#verse: age of calamity

[comixandco]

The four Sages were called back into the past by Terrako and they remember it happening

Tulin got to meet his hero, Revali, and decided to be just like him, adopting his idol’s brash personality and drive. He practises Revali’s Gale and eventually comes up with his own way to show off his mastery of wind, and when trouble hits his home he rushes to fix it on his own to prove how strong he has become and because, like Revali, he can’t stand idly by while he knows there’s still things he can do.

For Yunobo, when he goes back and meets his ancestor Daruk, he is a very timid and reactive Goron. He needs a push from others to come up with ideas and carry plans through, and when bad things happen to him his first instinct is to use his fire magic as a shield, to wait until the threat has passed by or somebody else has come to save him. But when he is sent back in time to Divine Beast vah Rudania, for the first time he has to be the one doing the saving. Daruk encourages Yunobo and is proud of him from the moment they meet, and it’s this support that gives Yunobo the confidence to help fight against Calamity Ganon, and to start YunoboCo when he gets home.

For Sidon, meeting his family from 100 years ago is bittersweet. He is proud that he was able to protect his sister, and it’s a comfort to know there is a version of him who will grow up alongside Mipha because of his bravery and fighting prowess. But as much joy as he got from seeing her, hugging her, and hearing her voice again, it just reminds him of how unfair her death was, of just how young she was when she died and how he is now older even though he’s the younger sibling. And at the end of the war, when he’s returned to their original time, he has to readjust to her absence all over again, and in light of that is it really a shock he’d have her statue moved further away from his home? And it also explains why he’s so desperate to protect Yona from the sludge.

Riju in AoC still a new ruler to her people, despite her accomplishments in BotW, she still feels guilty over the temporary loss of the Thunder Helm and isn’t sure if she can lead the Gerudo. She has a lot of confidence but is quick to falter when things go wrong. Urbosa treats Riju as a capable fighter despite her young age, and teaches her that she should never give up, to keep trying even when her resolve falters. There is always something you can do, even when it’s just stalling for time until help can arrive. Urbosa guides her in mastering the Thunderhelm, and possibly begins teaching her to summon lightning herself after Kohga attempts to steal it, and at the end of their time together Urbosa tells Riju she’s certain she’ll lead the Gerudo well. Riju treasured her time being mentored by Urbosa so much that she considers what Urbosa would do during the Upheaval in her diary in TotK.

I think the entire reason Tulin was added to the DLC was because the TotK team had already decided that Tulin was going to be the Sage of Wind, and that since the other sages were going to meet their Champions Tulin had to as well.

At some point in the years between Botw and TotK Teba, Tulin, Sidon, Yunobo, Riju and Patricia were summoned back in time by Terrako to aid the Champions during the Calamity, and even though those events took place in a parallel timeline and had no bearing on the world they returned to, the Sages’ personalities at the beginning of TotK are because of their experiences during the Calamity and the bonds they made with the Champions.

[sokkas-first-fangirl]

Planning out "Iridescent" and "Radiant" and I've got a very important question for you all.

If (and it's a big if) I make Yuki an additional Sage, like Paya, what would you want him to be the Sage of? All other Sages remain the same and Paya is intended to be the Sage of Shadow. So- what do you guys think suits our feral angry ninja?

[stiltonbasket]

Wei Wuxian is thrust into an emperor position and must navigate his kingdom to prosperity. His new advisor, Lan Wangji, attempts to make the task easier.

oh no anon I already have too many ongoing royalty AUs QAQ

[thesealingarrow]

@magic-clown wanted a starter <3

"Please be careful. We live in dangerous times."

She wasn't much one to talk, sitting out in the fields. The breeze was nice, and the sun was shining. The beauty masked its danger, however. At any moment, Bokoblins or Moblins could have made themselves present. She'd come to expect it, to always be on guard. It had taken a lot of practice, but the Sheikah Slate was rather useful in times of trouble.

Raising from where she'd been seated, Zelda gives a quick brush off to her pants. They weren't far from the castle, Impa would have never allowed her to travel too far alone. As far as she saw it, she didn't need an escort to simply sit in the fields.

"You're welcome to come back to Castle Town with me."

[fortunesfavours]

i come bearing time duplicate, an epic-level spell found in the depths of the epic level handbook for dnd 3.5e. this will now consume my waking thoughts for dunamancy/sg/oc purposes

[vigilantdesert]

"Ah, if I may make a request: while we battle, please refrain from striking me with lightning!"

"Don't worry, Prince Sidon, you're not the first Zora I've worked with." Neither was his sister, but she was certainly the one she worked with most often. It took some time for her to overcome her fear of lightning.

Not that she blamed them. Not only was lightning particularly potent to the Zora, her attacks were known to cover distances otherwise applicable only to archers. It was something that had developed out of using lightning against hoards of Yiga  footsoldiers. She would have preferred to engage each one individually, but given their penchant for turning tail at the slightest threat of danger, it was better to take them all out on sight.

That wasn't to say she couldn't play her cards close to her chest.

"I'll come from the North, you from the South, and we pincer them into the swamp." She gestured from above, using the monster forces beneath them as if they were on a battle map. "Do you have any questions?"

[tomepact]

@celestialdetected / calamity starter.

" arawn. it's good to see you. "

hymnal, such a beacon among these shadowed times, smiles with exhaustion in his face as the door opens and he's welcome into safety. despite the soot and blood that clings to his face and clothing, his armor remains untouched.

the circle of light above his head spins almost lazily, indifferent to the way hymnal drags himself along on no sleep and many battles.

" sorry to drop in unannounced -- i have. . .need of a place to rest. i hope that's alright? "

the symbol of the everlight hung around his throat, a spot of gold among the white and blue of his armor and the banner he carried on his shield, and it twinkled lightly in proximity to arawn as if saying hello in turn.

[hystoriia]

tag dump 01.

muses & verses.

▲ rito confidence ( revali | ic ) ▲ rito confidence ( revali | gallery ) ▲ rito confidence ( revali | headcanon ) ▲ rito confidence ( revali | character study )

▲ hero of the wild ( link | ic ) ▲ hero of the wild ( link | gallery ) ▲ hero of the wild ( link | headcanon ) ▲ hero of the wild ( link | character study )

▲ aspiring heroine ( linkle | ic ) ▲ aspiring heroine ( linkle | gallery ) ▲ aspiring heroine ( linkle | headcanon ) ▲ aspiring heroine ( linkle | character study )

▲ harried assistant ( shion | ic ) ▲ harried assistant ( shion | gallery ) ▲ harried assistant ( shion | headcanon ) ▲ harried assistant ( shion | character study )

▲ hero of the sky ( link | ic ) ▲ hero of the sky ( link | gallery ) ▲ hero of the sky ( link | headcanon ) ▲ hero of the sky ( link | character study )

▲ hero of winds ( link | ic ) ▲ hero of winds ( link | gallery ) ▲ hero of winds ( link | headcanon ) ▲ hero of winds ( link | character study )

▲ white sorceress ( lana | ic ) ▲ white sorceress ( lana | gallery ) ▲ white sorceress ( lana | headcanon ) ▲ white sorceress ( lana | character study )

▲ the champion's ballad ( verse | era of the wild ) ▲ battle of liberation ( verse | age of calamity ) ▲ ballad of the goddess ( verse | era of the sky ) ▲ wind's requiem ( verse | era of the great sea ) ▲ eclipse of the world ( verse | hyrule warriors )



[thiefcant]

Examine! a cool ring, with intricate, definitely not cursed inscriptions

casting identify.

the ring is beautiful, made of delicate silver threads in the shape of thorny brambles encasing a heart of onyx that pulsed quietly with magic. it was a lovely gift to himself, plucked from the fingers of a spoilt archmage on the streets of such a grand city.

there's delicate writing on it that's too small for rixian to read without his loupe, but he's sure it's an incantation of some kind. he's hesitant to put the thing on without checking it with someone else first.

maybe, just maybe, he'll find another mage who could identify it for him for the right amount of coin. . .

[golvio]

Also…the interview and certain incurious fan responses make me feel profoundly sad when I think about how Ganondorf gets treated by his ostensible “allies” in the various BotW-verse games.

You’ve got Astor, who’s a little bloodsucker who only sees Ganon as a tool. There’s Kohga, who idolizes him but never actually speaks to him, who regards him more like a god to pray to for favors or the key to his own glory than as a person. Even Sooga, who was the most respectful of the three, speaks of Calamity Ganon like a dangerous wild animal instead of a former man.

Not to mention Rauru, who also saw Ganon as a dangerous beast that needed to be kept on a short leash, or a wayward, misbehaving child who needed to be kept in a harness to keep him under control until his rebellious phase passed.

And then the modern Gerudo, who seem to regard men as an entirely alien species, either too beautiful and perfect to talk to, or bumbling and a bit dim, or constantly dangerous and threatening. Always as potential lovers, husbands, and fathers to their children. But never as people, as fellow human beings. Granted, this is partly because of the objectification they suffer as obligatory brides sent out into the world to marry when they come of age, but, still, that doesn’t bode well for how they treated Ganon even before this bizarre bridal exchange started up.

Sure, he’s presented as so powerful and inhuman and divorced from his own humanity that he’s incapable of caring, but…it just troubles me that this attitude is so pervasive in the ways that other people speak about him, both in-universe and outside. Would he have turned out differently if he’d ever met someone who treated him like a real person and an equal?

[sokkas-first-fangirl]

Have a "Urbosa, The Gerudo Chief" snippet from my Zelink role-swap 'verse (Age of Calamity edition)

Given that Queen Lianna had sent Link to recruit Chief Urbosa, they couldn't go into Gerudo Town itself. Lady Impa could have entered the town and passed along the queen's request, but Urbosa had written directly to Link, to tell him she'd meet him at Kara Kara Bazaar.

Zelda heard the rumours, of course. People said Chief Urbosa hated Queen Lianna. The rumours said Chief Urbosa lost her temper at the mere mention of Queen Lianna's name.

Zelda had not been at court long, but even she heard how few people believed Urbosa would take the role of pilot. None of the servants believed she would willingly work with the queen. The nobility thought otherwise; they insisted Urbosa would "see reason" and accept the title.

Zelda just hoped Urbosa wouldn't aim that infamous temper at them.

Prince Link, usually so silent and solemn, picked up the pace when he spotted Urbosa and her quartet of guards. His eyes totally lit up and, although he didn't smile, even that small change totally transformed his face.

Impa said Lady Urbosa was a kind, albeit no-nonsense woman. Impa said the Gerudo Chief highly favoured Link; that she loved the prince as her own.

Chief Urbosa, to Zelda's bewilderment, did not appear happy to see him.

"So, the queen isn't here?" she asked, sneering. "Nor is the princess?"

Link faltered. He shook his head. No, he signed. You knew they wouldn't be here.

Urbosa sighed. "...Fine," she snapped, rolling her eyes. "I suppose you'll do. I can still send a message."

With that, the Gerudo Chief unsheathed her scimitar and rushed at Link with a battle cry. Urbosa's guards gave startled screams.

"My lady, stop!"

"Lady Urbosa, have you gone mad!?"

"What are you doing!?"

"No!"

Impa and Zelda jumped in front of Link, blades raised. Link unsheathed his sword, but he looked as horrified as Urbosa's guards. The guards ran forward, trying to intercept Urbosa and her apparent fit of madness.

Just as Urbosa's Scimitar of The Seven was about to clash with Impa and Zelda's swords, there was a sudden BOOM! Lightning crashed down from the clear sky, hitting Urbosa dead-on. The chief screamed and jerked about like a puppet. Her sword and shield dropped to the ground.

Just like that, in five seconds flat, the chaos stopped. Everyone froze, staring as Urbosa crumpled to the ground with a pained gasp.

"Really?" a woman drawled. "I leave for a few hours and this is what I return to?"

"Lady Urbosa!?" Impa gasped.

Marching across the bazaar, heedless of the gawping crowd of merchants, guards and travellers, was...Lady Urbosa? She was followed by a woman who closely resembled her. Each of them looked furious.

Urbosa (was it really her?) spotted Link and ran over, her face suddenly alight with panic.

"Little dragon, are you hurt?" she demanded.

Prince Link stared at her. Slowly, he shook his head. He smiled; a small, confused smile, but there all the same.

"Wait, but- but if you're Chief Urbosa then...?" Zelda trailed off uncertainly. Heaped on the ground, the other Urbosa stopped twitching and began to grumble.

"You morons have some nerve," the other Urbosa said in a man's voice. "Thinking you can go toe-to-toe with me..."

He leapt to his feet and, in a puff of smoke and red paper tags, he transformed from Urbosa's double into...Someone else. A tall, rotund man in a skin-tight red suit. He wore a white mask, painted with an eye; the Sheikah symbol upside down.

A Yiga.

Urbosa pushed Link behind her, her weapon aimed at the Yiga. The woman with her snarled and pointed her spear at the Yiga. Impa gave a horrified gasp and pulled out a second sword, aiming both weapons for the man's neck. Zelda stepped forward, wary gaze on the Yiga, firmly keeping Prince Link behind her.

"I'd have preferred gutting the queen or her little heir," the Yiga snarled. "And letting them bleed out on the sand. It would have been perfect for Lord Ganon, but instead she sent you."

One by one, more Yiga began to appear across the bazaar. Yiga on the inn's roof, surrounding the stalls; Yiga in the trees and all across the dunes.

"You'll do, Princey," the Yiga sneered. "We can still show your precious mommy what Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan are capable of!"

[fragmentedlegends]

Tid bits, just because it’s fun to see it all together:

• Astor is an insomniac and has been since he was eight years old. He averages about 4 hours a night, though sometimes he'll get lucky and manage 6 hours (though rarely consistently.) He's a very light sleeper and tends to wake up throughout what sleep he does manage to get.

• Was born with the ability to see into the future through prophetic dreams, which came from his mother, but they occurred at random. He is also able to use divination to find objects/people through the use of hallucinogenics, which comes from his father.

• He likes to cook. His style would be considered elegant, akin to fine dining.

• Has quite a nice voice, which also extends to his singing voice. He’s no professional, but it has a nice timbre to it. Sometimes, you might catch him singing softly to himself while his mind is elsewhere, usually little catchy, repetitive tunes he’s heard in his travels.

• His family farm mainly focused on meat stock. He knows how to kill, gut, and prepare typical common farm animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens.

• He is the older brother to Geole, who is two years younger than him. The two were very close. When Astor was 19, he sacrificed Geole to the Horned God, who promised to increase Astor’s power and reveal to him the secret of Calamity Ganon.

• He killed two older boys while defending his younger brother at the age of 14.

• He is not particularly a "kid-person," but he has standards regarding them being harmed. While he's not above letting them be collateral damage, he won't actively seek their harm and will step in if someone else is actively harming them, such as when he overdosed a member of his cult who was using children for pleasure.

• He was a good-looking man in his youth. His current appearance is the side effect of being infected by dark magic (malice), which has been slowly deteriorating his body since he became Calamity Ganon's Chosen Prophet at 34. In verses in which Astor succeeds in Calamity's revival, Lord Ganondorf elects to keep him on his staff. He alters the malice he has access to, weakening his power but taking away the damaging effects on his body. Astor must train to increase his power again.

• Absolutely hates having a headache. It makes him very grumpy.

[tomepact]

" i think they are frightened of my armor. i look like one of the marble statues on the estate. "

he laughs, bright as the sun, as he leads arawn along with his hand tucked into his elbow. he was graceful despite the heavy armor, his tail flicking back and forth in interest as he leads them.

" no, no one has asked me yet. so i will be happy to have my first dance with you. "

there is a moment in the middle of the floor where hymnal offers a bow at the waist, formal for the event, before he takes arawn's hands.

" don't worry about being too graceful. just count the steps, it's a simple four-step. "

@tomepact continue from here

Arawn worries at his symbol of the Everlight, a nervous tic that he considered more acceptable than lighting a flame in a dance hall. His robes are silver with golden trim, and more expensive than a week of his wages.

He wants nothing more than to leave. To curl up in a hidey-hole and watch the merriment without having to participate. But, if he can't have that, he'll take Hymnal's offered elbow and lead him to the dance floor.

"Really? No one has asked you for a dance?" He smiles. "Well then let me be the first."

[thesealingarrow]

@symbioteburnout wanted a starter <3

There's a gasp.

Zelda hadn't expected anyone to come from the sky, at least, not anyone who didn't appear to be a Rito. This person didn't appear to have any wings. It sparked curiosity, along with some concern. What was the nature of this being? Hands going behind her back, her head tilted ever so slightly.

"Well hello! Are you alright? I must say, I've never quite seen a stunt like that before."

[stardusted-bookworm]

How about... a story with Beau as a history teacher at the Academy for a day at Caleb and Astrid's request, and she finds that she likes it so much that she wants to do it again because the kids love her?

She didn’t want to do this. She really didn’t fucking want to do this. 

Beau cursed violently under her breath as she stormed through the halls of the Soltryce Academy. Why had she agreed to do this? She wasn’t a teacher. She had no patience for kids who wouldn’t give two shits about what she said. So why. Was. She. Here?

Caleb. It was fucking Caleb. That motherfucker and his fucking sincerity and his bullshit about “You will be a great influence on these kids, Beauregard. They should hear the history of our country, of our world from someone who knows firsthand that history should not be told by only the victors.”

Fuck him and his persuasive words.

Beau finally reached the door to the classroom. She took a deep breath. Okay. We’re going to be polite. We’re going to be diplomatic. But we won’t take any shit. With that mantra running through her head, she all but kicked in the door and walked into the room. 

Some of the kids nearest the door jumped at the loud sound, but Beau kept walking until she was next to Caleb in front of the room.

“Ah, punctual as always, Expositor Lionett,” the wizard said. “Thank you for providing us with your invaluable knowledge and time.”

Beau looked at Caleb, eyebrows raised, and very stiltedly said, “Yes. Thank you, Professor Widogast, for inviting me into your classroom.” She gave a broad smile to the class. Immediately, several kids shrunk back and Caleb quickly shook his head. She stopped smiling.

Widogast turned back to his students. “Expositor Lionett will be speaking on the subject of history today, a subject she is more well-versed in than I.”

There were murmurs around the classroom. Apparently, Caleb didn’t often admit to his students that someone was better at something than him. So if Beau preened a little bit, no one else needed to know.

“I will expect you to show the utmost respect for our guest speaker,” he continued with narrowed eyes. “I will not be far, so do not think you will be able to get away with any shenanigans.”

He stepped off to the side and sat at his desk, allowing her to take control of the class.

Beau turned steely eyes on the students in front of her. “I could start from the beginning. Talk to you about the Age of Arcanum, the Calamity.” She watched their eyes glaze over and smirked. “But I won’t do that. Instead, we’re gonna talk about the Xhorhassian War.”

“But that’s a recent event!” a student shouted. 

She raised an eyebrow. “And?”

The student in question, a young half-orc that reminded her of Fjord, seemed to shrink a little in their seat. “W-well, we already know about the war because we've lived through it.”

“Where did you live during the war, kid?”

“The Empire.”

“So is it safe to say that during this historic event you were only hearing propaganda that favored the Dwendalian Empire?”

The kid seemed to shrink even further in their seat. “Y-yeah.”

Beau softened a little. She had a soft spot for kids, whether she admitted it to herself or not. “Now that doesn't necessarily mean your experience with the war was wrong. It just means that you only got one side of it. I, on the other hand, have seen both sides.”

She took a metallic sphere out of her pocket, smiling to herself as the classroom erupted into loud whispers of disbelief. She pushed a button, and images began to project out of it. Bryce Feelid greeting the Nein with warmth in Alfield.The attack in Zadash where the Nein encountered the Luxon Beacon for the first time. Meeting the Kryn soldier in the sewers. Seeing the Bright Queen for the first time. The Xhorhaus. And finally, the peace negotiations between King Dwendal and the Bright Queen on the Lucidian Ocean.

This Sphere of Memory had been an item Beau had commissioned of Pumat months ago, and, with the help of Caleb and Essek, infused it with her memories of traveling with the Nein. It was helpful for when she got lost in nostalgia. Or, apparently, teaching kids important lessons of history.

“For those of you who’ve grown up in the Empire for most or all of your lives, you probably think that the Kryn are vile creatures and that it was solely their fault that the war went on for so long. But the truth is—” It was about that time that the memories cycled back to the Xhorhaus. This particular memory had the Nein hanging out in the hot tub, laughing while Essek looked mildly amused at something Jester said, no doubt. 

“—they’re just like us,” Beau continued. A soft smile crept over her face.

She turned eyes back to the class. The students were hanging off her words now. Whether it was because of the images of Xhorhas still cycling through, because of the change in her demeanor, or the new information regarding the Dynasty, she didn’t know.

“They have families, they’ve lost loved ones to this war too, they have a culture so rich and diverse it truly makes the Empire seem like a slum.”

Beau turned the Sphere of Memory off. “The point of all this? Don’t believe shit people tell you without verifying for yourself.”

“Even you?” This was a green tiefling girl with only one full horn.

Beau smiled wide. “Especially me. People will tell you all kinds of bullshit to get you to believe what they want you to. But listen to what I’m about to say if nothing else: there are always two sides to every story. Find both of them and choose which one you believe. Often, it’s the history they’re trying to hide from you that’s closest to the truth.”

She glanced at Caleb and noticed that his face was set, staring off into the distance, lost in memories. Best to end this quickly then.

“After all, history is written by the victors even when it absolutely shouldn’t be. All right, get out of here. Class is dismissed.”

Widogast seemed to tune back in at that. “Ah, wait, no, Beauregard—”

But the students didn’t need any other words as they began filing out of the room, chattering excitedly. She caught bits and pieces of conversation and the “feedback” seemed to be overall positive.

“You are a menace, Beauregard,” Caleb whispered.

Beau grinned. “It’s why you keep me around isn’t it?”

The wizard let out a long-suffering sigh. Beau grinned even wider and slung an arm around his neck, bringing him down so she could rub her knuckles into his head.

“Ach! Beauregard, release me at once!”

“Yeah, sure, buddy.” She did not, in fact, release him.

“Excuse me, Expositor Lionett?”

Beau turned over her shoulder, dragging Caleb with her. It was the green tiefling girl from earlier.

“Oh, hey, kid. What’s up?”

“I wanted to thank you for what you said.” Her eyes glanced from her to Caleb still trapped under her arm. “About history being written by the victors even though it shouldn’t be.”

She fidgeted nervously. “Something… bad… happened to my family a couple years ago, hence why my horns—horn—is like this. The people who did it… they got away with it and lied to everyone. Telling them we deserved it.” Her fists balled at her side. “And everyone just believed them. They didn’t try to find the truth for themselves.”

Beau let go of Caleb immediately and set a steady hand on her shoulder. “Hey, listen to me. That is a horrible thing that happened to you. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.” She ducked her head to look the girl in the eyes. “If you want justice, come to the Cobalt Soul. Ask for me by name. We’ll build your case, and we’ll make sure those bastards see justice for what they did to you. I promise.”

Tears slid down the girl’s cheeks. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Beau’s waist. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for believing me.”

Beau’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. She returned the hug, wrapping her arms tighter around the young tiefling girl. “Of course, kid. Now, run along. You don’t wanna be late to your next class.”

The girl pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, Expositor.” She turned to Caleb. “Thank you, Professor Widogast.” And then she ran out of the room.

A hand dropped onto her shoulder. “You’re good with them, Beauregard,” Caleb said.

She shrugged. “These kids were alright.” But she was grinning.

He chuckled. “It seems the bug has bit you as well.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What bug?”

“The teaching bug. That want to inspire future generations to be better.”

She hummed noncommittally. But now she was thinking about it. Maybe she could teach on the side when Expositor-ing is relatively slow. She wanted to be someone these kids could go to, to have an adult on campus that would believe them. Other than Caleb of course.

“Come, Beauregard. Let’s have lunch.”

As she followed Caleb to his desk, she made a mental note to ask Yudala if she could do both: use her Expositor skills to take down the corruption present within the institution and teach the students to see the corruption for themselves.

It would be her new project, she decided. Beauregard Lionett grinned. This would be fun.

[vigilantdesert]

So Lady Urbosa has electrical scars in addition to combat then? I always thought those were rather pretty myself, with the way they like to form fractals sometimes, and scars in general can tell you so much about a person.

Most of mine are from hobbies; cooking burns, stabbing myself while sewing one too many times, not wearing enough protective equipment while handling dangerous plants, that sort of thing

"I am... Glad you appreciate them," she replied with a terse undertone she was usually able to tame from her voice. "They are the only scars I would rather hide."

She inhaled a moment, trying to gather her words. It was an odd statement, considering her heritage. One of the easiest ways to make friends with a Gerudo was to swap scar stories - even the silly ones from target practice gone wrong or an overly enthusiastic sand seal usually landed well. And yet, the way she reacted, it was as though you'd accused her mother of having an affair.

"They aren't... No other woman in my family has had them, that I'm aware of. They marks of power poorly managed."

Or, perhaps, they came about because she used her power more often used and, perhaps, there was greater power coursing through her veins to begin with. She wouldn't entertain the thought for long, though.

A small smile came back to her lips at the other's list.

"Plants are much more dangerous than most give them credit for. The pricks on my right arm are from a sand seal accident in the Southern Plattes."