#juren

[sweetstarstims]

cai juren!

🐎.🐕.🐎

🐕.🐎.🐕

🐎.🐕.🐎

[zhaleys]

I'm gonna force myself to work on those RE/SH charms this month ✍️🫣

Should I add other side characters besides main protags?

[rhaenysaemma22]

*Jocelyn ll y Aemon ll se estaban despidiendo de sus madres y sus hermanas en el balcón donde se podía ver el atardecer, la menor de los gemelos estaba algo inquieta por tener que irse ya que ella era la más apegada a sus madres desde pequeña, incluso fueron quienes apoyaron su reclamo sobre Balerión.*

Rhaenys: Jocelyn. *La llama.*

*Aemma se hace aun lado para poder hablar con Aemon ll.*

Jocelyn ll: ¿Que sucede?

Rhaenys: Se que tienes miedo, ya que está será la primera vez que ir��s con Balerión a otro lugar que no sea DragonStone. *Le agarra la manos suavemente y las acaricia con el pulgar.* Pero debes prometerme que solo irás como mensajera y no darás ninguna pelea. *La mira seriamente.* Y por favor ten cuidado si te enfrentas a Vaghar recuerda que ella es la hermana de Balerión.

Jocelyn ll: Lo hare, solo iré a entregar el mensaje y dependiendo de lo que decida el primo Borros, volveré a DragonStone. *Le da una pequeña sonrisa haciendo que su madre tuviera un recuerdo de su abuela.*

Rhaenys: Ahora se por que eres así de decidida, por tu abuela Jocelyn Baratheon. *Le da un beso en el cabello.* Eres su viva imagen. *La abraza.*

*Jocelyn ll al escuchar a su madre decir el nombre de su abuela, hizo que se le llenarán los ojos de lágrimas qué soltó cuando su madre la abrazo, le corresponde el abrazo para llorar en su hombro.*

Rhaenyra: Se que si la abuela Jocelyn te hubiera conocido, definitivamente fueras su consentida por tus genes Baratheon. *Le sonríe.*

Visenya: Y Aemon también hubiera sido su consentido por ser igual al abuelo. *Dice para luego ser empujada por su hermana mayor quien se estaba riendo.*

Helaena: Es cierto pero creo que al viejo Rey le hubiera dado un ataque al corazón al saber que Aemon reclamo a su dragón. *Se ríe contagiando a sus hermanos mayores.*

Aemma: Puede que tengas razón.

Aemon ll: Me los imagino a el y la abuela Alysanne ne discutiendo por sus dragones, aunque conociendo a la abuela Alysanne estaría más orgullosa que enojada por qué Visenya es la nueva jinete de Silverwing. *Se cruza de brazos con una sonrisa.* Al contrario del viejo que debe estar de lo más furioso.

Rhaenys: Ya me lo puedo imaginar.

*Todos se rieron en familia, ya que muy pocas veces recordaban al viejo Rey.*

Daemon: Hermana aquí tengo el libro que pediste. *Llegó con un libro bajo el brazo y su capa.*

Rhaenys: Gracias Daemon. *Lo agarra cuando se lo extiende.* Daemon, Aemon y Jocelyn, pongan su mano en el libro, y juren por los dioses que no pelearán, solo irán como mensajeros. *Los mira seriamente pero más a Daemon.*

*Los 3 colocan su mano dominante en la parte superior del libro jurando.*

Daemon: Prometo ir solo como mensajero.

Aemon ll y Jocelyn ll: Lo prometo. *Ambos se ríen ya que muchas veces dicen lo mismo.*

*Rhaenys sonríe asintiendo dándoles un abrazo de despedida al igual que sus hijas y esposa para después los 3 irse a Pozo Dragon.*

Rhaenyra: Espero que todo salga bien.

Aemma: Yo también lo espero. *Abraza a su hija de lado.*

Helaena: Volverán. *Sonríe.*

Visenya: Es cierto, nadie puede con 2 Targaryen con apariencia Baratheon. *Sonríe al ver a Balerión tomar vuelo junto con Caraxes y Vermithor.*

Rhaenys: Eso es lo que más deseo.

*Las 5 se quedaron viendo a los 3 dragones volar lejos, rezando para que no ocurriera algo malo con alguno de los 3.*

[stupidandcaoticqueen]

The Queen Rebe

La reina Rebe

Este Au está basada en la sería “Final Space”, usando a los personajes principales y agregando otros propios que serían OCs o fanchilds, aquí está presente el ship Garycato

-

Ella es una versión alternativa de la Rebe original, ella no es una loba común y corriente, aparte de ser azul, ella posee poderes de un titán, gracias a que lo tomó antes que el señor comandante lograra tenerlo, este inmenso poder le quitó parte de su lógica y se volvió más enérgica, gritona, amenazadora (sin intenciones malas),más volátil con sus emociones, esto hace que sea alguien impredecible con sus acciones y se pase de la raya algunas veces pero tiene a su general que la controla lo mejor que puede, además de que es capaz de regresar a su aspecto original y convertirse completa o parcialmente en titán

Debido a un incidente que ocurrió en su planeta de origen donde perdió a sus padres y su hermano mayor, quedando viva su hermana menor, pone a su gente primero y no dejará que nada les pase, evitará todas las bajas posibles

Con esto en mente quiere proteger a todos en su universo para ello haciendo que le juren lealtad porque así estaría siempre a su cuidado y protección, cuando descubrió que existían más universos, se dio a la tarea de hacer que todos le juraran lealtad para así cuidar de todos

-

De alguna manera logró convencer a Avocato que se convirtiera en su general y se asegurara de que no se pasara de la raya con sus tonterías

Gary por otro lado, se encarga de la exploración y hacer vínculos con otras especies y planetas

Pequeño Cato volvió a ventrexia para ser rey y fue el primer planeta en jurar lealtad a la reina, aunque va de visita para ver a sus padres

Gary y Avocato son una pareja felizmente casada aunque a veces son interrumpidos por cierta reina

[ghosty-0w0]

I found my drawing Jurenal :3

YOOOOO

IT’S SO CUTEEEEE

[paganimagevault]

Sogdian and Chinese men of the Tang Dynasty 618-907 CE

Despite the An Lushan revolt probably primarily consisting of populations physically similar to modern-day East Asians, as shown by the leadership overwhelmingly of Kumo Xi and Turkic ancestry, Caucasoid populations such as the Sogdians were targeted for their foreign appearance. The butchers actually seem to have been initially on the Turkic side and were defectors who switched sides to join the Tang Chinese side later. Tian Shengong was initially a supporter of the Turkic rebellion but defected to China later, he was the leader behind the Yangzhou Massacre of 760.

Gao Juren was the leader behind the ethnic cleansing of Sogdians in Fanyang and Youzhou. He initially supported the Turkic rebellion and appears to have been of Goguryeo origins (one source said he came from present day North Korea precisely) but defected to China later. Gao Juren was killed a short time after this: "The former Yan rebel general Gao Juren of Goguryeo descent ordered a mass slaughter of West Asian (Central Asian) Sogdians in Fanyang, also known as Jicheng (Beijing), in Youzhou identifying them through their big noses and lances were used to impale their children when he rebelled against the rebel Yan emperor Shi Chaoyi. High nosed Sogdians were slaughtered in Youzhou in 761. Youzhou had Linzhou, another "protected" prefecture attached to it, and Sogdians lived there in great numbers. Because Gao Juren, like Tian Shengong wanted to defect to the Tang dynasty and wanted them to publicly recognize and acknowledge him as a regional warlord and offered the slaughter of the Central Asian Hu "barbarians" as a blood sacrifice for the Tang court to acknowledge his allegiance without him giving up territory, according to the book, "History of An Lushan" (安祿山史記). (taken from Wikipedia)

From Medium:

"Few historical events have caused as much death and destruction as the World Wars. The An Lushan rebellion was one of them. The An Lushan revolt, also called the An-Shi rebellion, occurred in China from 755 to 763 AD. It was one of the bloodiest wars in human history. In 754, 52 million people lived in China, but after the war, that number dropped to 16.3 million in 764.

You may wonder if a fight in the eighth century killed as many people as the First World War.

If Chinese censuses are to be trusted, the answer is yes. Steven Pinker, a rationalist thinker, called the disaster “the biggest atrocity in history,” since it wiped away one-sixth of humanity.

Historians are divided about the death toll. Many of the deaths happened during the period because the empire was in chaos. Some experts suggest people leaving Tang China and taking refuge in neighboring regions caused the drop in population.

At Fanyangn, the Tang general Gao Jure killed all the Sogdians, even the children. He distinguished them by recognizing them by their eyes and noses. This is one of the earliest documented cases of ethnic cleansing in history, in which the rulers targeted citizens based on their ethnicity.

Tang forces slaughtered thousands of Persian and Arab merchants during the Yangzhou massacre (760) on the suspicion of assisting the rebels.

In Chinese society, the trust had completely broken down.

One of the worst tragedies happened in the city of Suiyang. After a brutal siege by the Yan forces, the Tang defenders ran out of food. The Tang soldiers, however, refused to submit. Zhang Xun, the general defending the city, murdered his concubine in front of his men and fed her to them. The troops cried, but when commanded by the general, they ate the poor woman.

Cannibalism was rampant during the siege of Suiyang. People began devouring the dead, and families began exchanging their children for food. The soldiers soon started eating the old women and then turned on young women and men of all age groups. Estimates suggest that 20,000 to 30,000 people were eaten. Yet, the Tang army refused to submit.

The number of people who died during the An Lushan rebellion could have been anywhere from 13 million to 36 million. It is easy to argue that the civil war was one of the most catastrophic disasters in human history."

-Prateek Dasgupta, The Bloody 8th Century Conflict That Wiped Out One-Sixth of the Human Population

[llamamamarisen92]

One Thousand Years Later

A sweet little story of a fully redeemed Durge thinking on how his life has played out.

Johim is an insert for Durge.

Honestly, I am not ready to let this character go and I think a lot of my writing is going to revolve around him for a bit.

This takes place a thousand years after the elder brain stuff.

----------------------------------------

Another thousand years had gone by for Johim. Astarion was the only one alive who had shared in their adventures. He was already destined for a long life. Born near immortal from the loins of Bhaal. When Withers resurrected him on the temple floor he became something else. A cosmic balance in response to the gods. Living eternally to maintain balance on behalf of mortals. There were plenty of battles in his lifetime since. But a lot of his life was spent in a small hut. Sought out by grieving widows and orphaned children. Helping those who had been scorched by the divine, taken advantage of, or those who simply had nowhere else to go.

He sat amongst a group of chattering children as they regaled tales of mighty foes they vanquished by the river side with their wooden swords. Smiling as they swore themselves the next hero of the realm. These children reminded him of his own. The ones Johim and Karlach were fortunate enough to bring into this world and raise two years after the netherbrain was defeated.

When they found Zariel's forge they were able to reclaim Karlach's heart. Sitting upon a pedestal like a trophy. He was not the mad dog he once was but at that moment he allowed himself to be one last time as he ripped Zariel's head from her shoulders after she finally gave the order to fix Karlach. They returned and made a home at this same hut. Four beautiful children. Wild and whimsical like their mother. Instilled with the arrogant overconfidence of their father. A tear ran down Johim's cheek at a memory of his youngest, Sheilla, declaring boldly how much smarter she was than her three older brothers.

His children had gone on to have children of their own and by now his line spread across the sword coast over the past thousand years. He always kept an eye out though for any foothold Bhaal may still try to lay claim to.

Son of Bhaal. Husband of Karlach. Father of Brignor, Juren, Helos, and Sheilla. Eternal servant of Jergal. Slayer of Devils. Challenger of Gods. Savior of Baldurs Gate.

Among his many titles Father and Husband were his proudest. Never in the thousand years before the netherbrain crisis did Johim imagine the way his life would play out. The purest son of Bhaal. A murderous mad dog. Ruler of the temple of Bhaal. His life was a life now seeking ways to balance out his nearly thousand years of murder and tyranny. Correcting the after effects of his foolish attempt to usurp the gods.

Footsteps sounded behind him. He turned to see Astarion approaching. Glad to have a living friend who truly understood.

"You do realize how unfair it is that you get to retain your beauty and walk in the sun as much as you want." The sun had set and his community was quieting down as they settled into their respective huts.

"It balances things out. Mankind wouldn't stand a chance if two beautiful bastards could walk the light of day eternally." Johim chuckled, any arrogance long gone from his tone. He had taken lovers here and there since Karlach's death. But he never settled with anyone. No one ever measured up in his heart.

Johim did largely look the same, perhaps a bit more muscle packed on. Red flowing hair and same amber eyes. A few lines had dared to cross his face and some grey hairs worked their way into his mane. He sported a beard for the past three hundred years though. Something to signal his age.

"Well, my dear, I think you're doing a fine job balancing things out so long as you insist on wearing this drab, depressing robe of yours." Astarion curled his lip in mock disgust.

"I'm afraid I've retired the jewellery and pastels centuries ago. Those things belonged to a much different man." Chuckling at his previously more... flamboyant style. Trading it for robes similar to Withers to denote his role in life. 

Astarion regaled him with stories of the Underdark. A grand city resided where he and the other spawn once settled. A temple dedicated to his lover who also passed away lifetimes ago.

"A few weeks ago we wrapped up our annual festival in the temple. I swear it gets wilder with each year. Brothel owners and courtesans would blush at the tales we could regale."

"Hm. I don't know if Gale would feel honored or horrified by how you honor his memory." Shaking his head as he pictured the gentle wizard protesting in dignified horror.

"He may never have truly been a God. But I work as hard as I can to make sure everyone remembers how divine he truly was." The vampire watched the night sky reverently.

Two  near immortal beings cursed to live with the memories of those they loved the most. The evening went on like that as the two men sat in comfortable silence. Breathing in the life of the night air.

[goreyakkisbowl]

my oc family, but the siblings r kids

they’re so silly :3

left to right for kiddos -

Erumo Chabagiro : 9

Varianto Chabagiro : 10

Huni/Kyashi Chabagiro : 13

They’re super silly!

The parents -

Juren Chabagiro : 31

Murii Chabagiro : 29

[wangsejabin]

Chapter 90

Because of this incident, Pan'er and Yue Wangfei had inexplicably gained an extra level of intimacy.

As they walked that way, Yue Wangfei said quietly, " Prince Chu and our prince are not very close, but I didn't expect him to greet me today."

Pan'er had a different thought in mind, probably because of her keen sensibilities, but she felt that Prince Chu's sudden stop was because of her. But Prince Chu did not do anything other than glance at her and ask her a question knowingly.

   However, it was not easy to say such things to Yue Wangfei, so she could only say shyly, "I stay within the Eastern Palace and rarely see outsiders, especially men, so I am a bit flustered by the sudden sight of them."

Yue Wangfei smiled understandingly and felt that Su Liang Di was a frank and honest person, and had long since cast away any prejudice she had against her.

By this time, the two of them had already reached the children, and as they were talking to them, Pan'er looked back.

Prince Chu and the Seventh Prince were no longer there, and she was instantly relieved.

"Okay, all sweaty from playing, there's many bodies of water in this Western Garden, you can't leave your lackeys behind when you go for walks, you have to bring them along with you before you can come out, tell Mother in advance before you go anywhere, got it?" Pan'er's words were deliberately addressed to Wanyin and Zong Lin, she was not worried about Zong Yue, the boy had always known what was proper.

   "Understood Mother."

The Yue Wangfei also felt that Pan Er's words made sense and told Zong Zhi and Shu Li to listen and to do the same in the future.

   Both children answered in the affirmative, and seeing that it was getting late, they turned their heads and walked back.

In front of the Pavilion of the Lotus Wind and the Hui Lu, Pan'er and Yue Wangfei made an appointment to go out for a walk next time, and the children of the two families also agreed to play with each other, and then went their separate ways.

Pan'er had not walked so much for a long time, and her legs were a little sore, so Xiang Pu kneaded her legs, while Zong Yue and Wan Yin went to the study to practise their writing. Before they went out, they had agreed that they would each write two big words when they returned from playing.

   The child did not follow Pan'er in anything, except for her reluctance to do embroidery and practice calligraphy, and her writing truly was atrocious. However, at her age, there was no need to worry too much, but Pan'er thought to herself that her daughter would have to be better than herself.

   When dinner was about to be served, the Prince came back.

After having dinner together, Pan'er forgot to tell the Prince about the encounter with Prince Chu today because of the children's interruptions.

   Pan'er thought that Yue Wangfei had probably said something out of the ordinary because she was so desperate for help, and given her character, she would not mention it again if she missed it this time. At this point, she was a little glad that Prince Chu and the Seventh Prince had appeared and interrupted the conversation, otherwise she would have had a headache thinking about how to answer the other party.

   What Pan'er hadn't expected though was that the Yue Wangfei apparently didn't give up so easily.

   It was also when she was leading the two children back to Juren Hall that she happened to meet Side Consort Guo, who made a couple of barbed remarks, and Yue Wangfei was defeated by her mouth and suffered a lot of anger. She originally thought she would just remain calm, but Shu Li was still young and although she was usually shy and reserved, she did not want her mother to suffer such anger, so she complained to the Prince of Yue.

   The couple inevitably had a big fight, and when she returned, she was so angry that she became dizzy and wept.

   So she came uninvited the next day to find Pan'er.

   Pan'er was a little surprised by her sudden visit, but seeing her face even worse than yesterday, and the look in her eyes, she already had some idea of her intention.

After the palace maids had served tea, she dismissed everyone and passed the tea in front of Yue Wangfei , saying, "Wangfei, have some tea first."

Yue Wangfei drank the tea, taking the time to calm herself down, but the moment she opened her mouth, she still let her intention wash away the feigned calmness.

   She gave a brief account of what had happened last night, and then mocked herself, "I'm not afraid that you will laugh at me, Su Liangdi, but at first my Prince and I were in love for a while. ...

   "...... When my mother in law took a fancy to her and wanted to choose her to give to my prince, I had a bad feeling in my heart,we were both from the capital, although she was of high rank and my family was of low rank, I had heard a few rumors about her. You can say I'm not confident, say I'm small-minded, I remember when you were pregnant with Zong Yue and Wan Yin, we also met twice in the Kunning Palace, at that time I really didn’t want to let her enter the door. Unfortunately, I couldn't resist the 'rules' of the palace and the 'filial piety' ......

   "...... When she entered the house, it was true that there was less and less room for me to stand in the house. I hate my own lack of courage, and thought it would be just as well to live like this, just enduring it, but the children are getting older, I sometimes see my children put up with it in front of her children, I want to slap myself. I also know that I have come abruptly today and asked abruptly, but I don't want to worry my parents there at my maternal home, and there is no one around to say these things ......"

The princess of Yue said, while dropping tears.

   Pan'er sat by the side, not knowing what to say.

In fact, she felt that Yue Wangfei was making things difficult for herself and as a woman of the royal family, if she couldn't even manage to think it through herself, Pan’er was afraid that the life would be unbearable for her. Inevitably, she was reminded of when she was waiting for the crown prince's other children to be born, and she had been pretending that nothing was wrong, but she was still a little uncomfortable in her heart after all.

She had been reluctant to know the Prince's movements in the backyard because she didn't want to face it directly, and she was also putting her head in the sand, but he did come to her most often, especially since the birth of the third child, and he came almost every day, sometimes not, so she just assumed...

She just pretended he was busy in his study.

But when the truth came out, she couldn't continue pretending.

Was it difficult? Of course it was, but not as hard as she thought it would be. On the contrary, she felt relieved, as if some things were still going the way they had in her previous life, which gave her a sense of security.

The days still had to pass, and after two minor tantrums with the prince, which seemed to be genuine, he seemed to understand a bit where her anger lay. He talked about how jealous she was, how she didn't tolerate people, how others knew about it, and how he still came more often to her place.

   Was she happy? She seemed a little happy, but not as happy as she thought she would be, and why not, she didn't know. She just didn't want to explore the issue too much, she always felt that if she thought about something too much, her convictions would collapse.

   So how could she instruct others on something she didn't even understand?

   But looking at the teary-eyed Yue Wangfei, Pan'er also had mixed feelings, not only because of the other party, but also because of herself, because of the Crown Princess, because of this situation where wives and concubines are destined to be on opposite sides.

   Just now, when Yue Wangfei cried to her, she wondered if she was like this in the Crown Princess's heart, too.

"In fact, this matter, I really don't know how to go about it with the Crown Princess, after all, the situation is different, the status is different, my words might not be useful. Just like you are the main consort, the person you are opposite of is a side consort, a concubine. I am also a concubine, my position is obviously different from that of the main wife."

   "No, you misunderstand," Yue Wangfei panicked a little, wiping her tears as she said hastily, "I'm not trying to get you to speak for me or anything, I just want to learn from you, learn how to please men, I think my prince favours her because I'm not as pleasing as she is ...... I see that you are so pleasing to the prince, so I ...... I don't really mean anything else, I just ......"

   I know you don't mean anything else, but you've already embarrassed me a bit.

   Pan'er sighed in her heart, suppressing some messy thoughts, and instead looked squarely at the Yue Wangfei once more.

She must have loved Prince Yue very much, otherwise why would she have degraded herself, reduced herself to ask a concubine and condescended to such a level, there must have been some firm conviction that drove her to do so.

If one looks at it this way, it seems that she did not love the crown prince as much as she thought she did. As soon as this thought surfaced, it was immediately dismissed by Pan'er, who felt that she had to stop Yue Wanfei's tears now, otherwise she might be drowned in them.

   It was the first time Pan'er had ever seen someone so good at crying. This was not meant to be derogatory, after all, she had seen all kinds of tears in her previous life, including her own, and none of them had been so genuine.

   "It's actually quite simple to please someone, whatever he likes, you do."

   "Whatever he likes, I'll do it?" Sure enough these words interrupted the tears of Princess Yue, she murmured, seemingly a little confused, "That's all?"

   Pan'er nodded, that was all.

   She tried to imagine herself in the position of the Crown Princess and added, "For example, if he doesn't like you to be jealous, you shouldn't be jealous, jealous women are sometimes ugly and make themselves look hideous and aggressive, men are bound to dislike them."

   "A jealous woman is ugly, with a hideous face?" Yue Wangfei went to touch her own face, she had been jealous a lot, and she knew she must have looked ugly then, and he had said she was becoming less and less herself, but she was herself, who else could she be?

   "But jealousy can still be controlled?"

   "Naturally, it's not easy to control, but slowly and consciously, I think it can get better. For example, whenever I feel jealous and want to act out, I just think about how I have nothing to complain about if even the Crown Princess is not jealous."

Obviously Pan'er's teasing tone made it very difficult for Yue Wangfei to accept. She even wondered a little if it was a deliberate perfunctory remark, but when she saw the bitter smile that didn't show at the corner of Pan'er's mouth, she didn't think so again and hesitated.

"When you're not jealous anymore, you can calm down, take time to think about what he likes about you and what you should do to make him like you."

"Make him feel guilty, make him miss you, make him believe what you say, make him gradually be swayed by you, make him ......" Pan'er felt that she was no different from that Guo side consort of the Yue Mansion, the difference being that that person was too arrogant and she was not.

So what qualifications did she have to judge people, what qualifications did she have to instruct the Yue Wangfei, who is the main wife?

   In fact, there was another sentence that was most pertinent, but Pan'er did not want to say it. Because this sentence is too out of the dangerous a concept to say, just don't fall in love.

As long as you don't love him, you can be good at everything you need to be good at to uphold your status, you can calmly fight for favour and use tricks to make him like you more because of how understanding and how thoughtful you are.

Something roared in her ears, it was the last words that Empress Chen had said before she was imprisoned in the cold palace in her previous life--

   "...... Do you think he really favours you? You are wrong, he only has his kingdom and his nation in his heart, he is doting on you for the sake of his kingdom and nation, you think you have really won? You're wrong! I will wait, I will see you lose like I did ......"

   "...... You think that bitch really loves you? No, she doesn't love you, I'm the only one who loves you the most ......"

   ......

   Outside the door, the Crown Prince stood there with his hands behind his back, surrounded by minions cowering with their heads hanging.

   Only Fu Lu stood a little closer, but hearing how Su Liang Di was pointing out the Yue Wang Fei inside, he was also in a cold sweat. You have nothing to do with the affairs of the House of Yue, why are you getting involved?

   As he watched the Prince's face grow darker and darker until he turned to leave, his heart thumped and he knew something big was about to happen.

[legcndaries]

LEGENDARY • leg·end·ar·y - of, described in, or based on legends. / remarkable enough to be famous; very well known.

                                                MEET THE MUSES:               SORA ✦ ARTIE ✦ SKOLL ✦ HATI ✦ JUREN ✦ RIME ✦ WISP                                                 ✦ STARTER CALLS ✦

[lordxbebbanburg]

Llevaba muchos años esperando por esa venganza, la necesitaba como el aire que respiraba y fue por esa razón que le prometió a su hermano que iría con él. Sin importar si había hecho ese juramento a Alfred de quedarse, de que tenía su espada para salvar la vida de Ragnar aunque no sabía la razón por la que había pasado y debía de mantenerse de tal forma. La pelea fue sangrienta pero fue demasiado satisfactoria cuando Ragnar finalmente mató a Kjartan. Uhtreda se acercó a él. “Suficiente, ya murió” lo abrazó con fuerza pero no lo soltó hasta que se calmó. Se levantó, cuando los daneses comenzaron a traer a la gente de Kjartan. “Juren lealtad a Ragnar o tendrán el mismo destino” amenazó hasta que vio a uno de ellos en específico y era de todos el que más había llamado  su atención porque lo había visto pelear contra su propia gente. Uno de los hombres de Ragnar estaba por asesinarlo cuando está se acercó terminando por detenerlo. “¡No!” gritó Uhtreda viendo al danés. “¿Por qué lo quieres matar?” preguntó, no había escuchado que se negará a jurar hacía Ragnar cuando escuchó que le decía que era hijo de Kjartan, le sorprendió porque no había escuchado que tuviera otro hijo. “¿Cómo te llamas?” preguntó, a pesar de ese hecho dando una oportunidad por lo que había visto en batalla, si era hijo de Kjartan, ¿Por qué peleaba contra su gente? ¿Su propio padre? Tuvo curiosidad. @siihtric​

[birgittesilverbae]

Liandrin with the Jurene namedrop smh keep my girls' cut meeting place out ya goddamn mouth

[adl1bbed]

Clear and Muddy Loss of Love - Bölüm 15: Ben bilmeden, gelip geçmişti

Başlık, "李商隐 Lǐ shāng yǐn《锦瑟》 Jǐn sè - İşlemeli Arp" şiirinden bir alıntı.

Qi Yan kopya ettiği yazıyla beraber yazdığı iki kitabı kitap dükkanına getirdi. Qi Yan'ı gördüğünde tezgâhtarın gözleri parladı ve aceleyle tezgâhın etrafından dolaştı, "Gelmişsiniz? Bu taraftan, lütfen."

İkisi gizli bir odaya geldiler. Qi Yan yazdığı kitabı ve kaynak kitabı çıkardıktan sonra ikisini de dükkan sahibine uzattı, "Kitabın kopyasını çıkardım, yaşlı bayım bir göz atabilir."

Kitapçı sayfaları gelişigüzel çevirdi, ardından tatmin olmuş bir şekilde kafasını salladı, "Bu yaşlı adam hemen efendi juren'in ücretini ödeyecek."

"Bayım, durun. Bu talebe iki mütevazı yazı getirmişti, rica ediyorum bir bakın," dedikten sonra Qi Yan sandığından biri büyük biri kü��ük iki parşömen çıkardı.

Önce küçük olanı açtı, "Bu seyahatlerim sırasında ilham geldiği bir vakit yazdığım kısa bir söz, yaşlı bayım da bakabilir."

Dükkan sahibi bunu iki eliyle teslim aldığında, siyah kâğıda beyaz mürekkep ile yazılmış satırlardan gelen ışıltıyı gördü: Yeşim beyazından karla çevrili bir köşk, gecenin rengini siliyor. Türlü çiçekler bahar esintisiyle yarışıyor. Ardından hafif kolları ve kısa şapkasıyla yaz geliyor. İnsanlar çakırkeyif şarkılarla bağlanıyor. Güz yağmurları dışarı bir sis gibi çökerken, aynı eski şiir kâğıttan yelpazeyi mürekkebe boyuyor. Yeşimden flütün yeni tınısı ve güzel bir kadının melodik şarkısı ile sarılmış, bahar rüzgârının mekânına varıyorum.

Ç/N: 李彭老 Lǐ péng lǎo《浣溪沙·题草窗词》 Huàn xī shā · tí cǎo chuāng cí — son cümlede bazı değişiklikler var, "takip etmek" ifadesi "burası/ulaşmak" olarak, "doğu rüzgarı" ise "bahar rüzgarı" olarak değiştirilmiş.

İmza — münzevi çoban.

Dükkan sahibi dizeleri iki kez kendi kendine mırıldandı, okudukça daha da etkileniyordu, "Bu... gerçekten mükemmel bir yazı olmuş!"

"Yaşlı bayımın övgüsü hak edilenden fazla."

Dükkan sahibi kafasını kaldırdı. Qi Yan'ın o gün daha farklı kıyafetler giymekte olduğunu fark etti, fakat yine de giysilerine yama üzerine yama yapılmıştı. Öyle bile olsa, bu genç adam sırtını bir fırça misali dimdik tutuyordu ve övgü almasına rağmen sakin yüz ifadesi kibrin izinden yoksundu.

Bu dükkan sahibi üç kez sınavlara girmiş fakat başarısız olmuştu. Başka seçeneği kalmayınca da babasının kitapçı dükkanını devralmıştı. Artık, altmışlarına merdiven dayamıştı. Böylesine temiz bir taslak hazırlamak şöyle dursun, karakterleri de bu denli mükemmel yazamayacağını biliyordu. Önündeki genç adamsa henüz yirmilerinde bile değildi fakat juren unvanı almıştı. Geleceği sınır tanımasa gerekti.

Bu noktaya kadar düşünen dükkan sahibinin Qi Yan'a duyduğu saygı daha da arttı. Qi Yan ise ikisi de açılıp dağılmış iki parşömenden diğerini çıkarırken bu düşüncelerden habersiz görünüyordu.

İkinci parşömen otuz santimetre uzunluğunda ve yaklaşık on beş santim genişliğindeydi, "Ve bu... bu ne?

"'Jiucheng Sarayı'nda tatlı baharların yazıtı'. Bu talebe Jin vilayetinde doğdu ve bu taş yazıt Jin vilayetinin hazinesidir. Chencang ilçesinin altında yatıyor, fakat artık yazarı bilinmiyor. Küçüklüğümde okuma şansı edinmiştim ve yıllardır unutmadım, bu sebepten onu yazıya geçirmeye karar verdim."

Beklendiği üzere, metnin altında keskin bir satır vardı: Jingjia yedinci yıl sırasında münzevi çoban tarafından yazıya geçirilmiştir.

Dükkan sahibi sonunda bir şeylerin eksik olduğunu fark etti, "Efendi juren neden buna imzasını basmıyor?"

"Bu talebe daha acemi biri olduğundan ötürü henüz hazırlamadı."

"Orası kolay, bu dükkanda en iyi kalite zanaatkâr mührüm var. Efendi juren imzasını bırakıp üç gün içerisinde mührü almaya gelebilir."

"O halde teşekkürlerimi sunuyorum."

Dükkan sahibi gülümsedi, ardından direkt konuya girdi, "Bu yaşlı adamın haddini aşan bir ricası olacak."

"Söyleyin lütfen."

"Efendi juren'in yazısına mühür basıldığında, onu hemen ipeğe dikip dükkana asacağım. Kesinlikle iyi bir fiyata satılacaktır. Fakat bu taslak... bende kalabilir mi? Karşılığında on liang gümüş vereceğim!"

On liang gümüş yoksul bir talebe için oldukça büyük bir miktardı, fakat bu kadar parayla asla mükemmel bir kaligrafi çalışması satın alınamazdı. Ne var ki bu 'münzevi çoban' ünlü bir isim değildi. Ne kadar edeceğini kestirmek zordu.

Qi Yan hafifçe gülümsedikten sonra, "Yaşlı amcanın memnuniyetsiz olmamasına sevindim," diye cevaplamakla yetindi.

Dükkan sahibi Qi Yan'a toplamda on üç liang gümüş ve üç yüz bakır ödedi.

Ekstra üç liang bu taslak için olan depozitoydu. Satıldığında elde edilen kâr üç ila yedi parçaya bölünecekti.

Qi Yan kitap dükkanından çıktı. Fakat, sokak girişinde duran tanıdık bir figür gördü, çocukluğundan anılarına kazınmış biri: Wu Da.

Maskeli kişi Qi Yan'ı Çimenli Ovalar'a geri götürmesi için Wu kardeşlere emir verdiğinde, ona Chengli kabilesinin kasvetli haberlerini anlatan kişi oydu.

Wu Da, Qi Yan'ın kendisini gördüğünden emin olduğunda döndü ve gitti. Qi Yan ise hızla Wu Da'nın gözden kaybolduğu sokağa saptı.

Kazara birine çarptı. Çarptığı kişinin nefesi kesildi ve yere düştü. Qi Yan başını eğdi ve bir bakış attı, "Kusura bakmayın," deyip geçiştirdikten sonra ileriye adımını attı.

O sırada, kol yeni tutulmuş ve geriye çekilmişti, durmaktan başka çaresi yoktu.

"Nasıl bu kadar kaba olabilirsin?! Benim, benim er-ge'mi düşürdün ve yardım bile etmiyor musun?!"

Qi Yan başını çevirdi ve kol yeninden tutmakta olan kişinin on üç ila on dört yaşındaki bir genç adam olduğunu gördü. Doğal kırmızı dudakları ve narin hatları vardı. Bir tutamı şakaklarından çıkmış olan saçları bir taç ile tutturulmuştu.

Zeki bakan iri gözleri öfkeyle doluydu. Qi Yan'a dik dik bakarken onun kaçıp gitmesinden korkar gibi kol yenini ölümüne sıkıyordu. Bu genç adam hâlâ ufak tefekti ve henüz çocuksu havasından kurtulamamıştı. Öfkeyle soluyor olmasına rağmen, hiç de korkutucu görünmüyordu.

Qi Yan bir miktar şaşırmıştı. Tekrar baktığında, sokağın çoktan bomboş olduğunu gördü. Wu Da da görünürlerde yoktu. Sessiz bir iç çekmekten kendini alamadı.

Bu kişinin birine çarptıktan sonra öylece uzaklaşmaya çalıştığını, kolundan tutulduktan sonra ise dikkatini başka şeylere yöneltme cüretini gösterdiğini görünce; küçük genç adamın öfkesi bir anda taşmıştı. Qi Yan'ın bacağına sert bir tekme attı.

Qi Yan acıyla yüzünü buruşturdu, genç adam tüm gücünü kullanarak vurmuştu. Wei Krallığı talebeleri adabı ve nezaketleriyle bilinirdi. Ding Fengshan gibi acınası zengin genç efendiler bile onlara 'şiddet uygulamak' için hane hizmetçilerini gönderirdi. Uzun yıllardır Wei Krallığı'nda olmasına karşın daha önce hiç böyle zorba bir genç adam görmemişti.

Qi Yan neye uğradığını şaşırdığı sırada arkasından nazik bir ses duyuldu, "Jing-er, gel de kalkmama yardım et." Bu açık bir şekilde bir kadın sesiydi. Qi Yan bir miktar şüphe barındırarak döndüğünde, bambu yeşili cübbe giymiş bir genç adam daha gördü. Kendi cinsiyet kimliğinden dolayı, yere düşürdüğü 'genç adamın' aslında erkek kılığına girmiş bir kadın olduğunu bir bakışta anladı.

Bu genç adamın bu kadar öfkeli olmasına şaşmamalıydı. Qi Yan özür dileyerek elini uzattı, "Kusura bakmayın, genç efendinin bir yeri incindi mi?"

'Pa', Qi Yan'ın eli vurup uzaklaştırılmıştı. Küçük genç adam Qi Yan'a ters ters bakarak, "O pis elini çek!" dedi.

"Jing-er, kaba davranma."

"Er-ge, kalkmana yardım edeyim." Bu 'Jing-er' denilen genç adam anında tavrını yumuşatmıştı. Uysal bir tavırla onun yerden kalkmasına yardım etti.

Qi Yan ihtiyatla bir bakış attı. Hiç şüphesiz diğer kişinin erkek kılığına girmiş bir kadın olduğunu doğrulamıştı, ardından bakışlarını 'Jing-er' denilen bu küçük genç adama çevirdi. Bu yaştaki çocuklarda cinsiyet açıkça belli olmazdı, az önceki kabadayı tavrından dolayı Qi Yan bu 'Jing-er'in feminen görünen bir erkek olduğunu düşünmüştü.

"Er-ge! Elin kanıyor!" Nangong Jingnu ablasının elini kaldırdı, minik yüzü kalbinin acısıyla buruşmuştu.

Saraylarda büyütülmüştü, bu yüzden daha önce hiç böyle halka açık sokaklara çıkmamıştı. Geçenlerde sonunda malikaneye taşınabilmişti ve Nangong Shunu'nun sıklıkla erkek kılığına girip malikaneden çıktığını gördükçe onun da dışarı çıkma arzusu artmıştı. Nangong Shunu onu da yanına götürmeyi kabul edene kadar uzunca bir süre yalvarmıştı, fakat böyle bir şeyin yaşanabileceğini tahmin edememişti.

Bu genç adamın ablasının elini tutmuş dikkatle üflediğini gördüğünde, Qi Yan'ın bacağındaki keskin acı, onu çok uzak bir anısına götürdü.

Yıllar önce, Xiao-Die ve Bayin ile birlikte Momo Dağı'na mantar toplamaya gitmişti. Kazayla dağdan yuvarlanmış ve dizini sıyırmıştı. Xiao-Die de onun için aynı böyle dizine üflemişti. Qi Yan kalbinde bir sancı hissetti: eğer yaşasaydı, Xiao-Die de bu yaşlarda olacaktı.

Fakat bu acı kısa sürdü. Gözlerindeki derin ve sessiz gölgede tek bir dalgalanma bile görünmedi. Qi Yan Nangong Shunu'nun yanına geldi, ardından elini birleştirerek eğildi, "Bu kişi aceleyle yürürken genç efendiye çarpıp yere düşürdü. Gidip bir doktora göstermeli miyiz?"

Nangong Shunu başını kaldırdığında, içten bakışlar bulunduran kehribar rengi gözlerle karşılaştı.

Bir anlık şaşkınlıktan sonra, Qi Yan'ın sırtındaki sandığı ve yamalı kıyafetlerini gördü. Duyduğu acıya katlanırken o da ellerini birleştirerek eğildi, "Sorun değil, bu küçük yaralanmayla malikaneye dönünce ilgilenebilirim."

"Durum buysa, yollarımız burada ayrılıyor," dedi Qi Yan ve hafifçe eğildi, ardından oradan aceleyle ayrıldı.

Nangong Jingnu sinirle yanaklarını şişirmişti. Qi Yan'ın uzaklaşışını izledi, ardından tepinmeye başladı, "Er... Er-ge! Onu nasıl öylece gönderebildin?"

"Bilerek yapmamış olabilir. Belki acele bir işi vardır."

Kız kardeşinin gözlerinde hâlâ şüphe olduğunu gördüğünde, Nangong Shunu sakince açıkladı, "Aksanına bakılırsa, başkentten biri olmayabilir. Sade kıyafetler giyiyor ve sırtında talebe sandığı taşıyordu, yani uzak bir yerden başkent sınavına girmek için gelmiş olabilir. Başkentte muayene ücretleri hiç de ucuz değil, neden onu ekstradan bir sıkıntıya sokalım?"

Nangong Jingnu hep sarayların derinlerinde yaşamıştı, bu yüzden para kavramı hakkında hiçbir fikri yoktu. Tekrar düşündüğünde, gerçekten de onun kıyafetlerinin daha önce gördüklerine benzemediğini fark etti. Dokunduğunda da çok sert hissettirmişti. Başını yana eğerek bir süre düşündü, "Bu babamın önceden bahsettiği 'insanların yaşadığı zorluklar' şeyi mi?"

Nangong Shunu oldukça şaşırmıştı. Dünyevi ilişkilere yabancı olan şımartılmış kız kardeşinin bu şekilde düşüneceği aklına gelmemişti. Gülümsedi, ardından Nangong Jingnu'nun elini kaldırdı, "Jing-er gerçekten çok zeki."

Nangong Jingnu başını çevirdiğinde Qi Yan'ın çoktan gözden kaybolduğunu gördü. O esnada birden fark etmişti ki başkent çok yakınlarında olmasına rağmen hayat kraliyet sarayındakinden bambaşkaydı. Ciddiyetle, "Er-ge, beni dışarıya daha sık çıkarabilir misin?" diye sordu.

"Elbette."

Qi Yan üç sokak boyu koşturmuş, fakat Wu Da'yı bulamamıştı. Birden yukarıdan bir hışırtı sesi geldi, sonra gözlerinin önünde bir şey bulanıklaştı. Wu Da duvardan aşağı atlamıştı.

Birbirlerine bakarken bir süre ikisi de sessiz kaldı. Wu Da soğukça söze girdi, "Shifu'nunsözlerini aktarıyorum. Bu sınavın ana gözetmeni Baş Katip Xing Jingfu. İki yardımcı gözetmen ise Personel Bakanı Deng Hongyuan ve Vekil Personel Bakanı Shu Liren. Erkenden planını yap."

"Anladım." Qi Yan Wu Da'ya tekrar bakmak istemiyordu, bu yüzden arkasına döndü ve uzaklaşmaya başladı.

Arkasından Wu Da'nın sesi duyuldu, "Esas hedefini unutayım deme."

Qi Yan ufak sokaktan çıkarken dudaklarında ıssız bir kıvrım belirmişti.

Nangong kardeşler el ele malikaneye döndü. Yirmilerinde bir genç adamın kapının önünde dikilmekte olduğunu fark edince Nangong Shunu gerginlik içinde durdu.

"Er-jie? Ne oldu?"

"Lu mülkünün ikinci genç efendisi seni görmeye gelmiş. Arka kapıdan girelim."

Fakat, Lu Zhongxing onları çoktan fark etmişti. Nangong Shunu, Nangong Jingnu'nun elini sıktı, ardından sessizce, "Jingnu, genç efendi Lu'dan bunu bir sır olarak saklamasını isteyebilir misin?" diye sordu.

"Er-jie, için rahat olsun."

Nangong Jingnu onun elini bıraktı. Neşeli adımlarla Lu Zhongxing'e doğru yürüdü, ardından sevimli bir şekilde, "Zhongxing gege," diye seslendi.

Lu Zhongxing sevgi dolu gözlerle ona baktı, "Ekselansları Zhenzhen."

Nangong Shunu etraflarından dolaştı, ardından aceleyle malikaneye girdi. Küçüklüklerinden beri Lu ailesinin genç efendileriyle yakın olsalar da o, Nangong Jingnu kadar ayrıcalıklı değildi. On altı yaşına gelmişti, bu yüzden yabancı yetkililerle görüşmesi yasaktı. Ayrıca, bu kişi sarayın önündeki Baş Muhafızdı. Eğer bu İmparatorun kulağına çalınacak olsa, tek cezalandırılan o olurdu.

"Ekselansları İkinci Prenses neden dışarı çıktı?"

"Zhongxing gege, Jingnu senden bir iyilik isteyebilir mi?"

Lu Zhongxing hiç düşünmeden cevapladı, "Benim yetki dahilimde olduğu müddetçe, elbette."

Nangong Jingnu parlak bir şekilde gülümsedi, zeki bakan gözleri hilâl şeklinde kıvrıldı. Ellerini arkasında kavuşturup göğsünü dikleştirdi, "Er-jie ve benim malikaneden ayrılmamız, Zhongxing gege bunu bir sır olarak tutmalı, tamam mı?"

Lu Zhongxing bir tüyün kalbini gıdıkladığını hissetti. Bu genç kadının büyümesine emekleyip yürümeyi öğrendiği zamanlardan beri tanıklık etmişti. Ağabeyinin çoktan evlenip iki cariye sahibi olmuş olmasına rağmen, kendisi hâlâ bekardı ve hiç evlenmemişti, onun büyümesini bekliyordu. Yıllardır kalbinde sakladığı kişinin basit bir ricasını nasıl geri çevirebilirdi ki?

"Tabii ki, söz veriyorum."

'Plan başarılı' anlamında kurnaz bir bakış Nangong Jingnu'nun gözlerinden geçti. Başını arsızca yana eğdi ve belirgin bir ciddiyetle sordu, "İmparator babama da söylemiyorsun değil mi?"

Lu Zhongxing de kibar bakan gözlerle gülümsemeye başladı, "Söylemeyeceğim."

— — —

PDL yazar notu: Bu kitabın kadın ana karakterlerinden biri Ekselansları Zhenzhen, Nangong Jingnu~ Her ne kadar Shunu'yu da çok sevsem de~ Bu bölümün başlığı için 'hayat yalnızca ilk karşılaşmaları takip ederse' ile 'ben bilmeden gelip geçmişti' arasında kaldım. Sonuç olarak ikincisini seçtim. O zaman bu bölüm önemli yan karakterimiz Nangong Shunu için yapılmış bir karşılama olsun. Shunu ve Jingnu'nun ikisi de Qi Yan'ın katlanır yelpazesine oldukça şaşırmışlardı. Shunu'nun yanlış kişiyi tanıması çok yazık, fakat belki bazı şeylerin kaderi önceden belirleniyordur. Ve sonsuza kadar sürmesi gereken bir an, ben bilmeden gelip geçti. Ama Jingnu'yu da çok çok seviyorum~ O zamanlarda, Shunu gibi aristokrat hanımefendiler çok fazlaydı. Jingnu'muz elmasların dünyasında akan berrak bir nehir gibi~ hehe.

[ghosty-0w0]

I mage fan art of your ghost sona but I um lost my drawing Jurenal somewhere in my room if I find it I'll show you the fan art :3

:OOOOO

I BELIVE IN YOU TO FIND IT

[llamamamarisen92]

The Birth of An Alliance - Durgetash Head Canon.

Pre-brain damage Redemption Durge Head Canon

Named Durge: Johim

Warning: light references to violence

Word Count: 1,323

Johim sat in his secret temple garden. A warded pocket of the temple that only he was allowed entrance to. Somewhere he could find peace amongst the chaos of worshipers and their expectations. Lilies were his foster mothers favorite. All planted and tended by him. The fresh smell was a welcome reprieve from the smell of blood and bile. A pocket of life amidst death.

The imp butler Bhaal assigned to him had been quite up in arms today. They were on their way to meet with Gortash for the first time. On their walk he had spotted a small girl sitting on the cobblestone. Her clothes were dirty and she was shivering violently from the cold. It was barely a moment. But he had given her the coin purse strapped to his belt. It's not the first time he had shown such tendencies. Probably why, despite his status as Bhaal's heir and scion, the god saw fit to have a watchdog on his son's heels.

*Flymm's Cobbler*

Brows drawn down in confusion he waved for his men to stay posted at the door as he entered the shoe shop. His butler tried to enter with him but Johim held up his hand. "Stay here with the rest of the men. I'm sure they'd love to hear you air out your grievances."

"Master, I only wish to implore you to be a bit more compliant to your father."

Rolling his eyes he closed the shop door behind him. It was dark, his assassin's instincts kicking in. His foster father had taught him the art of secret blades. Juren and Kiella were drow who had broken away from Lolth and sought out a gentler life on the surface. But Juren always insisted that it was important he learn to defend himself and his mother.

Something he probably regretted. Coming home to his adolescent son standing over Kiella's mutilated corpse. He pleaded with Juren. Telling him that he had blacked out and woke up to her body like this. Pleading for help. But Juren threw him out, swearing if he returned he would kill him.

That was the night that the butler showed up. Guiding him to the temple of Bhaal where he began his training as a novice. Eventually mastering his art until he sat upon the throne of Bhaal. The lost son of a god who took his place upon his father's throne.

The floorboards creaked and he watched a man dressed in ornate robes walk down a set of stairs towards him. Johim had lived for a thousand years already. But he looked just as young as this man who was probably no older than thirty five.

"My, my. When I heard you'd accepted my invitation I didn't expect you to show up quite like this."

Idols and statues had depicted Johim as a pale dragon. It kept his true identity away from those who would use it to their advantage. When he did meet on behalf of Bhaal he often did so in the disguise of the dread dragon. But not tonight. Tonight he showed up in his normal form. Thick red hair flowing like a river of blood over his back and shoulders akin to a lion's mane. Sun-kissed skin donned with a torrent of freckles. Lean muscled with handsome leonine facial features. Piercing amber eyes that seemed to lock into a person's soul.

"And what did you expect?" Johim smiled playfully as he leaned towards Gortash.

"Something a bit more... ferocious."

"Oh! I can be very, very ferocious when I want to be." smiling wickedly as he sat on a nearby chair.

Gortash took his measure, trying to assess how the conversation was truly going to go.

Watching people tremble in the presence of the dread dragon was fun. But he had grown bored and there was something equally delicious in watching someone's inner wheels spin as they calculated how to proceed as he played with them like a mouse caught between a cat's paws.

Scanning his fingernails in a gesture of arrogant boredom he waited for Gortash to continue.

"You truly are a beautiful specimen." tone of voice equally arrogant.

He glanced at Gortash who had lit some candles to illuminate the room a bit. His interest peaked. It was a rare treat to find someone willing to play his little game.

"I read your letter, Gortash. I have to admit, I never considered collaborating with a fledgling baanite. But breaking into the hells? Stealing the Crown from Mephistopheles?" Grinning lazily, he tilted his head to the side. "What exactly is your endgame?"

"Isn't it obvious? To rule the city of course."

"Just the city?" his eyebrow raised curiously.

"It's just the beginning." Gortash raised his chin. A cold calculated smile falling across his face.

"And say we were successful in obtaining the crown, what else would you do with it?" his tone remained light.

"I've heard a rumour that an illithid colony has taken over moonrise. And where there is a colony there must be an elder brain."

Johim leaned forward in his seat, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Intrigue sharpening his mind.

"And why would you give the crown to mind flayers? Do you intend on surrendering to their ranks as you hand the crown over?"

"If my research is correct. It just takes three unset nether stones to control the wearer. Imagine the power we could wield if it sat atop an elder brain. An elder brain that we controlled."

"Hmmm... and isn't Moonrise under the shroud of Shar? How are we meant to break through the shadow lands to get close enough to this colony without incurring her wrath?" He vaguely remembered tales of the general who fell to the harper’s blade. The same harper who felled Sarovek. Whisperings of Ketheric’s resurrection had been floating around. 

"Myrkul has enlisted a former sharran general. A paladin whose allegiances seem... flexible. I have already written to him on the subject and he has returned interest in kind." 

Johim considered his words, watching as Gortash fidgeted with his hands betraying the calm facade he displayed. He stood up pacing as he worked through the things Gortash said. And the things he left unsaid. 

"And, I was informed that Bhaal's current ruler was none other than his own son." A hint of jealousy crossed Gortash's face. "What better ally to increase our odds than the scion of a god."

"Bhaal, Bane, and Myrkul all working together. It's practically the stuff of nightmares." Johim’s eyes widened dramatically, slightly mocking Gortash.

"Well, Son of Bhaal." Gortash stopped for a moment. Weighing his next words carefully. "What if... we didn't need them... what if we could become... gods ourselves."

"I would consider slitting your throat right now for suggesting it." But a spark of ambition and secret longing triggered in Johim's heart. He had served Bhaal faithfully for so many years. When Sarovek had fallen, Johim took his place. Discreetly building back up what Orin's grandfather nearly destroyed. But he secretly longed to be free of Bhaal. Free of the temple and all of its weight. Perhaps the only true way to be free of a god's influence was to usurp said godhood. A future shaped by his own hands.

After mulling over the suggestion. The consequences. The benefits. Grinning wildly he turned to Gortash.

"You better find a diabolist then." He smacked Gortash on the back. As he was walking out of the shop he turned to Gortash one more time before leaving. "There's a tombstone shop in the city. Once you've secured a plan to get into hell, inform Orin and I will meet you there."

Later in the evening he sat in his secret garden thinking about how life might be if he was truly free of his god. To be his own man free of his murderous infliction. Suddenly eager to see where this new road would lead.