#wip: the rebel and the mage

[shouyuus]

can i be nosy and ask your vi wips 👁👁

ahhh there's a... a lot LOL so. uh. just -- let's... go? let's GO? i did a poll recently to see what ppl would be interested in seeing posted first; and then obviously i posted the thing that ppl were LEAST interested in seeing bc i am a #Rebel (mom, it's nOT a pHase) sldkfjds but i can break my wips down into three categories: "i actually have something written", "these r just ideas floating in the ether", and "this is an ask i got that i want to expound upon" so here we go: (things in bold are working titles!)

"i actually have something written":

bunny: in which vi goes to babette's and finds her childhood friend there; light angst and smut ensues (this is the one im working on most "consistently" right now)

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful: drabble in which reader calls vi beautiful

take a pic: reader thirsting over vi's back (this comes from a few asks actually)

"these r just ideas":

nepobaby/inventor!reader x vi -- in which vi gets roped into showing reader around the undercity and quickly realizes that you're way more than meets the eye

mage!reader who's being used by the piltover council for her powers over the arcane (that to the best of their knowledge doesn't have a repercussion; i mean other than the fact that it causes her pAIN) and vi's assigned as her enforcer "watcher"/guard; dark, stockholm syndrome, power dynamics, vi being conflicted about the blatant abuse of power at play in piltover

vi having sensitive nipples

vi having a thing for your neck

vi teaching you self defense

vi with a kinda exhibitionist thing

slow hands: vi realizing u have a hand/arm/shoulder kink

you're the first good thing vi gets stuck on: fluff and angst kinda

highschool!au where u and vi meet in detention (??? question as to whether or not i'll actually write this LOL)

"this is an ask/req that i got": (these are just things i have in my askbox i find interesting, i might or might not write all of them!!)

xmas decorating w/ vi

jealous, one two three: vi fucking the jealousy out of childhood friend!reader

eating vi out as she deserves

vi sleeps in nothing but boxer shorts (this is the shirtless sleeper vi anon pls everyone send ur praises)

slow sex w/ strap!vi

vi getting addicted to making u squirt after discovering ur a squirter

morning sex w vi

subtop!vi w older reader

hugs n kisses w/ vi

vi being into hyperfemme women who might leave her for a man (based off of a few tiktoks lol)

double ended dildo w/ vi

desperate, needy (jailhouse?) sex w/ vi

wife!vi hcs

barista!vi and tattoo artist!reader ("tell me, pretty, how many espressos will it take to pay for this ink?" "how about you just take me out on a proper date instead?")

being vi's prison wife (i had to look up what prison wife meant yall)

pulling on vi's grown out hair from s2

vi with an s/o who's quiet during sex

vi getting jealous of ppl staring at your at your workplace and fucking it outta you later

college roommate!vi x thigh riding

vi's different laughs

college rommate!vi reacting to reader getting drunk and flirting with another girl in front of her

toys that vi would use (besides a strap)

reader saying something wild during an argument and short circuiting vi's brain

more college roommate!vi (lmfao yall pls)

reader meeting college roommate!vi's fam

how vi college roommate!vi would react to someone being an asshole to reader

reader getting quiet/colder after college roommate!vi brings home another girl hookup

sitting on top of college roommate!vi when she's lifting (based off a twitter fanart)

college roommate!vi teaching you how to vape

admiring college roommate!vi's back tattoo, and then realizing she's got no shirt on actually (this might be meshed with the take a pic drabble above)

how vi would react if you had an audition tomorrow

ANDDD THAT'S IT FOR NOW. holy shit LOL i didn't realize how many there were until i listed them all out like that

thankfully a lot of the asks are just gonna be like shorter headcanons, but i do wanna write a few longer pieces for some of them as well :)

[virtie333]

Okay, is this worth it or am I crazy?

I'm nearing the end of my WIP, so I need to start thinking about what is next.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it and reread it several times.

When I was planning on writing for the new zine thing that shall not be named, this story was one of the many that came to mind, and how could I make it Damerey? Granted, I would change the era and place, and of course the crime the hero commits needs to be different, because I ain't gonna make Poe do what this guy did, but...

This takes place during the Crusades (from the Muslim POV!). It's kind of a Romeo and Juliet with a fantasy twist. The rich, spoiled son of a sheik gets drunk and beat up and robbed one night, and a very powerful mage and his daughter take him in to care for him. All the young man sees is a beautiful woman whom he thinks is a servant and he rapes her. Her father is of course very mad, and in retaliation uses magic to curse the young man, changing him into an Arabian stallion. He expects the horse to be castrated and spend his life in servitude to a woman. What he didn't expect was the woman who eventually takes the horse (and no, she doesn't castrate him).

She is the daughter of the young man's worst enemy. Her brothers have all been killed in battle, and she is now her father's only heir. She was raised up on horseback and dresses as a boy so as to not scandalize the other tribes. She buys this crazy young stallion and begins to train him to be a warhorse. He, of course, rebels, knowing who she is and who her family is. But...

In the end, he falls in love with her, she falls in love...with her horse. Perfect, right? LOL Eventually, she rides him into battle, and is mortally wounded. While their families argue about how and why a woman ended up in battle (she saved her father's enemy's life in the process), her 'horse' ends up running to the very mage that cursed him, begging the man to save her. Her father, his father, the man who has been trying to court her (and got bit by her horse), all volunteer their lives for hers. But for the first time, her horse, who loves her more than they, is able to speak...

You can probably guess how it ends. Happily, of course (I wouldn't love it so much otherwise). Is it worth it to adapt it to fanfiction? Should I bother, or should I just reread the book again?

And what would Poe look like as a horse?

[girlwithadragonheart]

Chapter 1 - The Demon of Vyrantium

This story will have spoilers from the game. Like entire quests. If you don’t want those don’t read this. You have been warned.

Rook x Lucanis

Summary: The gods strike at D’Meta’s Crossing. Neve suggests hiring the Antivan Crows and the most respected mage killer out there, turns out he has problems of his own.

Word Count: 8.9k

Warnings: graphic violence, mentions of slavery, cursing, let me know if I missed something it's so long I lost track

A/N: I told you I’d take more creative liberties with the next one didn’t I ;3

Prologue DATV Masterlist Chapter 2(WIP)

I sat across from Neve and Harding at the circle table in the lighthouse to go over next steps.

“So. We stopped the ritual,” Neve said.

“And Varric paid the price,” Harding answered.

“Hey. Varric made his choice to go talk with Solas. He knew the risks. We all did,” I said.

“And now Solas is… gone. And we’re here, wherever here is—besides in the Fade,” Harding thought.

“Solas called it the lighthouse,” I told them.

“He did?” Neve questioned. “When?”

“While I was out cold. He showed up in my dream, and he’s really mad that we stopped his ritual.”

“Good,” Harding said smugly.

“He’s also trapped in some kind of prison in the Face. Not happy about that either,” I explained.

“You’re sure that wasn’t just a dream? It’s a reasonable reaction,” Neve said.

“Solas can speak with people in their dreams. Even kill them,” Harding told her.

“I’m safe on that front. I bled a little when I got knocked out. Enough that he can gripe at me, but not enough that he can make my head explode.”

“So Solas is using blood magic. Like any normal mage would to play with your mind,” Neve replied.

“But he’s not a normal mage. Like I told you, he’s an elven god,” Harding said.

“Putting together a nice ritual doesn’t make him a god,” she shot back.

“The gods of my people were incredibly powerful,” I interrupted their squabbling. “I don’t mean they were powerful like a skilled mage. I mean they destroyed entire cities. They shattered mountains. So no, they might not literally be gods, but they’re a lot worse than whatever you’re thinking.”

“Alright. Well, we’ve stopped the ritual, and there doesn’t seem to be an immediate danger. For now. You’re certain Solas can’t use blood magic to affect your mind?” Neve asked.

“I’m certain that if he could he already would have, but I’m still pissed at him as ever. I’m not certain of anything else, but we’re not out of danger,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Harding asked.

“Solas had two of the other elven gods imprisoned. When he got trapped, they escaped.”

“So those things we saw come out of the fade when the ritual went wild… those are…” Neve’s voice faded.

“Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. Two of the ancient elven gods that Solas rebelled against. Solas warned me about them being evil, which is pretty rich coming from the guy who just tried to tear down the Veil,” I said.

“You don’t believe him?” Neve questioned.

“No, that’s the problem. I do believe him. He said they were horrific tyrants.”

“Tyrants so powerful elven history remembers them as gods,” Harding added.

“Solas says Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain drew on the blight for power and became corrupted. That was when he imprisoned them.”

“So instead of one… god… running around, we have two. And they’re not just powerful, they’re blighted,” Neve scowled.

“We need to get out there and stop them,” Harding said firmly.

“Just like that? Without Varric? And you’re still getting back on your feet,” Neve looked over at her.

“I’m fine. We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

“We need to investigate. Figure out what we’re dealing with before we rush in and make things worse,” Neve told her.

“And how many more people will get hurt—get killed—while we spend time investigating?”

I cut them both off. “If Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain are worse than Solas, we can’t go in blind. We need to know what they can do and what they want.”

“But we only have Solas’s word about all of this,” Harding said.

I shrugged. “Then let’s go investigate for ourselves. We find out what we’re dealing with, and then we take our shot.”

“Fine. The eluvian led us here instead of back to Minrathous.”

“Let’s hope it goes back to the ritual site,” Neve said. “Maybe we can find some clues at the scene of the crime.”

“All right, then. Let’s get back to the ritual site,” I said.

—------------------------------------

The second we stepped through the Eluvian, a group of Veil Jumpers were running at us for their lives. Some kind of old elven construct was chasing them, swinging a massive golden axe at their heads. One of them, a woman, was using her magic on a device in her hands, trying to stop the construct, but it didn’t look to be working.

One of them got knocked to the side against a boulder, groaning from the impact. An older dark skinned elf parried the swings of the mighty axe, giving the girl time to work. The construct swung past the elf, the blade going through the device in the girl’s hands. As the device broke, the construct shut down, falling limp.

Harding seemed to know the older elf and the girl. She addressed them as Strife and Irelin. She told us that she met them with Varric when they first started the hunt for Solas. Veil Jumpers, she said they were called, experts in ancient elven magic.

Strife told us millions of artifacts are being faulty and coming alive because of Solas’s ritual, pointing the finger at us because we were supposed to stop him.

I informed him that we did, in fact, stop him, but Solas was now trapped in the Fade and two of the Evanuris escaped. The Veil Jumpers knew the extent of the horrors the Evanuris caused centuries ago. 

“I was really hoping Solas was lying about all of this,” I told them.

Strife frowned. “The god of lies, but some things are sacrosanct, even to him. He might be a bastard, but he’s a damned sight better than the Evanuris.”

I snorted. “No kidding.”

They still had dozens of Veil Jumpers unaccounted for, but Irelin said if we could find Bellara Lutare it would be a massive assist. Apparently, she was the best there is at working with the ancient elven artifacts. She was off looking for one before the ritual shook everything loose.

Harding told them we would go and get Bellara, but I told her to stay behind and help the Veil Jumpers because they needed her. Definitely not because she was still injured and way too stubborn to see sense.

—--------------------------------------

“Protocol is to wait at least a week before sending anyone to look for me, I’ve only been gone for three days,” she said, twisting her hips back and forth in place like a child being scolded.

“Well, things have taken a turn for the worse, I’m afraid,” I told her. “Our gods are back and they’re trying to take over the world.”

“Our gods… I need a moment,” she said.

“Take all the time you need. It won’t help, unfortunately, I’ve known for days and it still hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” I replied.

“That is quite a predicament.” She sighed, looking around. “All right, but I need your help first, I’m on to something big here.”

“Just tell me what you need,” I smiled.

“We’ll take what we can get,” Neve told her.

As it turned out, Ancient Elven ruins could be tricky. Barriers and old mechanical devices that were rare in these times. Luckily, it was pretty straightforward to figure out and Bellara was a great help finding our way through the ruins. Whatever work she had done with elven ruins and artifacts would definitely come in handy.

It was all fine and dandy when we found what we were looking for, except for the ogre that decided to pay us a visit and try to wreck our shit.

A lot of its attacks I could parry or at least redirect. Some I could only dodge, and I spent most of the fight doing so, shooting firebolts in between its attacks.

It finally fell, and I sheathed my dagger, fighting to regain my breath. 

Bellara found what she was looking for, the “Nadas Dirthalen” or the eighth archive or the archive spirit. Pick whichever you want to describe it, it was an artifact crafted with the knowledge of the gods and it could give us information we might need. If she could fix the crystal, that is.

We headed back to the Veil Jumper camp and they told us one of the towns they work closely with had gone dark. A place called D’Meta’s Crossing. With everything going on, it likely wasn’t a coincidence. Harding rejoined the three of us and we boarded a boat to go check it out.

—----------------------------------

D’Meta’s Crossing was on the far side of the lake. It was bleak when we approached on the water. 

“This isn’t right,” Bellara said. “The dock usually has people bringing goods to market, bartering and shouting… It’s always busy.”

“Stay sharp,” I said as I climbed out of the boat.

The main entrance to town was barricaded. Clearly not to keep anything out. We moved to the side, seeing a smaller barricade. I pulled myself over it, eyes going wide as I dropped down. The place reeked, and there was blight everywhere. These masses, they looked like rotting tumors, not the decay or stagnation of the normal blight, this was alive.

There were cysts that popped like blisters when fired at or hit with anything and exploded. The second I stepped foot in this place I felt I needed a shower.

We moved further in, sticking close together. There was a villager standing by a home completely taken over with the blight.

His face was drained of all color and his eyes were black. “What happened here?”

He stared at me. Well, through me. “Keep them inside. Listen to the mayor.”

My brows furrowed. I waved a hand in front of his face. Unresponsive. “What’s controlling them? Blood magic? The blight?”

We moved deeper in. The town square was even worse for wear. There were bodies everywhere taken over by the blight-cysts. We continued on, keeping an eye out for survivors. There was no one that the blight hadn’t taken over, either their bodies or their minds.

We came to a part of town blocked off by a wall of the blight. A bright red bulb pulsated at the center of it. I shuddered, taking a couple steps back and blasting cold from my fingers to minimize the explosiveness.We had gotten through it, but only a narrow passageway. Squeezing between a corridor of the blight was not on the top of my bucket list.

I would desperately need a bath after this.

We came to the other side and a giant mass of the blight stood in the center. At the center of it looked like a person was being held there.

“Mihlva!” Bellara gasped, running over to one of the bodies.

“One of your fellow Veil Jumpers?” I asked, watching the blight tendrils wrap around them and pull them away. I moved to the mass at the center. The man in it was moving. “Bellara!”

She looked over. “Jahel! He’s alive!”

“Bellara?” The man groaned.

“We’re going to help you… we’ll get you down, Jahel,” Bellara said.

A tendril snaked around his neck. “No… listen. The gods… the gods have returned. I saw… them. I heard their voices.”

“The gods did this?” Bellara questioned, panic evident in her voice.

“A blood ritual,” he said. “To release the blight. The villagers… they said they needed power… Bellara… be careful…” That tendril looped around his neck twice over, caressing his lips as he spoke before tightening around his throat.

His body was strangled, blood spilled to the cobbled streets, the blight pooling at our feet. The ground shook, and I heard someone shout for help.

We ran through the remains of the village, shooting down the blight we could along the way. Coming through an archway of it, we came out to the other side of the village. A man was wrapped in barbed fleshy pink tentacles, a writhing mass of the blight.

“Help me! Hurry!” He yelled, panicked.

The ground shook and a dragon shot up into the sky, screeching as it landed, crushing debris underfoot.

“No! Please!” The man yelled as the writhing mass drew tighter around him. I looked between him and the dragon, feeling my chest tighten. I stepped forward, putting two fingers to my lips to produce a loud whistle.

It took a step toward me, and I stared it down as embers floated from its mouth. After a moment, as though fighting a command, I watched it back off and fly into the horizon, roaring as it went.

I took a breath, approaching the man in the mass. 

“I know you,” Bellara said. “You’re the mayor of this town.”

“The village… the people… are they…?”

“Blighted. Dead. All of them,” Harding said.

“You gave them to the gods, didn’t you? Didn’t you?” Bellara spat.

The mayor sobbed. “They were in my head… infecting my thoughts. They made me do it… Please, help me!”

“Deep breaths… Tell me what happened,” I said gently. If it really was blood magic he may not have been acting completely of his own will.

“I tried to protect people. You have to believe me. The gods told me to lure the Veil Jumpers to the center of town. The others were to be rounded up and kept safe. They would be the first to witness the glory of Ghilan’nain’s new creation… She showed me gold. So much gold…”

“So you brought the Veil Jumpers to the middle of town…” I said.

“For a blood sacrifice!” Bellara cut me off.

“Because the gods needed power,” Neve concluded.

“Did you know what the gods would do?” I questioned him.

“The Veil Jumpers… they were just strangers. I thought if they were taken first, everyone else might be spared.”

“So you did know!” Bellara yelled.

“The gods exploited his greed and fear,” Neve said.

“I’m supposed to feel sorry for him? I say we leave him right here,” Bellara said.

“But I’ll die. The blight’s everywhere. What if the dragon comes back?” He panicked. “I understand what they do now. I won’t be tempted again! I swear!”

“Rook?” Harding asked.”

I sighed. “Let’s get him out of there.”

“What? This entire village is dead because of him.” Bellara argued.

“I know.”

“Then why spare him?”

“We don’t kill people. Not like this. We’re not murderers. We’re not like the gods. We are better than them,” I explained. “If we leave him to be a source of their power we’re no better than he is.”

“Thank you… I think,” he said.

“I didn’t ask for your gratitude,” I snapped.

“Then if I may offer some advice: steel yourself. I felt their power, the promises they made. It’s irresistible.”

“Then try harder next time. Don’t make me regret saving you,” I said firmly.

“Yes, of course. But you should be worried about the rest of the world. Or this will be our future.”

—---------------------------------

We made our way back to the Veil Jumper camp. We were speaking with them when an old friend of the Inquisition, Morrigan, made an appearance. She told us to find Solas’s ritual dagger and that the eluvian at the lighthouse should go anywhere there is an existing eluvian. Bellara offered to come with us to fix it.

I just wished Varric was here to give better advice. He was always stronger at speeches than I was. Doing this without him to guide me felt wrong.

Neve, Harding, and I made our way back to the ritual site. After a wild goose chase after a darkspawn that stole the dagger, and watching Harding get possessed by some kind of new strange dwarf magic—which doesn’t exist, mind you—I was ready for a nap.

We came back to the Lighthouse and talked about Harding’s new abilities. I encouraged her to explore them but be wary. It wasn’t like any magic I’d seen before, and dwarves didn’t have any connection to the Fade, so it was completely new territory.

I went up the stairs, seeing a new area branched next to the hall leading to the infirmary. I could hear Varric snoring from here. At least I knew he was still alive.

I headed down that hall, pushing the door open to see an aquarium of sorts. There was a bookshelf to the right and a wardrobe to the left. In the center of the room was a chaise lounge with a bookcase behind it.

I saw my pack sitting in front of that bookshelf. Neve or Harding must’ve brought my pack in here. It made sense, it was a better place to sleep than the infirmary. I suppose I could spare a few moments to unpack my things.

I pulled Varric’s shaving mirror out, placing it on the bookshelf behind where I would be sleeping. Varric and his life lessons. I asked him how we were supposed to stop Solas, and he gave me the mirror.

“Take a long hard look in it, kid. It’ll always show the face of a hero who can get it done,” he said.

I don’t know if I see a hero’s face, but it’s a face that has seen a lot. Got a few new scars. Some that show up in a mirror, some that don’t. But Varric believed in me then, and he believes in me now. I can do this.

I moved to the small armoire on the right side of the room, placing an elven scroll down. A peddler gave it to me after I saved his caravan from bandits. He said the scroll went back to even before Tevinter. Said that elves had a rich history, “even more than the rest of us.”

Too many humans look down on us, even though elves were here first. It was nice to have someone see how much our people have done. I just wish I could’ve been a part of it.

On the opposite side from the mirror, I put my broken chains. I helped a lot of Minrathous slaves escape to freedom the night I met Varric, including my mother. Freed only to be killed in the chaos. Another time Varric had shown up for me. I remembered his hand on my shoulder as I wept over her.

“Come on, kid. It’s time to go. I’m sorry.”

Then the magisters cracked down in retaliation, and the Shadow Dragons decided I was too much trouble to keep around. We could have taken a stand and dared the magisters to come after us. At least people are free because of what I did.

I sighed, brushing my fingers over the cold metal before going to sit in the chaise lounge. Carefully, I laid back, letting my eyes drift shut. I was wound tight despite my exhaustion. I don’t know how long it took me to actually fall asleep.

I woke in the Fade, Solas’s voice already penetrating my thoughts. “Back so soon. It must have been worse than I thought.”

“Hello, Dread Wolf.”

“Ah, but perhaps I am mistaken. You may be here to correct me, to tell me that my concerns were unfounded. I am, after all, remembered as the god of lies, treachery, and rebellion.”

Haunted, hopeless, hurting… a voice nagged at the back of my head. No, not nagged. Soothed. 

“So you’re gonna be insufferable about it. See, this is the reason nobody likes you,” I told him.

“I led a rebellion for centuries that culminated the creation of the Veil and the destruction of the elven empire.”

“Okay, this is among the reasons nobody likes you,” I corrected.

“My information was accurate. Now you realize that the danger is real.”

“I need to know what the gods are planning,” I said plainly.

“You are asking for knowledge no mortal in this world is privy to,” he replied. “If I am to share it with you, I need to know what makes you the right person to lead the fight against Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain.”

“Well, for starters, I’m the only one here,” I said, throwing my arms out and looking around the desolate prison. “And I stopped you, didn’t I?”

“You disrupted the ritual.”

“Yeah, I did. Even though I’m nowhere near as powerful as you. Even though I’m just a slave.”

His brow furrowed, and I saw him blink as the only hint of surprise. “You were a slave?”

“Yeah. Varric said you hated slavery. I suppose that’s one thing we can agree on.”

He only nodded. “Your plan is to tell me how powerful you aren’t?”

“I met Varric when he asked the Shadow Dragons for help with freeing an old friend from Venatori slavers. The Shadow Dragons had a safe plan that wasn’t going to work, and Varric wasn’t the only one with something to lose if we failed.”

“So you and Varric led an armed rebellion and dealt a devastating blow to the Venatori,” he finished for me.

“You did your research,” I said, looking him up and down.

“I would’ve been a fool not to. You and Varric were pursuing me for the better part of a year. I needed to learn who was hunting me.”

“Then you obviously also know that powerful opposition doesn’t frighten me. I find a way to get the job done, whatever it takes.”

“I suppose I was not so different when I started.”

“No,” a voice said, inches from me and lightyears away all at once. “You were not different. You are not different.” The voice of a friend.

“Cole.” Now, I did see the Dread Wolf’s surprise evident in his expression. “How did you…”

“You are trapped,” he said. “She is hopeless, haunted, hurting, just like before. Escaped one master just to be fighting another. You are not different,” Cole said, looking up at Solas. “Hello, Solas.”

“Hello Compassion,” Solas dipped his head in greeting. “It has been an age.”

“You left the Inquisition to free us, but it didn’t work. Instead you freed them. The Evanuris.”

“Someone got in my way,” Solas leveled a condescending glare at me from his high horse—or at least his slightly higher piece-of-floating-rock.

“People were dying. I heard their screams,” Cole said. “The Veil needs to stay.”

“Oookay, this is all fine and good, but what are you doing here, Cole?” I asked, turning to him. “I thought I’d seen the last of you when Dorian freed me?”

“I felt the Veil weaken, and I knew. I knew it was Solas behind it, I always knew, even when he didn’t want me to, even when he hid it from everyone else. I went back to that place where it’s still weakest, and I felt your despair. I followed it here.”

“The gods need two things to reclaim their dominance of the world,” Solas interrupted, clearly growing bored. “First, the blight. What exists in this world is a bare fragment of its power. The rest is imprisoned… until they release it.”

“What would they need to do to free the blight, and how do we stop them from doing it?” I asked.

“They will need to pierce the Veil to reach the blight’s prison. My lyrium dagger is one of the few artifacts capable of doing so.”

“We’ve already recovered it from the ritual site.”

“Excellent,” I could’ve sworn he almost looked proud, but I doubted the smug bastard was capable. “Then they will have to make their own. That will give you time. The second is followers. They have called themselves gods, and what is a god without worshipers to sing their praises?”

“I’m not gonna bend a knee to blighted murdering monsters just because their ears are pointed like mine. I don’t think many other elves are going to either.”

“Agreed. Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain care little for the elves. They will find worshipers among those hungry for power. Tyrants and bullies. The cruel and corrupt, who fear their own vulnerability and seize any chance to feel strong. If you hunt them, they will lead you to Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain.”

I laughed without humor. “You want me to pick fights with tyrants and bullies? Sounds fun.”

“I gave no orders. All I can offer are suggestions.”

“I’m on it. What else?”

“The Vi’Revas, the Lighthouse eluvian, can take you anywhere, if you master its secrets. Have you done so?”

“Not yet, but we’ve got one of the Veil Jumpers working on it. She’ll get it sorted, and we’ll see how it goes.”

“Yes. I suppose we will. And when you speak with Varric, please tell him that I… regret what happened.”

Cole put his hand on my arm, and the world spun for a moment before I opened my eyes. We were in a grove, the stars above us, trees towering around us.

“Woah.” I put a hand to my head. “Where are we?”

“The Fade.”

“Right…” I took a seat in the grass with a sigh.

Cole crouched down, fingers fidgeting with the blades of grass. “You feel heavy again. Like before.”

“Varric picked me up to help him, but I disrupted the ritual, Varric got hurt, and the gods escaped. That doesn’t much feel like helping.”

“Varric used to help me. He wanted me to understand things, I think.”

“I don’t know how to lead, Cole. I’m barely used to being in charge of my life.”

“You’re already leading,” he said simply. His head bowed, and he glanced back behind him, as though listening for something. “They need you, it’s time to wake up.”

I gasped sitting upright, my chest heaving and my palms sweaty. I hadn’t seen Cole in years. Not since I was a slave. Not since I was at my lowest in life. Shit…

I needed to talk to Varric. I wiped my hands on my pants, standing with a huff. Having Solas in my head might prove to be more hindrance than help if he wouldn’t let me sleep in peace.

I made my way out, rubbing out the kink in my neck, hoping he might be awake. If not, I would let at least one of us get some restful sleep.

I approached him, sitting on the end of the bed, legs crossed opposite where he was sitting up against a pillow.

“So Solas told the truth about the gods,” he said as I sat down.

“You heard? It’s bad, Varric,” I shook my head. “If you’d seen D’Meta’s Crossing…”

“The team needs to act fast… and it can’t do that with me leading from a bed,” he said. “You’ve gotta take point on this.”

My chest tightened. “I can’t do what you do. I’ve barely been holding it together in the short time you’ve been out.”

He shook his head. “You don’t need to do what I do. You just need to get it done. Rook, when I put this team together, what did I look for? A detective to find the Dread Wolf and a scout to get us the lay of the land. Exactly the people he’d expect me to recruit. Disciplined. Predictable. And then there’s you. Remember when we first met, kid?”

“Of course I do.”

“You risked your neck to bring down an entire slavery ring. Pretty much by yourself,” he grinned.

“I had help.”

“Sure. I got winded about five minutes in. You did most of the work. Ticked off a bunch of Minrathous big shots, but… You’ve got a knack, kid.”

I hugged my knees to my chest. “A knack for what? Almost dying?”

“Exactly. You’ve got a knack for finding a way through the wildest shit I’ve ever seen. With a plan that no one expects. You can do this,” he said with a softness in his eyes I’d only ever really seen when it was just us. The protective kind. “And don’t worry. I’ll still be here to talk if you need me.”

“There is something… D’Meta’s Crossing was awful. While we were there, we found one survivor—the mayor.”

“You took him back to the Veil Jumpers,” he said. Harding must’ve filled him in.

“Not everyone was happy about my decision…” I told him. “We’re just starting out and I’m already losing their trust.”

Varric sat up a little straighter. “The key to earning the team’s trust isn’t to only make decisions everyone agrees with. It’s showing the team that they can tell you whatever’s on their mind, even if they think you’re full of crap, and know you’ll listen. It’s showing them that you’re capable of making the hard decisions, even if they don’t agree.”

“When I took over at the ritual site, I had to make a call on who came with me to knock over that statue. It was the first decision I made leading this team, and Harding got hurt because of it.”

“You made a decision with the best information you had. Sometimes you do that, and people end up hurt. Or worse,” he said simply.

“What would you have done?” I asked.

“What would I have done? Probably gotten myself killed and failed to stop the ritual if you hadn’t stepped in,” he laughed. “A good leader isn’t someone who never makes mistakes: It’s someone who admits when they make one. That’s how you earn their trust.”

“Did Neve tell you about me talking to Solas in the Fade?” I asked.

“I had some good arguments with Chuckles back in the day. I can’t imagine being stuck with him in my head. But how are you feeling about it?” He asked.

“Your old friend is kind of an asshole, Varric.”

He chuckled. “I’d love to be a fly on the wall while the two of you get into it. Solas fought a rebellion against Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. He didn’t want to be a god. But he’s also a lot older and more powerful than any of us. He looks at us like we’re toddlers.”

“So how do I deal with him?”

“Act like you’re as smart as he is, and he’ll be insufferable. Show him you respect his age and experience, and he’ll remind you he’s just a man. Honestly, pick whichever of those pisses you off less,” he grinned.

“He also asked me to tell you that he regrets what happened. Hurting you, I mean,” I told him, letting my knees fall back to either side.

“Chuckles is sentimental. He could burn the world down, and the thing that would make him cry is a single flower with blackened petals.”

“He seems the type. Cole visited me. I know last time I told you about him you said he was with the Inquisition. He came to my dream with Solas too, and he looked almost… regretful, if you could even call it that.”

“Well, shit. How’s he doing? What was he doing?” Varric asked, shifting slightly.

“Apparently, he sensed my despair when he was checking out the ritual site because of how thin the Veil is there. He followed it back to me.” I sighed, standing and brushing myself off, whatever invisible dust there was. “I’ll let you rest.”

“You’re gonna be fine, Rook. Hey, one last thing before you go,” he said. “I’ve been racking my brain thinking of contacts who might help us with these gods.”

“You got any ideas?” 

“Nothing. But being a leader isn’t about having all the answers yourself: It’s about knowing who does. Neve has connections to a whole world that Harding and I barely know. A world you barely got the chance to learn. Might be worth talking to her.”

“Will do. Thanks, Varric,” I offered him a smile. One of the few I was sure I would be able to give in the coming days.

“Any time, kid.”

I closed the door behind me so he could rest as I made my way out to Neve’s floating office. She told me we needed to hire the Antivan Crows, but specifically their most feared mage killer. The Demon of Vyrantium. I had heard of his work, and most of us in the wards and servants’ quarters revered his assassinations of our masters. They had given us plenty of reasons to side with the trained killer over them.

Neve said she set up a meeting with their bosses. Next, she said that we needed to take a trip back home. The Shadow Dragons of course made sense to take out the gods in the capital city of Tevinter where blood magic was strongest. We had done so much work against it and the Venatori, but I was a bit worried about seeing them again after the stunt I pulled. We trained to be the best at countering evil magic, it was time we proved it. Hopefully together this time and not just me and Varric.

The Antivan Crows seemed our best bet to start off. I wasn’t ready to go back to Minrathous yet. Not after everything.

Neve and I made our way down to the Vi’Revas, the eluvian, where Bellara was working. We watched her tinker with it for a moment before it lit up, showing the path to what Morrigan called The Crossroads. A spirit appeared beside it in tattered blue robes. Though I tensed instinctively, I felt nothing malicious from it.

“The wolf’s fang. You carry it now. Old paths. A new journey. Through there. I will wait,” he gestured to the eluvian before fading away.

When we entered, the spirit introduced itself as the caretaker who goes where they are needed. The Crossroads was a beautiful place in the fade. Paths branched out, the caretaker guiding us in a levitating boat to each island of Eluvians. This place was slowly becoming tainted, though. I could feel the blood magic and blight like invisible eyes or a forgotten touch. It caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

We made it to the eluvian leading to Treviso after killing some Venatori trying to take over the crossroads. Neve and I glanced at each other before stepping through. Treviso… One of the finest cities in Antiva, or so I’d been told. It was now under occupation by the Antaam. Hopefully our contact would still be able to meet us.

Neve and I made our way to the coordinates given to us, seeing a petit woman leaning against the railing of the bridge. She looked over as we approached.

“Welcome to Antiva. You must be Rook. Follow me,” she said, running off, leaving me to follow in her wake.

“And you’re Andarateia Cantori. Of the Crows?” I asked.

“Teia, please. Come, my associate Viago is gathering the others.”

We ran through the streets of Treviso, through the market and up the lattice on the side of a building. From there, we ziplined to a casino, the headquarters of the Crows.

“Welcome to the Cantori Diamond,” Teia said as we went up the stairs to the right.

As soon as I entered, I felt as though I was going to be interrogated, stripped of my valuables and tossed to the streets, if the expression of the woman eyeing me and the cane in her hand were anything to say for it.

Teia took up her spot on the left, a man with a very well groomed mustache to the right of her, followed by the older woman in the throne, and on her other side a younger man who looked way too charming for anyone’s good.

The man next to Teia spoke. “You’re the client?”

“This is Rook,” Teia said with a smile. “Did you want a drink? I promise not to let Viago near it.” It struck me how pretty she was. And the man next to her.

“Viago de Riva. Fifth Talon,” he introduced. “And this is Caterina Dellamorte. First Talon of the Crows.” He gestured to the woman in the throne.

“An honor. And you are?” I asked, glancing at the man beside her.

“Illario Dellamorte. Her grandson. What brings you here?” He asked.

“Right,” I took a breath. “My target is a pair of elven gods—or that’s what they call themselves. They’re ancient blighted mages. My detective says you have a man who brought blood mages and Venatori to their knees.”

“Lucanis,” Caterina said. “My grandson. They called him “the Demon of Vyrantium.” He was the one who did those jobs.”

“Sounds like there’s more to it,” I said carefully, tilting my head.

“Lucanis Dellamorte is dead. He was killed a year ago, now,” Viago said solemnly.

“What I say doesn’t leave this room,” Caterina said slowly. “The body our people brought back was not my grandson. It was dressed in his clothing, but it had been altered with blood magic to have his face.”

“My cousin is still alive?” Illario questioned. “And you didn’t think to tell me?” Something was off about Illario. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew that I would rather have dealings with Teia and Viago more than him in the future if we had any at all.

“His ship was attacked,” Viago interrupted my thoughts. “We knew someone sold him out… so you kept your suspicions to yourself.”

“But you’ve brought it up now. Why?” I asked, looking back to the First Talon.

“I’ve had eyes on the Venatori ever since they took my grandson from me. They were hunting your Dread Wolf. And what you did to his ritual threw them into disarray. They made mistakes. And now I have a location. The Ossuary. Where the Demon of Vyrantium is kept. Find this Ossuary. Free Lucanis. You’ll have your god-killer. And I’ll have my grandson.”

Something about the way she presented him twisted my gut. Like that was all he was, a weapon to be used and discarded. Even not having met him, the thought didn’t sit right with me. I knew what it was like to be seen only for what you could do for other people, and that was not a feeling I wanted for anyone else.

I wondered though, how a mage killer captured by the Venatori would feel about two Tevinter mages freeing him.

Illario led us to our lift to the Ossuary. I was almost relieved when he didn’t get in the boat with us. Surprisingly, he was the only Crow I had met so far that had major stab-you-in-the-back vibes.

We were boated out to the middle of the sea, the Crow mage with us parting the waters below us to grant us passage to the underwater prison. When we got there, bodies littered the sand, bloodstains running red. We passed over two dozen bodies as we made our way through the prison.

It seemed to have been some ancient elven ruins before being repurposed. It was a wonder it still functioned. If the wards on this place ever broke…

I didn’t want to think about what could’ve happened when the gods got released. I was more relieved I didn’t have to be the one fending off all the guards. We came to a Venatori barrier with three crystals connected to it that I beamed fire at before the barrier fell. A large corridor led down a set of stairs where a group of Venatori gathered.

“We don’t have to fight. We’re just here for Lucanis Dellamorte.” The mage in the center slammed his staff into the ground, the wisps of red blood magic gathering around its tip. “Get ready,” I said to Neve, who braced for a fight.

“Razikale, Dragon of Mystery. Lusacan, Dragon of Night. Hear your faithful call—”

A man in blue leathers flipped down from seemingly out of thin air, black and purple glowing wings sprouted from his back as he fell. He grappled the mage, pulling him as he spun so that the Venatori next to him stabbed straight through his comrade’s gut. He ducked as another sword came at him, kicking the Venatori in the gut. The cultist flew backward, impaling on one of the ice spikes surrounding us.

The man sprinted at the other two, a dagger in one hand and a rapier in the other. In a flash that was barely visible, he spun, slitting both of their throats before turning and putting his sword through the final cultist’s back.

He stood with his back turned to us, chest heaving. My eyes were wide. “I’m guessing you’re the reason we’re here,” I said carefully.

His wings flapped and dissipated as he turned back toward us. “Who are you? Who sent you?” He asked, the thick accent of Antiva coming through in his voice.

Something about his presence was calm, assured, even though he just murdered six people before my eyes. It drew me in, and I wasn’t sure I would have the strength to back out.

“My name’s Rook. Caterina sent me.”

“Caterina…” He looked at the ground. “But… you’re not a Crow.” He put his hands on his hips.

“I’m breaking you out of here,” I told him. “But… you’re not just you. Care to introduce me to your friend?”

“Rook. He’s possessed by a demon,” Neve said carefully.

“It’s complicated,” Lucanis said with a slight shrug.

“Caterina promised us a mage killer if we could get you out of here,” I told him.

“I can still work,” he assured me.

“Good,” I smiled. “Cause I’m pretty sure more Venatori are on their way. We have to get moving.”

“They have a vial of my blood. They can use it to control me. I cannot leave it in their hands. And… I had a contract when I was captured. One of my targets is here. Calivan. Crows don’t break contracts,” Lucanis said.

“All right, we’ll help. But in return, I need help killing some things,” I told him.

“I’ll owe you,” he said slowly.

“I’m sure we’ll owe each other before this is all over. Let’s go.”

We made our way back through the prison, coming to a huge gap that none of us would be able to jump across.

“What are you—Fine. He says he can help. There is something in the Fade close enough to grab onto.”

I watched Lucanis’s wings come out, energy flowing from his hands and a large piece of floating cobblestone came into being. “All of that… came from the Fade?”

“I’m as surprised as you,” Lucanis said honestly.

Eventually, we came to a room protected by at least six of the Venatori’s crystals powering the barrier. Behind it, was a massive garnished vial of blood. “Yeah, they can’t do anything subtle, can they?” I asked, aiming a beam of flames at it, making it explode on impact.

Through a close-by archway, there was a lift. We took it and it led to an audience chamber, a mage standing in the middle of it.

As we approached, Calivan did as all villains do, and started giving a long-winded speech. Something something, Zara said it would be ironic, he’s already the Demon of Vyrantium, now it’s just more literal. Lucanis smirked at me, glancing sidelong as Calivan went on his tangent, and I found myself smiling back. Something something she always leaves him to clean up the mess.

Maybe he should’ve picked someone better to follow.

I put my hands together, feeling the energy build between them as I loosed a death ray of fire and lightning right at his face. That’ll shut him up, surely.

Lucanis blinked at me as Calivan fell to his knees. “Sorry,” I said impulsively. “I know that was your contract. He was getting on my nerves.”

“Don’t be. Imagine how I feel,” Lucanis said, the corners of his lips twitching up. He spat on Calivan’s body. “The Crows send their regards.”

I glanced down at the ashen body, and when I looked up again I saw a purple version of Lucanis standing right beside him, and I blinked.

“The contract is done,” Lucanis said.

“Smells like blood. Ashes. Not done. Not yet,” The purple man said. From what I was sensing, this was his demon. Though he was closer to a spirit, not quite monstrous yet. I opted to ignore him for now. Not drawing attention to it was likely safer at least for the moment.

Lucanis just stared at him blankly. “Lucanis? Are you alright?” I asked.

“Careful, they know. We’re not right.”

“You cannot see him. I wondered,” he said, putting his hands on his hips.

“We clearly have things to discuss. Somewhere else,” I told him.

“Agreed. I think… it’s time I got some air.”

—--------------------------------------------

Back at the Cantori Diamond we found Teia and Viago looking at Illario who was leaned over against the table, breathing heavily. The two of them turned around and Teia’s face went whiter than I thought possible.

“Maker…” She said.

“Lucanis?” Viago’s eyes were wide.

Lucanis looked around at them. “What happened here?” He questioned.

Illario’s fist hit the table, and I flinched instinctively. “A message,” he snarled. “From Zara Renata. I can’t believe it. You’re home.” Illario put a hand on Lucanis’s shoulder.

“Zara… Her people got this close?” Lucanis asked.

“The woman who runs the prison?” I guessed.

“The Venatori witch who captured me,” he answered.

“Revenge for the breakout, maybe,” I said.

“Where’s Caterina?” Lucanis asked, eyes darting around at the three of them frantically.

“She’s…” Teia’s voice broke, and her head bowed with an impossible weight on her shoulders.

Viago came up behind her, hands on her shoulders comfortingly. “The Venatori got her in the confusion.”

“I got one of you back, only to lose the other,” Illario said, sounding devastated. I wanted to feel bad for him, but something still felt off.

“Lucanis…” I said softly. “I’m so sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“I need to work,” he said, shifting on his feet.

“Are you sure?” Teia asked. “You should take some time.”

“I don’t need time—I need a target,” he said darkly.

“You just got here, and already you want to leave again?” Illario questioned. How he didn’t understand was beyond me.

“Caterina gave me a contract. I’m not breaking the last deal she ever made. And I owe Rook. Once that’s done… I’ll come home,” he told them.

“I’ll return him in one piece,” I promised.

“Thank you,” Illario smiled at me. “Cousin. When you find Zara, I want—I need—to be there.”

Viago shook his head. “We’re under attack. Antaam on one side and now Venatori on the other? Forget revenge, we need you—”

“No, Viago,” Teia interrupted. “Zara came for us here. In my house. She took Caterina from my house. You find her and cut her heart out, Lucanis. Vi and I will hold down the fort.”

“I’ll give her your regards, Teia,” Lucanis said.

“For Caterina,” she looked around at all of us.

—--------------------------------------

“They’re the same thing. Mostly. Well, kind of,” Bellara said as I walked in.

“Except one will manipulate you. Or kill you. Or both,” Neve replied.

“But how do you get rid of them?” Lucanis leaned against the fireplace, one hand braced against it, the other on his hip.

“What’s everyone talking about?” I asked.

“Spite,” Lucanis looked back over his shoulder at me.

“The demon in Lucanis,” Neve said. “When a person gets possessed—the demon usually takes control.”

“And they turn into a monster. The spirit just… molds them. However they want,” Bellara added.

“I’ve heard of abominations being cured by killing the demon in the Fade. That’s not a sure bet, though,” Neve thought.

“Well, there’s one way. But it’s well… we’d have to, um…”

“You’d have to kill me,” Lucanis finished.

“That can’t be the only solution. Can’t we… reason with Spite, maybe? Persuade him to leave?” I asked.

“Talk doesn’t work on Spite,” Lucanis said.

“She won’t hurt you. How sweet,” Spite crooned, the ghost of his form next to me. He vanished and appeared in front of Lucanis. “I want to talk to her!” Lucanis kept his gaze on me, no doubt seeing my eyes track the demon.

“Before we do, well, that. Let’s think this through some more. There has to be a solution,” Bellara said. I braced my hands against their chairs, leaning over them slightly.

“I have people in Minrathous I can ask, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up,” Neve said.

“All right. So, what’s next?” I asked.

“Let me talk to them! I want. To talk. To Rook!” Spite swung, punching Lucanis in the nose. Blood spattered, and Lucanis winced, his hand going to his nose.

Bellara and Neve stood. “Lucanis!” Bellara cried.

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” he said, putting his arm out.

“He’s done this before? Enough that you just… shrug it off?” I questioned, leveling a glare at the aspect of Spite next to him.

“He’d do this in the Ossuary. The Fade does whatever a spirit wants. Real walls and chains, not so much. Just… give me a minute. He’ll get bored once everyone leaves.”

I leveled him with a stare that said I would absolutely not be leaving even as Bellara and Neve got up and left. Neve shot me a glance that said ‘be careful’, but I just nodded to her.

He put his hand back up against the fireplace and stared into the flames as I walked around the table, sliding up to sit on the edge of it.

“I thought you couldn’t see him. At the Ossuary…”

“I didn’t want him to know I could see him. That was the last thing we needed there,” I told him.

“You can hear him too?” He asked, looking back at me with furrowed brows.

“When I can see him or when he’s showing through you, yes,” I answered honestly.

“But the others, they can’t. Why is that?” He asked, looking at me curiously, if not a bit suspiciously.

I shrugged. “I’ve always had a connection to the Fade. In worse times I was in such turmoil a spirit of Compassion appeared in my dreams or pulled me out of reality if things got bad. And now that connection is stronger than ever. Some of my blood is circulating around in the Fade from when we interrupted Solas’s ritual. That’s how he visits me in my sleep.”

“I am sorry,” he said. “I can’t stand him, I didn’t want him to be a problem for you too.” I just shook my head. “I would kill for a decent cup of coffee right now.”

“Have you? For coffee, I mean,” I grinned.

I saw the corner of his lip twitch up. “Not today. You’ve got questions. You might as well ask them.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, watching him. “You’re the best mage killer in the Antivan Crows. So how’d the Venatori catch you?”

“Someone set me up,” he said simply. “I had a contract for Calivan. In the Ossuary. I took a ship from Treviso to Minrathous. They were waiting for me. Knew which ship and when it would arrive. I don’t know how they convinced the Crows I was dead, but I woke up in the Ossuary with Zara gloating about it.”

“Blood magic.” I could tell him that at least. One thing I had the answer to. “Caterina said they had dressed the body in your clothes and altered it with blood magic to look like your face too. I can’t even imagine… I know she… “volunteered” you to work with us. Are you okay with that?” I asked sincerely.

“When the First Talon of the Crows gives you a job, you do it. Especially if she’s your grandmother. But, there’s plenty of reason for me to work with you beyond that, Rook,” he said.

“Such as?” I tilted my head, kicking my feet under the table.

“I owe you a debt, for one. And after a year in that hole, maybe I’m looking forward to stabbing a god or two in the back,” he answered.

“Two!” Spite hissed.

“The Crossroads can be dicey, but the Lighthouse is safe. Oh, and if you see a spirit around called the Caretaker, they’re friendly,” I smiled.

“After the Ossuary, that will be a pleasant change,” he said with a grin. After a moment’s silence, he put his hands on his hips. “You haven’t asked anything about Spite.”

“Based on what I’ve seen, I’d say he picked the right name.”

“He’s stronger when I sleep. So… I try not to do it much. No one was in the Ossuary by choice. Not even the demons. We both did what we had to, to get out of there,” he told me.

“I admire you,” I told him. “What you’ve been through would break most people.”

“I would not give Zara the satisfaction,” he smirked.

“I understand. Still, you must be a very courageous man,” I smiled.

“A very stubborn one, perhaps. But, that’s… kind of you to say. Leave Spite to me. If he’s trapped in this world, he has a good reason to fight for it. For now, I must honor our contract. Gods, magic, politics…” he hummed, the rumble in his chest trying to drag me toward him. “Things are going to get very bloody.”

I gave him one last smile as he turned back toward the fire. “If you’re stubborn, I’d say Zara picked the right demon. If I remember right, Spite is a demon of Determination,” I smirked, looking back at him.

His brows were raised. “Perhaps it was the only thing she got right. She was nothing if not fond of irony.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Please give me your thoughts on this. I missed Cole and he was so important to me in Inquisition I wanted him to have a role in this story too, however minor. Also the back and forth with Solas gets me every time XD

Let me know if you want to be on a tag list! <3

Have a good day lovelies!

[thenerdyindividual]

Wip game: I’m so curious about your original novel so Toren and Casimir!

Omg thanks for asking! I finished this novel in April 2024, but it was in development hell while I waited for my friend to read it and give me feedback. So I finally started the editing process this month! I am three chapters in.

It is a fantasy novel because of course.

Twenty years before the start of the book, magical creatures (especially dragons) were hunted nearly to extinction. People used their body parts for magical weapons, special armor, enchanted clothes, etc. When mages realized that these creatures were going extinct, huge numbers of them banded together to fight a war for their conservation.

That war ended when rebel leader Kestrel met with King Evander, and signed a peace treaty. This peace treaty required Kestrel to give his son Casimir over to Evander as a ward, and for Evander to give up his daughter Satriya to Kestrel as a ward.

Cut to the start of the book, and Casimir learns that Evander plans to marry him to the ruler of a principality to obtain a peace treaty. Tired of being a pawn, Casimir flees rather than be wed. This leaves Evander’s son Toren to chase Casimir down and bring him home in time to save the treaty.

Nothing goes as planned.

So yeah! That is the book and I am pretty proud of it. I think it might actually be good, and I hope I can get more than one person to read it.

ASK ME ABOUT A WIP AND I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT

[jkateel]

WIP Wednesday (a day late)

I was tagged by @runawaydragons and @amburuthings. Thank you!

Tagging @bossuary, @todisturbtheuniverse and @lathbora-virann if you want to participate! :)

I just did a lot of Solas drawings here, but have only done a couple rough sketches since. Writing wise, however, I got a couple projects I am working on.

Here is a snippet from one, featuring my Lavellan, Araniel. A little Solavellan fun. Set in Haven, before the Breach is closed. For context, Solas, Dorian, and the rebel mages are coming up with a plan on how to close the Breach.

“That seemed to go well.” “It is some comfort that the education provided by the Circle was not completely substandard,” Solas replied. “Though I do find the Circle mages are quite rigid in their opinions on experimental magical theory.” Araniel looked him over: the smug smile on his face; the way he stood tall and proud. “You’re enjoying yourself,” she commented.

Solas glanced back at her, question in his eyes.

Araniel grinned, placing a hand on her hip. “Enjoying the chance to show how smart you are,” she explained.

Solas’s lips parted slightly, his brow furrowing together. He looked ready to deny it, but after a moment, said slowly, “Perhaps.”

Araniel’s grin widened. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” she teased.

That made Solas cock an eyebrow. “You assume they would believe you?”

“I am the Herald of Andraste,” she countered with a snort. “They’ll believe anything I say.”

“A most illustrious use of your power,” Solas rejoined, though there was a smirk forming on his lips. “Careful, Herald, or future historians may presume I held your favor.”

Feeling bold, Araniel swung her hands behind her back and leaned in toward him. “Don’t you?” she asked playfully.

That had the desired result: Solas’s eyes flicked to her lips. His mouth opened as he turned to face her, but whatever he was to say next was lost to time when they were interrupted.

“Ugh, you two, get a room.”

Both of them looked over at Sera, who was sitting on the sill of the tavern window, a gnawed-on loaf of bread in her hand. “I’m tryna eat here!” she complained.

Araniel felt heat fill her cheeks, while Solas coughed and stepped away from her. “How rude of us to interrupt your meal,” he said to Sera, sarcasm filling his voice.

“I know!”

Solas rolled his eyes, and then turned back to Araniel with a small smile. “I should return to my duties.”

Araniel nodded with her own smile. “Of course. Dinner, later?”

“I look forward to it.”

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tag @thecomfywriter!

OC Ship Song Tag 🎵

Rules: list the ships of your wip (canon or otherwise!) and the song that "describes" your ship, or that would be used for a fan edit of the ship

Ok, so I only have one main ship, but that ain't gonna stop me from throwing some besties in here too!

Izjik and Sepo (qpr):

Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry

Six Pack by Black Flag (I imagine them in an awesome bar brawl when I listen to this)

Astra and Mashal (romance):

The Reckoning by Dom Fera (credit where credit's due to @mk-writes-stuff for suggesting this one for them a while ago)

Breaking the Dream by Virtual Mage (this version for Astra and this version for Mashal)

Avymere and Elsind (friends):

Mr. Feel by John Michael Howell

Little Sister Song by Kid Sistr (You know you're TOO CUTE TO RUMBLE, why don't you come home with me tonight <3<3)

Nyda and Kaulakri (maybe friends, maybe lovers, we'll see how it goes):

Duck Eat Duck World by Destroy Boys

Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (This, but the thinly veiled homoerotic subtext is just text)

I'll tag @mk-writes-stuff @corinneglass @inseasofgreen @clearcloudlesssky @ominous-feychild and anyone else who wants in :)

[heylavellan]

wip wednesday (on thursday)

the disability won yesterday and most of today, so a bit lower effort on this. thank you @inquisimer . open tag to anyone following me, but i'll tag a few folks: @lasatfat, @lottiesnotebook, @miladydewintcr, and @teine-mallaichte

i'm cooking up how my inky cousland and dorian get together, but i really liked this scene i wrote between cassandra and baz as baz is trying to process what it means to move on from your late wife and start a new relationship with kids involved.

---

Basileus appeared to consider her words as he took a few more long draws on his pipe. He offered it to her, but she politely declined. It smelled too much like the incense used for the dead in Nevarra for her comfort. "Andrea never wanted Tavish. The past few years of our relationship were fraught. And I naively thought another baby would fix things," he offered. He took a lungful of smoke before continuing. "I think I stopped loving her when she called Flick a monster." Cassandra watched as he exhaled rings of smoke. "Do you miss her?" she prompted, watching the rings evaporate. "Is it bad if I'm not sure? Part of me already mourned my wife, I think. I loved her. But the Andrea of the past few years was different," he reflected. "Maybe we got older. I mean we spent most of our years together making kids and running our estate. Kirkwall explodes, the mages rebel, and suddenly I have a mage son." He paused to repack his pipe, already having smoked through the contents of his pipe. Once it was relit, he puffed a few times before continuing. "I don't know if she was always that way. And if she changed, I'm a poor husband for not having noticed."

[barbex]

Last Sentence Meme! Post the last sentence of you wip and tag that many people.

@tobythewise and @kerfanna tagged me for this one, thank you! I got this bit from one of the many fenders fic I'm obsessing around in.

"My mage," Fenris whispers, pulling him closer. "You are tempting me."

Hah! Promising, isn't it?

I'm tagging: @potatowitch, @mclavellan, @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul​, @hawkeykirsah, @dismalzelenka, @charlatron, @thedastrash, @only-slightly-terrified, @tsuraiwrites, @contreparry ,@sulky-valkyrie

[ourdawncomes]

MARGERY "PEGGY" MERCAR

triggers: slavery, fantasy racism, deadnaming/misgenders (accidental - read more)

Notes

Canon divergent Shadow Dragon Rook. Her backstory is not that of the in-game Shadow Dragon PC.

If Rook is a Solas mirror, Peggy mirrors his rebellion and talent for making things worse while trying to better them.

Veilguard spoilers throughout.

Basics

Name: Margery Nickname(s): Rook (strangers), Peggy/Peg (close friends) Faction: Shadow Dragons Age: 48 (by Veilguard) Birthday: Nubulis 20th 9:27 Dragon Race: Elf Gender / Pronouns: Cis Woman, She/Her Orientation: Probably straight but this is me we're talking about

Personality

Proud and quick to judge, Margery wasn't born a rebel, but was made one by circumstances. She doesn't often mince words, and when she does it is typically for her own ends. She keeps her heart guarded, and is slow to trust others with her past. Her nurturing streak comes out with younger members of the Veilguard, and once past her defenses a woman of dry wit begins to reveal herself.

Background

Hometown: Amaranthine / Denerim Current Residence: Minrathous / The Lighthouse Accent: Northern English (Geordie)

Husband: Ghilad (deceased) Son: Bruno

Religion: Andrastian (Questioning/Non-practising)

History

Born in the grey coastal city of Amaranthine, Margery moved to Denerim at the tender age of twenty to wed Ghilad, a man she had never met but had been arranged to marry. She will still tell people it was the bravest (and most frightening) thing she's ever done. A few years later, they have a child, a girl (or so they believed at the time).

Things are happy, but not happy forever. She avoids the riot, thinking her family will be safe if they keep their heads down, but then the purge comes- and then the plague. First her husband sickens, and then her child, and then her. When the Tevinter mages come, she uses the last of her strength to bring her family to them. For her trust, her husband is left to die, and she along with her five-year-old are sold to Tevinter.

For years she belonged to a man named Quintius, and was able to remain a mother to her child, until a bad turn of luck left Quintius in need of a little extra coin. Separated from everything and everyone she had ever loved, Margery hardens, and every sharp knife looks like it would fit neatly between Quintius's ribs.

She wouldn't have her vengeance. At least, not yet. At a banquet held by her master, she is freed by the Viper, and turns her freedom to the Shadow Dragon's cause. Her bold actions within the fledgling rebel faction quickly earned her the scorn of the Venatori and traditionalist magisters.

Luckily, a certain dwarf has a particular fondness for opinionated elves.

Verses

(verse descriptions a wip but here are the bare bones)

v; tag pending ( pre veilguard ) on request.

Peggy's time in the Denerim Alienage up to her liberation by the Shadow Dragons. Mostly open to Denerim Alienage elves (including Adaia, who she would know!).

v; tag pending ( veilguard ) default.

WEEWOO WEEWOO VEILGUARD SPOILERS if you didn't heed it earlier pls heed it now

Varric's hurt, the Dread Wolf's in her head, and the gods are loose. Her regrets are piling up around her, and she'll do anything she can not to drown.

Half-way through the game, after a cryptic passcode is given to her by Solas, she reunites with her child- her son, Bruno.

Main Choices: Saved Minrathous (believing her child is still in the city), lets Solas tear down the Veil (through less destructive means I still need to think about) and/or atone, Dorian for Archon, Harding leads the scouts, Neve got Blighted

Companion Choices: Emmrich turns away from lichdom, griffons with the Dalish, Bellara keeps the archive, tells Taash to do what will make them happy, Illario jailed/Spite and Lucanis will split, Neve is encouraged to become Batman, Harding embraces herself and not her anger.

[sulky-valkyrie]

WIP Game

tagged by: @squadron-of-damned-writes (frantic waving and sending of hearts and kisses!)

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP list, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it. And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Wellllllllllllllllllll so uh, this is an incomplete list and comes into two halves. It's incomplete because is it really a WIP when it's just a prompt copy pasted into a doc with nothing actually added to it? Also, when does something stop becoming a WIP? When it's done? When you start posting chapters on ao3?

These are, to my shame, all for dragon age:

"Something unexpected"

"break a curse"

"whose blood pt 2"

"twins happiest"

"saving loghain"

"in hushed whispers" (suuuuuuuuuuper original title)

"griffon and Peacock"

"Failed ritual pt 4"

"Fly little bird"

"Madman 5+1"

"Fennanders Bittersweet Angst" (can you guess the pairing)

"Call Girl Anders"

"drinks"

"Post Boom Fennanders" (can you guess the pairing?)

"Janders"

"Not Jealous"

"Spunk Mage and the Fainting Goat"

"Twins Arishok"

"Roommates Sequel"

"nathanders"

These are all original fiction:

"William Everyman's Improbable Romance"

"the other necromantic therapist"

"Shit, I'm the NPC"

"Endeavors"

"Sneaky elves"

I'm just gonna cheat and use the tag list from Secret Sanders and add a few additional beloved mutuals

@dismalzelenka @dalish-rogue @pierogipie @anderstrevelyan @favorofthewater @anatidae-dragonage @midnightprelude @highwayphantoms @thedastrash @sunnygalaxyfox @transandersrights @jellydishes @syrupwit @captaincadash @barbex @potatowitch @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul @glowing-blue-feathermage; @plisuu @blarrghe @melisusthewee @cleverblackcat @rosella-writes

[king-arthur-obsessed]

details and blablah under the cut ❤︎

might have seen this little movie with a certain Charlie Hunnam in it? nothing big or fancy of course... *cough cough*

I am very much late to this party, ain't I?

so... I randomly discovered King Arthur, legend of the sword last year (june 2023) when I was looking for a movie to show my kids (junior high teacher here) before summer break. and boy... i am obsessed. it's been almost a year now and it's not slowing down. the hyperfixation really be hyperfixating this time. i rewrote the whole freacking script... FOR FUN 💀 (it's the autism 🤷‍♀️) as a maladaptive daydreamer many stories came to my mind, many silly self-inserts with many silly cringy personalities, and some of them eventually turned into ✨OCs✨ two of these stories I have decided I will write and publish on ao3 and wattpad, and on this blog I shall detail my progress with snippets, blurbs, edits and whatnots. you are welcome ❤︎ I am well aware that the King Arthur fandom, if it ever existed (did you know there was supposed to be 6 movies??? 😩), is probably dead and buried. But oh well, I'm in love with this movie and if no one actually reads my fics or likes my posts then so be it. i'm just happy to share my silly stories ❤︎

★ I will be working on 2 main projects: ❤︎ project 1, temporary-or-not title -> The King's Mage a full rewrite of the movie adding my OC. as canon compliant as can be but the mage will be replaced with my OC with a full backstory which heavily impacts the plot. tags: plot heavy, Arthur x ofc, strangers to slightly irritated partners to lovers, dual pov, 3rd person pov, semi canon-compliant ❤︎ project 2, temporary-or-not title -> The King's Bride starts a few weeks after the end of the movie. A young princess is sent as a bride to Arthur in order to build an alliance between 2 kingdoms. tags: Arthur x ofc, romance, so sweet it hurts your teeth, diabetes level fluffy fluff, innocent-pure-unexperienced-kinda-dumb ofc, maybe smut but not heavy nor the focus and would come late, strangers to lovers, forced marriage

★ about the female OCs: All my fanfictions as of now had started as self-inself daydreaming. I have a maladaptive daydreaming and dissociative disorders and sometimes these stories become more than just silly little self insert scenes with my current obsession, and they start growing and growing until at some point the self-insert persona turns into a whole new original character.

Which is why the female main OCs are most of the time blondes with green eyes and fair skin, because as former self-inserts, they look like me. But their personalities and goals have developed so much that they no longer resemble mine. They have become their own. These characters I now think of as OCs and not avatars of myself.

→ I consider my work to not be self-insert for these reasons but i understand if some disagree.

★ I will first focus on The King's Bride because it's less serious, more of a fun fluffy romance and requires less research and plot devices. But I will also continue working on The King's Mage on the side, just so you know, the latter one will take more time to get published. ★ These two fics are not my top priorities at the moment. I am actively working on 3 other fics in 3 other fandoms. It's more of a side treat for myself since they just cannot leave my mind so whenever I feel like it I will make progress and show it here ❤︎ ★ I'm going to assume these projects will not attract many so I'm taking my time but if you are interested or excited somehow please do tell, it usually gives me a good boost if I know someone out there is expecting my work ❤︎

★ I am currently working on 3 other wips in these fandoms: Hogwarts Legacy / Strangers Things / Rebel Moon

★ You can find my subblogs for each of them where I post updates, snippets, edits and other bonus content:

❤︎ Hogwarts Legacy → Everything Slytherin @slytherin-obsessed ❤︎ Stranger Things → Everything Billy @billy-hargrove-obsessed ❤︎ Rebel Moon → Everything Rebel Moon @rebel-moon-obsessed

★ you can find two of my wips already being posted on ao3 and wattpad: ❤︎ Hogwarts Legacy → ✦ Beyond You Eyes ✦ on ao3 and wattpad ❤︎ Stranger Things → ✦ Stranger Love ✦ on ao3 and wattpad

✦ tiktok ✦ → I post updates, bonus content and other random things for all my fanfics, fandoms and all my c.ai bots.

✦ character ai ✦ → main account.

✦ charcter ai ✦ → french version.

✦ caard ✦ → all my links in one place.

[robinswrites]

WIP: The Shadow Mage (working title)

An epic fantasy novel WIP.

Maynard Helias is a mage with powers granted by the god of shadows, spies and secrets. As all mages in the Empire are subject to conscription, he soon became an Imperial Inquisitor: a spymaster tasked with uncovering plots against the Empire. When he is sent to the kingdom of Alandarique, ruled by Imperial puppet-king Cassius Avitus, he expects to quickly discover who's behind the recent rebel activity. But the tangled web of schemes in the Andari court--including a suspicious jester, a mysterious mercenary, and the charming, seemingly idle, but surprisingly intelligent Count D'Almerique--hide far more secrets than even Maynard had expected. And conflict is brewing, with the elves to the south and with the wolf-raiders in the north... As secret after secret is uncovered, Maynard finds himself questioning his past choices, his values, and everything he's long believed.

FEATURING:

DEMON ASSASSINS

POLYAMOROUS ELVES

WEREWOLVES

SECRET IDENTITIES

NONBINARY CHARACTERS

TRAGIC GAY LOVE STORY

CHARACTERS LEARNING TO QUESTION IMPERIALISM

SWORDFIGHTS

[cepheusgalaxy]

Across Time and Odds - tag: ato wip

Genre: Soft magic, fantasy, time-travel

What is it about: (I picture it as having a Dark Academia aesthetic.) In their past lives, two people fell in love. But a jealous warlock didn’t want them to be happy, so he killed them, and cursed them both: When they eventually reincarnate, one will not be in the same time period of the other, but centuries apart. He took special care in one's curse: When he was born again, it would be in the body of a woman, so even if the couple managed to meet again, she would not fall in love with him (lmao). They reincarnate and meet anyways, and they also go on quests to hunt this warlock down.

Who’s in it:

Danielle (he/him): Main traits: Friendly, calculist. Danielle is a closeted trans guy and he reincarnated in the modern times. Despiste the warlock's "curse", he's pretty fine with his gender. One day, he somehow found out this place; a huge 1800’s-esque  library/party/ball place (?) that is a meeting spot for lots of magical beings--witches, potion-makers, faerie, creatures he thought he’d only ever see on folklore--, and one of them, he quickly finds out, has a thing he might want: A potion-seller, who does not accept human currency, but is happy to give Dani a potion that might have the same effects of a shot of testosterone on his body. The mage gives him a little to test out, and Dani hesitantly accepts. Next time, he finds the library again, and when the mage finds him, they say they’ll offer a deal: A shot per time, and each time, it will be given as a reward for a favor. They send Dani on missions in other realms or in the human world, and in exchange, Dani gets his magic T shot. It’s kind of worth it, Dani comes to a conclusion after a few tryouts. He starts sneaking every two weeks or so to the library in order to meet the magician and get his part of the deal.

Amanda (she/her) - Main traits: Critical, strong moral sense, playful. Amanda reincarnated in colonial Brazil, a few centuries before Dan. She is the second child of a wealthy man and is quite a rebel for her time? She doesn’t like the expectations that are inflicted upon her and her gender, she doesn’t like the fact that people like her father don’t seem to care about others, the fact that she has basically no freedom, etc. One day, her father sends her to a boarding school for ladies in the USA, and she stays there for a few years. She makes a friend, a special girl who gives her a gift when it's time for them to part ways: A pocket clock with a dark chain attached to it (I’m not sure about what the clock looks like aside from that). When she comes back home, she is frustrated with life as usual, and as she gets bored, Amanda is playing with her clock and activates the magic in it and she is sent to the future :). She spawns right at the library, in a room where Dani was hanging out by himself and that’s the first time they meet. Eventually, she figures she’s gone into the future and starts working with the same mage as Dan in order to figure things out and maybe go back into the past. She is addapting quite well to the modern times, tho. I don’t think she wants to go back. (She also thinks Dani is a girl)

The Mage (they/them) - Main traits: Honest, misterious, realistic, charismatic. Little to no background lore, I’m still figuring them out. They are a regular at the lib and give the missions to Amanda and Dan. They always make sure it is something they can handle and later when the threat (evil warlock) starts showing up, they encourage both to abort the mission. They are very powerful and can deal with most magic things, from curses and potions to broken magical artifacts. Their name is prob going to be Gale. They’re also probably immortal.

The Evil Warlock - Main traits: Evil, petty, ?, ? Not sure about him. I don’t even know if their pronouns are going to be he/him at all. Oh, yea. And they’re probably transphobic. (For now he’s a they/he for now.)

Note A: They’re past life romance is prob gonna grow into qpr or friendship

Note B: Soft magic system (Like. Very much)

[spainkitty]

WIP WEDNESDAY

I was tagged by @greypetrel but I still almost missed posting this in time, pfft. I finally finished this scene and therefore finished the chapter! There's only one more chapter to finish up and then I'll finally start posting this mammoth on AO3😁 Just for Arja, I made sure to include the little hints of Cullavellan, like, blink and then you miss it, because this is going to be a slowburn from hell and we're only in Part 1 of 3. But now, here we go...

Chapter 6: stolen tribe from stolen heart

“There will be templars here, and more coming if everything goes well in Therinfal Redoubt, but this is also a place for any refugee of the war. Free mages and apostates would be more likely to consider Haven and the Inquisition safe if you’re here,” Adaar said.

Lanil crossed her arms over her chest and glanced around the room. “And everyone else here? You all agree with that offer?”

“Of course!” Ambassador Montilyet said. Although she all but exclaimed it, her tone and bright gaze sounded genuine. “We promised our aid in relocating the remaining free mages. We can’t do anything like that without your input.”

“I’ve had many friends who were mages, and some of them were better people than I ever could be,” Leliana said softly. “I fought alongside Wynne for nearly a year during the Blight. I know how much a single Spirit Healer can do. Your skills and expertise would be as invaluable as your input.”

Lanil was a little, just slightly, flattered. Wynne was one of the strongest Spirit Healers Lanil had ever seen. She had been one of Lanil’s first mentors, and the first one to see her potential with Spirit Healing. She had encouraged Lanil in her earliest memories and praised her progress to Irving a dozen times. To be compared to her made that small part of Lanil, that never quite let go of Kinloch or her rosy-tinted memories of before, preen smugly. She tamped it down, but she could see Dorian smirking at her.

“We can’t let it seem that we’ve ignored Justinia’s legacy when we made ourselves an organization with her writ,” the Seeker said, frowning. “She did uphold the vote of independence. She wanted to find true compromise between the Chantry and the mages. The idea that the Rebellion fell through on something akin to default and Tevinter meddling is infuriating.”

“I can’t even be offended by that statement,” Dorian said with a little sigh.

“There’s been a lot of friction between the former templars and what mages are here,” Cullen said while rubbing his forehead. “Maybe having a mage higher up in the ranks, someone the other mages would recognize as an official rebel, and the templars can see as our ally and as an authority figure, would help. A lot of of them are still using my old templar titles. We need to change the narrative.”

“Well put, Cullen,” Adaar said. Something sly gleamed in her brilliant eyes, but before Lanil could figure out if she was seeing things, Adaar was frowning pensively. “Enchanter Surana, you could work with the Commander to train troops and bridge the enmity between the mages and the former templars. Perhaps we could make you one of his lieutenants? I’m not sure you have the experience to be co-Commander, but it is something we could talk about later.”

“What?” Lanil blurted in shock. “Co-what?”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” Sister Leliana said. “Does anyone have an issue with it?”

“I… uh. No?” Cullen said. Though he looked as flabbergasted as Lanil, as if he too was wondering how the conversation had turned so quickly. They stared at each other, not quite gaping, until they realized, nearly at the same time, how long they'd been staring. Lanil's mouth snapped shut as she glared at the far wall, her ears burning. She was too aware of Cullen's quiet throat clearing.

“That settles it. You will oversee the training of mage troops and former templars with Cullen,” the Seeker said briskly. Adaar and Sister Leliana nodded in agreement, both looking too satisfied. Cullen and Lanil shuffled awkwardly in place, carefully not looking at each other again.

[monsterthalia]

WIP Whenever

@theluckywizard tagged me to share part of a WIP (thank you!) so this seems as good as time as any to share part of a Dragon Age Inquisition fic I've been noodling away on whilst having Covid.

I don't have a list of people to tag, but if you have a WIP, please consider this your prompt to share it if you wish.

Isidore and Jessamine Trevelyan are twins. Jess is a mage, sent off to the Circle as a child, whilst Iz was promised to the Templars once he came of age - plans that went up in smoke when the Mage/Templar war began. When both end up at the Conclave, it's a reunion neither of them want - nor does it go how they might expect.

---

He grabbed her elbow, not gently, and pulled her away from the crowd. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” she shot back at him, snatching back her elbow and clutching it.

“I asked first!” he snapped, and immediately flushed with embarrassment, even before she rolled her eyes. 

“Real mature, Iz-”

“I’m here as guard for the Ostwick Chantry delegation. Let me guess, you’re here with your rebel chums? Planning to stir up trouble?”

She just flashed a grin, that smug grin she’d had since she was a smug little five-year-old. For a moment, he could see the pigtails. “Doubt they’ll need my help.”

He pressed a hand to his forehead. A sharp pain was already starting up behind his eyes. “Jess - this is serious - it IS,” he added, more firmly, as she just snorted. “The Divine is here-”

She snorted again. “Sure, so she can wring her hands and say how she did all she could before declaring an Exalted March.”

“Only if the mages won’t be reasonable!” he snapped, “They’ve been offered terms over and over-”

“The terms are bullshit and you know it!” she shot back, “Or you would if you weren’t so lost up your own arse. Do you want them to lock me back up in a Circle?”

“That’s - I d- I don’t -” He was struggling for words, for breath, and his heart was racing. Dammit, not now, not now. Words felt impossible, tangling in his tongue. His breaths became tight, lungs clamped in obsidian, and heat flushed across his face even as his clenched fists felt cold. And Jessamine just watched him, aloof and uncaring, her face like he was a nug rolling in its own shit.

“I’m going to save you some trouble,” she sneered, “If your answer wasn’t just ‘Of course not, dear sister’, then I have nothing to say to you. Tell Mother I said hello. Tell Father I said ‘go fuck yourself’.”

She turned on her heel and strode off down the nearest empty corridor. Isidore stared after her, still frozen as he struggled for a clear breath.

“Hey, that area’s off limits!” he heard someone nearby call after her. A Grey Warden? Just their luck if she managed to piss them off as well. 

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll go get her,” he called back, then took off down the corridor after her. He heard the Grey Warden shout something, but ignored it as Jessamine picked up the pace ahead of him, having to break into a run to catch up with her.

He came level with her just as she approached a pair of double doors. “Leave me alone!” she snapped at him, and he was astonished to see that her eyes were actually bright, full of tears.

He didn’t have time to decipher if she was genuinely upset over their encounter or just having a tantrum. He took her elbow again, gentler this time. “Jess, come on, we’re not allowed down here. We need to get back to-”

“I said leave me alone!” she shouted, ripping her elbow from him and shoving open the doors-

And that was the last thing he remembered.

----

[primalinfinity]

5! 7! 9!

HI!

5. What inspires you to write?

I live by the creed "Write what you would want to read.", and there are so many story ideas I'd love to see take shape in every genre under the sun. So, I create them and fill those lil niches in my own tastes.

I love creating worlds different from our own, making them real, exploring them...yeah. I write the things I want to read and embrace. :)

That's what inspires me.

7. Create a character on the spot...NOW!

Aight, bet! But I'm going to use my own fictional world here, so...prepare for some terms none of you will know the context of;

Phoebe Reed had just been a simple student at the School Of Glass in the city of Kalosana, reaching her Third Chain as a healer and having been content with a future career at the hospital treating the wide range of ailments that are common in a coastal city-state.

But, the Third Mage War changed everything, and the young healer found herself on the front lines of a conflict where her home seemed willing to tear itself apart.

And she watched as Kalosana was left to rot, suffering massive casualties as their longest term ally abandoned them to massacre.

Surviving the war and returning home, with no family left and most of her friends dead, Phoebe found herself drawn in by the powerful rhetoric of the war hero Lush. Talk of revolution. Of rebelling against the edicts forbidding the students of Glass from learning combat magic.

Now she practices the ancient and forbidden magics in secret, embittered and resentful, and readying herself for the oncoming revolution.

9. A passage from a WIP!

Okay! Here ya go;

“That’s...fair. I’m sorry. I passed out.” Sighing, Yang pressed a kiss to Blake’s forehead, getting a reassured hum in response. “Thanks for not killing me.”

“I considered it, but Ruby and I can’t pay rent alone, and you’re just so much prettier than any of the other options in the regiment.” Blake gave a smirk before rising up and pressing her lips to Yang’s in a good morning kiss.

Grinning, Yang didn’t hesitate before scooping Blake up in her arms and kissing her with a loving smile.

Meanwhile Ruby had stepped and turned away so that she didn’t have to see or hear the encounter happening behind her, and watched as three of her comrades trained in the yard in a free-for-all. Crossing her arms and leaning against the side of the wooden stairs that led up, Ruby had a small frown of concentration on her face as she studied the way the three fighters moved, their footwork smooth and well-trained.

There wasn’t a single poor fighter in their order, you had to reach a certain standard for the King to notice you enough to name you to the ranks in the first place, with most members being pre-existing veterans from a military that had seen far too much action in recent years. Even Ruby and Yang had done their service for king and country despite their young ages, the most recent war against Mistral four years ago having gotten the army desperate enough to take anyone willing to pick up a sword.

Even two girls, both still in their teens at the time with Yang at eighteen and Ruby at sixteen, without more than a purse of ten coppers and their old farm horse to their name. Yang had known how to throw a punch, since growing up the tallest girl in a village dominated by boys had been a firm teacher, but fists won’t do much against musket and cannon.

But they’d learned."