Dhoo; Mooinjer Veggey; Sleigh Beggey; Tree Elves; Water Bull

Irish

Abarta either Tuatha or Fomorian (depends on account); Abcán the poet and musician of the Tuatha, a dwarf (in stature?); Abhartach; Aes Sidhe; Aibell, an elf queen (banshee, ruler of a fairy mound); Aillen, the "burner" a monstrous Tuatha; Aos Sí; Badb; Balor; Bánánach; Banshee; Baobhan Sith; Biróg a lheannan sidhe; Bodach also Scottish; Bran and Sceólang; Brendan the Navigator; Cailleach; Carman; Cas Corach; Cat-sìth also Scottish; Cathbad; Cethlenn; Cichol Gricenchos; Clíodhna; Clurican; Conand; Crom Cruach; Cù-sìth; Dobhar-chú; Donn Cúailnge; Dullahan; Each-uisge; Echtra; Elatha; Ellén Trechend; Enbarr; Ethniu; Failinis; Fear Doirich; Fear gorta; Finvarra; Fionn mac Cumhaill; Fionnuala; Fir Bolg; Fir Darrig; Fomorian; Gancanagh; Garb mac Stairn; Glas Gaibhnenn; Immram; Irish Mythic Creatures; Iubdan; Joint-eater; Kelpie; Leprechaun; Les Lavandières; Lhiannan-Sidhe; Liban; Inspiration/Directories/Bestiary (Myth and Legend)/A-Z/Manannán mac Lir|Manannán mac Lir; Medb (Queen Maeve); Merrow ; Merrows; Mongfind; Muckie; Mug Ruith; Nel; Niamh; Oilliphéist; Onchú; Pillywiggin; Púca; Sadhbh; Salmon of Knowledge; Scáthach; Selkie; Sengann; Seonaidh; Sheela na Gig; Sidhe; Sìth also Scottish; Sluagh also Scottish; Sovereignty goddess; Sreng; Swan Maiden; Tethra; The Morrígan; The Voyage of Bran; The Voyage of Máel Dúin; The Voyage of the Uí Chorra; Tlachtga; Tuatha dé Danaan; Werewolf; Werewolves of Ossory; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Wyvern allegedly Irish; Cymidei Cymeinfoll

Scotland

Am Fear Liath Mòr; Red Cap; Bauchan; Bean-nighe; Beast of Beinn a' Bheithir; Betram de Shotts; Biasd Bheulach; Billy Blind lowlands and England; Blue Men of the Minch; Bodach also Irish; Boobrie west coast Scottish lochs; Broichan wizard of Pictland (north Scotland); Brown Man of the Muirs anglo-scottish border; Brownie ; Brownies; Cailleach; Cain bairns; Ceasg; Cù-sìth; Each-uisge; Fachan; Fuath; Ghillie Dhu; Gigelorum; Glaistig; Gormshuil Mhòr na Maighe; Kelpie also Irish; Lavellan; Les Lavandières; Ly Erg; Maggy Moulach; Morag; Muc-sheilch; Nicnevin; Pech; Red Cap; Seelie; Shellycoat; Sìth also Irish; Sithchean Hebrides; Sluagh; Spey-wife; Tam Lin; The Green Man of Knowledge; Water Bull; Water Horse; Wild Haggis; Wirry-cow; Wulver

Welsh

Adar Llwch Gwin; Adar Rhiannon birds from Mabinogi and Welsh Arthurian tales; Aderyn y corff, corpse bird, portent of death; Afanc; Arawn; Bendith y Mamau see Tylwyth Teg; Blodeuwedd; Brenin Llwyd; Bres Tuatha; Buwch Frech; Bwciod; Cath Palug; Ceffyl Dŵr; Coblynau; Cŵn Annwn; Cyhyraeth; Cymidei Cymeinfoll; Cythraul; Dormarch; Gwagged Annwn or Gwragedd Annwn; Gwrgi Garwlwyd; Gwyllgi; Gwyllion; Gwyn ap Nudd; Henwen; Idris Gawr; Jack o' Kent; Les Lavandières; Llamhigyn Y Dwr; Maelor Gawr; March Malaen; Mari Lwyd; Morgen; Sleigh Beggey also Manx; Swan Maiden; Twrch Trwyth; Tylwyth Teg; Welsh Dragon; Welsh Giant; White dragon; Wild Hunt; Wyvern; Y Ladi Wen; Ysbaddaden; Ysgithyrwyn

Scandinavian (Viking, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland)

Æsir; Æsir–Vanir War; Alberich in Thidrekssaga written in 1250 in Norway, possibly based on a Plattdeutsch original (also appears in German Nibelungenlied from 1200 in Passau, Bavaria and Ortnit from 1230s Germany, Strassburg; Álfablót sacrifice to elves; Alvaldi jotun; Askafroa German "Eschenfrau"; Bergsrå; Berserker; Bøyg; Brokkr dwarf; Brunnmigi; Bysen; Church grim; Dagr; Death; Deildegast; Di sma undar jordi; Disir; Dökkálfar; Draugr; Dvalinn; Dwarf ; Dwarfs, Dwarves; Eikþyrnir; Einherjar; Elder Mother; Elli; Endill jotun; Fenrir; Fin; Fjölvar; Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn; Fossegrim; Fylgiar; Gangr; Garmr; Gjenganger; Glenr; Gríðr; Grýla and Leppalúði; Gulon; Hábrók; Hafgufa; Half-elf; Hamingja; Hati Hróðvitnisson; Helhest; Hervör alvitr; Hildr; Hlaðguðr svanhvít; Hljod; Hlökk; Hræsvelgr; Hrímgerðr; Hrímgrímnir; Hroðr; Hrymr; Hulder; Huldufólk; Humli; Hyrrokkin; Iði; Ím (joetunn); Járnsaxa; Jörmungandr; Jötunn; Katie Woodencloak; Kraken; Lagarfljótsormur; Landdisir; Landvættir; Leikn; Ljósálfar; Lyngbakr; Marmennill; Móðguðr; Mögþrasir; Mound Folk; Myling; Nafnaþulur; Níðhöggr; Niß Puck; Nisse; Norns; Norse_Nude_Snake_Witch; Nótt; Nykken; Odin; Púca; Rå; Rådande; Ratatoskr; Sæhrímnir; Selkolla; Selma; Sjörå; Skogsrå; Sköll; Skrat; Skuld (half-elf princess); Skvader; Slattenpatte; Sleipnir; Storsjöodjuret; Sumarr and Vetr; Surtr; Svaðilfari; Svartálfar; Swan Maiden; The Elder Mother also English; The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body; Tilberi; Tooth Fairy; Tree Elves; Troll; Troll Cat; Vættir; Valkyrie; Valravn; Vanir; Vardøger; Veðrfölnir; Vi��finnr; Vittra; Vǫrðr; Vörnir (joetunn); Vosud; Werewolf; Wight; Wild Hunt; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Worm of Linton; Wurm; Ysätters-Kajsa; Yule cat; Þorbjörg lítilvölva; Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa; Þrívaldi; Þuríðr Sundafyllir

Note: Although most European lore is easily implemented into art and fiction without causing lasting cultural damage, there may be some European cultures (from Basque to Welsh) whose cultures have been subject to cultural suppression. Notify me if there are mistakes or if I need to add disclaimers or revisions concerning these creatures.

[mousysims]

mousy save; hold onto your hats

i started with my go-to simlicy save, so most of the residential lots and many of the community lots are by simlicy. i agonized over lot placement and number of each type of lot; i only ever play one family so it makes sense for me to have fewer residential lots and tons of community lots. i'm missing a lot of packs so this is pretty carefully curated to fit with what i do have (i'm used to replacing wallpaper and some furniture for most gallery builds but if it's missing much more than that I try a different lot). i love community lots that a) have things for sims to do and b) look pretty. all of these fit and i highly recommend every single one!!

willow creek

strip mall by simlicy

blue velvet by simlicy

rosado lounge by bottsbotts (it's turned the wrong way in the screenshot lmfao i've since turned it the right way)

summer lane vinyl by pixelddump (cc required)

umbrage manor by simlicy

sushi bar by therealpraline

acadia springs park by silrosse

honeydew coffee shop by ratboysims

oasis springs

thriftea mirage by ratboysims

rock n roller diner by amy_alston93

calico community pool by silrosse

house of mango by silrosse

desert bloom by wafl

llama lanes by simlicy

magnolia promenade

l'heure de the by e-aplouf

magnolia complex by simlicy

simazon bookstore by irrelephant7

ice cream shop by anadius

newcrest

newcrest mall by plasma-janes (cc required)

greasy goods by littledica (cc required)

monsun noodles by ratboysims

rollin park by ratboysims

george's brewpub by silrosse

solcaf by silrosse

rise and grind cafe by littledica (cc required)

industrial plant cafe by therealpraline

the forgotten by bottsbotts

les boules du lhama by e-aplouf

kids center by anadius

health and fitness center by jessiejessan

planete popemiel by e-aplouf

bamboo wok by silrosse

windenberg

plant shop by simlicy

island bluffs by wafl

thriftea by kateemerald

old quad restaurant by simlicy

old town bridal by simlicy

old town center by simlicy

the new old quarter inn by simlicy

bathe de rill by simlicy

ocean crown by ratboysims

discotheque pan europa by moonbearsim

patisserie by stjernesky

san myshuno

planet honey pop! by allisas

culpepper heights by bottsbotts

the naked gnome by bottsbotts

casbah gallery by pictureamoebae (cc required)

stargazer lounge by ratboysims

skye gym by ratboysims (converted to a library in my save)

myshuno meadows by simlicy

brindleton bay

pupperstone park by thaisvolpe

vet clinic by simlicy

yacht club by simlicy

grimalkin kitchen and tap by quiecence90

cat cafe by therealpraline

bedlington boathouse by simlicy

deadgrass discoveries by simlicy

del sol valley

hotel by simlicy

studio pbp by roxxysims

ward park and cafe by pinneaple8904

orchid a go go by whyeverr

newcrest cinema and arcade by silrossse (renovated to fit into del valley in my save)

starbucks and gym by simlicy

pride music festival by kriint (i placed on a bigger lot and expanded on the existing one)

sulani

laguna mermaid beach by feliciabrenning

sapphire shores by kwizz66

sulani juice bar by simcubeez

ohan'ali beach by simlicy

hang loose hangout by vulpeculai

evergreen harbor

quarry building by marie-lennie-joe

utopia cafe by silrosse

warehouse nightclub by simlicy

the waterfront by luckyheather

sprucewood pool by ratboysims

mt. komorebi

matsu no yu by tamo-sim

komorebi onsen by tksims__0oy

senbamachi market by diviniityx

hanamigawa koen by kaledz

izakaya ippai x2 by mariakarita

restaurant and karaoke bar by bottsbotts

henford-on-bagley

romantic woodland wedding by riemunen

granite lake by wafl (renovated to fit into henford-on-bagley in my save)

finchwick village hall by thesimline

the gnome's arms by yuliana_fib

copperdale

high school by aharris00britney

auditorium by luzy_lou_77

thriftea by luzy_lou_77

lakeview park by tinynezumi

mt komorebi cafe by pchrseen

teddy’s pizza and arcade by ratboysims

[ilikedice]

Tentative dice palette for my blue grimalkin sorcerer, Avalon. Sans D20 cause I'm waiting for something special to come in. Might add more gold or something green for her eyes.

D12: Crystal Caste Blue Silk

D10: Chessex Bright Blue Velvet

D%: GioLasar Eclipse d10

D8: Gamescience Opaque Gray

D6: Chessex Smoke Borealis

D6: Labmasu Riot Dice CatVenture

D4: D&G Blue Magma

[sogton]

Generic Poetry

Original: Darkest moon had soon forgot The utter danger of the Plot To answer call of Banshee Queen A heightened and a highly mien Servant of Shadows, Isabel Black Dark Grimalkin call the attack! As shadows whirl around thy head Fear me, I am Sogton Kottr, and I fly as one dead Her beauty dark as Winter's lace She touched you once and left no trace But still anon her footsteps fall In hidden valleys, mountains tall 'Tis the ice queen, you said That shatters souls and heals the dead The ice queen sitting on her frozen throne In halls of frost, no sun shone Yet still one man dared to challenge the queen Though his life, until now, was but a dream His ambitions even less Yet he saw the moonlight reflected in her pale tress Did you stop to judge the time With what reason or rhyme Did you come to these far flung shores Under a blood rime, with sea foam Disguising the treacherous rocks below This the ice queen said To the englishman Better to fly than die In icy roam Though the allure of the beauty and the beast was strong, lo Yet how could this adventurer resist the guile And slight smile, disguising the fury of the queen Such was his doom underneath the throne and light sheen. The ice queen imprisoned him, yet herself was bound With ring though nonphysical, still struck her round And love melted her accursed heart Yet could not entirely bind the art Of shadow, devilish magic Pagan shadows in the sick And eldritch dark She acquiesced to him Could she be grim? Under this amourous adventure The lure of green shores, and grass under hill Broke her out of her spell, And though uncertain, tarrying under the snow She came to knell And the thatched cottage of his home Shadowy still She bargained with goodness, helped the peasant and uplifted the half breed Yet the honeyed mead of her bargain seemed false And allayed by grief, she stole his life And became his wife Now Ragna Kottr For this was the ice queen's name Unhuman daughter Of sin, not flesh Rebelled against God And was caught in the mesh Of those who transgressed the Divine White hair, white raiment To cause the unbeautiful to lament She married John Westley, sailor Parlor magician, sometimes purveyor Of childish dream The glowing rainbow orbs of fairy tale Unfeasible, ephemeral, unsubstantial How such a man would have tamed the proverbial lion And gone From the comfort of England's green and pleasant land Sunny under fertile river band To the cold shores of island dreary No one knows, yet he was not weary And maintained the hand of the seductress in marriage Yet God had a plan Grim tidings yet nevertheless melt under the ban Of Heaven Such is what happened In England, the lovers made their home Yet from the early rebellion, the bone and flesh of humanities' transgression Was relieved by Jesus, and through fission Like that which the stars undergo, The force of goodness in Ragna's soul Formed humanistic nature The fool yet dreams of empirical power Domination of men in dark hour Yet Sogton Kottr cast aside such aspirations Living in Nippon, a frugal life Castle undecorated, free of imperial strife A simple black robe to match the sadness of her home Attended she was by lantern carrying mountain Gnomes The dark haired lady Sogton challenged the ice queen Out of jealousy, but not vanity, like the demon She cast down the London squallor, But was deposed by the englishman and his dread wife's palour. Now our tale comes to a close, as the Nymph rests imprisoned in the teapot. Yet not forgot. The Samurai wandering from the lands of feudal dominion Does not become the minion of his desires Yet stokes the fires Of nobility Strange certainty A generous mien, a wanderlust so deadly To those without the greed And desperate failure of lust But in God we trust At least, at the beginning Not all was evil then Some may say that none in the beginning was evil But when the Creator transpired that each being should give their all to art and music One great song before the fall, the Demon conspired To bring the Sephirot down A clown Yet still noble, would end up redeeming humanity. Come and see If anyone dares to pursue the rhyme to it's just end Lend aid And give the thirst land it's due sacrifice in newborn seed laid To growth If a moat bridge Was built on sand, it would fail And so the witch Ragna Kottr, Though could control hail and cold Yet had no idea of good's power for defeating the old And sending the rot to rack and ruin Still imprisoned in a teapot, the Light Sprite made a ploy To destroy the bind with eldrich abomination Manipulated for good For even the ugly shall avoid damnation, though bound in dark Away from the light, but not evil She suffered the blight, to make the ill witch pay. The day broke. John thought Sogton saved them, when really a cunning ploy Sending the assassin to a vain threat, inconsequential Met with trivial acting A emotionless play So putting forth a small fraction of the powers The flower Of youth and holy vengeance Sogton Kottr, Divine Fooled the fearful englishman into adding her to his party Not smart For Ragna, Yet hearty in the eyes of the wise The trio was amended Some ragged band of adventurers, lended To grand pursuits, a man who wanted the best for his country And two sisters at each other's throats Knife in knife, parry for parry, without heraldry or pomp But John was oblivious to this Not envious, he could not comprehend evil Until it was at his doorstep And it was not Not yet. The last chapter of our adventure unfolds at a manor In the woods Shadowy, of ancient built When the Romans still roamed Britain's isles Ragna had her fill of shadow She would strike soon Yet the doom of Sogton was not vanquished just yet. Ragna struck, claws outstretched Yet with luck John turned around and stabbed the witch And she died, in spirit, if her physical body could not be vanquished. Yet spiritually she was still present. Until Sogton manipulated time. The past was restored. And our rhyme ends on the western ocean. Like the legendary tale The pair set sail To greener pastures Under a sun that was glowing. Sakura Blossom falleth oh Cruel Woe, Cruel Woe As soul of weary Wanderer to the Otherworld doth go The Golden Tether breaketh and the chain shatters like glass As soul of weary Wanderer to the Otherworld doth pass His soul alights on Fuji san and knows not where to go With aching heart he hears the call of those trapped down below Of Barrow Gnome, and Lonesome Elf, with lanterns bright up the mountain In pitch black night they walk, while below, the Sun shines on the plain Past Tori shrine and uttering rhyme he leaves an offering And finally at Mass he came to grass where Nightingale doth sing With aching heart he passion asks the Spirits gathered there If any Kami ever saw a Girl with Snow White Hair? Then Kitsune comes, to perilously lead the chase And pursue Ragna through the wrack and the waste With regal mien the White Sorceress dwells by Willow Tree And fast meandering River brings the Naiads free The Raven, Amaterasu's Eye, watches the fields with red gleam And as he spies, utters a cry, to below the Moon Sheen The Wanderer Comes to this Sacred Site And with Sign and signet and sapphire performs the Sacred Rite And at last the Mist parts And Kitsune leads him up a Hill to vanish with a pure heart And John meets his Goddess Not the less, does Ragna Blush, and twist her hands, with courteous White bands Her heart pines, and not like the cruel rime Was the place, yet blessed in Strands Of Divinity. Now with surety, John approaches her,  And with Mist, she could not resist, the leaves parted, They kissed. Folk: Excalibur, The blade was forged in water sweet And hot in realms where flagons flowed with mead And dreaming damsels had some Faerie Magic While tempestuous seeking psychic Roamed over the forest emerald and tourmaline The fresh clean white tabbard, the ringing sound of the tambourine The drum beat rapt a military tune In pleasing dells, the horn and flute brayed till noon And the evening fell with hot caress on the pastures quaint And night yet beautiful the stars illuminate The realm of Arthur's home, free from Taint The Quest For The Grail was set! Excalibur, Oh Excalibur! Shall I fain discard this haliberd? And have I failed the bet? The drumbeats of war no longer soothe my heart And peace calls to me in the song of Bard Yet I cannot subside and rest Vengeance calls me hence! Shall I ever see the white walls of Camelot In ravenous glee? Or with jovial Mordred, forget the plot? Gram, Arondight Half light Such Arthur's bane was The blade of the King Saint sanctum Laundsalin With tempered steel and moon silver it was forged A blade to rival Elementium's cursed lores And dark to subdue the murmuring of Elves And fairy Hobgoblins in desolate shelves The ice forms around the huddled leaves in glade Shading around like frightened maidens in pallourous afraid The design of Shadowy Ghouls and intelligent princes The Blade Was forged by witches, And succinct Demons, kind of Lich And All Soul's Night is saved We pray to you, King Lancelot And Mordred too, with Dark Sheen Thy noble Arms is not forgot We pray thee, Grace Our Halloween Viking Sunset In burdened perfection Our burning inflection of regal splendor Waves crash against the shore of our ferric and fearsome dragon ships As we reach the siege of seas Tell me wise man once you left the farmland meadows Was God and Glory hiding in the shadows? was there anything waiting in treasure or compensation as you stared at the stareless and blank oppression at subjugation of the vast encircling dark? Hark At the end of the world The Jormungand Jaws turn around our screaming vessels The elves wait with vipers engulfed with the rapture of boiling magma, black ambrosia Sundown has come on the wailing and lashes of mortals that fend and impartially perish in the cold dark Loki alighted on Svartalfheim Brash, black, busy buildings Cutting through the air like a frosty magic spire Challenging the grace of God A dismal prospect in the rime ocean Such was the grace in those times A hard life, given only to those worthy, and with good will Yet much was holy and soothing about then, and those that lived through evil conquered the weakness The Vikings knew the sadistic style of Sigurd Now Loki had travelled through the mists of Niflheim to get there Musing not, more morose was his bane in the frost fire of the arcane Void, Where not much lived, and he would be hard pressed Living through the rapid transformations and tests of the Primal Realm thusly Destroyed in body and mind, though not in spirit. Loki endured this. And as a damsel in distress, a dastardly graceful dame, dressed in elegance, with decorum abound, virtuous if wicked, and containing an evil heart yet smiling countenance, thus Loki orange corseted attained the corsairs of Svartalfheim The Dark Elves there were brash, but eager to serve the Tyrant, and with cherries and wrath she was fed, and attained in her throne, and nursed back to something resembling health. But her face, recovering illsomely from the serpent's Venom, distorted and became disfixed in the eternal stream of time. It was a monstrous array of color and rainbow light, and mercuriously shifted like some pouring poison to the confine. Ragna, as we shall call her now, for she took a name of revenge and damned resolution, pridefully angry stood, and slapped the hame of the Doctor. "Grant me alms!" she screamed, and her Banshee shriek was soon obeyed. Now Linsom Lauflett, the slave and bellows master, told the thralls to brutally heat the magma, having necessary cauterizing properties even for God Venom. Loki was placed on a bench, stone carved the table was, and the heat steamed from the fire of the lake which coldly rested above the vulcanous mountain that led to the cavern of the Elves. Ragna screamed as the fire magma dropped on her and redressed her face in a symphony of pain, and she convulsed like one half mad with visions of grandeur. Phantoms came to her, and she began to walk like one half incensed in a fantasy. The spirits were darkly conquered, however, and the magma solidified into a mask, forged into a clown smile by her indomitable spirit. The danger was through. She rose triumphant, a dawn of man and Beast, this Godtrivested part responding to her eternal domination of the mortal races. Artemis Star Bow Vanquisher of the dark below Thy eyes contain sweetness The dew of the earth, is a cascade of river on thy illustrious halo The triumph of man The conquiesence of a conception of dignity The Trinity Reflected in thy light The return of Gods and Giants and Demons full bright A sad array of abandonment for the parched fallen Earth Too many failures lay in that dark dirt Thy hair, is a band that circles around the entire plane A uniting of ends, the Jormungand serpent eating its tail A sign of stability in Midgard And Beyond To the greater Stars that sit on the gate of the Elder Dark A sad and stark reminder OF RESTITUTION The dissolution of mortal binds A rhyme, to pierce even the chaos within the river of Andromeda And the song of Philomela, echos to the Divine In this clime, not much sits, but ever flows, In increasing heat, as Dante knew Until how tempered and beat like gold he returned to the eternal New Dawn. A triumph of humanity. With clarity, to analyze events. He saw Diana bathing in the vents and hot geysers of the Greek Arcadian peek And with a sleek look, was caught in her wiles, and devoured by dogs Necessary of penetrating the fog of human indecency Such a pennant monk thou hast never seen in the penitentiary Or Rosary, of Indus monk, who nurses on Ram's knee and Sita's breast Far removed, but still containing the glory of the West So Kipling mused while in field of guns, amid a sulfur cloud And even the darkest evil always passes by when Angel shroud Illuminates the plain. Be with me, Queen, and I shall tolerate pain. Now in that bright City Where knows know sadness, nor gloomy pity Related the call of Giants and the Horn of Sylphs With deep births, their dominance over the mortal races was unchallenged With Queenly garland, their Kingdom uncommon Rose to compete with the heights of Heaven Their bronze City competed with even Olympus And the Thunderer was brashly impressed Not such a glory Has occurred since the Heathen Kings Of Atlantis in the West Who worshiped Christ though they knew not his face And were the only ones in Limbo saved Praise be to the Glory The resounding Allfather, that Pity, and Judgement Of sin, not a gentle hand, but resounding fire that refines and burns away impurity Devoutly to be wished Sister, can though comprehendest the tale? So with Sail. Earendil, desperate Mariner Beseeched the Valar for Salvation But few was given, for they were wrought by Melkor And the evil that well deep poisoned the dawn of Creation in the Gigantomachy That slaying of kith and kin that poisoned the world Enoch speaks of it, When he allayed in Mesopotamia Of the fallen Angels, and those deceitful kind Who poisoned the minds of Genius Gloria, was far gone Yet not forgotten Enoch still had wisdom enough to measure the circumference of the world When fools talk of conspiracy deep, and decry the Ice Wall, that division of Heavenly Rule and earthly desire, they hit close to the fact Yet with tact they have not, they would do well to remember the words of Milton, as he describes Mic'hael, talking to Adamas as he searches in the tree Reading the books, the sacred note, that scroll winding through the Garden of Eden Free he was, though far fallen And in time he would come to repent of his transgression, become good again. That was not now. "Turn away from misdeed, Adam, what reason do thy have to examine the Stars? Turn away from needless speculation, the Heavens are not thy to understand, and instead work on improving the race of mortals on earth. The planets are not yours to will, the movement of them is Eternal." so those lost, and ephemeral Flat Earthers, would do well to remember the will of God. We shall go back to Enoch. The King, knew of the demise of the Earth And how the Giants were rebelling So with thought spelling He turned to Jesus He was on the world in those days A king with Sapphirical stone A halo shrouded his appearance, his limbs were wan And gave the appearance of one not human The earthly races would do well to remember that he is not on of their kind Although Man Made in his image Have some terror before a superior mind Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom Jesus said thus "Behold, Enoch, the extent of my rule." And he showed him the far Earth, The Angels, with their multiple eyes and fast wings and cutting angles, amid a substance translucent, a mineral neither gem nor firmament, but one containing transmorphic powers: the wheel span, fire was below. Now in the face of these mind crushing Abominable, the parasites that fed on human will, Enoch may have quavered, but he was strong. He saw the sky beyond, and realized that it was dark, yet stone and life still grew near the mark, minerals silver and red and adamantite, a bright and fell green fire was on the white. He moved on to the Ice Wall, where death was, not even Fingolfin could come to the end of the World, without suffering great terror, this was why the Eldritch Abominants dominated the world, and the Crossing was so perilous. In Denigrous, and pale transition, the realm of Hell crossed into mortal splendor. Mark now, Reader, how the world was not separate, nor a hallow sphere, but a deeper dark expanse, ranging on Parallel Planes, this eternal Interdimensional dance, was transcribed in legend, but most ignored it. The bleed was evident, Spectres sat on the realm of human, and fed on their Souls, the alchemists seemed not to care. The stare of death was upon them. Now with desperate prayer, Enoch turned to Jesus. The Lord, in infinite mercy sent an army to help him. The Giants were rebelling, and the Angels descended and curtailed the revolt. With much blood was the field won and spilled red. Ragna bound and at that time serving Jesus rejoiced at the slaughter, although the seeds of this envy would copulate throughout the Ages, and Lucifer would revolt. Female insight and necessary expansion was always thus. Now, the plight solved, yet many ill humans still relented. For the Giants were sealed, but the teachings of bad Angels remained, and Augury was high, Science turned to sin. With the within caverns, ancient information was sealed, with gold walls, although the information would be later ignored, yet God would still give men the chance to save themselves, thus was his Mercy wont. Now a great flood was set upon the world, and we shall return to No'a, or Gilgamesh, as he was known. This mortal, would save humanity. Jesus grace the masses, Thus we relate the tale of the Garden of Eden. Eve transgressed, and ate the forbidden fruit, And for that much good was done But she also suffered And evil was allowed to creep into the world So mortals would do well to veer away from Telperion's boughs And Laurelin's cursed sap, will make Humans venomously bleed, and transform, though with heavy regret and much convulsion Let not the repulsion allay you from following the path of Good. Eve was cursed and then became known as Lilith, and thou knowst the tale How she was eternal animous to Sogton Kottr, as well as her darker more resonant and familiar personality, Astarte That sacrificer of innocent, murderer of children, in Hedonistic Uruk She was a breeder of Orcs and Hobgoblins in heated depths The breadth of her transgression was not Known to Her Long would she suffer And in the End, justly so. Let us return to the harrowing of Good in Anatolia John Westley, a King in those days Built the gates of Uruk Before it was turned to evil Wise was he wrought, and crafted the bars out of True Silver Not yet Oricalc, For Atlantis had died. Ragna had alloyed with Aztec sacrificial mask And killed everyone inside Then burned the bodies on the pyre of Satanism Though she was not as evil as Astarte, she did not kill children They drowned, and came to the Kingdom, and Jesus saved them. Thus is related in the Atlantiad. John Westley, calling himself Gilgamesh Built the walls sturdy, beyond mere bricks But polymers of steel, and technological innovation Was high, though the lying scholars of false study want you to believe not learned And unintellectual cretins built the gates with chisels and dust How could Egyptians move the Obelisks? Perpetual fools. The ramparts were laden with iron, Of garlands were the houses decorated A stone was on the welcome step Vast clean streets held a variety of commerce The bazaar was always laden with silk And fruits juicy with melons that dripped water Although perfectly ripe Such a glorious paradise Has never been on Earth since the Telemacy And Arcadia Now the King ruled supreme But Astarte had plans for him, And turned him to corruption It started with prostitutes, And before long he was Hedonistically crumbled and fell to Rejection And renounced the religion of Innana Ragna for her part turned to vengeance And made the clay man Enkidu to subdue him Breathing her own breath into the Wild man, like Odin of old Greater than any gold were his manly primitive treasures Leather and waste, a strong rope, his hands instead of a bare sword The idealism of the country was on Enkidu And like Charles went to comfort John in his trip to Svalbard Years later The bards, weakened the pride of the king and turned him to gentle dreams once more Enkidu then taught him the ways of war, and for the first time drew blade Though despising violence There was nothing ill in slaying savages The glade Of Lebanon was their target The pines were the rarest in the world And they slayn the Etin Ubaba That large hybrid Which inspired the speculation of Bigfoot [No Nephilim was he, cursed be to America] in later Lays. The Days drawn on in bliss. But the flood was coming. And Astarte cruelly slain Enkidu. As the water raged through the city Through Gilgamesh's knees He saw that a part of it was slight stained with Wild man's blood And coldly cried to the wind. He then took his beloved's body, and buried it in Sky Palace, and his grave remained above the waters, like the Lone Island of Beleriand. Gilgamesh journeyed to the shore of Israel, and saw the stars spin They wheeled unnaturally in phosphorescent agony There was deep trauma, illness in the Universe He sought the Old Man how to rectify it But was told "Look within thyself" Then Gilgamesh learned from Inanna, And saw her hut And saw that humility was the best respite from the burdens of Demoniacal destruction With locomotion he built a Boat, and took the fruit of the Gods To Elvenhome, and withsustained the legacy And the immortal blood was not shed And he was in bliss, until the Slave of Sogton, that Snake Mephistopheles', sadistically stole the Fruit, and brought about the Race of Dagon So two beings, Dragon and Elves, divided Domination of the Earth As Sogton and Ragna divided the Heavens. Yet dark came upon the deep. The race of Man was doomed, for they were rude, and died alone, and no one cared about their death Thus saith the Lord. Tolkien: Part I: The Death Of Lailath Oh Muse, sing not of pleasant times Field with tended grass, soup under a fire, handmaid red dressed, gold shiefs of barley waving in the wind This is not my intent. Instead, sing of violent war, the tempestuous rage within man, the conflict unceasing, yieldless pride and incessant chattering, which leads to blades. This is what happened in Beleriand long ago, as the house of Gil Galad, long suffering and held in bright weariness, attested. In Western Lands beneath the Sun, Where clear the Nor'land waters run In mingled light of silver gold Where Valar slept in days of old Until Morgoth, relenting Destroyed the Twin Trees, and caused all woe to plague this earth Yet a slight venting For Redemption was possible, through Christ, and Men alone for Elves eternal beyond death and rebirth. In Mandos suffering lies, But the Race of Men can redeem themselves, in due time. Thus was the subject of our epic poem. Turambar dwelt in a glade, a simple ranger No stranger to toil or danger Yet a kind heart, he did not let his grief overcome his part In the Glorious Honorable play Which forged the world. Morgoth turned an eye evil towards this light, dark gathered And battered, Turambar was tested Still, in the West. Now Delu Morgoth doth attest To wicked deeds, though was once blessed But never baser crime he done, than slain the daughter of the Sun, and Moon Too soon, was this taken from our noble isles The wiles of Morgoth were intense Though past tense, thankfully he is banished beyond eternal Night Still strife, and pestilence extreme, plagued the lands In Hithlum, by Godly hand, was fire started Mist boiled, water turned to steam But the elves resisted. The strength of Fingolfin was on these lands, though he is long since dead A legend to fade in the light of the moon What a Godhead His fairness knew no bounds, and compassion abundant Blonde curles allayed his head But his descendants were fraught with redundants, and dunces, mostly because of strife with the sons of Feanor Who was a brute, although abhorred evil Such is the scene for Morgoth's second greatest crime, The unleashing of poison And fell smoke, black as death in Northern Clime He unleashed this on the Noldor, and struck Humans For he despised the Race of Man even though they were weak And harmless to him, they feared him, but he feared the power of their speak To this end he intended to obliterate the bands And brigands of roving adventurers. Turambar's sister, Lailath, was consumed She sickened, and in hot fever was doomed Cursed be Morgoth for this transgression. So, with hands cursed from the sickbed, Illness breeding, and not much hope in light and farmstead Turambar undertakes a journey East and South To mouth of Ossiriand, and wonder forest in Doriath But first he stops by the grave of his sister With aching heart he missed her, but knew he could not bring her back Men were fated to suffer for Mandos cold was grim and cruel The Reaper does not suffer fools. He forges the sign of the cross Made a cross of ash to stand above the grave and the grass And never be inviolate, though in death For Morgoth was a failure And Turambar cursed Shadow with his last breath. Part II: Turambar's Stay In Doriath Now Turambar travelled through the forest, many rocky climes, rivers fast which almost undertook him, the way was grim But thankfully the blessing of Ulmo allayed him, Who had not abandoned Middle Earth Although Manwe tried to convince him of the dangers of death, and disease to be found in the dim That possessed Mortals and Immortals alike with Demon in the Scattered Lands It was a strange time, those immense shattered deserts And forests, they were mixed light and dark, to dwell in the sorrow of Damnation from God Such a bleak future was almost unable to be mentioned. So Turambar was guided to Doriath, and safely came under the watchful gaze of King Thingol, and Mel'ian spied on him from her crystal ball. It must be paused here reader to display the politics of the Kingdom. Although egalitarian, an Eden on Earth, there was much Tyranny and distrust from the Elves. King Thingol was a Tyrant Kindly, but not all displayed this will to rule benevolently, and many fell to violence. Saeros was one of these vile folk. Under yoke of Melkor he was not But forgot the beauty of the realm. He hated men. So began Turambar to approach the palace. So we must describe the forest's splendor, although wickedness hung above it like a pall And Mel'ian's leaves, although glorious, were dark and droll. Like a sickly sweet Christmas cake. The baker was an unstable man. Saeros' malice followed Turambar, although he was not permitted to be killed And no blood would spill Doriath, until the Dwarves in their realm were culled But this was by Beren and Luthien A noble massacre, a slaughter of thieves and dirt and assassins. Thankfully we do not have to get into this sin yet. Turambar was accepted by the King, and under Angel's wing, was nourished and nurtured by glorious Mel'ian. He flourished, under her hand. A compassionate and emotional young man, he learned from great scholars, but could not stay for long. Dread doom was upon him. So with aching heart he turned to the King's feast. Thingol raised a glass, but Saeros with an ass, compared it to Turambar. The beast was distraught, for Saeros' cruel whip had made it wrought, but Turambar was quite righteous about this animal cruelty. Taking up a goblet, he smashed Saeros' gullet, and killed him, sending him below the sea into the Halls of Mandos. Such was well deserved on his part. The Heavens glorioused, but such an ill of spilling blood in Doriath, although it was immortal blood and not evil, was not to be forgiven easily. Thingol banished Turambar with a heavy heart, but repented half way though the march, and sent a letter to him. It was too late. Turambar knew the King's intent, but was going to kill con men. Part III: The Outlaws Turambar ranged onthrough the thicket, with brambles the whole thing was a shambles, outside the Range of Mel'ian's Girdle and resembling the forest in it's original primal despondency. The liturgy of literature and wealth of stories on the savagery of the forest is well known, handling Dinosaurs in ancient days, while lays of minstrels and dragons were sung. It is not a fairy tale of modern hippie, although many will say that Mel'ian's magic was the responsible force for this damn distillation, and thus is true, although is not as nurturing as thou might hope and Elves are fey and Death Dealing, a Doom for Pagan Rites. With blades they cut the shadows, so Turambar, waddling in the part pitch of the shallows, of a stream, was assailed by the Elves' artistry in their primitive habitat. With mat of fur he spent the night, and in the morning was assailed by bright and cold. Such was the wild. Turambar came to a mountain, not one to give up, hardy as his foes and twice as noble and rough. But even he could not assail the glade, it resisted him with thorn and flax. As Shadowfax, in Gandalf's times, was a messenger of Heaven, so Turambar's salvation was from a rhyme. He heard song in the dark. It was Beleg's voice, penetrating the mark. "Elbereth we sing of thee Those who wander under trees And shadowy in lost and gloom But still we remember the tune Though Abandoned by God, we are not lost We trust in Holy Crusade and the Cross" So Turambar agreed with. But he had to continue. With dark trees, he made for shelter. It was not long until outlaws and brigands in the trees he saw. They killed one another, rough, base. It was not enough to coexist in peace and comradery, the race of nature would not allow such weakness. With blessed eyes, Turambar exhumed the scene. It was some teens, paltry but emotional things, setting up camp against some invaders. So mean Turambar sliced the foes, and sent them hurrying, many he sent to Mandos, where they would be saved by God but kept outside his nourishing rays. In elder days, mercy was given, but Turambar pulled a blade on the children. The teens were Outlaws, wicked and immoral, but contained some noble virtue and were beautiful. They were of the lesser class, whom Scientists deemed inferior and Racists perverted into a subworth nature, although this was false, it was based on observation. So Eastern man has often done strife. Although justified, he came under ire of luxurious whites, and moralists basking in hypocrisy chastised. We must ignore politics for now. Turambar was ready to kill them, fearing his life, but seeing their happiness repented in emotion. Sentimentality came over him, but he was not entirely overcome with fool, he maintained a warning against those who would betray him, friends and Outlaws too. But he fed them stew. Outlaws embraced him as brother, and Turambar with joy acquiesced, returning their compassion, and he joined the crew. Part V: Turin In Nargothrond Now Turin was overcome by grief, by grief Turambar besieged, and spent many hours mourning the Death Of Beleg. This is when he abandoned his friends and turned to the mountains, returning to his home in Hithlum. The road was long, and many evils besieged him there, like the ill ghoul that dwells in the wells of the ravine stream, and the mountain trolls which were large like the size of pines. Our adventurer was greeted by his old home in Hithlum, covered in snow. Many winds flurried, his eyes were blinded by frost. But for naught, was his visit, for he could not find his mother Morwen, and again was lost to the ice. Yet another vengeance spurned his mind. He met several Easterlings, Asian Kings, Oriental Lords of the Realm. They had sold his family into slavery, and he killed the underling of Morgoth, a tan Lao Feng, who died with a tobacco wand staining his yellow teeth. The eyes bulged, and a pool of blood, overcame the slaves, who fled to the mud. Turambar mowed them down. No mercy was given to the Outlaw defilers of his treasure and kin, and with no sin was this evil committed. Yet Turambar still repented, for he had lost valuable time. He almost died in the rime, and at length came to Nargothrond, where he was rescued. The Elves of this Stone City, guarded by moat and taking boat on the river, were the Greatest warriors in Beleriand. Not since Fingolfin have we seen a ruler as genius as Felagund, who with rod, instructed the noble force of the Valar's army. He was Fingolfin's cousin, and quite the charming man. Alas, this could not last. Turambar's visitation spelt Doom for the Elves of Nargothrond, for Gurthang plotted to bring the City to the ground, such was the evil within the blade that passed on to Turambar's mind. Turambar became a mighty King, and had a black mask made from obsidian and molten lava, with emerald gems in its sockets, and was a horror to behold. The Dwarves called him Death Knight, and he slayed friend and foe alike, and was rumored to be unkillable saved for an arrow. Within the City, Turin fell in love with Finduilas, an Elf. He was not to be content with her self, though, for his eyes turned to other methods than peace, and in the east, he was going to sin with his sister, a King overturned like Oedipus to incest and strange danger. The story came to an abrupt war, for Glaurung the Red Dragon Emerged from the burrows. In fire he came, a Wyrm, quite wingless and large, with eyes that burned with alchemy that could petrify his foes, or trap them in a dark illusion. Such was his talent. Chapter VI: Glaurung The Dragon Now Turin had some intelligence with him, and sealed the blade with iron, but the irony of his fate could not escape him despite how self aware he was. Finduilas became his love, and noble love it was, yet love is often self destructive. We should aim above paltry emotions and wit, and save the Divine Grace of Spirit for viewing who we admire, not petty Altruism. Now, the battle began. An army of Orcs came from the North, and the City was besieged, fire coming to the thatched bazaars. It was bizarre, but no Dragon yet came from the burrow, for Glaurung was biding his time. Such a rhyme he had and rhythm that he could confuse mortals merely by talking to them. Turin was no fool, and had Countenance Divine, but even he could not resist the Dragon's wiles. Fafnir plotted. The blade, Gurthang, allotted sentience, a noble Demon, although corrupting and cruel, shifted in its sheath, hungry for Dragon's blood. The Mephistopheles would not escape with ease, however, for Turin had bound the sheath in runes, and the struggle was futile, although did empower the Iron Of Death with breath of corruption. Turambar went to war. With a swing of his blade, Mormegil decapitated twelve Orcs, for the Gurthang's energy was long, and could spit lightning as easily as it spit emotional distress. The battle bridge became a vortex of wind and storm, and Turin became the first to utter the command to lower the gate. Foolhardy was this, and too late. Fafnir emerged from his burrow, and immolated several of his own crew, being hungry. The Dragon emerged into the dawn, and unlike other Wyrms of his genes, was not harmed by the light, or burned in his pale skin. Therin was a shadow curse of Morgoth, having bred immortals into the Dragon's flesh, and created a creature that was neither Beast nor Intellectual, but something greater than either. Terrifying was he. Glauring, Master of Fire and ruler of land and sea, immolated the town, steaming the water and leaving the parched grass brown. He then dislimbed several fighters, and with claw and spike tail he mightily dispatched the protective bulwark. Turin went out to fight him. "Hail, Turin son of Hurin Thalion" he uttered. "Well met, although thy father will curse the day your face comes to him in dark dream from the dregs he is imprisoned in. Repent!" The words, although Turin saw through them, hit their mark, and Turambar relented. The hesitation was enough for Glauring to make his move. "Thy mother goes in rags. Tarry for her, and thou shall not be able to save Finduilas, whom thou lovest. I am Fafnir. Marvel at my cruelty." Fafnir took a claw and snared Finduilas, who was flung from a window by an Orc. Thus Turambar was ensnared, either choice having an element of failure. He cried, and upon seeing Finduilas brutally treated he swung his blade widely, enough for Fafnir to easily dodge. The scales were hard enough to break iron, and even Gurthang had a hard time for it. In a moment of selflessness, Gurthang whispered harsh to Turambar. "Do not look at his eyes." Too late. Turambar was lost, and gazing in the emeralds wished himself dead. Even worse was the shame from his father. He collapsed. Glaurung retreated. The battle was won, Nargothrond burned. Part VII: Turambar And Niniel Turambar emerged from his stupor, his memory gone, his thoughts a blurr, but gradually remembered the events that took place as he foolishly lay in misery and some half noble idea of valour. "Thy idiot," Gurthang said, "You are a weak Lord and she is gone. I would be much better off with some type of indignant simpleton hero, rather than a betrayer of kin, Sigurd the Volsung." So the sin hit Turin. Like a pall, he realized that he had to rescue Finduilas, but fate was not so kind. For Sigurd, Turambar, Mormegil, Turin, Beowulf, was a weak King, with the moral certainty of a mortal that wavered like a feather in the breeze. He would easily leave Finduilas his lover to death if it meant saving his mother, whom selfishness dictated saving, although they were quite unlike in temperment and Turin never got along with her. And his sister, that was who would truly confound him off the Godly path, but not due to ties of family, but a perverse love which matched his own cruelty and desire for dominance. He was fated for Niniel, and the last front came to be which would put Man against Deity and the virtues of morality against the sin of Hedonistic God. So Turin crashed through the plain, and eventually came to a small town. He met a man, Brandir, who took him in, but also saw Niniel. He fell in love with her instantly, and not all was evil, for it was the greatest love of mortal Men. God allayed that man should love and all love be good, but incest he did not allow to be, and even normal sexual relations were sinful because they distracted from the mind. Therefore, though Turin was pure of heart and Niniel willing, they committed the greatest sin of humanity, but it was not all his deceit, Morgoth was responsible for this. Ever since he killed the Two Trees, evil came into the world, and all wicked ill was his responsible for through his intentional malice and wrongdoing. Therefore Niniel and Turambar would be forgiven of transgression, and celebrate in Heaven. First, the conflict therein. Brandir was jealous, and with distrust he viewed Turambar as an usurper, for he loved Niniel. Not without reason, for Turambar was a fraud, and with vainly regarded word Brandir tried to convince the council that Turambar was evil and implored them to serve God. Turambar was ready to smite Brandir there, but restrained himself. In dark of the night he and Niniel kissed, and became some of the most hated individuals in history. But also the most loved. Glauring gleamed in a cavern. He had expected this. With impassionate heart he impaled Finduilas on a spike on a tree and gave the signal to lead a path for Turambar to follow her. The Wyrm smiled. Everything was going exactly as it should. Part VIII: Dragonsbane Turin came to the clearing, having followed Orc tracks and drearily packed the tools necessary for high hunting, following the clear signs of Orc attack. Gurthang warned him it was a trap, but Turambar did not listen, disliking the Iron of Death, but also pride confused him and far under the ills of Glaurung's spell, he ached for Finduilas. To make sure she was safe, although he did not value her much, but some love still remained in his heart. This part was the hardest. He cut his foot on a thorn plant, and the blood, which was spelled  to deter any form of danger, was touched by a single leaf, making that spot on the foot weak. The shadows gathered around tall pine trees. Glaurung saw this, and gloated. With ease he came to the burial sight of Finduilas, where she was Crucified like the Christ, arms spread wide like an eternal Angel gone to peace in God's beauty with a spike shoved into her chest. The roots were binding her hands and feet, showing she had been mind attacked, and the blood attested to her torture. Cruel lure was Glaurung, a master of psychology. He wounded Turambar so much that it would be easy to capitalize him. The Volsung screamed and in the forest, owls flew, to green pastures and hard mountains that were better than this forest, which was cursed. Forever that place would become known as Finduilas' Haunt. None dwell there but gaunt Imps and Banshees. Now Turin returned home, but Brandir was waiting for him, warning that Turambar had fallen in love with his sister, for he found news from the North, and Elves of Gondolin friends with Hurin, who told Brandir of the son's lineage. Turambar did not believe him, but in his heart he knew it was so, and with aching heart filled with woe, he went insane, and slew Brandir, the Black Blade feasting on the blood of innocent as kindness died and compassionate bliss was ruined by Lust. Volsung delighted in his murder and became smiling as a Demon. Glaurung ambushed Turin, but the son of Odin had other plans, and was aware of treachery, the fell murder pushing him to unlock his Divine lineage and ascend to the ranks of the Godhead. He stabbed Gurthang into the Dragon's fleshy belly, past the hard scales, and Gurthang extracted lightning, killing Glaurung in a torrential downpour of blood. The blood was strong enough to make a rain. Finally, Turambar was immortal, but the leaf still stuck to his flesh. He tripped on a rock, limping on his injured foot and impaled himself with Gurthang. Entirely  surprised and angry looking at the Heavens, Turambar collapsed from the unintentional blow and died looking at a single Star. The Star that had Abandoned him. Niniel, having been told of her incest by Brandir and that she was with child by Sigurd, came to his corpse and cried, caressing his face, natural sisterly love finally breaking the curse of sex that had haunted the pair ever since Glaurung's emerald eyes shone on them. "Master of Doom By Doom Mastered. Oh happy to be dead, beloved brother, I shall join you, wait for me in Valinor." She flung herself into a waterfall, and the Elves of Gondolin made a monument, a memorial to evil and good intention, and it still stands strong amid a phantom doomed forest while the Heros that fought and fell there rejoice in God's Eternal Mercy and compassionate redemption.

[astarothkenobireader]

EPOUVANTEUR T.9 : LE DESTIN DE L’EPOUVANTEUR (Joseph Delaney)

Résumé:

Tom, Alice et l'Epouvanteur débarquent sur les rives irlandaises. Farrell Shey, chef de l'Alliance pour la Terre, fait appel à eux pour empêcher la prochaine célébration des mages

Mon avis :

La saga de l’épouvanteur.... J’ai beaucoup de mal à être régulière, j’ai lu le premier tome j’avais 15 ans et maintenant que j’ai lu le huitième (sur douze), j’en ais 22. Ce n’est pas que je l’apprécie pas, au contraire, je passes toujours un bon moment simplement j’ai besoin de temps entre deux romans jeunesse, l’écriture, bien qu’agréable, est pour moi un peu trop simple, et honnêtement, c’est ça qui a tendance à me bloquer.

Ensuite les personnages principaux : Alice  est doué de bon sens mais tout le monde s’en fiche, Tom Ward se met dans des situations impossible sans réfléchir et l’épouvanteur est un vieux grognon qui refuse de reconsidérer ses positions, alors vous pensez bien que quand il s’agit de régler un problème, ce n’est pas l’équipe la plus efficace du monde. Heureusement que Grimalkin vient sauver tout le monde et l’histoire. Malgré tout, il y a une évolution dans ce tome, ils grandissent un peu et les contour “mauvais” - “gentils” deviennent plus flous, le tout étant moins absolu  il est aussi plus agréable à suivre.

C’est la première fois avec cette saga que je me dis que je vais lire la suite dès que j’ai l’occasion d’aller en librairie, d’habitude je me case toujours ces lectures pendant un challenge, comme quoi, si l’auteur a continué sur cette lancé je risque de m’y laisser prendre.

[gwythaint]

For several years, I have been running a Wuxia pastiche campaign within my Northport setting.  The population of Northport is quite mixed,  having a large number of goblin artisans (the goblins have lived in the city since its founding a few thousand years ago), humans, orcs, and a fair amount of mixed folk, given the situation to the east, where the nation of Shevnia lost a war with orcs because of a lost paytrain for their army, sort of like the post goblin war of Lesserton & Mor.  There are nations with different cultures to either side of Northport, which is set in an area inspired by Banestorm, in the old empire of Aral, with Valdassya to the west, and Shevnia to the east.  In addition to the Aralaise speaking Orcs, Goblins, and humans, there are two other communities: Little Shevnia to the east, and Little Sahud to the west.  I was sort of looking at Tredroy as an inspiration for part of this.  (Of course my city was also informed by the advenure Banrnacus, City in Peril. from Dragon Magazine # 80, as mentioned on my last podcast, along with my frequently recommended Ruins of the Undercity)

I know that using a pan-Asian pastiche like Sahud in my campaign is pretty crassly not PC, but I had a request by several players armed with google translate and wikipedia articles and a general knowledge base of cheesy kung fu films that wanted to play in that kind of setting. With apologies to the large number of people who may be offended by this kind of colonial cultural appropriation, this is how the long running conflict between Sakemoko , the patron of these characters, roughly 450 points:

Sakemoko is a squire+treasure hunter+ 50pt genin lens with born warleader 3 ,charisma +2, social regard 2: respected, (Social stigma minority, code of honor: bushido, sense of duty to Sahudese,) guild rank 4, status 2 filthy rich Large ally group of catfolk ninja office:master of funerals, He also has several points in independent income based on His involvement in numerous side businesses

and Akira Aku No, his enemy, roughly 500 points

half oni boss, head of rival ninja clan Brute +treasure hunter+ 50pt wizard lens+ 50pt ninja lens+ infernal + half ogre, has bloodlust, berserk

Both of these figures had extensive ally groups, each having at their service numerous ashigaru, and rival ninja clans.

The Team consisting of Chye Isuel, an ashigaru with some distant dragonman heritage, Chou-Zen Mou, an elder infused wizard specialized in lightning spells, Ales Konstantin, a Shevnian Squire+Adept, Iskander, a Valdassian martial artist (the player was using mostly 3e to build him), Tanaka Kojimaru, a Samurai warrior poet. Jin the Yak and Airis Moonshadow were no longer with the group.

Along with them were Di San Ge Er Zi the one eyed Ashigaru, and a number of mercenaries they hired away from Akira Aku No’s mercenary recruitment drive  for promises of better pay, the swordsman Xu, and his partner Chung Wang (Thank you Jackie Chan) as with most of my npc’s, I give a super brief stat block pulled usually from DF15 until more details are needed.

Chung Wang is a Brute St 15 DX 12 IQ 10 Ht 12 Hp 15 per 10 will 10 fp 12 T/s 1d+1/2d+2 Bs 6 mv 6 dodge 9 parry 10 DR 3 torso 5 Skills brawl 13 Two handed sword 14 tetsubo, 2d+4 crushing Gluttony, overconfident, compulsive carousing, greedy

  Xu is a Skirmisher St 11 dx 14 iq 10 ht 11 Hp 11 per 10 will 10 fp 11 T/s 1d-1/1d+1 Bs 7.5 mv 7 dodge 11 parry 12 Dr 3 Combat reflexes, ambidexterous Extravagant, impulsive, compulsive carousing Ambitious, suspicious, jealous Broadsword 16 1d+2 cut Shortsword 12 1d cut Karate 12 Fastdraw katana 15 Fastdraw shortsword 15 Light lamelar and helmet with ear and neck protection, Cheap ornate katana and wakizashi

Having decimated the forces of Akira Aku No on the initial raid to recover the tea set containing a divine being or two, and then by robbing his casino, the oni blooded boss had to resort to hiring mercenaries, including, initially Xu, and Chung Wang and a couple of naginata wielding ashigaru, along with Ale’s enemy, Bresnark, a magic user equipped with Rain of Stones and also accompanied by a Created Brute Warrior, who was defeated and robbed of his mundane gear by Iskander and Tanaka. Bresnark could probably have been taken out, except that he has plot protection as an enemy, and has to be defeated by Ales.

During the assault on Sakemoko’s compound, with rooftop ninja archers and assorted poorly armored mooks attacking the gate, a couple of ninja’s got in ( one disguised as a new ashigaru hireling, who was spotted as odd by Di San Ge er Zi,) and  poisoned the food stores in the kitchen  and then through poison shuriken at the two ashigaru it was hired with. They then led a chase through the complex, cutting holes in shoji paper walls and hiding in the rafters before being cornered in the library, where they were cornered and threatened to burn the place down (Ales stepped in and used Extinguish Fire) They were locked in irons, from which they made an escape, and were eventually hunted down.  Chou-Zen had eliminated another ninja who had been on the roof, by casting grease and causing them to fall into the koi pond in the courtyard. Another one was dispatched after the shoji walls were all collapsed and it had no place to hide. The poisoned Ashigaru were treated by the house physician, Yodoko no Hana, who is based on Ehi Shiina from Audition

Yodoku no Hana (poisonous flower) 125pt sage, with Alchemy, poison, physiology first aid, physician, herbary and esoteric medicine, Psychology diagnosis and surgery and detect lies, but no modular book learned wisdom. (Instead, she has the ninja lens) She has callousness, sadist and curious and has torture, pressure secrets and massage? She is attractive and immune to poison and has high pain tolerance. She makes poisons and potions That cause sensitivity and reduce will

In the end, Sakemoko siezed a coveted office, MAster of Funerary Services, from Akira Aku No, who had botched things when his barrels of salt packed dead waiting shipping to the homeland were animated by a toxifier demon, and arranged for all of the funerals of the people who had attacked him, and even gave stipends to the families, building him more Social regard.

Akira Aku No appeared a day later with a full procession including dragonmen and musicians, and sued for peace, saying that he was relocating to Little Shevnia for a beaurocratic job, and sold off his remaining interests in Little Sahud to Sakemoko.

From here, the crew will be heading to Veroigne, a region south of Northport where rice is grown for the Sahudese of Northport.

Veroigne developed in the campaign because a new player wanted to play a member of royalty and his husband, captain of his guard. I had little trouble building them, except for the general absence of Social Status in DF, and settled on giving him a couple of levels of Courtesy Rank. The two, both handsome  Chivalrous knights, had a backstory that created some campaign setting. By not accepting an arranged marriage, Baronet James forfeited the barony to his sister Loraine, who had married Marcel Pequenaud, the baron from a neighboring comunity that had serfs, while most of the Veroignese had died during the plague forty years ago, leaving the small barony struggling.  Pequenaud is a horrible ruler, and most of the family retainers loyal to Sir Percival and James have become Robin-Hood like bandits dedicated to protecting the peasantry from the Barons predations. As his soldiers are largely collecting taxes, Several other PC’s from Northport (Kirpich Rockson the Priest of Grom, Syvanus the elven archer/thief/wizard,  Marlena the Seasoned Apprentice and Snorry Rosslovich the Seasoned Guard, all of whom searched for the lost paytrain in the Shevnian Hexcrawl, along with Dionysus the faun swashbuckler, Aethul the ranger, and Balir Ironhide the Dwarf are on their way to hunt the Terrible Beast of Veroigne, which is terrorizing the peasantry.  Along the way they have met a party of Dolmenwood creatures,  a moss dwarf, a woodgrue, a frost elf and a grimalkin, and had little issue with them except for the compulsive playing of the woodgrue, that affected a party member or two, and a fantastic creature, the Stag of Veroigne, which gave Aethul a blessing when he approached it nicely. Killing it would have brought on a curse, which would have intensified if they had eaten it. It would have resurrected itself like Frey’s Goats the next day had they done so.

As to what James and Percival were up to in Northport? Thjey joined up with a pair of warrior /wizards, Sederic and Grimaldi to hunt down the racketeering Connard DuMenteur (Asshole the Liar) who had informed the Guard of Vilgar’s underground fighting operation at the very start of the campaign, back in August of 2013.  Connard had a fortified building with all access to the undercity cut off, so as to prevent an attack from below.  Among his personal crew of kneecappers and fingertakers who collected money for him were five brutes (including Lourdad and Chienne LaChatte, a gigantic elder infused brute that collected fingers as trophies.

After bashing through the brutes, one surrendered (Lourdad) and they went after DuMenteur. He had holed up in his Magelocked lower appartment, and had time to load up on paut, and  set up a trap. He opened a secret door that lead into an L-shaped closet, and hid in an alcove behind an arras, and waited for them to break in the door. They had been using sense foes earlier, but they all blindly ran into the close, and had it Magelocked behind them, and were stuck for an hour. when they got out ( the door was stone, and the knights were in front, unable to squeeze past to attempt to break down the door), Both DuMenteur and Vilgar were waiting for them, having come to a financial arrangement. ( I have a lot of bosses parlaying).  Grimaldi and Sederic of the cursed, dancing sword went on to do some advertising work for the underground tavern, standing watch while some laborers nailed signs.

  Another group, the one that had negotiated a truce with the ogres in the winecellars and are travelling with a four-armed demon hunting celestial descended from a servitor of Kali had tracked down a couple of cultists who were on their way to buy cuttlefish. The cultists of Saturnos the Devourerer have an initiation rite in which the supplicant dyes theyr robes in cuttlefish ink by placing it in a barrel with them and agitating the squiddos by drowning a cat. This leads to the typical markings of the cultists, blackened hands and scratches all over their faces.  Typically, they are led into what they think is a sex cult with offers of carnal relations with succubi and incubi, and up until now, the assorted groups of PC’s had thought they were dealing with a demon cult, especially due to all of the petty demons and Demons of Old that they had faced. They were forgetting about the Demons from Between the Stars… As it was discovered by this group, which included Oly the thief, who had funded the paytrain Hexcrawl with loot from fighting the cult when Ludlow the Munificent  accidentally blocked their ceremony and created a gate to Hell, Mancini the Guild agent (Agent+Treasure Hunter) and his guard ally Norman, Aoife the Leprechaun Druid who was on the mission to negotiate with the Trolls and entered the Library of Flax, Ardenas Barehand, who had been involved with Oly  in stealing the Jugga Trophy from the Orcish Dojo, along with Kalima, they discovered what the cultists were really about.

Kalima - 250 pt celestial avatar of Kali Att 80 Adv 149 Dis -50 Q-5 Sk 44 Sp 32 Total: 250 Attributes: ST 15 [0]; DX 12 [20]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 13 [10]. Damage 1d+1/2d+1; BL 39 lbs.; HP 15 [0]; Will 14 [0]; Per 13 [0]; FP 14 [0]; Basic Speed 7.00 [-10]; Basic Move 7 [0]. Advantages: Celestial [75] (ST+1, dx+1,iq+1, ht+1, will+1, fp+1, bs +.5, attractive , fit, spirit empathy, celestal nimbus,divine gifts, Divine curse (preferred enemy of demons) weakness to evil areas) Half Ogre [20] ST+4 [40]; IQ-1 [-20]; HT+1 [10]. Advantages: Damage Resistance 1 (Tough Skin, -40%) [3]; Fearlessness 1 [2]; Night Vision 3 [3]. Disadvantages:Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Social Stigma (Savage) 2 extra arms [20] Higher Purpose, Slay Demons [5] Sharp Teeth [5] power Investiture 2 [20] signature gear, spear [3] Charms [6] Dis: Unattractive [0] Honesty [-10] Pacifism, Cannot harm Innocents [-10] Sense of Duty [-5 ](Adventuring Companions) selfless [-5] Bloodlust [-10] Bad Temper [-10] Unnatural Features 3, (3rd eye, Black glossy skin, flame red hair) Q usually wears only silk loincloth, coral bracelets and anklets, marigold wreath, likes to dance Charms Aura Invisibility Turn Spirit Final Rest Steal HT Eviscerate Skills: Brawling 8 15 Wrestling 4 13+2 Spear 12 15 Garrotte 4 13 Theology 2 12 Thanatology 2 12 Hidden Lore, Demons 4 14 Meditation 2 12 Intimidation 1 15 Detect Lies 1 11 Diplomacy 1 11 Stealth 1 12 Observation 1 12 Dance 1 12 Spells: Protection from Evil 4 15 Invisibility 4 15 Final Rest 4 15 Aura 4 15 Steal HT 4 15 Turn Spirit 4 15 Eviscerate VH 8 15 Equipment: Spear Pussiant +1 vs Demons Currently wearing a bolt of reddish linen as a sari.

When they followed the cuttlefish seekers back to their lair, finding their signature trap, Evil Runes that drain FP,  and stealthily took them and a couple petty demons out, they found a large crowd of cultists about to sacrifice a demon of old! the demon, along with some petty demons participating in the ceremony, immediately attacked Kalima, a favored enemy. The feeling was mutual, and she drained health on a couple, like her ancestor, and the demon ripped free of his silvered chains and flew up to attack her (he had berserk). She killed him by eviscerating him and eating his heart.  Unfortunately for the PC’s all of the deaths (and there were many) enhanced the ceremony in progress, the summoning of an Elder Servitor.  It took a lot, including Ardenas using Winged Knife on the cult champion’s silvered greatsword to kill the servitor but they did. The cultists of the Devourerer, who started the campaign by killing everyone who had the spell divination or any kind of oracular ability, are Cultists of the Elder Gods!

This was noticed by the Ymid, with his Sense Weird ability, but he was two bothered by the destruction of his skiff ( a nifty little contragravity craft he had parked on the other side of the Bone Gate) by a Bhole passing through the gate. Yaay there is now a super Dire Rot worm  somewhere in the dungeon (pencilling in a purple worm encounter). The Juniors group will be fetching alchemical components for the repair of the skiff. Additionally, they have just acquired some cultists of their own; some serfs fleeing Veroigne who were met on the road by thatr gorup, who are all worshipers of Vejovis, the roman defender of injustice, worshiped by Nodwin, the Initiate travelling with the Juniors group.

Now for some art updates:

These two are going to be in Gabor Lux‘s Echoes from Fomalhaut 5.

I am also working on a bundle of Dungeon entrances:

Links coming soon when I get a few more drawn.

In the meantime: Support my Patreon!

Buy my Stuff!

I am an affiliate of Drivethru, all of those links are affiliate links, except for the SJ Games stuff that goes to their website.

A resolution to part of a campaign, and some play reports For several years, I have been running a Wuxia pastiche campaign within my Northport setting.  The population of Northport is quite mixed,  having a large number of goblin artisans (the goblins have lived in the city since its founding a few thousand years ago), humans, orcs, and a fair amount of mixed folk, given the situation to the east, where the nation of Shevnia lost a war with orcs because of a lost…

[underkincalls]

ok so proper canon call. im sans, phoenix in this life. you can call me either, he/him or they/them. im from pretty close to canon? i dont have a lot of memories yet but i know gaster wasnt my dad. he was closer to alphys. i helped the both of them with the core before gaster fell in. alphys remembered him along with me, i guess cause we were both there. we stayed close and i kept helping her out. i miss my bro but im looking for literally anyone, between 18 and 14. message grimalkin-inferno

@grimalkin-inferno !!

[aurorafrog-blog]

La Revanche de l’Epouvanteur - Critique

C'est toujours avec joie que l'on suit les péripéties de la vie d'épouvanteur !  Ce tome marque la fin de la quête de l'épouvanteur, mais tout laisse penser que nous pourrions revoir Tom Ward dans un autre contexte, non plus en tant qu'apprenti mais bel et bien en épouvanteur expérimenté.

Le style d'écriture utilisé est assez simple à mon goût, mais néanmoins cohérent avec le public auquel l’œuvre est destinée, à savoir les jeunes adolescents. Je suis cette saga depuis le début, et même si mes attentes ont évoluées, je suis toujours contente de lire un tome de l'épouvanteur. C'est donc un style légèrement sommaire, mais très agréable à lire, beaucoup plus en tout cas que certaines bouses que j'ai eu le malheur d'avoir entre les mains.

Delaney remplit le contrat, l'histoire est toujours aussi captivante même après treize tomes sortis. Tout est bien positionné et on a même droit à quelques surprises :)

La chose la plus surprenante est certainement l'évolution de la relation entre Tom et Alice. On croyait tous à leur histoire d'amour (im)possible, lui en tant qu'épouvanteur et elle en tant que sorcière. Pourquoi pas ? Après tout John Grégory avait aussi aimé une sorcière, son histoire s'est certes mal terminée, mais on espérait autre chose avec Alice, beaucoup moins sauvage que la sorcière bien aimée du vieux Grégory.

Chose assez ironique, c'est en trouvant le moyen de sauver Alice que Tom Ward la perd, peut-être à jamais. En effet, c'est en ouvrant le Codex du Destin qu'Alice se retrouve nez à nez avec Lukraste, dont elle tombe (apparemment) follement amoureuse. Autant dire que je m'attendais à tout, sauf à ça ! Les voilà séparés pour de bon, et pas parce qu'Alice est devenue pernicieuse.

En tout cas, j'ai hâte de savoir s'il y aura une suite, car malgré ce qu'elle prétend, Alice a l'air de toujours être autant attachée à Tom et essaye peut être de le préserver. Qui sait ce à quoi la jeune sorcière pense vraiment ? La connaissant, tout ce qu'elle fait doit faire partie d'un plan dont elle seule en connaît les rouages.

Ça n'était pas une surprise, mais ça fait quand même de la peine : la mort de John Grégory !

On se doutait de son funeste sort et j'ai plutôt apprécié la manière dont il est parti. Depuis quelques temps, le vieil épouvanteur est fatigué, il vieillit, il n'est plus aussi rapide qu'avant et a du mal à se déplacer. On voit tout ça à travers les yeux de son apprenti, qui se rend compte petit à petit du déclin de son maître. En accord avec le style d'écriture, ça n'est pas trop choquant pour le lecteur, mais imaginez un peu, voir la personne que l'on admirait le plus au monde pour sa force et ses talents s'amenuiser alors que vous devenez chaque jour plus fort vous-même ? L’épouvanteur ne meurt pas en héros, on ne s’attarde pas sur le moment de sa mort, on sait seulement qu’il fait partie des victimes, au même titre que les sorcières anonymes qui ont pris part à la bataille. 

L'épouvanteur représentait l'ancienne génération, conservatrice et manichéenne, refusant toute concession. Plus il diminuait en force, et plus ses valeurs se voyaient chambouler par l'impétueux Tom Ward, qui n'hésitait pas à s'allier avec d'autres sorcières pour vaincre un mal plus grand. Il le comprend d'ailleurs à la toute fin, alors qu'il meure en combattant aux côtés de Grimalkin, qu'il respecte à sa façon.

C'est une page qui se tourne et un monde plus gris qui se profile à l'horizon. On assiste à un changement de mœurs, à une évolution non seulement des personnes mais également du métier d'épouvanteur. Les personnages ne sont plus ni blanc ni noir, les personnalités sont plus compliquées et affirmées... et plus intéressantes !

Tom Ward est donc la figure du changement, mais il éprouve des scrupules à cause des enseignements prodigués par son maître... S'allier au mal pour combattre le mal ? Prend-il vraiment les bonnes décisions ou retarde-t-il l'arrivée du pire ?  Au final, il a une opinion plutôt tranchée sur certaines questions et cela remet en doute sa crédibilité et la valeur de ses actions. Qui n'aurait pas réfléchi à laisser le Malin en personne être le méchant de l'histoire pour éviter qu'un dieu encore plus cruel ne vienne prendre sa place ? A aucun moment Tom ne se pose cette question, il ne réfléchit pas aux conséquences de certains actes et fonce tête baissée. En ce sens, Alice est sûrement plus mature que lui et on se demande réellement si elle n'avait pas raison de s'opposer si vivement à la destruction du Malin.

Petite mention qui m'a vraiment fait plaisir : la montée en puissance de Kratch. Je me demandais aussi à quel moment Tom allait pouvoir utiliser les merveilleux pouvoirs du gobelin, qui semble être surpuissant. On a parfois l'impression que c'est une créature encore plus forte que le Malin lui-même. On oublie vite que c'est une créature de l'Obscur. La plupart du temps, c'est un gros chat un peu grincheux quand on est en avance pour le petit déjeuner et qui se transforme en diable de Tasmanie quand il n'est vraiment pas content. C'est une personnalité intéressante que j'aimerais beaucoup revoir à l'avenir. Kratch est sans aucun doute mon coup de cœur !!

[aurorafrog-blog]

La Revanche de l’Epouvanteur - Résumé

Treizième tome qui annonce le dénouement final des aventures de Tom Ward, apprenti épouvanteur. Il est le septième fils d'un septième fils mais il possède en lui une force tout autant redoutable, le sang de la première Lamia, sa mère, lui conférant des pouvoirs que nul autre combattant de l'Obscur n'avait jamais eu auparavant.

L'heure est grave, Alice est revenue de l'Obscur et pense avoir trouvé le moyen de contourner le sacrifice qu'elle sait nécessaire pour détruire le Malin. En compagnie de Grimalkin, la tueuse du clan Malkin, elle va tenter de lire à voix haute et en entier le Codex du Destin, ouvrage maudit qui pourrait la rendre toute puissante ou la tuer instantanément.

Malheureusement les choses ne se passent pas comme prévues. Au moment d'ouvrir le livre, Lukraste, le sorcier que tous croyaient mort, apparaît à Alice et s'empare d'elle. Grimalkin se retrouve seule face à des dizaines de serviteurs du mal. Elle est finalement vaincue et ses ennemis repartent avec la tête du Malin, en la laissant pour morte.

Tom retrouve la célèbre tueuse et l'aide à panser ses blessures. Elle se retrouve boiteuse et risque de ne plus jamais retrouver ses facultés. C'est sans compter sur sa détermination à toute épreuve, elle décide de s'incorporer une broche en argent, un métal qui lui causera une vive douleur jusqu'à la fin de ses jours afin de retrouver ses capacités.

Les préparatifs pour le grande bataille d'Halloween commencent, Grimalkin part chercher des alliés tandis que Tom part à la poursuite des serviteurs du mal  pour récupérer la tête. Il se découvre un nouveau pouvoir, l'instinct du chasseur, qui lui permet de traquer les sorcières. L'apprenti touche au but et arrive face à une énorme tour où il retrouve Alice embrassant passionnément Lukraste. Malgré la douleur que lui cause cette découverte, il ne perd pas espoir et fait appel au gobelin de Chippenden, Kratch, pour lui venir en aide dans la bataille. L'attaque réussit et Tom parvient à récupérer la tête.

De retour chez l'épouvanteur, Tom doit payer le prix de son alliance avec Kratch. Pour qu'il survive, il offre librement son sang au gobelin, un geste qui pourrait bien se retourner contre lui. Dans la nuit, un étrange brouillard fait son apparition et plonge tous les habitants de la maison dans un sommeil profond. Le jeune garçon se réveille en sursaut et se précipite dehors où il tombe face à face avec Alice, venue lui voler la tête du Malin.

Elle lui explique clairement qu'elle n'est en rien sous l'influence de Lukraste, mais qu'il est en réalité son âme-sœur. De plus, en ouvrant le Codex du Destin, elle avoue être devenue totalement pernicieuse et qu'elle n'a plus la possibilité d'aider son ami mais que ses intentions sont justes. En effet, en détruisant le Malin, Tom libérerait alors le dieu des Kobalos, une créature autrement plus dangereuse mais le jeune homme continue de croire en sa cause contre le mal. Dans un dernier adieu, elle s'évanouit dans l'ombre.

A la veille de la dernière bataille où ils doivent empêcher le Malin de retrouver ses forces dans un seul corps, l'épouvanteur est anxieux à l'idée de se battre aux côtés d'autres sorcières pernicieuses qui détestent également le diable. Il comprend cependant que c'est leur dernier espoir de victoire. Grimalkin offre l'épée-étoile à Tom, qu'elle a forgé elle-même, un cadeau qui l'immuniserait contre toute attaque de magie noire.

L'heure est proche, la cérémonie qui redonnera force et puissance au Malin est sur le point de commencer. Tom avance aux côtés de son frère et de son maître jusqu'à la Pierre des Ward, un énorme rocher qui a le pouvoir de voyager dans l'espace et le temps. Le combat est rude et beaucoup meurent, y compris l'épouvanteur, mais Tom parvient jusqu'à la pierre où repose le corps du Malin. Il lui coupe les pouces alors que l'entité hurle à la mort quand soudain, Tom se voit propulsé dans un autre monde. Il est toujours sur le rocher bien que ce qui l'entoure ressemble à une autre dimension. Des skelts surgissent alors de partout et l'apprenti voit sa dernière heure arrivée. Mais les skelts s'emparent chacun d'un morceau du corps du Malin et repartent sans prêter attention au jeune garçon.

Après cette terrible scène, il voit Alice s'approcher au loin. Elle le conduit jusqu'à la tour  où il se bat contre Lukraste, rendu impuissant grâce à la magie de l'épée-étoile. Tom remporte le combat et s'apprête à tuer son rival, l'homme qui lui avait volé la fille qu'il aimait, mais Alice l'en empêche. En effet, il pourrait être utile dans la guerre à venir, contre les Kobalos et leur dieu.

Tom repart à Chippenden, sans Alice et non sans amertume. Il devient le nouvel épouvanteur du Comté, se jurant d'être le digne successeur de son maître. Il cache l'épée-étoile pour ne plus avoir à tuer quoi que ce soit mais se promet d'aider Grimalkin dans la lutte contre les Kobalos lorsque ceux-ci investiront le Comté.