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yourpersonaljaskier · 6 months ago

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@liloinkoink Once again. Something happened (Titled Trespassers)

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Maybe Martyn should have listened to Ren when he said they should have turned around. Something sinister crawled under his skin, the hairs on the back of his neck raising as something swept over him.

Ren gripped his hand, squeezing it tightly in his. "We should leave," he mumbled low, his ears pressed tightly against his head. His tail wasn't moving, still as if he was keeping it still. His teeth nipped past his lips, canines dipping beyond his bottom lip, as if growling at something Martyn couldn't hear.

"I'm sure it's fine, milord," he reassured his God, his thumb rubbing gently against the back of Ren's hand, giving his God a gentle smile, trying to calm his heightened senses. "We just need to hop by a blacksmith to repair my sword, and then we can find an inn and sleep, okay?" The words felt empty as paranoia prickled the back of his head and he looked behind his shoulder.

Ren let out a low growl from the back of his throat, shifting to press against Martyn. His jaw was clenched, and with the unnatural still that the environment took up, the quiet that left them with only their breathings and movements, Martyn can't say he disagreed.

"Well, hello there!" An unnaturally high voice greeted, stepping out from seemingly nowhere. Their smile was unnaturally stretched, sharp white teeth glistening in the late evening sun. "Are you two lost?" They asked, hands held behind their back. Their eyes were seemingly pitch black, their irises nearly invisible in the black pools of where their eye whites should be.

Martyn shifted, pushing Ren behind him as his God stiffened. His eyes strained onto the staff that was strapped across their back, seemingly hanging on with magic. A spellcaster. No reason to get nervous, anything they did to Martyn would be null. That's okay. Their red hair cascaded down their back, nearly a blood shade with the evening sun streaming across their locks.

"No," Martyn cautiously replied, his eyes flickering around. His heart thudded in his chest, his throat closing with panic he wasn't sure why he was feeling. He took a step back, gently pushing Ren away from the stranger. "We're just passing through. Do you live here?"

Their smile stretched thin, their head tilting. Martyn's eyes glossed over their body, looking for a visible threat. They wore an adventurer's tunic, albeit fitted to be more form fitting, hugging their skin with an uncomfortable tightness. One of their shoulders was covered by a loose cape, a baby blue telling Martyn more than enough about the type of money this stranger can spend on garments.

"I don't think you belong here," they stated simply, eyes darkening as they took a step forwards. Ren's hand climbed to Martyn's arm, digging his fingers in with a tenseness that Martyn recognised with a flavour of danger. "You know, my folks," the stranger said, motioning to figures Martyn hadn't noticed before.

They peeked out from the corners of houses, shadows that stretched beyond what should be possible. Oddly angled shapes distorted in Martyn's view and nausea brimmed at his throat. What kind of town was this? His eyes snapped back to the stranger, whose necklace glistened in the dipping sun, tinkling against something metallic in the unnatural quiet.

"They're working people," they spread their hands, taking a step forwards. Shadows spread across the group, shifting into existence as if forming from thin are. "And you aren't." The threat was underlying as they took a step forwards. Ren growled into Martyn's ear. A quiet, low and threatening thing.

Claws dug into Martyn's arm. He was worried Ren was going to break skin at this rate. Still, he gently pushed his God back, step by step, intune with the tenseness of his body, the taut muscles pressed so closely to his back. "Now, boys," they said, their feet dipping into the shadows, their body following before they stepped up in front of Martyn, their noses nearly brushing.

Ren growled, arms immediately pulling Martyn flat against Ren's chest. Anger radiated off of his God, Martyn's shallow breaths brushing the hair of the stranger gently, puffing their fringes and baby hairs. They still took steps back, with the red haired spellcaster following them. "Will you be leaving soon?" They asked, and their voice pitched. Something sounded so familiar about it.

"Or will you be leaving, like you did last time?" It pitched, adjusting, and Martyn felt his blood run cold as their hand brushed his cheek, sharp nails cutting skin immediately. "Why did you leave me, Martyn?" The stranger asked in Grian's voice, only to cackle a laugh that sounded achingly similar to Jimmy's and BigB's. An agitated growl filled the empty air as Ren moved away and pulled, only to find that Martyn was stuck to the floor.

Hands reached out from the shadows, pulling him down. Fingers dug into his legs, and even as he tried to move, he couldn't. "Let me go!" He demanded, holding onto Ren as his God pulled and pulled, his arm sockets hurting. "Let me go!!"

The stranger just laughed, and laughed. Their voice kept pitching as they reached out, placing a hand on Martyn's cheek. It burned. He whimpered, trying to move away, his lungs filling with fire filled air. Damp and uncomfortable. His thoughts scrambled as Ren yelled something, a buzz filling his thoughts and ears.

Chaos reigned inside his mind for a moment, spots swimming in his vision as he grappled with something invisible, trying to find leverage in the familiar place of his mind. His feet slipped and he felt water sputter from his lungs. Was he drowning? It tasted coppery.

Was he dying? Was he bleeding? What was happened? Where was he?

Visions of past times swam before his eyes. Hands brushed against his skin, his clothes, his hair. Someone was covering his mouth, another was pulling at his arm, there was someone speaking. His legs buckled and he felt his legs hit the cobbled ground. His mind cleared and he inhaled a sharp breath, Ren pulling him up almost instantly.

"Everybody gather round!" The stranger was yelling. Their touch had burned. The sun was down. How long has it been? "Everybody come and see! What happens to people with no respect for property!" The words swam away with a laugh, and Martyn was everywhere. He felt weak, felt his heart thud with panic as he tripped again. This time, leaves and greenery met him, a wild shout from the cobble and suffocating heat of the town they just left.

Instantly, Ren was in his arms. There were tears in his eyes and he felt himself choke on a sob as he held onto his God, shaking like a leaf. Ren was crying himself, covered in bruises and cuts, his clothes mildly tattered. It seemed that Martyn was in a similar position, given by the ache in his skin, his bones.

"What happened?" He croaked as Ren rocked them softly. He was warm. So warm. "What happened, milord? I only remember that," he faltered, his eyes falling shut for a moment. The touch on his cheek still ached. "That person touching me," he finished with a mumble as he melted into his God, exhuastion settling deep within his core.

"That was chaos," Ren muttered, tucking his head into Martyn's neck, small kisses being pressed to the skin there. They came away wet with tears. "They weren't a spellcaster, they were a God," his voice broke with a choked back sob, breaths stuttering before evening out. "It wasn't magic, it was a disease. It could have killed you," he whispered the last part out, and now the clench of Ren's hands on his clothes made sense.

Martyn soothed him with a hum, hands coming up to smooth his hair down, gently rub between his ears. "Not going anywhere, dude," he muttered as sleep nipped at him again. He felt so safe in Ren's arms. "I promise. I'm not that easy to get rid of," he said with a half broken laugh, only to quieten down.

Ren was crying. His God was distressed. Yet all Martyn could think about is the sleep nestled behind his eyes, the ache in his bones. He wanted sleep. He took a deep breath and nuzzled into his God, arms going limp as he drifted off, kisses still being pressed to his skin.

#writing #hermitcraft treebark #martyn inthelittlewood #rendog #lamplight au #not explicitly romantic #Ren just likes giving kisses lol #angst #God of chaos OC #eldritch horror #brief insanity #👈🏻👈🏻

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its-jaytothemee · 2 months ago

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Until I Met You - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Gauntlet

Pairings: Halsin x Tav

Word count: 4,818

Rating: Currently M, will be Explicit in later chapters.

Chapter 1

Read on AO3

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Summary: Tav and her companions start the daunting task of exploring Shar's Gauntlet. Part 35 of the slow burn fic. Tav and Halsin POVs.

Tags: Slow burn, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, emotional hurt/comfort, fluff, eventual love confessions, eventual smut, angst, implied past rape/non-con and abuse, graphic description of injuries, brief suicidal thoughts.

A/N: I tried to compress this section a bit so I didn't have to rehash so much in game dialogue. I hope you enjoy my twist on their first day in the Gauntlet :) If you're reading on Tumblr (or AO3 I don't care either way) and you'd like tagged for updates, just let me know with a DM or comment! I'm happy to add a tag list.

The air in the Thorm mausoleum was strangely acrid. It didn’t carry the typical musty odor found in most crypts, it was much more pungent and rotten, as if the stone itself was diseased.

Just like the landscape around Reithwin, the inside of the mausoleum was fractured and broken. Cracks in the floor allowed a strange gas to float up and fill the air around them creating an unnatural, green haze. Tav barely dared to breathe, unsure of what she was inhaling into her lungs.

One room in the mausoleum had been dedicated to dark, necromantic rituals of some kind. Bones were laid out in different patterns, surrounded by all manner of spellcasting components. Even Gale looked uncomfortable as he tried to decipher their purpose.

“This is dark magic, indeed,” he mumbled as he used the end of his staff to push pieces aside. “This is no common wizard or sorcerer that we’re dealing with. Best exercise caution as we proceed.”

The next room they entered felt more sinister still. Strange symbols were painted all over the room, and another pile of bones was arranged in the center of the floor to match them.

Where have I seen that mark before?

As Tav racked her brain, a sharp gasp from Wyll startled her.

“By Balduran’s helm,” he whispered. “That’s the symbol of Myrkul.”

“Myrkul?” Halsin echoed.

Tav realized she had seen the same symbol adorning Ketheric Thorm’s armor. “Perhaps this is how he survived the fighting.”

“Then he would have had to pledge himself to Myrkul while still serving Shar, would he not?” Halsin replied in a low whisper.

“I suppose…” Tav didn’t like what he was implying.

“How was he able to unleash the shadow curse if he no longer had Shar’s favor?”

Before she could respond, Shadowheart called out to them from another room further in the crypt.

“Found something!”

They walked past a mess of inactive traps surrounding an open tomb.

Odd. Although if there is a necromancer around, perhaps not totally out of the ordinary.

As the others joined Shadowheart to study the paintings adorning the wall, Tav stepped up to the open sarcophagus. She knelt to get a better look at the name plate on the floor.

The plaque was old and faded, but she could easily make out the name.

Isobel Thorm.

That couldn’t be the same Isobel protecting Last Light…could it? Halsin had joined her and shared the same suspicious look as he studied the tomb.

A short click and the sound of grinding stone startled them out of their thoughts. Apparently, the others had found a hidden passage.

“Let’s find out what this Ketheric Thorm was hiding under his family’s final resting place, shall we?” Shadowheart strode confidently forward through the revealed doorway.

Astarion was uncharacteristically quiet as they made their way further into the crypt.

“Hey,” Tav nudged his arm, “why the long face?”

“I can’t help but think of Raphael’s deal. It can’t be that simple, can it?”

“Only one way to find out, I suppose.” She shrugged. At least this deal didn’t require bargaining with their souls. “We’ll stay on our guard, find this orthon, and see what we can do. If Raphael doesn’t keep his word, or finds some other way to swindle us, then we’ll find another way to read those scars.”

“How heroic of you.” Astarion rolled his eyes at her, but she saw a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth.

Their conversation was cut short as they arrived at a circular platform.

“This…this temple is Sharran in design.” Shadowheart looked awestruck.

“A Sharran fortress, hidden beneath the Thorm Mausoleum?” Halsin scoffed. “How long had this been here?”

“Quite some time judging by the state of things.” Gale pointed toward a stack of rusted weapons covered in thick cobwebs.

Gods, how long had this plan been in place before Ketheric Thorm? How long had Shar been building a temple in her name just beneath the land of those who worshipped her sister?

“Down we go, then,” Karlach hopped onto the platform.

“Is that really the best idea?” Wyll sounded skeptical as he peered over the edge. “We have no way of knowing what we’ll find here. This isn’t exactly what we were expecting.”

“We don’t have a choice, I’m afraid,” Tav sighed, dreading another long ride hovering gods only know how high above the floor. Honestly, how many long elevator rides would she have to endure on this journey?

“The source of Thorm’s invulnerability is hidden here somewhere, and if we don’t find it, we are all well and truly fucked.”

Everyone climbed onto the strange disc. Tav tried to position herself closer to the center so she couldn’t see over the edge as easily. Once again, Halsin appeared at her side, offering his arm as her anchor. She dug her fingers into his hand as the disc lurched forward, slowly bringing them down into the fortress. Shadowheart seemed to know how to use it to navigate.

Their descent gave them plenty of time to take in their new surroundings. This temple was huge. It would have taken decades to carve out and build something this size. It was decorated in a similar manner to Grymforge. The walls were still made up of dark purple and blue hues with gold accents cutting through many of the designs.

And in the center of it all stood an enormous statue of Shar. It was large enough that Tav could almost believe it would come to life as the goddess herself.

“Shar does have style, I’ll give her that,” Astarion mused as the disc slowed to a stop.

Shadowheart continued leading them forward until they reached a circular, stone door. Tav couldn’t see any levers or buttons to open it, but as they approached, the door simply slid open on its own, welcoming them into a dark chamber.

In the center was another statue of Shar. Much smaller than the one outside, but still impressive all the same.

For fuck’s sake, how many shrines in her likeness does she need in one place?

There were doors and hidden alcoves all around them. Another circular door on the other side of the room seemed to be their way forward, but she doubted it would be as simple as the one behind them.

In front of the statue sat a pedestal with a gem in its center.

“Allow me,” Astarion flashed a grin at them before strolling up to it.

He was promptly launched back toward them, repelled by an invisible barrier of some kind.

“Did you get it out of your system, Astarion?” Shadowheart stood over him, arms crossed over her chest.

“Yes, I think I’ve had enough of that,” he wheezed back.

“You’ll want to step carefully while we’re here,” Shadowheart warned. “I’m quite certain there will be no shortage of traps.”

Tav looked around the room, trying to discern any pressure plates or trip wires. Multiple vents were scattered around the floor, but she couldn’t see any plates to trigger them from where she stood.

“Any thoughts?” she turned to Shadowheart to ask.

“A few…” she was also scanning the room around them. “There.” She pointed to a series of lanterns hanging above them.

“The lanterns?” Tav asked.

“In darkness, we see your truth,” Shadowheart whispered, no longer paying attention to Tav.

She started to carefully move around the invisible barrier in the middle of the room while Tav kept a wary eye on the vents around them. Shadowheart disappeared around a corner. A moment later, two of the lanterns hanging above them were lowered.

The rest of their party remained at the entrance, letting Shadowheart work through the puzzle. She made her way between the four corners of the room, each time lowering another pair of lanterns closer to the floor.

“Cloak us in your shadow,” she continued to mutter as she moved around the room, snuffing out lanterns as she passed them.

“Guide us to your victory,” her reverent whisper echoed off the walls as the chamber was slowly bathed in darkness.

“Shar’s will shall be done.”

Her words caused Tav to tense up as the purpose of this temple dawned on her. She shared an uneasy look with Halsin, who seemed to be of the same mind.

This was a proving ground for Sharrans, a birthplace for Dark Justiciars.

“As sure as night shall fall.”

As Shadowheart finished the prayer, the last lantern was extinguished, leaving the room in total darkness. But only for a moment.

A glowing barrier appeared around the statue of Shar. A path to the gem could be seen between the magical walls. Shadowheart strode through them, a look of pure admiration on her face.

When she pressed the gem embedded in the ornate pedestal, the barrier disappeared, and the large, round door slid open behind her.

Shadowheart beamed with pride and started walking toward the revealed path.

Tav took a deep breath and followed her into the temple. She felt Halsin’s fingers brush against hers as they walked.

“How do we keep ending up in Sharran sanctuaries? Shouldn’t the likes of us go up in flames the moment we cross one of her thresholds?” Tav whispered to him, switching to Elvish so she could speak even quieter.

He snorted. “Careful, my friend. Best not to tempt fate while strolling her hallowed halls.”

The very air in the temple frazzled her nerves. Every little shadow caused her to flinch and reach for her bow.

“I think this one is special, Halsin.” She kept her eyes on Shadowheart as they walked. “The layout is already so different from Grymforge, and we’ve barely made it inside.”

“We are of the same mind.”

A deep rumbling sound from ahead of them caused the group to pick up their pace. She could hear an argument of sorts, but the voices didn’t sound like those of the living.

“Stay close to me,” Tav whispered just as they reached another set of stairs.

“Always,” Halsin took her hand in his briefly before they charged forward.

***

Halsin dismissed his wild shape once the last Dark Justiciar had fallen.

The reanimated fighters had appeared as soon as they entered the room. Strangely enough, the other undead creatures had fought with them against the Sharrans. They also fled the room the moment the battle was finished.

“Why were they attacking me?” The subtle panic in Shadowheart’s voice was alarming to him.

“Talk to us, Shadowheart, what could be causing this?” Tav called out as she scavenged a few arrows from the fallen bodies.

“I…I don’t know. Perhaps Lady Shar is testing me?”

Halsin could still hear the uncertainty in her voice. This was not a test she expected to face here.

All around them were fallen bodies of Dark Justiciars, long dead. But they had not been slain in the fighting with Ketheric Thorm – Halsin was certain the Harpers and Emerald Enclave were unaware of this fortress.

As everyone recovered from the short fight, Shadowheart continued to explore. She made her way down a set of stairs that led to another moving disc where she fell to her knees in prayer.

“Shadowheart? You okay there, soldier?” Karlach walked up beside her.

“I’m right where I’m meant to be.” Shadowheart smiled as tears gathered in her eyes. “We all are.”

Tav tensed at his side but relaxed again before Shadowheart turned to address them all.

“Lady Shar wishes for Ketheric Thorm to be punished. He is an oathbreaker and a traitor in her eyes.”

Halsin and Tav were both visibly taken aback by her statement.

“I suppose our fates have aligned even more than we thought,” Shadowheart said with a small smile.

“I never thought I’d see the day where Shar and I would share a common goal,” Tav let out a bewildered snort. “What do you need to do to make that happen?”

“There will likely be trials throughout this sanctuary. I should take them and claim my mantle of Dark Justiciar, proving myself in her eyes.”

“Dark Justiciar?” Halsin asked, unable to hide his concern. “And that is the path you want to walk, Shadowheart?”

She scoffed, “this has been my life’s purpose, everything I’ve trained for, everything I’ve suffered for!”

Halsin backed off, not wanting to agitate her further.

“As is your choice to make,” he conceded.

“Besides, if we need to get into the inner sanctum, I doubt we can do so without passing those trials. So, unless someone else here is willing to take those risks…”

Shadowheart made a point of making eye contact with everyone around her. Halsin took a deep breath before speaking.

“Perhaps this an unprecedented stroke of fortune for all of us. Shadowheart can pursue her own ambitions, and the rest of us are spared the peril of these trials in Shar’s name.”

Shadowheart gave him an approving nod.

“Can we help at all? You know, make sure you don’t get fucked up too bad?” Karlach asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” Shadowheart admitted. “We’ll know more once we can find information on the trials themselves.”

“First, we should probably take care of this Balthazar fellow. If he’s here on behalf of Ketheric Thorm, he could be a hindrance to us while we explore,” Gale said as he downed a healing potion.

“We need to confirm whether or not the source of Thorm’s invulnerability is here before we start any fights,” Tav reminded them. “Those skeletons were able to talk to us through the tadpoles. I’d bet my left tit that they’ll lead us to Balthazar.”

“Aw, Tav, that’s the good tit!” Karlach laughed. “At least bet the right one, it’s the worse of the two.”

“I…I have a bad one?” Tav asked with feigned offense, but a subtle twitch in her ears told him she was a tad self-conscious about it.

They both look perfect to me.

Halsin made a point not to stare as they continued making jokes about each other’s chests.

“If you ladies can stay on topic,” Astarion interrupted, “there’s also the orthon we need to take care of.”

“Let’s stick on the path to find Balthazar first,” Tav suggested. “Once we’re sure there’s no more Absolute forces hiding around here to get in our way, we can look for the orthon.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Tav,” Halsin said. “Best to scout out the fortress as much as possible before getting into any more fights.”

“Of course, you agree with her,” Astarion grumbled under his breath, barely audible.

“Sorry, Fangs, I agree with them too. Orthons are huge, nasty fuckers. We don’t want to go running into a fight with them if we have to be watching our back for other enemies.” Karlach shuddered at the thought.

“Don’t worry, love,” Tav had walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’re not going to leave this place without getting you some answers.”

Astarion at least seemed to relax at that.

“Come on, let’s go find us a necromancer.” She smiled and pulled Astarion forward alongside her.

Halsin stayed toward the back of the group as he took in the dark temple around him. Not only had they braved the infamous Grymforge, but they had now found a training ground for Shar’s forces. This was likely the last place they had gathered before marching on Moonrise Towers.

And it had been right under their nose the entire time.

“You okay, mate?” Wyll was walking next to him.

“Of course,” Halsin responded, his voice distant. “It’s just difficult to see such a sight even after all this time. How many of Shar’s destructive forces arose from within these halls, I wonder?”

“Those who do not listen to the reason of Lady Shar’s words must instead feel the keenness of her blade.” Shadowheart had snuck up on his other side.

Once again, she recited the words perfectly, and just like the last time she spouted scripture at him he didn’t hear a shred of passion behind it.

Halsin couldn’t bite back the remark clawing its way out of his throat, “you sound like a student – reciting words for a test without ever considering their meaning.”

She pursed her lips in response and thought for a moment.

“I’ve considered them plenty. Lady Shar favors action over words,” she shot back and let her gaze wander to Tav ahead of them.

“You should try it out sometime.”

He pressed his lips into a tight line as she sauntered away from him, a proud grin spread across her face. Poor Wyll walked in time with Halsin, pointedly avoiding his eye line after the awkward encounter.

Lucky for him, his time for sulking didn’t last.

Up ahead, they spotted more of the reanimated skeletons and heard the same deep rumbling that had called forth a force of Sharran soldiers in the first room.

***

“You sure Shar’s alright with us being here, Shadowheart?” Karlach asked as she ripped her sword out of the fallen Dark Justiciar’s armor. “This is the second bout of these Sharran baddies that we’ve faced.”

Tav could hear Shadowheart’s annoyed sigh from across the chamber. Most of the reanimated skeletons that had been helping them fight were now nothing more than piles of bone dust.

As they all reconvened outside of another large, circular door, the stone pulled apart to grant them entry into another room.

“I think I’m more than welcome here,” Shadowheart hissed, “but he certainly isn’t.”

She had her eyes locked on an undead man that had appeared in the doorway. Behind him was a small squad of ghouls as well as some humongous monstrosity that she didn’t dare to name.

“Ah, the interloper.” The strange man had runes carved into his face and chest which was also adorned with the symbol of Myrkul. “And a True Soul at that. Not just anyone could have succeeded in following me through this place. You should be pleased with yourself.”

Tav rolled her head side to side, cracking her neck. “Balthazar, I presume? I was sent by Z’rell. She lost contact with you and believes you’re in danger of failing your master.”

“Z’rell pours poison in your ears. Everything is at hand here; she merely envies the General’s faith in me. I am in the midst of a grand strategy.” Balthazar rolled his eyes as he waved for them to follow him into the room.

Tav fought the urge to roll hers as well.

Great. Now we’re caught in a squabble between Z’rell and Balthazar each vying for Daddy Ketheric’s favor.

“Since you’re here, I may as well put those limbs to work. You all know what’s at stake here, I take it?” Balthazar pulled her from her musings.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Enlighten me.”

Tav felt a slight tingle in the back of her mind.

“He does not belong here, this is why Lady Shar’s forces are attacking.” Shadowheart reached out with the tadpole.

“At least we can agree on that,” Tav responded silently, hoping that this Balthazar didn’t have a tadpole to intercept their thoughts.

“I cannot allow him to remain here in her temple.” Shadowheart’s voice was dripping with disdain.

“I understand Shadowheart,” Tav sent back her reply while trying to keep her focus on Balthazar’s words as well. “First we need to confirm that he can give us the information we came for.”

“…Ignorant though you may be, you’ve at least shown some prowess in combat by making it this far.”

Come on, loosen that tongue.

“I find that these sorts of operations go much smoother when I know exactly what I’m looking for.” She had to stifle a surprised gasp when she felt Shadowheart’s hand brush her arm, muttering a spell under her breath to strengthen Tav’s words and resolve.

“Fine,” Balthazar let out an exasperated sigh, “if it’ll spare me your bleating. I seek a relic, one that General Thorm requires to keep himself safe. To remain immortal. He has reasons to believe that his enemies will move to try and exploit it. We must act first and move it to a safe location.”

“Is that confirmation enough for you?” Shadowheart’s voice once again drifted into her thoughts.

“Let him finish. Don’t worry, we can’t leave him alive to run tattling back to Ketheric anyway.” Tav fought another eye roll tugging at her muscles.

Balthazar blathered on about what he had discovered about the Shar temple, apparently named Shar’s Gauntlet. Outside of supplying the location of the trials, he couldn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know.

“Thank you, Disciple Balthazar.” Tav gave a low, taunting bow. “This information has proven most helpful, indeed.”

A single word glided into her mind from Shadowheart as Tav finished speaking.

“Whizbangs.”

***

The fight had started without warning, Halsin barely had time to take on a wild shape.

So much for that code word Karlach was adamant I learned.

Balthazar was ruthless. Immediately he had tried to choke them all out with a suffocating cloud of poison, while also casting spell after spell to incapacitate those not caught in the fog. A few powerful attacks from Karlach and Lae’zel had removed that threat from the battle, at least.

Still, his powerful spells were child’s play compared to the brutish flesh golem that accompanied him. If it hadn’t been for Gale holding the monster in place with a spell until the other enemies could be defeated, the battlefield could have been a much grimmer sight.

Tav was currently camped out on a nearby stone ledge, her eyes scanning the room from behind a drawn and held arrow for any further threats.

“That’s all of them, it would seem.” Shadowheart strapped her glowing mace back to her belt. Her voice was hoarse from the thick, poisonous vapor she had inhaled. Tav lowered herself down from her perch to join them.

“I believe I was informed of a ‘safe word’ we’re supposed to use if a fight was to break out,” Halsin scolded lightly.

“Sorry...tadpoles.” Tav pointed to the side of her head with a sheepish look. “We’ll try to remember to say things out loud in the future.”

He smiled back at her, wincing at the cut running down his cheek. One of the ghouls had caught him with a claw.

“Come here, love.” Tav held her hands up, waiting for him to rest his face between her palms.

“Oh, you don’t have to–”

The stern look on Tav’s face cut him off and he let her take a moment to heal him.

Halsin always thought it was interesting how everyone’s magic felt just a touch different when healing. His own was warm and robust, seeking out pain and injuries with the ardency of a rescue hound digging through an avalanche searching for survivors.

Tav’s was a bit more timid. Since she was limited to simpler healing spells, it took a little longer for the magic to take hold. Not that he minded of course, especially when it meant feeling her gentle hands stroke his cheeks. It felt cold on his skin, but still comforting – like the feel of wading through a cool creek on a sweltering summer day.

As she started to take her hands back, he caught one of them and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Thank you.”

“Of course,” she smiled back at him. “Besides we really should save your magic for more severe injuries, don’t you think?”

Halsin caught a grin on Karlach’s face out of the corner of his eye, but another bout of hacking coughs from Shadowheart quickly caused it to fade away.

“You okay, Shadowheart?” Karlach ran over to pat her on the back.

“Fine…” she wheezed, “need to…heal…voice…can’t cast.”

“Here,” Halsin dug out a small vial from his bag. “It’ll be much more effective for your throat if you drink a potion rather than use a spell anyway.”

She gave him a grateful nod and snatched the vial out of his hands before downing it in one gulp.

“Lady of Sorrows save me, that was a nasty poison he used,” she said after a moment. Her voice was still a bit raspy, but she had at least stopped coughing so she could cast a spell.

“Yes, that particular spell is a wicked one,” Halsin said as he held out his hand. Shadowheart returned the empty vial to him for reuse.

“On the bright side,” Karlach yelled from across the room, “this guy was fucking loaded! Look at all these jewels and potions and what have you.”

“Thank the gods, we’re running a bit low on healing potions at the moment. Someone was supposed to bring the rest from camp.” Tav shot a pointed look at Astarion.

“You should really know better than to ask me to do things, Tav. You know I have a very terrible memory,” he said with a sweet smile.

“Very selective memory is more like it,” she grumbled under her breath. Halsin smirked hearing the affectionate undertone of her voice.

Karlach came back over and dropped a hefty, ornate chest in front of Gale. “Here Gale, there’s lots of scrolls and books in this one if you want to take a look.”

“Oh! Delightful.” Gale wiggled his fingers in front of him before rifling through the chest’s contents.

“What’s our next step?” Wyll had rejoined the group in the center of the room.

“We need to find that orthon,” Astarion snapped at him, slapping the back of his hand into his other palm with each word. “I won’t risk that devil getting away and taking my one chance of deciphering these runes on my back.”

“I know, Astarion,” Tav spoke up in a soft voice, “but we did just take a pretty bad beating. Give us a moment to catch our breath and make a plan. We’re not leaving here without helping you, I promise.”

“Fine, fine.” He waved his hand in the air, trying to appear nonchalant. “Let’s just have our resident cleric and druid get us all back into tip top shape and we can be on our way.”

Halsin caught the nervous tapping of his foot and the way he fiddled with his daggers’ hilts at his side. It was obvious how important this was to him, but he could also feel the apprehension from the others.

“Okay, first things first,” Tav let out a deep sigh and took a seat on the edge of a nearby table.

“Karlach, tell us everything you know about orthons.”

***

Karlach hadn’t been exaggerating – the orthon was massive.

At least now they knew who was responsible for the slaughter of the Sharrans in this temple. Not that Tav felt the need to mourn for them.

Still, Shadowheart bristled beside her at the realization.

Tav was begging her pounding heart to keep quiet as she tried to talk their way out of a fight with this very angry orthon. So far, she had convinced him that Raphael’s song was a trick, that the ears left to hear it included his merregon minions and the displacer beast that had been prowling the room when they arrived.

With each deception she rattled off, she felt Halsin’s guiding hand on her back and heard his muttered incantations, bolstering her words and calming her nerves.

Now, to convince the fiend that his own ears betrayed him.

“I still hear it! Seems like you aren’t as clever as you think.” The orthon pointed his crossbow at them once more.

“Exactly, it’s Raphael’s final trick,” Tav said with a slight waver in her voice. "Kill yourself, complete the contract, and you’ll be reborn in Avernus. You’ll be free.”

He pondered her words for a moment, still keeping his crossbow aimed directly at her.

She could feel her companions’ held breath as they awaited his answer.

“Nicely played, little rabbit. You almost had me. Give Raphael my regards when I send you sniveling back to him in the hells.”

Well, it was worth a try.

Their group scattered just as he pulled the trigger, causing the arrow to shatter on the stone floor. After a few more frustrated roars and missed shots, he turned invisible.

“Ah, fuck me!” Karlach yelled. “Forgot they could do that.”

Despite his invisibility, Tav could hear the heavy steps of the orthon above them.

“I’ll get up high, try to get some better angles!” she called back. She cast a quick Misty Step to get to the balcony where they had last seen him.

“Tav, wait!” Astarion screamed at her just as she finished casting the spell.

She spun around once her feet hit solid ground again, ready to attack.

But instead of seeing the orthon, Tav saw an odd explosive.

There was a bright flash of light, painful and blinding, followed by a white-hot agony in her neck and torso. Then, everything faded to black.

#i'm pretty excited for this chapter so I hope you like it!#bg3 #bg3 fanfiction #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 halsin #halsin fanfic #halsin silverbough #halsin x tav #halsin x tav'ahria #oakflower

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ashprince-of-bel-air · 2 months ago

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Came Back Wrong: Part 2

A part 2 of my writing for the 'came back wrong' trope involving Gale. Warning it does mention descriptions of possession, harm and just general stalking and isolating behaviour.

I still love our normal soft and kind version of Gale, I just thought this would be an interesting take on him.

Time passed swiftly with your eclectic group of cohorts, some days were harder than others but you had anticipated that from the start, what you had not accounted for was this new and strange persona that Gale affected, almost a complete shift from when you met him and pulled him out from the portal he found himself trapped in, as if a switch had been flipped inside of him.

Before the incident had transpired he had been a cheery scholar, ready and willing to educate some unwilling person at a moments notice, a man who relished in questions of history and magic, loving nothing more than to speak passionately to anyone who would listen to him. This Gale was different, he was no longer the Gale that was quick to smile for you and ever so willing to help his campmates, ever since you had brought him back he had a more possessive aura about him, something that you could not quite put your finger on. He would no longer mingle with the camp or make jokes and be merry, choosing now to isolate himself within the vicinity of his tent, his eyes ever watchful on you.

At first it was hard to pinpoint what was wrong, thinking it was just an adjustment period, that the brief encounter he had with death had just rattled his nerves slightly, hoping desperately that your once soft and happy wizard would return to you. Weeks had passed since the incident and his possession over you had become even worse as he tried his best to begin isolating you from the rest of camp. You wanted desperately to ignore this behaviour, convincing yourself that he had just grown a bit more attached to you, you were the one who brought him back after all, why would he not want to be around you. Though you could lie to yourself, the others at camp would not see it that way, they would speak in hushed tones to one another, discussing how Gale had changed in the last few weeks, how every time one of them wanted to talk to you Gale suddenly had an urgent issue that you need to attend to, all whilst he gave your companions a smug and sinister smirk as soon as your back was turned and you were within his grasp once again. They wanted so desperately to tell you what they had been observing in silence, but the wizard would never let you out of his sight, a gaze that was almost predatory. There was also the possibility that telling you would put you in danger, that if you started to suddenly suspect something would make him even more dangerous. For now, blissful ignorance was what they thought was best for you, hoping that his behaviour would not escalate for now, as they all tried to think of a way to intervene for you, a plan that would be difficult to concoct as they were aware of the bomb in his chest, one that they believed he would detonate if he was pushed.

As the weeks went on, Gales actions got slightly less subtle, as if he was now getting more comfortable in what he was doing, feeling that he was succeeding in isolating you away from the rest of camp, almost relishing in the fact that nobody would dare to step up against him. One thing you started to notice was that where the wizard was once a precise spellcaster, hardly missing his targets, now he was ‘accidentally’ hitting your companions in battle. The first instance you could forgive, accidents would happen, the road was tiring taking its toll on all of you at times, however it had started to become an all too regular occurrence for even you to ignore. You would glance over at him in battle, trying to watch his every move, even at the expense of your own safety at times, trying to catch him in the act so you could question him about it.

Then there was the food. Certain members of camp would get inexplicably ill the mornings after Gale had cooked, affecting those that had dared to take your attention away from or allowed you to get injured in battle. Nobody had any tangible proof that Gale was tampering with the food, it was a silent conspiracy amongst the group, however the way people were getting ill was too erratic to form a pattern so they couldn’t place the blame anywhere, Gale was far too intelligent to be caught out so easily.

Astarion was the one who bore a lot of Gale’s hatred, ‘accidental’ fireballs and coincidental knocks into an enemy’s line of fire was mostly aimed at him, trying his hardest to incapacitate the vampire in some way or drive him away from the group. Gale could not stand that you would be so friendly with Astarion, he could not understand what you could ever see in the pale elf. Gale knew in his heart that you were meant to be with him and him alone, you might not understand that just yet, but he would help you realise it in due time.

Dawn began to break over the camp, the soft light streaming through the thin material of everyone’s tents, beginning to make you all stir softly. As you began to wake you hoped that the sun would hold out for the day, the current run of bad weather had started to increase the irritability of you all, further adding fire to the tension that was growing. You began to commence your morning routine as usual, ensuring that your pack was stocked for the day, your blades were sharp and your armour was donned properly. Ducking under the covers of your tent you were surprised to find Gale sat outside of his tent, still wearing his camp clothes and nonchalantly reading a book, this was an odd development as over the last few weeks he was ready and raring to go, adamant that he would be part of the adventuring party for the day so he could remain at your side.

You walked over to him cautiously and slightly confused, asking if he was alright wondering if he was aware that he was supposed to be departing out with you and the adventuring party today. Gale lifted his gaze away from his book and looked up towards you, a soft smile on his face as he closed his book, giving you his full attention.

“My dear Tav, I’m flattered by your concern, but I feel that I have been monopolising your time as of late, I thought it would be nice for another one of our talented companions would like the chance to bask in your company for the day. I’m aware that Astarion is starting to get restless having been left behind all the time, it might be nice for him to join you for a change.” His smile seemed genuine, you were politely surprised at this sudden mood shift with him, clinging onto the hope that your Gale was finally coming back to you. You took a moment to confirm that Gale was happy to watch over camp for the day whilst the rest of you went to explore and bring back supplies, not wanting to leave him unattended and at risk of spiralling due to your absence.

“I will be perfectly fine Tav, there is no need for concern, besides, I have a litany of books that I need to catch up on to keep my brain sharp. While you have a whetstone for your weapons, these books are the whetstone for my mind” Gale seemed confident in his response to you, assuaging any fears of leaving him alone, you gave him a bright smile and went to inform Astarion that he would be joining you on the excursion for the day.

After a slight delay in suiting up for the day you were all ready to leave, as you left the camp you turned to Gale with a friendly smile and a wave, feeling lighter and happier than you had done for the past few weeks. Gale returned the smile keeping up his cheerful façade until you had turned away from him, the smile now took a more sinister turn as he watched Astarion walk away with you. The book he had closed under before you could glance over it was in informative one about the hunting habits of The Gur, a group of peoples who were known for monster hunting and fortune telling. A few days prior you had encountered one of the Gur peoples on your travels, hunting for a very familiar sounding vampire, this caused an idea to take root in Gale’s brain. It was a surprise to you that Gale was up and awake so early as normally he would be a late riser, ever the night owl staying up to pour over his various tomes and scrolls. Unbeknownst to you, Gale had not slept at all last night, spending the night tracking down the Gur you bumped into and revealing the location of his target, telling him what day he could likely cross paths with him. This was to be the best way of ridding him of the vampire menace whose company you sought often, taking the opportunity to finally have you all to himself.

As he watched your party fade off into the distance he sat there smug, hoping that his plan would come to fruition, thinking of how he could comfort you when you came back distraught before muttering under his breath.

“Safe travels my love.”

#gale dekarios #bg3 gale #gale of waterdeep #dark!gale #dark gale

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rpgsandbox · 10 months ago

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kickstarter

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Forge unique weapons and armour unlike anything the world has ever seen. Your great work may start as a humble longsword, but with the right equipment and materials, you will be able to craft a legendary blade capable of cleaving reality in two and summoning an ethereal being to serve by your side.

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#RPG #kickstarter #Dungeons and Dragons

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utilitycaster · 2 years ago

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again like, I cannot promise Bor'Dor isn't more than he appears to be (though what he appears to be is incredibly interesting, far more so than theories) but the nitpicking about how Utkarsh is playing is like...very ignorant of what he's seeing.

Here's a screenshot of my character sheet in D&D Beyond (L4 wizard):

As you can see, scalable spells (Magic Missile) also appear under higher level slots - it is pretty intuitive to say "ok, I want to do the BIGGEST THING POSSIBLE", go to your highest spell slot, and see Lightning Bolt.

On the other hand, this is the cantrip section:

"At Will", with no "Cast" button, could in fact be confusing!

Like...Utkarsh played a battle class (rogue) six years ago, and quite possibly hasn't played since. D&D Beyond's setup makes it easier to realize you can upcast, but doesn't clearly define what a cantrip is - or he could be just asking for clarification to be absolutely sure. If there is any evidence in-game that arises for something more sinister at hand I'll talk about it but like, everything is very consistent with what a player with hazy memories of 5e who has never played a spellcaster might experience.

#truly the ooh quirky trait about being wicked into conspiracy theories is like. the bane of my existence #like. i know in fandom it's largely a harmless if annoying thing but i still side-eye everyone who is like that #critical role spoilers

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msweebyness · 1 year ago

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Class of Villainy Intro

What's up, guys? It's ya girl, Weeby, with a new project! If you remember the 'Title Sequence' that Sparky did for Creepsters, I'm doing those for our other AUs! Here's the first up, Class of Villainy! Enjoy! @imsparky2002 @artzychic27

(Instrumental of 'Ways to be Wicked' begins to play. The camera does a wide sweep over the dark skyline of Paris, before entering the doors of a Parisian fashion house. All of the mannequins are dressed in the furs of different animals.)

(The scene focuses on a teen girl with half-black, half-white hair, clad in a large, white fur coat, smiling cruelly at a cluster of dalmatian puppies locked in a cage, holding a pair of shears in her hands.)

*TITLE CARD: Marinette: Fashion Maven with a passion for furs*

(Marinette turns around to yell at two sisters of Asian descent who have just arrived, ordering them to get her more dogs. Socqueline and Fei roll their eyes but go to do as their employer ordered.

(The scene then changes to a palatial building, the fashion house of "The Sultan of Style", Gabriel Agreste. We see a teenaged boy with coiffed blonde hair and reptilian green eyes smiling smugly as he hypnotizes some of his father's employees with a staff that resembles a cobra, the brightly colored parrot on his shoulder squawking words of encouragement.)

*TITLE CARD: Adrien: Sinister Spellcaster with a hypnotic charm*

(The scene changes again, this time to show a dark alley. As two men in tailored suits walk by, a clawed hand reaches out and snatches their wallets without them noticing. The camera pans further into the alley, and we see a teen with a top hat, sharp canine teeth, and a flicking fox tail, grinning smugly as he rifles through the contents of the wallets.)

*TITLE CARD: Nino: Conniving conman with sticky, foxy fingers*

(Another scene change, we are now in a lab with potions and poisons of various colors bubbling over. A teenaged girl clad in large goggles and a white lab coat bears a maniacal grin as she holds up a vial of toxic pink liquid.)

*TITLE CARD: Alya: Sorceress Supreme with a penchant for potions*

(Alya rolls her eyes in exasperation as we hear a loud crash, and the camera pans over to a tall and muscular girl who is standing by a pile of shattered vials. Alya's sister, Nora.)

(The screen suddenly becomes pixelated, and we are transported to a video game world constructed entirely of candy. The shot shows us the finish line of a race track, which is crossed by a glittery, pink candy go kart, out of which steps a petite blonde, clad in a poofy candy dress, with a psychotically perky grin as she looks out at the crashed and smoking cars of the other racers.)

*TITLE CARD: Rose: Candy Queen of Sugar Rush, "Greatest Racer Ever"*

(The screen is engulfed in green flames, which change the scene to the throne room of a gothic castle, where a girl with large draconic horns, purple streaked bangs, and a silken black cloak smiles wickedly as she prepares to send a terrible curse out over the land with her glowing scepter.)

*TITLE CARD: Juleka: Mistress of All That is Evil, petty like you wouldn't believe*

(Juleka smiles fondly as she hears a sharp squawk, and a raven swoops into the room, landing in front of her. The raven then transforms into a boy with shaggy teal hair and a calmly malicious smile, who gives his sister a playful bow.)

*TITLE CARD: Luka: Music Master and Juleka's Eye in the Sky*

(The camera then exits the throne room through the window before plunging into the dark ocean. With seeming trepidation, we enter a dark sea cave, seeing miserable looking polyps along the floors. We enter a larger chamber and see a girl with pale purple skin and six black tentacles, cackling devilishly as she tends to a brew within her cauldron. She coos affectionately at her beloved eels as they curl around her arms.)

*TITLE CARD: Mylene: Charming Sea Witch with a knack for deals*

(With a coquettish giggle, Mylene summons a large bubble that she looks into, through which the scene changes to a dark, underground lair lit by blinking casino lights. A pair of dice rolls across a table, landing on snake eyes, before the camera pans up to reveal a huge, bulky teen with hollow eyes and skin made of dark burlap, grinning with pure malice as he turns his attention to the doors.)

*TITLE CARD: Ivan: A Gamblin' Man who'll scare your socks off!*

(The doors to the lair fly open as two children, one a fox hybrid wearing the mask of a devil, and the other a stuffy wearing an ominous witch mask, carrying a large sack that squirms and occasionally screams. We hear the sound of maniacal giggling, and a little girl with messy pigtails, hollowed out eyes, and dark purple burlap for skin darts into the room, leaping into her big brother's arms as they prepare to terrify his next victim.)

(The scene changes to what appears to be a hunting lodge, where a crowd is cheering as a very muscular and handsome young man lifts a bench with two girls sitting on it above his head. Smirking arrogantly, he takes in the praise of those around him.)

*TITLE CARD: Kim: Hotshot Hunter with the World's Biggest Ego*

(Perched on a countertop, a lovely young woman with freckles and a red pixie cut gazes at Kim adoringly, clapping with delight as she watches him show off his strength.)

*TITLE CARD: Ondine: Kim's 'Little Wife' to be (and biggest enabler)*

(The screen suddenly glitches out, before the scene changes to a cityscape being torn apart by a massive robot. At the helm of the terrifying weapon stands a boy with a sleek villain suit and his hair pulled back in dreads. He laughs maniacally as he directs his robot to knock down a skyscraper.)

*TITLE CARD: Max: Evil Tech Genius with a Super Grudge*

(The screen is suddenly slashed to shreds by a pair of unseen claws, and the scene shifts to a dense jungle. The trees tremble with a loud roar, and the camera pans to a girl with striped fur and wickedly sharp teeth, grinning menacingly as she crouches on a rock and prepares to pounce on an unsuspecting prey hybrid.)

*TITLE CARD: Alix: Queen of the Jungle and Predator Supremacist*

(The trees begin to waste away and die as the scene changes to a devastated savannah landscape, ridden with hyenas battling over kills. Perched on the highest rock is a boy with sharp claws and a scar over his right eye, grinning in amusement as he looks over the carnage, holding a small mouse by the tail as it attempts to run for its life.)

*TITLE CARD: Ismael: King of the Savannah with a killer scratch*

(The screen is suddenly painted red, before it clears and we hear a scream of "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!". In a grove full of blood red roses, a young man with hair as red as the heart painted over his eye grins with absolute lunacy as he sends his battalion of card guards to apprehend a handful of terrified peasants.)

*TITLE CARD: Nathaniel: Mad monarch with a guillotine obsession*

(The camera zooms in on a mirror on the wall, which we travel through to another mirror, which is located in a dark and lavish throne room. In it is the reflection of a boy with jet-black hair and emerald-green eyes, smiling serenely as he proudly gazes upon himself.)

*TITLE CARD: Marc: Fairest of all the Lands and Poisons Expert*

(Marc reaches to caress the mirror brooch clasped to his lapel, where a young, raven-haired boy wearing a skull mask sits with a bored expression as he tosses daggers at the crystalline walls. This is Prince Kiran.)

(The scene shifts to the backroom of a dilapidated pawn shop, where a girl with ginger locks, wearing a garish purple coat admires a large diamond as she twirls it around in her fingers. Two large crocodiles are curled up at her feet, humming affectionately.)

*TITLE CARD: Sabrina: Diamond Enthusiast with a kidnapping rap sheet*

(With an ominous gust of wind, the scene changes to the interior of a large manor, long shadows cast from the musty velvet curtains. A girl with immaculate blonde curls, icy blue eyes, and a pristine yellow gown descends the stairs with her nose turned up. Servants cower in fear from her chilling glare.)

*TITLE CARD: Chloe: Woman of nobility and proud of it*

(The screen is covered with frost, which thaws to reveal a lavishly furnished sitting room, where a girl with golden locks tinted with pink, a frosty glare, and princely garb stands before a fireplace, glaring at a photograph of her family, which she then flicks into the leaping flames.)

*TITLE CARD: Zoe: 13th in Line with a dastardly plan for change*

(A flurry of official-looking documents suddenly covers the screen, before being swept away. The scene has changed to the city's capitol building, where a teen with dark, wooly hair and purpose in their step fingers the vial of nighthowler poison she plans to slip into its boss' coffee.)

*TITLE CARD: Cosette: Villain in Sheep's Clothing ready to take charge*

(With a poof of acrid purple smoke, the scene changes to a ramshackle little house, giddy and maniacal laughter echoing from within. From the window, we see a girl with wild blonde hair and eyes that hold sheer lunacy, shifting into various different animals as she fires indiscriminate hexes from her fingertips.)

*TITLE CARD: Aurore: Batty witch who loves the gruesome and grim*

(The camera suddenly plunges downward, going through the ground before showing a wide shot of the Underworld, Cerberus snarling as a boat floats down the river of souls. Within the boat stands a young goddess with a sullen expression and hair made of leaping blue flames. With a sneer, she fires a blast of flames at the souls pawing the sides of the hull.)

*TITLE CARD: Mireille: Goddess of the dead with a real anger problem*

(Two imps of the Underworld, the Kwamis of Pain and Panic, tremble with fear on the shores of the river as their mistress approaches them.)

(The screen is sliced in half by a sword with a jagged blade, and the scene changes to a fearsome army charging down a mountainside, led on horseback by a girl with inhuman black sclera and a vicious scowl, whipping her blade out of its sheath, raising it as she prepares to take another life.)

*TITLE CARD: Kagami: Genocidal General with a growing body count*

(The screen is suddenly overtaken by shadows, which clear to reveal a dark shop, the walls covered in ominous masks and dangerous talismans. Seated at the table and shuffling a deck of tarot cards, sits a tall teen with wild dark curls under a dapper top hat, laying three cards out on the table before them, smiling with a smooth assurance.)

*TITLE CARD: Denise: Hoodoo Doctor with charms to spare*

(The screen is suddenly consumed by flames, which recede to reveal the scene has changed to a large and ominously empty church. A young man with bright red hair and clad in religious robes, clutches the holy bible in one hand, while the other holds a torch that casts his face in unsettling shadows.)

*TITLE CARD: Simon: Religious Zealot with a holy love for evil*

(The scene shifts to the deck of a large pirate ship, the sail bearing the image of a leering Jolly Roger. Standing at the helm of the ship is an elegant young woman of Indian descent who wears a golden hook on her right hand. With an eager yet composed smile, she orders her crew to fire on another ship.)

*TITLE CARD: Reshma: Pirate-Captain-to-be with a love for pillage and plunder*

(The scene changes to a dark and dank street, where a figure lurks in the shadows. Stepping out of the dark and lowering the hood of her cloak, the figure is revealed to be a young woman with gray streaks in her blonde hair, caressing the blade of her dagger with a small smile.)

*TITLE CARD: Lacey: Cold-blooded killer obsessed with youth*

(The screen is covered by a shower of gold coins, and when they clear away, we are once again underwater, this time in a cave filled to the brim with all manner of treasure. Standing in the midst of the largest mound of gold is a teen with pincer-like claws and wearing more jewelry than should be possible.)

*TITLE CARD: Jean: Theatrical Crustacean with a Love for all Things Shiny*

(With his most charming smile, the crustacean presents a shining golden bracelet to a boy with the ears and tail of a wolf, who smiles giddily as he accepts it. Austin T, the corrupt young sheriff of Nottingham, and Jean's darling 'wolfy'.)

(With a clap of lightning, the scene changes to the oaken doors of a fortress-like school, with a sign that reads 'DuPont Reform Academy'. The doors ominously open on their own volition.)

(Standing just inside the door are two women with fairy wings, one with a bright and cheerful smile, and the other with crossed arms and a hard expression. Caline Bustier and Olga Mendeliev, awaiting the arrival of their dastardly students.)

(The camera pans over to a hallway, just off the main entrance. Clutching her books tightly to her chest, a girl with silky brown hair and doe-like green eyes walks quickly down the hall, keeping a lookout for the villains that seem to have it out for her.)

*TITLE CARD: Lila: Tender Heart who can Never Tell a Lie*

(The scene changes to a small table by a sunlit window, where a very prim young man with blonde hair and finely tailored dress clothes sips his tea with his pinky raised, before setting his cup down on the saucer and leaving for the main hall.)

*TITLE CARD: Felix: English Gentleman and Friend of the Fairies*

(The shot then changes to a different hallway, where a young man with a blonde ponytail, a guitar slung over his back, and a vacant expression wanders with his head high in the clouds...causing him to fall down the stairs.)

*TITLE CARD: Xavier: Spacey Dude who can hold a killer tune*

(With a loud bang, a door is kicked open by a girl of Native American descent with a fierce expression, while the robotic young woman by her side, her sister, shakes her head fondly before the two join their fellow heroes.)

*TITLE CARD: Jess & Aeon: Junior Officer Sisters who Kick Major Villain Butt*

(We hear a shout of fury, and a chair is flung across the room, the camera moving to the direction it originated from. We see a girl with three rows of sharp teeth, bared in a fierce scowl as she stands on guard for the villains.)

*TITLE CARD: Missy: Heroic shark with Bite and Bark*

(Peeking out from behind a pillar, sending off sparks with nervous energy, is a boy with smooth, scaly skin, and a twitching ghost eye. Beckoned by Missy, he joins the other heroes.)

*TITLE CARD: Jesse: Anxious Eel with an electric side*

(The heroes all start and take defensive positions as the doors slam open, allowing ominous green mist to pour into the room. The villains then enter the school, grinning malevolently. Coming together as a group, they all give maniacal evil laughter before the words "Class of Villainy" appear on the screen in a flash of green flames. The screen then goes to black.)

Time to EEEEVIIIL! Leave thoughts in the comments and reblogs!

#miraculous ladybug #class of villainy #disney au #ml au #mlb ocs #intro sequence #intro

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toodleoorblx · 7 months ago

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Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 1,142

۫ ּ ֗ ִ ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫ ּ ֗ ִֶָ ִ ⠀ ִ ۫ ִֶָ ּ ֗ ִ ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫ ּ ֗ ִ ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫ ּ ֗

Summary: They were doomed from the very beginning. She was a bright star, a glittering jewel, and she was the darkness that would inevitably swallow her whole. The true tragedy was that they both knew this. They knew, and allowed themselves to collide regardless.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: No warnings apply.

A/N: Hii this my first post that can be read on tumblr and I’m super excited!

Enjoy toodles!

Chapter 1

Salem, Massachusetts 1693

Agatha's adoration for nature runs deep, each caress of the elements against her skin a cherished sensation. She marvels at its gentle beauty, the seamless transition it orchestrates through the passing seasons. Yet, beneath her appreciation lies a lingering sense of unworthiness—nature's benevolence feels like a gift too precious for her to deserve.

Contrary to nature's embrace stands her mother, Evanora, a discordant force in Agatha's world. Evanora is like a bane to nature. She hates it yet she follows and upholds it. The nature of magic that is. From Agatha's earliest memories, Evanora's contempt for all manner of things—be they people, places, or even Agatha herself—has been palpable. Evanora's aversion to the forest near their manor was palpable, especially after nightfall when its dense shadows seemed to take on a sinister edge, as if harboring secrets that could consume unwary souls without remorse.

Yet, for Agatha, the forest held an irresistible allure. Its darkness enveloped her like a comforting cloak woven from the very essence of the trees and leaves. In contrast to her mother's apprehension, Agatha found solace in the embrace of the night, guided by the gentle glow of the moon. And in that darkness, nature was always there, watching.

Agatha doesn't know why her mother hates nature but she doesn't try to understand her mother anymore. She knows not to question her.

Seeking refuge from the complexities of her magical training, Agatha retreats to an open field a mile from her home. Bathed in the brilliant light of the sun, the lush green grass sways gently in the breeze, offering a serene backdrop for Agatha's thoughts. This tranquil spot has become her sanctuary, a place where she can escape the rigors of her studies and find clarity amidst the chaos.

While the challenges of mastering magic weigh heavily on her mind, it is the relentless scrutiny of her mother and aunt, Evangeline, that proves most taxing. Their strict tutelage pushes Agatha to her limits, leaving her physically and mentally drained after each grueling session. Today, however, she opts for a respite from spellcasting, choosing instead to lose herself in the pages of alchemy books gifted to her by Evanora.

As Agatha hums a melody from the day before, she peacefully flips through the pages of her book, absorbing knowledge with a voracious appetite. Suddenly, a voice, soft and angelic, interrupts her thoughts.

"Orchids will work better," the voice suggests.

Startled, Agatha flinches and hastily closes the book, her gaze shooting up to meet the source of the interruption. Standing before her is a girl, no older than 18, clad in an emerald green dress adorned with a matching pendant. The stranger's beauty is mesmerizing—her brown eyes ablaze like the midday sun, and her smile radiant as the flicker of flames. Agatha finds herself momentarily breathless, her heart racing at the unexpected encounter.

With a playful shrug, the girl continues, "Hydrangeas will of course work too, but Orchids will work wonders on health potions."

Agatha blinks several times, her mind racing to catch up with her emotions.

"I... please don't tell anyone what you saw, please?" Agatha stammers, her voice trembling as she struggles to regain her composure. With a nervous hand, she runs her fingers through her long raven hair, her heart racing in her chest.

The girl chuckles softly, a sound that sends a cascade of butterflies fluttering in Agatha's stomach. She shakes her head, her eyes twinkling with reassurance as she places a comforting hand on Agatha's shoulder. The touch sends a shiver down Agatha's spine, but it also soothes her frayed nerves.

"No need to be afraid, you can trust me," the girl reassures her, her gaze shifting to a brilliant green then back a warm brown. With a smirk, she lowers her hand and settles onto the soft grass, patting the ground invitingly. Agatha hesitates for only a moment before joining her, drawn in by the girl's magnetic presence. A grin spreads across the girl's lips, melting Agatha's heart in its warmth.

"H-how come I've never seen you before?" Agatha inquires, her curiosity piqued.

The girl gazes out across the expanse of the field before meeting Agatha's eyes once more. "I've always been around, here and there, but here I am," she replies cryptically, her head tilted inquisitively. "And who are you?"

Agatha weighs her options, torn between saying ‘everything you want me to be’ or revealing her name, but she settles. "I'm Agatha," she finally decides, a glimmer of hope in her voice. "And you are?"

The girl smirks knowingly, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Everything you want me to be," she teases, winking playfully at Agatha. A blush creeps across Agatha's cheeks, only serving to widen the girl's smirk. With a graceful movement, the beautiful stranger rises to her feet and disappears into the forest behind them, leaving Agatha with a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions swirling in her mind.

—

"So you're telling me she's also a witch?" Alice asks, her brows furrowed in confusion as she stirs the bubbling stew on the stove.

"Yes!" Agatha replies eagerly, her eyes alight with excitement. "She has to be, but I've never heard of a green witch..." Her voice trails off, a note of uncertainty creeping in.

Turning away from the stove, Alice faces Agatha, who is seated at the small dining table, surrounded by books. Despite the distance from the field to Alice's cottage, Agatha always finds time to visit her friend when she can, especially when she needs advice or perspective. "Maybe she's not from around here? I thought your coven was the only one in Salem."

Agatha nods thoughtfully, her fingers tracing absentmindedly over the pages of her books. "I thought so too," she admits, "but I won't ask Mother about it. She won't take it lightly that I got caught with my alchemy book, especially if it was by a potential witch."

"Did she say what her name is?" Alice inquires, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. Agatha can't help but smile at Alice's unwavering support. Alice has always been there for her, a pillar of strength in times of turmoil. Whenever Agatha needed refuge from her mother's wrath or simply a sympathetic ear, Alice was the one she turned to. Despite being considered a rogue witch by Evanora and the coven, Alice's rebellious spirit had always resonated with Agatha, earning her admiration and respect.

"No, sadly," Agatha confesses, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the memory of the stranger's teasing smirk. She quickly moves her hair to hide her blush from Alice's scrutinizing gaze. "She didn't mention it. She... she ran off before I could say anything."

"Well, I'm sure she'll show up eventually," Alice offers reassurance, her voice laced with optimism."I really hope so," Agatha agrees, a flicker of uncertainty clouding her features.

#marvel #mcu #agatha harkness #rio vidal #witches #magic #heartbreak #nature #darkness #Spotify #Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

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dailycharacteroption · 5 months ago

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Class Feature Friday: Shadow Discipline (Psychic Discipline)

(art by Silinde-Ar-Feiniel on DeviantArt)

The neat thing about the disciplines for the psychic class is that each one, at it’s core, is a way for the psychic to focus their powers, which in turn influences what sort of spells they learn.

And today’s entry focuses on those that contemplate the nature of reality and illusions through the lens of shadow magic!

As many of you know, the plane of shadow blurs the line between what is real and what is illusion, a blurring between imagination and reality in a place of eternal gloom. And that blurring is no doubt very fascinating to certain scholars and psychics alike. By honing their senses peering into such realms, today’s subject gains a fundamentally deeper understanding of these mysteries, which allow them to call upon those quasi-real shadows to aid them, becoming masters of the gloom while their foes feel alone in the dark.

While these psychics draw upon many of the same shadow magics, they may boast and understanding of the shadow and light, and the blurry line between, better than even other shadow-casters, so let’s take a look!

The spells this discipline is associated with range from distorting their own appearance when moving, inflicting others with light blindness, creating darkness, short and long-range shadow teleportation, replicating evocation spells with shadow magic, and blasting foes with icy cold darkness as either a bolt or as a freezing cold zone of twilight.

But the spellcasting does not end there, for these shadowy psions can also cast the spells associated with the Darkness domain in a limited capacity, once per each spell level. These range from obscuring fogs, inflicting blindness, creating darkness, invoking both conjurations and evocations of shadow at various levels, summoning undead shadows, and long-range shadow travel. What’s more, using these domain spells actually lets them draw power from the act, regaining a bit of their phrenic power.

Wrapping light and shadow around themselves, these energies actually physically protect the psychic when they are concealed at least partially from their foes, providing even greater protection.

Additionally, the shadows help conceal them from notice as well, making them harder to see when in darkness.

This discipline grants your typical shadow-based stealth and concealment powers, but the fact that you get spells from both the discipline itself and a domain (the latter albeit in a limited capacity), and that both include various shadow illusions means that these psychics boast surprising versatility with their casting in addition to blinding and befuddling foes with darkness. With their ability to conceal and damage covered, this also allows you to pick your spells and amplifications pretty freely for whatever sort of build you want beyond shadow magic.

It's tempting to go with some sort of edgelord build with this and other shadow-themed options, and those are perfectly fine if they make you happy. However, remember that you can do any personality with any power set. Imagine a plucky shadowmancer that fears nothing, or the artist that paints with shadow as others do with color.

Descended as they are from nocturnal predators, it should come as no surprise that some gnolls have a knack for shadow magic, but Whissat is different, seeming to tap into the shadows as an extension of their body and will. They seem to be on the fast track to becoming a mighty ruler of the tribe, but they are as of yet untested.

Tizana of the New Moon is sinister even by moon hag standards, for her prophecies always contain precise details of demise and death. However, her most recent prognostication has revealed that her own doom is nigh, at the hands of one with a mind of light and shadow: the party’s own psychic. In an ironic fit of pique, she seeks to prevent her own demise, which only puts her in the party’s notice when she sends leng hounds to destroy them.

Deep in the shadow plane, a machine intelligence from an ancient facility slowly goes mad from centuries of isolation and the unreality surrounding them. However, it’s dreams have begun to reach mortal minds, awakening some to newfound psychic power over the shadow and a calling to the complex once lost to that realm.

#pathfinder #archetype #psychic #discipline #shadow #gnoll #moon hag #leng hound #Blood of Shadows

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satohqbanana · 4 months ago

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Hii!! Home Alone + Magnolia + Titanic + Fight Club!!!

Thanks for the asks! FYI these are from the Writeblr Summerfest event.

Home Alone: What is the funniest thing that happens in your story?

This is the funniest part of Part 1, which is arguably my favorite part of Part 1. I've shared it before, but I'll share it again, because I like it.

The last location was a room on coordinates (2,1). While Gracie focused more on the colors (orange on the left, red on the right), Desmond had the spheres as numbers in his head. Ireus protested both conventions due to having read the spheres' name off the manual beforehand and using "positions" to term the slots on the warper (disphere on position one, monosphere on position two). "That's not efficient," declared Desmond, "So I don't care." "But it's correct," Ireus argued, "So it's the superior naming system." "Being superior doesn't mean it must be followed." "Ever the rebellious one, I see."

Titanic: Share a fact about the romance in your story.

It's not a focus or a big part of the Magia storyline, but I like to hint it quite a lot as something you could anticipate as canon in the future of the characters (and subsequently a part of Magia's sequel story). I'm very well aware of one side's apparent crush on the other - it is within intention, after all, and it manifests in the difference in their actions around other characters VS around the other person - but the other party's actions are also starting to tell me that they probably started developing feelings early on as well.

Fight Club: Is there a twist from your story you can share with us? If not, talk about what you hope your twist will accomplish for the readers.

Quite a few twists in fact, but here's all the stuff summed up.

The first one involves communication. They could communicate things well all along. It could've made things more efficient, had certain feelings had not been in the way.

The second one involves me wanting to tell the readers that, yeah, this is a fantasy world, but it doesn't mean it can't have advanced technology in it.

The third one is something that's more important to the second story in the series, Liberatio, as it won't make sense right now even if I reveal it. After all, an idea that is shocking, when placed out of proper context, would lose its essence.

Magnolia: Talk about one of your favorite side-characters.

I don't really consider anyone a "side character" in Magia, as I love all of the characters who don't get as much focus as the three mages:

Jewel plays a small role in the story, but I like that it's evident from her worries that she has other tasks to think of, as a Head Spellcaster. It isn't that she can't help because it's a story for teens; it's that she can't help because she's preoccupied by other adult stuff, and that's very realistic. Even so, she comes in clutch towards the end.

I admit I write Charles as a pet companion first and foremost, but her presence comes in handy for the teens, who, in their teenhood, just wants someone to listen to them. I like to think she too is looking for a role of her own to accomplish as a young cinder rat who has just become able to work for the Academy.

The Help Ewe is dear to me mostly as a concept and an integral part of the Arcanium universe. She looks innocent and I believe she truly cares about those around her, but there's just something sinister to her words.

#satoh says #arcanium:magia #ask #answered #spideronthesun

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thecreaturecodex · 1 year ago

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Jebalat

[Jebalat was a recurring NPC in my Rise of the Runelords game. One of my players was playing a hellspawn, which was a tiefling-like playable race from Fiendish Codex 2, which were pledged to hell at an early age instead of being born with fiendish blood. I really like that as a tiefling origin, and that’s been a canon way to do it in my games ever since. That character, Evangeline, will be posted in the near future as an NPC, as will a more recent character of mine who is another one of his clients. Stay tuned.]

Jebelat CR 13 LE Outsider (extraplanar) This humanoid figure is intimidating, with gray skin covered in scales and a crown of horns like a sinister halo. His facial expression is calm in a condescending way.

Jebelat has been in the soul trade for a long time. He considers himself to be one of the finest case managers in the courts of Nessus. His specialty is escrow contracts; he has some noble dupe sign away their child’s soul in order to have the child transformed into a tiefling, to be put to work as a high status slave, or just as a trophy of infernal influence. The legal grasp on the child’s soul is somewhat tenuous, as the baby cannot sign of their own free will, but such a cruel contract damns the soul of the parent regardless of any specific legalese. The baby then is coached as they grow up, encouraging them towards law and evil, and in most cases, signing their own contract when they reach an age of majority and their own ambitions have been stoked.

Of course, not all of these cases work out. Pesky free will and all that; Asmodeus’ perennial obstacle. The most prominent contract Jebelat lost was of a promising warrior named Evangeline. Although Evangeline was strong enough to resist Jebalat’s back and forth of wheedling and threats, she did die under her parent’s contract. Twice. Jebalat was able to obtain the services of the orcitimor Melamas to kill Evangeline the second time when she was resurrected by her allies. But in so doing, pushed his luck too far, and ended up losing any right to Evangeline’s soul when defeated in a fiddle contest overseen by angels of Saerenrae. A lesser devil may have ended up demoted or at least tortured for that failure, but Jebalat was able to successfully argue that, because of how many souls Evangeline sent to Hell by killing neutral evil targets, who then opted for the surety of the Pit rather than the nihilism of Abaddon, that it was a net win for the forces of Hell.

Jebalat is a mesmerist of some skill, but true to his nature as a phistophilus, prefers to entice or trick rather than force the hand of a client. Long term emotional manipulation, gaslighting and inducing the dread of uncertainty are his favorite tactics, and he has the rehearsed pace and controlled tone of an expert cult leader. He would much rather not engage in physical violence, as his body has literally been sculpted to minimize his natural weapons in exchange for being able to better move in mortal circles. Still, he is an excellent spellcaster, and his curses and the nightmares they induce are legendary, even in Hell.

Jebelat CR 13 XP 25,600 Contract devil mesmerist 6 LE Medium outsider (devil, evil, extraplanar, lawful) Init +12; Senses darkvision 60 ft., see in darkness; Perception +22 Defense AC 28, touch 19, flat-footed 19 (+8 Dex, +1 dodge, +7 natural, +2 natural) hp 235 (13d10+6d8+133) Fort +14, Ref +22, Will +29 DR 10/good; Immune fire, mind-affecting effects, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10; SR 21 (28 vs. divinations) Defensive Abilities towering ego (+9) Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee binding contract +25/+20/+15/+10 (1d4+8 plus bleed and grab) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with binding contract) Special Attacks binding contract, bleed (1d6), bold stare (susceptibility), hypnotic stare (-2, 40 ft.), mesmerist tricks (12/day, astounding avoidance, mesmeric mirror, reflection of weakness, DC 22) painful stare (+3/1d6+3) Spells CL 6th, concentration +15 (+19 casting defensively) 2nd (5/day)—alter self, blur, placebo effect, touch of idiocy 1st (7/day)—forbid action (DC 20), mental block (DC 20), paranoia (DC 20), unseen servant 0th—detect magic, light, mage hand, prestidigitation, read magic, unwitting ally (DC 19) Spell-Like Abilities CL 13th, concentration +22 (+26 casting defensively) Constant—nondetection (self only), tongues At will—detect thoughts (DC 21), dimension door, erase, identify, major image (DC 22), produce flame, sending 3/day—arcane eye, traumatic bestow curse (DC 23), break enchantment, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), hold person (DC 22), locate creature, mage's private sanctum, quickened scorching ray, silence (DC 21), vision 1/day—contact other plane, delayed blast fireball (DC 26), dismissal (DC 24), plane shift (DC 26), summon (level 4, 1d6 bearded devils or 1 bone devil 50%), symbol of pain (DC 24) Statistics Str 15, Dex 27, Con 24, Int 26, Wis 23, Cha 28 Base Atk +17; CMB +19; CMD 38 Feats Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Dodge, Extended Stare, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, Quicken SLA (scorching ray), Stubborn Curse, Traumatic SLA (bestow curse) Skills Bluff +33, Diplomacy +30, Disguise +30 (+34 as tiefling), Intimidate +30, Knowledge (arcana) +24, Knowledge (history) +23, Knowledge (local) +23, Knowledge (nobility) +21, Knowledge (planes) +24, Knowledge (religion) +24, Linguistics +26, Perception +28, Perform (oratory, strings) +25, Profession (lawyer) +19, Sense Motive +28, Sleight of Hand +21, Spellcraft +21, Use Magic Device +25 Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Common, Daemonic, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Gnoll, Halfling, Ignan, Infernal, Kelesh, Necril, Orc, Sylvan, Terran, Undercommon, Utopian, Varisian; telepathy 100 ft., tongues SQ consummate liar +3, infernal contract, infernal investment, manifold tricks (2), mental focus +1, touch treatment (12/day), undercover agent Gear bracers of armor +2, lucky horseshoe, wand of cure light wounds (full charges), jeweled holy symbol of Asmodeus worth 50 gp, masterwork violin Special Abilities Binding Contract (Su) A contract devil can wield a contract like a whip, but deal lethal damage regardless of the armor bonus of their target. A contract devil modifies attack and damage rolls when using a binding contract by its Intelligence modifier, not its Strength modifier. Wounds created by a binding contract resemble horrifically deep paper cuts and cause 1d6 points of bleed damage. A contract devil can use its binding contract to disarm and trip foes as if the contract were a whip. If it is itself disarmed of the contract, the devil can rearm itself with a new contract as an immediate action. Infernal Contract (Su) As a full-round action, a contract devil can produce an infernal contract for a single living mortal creature. This contract can grant a wide range of abilities and effects, as detailed on the following page. To receive any of these bonuses, however, the mortal must sign its true name to the document of its own free will. Upon doing so, that mortal's soul is sworn to the contract devil, condemning the soul to an eternity of servitude in Hell rather than whatever fate would naturally befall it upon the mortal's death. Breaking a contract with a contract devil is difficult and dangerous (see the next page); as long as the infernal contract remains in effect, the victim cannot be restored to life after death save by a miracle or a wish. If a mortal is restored to life in this way, the contract devil immediately senses the development—it not only knows which soul has been restored to life, but also gains the benefits of a discern location spell targeted on the character or creature that restored the damned soul to life. Infernal Investment (Su) As a subclause of all infernal contracts, a contract devil can use greater scrying at will upon any creature it has a contract with. The target creature always fails its save against the devil's scrying attempt—this ability otherwise functions at caster level 20th. Undercover Agent (Ex) Jebalat does not have a gore attack or the impale special attack, but does gain a +4 racial bonus on any Disguise checks to appear as a tiefling, and has nondetection as a constant spell-like ability.

#jebalat #contract devil #phistophilus #rise of the runelords #deal with the devil #monster npc #monster girl summer #devil #horror art #tiefling

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