#Vohu Manah the Bard

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 3: The Blood is in the Water

1800 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

It was a weekly cycle of hope and despair. When I worked with my other instructors, I felt competent and confident. But as soon as I took the field with Master Prowse for the week...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

I know that the whole point of recruiting Pirate John is to be able to fly with the dragon rather than sail with the skudder and that traveling runes further remove the need for long voyages, but the mental image of Rhen learning shanties from John as they sail brings me such joy that someday, I will contrive a reason that they had to sail somewhere instead XD

And for that precise reason, I like to think that Vohu Manah was absolutely delighted when he found out that a pirate had joined Rhen's company--or at least, he was once he had established that John was good-hearted and not going to pose a threat to her. He would be very happy with an opportunity to learn songs that he had perhaps never heard before.

(And/or, Vohu Manah knows all of John's sea shanties and then some, and the hero party is left wondering how in the hell this serene, gentle druid knows a lyric like "shave his belly with a rusty razor.")

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[druidofdarkness]

On Trust, Trials, and Tattoos

It is no simple matter to become one of the guardian druids of the Arishta Isles. This is especially true when one would guard something so contentious as "darkness" in a realm plagued by demons.

As told by Rashnu, the (soon-to-be) Druid of Darkness. Set an unspecified, but fairly significant amount of time before the events of Ahriman's Prophecy and Rhen's Quest. Names several pre-game druids. 3700 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

To say that Ghed’ahre was ‘quiet as a tomb’ was…technically accurate. However, tombs have a tendency to not be very quiet when their occupants are up and about and competing to collect the most ghosts for their houses or decorate the most elaborate coffin, and similar things. But it was quiet enough in the cathedral that I heard the footsteps approaching behind me…

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[druidofdarkness]

Fighting a fight with Vohu Manah's fic, found myself scrolling youtube in search of a piece of harp music that...

-Didn't end up sounding decidedly peaceful -Wasn't done with heavy distortion -Didn't have a heavy-duty backing track -Was only one harp -Ideally was not a huge, standing concert harp

...and eventually stumbled across this.

Why didn't I start by looking up harp covers of Through the Fire and the Flames for my proof of concept? XD

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[druidofdarkness]

On Trust, Trials, and Tattoos

It is no simple matter to become one of the guardian druids of the Arishta Isles. This is especially true when one would guard something so contentious as "darkness" in a realm plagued by demons.

As told by Rashnu, the (soon-to-be) Druid of Darkness. Set an unspecified, but fairly significant amount of time before the events of Ahriman's Prophecy and Rhen's Quest. Names several pre-game druids.

Oneshot--On Trust, Trials, and Tattoos

3700 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

To say that Ghed’ahre was ‘quiet as a tomb’ was…technically accurate. However, tombs have a tendency to not be very quiet when their occupants are up and about and competing to collect the most ghosts for their houses or decorate the most elaborate coffin, and similar things. But it was quiet enough in the cathedral that I heard the footsteps approaching behind me…

Read "On Trust, Trials, and Tattoos" on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 7: To Dust or to Gold

2375 words. Brief language, no spoilers.

Conversation became more normal after that. We finished our lunch and laid back on the grass, enjoying the warm breeze and discussing what we thought might turn up on our written exams...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 6: But Blood is Thicker

1750 words. Brief language, no spoilers.

Tanaatha must have sent word that the roving imp had been put down, because classes resumed the following day. Master Prowse declined to show up for our inspections for several weeks, which was perfectly fine by me...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 5: Worth is Wordless

1750 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

“More?” I asked incredulously. “Do you ever pay heed to rumors, Vohu Manah?”...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 4: And a Date with the Devil

1950 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

The Almirk Jungle can be a dangerous place. Less so to someone competent with a sword, yes, but mine was not exactly sharp. It was the sword of an apprentice...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 2: To Be an Optimist

2222 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

Lado Prowse was his name. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and the ornate red armor he wore to class only served to make him seem taller and broader-shouldered still...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 1: There Will Be Time

1300 words. Brief moderate language. No spoilers.

I was born in a small village on the Eastern Isle, near the edge of the Wildwoods. My earliest memories are of my dad’s shop--a little shop, I realized when I was older, but at the time...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!