#skyrim is my stoned game

[venacoeurva]

With comms being almost done and the last one paused while I wait for sketch approval and work being kind of slow rn, I have a lot of free time and I've been very ???? about what to do with it because often I'm too burnt out to draw for fun, so uh weed, skyrim, and sleeping it is

[what-even-is-thiss]

The reason it’s suggested you play as a Breton or high elf when being a mage in elder scrolls is that high elves have a good magical offense while Bretons have a good defense. In older games high elves even have a weakness to magic while Bretons have a very high resistance to it

In Skyrim that was toned down a bit so high elves aren’t weak to magic anymore. But Bretons are still very much resistant to magic. Which made me wonder. Could I make a Breton that’s nearly immune to magic damage?

And it turns out that’s very easy to do with a combination of the lord or atronach stone, grinding for alteration perks, and enchanting. However, it turns out the NPCs also know how to do this because I ended up in a like 15 minute long magic dual with a random Breton necromage and since I’m not using weapons or armor this playthrough after both of us ran out of magic I ended up running in circles like a chicken with my head cut off waiting for my magic to regenerate while she chased me with a knife. I wish I recorded my gameplay because it was the most looney tunes fight I’ve ever had in a video game.

[lucysarah-c]

If Levi were in the modern world, what kind of games would he enjoy?

Uhhh, as a huge video games girly, this is right up my alley, haha.

I think Levi would be very good at video games in general because he has quick reaction time and remains calm under pressure. I imagine he likes horror games a lot. He's really good at shooters, but I don’t think he enjoys them as much as he's good at them, haha. He probably prefers games that mix both elements, like Resident Evil, where there’s horror but also shooting involved.

He loves horror games but hardly ever gets scared. I can’t really see him being into open-world games that much, though he would enjoy them. Games like Red Dead Redemption II, The Witcher, or Skyrim might catch his attention, but I feel like he’d get bored after a while. Levi doesn’t seem like someone who has that much time to play, so he’d prefer games he can finish and really enjoy. Especially since Levi isn’t the type to do a speedrun—this man would check every single corner.

He definitely prefers games with good lore, like Bad Parenting, Pathologic, Little Nightmares 1 & 2, and Bramble, over plain shooters like CSGo, Fortnite, or Valorant.

I don’t think he would enjoy Minecraft or Stardew Valley, HAHAHA. Like, if you asked him to build a "pretty" house in Minecraft, you’d end up with a plain stone house—just to make sure it doesn’t burn down if there’s a thunderstorm, and nothing else.

I've always wanted to write a one-shot idea of Levi as a gamer/streamer, hahaha. It’s been on my to-do list for a while! I just need a good plot for it!

Thank you! I really enjoyed this!

[firefly-factory]

WIP Wednesday!

Thanks for tagging me @skyrim-forever (and everyone who tagged me last week)!

No-pressure tagging @sulphuricgrin @changelingsandothernonsense @pocket-vvardvark @thequeenofthewinter @emicat1159 <3

I was a little off my game last week so I didn't have much to show, but now I'm trying to get back into my writing and have a little bit to share! This is for the Astor fic I've been working on in the background.

Context for the excerpt - Astor's quite young here (a little over thirteen) - and is about to be initiated into the Ganon Cult. He isn't quite sure what that will involve, though . . .

-

He followed the elders until they came to the center of rok woods. There was a clearing that let them glimpse the pockmarked white stone of the bone canyon to the north. The sight send a shiver down Astor’s spine, though he tried to suppress it. He knew, intellectually, that they were only a little ways away from the others’ homes, but in this moment felt totally isolated.

The clouds shifted overhead and the moon—a bright sliver—shined its light into the clearing. He saw a glimpse of a statue rising out of the ground, mostly obscured, with the offering bowl in front of it overgrown with moss and filled with soil. With a jolt he noticed a second form besides it. At first he had thought it was simply the statue’s shadow but no. Though hidden by darkness, the second form was a statue in its own right. The two leaned against the heavy-limbed oak at the edge of the clearing, and Astor felt the sudden uncanny sensation of being watched.

He shuddered, unsure of what to do but not entirely willing to turn his back to the statues. It was an odd thing to find so far out. Even growing up in shadow hamlet, he had heard stories of the bone canyon, full of creatures fit for nightmares, and the bottomless skull lake at its center. He wondered what sort of people would have made statues to their gods this far out. Of course, here they were. And there were those who would have called ganon a creature of nightmares. Astor looked back at the statues a second time, and imagined that he felt a sense of approval coming from them. He remembered the words he had been taught throughout his life, rolling them around in his mind like a sand-worn pebble. Darkness is the blanket of sleep, darkness is safety and recovery. Those that would deny the light only do so because they are blinded.

 Feeling a little more at ease, astor turned his attention back to the elders, who had been moving around in the darkness with practiced ease. They stood in a circle in the clearing, in a formation astor would later learn was highly rehearsed. Each held something in their hands, the forms mostly obscured by darkness and the folds of their long sleeves. Father Herod stood in the middle. He towered over the others, taller than all of them by at least a hand. His sleeves hung down in elegant swoops, like dark wings. For a moment moonlight crept through and the gold at his throat and temple glinted.

“Astor,” he said. The boy stepped forwards hurriedly, still unsure of what he was supposed to do. Herod raised a hand, stopping Astor in his tracks. The rings on his fingers gleamed as he continued to speak, gesturing grandly in a way that clearly wasn’t directed at anyone in particular. It was as if he were speaking to everyone at once, or perhaps no one at all. The words were familiar as breathing. Astor had heard them almost every day, prayed them quietly to himself in the gloaming hours between night and true dawn.

Instinctively, he spoke aloud as the other elders raised their voices to recite the familiar words.

[itsseohannbin]

• The Blackened Heart • Part One

A Han Jisung Mini Series

© itshannjisung, 2024

♡ itsseohannbins masterlist ♡

⚓️ Series Masterlist ⚓️

Genre: Pirate SKZ

Pairing: PirateThief!Jisung x Female Captain Reader x Ex-Bandit Lino

Summary: When Y/N, Captain of the Blackened Heart, gets offered a large sum of money to deliver a thief to the Jarl of Serpent Point, she and her crew greedily accept. But while spending time with the familiar thief during their long journey back home, she realizes just how important human connection can be, even for a pirate.

Warnings: Pirate SKZ. Swearing. Mentions of weapons. Violence. Mentions of brothels. Small mention of death.

** The author has left out some warnings to create an element of surprise with certain topics in/throughout this chapter. Reader discretion is advised. **

Word Count: 8.5k

A/N: I am aware that a lot of concepts and ideas throughout this fic will not be historically and biblically accurate. I've done my fair share of research about pirates of all kinds, from all different eras and countries, and I know pirates never lived lavishly; they didn't have proper tools for healthy hygiene, they never had 'fancy' meals, they never had access to first aid/doctors to help tend to their wounds after battle or when illness struck, their beds were often nothing but a wooden board and some thin cloth. I know not all dubloons rounded off to $16, and gems were rare to find. I know that in some eras, guns and bows didn't even exist, making combat difficult and more intense with only swords and daggers alike. I know chewing tobacco and pipes were commonly used, and STDs were common amongst the members of the crews.

Let me reinstate that.. **I AM AWARE OF ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE** 

However, for the sake of this fic and where I wanted it to go, I changed a lot of those things. I pulled a lot of inspiration for this fic not only from Lalalala MV and the Rockstar comeback, but from video games that I’ve played that had pirates and jarls and thieves alike in them as well (mostly ESO, Skyrim, Assassins Creed, ect.).

So, as I've said, I am aware not everything in this is accurate, a lot of the lore and concepts are farfetched and not entirely realistic, but at the end of the day, there is NOTHING realistic about Pirate SKZ 😋

Happy Reading Everyone! Your thoughts and feedback is always appreciated. Enjoy! ♡

Serpent Point was, by far, the most repulsive city you've ever set foot in, and you were ashamed that you had once called the place home.

The small city sprawled out like an ugly scar across the dirty coastline, barely protected by the dead and decaying trees of the forest surrounding it. With rusted hulls, scavenged scraps, and towering heaps of trash, it felt as though it was built by the vermin that scurried across the streets and flooded the docks. Salt and sweat hung heavy in the air, mixed with the sharp sting of tobacco smoke and the lingering fumes of the nearby fish-processing plant, making anybody who stepped foot on Serpent Point soil gag from its intensity.

As you walked towards the shore, your old, muddy boots click-clacked against the broken wooden dock, your quartermaster and personal guard flanking your sides. 

"I'll never understand how we always end up back here," Chan spoke with venom in his tone as he eyed the rickety old fort in the distance that was once his childhood home. Even from the shoreline, you could make out the large cracks stretching out across the stone structure, moss and mildew creeping from every fissure like an untreatable disease.

"I don't understand how the two of you even survived here," Lino commented shortly after, a shake of his head causing his chocolate-brown hair to sway back and forth. With a look of utter disgust, he side-stepped an old man who was sprawled on the dirt, hands reaching for Lino’s trousers with desperate, drunken eyes. It wasn't until the old man began shouting incessantly that the smell of alcohol wafted from his mouth straight to your nostrils, and you pinched your nose closed in revolt. 

"Believe me, it wasn't by choice," you murmured, pushing forward and ignoring the babbling drunk. "If it had been, I'd be born anywhere but here."

"Amen," Chan agreed under his breath.

The walk to Fort Foucher, the Jarl's residence, was quick—partially because the city was small, but mostly because the three of you had little patience for the staggering drunks and pitiful beggars who clogged the streets.

Once you reached the entrance to the Fort, the Jarl's guards welcomed you in with disgruntled noises and curses beneath their breaths. The Jarl may have been expecting you, requesting you specifically by name, but that didn't mean his men held any sort of respect towards females in power. They spat nasty remarks and looks of disapproval your way despite the two menacing men at your side, and their frowns deepened impossibly more when you walked past the group of them with a certain confidence in your stride. It took everything in you not to release your dagger from its scabbard and huck it their way.

You were here on special request from the Jarl himself, and if you didn't need the coin he hinted at in his letter, you would have yet to show up to this low-class city to begin with. Killing his men before meeting with the man himself was not the brightest idea, no matter how tempting it may be.

Thankfully, a short, stubby man in a dirty blue coat and off-white stockings signaled from the back of the main foyer, pulling you from your murderous thoughts. He was waiting patiently to guide you to the throne room himself as if you hadn't been inside the Fort countless times before.

After catching your attention, the pudgy male turned and began walking away. He didn't even bother to make sure you were following as he led you down the old, dilapidated hallway to the set of double wooden doors at the end, where the Jarl would be waiting for your arrival just beyond.

The man stopped short just before the entrance to the room, bowed lazily to you and your men, and then opened the doors, granting you access inside. You took a deep breath as the golden light spilt from the room, making the hallway's darkness seem all the more oppressive behind you.

"After you, Cap," Lino spoke in a hushed tone, one hand waving you into the room while the other sat dangerously on the sharp dagger at his hip. His brown eyes flickered around the room, silently scouting for danger before you took another deep, calming puff of air and stepped inwards.

You bowed formally to the man in blue before entering the throne room, nerves bubbling in the pit of your stomach.

The first thing you noticed when you entered was the stench of old tobacco, worse than outside. That, mixed with the scent of wilting flowers and old wax, had you resisting the urge to scrunch your face up in disgust at the odor. It was an odd, unsettling combination, causing bile to rise up your throat that you had to push back down forcefully.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favorite buccaneer," Jarl Foucher’s voice scraped against your ears in the most unpleasant way. He struggled off of his raggedy old chair and opened his arms wide in welcome with a toothy grin on his face. His long, dirty grey hair was pulled back from his temples, allowing you a full view of his gross, scraggly beard. His teeth were yellow and chipped, his breath reeking of smoke and moonshine even from across the room, and his eyes were wrinkled and faded from their natural green into something almost stale and completely lifeless.

He looked exactly how you remembered him to be.

"Jarl Foucher," you smiled back, the action forced and not at all reaching your eyes. You lowered yourself respectfully to the floor before him, Chan following suit. Meanwhile, Lino remained still at your side, his eyes flittering over the guards cautiously. The raised pink scar that slashed over his left eye and down his cheekbone twitched in anticipation as his body tensed, his face hard as stone.

"Greetings Cristoff," Foucher barely spared his estranged son a glance before his attention was on Lino, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. You turned slightly to glare up at Lino, silently yelling at him to get on the ground and bow to the Jarl, but instead, Lino just stood unwavering, looking calm, cool and completely collected.

“And who may this gentleman be?” Foucher asked, his eyes lingering on the man, sharp and calculating. “I haven’t seen him amongst your crew before.”

“This is my guard, Lino Lee.” You spoke carefully, hoping to break some of the tension that was rolling off of Lino’s shoulders in waves as Foucher analyzed him. He seemed unbothered, but you know it was only an act he performed in the presence of authority figures. He hated Royals with a burning passion.

“The boys and I pulled him from the sea a while back after his boat up and sank, and he’s been indebted to us ever since. Rest assured, he poses you no harm.”

Foucher scrutinized Lino with curiosity, but his gaze eventually returned to you.

“A rogue bandit put in charge of keeping you safe? Surely you’re not that foolish, Captain.” The Jarl’s eyes gleamed with amusement as if he could tell what dirty things were going on between you and Lino behind closed doors. It was hard to resist Lino’s rogue image and impeccable charm, you had to admit that, and you hoped to god it wasn’t as obvious to the Jarl as it was to the rest of your crew.

Yes, you and Lino indulged in each other regularly while out at sea, you were only human after all, but everything that happened between the two of you was purely physical. There were no lingering feelings, second guesses or confusion as to what you two were to each other. You two had been clear and concise from the moment you first took that step only a few months prior, and you were determined to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Not that the Jarl needed to know any of that, but based on the look he was giving the two of you now, you knew he suspected romance was in play. You felt a sudden urge of determination to shut his suspicions down, but you didn’t want to draw any more attention to it than deemed necessary.

“I can assure you, Your Majesty, Lino is no longer a bandit, and as I’ve said, he is indebted to me.” You tried to assure him. “He has pledged himself in my honor and strayed from the path he once walked. I apologize for his defiance, he is still getting accustomed to life on Royal territory.” 

With a nod of his head, Foucher turned his body around to address his guards in a silent conversation, no doubt telling them to keep an eye on the young lad, and in that time, you reached over and punched Lino on his leather-clad arm.

“Ow! Why?” he hissed under his breath.

Ah yes, Lino Lee, the man of many words.

“Show some respect,” you growled in a low tone. “You’re in the presence of the leader of Serpent Point.”

Lino rolled his eyes, his fingers coming down to fiddle with the sheath that one of his two daggers rested in; the matching one sat on his opposite hip.

“After everything he’s done to Chan? To you? Not a chance.” Lino glowered back quietly. You raised your eyebrow and gave him a look of warning at his usual act of defiance. The two of you then stared off for a second, silently challenging one another, before Lino’s eyes fell from yours and he gave in like he always did when it came to you. He may have quickly established himself the title of the crew’s most lethal and loyal protector, but you were the one who had control of the leash.

“Fine,” he grumbled under his breath. “I’ll be as respectful as I need to be, but I’m not getting on this filthy floor to bow down to him.”

You had to resist the urge to roll your eyes at him again. As if he hadn’t lain on floors worse than this in his days of being a delinquent.

A smart-ass remark sat on the tip of your tongue, but before you could release it, Foucher turned back around and clapped his hands, capturing everyone's attention once again.

“Everything alright, Captain?” he asked with a smirk, staring at you as if to say ‘trouble in paradise already?’. You straightened your back and gave him an assured nod of your head.

“Everything is fine, Your Majesty. I do, however, have a lot of work to be done on my ship before our scheduled departure come morning. As much as I hate to cut our visit short, may I ask why you’ve called upon us today?”

The words rolled off your tongue with a bitter aftertaste, but Foucher barely registered the annoyance in your tone, his smile warm as he retreated to his seat.

“Of course,”

You, Chan and Lino, waited patiently in silence while Foucher settled back into the worn-out fabric. A couple of long seconds passed by before he spoke again, his fingers tapping against one another in boredom.

“Queen Aliyah of Cliffpoint Hollow has sent word that she has a criminal sitting in her jailhouse. The criminal in question is a thief who has been robbing me and my men for nearly a decade. He had escaped our jail unnoticed merely three years ago and he’s been evading us ever since.”

You gave Foucher an expressionless look while you waited for him to continue, wondering what any of this had to do with you and your crew. Meanwhile, Chan’s eyes practically bulged out of his face, his mouth open in surprise.

“Wait, the Queen Aliyah? As in-”

“The leader of the land, ruler of Fatewatch? Yes, indeed, the very one.” Foucher confirmed, cutting Chan off without a glance his way. His eyes stayed focused on you as he continued with his proposal.

“I have a chest in my treasury containing more than fifty thousand gold doubloons, alongside a large amount of stolen gems and jewelry. I cannot be bothered to take it all to a moving man, so the lot of it can be yours if you travel to Cliffpoint and bring that thief back to me.”

Your jaw dropped disrespectfully in utter shock, and you felt both boys tense up beside you at the offer. Fifty thousand gold was an unfathomable amount of money. If each of those coins was valued at sixteen dollars a piece like they usually were, you were looking at at least eight hundred thousand dollars in gold, not including the stolen goods.

You’d be stupid to turn that down.

However, if there was anything you learned from your time spent at sea, it was that everything came with a price.

Absolutely everything.

“Sir, I-”

Foucher cut you off abruptly with a raise of his hand.

“I would prefer him alive, but he is known to be quite cocky at times, so if it comes down to it, his dead body will do. Of course, it’ll dock your pay, but I’m sure you’d still have enough to cover the costs to get your beloved ship back in order.”

Foucher waited while you, Lino and Chan exchanged mixed looks of confusion, apprehension and disbelief. The room was silent for a few minutes as the three of you attempted to process the information.

That was until Lino opened his mouth.

“And what exactly is it that this thief stole from you?” Lino spoke suddenly, cocking his head to the side like a cat as he eyed Foucher as if he were merely a peasant and not the goddamn overseer of the entire northern point of Fatewatch. “How bad of a crime did he commit to justify us travelling across the globe to fetch him for you? Why not let the Queen kill him instead?”

“Lino!” you hissed between clenched teeth, seemingly having enough of his attitude. “Will you cu-”

“It’s alright Captain,” Foucher raised his hand to cut you off once more, a sly smile on his face. “The bandit has the right to ask, I suppose.”

Your fingers twitched as Foucher raised from his seat and walked towards the three of you again, his hands folded neatly behind his back. A sense of unease washed over you as you took in his calm and relaxed facade.

“You see when I was a young boy, my mother fell incredibly ill and passed away tragically. When she died, she left behind her ring, one that had been passed down through generations and generations of ancestors before me, and this criminal stole it from right under my nose. He now wears this ring on his pointer finger like some trophy he’s won for robbing me blind. I simply want it back.”

Lino scoffed as he crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest, raising an eyebrow in defiance. “You want us to travel halfway across the globe to fetch you a flimsy ring?”

Before anyone could say another word, Foucher’s hand retreated from behind his back, and in one swift motion, he backhanded Lino across the face. Foucher’s eyes burned hot as he smacked the younger man, and if it weren’t for Foucher then raising his hands to halt the guards behind him who were bustling for a fight, you would’ve run to Lino’s side.

However, shock rendered you stuck in place.

Lino stood in shock as well at the Jarl’s actions. A strand of hair fell into his face, but he didn’t bother trying to fix it. He simply stood there, eyes angry as he whipped his head back to glare at the Jarl, whose eyes widened in what you could only assume was a sliver of fear at the dangerous look now planted on Lino’s face. 

For a second, you worried for the Jarl’s life, but Lino didn’t move, for which you were thankful. He may have hated Royals with every fiber of his being, but he knew when to fight back and when not to. You silently thanked the gods that he didn’t retaliate.

“Watch your tongue, boy.” Foucher snapped, seemingly masking his terror behind his title of authority. Droplets of spit spewed from his mouth and into Lino’s face. “That ring is a family heirloom. Sixteenth-century gold, embedded with only the finest diamonds and rubies alike. You should be thankful a lowlife pillager like yourself will even be able to set his sights on something so magnificent.”

Without a second thought, Foucher stepped away from a now-fuming Lino and approached you with a wide, almost sadistic smile. The anger in his eyes had vanished so quickly it nearly gave you whiplash, and you had to slightly raise your fingers to stop Lino from rushing to your defense.

“So, Captain. Whaddya say?”

You opened your mouth to give him your answer, to tell him just exactly where he could shove his chest of treasure and stolen goods when Chan spoke up first, cutting you off. His tone was harsh and venomous, clearly pissed at Foucher’s assault on his crewmate.

“But Father,” he paused and corrected himself quickly with a smirk. “Sorry, Foucher. Why are you asking this of us? You have an entire army of men at your beck and call, as well as one of the best navigators in the country no doubt naked in your bed as we speak. Why do you need us to do this for you?”

Although it was meant as a dig at the Jarl and his piggish personality, Foucher laughed humorlessly at Chan’s words. The sound was like metal scraping metal, and it made all the hair on the back of your neck stick up.

“Well because, dear Cristoff,” Foucher spoke his name with a sneer. “Captain Y/N and the crew of the Blackened Heart have unfortunately become infamous across the country. Stories of your victories have been passed through taverns and inns alike for years. It’s the only reason I haven’t called on you to return to my side. If there’s anyone who could travel to Cliffpoint Hollow and bring this criminal back to me, it’s you guys.”

Your face reddened immensely at the Jarl's sudden praise.

“Cliffpoint is merely a few months or so away, and quite frankly, none of my men are trained and confident enough to make the trek themselves. As I said, do this and the three of you, alongside the other five, will be rewarded greatly for your service. We’ll provide you with enough supplies for you and your goons to make the journey there, as long as you bring that scum of a human being back to me so I can put an end to his pathetic life once and for all.”

It felt like a dream. Sure, Cliffpoint Hollow was a long journey from home, halfway across the globe as Lino had pointed out before, but if all you had to do to earn fifty thousand gold was deliver a thief to the Jarl’s doorstep, you’d be stupid not to say yes.

You looked at Lino, whose cheek was still burning red, silently asking for his opinion. He ignored the stinging in his face and shrugged at you nonchalantly, but the twinkle in his eyes showed he was anxious for the adventure.

Or maybe he was just anxious to get the hell away from Serpent Point once and for all before his annoyance took over and he beheaded the Jarl before anyone could blink an eye.

Chan gave you a nod of encouragement as well, clearly desperate to experience the world the way he said he wanted to when he walked out on his father and showed up at your ship all those years ago. This was a free ticket across the globe, something he never would’ve been granted if he still lived under Foucher’s watch. There was no way he was turning this down.

You cocked your head back to look at Foucher, rubbing your hands nervously against the black trousers you wore. You cleared your throat once, bringing yourself to ask the one question you were dying to know since the mission was brought upon you.

“What’s the thief's name?” you inquired with a raised brow. If Foucher was asking this of you, whoever it was had to be important. And transporting important prisoners usually came with enemies who would do anything to make sure the jailbird wouldn't make it back alive. If you were going to potentially put your men in danger, you needed details.

Foucher must’ve mistook your question as a ‘yes’, because he clapped his hands and opened his arms wide, a joyous victory on his lips. He smiled brightly at you and he came forward, wrapping his large, wrinkly hands around your face and holding you like you were the most precious thing in the world to him.

The feeling made your gut twist uncomfortably.

“Maybe you’ve heard of him. He’s Scout’s youngest boy. You know Scout, yes?”

Your teeth clenched tightly the second the name left his mouth. A burning coil of anger sparked in your stomach as you recognized the name of the leader of the Thieves Den. The one who took everything from you, including your family. The one who committed the bloodiest heist on Serpent Point soil and still somehow got away. The memory of it punched you in the chest, while the memory of his son nearly brought you to your knees completely.

This was why Foucher wanted you and your crew to do this. This was why he called upon you and your men to take on such a task, making such an unfathomable offer for the job.

Anybody in the world could do it. City patrons and pirates alike have been doing so for years with little to no payout as a reward.

This wasn’t just a delivery mission.

It was a test of loyalty.

One he was expecting you to fail if the sparkle in his eyes was anything to go by.

Fifty thousand gold hung in the balance, and you were determined to get it. Not only for you but for the seven men who happily followed you and worked for you as if you were their Queen.

Your hands clenched into fists, your nails digging into your palms hard enough to draw blood, but the Jarl continued to speak, completely unaware of the turmoil happening in your chest.

“He was the one who ambushed me and my men in Fogrush Bay. I believe he goes by -”

“Jisung fucking Han II.” you seethed.

“I’m just saying, if Queen Aliyah is the leader of all of Fatewatch, why does she live on a whole other continent instead of here?” Lino grumbled, trailing after you and Chan as the three of you made your way back to the docks. His confusion drew hearty laughs from you and Chan, echoing in the quiet dawn that settled over the town.

“Who knows, Li,” you shrugged, stepping aside to let a small carriage clatter past before falling back in line. “Maybe the rum is just better in Cliffpoint.”

Lino scowled, unimpressed. “Doesn’t make a damn bit of sense to me.”

You chuckled, enjoying how such a trivial mystery could get under his skin so easily. It was a welcome distraction from the anxiety that still swirled in your gut after that tense meeting with Foucher. Lino probably sensed it too; he had a knack for reading your mood without a word, one of the reasons why he was such a reliable guard—and an even better lover if you might add.

“Nothing ever makes sense to you, Lino. You’re about as dense as Paisley’s baking.” Chan’s grin was wide as he gave Lino a playful shove, making him stumble.

“Oh, shut it, Chan,” Lino muttered back, though a reluctant smile crept onto his face as he regained his footing.

“Just another one of life's greatest mysteries,” you teased.

Lino rolled his eyes, nose wrinkling in irritation. “Like the time you got all riled up about why cats stick their tongues out when they’re happy.” you then added with a grin.

Lino’s dark eyes slid to you, narrowing in a faux glare. “Yeah, well, at least felines are cute.” You snickered and patted him on the back in mock reassurance.

“Hey. I hear Queen Aliyah’s pretty cute too.” You winked, but Lino’s gaze darkened to a scowl, and for a moment, you caught the dangerous edge in his expression, sending goosebumps down your arms.

“As if I give a damn,” Lino sneered. “You know how much I despise royals.”

Chan clicked his tongue disapprovingly, bringing your attention back to him. “Listen, Lino,” he smirked, pink creeping up his cheeks. “You don’t have to fancy royals for them to be a good lay.”

His words made you scoff and cross your arms before granting him a bored look. “Oh, please Channie—you’re practically a virgin.”

Chan’s eyes widened, mouth gaping, too stunned to speak as he tripped over his own feet. Righting himself, he looked at you in betrayed disbelief.

“I am not!” he finally managed, clutching his chest dramatically. You ignored the strange looks the three of you were now receiving from passers-by and gave him a sly but interested smile in return.

“Oh, is that so? You’ve spent the last eight years at sea with me. When exactly would you have had a chance to ‘entertain’ a royal?”

The colour in Chan’s cheeks deepened, and suddenly, he looked like a man with a story to tell. He shrugged, straightening with a newfound confidence before Lino draped an arm over his shoulders in intrigue.

“Let’s just say, Jarl Alderidge’s daughter wasn’t the only woman I… indulged in back when I was set to court her,” he admitted. You and Lino both raised your eyebrows at him in question, trying to piece together his meaning.

Chan had left his father's side when he was barely eighteen years old. He was set to court and marry a royal from a few cities over, but he left shortly after the courting began.  You blinked a couple of times, thinking back to the awful family he was supposed to be wed into, and realisation finally dawned on you as the pieces fell into place. Your stomach turned in mock disgust as you reached out and gave him a light punch on the arm.

“Oh, for the love of—Jarl Alderidge’s wife?”

Chan blocked your half-hearted blow, laughing. “What? Lady Tatiana is a beautiful woman, and the opportunity presented itself. Who was I to deny her?”

You aimed another punch his way, but Lino quickly tugged you back with a laugh, one hand wrapped around your waist while the other clapped Chan on the shoulder. “Good grief, Channie, you should have been born in a brothel.”

The two of them snorted, and you rolled your eyes, suppressing the urge to smack the pride off their faces.

“Does Paisley know about this?” you asked, shaking off Lino’s arm and falling back into step beside them.

“Of course, she knows.” Chan’s expression softened at the mention of his soon-to-be wife. “I’d never keep anything from her. Paisley and I—there’s nothing we wouldn’t tell each other.”

You and Lino exchanged a look, simultaneously groaning in exaggerated disgust.

“Ew.”

“Gross.”

Chan shook his head and gave the two of you a pointed stare.

“What’s the matter with you two?” he asked, clearly offended by your reactions.

“Human connection is what’s the matter,” you answered with a shrug.

“It’s absolutely sickening,” Lino added with a cringe.

Chan's face fell. “What? What’s so gross and sickening about having an open and honest relationship with the one I love most? What is it about having someone to come home to after weeks at sea that makes the two of you so disgusted?”

You gagged theatrically. 

“Literally every part of what you just said.”

Chan then rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. 

“You two are closer than anyone else I know. Isn’t that deeper than what Paisley and I have? Seungmo and Millie? Jinn and Ophelia?”

You let out a long sigh as the three of you finally stepped back onto the old, decaying dock. The boards of wood groaned beneath your feet, some barely holding together. “Oh please, Channie. There is absolutely nothing romantic between Lino and me. We’re just… mutually beneficial.”

“Right,” Lino agreed as you squeezed past the rows of empty carts crowding the walkway. “I’d rather jab a dagger into my own eye than settle down.”

Chan shot the bandit a look of pure disbelief.

“And I’m the one who belongs in a brothel?”

Both you and Lino shared a final laugh as you approached your ship, anchored at the end of the dock like a beast at rest. Leading the way, you crossed the narrow plank that bridged the dock to your vessel, landing with a solid thud.

Jinn, your sharp-eyed sailing master, was leaning against the railing, chewing idly on tobacco, while Binni, your burly artilleryman, sat next to him on a creaky old stool, the two of them mid-conversation. Their words stopped short the instant you touched down.

“Welcome back, Cap.” Jinn greeted, flicking his head to the side as he spat overboard without care. “How did things go with the Jarl?”

You let out a heavy exhale, mind already on the meeting you’d be calling shortly with the rest of your crew. They wouldn’t be happy that you decided on this new job alone; normally, the entire crew weighs in before a vote is held. But today, your gut had already made the call.

“Went fine. Important business,” you replied with a curt nod of your head, watching as Jinn’s expression tightened slightly in response. You then turned to Chan, the light-hearted mood from earlier gone. As soon as your feet hit the surface of your ship, it was business as usual. “Get everyone together below deck. Crew meeting in ten.”

Chan nodded, the humour in his eyes vanishing as he took off to round up the others. You barely spared him a second glance as you turned back to Jinn, whose lounging posture now told you he had no intention of springing into action like his crewmate.

“Are the twins back yet?” you asked.

“Not last I saw,” Jinn replied. “They went down to the market.” He raised a brow and shrugged, clearly unconcerned.

You let out a quiet sigh and glanced at Binni, who only gave you a knowing smile in return.

“Go get them, Jinn. We’re in a hurry.” 

You watched with little patience as Jinn rolled his eyes with all the petulance of a bored child. “Why me? Binni’s been sitting here gnawing on jerky all day. Let him get off his ass for once.” he complained in his typical tone of defiance.

Binni raised his eyebrows, slowly standing as he glowered at the younger male. Although he was a head shorter than Jinn, his solid build made him all the more imposing. He loomed over Jinn with a look that would send most men scurrying away in fear, but Jinn, ever used to the infamous glower, held his ground unfazed.

Before either of them could escalate, you stepped in between them, pushing each back a step.

“Enough,” you snapped before turning your glare back to your navigator. “Jinn, unless you’ve suddenly developed a talent for taking stock and loading the armoury, I suggest you stop whining and get moving.”

Jinn's face turned red, and with a small bow of compliance, he brushed past you, grumbling as he left the ship.

“Move it!” you called after him. “We don’t have all day!”

“I know, Cap!” he yelled back, though he picked up the pace as he disappeared down the dock. You watched him go in the dying light of day, shaking your head. “One more comment like that, Jinn, and you’ll be scrubbing bird shit off this deck for a month!”

Jinn spun to bow quickly once more before breaking into a jog, knowing full well you meant it. With a sigh, you turned back to Binni, but he was already stowing the stool and heading off below deck, tossing a salute over his shoulder.

“Inventory check. I’ll meet you down there when I’m done.”

You gave Binni a thankful smile as he ran off, leaving you to stand in the light of the sunset alone. There was a light breeze coming off the ocean across from you, and you allowed yourself a brief moment of peace, watching the sky morph from blues and whites to purples and pinks and oranges.

The smell of saltine water, the cool breeze of the summer air, the soft sway of the ship, the caw of gulls wheeling overhead. It was moments like these, moments of complete serenity, that you enjoyed the most, that made you feel completely grounded. It made you feel sentimental, reminiscing back to when you began your life as the first female pirate in all of Fatewatch. It reminded you why you began adventuring in the first place.

You stood for what felt like hours, watching the sky morph and change with each passing second. You admired the way the sun lowered itself on the horizon, bright and satisfied at the day's end, and how the clouds and warmth seemed to chase it. And although you always found the rise and fall of the large orange star in the sky beautiful, you couldn’t deny that you were aching for nightfall.

“You’ve been staring at that horizon for a long time now, Y/N.”

A slow smile spread across your face at the sound of the wooden artificial leg being dragged against the surface of the ship. A wooden door closing against its hinges a second later had you popping your eyes away from the sky to come face-to-face with the blue-haired boy from across the way.

“The Captain won’t like you skipping important meetings.” Yongbok teased with a smile. You sent him a bright grin as your arms folded across your chest.

“Hello Yongbokki.” you greeted, bumping your shoulder with his when he stopped beside you. He took a moment to gracefully lean his body against the railing behind him, a small wince flashing quickly across his freckled face. He was still getting used to living with his new leg, and you reached a hand out instinctively help support him.

“You guys made it back just in time,” he spoke as if he wasn’t in any pain at all, and if it wasn’t for the fact that he was no longer looking at you, but out across the ocean at the same horizon you were moments before, you would’ve scowled at him for trying to play it off.

“I think I finally perfected those salmon steaks I’ve been struggling with for the last month.” His eyes sparkled with pride and excitement at his small victory, meanwhile, your stomach growled loudly at the mention of food. You clapped him on the back with a pleased laugh. 

“Perfect timing, Yongbokki. We’ll have to set the table for everyone before the meeting starts. I have a feeling the boys will take my news better on full stomachs.”

Yongboks grin turned suspicious, one brow arched as you pushed yourself off the railing you were also leaning against and held a hand out to help him stand. 

“What did you do this time, Cap?” he teased. “Sold Binni to another cathouse I presume?”

You rolled your eyes, laughing once more as you took hold of his hand and headed towards the creaky old door that led below deck. “Will you let that go? That was one time!”

Yongbok’s laughter echoed as you entered the ship, veering down to the kitchen at the end of the corridor. “One time too many, Cap. If it happens again, I’m afraid Bin will be gone for good.”

Jinn returned moments after everyone else had settled at the dining table, Jeo and Seungmo trailing behind. The three of them exchanged quiet jokes as they hastily took their seats, their faces lighting up at the sight of the meal before them.

Fish steaks, steaming and fragrant, rested on thick wooden plates that Binni had crafted weeks prior. Cutlery was arranged meticulously beside them and metal tankards were filled to the brim with ale, allowing the table to be a testament to the care Yongbokki had poured into the preparation.

You leaned back slightly, observing your crew as they dug into the meal. Despite the unease swirling in your gut, you waited, letting them savour the peace of a shared dinner table before revealing the storm on the horizon.

You watched as Jinn, ever the orderly one, gestured for Seungmo to take the breadbasket from his hands, the corners of his mouth twitching up as he said, “You’ll thank me later for making sure you’re not just eating meat, Mo.”

Seungmo rolled his eyes, tearing into a piece of bread but muttering something about ‘overbearing mother hens.’ Jeo chuckled, his fox-like eyes catching yours briefly before he focused on his plate.

You felt the weight of the news pressing against your chest as you watched them—your crew, your family. The money Foucher offered was good, almost impossibly good, but there was that nagging whisper in the back of your mind, the one that suggested it might not be enough to sway them. Especially not Jinn and Seungmo.

When most of the plates were cleared, Jeo broke the casual hum of conversation. He wiped his mouth with a serviette and leaned forward slightly, his sharp, curious eyes locking onto yours.

“So, Cap,” he began, his tone light but pointed. “What’s this meeting for?”

Binni shifted, leaning back in his chair and tossing you a quizzical look, meanwhile, Seungmo perked up, his brows drawing together.

“Oh yeah! The meeting with Foucher. How’d it go?” his voice held a genuine curiosity, though you could see he was already trying to piece together why it needed to involve all of them.

Setting your fork down, you glanced at Lino and Chan, both of whom offered small, encouraging nods. That gave you just enough courage to speak.

“The meeting with Foucher went...well.” you began carefully, letting your words hang as you measured everyone's reactions. “He’s got another job for us.”

That caught their attention. Forks paused mid-air, and a hush settled over the surrounding tables where the two and a half dozen sailors under your command sat, waiting for you to finish. Jinn tilted his head slightly, studying you with a guarded expression as he began gathering a small stack of empty plates.

“What kind of job this time?” he asked, voice calm but curious.

You hesitated for a brief moment. “He wants us to travel to Cliffpoint Hollow,” you said finally, your voice firmer now. “We’re to escort a prisoner back to him.”

The impact of your words was immediate. Jeo, mid-drink, choked and nearly sent his ale spewing across the table, causing Lino to reach over and clap his back while he spluttered about.

“Cliffpoint Hollow?” Binni straightened abruptly, his easygoing demeanour gone. His wide eyes pinned you in place at your end of the table. “Did you just say Cliffpoint Hollow?”

“I did,” you confirmed with a single nod. Silence fell over the room again for a moment before Jeo spoke up once more.

“Captain, with all due respect,” he started in a gruff tone from his choking, his fingers now toying with the handle of the metal tankard in front of him. “We’re supposed to be on break right now. Seungmo’s dying to get home to see Millie, and Jinn still has yet to even meet his kid. I don’t think any of us could take on another adventure.”

Seungmo cast a glance towards you. Though he kept his expression neutral, the flicker of disappointment on his face was unmistakable. He was usually calm and composed, but even he had his limits.

You let out a heavy sigh, rubbing your temple before clasping your hands together on the table before you. You watched as Chan began wiping the dirty surface with an old rag before you continued your plea.

“Look, guys, I understand.” you grimaced before meeting Seungmo’s gaze again. He was leaning against the archway to the kitchenette, waiting for whatever you were to say next. “I know we were all looking forward to this break. But Foucher offered us more money than we’ve ever seen for a single job before—and you know what that kind of coin could mean for all of us.”

“Enough for how long though?” Binni asked with a wary glance. “I mean, we risk our necks for him time and time again, and all he does is keep upping the stakes. First, it’s cargo runs, now prisoner escorts halfway across the globe?”

Yongbok nodded in agreement from where he was standing next to Seungmo with his arms folded across his chest. His usual smile was nowhere to be found. “Binni’s right. This isn’t just a supply run or a simple trade, Cap. Cliffpoint Hollow, as beautiful as it may be, is nearly six months away, and that's if the ship is sturdy enough to make it. There's no other towns and outposts across the open waters for miles. There’s nowhere to stop for resupply, and if the rumours are true, those waters are crawling with hostiles.”

Murmurs of concern spread throughout the dining room, each of your men weighing the risk in their minds, grumbling and conversing in distress. You had to raise a hand to quiet them all down once more.

“I hear you guys. Believe me, I do. Your concerns and uneasiness do not go unnoticed. But this is fifty thousand gold we’re talking about here.  That’s not counting the stolen jewellery and gems Foucher’s throwing in as part of the deal.”

Jeo’s eyes widened, his initial shock giving way to an almost childlike excitement. Yongbok, too, couldn’t hide his intrigue, though he tried to mask it. Even Binni, skeptical as ever, seemed to soften at the mention of the payout.

But Jinn and Seungmo remained unmoved. Jinn crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “How do we even know he’s good for it?” he asked. “Did you see the loot, or are we just taking his word?”

“I saw it,” you said sharply, the lie tasting bitter on your tongue. “I wouldn’t be here asking this if I wasn’t sure.”

You didn’t need to see the loot to know Foucher had it. The loot was rightfully yours after all, though you weren’t about to admit that to your crew. You’d been keeping your past a secret from them for years, and the less they knew about it, the better.

Everyone was silent for another moment before Binni set the feet of his chair down on the wooden floorboards and leaned forward, his interest piqued.

“When does he want us to leave?” He asked. His tone was casual, but the weight of the question hung heavy. You swallowed roughly and let out an exhale

“At dawn.”

Seungmo was the first one to crack under the pressure. He surged forward in annoyance, his feet scratching loudly against the floor. 

“Are you fucking mad?” His voice rang with frustration, his cheeks flushed. “Jinn and I are supposed to be home by the end of the week. Home, Cap. To our wives!” His hand hit the table with a dull thud, punctuating his words as he leaned over the table. “You promised us the summer to rest!”

You opened your mouth to respond, but Seungmo was too far gone, his emotions taking over. “We just finished a brutal job from Hawthorne, and now you want us to play delivery boys for Foucher? Do you even hear yourself?”

Your jaw tightened. The reaction wasn’t unexpected, but the raw edge in Seungmo’s voice still cut deep. The room bristled with the tension of his outburst.

“Seung, sit down,” Lino said evenly, though his voice carried an edge of warning. His gaze darted briefly to you before returning to Seungmo. Seungmo, however, ignored Lino’s demand and hit the table again with another thud.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” his laugh was bitter. “We were supposed to go home. I mean, did you even stop to consider Jinn and I? I have a wife at home waiting for me, fuck. Jinn has a wife and a newborn baby boy that he hasn’t even met yet! Are you trying to tell me we’re not allowed to go home and see them? That we have to stop our lives and do Foucher’s bidding once again?”

“Seungmo, that’s enough!” Lino growled, his eye calculating the younger male’s every move. He knew Seungmo would never outwardly hurt you, not intentionally anyway, but Seungmo’s temper was a force all its own.

You stood abruptly then, slamming your hand down on the table hard enough to rattle the few tankards that were still being used. The sound snapped the room’s attention back to you. Your blood was beginning to boil from his insinuation.

“Do you think I don’t know that?” you snapped, your voice rising with authority. “You don’t think I took any of that into consideration when Foucher offered us the deal?” you nearly snarled at him. The room fell silent once more, every pair of eyes on you as you pushed forward, your voice shaking with conviction. 

“Of course, I want you two to go home and spend time with your family. I want all of us to have a break. But this isn’t just about today or tomorrow, Seungmo. This is about our future. All of ours. I want you and Yongbokki to have enough money to open the inn that you guys are always raving and ranting about in every goddamn city we stop in. I want Jinn to be able to afford a nursery for his son so the poor thing doesn’t have to room with them until he’s of age to leave home. I want Jeo to have enough money to open the orphanage he’s been planning out since he was thirteen, and I want Lino to start up the Fighter’s Guild in Eagles Bay. I want Chan and Binni to buy their own ship one day and continue on the legacy we started. I want all of us to be happy and content, and with the payout from this job, I know we can get all of that and more.”

You squeezed your hand into a fist and dug your nails into your skin, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm yourself down before finishing.

“I only want what’s best for all of you.” your voice ran with unyielding conviction, though a tremor of emotion lurked beneath the surface. You swept your gaze over the rest of your crew members once before landing back on Seungmo again. “Don’t you dare, for even a second, think I don’t put you guys first in every decision I make.”

The room fell eerily silent. The faint sound of waves lapping against the dock outside was the only movement in the air, the tension thick and palpable. Seungmo’s hard expression wavered, his eyes narrowing slightly as your words pierced through his frustration. The defiance that had lit his face moments before began to soften, replaced by the faint shine of regret.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the effort.

“I-I’m sorry, Cap,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He dropped his head, the tips of his ears burning red. “I’m sorry for lashing out.” His hand moved quickly, swiping away at the corner of his eye before disappearing behind his messy brown hair.

The sight of Seungmo, the crews usually unshakable morale booster, humbled like this tugged at your chest. You leaned forward, reaching across the table to rest a hand on his shoulder. The fabric beneath your touch was worn but familiar, and you pressed your thumb into small circles, a gesture of quiet reassurance.

“It’s alright, Seung. Take a breath,” you said gently, the edge in your tone giving way to warmth.  You waited as he inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself.

“I understand your frustrations, and I’m sorry for not consulting with you guys first. If you truly want to go home, if any of you do…” you paused, letting your eyes sweep across the room. “We’ll drop you off on the way out. No hard feelings. Chan will keep your share safe until we return.”

The silence that followed felt heavier than before, a quiet reckoning passing through the room. Jeo fidgeted with the edge of his sleeve, his wide eyes darting nervously between Seungmo and Jinn, while Yongbok began chewing on the nail of his thumb, a nervous habit he picked up years ago. 

It was Binni who finally broke the tension, leaning back in his chair with his usual devilish grin. “I think I can speak for the majority of us when I say, we’re with you, Captain.” He let out a bark of laughter, his chair tilting precariously. “You’re a crazy sonofa bitch, but you’re our crazy sonofa bitch. I’m in.”

Jeo let out a breath of relief and nodded. “Me too,” he said, his voice lighter, though the faintest trace of unease lingered in his eyes.

“Aye,” Yongbok called out with glee.

You felt a swell of gratitude, but the real test lay in the two pairs of eyes that hadn’t yet confirmed their loyalty; Jinn and Seungmo. The room seemed to collectively hold its breath as attention shifted toward them.

Jinn was the first to speak, his mouth quirking into a faint smile.

“I’ve been meaning to pay a visit to Cliffpoint,” he said, his voice rumbling through the stillness. “If Ophelia finds out I had the chance to see her homeland and didn’t take it, I’d never hear the end of it.” His grin widened as he glanced around at the rest of the crew. “Besides, it’s not a true journey without all of us. Eight makes fate.”

Your heart lifted at his words, and you gave him a grateful nod before turning to Seungmo. All eyes fell on the young man, who shifted uncomfortably under their weight. His lips pressed into a thin line as he considered the implications of the decision before him.

The silence stretched, almost unbearable, until Seungmo let out an exasperated huff of laughter. “I can’t believe we’re really doing this,” he muttered, shaking his head as a reluctant grin tugged at his mouth.

You didn’t wait for him to say more. You reached across the table, pulling him into a firm, grateful hug. His shoulders were tense for a moment before he relaxed. Letting out soft chuckles as you squeezed him.

“Oh, hush up,” you said with a laugh, releasing him and falling back in your chair with ease. “By this time next year, we’ll be the richest pirates in all of Fatewatch.”

Jinn ran a hand through his hair, leaning casually against the edge of the table. His easy smile faltered for just a moment, replaced by a flicker of concern.

“I hope you’re right about this, Cap.” he said, his voice quieter now, though it held more warmth than doubt.

You felt that same unease twist in your gut but pushed it down, forcing a confident smile onto your face.

“I’m always right,” you replied, your voice steady. But as the room began to fill with the hum of conversation and plans for the journey ahead, that gnawing feeling in your gut refused to leave.

Because deep down, you knew this wasn't just another job. It wasn't just another risk.

This was a gamble with the stakes stacked so high that one wrong move could unravel everything you worked your ass off for—and not even fifty-thousand gold could buy your way out.

Tags: @moonlightndaydreams @collisvng @frequentlykit @channieandhisgoonsquad @noellllslut @n0y4 @chuuyaobsessed @newhope8 @palindrome969 @krayzieestay @lunearta @nightmarenyxx @queen-in-the-shadows

⚓️Next Part ⚓️

[wizardbracket]

Round 2: Match 19 of 32

Why they deserve to be the ultimate wizard according to YOU:

Merlin:

Vanquished (so far): The Hobgoblin

“He is the kookiest old bat. He's a time-travelling meddler. He's all those posts that say "I'm going to give a medieval child doritos and see what happens."

"He's the classic Wizard w a capital W hes got it all"

"Check that vacation fit pls he's amazing. The bad lady flirts with him he does animal transformations he has a TALKING owl and a rickety old tower. He's iconic and ultimate"

J'zargo:

Vanquished (so far): Dorian Pavus

"In order to even GET jzargo you have to blow yourself up. more than once. if that isn't some stupid wizard shit than what is"

"in game he can level up infinitely. which can make him the strongest follower AND the strongest wizard in game"

"J'Zargo is a bitch whose experimental spell blows you up. 10/10. No further comments."

“He is a cat wizard bent on mastering destruction magic. Who doesn't like cats? Also he is very funny and has a cool accent. 10/10 ultimate blorbo from my videogames, best wizard."

[elvishdemigod]

So in my current playthrough of Skyrim, my vampire dark elf married Vilkas

So I get home (the home site you buy at Falkreath, not an in-city house), bandits attack me, I find a letter on them saying Vilkas was kidnapped.

I am baffled, as he's a damn werewolf, but start my journey to save him. Have to walk to the cave he was taken to as it or places near it weren't discovered yet.

By the time I get close enough to see the cave, the mission claims to be completed. I still went through and killed all the bandits. And ya, he wasn't in there. So I get back home, and he's there.

But he's all messed up now. All bugged.

He walks backwards a lot.

Sometimes he'll be doing this weird walking-in-place where he's moving kinda weird (rolling his shoulders, legs moving like he's walking backwards, shaking his head left and right).

If he's in bed, I can't talk him up like any other characters. In fact, sometimes he'll just be laying there with his eyes open. And every time, he never gets out of bed unless I travel a bit a ways from my house and wait.

He hardly goes outside, and when he does he's just walking backwards between the house and the rocky wall I get my quarry stone, and continues until he's walking in place against a wall that juts out.

I can still talk to him as long as he's not in bed. Sell/buy things with him, get money, ask how the kids are, ask him to follow me. He's just different now.

So, safe to say that whatever or whoever was strong enough to kidnap a werewolf and hold him hostage for a bit, to some cave far from his home, traumatized him.

And I can't really fix him with console commands as it's on the PS4. So he's kinda stuck this way.

Also, fun fact, the VA for Vilkas (and yes, many other Skyrim characters) also voiced Shrek in a racing game. My dark elf is married to Shrek.

[mothzarellaman]

so a few days ago, i shared an image of miraak suddenly appearing near whiterun and beating a sabre cat to death.

this game, besides like. unofficial skyrim patch and a hair mod, is unmodded. he just did this.

but allow me to continue the tale through discord screenshots. A more proper retelling is below the read more.

So, I was deciding to walk across one side of Skyri

m to another, specifically in search of the Dragon Priest mask totem/holder thing. (I found it later but that's irrelevant) So I began the walk from the Serpent Stone to Falkreath. As I was walking, I saw someone fighting a sabre cat in the road. That someone? Miraak.

He's punching the poor thing to death, doing very little damage in the process because he's probably a limp noodle let's be real. It's unclear why he's here. And why he's punching the sabre cat. But he wins. And walks away.

So what do we do? We follow him. (We being me and Farkas). We cannot talk to him, pickpocket him, or damage him in any other way. No shouts, nothing. He is walking very pointedly along the road, to some unknown destination. Eventually, we see another sabre cat. And Miraak? Well, he locks in. Lightning goes flying as he kills it. No punches this time, just lightning. It's unclear why he didn't do this earlier. He is very aggressively shouting, to no effect. Farkas runs to help him.

Once its dead, he keeps walking. This continues for a while. Occasionally we find already dead goats. He loots them. I steal a goat leg from a corpse and he sadly walks away. I kill a goat for him. He throws a tantrum and jumps into the river. He emerges and he's normal again. We continue walking and eventually meet a group of revelers. They offer my Dragonborn (Pan) some alcohol. We say yes. Miraak? He doesn't say a word. He keeps walking. He fights a few bears. We have an immortal bodyguard, apparently.

Eventually, I realize we're heading towards Windhelm. So I wonder if he's trying to go back to Solstheim. Surely, he's going to go through Windhelm? No. He is not. He completely skips the bridge, and instead keeps walking, and eventually stops at the ice floes across from the Windhelm docks. He has not said a word.

if you read this far enjoy a screenshot and the meme it got compared to

[justanotherbirdbrain-blog]

Fields of Mistria: Initial thoughts of a Geologist

I admit, this was a bit of an impulse purchase, I have never played Stardew or Harvest Moon (For this my review might be ignorant), it was never because I didn't like the concept, but when I was young my typical game was kind of whatever my brother played (so Pokémon, Star Wars battlefront, Sonic, Kirby, Skyrim, Animal Crossing, etc.). However, my TikTok feed was just FULL of people talking about this game, and I was actively avoiding thinking so I added it to the cart and purchased it.

I started the game immediately and was very confused but happy. The third character you talk to is obsessed with archeology and dabbles in geology, and one of his friends is obsessed with geology.

By this point I was kind of like "Okay, sign me up I am obsessed."

I grinded through the game, passing out at 2am frequently because I was not used to daily time limits, and completed the storyline to open the mines (Which I was most excited to get a look at).

Going in the first levels were copper and ruby, the perfect copper ore did look right which was exciting, but the game did fall into the pitfall of showing gems as, like, already faceted and not their normal crystal structure. Which bummed me a little, but I kind of get it (if I have to).

The next layer of the mines has a water theme and you can mine for iron and sapphires, (I have yet to get any iron ore yet so I can't judge it). I will pause and admit this game clearly is not going for geologic accuracy, so I won't judge it based off what you are finding together.

I am just infinitely grateful that geology was even mentioned, that people aren't mining just for the money but have a general interest in it. I feel like most games just overlook it, so for that I thank you Fields of Mistria team!

Regardless of everything, before I say what I wish this game does have I want to preface by saying I was never upset while playing the game and I will continue to love and play this game and I will recommend it to just about everyone I talk to

What I wish this game had:

-Ore stones that were more accurate looking, it isn't like ore doesn't look interesting (malachite I am looking at you) I know they were probably trying to stick with a color theme, but even rubies are found within zoisite sometimes which is also a green rock.

-Accurate gemstone crystal structures, I desire it, especially when I see them using quartz crystals in other locations, like I know you are capable

-I admit I am not far into the game yet, but we have characters that are clearly interested in geology, I would love a side plot where we explore the geology of the area, just as we do with archeology. (It deserves the love)

-I want to display my gemstones and stuff in my house too!

Anywho... It has been awhile since I posted about a videogame I think, It has been nice! I am thinking about getting Rika on release, so more videogame posts might be incoming, both on Fields of Mistria and Rika. I might have to get Stardew also because I just looked something up and you can... BE A GEOLOGIST??? I think I really was sleeping on farming sim games...I will still post my writing content too, I have one in the works I just have been lazy about writing it.

[arnaerr]

hi, i love the drawing you did of iorveth and showing his scar! would you happen to have any advice on scars? i guess how it pulls at the skin or how to convey its depth in different places...if that makes sense? if not it's okay! i've been eyeballing 3d models for now since there aren't a lot of scar tutorials unfortunately 💀

Thank you! 💖 For starters, it's better to look at photos than the 3d models. Generally, I treat scars like the cracks in stone. This one tip is really helpful in both cases:

(source)

Tho in case of scars, you have to keep in mind the placement of it and how it follows the curves of the body. You can look at my OC Tavi and see how I do that; when I draw her scars, I always think about the planes of the face. Plus, scars of different origins have different look. So once again, look at the photos or scars in the games (ironically, Skyrim has pretty good scars in character creation).

Hope it was helpful and good luck!

[throughtrialbyfire]

tes v: skyrim

riverwood outskirts/guardian stones/riverwood

little ramble beneath the readmore ♥

woooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! finally got my new pc up and running with most of my programs and games!! i'm hopefully gonna be uploading more screenarchery in the future, so enjoy these four little previews of what to expect :3 i do edit them a little with gradient mapping and some little enhancements, but i try to keep the image mostly the same as when i took it.

also, i had a civil war patrol mod installed, so thats why you see legionnaires in riverwood... which i had to uninstall, bc the sheer amount of actors it was loading made the game crash. never froze, just blinked out of existence. so that's the situation there. anyways, hope you're all doing well, expect more of this in the future!! ♥

[theeccentricraven]

The 13th Day of Writemas 🤶🎅🍒❤️🎀🛷

Another day of Writemas thanks to @agirlandherquill 💚🤍🫂 I feel that Friday the 13th in December isn't so scary because the Christmas cheer cancels out bad luck, and because I have bad luck everyday anyway 😄

For the Day 13 Writing Prompt list, I chose the narration prompt: "The damage was done. The ruin irreparable. It would leave scars and plenty of them, but at least, along with the pain, there remained a story to tell." I liked this and thought of how I could use it in the opening of Brigid Aideen. This novel is a YA Scifi fantasy superhero story. I tried to write Draft 1 about ten years ago, but it miserably failed. So now I'm going to try again. I like how these writing prompts have helped me work on Draft 2 AND Draft 3 of my main WIP and helped me get started on three other WIPs. Ah 2025 will be a fun year 😃Content warning: The story deals with a sensitive topic. I'll be careful with what I sample and post.

Also if you'd like to join this tag game, check out the invitation post.

__________________________________________________________

Chapter 1

That’s me, the dark-haired teenage girl you see on the hospital bed in the trauma center. You may see that my eyes tell of the invisible blows hitting my essence. I curl in a fetal position and cry. I tell the hospital staff to leave me alone. I know I need to see a counselor soon. No backstroke or healing touch can stop a girl’s cry. I know that I’m not alone among the other patients - women and girls who emerged from the darkest moments of their lives. I still feel alone. I don’t understand why I had to survive to live with this hell in my head. I look back to the moment mere hours ago that changed my life forever and brought me here. The damage was done. The ruin, irreparable. It would leave scars and plenty of them, but at least, along with the pain, there remained a story to tell. And so I tell that story, all the way to where it began. How did I come here? How did this all happen? Where did I come from? How did everything come down to this? Why? Who am I really? Why don’t I bleed when reason says that I should? Imagine a slim, dark-eyed sixteen-year-old girl, nervously carrying a box of Mom’s favorite Delft Blue up the stone stairs to the new house. That same ginger-haired mother carries my crying two-year old sister right behind me. My dark-haired Dad carries a box of books. My younger brother closest to my age, who looks almost exactly like our dad, carries the Samsung TV. My other frisky junior high brother carries the boxed bookshelf that will house the books in my Dad’s box. My little sister and little brother play on the lawn, him proudly holding the ball that our youngest sister cried over losing. Actually, I have to go back further to what my brother said before hell broke loose. We are in our family van, big enough to hold my parents and us six kids. Dad is driving. Twelve year old Tyler sits in the passenger seat, playing Skyrim on his Switch. Mom is in the middle seat with the two youngest, six year old Roger drawing in a color book while two year old Ashley eats her Cheerios. In the back, nine year old Kathy sits by the window reading Anne of Green Gables. Fourteen year old Patrick sits in the middle, reading a Naruto book. As for me, I’ve held two things for much of our trip. My Samsung Galaxy in one hand. My lacrosse stick in my other hand. When I’m not looking at the things in my hands, I’m looking out the window. Watching the country before me has given me a lot of time to think. Did Paula stop caring for me? Did she have a problem that she never told me? Will Alana continue to message me? Will I share her pictures in my lacrosse gear at my new school? Will Alana dump me like Paula did? What is my purpose in life? I swing around my stick. I’m going to show my new school that I’ll be a rockstar player. ____________________________________________________________

Happy Holidays to the writing mutuals I tag 🎄🦌❄️👼☃️🎶🕯️🔔⛸️🧝🥁🏂⛷️🎁

@sunflowerrosy @furrywrit3r @wyked-ao3 @selenekallanwriter @drchenquill

@revenantlore @whatwewrotepodcast @jay-avian @constellationandcompendium @olivescales3

@ryns-ramblings @primroseprime2019 @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks @kitty-is-writing

@kitkins13 @buffythevampirelover @willtheweaver @poethill @acmartin

@apolline-lucy @elizaellwrites @gioiaalbanoart @orphanheirs @pluppsauthor

@cowboybrunch @leahnardo-da-veggie @dandelion-jester @aalinaaaaaa @faeriecinna

@brynwrites @somethingclevermahogony @rickie-the-storyteller @raevenlywrites @winterandwords

@happypup-kitcat24 @the-golden-comet @ddgraywrites @autism-purgatory @mxxnwishes

@tildeathiwillwrite @screamingatanemptyroom @kbwritesstuff @spookyceph @pluto-murphy-writes

@talesofsorrowandofruin @kaylark @sleepywriter00 @americanfemcel @fairy-tales-of-yesterday

@inkednotebook @the-letterbox-archives @laureleavess @simonnebethel @forthesanityofsome

@melpomene-grey @creatrackers @stephtuckerauthor @theink-stainedfolk

@g0ttest0d @infinnative @little-peril-stories @lyneidas @late-to-the-fandom

and Open!

[what-even-is-thiss]

So I don’t mod video games much or often because I usually play video games because I like the vanilla version and therefore modding is unnecessary.

But I’ve been interested in Beyond Skyrim: Bruma and Beyond Skyrim as a project for a while. I actually considered submitting a voice acting sample to volunteer for them but from what I understand they’ve already got their pick of voice actors so I haven’t bothered.

But anyways a while ago I tried the mod and wasn’t that impressed mostly I think because of the major hiccups my computer struggled with.

Well. I actually sat down and decided to figure it out and downloaded some unofficial patches and turned my video quality way down low and got a wired mouse and that seemed to allow it to actually run at 30 fps instead of being an informative slideshow. So I’ve actually gotten the chance to explore a bit more.

My opinion on the writing is the same. Sometimes dialogue options sound a little too modern. A little too fanfiction. But this whole project essentially is fanfiction so I’m not overly bothered but for a project that claims to want to feel like vanilla Skyrim idk if they quite hit that exactly on the mark.

The guard random filler dialogue is quite good. On par with the quality and stupidness of regular elder scrolls. And if you’ve started the main quest back in Skyrim like I did the Bruma guards might gossip about how a new Dragonborn has shown up in Skyrim. They also seem to have a sick pleasure in punishing criminals which is kinda funny and horrifying at the same time which I really like.

Bruma has been recreated pretty much exactly. If you know your way around in the Oblivion version of Bruma you’ll know your way around here. The ruins of cloud ruler temple are beautiful. The creature reskins to look more like Oblivion creatures are really well done.

Quest design is fine. Dungeons can be confusing at times but I’m also an idiot when it comes to dungeons so yeah

I think that unofficial patches for the mod and the game as a whole are worth downloading.

What I like about the church of Saint Martin is that it seems clear to me that the religion of St. Martin was created specifically to replace Talos after Talos worship was outlawed which is pretty funny. I hope that whenever they finish the project as a whole I can visit Martin in giant stone dragon form and do something extremely rude and/or evil in the vicinity.

I’d like to be able to lick the statue but I don’t think Skyrim has that mechanic

Anyways, fun mod. My opinion of it has gone up since I found a way to run it without my computer catching on fire.

[dandelii0ns]

hello! im midas, a recently turned 20 year old looking for dragon age roleplay :3!

recently i finished my second playthrough dragon age the veilguard and was reminded of just how much i missed dragon age two, and the absolute mess relationships were back then- and by extension, one of my favorite hawkes ive made, lucius.

lucius hawke is a somewhat canon divergent bloodmage, who spent most of the game unknowingly heavily effected by red lyrium, and getting into a remarkably toxic rivalmance with fenris- and while i’d absolutely be down to mess around with that failed relationship, i really want hawke/varric,,

varric ultimately growing attached to the strong-willed, hard-headed apostate he’s relying on to help fund his and bartrand’s expedition, fully knowing it’s a bad idea but unable to stop it. the loudly pro-mage, brash fereldan refugee with soft, green-red eyes, who hardly pussyfoots around what he wants, and how south that can go. letting him crash in varric’s room in the hanged man after he gets kicked out, only for a night to become a week, to become a month to become until they finally leave on that damned expedition that leads to the two of them being damn-near inseparable- and all the problems that come with it.

of course we can further discuss plot points and scheme together!! nothing is 100% set in stone, and i adore plotting/ooc chatter with any possible roleplay partners! im down to do double ups, though i may be picky with who i play, (some im willing to play off the top of my head from the da universe being dorian, taash, harding, alistair, zevran, and anders) if only because i don’t want to give you a poor interpretation of a character back- i’m also willing to do rps within other fandoms in return! bg3, the witcher, and skyrim comes to mind but there’s a few more niche/lamer (though i may be a little rusty) ones such as sanders sides, homestuck.. anything for this damn itch to be scratched lol

i will say!! i would like smut to be included, but it’s hardly necessary, and i do prefer m/m or f/f, and as for hard limits no 🍪 or incest. im also not very fond of daddy/mommy kinks lmao, but we can further discuss that later :3!! i also adore trans/nonbinary characters so! feel free to offer those up too! dm me on here if interested!

[venusmage]

Ask time! What era/type of art would you say you draw the most inspiration from?

oh god this is really hard. Mostly because my inspirations are all over the place! One is 2010's webcomics! A very broad category, I know, but I was really into reading comics when I was in highschool, and a lot of amazing ones were coming out around that time. The Meek (Der-shing Helmer), HINABN (Tess Stone), Lackadaisy (Tracy Butler), and anything by Evan Dahm (the artist behind Riceboy/Vattu/etc). I somehow avoided Homestuck, but Prequel Adventure (Kazerad) rewired my little Oblivion-Obsessed brain.

Speaking of Oblivion - the concept art for all three mainline games in the Elder Scrolls series did SO much for my imagination. Adam Adamowicz is one of my all time favorite artists, and I think his work on Oblivion was overlooked because of his (also stellar) work in Skyrim. There's an entire flickr album of his concept art for TES IV, though, and I recommend it! What that man could do with art markers bewilders me even now. I think this might be the single most impactful art influence I have.

The close runner-up would be the aforementioned Evan Dahm's work. I think he's still, years later, criminally underrated in terms of public appreciation and discussion. For me, Rice Boy blew open so many doors regarding art style, presentation, and character design. Vattu then stunned with just how much of an epic it was and it's fantastic titular main character. Now 3rd Voice is perhaps his most technically beautiful comic yet, and seems to meld the weirdness of Rice Boy with Vattu's super gripping character arcs and worldbuilding.

The way his comics are paced (both in story and the literal pacing of how he organizes his panels/the art in them) is my favorite...ever. Even though they're simple, he just gets the framing down so perfectly it's crazy. The fact he can make such alien characters so human in how they act and how we view them astounds me. I really do - no hyperbole or empty flattery intended - think he's a modern day comics master and I need more people to discuss his body of work.

Also all of his comics are FREE to read on his website rice-boy[dot]com! They're also on webtoon if you're already dedicated to that platform, and the blog @riceboycomic was basically a republishing of Rice Boy with added artist commentary. If you're not ready to dive into the behemoth that is Vattu yet (its over 1000 pages, though it's so worth it), 3rd Voice is his newest work and you can catch up to the current page (288) within an hour. Rice Boy is also pretty short, under 500 pages. Please do yourself a favor and get lost in one of the quiet, uncanny, heartfelt worlds he's created (and then talk to me about it pleaaaseee).

[ranarh]

Valenwood furniture concepts

As part of the Beyond Skyrim: Valenwood project, I designed this elven set of furniture for the Bosmer culture, wood elves who have sworn to never use plant materials in any way. So their furniture is largely made from animal materials like bones, antlers, leather, and in this case, also stone, that I thought would add an interesting accent. The title of the set was Cosmopolitan Lower Class, after I handed in my first sketches however it was upgraded to Middle Class. The fixed set of pieces includes thirty items total, from double beds to candles and chairs to counters. I had a ot of fun trying to get the most interesting shapes and construciton out of using a very limited set of materials; other furniture for the same project uses lots of raw bones tied with leather, and I wanted something slightly more sophisticated while using mostly scapulas and femur bones with some antlers. I am happy with how it all turns out and fits together nicely and can't wait to see it in game. If you want to join a huge, semi-professinal modding project, check out the various Beyond Skyrim projects that rebuild the Elder Scrolls provinces in the Skyrim engine: https://beyondskyrim.org/