#Countess Diamhasla

[uselessidiotsquad]

Should you fight my characters? Plant Flavor!

Back at it with more!

Riaghael

Battle Music: Saltillo - A Necessary End

Should you fight Riag? Look I get it, you get it, even he gets it - he's not the most amiable person in the world. He's usually grumpy and sometimes even an asshole. He wouldn't even be mad at if you if you tried to fight him. But no one is winning from this fight. You will likely feel like crap trying to fight someone who (is trying but) cannot fight back, and guaranteed he will feel even worse. Trying to fight someone who is well aware of that they aren't what they used to be is a little mean - so please don't fight the grump.

Who initiates the battle? You would have to, he knows he can't win in fights anymore so he doesn't try to start anything.

Who would win? You would. He physically can't wield weapons anymore and mentally/psychologically is unable to deal with the stress of it. It wouldn't even be a fair fight, he would summon minions to try to defend himself but that's it. You would still be able to take him down pretty quickly.

Deiliús

Battle Music: anoice - finale

Should you fight Dei? They are the least threatening person you can encounter. ...so why on Tyria would you? The only reason I could ever see someone trying to fight them is them being a rigid 'All NMC are evil and must die' type of person. They have all the strength of wet tissue paper and are allergic to conflict. Don't fight them. You stand nothing to gain from it (besides my unwavering disapproval).

Who initiates the battle? You would HAVE to. They would expend all of their energy just trying to run from you than have to fight. Even if cornered they would try to fend off attacks but not fight back.

Who would win? There's no question that you would win. It would be like kicking a stray cat on the street that had just gotten its ass kicked from other cats. Their magic is illusion based for concealment or psychological harm (which they hated using and only did in the past because they were forced to) not for attacking. It wouldn't even really be a fight, it would be you kicking their ass.

Under the cut to save your dash!

Naechdion

Battle Music: Shadow of the Colossus OST - Silence

Should you fight Dion? No! Absolutely not! He's minding his own business in the Wychmire and is already scared of everything. Leave him be.

Who would initiate the battle? You would have to start it - but that means finding him first. He's very good at hiding.

Who would win? You would, but then you would probably have to fight me because Dion doesn't deserve to be picked on. He's bad at Guardian magic and scared of everything, he would probably be shaking in a corner as soon as you got anywhere near him.

Ruby Aenn

Battle Music: Dallas String Quartet - Firework

Should you fight Ruby? Ruby is always up for a good fair sparring session. Actual fights, she thinks can be avoided with enough discussion but sparring for practice is fun! She's game for a bit of a spat if you are!

Who would initiate the fight? 50/50! She might want to warm up before a bigger skirmish and ask you to spar with her. Or perhaps you feel like trying the Prismatic Dragon's Champion on for size.

Who would win? Ruby has some very clear strong points and weaknesses. For one, she's tiny, just at 4'9, so her center of balance makes her harder to take down. Most especially challenging is that she changes her fight strategy depending on which pet she is soulbound to. So that's tricky. However, it is easy to bait while attuned to specific animals and that makes her slip up because the animal side wins. It would be fair!

Madrúil

Battle Music: The Dali Thundering Concept - There is no Calm Before the Storm (Instrumental)

Should you fight Mad? Oh god, please kick his ass. He has made life hell for a lot of innocent people and deserves to get the shit kicked out of him. You would be making a lot of people happy.

Who would initiate the fight? Chances are Mad would since he thinks with his fists more often than his brain. Or he would be trying to abduct you for his hounds to 'play with' so you had to defend yourself.

Who would win? Tricky. Mad is good at both long range with his bow and close melee with axes, but struggles at mid-range. If you have something that can keep him just close enough to you to not be able to use his long bow but not so close you meet the axe, you can probably out last him. That is until he goes full chicken shit and gets other Blasphemy goonies to try and waylay you. He's not above being a slime ball to win.

Countess Diamhasla

Battle Music: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56: III. Pe-loc - Andante

Should you fight Diam? PLEASE DO. Can I help? I would love to help. We can throw her down a well. She sets people up for failure, and when they are at their most vulnerable she 'saves' them, only to then hold that over their head to get what she wants. She's fragile and has poor health but I'm not above beating her leafy head in with a mallet.

Who would initiate the battle? You would, she doesn't do fighting. Usually letting her henchmen do the dirty work for her. Half of the issue of fighting her is actually getting to her, she's fairly well defended.

Who would win? She's scary good at earth magic, so the key would be to interrupt her before she can summon too many elementals or the huge earthen hands to grab you. If you can hit hard and fast, you win, easy. But if you let her get too many spells off it's looking like she will win.

Warden Captain Cálguais

Battle music: Andry Vinogradov - Chain Dance

Should you fight Cal? They're the most honorable (to the point of being insufferable) person to fight. If you asked for an honorable dual they would be happy to oblige you but in any other situations they would not. To spar for the sake of improvement (since they will be telling you the whole time where you could have done better) sure! Fight them!

Who would initiate the battle? Either you asking to spar with them or them training baby Wardens and asking you to spar as an example.

Who would win? Likely you would, but not easily. They are pretty competent at fighting but they tend to be rigid and fixed in their training they learned so they can't always adapt to new threats.

Glanaim

Battle music: Gallowstreet - Fisticuffs

Should you fight Glan? Sure, as long as you realize he treats fighting like flirting half the time. Morally he's a grey person so you don't have much to lose by fighting him. He doesn't kill people unless he's paid to do so so go for it!

Who would initiate the fight? Depends! If he's in a good mood, he'll ask you to spar with him. Otherwise you'd have to approach the topic.

Who would win? If you give him any distance at all, he will win so fast it makes your head spin. He's a sniper, and a damn good one at that. If you go after him in melee you have a very strong chance of winning, since he's not as good with pistols as he is with his rifle. (bonus there's a high chance he asks you out for a drink and then a rematch later).

Caonai

Battle Music: Skyrim OST - Tooth and Claw

Should you fight Cao? I don't recommend it. She doesn't see the point of fighting without killing - so if you challenge her one of you is going down for good. Plus she's an older lady who just is trying to care for her siblings. Sure, she may not have social skills, but she keeps to herself.

Who initiates the battle? If she thinks you are going to harm her siblings or pose a threat to the remnants of her family, she will absolutely start it. And give you no warning, you will just have a Norn sized, winter-hardened Warrior after you.

Who would win? Cao would win unless you run away mid-fight. She fights to kill, not to spar. While she is not as strong as some of my other kiddos, she is very slow and unyielding. She aims to break your defenses before going in for any major damage with her mace. If you run, she might not chase you - having tired herself out.

Caemdryn

Battle Music: LORN - ENTANGLED

Should you fight Caem? Honestly, it's up to you. While he is not a bad person, he has so much anger (mainly at Charr and the Jungle but it bleeds over) that it makes him a twat at times. Would there be any major negatives to getting rid of him? No. Any positives? Not really.

Who would initiate the battle? I think you would have to but it wouldn't take much. All it would take is a comment about Sylvari being dragon minions in any shape or form to get him defensive and then he will be after you.

Who would win? In close quarters, Caem, hands down. He hits hard and fast and has no small amount of fury/unhinged behind it. At distance he can't really attack but he can block and shield himself from most projectiles. Best bet would be to try and slow/cripple him and then get him from range so he can't close the space.

[moonlit-grove]

*kicks down door*

GOOD MORNING, CAN I GET UH 👋💞💥 and maybe 🤯 FOR THE POISON LADY?

(@uselessidiotsquad)

MY FUCKIN DOOR CW for torture and light (not completely described) gore, and for harm of animals. let me know if I missed anything please!

MEETING

You were a new convert. You followed the recruiter to their camp, alongside two others. All three of you were nervous, though you had to admit… Something about Nightmare had always called to you. You were led before the Countess, smiling warmly and greeting you as the newest members of her family.

Family…?

You spent the first night getting to know the Coil. She said there would be a joining ceremony for you tomorrow, spend now getting to know. You wandered, eyeing the other courtiers. The dark blue sylvari flanked by hounds, who growled at any who came close. The pale sylvari that stared at everything as if bored.

One caught your eye. Green and purple, among a patch of… Was that nettle? You carefully stepped closer to her, watching… She would pluck leaves from the horridly poisonous plants around her. And eat them. What was she…?

“Uh…”

She turned.

“New convert, hm?” her voice melodic, entrancing. “Wait until tomorrow, dear. You’ll get a taste of this.”

What?

“I, uh… Lady Diamhasla wants me to get to know the family…” You glanced about for somewhere to sit. There wasn’t one.

The sylvari snorted, as if laughing. “Oh, our lady does enjoy us knowing each other.” She flashed a smile before eating another piece of a plant, “Marfach. Our lady’s personal venom.”

You tilted your head. “[Name]... So what are you doing?”

She flicked her eyes towards you, from her attention on the plants. A sweet smile, though no verbal answer… “You’ll find out tomorrow. Run along now, I need to focus.”

Leave

Ask some more questions.

>A

You nod, turning to find someone else. Though you glance back… She’s still eating those. Doesn’t she know they're poisonous?

>B

“But I have more questions.”

Her eyes narrow. She shakes her head, sweetness in her voice gone.

“I said leave.”

[ROUTE END]

SCENE ONE

The morning came quickly. You and the other two recruits slept near the kennels. Hounds eyed you until you fell asleep. A part of you was certain Madrúil was just waiting for one of you to mess up. You yawned, stretching the sleep out of your limbs… And followed the guard dog.

He, though he visibly skulked, led you before the countess. He walked beside her, you watched.

Someone else brought a prisoner over. Their wrists were bound, their mouth gagged. They looked up at you, begging with their eyes. Silent begging, pleading for help or mercy. You looked at the countess for direction.

“Prove your devotion to our family, dear.” she handed you a thorn, large enough to be used as a dagger, “However you please.”

Time felt slow, as you looked around. Watchful, eager eyes. Terrified whimpers. The curious gaze of the other two converts. You found Marfach, holding a bowl. Huh… She didn’t look well…

“Well?” Mad growled, stepping closer. His hounds mimicked him. “Go on.”

Your attention snapped back to the prisoner. You…

Stab them through the eye

Cut their face, leaving a scar.

>A

You close your eyes and plunge the thorn down. You hear them scream through the gag. Sap splurts and soaks your hand. You can’t stop yourself from letting go of the thorn and backing away. Your heart pounds. You hear courtiers laughing and jeering around you.

The countess claps once. They silence. You force your eyes open, looking up. You try to ignore the sap. You try to ignore the sight just out of sight.

“Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!” She signalled Marfach to come closer. You trembled.

Marfach took your arm roughly, holding it down to one of the the kennelmaster’s hounds. It bit. You tried not to yelp, as the beast bit down just enough to break your leaves. She yanked your arm back up, sickening grin as she wiped a bit of the murky poultice on the wound. Into the wound.

You didn’t feel any different. In fact, now you just hurt. And your gut churned.

“Welcome to our family, dear.” The countess cooed, “Go get cleaned up.”

[ROUTE END]

>B

You swallowed any doubts. Your free hand held the prisoner’s jaw, keeping them still. Slowly, tentatively, you pressed the torn to their leaves. Their eyes widened, they tried to shake their head. Small cuts formed. Perfect.

You pressed down a little harder. Carving slowly, painfully slowly. Sap trickled out onto your hand, though you kept pressing. You felt curious eyes on you. You carved. Around their eye, down their cheek… And beside their mouth. Their tears stung the wound. You grinned, stepping back and admiring your work.

You heard murmuring around you. They sounded pleasant. The countess clapped her hands together.

Marfach stepped closer, smile over her lips. She lifts a small blade to cut a tiny incision on your arm, then presses a small amount of the poultice into the mark.

“Well done!” The countess cooed, “Go get cleaned up and relax.”

BAD END

You ignore the arguing. There’s a lot of that recently, with the Countess off in the Arbor. There’s a crash. That piques your interest, though you just glance in the direction. Watching, you see the bastard hound skulking away, three hounds and a boar following him. You don’t see what fell, and instead turn your attention back to tending the garden before you.

The nightshade and oleander thrived in this weather. The venomous lady cared well for her garden. You frown…

All this must be bad for her. Eating so many poisons… How long has she been doing it? How much has she? You shake your head, brow furrowing.

She appears beside you, plucking a nightshade berry.

“Wait!” You catch her wrist. Her eyes narrow. “You- This is assuredly slowly killing you. Even you can’t be immune. You should stop.”

“Stop?” she questions, eyes narrowing, “Darling, if I stop, I am nothing to the Court. If I stop, I have nothing to offer.”

“But- But you’re killing yourself!”

“I’d rather be dead than useless.”

SECRET END

You grinned, dragging a pair of Soundless to the Coil. They both begged and cried. The sounds only made your grin wider, as you walked through and threw them into a vine cell together. There was a warden already in the cell, sure, but she’d been in there a few weeks. No threat.

You hum, wiping dust off your hands as you walk to the venom’s garden. Into the hut beside, leaning on the entrance and grinning at her as she bottles a few poisons. Sure… the creation is a little vile, but you can’t deny how useful those are. Especially with prisoners and converts.

She wipes her mouth with a cloth, a smile in your direction. You step closer, press a kiss to her cheek. It’s safer than her mouth, you both know that. Even still, a part of you wishes…

There’s a commotion outside. You hold an arm in front of her as you look. The prisoners-! How!?

You run out, Mad’s hounds and boar are already attacking, biting and ramming legs and arms. Trying to keep focus of the commotion, you grab your daggers from your leg and try to find the warden.

It’s not the warden. Who’s doing this?

A valiant.

Cripple them and call Mad

Check for reinforcements

>A

The valiant is careful, visibly, but brave. Too brave for their own good. You throw a dagger, they scream as it slices through their leg. Perfect. You whistle for the attention of the bastard hound, pointing to the valiant. His grin is sickening. He sets his hounds upon them.

A flash of green. You’re on the ground, the world spinning. The valiant’s own fern hound. You hear the commotion around you, the volume a horrid crescendo and decrescendo. You felt dizzy, bile rising in your throat. You could only see the sky and the thorns above. You couldn’t move.

Marfach appears in your vision. She kneels over you, gently petting your ferns. She’s frowning, staring over your body. You can’t hear her, despite her lips moving. You can’t move. You can’t hear. What did that hound do!?

She sighs. She presses her lips against yours. You taste a medley of flavors, most sweet. Your heart slows. Your vision darkens. She smiles bitterly. You didn’t need to hear to know what she said.

“Goodbye, beloved.”

>B

Your eyes flick. You scan quickly, seeing a green hound. Ah! Your eyes narrow on it, a few streaks of yellow and… purple? Hm… Be careful of bites from that one. You grab the scruff of one of the nightmare hounds. It growls and tries to chomp your arm as you point it toward the fernhound.

It catches the scent. It howls for the attention of its pack as you let it go. The hounds converge. Mad glares at you. You’ll have to deal with that later. But for now, you cleared the biggest threat. Your attention turns to the valiant.

They’re backing up, arms up, palms empty. They trip on the corpse of their hound, fall to the ground and cry out its name. You grin as you walk closer. They’re in tears, begging to be let go. Begging for mercy. They won’t get any. You throw them in the cell across from the warden.

Marfach hums beside you. She gently taps your shoulder to follow her.

“Help me, dear,” she says, “We’ll have a convert tomorrow.”

[uselessidiotsquad]

For all your sylvari, how high esteem to each of them hold the Pale Tree in?

@mystery-salad

Ty for the ask! I Ranking time!

Highest Esteem:

Calguais, my Warden Captain. They're a revenant who is basically in direct conversation all the time with Ventari and thus are the most painfully lawful good plant I have. They annoy me with how rigidly they see things. To them the Pale Tree is basically god/ess.

Caemdryn. He maintained his connection to the Dream even after everything in the HoT campaign and is aggressively protective of other Sylvari (to the point of being kinda a dick to the other races). The Pale Tree is not just a mother, but like a divinely put in place ruler (for Sylvari).

Riaghael. While not nearly as intense about the Tree as the other two ranked above him, Riag dearly loves the Pale Tree. That's his mom. Not a Divine Ruler but a mother and a respected figure to ask for insight, but not Perfect In Every Way.

Ruby Aenn. Being the one who discovered first hand the origins of the Tree and then having to tell others, there's a small break of trust in her. The Tree is not the end-all-be-all of Sylvari and she's still a bit annoyed that the origin of the Tree was kept for so long. More damage might have been avoided if it had been known by others. But still, she cares for the Tree and the Tree's well-being.

Middle Tier:

Glanaim. Glan's functionally Soundless though without the commitment of it. The Pale Tree is an unreachable figure, some unknowable entity that tries to influence in ways it thinks will help the world. Glan would very much rather find that out himself than through the Tree's influence.

Naechdion. Doesn't really have the connection with the Tree that the rest of the Sylvari do since he was supposed to be Mordrem. He isn't aware of this though. Honestly he doesn't know the Tree has a sentient form or face or energy, it's just the big plant at the other end of Caledon that people seem to be protective of. People seem to be around it so all the more reason for him to avoid it.

Toraedh. Despite being 50% Nightmare, Tora doesn't dislike the Tree. They do, though, dislike it's manner of controlling people with Hunts. Especially since their own Wyld Hunt basically guaranteed they were to be treated like crap by other Sylvari. Being shoved into some duty someone else decided for you before you were even born is cruel.

Lowest Esteem:

Deilius. The Tree is just another example for them of a person/force that promises things and then doesn't deliver. Before they turned Nightmare, they were sort of neutral on the Pale Tree. Now they just see it as both A) someone else who left/abandoned them B) a symbol for the people who want them dead on principal C) a place that had fond memories that have been soured by others actions.

Caonai. She is not of the Pale Tree, and views the Tree and the Maguuma Sylvari as being too young/weak to be relied on. They are spring children, she is born of winter and ice. They won't last.

Madruil. The Tree is a controlling force on Sylvari that makes them do things for the sake of a 'greater' good. He's doesn't like the idea of doing things for others.

Countess Diamhasla. Diam sees the Pale Tree as a relic of the past, and she should function as a production line for Sylvari but stop trying to tell them how to live their lives (mainly so she can START telling them how to live their lives woops). Utter disdain, she would lobotomize the Avatar and have her just be a broodmare for Sylvari production if at all possible.

[uselessidiotsquad]

Spill it, Countess Diamhasla - how do you really feel about your Court? :)

"They are - " She frowns, looking like she's trying to internally convince her voice to say something else, " - nothing."

Alarmed, she starts again, "No, what I meant to say was that they are - fodder for my greatness. They're idiot bastard children, worthy only of being treated as such, as disappointments."

[uselessidiotsquad]

Having Diam thoughts today, against my will. The VC that I have for her is Erika Mulkey aka Unwoman and this song just is Diam. Entirely. The Countess in one song, that also happens to be the VC I had for her *mwah mwah* I love it when that happens.

All around the castle the queen once sent men To dig up the vines that choke and starve the garden But the prickliest hedges yield the sweetest scent So she decreed the roses were her protection

Part of her convictions comes from the thought that Sylvari who choose Nightmare are somehow lesser (even though she herself is one of those oopsie daisy). Choosing to convert is not the same as being forced into it, where it is less of a mental "Yes this is a thing I want to do" and more of a 'done to survive'. Sort of like how some people who hunt will starve their hunting dogs, so they hunt better? Same idea. Those who are broken into accepting Nightmare are less likely to question it or be disobedient.

I have every right to be here! And this place is mine alone! If you leave me the gods will keep me and feed me: I will stay on my throne.

I've mentioned it a time or two but her ultimate goal is to replace the Pale Tree has the maternal, nurturing figure that Sylvari think of with reverence. In her perfect world, she'd try to find a way to lobotomize the Avatar of the Tree and have her just be the thing that produces Sylvari, while she takes charge of care and instructing them with Nightmare.

Cold and forgotten she remains with just one Pity or loyalty, or a twisted kind of love Impassable hedges enclose mossy stone And rise over towers and block out the sun

Her relationship with Mad is... weird. On one hand, it's the attention she wants - he basically thinks she is immaculate and without flaw. But on the other she doesn't enjoy the clinginess, the need for praise, and the need for affection. She wants to be seen with reverence but not have to do any of the nurturing essentially. So in a way it is love, but she would send him on a suicide mission or drop him like a hot potato if it served her better.

Now she declares all the roses were made just for this: Pick them and strip them, adorn her for worship.

aaaaand there it is. That's her view on the Court, despite all her pretenses and lies about it being a family. They exist to be used to make her look better and to make her someone worthy of worship.

[uselessidiotsquad]

I'd love to see 💐💋💌 for Diamhasla~

@mystery-salad

Ooo Daffodil Hours! Ty for the ask!

💐 : What is their courting style? How would they woo someone?

Her courting style is very much about building people up with compliments and remarks. She's very witty and clever, so a lot of it is flattery. But it's also finding things that the other person is good at and letting them show off to 'impress her'.

💋 : Is your OC a good kisser? How do they do it?

She's a very chaste kisser, not very exciting, but since she's kisses very sparingly it feels important when she does. She does love kissing hands and fingertips when she's feeling cheeky.

💌 : How would they plan a romantic evening for a significant other?

PLAN is the key word. With Diam there's always the illusion of choice, so she would offer her significant other a few options for where to go to eat - but in reality has already planned for one of them. By calling around for places that she knows are closed, under renovations, or don't answer their call. So even if her partner chooses one of the places - they go and oh would you look at that. Closed. But wait, she will come to the rescue and suggest the place she had plans for all along and suddenly she's the one that 'saves' the evening.

On one hand she controls all the details of the date so the other person doesn't have to worry (Diam is paying, there is no debate here). On the other is controls everything about it and it's her way or still her way :)

Afterwards, she might suggest a short peaceful walk in someplace pretty. You'd have to hold her arm the whole way, she's not very steady on her feet and tires easily. But - she planned it, so that you'd feel like you were taking care of her.

[uselessidiotsquad]

Navigation Post

Figured it was time for a new pinned post about the blog since there have been some changes to it!

Full Character Roster is here! But here are the kids with the most amount of content.

Riaghael

Commissioned art: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Scar map: (here)

Voice claim: (here)

Interview: (here)

Deiliús

Commissioned art: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Scar map - outdated - : (here)

Voice claim: (here)

Interview: (here)

Otome Route: (here)

Madrúil

Commissioned art: (1)

Voice claim: (here)

Interview: (here)

Otome Route: (here)

Countess Diamhasla

Commissioned art: (1)

Voice claim: (here)

Interview: (here)

Follows from crowsfled!

[uselessidiotsquad]

Random thought, ranking some of my Sylvari in how close they are to the Dream.

Most to least:

Siori Suan

Legit stuck in the Dream his whole life, does not always know where he starts and the Dream ends.

Warden Calguais

Devoted steadfastly to Ventari's tablet and the teachings of it.

Ruby Aenn

Has always been close to the Dream, but is not as gung-ho about the teachings of Ventari.

Toraedh

An odd one for sure, they are as close to the Dream as they are to Nightmare. It makes things challenging when both sides aren't over fond of you.

Riaghael

He used to be a lot closer to the Dream, perhaps even at the level of Calguais. The mental break he had put a huge wedge between him and the Dream and it's now a very faint connection.

Naechdion

Is not close to the Dream, since he was supposed to be a champion of Mordremoth. His Dream experience was vague and scary and he rejects it. Would be Soundless if it didn't mean having to ask how to do some of the blocking techniques.

Glanaim

Very nearly Soundless. He's not interested in the shared empathy of things as he views it as a cheap way to get to know someone. It's also why he doesn't get all prickly about some Nightmare Courtiers.

Deiliús

They're Nightmare now, the other side of the coin. Even if it hasn't made them cruel, it has distanced them from anyone besides other Courtiers. And since most Courtiers tend to be unkind, they distance themselves from those as well.

Bonus!

Caonaí is of the Shiverpeaks Tree, which connected her children to a Proto-Dream, a loose framework of the Dream. It was not as vibrant and nourishing because it didn't have very many, if any, memories of Sylvari to fill it. But when her Tree died, it denied the Shiverplants even that rough form of it. All 9 of them are Soundless now.

Mad and Diam are both fully and unshakably Nightmare. It brought out the worst of their behaviors and sustained them.

[uselessidiotsquad]

5 & 6 for the secrets of the bitch™ herself, diamhasla ;))

Oh! Evil Daffodil Hours! Excellent choice! Ty for the ask!

5 is a secret no one knows about but they sort of want to come out/to tell someone

Honestly, as to be expected, she's a lot more brutal than most know. Her Court sees her as either kind/cunning but she's actually got a savage streak wider than Mad - it's just been carefully suppressed and controlled. She would very much love people to know that and thereby fear/respect her more but it would also tarnish her appearance of being merciful.

((bonus: no one knows it but she'd like to tell the fact that her first confirmed kill was a Tender who was helping her when she was a sapling. she conjured small pebbles and made the ground into mud so they could not run, before stoning them to death. it took 3 hours))

6 is a secret no one knows and they desperately don't want anyone to know about.

Even though she appreciates her Court and her position of power, she feels limited by it. She's got a strange relationship with power of she doesn't want the authority as much as she wants people to fawn over her. The way she's set up her Court is different and not always welcome among more aggressive subdivisions of Nightmare. Diam wants to be beloved - to be a Saint among Nightmare so people will love her.

If there was a chance for her to get a new position of power that gave her more of the adoration she wants - she'd sell them all for it in the blink of an eye. She doesn't want resources or control she wants to be worshiped.

Many groups in Nightmare want to corrupt the Pale Tree and bring all Sylvari to Nightmare. Diamhasla's dreams are even more ambitious. She wants to replace the tree as the 'motherly' figure they all turn to for guidance.

[uselessidiotsquad]

It’s a beautiful day and Diam is a terrible Daffodil.

[uselessidiotsquad]

Brain said no sleep allowed so have some artbreeders of the Nightmare Squad!

Like I hate you and everything Diam, but GOOD LORD 👀

Mad doing his typical ANGRII squint as usual.

And poor beeb Dei looking tired and unimpressed by the whole thing.

[uselessidiotsquad]

Girl help I don't thing I have many assumptions about your characters- UHH Diam (and by extension her court that was around at the time) would probsvly have joined the Toxic Alliance if it wasn't such a short lived affair - @moonlit-grove

*Ty for the ask - Spoilers - I don't have many assumptions about other peeps OC's either oop*

Diamhasla:

"Who? Oh. Them. Nearly forgot about the poor dears if I'm honest. While such alliances are noble in goal, to be dreadfully honest - I fear we can only trust ourselves at the end of the day. Wouldn't you agree?"

Ruby notes: Ooo good question. As much as she wants to have All the Influence she's also stubborn enough to want it alone. My way or the Highway, type of deal. You can bet there was a lot of tsk-tsk-tsking and 'I told you so' when it didn't work out well.

[uselessidiotsquad]

late to send an ask, but! an assumption for you! i've always thought that diam (if she was around during HoT, which i think she was but i could be wrong) would have reacted openly to mordremoth's voice in kinda the same way canach does at first--treating it as minor and an annoyance when she speaks of it to others, regardless of how much she's actually struggling. @kerra-and-company

Diam:

"I'd heard of the dreadful affairs of the jungle dragon plaguing the less strong of will. It saddens me greatly that even those of us free from the clutches of the Dream could still be swayed but such a power."

(Ruby note: Ding-ding you are correct, she really did feel the Call quite strongly but downplayed it to the point of 'it doesn't affect me at all :) see look what being true to Nightmare can do for you'. But was actually alarmed by it. There were a few members of her Court (lower ranked) that she had Disposed Of when they gave into the Call. It's her form of brainwashing or bust - so it seems. )

[uselessidiotsquad]

For Diam: A bunch of limes are scattered on the ground as she walks out of her hut. Forgh is picking them all up but drops several. One rolls in front of her. He looks up and grins cheekily, "Sorry, I dropped my pick up lime."

For Mad: "Is that a tusk in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Forgh please, not in front of Cos

<3 @moonlit-grove

Diam:

She blinks in confusion a few times before it dawns on her. A laugh erupts from the Countess as startles everyone nearby, they'd grown accustomed to her polite giggle. Not whatever that was. She's still too busy laughing to try to reply, the sound becoming inelegant wheezes.

Mad:

"It better not be a tusk, or else Cos is trying to rummage through my pockets again for food - " Mad pauses, a suspicious glow of orange emerging as he realizes he wasn't being literal. "Ah fuck off." He grumbles, embarrassed, trying his best to look livid. It almost succeeds.

(ty for the ask!)

[uselessidiotsquad]

General Character Overview:

Idiot Squad

Nightmare Troop

Primary Characters:

(Notes: for any of them that have 'voice claims' it's just examples of voices I've found that get pretty close to how I hear the characters speak, not claiming that it's the exact person in question. That would be a little creepy.)

Ruby Aenn (any pronouns, usually she/her), Current Commander of the Pact. (Interview)

Riaghael (he/him), Former Commander of the Pact. (Interview) (Otome Route - unfinished) (Scar map) (Voice claim) (Commissioned Art) (Commissioned Art 2) (Commissioned Art 3) (Commissioned Art 4)

Deiliús (they/he), Nightmare Convert. (Interview) (Otome Route) (Voice claim) (Scar map) (Commissioned Art) (Commissioned Art 2)(Commissioned Art 3) (Commissioned Art 4)

Secondary Characters:

Forge Warband

Sigilis Forgemuzzle (she/her) -  Legionnaire, Head Engineer of the Pact.(Interview) (Commissioned Art)

Galla Strangleforge (she/her)- Pact Combat Instructor.

Ordia Sprintforge (she/her) - Freelance consultant.

Valens Forgedance (she/they) - Olmakhan Runaway.

Naechdion (he/him), Swamp dwelling nomad. (Interview) (Otome Route: here and here)

Glanaim (he/him), Hired Sniper for the Pact. (Interview) (Voice claim)

Warden Cálguais (they/them), Warden Captain.

Madrúil (he/him), Nightmare Kennelmaster. (Interview) (Voice Claim) (Otome Route) (Commissioned Art)

Countess Diamhasla (she/her), Countess of Blasphemy. (Interview) (Voice claim) (Commissioned Art)

Caonaí (she/her), Shiverpeaks Sylvari, first to Awaken. (Interview)

Árgiúis *Storyverse*, Shiverpeaks Sylvari - seventh to Awaken.

Mhonde (he/him), Retired Lightforge Calibrator. (Interview) (Commissioned Art)

Raja the Vehement (she/her), a very unorthodox Raven Shaman.

Elder Parteira (she/her), an Olmakhan midwife. (Interview)

Toraedh (he/she/they), a questionable 'Courtier'

Semni Keensnare (she/her), an ancient Gladium who outlived all her warband by tenacity alone.

Philetus Hearthmend (he/him), a Fire Shaman who currently uses his magic to fix peoples stoves and fireplaces.

Larthi Glimmerforge (it/its), a Chronomancer who has a hard time controlling where it ends up.

Initiator Fhiaskko (she/her), an Asuran Reaper who is absolutely not cursed, not even in the slightest.

Bhruizz (xe/xem), one of Mhonde's older siblings, a skilled warrior who knows xe's way around a sword.

Ships:

Unburiable (Riaghael / Trahearne)

Warcat Wives (Sigilis / Galla)

Raven's Jest (Mhonde/Raja)

Warden's Nightmare (Toraedh/ Shoilieru @moonlit-grove )

Campfire Cats (Philetus / Crecia)

Writing:

Most of my drabbles with be tagged with #squadstories for the main Idiot Squad or #nightmaretales for the Nightmare Troop.

La • Maison • Dieu   (Nightmare Troop Canon)

The Star (Nightmare Troop Canon pt 2)

Ossify (Post HoT explanation for Riaghael)

Affairs of the Heart (-on pause- Ongoing Canon)

[uselessidiotsquad]

The Kennelmaster and the Countess! Thank you again @heyitsmejona for your effort and time with me on this :) They look amazing!

The Bastard Hound and Daffodildo looking FAB but also still wanna throw them both down a 40 foot well