#hopefully G'raha Tia can sort it out

[mimble-sparklepudding]

🎬

<blip> Do you wish to access Iksalion Chimerical Engineering Archive?

Yeah. You can show me where to find stuff about the Ixal and that?

<blip> <bloop> Requisite access privileges required. Access to Iksalion Chimerical Engineering Archive available only upon presentation of Official Permission Code. Official Permission Code may be obtained from a Senior Technologist or Member of the Royal Household.

You what now?

<blip> Compliance?

Look I don't have a Reccy-wotsit... I just wants to find this archive place OK? Then I can help my friends with doing a... a research thingy.

<blip> <bloop> Research access to Iksalion Chimerical Engineering Archive available only upon presentation of Official Permission Code. Official Permission Code may be obtained from a Senior Technologist or Member of the Royal Household.

Yeah you said that. I dunno if you've noticed, but we be a few 'undred years late to ask those people for help?

<blip> Compliance?

Look all those people are dead. Dead a long whiles ago I reckon.

<blip> <bloop> Code not recognised. Please update code. Official Permission Code may be obtained from a Senior Technologist or Member of the Royal Household.

Look you're startin' to get on me nerves now...

<blip> Compliance?

Don't you "compliance" me, ye' great metal bollock! Or I'll code you right in your glowin' parts with this 'ere axe!

<blip> <bloop> Code not recognised. Please update code. Official Permission Code may be obtained from a Senior Technologist or Member of the Royal Household.

G'raha you there? Yeah can you? It be turnin' out to be one of them days....

[ishgard]

g'raha tia and/or krile for the character asks? alternately, your WoL?

Oooh fun!! thank you so much!

G'raha Tia:

Sexuality Headcanon: Bisexual

Gender Headcanon: Male (but tbh I could see him being fluid about it)

A ship I have with said character: I love all of the WoLG'raha ships, it's so good, so delicious. Recently I've been a little 👀 about Thancred x G'raha also, that's got me Intrigued.

A BROTP I have with said character: I really love seeing bits and pieces of his friendships with each of the Scions tbh, esp now that he's free of the Exarch's yolk. Him and Urianger or Y'shtola nerding out, or gosh his relationship with Alisaie feeling more like siblings is so much fun and delightful. (I also really wanna see him interact with Thancred more just in general oops.)

A NOTP I have with said character: I don't think one exists 🤔 If anything I'd probably just be more ambivalent towards such a thing.

A random headcanon: It's nothing flashy or unique but (and apologies) I subject him to my usual miqo'te HCs of purring, biting, both keepers and seekers having fangs and eyes that adjust to light/dark, and yeah, the less sfw things (not pokey penis, that's where I draw the line).

General Opinion over said character: I love him so much??? I can understand why some people have their grievances with him, especially in regards to how he might 'come on strong' sometimes, but I never really got why people hold long-lasting grudges against him for the whole lying thing. (Though that's probably largely because Ahru isn't bothered by people lying to her if the ends justify the means.)

Krile Baldesion:

Sexuality Headcanon: Bisexual (female-leaning)

Gender Headcanon: Female

A ship I have with said character: Is it too obvious to say Tataru? I wanna say she had hearteyes for Minfilia, too. (Thinking about it though, a crackship with Estinien is forming in my head, oh no.)

A BROTP I have with said character: Even if not from a shippy point, Tataru for sure. Also I didn't mention this on his, but G'raha.

A NOTP I have with said character: I do NOT ship her with being forgotten and abandoned by the narrative.

A random headcanon: Listen, definitely had a crush on G'raha at some point, (and yeah Minfilia). I'm not sure if teaching Alphinaud how to paint is a headcanon or was actual canon now that I think about it (am I imagining there was something said about him asking her for advice?)

General Opinion over said character: Less of an opinion but I really can't wait to see more of her in Dawntrail, hopefully she gets a chance to really flourish. I enjoy her a lot but I feel like she's been sidelined so much (and I barely did anything with Eureka admittedly) so I just don't always feel like I know her as well as I wish I did. (Maybe I just need to replay MSQ tho.)

Ahru Hiraeth :D

Sexuality Headcanon: Bisexual

Gender Headcanon: Female, has a sort of loose concept of gender in her head though in regards to herself

A ship I have with said character: ...there are a few, but the big one at the moment is Deryk x Ahru, they've got me in a chokehold.

A BROTP I have with said character: Estinien! The minute he called her "aibou" I was sold. She's also always in close cahoots with Thancred no matter what.

A NOTP I have with said character: This is going to seem so out of nowhere but as a lover of enemies-to-lovers I have TRIED to imagine it just for shits and giggles but no, no, she hates him so so much.

A random headcanon: She loves mint (in food, drink, smoke) and though it's very slight it has a soothing quality that helps her relax. (catnip being in the mint family, yada yada) [She doesn't actually smoke a lot anymore though.]

General Opinion over said character: She is so powerful. Like. To me. Over me. I am so weak and I love her so much and she has been such a delight to explore over the years. Seeing her Go Through Some Shit and Get Worse and also Get Better has been beautiful and I want to cry I love my cat so much.

[sageofthescions]

The meeting was proceeding smoothly. Thancred had taken the lead, proposing a mission of subterfuge in Garlean territory, meant to sow discord and, hopefully, oust the Ascian wearing the crown prince's skin. With any luck, removing the Ascian influence would open the door for them to eventually make peace. Or so was the long-term goal. Lenar was content to let the diplomats and the spymaster work out the details amongst themselves.

And then the pain hit.

Lenar clutched his head, a ringing sound filling his ears and drowning out all other sound. He felt lightheaded, dizzy, his body feeling light as if he were falling. Or flying.

"That way sorrow—"

The voice was distorted, faint, as if speaking across a vast distance.

"History must be changed..."

Lenar felt a hand on his shoulder, momentarily grounding him. He clung to the sensation like a drowning man, desperately trying to claw his way back to reality—

"Ahead looms a Calamity," the voice warned, a note of urgency to it. "Ahead looms Light, expunging all form and life. Twin dooms only you can forestall. Only you."

This time the voice was clear enough for him to make it out. It was... familiar. Familiar. Didn't he know this voice?

"Lenar! What's wrong?" Aymeric's voice sounded far away. Distorted. Like he was drifting somewhere between, fading in and out of hearing range.

"Who... is this...?" Lenar gasped out, finding himself struggling to even draw breath.

"Let expanse contract," the mysterious voice intoned, "eon become instant... Throw wide the gates that we may pass!"

In an instant, the pain disappeared and Lenar suddenly felt as if he was present again. He felt cool stone under his body, and the subtle background noises were different. Something hummed around him, like... magitek? The noise echoed faintly around him, implying a large room, maybe round.

"This... isn't Ala Mhigo," Lenar muttered, pushing himself into a sitting position.

"Thal's gilded balls," he heard Thancred mutter beside him. "Not again."

Thancred surveyed their surroundings, well-honed instincts searching for any potential hiding spots or exits. The room was round, and a striking shade of blue. No corners to slip into, nor any furniture to hide behind. And it looked for all the world like it was built out of crystal. Gold decorations marked the walls around them, creating the illusion of windows all around the walls. There were three doors: one to either side, and one behind them. Given how... exposed they were, Thancred and Lenar would have a hard time sneaking out of the room.

Before them was a set of round steps, leading up to a platform with some sort of... crystal mirror? It was difficult to tell exactly what it was from this angle. Partly because of the figure standing before it.

He—Thancred presumed it was the owner of the voice that summoned them—wore a set of black and red robes, his hood pulled up and obscuring most of his face. He held an elaborate staff in his right hand, the design striking Thancred as familiar in a way he couldn't quite place. Frankly, Thancred's attention was more readily drawn to the hand holding it. Unlike his left, which was clearly flesh and blood, his right arm looked as if it was carved from the very same crystal as the rest of the room. And from this angle, he could see bits of this strange crystalline substance creeping up the sides of the man's neck, one streak even making it across his cheek.

"Oh," the hooded man said, sounding just as surprised by this turn of events as the other two. "This is... not at all what I intended—"

Lenar perked up. He recognized that voice. This was someone he knew.

"G'raha Tia?" Lenar said.

The figure froze. Thancred saw his mouth open and close, before he cleared his throat.

"I... I don't know who you're—"

"Don't play coy," Lenar said. "I'd recognize your voice anywhere. Sure, it's been a while since I last heard it, but..."

"H-How did you..." The man's voice wavered.

"Well, it's not as if I can recognize people's faces," Lenar pointed out.

"...I suppose not," G'raha conceded.

"I take it the two of you are acquainted, then?" Thancred remarked, glancing between the two with obvious amusement on his face.

"Indeed. In fact, I was almost certain we'd never have an opportunity to meet again," Lenar replied. He smiled. "Praise Halone, it's good to see you again. For certain values of seeing, of course."

G'raha chuckled despite himself. After a moment's hesitation, he removed his hood and Thancred could finally get a good look at the man's face.

He was a miqo'te man, with short red hair that tapered to white at the ends. His eyes were a striking red, and despite the exhaustion that seemed to cling to him, they still shone with a certain vibrancy. As the hood fell away he shook out his ears, which must have been laying rather flat considering how Thancred hadn't seen any sign of them when it was up. G'raha returned Lenar's smile, his expression softening with obvious fondness.

"'Tis good to see you again as well, Lenar." Thancred raised an eyebrow. There was something hiding in G'raha's tone that he couldn't quite place. "Apologies for the rather... abrupt summons, apparently."

"Where and how, exactly, have you summoned us?" Lenar asked.

"Before I explain, I feel I should..." G'raha cleared his throat, rather deliberately glancing away from them as his face slowly reddened, "fetch something for the two of you to wear."

"That would be much appreciated," Thancred said. "This does not sound like a conversation to be had in one's nameday suit."

"Nameday...?" It was at this point it finally clicked that the reason why the room felt so cold. Lenar and Thancred were both in the nude.

"...Lenar." Thancred regarded him with a bemused look. "Don't tell me you didn't notice."

Lenar remained conspicuously quiet. Thancred let out a heavy sigh. G'raha raised his free hand to his face and stifled a chuckle.

"I must admit, of anyone, I would not have presumed you to be the one unbothered by nudity," G'raha remarked, making his way down from the platform and towards one of the side doors.

"Yes, well," Lenar fumbled, folding his arms over his chest defensively, "it's a largely visual thing. How am I to tell if one is with or without clothes if I can't perceive them either way?"

Thancred broke into barely-stifled chuckling. "Is this the same justification you give for failing to tell whether someone is a man or a woman?"

"Yes!" Lenar replied, voice rising ever so slightly. G'raha laughed from the other room. "Listen, do you realize how many elezen women have supposedly 'masculine' voices?"

"...Fair enough," Thancred conceded with a shrug. "I suppose the tendency for elezen voices to hover around the lower registers would make relying on that as a determination rather difficult."

"Precisely!" Lenar declared triumphantly. "And anyway, I don't really see what all the fuss is about to begin with. It's quite an arbitrary distinction, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't quite call it arbitrary."

G'raha returned with a pair of robes, draping them across each of their shoulders and leaving them to wrestle them on themselves. He politely turned away as they grappled with the clothes, only chancing a look back once the sounds of rustling cloth had settled.

"All done?"

"Yes," Thancred said. "We are no longer exposed to the elements."

"Good." G'raha made his way back to the raised platform and faced the duo. "I apologize again for the abrupt summons. Now, as to the matter of where you are..."

[anchanted-one]

Stories you want to write

But for some reason haven't. Thanks so much for your tag @kunstpause!

Dragon Age

I created a small ensemble of Heroes from the DAO storyline: one for each Origin. And they are all alive, both during the Fifth Blight and after. Only three of these are Wardens: Dalish Elf, Mage Elf, and Casteless Dwarf.

I have already written Cousland's story in brief, where he rises to the Throne of Ferelden (alone, no Anora). I have also planned his three-way romance with Leli and Bethany, but this will probably be (hopefully NSFW) drawings more than stories.

But there's the others:

Warden Mahariel, who becomes more and more abrasive as the Eluvian's taint courses through his veins. He also dislikes human society--including City Elves and Elves from the Circle. But he takes a liking to Morrigan, who shares his disdain for all things Andrastian. They start a physical relationship, and when he finds out that he is expected to sacrifice himself to save Human Kingdoms he grows so angry that Morrigan offers him the Dark Ritual option, and they keep the plot secret. Once he kills the Archdemon she spirits away his unconscious body, making it appear that he fell off Fort Drakon in the explosion. The ritual has the added effect in his case of saving him from the Eluvian and Darkspawn taints too

So he is left completely free, while she gets Kieran from the bargain. The two part ways as good friends, but Morrigan is the only one who knows that Mahariel survived. To the rest of Ferelden, he's made the Ultimate Sacrifice and is treated as a martyr.

Surana becomes Warden Commander. She is the one who deals with the Architect.

Another I want to write is the tale of Queen Aeducan, who after she's exiled, finds her way to the Dead Legion with whose aid she finds Branka, wins her support, and returns to Orzammar at the same time the Wardens visit. Like, Warden enters the city, heads to the assembly, and Aeducan is already there with the whole Legion at her back and Branka's crown on her head. She takes the throne, then denounces the Nobles for their eager role in her betrayal (especially Bemot). She takes the throne, killing two thirds of the nobility and outlawing the remainder because she has no faith left in them in them whatsoever. When Alistair shows her the treaties she sneers in his face, saying that the Dwarves don't owe the Surfacers anything since they abandoned the dwarves to fight the Spawn alone. Despite her brutal takeover, I want to write a story of an enlightened Ruler who genuinely cares for her subjects. She accepts King Cousland's formal apology for their abandoning the Dwarves, and Ferelden's aid in fighting the Darkspawn. She also uplifts the Casteless and neuters the Caste System.

DA2 has Rowan and Shona Hawke. Shona gets involved with Alistair (and they become lovers), and she does the Warden Prison part of the story after Act 2, and this plus cleanup keeps her busy for years later. Rowan is Merrill's lover, and he takes the Mages' side in the Final Act. He kills Anders because he feels betrayed by how Anders used him as distraction to plant his bomb, but he regrets it afterwards.

I don't have an Inquisitor yet, but it will probably be a weak character, who was unready for the sort of burdens that were placed on them just because of the glow hand. No romance for this nervous puppet, just everyone trying to manipulate them. Even if they're well-meaning manipulators. That story would have involved a lot less Corypheus and more Mage Freedom war. It will also have open war between Ferelden and Orlais towards the end, probably because of the Elves massacred in Halamshiral.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

This is the story of a Dragonborn who has entered his late fifties after slaying Alduin, and has retired to his Homestead in Falkreath. He has many dragons answering to him now because he defeated their Lord (Al that is) and is thus a legitimate power despite only wanting to be left alone. Cyrodil is constantly trying to recruit him, as is Ulfric Stormcloak. The Thalmor are constantly keeping watch on him and are plotting to kill him but are too scared of reprisal from the Dragons.

In this backdrop a Thalmor agent in the College of Winterhold unleashes the Eye of Magnus, and the Dovahkiin is forced out of retirement to clean up the ensuing mess.

To this end he needs three Elder Scrolls. Unfortunately he only has one, and must bargain with Vampire Queen Serana for her two.

Ends with him becoming a Dragon in truth, one who can shift back into human form when he pleases.

Final Fantasy 14

I've pretty much given up the idea of writing this one, aside from prompts like September's Write Prompt. However I do intend to draw these when I can, with emphasis on pairings. What can I say, I'm a sucker for OTPs

1. Ryosen (non-WoL Samurai) x Minfilia

2. Desmond (Ninja) x Y'shtola

3. Erika (Paladin who becomes a Dark Knight during her stay in Ishgard) x Haurchefant.

4. Olivier (Dragoon) x Lucia

5. E'nisse (Bard) x G'raha Tia

Lord of the Rings Online

Likewise, this will remain confined to drawings only.