#kalkara

[silveroakleafdeer]

Halt looking into the eyes of kalkara.

Ranger Gathering 2024 - 3. Resist

Hard to look away. Eyes more beautiful than Pauline's, I guess.

[fainfrumos]

Red boat, Kalkara, [25.12.24]

[missterwild]

~15~ Ignite

Kalkaras are known to have only one weakness…

[postcard-from-the-past]

Royal Naval Hospital Bighi in Kalkara, Malta

British vintage postcard

[universalambients]

Kalkara (1867) Ambient Music

[peithopathos]

Ranger Gathering 2024: Siege

TLDR: The Great Lord Northolt, master of war, champion of tourneys, and shame-bringer to Black Lord Morgarath, was too frail to defend against a siege of the mind.

[findingcrow]

"Halt and Will" this, "Will and Horace" that, I'm a little insane recently so can we please. please can we talk about Gilan and Will because I'm being driven up the WALLS about them

Gilan first meets Will at the Gathering and he's like, "oh, this dude is tiny. but he's polite and Halt trusts him, so I do, too." and then they find out the Kalkara have been released and that Halt wants him- which is cool, whatever- and Will to go and help him track it. And he's completely fine to put his own life at risk, because he knows Halt and the kingdom and himself, but the moment it processes that Will is going to be walking into danger, he completely stops. I mean sure, he comes around to the plan, but one of the first things he says is, "But he's only a boy!" He barely knows this kid and wants him far away from any kind of danger. And when he listens to Halt, when he sees that Will is fully capable of taking care of himself, he even places trust in him, allowing him to ride Blaze to Redmont and beyond.

And then he takes him on a mission in the Burning Bridge. Can we just. Really process that. Like we all talk about Halt grieving Will after watching him be shipped away, but think about Gilan, who had left Will in charge and the next time he hears about him, he's probably not alive. The guilt would tear him apart. That was his brother, that was the boy he joked with and gave advice to and watched grow, and he left him for only a few days and suddenly he was gone. Not only did he have to grieve, he had to grieve on his own- Halt was spiraling, Crowley was trying to keep Halt in control, and the Rangers still had work to do. He couldn't react like Halt because someone still needed to help search for the convicts. He could only stand by, knowing it was his fault, blaming himself for leaving, unsure if his brother was alive or dead, watching his father become closed-off and wreckless.

When the time comes, he can't even search for Will. Halt goes, losing his title- the way he had even met Gilan, his shared aspect with the man, the part that had initially made him family- to find his brother without him. Gilan has to wait for a year, now without two family members rather than one, unsure if either of them were okay. He didn't even know if they would come home. And still, he has to blame himself, because if he had just taken Will with him back to the kingdom, if he had waited a little while longer, none of this would have happened.

And then Will comes back. The bright boy he had known so long ago is now even smaller than when Gilan had first met him. He has a hard time remembering things and gets cold too easily for a boy his age. His skin is pale and his eyes are tired, and deep down Gilan thinks that he did this. Will went through things no Ranger, especially no Ranger's apprentice, should go through, because of one careless mistake on Gilan. He doesn't know what even happened to him! All he knows is that Will and Halt have changed and Gilan hasn't. He tries to bond with him again, and everyone tells him not to blame himself, but holy shit it all went so wrong and Gilan barely had the chance to know.

And they end up okay, of course. Gilan works to give Will advice in his last year of training, as the mocking-older-brother he is, he makes fun of him when the younger apprentices model themselves after him. But I really think, deep down, Gilan still thinks about what could have happened if Halt hadn't been faster. He thinks about what might have happened if he had been smarter. Gilan wakes up in a cold sweat knowing that he ruined anything and was lucky for it all to be okay.

Anyway, I think we should have more bonding scenes for Gilan and Will and I want them back and I miss them and they mean so much to me and htey're brothers and and

[millietalksra]

Something I’ve thought about a lot in terms of the Magic Is Real au and NEED to talk about asap is this:

Dragons once roamed Araluen and preyed on other magical creatures like Wargals and Kalkara.

Now it’s been a looooong while since I’ve read the books so I can’t remember if Morgarath created the Kalkara or not but I do remember that he used mind magic or something to control the wargals which were already existing creatures that he made into his army. I also remember that the wargals were terrified of horses and the Kalkara were vulnerable to fire. So In my version of the Magic Is Real au, the wargals are terrified of horses because it is ingrained in them to fear large, 4 legged, long faced animals.

I’m being very biology brained about this but I love the idea of dragons going almost extinct, from being hunted by humans or out competed by other predators or whatever, and the wargal/Kalkara population going unchecked allowing Morgarath to create his army, but also dragons themselves become a thing of legend by the time of the series. Like sure there are legends, brave knights slaying fire breathing beasts, but they’re just stories. Until someone (maybe our favorite rangers??) finds a real live dragon

[that-one-enby-ranger]

For the trick or treat fic fest: a trick with Halt please :D

I'm gonna take this as an opportunity to write a shorter version of a story I've wanted to write for a while now.

Halt winced in pain as he moved his leg slightly. The wound he had gotten during his fight with the kalkara would leave him unable to do some things for a while. Good thing he had an apprentice.

Speaking of his apprentice, Will know approached him eagery seeing that his mentor was awake.

"Halt, you're awake!" Will said happily, moving to kneel beside the ranger.

"You're observation skills are as keen as ever," Halt replied dryly. He tried to move into a better sitting position but winced a second time as more pain shot up his leg. Will noticed and was immediately on alert.

"Are you alright? Do you need any help?"

"I'm fine. I've had worse you know." Willnodded and backed off a little, but only a little bit. His eyes were still filled with worry and body was tense, ready to spring into action at any sign of danger.

Halt's gaze roamed around the campsite. He noticed Baron Arald resting nearby and Sir Rodney organising some equipment but he ignored them. The only thing he really payed attention to was the ruins of castle Gorlan. For the first time since he arrived he only just seemed to process where he was.

And with the location came some memories.

"I'll be back," Halt muttered to Will, and painfully tried to stand.

"Where are you going?" Will asked. He was a little worried that Halt wouldn't be strong enough to walk and wanted to help support him, but didn't know if his teacher would accept it.

"Not far." Halt's two word reply was.

"Are you sure thats a good idea?" Will asked. Halt looked at him, annoyed, but Will continued. "You only just woke up and you're injured."

"I'll be fine," Halt said firmly. He stood up the rest of the way and steadied himself for a couple seconds. He had a headache and his vision darkened slightly but soon went back to normal. Will was right, he knew. It wasn't smart to be moving around so soon. But there was something he needed to see. He could still see that was Will was worried.

"There's a path somewhere over there," Halt explained. He pointed to an area towards the back of the ruins. Looking closer, Will could see that the bushes and trees seperated a little into somehting that looked like ti could be a path. "There's something through there I want to see," Halt continued. "If I'm not back in half an hour you can come look for me, alright?" Will nodded his agreement. He still felt anxious but calmed little at the plan.

Slowly and painfully, Halt limped his way towards the path. Rodney noticed and looked up but didn't say anything. He had heard what happened at this sight around sixteen years ago and had a pretty good idea at where Halt was going.

It took Halt about ten minutes to get to where he wanted to go, and now he had to stop to take a breath. His fucked leg really was a problem. Once more of the pain subsided, he took a couple more steps forward.

In front of him was a small log that had been embeded into the ground years ago. It was rotting away and had moss covering most of it, but there were some letters carved into that was still slightly visible.

an P tc

Anyone who didn't know what the log represented wouldn't have a clue what the barely discernible letters meant. But Halt knew what they meant. He had carved them there sixteen years ago.

Sixteen years ago in that very spot, Halt had found his mentor Pritchard, lying dead in the grass, multiple stab wounds in his body. He had been with Arald at the time and the two of them had buried his body there, knowing they couldn't move it with them. Halt had found a log and carved the words:

Ranger Pritchard

Halt sat down in front of the grave now. It had been years since he had been here. That wasn't surprising. His job was too busy to go on trips to old mentor gravesights, and he had no work to do in Gorlan. Still, it would have been nice to be able to visit at least once. To be able to pay more respects to the man who had trained him, taught him to be brave and defend himself and who Halt had grown to care about more than his own father.

Minutes seemed to pass by in a flash as halt stared at the grave. Tears started to blur his vision but none of them fell. Before Pritchard had been killed it seemed impossible to imagine a life without him. Then all of a sudden Halt had to cope with everything. At least he had Crowley. But then they had to seperate as their jobs took them different ways. That had been one of the worst parts about the entire experience. Not having Crowley there.

Halt hadn't been keeping track of time properly but he had a feeling it had been a while and Will would come looking for him soon. He slowly stood up and prepared to endure more torture as he made his way back to camp. But just as he was about to leave, some dull caught his eye.

Laying in the grass a couple of feet away lay an old battered chain, with an oakleaf attached to it. Halt ran as best as he could over to it and eagerly picked it up. The oakleaf was a bit bent out of shape and rusting from years of being exposed to the weather, but Halt knew it was Pritchard's. When they had found the body, they didn't find his necklace, but Halt never thought anything of it. Who knew it had been here the whole time?

A couple tears were falling down Halt's face now and he wiped them away, pocketing the oakleaf. He had to show Crowley when he saw him.

Halt looked up as he heard the sound of some leaves rustling and saw Will appear.

"Good, you're alright," he said.

"Of course I am," Halt replied, suddenly relieved he had wiped the tears when he did. "I said I'd be fine. I was just about to come back."

Will didn't seem to be paying attention. He was looking at the grave behind Halt with curiosity.

"What is this place?"

"It's just a place. Let's go."

I don't know if Halt would be able to physically walk that well but I don't care. Hope you liked it and hoped it was angsty enough for you.

I put this shit on A03:

[idontactuallywherepjs]

pt. 2

I loved it. I'm well past book one but i loved it. My assorted thoughts out of order that nobody asked for because im screaming

I really really like how Horace was handled. When the three bullies started on him, it was a little bit of "yeah a taste of your own medicine, learn empathy you little shit", because he was mean to Will. And it's made very clear that Will bit back, verbally, and no one party was truly in the right, but Horace was the one to start shit and used his greater physical prowess to his advantage. So with three older boys giving him hell, he might reflect a little. And that's a fine way to write a bully learning and changing.

But then. In the same scene they were introduced, the bullies took it all a step further, and messed with everyone else's things, and forced Horace to clean it up and, possibly, take the fall. In a place like Battleschool, with how strict it is? That's dangerous. And it kept building and building every time we see them. When Harvest day comes, and Will and Horace have their fight, it doesn't feel good. Because even with his actions in the moment, I felt for the kid. He felt like his friends betrayed him, while everywhere else he went his life was made a hell. The only respite was training, and that's just because it was out in the open where the bullies couldn't reach him.

And when Rhodny breaks up the fight, there is a sense of dread. Not just because it could make Rhodny think Horace is more violent then he actually is and kick him out, but because Will and Horace both aren't finished with each other. Their both angry and hurting and this fight is not over.

And then suddenly, it is. They both do their best to defend the other from the boar. They exchange words of peace. But due to the nature of the moment, a lot is left unsaid. Then the three bullies go after Horace. Then they go after Will. And again, they defend each other. And they trust each other. They are friends. Not best friends mind, there's a long ways to go, but they are in each other's corner, and through all this, Horace did gain empathy, and a greater moral compass. It didn't come out of nowhere, but it was strengthened. I really really like how it was done.

Halt being just subtly caring for a lot of the book, so it's hard for even the reader to see just how deeply he cares for Will at any given moment up until the second boar, where he just runs and Hugs Will. In front of Everyone.

That is Halts Son.

I'm going to have to reread this and pay special attention to Halt. Will captured most of my attention he is the baby boy.

Halt and Will working together to pull one over Gilan.

Also Gilan.

So silly that right before he showed up Halt was like "Former apprentices always go after their masters" and Will is about to be like "i won't" and then thought about it for a second longer and shut his mouth because. Yeah. He will.

I absolutely adore Tug. That is a good horse.

The run down of archery, the bows, and the specifics given is, while not in depth, is REALLY FING ACCURATE! LIKE THAT NEVER HAPPENS IM SO HAPPY. I DO ARCHERY AND WAS METALLY PREPPING TO SUSPEND MY DISBELIEF BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO REALLY!

I mentioned this briefly in my first post, but I love the pacing. More than halfway through the book and we finally get plot. And none of that time was wasted, it was all spent learning the characters and world and getting comfortable so that when things are disrupted it feels disrupted.

I like that Will was a little awkward around Gilan, just because he's a new person. Like yeah they got along right away but they weren't just instantly besties.

The fight with the Kalkara was really tense and well done on all sides. The tracking was interesting, The fights were cool and believable, I was half convinced someone was going to die, and everyone's skills and fears were on full display, and made them feel more real. Even when Will got his certified Protagonist Moment TM it felt both earned and not out of place, or like the plot just decided to make it happen. The set up and pay off were both well executed.

I also really love that the adults do their best to make sure Will is as safe has possible. He's just a boy and while he does save them in the end, they do everything they can to protect him, even if it is an all hands on deck situation.

During the tracking, Halt taking every opportunity to teach Will and comfort him. The moment with the false alarm of not being able to see Gilan comes to mind. And Will just being so concerned for Halt's safety. Will and Gilan having some moments together. They're family your honor.

Halt and Gilan embracing when they first meet up on the way to the Gathering. Such a cute moment.

Actually Halt's training style in general was a highlight. It's a little bit of tough love but he makes sure to get through to Will what he's trying to teach and feels more patient then he wants to let on. It's really sweet.

The story of Wills bio father nearly made me cry. Oh my gosh such a tender moment on all sides. ow.

That's all I have to say on book one for now. Ive got plenty for book 2 though, and im like, 2/3 through book 3? ive got 11ish chapters to go. Im buying 4 and 5 tonight, they don't have 6 or 7 though. they can be easily obtained, but it's still sad. Might also get book 8 just to make sure i have it in case they sell the rest of the latter half of the series before i can get my grubby hands on it.

pt3 coming at some point!

[vilewile]

There is no way Halt didn't know the kalkaras were after him during that failed gathering. He took this mission specifically to avoid collateral damage. It's no accident he was alone and in the middle of nowhere when they caught up to him.

[fainfrumos]

These doors, Kalkara, [25.12.24]

[ranger-tater]

So stay with me here as this is EXTREMELY jumbled and it’s 3 in the morning but I had to get it out before I passed out!

I’ve been addicted to the idea that Halt only really got with Pauline because of expectations thanks to royalty. Like, raised in an extremely heteronormativity space such as he was (I wholeheartedly believe Araluen is extremely progressive and love’s homosexuals), he felt like he had to like women, and it was just something that had to be done, getting into a relationship with a woman. Ofc he thinks Pauline is beautiful and he does genuinely like her, he really struggles with *loving* her, but it’s what’s expected of him! But he wants Crowley, he had a huge gay awakening with the red headed whistler, but he can’t just go be in a relationship with a man! It’s wrong! For years he struggles with it, eventually coming clean to Pauline about everything and his sexuality and apologizing about leading her on etc, this would be like right after his near death by the Kalkara and it’s like ‘oh crap, I need to do something about this, I don’t want this to be a regret.’ Pauline is super supportive and helpful, she helps halt understand everything about his sexuality and stuff, and is his wingwoman. Halt goes up to Crowley all out of the sorts, mumbling his confessions and Crowley’s just ‘about time!’ Then the gay.

[rangertessadarling]

"ranger's apprentice is a kids series"

oh ok, meanwhile

Will's drug addiction

Halt's traumatic childhood

Horace's bullies quite literally almost murdering him

The fucking creepy Kalkara things

Pretty much every violent fight scene

Sir Karen quite literally mind-controlling Alyss and attempting to seduce her

Will graphically almost dying in the desert from dehydration

Halt almost dying in b9

Horace using a literal torture method to get an answer out of the Genovesan (bro just casually poisoned him and made him run around to make it spread faster through his bloodstream like can someone say iconic)

The way Will's parents were basically both murdered

Will's speech for Horace and Cassandra's wedding. (it's just not suitable for any person of any age)

The graphically portrayed animal abuse

Alyss' death. Which was actually pretty gruesome, she died in pretty much the most tragic way someone could die. A fire so intense her body was never even recovered? which is um kind of traumatizing imo

Will's 'vigilante shit-- revenge' era, and his depression being handled very very poorly by his friends and family (literally made me angry reading those chapters for the first time)

Maddie quite literally getting drunk. at 15 years old. ma’am.

Dimon and Maddie's hookup

many, many, many, deaths. like many on-screen deaths. like one day I’m gonna go through the books and make a kill count. there’s legit a lot of death. (i am actually going to make a kill count now)

Rangers, in general, are pretty brutal people tbh. The way they handle a lot of situations is just kinda like "Eh strip them down to their underwear. dehumanize them, they deserve it." and ummm sure it's "funny" and I think that's what Flanagan was going for, but it's a littleee edgy on a moral level like calm down, they tried to rob you, but calm down

On that note, Gilan legitimately thinking of hanging some highway robbers and only being stopped because of the lack of trees around him. truly an icon.

[permettez-moi]

More ruins of gorlan audiobook thinkies:

Arald asking Will not to tell Halt that he told Will it was hid master leading the cavalry, as he didn’t want Halt to get angry with him. I like how this indicates they have butted heads before, as most characters in the series are shown to be cool headed, or, if they aren't, they rarely actually argue. So in a way I like how this request indicates it has happened before, getting rid of a bit of the feeling of 'they all magically get along'

Halt including Will in his message to the baron 'tell the baron that Halt and his apprentice Will are tracking the boar' just the fact that Halt not only adds that his apprentice is coming, but that he is called Will feels so important? It's like Halt is showing how much Will matters to him, and that, even though he is a mere apprentice, he is important

'Halt reigned in for a few seconds to explain, and Will brought tug to a stop beside him' the way I died because Flanny boy obviously had to say 'to a stop' instead of 'to a halt' kills me

I am absolutely obsessed with the image of Horace, absolutely beaten up, a black eye and bleeding lip, holding a wooden sword, standing there ready to protect will (I am thinking of a specific image, but can't pinpoint it, like, slightly hunched, maybe leaning against something, in any case, a real power stance)

When Will got scared because Gil dissapeared out if sight on the planes (when hunting kalkara) Halt says that it's alright, and he rather Will warn him too often, then too little, and then, I quote 'Halt knew only all too well, that having called a false alarm once, Will might be reluctant to react one time, and that might be fatal for all of them' ALL THE POSSIBLE THINGS THIS COULD RELATE TO??? Did Halt once feel foolish like this, and didn't warn crowley or the group or something, causing terrible things?? Is this somehow related to ferris, where, after the first attack, he told his thoughts to someone who reacted badly, not doing it the next time and then nearly getting drowned??

I FORGOT ABOUT THE WILLYS KISS OMG THE KUSS THE KIDS I SCREAMED OUT LOUD

Both Rodney and Arald being happy that Will chose Halt, you cannot tell me that that isn't because they saw Halt was happier with Will in his life

HALT SMILING BECAUSE WILL CHOSE HIMMMMMM I AM NOT NORMAL ABOUT THIS MAN

WAIT THE CONFESSION ABOUT WILL'S FATHER IS IN THE FIRST BOOK??? In my head it came way later! Also got teary eyed by this btw

Brb I am crying now

[ranger-raziel]

I’ve been thinking about it an RA movie/show actually happens, and one thing I really want is for it to be creepy.

Like, I want the Rangers to seem other worldly and strange before Will joins them, I want them to truly seem as if they are sorcerers.

I want to feel absolute dread when we see the kalkara, I want them to feel truly dangerous.

Idk I just kinda want shit to be scary.