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bitsandbobsofwriting · 3 years ago

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The former God of Magic resents The Mother for sticking him on Earth, and plans on causing as much havoc as he can to punish Her;

Version 2, Dark!Merlin

INTRO

(Version 1, Good!Merlin)

TW: A lot of emotional manipulation, a little violence, a lot of angst.

“You’re late.”

The woman’s well practiced blank mask falls into a scowl as she stares at Merlin with mistrust:

“Well, perhaps I was putting off coming to see you, no matter how necessary it is.”

The gang can see the bob of Merlin’s head as he lets out a low chuckle, and they have to stop themselves from recoiling; they’d never heard a noise like that from their young friend before, it sounded almost... cruel.

He lifts a hand to cover his heart as he says in faux offense:

“You wound me, sister. You didn’t want to see your favourite sibling?”

Everyone frowns in confusion, Merlin doesn’t have... siblings. That’s not even mentioning the fact that this woman barely seems human.

The woman doesn’t hide her slight disgust, taking a step back from Merlin and letting out a harsh breath:

“I came here to tell you that you need to hurry up. Time is running out.”

Merlin chuckles again, turning to the side and taking a few short paces, his hands held leisurely behind his back. The amusement on his face is disturbing, and Arthur gulps, not noticing the way Mordred is growing paler and paler by the second. Merlin doesn’t turn to look at the woman as he speaks, and his smirk stretches wider:

“But I’m having so much fun, Ava!”

The woman, Ava, huffs again, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. If the gang weren’t so semi-sure that Merlin wasn’t dangerous, they’d think she looked scared:

“Mother sent you here to complete a task. Get it done, and you can come home. Isn’t that what you want? To come home?”

Merlin’s smirk falls, and the snarl that the gang briefly see on his face before he whips around to face Ava takes their breath away. They barely notice the thunder, snapping in the distance in time with Merlin’s anger:

“Mother’s the one keeping me here in the first place. She could accept me back any time.”

Ava takes another step back, and Merlin tilts his head ever so slightly at the movement, but waits for her to speak:

“As punishment for your cruelty. She isn’t happy, you’re making a mess of things.”

Merlin chuckles again, tilting his head even further, and his words have an immediate chilling effect on the group hiding in the bushes:

“Well, if she insists on sending the God of Chaos to fix a problem, perhaps she should expect a little mess. Plus, I’m having more fun here than I’ve had in centuries. These humans... so gullible.-”

Ava shakes her head mournfully, but before she can say anything, Merlin continues, now pacing calmly around the clearing, waving his hands and grinning in his excitement:

“-I mean, they’re just so... easy. To play with, to manipulate. You know they all trust me? They all come running to naïve, innocent, loving little Merlin, spilling all their secrets as they go. Did you know, the drunkard is the son of a noble? “Fuck nobility” my arse, he is nobility.-”

Gwaine clenches his jaw and looks to the floor, ignoring the stares of Arthur and Leon, but before anything can be muttered, Merlin continues, listing their greatest secrets off on his fingers:

“-The gentle giant is terrified that someone’s going to find out that his preferences lie with men, which is ridiculous considering the way he stares at the aforementioned drunkard when he thinks no one but little old me is watching. The blacksmith, even years on, is terrified that his whore sister will never forgive him for... something or other, I wasn’t really paying attention. Camelot’s first, The King’s most trusted, has a debilitating fear of heights, and oh if it isn’t just hilarious to watch when he has to patrol the city walls. And then, there’s the-”

Ava rolls her mournful eyes and interrupts him:

“Your point, Em?”

Merlin laughs, fully and from the belly, but the sound doesn’t bring the gang joy like it normally does:

“My point, is that I’ve got these idiots wrapped around my finger. Mortals: the universe’s most fun toy. I haven’t even gotten to half of them yet. There’s the noble one, who thinks he holds my trust, the Druid boy, whose only redeeming feature is that he’s destined to kill the King Prat one day; believe me, if it weren’t for that I’d have killed the annoying little twerp years ago. Then there’s the King Prat’s magical sister, who is full of such terror. I play with her dreams some nights, force visions of pyres and hatred and destruction to play over and over in her mind. It’s rather amusing, watching her thrash and sweat and whimper in her sleep.-”

Arthur’s head had whipped around to Morgana when Merlin had mentioned her, but the tears streaming down her face and the way her hand was clamped tightly over her mouth stripped his anger from him. Which left him with no distraction, no way to ignore the simple fact of what was happening right now. Merlin was... not what they thought. He was powerful, he was using them. He was playing with them like puppets and pulling their strings this way and that, watching as they could do nothing but follow. Arthur didn’t know what to think, and he definitely didn’t notice the tears on his own cheeks.

Mordred was pale to the point of looking like he was about to faint and Lancelot had a deep frown on his face, tears in his eyes but not quite falling, not yet. This was... a misunderstanding. He... he knows Merlin, this is a trick, or a trap, he’ll explain later and everything will be just fine. He just has to... to trust him. Everything will be fine.

Gwaine keeps his gaze on the floor. A small part of him was feeling a little prideful that Percival liked him back, but the rest of him... had no room for anything but grief. He had suspected that Merlin had magic, but this was something else, this was... a whole new person. Did he ever really know Merlin? Did any of them?

Elyan and Gwen sat pressed together tightly, though Gwen had one hand on Morgana’s shaking back, and her other was reaching around Elyan, gripping Leon’s shoulder tightly. Leon was just staring blankly at the scene in front of him, though anyone that knew him well enough would be able to see the tight clench of his jaw and the anger (and grief) in his eyes.

Ava interrupted Merlin’s gleeful ranting, the tears in her eyes a little more prominent as she took on a slightly more desperate tone:

“Please, Em, just... stop. They’re important, they have destinies, you can not destroy them or push them too far; this is cruel, even for you. This... you never used to be like this.”

Merlin turns around, facing away from his sister and giving the hidden group full view of his rage-filled face. His voice is quiet and clipped and angry as he asks:

“Oh?”

Another roll of thunder echoes through the clearing, closer this time, and fat droplets of rain fall harshly from the sky, mixing with the tears on everyone’s face. Ava sighs, tears overflowing as she gulps before answering, her voice shaking slightly as she takes a step towards Merlin:

“You’re meant to be the God of Magic, not Chaos. You were so... beautiful, balanced. You saw wonder in everything, every little spark of magic and every single prayer put a smile on your face. You loved humanity even more than Mother did. Now look at you, you’re tormenting them, torturing them. This isn’t you, Em, please. Help them, and things can go back to the way they were, help them and you can come home.”

The anger on Merlin’s face had only grown as she spoke, and each individual hidden in the bushes had to make a concerted effort to stop themselves from bolting. None of them had felt terror like it, and the fact that it was Merlin they were all so scared of... well, it didn’t help.

Lightening streaks across the sky and wind howls violently through the forest, calming only when Merlin shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath, straightening his back and smirking slightly before he replies, still not turning around to face his sister:

“You’re right. I loved humanity, I was desperate to see them succeed. And then they butchered me. I gave them this universe to frolic in, and in return they call me a monster, a beast, they call me evil, they make nightmares out of me. I still listen to every little prayer, and do you know what I hear? I hear my people, my wonderful little creations, my creatures of magic, begging for mercy, begging for the pain to stop. The humanity I so used to love turned on them, began to burn them, out of spite and fear and hatred. I will not show them any more grace than they have showed me, I will give them exactly what they deserve, and that blonde idiot is at the top of my list of people who have to fucking pay. I won’t destroy him entirely, because ultimately I want my creatures to stop suffering, but I will break him. I will rip him apart piece by piece for what he has done to me.-”

The absolute fury in Merlin’s words, the hatred, translates to thunder in the sky and agony in Arthur’s chest. The King can barely breathe, muffling the sobs tearing from his mouth with both hands, both terrified of being discovered, and desperate to... to let Merlin punish him for the pain he has caused.

Leon settles a shaking hand on his shoulder, but Arthur doesn’t look his way, his blurry gaze focused on Merlin, now finally turning back to his sister:

“-You know, I’m this close to getting that big blonde idiot to fall in love with me. How pathetic is that?? All it took was a few touches here, a few lingering stares there, saving his life occasionally. The man is so pathetically starved for attention I imagine he’d fall for anyone who showed him the barest amount of affection. That is how I will break him.-”

The only thing stopping Arthur from sobbing aloud is Leon collapsing behind him, pulling the young King back into his chest and wrapping a tight arm around his torso, one hand clamped over his mouth as he mutters desperate reassurances into his ear. Morgana pulls Gwen close in a similar way when the servant’s cries grow harsher, her brother burying his face in her shoulder.

Lancelot barely notices Gwaine gripping his arm hard enough to leave bruises for weeks, or Percival pushing his forehead into Lance’s shoulder blade. All he can do is sit and stare at the ground, his breathing slow but shaky, tears streaming silently down his face as he rethinks everything he’s ever known.

Mordred sits on his own, rocking back and forth rhythmically as he tightens the clutch he has around his knees. Tears drip from his young cheeks, poisoning the ground beneath him as he struggles to consider his faith. His faith in magic, in Emrys, who was meant to be balanced and beautiful and giving. Emrys, who he now knew was twisted and angry and desperate for revenge.

All of their hearts are splitting, cracking down the middle.

“-It won’t be physical pain, no, that’ll be down to the Druid boy. He doesn’t want to kill Arthur now, but he will, one day, when I give him one final push. He’ll fall so far into the darkness there’ll be nothing of him left to save, and when he plunges his sword into The Pendragon’s chest, I’ll sit back and watch with a smile on my face, and Arthur will realise that the man he loves, the man who claimed to love him in return, hated him all along. Tricked him. I will watch the life drain from his eyes, and he will spend his last few moments on this world in every kind of agony imaginable, lost in the knowledge that I wanted him to suffer, that he is being punished for his sins.”

Ava shakes her head, silver tears dripping from her emerald eyes as she stares at the floor:

“Are Sir Mordred and the Lady Morgana not your creatures? Do you not wish to save at least them?”

Merlin chuckles darkly:

“I had faith in them once, but they made their decisions. They sided with a Pendragon over me. Mother may be fond of her precious Once and Future King, but to be fair, she’s fond of anything with a pulse, and I, for one, can not wait until she’s not quite so fond of him anymore.”

Ava gulps, taking a desperate step towards her amused brother, but before she can say anything, before she can make one last plea for mercy on humanity’s behalf, Merlin tilts his head, smirking dangerously:

“Do you think they’re scared?”

She halts in her tracks, blinking in confusion, and Merlin’s smile grows into a chuckle as he gestures behind him:

“The King and all his little friends, hidden in the bushes. Do you think they’re scared?”

The gang barely have time to look up in shock before their bodies are moving, out of their control. They stand rigidly and walk single-file out from their hiding place, coming to stand in a line at the side of the clearing. Merlin hasn’t even looked at them, but his hand floats in the air, a sickly looking yellow mist swirling around his fingers as he tilts his head at his sister, staring in horror at The King, the knights, the Lady, and the servant.

Merlin drops his hand and they all fall to their knees, not even bothering to be brave as they sob. The angry God finally turns, and the serene smile on his face is chilling as he walks towards them, coming to stand in front of Lance and Mordred first. The two of them are the calmest, though calm in the way that they don’t really look... present. They stare blankly ahead, breathing shallow and tears still falling as Merlin crouches in front of them, gripping a chin in each hand and shaking their heads roughly. His voice comes out a whisper, the frown on his face looking more disappointed than anything:

“So much faith, so much trust. It’s a little pitiful, if I’m being honest.”

They don’t react to his words and he smirks before letting them go and standing, moving on to Elyan and Gwen, gripping the knight’s shoulder and saying with mocking sympathy in his voice:

“You were right, by the way,-”

He glances at a fully sobbing Gwen with disgust:

“-she’ll never forgive you, but she’ll never tell you that. You’ll just spend the rest of your life wondering why your relationship was never the same.”

Next, he shuffles over to Gwaine, not even bothering to see the siblings’ reactions as he passes Leon and Percival with a look of disinterest on his face. He leans down in front of the knight, running a soft hand through his hair, waiting for the man to relax slightly before gripping his hair harshly and yanking back, so he has to look up at him. Merlin gives him a blindingly cruel smile:

“You're grateful that Percival is just as in love with you as you are with him, but don’t think yourself too lucky. You’re a hypocrite and a drunk, and my dear old Percy has too much self respect to put himself through that. I’d go for a good tumble in the hay and give up while you’re ahead.”

Once again, he moves back, his sister having to look away in her grief, her empathy drowning her. The God comes to stand in front of Morgana, who is desperately trying to look brave but failing miserably:

“And you. You’re meant to be The Darkness, but I couldn’t very well have you outdo me, could I? Try your hardest, I’ll still be the end of you, and I wait with baited breath for the day you fall, and the day soon after that, when I get to kill you.”

She break down in tears again at that, horrified with the idea that she might one day be on the same end of morality and cruelty as this monster in front of her.

Merlin smirks before rolling his eyes and finally coming to stand in front of Arthur. The King calms his breathing just enough to look up at a smirking Merlin, his voice cracking and barely-there as he mutters:

“Please... Merlin, please...”

The smirk drops from Merlin’s face as he brings his hand up, the sickly yellow mist back again. Arthur rises from the floor, hands clutching at his throat as the air is drawn from his lungs. Merlin steps closer to his with a snarl, his free hand gripping Arthur’s chin like a vice, though his voice eerily calm as he murmurs:

“You. You and Uther were so desperate for a scape-goat, for a villain, for a monster. And you picked magic, you picked me. So stop being so fucking pathetic, I’m just playing the part you gave me to perfection. You picked the premise, I’m writing the ending.”

Ava finally speaks up, her voice loud, despite the waver:

“Brother please, this is... this is beyond cruelty, please just stop.”

Arthur is dropped, and The King can barely find it in himself to choke for air as Merlin turns back to his sister, the amused smirk back on his face:

“Why? None of them are going to remember in the morning anyway. I’ve had my fun, this has been cathartic, but I can’t have them ruining my plans. So run along now sister, tell Mother that her precious task is being completed, I’m just taking the scenic route.”

She shakes her head in defeat, staring at the floor. She lifts her head, opening her mouth to make one last attempt, but she closes it, realising that there’s nothing she could possibly say to persuade him to suddenly have mercy, mercy that no one had ever shown him. She gulps, letting out a deep breath before shaking her head again and turning around, walking back into the trees, the way she came.

The God looks back to his puppets, shivering in time with their knotted strings, smirking once more before he clicks his fingers and everything goes dark.

Arthur wakes the next morning feeling oddly refreshed and surprisingly unannoyed at his idiot manservant’s lateness. He rolls his eyes at the bright sunshine glaring through his curtains, the sun certainly a lot higher in the sky than it should be at the time The King wakes, but oh well. Merlin has been chipper lately, and the warmth that Arthur feels in his chest at the younger man’s happiness makes him more likely to forgive him his tardiness.

As if thinking of him had summoned him (wishful thinking on Arthur’s part), Merlin bursts through the doors, not bothering to knock as per usual, a breakfast-laden tray in his arms and a cheeky grin on his face. Arthur rolls his eyes again, chucking a pillow at Merlin half-heartedly as he grumbles, also half-heartedly:

“You’re late.”

Merlin chuckles, setting the tray down on the table before jogging endearingly over to Arthur’s bedside, grabbing his hand and pulling him to stand upright:

“Something tells me you don’t mind all that much, Your Pratness.”

Arthur huffs, but only to stop himself from smiling, and resolutely ignores the way Merlin’s hand is still in his. The servant squeezes his palm softly, and Arthur gulps, pulling away and walking towards his meal, hoping the food would squash the butterflies in his stomach.

He rubs the sleep from his eyes, smiling to himself softly at a whole range of things: the good night’s rest he’d had, the bright sunshine, Merlin’s good mood, the sensation of Merlin’s hand in his own, Merlin’s dazzling smile, Merlin, Merlin, Merlin...

Merlin stares at his back as he goes, noting with a dangerously satisfied smirk the red blush of his ears.

The scenic route indeed.

THE END!!

Oops I made myself sad. Sorry to say but I hope this makes you sad too.

This was SUPER fun to write and I’m so glad I decided to do two versions😅

Link to the Good!Merlin version (much MUCH fluffier, I promise) at the top!!

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peachlover94 · 5 years ago

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Lion Voltron I: ALR - concept movie treatment

LION VOLTRON I: A LEGEND REBORN

written by Robert D.C. Barnes III (PeachLover94)

Inspired by Voltron: Defender of the Universe created for World Events Productions by Peter Keefe, John Teichmann and Toei Animation

Based on Beast King GoLion created for Toei Animation by Saburo Yatsude (Katsuhiko Taguchi, Itaru Orita and Susumu Takahisa)

30 East Trillium Circle

The Woodlands, TX 77381

936-231-8467

TREATMENT: 07-22-2017 [email protected]

NOTE: This proposal is the property of New Frontier Cinema (PeachLover94 's production company) produced in partnership with DreamWorks SKG (Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC), World Events Productions (WEP LLC) and Toei Company, Ltd. Any unlicensed exhibition, copying or redistribution without written consent of the mentioned parties is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

Lion Voltron I: A Legend Reborn

Story Treatment

The Logline

In the Far Universe (Denubian Galaxy), five young space explorer cadets from the Galaxy Alliance of Earth are captured by the Galran Empire of the Drules over their destroyed space colony Olympus. Escaping with the help of a princess to the princess' home planet, they seek out the Lion Voltron to save the galaxy.

Main Characters

1) ALLURA ♀ - Age: 22. Full Title: Princess Allura Fala of Planet Arus (Altea in the ancient texts). Species: Arusian (Altean in ancient times). Homeworld: Arus (Altea). Physical Features: Relatively human-resembling phenotype of Medium-Tall body, Blue eyes, Light Olive skin tone, Round human ears, Yellow Blonde hair in a long feathered (Farrah Fawcett) style, and a medium register voice. The last surviving heir to the throne of planet Arus in the wake of the deaths of her father King Alfor Raimon and her mother Queen Melenor, Allura secretly took up training in the arts of war and espionage in the dead of night so to protect her people from encroachment by the Galran Empire of the Drules. The eventual paladin of Black Lion, her soft spot is for the Space Mice family of planet Arus.

2) KEITH ♂ - Age: 22. Full Name: Keith Akira Kogane. Species: Terran (with distant Arusian/Altean and Galran ancestry). Homeworld: New El Dorado, Planet Olympus (Earth colony in the Denubian Galaxy/Far Universe). Primary Physical Features: A Human phenotype of Medium-Tall body with a swimmer’s build, Brown eyes, Medium skin tone, Round human ears, Black hair in a long mullet style, and medium register voice. Having lived as a sullen orphan with little to lose as a lone wolf, Keith's outlook changes when he sees both the beauty of Allura and the depths of cruelty being committed across the Universe. Matching his drive in battle and earlier temperament, Keith is destined to become paladin of the Red Lion of Fire which is located in the ancient Arusian volcano of Pyros.

3) LANCE ♂ - Age: 21. Full Name: Lance Charles Isamu Kurogane McClain. Species: Terran. Homeworld: New Havana, Planet Olympus (Earth colony in the Denubian Galaxy/Far Universe). Main Physical Features: A Human phenotype of Medium-Tall body with a swimmer build, Blue eyes, Olive skin tone, Round human ears, Brown hair in a bowl style, and a medium register voice. Confident and cocky, Lance is the class clown of the paladins and is something of a ladies' man. However, he is actually quite sensitive, reflective, and distant at the times when it comes down to it. It is said he is the only one who can break through Keith's shell. His laid back, easygoing nature makes him the perfect paladin to pilot the Blue Lion of Water which is located in the Arusian lake of Volturnus.

4) PIDGE I ♂ - Age: 11. Full Name: Darrell Hiroshi Suzuishi "Pidge" Stoker. Species: Terran. Homeworld: New Kerberos, Planet Olympus (Earth colony in the Denubian Galaxy/Far Universe). Physical Features: A Human phenotype with an age-appropriate height, Green eyes with glasses, Caucasian skin tone, Round human ears, Brown hair in a layered shag style, and age-appropriate register of voice. Pidge graduated from the Academy at a young age, and his specialty is science. He is well-trained in the ways of Ninjutsu, and uses his size and agility to his advantage. Pidge is not afraid to speak his mind, but his heart is often in his words. His deep connections to forests balancing with technology suit him as the paladin for the Green Lion of Forest kept in the forest of Arboria.

5) HUNK ♂ - Age: 21. Full Name: Tsuyoshi Seidou "Hunk" Garrett. Species: Terran. Homeworld: New Apia, Planet Olympus (Earth colony in the Denubian Galaxy/Far Universe). Primary Physical Features: A Human phenotype of Medium-Tall body with a muscular rotund build, Brown eyes, Dark Tan skin tone, Round human ears, Brown hair in a mullet with orange bandana, and a medium register voice. Hunk is an engineer in spare time - being a gentle guy with a large appetite, Hunk is the heart of the team, lifting them up and making peace between them. Seeing desolation and misery of Zarkon's conquests, Hunk is determined to free those enslaved. His connection to land will serve him as paladin for the Yellow Lion of Earth which is hidden in the canyon of Terrae.

6) SVEN ♂ - Age: 22. Full Name: Sven Takashi Shirogane Holgersson. Species: Terran. Homeworld: New Oslo, Planet Olympus (Earth colony in the Denubian Galaxy/Far Universe). Primary Physical Features: A Human phenotype of Tall body with a swimmer build, Grey eyes, Medium-Light skin tone, Round human ears, Black hair in a long shaggy style, and a low-medium register voice with a Norwegian accent. Sven or "Takashi" is the eldest of three triplet brothers who also go by Sven as well, and he is an ex-member of an elite Galaxy Alliance Navy trainee squad. With him being a natural, decisive leader as well as second-in-command in tandem with Keith, Sven is calm and always in control - originally intended to be the paladin for the Black Lion of Sky kept in the cliffs of Nephele.

7) CORAN ♂ - Age: 55. Full Title: Coran Hieronymus Wimbleton Smythe Raible. Chief Strategist of Arus (Altea in the ancient texts). Species: Arusian (Altean in ancient times). Homeworld: Arus (Altea). Primary Physical Features: Relatively human phenotype of Tall body, Blue eyes, Medium Tan skin tone, Round human ears, graying Red hair in a shag and mustache, and a lower-medium register voice. Coran is noted for being kinda foppish, goofy, and a little of a traditionalist who can be opinionated and overprotective at times, but is very wise and is a force to be reckoned with. He is the commander of the Castle of Lions, once it becomes battle-worthy, and especially if it needs to travel off planet. After Alfor and Melenor died, they entrusted Coran with the five bayard keys to Voltron.

8) NANNY ♀ - Age: 44. Full Title: Court Lady Nanette "Nanny" Hys - Assistant and Bodyguard to the Arusian Royal Family. Species: Arusian (Altean in ancient times). Homeworld: Arus (Altea). Primary Physical Features: Relatively human phenotype of Medium-Tall body with a supposedly chubby frame that is actually Amazonian muscle, Brown eyes, Light skin tone, Round human ears, graying Brown hair in a crowned and braided braid style, and a low-medium register voice with a Germano-Scottish accent. Nanny's first concern is for Allura's well-being. Despite her peaceful and demure/ladylike inclinations and preferences, "Nanny" is not one to be messed with - what with her fifteen years of service in the Arusian Special Forces. Leave it to Allura to show she must not be babied.

The Background

Long in the past of the Denubian Galaxy NGC 7610 (termed the Far Universe by the Galaxy Alliance), the five-piece fighting humanoid robot known as the Lion Voltron was known as GoLion (King of Five Lions) by the peoples of Altea and Heracles - now called Arus and Pollux. GoLion or Lion Voltron was a sentient being, renown across the galaxy for its feats of heroism and bravery. GoLion went by gender-neutral pronouns based on the gender of the pilot. Ultimately, this led to Lion Voltron developing something of an ego, as it challenged both the wicked witch Druid Haggar I and the goddess Denubia to battle. Denubia, having sensed the egotism brewing in Lion Voltron/GoLion out of simple ignorance of its own power and not out of sinister malice, defeated but spared the mighty robot.

In a rage, the Druid Haggar disguised herself as Denubia and tried to destroy Voltron while succeeding at murdering Denubia. With her last acts, Denubia managed to save Lion Voltron/GoLion by splitting the robot back up into its five component lion robots - Black of Sky, Red of Fire, Green of Forest, Yellow of Earth, and Blue of Water. They were flung through space until they crash-landed on Altea, there to spend a great deal of time defending it from the forces of evil in the Denubian Galaxy until some force caused it to go into dormancy until the time was right. Now the time has come for a rebirth of Lion Voltron with a return of the Galran Empire of Galra (Planet Doom) by the Drules, to threaten the Milky Way, Hyperion and Denubian galaxies. The bayard keys to Voltron are hidden.

The Premise

Historically, the Lion Voltron Force story arc of Voltron: Defender of the Universe was adapted from the 1981 anime series Beast King GoLion but was adapted to be part of a much bigger storyline. Here, the Voltron story takes on more of a mythical Greco-Roman/Medieval fantasy style with elements of space opera and regular science fiction thrown in. Taking the team of heroes premises that are found in the Japanese Super Sentai/Power Rangers series, the galaxy-spanning adventure of Star Wars, the epic mythic fantasies of Arthurian legend and J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium (Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Silmarillion), and the appeal of mecha and big robots found in both the Gundam and Transformers franchises, Voltron is ready to take to the stars for battle and saving the world.

In this four-quadrant five-act epic mecha space fantasy film, a team of five space explorers from Earth and an enchanted humanoid alien princess must break out and flee their alien captors à la The Great Escape, but end up crash-landing on the princess' home planet out of Arthurian legend. Meeting with her royal staff, the princess and the space explorers must trek across the many lands of her planet to reunite the bayard keys that activate the five lion robots that form Lion Voltron - Defender of the Far Universe. In a globetrotting quest out of Lord of the Rings, our heroes must get the people of the war-torn planet's help to overcome the obstacles so they can launch and form Voltron in time to stop a Star Wars-like attack by the enemy's space forces. Only with Voltron will Arus be saved...

The Nemeses

Aside from normal human squabbles and quandaries that face teams of people trying to survive, Lion Voltron and its team of pilots have to contend with the new horrible menace threatening the Denubian Galaxy. The Galrans of Planet Doom fit the tradition of the classic "empire of evil". Most of the Galrans in power are of a pathological diagnosis of needing control, physiologically depending others' misery for their survival. With fleets of starfighters and space battleships; as well as armies of tanks, Ultra Black Corps shock troops and Robeast mecha monsters, Galrans are the muscle of the Drule Empire in the Denubian Galaxy. Currently, only one planet dares to stand in the Galrans' way - Arus.

1) ZARKON ♂ - Age: Late 40s/Early 50s. Species: Galran Drule. Homeworld: Galra (Planet Doom). Eye Color: Yellow. His full royal title is Emperor Zarkon Daibazaal of Planet Galra. King Zarkon is an immensely powerful fighter, having killed Alfor in a climactic duel to the death. Zarkon is to be revealed as a skilled mecha pilot, having once been the paladin for the Black Lion of Sky as a young king who tried to corrupt and convert Lion Voltron to the side of the Drules and Galrans before being rejected by Voltron. The Galran King has little tolerance for failure among his subordinates, and often threatens them for failure. Though he appears to have a slightly higher tolerance for Haggar, she is not immune to being threatened for failures to claim Arus and other planets for the empire.

2) ROBEASTS - Wherever one goes in the Empires of the Drules, there will always be such mighty things as Robeasts to challenge the Voltron Forces and threaten the peace of the Near, Middle and Far Universes. Robeasts from Galra (Planet Doom) sent to battle the Lion Voltron are humanoid monsters created through an unholy combination of super-science and Haggar's magic, most often from the many prisoners of war that are reared in sadistic gladiatorial combat, though some of them are simply colossal robots piloted by Ultra Black Corps troopers. A platoon of fifteen robeasts is ready at a moments notice to travel with fighters, tanks, space battleships and Ultra Black Corps armies to lay siege to whatever may get in their way. They are tricky but not impossible to annihilate.

3) HAGGAR XIII ♀ - Age: Late 60s. Species: Galran Drule/Arusian Half-Breed. Homeworld: Arus (Altea). Eye Color: Yellow. Hair Color: White. Her full title is Court Sorceress Haggar Yoba Honerva. Haggar the Witch Queen is the one responsible for creating the Galran Beast Fighters or Robeasts that Voltron must destroy. She is notorious for her dark magic to cast hypnosis and control spells over people. Though she was once a good and beautiful, she is now evil and ugly by her corruption. It is implied throughout this first film that she is Zarkon's amnesia-stricken wife. Haggar has the power of quintessence at her fingertips, being able to shoot bolts of energy and manipulate it to her will for defense and levitate objects to battle enemies of the Empire. What other secrets lie with her?

4) ULTRA BLACK CORPS - Say hello to the mixed organic and cybernetic shock troopers of the Galran Empire. They serve as the backbone of Galran (Planet Doom's) military forces. Ultra Drones have no built in weapons, instead using the same weapons as their organic counterparts. Drones are capable of squad-level infantry tactics and understanding vocal commands These androids somewhat resemble Galrans and other Drules, appearing to wear charcoal-black armor. In fact, some of the living soldiers appear identical to the Ultra Drones. In addition, Ultra Drones can be used for scouting planetary environments full of every kind of hazards, are more durable, and have no fear of utter destruction to claim the victory. Many a senior soldier here relishes serving Supreme Commander Yurak.

5) YURAK ♂ - Age: 40s. Species: Galran Drule. Homeworld: Galra (Planet Doom). Eye Color: Yellow (Left) and Cybernetic Red (Right). His full title rank is Supreme Commander Yurak of the Galrans, who also travels under the aliases of Sendak and Sadak. He is quite a sadistic, leather-lunged and powerful fighter who is not to be underestimated. His loyalty to King Zarkon and adherence to military hierarchy is without question and only obeys the commands given to him. His fighting style relies primarily on the use of his cybernetic arms, his own energy sword and terrifying piercing claws. He is also athletic, able to dodge and move around quickly to evade attacks. This is despite his large size, topping at about eight feet. If he were a Parris Island drill instructor, he would fit right in.

The Heroes and the Twist

Each member of Lion Voltron's super force of space explorers is reflective of aspects of ourselves that we all have been at some point in our lives the class clown, the lone wolf, the young genius, the tough guy who is also a mediator, and that young person destined for life greater than their backyard. A major bend in the story comes when the original intended paladin to pilot Black Lion - Sven - is badly injured by Galran Drule Ultra Black Corps troopers and on the verge of dying. Princess Allura, who is traveling with him to find Black Lion, has to take his place and fly Black Lion so she can save Sven, his teammates and Arus. But ultimately, Black Lion intended for Allura to be the team's leader from the start. Can Allura rise to the occasion and lead her new team to free Arus?

The Story Breakdown

Prologue

1) From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the Universe, comes a legend. The legend of the Voltrons: Defenders of the Universe. Three mighty robots, loved by good, feared by evil. As the Voltrons' legend grew, peace settled across the galaxies. On Planet Earth, a Galaxy Alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of our Solar System, they maintained peace throughout the Universe until new, horrible menaces threatened the galaxies. The Voltrons are needed once more. This is the story of the super force of space explorers. Specially trained, entrusted and sent by the Alliance with the ancient secrets of how to assemble and bring back, Lion Voltron: Defender of the Far Universe. And the first chapter of a great saga begins with a faraway planet...

Act I

2) We open in orbit of planet Olympus, a human space colony of Earth's in the Denubian Galaxy - termed the Far Universe. A good-sized Galaxy Alliance light cruiser the Pioneer approaches it. Aboard her is a team of five bright and young space explorer cadets returning for summer leave from their senior year at the Galaxy Alliance Academy. In command is Sven Holgersson (black/navy blue) who leads Keith Kogane (red) , Hunk Garrett (yellow), Lance McClain (blue) and little eleven-year-old Pidge Stoker (green). What they are about to return to is a home destroyed - the dreaded King Zarkon Daibazaal of Galra (AKA. Planet Doom) has just ordered his space fleet to provoke war between the districts of Olympus. Zarkon's evil has left the people of Olympus to die via a thermonuclear war. These images of catastrophe echo the fears of Earth during World War III.

3) Keith, Lance, Hunk and Sven are devastated, while Pidge is disgusted by the petty nature of fear Zarkon uses to force his enemies to annihilate each other in one cascade. The leveled cities and irradiated corpses mean there are few to no survivors currently to be found, and a Galran slaver ship soon catches sight of the Pioneer - drawing her in by tractor beam. Under the leadership of the Galran Drules' Supreme Commander Yurak, the slave ship departs Olympus to return to Galra with fresh slaves to be delivered for Emperor Zarkon and the Witch Queen Haggar's approval. On Galra, the five human space explorers watch helplessly as hapless prisoners including Hunk’s older sister Lisa are sent to the arena for gladiatorial combat which either way will result in their potential eventual demise.

4) Those prisoners ruthlessly slaughtered in the arena are to become food for Robeasts, and those prisoners who managed to survive are themselves turned into the bio-mechanical Robeasts for Zarkon to sic upon the galaxy. In their cell, Lance is about to go stir crazy when a female voice tells the five she may just be able to help them escape if they help her escape back to her home planet. Keith and Sven ask her who she is, and the voice is revealed to be that of the divinely beautiful Princess Allura Fala (pink) of planet Arus - now conquered and facing enslavement by the Galrans' imperial forces in this galaxy. Pidge, having been trained in the ways of ninjas, is able to jump with his agile and nimble body up to the bars over the cell windows to the outside. If they free others, they can flee.

5) On the night before Allura and the space explorers are to be sent into the arena, Pidge takes their rope made from rags, blankets and scraps of clothing up to the bars on the windows. Hunk is the first to climb up so he can bend and breaks the bars of the jail cell. After him, the others free a swarm of many other prisoners and climb up and out before the guards can report of a break. Sighting the Galran Vultures, the six escapees each grab on to the legs of a vulture and steer them down and away from the prison castle. Allura is the first to jump, and she makes a perfect landing in the dumping ground of dead prisoner skeletons stripped clean to the bone by the Robeasts. The five space explorers along with the escaping prisoners soon follow, and declare Zarkon will pay for his cruelty.

6) Allura, Keith, Sven, Lance, Hunk and Pidge; having made their escape, scurry across the dead plains of Galra to the airfield where a fleet of skull ships (Galran space battleships able to carry Stinger fighters) await to be launched. Knocking out a night guard guarding an armory, Allura takes a sword while the others grab guns and start shooting up the Ultra Black Corps troopers guarding the airfield and the skull ships. They manage to launch a skull ship and fire its heavy laser cannons at both Zarkon's castle and the remaining skull ships on the pad before lifting off into the sky. News of the prison break reaches Zarkon, who orders all capable ships to retrieve the missing skull ship, or failing that, blast it and its crew out of the stars. Yurak attempts to follow in his ship, but our heroes escape.

Act II

7) Making the jump to hyperskip, our heroes' skull ship comes under attack upon exiting hyperskip by a few remaining Stinger starfighters left behind to blockade any escaping space traffic from the planet below them. Allura plows the skull ship through the Stingers, but the ship is damaged and begins to fall out of the sky towards the surface of her home planet Arus - known in the ancient texts as Altea. In the moments before bailing out, Allura has Pidge send a coded signal to what she calls Castle Control on frequency 198.1 MHz - that the Princess is on her way home in a crashing Galran skull ship. Allura and the space explorers bail out and float down to land on the ground. Safe in a clearing, the six watch as the giant skull ship falls from the sky towards the bluest oceans of planet Arus.

8) The night soon begins to fall as Keith, Sven, Lance, Hunk and Pidge are led by Allura back to the source of Castle Control - the Castle of the Lions. Allura had been taken prisoner by the Galran Drules just one Earth week earlier by her own calculations, but the princess' safe return brings joy to her strategist Coran and handmaiden Nanny's hearts. Grateful to the five space explorers who aided Allura in her escape from Galra, Coran is the first to pledge whatever services he, Nanny and the people of Arus can provide. After the team introduces each member by their full names, Keith speaks up that he and his team would like to use the Castle and Arus as a base until they can find a way to defeat Zarkon. Upon hearing this, Coran leads them all into the lower chambers of the Castle.

9) Low yet eerie sounds echo and illuminate the lower chambers of the Castle of Lions as Nanny and Coran lead our six heroes down to the Royal Tomb. Trailing behind is a royal family of Arusian Space Mice with the father Chitter Platt, the mother Cheddar Chuchule, and their children made up of Cheeser, Cheesy, Pip, Squeak, Mousie, Prince, Toady, Inky and Suki watch as the humanoids uncover the sarcophagi of Allura's father King Alfor Ramon and his wife Queen Melenor. Chitter and Cheddar come up to sit on Allura's shoulders for comfort as Coran sadly recounts how Zarkon had betrayed her father Alfor, fought him in a sword fight for Lion Voltron, and murdered him and his wife Melenor. Zarkon, however, did not obtain his prize - Lion Voltron as the keys to the lions had disappeared.

10) Back on Galra, Yurak reports to Zarkon and Haggar that the stolen skull ship was ditched into the oceans of Arus and that its crew and passengers both have managed to survive bailing out. Instead of lashing out at his underling, Zarkon is lost in thought. He remembers that Arus is home to the one force in this galaxy that could defeat them - Lion Voltron. Haggar reveals to Yurak that Zarkon is an accomplished mecha pilot who in his days of youth tried to become the paladin to pilot the Black Lion of Sky and convert Lion Voltron to the Galran Drules' side. In a flash of inspiration, Zarkon has a new mission - let the escaped prisoners on Arus lead them to Lion Voltron, defeat them in battle, and claim Voltron for use by the Drule Empire. Yurak promises to bring the empire victory or die trying.

11) Nanny continues on with telling the story that Coran had started down in the Royal Tomb of Arus to our heroes. When King Alfor died, he took the secret bayard keys to forming Lion Voltron with him and his wife Melenor to the grave so the Galran Drules could not get their hands on them. Alfor's last testament he gave to Nanny was that Allura and a team of space explorers would inherit and hopefully use the keys to the five lion robots that make up the Lion Voltron to battle the forces of evil threatening Arus when the princess came of age. Now that Allura is of age, she must lead Keith and his team across the lands of Arus to the five locations where a component lion of Voltron may be found. There are five keys that must reach their lion located in a distinct landmark of the planet.

Act III

12) Each member of the newly created Lion Voltron Force must bring a key to a certain cavern in which a lion resides, deliver the key to the lion, and pilot it back to the Castle of Lions. Keith is given the Key of Fire in which he must journey to the Volcano of Pyros to reactivate the Red Lion of Fire. Pidge is given the Key of Forest, so he must journey to the Forest of Arboria to recover the Green Lion of Forest. Hunk is given the Key of Earth and will need it to access the Canyon of Terrae to retrieve the Yellow Lion of Earth. Lance is entrusted with the Key of Water, so he must find the Lake of Volturnus and awaken the Blue Lion of Water. Allura will have to accompany Sven with the Key of Sky to recover the Black Lion of Sky from the Cliffs of Nephele as the Black Lion is the overall leader.

13) In front of legions of Ultra Black Corps shock troopers, companies of laser tanks, and fourteen Robeasts waiting to board the mighty fleet of skull ships, Yurak addresses his forces from his self-modeled Robeast. The mighty platoon of Robeasts known as the Batbeast, Dieklops, Exospike, Mogyula, Bokar Snake, Poison Bugblade, the Loathsome Lion, Buffaloon, twins Beyel and Zebub, the Deathsail, Mammoth, Armordillo and Evilroots lead all the assembled forces of the Galran Drules in cheering for Yurak and their battle. Proudly, Yurak proclaims that their victory shall be a day long remembered through history. With that, the Galran forces begin to load onto the skull ships to prepare for blastoff on the campaign to conquer Arus once and for all. Little do they know it is a death trap.

14) Coran dispatches teams of soldiers to head for the ocean where the skull ship was ditched as a distraction to any incoming forces of the Galran Drules who may try to stop the Lion Voltron Force from reaching the Lions in time. In the meantime, our heroes have suited and packed up their stuff to begin heading out on foot to journey across the ruins of the once proud, innocent and peaceful planet of Arus. Being armed only with a sidearm laser pistol and their keys that can turn into energy bayards which form weapons suited to the fighting style of the Lion Voltron paladins, our six heroes are really taking their chances. For you see, the Galran Drule space fleet has jumped through hyperskip to arrive on Arus' far side. The time to put the bayard keys to the test will soon be coming.

15) The air temperature is climbing rapidly as Keith braves the heat of lava flows and gulfs between cliff faces to navigate the area of the Volcano of Pyros to find the Red Lion. To keep from going crazy, he takes his friend Lance's advice and starts talking out loud to himself. Just then, the Loathsome Lion arrives and tries to trick Keith into coming towards it, but Keith activates some hidden power from within and sees through this attempt at deception and uses his bayard's energy sword to battle the Robeast and slay it. The blast flings Keith up and away into the volcano, but he is saved by Red Lion. In triumph, Keith boards the Red Lion and they together launch out of the volcano back for the Castle of Lions to find Dieklops leading a charge of soldiers and tanks towards it to launch an attack.

16) Hunk, meanwhile, is getting a wonderful workout running and jumping from clifftop to clifftop across the Canyon of Terrae which reminds him of once going up and down El Capitan back on Earth. The lovable lug is already planning on cooking up a feast to celebrate the victory of his team against Zarkon's forces, but he still thinks of all the prisoners on Galra sent to die or become Robeasts, remembering their names and faces by heart. A break in his concentration comes with the arrival of the Deathsail ready to fight. In a jolt of speed, Hunk starts his bayard's energy cannon and fires off salvos at the Robeast to keep him away from the cavern where Yellow Lion is sleeping. With a mighty roar, Hunk arrives and uses Yellow Lion to destroy Deathsail before escaping.

Act IV

17) Seeing Red and Yellow Lions finish off their Robeasts and start back for the Castle now that Poison Bugblade is leading its charges in the surge forces Allura and Sven to hurry towards the Cliffs of Nephele where the Black Lion cavern is located. As they approach the Cliffs, a legion of Ultra Black Corps shock troops led by Exospike lands and attempts to shoot them down off the cliffs. Sven soon activates his bayard's energy sword to cut away at the shock troops while Allura lays down cover fire with her laser pistol. This is all they can do to safeguard the Black Lion. A flung spike from the Robeast injures Sven and Allura rushes to duel Exospike with the sword and kill the Robeast. Allura forces herself to carry the critically injured Sven over her shoulders towards the cavern of Black Lion.

18) In the meantime, the Arusian Special Forces have succeeded in reaching the ditched Galran skull ship, floating on the ocean near the castle. Aboard the ship, they manage to activate its defense turrets and torpedo launchers to keep the Galran Drule Stinger fighters from doing bombing runs on the Castle. A few more launch the downed skull ship's own Stingers to conduct a Trojan horse attack on Yurak's leading skull ship to assist the Lion Voltron Force. The attack costs them their lives, but it does manage to cripple the skull ship and force Yurak to board his Robeast and lead four others in abandoning ship for their attack on the surface. He sees Red and Yellow Lions attacking his Robeasts as he charges forward. Seeing the Lions return makes Yurak lose his composure.

19) Volturnus Lake is a welcome sight as Lance makes a mad dash for it as he sees shock troops being dropped along with Bokar Snake to fight it out. In a fit of retribution-seeking adrenaline for all those Zarkon has made suffer in the arena, Lance lays down the law with his bayard's energy rifle on the swarm of the shock troops before giving a face full of fire right into Bokar Snake. He spots Blue Lion resting in the lake and makes a dive for it just before things can get even more out of control than they have already. During the swim down towards the cockpit of the Blue Lion, Lance tries to calm himself and telepathically bond with the lion before boarding and reactivating it. With that, they see Buffaloon and his forces on the move and they shoot to the rescue in order to protect the Castle of Lions.

20) At least Pidge is grateful for the cover that the dense brush of trees in the Forest of Arboria is providing as he scurries his way for the cavern of the Green Lion. Evilroots barely manages to cut through the treeline before Pidge activates his bayard's angular katar to go one on one with the toxic Robeast and become a true eco-warrior and tree hugger. In a burst of natural inspiration, Pidge uses the bayard katar's shock prod ability to set the Evilroots on fire when he reaches a safe clearing before darting away into the cavern. Here, he and Green Lion finally get acquainted before he boards the Lion. Pidge and Green Lion see the Mammoth charging for the Castle of Lions as they attempt to race back and head off the opposing forces. Now all they need is the Black Lion to help them.

21) The Castle of Lions fights back against Armordillo, but tanks and soldiers are moving in for the attack. Inside the cavern of Black Lion, Allura holds the key up to the lion-shaped robot. The Black Lion welcomes her and tells the princess it has been awaiting the day she would come of age and be ready to pilot it and lead the Lion Voltron Force to victory over evil once again. Seeing the fleet of Galran starships approaching orbit of Arus and the four other lions in need of help fighting the Robeast army, Allura rushes Sven into Black Lion. With Sven safely aboard in the passenger compartment, Allura scurries to the cockpit and inputs the key to launch Black Lion out and into the skies of Arus to join the others in battle. With a mighty roar, the Black Lion shoots out into the skies.

Act V

22) Keith and the other space explorers are surprised by Allura showing up in Black Lion to rescue them. Coran has to prevent Nanny from losing it. Now it becomes a real battle as the five lions fly up to cripple Yurak's space fleet and crash it down to Arus. Swooping back down to the planet, they see only four Robeasts left along with Yurak and the self-modeled Robeast he pilots. This is the signal Allura takes so to call for the paladins to form Lion Voltron. Activating interlocks, connecting their dynotherms, bringing up their infracells, and setting their mega-thrusters to go; the Lion Voltron Force is go to form and battle evil. Allura's Black Lion forms the body and head, Keith's Red and Pidge's Green form the arms, and Lance's Blue and Hunk's Yellow form the feet and legs.

23) The sight of the Lions coming together to form Lion Voltron both stuns and horrifies Yurak and his few surviving Robeasts. Over subspace radio, Allura offers one last chance for Yurak to surrender and receive a fair and public trial for his crimes. Yurak denounces this compassion as a deathly weakness and instead charges with his Robeasts towards our heroes, forcing a combined Eye Beam and Lion Torch attack on Beyel. Zebub locks in a struggle with Voltron so he can avenge his brother, but gets a mouthful of Sting Ray Missiles. Batbeast goes for a bite of Voltron, but a combined Electro-Force Cross and Ion Darts blows him to kingdom come. A Lion Head Attack takes out Mogyula while a flung Spinning Space Blade hits the Galran Drule ships still in orbit with no air cover.

24) Now trapped on Arus and without much fuel to make it out of the Arusian system, Yurak draws his Robeast's energy sword as he alone is in a position to take down Lion Voltron mano-a-mano. Allura and the team then draw out Lion Voltron's Blazing Sword, ready to fend off an attack. Changing tactics, Yurak calms his Robeast down and contacts Lion Voltron over subspace radio in order to use his enemies’ weakness against them. Speaking softly but firmly, Yurak orders the Lion Voltron Force to set the Blazing Sword down, step away from it, and he may show clemency if they surrender. Allura is not buying it, as she and the team still have the images of the cruelty of Zarkon and his followers fresh in their minds, causing Lion Voltron to charge their foe with the Blazing Sword.

25) Yurak holds out as long as he can, loudly berating our heroes for their acts of cowardice and betrayal of the empire, but he is no match for Voltron. Lion Voltron and its pilots escape the blast radius just in time before Yurak and his Robeast explode in a mighty conflagration as he curses their names for eternity. With the destruction of both the Galran space forces in orbit and the Galran land forces under Yurak's command, cheers of the grateful survivors of Arus echo across the planet for Voltron. Meanwhile, Sven is still badly wounded and close to the point of dying, so Allura then orders Coran to send for a transport to carry Sven back to Galaxy Garrison on Earth for critical treatment before it is too late. (In the Japanese version, Sven or Takashi actually dies and is laid to rest).

26) With how wonderfully Allura led the Lion Voltron Force to victory over Yurak, Nanny reluctantly allows Allura to become the leader of the Lion Voltron Force with Keith and the others' blessings. But Nanny still wishes to be able to protect the Princess if need be, which means Allura is forced into the unenviable position of reactivating Nanny's commission with the Arusian Special Forces - effectively drafting her Nanny back into service! With a little time to celebrate, the people of Arus gather in the Castle of Lions in salute of their heroes. Allura leads Keith, Lance, Hunk and Pidge down in a procession to where they are awarded medals for their heroism. With her royal sword, Allura knights herself and her teammates as the paladins of Lion Voltron Force as the gathered masses cheer.

Epilogue (Preview Summary for Lion Voltron II: Prince Lotor Unleashed)

27) And with the final defeat of the dreaded Supreme Commander Yurak; the names of Voltron, Lion Voltron and planet Arus would again strike fear in the hearts of the Drule Empire and its Denubian Galaxy vassals the Galrans. Even so, Zarkon's enigmatic son Prince Lotor Sincline is determined to make a name for himself and claim Princess Allura as his bride. Taking a platoon of Robeasts with him to throw Voltron off the scent and secretly hold planets Balto and Arus' sister world of Pollux (Heracles in ancient times) in captivity, the Lion Voltron Force departs Arus and sets out into space to free the planets and the Galrans' hostages, among them Sven. In the midst of a fierce battle of wills and swords, Allura carries a terrifying truth about Lotor and the Galran Royal Family...

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thestarstriker · 6 years ago

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Timeline

Year cir -3,200

Nala and Jenadiel, Sapphron’s mothers, marry.

Year -2,941

Kalrian, Sapphron’s brother, is born in Morlos’Aran.

Year -2,845

Sapphron Starstriker, golden-eyed, is born in Morlos’Aran. Her eyes, in kal’dorei tradition, prophesy she is destined for great things, and she spends much of her childhood preparing to enroll in the Highborne College in the heart of the classist Morlos’Aran.

Year cir -2,700

Sapphron is enrolled into the Morlos’dralar College, where she spends the next 400 years studying as an arcane mage.

Year cir -2,300

Sapphron deserts the College and spends several years finding herself outside the Highborne’s influence.

She ultimately finds she’s inherited her mother Nala’s love for nature and, despite her being a woman, enlists into the Cenarion Circle.

She also begins her transition around this time.

Year cir -2,000

After much struggle and rejection, Sapphron earns her apprenticeship with the archdruid Idris Wolfbane, who takes her on despite his belief her druidic prowess is ‘proof’ of her not being a woman. In time, and as the Cenarion Circle opens its arms to women and the other races, Idris betters himself on the subject.

When the time comes, Idris takes Sapphron to a communal barrow den deep in the secluded forests of Moonglade, where the two of them enter a druidic slumber, and Idris guides Sapphron through her first pilgrimage to the Emerald Dream. She remains asleep, training and studying, for over 2,000 years.

Year 20 (WC3)

The Third War begins.

Sapphron is wrenched suddenly from her sleep, alongside the rest of the druids, as the Burning Legion razes Kalimdor. She discovers her home of Morlos’Aran destroyed, but manages to reunite with her family and take them west, to the safer forests of Ashenvale. The woods where Morlos’Aran once stood become known as the Felwood.

Sapphron and her brother Kalrian do what little they can to combat the Burning Legion. Idris reveals himself as a disgraced Druid of the Pack, and to help purge the Legion from Azeroth, he trains Sapphron in the form that harnesses Goldrinn’s nobility and ferocity. Sapphron succeeds in converting her feral form into something akin to the forbidden pack form, but cannot control herself, requiring Idris to force her out of the form whenever she’s taken it.

Year 21

After the defeat of Archimonde, at the cost of the World Tree Nordrassil and the night elves’ immortality, Sapphron remains stationed in Moonglade and Ashenvale, the latter to help deal with the orcish forces turning their ancestral forests into lumber.

She also spends much of her time in Teldrassil, where her family moved to after the Third War left their home in Morlos’Aran destroyed and impossible to return to.

Year 26 (TBC)

Sapphron works with the Circle on numerous issues over the years, but her renown skyrockets during the campaign in Outland. A fervent enemy of anything demonic, her name becomes recognized enough for the Alliance to call upon her through her brother as they prepare to launch the campaign in Northrend.

Year 27 (WotLK)

Sapphron and Kalrian serve dutifully across Borean Tundra and the Dragonblight. They are present at the Battle of the Wrathgate, but Kalrian is grievously injured and his saber cat Ishana killed, and Sapphron barely drags him out before the battlefield is submerged in plague. Kalrian loses his right arm, and is discharged from Northrend, unable to serve in his condition.

Sapphron remains in Northrend and ventures with other heroes to the city of Ulduar, where she plays a particular role with the Conservatory of Life and the freeing of the Watcher Freya from Yogg-Saron’s influence.

In the Conservatory, Sapphron meets the faerie dragon Elunali, and discovers she is the sole survivor of a colony whose duty was to quarantine a root of the felled Andrassil (now Grizzlemaw) and its corruption at the hands of Yogg-Saron. Elunali takes Sapphron to the root, where Sapphron manages to use her druid power to force the corruption into recession, freeing the Conservatory and Freya of Yogg-Saron’s control.

For this, Sapphron is entrusted with the root’s protection; the root is reforged into a powerful staff and called the Dreambinder. Elunali remains as Sapphron’s companion, and she earns the protection of the faerie dragons charged with watching over the Dreambinder.

Year 28 (Cata)

Sapphron works exclusively in northern Kalimdor, primarily on Mount Hyjal fighting Ragnaros and the Twilight’s Hammer. She’s also sent on a mission to Ashenvale, alongside other druids, to deal with the spread of Ragnaros’s flames that have come down the mountain.

In Ashenvale, she meets Kaliri Starsong, a remarkable druid raised by dryads and the forest guardian Hildreth. Together, they quench the spreading flames and save Ashenvale from the threat of Ragnaros’s destruction. Kaliri joins the Cenarion Circle and returns to Mount Hyjal with Sapphron.

Year 29

Pressing on against Deathwing and his forces, Sapphron and Kaliri become notably close friends.

During the final battle in the Maelstrom, Sapphron, despite Idris being injured and taken out of the fight earlier, takes her uncontrollable feral form in a last effort to help turn the tide of the terrifying battle. In doing so, she discovers something extraordinary: Kaliri has the ability to communicate with Sapphron even in her feral form, and can guide Sapphron back to her right mind when it’s time to revert to her elven form.

Thereafter, Sapphron and Kaliri become especially inseparable and fall in love.

Year 30 (MoP)

After Deathwing is defeated and Sapphron has recovered from injuries sustained in the battle, she helps Kaliri take her first ever pilgrimage to the Emerald Dream. It’s a really gay date.

Sapphron works dutifully with the pandaren and the Cenarion Circle to save and preserve as much of Pandaria as possible, and put a stop to Hellscream’s Horde’s destructive impact on it.

Additionally, Kalrian arrives on the continent to try and bring his sister away from the fighting, an endeavor he’s been at since WotLK. Sapphron is loyal to the Circle though and isn’t easily persuaded.

But Kalrian’s PTSD leads to Sha contamination, and Sapphron finds herself choosing him over her organization’s orders. She saves him, and the two of them lose the will to fight one another anymore.

Ultimately, the siblings are able to reconcile over their vast misunderstandings of one another, as Kalrian realizes Sapphron truly isn’t the young lady he knew before her millennia in the Emerald Dream, and likewise, Sapphron realizes that Kalrian was truly traumatized in more ways than she comprehends during their campaign in Northrend.

Year 31 (WoD)

With her brother back home in Teldrassil, Sapphron is deployed into Draenor to assist the draenei and the Cenarion Circle in regards to preserving the alternate Outland’s wildlife, and preventing destruction at the hands of demonic influence.

Kaliri is working with an Alliance commander named Casady in Shadowmoon Valley, and thanks to her druidic training and expertise in natural healing, she’s tasked with investigating a fungal bog in Gorgrond when a band of Casady’s troops fail to return. When she too fails to return, the Circle is notified and sends druids, including Sapphron, to retrieve Kaliri—who has been critically infected by the spores, and is rushed back to Casady’s garrison.

Sapphron, though no expert in healing, stays close to Kaliri through her recovery. When Kaliri awakens, she tells the Circle she’d managed to discover a means of mending the bog, and it was this means that allowed her to slow her own infection. Once recovered, she and Sapphron set out to heal the bog, and areas similarly afflicted.

Naturally, Sapphron is also present for a great deal of the Tanaan campaign. She hates demons so fuckin’ much dude.

Year 32 (Legion)

When the Legion lays siege across Azeroth, Sapphron is quickly called in with many other druids to the Dreamgrove in Val’sharah. Kaliri is summoned as well, and Sapphron’s brother Kalrian even has been recruited alongside the Silver Covenant in Highmountain.

Kaliri is known to have the strange ability to communicate with those maddened by the worgen curse, an ability that has only been seen in a few other night elves. For this, she is challenged with wielding the Scythe of Elune against the Legion, a task even she struggles to face alone. Combining her power with Sapphron’s growing mastery of her pack form, though, the pair are able to control the Scythe, and are entrusted with its protection and use. It is here, too, Sapphron is given the title of archdruid.

Sapphron spends a great deal of time in Val’sharah, as Shaladrassil falls to the influence of the Nightmare and its spreading infection must be contained. During this time, she finds herself recruiting a pair of druid students—an arcane mage named Forellen, and of all things, a warlock named Jaesian—and balances their training with the liberation of Val’sharah.

She also plays a role in aiding the Nightfallen rebellion against Suramar City, learning secrets through the plant life within the city and, eventually, marching on the Nighthold proper. So too is she deployed into Argus, where she witnesses the near-death of her brother’s lover, Yuli, were the high elf not mysteriously rescued by an entity of the void.

Despite Azeroth’s victory against the Legion, Sapphron is wracked with furious grief as Sargeras lands a dangerous strike on her home. The loss of Val’sharah, and the grievous wound Azeroth is dying to, pile onto her psyche and drive the archdruid into a sense of great failure.

Nevertheless, Sapphron and Kaliri too are able to help stabilize Azeroth’s wound by sacrificing the Scythe of Elune. What little power is left of the Scythe is divided up into two key pieces—the Fang of Goldrinn, infused into Kaliri’s staff, and the Eye of Elune, infused into Sapphron’s Dreambinder. Shortly thereafter, Kaliri heads to Ashenvale to attend family matters, while Sapphron remains in Silithus to deal with the loss of Circle forces and the still-dangerous state of Azeroth’s wound.

Year 33 (BfA)

Sapphron only abandons her work in Silithus upon word of the kal’dorei’s territories being laid siege to by the forces of the Horde. Rushing to Ashenvale, Sapphron finds it in a dying state, with Darnassian forces being pushed farther and farther north. She manages to find Kaliri and her family, but despite their best efforts, Ashenvale falls, and they must retreat north as well.

But the Horde’s advance doesn’t let up. Ultimately, they set fire to Teldrassil. Sapphron rescues her family from the burning World Tree, but she and the Circle cannot save Teldrassil itself from the Horde’s destruction. The last of her ancestral homelands are lost.

Her lover is hurled into a rage. Kaliri swears her allegiance to the Alliance, a faction Sapphron’s brother already serves—Sapphron similarly finds her loyalty to the Cenarion Circle crumbling for the first time, as trouble stirs within the druids in light of the sparking conflict of Horde and Alliance.

Sapphron remains loyal to the Cenarion Circle. Led by the green dragon Ysera, who presently lends her aid to the kaldorei in Darkshore, Sapphron is sent as a druidic envoy to Kul Tiras.

Here, her goal is to investigate the power of azerite, as well as keep tabs on the Horde’s and Alliance’s use of it. The Earthen Ring and Cenarion Circle believe azerite to be a substance of great potential, one that the angry hearts of the warring factions can only do harm with. In the Circle’s hands, it will be put to its greatest use: restoring Azeroth.

Sapphron is drawn to the decrepit forests of Drustvar, her studies with the azerite put to experimentation here—surely, if she can heal Drustvar with the azerite, she can do much more.

During this time, Sapphron is begged for help by a village tormented by the Coven and the drust. Further investigation reveals this torment has been framed upon an ex-Coven witch named Judith, who through, Sapphron learns of the Thornspeakers—the drust druids. With Judith’s help, Sapphron is able to begin work bringing these druids into the Cenarion Circle.

Sapphron also travels to the desert of Vol’dun, investigating the once lush Zandalar forest’s change in climate. Her efforts are thwarted time and time again by Zandalari exiles, who Sapphron learns are led by a woman with druid-esque powers flavored by the desert. This woman, Zul’ri, is finally approached, and she and her Zandalari students begin their own joining with the Circle.

Zul’ri holds friendships with the sethrak of Vol’dun, and through them, Sapphron learns much about the resurrection of Mythrax and the influence of the false god G’huun. Sapphron, Zul’ri and Judith act as Circle agents in the Uldir raid.

8.1

Tyrande Whisperwind attempts to recruit aid from the Alliance for the retaking of Darkshore. When Anduin can’t help her, she reaches out to Sapphron, the bearer of the Eye of Elune. Sapphron and Tyrande then plead to Miseo, matriarch of the faerie dragons that safeguard the Dreambinder, to allow Tyrande to use its power in the ritual of the Night Warrior. Miseo agrees.

Sapphron ventures to Darkshore with Tyrande, Miseo and Ysera. While Tyrande and Miseo move on to invoke the ritual, Sapphron and Ysera remain behind to keep the Horde off their trail. During this time, they are caught up to by Maiev, Shandris and Sira.

Miseo and Tyrande successfully complete the ritual of the Night Warrior, transforming Tyrande into the avatar of Elune. The party moves on to their next task: wipe the Horde from Darkshore. They are able to slay one of Sylvanas’s three remaining val’kyr, though Nathanos and the other val’kyr escape.

Sapphron continues to aid in the kaldorei’s warfront in Darkshore, with the help of the faerie dragons and the Dreambinder.

8.1.5

Cenarion Circle forces in Stormsong Valley uncover signs of naga resurgences. Judith, a kul tiran druid recently recruited into the Circle by Sapphron, helps discover strange artifacts from the naga encampments, specifically medallions and a wicked knife. Taking them to the local Tortollan tribe, they discover orders for the naga to ‘retrieve artifacts’, and the decision is made to take the knife back to the naga altar it was found upon for further investigation.

Sapphron is summoned back to Kul Tiras from her work in Darkshore to help with the investigation. During the investigation, they discover the blade is sentient, and Sapphron, her mind fraying over time due to the Legion, Teldrassil and Darkshore… feeds it a portion of her energy upon its demands.

Once empowered, the blade reveals itself as Xal’atath. It explains that the naga and Queen Azshara seek to vanquish all those defiant of the Old God N’Zoth, and assists Sapphron in finding and securing the artifacts mentioned in the naha’s orders.

Further ensnared by Xal’atath, the blade takes Sapphron to the Precipice of Oblivion per its instructions. Xal’atath betrays her, leaving Sapphron and the artifacts as the payment for Xal’atath’s freedom. The blade escapes, and Sapphron is imprisoned within the Crucible of Storms, her anger and hatred over the last year and a half used to shackle her will to N’Zoth’s.

Elunali, Sapphron’s faerie guardian, manages to escape the Crucible. She alerts Kaliri Starsong to what’s happened, and the druids gather with Tidesages to rescue Sapphron from N’Zoth’s clutches. She is found after the Restless Cabal encounter, attempting to reclaim the artifacts that have fallen into the raid’s hands. With the Tidesages’ help, Sapphron is freed, and taken back to a Tidesage sanctuary to recover.

8.2

The grand majority of 8.2, Sapphron spends it recovering from her encounter with N’Zoth. As the Tidesages heal her body, Sapphron spends a lot of time meditating and traveling to the Emerald Dream via consciousness, leaving her vessel behind to be mended.

When N’Zoth is freed in the Eternal Palace, Sapphron is no longer able to sleep. Haunted by the Old God, she braves her still-recovering vessel, doing what she can in her weakened state. She spends much time in Silithus helping maintain the Chamber of Heart.

8.2.5

As Sapphron’s recovery progresses, the arrival of the Black dragon Ebonhorn comes and goes. As he falls to corruption, the Blue Kalecgos sends Champions to seek out one who might know how to save Ebonhorn from his descent into madness: Wrathion. Sapphron has never met the dragon, though she heard of him during her time in Pandaria.

Sapphron ventures to Pandaria, to an old inn known as the Tavern in the Mists to search for clues to Wrathion’s present-day whereabouts. She discovers the Tavern surrounded by N’Zoth’s watchful sentries, and helps the lingering Blacktalons, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’, in dispatching them. These agents were ordered by Wrathion to wait for ‘the Speaker’s emissary’, and accompany Sapphron to the Eastern Kingdoms and the catacombs of Karazhan.

There, Wrathion has left a note and a single vial of powerful elixir. In his writing, he states this can help Ebonhorn and Sapphron, and that he will ‘thank her’ for sharing it with the former soon enough.

Upon drinking half the vial, Sapphron feels her mind clear for the first time in months. She takes the remaining half to Ebonhorn, and then dives into fruitless research in search of the dragon that does not want to be found.

#THIS TOOK A WEEK HFJKDHDK but it's did #i dont know a lot about bfa yet bc ive been lowkey avoiding story details but im pretty sure sapphron is PISST #and if malfurion doesnt get his shit together hes gonna be in TROUBLE #muse #about #timeline #long post /

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red-dragon-archfiend · 3 years ago

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Alright, got some snacks on me, now for some Paladinposting.

Choosing an Oath is different from choosing subclasses for other classes. This does not just define your playstyle, what abilities you have access to, and your character's overall aesthetic; this defines their mission, their worldview, what's most important to them. I think every class and subclass choice should have some weight to it, but for the Paladin it's especially so. I can't just choose based on which has the features I like most; it's about what kind of character I aim to roleplay as well. I'm considering the following:

- Devotion is the archetypal Paladin, the one with the most iconic aesthetic and tenets. This is your knight in shining armor, your champion of good. This for me represents leaning the most strongly into the themes of the class, which is a good thing.

- Ancients is the Oath that resonates with me most in what it represents. This is, ultimately, an Oath about love, taking up arms to defend what matters to you most. There are a lot of different stories you could tell with this, like acquiring the egg of a chromatic dragon and attempting to raise it to be a guardian of nature and goodness. Aesthetically there's a lot of different directions to take, with all the different elements of nature I love, but a possible, more unorthodox choice would be a "witch knight" aesthetic, especially if I take Magic Initiate (Warlock).

- Vengeance is the Oath I like most in terms of subclass features. The spells and Channel Divinity options are excellent, and I've always been fond of the "dark knight" aesthetic. However, the roleplay implications of this Oath imply a brooding character, someone whose life has been ruined and couldn't think of a better calling than to punish those responsible. You could perhaps find a more gentle character in this, but knowing the sheer conviction and passion required for an Oath, I'd need to seriously consider what kind of hero this would be.

Choice of race, meanwhile, isn't quite as important from a roleplay perspective, but it works in concert with the Oath to define the feel of your character. For a Paladin, I'm considering the following:

Dragonborn: Preferably Red, either one who rejects the evil in their ancestry by becoming a champion of good and love, or one who inherits the vengeful nature of their ancestors, and this pushes them towards the path of a dark knight. Works for any Oath, but I'm leaning towards Vengeance to add fiery breath to the Oath's many powerful offensive options.

Aasimar: Protector or Scourge, someone who was destined to be a Paladin. Works for any Oath, though Devotion is the obvious choice. Blessed Warrior, taking Sacred Flame and Thaumaturgy, would work well for embracing the holy knight theme.

Tiefling: Default or Zariel. One of the other ways of adding a bit of fire to the Paladin, and goes the opposite direction as the Aasimar, while allowing for similar themes of evil ancestry as the Red Dragonborn. Works very well with the "witch knight" aesthetic, as well as Vengeance.

Fire Genasi: The most obvious "fire" choice, but the weakest mechanically. Works best for Ancients if we want a similar aesthetic to the Wildfire Druid, and Vengeance because that favors two-handed weapons, giving us a free hand for Produce Flame.

Halfling: Perhaps an odd choice, but for a dex-based build it could be interesting. Bountiful Luck could be helpful, especially on an Ancients Paladin, which put together would make an odd combination of a tank and a support character, akin to a Cleric.

Forest Gnome: Similar to a Halfling, but with Minor Illusion combined with Magic Initiate, we could have a decent amount of utility cantrips to play with, especially if we take Blessed Warrior as our fighting style.

Half-Elf: Even without customizing our ability score increases, this is an excellent choice, with the ability spread and two skills allowing us to do all the important things a Paladin does without stretching ourselves too thin.

Dhampir, Hexblood, or Reborn: The Gothic Lineages offered in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft all have compelling choices. Each includes two skills like the Half-Elf, which we want, but the rest of their features are also interesting; the Dhampir gives us a bite we can Smite with and works wonderfully for the dark knight aesthetic of Vengeance, Hexblood gives us some tricky spellcasting, which when combined with Magic Initiate could make this the best choice for the "witch knight" concept, and Reborn is flexible in its nature and aestheitc, allowing for numerous kinds of undead to be represented; I like the idea of a Reborn who is a former Death Knight, remembering their Oath of Devotion, but not the fall that made them a Death Knight before, nor the evils they committed as an undead. Each of these could work well, especially in a Ravenloft campaign.

Centaur: A fun choice for the Oath of Ancients, though the Find Steed spell would go to waste; we're the knight, AND the steed!

Satyr: Another fey-oriented choice for Oath of Ancients, except this one offers an unarmed weapon and Magic Resistance, which combined with the Aura of Warding makes the Paladin virtually impervious to magic.

Am I forgetting something? Probably. Am I posting this anyway? Yes!

I'm been having Paladin thoughts today that I might share when I'm less sleepy

#musings #dungeons and dragons #i very recently had the idea of a redemption paladin who carries gaming sets #and tries to solve conflicts via games instead of fighting when possible #but that's like my only idea for redemption lol #i know a lot of these are skewed towards ancients but i'm indecisive as to what i want my ancients paladin to be

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witchofreveries · 6 years ago

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Personal Update - October 2018

It’s been a while.

Continuing in the crazy chronicle of cosmic chaos that is my life, some things have happened since my last update. Many things. So many things there is no way that I could fit them all into one journal post. So I shall stick with the big ones. There are two.

First and foremost, the biggest event of my life in my entire 27 years on this planet has come and gone in the last six weeks. I got married. I got married to the greatest man that I have ever met, and in doing so I ultimately made the greatest decision of my life thus far (aside from moving away from my hometown at the drop of a hat).

My husband is my best friend in every adventure I have ever experienced since meeting him. He and I have changed each other and helped each other grow in only ways that soulmates possibly could. I can honestly say that since I met him five years ago, I am a better, more focused, and passionate person than I was. While I wont speak for him, I know that he has told me similarly, and I know that if we had never met each other, we never would have ended up where we are now, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Yet, perhaps the most important way that my husband has inspired change in me is spiritually. When I first met Matt, I was only just discovering that I identified as pagan. While I had had my belief system for a long while, I was only recently looking into community and finding other, like-minded people. My impression of him was that he was far from one of those, so I opened up about my beliefs a bit hesitantly, expecting him to shoot me down. Well, he didn’t. Not the first time I talked a bit about them, not the second time when I told him a bit more, and not the third time when I spilled to him the basis of all the beliefs I held. Instead, he agreed. Over and over again we talked about the different concepts and ideas behind his religion and my own spirituality, finding more and more parallels and synchronicities. I was, and always have been an omnist, finding truth in every path, as well as lies. He was a Catholic with faithful parents who attended church every Sunday, and told him that their way was the only way. Yet, here we were, having late night talks about how similar our faiths were, and discussing concepts of creativity and art and how it overlaps with spirituality. It was pretty amazing for two people coming from two very different backgrounds and faiths.

Then came Dacus and Talia.

I have talked about Dacus on this blog before, so I don’t exactly feel the need to fill in any blanks about him. You can easily direct yourself to my Journal page, and find that he is a complex thought-form of mine. Talia, is his consort and wife. They are two of many characters whom my husband and I have created and written, though they are by far the most complicated and well developed characters that we have created together, if not period. The two of them began as simple creations for a project that was ultimately suppose to be temporary, after which they would likely have been forgotten. That didn’t happen, as never before have I had one of my own creations seem to take my hand and tell me gently that they wished to become far more than what they were. I followed that request, and Dacus evolved and became something far more complex and real than what he was meant to be. Talia, ever so fascinating, followed his lead, and the two of them joined to become a powerful representation and symbol of divinity.

This is the second thing.

This perhaps could do with some explaining. Around the same time that this glory pair was being devised, I was studying multiple different theologies and researching concepts of divinity that I had not yet explored. For one thing, I had always known I was a dualist, in that I believe in a Divine Feminine and Masculine (along with other simultaneous divine forms of gender or lack of it), and I was finding lots of information in other dualistic theologies, such as Taoism. Wicca also agreed with some of my beliefs with their concept of a Moon Goddess and Sun God, though Wicca itself personally never vibed with me. Being a monotheistic soft polytheist, I honestly struggled with these types of simplifications for a while, even though I was strongly called to the symbolism.

My study of this dualistic area however, lasted probably less than a year before I moved on to study other things that would also help me shape my own tradition. I had, after all, been designing my own practice for a little while, and needed to do more expansive research in order to complete my own pagan tradition. A tradition which I would later come to call Spirit Fire.

Leap three years into the future, and here I am, back at work on a Saturday afternoon, only a few weeks after marrying my husband, doing a bit of research on the slowest day ever. That’s when I come across the concept of Awen for the millionth time while on a Patheos article about the evolution of modern pagan symbolism. I should mention here that I had looked well into Druidry before, but had been confused about its actual purpose up until this moment.

Something suddenly clicked. Clicked that is, to the point of me shouting “Holy fucking SHIT,” into an empty lobby, and then picking up my phone to immediately text Matt about my revelation. In hindsight, I had had this same realization before, but something about the description of Awen I’d just read seemed to make the past four years snap into place like that sweet moment when you place the final piece into a 500,000 piece puzzle. I realized as well that from the moment Matt and I met, I was destined to come to this conclusion.

During their creation, Dacus and Talia had seemed to accumulate symbols that the two of us appreciated, many of them being very opposite and complimentary of each other, which made them work so well. I supposed this was because Matt and I worked very similarly. Dacus was always a creature of fire, and in all his incarnations, gravitated heavily towards the sun, flames, heat, deserts, the sky, sexuality, emotions, and the thundering of a heart beneath a strong chest. In him lived a crazed love for humanity, community, and togetherness. Talia, on the other hand, loved winter, the biting of cold air, the pull of the ocean, the light of the moon, rainy days, deep and dark forests, time alone, the soft hum of her own thoughts through her busy mind, and wished only for the escape from society. He turned into a mythical creature of thunder and flames, while she was a quiet huntress in the depths of the woods. They were the perfect compliment that the other had always needed, right down to their developmental backstories and their individual dreams for the future.

Back to Awen. Awen represents the fires of creativity which is brought about by the connection to the spiritual. It is essentially the Holy Spirit of Druidry, which is ultimately that wonderful feeling of connection and inspiration that you get when you have divine experiences. The two of them feed each other, as being creative brings you closer to the Universe, and being closer to the Universe sparks the creative fires, creating a fulfilling and wonderful spiritual cycle. By that definition, Awen is the exact “element” that I had created and written into my own tradition, before even knowing what Awen was. That element is what I had called the Spirit Fire, which later lead me to come up with my tradition’s name.

Awen also represents the divine femine and the divine masculine, and the balance between the two that keeps the cycle of creativity in the Universe alive. It is the source of all creation that lives within everything. A little later, Matt pointed out that Chatholicism has a symbol with very similar representation, known as the Sacred Heart, and stated that that very symbol is on the front of a book (a book NOT related at all to Catholicism, mind you) that ,even now, sits decoratively on our coffee table that I had bought only a week before.

Maybe at this point you see where I am going.

Since that Saturday, I have begun to look far deeper into Druidry, and have explored many different avenues that the philosophy has to offer. I have also shared all of this knowledge with my husband, who has been just as enthusiastic about the idea of becoming a Druid as I now am. My nonpracticing, laid back, Catholic raised husband, who before mentioning Druidry to him, had been pretty content with the idea of not really doing much spiritually at all aside from our late night talks. Yet, one or two good articles about the meaning of Awen (as well as Christianity in Druidsim) later, and he’s now asking to study Druidry with me, listen to Druid audio books, as well as take the first of the OBOD courses over the next year. As an artist, I suppose he can’t be blamed. His writing and his art are more important to him than anything, and finally finding a spirituality that includes it in worship is right up his alley. As I said, we’d always talked about how the two should go hand in hand.

Since then, we have also discussed Dacus and Talia more, and the crazy amounts of synchronicity that has entered our lives since that Saturday, and the even more synchronicity that we have BEEN experiencing for the past four years without noticing it. If you haven’t put it together already, here is the rundown:

I met my husband when I was only just beginning to deeply explore my spirituality. We talked about it in depth over the course of our relationship, finding more and more that though we had different religions, we believed the exact same things. At the same time we were creating Dacus and Talia together, two characters who chose to come together, and had then followed us into our own relationship. Over time, Dacus has seemed to gather more and more symbolism that connects him to the Divine Masculine, while Talia has seemed to gather more and more symbolism that connected her to the Divine Feminine. This was not intentional under any means, and was only realized within the last few months. Perhaps I should also mention that Dacus was my character, while Talia was my husband’s character, and they were never intended to even end up as a couple. That happened over time as well.

As their stories go, when they are together they create perfect harmony within each other and ignite each other’s best selves. Just like they helped the sources of Divine Feminine and Masculine subtly harmonize within our lives. Just like they helped ignite the fires of Awen within my husband and I. While they inspired me even more to explore my spirituality, my exploration of my spirituality lead me to develop our characters, our creations, into more developed and divine entities. I have been living within Awen for the last several years, without even knowing that it was alive inside of me. Perhaps the greatest thing about all of this though, is that Dacus and Talia practically brought my husband and I together. If we had not started that project together which required their creation, I can almost guarantee we never would have started dating, and none of this beautiful craziness would have ever happened, including us getting married, and me finally finding the pagan path that I have been searching for.

Since that Saturday, Matt and I have looked into the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, and both plan on taking their Bardic grade soon. I have completed the documents that I have been working on for the last two years that were the outline of my own tradition, and I’ve modified it so that he can take part in rituals with me. Our plan is to be spiritual partners, and we plan on taking this very seriously, having finally found where we both belong. We’re also planning on restarting our podcast soon, although we’ll be taking down our first two episodes, will be revamping its topics a little bit, and will discus our journey as spiritual and magical partners rather than as a totally interfaith couple that we once were. We plan on keeping the podcasts’ name though. After all, it’s called “Of Orthodox and Awen.”

As Above, so below.

As within, so without.

As the Universe, so the Soul.

We are a microcosm of the Universe. All that we create is simultaneously creating us at the same time. For as I told my husband this week, while talking about the inner Universes that we have yet to discover:

“The gods are real, and they live inside of us.”

#update #updates #journal

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b-sidemusic · 7 years ago

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THE B-SIDE BUMPER BACKTRACK 2017 - PART ONE

Whoever you talk to, and whatever they're into, the consensus seems to be that 2017 has been an incredible year for the East Anglian DIY music scene. We spoke to promoters, writers, DJs and artists from around the region about their favourite albums, tracks, gigs and moments from the last 12 months, including The State, The Glitter Shop, Blue Mean Eyes, Sun Scream, Young States, Lemondaze, Druids, Italian Books, Gaffa Tape Sandy, SuperGlu and more...

ANDY GUY

The State’s man. www.thestateuk.com

Albums of the Year: Marilyn Manson – ‘Heaven Upside Down’; Gary Numan – ‘Savage (Songs from a Broken World)’; 3 Teeth – ‘Shutdown.exe’; Chelsea Wolfe – ‘Hiss Spun’. Tracks of the Year: ’16 Psyche’ by Chelsea Wolfe; ‘We Know Where You Fucking Live’ by Marilyn Manson. Gigs of the Year: The Psychedelic Furs at Norwich Waterfront; Gary Numan at Norwich LCR. Moments of the Year: The State performing ‘A Forest’ with Thy Last Drop (at Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club) was a big highlight of the year; a night I will never forget. Tips for 2018: Eliminate things and activities that are a waste of your time. Eliminate the inner voice that says “I can’t; It’s impossible”. Eliminate the naysayers, liars, and people who do you harm in your life. Then you will be able to run toward your full potential and embrace it with both arms.

BARNY CUTTER

The Glitter Shop keeper. www.soundcloud.com/theglittershop

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice’s second album ‘Visions of a Life’ was magical. There’s no real specific genre there, but the album still sounds incredibly cohesive. Tracks of the Year: ‘#1 Anime Dad’ by Huckleberry Harrison, taken from (debut album) ‘What The Huck’. He literally does whatever the fuck he wants and I appreciate that a lot. Gigs of the Year: I don’t get to relax during many local gigs as I’m usually working at them, but Tundra at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds was amazing as it was just a bunch of friends having a shit-ton of fun. My favourite gig I played was with [former band] Fortunato at the Bury Fringe Festival All-Dayer; it was probably the best performance we ever put on. Moments of the Year: Working with Suburban Minds on their debut EP and touring for five months with them, playing session guitar. Tips for 2018: The Japanese House is releasing her debut album and I can’t wait! There's a big Imogen Heap vibe there. Also, keep your eyes and ears out for a lot more from The Glitter Shop!

BLUE MEAN EYES

Riff-mongous escapade-cravers. www.bluemeaneyes.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Toby Powell (guitar/vocals): My favourite album of the year was Biffy Clyro, 'Ellipsis'. Although technically released in 2016, this is the only album I have listened to and loved throughout 2017. This is my favourite album because it's a perfect example of how a band can reinvent their sound when they release a new album and still reach out and gain new fans as well as please the old ones. Charlie Douglas (drums/vocals): 'To The Bone' by Steven Wilson. It's one of the best examples of progressive rock with a pop twist. It has some very interesting chord progressions, amazing vocals and vocal harmonies and represents to me a significant change in style from his normal jazz style. Lauren Bradford (bass/vocals): Mine is Liam Gallagher, 'As You Were'. I listened to this album the whole way through rather than just picking songs from it like I normally do, and it's just so good. I absolutely loved Oasis, but I can definitely say there are songs from this album that I prefer over some Oasis songs. I love the melodies, harmonies and lyrics in particular because that's what I always listen for in music as a vocalist. Tracks of the Year: Toby: Firstly, Boy Azooga’s 'Face Behind Her Cigarette' - this song was Huw Stephens' pick of the week in early December and as I drove home with the radio on, I was astounded with how good the song actually is. The band have reinvented and are destined to breathe new life into the indie genre. Secondly, 'Man’s Not Hot' by Big Shaq - I've chosen this song because music doesn't have to be taken seriously to be a hit. The guy created a character, and people loved it. What David Bowie did with Ziggy Stardust is what this guy has done but in the modern age. Charlie: My favourite tracks are gonna have to be 'Speak To Me' by Amy Lee and 'Havana' by Camilla Cabello. Lauren: Tonight Alive’s 'Temple’. This is the first song they released from their upcoming album 'Underworld'. I've loved Tonight Alive since my early teens and I've never been able to stop listening to them since! This song is so powerful and so different from their last album and I just fell instantly fell in love with it. Also ‘Crack My Heart’, the second song to be released from the album - the vocals are so powerful and effortless, and Jenna McDougall has such an amazing voice. Gigs of the Year: Toby: Superglu Fundraiser (‘Help SuperGlu Get To SXSW’, Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 25th February). We weren't just paying a gig; we were raising money for SuperGlu to go and do what they love, and I hope every other band would do the same. Charlie: My favourite gigs to play were Eddy Fest with the Harry Slater Band and Norwich Waterfront with Blue Mean Eyes. My favourite gigs to see were Bad Touch at London Borderline and Evanecsence at Hammersmith Apollo. Lauren: Bury Fringe Festival. I’m taking this bit a little closer to home because it was such a pleasure to play, and even more more of a pleasure to stay and watch everyone else who played, such as Sun Scream, Superglu, Goldblume and Suburban Minds. Moments of the Year: Toby: Charlie joining the band. Having somebody come in who loves playing our music as much as we do has pushed the band into a better and healthier direction. Charlie: My favourite musical moment is probably a 15-minute improvised drum solo at a gig in the summer with The Harry Slater Band. Lauren: Superglu Fundraiser. They're such lovely people and it was an absolute honour helping out to raise money to get them over to SXSW. They were all so thankful and appreciative to everyone involved, because all anyone wants to do is make music and get it out there to be heard. SuperGlu have completely blossomed in that respect and it's been wonderful seeing that happen. Tips for 2018: Toby: People need to learn to get along despite their difference in opinions. Everybody has their own opinion, and you have every right to express your own, so respect that and let them have it, there is no need to force yours upon them. Also: listen out for Boy Azooga. Charlie: As for what to listen out for in 2018, well... it's gotta be Blue Mean Eyes! And Tool might finally release their new album so look out for that. Lauren: My tips are: check out the new Tonight Alive album 'Underworld' when it's released in the new year because they're just such a good band. Also, just listen to the whole of 'As You Were' on repeat for the rest of your life.

CATHERINE LINDLEY-NEILSON

Bass ninja, Gaffa Tape Sandy. www.gaffatapesandy.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice - ‘Visions of Life’; Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; Idles - Brutalism

Tracks of the Year: ‘Dreams’ by Superglu; ‘Yuk Foo’ by Wolf Alice; ‘Bellyache’ by Billie Eilish; ‘Well Done’ by Idles.

Moments of the Year: Playing with Fortunato at Bury Fringe Festival, with Horse Party at The Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, Glastonbury (with Gaffa Tape Sandy), and GTS's most recent headline Hunter Club gig. Going to get soppy and say it was a privilege to play all of them.

Gigs of the Year: Indoor Pets (formerly known as Get Inuit) and Pinegrove, both at London Lexington; Suburban Minds EP Launch and last gig at The Hunter Club.

Tip for 2018: If you haven't already, MAKE A BAND.

DAVEY HAMMOND

Cambridge 105fm’s Smelly gentleman. www.cambridge105.co.uk/shows/flowerpot

Albums & Tracks of the Year: Album of the Year for me is the second release from The Granite Shore, called 'Suspended Second' (Occultation Records). When Nick Halliwell started writing for this album, he had a vague idea of addressing the issue of anxiety in his songs. With the Brexit referendum happening at around the same time, the songs became more focused on the big issue of the day, dealing with all the emotions felt by someone who clearly felt the outcome was the worst possible one. Disbelief, despondency, anxiety, confusion and sadness all ultimately give way to defiance during the course of the nine tracks. This is a quietly angry album, but in it's own way it's as subversive as, say, the Sex Pistols getting to number one, in that it uses a much more subtle method in getting it's message across by avoiding the sloganeering or shouting from the barricades to crashing chords that might be expected from such a release.Instead, the listener is treated to a soundtrack that takes classic Abba from the mid to late 70's as it's template, adding in hints of prog rock along the way. That, to these ears, the vocalist has shades of Bing Crosby only adds warmth and emotion that enforces the feelings being conveyed. Throw in references to the likes of Philip Larkin and Shakespeare, not to mention a nod to the aforementioned Sex Pistols (the opening to 'Performance of a Lifetime' uses the same BBC sample of a marching band that is used on 'Holidays in the Sun', only slowed down a little) and The Clash and you have a piece of work that has a rare depth and intelligence with some outstanding performances and moments packing a real emotional punch.

Similarly commenting on happenings in Europe and over the pond is 'Euromillions'- from the excellent debut album by LIFE called 'Popular Music'- which is one of the standout tracks of the year. With a sneering, in your face vocal and added spoken word parts, it addresses the state of the world in a very different way to The Granite Shore. A pounding bass line coupled with thundering drums drive the song along with guitars alternating between 'phasers set to stun' and 'all out attack' settings. The lyrics rip into the racists and right wing nationalists that support the likes of Trump, Farage et al. The band are a tremendous, life affirming proposition on stage- I just wish I could pogo like I did 40 years ago.

Looking closer to home, two releases that stand out are 'John Doe' by The Mammoth Penguins and 'Interstellar Fuzz Star' by Psychic Lemon. The former is the second long player from Emma Kupa's band and is a concept album about a man who disappears, feared dead, only to return years later. All the songs are from the perspective of different people that knew the man and are titled as such ie. ‘The Child’, ‘The Ex’, ‘The Wife’, ‘The Line Manager’ etc, giving a hefty emotional clout to proceedings. Musically, the template has been expanded with more electric guitars, synths and piano added by 'Friends' as well as regular band members. I'm hoping to catch the band live locally in the not too distant future. The latter is the first release from what what will be Psychic Lemon's second album, due to be unleashed in January. This is a head spinning assault on the senses with elements of heavy psychedelia, space rock and kraut rock melded into a wholly satisfying and thrilling 10 minute ride, a bit like a roller coaster ride with all the slow, uphill bits taken out. I eagerly await the album, 'Frequency Rhythm Distortion Delay'- a title that pretty much sums up the music.

Gigs of the Year: As a family man with 4 young children, I don't get to gigs as often as I'd like, so I tend to be really selective about the ones I attend. Humber St Sesh in Hull was the event of the year for me, especially as it's my home town and holding the title of City of Culture for 2017. Highlights were many, including Tom Skelly, Crooked Weather, Fonda 500 and LIFE. The event is held over one day, with 14 different stages (indoor and outdoor, various capacities) and around 200 bands playing. You can get early bird tickets for next years event in August for £5. Yep, that's what I said- £5. You'd be mad not to.

As for gig of the year...as I mentioned, being so selective means I'm rarely disappointed so this is a tough one. I'll plump for Dave Graney and Clare Moore at O'Rileys in Hull, a venue also used for boxing events. Bit of an unusual one this as I had a hand in setting it up. Following my failure to secure a gig in Cambridge (Oxjam was going on at the time, all venues fully booked), I contacted Lou Duffy Howard (former Red Guitars bassist) to see if she could recommend any promoters in Hull. She not so much bit my hand off as ripped it from the shoulder. Turns out Lou had toured with Dave in the 80's and was very keen on supporting again. I met a few old friends from Hull and Bob Osborne of German Shepherd Records (who travelled over from Eccles) and enjoyed a cracking gig from the Aussie legends (formerly fronting The Moodists, Coral Snakes, The Mistly etc) backed by Orange Juice's Malcolm Ross and Giorgio 'The Dove' Valentino. Lou's latest band, Loudhailer Electric Company, provided excellent support.

Tips for 2018: One of my favourite songwriters of recent years is James Burling who works under the band name The Seven Twenty. His debut album was released in 2015 to some acclaim, and rightly so. It was very ambitious: James enlisted the help of a mariachi band for one track and flew to New York to record a choir for another while my favourite track on the album had a great Velvet Underground feel to it. I am reliably informed he has album number two ready for release early(ish) in the New Year and also has two other albums written and recorded. Without doubt one to watch and, being Cambridge based, should also be gigging in the area in 2018.

EMILY WALLACE

Guitarmeister general, Sun Scream. www.sunscreamband.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; The Magic Ray - ‘The Magic Ray’; PINS - ‘Bad Thing’; The Babe Rainbow - ‘The Babe Rainbow’; Here Lies Man - ‘Here Lies Man’; Kyanos - ‘Elevator to Japan’.

Tracks of the Year: Paramore - ‘Fake Happy’; Something Leather - ‘Shotgun Persona’; The Babe Rainbow - ‘Johnny Says Stay Cool’; Ezra Furman - ‘Love You So Bad’; King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - ‘Doom City’; The Moonlandingz - ‘Sweet Saturn Mine’; Kevin Morby - ‘City Music’.

Gigs of the Year: Pond at End of the Road. The Avalanches at Kentish Town Forum. Death Valley girls in Brighton. Dingus Khan in Bury St Edmunds. The Babe Rainbow in Brighton. Weaves.

Moments of the Year: Recording tracks with Theo Verney which incidentally lead to Tom [Lawrence, Sun Scream bassist] falling down the crack of a sofa in Brighton and discovering a new psychedelic realm.

Tips for 2018: MAKE THINGS! KEEP LISTENING TO MUSIC!! DONT BE ASHAMED, EVEN IF ITS ABBA - EMBRACE ABBA WITH EVERY FIBRE OF YOUR BEING!!! [Just to clarify, there is NO SHAME whatsoever in loving Abba. - 70s Disco Ed.]

FRANCINE CARREL

B-Side’s interrogator-in-chief.

Albums of the Year: Fightmilk - ‘Pity Party’; Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Spring Killing’(Literally everyone will be saying this, right? Fuck it, they deserve it.)

Tracks of the Year: Shiners - ‘Just Got Paid’; Fightmilk - ‘Pity Party’ (again); Gaffa Tape Sandy - ‘Manager’; Jack Rundell - ‘Cold Coffee’.

Gigs of the Year: Blackballed, at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket. Supported by the Wilsons, who are always awesome - but the main event was such a weird, superb surprise. Left me absolutely buzzing.

Moments of the Year: Getting to interview Justin Sullivan for B-Side was pretty fucking cool. As well as being very talented, he's the most quotable man I've ever interviewed, and - as a writer - I appreciate that in a person.

Tips for 2018: Hoping for more from Jack Rundell - an album of Suffolk country music would be very welcome. Also keeping an eye on Thy Last Drop, who've been making noises about another album once they've re-released (2013 debut EP) ‘Dead Drunk for Two’.

GEORGIA LEEDER

Young States frontbassist. www.youngstates.co.uk

Albums of the Year: Pvris - ‘All We Know of Heaven and All We Need of Hell’; Nothing but Thieves - ‘Broken Machine’; Paramore - ‘After Laughter’; Halsey - ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’; Royal Blood - ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’

Songs of the Year: Halsey - ‘Don’t Play’; Demi Lovato - ‘Cry Baby’; The Regrettes - ‘Seashore’; Will Joseph Cook - ‘Plastic’; Pvris - ‘Same Soul’.

Gigs of the Year: Busted at Norwich UEA; Mallory Knox at Norwich UEA; Yonaka at Norwich Waterfront Studio; Pvris at O2 Academy Brixton; Milk Teeth at Norwich Epic Studios.

Moment of the Year: During our hometown show at the Waterfront Studio, I told the crowd that I was going to sing something and they had to repeat after me, I then went to sing the chorus of ‘Over It By Now’, and I couldn’t even finish the first three words before the entire crowd joined in. It really took me by surprise and is something I definitely won’t be forgetting. That whole show was pretty special!

New Years’ resolutions: Go to more gigs, play more shows and write more!

GRAEME MCLOUGHLIN

BBC Introducing in Suffolk presenter and all-round chap. www.bbc.co.uk/radiosuffolk

Albums of the Year: It’s a tough one. A two horse race earlier in the year for me between ‘Constraint’ by Plaitum and ‘Pink’ by Rad Pitt, but I think the recent release from Izzy’s Daughter (‘Luna’) might edge it! Let’s just have all three and listen to them simultaneously.

Tracks of the year: I was in love with ‘Killing Me’ from Crystal Bats as soon as the bass kicked in; the whole three and a half minutes or so is just perfection. ‘Water Bottle’ by Gaffa Tape Sandy was this year as well, wasn’t it? It’s the opening piece on their fabulous ‘Spring Killing’ EP, which is actually packed with track of the year contenders. Rad Pitt’s ‘Hick Mucknall’ is also a tune, and I think ‘Are You There’ - the opening track from the Izzy’s Daughter record - might just be the most beautiful track we’ve ever played on BBC Introducing.

Moments of the Year: I think this one has to come from the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds where we celebrated the 10th anniversary of BBC Introducing with a live broadcast and gig in early October. Gaffa Tape Sandy and Cathedrals and Cars both performed incredible sets to a truly supportive and bouncing audience. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces – all happy as well! It was also nice to take BBC Introducing to the beach during the summer and watch Amethysts and Phil Jackson, among others, perform on the bandstand for Aldeburgh Music.

Tips for 2018: Bessie Turner continues to be one to watch, and now that some of the nationals appear to be on board, it could be a big year for her. I’d also hope and expect to see Gaffa Tape Sandy at more major festivals. They belong on the big stage.

ISIS DE CHASTELAIN & ROSIE HEARD-EDWARDS

Lemondaze’s twin guitar heroes. www.lemondaze.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: Wolf Alice - ‘Visions of a Life’; Slowdive - ’Slowdive’.

Tracks of the Year: Peace - ‘From Under Liquid Glass’; MGMT - ‘Little Dark Age’ (Rosie); King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - ‘Loyalty’ (Isis).

Gigs of the Year: Wolf Alice, Ride, Slowdive, The Stone Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Bloody Knees.

Moments of the Year: NMG Awards (Isis fell down the stairs.) Drunk interview on Cambridge 105. When people actually turned up to our headline gig at (Cambridge’s) The Blue Moon.

JAY GOODRICH

Thighmaster frontman and bass-thrust specialist, Druids. www.soundcloud.com/druidstheband

Albums of the Year: ‘Pinewood Smile’ by The Darkness. It’s true rock and the kinda rock that makes you wanna rock more and more like you’ve never rocked before. I’m not one for words, although I understand they’re kinda needed. On first listen I was caught by how it is so well constructed musically and clearly a fantabulous recording of a band playing the shit outta the songs. That’s rare today in an age of digital perfection. Anyway, on second listen I hear all the words and there’s some interesting subject matters present. It’s a must listen for anyone who needs a bit of rock. Check their vids too, they’re really serious and bound to put you in a terrible mood.

Tracks of the Year: ‘Colors’ by Beck. Probably because BBC 6music bashed me in the face with it so often, but no, seriously, it’s pretty sweet. The whole album is to be honest. A nice contrast to The Darkness with a production that’ll make you go “mmmm, oh yeah” but in a different way.

Gigs of the Year: I joined some friends I vaguely like, and went to see Public Service Broadcasting. I would have included them in album of the year (PSB, not my friends) but I didn’t think (new album) ‘Every Valley’ was so great. However, seeing and hearing it live really brought it all together for me and the new material they played is on a par with older stuff.

Moments of the Year: Well, I’ve spoken enough of other bands, so I’m gonna have to say something regarding Druids. Joel (Kurta, drums) and I thought it’d be a great idea to shoot a sci-fi inspired music video for our new EP title track, ‘Up To Mars’, in spandex morph suits ’n’ all. Anyway, we filmed over at a place called Harkstead Shores in Suffolk accompanied by two friends dressed as aliens. It’s quite something - the sort of something that’ll question the meaning of life. Sort of. Anyway, these dog walkers walked past and asked what we were up to, like that kinda shiz doesn’t happen down those parts regularly or something. Outrageous.

Tips for 2018: Remember which days the bins go out. I was caught out twice this year and I’m still pretty angry about it. In addition to that, Ken at The Rehearsal Rooms (in Bury St Edmunds) is a really nice guy. Rehearse there! And The LP (also in Bury) is pretty cool to eat at. So, eat there! I have every faith these places will be as cool if not cooler in 2018. Also, I heard a band called, Oranje. They were recording at Punch Studios (in Ipswich) and sounded like they have more potential than a Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewell. Watch that space.

JAY VOLUNTEER

Bringer of the noise, Italian Books. www.trenchartnoise.bandcamp.com

Album of the Year: Koufar - ‘Lebanon For The Lebanese’. Recorded in 2015 but released on vinyl by Unrest early 2017 (so that counts right?!). One of the most challenging records I’ve ever owned in terms of the recording itself, the subject matter and artwork... This record lead to lots of reading.

Track of the Year: I was exposed to so much music that I didn’t know existed this year, so although recorded a while back, I’m going to break the rules and say Iron Fist Of The Sun’s ‘Smile Like Sword’.

Gig of the Year: The two day festival ‘United Forces Of Industrial 4’ at Electrowerkz London, which I attended on my own at the end of April.

Moment of the Year: I was lucky enough to see Ryan Jordan perform ‘Possession Trance’ several times last year.... Seeing this for the first time at NNNNN blew my mind!

Tip for 2018: London pop-punk band Wonk Unit will be a household name by the end of the year!

JOEL CLAYTON

Thrill-hunter at Trapped Animal Records and CambridgeBands.com www.trappedanimal.com

Albums of the Year: Bodycount - ‘Bloodlust’; Throwing Stuff - ‘Fit Fine And Well’; Daniel Gadd - ‘As If In A Dream I Drifted At Sea’.

Tracks of the Year: No Halo - ‘Sorority Noise’; The Baby Seals - ‘My Labia Is Lopsided But I Don’t Mind’; Projector - ‘Love’.

Gigs of the Year: Metallica at London O2 and Guns ’n’ Roses at the Olympic Park.

Moment of the Year: Launching The Baby Seals into space.

Tips for 2018: Fresh, Night Flight, IDER, Kerry Devine, Daniel Gadd, Maija Sofia, Trapped Animal (obvs).

KRISTA SIÂN LYNCH

SuperGlu’s low-end lynchpin. www.supergluband.bandcamp.com

Albums of the Year: ‘The Ooz’ by King Kruel and probs Taylor Swift. I haven't listened to it yet but I imagine it's wicked. Has anyone ever watched her solo acoustic stuff on YouTube? She's insanely good

Tracks of the Year: ‘The Strangle of Anna’ by The Moonlandingz. Big fan of The Fat Whites and even bigger fan of these guys and girls.

Gigs of the Year: Dingus Khan at the Arts Centre Colchester; maybe I'm biased, but they are probably the best band on the planet. The Fall at KoKo London would have probably been on this list but Mark E Smith was ill so it was cancelled - gutted. John Cooper Clarke at Colchester Arts Centre was bloody amazing. Newish bands I weirdly didn't see enough and will make an effort to see more emerging acts next year. I really enjoyed watching Dream Wife at Latitude though as well as The Magic Gang. Best ever ever moment was seeing Gaffa Tape Sandy on TV at Glastonbury - I was so super happy and proud of them.

Moments of the Year: Landing in the USA for the for the time ever and exploring Austin Texas with my best friends and band members [SuperGlu], playing SXSW to packed out audiences... totally bizarre and definitely not something I could have ever predicted I would do. It really was incredible and I feel so so lucky to have had such an amazing opportunity. Also, eating lunch backstage sat next to (ok... well kinda near) Brian Molko. I didn't embarrass myself by saying hello - but every part of me wanted to.

Tips for 2018: Have loads of fun and try not too worry to much, enjoy your friends and make the most of what and who you have around you.

Click here for Part Two, featuring Fightmilk, Graceland, Desperate Journalist, Sophie Mahon, Kulk, The Interesting Times Gang, Kyanos, Clown Smash Everything, F.O.X and more!

Words & Collage: Seymour Quigley

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dm-of-elemental-evil · 7 years ago

Text

NaNoWriMo Day 1

I got you back today.

It had been so long, there in that cage. Weeks, I think. So much of you is missing. In many ways, you are my memories, my recollection of the deeds I have done, the places I have seen. And, of course, Noah. Oh, brother dearest. The orcs came for him first. I listened, cramped and squeezed against the wooden slats while the beat him, carved pieces from your flesh, and laughed as he screamed his defiance. I was certain they would come for me too, once he was gone.

A band of adventurers cut that short. They were here for the World Tree of Glaufstell, led by an elven magus and a dwarven warrior. The huts and tents began to awaken at the scent of smoke on the wind and the approaching roar of fire racing across the encampment. Metal clashed against metal, and a massive hulking man surged into the clearing around the command tent, knocking aside dozens of orcs that swarmed towards him. Behind him, a wild-eyed cleric charged ahead with a bloodstained longsword, while a hunter launched arrow after arrow into the horde and a lynx tore an orc’s throat out. A paladin, hulking in his armor, drove a halberd into an orcish shaman and launched him into the air into the crowd, and in the distance, a hawk, who I would later find out was a form-shifted druid, cried into the night. And amongst the havoc, a lanky blue-skinned being ripped through tendon and muscle with vengeful anger. Elron, Lyssa, Bawbbe, Wolfheim, Emuswa, Wolfram, Peregrin, and Blue. They have quickly become allies, and I see in them the possibility of even friendship. Despite my inquiries, I don’t believe Wolfram and Wolfheim are related to each other. Perhaps it was just a twist of fate that brought together two men with such similar names.

We are camped, now, against the trunk of the World Tree. Peregrin is communing with it, and Woflheim wandered back towards the razed orcish tent city with a devious gleam in his eyes. I distrust him, but I have my charms and wiles to get information out of him. I sense a grand adventure ahead of us, and Peregrin seems to be leading the charge. Time will tell, I suppose.

*** *** ***

Fortune twists and turns around and under us. Wolfheim returned with an undead orc captain, then began a ritual to beseech his god, but it culminated in Blue’s execution, despite both mine and Elron’s protests. Something about that ritual cut Wolfram from his goddess, the Star Mistress Cordelia. He mentioned a penitence trial that would need to be undertaken, but refused to say anything more of it. Peregrin returned from her communion shortly thereafter with the horrifying news that Blue was an incarnation of the World Tree’s seeds. We were tasked with finding a place to plant his bones, and before we had the chance to protest, we found ourselves surrounded by vermillion sand and blistering heat. I recognized the landscape as the Crimson Wastes, a desert to the far north, but on a completely separate continent from Glaufstell. Thirty-seven divots encircled us, and beneath those divots were long stone stakes driven deep into the earth and each topped with a different symbol.

Elron recognized them as the major arcana of the tarot, and he pointed them out one at a time.

“The Fool, the Magician.” He took a deep breath, mouthing a few words to the magician before continuing around the circle. “The High Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot.” As he reached the next one, he looked up at Bawbbe and the unburned half of his face grinned wryly before he continued. “Strength, the Hermit, Fortune, Justice, the Hanged Man, Death, Art, the Devil.” Elron paused once again to wipe away the sweat beading at his forehead. “The Tower, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgement, and…” At this point Elron frowned, then looked around.

“Is something the matter?” Wolfheim, I realized at this point, was watching the scarred wizard with as much intensity as I was.

“Well, I suppose not. The World is missing, but a World Tree is responsible for transporting us here, so I suppose this entire contraption might be considered to represent the World. The rest of these,” he gestured to the remaining sixteen emblems, “resemble the houses of the tarot, Knight, Prince, Princess, and Queen each for wands, pentacles, cups, and swords.”

Emuswa began to lead us in the direction of the coast, where I believed we could find the city of Sunburst. Several days into the desert, Peregrin spotted a figure standing atop a dune with a long birch walking stick. We followed her, although the man swathed in loose silks veered off course from our original destination. As we circled around a particularly large dune, an oasis came into view, shimmering in the heat with a small clay hut built on the bank.

Inside, we met Grego, an ancient, shriveled shaman and diviner. I tried to press him for more information as to who he was and how long he had walked this desert, but he simply smiled and turned to the large stew pot in the hearth.

“I trust you will all be staying for dinner, and perhaps a hint as to what awaits you in this wasteland,” he said with his back to us. We were cramped around the table, particularly Bawbbe with his muscles and weaponry clattering against shelves and hanging curios.

“The World Tree mentioned that I had a role to fill here, that we all did,” Peregrin began cautiously. “It did not, however, explain what that meant, or what to look for here.”

“My skills are not meant to be used for such short term aspirations.” Before any of us could protest, he turned towards us with his arms laden with bowls of stew. “You are in luck, however, because I know this desert intimately, and so you shall benefit twofold from my experience. Sit, please,” he muttered, gesturing to the mismatched chairs around the table.

“Is this beef?” Wolfram was talking with his mouth full. Again.

“Desert bison, brush roots, and sand potatoes,” Grego replied, shoveling spoonfuls of stew into his mouth. “Once you finish, we can begin.” With a hand wave across the wooden surface, a deck of cards, each the size of my hand, appeared on the table. Riffle, cascade, riffle, cascade, then he turned to his left. Cataracts dulled the color of his eyes, but he stared straight at Bawbbe with a surprising clarity, then flipped the top card rightside up.

“Knight of Swords. A frightening warrior, casting a shadow miles long across the battlefield. In that shadow, hundreds of souls clamor for retribution, but they will not be heard. And behind him, a presence stalks its prey. It may well claim you in your madness, or you will fight and stand above it. The result remains to be seen.” At this point, Wolfheim scoffed and stood, choosing instead to peruse the various knick-knacks that decorated the walls and the books that lined the shelves. I managed to catch a glimpse of the card before it was swept back into the deck. Clad in armor, both warrior and horse alike reared before a field littered with bones, but in the background, a twisted and malevolent being loomed. Grego was facing Emuswa and flipping over the next card.

“The Sun. A brilliant and blinding radiance, bringing change to everything that it touches. A foolhardy, stubborn entity, entirely too preoccupied with pleasing itself, but irrevocably bound to a destiny with the heavens. The greenery flourishes beneath its care, yet its indifference to others can be far more than a simple character flaw. Will you rise above your nature and answer the call the gods have laid out before you? Ultimately, the choice must be yours.” Again, the card moved of its own accord, the shimmering light radiating from the top of the card down onto a patch of earth littered with trees and bushes and flowers that reached up to be nourished, only to reach too high and burn to ash.

Peregrin sat expectantly, but I could see the doubt flash across her face as Grego turned slightly in his chair and reveal her card. “Ace of Wands. The Tree of Life. A rather direct stab into your future, if I do say so myself. Stalwart guardian to the forces that anchor this world, and defender of those anchors to the death if need be. It has been some time since an Ace of Wands has been chosen by the World Trees themselves, yet you seem to be taking the responsibility in stride. Indeed, you may well have been expecting this. You carry relics from your sister tribe, squirreled away in the forest of Oheila, given freely by the World Tree that they have sworn themselves to protect. There are immense expectations facing you, but the natural forces of this world have faith in your abilities. Perhaps their hopes might even pay off? It is not my place to say.” The card showed a slender twig reaching upwards, the roots of the tree conjoining to form a fist that gripped one end, while the tip split into innumerous branches bearing glittering stars.

The druid opened her mouth as if to reply to the wizened man, but he had already turned to me and revealed my card. “Art. The fourteenth of the tarot, and a pillar to match the likes of Judgement and Strength. Observer, creator, storyteller. These words describe you well, even as you write them down in that book of yours. Your role in this is not an active one. Instead, you have been chosen as a record keeper. This story will be yours to share, and the lives and deaths of the companions you see around you will ultimately be yours to tell. Art is impassioned, Alethia, and quick to judge. May the story you tell bring knowledge and inspiration to the world, and serve in its own way to protect the realms.” The card was a brilliant shimmering blue, waves rippling across its surface as a porcelain-masked woman smiled with a paintbrush in one hand and a quill in the other.

Grego turned to Wolfram now, and as he touched the top card of the deck, he frowned slightly, then revealed it. A field of midnight with tree branches reaching down towards a single brilliant spot of silver. “The Star, inverted. Cordelia ensures that the night sky glimmers down upon us, but she guards the souls of the dead on their path through the Abyss to their ultimate destination. She is indifferent to the sins and virtues of the dead, and escorts them all the same regardless of their destination being the the hellish grip of Meristopheles or the gentle caress of Juutibara. The living, however, her private joy, she watches over carefully. You have broken an accord with her, and let an innocent life perish. Perhaps not at your hand, but inaction is no different than swinging the axe yourself. The Rites of Atonement await you. You shall not guard a sickly child or the victim of a grand hunt gone wrong. Instead, Cordelia shall guide your steps to the man that awaits you. Humility will be your greatest asset during the coming trials.” Wolfram nodded as Grego finally turned to Wolfheim, whose curiosity had brought him back to the table.

“Let’s get this over with,” the cleric growled. Grego took his time despite Wolfheim’s insistence. The card that hit the table made Elron gasp softly. “The Tower. Chaos. Destruction. Plans crumbling around you. Not just yours, but those of the deity whose grasp shrouds you in darkness. You plot and scheme for your own ends, blinded by your desire to gain audience with your perceived tormentor, but that desire shall ultimately bring about your demise. This end is inevitable. Your influence shall simply determine how quickly it reaches you. Indeed, you shall never know the face of the one who controls you, and the voice you have heard will have its last laugh at your expense.”

“This deity, what is their name?” Wolfheim looked at the diviner with a feral intensity that worried me, but Grego ignored him and instead turned to Elron and Lyssa.

“But one fate binds you together.” He paused, sighed, and looked Elron in the eye. “I am sorry.” He placed the card faceup on the table, revealing a horrific sight. A cowled skull, swathed in shadow, loomed over a figure crouched against the ground. In that figure’s arms was a bundle of cloth and blood, one arm hanging limply to the ground. “Death. There are few ways to misinterpret such a reading. One of you shall lose someone or something that you care for. This represents a severing of earthly bonds, and the wholesale destruction of life. It looms over you both, for you are both represented in each of the figures beneath Death’s hand, and it approaches on wings of night.”

Lyssa’s hand moved to where the haft of her axe would have been, forgetting that it was leaning against the wall beside the door. “I’d like to see him try,” she muttered.

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Cordelia’s Signet

In 673 AG, the First Congregation of Cordelia sought to establish a more solidified foothold on the continent of Sunrise, east of Oheila where the formal worship of the Star Mistress first began. A new settlement on the south slope of the Firmament had begun to gain traction and brought the attention of the dwarven cities nestled within the Black Iron Mountains. The Cordelian paladins were struggling to maintain order under the stubbornness and mercantile prowess of the dwarves and lizardfolk that sought influence and a stable connection to Oheilan trade. As a result, the paladins requested support from the First Congregation in order to deal with being, quite frankly, out of their depth.

Over the next several months, leading up to the Advent that marked the first day of the new year, ten dozen signet rings were crafted and imbued with a small portion of Cordelia’s celestial majesty. This embedded ether allowed the paladins to exert their divine influence to a more widespread audience. The control allowed them to spread worship of the Star Mistress throughout the southern half of Sunrise, although her worship, and indeed that of many other prominent gods in the pantheon, didn’t reach the northern half of the continent until several decades later with the establishment of the city of Sunburst and the expansion of Oheila’s trade empire.

These rings can still be found throughout the three continents, though they are few and far between. No more than half of them remain on Sunrise, scattered along the Firmament and throughout the south shores. The rest, however, have been squirreled away by fanatics and collectors alike, much to the chagrin of Cordelia’s paladins. Many of them have been drained of ether, affording little more than a silvery reflection of one’s godly devotions. Only about a score, or so scholars estimate, still contain any of the Star Mistress’ influence, and the majority of those are still hidden throughout the world. (Scrawled in the margins, in Alethia’s handwriting: “I didn’t know you could do that. Perhaps this power works for other things as well? I will have to test the extent of this automatic recording capabilities.)

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#nanowrimo #Ascendant #day one goal has been met

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