#some rebellious barons

[talesfromtheenchantedforest]

incredible, incredible spying, A++ subterfuge all around

And when King Bors had gone from there, he knew nothing about King Amant before he came upon the tents and pavilions and saw his men. When King Bors beheld the pavilions, he sent to find out what men-at-arms they were, and they told him that it was King Amant, who had come there to spy on him.

— The Story of Merlin, Chapter 32, trans. Rupert T. Pickens

[mulligans-tavern]

https://www.tumblr.com/doomed-to-wanda/747617028751474688?source=share

Inspiration above

TW death, grief

---

Five Funerals

They lose Fig first.

Comes with the territory when you're an archdevil - somebody's always looking to take your spot. "Don't worry about it," she says, opening a Planeshift to the recording studio. "It's just the usual rebellious fiends. Icythorz and Bolhondrus and the rest. I'll be back before you know it." She looks resplendent in black leather, the Unfaithable Bass slung across her back, riding the fiery Daymare surrounded in jagged red shards.

Adaine knows before everyone else, but can't believe the vision to be true until she learns that Ayda is gone, too. She scratched every memory of Fig out of her notes before starting over - it was too much pain to bear. The five of them know how it feels.

---5---

It's a few years before they take another hit. Another mission to the Mountains of Chaos, another world-ending calamity to be stopped because Who Else Is Going To Save The World? A small misstep, a miscalculation (six where there should be five, they're only five now) and suddenly the routine becomes deadly.

Riz takes the fall. "It's easier this way," he says, in his last moments. "I'll still see you." And he does. Agent Gukgak Jr., now, with some extra responsibility. But he still comes by. Sometimes. Every so often. Often enough.

---4---

Kristen is next. Only one thing could bring down the most gifted cleric of the age - sacrificing herself for her friends. Third time's the charm when it comes to death, it turns out.

Gorgug is the most hopeful that she'll come back, that she'll find a way again, like in the Nightmare Forest. But Adaine knows this is the end. Even Arthur Aguefort agrees. He quotes Alanis Morissette at her funeral. The followers of Cassandra pull out all the stops.

Adaine, Fabian, and Gorgug have their own ceremony at Ashgrove, next to the Gukgak family plot. It's quiet. Bucky cries into Ragh's shoulder. Aelwyn, Jawbone, and Gertie collect flowers. Tracker stays for a few minutes to say goodbye.

---3---

They quit adventuring after Kristen's funeral. And they don't lose anyone else for a long time. Riz still visits, every few years. They talk about the good old days, how silly it was that Baron was so terrifying when at the end of the day it was an honest conversation that finally did him in. There's rumours that Kristen has ascended to goddesshood herself - Adaine doesn't buy it. She's not the type to be revered.

They come out of retirement for the only reason they would - to bring back one of their own. They finally found Fig's soul, trapped in a ruby in the darkest levels of the Abyss. They can't ask anyone to come with them - it's too dangerous, it's too personal. It's missions like this that kill people.

And when it's all over, when Adaine carries Fabian's burnt, unconscious body back to Morded Manor, they have another funeral to plan.

Gorbag and Roz have already passed, and Wilma and Digby are too old to make preparations, so it falls to Jawbone to organize it. He knows they don't want a lot of fanfare. It's at Ashgrove again, just Adaine and Fabian and the Thistlesprings, and Aelwyn and Ragh. Sandra-Lynn is back in Solace - she sends Adaine a heartfelt text saying she appreciates the invitation, but she can't bring herself to come.

Riz doesn't show for the ceremony - he's desperately scouring the heavenly realms, trying to make sure Gorgug ended up somewhere he wasn't afraid of. Orcish heaven doesn't have him, he reports, and neither does Cassandra.

If he's trapped in the Abyss with Fig, at least they have each other.

---2---

Adaine sees Fabian's death the night of Gorgug's funeral. She needs to prepare, she tells herself. She knows it's going to be hard. She needs all the time she can get, and she needs to know which goodbye will be their last.

They grow old together. Not romantically, although some speculate. Fabian becomes a multiclass advisor at the Aguefort Adventuring Academy. Adaine works in Bastion City as an archivist, with occasional trips to Fallinel for Oracle services. They go for vacations sometimes, but never for too long. The memories find them no matter where they go. Sometimes Adaine wishes she could be Ayda, scrape off the old wounds and start fresh. Arthur talks about her sometimes. She's never had the same spark as that one lifetime, he says.

Adaine watches the wrinkles grow beside Fabian's eye, watches his hair turn grey, watches the Future of Dance become its Mentor. He trades his Battlesheet for a cane-sword, then a regular cane. He takes to wearing the Gregorian necktie to classes, no matter how much it clashes with his outfit. They both wonder how many of their own teachers lost party members.

Adaine holds Fabian's wrinkled hand on his deathbed, in his old room at Seacaster Manor. He grins, flashes the same perfect teeth as on the first day of Freshman Year. "Bet you didn't see this one coming, did you?"

"I did," she whispers, tears streaming down her young elven face. "I knew it would end like this. But I always hoped it would last forever."

They're the last words he hears.

It's not the first funeral Adaine organizes. All the Bad Kids held one for Buddy Dawn, back in high school. She and Fabian worked together on the services for Jawbone, Ragh, and Chungledown Bim - who finally caught up to Fabian in both of their old ages. It is the first funeral she has to organize alone.

Some of Fabian's students attend. Arthur Aguefort gives a short speech, and a few students hear the story of Kalvaxus' return for the first time. Adaine sits with Aelwyn in the front row, a few seats down from Hallariel. Gilear records the service to show Telemaine later. Riz is somewhere deep undercover - he maybe hasn't even heard yet.

She always knew she'd be the last. She didn't expect it to hurt so much.

---1---

Adaine stumbles through a few years before she finds herself again. They pass so fast without a mortal lifespan to hold up against them. She drifts between Fallinel and Bastion City for the most part, with occasional return trips to Elmville. Aelwyn always has a place for her to stay. Seacaster Manor was turned into a dormitory for Aguefort students who needed a place to study, or sleep, or stay away from home for a while. Tracker converted Morded Manor into a temple/bed-and-breakfast for worshipers of Galicaea. Strongtower Luxury Apartments was demolished soon after Fabian started teaching at Aguefort. It seems like everything is different now.

Adaine visits Leviathan once, on a whim. The Compass Points hasn't changed a bit. On a chance meeting in the stacks, Ayda looks at her with a spark of familiarity.

"Adaine Abernant?"

"Yes... you remember me?"

Ayda shakes her head. "There are mentions of you in my journals. I leave journals for when I regenerate-"

"I know. I remember."

Ayda looks intrigued. "I wrote that you were a great wizard, and a good friend. I hear from other sources that you are the Elven Oracle. Perhaps you can shed some light on why the pages around yours are torn to shreds or redacted to the point of unreadability?"

Adaine places a gentle hand on Ayda's shoulder. "I don't know if you'd want that. You lost someone you cared about, so much that you thought it was better to forget her than to bear the pain of losing her."

Ayda considers this. "Is it better to forget?" she asks. "Would you give up the memories of those you lost, in order to keep a logical mind?"

"No. Not for anything."

"Then we should talk."

Adaine smiles. "I'd like that."

---2---

*end

Thanks for reading all the way through! I wrote most of this at 2am and the conclusion the next morning. Please take a reblog to share with your friends or drop a like to let me know you enjoyed - or hated - the story!

Ask me anything about it, please, I love discussing these kinds of theories!!!

[witchwithmermaideyesblog]

Lucifer, Satan & other Devils: The Occult art of Rosaleen Norton, the Witch of Kings Cross

‘Lucifer and the Goat Mendes.’

The most notorious witch in Australian history was an artist named Rosaleen Norton (1917-79) who scandalized her ultra-conservative homeland with her outrageous bohemian lifestyle and strange occult beliefs during the 1950s.

The press dubbed Norton the “Witch of Kings Cross”—a low-rent artists’ quarter and red light district in Sydney, New South Wales. They claimed she was an evil Satanist who revelled in perverted Black Masses and unnatural orgies with her sex-mad coven. It was true Rosaleen (Roie to her friends) liked sex with both men and women. She enjoyed sex and saw no shame in admitting that she did. She also practised sex magick and made no secret of its powers. But Rosaleen was no Satanist. She was a pagan who followed her own particular belief in Pan.

From earliest childhood Rosaleen felt she was different—and felt compelled to prove this indeed was the case. As her friend and biographer Nevill Drury later recalled:

[Rosaleen] revelled in being the odd one out, purporting to despise her schoolmates. She argued continuously with her mother. She ‘hated’ authority figures like headmistresses, policemen, politicians and priests. She had no time at all for organised religion, and the gods she embraced - a cluster of ancient gods centred around Pan - were, of course, pagan to the hilt. She regarded Pan as the God of Infinite Being.

Pan was undoubtedly a rather unusual god for a young woman to be worshipping in Australia. But then Roie was different. And she was different in an age when it was quite a lot harder to be different than it is now. She was bohemian, bisexual, outspoken, rebellious and thoroughly independent in an era when most young ladies growing up on Sydney’s North Shore would be thinking simply of staying home, happily married with a husband and children. Roie was not afraid to say what she thought, draw her pagan images on city pavements, or flaunt her occult beliefs in the pages of the tabloids. To most people who read about her in newspapers and magazines she was simply outrageous.

Rosaleen was certainly outrageous. She was expelled from school for drawing pictures of vampires, pentagrams and demons during art class, which were claimed to have terrified her fellow classmates. In 1952, when a collection of her work was first published in book form as The Art of Rosaleen Norton three of the images contained therein—“Black Magic” (which depicted Rosaleen herself having sex with a panther), “Rites of Baron Samedi” and “Fohat” (which depicted a demon with a large muscled snake for a penis)—caused such offence that the publisher was prosecuted for obscenity and the pictures removed from all future printings. In America the book was deemed so pornographic that all imported copies were destroyed by custom officials.

Worse was to follow in 1955 when a woman named Anna Karina Hoffman was arrested for vagrancy. When questioned by police, Hoffman claimed she had participated in horrific Satanic black masses organized by Rosaleen. It was this accusation that led the tabloid press to dub Rosaleen the “Witch of Kings Cross” and promulgate the series of trumped-up news stories about her lurid (s)excesses.

However, the following year, one of her lovers, the highly respected composer Sir Eugene Goossens was arrested by Australian customs for attempting to bring some 800 pornographic images into the country—many of them marked “SM” for “sex magick.” The ensuing investigation by officials was heavily detailed by the press. It destroyed Goossens’ career and further denigrated Rosaleen’s character.

Still Rosaleen continued on her own way—painting pictures, following her own religious beliefs, enjoying a varied and active sex life and even dropping LSD to “induce visionary states” to enhance her awareness as an artist.

It was this visionary aspect which was at the heart of Rosaleen’s art:

From an early age she had a remarkable capacity to explore the visionary depths of her subconscious mind, and the archetypal beings she encountered on those occasions became the focus of her art. It was only later that Roie was labelled a witch, was described as such in the popular press, and began to develop the persona which accompanied that description. As this process gathered momentum, Roie in turn became intent on trying to demonstrate that she had been born a witch. After all, she had somewhat pointed ears, small blue markings on her left knee, and also a long strand of flesh which hung from underneath her armpit to her waist - a variant on the extra nipple sometimes ascribed to witches in the Middle Ages.

Roie’s personal beliefs were a strange mix of magic, mythology and fantasy, but derived substantially from mystical experiences which, for her, were completely real. She was no theoretician. Part of her disdain for the public at large, I believe, derived from the fact that she felt she had access to a wondrous visionary universe - while most people lived lives that were narrow, bigoted, and based on fear. Roie was very much an adventurer - a free spirit - and she liked to fly through the worlds opened to her by her imagination.

Roie’s art reflected this. It was her main passion, her main reason for living. She had no career ambitions other than to reflect on the forces within her essential being, and to manifest these psychic and magical energies in the only way she knew how. As Roie’s older sister Cecily later told me, art was the very centre of her life, and Roie took great pride in the brief recognition she received when the English critic and landscape artist John Sackville-West described her in 1970 as one of Australia’s finest artists, alongside Norman Lindsay. It was praise from an unexpected quarter, and it heartened Roie considerably because she felt that at last someone had understood her art and had responded to it positively. All too often her critics had responded only to her outer veneer - the bizarre and often distorted persona created by the media - and this was not the ‘real’ Roie at all.

Today no one would I doubt if anyone would bat an eyelid at Rosaleen’s lifestyle or beliefs—which shows how much our world has evolved. This year marks the centenary of her birth which should bring a new assessment of her life and work and introduce a new generation to the artist behind Australia’s most notorious witch.

‘Black Magic.’

‘Self Portrait with Occult Animals and Symbols.’

‘Fohat’—a demon with a snake dick or as Rosaleen described it: ‘The goat is the symbol of energy and creativity: the serpent of elemental force and eternity.’

‘Untitled.’

‘Bacchanal.’

‘Jester.’

Black Magick.’

‘Wer-Plon.’

‘Geburah.’

‘Belpiglet.’

‘The Blueprint.’

‘Triumph.’

Rosaleen Norton, January 1950.

|

[forestdeath1]

do you think james bullied snape because he was poor? do you think it had anything to do with classism?

Nope, I don't think so. When I first heard this version, I was really surprised. I think it comes from fanfiction? Some authors use the detail that if a child is rich, they will always bully the poor. That's not true.

We don't see any evidence that in the relationship between James+Sirius (why do they always forget about Sirius? He was very harsh verbally towards Snape and did it without much reason in his head) and Snape, there's anything related to Snape's poverty.

Here are a few reasons:

1. Sirius doesn't like the trappings of his family's wealth; he despises it. He's intentionally shown as the complete opposite of Lucius Malfoy (even their appearance, black and white, the most rebellious of purebloods and the most sycophantic, the one who values wealth and money and the one who despises it). Do you think he would love and be friends with someone who bullies others because of... money?! No way. It's actually pretty demeaning for the person themselves to brag about how much money they have. Considering how proud Sirius is, I doubt their bullying had anything to do with Snape's poverty.

And I think this Sirius's pride is partly seeded by his family. Because…

2. I think the Malfoys narratively were a bit the opposite of the Blacks in general. Their moneyed arrogance and bullying from Lucius and Draco - that's a pretty specific case, very similar to how some people think their money solves everything and defines who they are. The Malfoys are raised like that —they believe just having money makes them better than others. If we're talking about the old style upper class —it's not about thinking money makes you better, it's about how you're raised, what family you're born into, how you live, how you grow up – that's what makes you upper class, not your money. For wizards – their blood purity and loyalty to pureblood ideals. They might not even have much money, but they'd still be proud. Meanwhile, you might become rich, but you'll never become upper class. And it's pretty odd for this "class" to bully others based on money. The way the Malfoys do it is pretty crude and demeaning for themselves. In canon, it's well shown that the Malfoys are fixated on money. Whereas the Blacks aren't about money, but about their status. For the Blacks, it's all about status and primarily about blood purity. The Malfoys marry half-bloods, while the Blacks disown their children for wrong marriages.

3. I don't think wizards really have classes based on wealth.

(Also it’s pretty obvious but just in case, wizards don't have aristocracy in the traditional sense. After the introduction of the Statute of Secrecy, wizards don't have titles. Titles are purely a Muggle construct. Before the Statute, they existed, we know the Malfoys came with the Normans and were given lands. We know about the Bloody Baron. But there's no indication in canon of these aristocratic arrangements among wizards after the Statute (which, by its nature, implies service). The only lord among wizards was Voldemort. Because he called himself a lord. The fact that wizards deliberately don't use titles, even though the Malfoys had it, speaks only to one thing — the very idea of calling yourself by such titles is abhorrent to pure-blood wizards. It's a connection to Muggles and Muggle royalty. And being an aristocrat isn't just a privilege, it's also a duty.)

I think their upper class is pure-blood wizards. Their nobility is blood nobility. Their nobility was based on blood purity and loyalty to blood purity. They have a book called "Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy." So all their nobility — it's natural, inborn, blood, or rather pure-blood. But it's nowhere regulated, except in the minds of those pure-bloods. Their society is inequality in minds, where some consider themselves better than others.

Your mother was Muggle-born, of course. Couldn’t believe it when I found out. Thought she must have been pure-blood, she was so good.” (Professor Slughorn)

Even "not-biased" Slughorn was biased against muggleborns

They take a very harsh stance against "blood traitors". And true blood purists are much more tolerant of poverty if it's truly loyal to pureblood ideals (even families like the Gaunts). Blood is more important than money. The Black family tree has many marriages to different families, but not all of them are wealthy; it's impossible in their small society. I think, given how small wizarding society is, only three families were truly wealthy — the Blacks, the Malfoys, and the Lestranges. And I believe the Malfoys mostly gained their wealth from dealing with Muggles. Pure blood and being on the "Sacred 28" list doesn't make a family rich. Why if someone's in Slytherin, they're rich? Where did this wealth come from? In the Muggle world, this is understandable (but that's not always true either). But in the wizarding world? So it's a pretty weird trope that all Slytherins and pure-bloods are rich.

Wealth itself also doesn't make someone a member of the "upper class" in the wizarding world. No matter how wealthy you are, if you're a blood traitor or Muggle-born, then this pure-blood upper class won't accept you into their society.

Therefore, I believe bullying Snape had nothing to do with Snape being poor and classism.

There aren't that many rich people in the wizarding world.

Not everyone in Slytherin was wealthy. Their "upper class" is not related to wealth.

Sirius certainly didn't show any interest in wealth or judging people based on their money. The Blacks probably thought their blood was more important than any money.

James didn't show that either. Remus and Peter probably weren't rich, and they all got along fine.

All we know about James and his attitude towards money is this:

James was amused by Vernon, and made the mistake of showing it. Vernon tried to patronise James, asking what car he drove. James described his racing broom. Vernon supposed out loud that wizards had to live on unemployment benefit. James explained about Gringotts, and the fortune his parents had saved there, in solid gold. Vernon could not tell whether he was being made fun of or not, and grew angry. 

I don't see anything here that suggests James was intentionally trying to flaunt his wealth. It was a response to Vernon's assumption that they live on benefits. That wasn’t bullying. Sirius would hardly have said so, but James obviously didn't think talking about money was something embarrassing. But it's not bullying.

[dianagj-art]

Less of a Question and more of just something really cool about Leo’s relationship with Draxum. He (Draxum) both maintains his “father like “ relationship with Leo while still being, y’now, evil. That’s such an interesting thing to look into. Leo isn’t some emotionless robot crippled by a fully evil Draxum, but like with “seed situation” he’s not a good person either. I just really love the detail and plot all together 😅😊

Oh my god yes yes yes yes yes thank you for pointing it out!!! Draxum and One's relationship is so important to me and I love it because is so complicated

Sometimes is "strict parent and rebellious son"

Sometimes is "parent that works in goverment and bratty son that gets away with everything"

Sometimes is "that's sright up abuse, what the fuck, get One out of there"

But there will be times when you can see that Draxum genuinely cares for One, and he gets to show it in little ways and "he's confused (the way he said it is fucked up), but he's got the spirit (of a dad)" way

They both care for each other -in a way, they are family- they just fail to see each other that way

For One, Draxum is his boss, his comander, he was raised as a soldier and as a weapon for war. Draxum sees One and sees the potential of what he'll become and fails to see the child behind it, but at the same time, he is aware One is just a teen, he has still to grow and learn to be what he wants.

So Draxum has teach him, and he has raised him very aware of One's age limitations, but still completely missing the mark of "hey that's a child and you shouldn't treat him like that"

The people of the Hidden City look at them and have always seen One as the Baron's adopted son, tho they can't say that to their faces because they would give you murderous looks.

Because they are not family, no sir

[lulu2992]

Uncovering the unreleased Far Cry 5 in-game Encyclopedia

The almost complete but unused in-game encyclopedia, reconstructed thanks to the oasisstrings file.

Please note that it’s still cut content, so some information might not be relevant anymore.

You can read the oasisstrings file here. Pictures from this encyclopedia were also extracted and posted by @xbaebsae here.

Part 3: Locations - Whitetail Mountains

PIN-K0 Radar Station

Part of the Pine Line early warning system, the K0 facility was shuttered in the early 90's and left to the elements.

Rattlesnake Trail Bridge

A footbridge along the Makwa Trail, it connects one side of the gorge to the other, like bridges are supposed to do.

Snowshoe Lake

A clear glacial lake high up in the Whitetail Mountains. The water is always near freezing which makes skinny dipping a terrible idea.

Hunter’s Pass Shelter

A remote cabin used as a place to warm up or stay the night by hunters.

Ozhigwan Falls

One of the highest in the area, Ozhigwan falls is one of the natural wonders of the Park.... just don't step too close.

Jefferson Lookout Tower

A watch tower in the middle of the forest, meant to keep an eye out for forest fires or bears... or bears on fire.

Whitetail Park Visitor Center

It's where you'd go to find out what's going on at Whitetail Park, back when it was operational.

Hawkeye Tunnel

A tunnel through the mountain that offers a bird's eye view of the valley below.

Whitetail Park Ranger Station

The Ranger Station that patrols the Whitetail Park to keep it safe back when it was still open.

McKinley Dam

Named after the 25th president of the United States, McKinley Dam is used to regulate water and supply power to the people of Hope County.

Jacob’s Armory

Jacob has converted part of the McKinley Dam power station to be used as sanctuary against the coming apocalypse.

Grand View Hotel

The historic hotel in the Whitetail Mountains it was once the crown jewel of the park. Financial problems shut it down in the 80's. It's been empty ever since.

North Park Entrance

The Northern most entrance to Whitetail Park, abandoned now that the park is closed.

Bo’s Cave

A renown survivalist, Bo lives deep in forest. He is completely off the grid with none of the comforts of modern life.

Cooper Cabin

Another cabin that can be rented at Whitetail Park. Lately has been used as a safe-house by the Whitetail Militia.

Red Tail Cabin

A cabin in Whitetail Park that Eli's Militia use to take refuge from the constant attacks from Jacob's patrols.

F.A.N.G. Center

Friends of the Animals Nursing Grounds is home to Cheeseburger the Bear. Feeding times are 12:00 and 6:00 daily.

St. Francis Veteran's Center

A medical center for returning veterans, St. Francis was shuttered in the 90's when a more modern facility was constructed in a nearby county. When Eden's Gate moved in, Jacob found use for it as a place to indoctrinate his new recruits.

Lansdowne Airstrip

A small airstrip used by the locals for shipping in supplies and sightseeing tours.

Elliot Residence

Home to Rick Elliot and his family, one of the last people to holdout against Jacob and his army.

The Grill Streak

When Chad's diner was burned to the ground he retreated to his food truck. He still works hard to find food for Eli and his Militia.

Breakthrough Camp

A camp where parents sent their rebellious youth in order to get a taste of clean, wholesome outdoor living.

Old Sun Outfitters

The main supply store for camping and survival gear in the area. Seeing the writing on the wall, the owners closed shop and left while they still could.

Baron Lumber Mill

The Baron family lumber mill was already failing financially when Eden's Gate moved in and bought it out.

McNeill Residence

This house once belonged to the McNeill family before they were deemed sinners in the eyes of the cult and were forced to flee.

Linero Building Supplies

A small building supply store that sold lumber and materials. The owners ended up joining Eden's Gate, though not all of them willingly.

Haskell Lookout Tower

A watch tower overlooking the north region of the Whitetail Park.

Fort Drubman

Pretty much all the Hurk Sr. has left after his divorce from Adelaide. It's from here he runs his senate campaign with the dubious help of his son, Hurk Jr.

MCA Mobile Lab

A mobile lab where the Montana Conservation Authority conducts research on the local flora and fauna.

Loresca Residence

Former residence of Jay Loresca, former Navy Seal. Rumor has it he joined the Whitetails, but it's certain that he’s long gone.

Whitetail Mountains Rail Bridge

A bridge connecting the Henbane River and the Whitetail Mountains. It's been out of use ever since the Copperhead Rail stopped running.

Elk Jaw Lodge

Part of the Whitetail Park the Elk Jaw Lodge was a nice place to relax near Silver Lake. Now... not so much.

Wolf’s Den

The secret bunker of the Whitetail Militia, home to Eli, their leader, as well as Tammy and Wheaty.

Oberlin Picnic Area

A nice place for a group to sit down, eat, and take in baseball game at the nearby diamond.

Osprey Cabin

One of the many cabins that visitors can rent at Whitetail Park. Named after birds of prey, thy are the perfect hiding places for Eli's Militia.

Kestrel Cabin

One of the handful of individual cabins available to rent at Whitetail Park.

Mansfield Lookout Tower

An abandoned fire watch tower overlooking the southern region of Whitetail Park.

Frank’s Cabin

A cabin owned by a recluse known as Lonely Frank. He seems to like it that way.

Dansky Cabin

This is where Dicky Dansky comes to write his books about Sasquatches, Bigfoot, and other cryptids.

Valley View Overlook

A place for visitors to stop and take in the view of the forest below.

Stone Ridge Chalet

High up on a rocky ridge is a Chalet where hunters and park visitors could come and warm up.

Silver Lake Parking Lot

A nice place to stop and take a refreshing dip in nearby Silver Lake.

Clagett Boathouse

A boathouse and docks maintained by the Old Sun Outfitters.

Salvage Camp

A small camp where a salvage company is attempting to recover items from the wreck of a sunken plane

Dylan’s Master Bait Shop

In case you needed some fishing pointers... Dylan will likely just point you somewhere else.

Langford Falls Parking Lot

A spot for visitors to pause and take in the beauty of the nearby Langford Falls.

Widow’s Creek

One of Skylar's favorite fishing spots. She'll probably tell you where it got its name.

Fowler’s Retreat

A not-so-secret place where Dave keeps all of his extra Cheeseburger merchandise.

South Park Entrance

The southern enterance to Whitetail Park. Once the gem of Hope County, it has seen better days.

[lloydfrontera]

Is there a possibility that Alicia could possibly increase the Fronteras title to higher than a Count? Especially if they have great achievements? Like when they went from Baron to Count? Actually would she want to do that or will make her paranoid again?

mmhhh she could technically elevate them to marquess or margrave?? which is what she eventually did with javier so like. it wouldn't be too out there.

i would lean more towards margrave because traditionally a margrave was someone assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of a kingdom, which is exactly what she wants from the fronteras, so i don't see why she wouldn't give them the title to match if she wanted to

Actually would she want to do that or will make her paranoid again?

it would definitely depend on what her situation with lloyd is! in the canon ending then yeah i do see her giving them a higher title, she would have no reason not to. by marrying lloyd, who i presume remained the heir to the estate, she irrevocably tied the fronteras to the royal family and ensured their loyalty. i'm guessing this is why she also gave javier the title of margrave and his own territory to defend, she knows that as long as she holds lloyd's loyalty she holds javier's by default so she has no reason to be paranoid of giving him that kind of authority.

if they weren't married however,,, mmhh, it's hard to say. part of me thinks she would hesitate a lot more to give them even more power than they already hold without having anything tangible to tie their loyalty to her. but again. she already knows she has no real power over them anyway. like. she's fully aware that the only thing stopping them from declaring their independence or overthrowing the magentano family is that lloyd has zero political ambition and wants to lay low for the rest of his life. so like. even if she doesn't give them a higher title, it wouldn't really matter because they already have the power. they would only lack the legal authority and recognition to go with it. so maybe she'd see giving them a higher title as a way to keep good relationships with them?? of course that could make some noble families start to flock towards the fronteras and whisper rebellious ideas into their ears but like. she knows lloyd. she'd him to be lazy enough to want to remain out of politics as much as he can lol

of course this is all ignoring that she's under a supernatural effect that stops her from having any doubts whatsoever about lloyd no matter what he does or says for the rest of her life! so even if she reasonably could have reasons to worry about giving the fronteras even more power than they already do, no she wouldn't because she's literally incapable of that! isn't that so fucking fun :))))

[kavalyera]

Howdy! Really intrigued by Manila by Night! Can i have the whole down of the Kindred Politics- like the Primogen council, the Anarchs, etc?

Also I saw that a Baron had his father ghouled by the Prince- how'd that happen?

I really like reading about your game! I love hearing about other people's Chronicles!

HAIIII HELLOOOWWWW thank you so much for asking about Manila by Night which means I have a reason to infodump about it <3 I was shaking when I got this BELIEVE ME !!!

Okay, so Manila in this chronicle is highly Camarilla dominated due to manipulation and propagandra imprinted by the prince and her primogen which consists of:

- Louisa Grace I. Mallari (she/her) of Clan Toreador

- Professor R. Aquino (he/him) of Clan Tremere

- Trisha Marie Gonzalez (she/they) of Clan Malkavian

- Samuel Fernandez (they/them) of Clan Nosferatu

- and very recently added to the roster—Serena Liwanag (she/her) of Clan Lasombra.

and then we have the bitch herself, the head of Manila’s ivory tower (well it’s more of a concrete tower knowing Manila is insanely brutalist) — Prince Alejandra Miriam Salvador de Silva (she/her) (uh huh yes that’s her full name. It’s the average filipino name my irl name is MUCH longer😭) is your average Ventrue prince except she is fueled by astronomical levels of hatred towards those that oppose her rule because in her mind, her and her primogen have done nothing but good for the city (well…).

There is a LOT I want to say about her, considering her tight grip on Manila is honestly a result of her traumas and fears.

There are two major anarchs right now, that being a brujah baron, David Ramos (Domingo) and his childhood best friend, Mae Fernando (Her actual name is Marianne Santos shh) who is a Gangrel!

Currently! Mae is the stand in Baron of Tondo for David alongside others who he added into the mix just in case the Prince wanted to target Tondo next. Which is funny because both he and Mae are technically neonates.

And yea so, David is the Baron of Tondo which is the most impoverished district in Manila hence why I made it an anarch state +it was where a revolutionary hero in Philippine history was born and raised in back then. So basically, David was never from Tondo in fact he’s from Makati City but his father, Francisco Domingo was very distant towards him as he was busy being a cop😭 Anyways! David was a really rebellious kid as he hung out what his dad would call “batang kalye” (street kids) or even worse; “walang kwenta sa mundo na bata” (kids with no purpose on this earth).

Of course, David valued relationships a whole lot, and he was always with kids and adults that taught him not to be a bootlicking cunt. Eventually, during a fire in Manila, David was embraced by a Brujah most likely someone he hung out with a lot and his father thought he was dead.

During the time David was learning the ropes of the Camarilla and the Anarchs in Tondo, away from Makati—Francisco became chief of police of the Manila Police Department where Prince de Silva sought him out during her ever growing grip on the city so she could have more control on the mortals that inhabited her city. She doesn’t know that David is Francisco’s son…yet since David is in hiding for slowly becoming infamous. And also because the Nosferatu Primogen is the Prince’s right hand man.

As of now, Alejandra has Francisco arrest (and brutally beat) kindred that stand in her way of her vision of a perfect city. She put kindred and ghouls in the police force to better aid her pursuit of power.

As a bonus, here are some fun facts!

- David and Mae’s relationship is based off of the corny ass relationship I see on Filipino television but I made it kalye rebel core

- Alejandra is based off of several Filipino politicians, mostly corrupt because she is. I drew inspiration mostly from the current government seat holders from 2010-2024 however I won’t be naming any or else I might get redtagged /j

- The entire chronicle only has Filipino characters so far!

- Serena’s last name, Liwanag, means light in Tagalog. Funny because she’s a Lasombra.

- David’s name is a reference to “David and the Goliath” story

- Like every Prince, Alejandra’s tower is the Ramon Magsaysay Building, probably one of my favorite brutalist buildings ever in Manila and I chose it because my cousins in Manila fucking hate it lmao so she gets it

- Bonifacio Global City or BGC Manila is THE Camarilla infested area. Skyscrapers, vibrant night life, exclusivity of supplies—this is where the Lasombra, Serene is; managing a night club for kindred (aka Elysium)

- The youngest primogen is Serena, embraced in the 1900’s rather than in the 1700’s-1800’s like the others.

- Louisa and Samuel are distantly related, which is quite silly because Louisa is a Toreador and Samuel is a Nosferatu. Louisa is a very distant cousin of Samuel, they never met properly when they were alive but yeah

- Prof. Aquino is a hematology professor at the University of Santo Thomas!

- Explaining this here now because none of yall are Filipino but kalye means street or alleyway, but colloquially it means someone who has this rebellious spirit or is a really loud, outspoken person. Hence the prince and the primogen call the Anarchs “batang pangkalye” (kids only good for the streets)

anyways enough yapping from me—THANK YEWWW SO MUCHHHHH FOR LETTING ME YAP ABOUT MANILA BY NIGHT‼️ my special interest is filipino culture and history so yeah audhhsshs

[davekat-sucks]

Just for fun how screwed is this session?

Here's some info:

Thief of Breath: Eledon Jungle-sovereign -Is too aggressive for a warrior race to handle -loves to blow shit up -the bard is his best friend and weapons dealer -the witch is his rival and maybe love interest -hates authority

Knight of Light: Human -She loves DnD, especially playing orc barbarian -a hard worker, bad grades -cherful most of the time -hates her father, misses her mom -lives with older sister

Maid of Void: Purpel-blood Troll -bad at showing his friendship good at reading people -a greedy purple asshole -a nice suit and tie, and a poker face to boot -a pretty successful owner of a gambling restaurant -has a hate crush on the prince

Rogue of Hope: Human -she's aesthetic as fuck, plays soccer, baseball and swimming -steals hope for victory for her team -really bullheaded, but nice -she's basically a tomboy -loves to annoy her twin brother

Bard of Space: Eledon Tech-head -he's a mad scientist and engineer -loves to make weapons of small and mass destruction -is fascinated by extinct empires, specifically their tech -strives to be the prime lord of science -one of his creations blew up a district

Prince of Rage: Burgundy-blood Troll -extreme anger issue -extreme telepathic powers -she hates the maid -everyone can go fuck themselves except that other chick… or the mage… and the bartender -lives with and works for the maid -is part of a band with the chick and bartender

Witch of Mind: Eledon Sky-baron -she's a hard-ass -has the high ambition to become the new ruler of her species -a model Eledon prodigy -has a big ego -actually likes the thief, seer and bard

Mage of Heart: Unknown-blood Troll -she likes larping, roleplay and meditation -hates and fears HIC -wishes to meet her friends in real life -tries to help her friends emotional problems -is unsure of her future

Seer of Blood: Eledon Swamp-blood -a rebellious pacifist and spiritualist -physically very strong -is calm and kind, but still has the Eledon natural aggression -hates his species and himself -can't let go

Heir of Time: Human -he acts cool but is a dumbass -likes every type of music -had a crush on the sylph, this was not reciprocated -wants to become a famous DJ -plays DnD with the sylph, knight and rogue every sunday

Page of Doom: Jade-blood Troll -hates himself and is depressed -likes to spelunking -the maids ex -the mage really tries to help him -the BUFF jade girl has to drag him out of his hive every day

Sylph of Life: Human -a genuinely nice guy -rich as hell and just as lonely -has a green thumb -the butler and his wife are more of his parents than his mom and dad -is very naive

I think you got some good players with some of those classes and aspects. Though it may change if the internal struggle gets any worse. May need to keep an eye on the Prince of Rage. Bard of Space and Heir of Time working together is also something to watch over too if the Heir's silly ideas may fuel the Bard's interest for the sake of science. Can't let the Maid of Void or Knight of Light be far either.

[kievlyane]

lestappen dune au

there may be a spoiler for people who haven't seen the film dune or read books✌🏻

lots of people see max as feyd-rautha and charles as one of bene gesserit member, but what about au where charles as paul and max as chani?

i can see max as non religious rebellious fremen and how he falls in love with the chosen one charles🤭 also it can include that sebastian can be shown as lady jessica (seb antihero😳 i love it)

but lets comeback to lestappen! in the end of film we see that chani left paul, but in books she stays with him and supports him even when he married princess irulan.

I think max is jealous that charles didn't marry him instead of the crown prince, but he understands that it’s all for the emperor‘s crown

i have some ideas that george can be princess irulan, toto can be emperor, maybe christian as baron harkonnen and oh dear lewis can be stilgar wow

[casey-lalonde-egbert]

How do you think this session will go?

Here's some info:

Thief of Breath: Eledon Jungle-sovereign

-Is too aggressive for a warrior race to handle

-loves to blow shit up

-the bard is his best friend and weapons dealer

-the witch is his rival and maybe love interest

-hates authority

Knight of Light: Human

-She loves DnD, especially playing orc barbarian

-a hard worker, bad grades

-cherful most of the time

-hates her father, misses her mom

-lives with older sister

Maid of Void: Purpel-blood Troll

-bad at showing his friendship good at reading people

-a greedy purple asshole

-a nice suit and tie, and a poker face to boot

-a pretty successful owner of a gambling restaurant

-has a hate crush on the prince

Rogue of Hope: Human

-she's aesthetic as fuck, plays soccer, baseball and swimming

-steals hope for victory for her team

-really bullheaded, but nice

-she's basically a tomboy

-loves to annoy her twin brother

Bard of Space: Eledon Tech-head

-he's a mad scientist and engineer

-loves to make weapons of small and mass destruction

-is fascinated by extinct empires, specifically their tech

-strives to be the prime lord of science

-one of his creations blew up a district

Prince of Rage: Burgundy-blood Troll

-extreme anger issue

-extreme telepathic powers

-she hates the maid

-everyone can go fuck themselves except that other chick… or the mage… and the bartender

-lives with and works for the maid

-is part of a band with the chick and bartender

Witch of Mind: Eledon Sky-baron

-she's a hard-ass

-has the high ambition to become the new ruler of her species

-a model Eledon prodigy

-has a big ego

-actually likes the thief, seer and bard

Mage of Heart: Unknown-blood Troll

-she likes larping, roleplay and meditation

-hates and fears HIC

-wishes to meet her friends in real life

-tries to help her friends emotional problems

-is unsure of her future

Seer of Blood: Eledon Swamp-blood

-a rebellious pacifist and spiritualist

-physically very strong

-is calm and kind, but still has the Eledon natural aggression

-hates his species and himself

-can't let go

Heir of Time: Human

-he acts cool but is a dumbass -likes every type of music

-had a crush on the sylph, this was not reciprocated

-wants to become a famous DJ

-plays DnD with the sylph, knight and rogue every sunday

Page of Doom: Jade-blood Troll

-hates himself and is depressed

-likes to spelunking

-the maids ex

-the mage really tries to help him

-the BUFF jade girl has to drag him out of his hive every day

Sylph of Life: Human

-a genuinely nice guy

-rich as hell and just as lonely

-has a green thumb

-the butler and his wife are more of his parents than his mom and dad

-is very naive

Any thoughts?

well wow this sounds very interesting! maybe too much for me to comment on, but i would definitely read something like this, the characters seem pretty interesting and fleshed out, the sessions seems pretty OP if the characters manage to work together, but also like their conflicts would create a lot of really cool drama and maybe some sudden twists of fate! also, is an eledon an original species? im not sure ive heard of it before :0

[talesfromtheenchantedforest]

*taking the Vulgate Merlin by its shoulders and shaking* please tell what was UP with Grisandole, I need to know, I need to know why it was necessary for Merlin to take a mid-crisis field trip to out a transmasculine knight and make them marry the emperor of Rome, I'm not mad (<- definitely at least a little mad), I just need to know why you felt it was necessary to take this horrific little detour in the middle of fighting the Saxons, some giants, the rebellious barons, and Arthur getting married, thank you for your time

[syzard]

My Headcanons for the Unico Movie Characters

Hello entire Unico fandom I got some headcanons for Torubi, Chao, Lord Kuruku, and (satircally) the Baron

Some were inspired by my friend @poni-poki I'll make the ones they came up with in the color pink

Lord Kuruku 🌺

Agender and sapphic, uses he/him

Over 500 years old

Married with the Mud Mage

The only reason he took Torubi in was to get more assistance with collecting living dolls. He didn't see Toru as anything more than an extra hand. But one day Kuruku was feeling extra generous and decided to pay him back by teaching him just a little magic in exchange for his help

Mud Mage knows him more than anyone else, and vice versa

May be reformed now but is still generally very Odd. Doesn't understand social norms. Part of the reason why the mage loves him sm

Scares people a lot unintentionally

Struggles to understand people still but is at least trying

Still very direct yet feminine in tone, but corrects himself often when being a little too direct

Odd ways of showing affection but it's still charming

Likes shit-talking about dumb people with mud mage

Wears purple instead of red to signify that he has changed

Torubi ��

Queer, he/they

In his early 20s

In a relationship with Poki

Thinks Chao is very annoying but isn't as nearly harsh with her as he is with Yamaneko because she's a teen girl and telling her to shut up would be a total dick move as an adult man

Ditched his family when he was 17 to become a magician. His family never approved of him or his dreams. Got into Kuruku's hands the very next night after sneaking out in the middle of the previous night

Wound up being Lord Kuruku's apprentice when he begged for him to spare his life in exchange for help with collecting living dolls

Has been working for Kuruku ever since then

Toru always wanted to practice magic so they were elated when Kuruku offered to teach them a couple spells

Teaches his girlfriend magic in their spare time

Likes to make little magic flowers for Poki

Very protective of Cherry

Chao 🎀

Straight ally, she/her

15 years old

Totally crazy for Torubi, he's exactly her type. Alluring, masculine, and mysterious, and is a magician. (tbh if she canonically met Toru I think this would absolutely be the case)

Likes Poki but is also Very Jealous of them because obviously

Abandonment issues but hides them a lot, puts on a dorky teen girl personality to put the past behind her (based on how she was canonically abandoned)

Hates when people criticize her because she's a little insecure (stems from her abandonment issues)

Fucking loves strawberry shortcake

Can be argumentative but it's never that serious at all

Doesn't care about what behavior's considered feminine, she likes dressing feminine but hates the idea of "acting like a woman." Very rebellious against this idea

But at the same time if Toru told her to act more like a woman (which would NEVER happen but hypothetically speaking) she would absolutely try to be "better" for him because she wants validation (also stems from her abandonment issues). Wouldn't care as much though if it was just some random guy. She'd just start yelling at them then

Very protective of Cherry

Asuka kinnie /hj

ADHD

Baron🖕

Smells like shit

Don't wash his ass

Unico is racist towards him (canon actually)

Sits on his ass playing big titty anime girl dating simulators all day

Drinks Monster Energy more than water or any other liquid

Tiger stripes in his pantyhoes

Idiot

His bedroom looks like the filthiest Twitch streamer's bedroom but even dirtier

Does crocodil

[talamantar-wbd]

About human politics. The kingdom’s royal titles.

Architects Note: As an ASOIAF lover I just couldn't wait to introduce a bit of politics and hierarchy, as power is the seed of conflict. 

The vast lands under the human crown require people of gentle birth to administer them. These families maintain control of the kingdom through contracts of loyalty and marriage pacts, which are fundamental to protecting peace from the barbaric races and the rebellious clans.

In human lands, a noble title is much more dependent on the function the family or individual exercises in the realm. While there is some hierarchy due to contracts of vassalage, one's title is not a direct indicator of power. For example, an influential courtier can easily hold more power than an earl of distant lands.

See more of the nobility titles bellow...

Marquis (or Marcher Lords, Warlords)

Marquises command large armed forces and usually oversee lands located in areas of conflict and border regions, also known as marches. They typically rule from fortresses and the surrounding land. Most of their income comes from renting out their armies.

Earls (or Counts, Grafs)

Earls rule over large stretches of land and often have vassals and stewards under them. Their main source of income is taxes and the production of the land directly under their control.

Viscounts (or Minor Lords, Petty Lords)

Viscounts are vassals to higher-ranking lords, usually earls, and are responsible for managing land and supporting the kingdom.

Barons (or Lord-Mayors)

Barons are lords of towns and cities. They hold little land and usually have few, if any, vassals. However, with income from commerce and tolls for using their roads or crossing their cities, they typically possess considerable wealth.

Courtiers (or Seigneurs, Lairds, Manor-lords)

Courtiers are people of noble birth who attend a lord's court. They may own rural estates or be unlanded nobility. They usually have administrative roles in the land as clerks, stewards, companions, lawmakers, and other similar positions.

Knights and Squires

Knights are soldiers of recognized prowess who have joined a knightly order, or are in the process of joining one. Squires are apprentices or trainees working towards becoming knights.

[valleyoffilth]

you don't know how this started, but you know how it will end.

you hope-- you hope you know, and you hope it will be a blade at your throat, choking on your own blood like ribbons. some red to decorate this hungry, hungry planet.

it starts like this: in the arena, putting on a show for the hark.onnens, ordered by your father to show them how much of a useful woman you are. they all know it won't matter, that women are nothing unless they are b.ene ge.sserit, and even they are not immune to how their sex is lower than dirt. nothing but broodmares, even if it's in pursuit of their own interests.

unlike gi.edi prime, with all of its flash and fanfare, your fights are fair. they're even. no drugs, no hypnosis, just a grievance and a blade. here, on your planet, women are equal to men. in the arena, too.

you don't bother to wear your armor, entering the ring with common clothing and a shield generator. the latter is pulled from you the moment the doors close behind you, wild eyes directed at your father as you pull it off, and toss it to the ground. as the crowd erupts in applause and cheers, you see the faintest hint of a smirk tug at his lips.

"what is she doing?" the baron asks, amused and appalled in equal measure.

"you understand children, baron," your father responds, "they like to be rebellious."

he does understand, chuckling, those dead eyes dragging over his nephews to his right. he understands the necessity to beat it out of them. neither fey.d-rau tha nor glo.ssu rab.ban acknowledge the conversation, watching the spectacle unfold before them, a similar look in both of their eyes.

you have blades for the first one. criminals and dissenters this time, no one that pledges a grievance against you. all are content to find their end here. the crowd is offered little when you stab your opponent in the gut, then slice his throat.

the next is unarmed, and so you relieve yourself of your blades, meeting him in hand-to-hand combat. you take a hit to the jaw that blossoms into a bruise for later, sure to be a pretty contrast against the dress you'll be forced to wear. and you are grateful for it. as well as the way your stomach will hurt, the cuts on your thigh. this death is more intimate, as you catch him from behind and swiftly snap his neck.

that trick, your father had taught you.

the next has a hatchet, encouraging you to pick up your blade. just the one, the sword with your mother's name engraved into it, meeting him blow for blow. a pretty red line on your cheekbone tells you the hatchet has been recently sharpened. your sword to his gut, then to his chest tells you that it doesn't matter. you fall with him, whispering something that the wind takes.

above, the ever-present lightening storm rages. though the arena is lit with fire and glass alike, the flashes break through in waves, giving the impression that you are underwater.

you certainly feel like you are drowning.

the fourth, and the last, is a man twice your size. taller than joachim, your father's advisor, even. he carries a double-sided axe, and he recognizes you. a potential suitor, or he'd intended to be. but he'd been a little too aggressive, a little too handsy, a little to wicked in the way he'd cornered you. caught by the wrong set of eyes, and you were forbidden to kill him outright.

his aggression, it seems, had not died.

you pick up the hatchet from your previous opponent, your mother's blade sheathed at your side. circling him like a hungry dog, expression etched in stone. not even the blood, not the pain, not the crowd manages to erode it, exposing your emotions like raw nerves. perhaps, you feel nothing at all.

you wish that were true.

you're faster, but he's stronger. you exchange blows in the scuffle, but he gets you in a headlock soon enough, arms tightening around your windpipe with enough force to blur the edges of your vision. not quite enough to force you to drop your weapon, which you careen upwards, embedding it into his face and severing part of his jaw and left eye. roaring, he releases you, allowing you to pick up the axe he'd dropped. you swing it against his neck once, twice, decapitating him. blood splashes across your face, decorating it in a beautiful smattering of red.

all you hear is your thrumming heartbeat, how oxygen is sucked in through your mouth and out of your nose. the crowd is deafening, though you don't hear it. the only glance you bother to make is toward your future husband, who disappoints you when you expect horror, who rests his head in his palm, black teeth cutting through his lips in a smile. and next to him, his brother, mouth agape. flushed, you think.

you shiver, turn heel, and exit the arena.

--

"marriages are not about love," your father reminds you, "they are about power."

"and what power will i have? with the harkonnens--"

"your union and the heir you will bear feyd-rautha will unite our houses."

"heir?" you scoff, nauseous. "all of my life, telling me that i'm more than a womb, and now this."

"you would not be doing this if i did not think you could survive it. you will endure."

"i'll endure carrying a child, and being forced to kneel, and--"

"all you need do is bear his child," he whispers, cupping your face in his hands, so gentle that it tempers some of your rage. not enough of it. "he does not need to be there to raise it."

you watch him, see the meaning in his eyes. there are many ways to destroy a man, and leave his wife out of suspicion.

--

he corners you in your own bedroom with a knife to your throat. so preoccupied with unfilling your gut and your soul, you hadn't heard a thing. your mentors would be disappointed, you think and smile mirthlessly, pressing your throat just a little closer to the edge of the blade. you find the ghost-pink line it leaves in the wake endearing.

"husband," you taste the word for the first time, practicing your hymns. "how good to finally meet you."

his chuckle rasps through your ears as he languidly glides the knife over your skin before finally removing it. his eyes are blue, you note, watching him while he watches you. dragging his gaze from your head to your toe, pausing where your chest fills out the gown, where your hips press into the fabric. this had been your mother's dress, may your death god chew her soul, and you find that it does not look better on you.

either way, it's the last you'll ever get to wear of anything reminiscent of your planet and culture.

"you fight well," he says before dragging your house's name along his tongue like it's tethered. his voice is like sand in the throat.

"i have to. to keep off the monsters," you hum, dragging your eyes over him as he'd done to you. though you feel nothing aside from the venom that has been seeping into your mouth from the moment you'd been told about this arrangement.

"like me?" his night-sky grin barely reflects the light in the room.

"like you," you match his smile with a sharp-toothed one of your own, though it doesn't meet your eyes. "are you so bold to slip into your betrothed's bedchambers like a horny rat? with our wedding so far away, too."

you amuse him, it seems, because he laughs again.

"more like a viper than a rat," he hums, tracing your bare shoulder with the pads of his fingers. "i'm here to escort you to dinner."

--

the wedding makes you sick. dressed in black, some harkonnen high fashion, that leaves more of you exposed than you'd like. though you blend in seamlessly with your surroundings, the dark palace of giedi prime with all of its dark architecture, quivering servants, war paint. there are some similarities that strike a match in your gut, that which make you only miss your homeworld even more. when will you see it again? if ever, if ever.

they would be remiss to keep a duke from his beloved daughter, your father had told you, return when you wish to.

if only, if only. you know the look of your husband, all possession and cruelty. this is not your domain, no matter your title, no matter your purpose. a bird with clipped wings in a gilded cage, except your wings are your heart and spirit and the cage is a filthy, polluted planet underneath a black sun.

as you walk down the aisle, toward your waiting husband with his black, black teeth, all you can think about is how this entire world would fall without its industrialization. there's no survival here, only awaiting an inevitable end.

you ignore your father, your stepmother, your younger brother, your beloved handmaiden-- everyone-- secured in the walls you've constructed around yourself. your kiss with your husband is chaste, and you notice that he's warmer than he appears.

if not ice, you think, then he'll be a fire that turns you to ash.

--

your wedding bed is cold.

"do not be afraid to use your teeth," your father tells you before he, your entire family, all you know, depart to return to your homeworld.

you aren't afraid. never, never. though you don't need to use your teeth.

he prefers his pets, you notice, his darlings. that suits you well enough, save that you spend too much time expecting him to burst through the doors the moment you let your guard down. perhaps you should have allowed your beloved handmaiden to waste away with you here. at least you wouldn't be alone.

he treats you like a ghost when you aren't beneficial to him. he treats you like something less than a wife when his interest is piqued. no matter that you've never missed a performance in the arena, you're always at his side when it's required. and still, he's yet to bed you, now months later. yet to spend more than a few moments with you. yet to see you at all. alternating between hot and cold, cruel and apathetic, occasionally amused, allowing you some fleeting conversation that disappears into the smog-soaked sky.

i'm a busy man, he says, you understand.

of course. you've spent so long preparing to fight that your reality has bested you. loneliness is not such a poor fate, you think, is it?

surprisingly, it's rab.ban that bothers to talk to you. after you'd spoken up and supported a tactical decision regarding arrakis, not minding how the baron glared, nor the bemused glance of your husband. you'd been taught military strategy, you remind them, by a man who knows the ins and outs of warfare. and currently supplies their artillery, you add.

you've been yet to be invited to such a dinner again.

you know you can always tag along with f.eyd, at least until the baron excuses them. though you find you don't have to. it starts slowly, rab.ban conversing with you after those dreadful meetings. speaking strategy and weaponry, how to kill a man. you don't know when you begin to enjoy those conversations, or perhaps look forward to them.

it occurs to you that you ought to tread carefully, as there are eyes and ears everywhere. though each conversation is in a hallway, a terrace, the dining hall. nowhere that could be considered improper. you don't think that fey.d even notices, much to your dismay. it's strange, how his brute of a brother -- the beast-- fills a hole he's left within you.

a hole you aren't certain he'd even created.

and, you find, it's startlingly easy to shake ra.bban's foundations. a few kind words here and there, some simple praise, and he's nearly at a loss. to the point you can see how he watches you, when no one is looking, how his eyes are drawn to the lines of your collarbone or the slope of your neck.

you know you shouldn't bask in it.

but there's something within him that you find almost endearing, having started to see beneath the skin of the beast. to see the man he is, or that he could be.

--

fe.yd does notice.

he notices and he starts to acknowledge you. in subtle ways, at first, such as actually answering you when you speak or looking you in the eye. perhaps he notices you the most on the day of his birthday.

you meet him as he prepares to enter the arena. by now, you've gained some rapport with his darlings, and flash them a sharp-toothed smile when you enter. you'd dismissed the weapons master carrying his blades at the door, presenting him with something yourself.

"my wedding gift to you," your voice is even, icy, devoid of emotion as you present the box to him. a blade you'd forged yourself while still on your homeworld, in line with your people's tradition of gift giving during weddings. "it was supposed to be gifted to you on our wedding night -- but now is just as well."

the way he looks at you, with those eyes-- you don't falter. not when he drags his tongue over the blade, heat building within you. not when he tests its sharpness with the throat and belly of the servants who'd been applying his warpaint.

"thank you, wife." there's a hint of a smile, and you can't decide if you like it. you don't hate it. his harpies descend on the body, and one offers you a bite. you flick your gaze away from him with a strange smile and decline. don't waste warm blood, you've already eaten.

without a word to your husband, you leave. when he fights, you watch as you usually do, though this time you notice that, for the very first time, he looks up at you.

[wylanzahn]

OMG two posts in one day?? What are the odds? Anywho this is a sort of OC storyline set within Alfarwind, my homebrew/original D&D setting which is epic high fantasy, mostly the bland Western type with a couple, highly, notable exceptions. For this (monthly?) LitRPG series is going to be set in the southern coasts of the continent of Dulgren, specifically in the Kingdom of Galadinor which was one of the first Princedoms to rebel against the Empire of Concordia. Now, 138 years later, many in Galadinor live in hardship against the rule of a thick bureaucracy which is corrupted by much darker forces; and whilst the bureaucrats argue the lands of Galadinor are ruled by bandits and rebellious barons.

However, this is no tale of lords or of princes or even of kings, for we fall in line to the adventurers of Galadinor, aka the lowest of the lows, and the King of those paupers? Why of course it has to be, without a doubt...

The Grape-Smashers.

Follow the adventures of Det. Alastair Netherwaste (Lvl 3 Celestial Warlock), Travelle of Bregoncourt (Lvl 3 Ghostslayer Blood-Hunter), Lidryn Firetongue (Lvl 3 Draconic Sorcerer), and Godzimir of the Halny Mountains (Lvl 2 Oathbreaker Paladin, and Lvl 1 Barbarian). Classes probably won't be super important but I thought it would be fun for y'all to have! (*wink*)

I won't go super in-depth because I want to leave secrets but Alastair (He/Him) is an ex-convict before his run in with the paladin Ser Kithola Luelrift (She/Her), whom forced his repentance. Alastair is now a lowly-paid detective who travels alongside his cohorts. Alastair is Bi.

Travelle of Bregoncourt (She/Her) was a travelling street performer and the daughter of a famed mystic before her and her family's caravan were attacked. Ever since then Travelle has had a knack for not only seeing ghosts, but hunting them as well. Travelle is Straight and Trans.

Lidryn Firetongue (He/They) unknown. Assumedly a prince of some sort due to his ancestry of magic. Lidryn is a Demimale.

Godzimir of the Halny Mountains (He/Him) born in the Halny Mountain range within the Kingdom of Ardrezenskia (or Ardrezenium in the west), Godzimir is a part of the highland Rumiany tribe before they were decimated at the Battle of Godor's Keep. Godzimir was then raised by an evil cult known as the "The Eye of the Sparing," however, he has since moved on from then... we think. Godzimir is Pan.

Anywho I hope you guys enjoy and stay pumped because the first little text will come soon! This should be like a monthly thing so hopefully I can pump out something epic for everyone to enjoy!

Also for attribution {the squiggly borders} Image by Freepik, the rest is by me.