#horn of eld

[rrcraft-and-lore]

Comparative mythology - comparative storytelling. The former leads to the latter?

Yeah. . .

We've got magic horns and magic rings. Staves and swords. All the mystical magical macguffins MC Protagonist might acquire.

The One Ring - cursed, and grants you the power of invisibility -- all but from the flaming (allergy season is hell in mordor) eye of Sauron.

But what rings are there from our world (myth or real) that are similar?

Silchester (Hampshire) England that has ten facets and is graven with the image of Venus. The ring was discovered at a Roman site in England and later a Roman plaque was discovered with an inscription dedicated to the god Nodens and the inscription is a curse as well as detailing the loss of the ring - the god having lost it. A lost ring from a powerful being with a curse.

But we also have the the Ring of Gyges -- a ring --

Enter the Ring of Silvianus - ring from 4th century CE-- that allows the wearer to turn invisible. The story goes that a shepherd found the ring in a cave on the corpse of a creature larger than a man (it's implied its humanoid), and the ring adjusted to his size, and when worn and fiddled with - adjusted - (maybe turned - translations be translations) it...turns you invisible.

The Ring of the Nibelung (1876) - composed of four parts from german/norse epics -- this is the story of a magical gold ring that gives the wearer the power to rule the world!

Horn of Valere - wheel of time

Horn of Eld - dark tower

Did they take it from each other? Or...just stories?

WoT has an important mythic figure, Artur Hawking, a king arthur analog. The Dark Tower has Artur Eld or of Eld (eld is the archaic word for old so Artur of old)

Arthurian inspired stories or cognates include the famous Song of Roland (poem) from the matter of france or Carolingian cycle - a french legendary material similar (cognate) to the british arthurian - you can see the influence of that all through dark tower btw quite literally with names, roles, descent, and orders being named/used.

Anyways...both given tropes/beats were likely inspired by the song of roland as well as the silver horn many might forget about in LotR-- because it's in the books but cut from the movies. But Elrohir, one of Elrond's sons, gives Aragorn a silver horn with which to summon the army of the dead he's owed fealty from.

Magic horns summoning the dead, rallying armies, all that? Old as time. Cuz we love our war and we love our horns. HEHEH big magic horn go BRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOM and...summon the dead?

[subbalakshmisastry]

Endangered Sangai / Eld's deer / Thamin Deer | Mysore Zoo | Mysore Tourism

[irlactualhuman]

80's Hibiki Intro WENT SO HARD THO

Like fuck who is this boi?! Is that a sword on his back?! Cool ass goggles in the desert like he's hunting down the Man in Black with the Horn of Eld on his hip or some shit.

Just. Mmph.

Ranma 1/2 is all about men I would absolutely destroy for free.

[eldstunga]

Hello Elds, oh wonderful supplier of amazing buff n fluff ocs, patron of gun shows and lekku. 💕🧡

Please consider the following for no particular reason. Certainly not in regards to miseating sword wielders. 😇

Following an encounter with a monk who taught her a thing or two, Sarissa has taken to charge-goring people left and right - blood running down the horns into her eyes and fur... This picture is starting to become a highly advisable safety precaution.

[the-hexagonal-conundrum]

Wales visitation, by Allen Ginsberg (1967)

White fog lifting & falling on mountain-brow Trees moving in rivers of wind The clouds arise as on a wave, gigantic eddy lifting mist above teeming ferns exquisitely swayed along a green crag glimpsed thru mullioned glass in valley raine—

Bardic, O Self, Visitacione, tell naught but what seen by one man in a vale in Albion, of the folk, whose physical sciences end in Ecology, the wisdom of earthly relations, of mouths & eyes interknit ten centuries visible orchards of mind language manifest human, of the satanic thistle that raises its horned symmetry flowering above sister grass-daisies’ pink tiny bloomlets angelic as lightbulbs—

Remember 160 miles from London’s symmetrical thorned tower & network of TV pictures flashing bearded your Self the lambs on the tree-nooked hillside this day bleating heard in Blake’s old ear, & the silent thought of Wordsworth in eld Stillness clouds passing through skeleton arches of Tintern Abbey— Bard Nameless as the Vast, babble to Vastness!

All the Valley quivered, one extended motion, wind undulating on mossy hills a giant wash that sank white fog delicately down red runnels on the mountainside whose leaf-branch tendrils moved asway in granitic undertow down— and lifted the floating Nebulous upward, and lifted the arms of the trees and lifted the grasses an instant in balance and lifted the lambs to hold still and lifted the green of the hill, in one solemn wave

A solid mass of Heaven, mist-infused, ebbs thru the vale, a wavelet of Immensity, lapping gigantic through Llanthony Valley, the length of all England, valley upon valley under Heaven’s ocean tonned with cloud-hang, —Heaven balanced on a grassblade. Roar of the mountain wind slow, sigh of the body, One Being on the mountainside stirring gently Exquisite scales trembling everywhere in balance, one motion thru the cloudy sky-floor shifting on the million feet of daisies, one Majesty the motion that stirred wet grass quivering to the farthest tendril of white fog poured down through shivering flowers on the mountain’s head—

No imperfection in the budded mountain, Valleys breathe, heaven and earth move together, daisies push inches of yellow air, vegetables tremble, grass shimmers green sheep speckle the mountainside, revolving their jaws with empty eyes, horses dance in the warm rain, tree-lined canals network live farmland, blueberries fringe stone walls on hawthorn’d hills, pheasants croak on meadows haired with fern—

Out, out on the hillside, into the ocean sound, into delicate gusts of wet air, Fall on the ground, O great Wetness, O Mother, No harm on your body! Stare close, no imperfection in the grass, each flower Buddha-eye, repeating the story, myriad-formed— Kneel before the foxglove raising green buds, mauve bells dropped doubled down the stem trembling antennae, & look in the eyes of the branded lambs that stare breathing stockstill under dripping hawthorn— I lay down mixing my beard with the wet hair of the mountainside, smelling the brown vagina-moist ground, harmless, tasting the violet thistle-hair, sweetness— One being so balanced, so vast, that its softest breath moves every floweret in the stillness on the valley floor, trembles lamb-hair hung gossamer rain-beaded in the grass, lifts trees on their roots, birds in the great draught hiding their strength in the rain, bearing same weight,

Groan thru breast and neck, a great Oh! to earth heart Calling our Presence together The great secret is no secret Senses fit the winds, Visible is visible, rain-mist curtains wave through the bearded vale, gray atoms wet the wind’s kabbala Crosslegged on a rock in dusk rain, rubber booted in soft grass, mind moveless, breath trembles in white daisies by the roadside, Heaven breath and my own symmetric Airs wavering thru antlered green fern drawn in my navel, same breath as breathes thru Capel-Y-Ffn, Sounds of Aleph and Aum through forests of gristle, my skull and Lord Hereford’s Knob equal, All Albion one.

What did I notice? Particulars! The vision of the great One is myriad— smoke curls upward from ashtray, house fire burned low, The night, still wet & moody black heaven starless upward in motion with wet wind.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Today, Wikipedia told me...

That the legend of Herne the Hunter might have been made up out of the whole cloth by Shakespeare, for his play The Merry Wives of Windsor. He could have also been relating a local town legend, but his version is the first one we have in writing:

Margaret Page: There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter, Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest, Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight, Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns; And there he blasts the tree and takes the cattle And makes milch-kine yield blood and shakes a chain In a most hideous and dreadful manner: You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know The superstitious idle-headed eld Received and did deliver to our age This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth.

(Act 4, scene 4)

Anyway, I'm going to take this opportunity to thoroughly recommend Merry Wives. It's another case where the general consensus of "Literary Shakespeare Scholars" and I part company; generally, it's considered one of his "lesser plays," and not very good.

It has a feel very much like an episode of "I love Lucy." I can't help but wonder if it's held in low regard because:

A) There's not a lord or king in sight, B) it''s very self-aware of its genre as a farce, and C) the plot is thoroughly driven by a pair of middle-aged, married, women (and we even get to learn their first names!).

...Considering who, generally, have been the arbiters of taste, regarding Shakespeare, for the majority of the last 300+ years.

I usually like to recommend Shakespeare plays to people by way of professional performance. But this play is so rarely performed. The closest I could find was this version by college students in 2012 (uploaded to YouTube in April, 2020, by the Texas Shakespeare Festival, since live, in-person, performances weren't happening that year). ~2 1/2 hours. Auto-generated captions. Content Warning for fatphobia in the original script.

Link to an HTML of the full script online, from MIT.edu.

[anchirayce]

To Behold the Golden Sun Ch. 6

This takes place after the events of BG3. Basically, a smol adventure about Tav and Astarion arriving at Tav's childhood city to search for a way to have Astarion walk in the sun again! Drama ensues!

Rating: T - Strong language,

Warnings/Tags: Tiefling racism, alcohol use (responsible, suggestion of misuse), suggestion of non-con, suggestion of child abuse, typical canon violence, slight angst, hurt/comfort, slow burn(I mean it, it's slow), Astarion might be ooc, but hopefully not!

Tav couldn't always run away from his past. He knew this from the moment he started to help Astarion find a way to walk in the sun again. He wanted to stay away, but spurred by another failure, a memory of eld came to him. A whisper of something said, something promising. Hopefully, this little spark of hope was what he and Astarion were looking for.

Chapter One: Here

“Tav!” My shout bled with fear as I dove to pick him up. He had stopped screaming, but he was gone, his eyes darkened with loss of life. I looked back at his Deva, the angelic being closed its eyes, and shattered into nothingness. "Gale! I need your scrolls! Now!”

“Yes, I know, Astarion!” He replied, kneeling as he dug through his pack.

"Then you know how you need to hurry the fuck up, wizard!"

"I cannot revive him with you screaming!" I clenched my fangs back. Suddenly sobbing as Tav's body lay still.

It was the blood, it caused a new arm to be made from the flesh of the dragon. I hoped it wouldn’t harm him, but here he was. Gone from me. It was just temporary, I knew it was, but I hated seeing it even more now that he vowed to stay beside me.

I closed my eyes, shaking as my grip slipped on the blood. It was too much, too heavy, it made me nauseous. I hid my face against Tav's neck as I tried to force air into my lungs. I knew to trust Gale. I knew it was going to be okay. But the terror…

"Astarion!" Gale exclaimed, his rough pull on my shoulder wrenched me back. "He's alive…" I pulled away and his colour and breath had returned. I rushed to put my ear to his chest and released my exhausting tension.

"Thank you." I whispered. Gripping at the soaked fabric.

"Always, Astarion." He reassured me with a shaky pat.

“Come here. We will rest for now.” Jaheira tutted, shifting into an owlbear.

“We have to leave.” I hissed. The new appendage was bleeding. I tore at my suit and wrapped it. Hiding the bloodied golden arm, I could smell the blessing upon his blood, it mixed with his scent, it wasn't bad. But it scared me. I should have stopped him.

“We can’t, not with Tav like this. We should wait for him to wake.” Gale soothed, I looked at Jaheira as she curled around us. I began to move away but she stopped me. Encouraging me to hold him. I leaned against her massive form, a low purr calmed the unbearable suffocating tremor in my unbeating heart.

I kept glancing down the hall, expecting people to come. I could pick up the faint scent of a massacre. My wonderful selfless idiot must have held on for as long as he could. I felt the pull of exhaustion grow heavier, and eventually fell asleep.

I woke when Tav shuffled, I opened my eyes to look at him expectantly, hopeful. Terrified. Most of his right half shimmered with patterned scales. He opened his mouth. And reached in to prick his fingers against the sharpness of his longer fangs.

His long black hair was now peppered with golden streaks, the green dye had faded long ago. His right eye was an orb of golden magic, lacking an iris and pupil. I studied him and raised my hand to cup his cheek so he could face me.

“Astarion?” He gasped. “What happened?” He raised his right arm. Studying his fingers.

“I don’t know…” I lied. “But gods…look at you.”

“Is it bad?” He patted down his body.

“No! You’re golden. Specks in your horns, your hair, your eye.” I thumbed the lower lid.

“I must look…not great.” He scoffed curling into himself.

"Stop it." I huffed.

“I'm unsure about that, you look pretty fantastic to me! And you did it for a selfish reason for once! Good on you Tav!” Gale exclaimed, he was high on the pile of treasure. Searching for something.

“But I didn’t want to be selfish! I wanted--” He tried to find an excuse. "The dragon’s power--"

“You wanted to be with me.” I smiled and pulled his gaze back to me. I leaned to kiss him and he pulled me close.

He pushed me to the ground and with an exclamation Jaheira morphed back. “Cub, I would appreciate that you do not fuck your husband next to me.” Tav laughed loudly and got off with a lingering kiss. I stood with him, balancing him when he staggered. Jaheira went to the base of the pile picking through the treasure as well.

“Tav. How do you feel?” Gale called from the mountain.

He stared at the golden bones before us. “Alive.” It was his voice but he said it with such conviction, like he was trapped before.

“The dragon has given me its soul.” He smiled. “I can feel it. I think it'll protect us.”

“Gale, darling.” I cleared my throat. Trying to distract myself. “What are you looking for?”

“A Wish spell, for our dear Karlach.” Tav immediately ran forward.

“Do you think it will be here?” He exclaimed. I ran after him, pulling him back.

"You need to rest!" I hissed.

"I'm okay." He cupped my hand.

“The dragon, Tav. Gave me a box, to lock away the Netherese Orb. Of course there will be a Wish spell!” I huffed as the two began to dig around. Bantering about where to search, I stumbled back.

“Are you okay, Astarion?” Jaheira whispered.

“I…don’t know.” I clutched at the item I was given. It felt so heavy.

“Are you scared?” I didn't let on that I was utterly terrified.

“This is a cure for vampirism. How can I be scared? I'm utterly ecstatic."

“You don’t want to change,  do you?” I looked at Jaheria, hoping that I didn't seem startled. I knew it was something to help me walk in the sun. It wasn't a cure.

“I-I don’t…" I sighed. “I’ve become so accustomed to it--”

She stopped me. “You know he will understand.”

“Yes, I know.” I walked away from her and helped the search.

“What does it look like?” Tav exclaimed.

“It’s hard to describe!” Gale returned. “Just look for something that looks like a star has fallen upon paper!” I began to dig through the hoard.

“You’d think he would at least organise it.” Tav muttered.

We searched, and searched. My hands throbbed from scrapping the heavy metal. I scoped through chests upon chests of…everything. Gold, silks, scrolls, none of which were what we were looking for.

“How has this man accumulated such a mass amount of wealth?” I huffed.

“I have no idea.” Tav replied. “But we should send some of it back to Baldur’s Gate.”

“We are not giving corrupt politicians authority over this vast amount of legendary treasure.” I tutted.

“Oh by Selune! No!” Tav gasped, “just some gold!”

“Ha! I found another pocket dimension!” Gale exclaimed. We continued to search, but I took a break, and threw coins at Tav until he turned and whipped me with his tail.

“You’re going to pay for that.” He teased.

“Oh, bite me, I already have.”

“Maybe I will. Because you had an interest accumulating." He slid down to me and snarled playfully. He looked so tired, and he shook as he held me. A fever had taken him.

"Tav, my heart, please rest." I begged.

He grinned and leaned against me, sighing against my coolness. "I'm okay. Just running hot, I feel fine."

"Okay, but you're pushing yourself again. Please Tav. The hoard isn't going anywhere." I whispered.

"I'll rest when we find the scroll." I tutted, not hiding my frustration.

"Fine. But if there is any inkling of you fainting. Then I will have Jaheira take charge with pinning you down." He nodded and pulled away.

“Tavalin!” We turned to Rowen calling him, and I let him go.

“Down here!” He called as I continued to search.

“Holy…” She gasped. “There’s a massacre outside of this room that people are too scared to go near. Now there’s a dead dragon! I can’t believe it!" She shouted. She then cried loudly from shock. "Tavalin what did you do to yourself?”

“I was granted a wish.” He replied, a small grin peaking through.

“Don’t worry this isn’t the worst thing he’s done.” I sneered.

“How is it not?”

“He’s drunk from a tankard of…questionable substances offered by an undead bartender!” Gale regaled her loudly.

“And licked a spider…” I cringed.

“That was funny.” Tav snickered, nudging me.

"What the fuck…" She huffed, we returned to the pile and took our time to scatter it about.

“What are you doing?” Rowen shouted, Jaheira replied to her as we pulled away the gold.

“Join us if you can.” Tav mentioned. “An extra pair of hands would be lovely.” She hesitated and looked towards Gale and I.

“Come now, darling. We won’t bite. Well, Gale won’t.” I slid down the pile and offered it to her. I dug beside her, explaining what we were looking for.

“So…” She cleared her throat. “How did you two meet?”

“Tav and I?” I asked.

“Aye.”

“It wasn’t on the best of terms, we were fresh off the nautiloid. I tried to kill and the wonderful bastard headbutted me.” I chuckled, surprised by my honesty.

“Has he opened up to you about his past?” She whispered.

“He has.” There was a pause.

“Astarion, I’m going to tell you something. It’s up to you whether you tell Tavalin.” She picked up a chalice and placed it down next to her. “Tavalin wasn’t born here.”

I stared at her from the corner of my eye. She seemed to be telling the truth. “What happened for him to fall into The Hollow?”

“His parents were chosen as sacrifices.”

“He mentioned something like that--people disappear at this mansion.” She nodded.

“The Lord of the Land forced nobles and the wealthy to contribute to spare their lives. But then he would just kill them anyway. We don’t know what exactly happened, but Tavalin was exiled into The Hollow after his parents were chosen. Then the bastard went willingly back after Lin died.” She rubbed her face with frustration. “The Enclave has tried to overtake this town. But no one has been powerful enough to kill the dragon. Until your little merry group.”

“Why tell me this?”

“Father Garret told me to. And...you're very close to Tavalin. If it came from me he wouldn’t listen.”

“I wouldn't be so sure. Tavalin has listened to the worst feebly explain their actions.” An ironic grin fell upon my lips. “He is far more patient then you might remember too, darling.”

She swallowed and stared at him. “I'd rather you talk to him.” She continued to dig, and before I left to search another area she added. “Thank you for looking out for him.”

I grinned and looked back at him as he slipped on the gold. Tav gave an exasperated growl and scrambled back up. But stopped halfway.

“Holy shit! Holy shit!” He laughed, “Gale! I think I found it!” I crawled up to him and began to dig with him. A pale piece of parchment was buried deeply. It shimmered like the night sky.

We managed to dig it out, and triumphantly Tav held it up. Gale studied it and with a beaming nod he said. “It’s a Wish spell!”

Tav turned to me. “Quickly love, we need to keep this safe.” I nodded and grabbed our bag of holding from the dimension.

“No, no. Pocket dimension, please.” I nodded again and we placed it inside.

“Rowen take as much as you can carry!” Tav said as he grabbed a box and began to fill it.

“Are you certain?” She asked hesitantly.

“We’re going to fill Gale’s pocket dimension with gold and give it to Baldur’s Gate to help rebuild. You’ve helped us and you should be able to travel with Father Garret now.”

“But what of this city?” Tav lost his smile.

“Let it burn.” He growled. “It doesn’t deserve anything but ire.”

“I-I understand.” Rowen nodded. We fell into a silence as we filled what we could. There was still a massive amount of gold.

“What should we do?” Gale asked, pocketing his little dimension.

“Destroy the entrance. We plundered what we could, if someone finds it. Let them.” The wizard nodded in understanding of our leader's words. And as everyone left he flicked his wrist at the pillars. The sound rang through my ears painfully. We took to a  sprint, and I saw the carnage around me. Tav didn’t return my glance, his eyes clouded with focus.

There was another explosion and the great hall of the vault began to shatter and crumble. We ran up the flight of stairs. Tav struggled to keep up, cradling his arm against himself. I slowed and pulled my arm around him to keep him steady.

Until all of us burst from the collapsing arch. “Astarion its day!” Tav stopped and pushed me back from a ray piercing through the cracked roof. The foundation of the mansion shook again.

“Pocket dimension!” I took it out and rubbed the surface. Tav clutched it to his chest and I was subjected to a stare at his golden hand.

With a moment's rest I slowly curled against a stack of pillows I pulled from our bag of holding. And peered at the item the dragon gave me. It was a brilliant yellow crystal with whispers of white cracking through. Morphed in the shape of a sun. I placed it in my hand and it melted and changed into an elegant chain bracelet. It was plain and beautiful.

“Nothing better than a changing piece of jewellery.” I chuckled to myself.

“Sorry love. Did you say something?” Tav panted, pulling up the brooch to show his face.

“I’ll tell you when we’re out of the sun, my treasure!” I place my hand against the mirror. I heard shouting, muffled by Tav’s exertion. My chest hurt with guilt as I stepped away from the walls, the sun was fully bathing the area. And the artefact I carried might not even work.

I lowered myself to the floor, sighing with exhaustion. I continued to listen to commands and more cries from our enemies. I was missing all of the drama, but fighting that dragon really took it out of me. So I selfishly waited.

“Astarion?” Tav’s voice echoed.

“Yes dear?” I stood.

“It’s safe.” I rubbed the wall and shuddered as the magic left my body. We all stood in a dark and simple hovel. I hid the bracelet against my torn clothes and observed the group. We were all tired. And even with the light trance I felt my body yearn for a soft bed with Tav beside me.

“Welcome everyone.” Father Garret announced. “Plunder well?” He grinned.

“Very.” Tav replied. “We destroyed the entrance to the vault. If there is a way back I hope it remains hidden.”

“There is.” Father Garret said, “that secret will remain between Rowen and I though.”

“Good.” Tav sank to the floor, sighing audibly. He raised his arm again and clenched his fist. I sat next to him, grabbing the soft scaled hand. He was still unconditionally warm. And I relished in it.

He pulled away when it was his turn to bathe. I went after he had finished and settled next to Gale on the floor when I had thoroughly washed the blood from everywhere.

"Where is Tav?"

"Unsure." He mentioned as he read through the thick book. I worried the stone with my thumb, and waited for him. Jaheira gave me a reassuring nod as she and Rowen talked. Eventually I curled into myself and took a trance.

“Astarion?” Tav whispered in my ear. I blinked awake and looked at him.

“Come.” He pulled me up and out of the house, his tail flicking excitedly. He pulled me into a clearing of snow. Our tent was set up, inviting and warm. Tav wore his summer clothes. It seemed like the cold didn’t bother him anymore, hardly did before.

He closed the flap and spoke. “Ready to become mortal?” He said as he settled onto the furs and crossed his legs. His tail tapped eagerly behind him.

“Yes, right.” I sighed and shuffled. I tried to find the words. I knew Tav would be disappointed with my choice. But a part of me always felt like he wanted me to be mortal. It would have been nice, but it's not what I truly cared for.

“Tav, I-I don't really want to become mortal.” He listened to me carefully, his expression was hard to read, his tail stopped as well. I pulled out the stone currently morphed into a small glistening globe. “I’m-I’m scared to have my body changed again. I know it’s been so long, and Gods, to have every ability of a mortal again…” I swallowed. “I just--this fear--” He closed my hand around the stone.

“Is this what you want?” He asked me.

I took a shaky breath. “Yes." I felt tears brimming my eyes. Frustrated, I pushed them away. Hating how emotional it made me.

“Then I will support you.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Astarion, why would I be?” He smiled, a scoff of disbelief puffing from his throat. “I just want to live a life with you. Whether we continue on the road or find a sweet nook where we do whatever. I want to be with you until our forever ends.” I kissed him, pushing my tongue through his lips to taste the dragon's blood. It was tinged with magic, an odd but not horrible taste.

"Can I drink from you?" Tav hesitated.

“I think it should be okay.”

“Your blood smells the opposite of toxic. If that's what you're worried about.” I soothed, he nodded and leaned back, taking off his shirt. He grabbed my waist as I moved his hair. His neck was still soft and warm. And when his blood filled my mouth I found myself lost in the taste.

It was pure, absolute, power. Tav's blood was sweeter, richer, bolder. I always adored the taste before, it was comparable to a cup of refreshing rose water. But now it was addictive. I nearly lost myself, growling low and greedily as I took.

“Astarion?” I immediately sat back, taking the last mouthful down.

"Your taste is different. It's good…" I had trouble shaking the primal urge.

"I didn't before?" He scoffed.

"Oh, no you were a bouquet. Now, you're a whole field." I returned to taste the drops from the small wound.

"Hm, romantic." Tav chuckled as he healed the wound and scratched at his arm.

"Does it bother you?" He shook his head, but then shrugged. And between us he raised the new appendage. The tear was smoothed with scales and flesh. Like it never happened. "Does it feel different?"

"Yes?" He was unsure. "I think it's the scales. Touch seems muted yet, it sparks." I took it and kissed his knuckles. It still smelled like him, only sharper. "Do I look bad?"

"No," I replied immediately. "You're still beautiful Tav. And I can't wait to see what new secrets you're hiding, my treasure." I said and laid beside him, resting on my elbow. His tails had wrapped around my shin, the tip lazily tapped itself against my ankle.

"Are you scared?" He nodded, still observing the new appendage and black talons.

"It's so new…" He sighed. "What if I made a mistake?"

"Then we will deal with it together." I reassured him, he joined me, staring up at the tent roof.

"Gods we really are the oddest couple in all of Faerun." He huffed.

"We are the most beautiful though." I took his new hand and weaved my fingers through.

"I'm glad we found something for you…" He began to mumble.

"Me too." I took in the silence, and with a soft huff managed to gather my words. “Tav, Rowen told me something you should know.” I turned to face him, he was asleep. With a sigh I pulled up the thin silk blanket and kissed his forehead. I settled beside him and allowed myself a well needed rest.

Astarion moved come morning. I sat up with him as he stared at the sunlight dappling through the flap. I reassured him with a gentle squeeze to his shoulder and leaned against him.

He reached for the sun, the crystal shimmering with magic. His hand filled with the cold rays. I almost couldn't bear to watch. But he laughed. Relief echoing across his body.

"Finally…" He whispered as I smiled and kissed his shoulder.

I stepped out first, Astarion followed but held himself taught. I couldn't imagine the unbearable pain of burning alive. So I gave him my patience as he adjusted and inched out carefully.

Luckily, nothing happened. He closed his eyes against the gentle caress of cold and warmth. I took down our tent as he basked for the first time in nearly two years.

"Gods, you're gorgeous." I came up behind him, moving his white curls so I could kiss his neck and he turned to hold me. Signing with content against my warmth and heartbeat. We stayed like this until we heard the others shouting for us. With a frustrated tut Astarion let me go and we made our way to the safe house.

There was an eagerness about the small group. And we all chatted excitedly as we gathered all the supplies we could and hitched a wagon onto Jaheira, the old druid insisted she pull her weight. And chided at me when I offered to walk with her.

“Where is everyone heading?” I asked as Astarion followed Gale onto the wagon. He kept worrying at the stone now clasped onto the shell of his ear.

Rowen glanced at Father Garret. “I suppose we might head to Baldur’s Gate. We might find some work helping rebuild.” Rowen said.

“Good, good! Same direction is nice." I smiled and moved to let her board. I stopped Father Garret with a hand and guilty whisper.

"What did you do with The Hollow?"

"It's already been taken care of. They are forever resting in the Moonmaiden's Embrace." I squeezed his shoulder in thanks and followed him onto the open wagon.

"What of you? Heading back to rest?" Rowen asked as I sat next to Astarion.

"No, no. We’re in need of a diabolist.”

“Why’s that?” She continued. As we settled down, Jaheira began to move.

“We’re stopping by Avernus. To show a devil what it means to piss us off.”

[eclipsecrowned]

but yeah like. the more i think about it the more i want to make it 100% clear that as a canon writer i don't appreciate forceshipping, so in writing my ocs i will never assume a dynamic with a canon in turn. for the most part, i try to let people come to me when it concerns characters that might derail or change canon significantly -- for example, the oc in question odessa, or my ice and fire oc mira, or countless others -- because i never want to step over boundaries or force interaction with someone whose lore or character is at odds with my own worldbuild.

if i do post about an original or player character muse's dynamic with a canon, i hope it is understood that one of three things is happening:

i am talking about my own dual muses. ie if i allude to stray and ard*n having a special bond, or that i ship hel and dream, i am talking specifically about the ones on my own muse page. i am not forcing my own idea on my partners. stray does not have to be a reflection of the main villain. hel is not going to go throwing herself at every dream in the tag. if things go that way organically with a partner's muse, i'm not opposed to exploring my takes with someone else, but it's never my intent to railroad my mutuals into indulging my own personal lore. at that point i might as well write fic and leave other people out of it.

i am talking about a dynamic established in a pc's playthrough -- using my most recent gaming experience as an example, i might reference helstarion/valheart/wybelle/auzel/ruetash as being romantic, but i would never just spring that on my writing partners who play the canon, or assume they have to cater to my own savegames. i'm simply talking about in-game lore in my own personal playthroughs that help shape my take on the pc. this applies to other fandoms/games as well, too. ismail does not have to endgame with a grippy sock drow milf, it's just that he does in my worldstate. einmyria doesn't have to take the bull by the horns, that's just how i played the game. me musing about in-game ships does not mean i go into interacting with accounts for those canons with expectations.

more often than not, i am referencing ships with established partners. for example, this morning, i was talking explicitly about the irudessa ship with lee. i was not jut posting for my health about a hypothetical dynamic, i was talking about a one-on-one ship between my muse and that of a friend. this applies to more than romantic shipping, too -- ex, lea and tarhos are siblings per my and ferret's lore, aria and eld's loki are cousins in his da au, and that's between us and lightly sprinkled into other threads with friends. i may not always namedrop this fact, because i assume other people trust me as a partner enough to understand i am not throwing dynamics out there without proper plotting and discussion.

thank you, friends, have a normal one.

[dragoon-mid-jump]

Top five mounts?

It'd be such a cop-out to answer this with just wolves or gwibers, wouldn't it? But I do have mounts outside of those that I absolutely love!

Shadow Gwiber

It's almost entirely on an OC lore basis why I do love this particular gwib. Firstly, it was one of the first special mounts I laid eyes on when my one gateway friend was showing it off to me and just because it's a dragon was why it was something I aimed for back when I first started. As for the OC reason, it's description is as such:

Answering to a horn imbued with the power of a sorcerer of eld, this draconic arcane entity is believed to have been created by Emet-Selch on a whim─an act that would have barely taxed his powers as an ancient.

It formed the basis for Persephone's transformed state while I was building her and Y'dehlya's stories. So, the lore of it being created by Emet became his attempt at reminiscing on Seph and visualizing her form.

2. Kamuy of the Nine Tails

Even though I did get all the wolves via Tomestone events, I still do hold the Nine Tails rather proudly because of its symbol as a completion of a collection.

3. Tyrannosaur

It's a T-Rex and I love dinosaurs. That's really it. Got it through a Tomestone Event because I hadn't unlocked Eureka at the time, and that would've been such a pain....

4. Garlond GL-II

It's a cool motorcycle that's free (though you do have to work for it via the Island....).

5. Company Chocobo+Black Chocobo

I couldn't pick just one. Ol' Reliable, our very first mount, and the mount Haurchefant gifts us....Both hold such sentimental value with the scope of the story.

(Prompt!)

[familiarlyfrigid]

I made my own Invader Zim species! This is all the info I have about them and their home planet. Read the full post if you want to know more about them!

ㅤ Devortons live on the planet Ferrid. They bear a striking resemblance to Vortians, but because little outside contact has been made with the planet, it is unknown why. Some believe it’s simply convergent evolution, but there are conspiracy theories claiming the two species are more connected. Their history is mostly unknown to other aliens.

The Devortons

Devortons are a warm-blooded species of aliens that look similar to Vortians, except they have tails, visible nostrils, and have true horns that are not flexible. Their hooves, horns, and spikes are as hard as stone and can even appear similar to crystal. They’re omnivores, but eat meat more than anything else. Male Devortons are typically taller. Their sclera, irises, and pupils can all be a wide range of colors, though they don’t normally have dark sclera. …

These aliens are split into two subspecies: Highland and Lowland Devortons. Highlands originated from rocky, mountainous regions and are generally larger and bulkier than Lowlands. They have warm-colored skin, two pairs of thick horns, larger canine teeth, and spikes on their arms and legs. They have short tails with spikes on the tips. Highlands have small eyes with round or rectangular pupils. Their feet resemble hooves, with part of the foot being covered in the same hard material that their horns are made of (they still have two toes under there).

Lowlands have cool-colored skin, one pair of narrower horns, and a row of spikes on their heads. They originated from the valleys and caverns, and are typically smaller and leaner than Highlands. They have longer tails that don’t end in a spike, larger claws, and noticeable toes. They have large eyes with slit pupils that expand and contract like a cat’s, giving them generally better eyesight than Highlands, especially in dim light. Lowlands are a little taller than an average Vortian.

Above ground (left) and underground (right) maps.

Planet Ferrid

Ferrid is a small planet with blue skies, rust-colored dirt, and mostly dry, rocky terrain. It has abundant minerals and ores, massive cave systems, and many underground lakes and rivers. Plants are usually shades of orange and yellow above ground, and green below ground. It has a “warm season” and a “cool season”, and it only snows around the poles. The planet’s atmosphere interferes with wireless signals, making communication with other planets very difficult.

Provinces:

Devor

-Devor (capital)

-Titan Plateaus

-Lake Orok (underground)

-Lake Oasis

Terrar

-Terran Mountains

-Archdom (capital)

-Sea of Eld (underground)

Falland

-Hollow Springs (underground)

-Verdant Isles

-Rime Ridge

Vallyan

-Sunken Lake

Barren

Other territories:

Gnarloam

-Great Gnarlwood Forest

-Lake Fenmire

-Death Mountains

-Gorrag Island

Arlorn

-Vernix Plains

Cerull Ocean

North Sea

Chasmyss Ocean

Silver Sea

Evenshore Sea

Language Stuff

Devortons have multiple languages, but the most widely used one is Devvish. It’s mostly based on English, with some influence from Latin and I think Old Norse? Their names pull from the same inspirations.

Government- Archrict

Leader- Domiton

High Ranks- Aethex

Soldier- Vangade

Raedict- laws set in place by Domiton

Vilnix- lowest rank; refers to criminals/prisoners or a bad person, sometimes shortened to vilx

Nix- nothing

Varmaj- “warm season” during half of the year

Kuldaj- “cool season” during half of the year

Vaeton- life, spirit, or essence

Himtar- sky

Riton- ground

Culture Stuff

-sky is a symbol of dominance, innovation, and the unknown

-ground is a symbol of tradition, perseverance, and unity

-traditionally believe in nature deities (I don’t remember where this religion stuff was going, but they definitely have gods of nature)

-greatly care about preserving nature because of the harsh environment

-steampunk-y technology? less advanced than Earth

-huge mining industry

-even though other aliens don’t know much about them, their relatively poor technology means they’re seen as weak or primitive

Name origins:

Devorton- Devil + Vortian

Ferrid- Ferrous + Arid

Devor- Devil + Vort/Corruption of “devour”

Orok- Ore + Rock

Terrar- Terrain + Terror

Terran- Terrain + Mountain

Archdom- Arch- + Kingdom

Falland- Corruption of “far land”

Vallyan- Valley + Canyon

Gnarloam- Gnarl + Loam

Fenmire- Fen + Mire

Gorrag- Gorge + Crag

Arlorn- Arid + Forlorn

Vernix- From Devvish word “Vilnix”

Cerull- From “Cerulean”

Chasmyss- Chasm + Abyss

[dawn-of-worlds]

The Long View of History

The long view of history is a peculiar thing. For those who see history from beside it, the rising and falling of Corobel's great eye blurs together into a comfortable twilit hue. With such a view, it is not days but events with which life is punctuated and portioned.

And so, for the ataila of Etevaasin, these blurry years were like a time before time. They knew peace well; there were no wars, no tyrants, no catastrophes to punctuate those nascent days. They had no use for slaves when the heavens fed them well, they had no use for monuments when their legends never died, and they had no use for division when all was well and all manner of things was well. So they knew the long view of history.

Until the worm came.

On that day, there was great thunder heard throughout Etevaasin, though the sky was clear and bright. Instead, it was the land that thundered as the eld and venerable trees which surrounded the city fell and cracked under its mighty bulk. A pale mass, half-veiled by the dense Laaseran jungle, with a surface as craggy and sheer as a cliff began to slide around the city like a predator encircling its prey.

Etevaasin did not wait. Voices rose and horns were blown. The city's bravest rallied, though these ataila were peace-forged and untested, and were thankful that their trembling was hidden by the growing tremours and their whimpers by the deafening cries of the jungle as it shattered and died. And as those wisest ataila beckoned what citizens they could to safety, the Beast coiled tightly around the city -- not once, not twice, but three times. And when the thundering stopped and all became still, Ohm knotted itself at the highest point of the city like a noose and waited.

It was not the guard that approached Ohm first, nor the elders, but a young atai, still in training. It was mere coincidence: to avoid their tutors' lessons that day they had hidden within the upper terrace's gardens, above which Ohm's massive head now hung. The gardens were quiet. Whether it was curiousity, naivety, or bravery, the young atai stepped out from beneath the fruit tree they had hidden under and approached the First of Worms.

Ohm's massive eye watched them step forward as its many teeth shifted and churned. The young atai balled their hands into fists before they bravely spoke:

"Wh-Who are you? What are you?"

They winced as the great Beast spoke, its voice of tumbling stones coarse and deep.

" 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕆𝕙𝕞, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕣𝕪. "

"... And why have you come here? Have you... come to eat us?"

They dug their heels into the soft ground of the garden as Ohm's rumbling and cascading laughter threatened to knock them off their feet.

" 𝕄𝕒𝕪𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕤. 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥��𝕤𝕥𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕚𝕥 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪, 𝕥𝕠𝕠, 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕚𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕖𝕩𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤. "

"So... you have come to rule us? Like a king?"

" 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕒 𝔾𝕠𝕕. ℕ𝕠𝕨 𝕘𝕠 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝔽𝕝𝕖𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕖. 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕥... " Ohm's maw spun and its teeth gnashed as it considered the banquet that was Etevaasin, " ... 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕙𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕟𝕠 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕠 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕣 𝕀 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕟𝕒𝕞𝕖. "

"No."

Ohm's vast pupil contracted. It had not considered 'no.' No was a word for it to use, not others. Its maw spun faster as it reeled at this impertinence.

" ... 'ℕ𝕠'? "

"No. I will tell them what you've told me, but I will not stay with them. If you truly mean to rule Tehwatzin, then I shall be your speaker and help you."

Again, Ohm laughed, and again the young atai stood their ground. What impetuousness! Ohm reared back to swallow them whole, but in that moment it caught something in the way they looked at it. There was a sort of opportunism in their gamble with oblivion, a willingness to risk it all to have it all... a similar hunger that Ohm knew so well.

It paused.

" 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕖? "

The atai took a breath.

"You are... very large. Large enough that little things will escape you. I can see things that you can't see, and influence things that you can't reach. ... And I'm being trained to become a advisor someday, to aid the judge of my tribe; I know how Tehwatzin works -- surely you can find use for those skills?"

They swallowed hard and waited to see what it would do. There was an oppressive silence in the air as Ohm stared at them while its alien mind worked.

" ... 𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. ℝ𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀'𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖. 𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕞𝕖, 𝕀 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦. "

A sigh of relief and a smile. With an unpracticed bow, the atai turned and fled the garden with all due haste. Ohm watched them leave and in that moment knew that, someday, one would devour the other. Ohm truthfully knew not who it would be, but that was a concern for the long view of history.

The young atai ran to the protectors and judges of Etevaasin with Ohm's words. They spoke its demands with confidence and pride as befits their station, and quietly left as murmurs rippled through the crowd. The assembled ataila were uncertain of what to do; many feared death, but many more feared losing the precious gift of freedom that Velarië gave them. No rational being lets themselves be shackled willingly.

And so, of course, they fought. Valiantly, in fact. And, though those peace-wrought warriors steeled their knees and fought as bravely as they could muster, they lost. The ataila did not lose when their spears did nothing to Ohm's hide, nor did they lose when their arrows did even less, and nor did they lose when one hundred and one of their greatest warriors charged the Beast and were, in one bite, swallowed whole.

No, it was when each atai there, who watched those heroes' charge with bated breath, felt dark fingers slip into their minds and steal away the memories of those warriors' voices, their faces, their lives, that they lost. And in the moments before those heroes' names finally faded away forever, the ataila had laid down their arms and wept, kneeling before their new master and its high priest.

(This is a late Turn 8 action. I intended to publish it on Saturday but had to push it back.)

(Omeara spends 1 to Command Avatar to take control of Etevaasin and the ataila who call it home via Corrupt City, bringing them under Ohm's, and by extension Omeara's, sway. 6 - 1 = 5 power remaining.)

[whoviancumberbunny]

Part Three:  No Room For Fear

Part Three:  No Room For Fear

Vox Machina characters Created by Critical Role

Dark Tower created By Stephen King [Funerary Prayer] 

Annie and Declan, Serendipity Johns and Galen Allgood created by Melissa C. Scraper @whoviancumberbunny​

Title from Title Prompts by @youneedsomeprompts​

Used This Prompt and this one by @seaside-writings​​

Part One:  Stand and Be True  

Part Two: Ne’er-Do-Wells and Insufferable Bastards

They were on the edge of the village that Chroma Conclave had taken over and, Roland joined them, as Tet-Fa [Friend of the group]. It was clear to him and that both Annie and Percy were the Dinhs, as they sat around come up with a plan he pulls her to the side and put the Horn of Eld in her hand “Da, Gan gave this to you.”

  He looked at her trying to hide the fact that in the short few weeks he had been In the life of his daughter he had seen that she was a Gunslinger. Never mind that to parts of the world she is a thief. “May Luck Rise to meet us all.”  He looked at her “Don’t be like me my child. I have spent my whole life not listening to those around me.”   He had seen three figures of young adults hiding on the other side of town.  Time would tell if these people were good or not, they would be people Annie knew well.

 Percy looked at her, the Horn of Eld, like so many other things he had believed that was only legend. Like the vestments, he blushed as Annie looked at him. Maybe it was just that he felt he was undeserving of love , then of course that was also because the demon might kill those around him. Last time she had managed to stop him before he had killed an innocent person “Darling, you should just tell her.” Vex said breaking his concentration “Everyone can see it.  Even her father sees.”

 “Oh Dawn Father, I am not sure what to do with my heartbox,” he hadn’t realized he had started peppering his speaking with the high speech she had been teaching him.

 “All I am saying is let me be annoying?” Scanlan said

  Pike “No these are dangerous dragons.”  

 After Coming up with a battle plan, they study the area a short time later as Vox fights off the dragon “Great work, asshole; I hope they eat you first!”  Vax said as he and Scanlan dodge flames and deadly acid

 On the other side of the town Female figure staring at one of the two male figures. “It doesn’t matter if we kill it; it will just keep coming back,” she nearly pushed him off the cliff “Sorry, Galen.” She grabs his hand

 Male figure you would assume is a ranger by his bow and arrow “And so will we,”  he takes out an arrow his father killed dragon with  “we wait for a signal and we join In the fight.”

 Galen “But Peter, we don’t know what kind of signal to pay attention for. Shaun Gilmore only told us to Meet Annie here because she would need help saving Declan and several other people.”  Galen Allgood, and his cousin Serendipity Johns part of the last generation of Gunslingers of Gilead.

 Peter, who is friends with Annie because she saved his life because warriors of the red had tried to kill him in his sleep just after he escaped from prison “I wouldn’t be known as Good King Peter, if she hadn’t helped me last year.”   Peter, Age 18 years, framed for the murder of his Father and served three years in prison. Tall and slender if he hadn’t been king he likely would have been gunslinger.

 “If we get out of this alive you need to tell Declan you love him, Galen.”

 “No, he probably doesn’t see me that way.”

 Peter raises his hand to quiet them as they hear a sound that was unfamiliar yet felt like call to arms, Annie had blown the Horn of Eld. “Here we go.”  

 On the battlefield, The members of Vox machina had never heard the sound before but something about sound the horn of eld made them focus and become more coordinated.  

 Annie “Percy! Canda!”

 Percy looks at everyone “Spread out!”  Suddenly an arrow shoots past them into the heart of the dragon “Where did that come from?”

 Annie “Foehammer? Good King Peter how did you know we’d need back up?”

 “Will explain that later Lady Annie.” The man said as absent mindedly ran his finger along the scar on his cheek.

 “Scanlan, we need you to be annoying so we can untie the prisoners.” Annie said

 Percy shot a few low level dragons “They are not attacking Annie .”

 Thordak “The Female gunslinger who came with Vox Machina smells of the Queen of the Great Worms.”

 “I am getting tired of monsters saying I smell like Lady Dragon. Your Minions took my brother so I am here to rescue him and the others.” She said as her eyes briefly the color of her spirit guide.

 “The human with the soul of a dragon.  We didn’t think she existed.”  The chroma conclave stops in their tracks

 “I don’t want to kill you. I just want my brother.  Leave!”

 After the smoke clears “We found this In the dragon’s cave, Milady. We think it belongs to you.”

 Roland “Crown of Eld.”

 “I am no ruler. I am a Gunslinger. Thankee for returning this to my family.” Annie replied

 Later at the Keep “Percy, you asked about the gem embedded in the grip of my gun.” She said after Declan retrieves his own gun “Our grandfather, Steven gave us each one of these just before he was killed. Mother kept them safe for us and she gave them to use just before her own death.”

Declan looks Percy up and down, “He’s kind of skinny.”

 “So are you brother.” They hug each other “you are just jealous I have boyfriend first.” She blushes “everyone this tall dork here is my twin brothers Declan. That idiot over there is our best friend, Galen Allgood and his cousin Serendipity Johns. This is King Peter of Delain.”

 “Before you ask, I am not ranger. My father taught me to hunt from a young age. This arrow, foe hammer was used to kill a dragon with nine cambered and I was conceived after my father killed the dragon.”  Peter explained as he cleaned foe hammer. He goes over to Annie “You left this in Delain.” Hands her medallion engraved with the crest of the Delain, a unicorn slaying a dragon with its horn.

 “I told you I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it because Ka willed it.”  She takes the crest, she really didn’t want to be seen as champion of Delain. She sticks it in her bag. It wasn’t humility, everything she did she did because it felt right.

 “Wait….you just said I am your boyfriend.” Percy said as he walked over to Declan and Annie, Annie blushed “I admit to having feelings….of love but I worry my darkness will hurt you.”  

 Annie places her hand on his cheek “Percival De Rolo. Stop being a twat. I can tell you want to keep from hurting me but you know almost everything about me and now you have met my family and best friends.  If you want  I can have Declan punch you in the face.”  She grinned  

 He kisses her gently on the lips “Why didn’t Croma Conclave attack you?”

 “Lady Dragon, she is their queen.  They called me the human with the soul of a dragon.”  Annie said

 King peter “You all have an invitation to the reaping festival in Delain.” He grinned “Lady annie matched me In the reaping festival archery contest. I happen to think she lost on purpose.”

 “That may be true, friend. But Declan did the same thing. Neither one of use wanted to be better than you. We were just keeping our skills sharp.”

 “I knew that when I saw that his arrow went through the heart of the skinwalker that jumped us last year.”   They sit around telling stories

 “Galen screamed louder than we did.”

 “No I didn’t.”

 When Annie gets up to stretch her legs, Percy follows her “Does Galen have romantic feelings for your brother?”

 “they are both really bad at pretending it. I knew if he was told Declan was in danger he would come. I just Didn’t think peter would leave Delain. He’s been working hard to regain the trust of his village since Walter O’Dim , framed him for murder and used his  brother, Thomas as puppet ruler to tax people of Delain .”

 “I wondered why you never mentioned courting anyone. It is because the only men in your life are people you know wouldn’t betray you. I promise you I will do my best to be worthy of the trust you give me.  What is a skin walker, again?”

 “in this region they are called lycanthropes. They tear the host apart from the inside.” She shivered “I didn’t sleep for three days after we fought the skinwalkers.” She rested her head against his chest “For most of our lives Declan and I have needed to be strong for ourselves. It is not easy for us to let our defenses down.” She places her hand on his chest “Your heart and your mind don’t need to be two different things Percival.” When he gently takes her hand in a single move he puts ring he made for her on her finger

 “It is a promise. That when the time is right I will ask you to be my wife. The time is not now.”  She looks at it and it has the crest of his family on it “I added the seal of eld to it too.  I want to follow the way of the beam with you. If you will let me Annie.”

 “It brought me to you, until you are rid of your darkness you can’t handle the Dark Tower.| she stopped just before saying, on her previous time loop only she and Roland had survived  Can Ka-No Rey, in the previous time loops she ahd needed to call out the names of all the people sitting around the fire “She and read the funeral rites 13 times before reaching the tower.  She’d be damned if she had to watch them all fall to the Crimson King again “the other involved were still on keystone earth living their lives mostly unaware of what had already happened save for one, the son of the demon king, her friend Magnus.  Why had gan given only her Annie her memories back, at least she assumed she was the only one who could remember bit and pieces of the four previous time loops. The third time loops she was married to king peter and that was all she could remember. It couldn’t happen again and she’d be damned if she let vox machina die to ensure that the tower would remain standing “What is Can Ka-No Rey?” she finally heard percy asking

 “It is the field of roses around the dark tower. They have razor sharp thorns  they beckon to be picked but they kill whomever touches them.” She looked at him “Why?”

 “When you fainted after we met your father. You were muttering about it and calling out my name in your sleep?”

 “Let’s go for a walk.” as they walk “Remember I told you my father is in a time loop my existence created separate time loops and as far I can recall they have converged at least four times already. You asked me why I wrote down your name.” she looks down “In the previous time line when I had to call out the names of everyone I lost.  I couldn’t remember yours. It is the reason why you canlt remember we have met before. When gunslinger reaches the top of the tower time resets. But Gan resets it to different point In the time and places everyone in different places.”

 They nearly jump when they hear Roland’s voice “My journey was my choice and it has always been, Anastasia.  I can see your friends would follow you to end world and back. You have allowed yourself the thing it took me  centuries to allow myself, to let people help me. You on the other hand let people help you all the time.  I remember that day too.  You couldnlt remember percy’s name at the the base of the tower and that’s what broke your spirit.”

 Another When at the base of the Dark Tower, as the menacing eyes of Crimson king stare them down “I am Anastasia Gabrielle Jenna Delgado Deschain  De Rolo, I offer you the names of the fallen as entry.

 Declan Alaric William Delgado Deschain,  My brother and fellow Gunslinger,  Serendipity Johns, Gunslinger, Galen Allgood, Jenna of Eluria, Susan DelGado,  ……

 “Damn it why did his name have to be so long.” She fell to her knees looked into Can Ka-No Rey. He had came this for with her and for her and she couldn’t present his name to the tower. “Percy forgive me.  I never wanted you to be lost in the void. She  could hear the death nill coming from “I wasn’t strong enough to not lose anyone this time.

Present  day “Forgive me.  As soon as Da appeared in the cave it…. the end of the previous  timeline came flooding back to me. I realized I was leading everyone to possible death again. Forgive me.” She felt her leg buckle but Percy caught her  

“We are not in the todash space anymore. Look at me, your father is right his path is not your path. Gods know why you even thought his journey was your responsibility.” He takes a handkerchief out his pocket gently wipes away her tears “You saved me. Let me protect you.” She rested her head on his shoulder, as he scoops her up to carry her over to the fire “If she didnlt call out my name how am I here.”

 Roland “I did. I couldn’t let you lose her how I keep loosing her mother.”

 Another when as his daughter sat collapsed feelings emotionally defeated he repeaeated the name she had listed along with the names of his friends and finally “Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III!” as the door swung open “Anastasia you can come with me if you want.”

 “No Da. Not this time I going to give them the death rites.”  It would take her three days to bury everyone. “Time flies, knells call, life passes, so hear my prayer.

Birth is nothing but Death begun, so hear my prayer.

Death is speechless, so hear my speech.

This is my friend, who served his ka and his tet. Say true.

May the forgiving glance of S'Mana heal his heart. Say please.

May the arms of Gan raise him from the darkness of this earth. Say please.

Surround him, Gan, with light.

Fill him, Chloe, with strength.

If he is thirsty, give him water in the clearing.

If he is hungry, give him food in the clearing.

May his life on this earth and the pain of his passing become as a dream to his waking soul, and let his eyes fall upon every lovely sight;

Let him find the friends that were lost to him, and let everyone whose name he calls call his in return.

This is my friend, who lived well, loved his own, and died as ka would have it.

Each man owes Death. This is my friend. Give him peace.” She placed his pepperbox on his grave “If ka wills it we will meet again Percival.”

 Present day…. “Thank You, Roland. May Gan always hold you in his favor.”

“We are well met Percy De Rolo III. This is your path. You are meant for better things than I ever was, Lady De Rolo.”

 “He  was having conversation with Lady Dragon.” She said as they sat down and her father continued his journey alone

 To Be Continued

Wednesday, February 1st. 2023

[davetheswat6]

The people of the village all froze upon the sight of the two beings walking in. One ran to alert the elders. "LADIES!!! SHE'S HERE!!! AND SHE BROUGHT... HIM..." The goaling shouted through her exhaustion. Three goatlings stood up from their knelt positions in front of a massive stone statue of the goddess. These three, the eldest women of the village, paused for a bit. Not believing these words. "What do you mean 'she' ?" Hahjama spoke, the goatling just pointed at the door as she was too out of breath to speak. The three then made their way outwards from the temple. But didn't even make it out of the door before they laid eyes upon the pair, the pair who now stood waiting outside the doorsteps.

The elders paused. For what felt like the first time in this village's history, they felt fear run down their iron spines. They huddled together with their backs facing the pair to discuss. "Fjolla... What are we going to do?!" Hahjama whispered, a stern expression now appearing on her aged face. "I don't know! I thought Ama got rid of him!" She responded while shooting a powerful glare at the third elder, Ama shot one back at Hahjama, "I DID!" she shouted. The three paused. Going through the few remaining decisions they had. "let's just... Try to explain ourselves... Shift the blame off us.." Hahjama muttered, "She will know we are lying sister.." Fjolla pointed out. "Then we just won't lie. It's that simple."

The elders then hesitantly agreed before turning back towards the doorway into the temple. The pair still stood there, waiting patiently. "We can do this... No fear.." Hahjama reminded her sisters as they walked forth. The pair turned to look at them. They looked so different from one another. Yet they stood together like long time friends. The first was the most surprising... It was the goddess herself.. her short brown hair, her body draped in robes of white and platinum that spread far behind her, with a heavenly aura of gold surrounding her, A pair of massive, golden wings of light fluttered silently behind her back, with the final touch of a pair of golden halved-rings circling around her head. She towered over every other goatling in the village, the elders included.

Her companion, was much different. He was a goatling too. With theassive exception that he was male. In stark contrast to all of the female and hermaphrodites of the village. The hair that covered his body was the color of tar and he wore a simple yet short tan colored toga. The horns on his head had grown to that of a proper ram and were adorned with holy golden, glowing etchings of the goddess, with his eyes matching this color as a sign of the great power embedded within him. Despite all these signs of power, he still stood behind the goddess, shy towards the people of his hometown and scared of their possible reaction.

"Your holy lad... It is an hon-" "I have brought back the holy warrior that I expected from your village." The goddess cut off Hahjama in the middle of her greeting. Her voice echoed and boomed through the village in an intimidating manner,"Y-Yes! And for this we thank you so kindly!" The elders then quickly bowed, Fjolla gave a quick wave to the rest of the spectating village to tell them to follow suit. The whole village bowed down to the goddess.

The goddess rolled her eyes, she already knew about the town's feelings towards this youth.

"I have named him Joel, as you all seemingly have naught the heart to even grant him the simple blessing of a name..." She spoke with resentment towards the villagers. "I am fully aware of your feelings towards the young kid and of your actions towards him." She paused for a bit. The elders could feel a cold sweat come down their bodies as the goddess' words struck fear through the trio. "I will grant one chance to make amends with the kid. Don't. Fail. Me." And with those final words the goddess vanished in a massive flash of golden light. Leaving the black goatling Joel alone with the village. The elders stood up and looked around for a bit. As if looking for the goddess, before turning their attention toward Joel. "You should have died in the alpines." Hahjama spoke with resentment clearly in her voice. "I know." Joel mumbled..

a curse mark was found on a newborn’s back, the parents, afraid and disgusted by it, threw it into a ravine, only to get caught by creatures of the night, taught to survive and thrive at their hands, now, years later, a mysterious stranger turns up to the village.

[tri-poke]

And it is almost like the magic is made for this. It's all about open, ain't it. Eld means open. And open is what he wants. The first, the most basic, the simplest, and it fits perfect. He needs to open a path, yes, and that would require a split, one half a herd on one side and one half on the other, that's what open would HAVE to mean sitting here in the center of the herd and looking at that wall coming down.

And the more he thinks it, the slower time seems to go, and the faster the world seems to light up, like lightning striking all about, showing the cracks, the gaps, the places where things already can open.

Even as the lightning fast glow of the cracks slows to the speed of a rushing river in his mesmeric-mind-haze Zach can see the world and the sky and everywhere all at once lighting up gleaming bright but there isn't a crack here, not a place to flip between one world and another, he ain't THAT lucky...

But there's a echo of a sort between that mesmer light and real light, and real lightning, that Zach can see crawling like a cautious sidewinder through the splitting rock. And again, it's like a click, some kind of instinct, like he is a compass-stone and the tiny bit of slow lightning is a magnet in front of him is a compass-stone and they just pull natural on one another because they both got that mesmeric light, even if his is on the inside and its is on the outside all a glow and sparkling in the unnatural rain. And there's so much energy in it that even if it ain't an opening already, he knows he can make one. That light is enough.

And it's like a little hiccup, that force of air you can't stop when the liquor is too strong and your throat has got to do something about getting to the air so you make that little rattling-honk like a Dilophosaurus gettin ready to spit. But its in Zach's mind. He is open, Eld, and it is gonna - ELD!

It isn't a sound but it booms all the same, rolling like the force of the Professor's hammer device but in a line from Zach to the freezing solid arc of rock-struck lightning, slamming very rain drop and breath of air and particle of dust out of the way. And it slaps across the haunches of the triceratops on his left at the same time as it slaps the horned muzzle of every triceratops on his right - and it's almost like he can see the floodgates of the thought "run" spark in a tar drip crawl along their hides to the back of their heads where it lights up - the floodgate of that need to run opening up as big as it can be, while that boom of power rolls on faster than the rain can fall, batting it aside like pin-heads of ice.

And where's there's no escape all that rain piles up in a charging shield wall of water, slow as ice, harder than glass, pressed thin as metal by the strain of the weight of nothing but all that air as it all booms on to the widening force of the lightning arc, standing still, waiting.

The boom of Eld, open, hits the tumbling wall, hits the light, and it is brighter than the sun, brighter than when the First Goddess who existed before all other gods, long departed, set before Her out of Her own mouth the first lightning bolt that forked in seven lights that forked in seven lights until the void burned with light before Her, separate from the darkness. So bright that everything else for one terrible moment goes darker for Zach than the deepest cave in the darkest night, when clouds cover all, in the shadow of the Western Wall. Only that flash of brilliance, LIGHT, seared into him as surely as ELD means OPEN and he needs no one but his own perceptions to tell him so, so is light: OZOR.

When it OPENS, ELD-OZOR there is a tiny flicker of that primal power let loose upon the made world and boy howdy does it open a path before it.

The world returns to true speed and normal light though everything has to blink at the instant of too brightness - almost long enough for the normal senses to register but not quite - the shock wave making every dinosaur in front of Zach panic and stampede, every dinosaur behind him rear and spin, bolting the other way, and the falling wall bursts inward, water and stone catapulting away from Zach in a new opening in the canyon walls allowing a shortcut through the retreating scream of rubble and water to the green oasis beyond around the lake they couldn't get to before.

The only stillness is in a tiny bubble around Zach, like the world is holding its breath in case he says more. But then the Professor's mechanism breaks a spring and in a much less impressive crack, and spatter, and the resounding of snapping bits of metal like tiny shots out of a less than reliable gun, whatever is running the professor's forge hammer breaks.

[farewell-persephone]

"can you explain this gap in your resume" I lost the Horn of Eld at the Battle of Jericho Hill in that iteration of the cycle

[thesquireinvictus]

There is an old tale goes, that Herne the Hunter (sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest) Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns; And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle, And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain In a most hideous and dreadful manner. You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know The superstitious idle-headed eld Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.

Willy Shakes | The Merry Wives of Windsor

Source details and larger version.

Some strange and unusual vintage diagrams.