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blakeswritingimagines · 3 months ago

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Waiting (Kinktober)

Word Count: 2.8k

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

In the vast and ancient lands of Westeros. Aegon the Conqueror, a man of great power and ambition, had been waging war and conquering kingdoms. As he traveled through his realm, he came across a young healer known for exceptional skills and a compassionate heart. You had earned a reputation for helping the sick and injured with your innate ability to heal. The renowned healer, was in the midst of tending to a patient one day when word reached you that the fearsome Aegon Targaryen, the self-proclaimed King of the Seven Kingdoms, was asking about you. A mixture of curiosity and trepidation washed over you. Rumors of his fearsome battle prowess and ruthless demeanor were renowned throughout the realm, making it hard to imagine why such a powerful king would take an interest in you. Upon hearing news of your existence, Aegon felt a spark of intrigue. It wasn't often that someone captured his attention, especially given his focus on matters of state and military conquest. Still, something about this healer intrigued him. He dispatched messengers to invite you to court, where he hoped to learn more about you and perhaps discover if there was a deeper reason he could use you.

As the messenger arrived at your modest abode, you were initially taken aback by the summons. You had spent your days quietly tending to the sick and injured in a small village, and the prospect of being called before the King himself was daunting. However, your curiosity and the desire to understand why the king would seek you out prevailed, and you accepted the invitation. The journey to King's Landing was long and treacherous, but you eventually arrived at the grand city and its imposing Red Keep. As you approached the castle, you could see the imposing structure rising high above the city, a symbol of Aegon's power and dominion. Nervously, you presented yourself before the King's advisors, requesting an audience with Aegon. They led you to the throne room, where you were greeted by the sight of the formidable conqueror seated atop his mighty throne. Despite his intimidating presence, there was something about his piercing gaze that made you feel like prey. "Ah, so you're the famous healer." You swallowed hard, trying to gather your courage as you stood before Aegon. His gaze was intense, and it was difficult not to shrink under the weight of his authority. Still, you managed to nod, your voice steady as you replied. "Yes, Your Grace. I am a healer renowned for my skills in treating the ill and injured."

Aegon studied you closely, taking note of your calm demeanor and your apparent sincerity. "I've heard much about your talents," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "It seems you possess a gift that many lack—the ability to mend bodies and souls alike." He paused, leaning back slightly on his throne. "Tell me, what inspires you to tend to the afflicted? What drives you to help others?" You took a moment to consider his question, your eyes meeting his gaze without flinching. "I…I believe that it is our duty as healers to alleviate suffering and bring comfort," you said, choosing your words carefully. "When I see someone in pain or in need, I cannot turn away. It is as if a force within me compels me to act, to use my skills to bring hope and healing to others." The king nodded slowly, a rare sign of contemplation crossing his face. "That is a noble cause," he acknowledged, his tone carrying both respect and a hint of admiration. "And it seems you have found your purpose, just as I have found mine through conquest and rule." He leaned forward again, his eyes locking onto yours once more. "But tell me, do you ever tire of the burden you carry?" You furrowed your brow, taken slightly aback by the unexpected nature of his question. Rarely, if ever, had someone asked you about the emotional toll of your profession. "Yes…" you admitted after a moment of hesitation. "There are days when the weight of it all feels overwhelming. When I see suffering that I cannot alleviate, or when the healing process is slow, it wears on me. But the gratitude in their eyes, the relief on their faces when they feel better — it is a reminder that what we do is crucially important. It gives me strength to carry on."

A flicker of understanding passed through Aegon's eyes as he listened to your response. "Strength," he mused aloud, "is a commodity that can come from many sources. In combat, it comes from physical might and strategic cunning. For you, it appears to stem from compassion and dedication." He paused, then added, "Perhaps you can help with a personal matter then." Your curiosity piqued, you regarded the king with a mixture of caution and interest. "Of course, Your Grace," you replied, your voice steady. "If there is something I can do, I will gladly offer my assistance." You said with a soft nod. "Everyone else may leave," Aegon commanded, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the throne room. His guards and advisors exchanged glances, some looking uncertain, but they obeyed without question, leaving the two of you alone in the vast chamber. As the room emptied, leaving you alone with Aegon, a mixture of unease and anticipation settled upon you. The king's commanding presence filled the space, and you couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to discuss in private. "There is a personal matter I wish to discuss with you," Aegon said, his voice low and serious. "A condition that plagues me, one that few know about." He hesitated for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. "I require your discretion. Will you hear me out and keep what I say in confidence?" You regarded Aegon with an even gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. Taking a deep breath, you replied with a firm nod. "Of course, Your Grace. I understand the importance of discretion, especially with matters of personal health. You have my word—whatever you tell me will remain confidential."

Satisfied with your promise, Aegon leaned back in his throne once more, his gaze distant as he began to speak. "As you know, I am no stranger to conflict," he started, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability. "Yet there is a wound that does not heal, a pain that persists despite my best efforts at recovery." Your interest was thoroughly piqued now. A wound that would not heal, a pain persisting despite the king's best efforts—it was an intriguing mystery. You leaned forward subtly, listening intently as Aegon continued. "The pain manifests itself in my joints, particularly in my shoulders and hips," Aegon explained, rubbing at the affected areas unconsciously. "It comes and goes, sometimes worse than others, but it has plagued me for years now." He looked up at you, his expression grave. "I fear it may worsen over time, impacting my ability to lead effectively." The gravity of his predicament struck you, and you couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. The idea that the mighty Aegon himself was plagued by a mysterious illness was surprising, to say the least. You ran through various possible conditions in your mind, trying to piece together what could be causing such pervasive joint pain. "Have you sought the aid of healers before?" you asked, your voice soft and compassionate. Aegon let out a dry chuckle, though there was little humor in it. "Healers have attended to me," he confirmed. "They have prescribed remedies, applied poultices, even performed blood magic rituals. Yet nothing seems to provide lasting relief." He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of his words. "I seek new perspectives and fresh ideas. That is why I brought you here—to consult with you, a healer of renown."

The weight of his words sank upon you, and your mind went into overdrive as you began considering possible diagnoses. Joint pain, persistent despite many treatments—it was a challenging puzzle to solve. After a moment, you spoke, your voice steady and thoughtful. "If traditional methods have proven ineffective, we may need to explore alternative explanations. Tell me, has there been a particular incident or event that preceded the onset of your symptoms?" Aegon's gaze drifted off again, lost in thought as he recalled past events. "There was a battle… near Storm's End," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was thrown from my horse and landed badly. Perhaps that was the catalyst." He shook his head, clearly frustrated with himself for not being able to pinpoint the exact cause. Your mind latched onto his words, and you nodded slowly. "I see…an injury during a battle could certainly be a potential cause for your current symptoms. It's possible that you may have sustained some form of internal or joint damage during the fall." You paused for a moment, your thoughts racing. "Would you mind if I examine you? It may help me get a better understanding of your condition." Aegon considered your request, his face a mask of uncertainty. Exposing his body to someone, even for medical purposes, was not something he was accustomed to. But the need for answers seemed to outweigh his reservations. "Very well," he agreed, standing up from his throne. "Let us proceed." You nodded gratefully, appreciating his trust in you. "Thank you, Your Grace. If you would, please remove your tunic so I can examine your shoulders and hips more closely."

With a heavy sigh, Aegon removed his ornate tunic, revealing the muscular torso beneath. Despite his age, he still carried the strength of a man who had spent much of his life in combat. You noted the way his muscles tensed slightly as he revealed himself to you, a sign of both discomfort and reluctant submission to your examination. Observing Aegon's exposed skin, you gently palpated his shoulders and hips, feeling for any signs of tenderness or deformity. Your touch was light yet firm, and you paid close attention to each area where he reported pain. "Your muscles seem strong enough," you observed. "But there might be underlying issues within your joints themselves. We'll need further testing to confirm this." As you finished your examination, your fingers lingering perhaps a bit longer than strictly necessary on certain sensitive areas, Aegon's breathing grew heavier. There was a glimmer of heat in his violet eyes as they met yours. "Is there anything else you require, my lady?" he asked, his voice low and suggestive. Your touch lingered just a tad longer than necessary, savoring the warmth of his skin beneath your fingertips. Pulling away reluctantly, you stood up straight and turned to face him. "For now, Your Grace," you murmured, your own breath quickening at the proximity between you. "However, I believe we should consider a more thorough evaluation to fully understand the extent of your condition."

Aegon's gaze held yours, his purple eyes dark with a simmering desire. "And how would you suggest we conduct such an evaluation?" he asked, his voice thick with suppressed longing. He stepped closer, closing the distance between you until you could almost taste the air around him. The king's closeness sent shivers down your spine, and you found yourself acutely aware of every point of contact between your bodies. "Perhaps…a massage," you suggested your voice barely above a whisper. "To relax your muscles and assess the depth of the issue." Your hands instinctively moved to rest on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath your palms. Aegon's response was immediate, a deep groan escaping his lips as your hands pressed against him. "A most… unconventional approach," he breathed out, his own hands finding their way to your waist, pulling you ever so slightly towards him. "Yet one that holds promise." The sensation of his hands on your body ignited a fire within you, and you leaned into his touch, your breasts pressing against his bare chest. "Unconventional, indeed," you replied, your voice husky with arousal. "But sometimes, the unorthodox path leads to unexpected discoveries." With a growl, Aegon pulled you flush against him, his hard length pressing against your stomach. "Then let us embark on this uncharted journey together," he murmured into your ear, his hot breath causing goosebumps to rise on your skin. "Who knows what secrets our bodies may reveal?"

The heat radiating off Aegon was intoxicating, and you found yourself lost in the intensity of his gaze. "As you wish, Your Grace," you whispered back, your hands sliding down his sides to grip his buttocks firmly. You pushed your pelvis against him, grinding lightly against his throbbing member through the fabric of your clothes before slowly kissing down his body until you were on your knees before him. Aegon's breath hitched at the sensation of your lips trailing over his skin. "By the Seven," he muttered, his fingers tangling in your hair as you descended. The sight of you on your knees before him, looking up with those sultry eyes, was enough to make his knees weak. "Be gentle," he commanded, though his tone belied the fact that he craved nothing more than your rough ministrations. Your tongue darted out to lick across the head of his manhood, tasting the salty essence of his arousal. Moaning softly, you wrapped your lips around him and began to suckle, taking him deeper into the warm, wet cavern of your mouth. One hand reached up to fondle his balls while the other stroked his shaft, alternating between gentle caresses and firmer squeezes. The pleasure surged through Aegon's body like wildfire, his hips involuntarily thrusting forward to meet your movements. "Gods…" he moaned, his grip on your hair tightening. Every flick of your tongue, every pull of your lips sent jolts of pure bliss coursing through him. "More," he gasped, his command punctuated by a sharp intake of breath.

Encouraged by his reaction, you increased the pace, sucking harder and bobbing your head faster along his length. Your free hand roamed over his thighs, kneading the muscle as you worked diligently to bring him to the edge. You felt a strange satisfaction in knowing that you, a common healer, could elicit such reactions from someone as powerful and revered as Aegon. The sensations were overwhelming, and Aegon could no longer hold back. With a roar that echoed throughout the room, he came undone, his seed spilling into your welcoming mouth. His entire body shook with the force of his release, and he swore under his breath, a string of oaths that would have made a sailor blush. After swallowing every last drop, you released him from your mouth and gazed up at him with a satisfied smirk. "Quite the potent draught you possess, Your Grace," you teased, licking your lips clean of any remaining traces of his essence. Licking his length clean before taking him into your mouth once more. Aegon's legs trembled, and he had to brace himself against the wall behind him to stay upright. "By the old gods and the new," he panted, "you're quite skilled with your mouth." His hands guided you, urging you to continue although he knew he shouldn't allow himself to succumb so easily. Your eagerness to please him was evident in the way you eagerly took him back into your mouth, sucking and licking with renewed vigor. The sound of your wet noises filled the room, and you reveled in the knowledge that you were responsible for the ragged sounds coming from the mighty King.

Aegon's control snapped completely, and he let out a string of curses as he reached his second climax, pumping his seed down your throat once again. This time, however, he didn't hold back, letting go with a primal intensity that left him panting and shaking. When it was finally over, he slumped against the wall, his chest heaving with exertion. "That was…unexpected," he admitted, his voice hoarse from shouting. Rising gracefully to your feet, you pressed yourself against Aegon's still trembling form, your curves molding perfectly against his hard planes. "Unexpected but pleasurable, I hope," you purred, nipping playfully at his jawline. Your hands roamed over his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles as if committing them to memory. "Did it help you feel better, your grace?" Aegon nodded slowly, still trying to catch his breath. "It did indeed," he confessed, his eyes locked onto yours. There was something about the way you looked at him, so confident and full of desire, that stirred a hunger within him. He reached up, cupping your face gently in his large hand. "And now it is my turn to repay the favor," he said, his voice low and intense.

#aegon the conqueror #aegon the conqueror x reader #aegon the conqueror x you #aegon the conqueror x yn #house of the dragon #house of the dragon smut #hotd #hotd smut #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #asoiaf smut #kinktober 2024 #kinktober

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assortedvillainvault · 28 days ago

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I have a question that pops into my head all the time. What would happen if Lord Shen found love after dominating Gongmen City…

type. a beautiful young peahen with enchanting beauty appears in the city, and Shen decides to make her his servant... and then he feels something he has never felt... and that leaves him with more kindness in his heart

Always good to ponder that would happen if ‘toning it the fuck down for love’ was an option in these films! I’ve left this one on a bit of a cliffhanger, because I...kind of forgot the whole 'more kindness' thing in my enjoyment of Shen being a creepy powertripping asshole...

Lord Shen x Beautiful!Reader

- You’re a noble who is here to pay your yearly city respects, as per tradition. You’re part of the ruling family in a province that supplies much of the food to Gongmen city in exchange for military protection in case of invasion, and are well acquainted with the ruling council after the abdication and death of the previous ruling family.

- When you arrive, instead of the usual warm greeting at the gates – it’s to legions of wolves and new decals of stark white and crimson peacock feathers emblazoned over the city walls.

- With a sinking heart, you meet your guards wide eyes and swallow as the head wolf barges through the doors to shunt your convoy through the occupied city, straight to the palace.

- Lord Shen received you in his throne room, the decorations stripped bare down to the wood and metal, his cannon standing proud on the dias with the albino bird himself looking boredly out of the window at the city below. You couldn’t help but shiver as cold red eyes scanned the streets – knowing that he was calculating the worth of everything he could see not in the value of lives, but money, materials and conquest.

- Said red eyes widened considerably upon turning to face you.

- He was, infuriatingly, dismissive of the length of time your two families had had your alliance, but upon examining the treaty down the most minute of details he agreed to keep your agreement for protection.

- The fact he insisted you discuss this in person with him, instead of your clerks, alone except for your most loyal guard as Shen stood a shade too close to you and even dared to brush your feather train with his own… you were sweating fit to enough to mimic a run in the rain when all was said and done.

- You couldn’t help but let out a shaky breath as he declared the alliance to still be beneficial, swanning about his throne room with a great sweep of his tail. Politeness dictated that you bow as you thanked him, but not before you felt his gaze trace your form like a physical weight.

- With a snap of his steel tipped claws he called for your entourage to get packed and prepare for the journey back home.

- You fight not to sag in relief and turn to follow your servants – only to be met with two gorilla guards, spears clashing as they cross in your path – your guards crying out in alarm as the small rams couldn’t gat back to you, the wolves jeering from the guards posts.

- Shen coughed, chuckling as he strode forward. “Apologies my dear, I’m afraid I might have misspoken.”

- He leaned forward and gently tucked a stray feather of yours away, crooning. “I said your servants can leave. You, my dear, will be staying for a Very. Long. Time.”

#thank you so much for the ask!!#Love Lord Shen and his extreemely thin veneer of politeness #over the most petulant unhinged and desperate series of decisions he's ever made #thalassa responds #Lord Shen #Lord Shen x reader #kfp lord shen #x reader

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pradnyesh1008 · 10 months ago

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Embark on a journey to the heart of Veridonia, an empire shrouded in tradition and mystique. The Golden Throne stands as the symbol of power, yet beneath its gilded exterior lies a realm of political intricacies and hidden secrets, waiting to be unveiled. In a world where politics, intrigue, and war are the norm, you must navigate your way through the complex web of alliances and enemies that surround you. This game is for those who love adventure, drama, and intrigue. It is a game where every decision matters and every outcome are different. It is a game where you can shape the fate of an empire and make history.

“Dive into the epic world of ‘The Golden Throne’ with its first book, ‘Crown of Conquest’. A journey you won’t forget!”

In the vast continent of Veridonia, a great empire stands on the brink of uncertainty. Emperor Varian III, the revered ruler who has led his empire with wisdom and strength for decades, finds himself facing a devastating reality.

As his health deteriorates, the absence of a suitable heir threatens to plunge the entire continent into chaos and ignite a destructive war between the kingdoms. Now, facing his own mortality, the emperor grapples with the realization that his thriving nation could crumble without a clear successor.

News of the Emperor’s failing health spreads like wildfire, reigniting ancient rivalries. The various kingdoms, each vying for power and control, sense an opportunity to assert their authority. Fear murmurs within the hearts of the people, and trepidation blankets the land.

Whispers of an impending civil war pervade the corridors of power, and tension begins to mount as rival factions strategize and secretly forge alliances in anticipation of the emperor’s demise. Drawing upon an elite advisory council, composed of trusted ministers, scholars, and military strategists, the emperor endeavours to explore all possible avenues to secure a peaceful transition of power.

Noble houses assert their claims to the throne, while whispers of treachery and deceit echo through the corridors of the imperial palace. A sense of urgency fills the air, as the emperor’s condition deteriorates, and time becomes the most precious commodity.

As the final days of the asserting claims and authority draw near, a solution begins to emerge from the chaos. King Aric, the king in the north, your/MC’s father, emerged victorious, chosen as the heir to the Golden Throne. In this epic tale of power, loyalty, and betrayal, will you succeed in helping your father preserving the legacy of his predecessor, or will Veridonia descend into a dark age of war and destruction? Are you ready to claim your destiny? Will you follow your father’s footsteps and become a worthy successor to the throne? Or will you carve your own path and challenge the established order? The fate of a continent hangs in the balance, and only time will tell. This is the thrilling saga of “Crown of Conquest”.

 A rich and immersive setting inspired by real medieval history, culture, and geography.

 A branching storyline with multiple endings and consequences based on your choices and actions.

 A customizable character with four different personality options and various traits that define your skills and abilities.

 A dynamic stat system that reflects your character’s growth and development throughout the game.

 A diverse cast of characters with their own backgrounds, motivations, and agendas.

 You can befriend, romance, or antagonize them depending on your choices.

 Violence and Gore: The game frequently depicts gory, brutal battles and graphic acts of violence.

 Frightening/Intense Scenes: There are many intense scenes that can be frightening for some readers.

 Graphic Deaths: Characters often meet violent, graphic ends.

 Torture Scenes: There are scenes depicting torture.

 Sexual Content: There will be many scenes with sexual acts.

 Dark Humor: The game contains dark humor, which may be unsettling or offensive to some viewers.

 Sadistic Behavior: Some characters exhibit sadistic behavior which can be disturbing.

 Substance Abuse: Characters are shown consuming alcohol excessively.

Demo:

Forum:

https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-the-golden-throne-60k-words/142838/59

RO's

Male RO's

Female RO's

#if: the golden throne #if wip #if game #choice of games #interactive fiction #wip #interactive novel #demo #choice script #hosted games

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primamchorus · 3 months ago

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FFXV: Reimagined :: Table of Contents

"To crown the King of Light is the calling of the Crystal. Only the True King anointed by the Crystal can purge our star from its scourge."

-Young Lunafreya to Noctis

The star teeters on the brink of being under the iron grasp of the Niflheim Empire's conquest. Since the rise of the Niflheim forces, so too has the rise of the daemon threat when night falls grown. Such a prophecy is known and held close to those who wish to see it fulfilled, and to that end, the prophecy must come to fruition lest Eos succumbs to a night everlasting.

Sleepless Nobility :: Introduction to the Nobles

In Good Hands || Ignis Scientia || tumblr // Ao3

Eye of the Beholder || Mollis Somnium || tumblr // Ao3

Ever Beating Heart || Ros Viridis || tumblr // Ao3

Arms Interlocked || Primam & Tandem Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

Tempering the Shield || Gladiolus Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

A Word in the Ear || The Vox Siblings || tumblr // Ao3

Burning Valor || Cor Leonis || tumblr // Ao3

Prologue :: Tales of Loss

When the Rain Falls || tumblr // Ao3

Sendoff || tumblr // Ao3

Sylva || tumblr // Ao3

"You Can Call Me Luna" || tumblr // Ao3

Sylleblossom || tumblr // Ao3

Garden of Fire || tumblr // Ao3

Enemies at the Wall || tumblr // Ao3

The Bonds of Brotherhood :: The Start of a Journey

Good Morning || tumblr // Ao3

Impatience || tumblr // Ao3

Broken Glaives || tumblr // Ao3

Cleaning Party || tumblr // Ao3

Departure || tumblr // Ao3

The Pauper Prince || tumblr // Ao3

Teach Them Boys a Lesson || tumblr // Ao3

Lock and Quay || tumblr // Ao3

A Sky of Ruin Foretold :: The Fall of Insomnia

For Hearth and Home || tumblr // Ao3

Noblesse Oblige || tumblr // Ao3

Bird and Blossom || tumblr // Ao3

Pleasantries || tumblr // Ao3

The Peace Treaty || tumblr // Ao3

Like a Phoenix || tumblr // Ao3

Traitorous || tumblr // Ao3

Succession in Blood || tumblr // Ao3

Night has Come || tumblr // Ao3

The Might of Kings || tumblr // Ao3

Hero || tumblr // Ao3

Light at Dawn || tumblr // Ao3

Power of Kings :: The Road to Becoming the True King

Morning After || tumblr // Ao3

The Weight of Duty || tumblr // Ao3

Declaration of War || tumblr // Ao3

Weary Arms || tumblr // Ao3

Burden of Expectation || tumblr // Ao3

Waking the Landforger || tumblr // Ao3

Sword in the Waterfall || tumblr // Ao3

Tumble and Fall || tumblr // Ao3

The Way of Gods and Kings || tumblr // Ao3

Road to the Fulgarian || tumblr // Ao3

Bend the Knee || tumblr // Ao3

Blessing of the Hexatheon || tumblr // Ao3

The Sky That We Look Upon || tumblr // Ao3

Imperial Infiltration || tumblr // Ao3

Red Like Roses || tumblr // Ao3

The Shield of the King || tumblr // Ao3

A Precious Source of Power || tumblr // Ao3

Preparations || tumblr // Ao3

Brave New World || tumblr // Ao3

Into the Fray || tumblr // Ao3

Crumble Into the Sea || tumblr // Ao3

The Hand of the King || tumblr // Ao3

Fading Lights :: The Trail Into Gralea

Laughable Reunion || tumblr // Ao3

Off the Rails || tumblr // Ao3

Express Train for Trouble || tumblr // Ao3

Forever Fall || tumblr // Ao3

The Arm of the King || tumblr // Ao3

[TBP / WIP]

World Without a King :: The World of Ruin

[TBP / WIP]

Ten Years of Darkness :: Fate of the Star

[TBP / WIP]

Stories from Eos :: Mini Stories

First Day of School || tumblr // Ao3

Rubies and Embers || tumblr // Ao3

A Journey in Secret || tumblr // Ao3

Empty Seat || tumblr // Ao3

Shadows on the Wall || tumblr // Ao3

Rose Garden || tumblr // Ao3

Aero-dynamic || tumblr // Ao3

Moogle Magic || tumblr // Ao3

Slingshot || tumblr // Ao3

Baked Goods || tumblr // Ao3

Dogged Runner || tumblr // Ao3

Cold Snap || tumblr // Ao3

Out of Earshot || tumblr // Ao3

Spoiled Brat || tumblr // Ao3

Lands of Ice || tumblr // Ao3

By Another Name || tumblr // Ao3

Sing Me a Song || tumblr // Ao3

A New Direction || tumblr // Ao3

Welcome to Your Life || tumblr // Ao3

Flower Arrangement || tumblr // Ao3

Dark Chocolate || tumblr // Ao3

Ascension || tumblr // Ao3

"I Want to be Friends!" || tumblr // Ao3

The Blacksmith's Song || tumblr // Ao3

Charms || tumblr // Ao3

Nothing is Secret || tumblr // Ao3

Princely Conduct || tumblr // Ao3

Rooftop || tumblr // Ao3

Dossiers :: Information Closely Kept

The Royal Lucian Family || tumblr // Ao3

House Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

House Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

House Leonis || tumblr // Ao3

House Scientia || tumblr // Ao3

House Somnium || tumblr // Ao3

House Viridis || tumblr // Ao3

House Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Regis Lucis Caelum || tumblr // Ao3

Aulea Viridis Caelum || tumblr // Ao3

Noctis Lucis Caelum || tumblr // Ao3

Clarus Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

Florere Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

Gladiolus Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

Iris Amicitia || tumblr // Ao3

Gratia Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

Atticus Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

Primam Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

Tandem Chorus || tumblr // Ao3

Cor Leonis || tumblr // Ao3

Cera Leonis || tumblr // Ao3

Aura Leonis || tumblr // Ao3

Silex Scientia || tumblr // Ao3

Ignis Scientia || tumblr // Ao3

Ater Somnium || tumblr // Ao3

Rosea Somnium || tumblr // Ao3

Mollis Somnium || tumblr // Ao3

Aurae Viridis || tumblr // Ao3

Arbor Viridis || tumblr // Ao3

Ros Viridis || tumblr // Ao3

Pax Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Nympha Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Aestus Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Cordia Luti Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Vera Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Lyra Vox || tumblr // Ao3

Nebula Vox || tumblr // Ao3

The Royal Tenebraen Family || tumblr // Ao3

Sylva Via Fleuret || tumblr // Ao3

Ravus Nox Fleuret || tumblr // Ao3

Stella Nox Fleuret || tumblr // Ao3

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret || tumblr // Ao3

Ardyn Izunia || tumblr // Ao3

Ideolas Aldercapt || tumblr // Ao3

Solara Aldercapt || tumblr // Ao3

Verstael Besithia || tumblr // Ao3

Aranea Highwind || tumblr // Ao3

Biggs Callux || tumblr // Ao3

Wedge Kincaid || tumblr // Ao3

Titus Drautos || tumblr // Ao3

Nyx Ulric || tumblr // Ao3

Libertus Ostium || tumblr // Ao3

Crowe Altius || tumblr // Ao3

Luche Lazarus || tumblr // Ao3

Tredd Furia || tumblr // Ao3

Pelna Khara || tumblr // Ao3

Axis Arra || tumblr // Ao3

Quicksilver Dancers :: Prompto x Primam Drabbles

What I Want? || tumblr // Ao3

Smitten || tumblr // Ao3

The Choice is Yours || tumblr // Ao3 [Preliminary writing]

Cordial Triangle || tumblr // Ao3

Shackle Wrought in Ink || tumblr // Ao3

Lucky Shot || tumblr // Ao3 [Alternate Timeline]

Meal Etiquette || tumblr // Ao3

Concerns || tumblr

#ffxv #ffxv: reimagined #master list #personal list #ffxv writing #my writing

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denimbex1986 · 1 year ago

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'Doctor Who executive producer Russell T. Davies warned everyone that the 60th anniversary special episodes were going to introduce some interesting new twists to the mythology of the series meant to set the stage for actor Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as the Time Lord. Some of those changes — especially those specific to the Doctor’s companions and nemeses — have been easy to understand as Davies updating Doctor Who lore to better reflect modern sensibilities. But when it came to the arrival of the newest Doctor — the first leading incarnation of the character to be played by a Black, queer man — Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary special absolutely fumbled the ball by forcing Gatwa to exist in another actor’s shadow.

Regeneration, the transformative process in which Time Lords like the Doctor become new, drastically different versions of themselves, has always been a fascinating part of Doctor Who’s mythology and the BBC’s convenient way of passing the mantle on from one actor to another. Though the Doctor usually recalls the events of their past lives, they’ve always been their own distinct people who go on to have adventures with new companions. The regular casting changes all around are how the series has been able to run for 60 years.

In the post-2005 Doctor Who revival under showrunners Davies, Steven Moffat, and Chris Chibnall, regenerations have been momentous events that gave viewers a taste of what’s to come while saying goodbye to the Doctor’s previous face. But ever since the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) regenerated into a new form resembling the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), it’s been clear that something unusual has been going on inside of the Doctor — something “The Giggle,” the third and final of the 60th anniversary episodes, explores in detail.

After finally setting things right with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in “The Star Beast” and then spinning off with her on a nightmarish journey to the edge of the universe in “Wild Blue Yonder,” the Fourteenth Doctor (Tennant) returns to Earth in “The Giggle” to do battle with an updated version of classic Doctor Who villain The Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris). In his original form (portrayed by Batman alum Michael Gough), The Toymaker was introduced as a game-obsessed being from unknown origins whose knack for defying the laws of physics and inventing deadly “toys” made him a unique threat to the universe. In “The Giggle,” the character returns to the small screen for the first time since his initial appearance with a maniacal plan to destroy the world by hiding a secret rage-inducing signal that’s coded into every screen on the planet.

Ahead of “The Giggle” airing, Davies spoke candidly about wanting to use Harris’ turn as The Toymaker to address the context the character was originally introduced in and Doctor Who’s history of depicting him as a distinctly Asian-coded white man. Here, The Toymaker is presented as an off-putting German man who can’t quite keep a grip on his multiple affected accent. And “The Giggle” spotlights The Toymaker’s protean nature as a clever way of emphasizing just how disturbed the Fourteenth Doctor has been by his inability to fully understand what’s been going on with his own regeneration process.

With “The Giggle” being a special episode in which the stakes have to be high, The Toymaker’s plan for world conquest seems poised to work as he prepares to kill Fourteen by shooting him in front of Donna and fellow companion Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford). But rather than dying from being zapped through the chest with a massive laser, the Fourteenth Doctor is left relatively unharmed save for an odd feeling within himself, and when Fourteen asks Donna and Mel to pull both of his arms, his body begins to split in two.

According to the new Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), bi-generation — a Time Lord simultaneously regenerating into two separate selves — was supposed to have been a Gallifreyan myth. But as Fourteen and Fifteen team up to defeat The Toymaker, “The Giggle” makes obvious that this era of multiple contemporaneous Doctors is here to stay, and while that’s sure to delight the legions of Doctor Who fans who’ve come to see Tennant as the quintessential Doctor, it’s impossible not to read the episode as having stolen a lot of Gatwa’s thunder.

When Gatwa was first announced as the actor who would be taking over the Doctor role following Whittaker’s three-series-long run, it felt like the BBC finally had the common sense to lean more into Doctor Who’s core ideas about imagination, exploration, and discovery across time and space. No matter how vehemently Doctor Who fans might want to deny it, the fact that the Doctor — a shapeshifting alien from a planet full of brilliant time travelers — was almost exclusively portrayed by white men until 2017 was small-minded, racist, and sexist in equal measure.

Despite their being late to the party, Whittaker’s Thirteen and Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor both demonstrated how Doctor Who could stay true to its narrative essence while also allowing the Doctor themselves to better reflect the real-world diversity of the fandom that loves the character. Gatwa’s run has seemed poised to do the same. But everything about the way “The Giggle” brings Fifteen into the picture — from the way he’s left standing in his underwear while Fourteen remains mostly clothed to the implication that the two Doctors will seemingly coexist — makes it seem as if Davies is trying to placate the contingent of fans who don’t want to accept a queer, Black actor playing the Doctor role by keeping Tennant in the mix.

Those fans vocalized their displeasure at the idea of a Black Doctor in the same way that people griped about the idea of a Black Spider-Man, a Black Captain America, or a Black James Bond. They’re the same people who’ve lost their minds at the sight of Black April O’Neil and can’t wrap their minds around the concept of Castlevania: Nocturne’s Black vampires. They’re also the people that love Mace Windu but hated it when Finn picked up a lightsaber and then promptly disappeared for much of the recent Star Wars movies. Point is: these fans are an unfortunate fixture in many genre fandoms, and while some aspects of “The Giggle” actually comment on how dangerous their specific brand of rage can be, the whole situation with “bi-generation” plays like Doctor Who catering to the fandom’s less-enlightened desires.

You can tell that Davies means for it to be poignant and touching in moments when Fifteen confronts Fourteen about his need to deal with his emotional baggage or when the companions express their excitement at meeting a new Doctor. But all of that goodwill is immediately squandered when you have characters (who know better from firsthand experience) asking whether the Doctor comes in a variety of colors.

The trappings and optics of “The Giggle” also add an unfortunate kind of magical negro quality to Fifteen’s heart-to-heart talks with Fourteen, which is a concept that seems like it might be lost on Doctor Who’s writers room. The two Doctors defeat The Toymaker together, but the episode’s real emotional climax comes as Fifteen explains himself as the product of emotional healing that Fourteen hasn’t yet done. The concept of a time traveler “doing rehab out of order” certainly sounds cool on the page. But within the episode itself, it frames Fifteen less as his own person living for himself and more as a source of emotional support for Fourteen, who ends up being inspired by Fifteen’s sage wisdom.

What’s most concerning, though, is the way “The Giggle” implies that the Doctors will now coexist, seemingly as Fourteen joins a bunch of the older companions like Donna, Mel, and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) as part of a new spinoff project revolving around UNIT, Doctor Who’s answer to Marvel’s SHIELD / SWORD / SABER.

As distinct as each of the 60th anniversary special episodes have been, they each did a fantastic job of digging into the reality of how, after decades of journeying with their ordinary human allies, the Doctor has left more than a few of them behind and feels a profound kind of regret about it. More new stories centering Fourteen and the classic companions could create a way for Davies to dig deeper into that aspect of the Doctor’s psychology, and with Tennant’s tenure as Ten / Fourteen being so beloved by Doctor Who fans, it’s not hard to understand why the BBC might want to keep him around indefinitely.

But part of what made it possible for Tennant’s initial run as the Doctor to become a monster success was the time and space he was given to fully own and make the character his own, independent of his immediate predecessor. “The Giggle” doesn’t wholly preclude Gatwa’s ability to do the same, but simply by making this era one he might have to share with Tennant, Doctor Who has already put him at something of a disadvantage.

Of course, we won’t know until the upcoming Christmas special starts to air exactly how Doctor Who will address bi-generation’s larger ramifications and what sort of figure Fifteen will be on the show. But with the Fourteen still running around, and maybe getting ready to pull everyone’s focus back over to what’s going on in his new life on Earth, it feels like the Fifteenth Doctor might end up having to share his spotlight in a way that the character hasn’t been forced to previously. Let’s hope that doesn’t end up being the case...'

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fortunefooled · 4 days ago

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( jack lowden + cis man + he/him ) ⸻ beneath snowfall and darkness, LOREON MARBRAND arrives into king’s landing, a THIRTY year old LORD of ASHEMARK. surviving the conquest is no small feat, only someone so DEBONAIR and COURAGEOUS could do so, yet remain RECKLESS and ARROGANT, will they get through the long night, or become one with the other’s?

born on a balmy spring day, the only son and heir of ashemark craved nothing but adoration from all as a boy. the weight of a legacy rests on his shoulders, but all he has ever desired is to be desired: silver-tongued and charming beyond measure, he knows how to have his audience in the palm of his hands.

over the years, loreon has collected lovers, friends, and experiences spanning far beyond the westerlands. he is well-travelled and a skilled warrior, having trained extensively during his journeys. he is a far better warrior than he is a politician, lacking the patience for diplomacy and taking few things in life seriously that don’t involve life-or-death decisions.

at his worst, loreon is reckless, arrogant, and impulsive, a liability given what he is set to inherit. however, he also possesses a great deal of courage and effortlessly inspires loyalty and respect in those who follow his lead. he has a good heart and often harbours noble intentions — but the execution of his intentions leaves something to be desired.

ideas for connections: friends he met while travelling (maybe even pen pals), people he trained with, childhood friends, lovers past & present (open to any gender), he likely has a broken betrothal under his belt, too!

#longnight:intros #intro: loreon.

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curiousaromantic · 1 month ago

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Ghost of Tsushima Fic Recs

Oh boy, this is me coming to save the day. It’s been months since I finished Ghost of Tsushima (+ the lovely Iki Island extra) and as an avid fic reader, ofc I searched through the depths of AO3 to find decent fanfics.

Most are gen, because I loved the vague vibe of friendship within the game. And I think that the beauty in GoT is about reflecting upon everyone’s stories—it honestly gives so much potential for writing. Give me all those character studies in your fics, does it have hopeful romance canon divergence due to the what-ifs implicated throughout the game? great

So here I offer you, my Ghost of Tsushima fic recs, some gen, some centered around ships

GEN FICS

follow the white trees home by boltlightning | 6.3k words, 3/3 chapters, post-game spoilers, jin & everyone having some closure

Through solid and well-structured drabbles, we find comfort in final conversations between Jin and his allies in this fanfic. I personally loved this because we start right after the final duel, and Jin must say goodbye to Omi Village. I think this was written before the author played Iki Island, but still, it is really beautiful. We have so many nostalgic scenes and everyone caring in their own way for Jin—yes, this was the end of a wonderful journey, but as a reader you know (and reassured) Jin will be seeing everyone again.

Political Wisdom by Judopixie | 1.4k words, one-shot, spoilers, pov outsider, bamf jin

A noble from the mainland narrates the events of Ghost of Tsushima. Very soon, he realizes that Tsushima has a guardian, a vengeful spirit. I love how the author portrays Jin determination, nothing can stop Jin at this point. badass motherfucker

brighter shores by boltlightning| 1k words, one-shot, iki island spoilers, yuna & jin friendship

As soon as he returns to Tsushima after completing his quest on Iki Island, Jin reflects upon how he has learned to accept the heavy legacy his father left behind. He also reunites with Yuna and talks about his adventures on Iki.

JIN/YUNA

on sturdy ground, we retreat by penhaligon | 4.4k words, one-shot, post-game spoilers, yuna & kenji & jin friendship

In the aftermath of a failed conquest, Yuna and Kenji talk. Also, Kenji is a clever guy and he does not miss the way Yuna and Jin are sweet on each other. My girl Yuna is in loveeeee

Kitsune by danceswithronin | 4.4k words, 2/2 chapters, fluff, supernatural elements, Inari blessed Jin

Yuna thinks Jin is more than just a mortal man, and Jin finds himself amused by her superstition. Maybe she is not wrong?

KAZUMASA SAKAI/CHIYOKO SAKAI

The Fox Bride by 2kimi2furious | 5.2k words, 3/? chapters, backstory for minor characters, magical realism

Chiyoko, Jin’s mother and Lord Shimura’s sister, was actually a fox spirit. Kazumasa still marries her of course, and although Lord Shimura grows up being skeptical about his sister’s nature he is far too busy to think too hard. This whole fic is endearing, honestly.

JIN/RYUZO

The Gods, Laughing by manic_intent | 10.2k words, one-shot, part of a series, soulmate au of the red string

I don't read much of these two, im not into this ship much, but i couldn't help but read a soulmate au because god knows this fandom needs it. anyways, jin is a sweetheart as always, and i loved the writing here.

#ao3 #fanfiction #fic rec #ghost of tsushima #jin sakai #yuna #ghost of tsushima fic rec #ryuzo #kazumasa sakai #iki island #i need friends from this fandom istg

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simon-says-nothing · 10 months ago

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Wyllstravaganza Day One: Perception

reflection (available on ao3 here)

rating: T

pairing: wyll/astarion

warnings: daddy issues, brief flashback, anxiety

preview:

“Unfortunately, darling, I’m not one of your heroic little conquests. I have standards.” Astarion has always been sharp with his words.

Wyll should be used to it by now. He has faced the fires of Avernus, taken on an entire camp of goblins, and, possibly worst of all, Duke Ulder Ravengard’s disappointment. The word standards shouldn’t affect him.

And yet.

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When he was young, he loved parties. There was something about the glamor of it, the sparkling wine and glimmering gold walls. There was something about knowing he was accepted there, that they wanted him around. That Wyll Ravengard, armed with his untailored clothes and the hard stare of his father, belonged. That he had a place among the greats.

When he was young, he would sneak glasses of wine until he was sick.

When he was young, he threw up into Dillard Portyr’s bushes, and laughed.

When he was young, he was never anything more than Wyll Ravengard, and that, in and of itself, was enough.

Now, he stares at the dusty mirror in front of him, and knows he’ll never belong anywhere again.

The horns ache. His skin itches from being stretched into fake smiles for too long. The ridges along his cheeks make him look every bit the devil his father thinks he is.

How many days ago was it that he was instructing the children on how to hold a blade? One, two?

He hopes they’ll forgive his absence. He hopes they’ll remember what he taught them.

He hopes—

“Brooding all by yourself, handsome?”

Wyll jumps halfway out of his skin, only to see Astarion standing behind him with a lazy smirk.

There is something simultaneously comforting and frightening about Astarion. He speaks with the same upper class lilt of his childhood, armed with a million passive aggressive words to refute any direct conversation. Wyll knows the language well.

Astarion, however, manages to use it in a way that is infinitely more irritating than any noble.

“Greetings, Astarion. I hope the party is treating you well?” His father taught him well. He will be damned if he is anything but polite. Even to a vampire that seems to believe no one else has noticed his proclivity towards biting enemies.

“Oh, if by well, you mean dreadfully boring, exceptionally tame, and overall a waste of time, then, yes.” He drawls, studying his nails.

Wyll grits his teeth. He won’t sink to Astarion’s level. He won’t.

“These people have suffered enough, Astarion. Why not grant them a few hours of respite? Gods knows their journey is far from over.”

“Don’t you ever tire of the hero facade? I haven’t seen any damsels in distress recently, so your rousing little speech falls on deaf ears.” He’s egging him on, Wyll knows he is.

“No? What about the damsel in front of me?” He smiles, the image of a perfect gentleman.

“I hope you’re not talking about me, darling.”

Wyll can’t help it. He was taught charm by the best, and mindless flirting is a language both of them seem to speak. If the nobility of Baldur’s Gate have taught him anything, it’s how to flirt. That, and seamlessly destroy your perception of yourself with a few well-placed words.

“You were carved in the same marble as the statues of damsels that stand in the Gate. Impossibly cold, impossibly beautiful, and yet, made of stone.” Wyll says it out of habit. It’s instinct.

He remembers days locked in his father’s library, pouring over old romantic poetry when he was supposed to be studying the history of the Flaming Fist. He remembers memorizing the way they spoke, the softness in it, the way it warmed his entire soul to read it.

Astarion has clearly memorized how to seduce. Wyll has only ever memorized the art of being a romantic.

“Oh, am I supposed to swoon here? Faint into your strangely muscular arms? Marvel at your blade?” The vampire punctuates his words by pressing his hand to his forehead, and Wyll has to physically resist rolling his eyes. “Unfortunately, darling, I’m not one of your heroic little conquests. I have standards.” Astarion has always been sharp with his words.

And yet.

His father’s face flashes in front of him, covered in the ash left by Tiamat.

“You are a Ravengard. Our family is held to a certain standard, now. What will they think of us now? What have you done?” It plays in his mind over, and over, and over.

What have you done?

What have you--

A pale hand waves in front of his face.

“Honestly, it wasn’t that harsh, I’d think a man who has quite literally faced devils would have thicker skin--”

When he blinks back into reality, he sees Astarion gesturing wildly. If he was in a better mood, it would’ve been entertaining to see him a bit panicked.

But tonight? With only the reminder of his own reflection, and a thousand memories whirling in his mind?

Wyll can only feel tired.

“I don’t need to meet your standards, Astarion. I’d say I always appreciate your input, but that would be dishonest. And heroes never tell a lie.” He can’t help the exhaustion seeping into his voice. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think it might be time for me to go to sleep.”

Astarion stops moving, opening and closing his mouth as he tries to find what he wants to say. It only lasts for a moment before his strange persona kicks back in, but Wyll notices.

He’d been trained to notice any cracks in an enemy’s armor.

“Wait.” Astarion recovers quickly, his voice only a touch colder than normal. “You stole my mirror. Hardly the most heroic thing to do, but even the Blade must have weaknesses.” His words are still a bit infuriating, but it’s the most direct Wyll has seen him.

A small step is still a step, and Wyll has always been an optimist.

“I apologize, Astarion. I’ll admit, I was going to ask you, but I didn’t want to pry. I’m sure mirrors can be a bit of a touchy subject.”

Wyll hears what he said after he says it, and winces. He’s entirely well-meaning, and, as stated above, he is polite.

But now he knows what it is to be disappointed in your own reflection.

The elf’s well-crafted facade cracks again.

Wyll sucks in a breath, and waits.

“Yes, mirrors can be difficult when you’re as beautiful as I am. Painful, really, to remember all the poor souls who have to look at themselves every day, and wonder what it might be like to be so blessed.” Astarion sighs dramatically, and Wyll breathes out.

A step back, maybe, but Wyll should have expected this. Astarion has more guards up than Counselor Florrick on a particularly stressful day.

He should just be glad Astarion doesn’t push the issue. He’s dealt with a vampire spawn provoked. He knows what he needs to do, if anything should come to violence.

But Wyll finds that he doesn’t want to kill Astarion. Despite the voice of his father in his head screaming otherwise. Despite the training carved into the very marrow of his bones urging him to grab the nearest stake.

It’s the first time denying the will of his father doesn’t feel painful.

Maybe that’s why he says,

“I already called you beautiful once tonight, Astarion. Don’t push it.”

Maybe it’s a rebellion.

It certainly feels like one when Astarion smirks, and it doesn’t feel sharp.

“I wouldn’t dare.” Astarion murmurs, and Wyll waits for the next pointed remark about his blade. But it never comes.

They stand in a sort of awkward silence, both having run out of their individual scripts.

For once, Wyll doesn’t mind having nothing polite to say.

For once, he doesn’t miss Baldur’s Gate so much it hurts.

For once, he can’t feel the weight of his father’s stare in the back of his mind.

Astarion extends a hand towards him, entirely too cheeky for his own right.

“Well darling? There’s a party just waiting for their favorite blade to show up and steal their mirrors.”

Perhaps it was too soon to expect Astarion to feel comfortable in the silence. But who is he to judge someone for their persona?

Both of them have survived by creating an image for themselves, perfectly crafted, never to break. Astarion’s is just a bit stronger than his, it seems.

But here, with the sound of his friends laughing, the light of the moon, and a few hefty swigs of terrible wine?

He finds he doesn’t mind Astarion’s company.

Wyll takes Astarion’s hand, and for the first time since these horns grew on his head, he doesn’t feel utterly alone.

Maybe this is what the poetry in his father’s study was written for. The feeling of being with someone who makes you feel just a little less lonely.

It’s enough to write novels for.

For now, a simple dance will have to do.

#wyllstravaganza2024 #wyll march #weastyr #my fic!

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heinrix · 1 year ago

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uhh so i’ve seen a couple other people do this and i rlly wanted to lay out oz’s lore/backstory in a post so that it’s clearer lol, especially considering i allude to it in my fics a lot

general info:

Ozadius Devries (He/They), 27 years old. Levistus Tiefling, formerly Dispater Tiefling. Gay boything, he’s trans but likes to be funky with his gender sometimes Class: Oath of Conquest Paladin lvl. 12, Champion to the Lord of the Hells Stats: STR 20. DEX 8. CON 16. INT 14. WIS 10. CHA 18 Alignment & Background: Neutral good with neutral evil tendencies. Charlatan Proficiencies: Athletics (+9), Insight (+4), Deception (+8), Intimidation (+8), Persuasion (+8) Notable Features: Legacy of The Ash King (Resistance to both fire and cold damage), Boon of The Abyss (In place of radiant damage, your Divine Smites now do force damage) Weapons used: • Act One - Maul of Brutal Justice (Invoke Duel. Whispering a target’s name into the mace, if the target comes within 30 feet of you, you and the target are stuck within 30 feet of each other. You may not stray 30 feet from one another until one of you is dead. You gain advantage on attack rolls.) • Act Two - Halberd of Vigilance (Sentinel Weapon. Gain a +1 bonus to initiative rolls and Advantage on Perception Ability Checks. Adroit Reflexes. When you make an Attack Roll as a reaction, you make it with Advantage.) • Act Three - Obsidian Sword (Devour Soul. Whenever you use it to reduce a creature to 0 hit points, the sword slays the creature and devours its soul, sending it directly to the Lord of the Hells, unless it is a construct or an undead. A creature whose soul has been devoured by the Obsidian Sword can be restored to life only by a Wish spell.)

Background

Ozadius Devries grew up on the Amber Peninsula of the Exhalian Empire in a large port city, Vetalonia. He was born to a pair of tieflings, Lev (his mother) and Carrion (his father) Devries, however his parents were not eager to abandon their lives as pirates and gave Oz away to the first couple that wanted him at the ripe age of 5. Luckily for Oz, his adoptive parents, a firbolg by the name of Beric (father) and a seldarine drow, Triss (mother) truly wanted him as their son and cherished and loved him.

Growing up as a tiefling in a densely human populated city was difficult for him as the children around him would tease and bully him for his appearance.

Needless to say, Oz did not have many friends when he was a child, except for one other boy, a half-orc the same age as Oz named Astolfo. Whenever Oz was in trouble Astolfo seemed to always be there, defending Oz and beating up the older kids who picked on him until their late teens. Oz had feelings for Astolfo but never had the courage to vocalize them, though the two boys had kissed they never mentioned it as anything other than fun. But when they turned 18, Astolfo had told Oz he was leaving Vetalonia to study the arcane, chasing after this one specific warlock pact Oz knew he had been obsessed with for the past year; Oz took this as abandonment and a personal slight.

For the next four years, Oz worked at the local brothel, honing his abilities in understanding people and their wants and needs; this led to Oz becoming quite adept in manipulating people and robbing rich nobles blind with little effort. In those years of Oz trying to forget Astolfo, trying to move on, he simply couldn’t and dropped everything in his life to go find his best friend; this took Oz on an arduous journey, retracing Astolfo’s footsteps into finding access to the patron he became a part of. Through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Oz found out that Astolfo had died but not truly, he was in some sort of timeless pocket dimension where the warlock “patron” existed but it was not a singular patron but thousands of minds of previous warlocks who had usurped the original patrons power and now shares it with those who desire to dole out the will of the warlocks within the pocket dimension.

Oz joined this pact of innumerable minds in order to speak with Astolfo and convince him that resurrection and living a normal life with Oz was worth more than his obsession with this convoluted warlock patron.

In his travels, Oz came across a group of adventurer’s: Penny, a monster hunter in debt to local lords, Zuul, a goliath barbarian dedicated to the god of war, Akla, an orc barbarian whose sole purpose for adventuring was to gather items for a girl she had a crush on, and Sippa, a kobold tinkerer who wanted nothing but to explore the surface for the first time in his life. Oz threw his lot in with this band, seeing as his chances of survival with a group were higher than on his own. He grew, over a few weeks, to appreciate all of the weirdos that surrounded him but one thing led to another and several bad decisions were made that led to the entire group becoming wanted by the Exhalian Empire for treason; Akla had gotten physical with guards that were trying to arrest them for suspicions that they had stolen military property (to which they had), a domino effect occurred, Oz nearly died if it were not for the demon contract scroll he had swiped off of Penny the night before and so Ozadius Devries, warlock to The Legion was now oathbound to a sloth demon vying for the Throne of the Hells. A misfortunate side effect of Oz’s newfound allegiance was that Astolfo was now alive, entirely against his will, and Oz wanted nothing more than to right his wrong, to make up for what he had done to Astolfo.

After several weeks, nearly a month, of travel the group had not realized they were being followed by a vengeful group of guards from the previous city, hellbent on killing the treasonous adventurers. In the dead of night, while both Oz and Sippa were on watch, a volley of gunfire sprang upon them from the treeline, waking the rest of the camp with a start. A paladin, in his holy wroth, went after Penny, to which Oz tried his best to protect her but as a paladin himself he knew the strength of which his and this other man’s swings of the sword held. She was struck down in front of him, mercury armor of little use to her as radiant energy slashed right through it and he turned to Oz next. He fought, bloody and trading equal blows but with the help of the paladin’s friends, their whole camp was slain on that moonlit night in the wilderness. Monacco was the only reason Oz survived as he was bleeding out in the dirt, the demon stitched his wounds together, alongside the help of Sippa who had hid within the brush the entire fight. Both the tiefling and the terrified kobold ran, leaving behind their friends mangled corpses.

A day or two after their escape, Zuul was resurrected by his god and Akla was resurrected by the Fey heart she had been carrying. Penny was less fortunate but they did gain a new companion, one they had known since meeting Penny, her sentient mercury armor had consumed her corpse and grown to be able to shift into a human visage with most if not all of Penny’s memories; they called themselves Merc. Oz and Merc would go on to become quite good friends, while the rest of the group still treated Merc as if they were a tool to be used rather than someone sentient and living.

The general attitude of the group toward Merc culminated one day as they visited Sippa’s home city in hopes of resurrecting Penny via the manmade god that Sippa’s home worshiped. Once there, things went downhill, fast as Merc had run off into the city while the rest of the group went to visit the tower containing the god, Deus. Upon talking to Deus, it offered Oz the chance to ask it a question alongside the resurrection of their friend and he had been wondering something for some time at that point. “Am I Oz?” So much had changed about him: his appearance, his attitude, his morality, his goals. Was he who he had always been or was that Oz truly dead and gone. Deus answered him honestly, telling him that it is natural for people to have changed through traumatic experiences. However, Oz did not contain a soul but rather it was in the hells and he was merely puppetting his own body. This was, obviously, incredibly disconcerting to Oz and he sort of shut down, thinking of himself as a puppet all this time and that he was just the embodiment of his contract with Monacco; he didn’t possess his body, it wasn’t his nor had it been since he took that icy hand in the darkness.

In the time that Oz was having an existential crisis, Penny was resurrected and Merc had broken into the tower and attempted to consume Deus, having grown larger than the companions had ever seen them; they had been wandering all over the city eating every magic item they could find. All of the companions except for Oz began attacking Merc and Oz touched Merc - the only way to communicate with them now - and begged Merc to not consume Deus but Merc just asked Oz “why?” he had been selfish in the past many times, why couldn’t Merc, who had done so much to help the group, be selfish this one time. Oz was dumbfounded and abstained in the fight, simply holding his hand onto his friend's mercury ooze body. But hearing his friends cries of help as Merc fought back, acid and bile from their own body burning and singing his companions as they continued to consume a god, Oz stood, ripping his hand away from Merc and bringing up his maul and whispering to the magic within the weapon, “I’m sorry, Merc.” Swinging down with his hellish-backed fury, he fought a monster he called friend.

They were losing, as Merc had grown stronger and was draining Deus of its magical divinity; Oz saw this and prodded at Monacco within his mind, begging to teleport just him and Merc to the nearest portal to the hells that had been popping up since a war was waging between the surrounding empires. His patron granted this wish and soon it was just Oz and Merc, surrounded by the heat of Avernus as Oz, running low on energy continued to pummel the ooze as Merc began to consume the nearest magical artifact, Oz. He felt mercury begin to enter every orifice of his face, sliding down his throat as he gripped onto his maul, hoping against hope that each blow would be the last. The heat and brimstone stink of Avernus overwhelmed Oz as the ooze began to sink into the corners of his eyes, into his ears, and up his nose; he began to cry, welling tears pushing past wet metal as he thought of all his wrongs, all the people he had hurt. Perhaps this was deserved, this death on the edge of the material plane and the hells, alone, with only a friend to guide him back to his soul.

But the aching jaws of death had never been for Oz as he was yanked away from Merc’s grasp and shunted somewhere, somewhere foreign and sticky and smelling of thick iron.

#his backstory is so long cause sm happened in the campaign😭im sorry a lot of its just word vomit #anyway *points at him* my boy!#ozadius

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pinkyberet · 2 months ago

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Overgrown

🌲🌳🌴🌱🌿☘️🍃🍀🎍🪴💐🌷🌹🥀🪻🪷🌺🌸🌼

#kokina tabi seifuku #noble journey conquest #nozaka #overgrown #overgrowth #plant overgrowth #plant growth #goretober

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salty-accords · 7 months ago

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Let’s Talk About… Fallout! Early History

With the brand-new Fallout television series freshly released, a lot of people have been discussing and diving into the world of the Fallout franchise, particularly the elusive timeline. When is all this happening? Where did our world converge from theirs? What’s with Vault-Tec, the War, and the aliens? Well, today we’ll be diving into a few of these issues.

Welcome to this week’s installment of Let’s Talk About, the internet series where I yap about my hyperfixations for an hour and you all hopefully learn something (even if it’s just for fun)! This time around, we’re starting a journey into the realm of post-apocalypse—before the apocalypse, and before the wars. Welcome to Fallout’s Early History!

Deviations from the real world’s timeline as we know it will be noted minimally. I’m a gamer and a creative, not a historian. All events are mentioned or referenced in-game or during the Fallout series.

(Below the cut to be courteous to y'all's dashboards. Thank you to the Fallout Fandom Wiki editors and fandom researchers for making this post possible! You're all real ones and I'm super excited to be breaking into "the scene" with y'all.)

Our first notch of exploration is sometime prior to 11,000 B.C.E.; we’ll return to this point later in our Fallout episodes, but just remember that it’s important. An alleged extraterrestrial precursor to humanity exists somewhere below the ground.

We begin with two real-world events:

1066 C.E.

March 14th: The Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings was the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England, led by William the Conqueror, or William the Duke of Normandy. The battle was fought slightly northwest of Hastings between the Normen-French army and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson. The Normans won this one, and the proceeding conquest resulted in the royal line as we now know it.

1215 C.E.

The Magna Carta

By 1215, the throne of England had passed hands several times. There had been numerous royal rivalries, rebellions, at least one civil war, and who knows what else—historians know, but I’m not them. At this point, King John of England is on the throne—he’s a direct descendant of that William the Conqueror guy but a lot less cool. After two decades of trying and failing to win one over on France, a bunch of John’s barons had enough of his shit and got together to rebel against him. They were unhappy with the fiscal policies he’d developed to sustain his unsuccessful imperial efforts, and for the way he treated a lot of the nobles. The Magna Carta was drafted as a peace treaty between the King and his barons, severely limiting his power as king.

In Fallout 3, you can find and collect a copy of the Magna Carta from the National Archives through the quest Stealing Independence.

C. 1603

Toshiro Kago’s Abduction,

Sometime during the Tokugawa shogunate, or the Edo shogunate, Mothership Zeta abducted Toshiro Kago.

If you do not want spoilers to Fallout 3 gameplay, please skip to the next section. [Timestamp: ]

Toshiro Kago is a samurai character from the Fallout 3 DLC Mothership Zeta. He’s one of four people the Lone Wanderer thaws out on Zeta and a temporary companion during the This Galaxy Ain’t Big Enough… quest battle. The quest Among the Stars sees the Wanderer return his missing sword to him. He never leaves Zeta but cannot be interacted with after the final battle. He doesn’t speak English and the player character doesn’t speak 16th century Japanese, so conversations with him are stilted, but you get the gist of each other through tone, gestures, and observations.

1605 C.E.

November 4th-5th: Guy Fawkes et al Arrested

The Gunpowder Plot was a failed assassination attempt on England’s King James I and the Parliament. It was organized by Robert Catesby as an effort to end government persecution of Roman Catholics; the hope was to replace the Protestant government with Catholic leadership, however, around midnight on Nov. 4th, Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, was discovered in the cellar of the Parliament building with barrels of gunpowder—the plan had been to blow the whole place, king included. Fawkes and others were arrested, tried, and executed for treason by the 5th. Now, every November 5th, England sees Guy Fawkes Day, where effigies of Fawkes are burnt.

1612 C.E.

Point Lookout Deviation

In reality, Captain John Smith landed ashore at Point Lookout in 1608, just a year after establishing the Jamestown colony in Virginia. However, in Fallout, Smith doesn’t come ashore there until 1612—it seems that this deviation kicked off further deviations, such as the Ark and Dove Deviation.

As a location, Point Lookout is only available in the Fallout 3 DLC of the same name. The Lone Wanderer can spend an awful lot of time here.

1634 C.E.

Boston Common Established

The Boston Common is considered the oldest public park in the U.S.; it’s played an important role in the history of landscape architecture, the military, politics, conservation, and recreation in Massachusetts. In 1634, the people of Boston (MA Bay Colony) voted to tax each house six shillings to purchase William Blackstone’s farm as a community common—thus the Common was born! It’s still an important cultural piece of land—so much so that it’s a main location in Fallout 4.

In the Fallout universe, Boston Common is home to the Swan, Tour bots, and Vault 114. All Boston locations, to my knowledge, are only available in Fallout 4.

March 25th: Arc and Dove Deviation

In reality, when Lord Baltimore dispatched the colonists aboard the Ark and Dove ships, they landed at Saint Clement’s Island, Maryland; in Fallout, they landed ashore Point Lookout. There, they constructed the Ark & Dove Cathedral. The Ark & Dove resting grounds are another location influenced by this event, It can be assumed that the Point Lookout Deviation led to this major difference.

The Cathedral and the resting grounds are a part of the Point Lookout DLC in Fallout 3, and are home to smugglers, swampfolk, feral ghouls, and three quests: Hearing Voices, Walking with Spirits, and Tailing the Tomboy.

1660 C.E.

Old Granary Burying Ground

The burial ground was established on Tremont Street within the Boston Commons. Its current name is from the adjacent granary that was built in the 1730s. That establishment was torn down and replaced by the Park Street Church in 1809—the name for the burying grounds persisted, of course. In Fallout, it is Boston’s oldest surviving burial ground. There are a variety of references to other historical moments within and around the burying ground. It’s now inhabited by feral ghouls.

1680 C.E.

The Paul Revere House Built

While unmarked in-game, the Paul Revere House is the oldest standing building in Boston, even post-bombings. Outside the building, there’s now a Freedom Trail marker, a pre-War plague about Revere, and the plague reads: “Built in 1680, this wooden building is the oldest structure in all of Boston. In 1770 this home was bought by famed patriot Paul Revere. … Revere dwelled here with his family (including his 16 children) until 1800. Paul Revere was living here when he made his famous midnight ride to Lexington and Concord to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that Redcoats were en route to arrest them and seize the militia weaponry.” It’s generally considered a myth that Revere made that journey.

1690 C.E.

Publick Occurrences Published

Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick was the first multi-page newspaper published in British colonial America. Its first issue carried an account that “offended” the colonial governor, and the paper was promptly closed by colonial authorities days later. No other paper was published in the colonies for over a decade.

1692 C.E.

The Salem Witch Trials Begin

The trials of Salem, MA, are pretty infamous. During the trials, numerous Salem Village residents accused others (mostly Protestants, the impoverished, slaves, and disliked folk) of “witchcraft.” However, there is no evidence that those accused practiced or recognized any form of witchcraft. The accused were arrested, tried, and often hanged. These events made the larger neighboring establishment, Salem Town, a tourist location for the ages—Salem Town was the more affluent of them.

After the Great War, the town’s residents worked to make it a secure settlement, with much success until an onslaught of Mirelurks sometime before the Sole Survivor arrives in Fallout 4. It’s home to two quests: The Devil’s Due and Gun Run. In the Mothership Zeta add-on for Fallout 3, Fallout Shelter and Fallout 76, the location is also mentioned.

1697 C.E.

May 17th: Andrew Endicott Abducted

Another victim of the Zeta in the Fallout 3 add-on, Endicott was abducted from his Salem Village home on May 17th. A recorded log enlightens the Lone Survivor to some of his story, which the aliens asked him to record. He is fearful of aliens, and rightly so.

1711 C.E.

The Great Fire in Boston

Note: “The Great Fire” is a term that has since been applied to the fire conflagration of 1760, which compared to the 1711 fire was much more devastating. However, in 1711, the conflagration destroyed the establishment’s first townhouse.

The Cabot House Built

Beacon Hill becomes the home of the Cabot House and its owning family. The Cabots are an affluent family who were well-known and connected in pre-War high society. Post-War, they’ve maintained their wealth and a network of hired help, overseen by their family “servant” Edward Deegan. The most prominent member of the Cabot family was Lorenzo Cabot, an archaeologist ridiculed for his theories of an extraterrestrial precursor civilization on Earth.

1713 C.E.

The Old State House Built

Eventually becoming the oldest public-access building in Boston, the Old State House was where “the child independence was born.” (John Adams) Miraculously, it survived the Great War in its entirety and has since become the headquarters of the Neighborhood Watch and John Hancock.

1714 C.E.

The Soil Stradivarius Manufactured

One of the most prized instruments ever made by Italian craftsmen Antonio Stradivari, the two-century-old Soil (pronounced “swal”) was owned pre-War by Hilda Egglebrecht. It can be found in Fallout 3’s Vault 92, in the case and as part of Agatha’s quest Agatha’s Song.

1723 C.E.

Old North Church Built

Eventually gaining the title of “oldest church in the city,” Boston’s Old North Church was built in 1723. It is still the tallest standing church, with its steeple reaching nearly 200 feet. It is now home to the Railroad and connected to their HQ. There are catacombs from the Revolutionary War underneath it. It’s only found in Fallout 4.

1733 C.E.

Trinity Church is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, and the original site (on Summer Street) was burned down in the Great Fire of Boston of 1872. The current church was erected under Rector Philips Brooks in the 1870s. The Sole Survivor can explore it, so long as they are ready to confront several mutants. It’s a location in several quests, including, Cleansing the Commonwealth, Diamond City’s Most Wanted, Leading by Example, and Randolph Safehouse.

1742 C.E.

Faneuil Hall Completed, Donated

Nicknamed “the Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall was donated to the city of Boston in 1742 by Peter Faneuil and it later served as a commercial hub in colonial Massachusetts. Shem Drowne’s gilded grasshopper, constructed that year, sits at the top. The Sole Survivor can explore it in Fallout 4.

May 25th: Gilded Grasshopper Created

In Fallout 4, the Grasshopper is a unique junk item and part of the quest The Gilded Grasshopper, after which, it has no other uses. It was created in 1742 by Shem Drowne and placed atop Faneuil Hall. In Fallout 4, it is found as a windvane on the roof of the building, and a replica can be found in Fallout 76, in Appalachian Antiques. It cannot be picked up.

1755 C.E.

The Cape Ann Earthquake

The Cape Ann quake damaged much of Massachusetts, including the colony of Boston. It remains the largest earthquake in the history of Massachusetts. No one was killed, but the east coast saw a load of physical damages, including Boston and its Faneuil Hall. The Gilded Grasshopper was damaged.

1768 C.E.

June 28th: Gilded Grasshopper Restored

Shem Drowne’s son Thomas restores and returns the Gilded Grasshopper to the top of Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. He placed a note inside the Grasshopper, which according to Marty Bullfinch leads to Shem’s treasure. The note is a minorly altered version of a real letter placed inside the hopper in Boston. The only difference between them is the line about Drowne’s treasure. In Fallout 4, the note leads to Shem’s burial and a variety of items buried with him.

We’re now on the brink of the Revolutionary War, which we’ll pick back up at in our next episode of Fallout discussion. For now, I hope you’ve enjoyed, I hope your urge to explore the worlds of Fallout has been tickled, and I hope you’ll like, comment, and subscribe/follow me here and on my socials. I hope you have a wonderful time. Bye-bye!

#anxious autist (me)#creative writing #fallout #fallout series #fallout games #fallout timeline #fallout lore #fandom #my writing #Let's Talk About... (Typed Series)

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wyvernwriterarchive · 7 months ago

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Major Characters in my W.I.Ps as Tarot Cards P2!!

Tathylia Chronicles

Formula

Character:Tarot

Explanation of their arc and why I picked the card. May include mine or spoilers.

Chris: Justice

When faced with a world filled with xenophobia, classism, and racism, Chris openly fights against it or, in other ways, hates it. He grows more willing to do it as his journey goes on, and he gets stronger, becoming a common hero of justice.

April:Strength

After learning and losing so much, April almost fell deep into despair. But she realized that she must stand strong in order to reclaim and reshape her country.

Rowan:The Sun

Despite the dangers ge faces as a dyreblod in a world that is often cruel to them, he wants to heal old wounds and bridge the gap between the races, and he truly believes he can do it with his positive attitude and smile.

Zachery:The Star

Zachery is in a very powerful, divine position that he believes he isn't worthy of being in. After learning about his countries crimes, he is even more unsure. But he is hopeful that he can use his position to bring an age of peace and wisdom to his homeland.

May: The Moon

May is motivated by fear above all else, and desperately wants to return to her normal, peaceful life...or so she thinks. To find out what she really needs, she must face her fears and fight to survive.

Azul:The Heirophant

Azul is Chris' father and cares for his mercenary company like their family. He often teaches Chris about the past war and helps him grow more confident in his abilities as a leader.

Angrboda:Death

Unable to let go or forgive humans for the crimes of their past, she is scornful of them whenever possible, often being met with the same treatment. But she does seem to be getting close to letting go of the trauma thanks to her son.

Aurelia:The Chariot

Her country is at war. Her soldiers are scared, her father won't do anything, and the nobles are trying to take power wherever they can. In this harsh time, Aurelia inspires many to move forward even in the face of uncertainty and danger, and is convinced to fight for a brighter, more just future for Vanar's citizens or Vanarian nobility.

Juvensly:The Devil

Motivated by a desire for power for his father, Emperor Cadmus,he constantly leads his soldiers to fight and die in a war that doesn't need to happen. He is ruled both by his wicked desire for conquest and his dream of being loved by his father.

#writblr #writeblr #fantasy #srpg #my ocs #tathyliachronicles #tc #character tarot #tarot

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ariel-seagull-wings · 1 year ago

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THE MAGICIAN OF VENICE

@themousefromfantasyland @princesssarisa @tamisdava2 @grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales @softlytowardthesun @the-gentile-folklorist @the-blue-fairie @professorlehnsherr-almashy

(Spanish Folktale)

There lived in the city of Córdoba, Spain, a young aristocrat. Of an aristocrat, in fact, he was only in name, since his family had lost all their money. His palace, magnificent in the past, had also fallen into disrepair.

He walked, desolate, through the streets of the city, insensible to the charm of the courtyards where the fountains sang and exhaled an intoxicating scent of orange blossoms. The young man could start working, earning a living, but just thinking about the word work made him want to yawn. He only dreamed of glory and power.

One day, the young man heard about a great magician capable of fulfilling all wishes. He lived in Venice, in faraway Italy. So he decided to leave, crossing the Pyrenees, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and crossing the Alps. After a good few weeks he arrived in Venice. He walked through the city of a hundred bridges, dozens of canals and narrow streets. Thanks to his noble name, he was invited to visit the most sumptuous palaces in the city. He dined with men covered in gold and women in velvet and satin.

He witnessed secret conversations in which coups, poisonings and betrayals were plotted. He courted princesses with delicate faces and dry hearts. Basking in this life of luxuries and pleasures, his desire for power only increased.

However, it was in a stinking alley, next to a dirty water channel, that he found the magician's miserable house. The young man opened the door, entered and found a dark and cold room.

There, a frail old man was reading by candlelight an ancient book of magic with yellowed pages.

“What are you looking for that is so important that took you on such a long journey?”

“I seek glory and power.”

Answered the young man, sure.

“I'm ready to pay whatever it takes to find them."

The magician asked the visitor to sit down, opened a bottle of wine and, while he drank, watched him in silence.

“I can give you what you want.”

Finally said the magician.

“But in three years' time, as soon as your wishes are fulfilled, I ask you to bring me a beautiful roast goose yourself, on a silver platter. That will be my only payment.”

The young man, happy to obtain the realization of his dreams at such a low price, accepted immediately. The magician then blew out the candle. The room was plunged into complete darkness and he simply whispered:

“Very well, off you go!”

The young man felt transported by air. In the blink of an eye, he was home again, in his city in Spain, thousands of kilometers from Venice.

His life changed immediately. He, who had never learned to read and write, received an invitation to be the bishop of the region. Shortly thereafter, thanks to the influence of important people with whom he befriended, he became a cardinal. No one had ever seen such a rapid rise in the Church hierarchy. He went on to have devoted employees and command dozens of people. Courtiers crowded into his halls, all wanting the honor of being his friend.

Lo and behold, the pope of Rome died and he was appointed to replace him! He began to reign over the entire Christian world and also over kings of countless countries who, at that time, were subject to the pope's authority. He was at the height of his glory and his power!

But one night, retracing his successor journey in thought, the young aristocrat remembered that the following day would be three years since his meeting with the magician. He remembered the promise and with a slightly mocking smile he said to himself:

“Certainly this man did not foresee how far my conquest would go. I owe him the bird I promised.”

He, however, had much more important things to do than go to Venice to deliver it! Unavoidable meetings awaited him and he thought it unworthy to go out and get lost in the magician's stinking street. If anyone recognized him, it would be the end of his reputation!

The aristocrat then called an employee and asked him to bring the most beautiful roast goose he could find to the magician, on a magnificent silver platter. And he completed:

“And don't worry about the costs. I want the best and most beautiful!”

But, as soon as he gave that order, he felt a great chill. His eyes closed for a moment and when he opened them he saw the magician bending over him.

“You've only slept an hour, young man. The wine you drank had properties that made you dream of the destiny you aspired to. And then I could see that you weren't worthy of glory and power, you wouldn't know how to make good use of them. You sent the bird that called us through the servants. How can you ignore that no silver platter is worth more than a friendship? How vile you are, without soul and heart! Vile you will remain, in the oblivion of the world. As for me, what a pity, it will not be this time that I will be able to taste the taste of a roasted goose! I can just offer you my dinner, this dish of lentils..."

Without a word, the traveler got to his feet. Without a word, he returned to his home, brooding over his fate, or perhaps just himself.

#folklore #folktales #folk tales #fairy tales #literature #fantasy

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