#understanding that they must rule carefully or they'll become just like them

[iris-sistibly]

The Targ Talk: House of the Dragon S2

Season finale commentary & overall thoughts:

Tyland Lannister going on a wrestling match, and well...bedding Lohar's wives will never not be funny. Dude really went above and beyond to secure a naval force that would fight the Velaryon fleet. If he doesn't get a raise for this, I don't know anymore.

With Rhaenyra gaining the upper hand, and Aemond becoming more psycho, Aegon doesn't really have the choice but escape. But with the number of women he had taken, he deserves to have his cock explode like a sausage on a spit. This is an indication that he can longer sire another male heir, unless of course he slept with Helaena the night before he got toasted, and the latter ends up getting pregnant with Maelor. This would make Aemond's claim to the throne stronger...or he could name Jaehaera his heiress which would be so ironic and hypocritical considering that the greens usurped Rhaenyra's throne in the first place because they do not want a woman to rule.

Ulf showing signs of greed and entitlement and Jace putting him in his place is so satisfying. This is one of the cons that I don't know if Rhaenyra had thought carefully. In Ulf's mind, if a bastard like Jace can be named crown prince, and have all these privileges, why can't he? What makes Jace so special that he has everything while other bastards like him were left to fend for themselves? Rhaenyra making them knights is not going to be enough for someone like Ulf, and if Rhaenyra isn't vigilant he will not only betray her, but will use Silverwing to his advantage. You might think, Rhaenyra would still have more Dragons right? She still has Vermithor (if Hugh does not betray her in the show), Seasmoke, Syrax and (finally) Caraxes plus Vermax, Moondancer, and if Rhaena succeeds they'll also have Sheepstealer. The greens are still at a disadvantage with only Vhagar, Silverwing and Tessarion. But this will again put her decision-making into question by her council since she was the one who hired more bastard dragonriders. Also having more dragons didn't stop Jace, Joffrey and Daemon from dying.

The Haunting of Harrenhal finally ends with Daemon having this whole ass vision about the song of ice and fire, Daenerys Targaryen being the one from the prophecy, and she came from Rhaenyra (and his) line. Him finally understanding why Viserys chose his daughter to ascend the throne, and Daemon rallying an entire army for his wife which is cute btw I love that Daemyra is back to being a team now. But let's not forget how horrible the screenwriters were for fucking up Dany's story in Game of Thrones, for me the show ended with Daenerys coming back to Dragonstone, the last two seasons were shit.

So...Helaena can not only have visions, but she's also capable of appearing in someone else's vision which makes her power a lot more interesting. Also I love the fact that she didn't gave in to Aemond's demands and told straight to his face that he was gonna die. I really do hope that we'll get to see more of Helaena's magic, I want her to take Jaehaera (and Morghul), ride on Dreamfyre and find a place or people who could help her hone her power, a peaceful life may also do. But judging from her conversation with Alicent, she might also end up staying for she knew that no matter what she does, she couldn't change her fate.

The final cut in this episode is so far the dumbest I have seen. Rhaenyra choosing to take a chill pill in a desperate attempt to convince Alicent to end this senseless war was...a waste of time no matter how good Rhaenyra's intentions were. Alicent only realizing how fucked up her sons were all this time after she was thrown out of council is just...I don't even know what to say anymore. I thought of Alicent turning her back against her sons but I didn't expect her to actually do it. But this scene just doesn't make sense. Here's why:

If Rhaenyra really wanted to take back what was rightfully hers, she must get rid or punish every single one of the opposing side. Her wanting Aegon executed, but letting Alicent go is so stupid. Alicent was the one who fed poison to her sons' minds, she was part of the greens' scheme to put Aegon to the throne who by the way didn't even want it in the first place, and now Alicent is throwing him under the bus AND Rhaenyra is letting her off the hook just because she admitted her mistakes and "helped" Rhaenyra with a plan to take King's Landing from Aemond and the greens? Has the latter forgotten that she lost a daughter and a son because of what the greens did?

What the fuck is this bullshit?

I just find it hard to believe that Alicent would give up Aegon just like that. It's like creating something and when you make a mistake, it turns out really bad you throw it away and move on. Were the writers even fully aware at how ridiculous this is? Some Alicent stans say that she cared for her children and she tried her best to be a mother, well then...look at her now. Some may even argue that she was a mere tool, okay, but her children were also pawns to this game weren't they? If Aegon is to be executed, then so should she and the rest of the greens especially Crispy and fucking Otto Hightower. If she wants to set things right so badly, then she should also be facing Rhaenyra's punishment. Not just Aegon or Aemond.

Rhaenyra should have at least held Alicent hostage and imprison her, that would have been more realistic than letting her go because she was a former friend *face palms* Ewan Mitchell said in an interview that Alicent was Aemond's kryptonite, then that would have been an opportunity for Rhaenyra to use her against Aemond. Alas, she wasted it. You know what's fucking annoying? This never-ending cycle of misunderstanding. Because if Rhaenyra finds out that Aegon escaped, she'd think that Alicent lied to her, that the queen dowager went to Dragonstone to talk to her and buy Aegon some time to get the fuck out of King's Landing and Rhaenyra is going to get angry, and the tragedy goes on.

Perhaps they came up with that idea to have some sort of comparison with their younger selves. Rhaenyra being able to do whatever she wants while Alicent is being chained by her duties that she never asked for. Now it's the other way around. In addition, if Aegon learns of his mother's betrayal it could also fuel his anger which will make him ruthless next season but...it's still so disappointing.

I never got to say this, but Simon Strong is THE man of the season.

Caraxes cheering up as soon as he saw Syrax and Seasmoke will always be cute.

Overall thoughts: This season is rather underwhelming. Everything else is on point except the storytelling, is this better than season 1? No. Though I love that there are more dragons now and I absolutely love Helaena more this season. I also love that there are more Jace and Baela scenes...before the Battle of the Gullet which I feel like season 3 is gonna kick off with a heart wrenching episode.

Did I enjoy watching it? Hm...the exhilarating part was the battle between Rhaenys, Aegon and Aemond but other than that, it's just meh. My least favorite season so far.

P.S. Tessarion and Daeron are the other greens I stan, they better be worth the wait.

[chocoenvy]

After rereading some of ur works I wonder how would Mari from the council of gods au world react to visiting the god in the darling x tsaritsa x reader world... I can think of it going like

Mari: Ok we're gonna be visiting an old friend that i have not talked to in some time

Imp: Why?

Mari: It would be nice for u to know the other gods as well

Arte/ Imp: Ok

Mari: but sweetheart you might want to stay here

Puppet: but why?

Mari: Well uuuuhhmmm..... their... uuuhhhh.....

Arte: R rated?

Mari: Yes! whatever that is

Puppet: …oh, ok

*teleports to the other world*

Mari: Morgana there's someone I'd like yo to mee-

Darling flirting with the tsaritsa: Mari your here? i though you were kidding when u said u were coming

Mari: Now i remember why i stopped talking to you and you know what we already finished what we cam here

Arte and Imp: *summons phone* hey Siri how to get amnesia successfully

-porcelain anon

im a bitch for this series oh my god, i highkey forgot about it but i love it

ALSO NAMING DARLING MORGANA???????????? HELLO??????????

Arte is like "hell yeah you got good tastes." bc tsaritsa simps (or arte could be a tartaglia simp, depends on what you're most into)

I'm still frothing at the mouth at the name morgana- I'm gonna call them Darling still so I don't go full gay panic

MORGANA AND MARI BEING RELATED OR SMTH OR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS SHUT UP IDK AND CALLING EACH OTHER MARI AND MORI OH MY GOD-

and then mari sees reader and is like "the fuck is that"

"We found them on the side of the road :)"

So.... since Imp and Arte were also isekai'd do you think they'd be like "we like this thing." and befriend reader

I think Arte would vibe more with Darling and Mari while Imp would vibe with the Puppet and reader. Also Emi (soft au) would probably vibe with them.

I'm thinkin aloud rn but I think Emi would be kinda outcasted cause they vibe more with Imp and the puppet and the reader, but they don't necessarily feel connected. Cause it's like the popular kid trying to befriend the quiet kid. It can work out but it's hella awkward.

anyways I'll get back on topic

Darling is fucking insane, we been knew, that's probably why Mari stopped associating with them. Darling and Mari are the oldest, all of the other iterations have had something disasterous happen to them, killing them and rebirthing them into another world. Meanwhile, Mari and Darling have never had anything like that happen to them.

Mari, though, remained sane, surprisingly. Perhaps it was because of the puppet they didn't go insane, or perhaps the puppet was the result of cutting ties with Darling. Because Darling is batshit and toxic as fuck. Mari cut them off when they realized this, but still found it important to inform them of the current state of the other gods.

After all, upsetting Darling is never a good idea.

At this point im just making all these readers ocs-

But Darling is absolutely interested in everyone, but Imp is fucking horrified of them. Due to them being from imposter au, they do not have a good correlation to a big powerful and mean god.

Imp absolutely hates Darling. Hides behind whoever they can and look at them with big watery eyes as though any second their gonna jump out at them. Which, knowing Darling, they probably would.

And Darling finds this hilarious. However due to the fact that Imp and the puppet (who had a similar experience to Imp) were fast friends, Mari started to see Imp as a child of theirs (even more than they already did)

So basically Mari and Mori be fightingngngngg

and if i make Tsaritsa jealous of all the attention Darling is giving them? What then? jealous tsaritsa feeds my soul <3

now what if i were to shove piece of shit (vampire) reader into this? Piece of shit reader that befriends Emi Arte and the puppet to try and get out of the cage Darling has trapped them in.

Piece of shit reader seeing how vulnerable and scared Imp is and not giving a shit, threatening them and blaming the fact that they got out on Imp and/or the others.

Anything they can do to get out of trouble and get the hell out of Darling's and the Tsaritsa's grasp.

And Mari realizes there's no saving them. Those mfs crazy man

this makes no sense i'm sorry for going off again, this au just makes my brain rot at speeds unprecedented and I HAVE to write it down bc it's just so fun

[itsbenedict]

Two-Faced Jewel: Session 8

Welcome to the Hotel On-The-Floor, Yeah

A half-elf conwoman (and the moth tasked with keeping her out of trouble) travel the Jewel in search of, uh, whatever a fashionable accessory is pointing them at. [Campaign log]

Last time, the party identified the culprit behind the murders in Barley and Wheat, but... well, it's complicated. The culprit was apparently being coerced by a dragon, and they managed to talk him down rather than fight. If they want that to stick, though, they'll need some kind of plan to get rid of that dragon. And... is it really worth bailing this guy out, anyway?

Saelhen, Oyobi, and Vayen all start discussing their plans in Elvish, which it doesn't seem like Arnie understands. Oyobi advocates for just killing the guy, but is a little less keen on the idea once Vayen advocates for the same. Saelhen would rather give the guy a chance, and points out that there's not much point to killing him as long as the dragon is still around- they'll need an answer for that, and the answer to a dragon is probably just as good an answer to Arnie.

Looseleaf, oblivious to their Elvish chatter, describes the basic plan to Arnie.

Arnie: "So you're, what... you're gonna get the church involved somehow? What're you gonna tell 'em?" Looseleaf: "Well, probably also Deathseekers," Looseleaf thinks, out loud. "We'll tell them there's a dragon conducting sacrificial rituals at the site of an altar to the god of pain. We'll get the church involved by virtue of proving to them that there's a dragon fucking around with divine shit, and we'll get the deathseekers involved by convincing them that there's a dragon stacked to the gills with cool magic items, which we'll prove by bringing them one of said items." "The important thing is to get going as soon as possible, right? There's a time-limit here measured in, uh... human... corpses..." Arnie: "Wait, how are you gonna get one of its magic items?" Looseleaf: "How do you think, mister 'I work for the dragon so he gave me a bunch of magic items to serve his dread will'?" "We'll bring the deathseekers that magic cloak you said you had." Arnie: "Uh, that's..." "Mine, though."

Eventually, after a persuasion roll or two, Arnie agrees to loan them the cloak, as long as it comes back in one piece. He also tells them how to safely retrieve it from the laundry room- as long as they exchange some dirty laundry for the clean cloak, they'll be happy and won't attack. He's got plenty lying around downstairs, which he heads down to grab.

While he's downstairs, the party confers, and decides to all go together to the nearest city- Cauterdale- to ask the local Deathseekers for aid. They figure Arnie's not a flight risk, since he doesn't have anywhere to run and a draconic boss who'll hunt him down if he tries.

(As they prepare to leave, a natural 20 on a perception roll alerts Looseleaf that Vayen has ransacked Lumiere's personal library, stealing- specifically- Lumiere's books on gods and divine magic, for some reason. She doesn't make any objection to this, though- Vayen's a creep, but it's not like they weren't all on board with looting the dead guy's tower.)

With Arnie's bloodstained laundry in hand, Looseleaf heads upstairs and retrieves the cloak without incident. She tries it out, and...

The result of her crit failing her Wisdom saving throw on the magic item is... nothing, apparently. That's always good to hear! The cloak appears to work exactly as intended! She's wearing a very fancy outfit.

Further experimentation reveals a few limitations- first, the cloak's shape is illusory, so it can't become armor or anything with particular utility. Second, it can get overly literal if you ask it to copy an outfit outright- you have to use your imagination properly. Third, it seems to get tired the more you ask it to change, so there's some limit on how often you can update your wardrobe. Those appear to be the only drawbacks!

So, with Arnie temporarily kept from murdering people, the party gets back on the road.

Saelhen du Fishercrown: For caution's sake, Saelhen calligraphs a piece of paper to say WE HAVE NOT BEEN TORTURED TO DEATH, and sticks it on the door on the way out.

As they make their way northeast, they make some Animal Handling checks to keep hold of their giraffes, as something seems to spook them. Looseleaf gets a critical success and is able to calm her giraffe right away... but the party ranger, who is proficient in neither Animal Handling nor Nature nor even Survival, because what kind of monster hunter needs to know that boring crap, has no idea how to handle an overexcited giraffe and is thrown from her mount with a critical failure.

Benedict I. (GM):There's a small sign by the road, heading off west towards what appears to be an actual forest. The prairie is giving way to a somewhat hillier and more forested terrain here, but the forest is thicker than anything you've seen on your way there. And as you're approaching the crossroads marked by that sign, your giraffes all try to bolt for it. Looseleaf is able to realize that they've been forced to graze on grass for miles, and when they see the trees, they get overexcited. Vayen and Oyobi get completely thrown from their mounts, and you have to follow them down the road a bit to catch up with them and rein them in. Looseleaf: Haha, oh, well, hopefully they don't try and spend the rest of the whole day grazing a pit-stop is within tolerances but we really do have to make it to Cauterdale sooner rather than later. Many lives are on the line! Saelhen du Fishercrown: Good thing Looseleaf can radiate peace at them! Benedict I. (GM): Looseleaf is able to beckon them back before they completely get out of reach, and pretty soon you've got them calmed down- but you've lost some time. There's a choice to make here, now: continue on to Cauterdale, but make the last hour or so of the journey in the dark- or rest at the location marked on the map near here.

On the map, where the sign marked "Umbrella Village" points (shut up, I don't even play Resident Evil, don't worry about it), is simply a warning that reads "EVIL WITCHES- AVOID!!!"

Oyobi and Orluthe inform the others that "witches" usually means "druids"- and Zero cashes in something from character creation. Looseleaf's background as an academic provided her with a book on some historical topic, which was never allocated because at character creation he didn't know enough about the world to decide on something interesting. Here he declares it's a book on the history of druids!

Benedict I. (GM): Druids, from what you've read, are sort of like clerics. They channel a divinity of some sort- which is typically revered as Mother Nature, or Gaia, or... every druid you meet is going to have a different name for it, because while it needs to have a thing to call it by, it is emphatically not a god. Druids have a complicated relationship with Ccorde, who's ostensibly the goddess of environmentalism and hippy communing with nature type stuff- but most druidic traditions regard this as a false claim on a divine domain. Nature is untamed and wild and exists on its own terms, a vital force that is not to be tamed with rules- people must forge their own relationships with Nature. The author of the tome you acquired was herself a cleric of Ccorde, and the tone of the book is defensive on that subject. The author's curiosity outweighed that defensiveness, though, and there's a long section dedicated to the theoretical differences between the channeling of Nature and the channeling of Ccorde- in particular, there's no common dispositional element with druids. Whatever Nature is, it's willing to act through anyone who puts in the effort. The author didn't seem to know anything about animism, but you suspect druidic practice might be related in some way- that their nature-spirit-channeling abilities may be a form of animism. The book is unfortunately light on the practical details of druidcraft, as the author prefers that the reader eschew the practice in favor of fealty to Ccorde.

Okay! So, they head down the road to stay at the druid village for the night- and notice something odd on the way, after some Nature checks. They notice that the dirt road they're going down seems to divide the forest in two- between a sparse, ivy-choked pine forest to the northeast, and a dense, healthy-looking deciduous forest to the southwest. You usually don't get such a sharp delineation between forests like that.

And Looseleaf notices... that their map doesn't show a forest on the southwest side of the road. The road is supposed to just go along the edge of the pine forest. Also, Looseleaf can see the trees' spirits there, and there's something... not quite right.

Benedict I. (GM):The left side of the woods- there does seem to be some ambient magic. Your Sight Unseen ability doesn't exactly detect magic, so much as it lets you see spirits, including the spirits of spells- but what's going on here isn't a spell effect. It's just that the spirits of these healthy-looking deciduous trees don't quite match their physical forms. Their spirits seem... sickly? Frail? Like they're not full trees, not trees that grew in their places from fallen seeds. There's something false about them.

Looseleaf: When you said 'the left side of the road is full of healthy-looking deciduous trees and the right side is full of misshaped thorny things' you know what the first thing i thought was it was, 'the left side is the dangerous side.' i didn't say it out loud but i was totally thinking that, and i am glad to have been vindicated.

The weird forest doesn't seem to be attacking them, though, so they head onward towards Umbrella Village, which seems to be built entirely on the pine side of the road. It's kind of cool-looking- every inch of available space, on the lawns, roofs, and walls, is covered in fruiting vines and various plants. The whole village is a carefully-cultivated ecosystem.

The villagers seem surprised to have visitors- apparently it's not a common occurrence. They seem normal enough, though- while they don't have an inn, they direct the party to visit the village elder, who might know where the best place for them to spend the night is.

(Oyobi once again crit-fails her Animal Handling check, and is unable to prevent her giraffe from ripping a tomato plant off the side of someone's house, which gets her scolded. Why are you a ranger, Oyobi?)

They head down to the village elder's house, which is unique in not being overgrown with crops- and knock on the door.

The door is answered by a little lizardfolk girl, who doesn't have any idea what she's supposed to do about there being... people... here? People she's never seen before? Who don't live in the village? What???

Benedict I. (GM): "...Who...?" "GRANDMAAAAA," she calls back into the room. Which she didn't really need to do so loudly, because there's an elderly lizardfolk woman sitting right there next to a small fire.

Looseleaf: Oh, and Looseleaf was about to ask if the little girl was the elder. Never let external appearances color your preconceptions, and all that. Benedict I. (GM): "Eh?" "Gramma there's Mysterious People!" "They don't exist!" The old woman gets up. "Who's... oh, visitors?" The little girl looks confused. "Vizza-what?" Looseleaf:"Indeed, we are emissaries from the Faraway Phantom Lands of Nonexistence," Looseleaf says in deadpan to the girl. "Behold as my incorporeal voice from out of the thin air astonishes you!" To the old lady, Looseleaf says. "Excuse us. You must be the elder?"

They inquire about a place to stay for the night, and the elder... checks the weather. Looseleaf, who has Druidcraft as a racial ability, also checks the weather, using a fancy little snowglobe spell!

Looseleaf: "I'unno, does this help?" Benedict I. (GM): "Oh, goodness. I thought you were from outside- do they..." "That's very well-done, really, and you smell delicious, but..." Saelhen du Fishercrown: uh Benedict I. (GM): "Well, it ought to be fine." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...hmm," says Saelhen. Benedict I. (GM): "Just put your bedrolls out anywhere- we're not doing rain tonight." "Well, anywhere in town, anyway." "You shouldn't set foot in the Mysterious Woods." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Ma'am, rest assured that we have less than no interest in Mysterious Woods."

So the party beds down in some soft pine needles, making use of Looseleaf's recently-acquired Extremely Comfy Pillow and a few bedrolls. They have a druid elder's assurance that the elements won't be a problem, so... nothing wrong with camping!

And as they're going to bed, Looseleaf rolls a 21 on Perception.

Luckily, Looseleaf fails her unarmed strike roll, which would do no damage even if it hit because her strength mod is -1. So she does not do any damage to...

Benedict I. (GM): So, you kick out at the mouth full of sharp teeth. Saelhen du Fishercrown: Fwff, goes Looseleaf's puffy moth footsie. Benedict I. (GM): The mouth full of sharp teeth goes "Eeek!" and recoils before you make impact, and you see the little lizardfolk girl scamper away into the darkness. Looseleaf: "What." "Wh- how dare you bite me! I am an emissary of the Phantom Lands and all that or whatever." "Come back here and explain yourself to My Imperial Nonexistingness!"

The little girl, affronted, explains that if she's not real, then it's not bad if she bites her!

Vayen: Vayen stirs. "...Shouldn't kill a child," he mumbles. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...this is a new dream," remarks Saelhen. "Better than the dreams about dad." "Vayen's even deciding not to kill someone. This is super neat, subconscious, keep going."

Saelhen argues that maybe Gramma doesn't know what things taste good, because sometimes grammas think things that taste bad taste good, like bell peppers! The child has no defense against this devastating logic bomb, and scampers off into the darkness, indignant.

Next time: the journey to Cauterdale, and the menace of the bobbledragon.

[cupcake116]

Rise of Silver Chapter 1 (Mitsukami's Story)

The woman and her husband are running together through the woods with a baby in her arms. She holds the baby very close to her, not daring to let it away from her for a second. The poor couple are scared and worried for the baby and for their lives. The husband, willing to do anything to keep his wife and the baby safe is carefully and quickly guiding his wife through the forest.

Their situation isn't shedding any light as the people who were chasing them are closer than before. The wife becoming more frightened, scared of what more could happen. They then run into a dead end, trapped as it's now too late to turn back. They turn around to find the people, who were hunters, chasing them, right there in front of them.

The hunters were ready to take them to the heavens on this glistening snow covered night. The wife sheds a tear, all hope lost. As long as her husband and the baby are alive, she doesn't care where she's going, knowing that she's lived long enough, ready to end the belief in words of destiny and fate.

[End of Dream]

Inu: **jolts awake, breathing heavily. She immediately runs to the windows in the room, opening the beautiful curtains, only to see a beautiful morning with snow covered lands far and wide. She quietly mumbles to herself, sighs, and closes the blinds before any witness of tears trailing down her face is given.* Why....?

Xeron: **immediately comes into the room, going to Inu's side, lovingly holding her from behind, turning her around to face him as he holds her close* My beautiful princess, what did you see~?

Inu: **hugs him, holding him close, burying her face in his neck* Sweetie....

Xeron: *My love, please. Tell me what's wrong... You know I worry for you when you're like this.

Inu: *Don't you know by now sweetie...?

Xeron: **sighs, soothingly rubbing her back, stroking her hair* Sweetheart, you know that if this was to ever happen to us, I'll protect us with my life. I want for you and our baby to be safe.

Inu: *I want for you and our baby to be safe...

Xeron: *I'll do all I can to make sure we all make it~

Inu: *Thank you~

Xeron: *No need my love~ Now, let me get breakfast started, and you can check up on our little one~

Inu: *Ok~

Inu let's go of Xeron, kisses his cheek, and heads to the baby's room while Xeron heads back know to the kitchen. In the baby's room is a cooing baby boy with sharp, very nice black hair with his left eye being a wonderful spirit filled blue eye, his right eye is a spirit filled yellow eye. He looks to Inu, looking happy, reaching for her.

++++++++

Inu: **pick the baby up, lovingly holding him in her arms, speaking sweetly, cooing at him* Good morning cutie~ My sweet adorable baby boy~ How are you this morning dear Mitsukami~? Did my young prince get some rest~?

Mitsukami: **happily coos* Mommy! Good morning!

Inu: *You're very smart my young prince~ Though, you're enhancements surely exceed expectation~ You and your father are alike in comparison towards development, but some aspects of it aren't possible without my portion of you~

Mitsukami: **nuzzles into Inu*

Inu: **giggles* I guess I should stop rambling about things you don't fully understand, still, let's go meet your father in the kitchen~

Inu and Mitsukami go into the kitchen only to see Xeron cooking like a certified professional. The kitchen has very strong mouth watering scent, and Xeron seems to be having tons of fun.

+++++++++

Inu: **giggles* Looks like someone is having a great time~

Xeron: *Heheh, you know it baby~ How's our young heir~?

Mitsukami: **giggles, enjoying himself* Daddy! Good Morning!

Xeron: **chuckles* Good morning young prince~! Your learning very quick and you're not even a month old~ Your future is bright and bold, and someday you could rule over land like your beautiful mother~

Inu: **blushes* You couldn't help sneaking "beautiful" in there, could you~?

Xeron: *No, I really couldn't because I'm telling the truth~ Here standing in this kitchen with me is the very princess, and current ruler of the snow fallen lands, who is my gorgeous wife, and the young heir under her, second towards inheritance of this land, who is my incredible son~

Inu: *Here in this kitchen, standing here with me, is the brave, incredible wolf who protected me during The War of Flakes, my amazing husband~

Xeron: *Heh, I still remember that moment~ Remember when we announced to your father of our marriage~?

Inu: **giggles* Definitely~! His reaction was priceless, but I'm glad he let me choose who I truly loved instead of forcing me to marry the general who was in line to be a king already~

Xeron: *I wouldn't have accepted, nor allow you to marry a rude guy like him. He didn't even love you.

Inu: *Well, he's gone along with my father, but at least he knows that I'm happy with you~

Xeron: * That's right~ *finishes breakfast*

Inu: **sits at the tabel in the living room, gently undoes her kimono to release one of her huge breast, slowly bringing Mitsukami closer to it* Let's get you fed baby boy~

Mitsukami: **starts feeding from Inu, softly cooing*

Inu: **softly and lovingly stroking his long hair as he feeds, letting out a soft, quiet sigh of relief*

Xeron: **comes in with a tray with plates of food and tea. He gently and carefully places down the tray, giving Inu her plate, and he pours her a cup of tea, giving her a loving kiss on the cheek, then sitting down in a chair, getting his plate, pouring his cup of tea.*

Inu: *Thank you my love~

Xeron: *No problem sweetie~

Mitsukami: **finishes feeding, not really drinking much*

Inu: **covers her breast, letting Mitsukami on the tabel to look around if he'd like*

Inu: *Baby boy, you didn't drink much~ Are you feeling okay~?

Xeron: **speaks reassuringly* Sweetheart, don't forget that our little one has a major eating disorder~ He probably just got his fill early~

Inu: *Hopefully that's what it was~

Mitsukami: **happily coos, seeming pretty content*

Inu: **starts eating along with Xeron*

After Inu and Xeron eat, they remind themselves of everything they must do today. After making sure that they are both on the same page, they take Mitsukami with them, and carry out the day. Once everything is done, Xeron is to attend some missions, leaving Inu and Mitsukami at home together.

The day is long, tiring, but enjoyable. Xeron then comes home after some hours, spending lots of time with his loving wife and son. Inu expresses her concern of her dream, Xeron comforts her, attempting to convince her that they'll be safe.

The day then passes, and they go to bed, but because of the concerning feeling that Inu has, Mitsukami is sleeping with them for the night. They all eventually fall asleep. The beautiful snow covered lands glistening.

After some hours of a peaceful beautifully moonlit, glistening snow covered lands, there's a disturbance in the night. Hunters that were assigned to assassinate the Skylacruse royal household had broke into their home.

++++++++++++

Inu: **abruptly jolts awake* Xeron?!

Xeron: **is awake and alarmed as well, speaking quietly, and calmly* Ssh, I heard it too sweetheart.

Mitsukami: **is scared and quietly whimpers, but Inu comforts him, softly stroking his hair*

Xeron: **quietly helps them out of bed, and telephones them outside*

Hunters: **they had spotted them outside from a window and ran out of the house, chasing them*

Xeron: **is leading his family in a forest in attempts to lose the hunters, trying to guide them through the forest*

Hunters: **pulls out their guns and arrows and start shooting at the family, chasing them through the forest*

Xeron: **keeps going until their at a daze with multiple drirections. Not sure where to go in the forest without enclosing on a dead end. The hunters were closer than he though since a bullet almost hit Inu, and an arrow pierced his shoulder deeply, blood pouring down his arm, staining his kimono. He quickly chooses a way and leads his family down it, hoping he guessed with luck at his side.*

Hunters: **they come across the same thing, but they don't think and unfortunately goes the same way Xeron chose.*

Xeron: **he can still sense the hunters close to them, but they run into a dead end with throrns.*

Inu: **holding Mitsukami, who is whimpering, she turns around to see the hunters who had been chasing them right in front of them. These hunters were savages, ready to send them to the world above on this beautifully moonlit, glistening snow covered night. She sheds a tear, having lost all hope, but she knows that she won't care where she goes or what happens to her as long as Xeron and Mitsukami are safe.*

Xeron: **He and Inu look at eachother. He gives her a loving smile, goes to her, and shares a sweet, loving, affectionate kiss with Inu*

Inu: **after the kiss, she watches him give Mitsukami a loving kiss on his forehead. He looks at her again, making her wonder what he has on his mind. She gently speaks.* Xeron, my love, what are you aiming to do...?

Xeron: *I have failed you and our child my love, I'm aiming to do the only thing I can do-*he's immediately silent from the abrupt sting on his now red cheek, eyes widened in surprise*

Inu: **she had slapped Xeron, tears stinging the corner of her eyes, not willing to lose him* Xeron!! Don't even think about it!! The doctor had told you that you can't be doing that!! It's not safe for you and I'm trying not to lose you!! ....P-please... *tears are running down her face*

Xeron: **lovingly holds her and Mitsukami close, speaking softly* Inu, my beautiful royal snowflake...I need you alive, for Mitsukami, for me. I have to. If I take down these hunters, we can go home, and you can rant at me all you want for disobeying the doctor, and I promise I won't argue or complain. I never do.

Inu: **holds him closer and tighter* They'll kill you...

Xeron: *And you should know that I'm doing this for you two...I love you, I love everything about you. I love our little miracle that we were blessed with who is here between us right now, and no matter what, I'll give my life to keep you both alive.

Inu: **cries harder*....P-please baby....don't leave us...

Xeron: *I'm sorry my love...you're valiant knight can't withdraw from this...not if it harms you or Mitsukami. *Looks to Mitsukami, gently smiling to him* Hey there buddy~ I want you to know that daddy loves you, and even if you don't see me again, I'm always there~

Mitsukami: **reaches out, nuzzling Xeron's face* Daddy!

Xeron: **nuzzles back* That's my young prince~ *he kisses Inu's cheek, then steps forward towards the hunters, he turns his entire body into a beastly silver-tailed fox and dashes to them*

Xeron and the hunters enter a strong, very ever lasting fight. They fight valiently against each other in attempts for one to survive. Xeron is rapidly slashing down the hunters, taking arrows and bullets as if it doesn't hurt him. Blood and bodies stain the glistening white snow to nothing but blood red snow, that's somehow glistening from the moon light.

One hunter runs to attack Inu. Xeron quickly turns to the hunter, about to kill him, until another hunter shoots Xeron three times, once in the head, heart, and stomach. Blood traces down Xeron's body when he collapses into the snow, staining it. His eyes are wide open, blood pouring from him.

Inu was trying to defend her and Mitsukami, but is still weak from giving birth recently. She surrounds Mitsukami with her power, doing all she can to protect him. A hunter grabs her from her hair, making her watch the death of her husband.

+++++++++

Inu: **tears are streaming down her face* XERON!!!

Hunter 1: *Awe, don't cry. You'll join him in just a second.

Hunter 2: **points his gun at her* Nice doing business with ya.

Inu: *Mitsukami...I'm sorry.

Hunter 2: **shoots Inu, killing her*

Mitsukami: **Inu's magic fades and he falls into the dirtied snow. He starts crying when the presence of his parents are no longer there*

Hunter 2: **points his gun to Mitsukami*

Hunter 3: **immediately picks up Mitsukami* Woah there trigger happy. This boy could come in use to boss.

Hunter 1: *What would boss do with a crying brat?

Hunter 3: *He is the next heir as well as the child of Inu and Xeron. He has to have some use to him, weather it's his power, or whatever, but it'll be a waste to kill him.

The hunters agree on bringing Mitsukami to their boss, and heads to do so immediately, curious to see what they would do with him.

[oneeyedmask]

The capital of the Jötunn Empire, Dämmerung, had an excited buzz that early morning. The sun had not yet risen when the news spread from person to person, door to door, tower to tower, and far beyond the gates of Dämmerung; a new prince was to be born that morning.

Crowds gathered outside the palace, wrapped in cloaks and blankets, huddled together for warmth in that cold, spring night. Their gazes were up at the palace's terrace where they awaited the confirmation of the news. They whispered amongst each other as the time dragged on, all smiles and excitement. Vendors and merchants began setting up shop around the crowd, expecting a grand harvest.

The stars that spangled above faded as the black night declined into a cerulean heaven from the arising light of the sun over the valleys. Finally, as the sun peaked its head across Dämmerung, a blonde Jötunn Knight in golden armor walked out and pumped his fist, beaming at the crowd. The crowd cheered in elation and the bells of Pagan churches rang throughout the city.

Inside the palace and the bedroom chamber where the news had been born from, the Jötunn Empire's knights, warlords, princes and princesses had gathered to witness one of their newest High Princes. They stood around a large bed, some weeping as they looked on at their Queen cradling a miracle before their eyes.

Frigga held her newborn child closely to her, now sitting upright on the bed. She was sweating and dark circles clung beneath her eyes, but she was smiling with a mother's warmth.

The baby's golden eyes looked on curiously from beneath its white blankets at its mother, then at the crowd, and then at its blue-haired father who was kneeling beside the bed with tears in his eyes. Osmund came off his knees and kissed his son on his blonde head and then Frigga on her forehead.

"He did not cry," said Frigga, her voice shaky.

A titan of a man with burning red hair let out a hearty laugh, slapping him in the back, "But this one did!"

"Cut me some slack, Logan," Osmund chuckled, stretching his back. "I know you wept when Thoros was born, I was there."

"Like a maiden!" Logan barked, beaming. "What will be the child's name?"

"Arthurius," Frigga declared, brushing her baby's cheeks with her thumb.

"I'll tell the crowd. They're gonna love it!" said the blonde knight with golden armor. He walked back out into the terrace and shouted, "HIS NAME IS ARTHURIUS!" The crowd responded with a chorus of cheers and he strutted back into the room, grinning.

"You seem to love doing that, Edward," Osmund remarked to the blonde knight.

"I was born to please crowds, it's in my nature! Let them be excited! It's the first time royalty has been born in the empire in a time of peace."

Frigga nodded thoughtfully, then looked up.

"Ymir, let the kids in, they'll want to greet their new brother."

A young man with long, white hair braided back nodded and walked towards the door. He opened it and three children immediately swept past his legs in a blur, sprinting towards the bed. Another taller child with short, sea blue hair walked behind, greeting Ymir politely at the door.

The three children huddled together, looking at their baby brother with a hint of awe in their eyes.

"I thought you said it was a boy, father!" blurted the shortest child. His hair was dark, a faint hint of blue on the edges only visible from the faint morning light.

"Why don't you check, Wulf?" Osmund grinned.

Wulf peeled back Arthur's blanket and promptly pushed it back over him.

"It's a boy!"

"It really was a baby brother then," the second child said bitterly, a girl with long, sea blue hair. "I was hoping for a baby sister! Papa, make a baby sister with Mama now!"

Osmund choked back a cough, sensing Frigga staring exhausted daggers at his neck as the others around him laughed. He patted the little girl's head with an awkward smile.

"Now, Lyanna, papa can't do that. The family's getting too big! Arthur is going to be the last one."

"Then you owe me, Papa!" Lyanna whined.

"How about this. I'll give you Lobera instead of a baby sister, is that okay with you?"

"YOU'RE GIVING HER LOBERA?!" cried the two boys indignantly as Lyanna nodded happily with bright eyes.

"Why are you giving her a sword when she uses spears?!" pressed the third boy, the tallest of the trio and with short, blonde hair.

"She can learn to use a sword like you then, Valerius. I'll teach you both together. It'll be easier!"

"Easier on you!"

"Okay then, make another bastard, old man!" Wulf ordered.

"WHAT? Where the hell did you learn that word?" Osmund fumed. In the corner by the door, Ymir, who had not participated in any of the laughter up to that point, was looking away and trembling with a grin on his face.

"AHA! So you can't! Now you owe ME something," Wulf ruled, crossing his arms with a huff.

"That's not how it works!"

"Oh it's because I'm a bastard now is it?"

"Wulf, you're not a bastard. I've already told you countless ti - you know what, fine! I'll give you all something."

The three children cheered as loudly as the crowd had.

"Being extorted by your own children? Fatherhood must be quite unpleasant," mused a man with long, white hair and venomous green eyes. He had been standing by the terrace, holding a staff with a glowing blue crystal at its head. His face was feminine and his voice was soft and honeyed, easily capable of being mistaken for a beautiful woman if it weren't for his skintight attire on his upper body, which showed all the features of an athletic man. "The Queen must be tired. Everyone, please bid your farewells."

They all congratulated Osmund and Frigga, laughing and patting their backs, leaving one by one. Lyanna, Valerius, and Wulf were the last to leave, trying to ask their father what they were receiving until Ymir shooed them away.

Finally, it was just Osmund, Frigga, the baby, and the strange man. The joyful, warm atmosphere was now gone, replaced by a cold silence as they stared at one another in tension. But such a frigid ambience was unnatural, too bitter to be simply because of the strange man.

"You can stop hiding yourself now, Agmund," the strange man said, looking toward the darkened corner of the room by the door.

Out stepped a towering man, becoming visible in the light as he had been completely invisible in the shadows. His hair was long and an impenetrable black, pierced by curved black horns on the sides of his head. His eyes were a spectral silver, their gaunt glow further making his sickly pale face wraith-like. He was hunched over, being too large for the room.

Agmund walked with long strides over to them, dragging behind a long, black cloak that waved like the surface of water with each movement. Most prominent of all was his aura, a constant eminence of pure dread that made even the hairs of valorous Osmund stand on end. The strange man looked uncomfortable standing next to him, subconsciously taking a step away from the deathly figure.

Agmund turned his head toward the man, speaking in a deep, hushed voice that still managed to resonate, "You've learned to sense my presence, Ancelot."

"Only an idiot would not be able to learn how to," said Ancelot, regaining his composure. "You hide yourself too often that it's easy to learn by now."

"It's rude to consider others fools despite your advantage in power, Mage...." Agmund cautioned.

"Apologies, my King. But I wish to speak about the current advantage in power our empire has in the Nine Worlds."

"What you wish to to discuss is war, Ancelot. Say it clearly." Osmund growled. He was standing at the foot of Frigga's bed, glowering at Ancelot.

Ancelot looked directly at Osmund's eyes, imperturbed by Osmund's posturing. "I understand you wish to savor your time with your wife and children in tranquility, High Prince. However peace will not last. Not with barbarians at the gates looking for an opportunity to assemble and attack."

"Your lobby can be discussed another time. You're right, I am tired." Frigga professed.

"What do you think, my King?" Ancelot looked at Agmund. But Agmund was not listening. He had been gazing at the baby in Frigga's arms, who looked back directly at him, eye to eye, both with intense interest. No hint of dread nor fear lay in that baby's golden eyes and Agmund looked back with confusion and curiosity.

"Agmund!" Frigga called. Agmund snapped out of his lull and realized Frigga had been calling his name several times. She held up the baby toward him, "Would you like to hold him?"

Agmund hesitated for a moment, looking down at the baby once more. Osmund moved in, carefully taking the baby from Frigga and cradling him in his arms. "At least not before me." He stepped toward Agmund, holding the baby to him. It reached out to him and Agmund hesitated before slowly taking the fearless baby in his sickle-like fingers.

The warmth that spread over Agmund was felt by those around him as if the baby's radiance melted the cold aura of the phantom. The sun now bathed the room in its embracing light, revealing the odd smile on Agmund's lips. Osmund and Frigga smiled radiantly at the pair.

However, it was not all smiles. Ancelot, unnoticed, took another step away from Agmund as if his current aura was more dreadful than his previous. His face was unreadable as he looked away from the sun, but his eyes hid a burning anger at the pleasant peace that had befallen the king and his empire; a spark that would fester and soon ignite tragedy.