#web networking king

[brandingbridge123]

" Your brand is the reputation you build. "

[bunmaxilla]

Day 2 of drawing WK until I actually like him 🦀

Unedited version:

[fatehbaz]

"The most fashionable bathing station in all Europe". British industrialists and American mining investors plotting the colonization of the Congo, while mingling at Ostend's seaside vacation resorts. Extracting African life to build European railways, hotels, palaces, suburbs, and other modern(ist) infrastructure. "Towards infinity!"

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In 1885, King Leopold II achieved an astonishing and improbable goal: he claimed a vast new realm of his own devising, a conjury on a map called [...] the Congo Free State. [...] [A] fictional state owned by the king, ruled by decree, and run from Brussels from 1885 to 1908. [...] This was [...] a private entrepreneurial venture [for the king]. The abundance of ivory, timber, and wild rubber found in this enormous territory brought sudden and spectacular profits to Belgium, the king, and a web of interlocking concession companies. The frenzy to amass these precious resources unleashed a regime of forced labor, violence [millions of deaths], and unchecked atrocities for Congolese people. These same two and a half decades of contact with the Congo Free State remade Belgium [...] into a global powerhouse, vitalized by an economic boom, architectural burst, and imperial surge.

Congo profits supplied King Leopold II with funds for a series of monumental building projects [...]. Indeed, Belgian Art Nouveau exploded after 1895, created from Congolese raw materials and inspired by Congolese motifs. Contemporaries called it “Style Congo,” [...]. The inventory of this royal architecture is astonishing [...]. [H]istorical research [...] recovers Leopold’s formative ideas of architecture as power, his unrelenting efforts to implement them [...]. King Leopold II harbored lifelong ambitions to “embellish” and beautify the nation [...]. [W]ith his personal treasury flush with Congo revenue, [...] Leopold - now the Roi Batisseur ("Builder King") he long aimed to be - planned renovations explicitly designed to outdo Louis XIV's Versailles. Enormous greenhouses contained flora from every corner of the globe, with a dedicated soaring structure completed specifically to house the oversize palms of the Congolese jungles. [...]

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The Tervuren Congo palace [...]. Electric tramways were built and a wide swath of avenue emerged. [...] [In and around Brussels] real estate developers began to break up lots [...] for suburban mansions and gardens. Between 1902 and 1910, new neighborhoods with luxury homes appeared along the Avenue [...]. By 1892, Antwerp was not only the port of call for trade but also the headquarters of the most profitable of an interlinking set of banks and Congo investment companies [...]. As Antwerp in the 1890s became once again the “Queen of the Scheldt,” the city was also the home of what was referred to as the “Queen of Congo companies.” This was the ABIR, or Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company, founded in 1892 with funds from British businessman “Colonel” John Thomas North [...].

Set on the seaside coast, Belgium’s Ostend was the third imperial cityscape to be remade by King Leopold [...] [in a] transformation [that] was concentrated between 1899 and 1905 [...]. Ostend encompassed a boomtown not of harbor and trade, like Antwerp, but of beachfront and leisure [...] [developed] as a "British-style" seaside resort. [...] Leopold [...] [w]as said to spend "as much time in Ostend as he did in Brussels," [...]. Ostend underwent a dramatic population expansion in a short period, tripling its inhabitants from 1870–1900. [...] Networks of steamers, trams, and railway lines coordinated to bring seasonal visitors in, and hotels and paved walkways were completed. [...] [A]nd Leopold’s favorite spot, the 1883 state-of-the-art racetracks, the Wellington Hippodrome. Referred to with an eye-wink as “the king incognito” (generating an entire genre of photography), visitors to the seaside could often see Leopold in his top hat and summer suit [...], riding his customized three-wheeled bicycle [...]. By 1900, Ostend’s expansion and enhancement made it known as “the Queen of the Belgian seaside resorts” and “the most fashionable bathing station in all Europe.” Opulence, convenience, and spectacle brought the Shah of Persia, American tycoons, European aristocrats, and Belgian elites, among others, to Ostend.

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Leopold’s interventions and the Congo Free State personnel and proceeds played three pivotal and understudied roles in this transformation, all of which involved ABIR [British industrialists].

First, it was at Ostend that an early and decisive action was taken to structure the “red rubber” regime and set it in motion. In 1892, jurists such as [E.P.] had ruled, contravening [...] trade laws, that the king was entitled to claim the Congo as his domanial property [...]. Leopold [...] devised one part of that royal domain as a zone for private company concessions [...] to extract and export wild rubber.

Soon after, in 1892, King Leopold happened to meet the British “Colonel” John Thomas North at the Ostend Hippodrome. North, a Leeds-born mechanic [...] had made a fortune speculating on Chilean nitrates in the 1880s. He owned monopoly shares in nitrate mines and quickly expanded to acquire monopolies in Chilean freight railways, water supplies, and iron and coal mines. By 1890 North was a high-society socialite worth millions [...]. Leopold approached North at the Ostend racecourse to provide the initial investments to set up the Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company (ABIR). [...]

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One visible sign of Ostend’s little-known character as Congo boomtown was the Royal Palace Hotel, a lavish property next to the king’s Royal Domain, which opened in 1899. With hundreds of rooms and a broad sweep of acreage along the beachfront, the palace “occupied the largest space of any hotel in Europe.” [...]

King Leopold met American mining magnate Thomas Walsh there, and as with North, the meeting proved beneficial for his Congo enterprise: Leopold enlisted Walsh to provide assessments of some of his own Congo mining prospects. The hotel was part of [...] [a major European association of leisure profiteers] founded in 1894, that began to bundle luxury tourism and dedicated railway travel, and whose major investors were King Leopold, Colonel North [...].

At the height of Congo expansionism, fin-de-siècle Antwerp embodied an exhilarated launch point [...]. Explorers and expeditioners set sail for Matadi after 1887 with the rallying call “Vers l’infini!” (“towards infinity!”) [...].

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Text above by: Debora Silverman. "Empire as Architecture: Monumental Cities the Congo Built in Belgium". e-flux Architecture (Appropriations series). May 2024. At: e-flux.com/architecture/appropriations/608151/empire-as-architecture-monumental-cities-the-congo-built-in-belgium/ [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Italicized first paragraph/heading in this post was added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism.]

[magdawal]

Your Ultimate Guide to Porn Portal: Full Review

If you've ever dabbled in the world of adult entertainment, chances are you've come across the infamous Porn Portal. It's that tantalizing store that pops up when you sign in to Brazzers, teasing you with additional content and exclusive deals. But let me tell you, my friend, there's more to Porn Portal than meets the eye.

Unleash Your Pornographic Potential

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Some networks, like Team Skeet and Mylf, take a different approach. Instead of a portal-style store, they offer various membership levels right from the get-go. A standard membership grants you access to dozens of channels and exclusive series. But if you're feeling extra adventurous, their yearly premium plan unlocks an even wider range of channels. It's like having the keys to a kingdom of kinks.

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[haydenigmatic]

Lady Verena (veh-REH-na) Sarpe (/sɑːrp/)

Introducing Lady Verena, the captivating scion of one of the eight kingdoms' powerful families. Renowned for her beauty and political acumen, she weaves a complex tapestry of seduction and strategy to navigate the intricate web of courtly affairs. What twists await her?

As for a face claim there are a few: Katie McGrath as Morgana Le Fay, possibly Eva Green, even Alicia Agneson and of course she reminds me of Morrigan, all of them are a mix of what I picture her.

Now for her voice I think; Kathleen Turner the voice of Jessica Rabbit, I love her no matter what her health condition has done to her voice.

Main Family Dynamics:

Duke Veneger - The Spymaster:

Her father, is the spymaster serving the king. His absence from home due to his court duties creates a void in her life, contributing to her independence and self-reliance.

Duchess Jyne - The Ailing Mother:

Her mother, was once a significant influence in her life. However, her illness has made her unable to interact, creating a longing for the nurturing connection they once shared.

Veredus - The Heir with Reservations:

Her elder brother and the heir to the family, harbours reservations about his sister's unconventional ways. He views her with scepticism, wishing for a more traditional sister who would conform to societal expectations.

Vardan - The Second Son:

Her other elder brother, He has a knack for exploration and is often away on journeys to distant lands. Despite the physical distance, Verena and Vardan share a bond forged through occasional letters and updates, maintaining a connection despite the miles between them. He is more of a silent observer in the family dynamics. He neither openly opposes nor supports Verena's choices, maintaining a neutral stance.

Here are some random details about her:

Memorable Quote: "In this world, one's reputation is a weapon as sharp as any dagger."

Is an excellent horsewoman and loves nothing more than taking a spirited stallion out for a ride in the countryside.

Has a secret love for sweets and often indulges in them when no one is watching.

She is obsessed with collecting rare and exotic perfumes from all over the world.

Wears tight, low-cut dresses exclusively designed by a renowned tailor who understands her unique style.

Developed immunity to poisons, both a strength and a vulnerability. While it grants her a certain invincibility, it has also become a dangerous addiction.

love for the theatre isn't just limited to being an audience member. She actively participates in local productions, taking on various roles that allow her to explore different facets of herself.

Her white ferret companion is named Kavi. Originally intended as a meal for a serpent she had, changed her mind and kept the ferret as a pet. Becoming a constant, sneaking companion, often resting on her shoulder or within the folds of her elaborate dresses during social gatherings.

The illness that befell her mother left her unable to interact, creating a void that she struggled to fill, until Countess Roderick took her under her wing, she viewed her as a mother figure.

Countess Roderick became a surrogate parent, filling the void left by Verena's ailing mother and absent father. Visiting every day or extending invitations to her estate, the Countess became both mentor and confidante. However, her teachings went beyond the conventional, delving into the realm of feminine power and manipulation. Countess Roderick believed in arming her with the tools she'd need to navigate the treacherous world she was born into.

Fuelled by a mix of rage and political calculation, her father orchestrated the demise of Countess Roderick and her husband. This act, intended to protect the family's honour, irreparably fractured her trust in familial bonds and propelled her into a world where power and cunning were her only constants.

Her Network of Informants: "The Eyes of the Snake" maintains an extensive network of informants across the Eight Kingdoms. Information flows seamlessly through their channels, allowing her to stay well-informed about potential threats or opportunities.

[shieldfoss]

Man, imagine being an IT guy in the Bronze Age and having to tell the god-king of your city state that the network's not going to be up for three thousand years, must have been rough

"If the web isn't up in five minutes I'm throwing you unto the web-filled spider dungeon"

[disneytva]

Disney Networks - August 2024 Highlights

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “Go Dino-Webs Go!/Ghost in the Museum” (3-15) (8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Go Dino-Webs Go!” – With the help of Reptil, Team Spidey gets new dino powers to defeat Gobby’s Dino-Mech.

“Ghost in the Museum” – Team Spidey must stop a ghost that’s stealing from the museum.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Disney Jr.’s Ariel “The Clean Team/Clamming Up” (1-03) (9:00-9:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/10:00-10:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“The Clean Team” – Despite King Triton’s warning, Ariel uses magic to clean her room.

“Clamming Up” – Ariel and her friends befriend a shy clam.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of Pam/Summer of La Trabajadora” (1-04) (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of Pam” – Tater is thrilled to get her very first zit.

“Summer of La Trabajadora” – Tater shadows her cool cousin Lita as she goes about her three jobs.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of La Madriguera/Summer of Los Pollos Hermanos” (1-05) (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of La Madriguera” – With “Tater’s Corner” overrun by primos, Tater hunts for a hiding place to call her own.

“Summer of Los Pollos Hermanos” – Nachito transfers his hero worship from Big Nacho to Tater.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series “Reality Check, Please!/Their Guy Sasquatch” (1-11) (10:00-10:30 a.m. EDT, TV-G)

“Reality Check, Please!” – Mothership produces a reality show starring all of A-spen’s friends.

“Their Guy Sasquatch” – Eliza gets involved in a feud between werewolves and sasquatches.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “Grow Webs Grow/Rio In Space” (3-16) (8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Grow Webs Grow” – Lizard’s monster plant takes over the city.

“Rio In Space” – Doc Ock captures the Spider CRAWL-R while on a mission in Space, so Miles and his mom, Rio, work together to free their ship.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Disney Jr.’s Ariel “The Singing Dolphins/The Happy Patty Clap” (1-09) (9:00-9:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/10:00-10:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“The Singing Dolphins” – Ariel and her friends can’t find a role for Delfino the dolphin in their band. Ron Funches (Warner Bros Animation's "Jellystone!") voices Delfino.

“The Happy Patty Clap” – When Ayanna is unable to compete in the Clap Game competition, Ariel steps in so that Alanna can still participate.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of El Patín/Summer of Chisme” (1-06) (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of El Patín” – Tater tracks down a mysterious masked skater.

“Summer of Chisme” – Tater tries to get invited to the T Sisters’ gossip parties.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of No Sabo/Summer of Bookita” (1-07) (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of No Sabo” – Tater’s primos try to help her improve her Spanish with a homemade escape room.

“Summer of Bookita” – Tater introduces her littlest cousin to the library.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

Original Series – Season Two Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “Heroes and Hot-Shots/A Jedi or a Pirate” (2-01) (6:25-6:55 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/7:00-7:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Heroes and Hot-Shots” – The young Jedi are led on a mission by a new Padawan.

“A Jedi or a Pirate” – Kai sets out to find a lost youngling.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “The Rustler Roundup/A New Discovery” (2-02) (6:25-6:55 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/7:00-7:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“The Rustler Roundup” – Kai helps Bell track down stolen nerfs.

“A New Discovery” – Lys sets out to find a rare creature.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “A Pirate’s Pet/The Secret Ship” (2-03) (6:25-6:55 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/7:00-7:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“A Pirate’s Pet” – The Jedi must free a wild creature captured by Taborr.

“The Secret Ship” – Inaya takes Nash for a ride in her new ship.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “The Goblin and the Geyser/Skeleton Stomp” (3-19) (8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“The Goblin and the Geyser” – Gobby’s dino-mech takes over a natural geyser.

“Skeleton Stomp” – Lizard brings dinosaurs to life in the museum.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Disney Jr.’s Ariel “Ravi and Navi/Chef Flounder” (1-11) (9:00-9:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/10:00-10:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Ravi and Navi” – Ariel helps Ravi and his best friend Navi clear up a misunderstanding. Comedian Melissa Villaseñor voices Navi.

“Chef Flounder” – Flounder uses his cooking skills to help other chefs at the Atlantica Food Festival.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of the 13th Primo/Summer of Cuadros” (1-10) (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of the 13th Primo” – Tater tries to uncover the identity of a mysterious, forgotten cousin.

“Summer of Cuadros” – Tater helps Gordita access her inner artist to make a special gift for Buela.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of Tater Luna/Summer of El Chu-PAW-Cabra” (1-16) (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of Tater Luna” – Tater’s pride in her artwork is deflated by criticism.

“Summer of El Chu-PAW-Cabra” – Tater tries to track down the town’s missing dogs.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “Nubs’ Big Mistake/The Jedi Rescue” (2-04) (6:25-6:55 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/7:00-7:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Nubs’ Big Mistake” – Yoda joins Nubs on a mission to protect an old lightsaber.

“The Jedi Rescue” – The Jedi must rescue Wes from pirates.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel SuperKitties “Brand New Bestie/Cat-o-flauge Kitty” (2-11) (7:30-8:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Brand New Bestie” – Bitsy worries that she and Ginny can only be besties if they like the same things.

“Cat-o-flauge Kitty” – Zsa-Zsa freezes everyone for her group selfie, and Ginny figures out how to use cat-o-flauge.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “Fool’s Gold/The Sundae Save” (3-20) (8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Fool’s Gold” – Team Spidey and White Tiger must stop Gobby and Rhino from mining in a ringtail’s habitat. Kylie Cantrall (“Descendants: The Rise of Red”) guest stars as White Tiger.

“The Sundae Save” – When Trapster traps Spidey, he must get help from friends with big ideas.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of the Baby Races/Summer of La Extraterrestre” (1-09) (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of the Baby Races” – Tater enters Baby Bud in a race against the Richterville snobs.

“Summer of La Extraterrestre” – Tater suspects one of her cousins might be an extraterrestrial.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of El Futuro/Summer of Super No Entiendo 64” (1-08) (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of El Futuro” – Tater tries to see into her own future.

“Summer of Super No Entiendo 64” – Tater teams up with the primos to get revenge on The Skid.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “Terror of Tenoo/The Prince of Masks” (2-05) (6:25-6:55 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/7:00-7:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Terror of Tenoo” – The Jedi discover a long-lost ship.

“The Prince of Masks” – Prince Cyrus needs help defending his village from pirates.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel SuperKitties “Boat Ride Ruckus/Favorite Fishy Cake” (2-12) (7:30-8:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Boat Ride Ruckus” – Sparks faces his fear of getting his face wet to stop Zsa-Zsa from ruining the Paddlepaws Express boat ride.

“Favorite Fishy Cake” – Lab Rat steals fishy cake for Otto’s birthday, trapping Bitsy.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “Adventures in Fossil Hunting/Lizard’s Buggy Bonanza” (3-17) (8:00-8:30 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/8:30-9:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“Adventures in Fossil Hunting” – Team Spidey searches for Mr. Von Carnegie, who is fossil hunting in an active volcano.

“Lizard’s Buggy Bonanza” – When Lizard super-sizes bugs in town, Team Spidey and White Tiger team up to stop him. Kylie Cantrall (“Descendants: The Rise of Red”) recurs as White Tiger.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Junior and Disney Channel Disney Jr.’s Ariel “The Brave Little Goby/Kid Triton” (1-10) (9:00-9:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior/10:00-10:25 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel, TV-Y)

“The Brave Little Goby” – Ariel befriends a little Goby fish who wants to go on adventures like her.

“Kid Triton” – Triton accidentally drinks Lucia’s magical potion, which turns him into a kid.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of the La Excavación/Summer of La Pijamada” (1-12) (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of the La Excavación” – Tater helps Toñita hide a secret from Tere and Tabi.

“Summer of La Pijamada” – Tater tries to host a sleepover while hiding the cousins.

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD Primos “Summer of Imi-Tater/Summer of Ignacio” (1-13) (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT, TV-Y7)

“Summer of Imi-Tater” – Younger sister Nellie struggles in Tater’s shadow.

“Summer of Ignacio” – Tater and Nachito help Big Nacho prepare to meet his penpal Carmela.

[luminouslumity]

If you're still unfamiliar with the Cait Corrain situation, this video explains it! Under the cut are the blurbs for books of the authors Corrain targeted.

VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED by FRANCES WHITE

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess's Mountain.

Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

Except one: Ganymedes Piscero - class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

MISTRESS OF LIES by K.M. ENRIGHT

FATE IS A CRUEL MISTRESS

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid - and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS by MOLLY X. CHANG

In this magical epic fantasy, a young woman cursed with the power of death must decide if saving her family is worth betraying her country—the first installation of a gripping new series.

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

SO LET THEM BURN by KAMILAH COLE

Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland.

Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors.

When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister.

As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.

"By turns hopeful and devastating, So Let Them Burn is a masterful debut with a blazing heart. I was captivated from beginning to end by Cole’s sharp, clever prose and by her protagonists—two remarkable sisters with an unforgettable bond." — Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

THE POISONS WE DRINK by BETHANY BAPTISTE

In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making illegal love potions to support her family.

Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her.

Then an enemy's iron bullet kills her mother, Venus’s life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother's killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.'s most influential politicians.

As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it's hard to tell who to trust… Herself included.

And because Corrain went after him as well...

DRAG ME UP

They say he’s a myth...

And Hades prefers it that way. He may do all the work, and Zeus may get all the credit, but at least it allows Hades to preserve the one thing he truly cares to have: his solitude. The mere mention of the Wraith of Khaos Falls is enough to keep order, and he is rarely forced to leave the shadows of Casino Asphodel.

She belongs in the spotlight...

And Persephone clawed her way out of Demeter’s shadow to reach it. Now she’s lead in Calliope’s Cirque production but not without great cost, and there is not enough money in the world to pay off the debt accrued for the simple mistake of trusting Zeus. Though it’s easier to ignore the bars when she still has room to fly.

Landing a residency at the legendary Casino Asphodel is everything she trained for. Meeting a man she’d been convinced didn’t exist? She could never be prepared for that. Hades isn’t prepared for her either, but it’s soon evident they’re a force when together. He gives her a soft place to land, and she makes him want to reach for the stars. But when Zeus ups the stakes, they must be willing to go all in, even if it means coming down from the sky. Or stepping into the light.

KEEP ME CLOSE

She is the closest thing Khaos Falls has to a goddess…

And Aphrodite is feared and worshipped in equal measure. She has dedicated her life to being a savior for the lost regardless of the risk, but when unknown enemies nearly assassinate her in her own club, she realizes her reckless vigilante tactics won’t cut it anymore.

He is the furthest thing Khaos Falls has from a hero…

In fact, Hephaestus is who you call when all the heroes have fallen. Still, he is the best at what he does, strengthening the city’s weaknesses and keeping his feelings out of it. When tasked with Aphrodite’s personal security, it’s easy for him to detach himself from their mutual disdain. Until disdain is no longer the only thing he feels for her.

With their enemies elusive and snakes in their midst, good hearts and sharp wit may not be enough. But he made a vow, and he will keep it. Even if it means turning newfound feelings into newfound strengths and using them as a weapon to protect her.

LET ME IN

She never cared about being perfect.

Raised under Zeus’s self-serving influence, Athena only ever cared about being right. But with Zeus gone and everything changing, it’s been difficult trying to break free of the chains he so expertly secured her in as a girl. Especially when constantly worrying about Dionysos.

And he never cared much about saving himself.

Raised under Hades’ self-sacrificing influence, Dionysos only ever cared about pleasing everybody else. But when the opportunity to prove he’s more than a winemaker presents itself —with the promise of spending more time with Athena— he has no choice but to take it.

In a bid for peace, Athena and Dionysos are sent to an ailing Thassos City to try and strike a treaty. But with war within reach and rules rearranged, wit and charisma may just fall short. But they’ve long since decided that to protect each other, blood is a small price to pay. Even their own.

LOVE ME NOW

Achilles loved playing the hero…

Being a mere man had never been enough for him. He wanted to be a great one. And when he finds out that Helen, his childhood best friend, has gone missing, taking the mission is instinct. Even if it meant returning to the place he was born and raised, a place he swore never to return to—Heraklion. But he goes nowhere without Patroclus.

Patroclus loved being one…

But being a hero was nothing like playing one. It was a senseless sequence of pyrrhic victories he'd carry forever. Yet when Achilles needs him to return to Heraklion and the arena he had been forced to claw his way out of, he says yes because… well, of course he does. He would follow Achilles anywhere.

Yet both had left more of themselves in Heraklion's notorious arena than they'd taken. So returning would not require heroes but something else, something worse, especially when Helen is not the only one in need of rescue. They both must determine not only what it means to be a man, but what it means to be a good one.

[ladzwriting]

HAPPY BOOK DAY MISTRESS OF LIES by @kmenright

An unhinged joy of a fantasy read that says sovereignty cannot be changed from within, and the entire system must be immolated. Enright invites us to a rapturous bonfire of accessible and lush prose with villain protagonist hosts who take us on a sexy journey full of indulgent court intrigue, bloody magic, and daring twists. Mistress of Lies is a honey trap of romance and royaltycore that leaves no corroded stone unturned when delving into the corruption at the heart of monarchy.

It's been so fucking cool watching this book go from deal to final book. I cannot wait to have Shan and her two dark fantasy boyfriends in my hands, and I'm so so so proud of Koren for making it to today

Out now wherever you get books

Read the summary below the cut

A villainous, bloodthirsty heroine finds herself plunged into the dangerous world of power, politics and murder in the court of the vampire king in this dark romantic fantasy debut. Fate is a cruel mistress. 

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeC laire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Blood Worker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

Fans of From Blood and Ash and Kingdom of the Wicked will devour this decadent, bloodthirsty debut.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

By MELANIE LIDMAN

A network of fortified cities around Jerusalem has been dated to the time of King David, more than 200 years earlier than previously thought, offering support to the theory that King David ruled over a complex and large kingdom. The proof, however, wasn’t freshly excavated from the earth, but rather came to light after an archaeologist spent years digging through old archaeological publications.

In a new academic paper, Prof. Yosef Garfinkel of the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University claims he has found evidence of urban settlement in organized cities dating to around 1,000 BCE, during the reign of King David.

His article, published Monday in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology, a peer-reviewed publication of Hebrew University, supports the theory that King David ruled over a well-developed kingdom, complete with roads connecting between cities. This runs counter to the belief of some scholars from the minimalist school of thought who have previously suggested that since there is scant evidence of cities during King David’s reign, his position as a ruler of a great kingdom as written in the Bible could be exaggerated.

“What is a kingdom?” countered Garfinkel. “You need cities and roads and military power and economic power and writing.”

Garfinkel’s paper, “Early City Planning in the Kingdom of Judah: Khirbet Qeiyafa, Beth Shemesh 4, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara, and Lachish V,” explores evidence of King David’s rule in five cities that were between half a day and a day’s walk from Jerusalem.

“If you take all these sites, they have the same urban concept, they are all sitting on the border of the kingdom and sitting where you have a main road leading to the kingdom,” he said. “These cities aren’t located in the middle of nowhere. It’s a pattern of urbanism with the same urban concept.”

[ausetkmt]

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 21: Rakim performs during the "Dj Cassidy's Pass the Mic Live" at Radio ... [+] City Music Hall on July 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)Getty Images

Set to release his fourth solo album in 15 years, hip-hop luminary Rakim Allah is making a return to the hip-hop cipher.

Although 15 years have elapsed since the God MC’s last solo project, his stance remains interwoven in the fabric of hip-hop culture, ensuring he has never truly left the scene.

Two weeks ago (May 16), Masta Killa of Wu-Tang Clan took to Instagram and posted an image with Kurupt and Rakim, announcing the upcoming release of a single featuring the three renowned lyricists. Though Masta Killa did not reveal the single's name, he shared it would come from the “#GODSNETWORK” and instructed followers to remain attentive.

Cover of Rakim Allah's single, "Rebirth (N.M.A.) featuring Kurupt and Masta KillaInstagram | @almightym80

On Friday (May 24), Matthew Markoff, a markerting A&R for the project, announced on Instagram the solidification of a contract with Rakim for the release of his fourth studio album, G.O.Ds Network (REB7RTH).

Set for a worldwide release on July 26, there will also be a special edition released as a six-inch A and B side vinyl, with “REB7RTH” on one side and “Love is the Message” on the other. This special edition, limited to 500 pieces, will feature an array of hip-hop heavyweights such as Masta Killa, Kurupt, Nipsey Hussle, Snoop Dogg, Planet Asia, as well as seasoned creatives including Sally Green, Louis King, Kobe Honeycutt, Summer Yuki, and more.

The debut single from the album, “Rebirth (N.M.A.),” also produced by the “I Ain’t No Joke” lyricist, featuring Masta Killa and Kurupt, is set to drop next month on June 21, coinciding with the web and pre-order launch. Kurupt shared the single’s official cover on Instagram Friday (May 24), confirming the coming of Rakim’s new album. “July 26th - ‘Rebirth’ Rakim new album…Produced by Tha God Mc himself,” the caption noted.

Cover for six-inch special edition side A and B side vinyl, “Love is the Message” side.

The album is thoroughly produced by Rakim Allah, with Markoff also serving as an executive producer.

G.O.Ds Network (REB7RTH) marks Rakim’s first solo effort since 2009. He transformed the landscape of rap in 1987 with Eric B. on Paid In Full, and the duo went on to shape the Golden Era of rap with three additional albums: Follow The Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don’t Sweat The Technique (1992), all deemed classics of the Golden Era.

Rakim’s solo debut came in 1997 with The 18th Letter, featuring production from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, DJ Clark Kent, Father Shaheed of Poor Righteous Teachers, and more. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and went certified Gold. In 1999, he quickly followed up with his second solo album, The Master, which includes the DJ Premier-produced standout single, “When I B on tha Mic." Afterward, Rakim took a 10-year hiatus before releasing The Seventh Seal in 2009, the first project on his record label Ra Records.

Throughout the years, Rakim has made guest appearances on unapologetic rap songs including G-Dep’s 2001 track “I Am” with Kool G Rap, the 2003 Dr. Dre-produced Jay-Z track “The Watcher 2,” Lloyd Banks’ 2006 song “You Know the Deal,” and he even added a surprise verse on Linkin Park’s 2014 track “Guilty All the Same.”

With his latest performance alongside Slum Village and Talib Kweli at Panic in L.A., the hip-hop luminary has been making his presence felt in the culture. He narrated a Bronx history video for the New York Yankees' opening season, and last month, he joined DJ Jazzy Jeff and Ravi Coltrane for a showcase at the Kennedy Center. As hip-hop enters its 51st year and Rakim makes a comeback, it's safe to conclude that hip-hop was never a fad and is bound to continue dominating and persisting as not only a music genre but a culture.

[aislamxnto]

*  ♔  ◟     ( adjoa andoh,   sixty one,   cis woman,   she/her   )     the  capital  of  king’s  landing  welcomes  daena  of  essos,  the mistress of whispers of  king’s landing.  news  borne  by  raven  sends  word  that  they  are  reputed  to  be  clever,  but  with  the  eyes  of  court  watching  their  every  move,  they  might  prove  to  be prevaricator.  when  songs  are  sung,  their  verses  speak  of  a cloaked form retreating into clouds flowing across the sky like banners, golden bracelets sliding across a lithe wrist, hushed words uttered for a single ears.  whispers  throughout  the  seven  kingdoms  claim  that  their  allegiance  lies  with  themselves ,  where  they  conspire  to  aid the true king, vaeles targaryen and retain their web of control.  but  in  the  end,  fealty  means  little  when  you  play  the  game  of  thrones.    

⸻          statistics    .

full    name    :  daena of essos title(s)    :    mistress of whispers age    :   sixty one date    of    birth    :   july 7th.   gender    and    pronouns    :   cis-woman she/her orientation    :    lesbian  

⸻          roots    .

parents    :    galeo, talea siblings    :    a brother she hasn't seen in thirty years status    :  unmarried  allegiance    :  house targaryen of dragonstone, herself  religion    :   moonsingers spoken    languages    :    westerosi  common  tongue  ,  bastard  valyria  ,  braavosi  .

⸻          personality  .

well-spoken, acerbic at times, coy, persuasive, charming, decisive, scheming, secretive, deceptive

⸻          background  .

Daena was born without title or status, living off the meager earnings of her parents in a hovel. Yet Braavos brimmed with promise for a young woman who was cunning, who thrived on catching whispered refrains and secrets, pocketing the information for further use. But it was meeting Lady Alys, that altered the course of her world; with Alys, she dared to cross the Narrow Sea, seeking to forge a new life for herself. She has not seen her family since her departure, and carefully allows herself to think of them now and again; but it was either a life of abject suffering, or promise of greatness --- as always, Daena chose to bet on herself. 

She has been cultivating her network of intelligence and power for thirty years in Westeros; slowly accruing status, tediously building a reputation from the ground up. Daena has lived in Kings Landing for most of this time, her past a mystery to everyone but Alys. Her appointment as Mistress of Whispers was the result of years of hard labour, and it is a position Daena would not willingly part with. Daena has eyes and ears across the lands, rarely deeming any piece of information as trivial -- she will converse with would-be enemies or former traitors, seeing past personal disagreements and strife, to understand the power of even the most tedious, dangerous connections.

Daena functions as an aunt like figure to the young crown prince and princess -- she endeavours to aid Vaeles' cause, and shall work to his reign is long and mighty; but her heart shall always lay with ensuring her and Alys' continued safety and peace. She is however, neither a mother nor a nanny to any; though she indulges in humour on the subject, it is Alys alone who shall hold the love and tenderness in her heart. 

⸻          wanted connections  .

i. web of spies ---- specifically with older muses in mind, long-standing sources of information for daena. in turn, she would offer them useful contacts or share what she knows. they do not necessarily trust each other, but their relationship spans years. daena is someone they know will always have an answer, as her ear is always to the ground. they may even be friends, having weathered wars, various rulers, and conflicts that have threatened to shake the land.  ii. allies --- those who support vaeles as she does. daena does not blindly believe in anyone, nor would she live and die by any man as a messiah; but she believes vaeles to be the best choice for the throne, and so she shall employ her gifts to support his cause. this will bring daena close to those who ally with vaeles; they may be unlikely allies, but daena will lend them her support and whispers. maybe they scheme together, or share information -- their common cause has brought them together.  iii. those who distrust --- daena has cultivated mystery and her network of spies for so long her past has become a mystery. to most her motives are unclear and her every act is sinister; a secretive, guarded woman is bound to be a beacon of suspicion. your muse may not trust her, or even have a personal vendetta -- perhaps she had a hand in an affair that hurt their house, or spread whispers that threatened their personal affairs.  iv. unlikely sources --- the mistress of whispers will not dismiss someones youth or status, if they have something to offer her; perhaps they approached her with an interesting secret, or made a barter to aid someone they knew. and so, they have entered her web, their connection entirely unknown to the rest of westeros. if they are a young woman, daena may seem promise in them; having no children, and finding herself feeling mortality creeping closer, she seeks to pass her knowledge onto a worthy head. 

[merlot-and-chardonnay]

A Lark Among the Wolves and Dragons: Chapter 51

Masterlist

Chapter 50

Just a heads up, I plan to incorporate a couple scenes from the Lady of the Lake novel from the Witcher book series in this chapter. Which if you're not familiar with the books, that was when Ciri was in the realm of the Alders against her will and....long story short she was kinda sorta blackmailed/coerced by Avallac'h into sleeping with the late king Auberon with the hopes of producing a child with the Elder Gene. Obviously that never came to pass and Auberon passed with Eredin taking up the mantel as king. 

I'm mentioning that here as a content warning for DUBCON in those sequences.

------------King's Landing: Flea Bottom-----------

A man of unknown history wonders the streets, fresh off the boat that had just sailed into the Blackwater Bay from Novigrad.

He keeps his hood over his head as he makes the secret knock at the door of a house at the corner. He was let in. The stranger took a seat at the table. Across from him sat the White Worm dressed in a calming dark shade of blue. She poured tea into a cup and offered to the stranger.

"I bring word from the Continent," the man speaks, "envoys from the Northern realms as well as Nilgaard are gathering as we speak. At a place called Loc Muinne. These are the names of expected participants. The list was confirmed by the Redanian spy Sigismund Djikstra."

Mysaria had a incredulous look as she accepted the list, though in truth, she knew The Redanian count's spy network to be effective and reliable, much so that she had spies of her own stationed among Djikstra's lackeys so as to keep tabs on the major happenings on the Continent (Mysaria admittedly couldn't help but smirk at the irony of an expert spy unknowingly having a spy network spy on his own).

She quickly skimmed the contents of what she read. Her eyes widening when the rest the last name of the list. "Well, well," She says in response, "It would be the little lost daughter of the Rogue prince has finally been found."

--------------Vergen-----------------

"Geralt!" Jaskier calls out as the aforementioned witcher and Iorveth run into the Bard as well as Zoltan. "Saskia disappeared," Jaskier informs, "the people are getting riled up." "Dwarves too," Zoltan adds. 

Having learned earlier what really happened, having learned that the spell Phillipa used to save Saskia's life had been modified so as to put Saskia under Phillipa's influence- and also realizing Aemma was affected by that same spell when the sorceress had ciphoned Aemma's power to make the spell work- Geralt and Iorveth now had to make the trek to Loc Muinne so as to break the spell.

Geralt made the choice to inform Jaskier and Zoltan of the situation. "But how- How did Aemma become part of Phillipa's control?" Jaskier balks. "Remember when Aemma used her gift to help with the spell?" Geralt points out, "she must've become affected by the spell's influence the moment Phillipa used her magic to channel Aemma's gift into the spell." "So...Phillipa wanted to control Aemma along with Saskia?"

"I don't think so," Geralt admits, "it was clear Phillipa wanted to bring Saskia under to influence, likely to hold more sway at the Loc Muinne summit. I think Aemma being caught in Phillipa's web was a side effect. An accident." "Collateral more like," Jaskier growls, realizing his niece was in trouble again, "that witch is going to pay for this. I should've known something was off. I saw the way Aemma looked at Phillipa when she seconded for Dethmold to be put to the sword. Just moments ago Aemma had persuaded the mob to spare Stennis so he would have a fair trial, so for her to agree with Saskia to execute Dethmold without so much as a trial? A gesture for Phillipa is all it took!"

"That bastard deserved it," Zoltan mutters. "I wouldn't be surprised if Zoltan had ordered it," Jaskier continues, "as vengeful as he is, but Saskia...?"

"Where did they go?" Zoltan demands. "Phillipa has taken Aemma and Saskia to Loc Muinne," Geralt answers, "I'm going after them, with Iorveth. Everything suggests those responsible for Foltest's death will be at Loc Muinne."

"Some still say you killed him," Zoltan points out. "I've gotta stop that drivel," Geralt nods, "don't have a choice. But you do."

"The elite of the North is gathering at Loc Muinne," Jaskier informs, "I couldn't forgive myself if I wasn't there...especially when my niece is in trouble." "She's not the only who will be there," Geralt subtly hints, "no doubt envoys from the North will be there, that much I can agree...among those is the king of Redania."

-------------the skies over the Continent------------

Vhagar made some low growls as she continued to fly, almost as if she were in mourning. Aemond had to wonder if it was her reflecting his feelings at this moment, or if she was genuinely sad to part ways from Aemma again.

The two did share some memories when Aemma was a child whenever she would go riding on Vhagar with Laena.

Now here they were flying away, back to King's Landing without the one person they were supposed to bring back in the first place. Aemond couldn't help but wonder what his mother would say.

No, he keeps shaking his head. He needed to go back. He couldn't just leave without Aemma, he needed to go back and make her see reason. This was not her home, this was not her place. Her true place was back at the Red Keep at his side as well as with his mother and his siblings. Aemma needed to support them for that inevitable day when the king would finally pass and Aegon would ascend the Iron Throne as king.

Aemond couldn't risk any of Rhaenyra's ilk making to the Continent to find Aemma and poison her against him, leading her astray to support his treasonous half-sister and her bastard sons. She needed to understand the stakes.

Aemond was about to direct Vhagar to turn around and return to Vergen with the intent of retrieving Aemma, even if he DID need to drag her back every step of the way. If he had to he would use Vhagar herself to threaten to burnt he village if only it would force Aemma to see things his way.

As he was about to give the command, the air suddenly turned cold. I mean, yeah it is cold, he's flying in the sky on a dragon not a damn airplane, but it was colder than usual. Aemond saw his own breath as he exhaled. He saw the sky darken and snow begin to fall. Something wasn't right. This change of weather was not natural, it should not be this cold enough for a snowfall. Vhagar seemed to sense something was off as well as she became increasingly agitated.

Aemond gave Vhagar a few pats, trying to keep her calm. Internally, it made him concerned that the largest dragon in the world would be put off by this supernatural phenomenon.

Suddenly a massive portal opened in the sky above them, making Vhagar roar in shock. The jerking movement she made forced Aemond to cling to the saddle for dear life. Out from the portal came forth a dragon of black and gold. It was on the smaller side compared to Vhagar, but Aemond could see who the dragon was and recognized her right away.

"Cirillia!"

The dragon in question did a corkscrew turn as she made a nose dive past Aemond and Vhagar. As she did so, her dorsum became visible to where Aemond could see Cirillia's saddle. Astride it was a woman with green eyes and ashen hair. She wore clothing similar to Aemma and had a silver sword strapped to her back...just like Aemma.

The ashen haired woman turned her gaze towards Aemma, making eye contact with the man as Cirillia continued her descent. Cirillia called out, Vhagar calling back in response.

Vhagar then turned towards where the younger dragon was landing. Vhagar!" Aemond clings to the saddle. The air felt colder then it was before-thinner, a sense of foreboding and dread filling the atmosphere. Aemond looked up to see the portal in the sky was still open. What looked like an army of horses and warriors in black armor came through. The helmets these soldiers wore were almost skull-like in appearance, as if to incite fear into whomever would dare cross their path.

Aemond felt himself becoming scared, much like that night he lost his eye. These beings had to be ghosts of some kind. Vengeful wraiths conceived of the darkest magic, darker than what his ancestors of Old Valyria would have ever dared to mess with.

Vhagar shared the sentiment, jerking more in her movements as she landed on the ground in front of Cirillia, almost if the older dragon was planning to protect the younger one. The ashen haired woman in question was nowhere to be spotted. Did she turn out to be an apparition?

Aemond kept his hand on the sword, ready to face these monstrous wraiths if for some reason the threat of dragon fire would not be enough to deter them. 

The haunted army turned their direction towards the dragon as they made contact with the ground.

Cirillia tried to go around Vhagar to confront the Wild Hunt, but Vhagar stopped her, getting in the way. Vhagar kept her gaze on the Red Riders, making warning growls. The leader of this army removed his helmet, revealing a face with raven hair and pointed ears. "Fucking elves," Aemond mutters under his breath, having had his fill with their kind for a lifetime at this point. Eredin only made a villainous smile as he gazed onto the largest dragon in the world along with her current rider. "Zireal!" he shouts, seemingly to no one, "you cannot hide forever, daughter of Lara Dorren! Not even an army of dragons will keep you safe!" 

Vhagar made an offensive snarl in response as Eredin dared to move the Riders closer. Aemond noticed the way these elves were not even deterred by this obstacle in their place. Who were they that they could just brush off a dragon's threat with little caution?

"Hmph," was all Eredin said as he shouted in his native tongue for the Red Riders to charge.

"Dracarys, Vhagar!" Aemond commands. Vhagar did not even hesitate. Despite the threat of dragon fire looming, the Red Riders kept their pace. Caranthir raised his staff, shouting incantations to create a beam of ice to counter Vhagar's fire. Aemond went wide eye when he saw what the elf mage was capable of.

Grabbing his sword, Aemond dismounted, with the intent of charging Caranthir and destroying his staff. Before that could happen, another horse bound elf, Imerlith, charges towards Aemond with a club in hand. Aemond was quick to dodge the attack. Imerlith dismounted and kept his assault. Aemond knew dodged each blow, making certain to time his counter attack when the moment was just right. There didn't seem to be any weak spots he could exploit. Aemond then attempted to block the next attack with his sword, but Imerlith's swing was enough to knock it out of the prince's hand.

Imerlith had a wicked smile on his face, "you thought you were more than a match for me, boy?" Disarmed, Aemond turned to retrieve his sword, but Imerlith was quicker and grabbed the prince by the hair, yanking him back. "Now, now," the elf tuts, "what's the hurry, boy? Stick around, and we might make you one of our slaves. Despite your d'hoine blood, I know some pretty elven women at Tir na Lia that would take an interest in you for one night." Aemond grunted from the pain of having his hair pulled, but even the mere thought of being forced into a similar position he was in on the Street of Silk for his thirteenth nameday was more than enough to make his heart race even more than it already was. 

"Leave him alone, Imerlith!" A female voice called out, gaining the elf's attention. Looking up, a surge of light forced Imerlith back, forcing him to release Aemond from his grasp.

The ashen haired girl appeared right in front of Aemond sword in hand, ready to defend him. "You..." Before Aemond could finish saying anymore, Ciri charged at the elf. Ciri dodged every attack Imerlith threw at her, though she managed to get a few blocks and parries here and there. 

She was quite fast and light on her feet, Aemond noticed. It was really starting to hurt his pride at this point that he was knocked his feet not once, but twice this whole time he's been on the damn Continent and he's needed to be rescued first by his cousin and now a complete stranger. 

Cirillia finally managed to get around Vhagar, who was still distracted by countering Caranthir's ice beam with her fire, and charge at Imerlith, directing her own fire, to which the elf wisely dodged. 

Caranthir now created a magic barrier to shield the Red Riders from Vhagar's wrath. He now directed his ice beam at Cirillia, who cried out in agony when the icy frost struck her in the face. "Cirillia!" Aemond calls out in concern for his cousin's dragon.  Looking behind her, Ciri knew she was outmatched even with two dragons aiding her in this fight. Now all that remained options wise was to escape. Ciri muttered incantations and grabbed Aemond right as she created a portal to escape the Wild Hunt.

"You can't forever Zireal!" Eredin calls out as the portal closes in front of him and his warriors.

Ciri panted, now taking time to catch her breath, exhausted from all the running and fighting, before she turned to face Aemond, who was laying on the ground and still reeling from the fact he was whisked through a magic portal two minutes. Ciri turned to kneel so she could be at eye level with the prince.

"Where is Aemma?" She demands.

--------------Vision Sequence: Tir Na Lia----------------

Aemma stood before the giant doors, feeling tense as she steeled herself to open them. Why she felt this way, she could not say. Something was supposed to happen...

No...she was supposed to meet someone. Who? A king? Yes, that had to be it. It wasn't her uncle King Viserys, she knew that. Aemma looked around. The palace was incredibly beautiful, it was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Even the elven ruins on the Continent could not compare to its splendor.

But it didn't explain how she came to this place. One moment she found herself in a tower...the Tower of the Swallow. Next thing she realized she was trying to make her way out to go find Geralt and Yennefer and the Lady of Larks....no....no, that's not what Aemma was doing.

The doors slowly opened and Aemma walked inside. She still couldn't figure why she was feeling so tense. What was supposed to happen?

"You'll be free and may go wherever you wish," she heard a deep voice speak in the back of her mind, "Assuming you don't decide to stay...with the child."

That voice....Aemma recognized it. It belonged to a elf she saw once in her vision many years ago. What his name? Avallac'h! But why did he send Aemma here? No, not Aemma...Ciri...

Aemma looked past the expansive, luxurious, room and towards the balcony. There sat an elf enjoying the view. He was tall, possibly taller than Avallac'h, a lot more slender looking. Aemma thought back to the elves she encountered in her recent vision, Eredin and Caranthir, they both had more meat on their bones than this Aen Elle. He had long hair that reached down to his shoulders, like Aemond, but the color was pure white...almost like Geralt's.  When the elf turned to stare at her, Aemma was taken aback by eyes. Grey, aglazed, almost as if he'd been taking fisshtech recently. This elf had a young man's body...but his eyes made look old, ancient beyond his years.

This was Auberon, king of the Alders. The forebear of Lara Doren, and the one whose child Aemma was to bear....

No! Not Aemma! It was Ciri! 

Auberon then speaks towards Aemma/Ciri, "Zireal...thank you for coming...."

----------later that evening---------------

Aemma sat on at a table dinning on a simple salad for her meal. Or at least she tried to, but found she had no appetite. She was wearing a different dress to what she had worn for her first audience with the Alder king. Now here she was dinning with him for the evening...before they...

Aemma now found herself babbling, her nerves on edge, but these words were not her own, nor was this voice hers. She was talking through someone...or was it the other way?

Aemma, or perhaps it was actually Ciri, then began to recall to Auberon a story from her time in King's Landing, when she was brought to the Red Keep with the Lady of Larks, when she befriended Rhaenyra, and had sworn to the Lady Lark's daughter.

"Fascinating," was Auberon's response, "I have to wonder, whatever possessed you to style yourself as the child's protector?" Ciri found herself stuttering. Why? Why did she do that? She thought back to her time in Kaer Morhen, when Aemma was born. She thought back to that vision of the blood wrym, how that vision became a reality when the Rogue Prince invaded and threatened to have his dragon burn the place to the ground if the Lady of Larks did not hand him his daughter and return to Westeros with him.

Ciri then proceeded to tell Auberon what had transpired at Kaer Morhen and the events that followed. Part of her was stretching the story out as long as she could, possibly with hopes of delaying the inevitable. Why, though? What was the point? Ciri needed to do what needed to be done as soon as possible so as to return to her world and reunite with Geralt and Yennefer and (y/n). She needed to keep her word and help (y/n) reunite with the daughter that was ripped from her arms.

Ciri owed the Lady Lark after all for helping her escape King's Landing even though (y/n) was left behind and left to be tormented by the Rogue Prince.

Auberon had nothing more to say. Instead he got up from the table and approached his bed, "Get undressed please," he directs.

Eyes wide Aemma suddenly found herself standing up as well, doing as she was told. It felt like forever. So many damn buttons and hooks to undo. This could not go any faster. She needed to get this over and done with. The sooner this bargained was made, the sooner she could leave this horrible place and return to her family.

It annoyed her to no end how the elf seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever. Auberon was a lot older than he looks, he probably has wasn't. A hundred years is little more than a blink of an eye to their kind.

Finally Aemma stood before the Alder king naked as the day she was born. She felt completely self-conscious, hands covering her lady bits as Auberon looked her up and down as if she were some broodmare being examined before being sold to the highest bidder. Aemma felt her cheeks flame hot with embarrassment and a hint of anger. Why did she need to do this in the first place? Was the undressing really necessary. All she needed to do was lay on the bed and spread her legs and let him do his thing.

At least that is what she keeps telling herself as she climbs onto the bed, laying her back and waiting for him to join her. Auberon lays right next to her, not bothering to shed his own clothing.

He reached out to touch her, but Aemma grabbed his hand. "Why are you doing this?" "...I'm afraid I don't understand the question," Auberon tells her, "this is what we agreed to." "NO!" Aemma pulled away, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around her.

Next thing Aemma knew she saw Ciri laying on the bed, naked as she was. Auberon laying next to her, touching her in ways that are meant to be pleasurable, but only made the girl uncomfortable. Aemma found herself trying to contain her embarrassment of this scene, realizing now why Ciri was in this position in the first place. 

 "This is wrong! Ciri didn't agree to this of her own free will, she was blackmailed! Can you not see how fucked up this all is?! What is wrong with you all?!"

The scene began to change, become distorted, almost as if there was an overlap. On the other side of the bed, Aemma saw two figures materialize. As they became more visible, Aemma recognized them to her mother and father. She saw Daemon shove (y/n) onto the bed, her mother having a look of terror in her eyes as Daemon pressed her down on her belly, pulling at the laces of the back of her dress, practically ripping them. "Father, what are you doing?" Aemma calls out, though he did not seem to hear. "Father, stop!" Aemma pleads, "YOU'RE SCARING HER! CAN'T YOU SEE MOTHER IS FRIGHTENED OF YOU? LEAVE HER ALONE! FATHER!"

"You must choose..." Avallac'h's voice sounded, causing the two scenes to freeze in place. Eyes wide, still wrapped in the mink fur, Aemma turned to see the aforementioned elf, a look of regret in his eye. "You..." "You must choose when the time comes," the Elf sage speaks once more, addressing Aemma directly, his voice becoming distorted by the joining of a more feminine voice, one that Aemma recognized to be her cousin Helaena, "hand turns loom. Spool of Green, spool of Black. Dragons of flesh...weaving dragons of thread...."

"A Dance of Dragons," Aemma heard Cedric's voice, "you must learn to understand this power to possess...it will help you understand your past, as well as determine the course of your future, and the future of your family, especially if any of them are to survive the Dance that is to come."

Aemma saw a brief flash of a woman with long silver blonde hair and violet eyes. Aemma recognized her to be Valyrian, A Targaryen even, but Aemma did not recognize her. Surrounding the Targaryen were three dragons, one black, one green, and the other golden white. "The mother of dragons," a faint voice whispered, which was more than enough to scare Aemma.

"I don't understand!" Aemma exclaims in confusion, "I...I don't even know what this Dance is! No one has even been able to properly exclaim my gift. Why I can see peoples' past, why it keeps connecting me to Ciri! WHY AM I LIKE?!" 

Aemma now saw the the scene before her fade away once again until her vision turned white. Aemma became scared and turned each way she could. 

Then her vision turned black Aemma saw no more.

-----------end of vision sequence-----------------

Aemma bolted up from a bed.

Why was she in bed? When did she go to sleep?

Last thing Aemma remembered was she and Saskia following Phillipa through a portal, Phillipa having every intention to take the two to the Loc Muinne summit. Aemma could still remember Phillipa talking to her telepathetcally, going over what demands were going to be made at the summit, which included the recognition of Upper Aedirn as a separate governance and the restoration of the Conclave that was dissolved 16 years ago following the Thanedd coupe.

Aemma knew Phillipa's reason for that was so the Lodge of Sorceresses would be acknowledged and given the power that was due to them.

But she doesn't remember anything after that.

"What...where am I?"

"It's alright, princess," a male voice catches Aemma's attention. Aemma turned to see a man dressed in royal attire, having chestnut hair that reached down to barely the top of his shoulders.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you princess," he speaks, "I had hoped I would've been able to meet you six years ago, that is if your father had agreed to my terms for a betrothal." "Betrothal?" Aemma frowns a bit before it clicked. Six years ago when she remained in King's Landing while her father's family flew across the Continent without her. One of those places included the kingdom of Redania.

"You're...you're the king of Redania."

The king makes a small smile in response, "King Radovid V," Radovid introduces, "you're the oldest daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen...by the Lady of a Larks."

"You...you knew my mother?" "I had the pleasure to meet many years ago for a brief time," Radovid tells her, "I was a fan of her work...I was also a great fan of her brother's work.

Your Uncle Jaskier."

Chapter 52

[shitpostingkats]

Hello I have returned with thoughts again

Thinking about Seer Trio, I love them <3 I forgot if they have an actual trio name or not I’ll have to go double check that

Just,,, Jaden and Chazz friendship man, rivalry is optional but I’m thinking ab the TikTok again where Chazz is one of three ppl who actually genuinely care about Jaden and it makes me go aaaaaaaaa. I never really think about Chazz and Jesse’s dynamic but they have great potential too.

I just think they’re so cool, little guys bonding over being able to see things others can’t. Maybe J&J showing Chazz the ropes on Seeing and stuff idk. Man let them be soft. Let them confide in each other and lean on each other and have each other’s backs.

If you want to go a step further make it QPR. I will die on Spiritshipping hill but have J&J be in a QPR with Chazz, I just think it’d be neat <3

I don’t care if it might be OOC in some cases, let them be soft <3 (and let there be angst, we always gotta have some of that, yes? :D)

Hmmmmm family trauma with Chazz and Great Expectations™, I’m a big fan of the hc of Jaden having no home life and having to raise himself after everything with Yubel when he was younger :))) I don’t think we know much about Jesse’s home life, so let’s make it a nice in between of the other two’s. His parents are still around unlike Jaden’s, but they’re more distant and neglectful than Chazz’s. They have expectations for him and if he fails to meet them it’s like he doesn’t exist, whereas Chazz’s parents just get angry. Give them bad parents and little to no support system, as a treat <3

Have them deal with Jaden’s self-destructive tendencies and lack of self-worth (he sees it as him making up for the crimes he committed as Supreme King. They see it as him being suicidal. “How can it be considered suicidal”, Jaden argues, “if I’m not even capable of dying?” Their hearts hurt for him regardless.) Give me angst from love, and love through the angst. Those who hurt and are hurting, helping and healing, even if it’s only by a fraction at a time.

Much love <3

Jesse Anderson my beloved. <3

What is this man's home life. I've written pages of backstory just to answer this question and every part of it is as wild as I could possibly make it because I think having every part of this southern boi be insane is the funniest possible route.

Chazz and Jesse friendship ooooooh. I found it so funny during GX when people were like "Ah yes, the two boys who can see duel spirits, Jesse and Jaden." LIKE! Guys Chazz is standing RIGHT there.

It makes sense tho, while Jesse and Jaden kinda incorporate the supernatural into themselves, Chazz is by all accounts just a normal guy who does not let being able to see invisible monsters distract him from being a run of the mill grunge teenager. And I adore him for it. Chazz being the actual Common Knowledge Braincell of the trio. Jesse and Jaden are capable of subduing space gods, but Chazz is the one you call when you need help on your taxes. (He grumbles and yells at you the whole time and is so grouchy you don't realize until later he was actually really helpful.)

Also YES to qpr. Give Jaden as many qprs as possible. He deserves it. The ideal Jaden Yuki support network is a delicate interconnected web of partners who are all in a groupchat together to keep track of who the hell is taking care of their shared boyfriend over the weekend. Chazz sends a selfie to Jesse of Jaden literally haven broken into his house and fallen asleep on top of him with the caption "come get your mans >:[" and Jesse responds "No <3"

[kmenright]

COVER REVEAL - MISTRESS OF LIES

The cover for my debut is HERE.

Thank you to Abel Klaer for the gorgeous art. He did a fantastic job of capturing Shan, my mean, villainous girl in all her glory, and I can’t wait for you to meet her (and the two great loves of her life) next August!

Descriptions and links below the cut!

FATE IS A CRUEL MISTRESS The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge. Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid - and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king. Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

Add to Goodreads here!

[fanartbyherd]

Me having silly head-cannon designs for the other Olympians form Ulysses dies at dawn by the Mechanisms.

As well as what their role in the city is outside of being crime bosses and mobsters. I’m not 100% certain with all these designs, but they are something.

Introducing from top to bottom, left to right.

Zeus - the biggest crime boss of the city. He practically owns the utilities, especially has a monopoly on most of the cities power grid. He controls a lot of the city by keeping it in the family and he has a big family. (he/him)

Poseidon- powerhouse in industry who’s main competitors are hestia and hepatitis, but they work in a shaky alliance as often as they work against eachother. He also has control of all the resources that come from what’s left of the oceans.(he/him)

Hera- the ultimate socialite. Anyone who is anyone wants to be invited to her shindigs. To be dropped from the invite list is to be declared socially dead. She controls large parts of the cities everyday burocratices and especially when it comes to marriage, funerals and organized festivals. Paperwork needs her seal of approval to be legal. She is known to be petty. (She/her)

Apollo- a huge influencer, dominates the social media and content viewed by the masses. Most of his power comes from his control of the medical sector, but he distracts the population from that fact by his contributions in the arts and music. Called the sun of Olympus. He is sometimes called the sun of the Olympians and is set to take over as head of comity if Zeus ever steps down (not happening) has a particular dislike of the Coptic gods, Hades in particular. (he/him)

Athena- she is a powerhouse in libraries, education, and the legal network. They know the laws as they wrote most of the laws. She is also a great sponsor of the arts. she runs the newspapers and has a web of information.(she/them)

Hermes- transportation, shipping and delivery, they also essentially run large portions or the cities information network. They are sometimes called the ghost of the internet along with their assistant Iris. (they/them)

Artemis- law enforcement and jails. She has her elite huntresses who deal with outlaws and criminals, renegades and thieves. She also preserves the little that remains of the cities “wild places” this is most of the time more of luxury gardens than anything that is actually wilderness. She is often considered one of the weakest of the Olympians, but as she has the backing of her brother no one bothers her, she is also a lot more powerful than people really give her credit for. After all the weakest Olympian is still more powerful than the strongest mortal king (she/her)

Demeter- the madam of food. The farms of the cities are hers and everyone relies on her food. She has adopted the mysterious ‘Persephone’ as her daughter (she/ her)

Hephaestus- the other powerhouse of industry, but focusing more on specialized goods and luxuries. Him, Aphrodite and Aries have a well known on-again-off-again situation going on. He is also know for creative (he/him)

Aphrodite- she defines beauty. Their head can be removed and swapped out as well as most of their other body parts. She controls cosmetic industries and clothing trends. He is the ultimate pimp. Running all the cities brothels and red lights districts even if doing so In the shadows. (she/them/him)

Note: Aphrodite was sort of inspired by princess langwidere from the wizard of oz. Because she is low key horrifying and I think it would fit.

Ares- the machines of war, the defenses of city districts, personal security, and criminal activities are all places where ares turns his attention. War is business and they make certain business stays booming. (they/them)

Hestia- she is that one essential oils lady, queen of home gadgets and MLMS. This Olympian has for centuries monopolized housing and construction. She is the largest landlord and head of the majority construction companies in the city. She is planning on retirement so she can focus more on her love of pyramid schemes. Though she has yet to name a successor. (she/her)

Note: this is all headcannon that I made for the fun of it. Perhaps it will be useful to someone, but for now it’s just silly headcannons.