#Macleod castle

[princesscoreaesthetics]

[celticculture]

[jomtones-bussy]

Kevin MacLeod regular discography vs. truth of the legend

[rob-demers-art]

Connor MacLeod's castle sketch card for Highlander Edition 2 trading cards from Unstoppable Cards. Now available in stores!

[duncanmcleod]

[godjustkys]

╰┈➤ ❝ masterlist ❞

SUPERNATURAL ;

- Dean Winchester

perv dean . . .

hate sex with dean . . .

dean smut drabble . . .

older reader x dean smut drabble . . .

older reader x dean smut drabble pt2 . . .

jealous silly dean . . .

passionate car sex with a pathetic dean . . .

dadbod!dean winchester headcanons . . .

fucking dean dumb after a looong week . . .

male reader x dean drabble . . .

male reader x glasses!dean drabble . . .

even more hateful sex with dean . . .

dean’s a bit too big for you . . .

- Sam Winchester

dean winchester x male reader drabble . . .

dean thought you were dead . . .

sam being a total sub . . .

older reader x sam smut drabble . . .

sam with a biter bf . . .

fucking sam while he’s reading . . .

top sam winchester x male reader drabble . . .

- Castiel

cas really wants to please you . . .

male reader x castiel smut drabble . . .

male reader x clingy!castiel drabble . . .

- Andy Gallagher

- Robert Singer

- Crowley MacLeod

fucking crowley on his throne . . .

- TFW

smut headcanons . . .

tfw realize you’re their gay awakening . . .

- MSLNS

male reader x destiel drabble . . .

male reader x destiel smut . . .

HOUSE MD ;

- Gregory House

smut drabble (hj) . . .

frotting with house . . .

- Lisa Cuddy

male reader x lisa cuddy drabble . . .

- James Wilson

- Allison Cameron

- Robert Chase

denying the accusations whilst taking it up the ass (smut) . . .

soft sex with chase after a long day . . .

- Eric Foreman

THE WALKING DEAD ;

- Rick Grimes

- Carl Grimes

- Michonne

- Negan Smith

- Daryl Dixon

gentle sex . . .

- Eugene Porter

- Rosita Espinosa

- Maggie Greene

- Glenn Rhee

- Carol Peletier

- Gabriel Stokes

- Dwight

- Simon

MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE ;

- Tony Stark

- Peter Parker

- Bruce Banners

- Thor Odinson

- Loki Laufeyson

- Steve Rogers

nsfw headcanons . . .

- Natasha Romanoff

- Yelena Belova

- Stephen Strange

- Wanda Maximoff

- Clint Barton

- Bucky Barnes

bucky wants you. he wants you, bad . . .

- Sam Wilson

- Wade Wilson

- Peter Quill

- Nebula

- Eddie Brock

- Matt Murdock

- Frank Castle

male reader x frank castle drabble . . . (PLOT.)

- Franklin Nelson

TEEN WOLF ;

- Mieczysław 'Stiles' Stilinski

sex with Stiles . . .

- Scott McCall

- Melissa McCall

- Derek Hale

- Allison Argent

- Lydia Martin

- Isaac Lahey

- Jackson Whittemore

- Peter Hale

- Malia Tate

- Liam Dunbar

- Theo Raeken

- Christopher Argent

MERLIN ;

- Merlin

- Arthur Pendragon

- Morgana Pendragon

- Guinevere

- Lancelot

- Mordred

- Gwaine

- Percival

- Elyan

- Leon

STRANGER THINGS ;

- Mike Wheeler

- Nancy Wheeler

- Will Byers

- Jonathan Byers

- Joyce Byers

- Jim Hopper

- Jane 'Eleven' Hopper

- Lucas Sinclair

- Dustin Henderson

- Steve Harrington

- Eddie Munson

- Robin Buckley

- Maxine Mayfield

- Billy Hargrove

- Dmitri 'Enzo' Antonov

ALL; stranger things headcanons . . .

GAME OF THRONES ;

- Ned Stark

breeding the fuck outta the lord of winterfell . . .

- Catelyn Stark

- Robb Stark

- Jon Snow

- Theon Greyjoy

- Sansa Stark

- Arya Stark

- Tywin Lannister

- Jaime Lannister

- Cersei Lannister

- Tyrion Lannister

- Tommen Baratheon

- Joffrey Baratheon

- Daenerys Targaryen

- Sandor Clegane

- Margaery Tyrell

- Brienne of Tarth

- Jaqen H'ghar

F.R.I.E.N.D.S ;

- Rachel Greene

- Phoebe Buffay

- Monica Geller

- Ross Geller

- Chandler Bing

sfw + nsfw headcanons . . .

- Joey Tribbiani

sfw + nsfw headcanons . . .

HARRY POTTER ;

- Harry James Potter

- Hermione Granger

- Ron Weasley

- Fred Weasley

- George Weasley

- Draco Malfoy

- Luna Lovegood

- Neville Longbottom

- Severus Snape

- Sirius Black

- Remus Lupin

FANTASTIC BEASTS ;

- Newt Scamander

- Jacob Kowalski

- Tina Goldstein

- Theseus Scamander

- Aurelius ‘Credence’ Dumbledore

- Albus Dumbledore

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE ;

- Jake Peralta

- Amy Santiago

- Rosa Diaz

- Ray Holt

IT ;

- Richie Tozier

- Eddie Kaspbrak

- Beverly Marsh

- Bill Denbrough

- Stanley Uris

- Ben Hanscom

- Mike Hanlon

DEAD POET'S SOCIETY ;

- Neil Perry

- Todd Anderson

- Charlie Dalton

- John Keating

SHAMELESS ;

- Fiona Gallagher

- Philip Gallagher

- Ian Gallagher

- Debbie Gallagher

- Carl Gallagher

- Liam Gallagher

- Mickey Milkovich

- Mandy Milkovich

SPIDER-MAN UNIVERSE ;

- Peter Parker (A. Garfield)

- Peter Parker (T. Maguire)

- Peter B. Parker

- Miles Morales (Earth 1610)

- Miles Morales (Earth 42)

- Miguel O'Hara

- Hobie Brown

THE BOYS ;

- John ‘Homelander’ Gillman

- Benjamin ‘Soldier Boy’ Hargrove

- Annie ‘Starlight’ January

- William ‘Billy’ Butcher

- Hughie Campbell

- Serge ‘Frenchie’

© godjustkys ©

[ahhhhhhhh34]

I just noticed how Ally Beardsley’s dnd characters tend to follow the theme of a character outside the group joining or being pulled into the group. Kristin Applebees seeing the bad kids getting detention and being like “I wanna be a bad kid”. Pete Conlan learning about the existence of the Unsleeping City while most of the others were already kinda familiar with that world. Liam Wilhelmina originating from the mountains and joining the Rocks family in the castle as a ward. Margaret Encino not being an actual part of the Wurst crew at first, having a job that makes her far richer than the rest of the crew, and being pulled into the Wurst shenanigans. And now Olethra Macleod joining her grandma’s old crew in a quest to save her and find Zood.

[mysterymachine67]

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋

Dean Winchester:

- Giving him a handjob while he’s sick.

- Challenging him in NNN.

- Edging him.

- Helping him cum because he can’t get himself to!

- He’s pent up and you’re there to help.

- Dean being loud as you fuck him.

- Dean riding you but with a twist.

- Overstimulating him.

- Valentine’s Day special! ♡

- Giving him a blowjob.

- Fucking him on the hood of the Impala.

- Small Drabble of Dean not being able to keep his hands off of you!

- Continuing to fuck him as he’s on the phone.

- Drabble of Dean ‘tasting good’

- Dean crying during sex

- Power bottom Dean with inexperienced m!reader

- Fucking Dean on one of the tables in the bunker

- Dean giving you a bj

- Small thing of denying Dean pleasure

- Cocky, asshole reader w/ Dean

- Soft, sweet sex with Dean

- Having sex while in a Scooby Doo episode? That’s crazy!

- Dean giving you head while you drive the Impala

- Dean edging himself

- Fucked out Dean giving you head

- Giving Dean a handjob as he drives the Impala

- Dadbod!Dean smut Drabble

- Dean riding you to help you calm down

- Save a horse, ride a cowboy. (Dean & cowboy!reader)

- Drabble of a quickie with Dean

- Dean and older m!reader

- Having Dean touch himself in front of you while you watch

- Dean being far too loud as you ride him

- Small thing of restraining Dean while you ride him.

- Smut drabble.

- Dean praising you for how good your fucking him. - subtop M!reader

Sam Winchester:

- He’s pent up & needs your help.

- Slow sex w/ a pathetic Sam.

- Taking care of Sam after he had a long week - fluff

- Fucking Sammy as soon as you get home from a hunt.

Gabriel/Trickster:

- Fucking him till he can only make out bits of Enochian.

- Gabriel being a tease.

- Giving him a handjob.

Crowley Macleod:

- Crowley confronting you about “ignoring” him leads from one thing to another.

Castiel:

- Cas giving you a bj for the first time

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐒𝐊𝐘

Beau Arlen:

- Helping him calm down after a stressful case.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝟏 & 𝟐

James Sunderland:

- Pure smut.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐄

Jayce Talis:

- Overstimulating him.

Viktor:

- Helping him relax.

- Giving him a bj in the lab.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐍 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐)

Bruce Wayne:

- Halloween special! 🦇

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒 (𝐓𝐕 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒)

Soldier boy (Benjamin):

- Cuddling with him/making him relaxed - fluff

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐌𝐃

Robert Chase:

- Giving him a hj

- Giving him a quick hj in a random closet before getting back to work.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋

Frank Castle:

- You can’t get enough of his puppy eyes

Matthew Murdock:

- Taking care of Matt because he needs it.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋

Leon S. Kennedy:

- He’s new, a hard worker, and a stressed out man. What happens when he gets to have a full conversation with his captain late at night? - Re2 Leon.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)

Remmick:

- it’s been a while since the last time you saw him. So when he randomly shows up one night, yeah, you were gonna let him in.

(Masterlist will be changing soon due to it getting longer)

[scotianostra]

On May 21st 1650, James Graham, Earl of Montrose, was executed in Edinburgh.

James Graham is one of the guys who pops up most in my posts throughout the year thanks to him winning a series of battles in 1644-45, against much larger forces, these were

Battle of Tippermuir; 1st September 1644.

Battle of Aberdeen, (Justice Mills); 13th September 1644.

Battle of Inverlochy; 2nd of February 1645.

Battle of Auldearn; 9th of May 1645.

Battle of Alford; 2nd of July 1645.

Battle of Kilsyth; 15th of August 1645.

As well as the skirmishes at Fyvie Castle and retreat from Dundee. It wasn't all wins though and Montrose was of course savagely defeated at Philiphaugh on 13th September 1645, it was less a battle more a massacre more after the battle than during it. Indeed these were times of horrors but not once did Montrose retaliate against his Covenant prisoners. The same could not be said of the Covenanters, but they used the excuse of doing God's work, James Graham, who started as a Covenanter took up the cause of the Charles I and the Stewart monarchy.

After Philiphaugh a year of guerrilla warfare ensued, which was relatively ineffective but it kept his army in action which was vital to Montrose. This year was to end in September 1646 when Charles, himself a prisoner by then, ordered Montrose to lay down his arms and disband his army. This he did, reluctantly at Blairgowrie in Perthshire, and he left the country on the 3rd of September in disguise just as he had entered it just 2 years earlier. James Graham, the 1st Marquis of Montrose was 34 years of age.

James Graham remained in exile for 3 years until March 1650. By this time King Charles had been executed, and Montrose pledged his allegiance to the new King Charles II.

What Montrose didn't know was that Charles II was playing both sides against each other by both, negotiating with the Covenanters at Breda at this time but at the same time he was encouraging Montrose to undertake a new campaign, he was in fact sending Montrose to his death and he knew it.

There are letters extant bought over by the king's messenger Sir William Fleming which dictate that if Montrose has been successful he, was to deliver a message condemning the Covenanter leader, Argyll and his minions, if however Montrose had been defeated he was to pass a letter to the Parliament disowning Montrose completely and avowing that he, the King knew nothing of Montrose's designs. Such were the times.

We last heard of him after he was defeated at the battle of Carbisdale on April the 27th 1650. It was the start of one of the most tragic passages of Scottish history. Having stumbled upon Ardvreck Castle 2 days after the battle then owned by Neil Mcleod of Assynt, and assuming he was relatively safe where he was, he rested. When he awoke he was taken up stairs and immediately arrested by Major General Holbourn. All Montrose said when taken away was "Sir, I do as you bid", and he knew what fate awaited him. Throughout this he acted with dignity and bravery the likes of Scotland had not seen since the likes of Wallace and Bruce.

In the Highlands, the name of Neil MacLeod is thus forever associated with treachery. The bard Iain Lom would write:

You are a stripped branch of the perfumed apple tree

without fruit or honour or comeliness, ever engaged in

murdering one another you are the leavings of sword

thrusts and dirks. The death should be about you,

despicable one, for you have sinfully sold the truth for

Leith meal, most of which had gone sour.

After being paraded through the towns of Scotland on the journey south Montrose was arrived at the in Edinburgh where he was met by the City Magistrates. Mounted on a cart, with his hands tied so as to be unable to protect himself, the people were urged to pelt him with stones and rubbish. Thankfully this did not happen and so sweet was his carriage that even the women who had been paid to stone and abuse him were moved to tears upon observing his unfortunate predicament.

The next day these same women were roundly rebuked from the pulpits for not taking the opportunity to revile and abuse him.

As the cart made its way up the Royal Mile it was stopped adjacent to Argyll’s lodging of Moray House where the wedding of Lord Lorne and Lady Jean Gordon was in progress. As the party stood on the balcony and made ready to mock him, Montrose sensed what was afoot and defiantly turned his face towards them. Argyll stood at the back of the group shielded by a curtain, when it was wryly observed that even then he was unable to stand and look Montrose directly in the eye. Lady Gordon was heard to laugh aloud at Montrose whereupon an English gentleman in the crowd shouted to her that it should be she who should be in the cart for her adulteries.

In one version of this story I have read that someone from the balcony urinated on The Marquess as the cart sat there, I’m not sure if this is true though.

As he had already been proclaimed a traitor James Graham did not get a trial, he was even denied, what was seen as an honourable death by beheading, he was hung, like a common criminal at the Tolbooth n the Royal Mile, he went to his death defiantly, maintaining his adherence to the Covenant. He also went stylishly, dressed in a black suit, a scarlet coat with silver trimmings, and a beaver hat.the last words of this loyal and highly principled man were:

“God have mercy on this afflicted land”,

His beloved Scotland.

It wasn’t good enough to merely kill him though, his head was placed on a spike on the Royal Mile, his limbs distributed to other Scottish burghs, and his torso buried near the Burghmuir loch, now The Meadows, this was a warning to others perceived as traitors.

For royalists, Montrose became a symbol of loyalty and a martyr for their cause. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, they took revenge on their enemies in various ways, including the trial and execution of the Marquis of Argyll in May 1661. Meanwhile, a grisly piece of theatre was carefully stage-managed to emphasise the king’s power and authority, and the undoing of the covenanting regime’s acts.

In January 1661, six ‘grave makers’ were paid £18 Scots for ‘raising’ the corpse. There were actually two bodies, for the remains of Sir William Hay of Dalgety, executed along with Montrose, were retrieved at the same time. A Robert Johnstone was paid £3 for showing the burial place, where the exhumation took place by torchlight. Surgeons washed the bones, wrapped them in cloth, and placed them in coffins. The coffins were covered with ‘two best velvet mortcloths’, for which John Kniblo, a local merchant, was paid £24, including ‘drink money’, a customary additional payment for work.

Montrose’s heart was missing, having been removed by sympathisers in 1650, embalmed and kept safe. (Much later, the heart went missing and was lost.) The accounts also show that 100 planks (‘daills’) were made into scaffolding and a stage ‘for the trumpeters for the down taking of my lord Marques head’ from the spike on the Tolbooth.

After the coffin containing Montrose’s remains lay in state at Holyrood Abbey for eight weeks, a magnificent funeral took place on 11 May 1661. His remains were buried in St Giles. They were disturbed by later alterations, but after Queen Victoria expressed astonishment in 1886 on seeing a simple slab inscribed ‘Montrose 1661’, the place was marked more formally.

If you ever visit The High Kirk of Edinburgh, commonly known as St Giles, more often than not you will see a floral tribute on his tomb, such is the regard he is still held in.

[moosekateer13]

The Prophecy

For @spnfanficpond Women of Supernatural  writings challenge.

Sam Winchester x Rowena Macleod

Prompt: 'How did we not think of this before? This is brilliant!'

Warnings: Angst, Magic, Fluff

Summary: Sam Winchester’s destiny has always been intertwined with Rowena’s demise. What happens when she falls for him? Conflicted and uncertain, Rowena seeks guidance from the Moirai, the goddesses of fate, hoping to find a solution.

Inspired by Taylor Swift's The Prophecy

Please, I've been on my knees. Change the prophecy.

Don't want money. Just someone who wants my company.

Let it once be me . Who do I have to speak to? About if they can redo the prophecy?

The scent of herbs and potions lingered in the air, mixing with the musty smell of the old bunker. My heart raced as I tried to push away my growing attraction to Sam.

Damn those stunning eyes of his and hair perfectly flopped the right way. Not to mention, he is built like a god. The brown plaid he is wearing looks great on him.

What on earth are you doing? You can't fall for him, he's destined to be your end. It would never work out.

 “Rowena earth to Rowena. Are you going to help us stop this doll curse like you promised us? It seems your mind is elsewhere.” Sam said.

Sam's voice cut through the air, jolting me back to reality

I put the thoughts away and focused on the task at hand.

“Patience, Samuel. This potion should do the trick. Now Dean needs to get us back on track with the location, and everything will be right as rain.” I replied.

“It's Sam.” Sam retorted.

We work the rest of the time in silence.

The hum of the heater in the bunker fills the silence as we wait for Dean to come back from the local police station.

For some unknown reason, Sam leans closer. Is the lad going to kiss me? Who knows? The creaking of the bunker door swinging open shattered the moment.

 "I found the location," Dean announces urgently. The scent of urgency fills the air. He leads the way back to the Impala, his voice echoing in the dimly lit bunker. I quickly gather the potions Sam and I concocted, their earthy scent wafting through the room, ready to counteract the witch's spells on the victims.

Sam takes his usual spot in the passenger seat, and I take mine in the backseat.

We pull up to the location, and it is nothing like I imagined.

The mansion is like an ornate castle. Witches rarely like to live like this. They like something more modest to blend in.

We easily enter the home, and I know it's a trap. I feel a chill down my spine as I take in the surroundings. Frozen humans in doll form fill the whole place.

As I gaze ahead, a familiar figure emerges in the distance. The scene is enveloped in a mysterious mist, adding an eerie ambiance. It is Misty, a witch from centuries past, once a novice under my tutelage. The air carries a faint scent of ancient magic, tingling my senses.

Her appearance remains mostly unchanged, but her attire is a stark departure from our shared history. She resembles a vision from the Marie Antoinette era, her hair intricately styled and adorned with ribbons, creating a rustling sound as she moves. The sight of her Rococo-style dress, a pale blue hue with elaborate floral motifs, is captivating yet unsettling.

A shiver runs down my spine as I notice the intricate designs on her dress - they resemble dolls, evoking a sense of unease. That witch we’ve been hunting down comes into view, and I recognize her immediately, Misty, a witch that I haven't seen in centuries.  She was once one of my students. She was just a beginner when she ran off from me.

Her face is mostly unchanged, but how she dresses is completely different. She looks like she stepped out of the Marie Antoinette era. Misty’s hair is poofed up high atop her head and adorned with ribbons. She's wearing a Rococo-style dress to finish the look. It's pale blue with motifs on it. To my horror, though, they're not normal ones; they look like dolls.

Then it clicks why she’s been doing all of this, it stems from a childhood trauma. She mentioned it once in passing. Her elder sisters would always steal her dolls. They'd either break them or hide them in their room. Unable to have her dolls as a child, she has now grown to transform people into dolls to play with.

Misty gazes at Sam with intense curiosity, her eyes gleaming with a hunger for power. Her hands reach out eagerly, poised to unleash the spell on Sam. In a swift motion, I cast a spell to halt her movements, the sound of her bones snapping sending a shiver down my spine. The scent of magic hangs heavy in the air as the ring, her source of power, shatters. Seizing the opportunity, Sam and Dean simultaneously fire witch-killing bullets into Misty's skull, ending the confrontation.

“Gallus Bampot Misty Le Tourneau, her movements hindered with that impractical dress. Now, let’s move, my dears. We need to return these people to their human forms.” I said.

Dean speeds off ahead of us to search through the rooms. While Sam and I take care of the mess of people in the hallways. No need to clean up the remnants of Misty. After being killed, she melted into a puddle of goo on the floor. 

Dean calls Castiel to bring a bus here so we can get them all back to their respective homes. The trauma will undoubtedly affect them for life, but at least they're alive.

Once Castiel returns the bus to its original location. We head back to the bunker in the Impala. Samuel is the first to break the silence.

“That was a strange case. What was the one look back there, Rowena? It looks like you recognized her?” Sam asked.

“She was one of my pupils. I haven't seen her in centuries. She was a novice back then. That spell was her creation. I didn't teach her that.” I replied.

“Okay, then we don't have to worry about you dollifying us, then. By the way, thank you for saving Sam back there.” Dean chimed in. 

“You definitely don't. That spell isn't my style. You're welcome as regards to saving Samuel. It was my pleasure to do so.” I replied.

Sam smiles at me in response to my last statement.

After a long journey, we arrive at the bunker. As I enter the room prepared by the Winchesters, I quickly search under the mattress for the hidden research. Relief washes over me as I find it undisturbed. The musty scent of the bunker surrounds me as I ponder the consequences of them discovering my secret. My heart races with the conflicting emotions I have developed for Samuel, driving me to delve deeper into my quest to defy the prophecy.

If I'm right, I have to head to a little spot on the outskirts of town where they supposedly live. I know I have to get there as soon as possible.  I hurriedly pack my research into my messenger bag and set off to the garage.

"Rowena, where are you heading off to? We literally just got back," Sam inquired. Avoiding eye contact, I briskly climbed into my red Hillman Minx, craving to reach my destination. The engine's comforting hum enveloped me, offering a sense of calm. I wished I could confide in him, but the uncertainty lingered. It was better to keep him out of this for now.

I arrive at the building stated in the information, finding an ordinary house with simple white siding, standing two stories tall. As I knock on the door, the sound echoes in the quiet surroundings. The door opens, revealing Atropos, the eldest of the goddesses, exuding an aura of power. Her golden eyes glint in the light, her sandy brown hair flowing gracefully.

“Ahh, Rowena, I’ve been expecting you to follow me to my parlour.” Atropos said as she motioned for me to follow her.

The hall of the house, the interior contrasting with the plain exterior. The walls adorned with intricate gold motifs against a backdrop of pristine white.

We enter her room, a mix of scents fills the air - the rich aroma of faux fur blending with the faint scent of silk. The walls are a deep ruby red, creating a sense of opulence. The white silk bedding and gold comforter invite relaxation, while the plush carpet underfoot adds a layer of comfort to the room.

She elegantly settles into her velvet chair, gazing at me with curiosity. I sit down in the chair next to the bed.

“So what brings you to the Fates' house? Must be serious, otherwise you wouldn’t have come here. You also must be desperate because I know you don’t like asking for help.” Atropos said.

I have no choice but to tell it’s a matter of life and death literally.

“I’ve fallen for the person who is meant to be my end, and I’m at a loss at what to do,”  I replied, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

“It seems the whispers in our home are correct; you've really fallen for Sam Winchester, and while I usually uphold the rules, I can't help but be drawn to complicated love stories.” Atropos said as she gently placed a hand on my thigh. 

“Yes, I have. So, is there a way, or should I just keep pushing these feelings down?” I asked.

The clock's ticking breaks the silence, and it feels like it's getting louder while I wait for her answer.

“Yes, the soulmate bond exists, albeit rarely; if Sam is your soulmate, it might alter the fate that has destined him to be your end,” replied Atropos gently.

"That's not possible, but I appreciate your help; I should go now," I said.

How did we not think of this before? This is brilliant! I scoffed to myself, pondering the futility of the idea of there being a bond.

As I slowly walk towards my car, the weight of despair envelops me like a heavy fog, causing my heart to ache as if it has shattered into a million tiny fragments. The sound of my footsteps on the pavement echoes in the empty street, amplifying the sense of loneliness. The air is heavy with a mix of exhaust fumes and the distant scent of rain. With each step, the reality of our hopeless situation sinks in deeper, urging me to quickly gather my belongings when I reach the bunker.

As I rush into the bunker, the musty smell hits my nose, mixing with the sound of my echoing footsteps on the cold floor. My heart pounds as I quickly reach my room, the dim light casting long shadows, urging me to pack my belongings swiftly, desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere.

I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder, sending a shiver down my spine, as I recognize the touch of Sam. The sound of my belongings falling onto the bed fills the room as he forcefully spins me around.

"Why the rush to leave? Where have you been?" Sam asked, his eyes reflecting deep concern.

I am at a loss for words on what to say.

He’s lost so much; telling him why I was leaving would just hurt him even more. I have no choice but to lie to him.

"I'm tired of being stuck here and just itching to hit the road," I replied before resuming to pack my things.

Sam, frustrated with my lack of explanation. He lifts me briefly before sitting down and pulling me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me to keep me close.

"I sense the feelings between us, and while they frighten us both, I believe we can overcome our destiny together," Sam said.

I bite my lip, wondering if I should tell him what I found out.

“I spoke with Atropos, who mentioned a possibly insane way to break it a soulmate bond between us. I can’t help but feel it's all just a fairytale that won’t ever come true,” I replied.

Sam's response is wordless, a soft brush of his lips against mine. His right hand cradling my face. The sensation travels through me, sending tingles down my spine. A shift occurs deep within me. As I process the moment, a surge of warmth envelops me, and I notice my name materializing in the elegant, golden script on his left wrist.

Sam pulls back, his eyes twinkling with a smile as he gazes at me.

 "It looks like you were wrong; it wasn't insane after all," he says, the sound of his laughter filling the air. Running his hand over my name, I feel a shiver down my spine. Checking my wrist, I see a matching one with his name. "Mo gràidh," I murmur before he pulls me into another kiss.

1 month later…

Sam and I are engaged in one of our usual morning routines—he's cooking breakfast while I go over our notes. Suddenly, a sneezing tabby with brown fur and green eyes interrupts us. 

“Rowena, did you turn Dean into a cat again? What did he do this time?” Sam asks, setting his spatula down on the counter before turning to me. 

“He stole my last strawberry tart from the fridge in my room,” I replied. 

“That’s no reason to use a two-hour cat-changing spell on him. You’re going to be in trouble for that later,” Sam said. 

“I’m looking forward to it,” I responded playfully. 

Just then, Dean transforms back into a human and quickly rushes to his room. He returns dressed 

“I hate it when you do that, Rowena. And you two should keep your dirty talk in the bedroom.” Dean said before he heads back to his room. 

Sam and I share a laugh before exchanging a kiss.

[dakotajchnson]

After the call from Amy — the call that had tilted her entire world on its axis again — Dakota had thought about phoning Sam immediately. Her fingers had hovered over his name in her contacts more times than she could count. But no. Some things were too big for a phone call. Some things needed to be said face to face. With her mother’s help, Dakota had booked another private flight, this time heading back to Scotland. The journey felt endless. She hadn’t slept a minute. The exhaustion clung to her skin, weighed heavy under her eyes, but she didn’t care about appearances. There were bigger things at stake. Curled up in the back seat of the car service, she watched the Scottish countryside blur past through the window. Lennox was fast asleep in her car seat beside her, her tiny hands curled into fists. Dakota leaned over, brushing a soft, apologetic hand through her daughter's hair, careful not to wake her. "I’m sorry I put you through this," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of everything she hadn’t said aloud. For the entire drive, her mind was a restless sea, what would she say to Sam? How would she even begin? Her heart hammered relentlessly against her ribs, each mile bringing her closer to the answers she wasn’t sure she was ready to face. "We're here, Mrs. Heughan," the driver said gently, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. Dakota blinked, nodding as she gathered Lennox carefully in her arms. "Thank you, John," she said softly, shifting her daughter’s sleeping form against her shoulder. The familiar stone façade of the castle came into view, and Mrs. MacLeod, their housekeeper, was already waiting at the door, her warm Scottish smile a small balm against Dakota’s frayed nerves. "Welcome home, ma’am," Fiona greeted kindly. "It’s good to be back," Dakota murmured, adjusting Lennox slightly. Fiona gave a small, knowing nod, her voice low as she added, "He’s inside." Dakota nodded again, swallowing the lump that had lodged itself in her throat. She climbed the front steps slowly, every one feeling heavier than the last. She pushed open the door, heart pounding, breath catching, and there he was. Dakota tightened her hold on Lennox, forced herself to find her voice even as it trembled at the edges. "Hi," she said, the word small, fragile — but the first step back home. / @fameheughan

[nemainofthewater]

Previous winners are Jack Harkness (Torchwood), Howl (Howl's Moving Castle), Yennefer (The Witcher), and Eliot Spencer

How would your blorbo do?

[birdsthatsingaftermidnight]

No Shirts In Scotland

That is very much not the expression I'd expect on the face of a man whose ENTIRE CROTCH HAS EXPLODED.

Also, he's clearly wearing an ankle-length tartan skirt, given the flare. Either that or his standard kilt has also exploded.

When passion sparks like fire in the Highlands, will a devastating secret destroy everything they love? Meg Lachlan wants nothing to do with Ewan MacLeod. He’s a ruthless, arrogant laird, reckless and far above her station in the rugged Highlands. But when the English come hunting, she’s left with no choice but to place her life—and heart—into his hands. Ewan has fought for his clan, battled his inner demons, and sworn off love at every turn. But Meg is different. The passion between them ignites a fire that consumes them both. What starts as duty turns into an inferno of passion— a forbidden love neither of them can deny. But a bitter betrayal and Meg’s abduction shatters everything, and Ewan is left with one choice: burn the world down to get her back. Now, Ewan will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Not enemies. Not war. Not even death itself. His love for Meg runs deeper than anything he's ever known, and he will raze castles, defy kings, and face the ultimate test of his fierce heart to find her. Will their bond withstand the ultimate test? Or will they be torn apart by forces beyond their control?

Just two thoughts, really:

1 - "far above her station in the rugged Highlands" - they are, of course, much higher up in the Highlands, and also, apparently the Highlands have been carpeted! Nice!

2 - Surely, somewhere between 'strongly worded letter of protest' and 'burn the world down' there are more options available!

3 - The forces beyond their control will very likely involve a situation that could have been easily resolved if they'd actually talked about it.

4 - "Defy kings" - plural kings is not the most historically inaccurate summary of how things went down in Scotland more than once, where strictly speaking there was only one king at a time for the most part, but there were certainly multiple people who thought it should be them instead, often all at once.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: What Happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

3/5. Releases 6/24/25.

—Scottish (Georgian!) historical

—commence with the banter

—light witchy vibes

The Basics:

Ever since their father died, the MacLeod sisters have had to contend with those who think he left a secret treasure hidden in Castle Cairncross. A series of coincidences foiling potential thieves has led many to believe the girls are witches, and while they aren't that, they do have their special gifts—Catriona, for example, being a healer and alchemist. When Hamish Muir comes to claim his rightful part of the treasure, Catriona strikes a deal with him: She'll help Hamish decipher her father's notes... as long as she can come along on the treasure hunt. Oh, and as long as her sisters are protected, of course.

The Review:

The pros for this book center around the fact that it has a cool setting and a tribute to magic, which make it fun. The cons for this book center around the fact that its writing style, for me, dragged. While it's a nice read, I really couldn't personally get super into it because of that. This is truly a personal taste thing—if you're a fan of a slow burn, then you may feel quite differently.

There are books that I think exist as, essentially, comfort food. This hits a lot of the beats that people want in a Scottish historical romance. The banter, the leads not liking each other for reasons that really aren't at all serious enough to call "enemies to lovers", the general cuteness. As comfort food, I think this works.

But, I don't know—the first Anna Bradley book I read, Give the Devil His Duke, gave me more than comfort food. It gave me spark and oomph. I feel like the books of hers I've read since then have sort of decreased in spark. This is not only a slow burn, but lower heat than GtDHD (not that her books have ever been super high heat, but more than this).

Yes, there is adventure. Yes, there is whimsy. But it all feels kind of distant because of the pacing. I never really felt like the stakes were that high. Which, again, works for a lot of people. But it doesn't really work for me.

The Conclusion:

This is a solid romance novel, but it's not my kind of solid romance novel. Would recommend to those who are indeed looking for their comfort food, and I'm sure that's a lot of y'all. If a lower heat, slow burn book that hits a lot of historical romance beats sounds right for you, then check this out.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[apilgrimpassingby]

Post-Apocalyptic Magical Britain - First Post

(Tagging @arcenciel-par-une-larme, @merthwyn, @kaleb-is-definitely-sane and @narulanth, who I've discussed this idea with).

The exact backstory of how magic comes back and how the different states form is something I haven't decided yet, but I have more-or-less hashed out the different states and where they are; their territory is based around this map of the historic counties.

Also, this post is massive, hence the "keep reading".

Annwn

Territory: Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire

Language: Welsh Faerie-Tongue

Capital: Caer Siddi

Leader: Gwyn ap Nudd

The kingdom of y tylwyth teg (Welsh faeries, literally "the fair family") upon earth, led by their king, Gwyn ap Nudd. Towns are largely abandoned and have been reduced to forests of oak, beech and ash, with the tylwyth teg living beneath lakes and inside barrows and emerging at dusk and disappearing at dawn - to humans travelling by day, the whole land has an eerie quality. Annwn is largely set apart from the wars of its endlessly-feuding neighbours, Cymru and Wales, with the fair folk taking part in their own lives, but during winter, ap Nudd leads sky-borne raids of his spectral white hounds, the Cwn Annwn, targeting both of them and sometimes ranging elsewhere.

Clan Bean

Territory: southern Ayrshire

Language: Scots

Capital: Bennane Head Cave

Leader: Sawney Bean

One of the many folklore figures brought to life was Sawney Bean, the leader of a clan of cave-dwelling cannibal bandits born of incest; while Scotland was collapsing, he and his children assembled a host of outlaws and ne'er-do-wells, and with them he became the ruler of a substantial territory. As loathsome as he and his clan are, they have become adept at using the woods and moors to lay ambushes against invaders, and thus they control the land - but only this land, as their attempts at open-field battle outside their terrain have always been miserable failures. Their settlements are largely caves or clusters of lean-tos, they have little economic activity beside foraging, hunting and robbing travellers foolish enough to pass through the area and they recognise no law but "Old Sawney".

Clan MacLeod

Territory: Isle of Skye, Isle of Lewis

Language: Scots Gaelic

Capital: Dunvegan Castle

Leader: Norman MacLeod

When magic returned, the leaders of Clan MacLeod used the last wish of the Fairy Flag to summon a faerie host to their side, and they promptly allied with them, allowing them to take over the two islands they live on. Today, their political system is well-established: human daughters marry elfin princes and fae princesses become the wives of Adam's sons, and the faerie hills are left undisturbed (save for a payment of food for aid in war) in exchange for the faeries leaving humans alone. The chieftain of Clan MacLeod governs the islands according to clan law codes and his own will, while the people dwell in villages and make their living by keeping sheep, growing oats and catching fish (the society has a broadly 18th-century level of technology). They frequently raid their neighbours (who will be covered later on) and prevail through fae magic.

Cymru

Territory: Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire

Language: Welsh

Capital: Dinas Emrys

Leader: Owain Glyndwr

When Owain Glyndwr, the great magic-wielding rebel prince of Wales, arose with magic, he went to Cardiff and proposed that he be instated as king and use the Cyfraith Hywel as their laws (complete with slavery, no inheritance for women and no citizenship for immigrants until the fourth generation); the people there were equally outraged and amused. He instead went to the mountains with his followers, an increasingly large band of Welsh-speaking fanatics, and set up his own castle atop Dinas Emrys, the mountain of Myrddin (better known to the English as Merlin). From there, he wages constant war against Wales with both his troops, his tactical ingenuity and his magical powers (he can control the weather and become invisible) while governing as he promised over a population of village-dwelling sheep farmers with a Late Medieval level of technology (Dinas Emrys has grown into a town of some size and sophistication under him).

East Anglia

Territory: Cambridgeshire, Essex, Huntingdonshire, southern Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Language: English

Capital: Norwich

Leader: Tom Hickathrift

With the return of magic, the ancient ecologies came back, and the fens were revived, drowning much of the region. Three centres of civilisation (for a certain definition; all are of an Early Modern technological level) persist - Walsingham, where Our Lady's presence wards off supernatural horrors, Cambridge, where much of the town has holed up inside the university, and chiefly Norwich, where Hickathrift leads a band of monster slayers, with Hereward the Wake as his second-in-command. And there are many monsters to slay - Lantern Men (ghosts who lead travellers in the marshes astray), the Shug Monkey (a half-dog, half-monkey creature in southern Cambridgeshire), child-eating mermaids in pools, and above all, Black Shuck, the dread hellhound who appears in thunderstorms to maim and kill. Outside the three towns, most settlements are fishing and herding villages, in a High Medieval or lower technological state due to their isolation and living in terror of the demons of the swamp.

Elphame

Territory: Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire

Language: Scots

Capital: Mid Gleniron

Leader: The Fairy Queen

The territory of the faeries in the Scottish Lowlands, given to them by William Wallace in exchange for her aid in the war against the democratic government of Scotland. They now inhabit its hills and barrows, emerging by night in the land that (since Wallace's Scotland took them all) is nearly devoid of humans to dance atop the moors; humans who do trespass there find themselves imprisoned and enslaved in Faerie-Land. It retains warm relations with Scotland, but every other nation dreads interacting with them for reasons that should be clear.

Highland

Territory: Argyllshire, Cromartyshire, Inverness-shire, northern Perthshire, Ross-shire, Sutherland

Language: Scottish Gaelic

Capital: Schiehallion

Leader: The Cailleach

This land has been taken by the Cailleach, the Gaelic goddess of winter, and it shows. The entire landscape is an austere snow-blanketed pine forest where wolves howl, deer and boar cavort and eagles make their nests, with only a few human settlements (most of them post-apocalyptic farmsteads) amidst the huge numbers of fae folk, kelpies, sluagh and so on, who all pay fealty to her in her court at Schiehallion. She endeavours to spread her territory, and has several times made war against Scotland for that end, but has thus far been rebuffed - her greatest enemy currently, however, is the Nordøjar, who have established a colony in the Highlands which they must constantly struggle to maintain.

Isle of Man

Territory: Isle of Man

Language: Manx, English

Capital: Peel Castle

Leader: Manannan

In times of trouble and the rise of magic, the sea god Manannan returned to the island, protecting it with his mists as he did in ancient times. The island, however, came to have a different folkloric denizen - Sir Francis Drake, who betrayed the English Crown in order to serve King Arthur and had his loyalty to Britain (and his heart) destroyed by being rebuffed by Arthur. Now, he is a pirate, and uses Manannan's mists to hide his crew (and that of other Manx privateers) while they retreat from the ships and coastal villages they raid. Hence, the Isle of Man is now full of nests of pirates (with 16th-17th century technology and clothes) sharing and selling what they have taken - food, clothes, livestock, valuables, human captives - in the midst of a countryside thick with glashtyns, bugganes and other such monsters.

Kernow

Territory: Cornwall

Language: Cornish, Briton

Capital: Tintagel Castle

Leader: Sir Lancelot, Sir Mertraut/Mordred

When King Arthur was revived with his wife, Lancelot and Mertraut (the latter better known by his French name, Mordred) still lusted after Gwenhwyfar (again, better known by her French name, Guinevere), which boiled over when Arthur offered Lancelot anything for his victory against the United Kingdom, and Lancelot asked for Gwenhwyfar. Thus, Lancelot and Mertraut rebelled, leading an army of spriggans, giants, mermaids, giant black cats and so on alongside Cornish humans, and with Lancelot going to his foster mother, the Lady of the Lake, in Dozmary Pool, receiving a sword of the grade of Excalibur. They are perpetually at war with Arthur and his kingdom of Logres, but have had little success; Lancelot and Mertraut quarrel with each other frequently, and are delaying the question of who will receive Gwenhwyfar if they win. The two are equally divided in ruling their land in non-military matters, which (in the few surviving human settlements) has a High Medieval technological level and an economy built on fishing and sheep-herding.

Kingdom of England

Territory: Leicestershire, northern and central Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland

Language: English

Capital: Kenilworth Castle

Leader: Queen Gloriana

The remnants of England, this land - Elizabethan in aesthetics and technology, and with an agrarian economy and several substantial towns, the greatest of which is Leicester - is ruled by Gloriana, the deified ever-virgin spirit of Queen Elizabeth I. The rest of the land is governed feudally, with territory being given out to her subordinates, such as Francis Walsingham and Robert Dudley (with the notable exception of Sir Francis Drake, who decided that Arthur commanded a higher loyalty than Gloriana. She is the primary force preventing the Republic of York from conquering territory further south, but still finds time to feud with Mercia to the west (both are of the opinion there is room for only one queen in the Midlands) and broker deals with the United Kingdom in the hope of obtaining royal treasures from the Tower of London (a futile attempt, as the Tower of London is blocked off from mortal visitation due to the density of ghosts). The greatest thorn in her side, however, is Robin Hood, the de facto leader of northern Nottinghamshire who continues to rob from the rich to give to the poor.

Kingdom of Scotland

Territory: northern Ayrshire, Buteshire, Clackmannanshire, Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Peeblesshire, southwestern Perthshire, Renfrewshire, Selkirkshire, Stirlingshire, West Lothian

Language: Scots

Capital: Edinburgh

Leader: William Wallace

When William Wallace returned and led the army that secured Scottish independence, he expected to be given the crown in return; he was not, and so civil war broke out. After agreeing to give away land in exchange for alliances, he ousted the democratic faction from Scotland and installed himself as king. The land now has a High Medieval technology level, a vassalage-based political system where lairds and earls swear loyalty to Wallace in exchange for being given land (including Michael Scot, who has been pledged his birth county of Selkirkshire in perpetuity), and an economy based on farming oats and sheep. The land is perennially in one war or another, usually with the Cailleach to the north or the Reavers to the south.

Logres

Territory: Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Language: Briton

Capital: Camelot

Leader: Arthur

One of the first signs of the return of magic was Arthur arising from Glastonbury Abbey with a small number of loyal knights, and quickly defeating the United Kingdom (notwithstanding the schism detailed above). Thus, he has developed a High Medieval kingdom in the West Country, where the peasants (the people have adapted to this lifestyle under Arthur's wise and benevolent leadership) grow wheat and keep cattle and sheep, in exchange for defence by the knights in their castles - or that would be the case, if the knights were not perpetually at war with Kernow. In addition, they have also at times made war with Mercia, due to being modern representatives of the Saxons Arthur hated, but upon discovering them to be Christian he is largely at peace with them.

Mercia

Territory: Derbyshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire

Language: Old English

Capital: Coventry

Leader: Lady Godiva

This territory is inhabited by pre-Conquest Englishmen, and has all the appropriate trappings - people live in longhouses, have an agrarian economy and an Early Medieval level of technology, speak Old English and practice Christianity in small stone churches. Their leader, Lady Godiva, has cultivated good relations with both Wales and Cymru, becoming skilled at playing them off against each other so they do not trouble her, has historically fought with (but is now allied with) Logres and now has her main enemies in the Kingdom of England and the Republic of York, both of which her trained bands of warriors fight vigorously.

Nordøjar

Territory: Caithness, Orkneys, Shetlands

Language: Norn

Capital: Kirkavå

Leader: Assipattle

The Northern Isles (or Nordøjar, as they are now known) are the islands off the tip of Scotland, united in a federation by the hero Assipattle, who from his seat in Kirkwall (as it used to be known) persuaded the inhabitants of the isles to renounce Christianity and become Norse, raiding the seas in longships as they plough the land while living in longhouses (their main economic activities aside from raiding are peat digging, fishing and sheep-herding). Their usual targets are various areas around Scotland, although they have ranged further south on occasion, and frequently sell their wares on the Isle of Man. They are opposed by the Kingdom of Scotland and the Republic of Aberdeen, but are nonetheless largely able to raid due to their maritime skill and Assipattle's host of creatures such as trows, the wulver and the dread nuckelavee. However, their greatest enemy is the Cailleach, whose forces they constantly struggle against as they seek to maintain their Caithness colony.

Reaver Lands

Territory: Berwickshire, Cumberland, Northumberland, Roxburghshire

Language: English, Scots

Capital: Liddesdale

Leader: None

The Border is a wasteland of tree-bare hills, populated chiefly by sheep, ponies and raiding parties both human and otherworldly. On the human side are the Border Reavers, the pony-riding bandit clans who live in turf cabins and stone towers and ride over the hills to steal the livestock of or take revenge on some other clan. On the otherworldly side is the Fairy Rade, the hosts of faerie archers mounted on white horses with harnesses jingling with bells, who come hunting through the night. Mediating between the two is Thomas the Rhymer, the faerie-gifted poet-prophet who knows the ways of both sides. Only fools or the desperate travel through this land; everyone else who can uses boats around the region. While it has no true leader or capital, Liddesdale is the centre of the region and the most common point of gathering.

Republic of Aberdeen

Territory: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Banffshire, Fife, Kinross-shire, Kincardineshire, Morayshire, southeastern Perthshire

Language: Scots, English

Capital: Aberdeen

Leader: Martha Seward (no, that's not a folklore character, yes, that's intentional - you'll see why)

The territory controlled by the democratic faction, ousted from Edinburgh by William Wallace's troops. The economy here is largely industrial - or rather, attempting to be industrial, seeing as even steam power is increasingly failing. Many cities (in which the majority of people live) are derelict, and while the nation still professes democracy, the "emergency government" has now held power for nearly ten years. The nation's chief ally is the United Kingdom (hence the perception of them as traitors by Scottish nationalists, who hence sided with Wallace), another relict modern democracy, but which can help them little against the attacks of the Cailleach and Assipattle's raiders - however, those same attacks mean that the Kingdom of Scotland rarely has time to attack them.

Republic of York

Territory: Cheshire, Durham, Lancashire without the exclave, Westmorland, Yorkshire

Language: English

Capital: York

Leader: Mother Shipton

One of the larger and more successful states to come out of the collapse, the Republic of York has been given power by a few factors - Mother Shipton's prophetic gifts giving them the ability to make excellent political decisions, a relatively undamaged economy (technology has regressed to "just" the 19th century, and the aesthetics, culture and economy of the society are largely Victorian) and a large base of land and population. Thus, they annexed much of northern England, but have been running out of steam for a few reasons - a long and fruitless war in the Reaver Lands, their technology slowly breaking down, and a crushing defeat delivered to them by the Kingdom of England. However, they remain powerful, and hence are unperturbed by possessing few allies; they need little other than themselves.

United Kingdom

Territory: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex

Language: English

Capital: London

Leader: Winston Churchill

The remnant of the old United Kingdom, whose failure to adapt to magic and the end of modern technology meant they kept experiencing defeat after defeat and a steady loss of territory, reducing them to the southeast corner of England, until their leaders realised that the Second World War was now English folklore. Thus, they summoned an avatar of Winston Churchill to lead them, and now make their tanks, guns and planes work by magic. They have hence been able to win victories - a naval operation in Essex and an overland operation in the New Forest (which at the time was a de facto independent territory ruled by Yernagate and populated mainly by pixies) have had promising results, and an attack on Logres is in the works. The price for the average citizen, however, is steep - to summon the spirit of the Blitz, people live on rationed food in air raid shelters and bombed-out houses and Winston Churchill is king in all but name.

Wales

Territory: Brecknockshire, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire

Language: English, Welsh

Capital: Cardiff

Leader: Joseph Morgan (also not a folklore figure; that's important)

The last true democracy and one of the last modern societies in Britain, Wales is a largely urban and industrial society (although their cities and industry are rapidly crumbling), struggling mightily against Cymru and Annwn - however, with the aid of Davies Sirevan and Jack of Kent, their resistance is successful.

[theweeowlart]

Dunvegan Castle on the Isle Of Skye, Scotland. For some eight hundred years now, the castle has been owned by just one family, the Clan MacLeod. My drawing is available here… https://theweeowlart.etsy.com/listing/1718231476