shandoratheexplorer

[shandoratheexplorer]

Last Line Tag Game

Thank you @strixamans and @arachnomancer for tagging me!

Here's my current WIPs last lines Crimson Chains newest chapter should be out by Thursday, the latest if my brain cooperates haha

Broken Mirrors:

But I knew the Underdark is treacherous terrain even on the best of days. So to brave it alone would’ve been an awful idea. But with a whole group alongside me, it seems entirely plausible to make it through here and to make it back out with our lives intact. Another benefit is that if my orb destabilizes down here, I won’t have to look very far to find a fitting spot for me to detonate. Although I would really prefer not to die.

Crimson Chains:

“I still want Rolan and Gale to take a look too”, Rashaan says now, “The more opinions we can get on this damned seal, the better. I’m not taking any chances with this shit.” “Understandable”, Aodhán nods, “They’ll all come for the spring equinox anyways.” “Not just that, mo chroí”, Halsin adds, “They also come for your birthday.” “That too”, Aodhán can’t help but chuckle, thinking about the festivities ahead. “You’ll be fine, Rashaan. We’ll make sure of it.” And Rash? He nods because not nodding would mean he's giving up. And if he ever gives up, he might as well just haul himself off the next cliff and end his miserable life once and for all.

tagging @nw39 @dramatiquechipmunk @sawickibalisong @fartasticdurge

[shandoratheexplorer]

Last line game

Thanks for the tag, @arachnomancer 🖤

Got ahead of myself and wrote a tiny bit of a sappy moment after having an idea about a plot point I'd been grappling with.

“I don’t care if you’re a good person, or if you think you are or not. You are a beautiful person, either way. You do care…” He trails off briefly, holding onto his trembling little smile. “You care about the world. About me.”

How about @arzen9 @deadly-diminuendo @shandoratheexplorer

[shandoratheexplorer]

Last Line Tag Game

Thank you @dr-acula121 <3 (I love tag games even when they take me forever to get to ahhhhhhh).

Here are a few from recent WIPs/chapters that are fun. <3

Gods above and below, when he turned his back on her so flippantly, it was the most tempting thing in existence to put a dagger through his heart.

"Oh, my dear, I think the two of us are going to have so much fun together.”

The hiss emitted by the tressym was a sentiment privately shared by every woman in the room.

Tagging @irondeficienttav @nw39 @dramatiquechipmunk @pursuitseternal @strixamans @irondeficienttav @schuldigkun @shandoratheexplorer

[shandoratheexplorer]

I really really really don't know who to ask and I'm new to AO3😢😥😥 Is commenting too much awkward??? I'm socially inadept and interacting with people online gives me an overload of anxiety and recently I've found this fic and fell super deep in love with it and commented massive messages on each chapter. The author replied to me at the beginning but recently they just stopped (hi I understand it's not the author's job to reply and they're likely busy with their life too) but I can't help but be kind of worried that I somehow had put them off (because my comments sometimes involves analyzations and if I get into something too much I can be too excessive) I plead for advice is this normal???

while I can only speak for myself, I as a writer absolutely LOVE it when people give me long comments (the longer, the better lol) and, for me personally, there’s no such thing as too many comments.

love love love love these long comments, they help motivate me, especially when my readers give me deep analysis on the characters and/or their actions.

anyway, fellow writers, reblog if you love long positive comments

[shandoratheexplorer]

Chapter 17 - Do you think it worked? Only one way to find out.

Aodhán is Archdruid, First Druid of Reithwin Forest.

A tree grows, and a child is born.

Last chapter of Symphony of Nature! Thank you to everyone who tagged along on this journey!

Three days later, Highharvestide is finally upon them, and Aodhán is too busy to worry about leading the Song of Trees. He moves between the crowd, greeting friends and other guests, making sure everyone feels welcome and that there are no lingering tensions. Wyll and Hope surprise him with the news that they are sort of dating, having developed a close friendship that blossomed into something more while Wyll was staying in Avernus. "Oh, that's so great!" Aodhán smiles widely, "I'm happy for you two!" "As are we", Wyll smiles, one hand on the halfling's shoulder. "I still can't believe this man found it in his heart to love little old me", Hope snickers softly. Wyll leans down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "You deserve all the love, Hope", he says, "And so much more besides." Aodhán smiles, leaving the couple to it, and moves on to greet Lae'zel. "Lae!" he welcomes her with a hug, and even though Lae'zel stiffens lightly, she hugs him back within mere moments, a smile on her face as he pulls back. "How is Xan?" he asks his friend. "He is well, growing every day", Lae'zel smiles, "I plan to teach him in a more... gentle way, as you would put it." "I'm glad to hear it", Aodhán chuckles, his attention drawn away as Octavian approaches. "Lae", Tav greets her, "I didn't expect to see you in the flesh." He grins, hugs are exchanged before the two begin discussing the possibility of a sparring session before Lae'zel has to leave back to the Astral plane. And so, Aodhán moves on, happily greeting people left and right.

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP Tag Game!

I was tagged in a WIP tag game! The following is a snippet from Chapter 4 of Foggy Dusk which though on hiatus temporarily will be returning soon! I had some issues with a bad graphics driver that made things go wonky in BG3 but it is all fixed now and I'm slowly getting back into the groove of the game!

This chapter is titled "Rats, Infernal Mechanic, and One old Hellrider".

We entered the grove and noticed the tensions were far tenser. I spotted Zevlor speaking with a few Tieflings trying to reassure them. Karlach was for once not as cheerful as usual though I couldn't blame her, these were her people after all. I walked past Zevlor though and headed down for the stone door. I pushed it open and Kagha was standing with the other Druid Rath.

"Have you come to tell me the Tieflings will be leaving?" Kagha asked and I held up the letters.

"Actually I have a few questions about your ties to Shadow Druids, whatever that may be." I replied and Rath frowned.

"What? Kagha. Is this true?" Rath asked tensely and I held out the letters and book I found.

"So you broke into my chest and stole my belongings. No wonder you stuck up for that girl. Thieves stick together hmm?" Kagha growled,

"Actually it was suspicious as hells and out in the open behind that shelf. Quit evading the question." I retorted,

"Kagha. What is the meaning of this? Shadow Druids are bad for our people!" Rath spoke shocked,

"No they are going to protect our people Rath, from these Tieflings, these goblins, everything." Kagha spoke tightly,

"And yet what happens if you cut off a tree from the sun?" Karlach interjected and Kagha stopped as she looked at Karlach. Suddenly three rats nearby started glowing and I drew my daggers as it became three Halflings covered in tattoos.

"Don't listen to the hellspawn Kagha." the leader spoke icily,

"No listen to Karlach, Kagha. What happens to a tree when it has no sun? No water?" I asked and Kagha was starting to waver, I could see it in her body language.

"It...it dies." Kagha spoke uncertain,

"And this Rite of Thorns, what does it do?" I pressed,

"It cuts off the grove from outsiders, all outsiders. I..." Kagha trailed off and I put my daggers back as I stepped forward and gripped her shoulder.

"Would that not kill the grove then? Cut it off from Silvanus and the others you and your people worship? Is this truly a solution or simply a means to an end of the Shadow Druids plot whatever that may be?" I asked and the leader growled.

"Enough of this Kagha! Kill them and complete the rite!" the leader growled and Kagha looked at me and I tilted my head.

"No. You have misled me into believing this was the best and it is not." Kagha spoke tensely and the leader growled.

Oh boy things going down in the Grove!

Thank you for the tag @shandoratheexplorer <3

No pressure tags: @verbenaa @goodgirlgonebard @fangsandfracturedhearts and @strixamans and anyone else who wishes to snag a tag and join!

[shandoratheexplorer]

Tag Game: Pick your tropes

coffee shop or florist | au or fix-it | enemies to lovers or childhood friends | angst or fluff | love at first sight or pining | modern au or historical au | break up & make up or proposal & wedding | get together or established relationship | soulmates or unrequited | fake dating or secret dating | obvious pining or domestic fluff | hurt/comfort or crack | meet the parents or meet cute

thanks for tagging me @arachnomancer

Tagging @dramatiquechipmunk @fartasticdurge @andauril

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP snippet tag train

Thank you for the tag @arachnomancer

Have a snippet from the very last Chapter of Symphony of Nature. I'm so sad it's ending, but at the same time excited to write more about Aodhán and Halsin's life in a new One Shot I want to do~

His mate has always been a social butterfly, and this event is no different. It was just the ceremonial part he was nervous about. But now that that’s done, he flits from person to person, offering an open ear to anyone and giving insight when it is asked of him. Halsin’s heart swells with pride, and he knows he can only call himself lucky, so, so lucky, that this man, this gift of nature, is his. He vows to worship him tonight, to thoroughly unravel him and make him feel just how loved he truly is. But just as Halsin imagines kissing down the slope of his neck, the proof that this, today, was the right choice to make glows all around them. Because just as Aodhán is deep in conversation with Neghan’s wife, giving her advice on how to best combat her husband’s depression, nature answers for them. Around them, in a stunning display of a symphony of nature, autumn flowers flare to life. Vibrant red and white petals protrude from the earth, and the trees of the forest grow taller even as colorful leaves flutter down to the ground. At first, no one but Halsin notices. But then Yenna points it out, and Aodhán’s cheeks flush with that telltale sign that tells him that his mate feels what he’s done. Feels the magic that subtly drains from him even when he’s but a conduit for a higher power. Feels the flow of life through him when he is just feeling like his chest seems too small for the sheer amount of love he feels for Halsin, for their girls, for every person in this circle that now depends on him. And—gods—Halsin is so damn proud.

tearfully tagging @dramatiquechipmunk @sawickibalisong @fartasticdurge @roguishcat @nw39

[shandoratheexplorer]

Tag Game: Pick Your Tropes

Thank you to @irondeficienttav on this one!

coffee shop or florist | au or fix-it | enemies to lovers or childhood friends | angst or fluff | love at first sight or pining | modern au or historical au | break up & make up or proposal & wedding | get together or established relationship | soulmates or unrequited | fake dating or secret dating | obvious pining or domestic fluff | hurt/comfort or crack | meet the parents or meet cute

Tagging: @nw39 @strixamans @dramatiquechipmunk @dr-acula121 @loreleiloonsdarkascension @shandoratheexplorer

(As always, anyone skipped is so welcome to join in. <3)

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP Snippet Tag Train

Thank you to @nw39 <3

From an upcoming chapter of my newest utterly self-indulgent fic <3

“I have nothing to say about that monster.” “My mistake,” Kythreen answered, smoothly. “And here I thought I was so good at detecting projection.” “He’s a self-satisfied, smug, worm of a former man who rests back on the laurels of his master.” The keening note in his voice grew clipped, more with every word, and contempt seemed a physical venom he laced into each sentiment. “Claims he’s done everything himself. But I know better. He’s the most manipulative person I’ve ever met, if he can even be called a person. He… just seems to know things about you. The sorts of things you’d never tell a friend, or a lover, but he can sniff them out. And he’ll use them. Every time.” Not for the first time, Kythreen saw the mask he wore twist, evoking something between pity and horror. “I wouldn’t waste a word talking about him.” “Of course,” she said, squelching the smirk. “Not a word.” She hesitated on the next question, and the vampire spawn must have seen it. “What? Fine. Go ahead. Ask whatever it is you want to ask.” “What’s his name? Just in the interests of knowledge, of course. For your protection,” she added, soothingly. “If someone comes about saying they’re an agent of ‘Strahd’ or whatever…” Red eyes narrowed on her, but he couldn’t seem to find a good argument against answering her. “Astarion. Astarion Ancunín.” “Astarion. I’ll try to remember that.” Kythreen shifted. “Well, if you want to join us, Cazador—"

Happy, no-pressure tags for @strixamans @dramatiquechipmunk @motherzhiv @irondeficienttav @deadly-diminuendo @pursuitseternal @arafel0194 @shandoratheexplorer @alwaysmauria (and anyone else since I'm terrible at tagging <3)

[shandoratheexplorer]

Participating in a sweet prompt: Wrapping Batstarion with anything you want 🦇

A cloak for a Vampire Bat Lord

on twtr: https://x.com/skeptical_lynx/status/1936044680786911441?s=46&t=EuBiJuFrpmM7JiLiuDbaCA

on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/skeptical-lynx.bsky.social/post/3ls23p7kn4s2o

[shandoratheexplorer]

i'll be here, my love. i'll always be here.

[shandoratheexplorer]

Catch Me If You Can - Chapter 13

Detective Astarion and Octavia are back in the penultimate chapter, titled A Sunday Kind of Love where feelings are finally confronted, tears are spilling, smut is smutting.

Snippet below:

“Octavia,” Astarion managed between pleasured sighs. “You don’t have to—” “I want to,” she crooned, already leaning in, her breath warm against him. “Please let me taste you.” Words failed him then. Astarion nodded, resting his hands on the edge of the desk, his knuckles white. When her eyes met his—ruby-dark with lust, but oh so soft with trust—she couldn’t look away. And neither could he. She held his gaze as her tongue darted out and licked delicately at the head of his cock, tasting the salt and musk of him. He jerked slightly, a muffled mewling sound escaping him. “Ah—gods,” he hissed, visibly struggling to keep his eyes open. By the hells, he was so beautiful right now. Well, he was always beautiful, but there was something nearly brutal about him when he let go like this. His mouth parted, his brows drawn in tender disarray—he looked completely frayed, undone in every way. Because in the end, that’s what this was—an act of trust, of lust, of unbridled surrender. He was hers now, whatever that truly meant, and he trusted her with all his tremor, with his body, his breaking center. And she was his, wholly and irrevocably, and would godsdamn make sure never to take that trust for granted again. Not for a single breath. Not for a single death of doubt between them.

This awesome render with the protagonists was made by my insanely talented friend, @arafel0194

[shandoratheexplorer]

Chapter 115: How to cure your Cleric

Everyone: (Super deep feelings)

Minsc: I like Boo!

"Here goes", he breathes out, and reaches deep inside himself, past the festering wound of the trauma that Orin reopened in him. He reaches for his bond with Halsin, feels it brimming with love and adoration. The feeling of it, the gentle warmth that floods his senses, floods him with dopamine. A joy so radiant that his lips kick up into a goofy smile. He holds onto the feeling, onto the love, the joy, the comfort of it, and then channels it all into Shadowheart. Inside her mind, he's joined by other happy feelings. There's Karlach's steady burn of love for the cleric and the joy about having a heart that doesn't slowly kill her from the inside out. Astarion's blissful feelings about being free of his master, about his fiancé being free of Bhaal. Octavian's radiant happiness about the upcoming wedding to his Starlight. Minthara's genuine amusement when Gale rambles on and on about some musty tome he discovered. Gale's elation about her actually paying attention to his interests. Wyll's joy about finally being free of Mizora's pact and his steadfast trust that he and the companions will find and save his father soon. Lae'zel's delight about freeing her people from Vlaakith, once they finally get Orpheus out of the astral prism. And lastly, Minsc... Minsc and his merriment when thinking of his hamster's antics. The golden threads of all those positive feelings entangle themselves with one another, forming one big amalgamation of joyful emotions that instantly cause a flare-up. The wound trying to consume all that is happy and good in Shadowheart's life. Feasting, devouring, gorging—

[shandoratheexplorer]

You guys... YOU GUYS! Look at these BEAUTIFUL, PANTY-DROPPING renders of Justice Astarion Ancunín (from my fic, Jury Duty) that the immensely multi-talented @arafel0194 surprised me with! My jaw seriously hit the floor. I'm so fucking spoiled 🥲💦

Thanks again, @arafel0194. I am not capable of fully articulating just how much I love these, and how grateful and touched I am that you made them. And to everyone else: please, go check out the rest of her artwork and her writing, if you haven't already!

[shandoratheexplorer]

Honestly, I have no idea what we're doing. Or what comes next. But I know that this? This is nice.

My dark urge falling helplessly for Astarion's real side

[shandoratheexplorer]

🦇🔥.