#adventures of the married assassins

[snowmasscourier]

@guyfawkesreborn 😘

[guyfawkesreborn]

I apparently hit a rite of passage on this site—my first porn bot.

Thank you, porn bot, for giving Becs and I a good, albeit pitying, laugh before we blocked you.

[anakinh]

lasted approximately 2 hours into a new playthrough of Dragon Age: Origins before I downloaded a mod. god those mage cowls are ugly af

[charlietheepicwriter7]

"If You Want My Husband, You're Gonna Have to F#cking Kill Me."

So, Dead on Main is the best, right?

So, Jason and Danny are secretly married. It's was an accident; somehow, those two managed to do a ghost courting ritual and acceptance without realizing it--Danny's a halfa, Jason is a remnant, neither one was informed that ghost marriage was thing. The two go on an adventure in the Ghost Zone to disolve the marriage, but over the course of the journey, surprise! The two develop feelings and decide that they prefer being married. Maybe it gives them a power up, lets them know how the other is doing/feeling? It's nice, to have someone who's always there for you, that's all their saying.

Obviously, they don't tell anyone. Or at least, no one knows they're still married.

fortunately, it comes in handy. Red Hood, Red Robin, and Stabby Robin got captured by a pissed Black Mask or maybe the League of Assassins... I'll go League, bc less guns. Jason's injured, about to be killed, when Danny bursts through the door, says the title line, and starts ripping through the goons.

he's so pissed, he doesn't even transform, he's using entirely his parents weapons and he's good with them. (no murder Danny, sorry. But he'll probably get covered in other people's blood thanks to the concussive effects of his parents weapons on humans.)

[felassan]

Post on the Dragon Age website:

"Journal #2 The Voices of the Veilguard Get acquainted with some of the voice actors and join us for our upcoming character panel at SDCC! --- Hey everyone, We're packing our bags and heading down to SDCC this week and alongside that comes more Dragon Age: The Veilguard reveals! Today, we're excited to reveal some of the voice actors who bring our characters to life - a few of whom will be joining us for our character-focused panel at the convention. ICYMI, our SDCC panel "Dragon Age - Meet The Heroic Companions of Thedas” will feature Creative Director John Epler and Creative Performance Director Ashley Barlow as they discuss bringing the cast of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to life. Moderated by Lucy James, host and video producer at GameSpot, panel attendees will hear from Neve, Emmrich, Harding, and Lucanis’ voice actors as they discuss their motivations and inspirations that have lit up the personalities and uniqueness of each companion. The panel will be held on Friday, July 26 from 3:15PM - 4:15PM in Room 6BCF.  If the panel isn't enough to satisfy your Dragon Age cravings and you'll be at SDCC in person, join us at the Dark Horse Comics booth (#2615) where we will have swag to give away as well as talent & developer signings. Keep an eye on our social channels for more information on this. Discord members who drop by the booth and show us that they're a part of the server will receive a Romancer pin while supplies last. For those of you who will be keeping an eye on SDCC coverage from home, we'll have the full panel video available at a later date. Stay tuned. With that said, let’s get into our cast."

-

"Four Rooks are Better than One Featuring the most comprehensive character creator in Dragon Age yet, your character, nicknamed Rook, debuts with four different voice overs to make this story truly your own. Rook is Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s leader in the making who has to bring the Veilguard together to take down the threats on Thedas. Immerse yourself even further by picking your voice, with two options from US/North American personalities and two from the United Kingdom/EU.  Rook’s voices have been provided by iconic television, film and video game personalities Alex Jordan (Cyberpunk 2077, The Amazing World of Gumball), Bryony Corrigan (Baldur’s Gate 3, Good Omens), Erika Ishii (Apex Legends, Destiny 2), and Jeff Berg (Battlefield 1, NCIS). What even is Dragon Age: The Veilguard without the Veilguard? These 7 companions stand ready to join the fight to restore order to Thedas. We're happy to announce that our cast of companions includes: - Ali Hillis (Mass Effect 3, Naruto), returns to the fray as Harding, the dwarven scout, a Dragon Age: Inquisition hero with a big heart, a positive outlook, and a ready bow – as well as unexpected magical powers. - Ike Amadi (Mass Effect 3, Halo 5: Guardians, Insomniac's Spider-Man) as Davrin, a bold and charming Grey Warden who has made a name for himself as a monster hunter. - Jee Young Han (Perry Mason, Unprisoned) as Bellara, a creative and romantic Veil Jumper obsessed with uncovering ancient secrets. - Jessica Clark (True Blood, Pocket Listing) as Neve, a cynic fighting for a better future, both as a private detective and a member of Tevinter's rebellious Shadow Dragons.  - Jin Maley (Star Trek: Picard, Silicon Valley) as Taash, a dragon hunter allied with the Lords of Fortune who lives for adventure and doesn't mind taking risks.  - Nick Boraine (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Black Sails) as Emmrich, a necromancer of Nevarra's Mourn Watch who comes complete with a skeletal assistant, Manfred, voiced by Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, Fallout 4). - Zach Mendez (Horizon Forbidden West, Married Alive) as Lucanis, a poised & pragmatic assassin who descends from the bloodline of the House of Crows, a criminal organization renowned throughout Thedas.  Last but not least, we’re excited to let you know Gareth David-Lloyd is returning as Solas, and Brian Bloom as Varric. We have so many more people to introduce you to, including some returning characters, but we’re not quite ready to reveal all those yet, because of you know - story spoilers.  While that’s all we have for now, we’re eager to meet those of you attending SDCC and to continue our summer filled with reveals from Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Talk soon. — The Dragon Age Team"

[source] [Twitter post]

[ap-kinda-lit]

Fun Dragon Ball headcanons

Goku and Vegeta are experienced with video games because of their sons. They even sometimes play them together. Goku's favorite is Sonic the Hedgehog and Vegeta's Mortal Kombat. Vegeta is usually the victor in their matches.

Bulma makes up to Vegeta by letting him give Bulla a middle name. He picks Eschalot of course. He chooses this name after a famous Saiyan princess. Princess Eschalot was known as the ideal Saiyan princess: strong, intelligent, brave, beautiful, and a fierce warrior. She refused to marry and decreed that she only would if the suitor beat her in combat. Not only did she defeat each and every one, she even killed them.

The gang sometimes go to Yamcha's baseball games. The kids even have his baseball cards.

Piccolo's favorite water is from watermelons. Dende's is coconut.

Trunks and Bulla are grossed out when they learn their mother and Uncle Yamcha used to date.

Goku sometimes stops by Tien's school to observe or participate in lessons.

Goku and Chichi planted their own apple tree in their backyard shortly after they married. It's still there all these years later.

Vegeta is very approving towards Mai as a match for Trunks, especially since finding out she was an assassin.

Goku likes to bring Chichi souvenirs from his adventures. They could be a stone from a foreign planet, a seashell from the ocean, or a flower from the mountains.

Vegeta is a secret Taylor Swift fan. He listens to her music when he's training or thinking by himself.

The children like Broly and love to play with him.

Goku can be a jealous husband in a subtle way. If he notices a man checking Chichi out or trying to flirt with her, he will hold her hand and refer to her as his wife or use endearing names towards her.

As far as the public is concerned, Vegeta's a cryptid. Everyone knows his name and recognize him as Bulma Briefs' husband, but that's about it. Nobody knows who exactly he is, where he came from, or how he and Bulma met and got together. It's even more difficult since journalists are too scared of him to approach him for an interview.

Since he can remember, Goku has had dreams where he is floating in a yellow void, surrounded by large shadows of people and muffled voices. Most of the time, he sees and hears a small and friendly woman, a large man with a deep voice, or a short child who likes to knock on glass. Goku doesn't realize until many years later that these are memories of his time in his incubator and the people he was seeing/hearing were his parents and young Raditz.

"Hungry like a Saiyan" or "eat like a Saiyan" are common metaphors among certain alien races.

Krillin stays in touch with his Buddhist roots. He visits temples, even his old temple where he was raised. He sometimes brings 18 and Marron with him.

While it's not shown, Launch does stay in touch with everyone.

Chichi speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin. She personally teaches Gohan and Goten from a young age. Goku has even picked up some terms here and there. When she’s angry enough, Chichi will curse in either language.

[if-i-hate-the-headline]

wayne family adventures moments i think about on the daily and love dearly (pt.5)

the entire game of assassin but just the hatter in the background like what

i love jason todd so much

harper row is such a badass - shes like the cool asskicking aunt of the batfamily

i volunteer as tribute - this is what damian was looking for in that episode (dirty little secret)

the batman slander though - and forsake humanity please (jason has a tbr a mile long change my mind)

barbara gordon is hands down one of my favorites

do i spy a taylor swift reference - batmans in his rep era

HES SO CHILL WHAT - like hes just been turned into a rabbit and hes like oh ok whatever

let it be known that i would like to marry zatanna zatara (poor bruce)

[satoshy12]

As Jazz started to help Danny with the things in Clockwork, she too ended up in different time zones, just like Danny was. While on one of those adventures, she met a nice older man with whom she spent time and fell in love. But after a time, she was pushed back to the present.

In the present, she actually meets the man from the past again! She had no idea how that worked but was happy as she met him again, and they continued the romance.

Ra's al Ghul had no idea how the old love for him was back, but you won't hear him complain; using the Pit to make himself younger would work out well. Ubu could take care of the League for the time being.

He was busy getting married. Ra told her about his children and grandchildren and explained that the small assassination group is now a massive cult that he is working on.

[canyousonicme]

Doctor Who: Big Finish, Alex Kingston Team for New River Song Stories

Alex Kingston will return as River Song for a new round of Big Finish's Doctor Who audio dramas set AFTER "Silence in the Library."

Now that Steven Moffat is back writing for Doctor Who, fans are speculating about whether River Song will be back. Alex Kingston certainly hasn't made it a secret that she would love to play the character again. But River Song never really went away. She's been headlining a River Song series in audio dramas from Big Finish for years since she had her final story on Doctor Who. Now she will star in The Death and Life of River Song, a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas coming soon from Big Finish Productions. It's like a whole new season of River Song adventures – and the latest.

In case you didn't know, River Song is an archaeologist from the 52nd century, born and raised to be an assassin, destined to marry her intended target, and to have many of her own adventures too – Professor River Song's very messy timeline began (or maybe ended) when she first appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library. Since then, Kingston has reprised the role in her own series of Doctor Who audio spinoffs, including The Diary of River Song, which ran from 2015 to 2023. Now, in August 2024, she will return in a brand-new series, The Death and Life of River Song.

The first box set in the series, Last Words, is written by Robert Valentine. It begins with River, after settling down to an afterlife in the Library's computer core, finding herself waking up in Earth's future, her consciousness having been temporarily transferred to a new body.

Alex Kingston said that River's stories at Big Finish have moved beyond her death in Doctor Who: "We have gone post-Library! We've done another episode in the past where I was within the database, which I loved, and I thought that's the only way you could go forward with River, given her situation. So, I was actually really surprised when this box set came my way and that we are now so far advanced in the history of Earth that she is able to be brought out as data and put into a cloned body. So very, very clever!"

Producer David Richardson added: "When every single day during the recording, your leading actress says "This script is brilliant," you know you're onto a good thing. Even better, at the end of the last day, Alex popped the script in her bag and announced that she loved Last Words so much she was taking it home to keep and treasure."

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, either as a collector's edition four-CD box set for £29.99 or as a digital download for £22.99 per volume. Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector's edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). [X]

[gerec]

Hi Gerec! I’ve just got recommended a fun XMA skit from YouTube (here for anyone want to watch https://youtu.be/_rFyHJ1pSyg?si=jglR5bSlNsnKGckc) Basically, it’s about life at Xavier’s school and it makes me want to read fics like that :Đ So ol’ powerful fic recs wizard Gerec, do you know some good fics that focus on what life is like for mutants at Xavier’s school (preferably with some Cherik, or Quicksilver’s appearance would be lovely)? Thank you :Đ!

Thanks for sharing the link Anon! Here are some of my favourite fics where Charles and Erik run the school together. I hope you like them!

Through the Barricades by starandrea (series) Erik and Charles learned to live without each other once. It's harder the second time--so before they even discuss it, they've decided not to try. (Erik accidentally moves into the mansion without anyone but Charles noticing for days. He may be the first to return, but he won't be the last.)

Come Together by blarfkey (series) It's totally normal in Suburban America for the dad to pick up his rebellious teenager from jail, right? Even when it's the Pentagon instead of the local police station, and your dad is a Mutant Supremacist Assassin and America's Most Wanted who didn't post bail so much as murdered all the guards?

Whatever. Peter will take what he can get at this point, even if it means the most painfully awkward road trip in the history of the universe.

Somewhere Like Bolivia by iberiandoctor (jehane) After Cairo, after the school is rebuilt, Erik has every reason to leave. Charles and Peter think about giving him a reason to stay.

Synthesis (Scenes from an AU) by starlady (first of a series) Synthesis is a dynamic process. Or, scenes from the AU where Charles and Erik have sex, get married, become best friends, and run the school together.

The Xavier-Lehnsherr Academy for the Gifted: 1973 by listerinezero A year in the life of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, co-founders of the world's first school for mutants, one month at a time.

The Spaces Between by mainecoon76  Almost a year after Washington, Erik is working on his own to find out what became of the Sentinel research. He keeps to himself and likes it that way. But when a mutant assassin tries to murder Charles, he finds himself reluctantly drawn into an adventure that involves a dangerous plot, Charles' own agenda, a complicated relationship, and holiday celebrations at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Late Night Conversation by listerinezero (First of a series Fighting the Good Fight) Marie runs into Professor Lehnsherr in the kitchen one night during her first week as a student at the Xavier Institute.

[snowmasscourier]

Things we have learned over the past two weeks:

- Emmett needs adult supervision after he’s had a number of doses of his medicine, or the internet might get broken

- I am apparently the designated sober person until the end of September which is very strange. Also, I’ve been doing a lot of odd jobs when an emergency happens and everyone has had their end of shift nightcap (or daycap depending on the shift)

- Shaun and Eric agree on exactly one thing--that the modern British monarchy should be abolished.

- Watching the coronation caused both their blood pressures to spike so fast that Chewy (Dr. Chiu) had me block all coverage while on the ship.

- One of us is over their intial sea sickness. The other is still wearing a sea-sickness patch, as well as my anti-nausea wristband from when I had morning sickness, and has to take Dramamine if the weather is expected to be rocky. Shaun, stop being a tea snob and try my mint tea. It really helps.

- Lovey is fine and feels like a butterfly in my stomach, which is weird and cool.

- Finally, I need my fellow Assassins to sign my petition to have “I’m On a Boat” be the official song on the Altaïr II. Bill, Gavin, and Susan have said no, but they can’t say no to ALL of us. 🤣

[kimpining]

olivia told me about this manga about a guy agreeing to get married so his assassin family would leave his gay sister alone and let her be with her girlfriend, which rules but; they keep showing back up in the middle of his insane assassin adventures to just keep turning it into yuri for a few pages at a time it rocks. it kicks ass. i love it so much.

[daisymintt]

Merlin Fic Prompts

Arthur gets separated and injured while on patrol and is taken in by the kind forest Druid Merlin who nurses Arthur back to health. During this time Arthur sees a side of magic he’s never been exposed to before and questions everything he’s been taught.

A series of letters Merlin’s writes to his mom telling her about his adventures in Camelot

Winter Soldier AU where Morgana discovers Merlin had magic but doesn’t know he’s Emrys. Uses the Fomarrah on him and instead of killing Arthur orders him to swear undying loyalty to her, to do anything she asks. Merlin essentially becomes like her Winter Soldier and wrecks havoc on villages. When Arthur hears about a dangerous sorcerer named Myrddin attacking villages he goes to investigates, still depressed about the lose of Merlin, and is shocked to discover that it Myrddin is Merlin except Merlin doesn’t remember him or anything before the fomarrah was implanted. Arthur now has a new goal of getting his best friend back and break Morgana’s hold on him.

The Purple Tunic. Merlin’s birthday comes and goes with no celebration, Gaius being overrun with patients and Merlin stuck with an impossibly long list of chores from Arthur. When Arthur learns that Merlin’s birthday had passed he feels bad and leaves the purple tunic for him in his room as a gift.

Arthur kills a Druid women and as she lays dying she roughly grabs his arm and curses him to experience suffer any wound he deals. Arthur struggles with his self worth now that he can’t protect his people as a knight without hurting himself

Arthur and Merlin get cursed so that whenever one gets hurt the other suffers the same wound (like Barbara and Strickler from Trollhunters)

Merthur WandaVision AU

S3 E12 AU where Merlin does actually fight Gwaine and Arthur is the one that has to be physically held back

Seeing Double. Merlin has always had a lot of work what with helping Gaius, being Arthur’s manservant, and saving everyone’s lives in a near daily basis. One day he is so busy he tries a new spell that’s suppose to create a double of you that lasts for 24 hours. Arthur thinks he’s going mad because he keeps seeing double of Merlin.

Mama’s Boy. Hunith is taken prisoner by some bandits and that sets Merlin on a warpath to get her back with Arthur at his side.

Merlin gets captured by a dark sorcerer who knows he’s Emrys and has him chained up in cold iron. While he’s imprisoned the sorcerer bloodlets him, planning to sell the blood of Emrys on the black market keep Merlin alive enough not to fight back.

Arthur falls and hurts his arm. Merlin examines it and diagnoses it, “You’ve fractured your ulna.” Gwaine perks up at this, “Ulna? I think I dated an Ulna once.”

While picking herbs for Gaius Merlin finds an injured and orphaned fox kit and brings it back with him. One day it gets out of his room and chaos ensues. He nearly catches it in Arthur’s room when Arthur returns and he tries to play it cool.

AU where as Freya lay dying in Merlin’s arms they get married, using blades of grass as their rings. The knights don’t notice at first but eventually one of them asks about it and Merlin gets all sad.

Merlin wakes in the middle of the night to someone breaking into Gaius’s chambers, covered in blood

A servant of two masters AU where instead of sending Merlin in to assassinate Arthur she makes a sting bulb of Merlin and sends it in. A day after it gets sent away Merlin breaks out of Morgana’s and races to save Arthur. Stabs a sword through his clone’s stomach. When it dies it turns into a pile of humus. Arthur starts to get suspicious of Plant!Merlin when he stops eating and he swears he saw Merlin stick his finger in water and drink it. Plant!Merlin also gets weak after long period’s without sunlight and ‘wilts’. Gwiane refuses to give up on his search for Merlin and sets out on his own. Finds Merlin in Morgana’s hovel and together they escape back to Camelot.

Modern Day Merlin, Merlin starts suffering from symptoms of Mahd Wy'ry which affects and causes him to have psychotic episodes at random, due to the weight of his memories. Leon finds him during one of these episodes.

That scene from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron where Merlin holds an injured Arthur on the banks of a river when the bad guys find them and tear them apart despite their pleas. The knights find Arthur and once he’s stronger they set out to save Merlin.

Merlin and Arthur argue that the other wouldn’t last a day in the others shoes so Arthur comes up with the idea of ‘swapping places’ while they are visiting another kingdom that has never met Arthur before. The knights are in on it. They swap clothes and for a week Merlin is Arthur and Arthur is Merlin.

When kids start disappearing in the middle of the night Merlin sets out to investigate and is nearly killed

Morgana visits Gaius because she feels nauseous and while she’s there she throws up on her dress. Merlin lets her borrow some of his clothes and Arthur walks in sees her and thinks they’re courting. Arthur gets jealous.

That scene from Disneys Robin Hood where they dress as fortune tellers but it’s Merlin and Arthur and they do it in order to get into a bandits keep without arousing suspicion and getting something of importance they stole (Arthurs mothers sigil? His mothers ring?)

Merlin has parasomnia and often wanders the castle at night, often to Arthurs room

Merlin opens a haven for magical creatures/beings/people. Arthur wanders into and is nearly drowned by a naiad but Merlin saves him

Merlin Tarzan AU with a hint of Valka from HTTYD2. Balinor refuses to help Uther trap the last dragon and instead frees it. He takes shelter in Ealdor where he falls in love and has a child with Hunith. One day Uther finds them and, finding themselves cornered with no chance of escape, Balinor calls upon Kilgarrah. Balinor is killed and Hunith is taken prisoner to be used as bait for Merlin someday. Kilgarrah takes baby Merlin to a safe haven for dragons where he is raised by dragons. Many years later Merlin heard about the legend of the dragon egg and sets out to find it. During this journey he meets Prince/King Arthur. Although rivals at first they soon realize they have the same goal, return magic and dragons to Camelot.

Dragonlord side effects. The days following the activation of his Dragonlord powers Merlin starts to experience some side effects. Each chapter is a different side effect.

After Arthur becomes king he reinstates the holiday Saturnalia. Merlin gets elected the “Mock King” giving him a free pass to cause as much mischief and mayhem as he would like

[misschizuchi]

Durga comes back with a story.

I had it in my mind for a while now, cohesive even, but never wrote it down. Why not now? Idea came to me while I was reading another post. It was about Gortash having a child with his wife and growing to love it so much that Durge got jealous and killed the baby... I didn't finish reading. My imagination left for an adventure of it's own.

All started with Durga, Astarion and Gortash becoming The Three rulers of the city. Astarion and Durga being married and Gortash being their third wheel for a good while.

Ancunins having their first child OH WAIT there's two at once. I have a thing for twins, so of course I once again imagined my character giving birth to exactly that.

Some time later a night of passion comes for The Three, and Durga gets pregnant again, though not ever being concerned about who the father is. For some reason her and Astarion are absolutely sure that there will be another pale white haired baby to add to their family portraits. Meanwhile Ancunins become somewhat distant to Enver, since he is about to have a family of his own for political benefit more that anything else.

A child that Durga gives birth to turns out with darker skin and hair quite black, so the question of who the father is gets thrown out the window. Not Astarion nor Durga are against having Gortash' child, bhaalspawn is hesitant to tell Enver about his offspring: he is already married and expects a child with his own wife. Small copy of Gortash then gets to be raised in the temple under Durga's strict guidance, yet not for long.

The Three rulers have a lot of power and influence, but not all of it. Resistance grew bold and cocky, with an outrageous idea to kill Enver Gortash. Or maybe it was his wife's admirer, who organized an assassination attempt? Maybe both... An attempt there was. One of many, but this one got closer than any other before, crawling as close as bedroom door was.

The conspirators though didn't manage to kill Gortash, injured his son so badly, he couldn't make it. In panic they took little body from it's crib and ran, unsure what to do with the consequences of their failure...

The scene of this horrific murder looked so brutal, Enver instantly remembered about an old friend. Blinded by loss of the child he grew to love he blamed Durga for the killing of his newborn. Not to her face, but she got the message fairly quickly.

Though this insult did hurt her a lot, she rejected the idea of taking this blame. Bhaalists under her command found the actual culprits and gave them up to the devotees of Bane. They did find the body as well, yet obviously there was nothing left to save.

Durga's heart and pride were shattered by Enver's accusations. She really wanted to throw Gortash' wrongness right in his face. So she got an idea... This child of his wife looked quite a lot like her own boy, that she gave up to Bhaal's temple. Time came to get him back. Who would tell her "no", really? And so she did.

Not being as secretive as they were before becoming The Three, Durga and her priests in their purple robes marched demonstratively through the city to give Bane's chosen son back to him. By now you would think a parent would recognize their child, but for the sake of the plot these boys were almost identical.

Enver felt relief, but then again wasn't quite happy with himself since he accused his closest friend of betraying him basically. Durga assured him later that she's not holding any grudges, but this time she grew cold for real.

Years passed. Ancunins got themselves another baby, a girl this time! Daddy's princess grew spoiled. While Enver' son was growing in distress, not understanding why he couldn't connect with his mother - Enver's wife - and where all those violent thoughts are coming from. More even, why he is getting punished for something that feels so right to him.

Gortash didn't understand either, but being himself and still thinking that this boy was pushed out to this cruel world by his wife that he didn't really love that much, Bane's chosen didn't pay too much attention to his offspring. His wife though did... and was she worried about darling boy she also thought was hers.

That boy with dark hair was very aware of Durga's existence! Moreover he built such close relationship with Ancunin family that when atmosphere at home was becoming unbearable, he flew to Astarion's mansion every time. Pale vamplings were friendly to him, though joked around a little too much for boy's taste.

Astarion was the one who gave out a hint to young lad about who his actual mother is. Like a trickster he then watched and listened to the drama unfolding.

Enver's son reached his teenage years, and misunderstanding between him and his "mother" turned into a conflict that they could not resolve peacefully anymore. So he killed her, burning with desire to kill his father too. Yet he didn't, saying "You're only survive, because mother Durga says so". It was said in bloodthirsty rage, but from now on the truth became so obvious, Enver thought of himself as the biggest fool for not realizing earlier.

This realization changed a lot. First and foremost the attitude of Gortash toward his son: it wasn't some boy from some woman anymore, it was a child from a woman he loved deeply as he came to understand over all those years, a child though bloodthirsty, angry and murderous, but the fruit of love nonetheless.

The story telling ends for now. Gortash protected his son by lying through the newspapers about another attack on his family that took his wife this time. Him and Durga had a long talk, but even though Enver was confused by his friend's decision in the past (as was she tbh) the truth was so uplifting he never held a grudge. In his eyes everything turned out to the best.

[book--brackets]

Dragonkeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul (2004-2008)

When Kale, a slave girl, finds a dragon egg, she is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. But on her way to The Hall, where she was to be trained, Kale runs into danger. Rescued by a small band of Paladin's servants, Kale is turned from her destination. 

Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find the Wizard Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg--whose true value they have not begun to suspect.

Clocktaur War by T. Kingfisher (2017-2018)

A paladin, an assassin, a forger, and a scholar ride out of town. It's not the start of a joke, but rather an espionage mission with deadly serious stakes. T. Kingfisher's new novel begins the tale of a murderous band of criminals (and a scholar), thrown together in an attempt to unravel the secret of the Clockwork Boys, mechanical soldiers from a neighboring kingdom that promise ruin to the Dowager's city.

If they succeed, rewards and pardons await, but that requires a long journey through enemy territory, directly into the capital. It also requires them to refrain from killing each other along the way At turns darkly comic and touching, Clockwork Boys puts together a broken group of people trying to make the most of the rest of their lives as they drive forward on their suicide mission.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon (1988-1989)

Paksenarrion — Paks for short — is somebody special. She knows it, even if nobody else does yet. No way will she follow her father's orders to marry the pig farmer down the road. She's off to join the army, even if it means she can never see her family again.

And so her adventure begins... the adventure that transforms her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

Here is her tale as she lived it.

Paks is trained as a mercenary, blooded, and introduced to the life of a soldier . . . and to the followers of Gird, the soldier's god.

Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen (2006-2016)

An unusual murder brings together three strangers, John, Jack, and Charles, on a rainy night in London during the first World War. An eccentric little man called Bert tells them that they are now the caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica -- an atlas of all the lands that have ever existed in myth and legend, fable and fairy tale. These lands, Bert claims, can be traveled to in his ship the Indigo Dragon, one of only seven vessels that is able to cross the Frontier between worlds into the Archipelago of Dreams.

Pursued by strange and terrifying creatures, the companions flee London aboard the Dragonship. Traveling to the very realm of the imagination itself, they must learn to overcome their fears and trust in one another if they are to defeat the dark forces that threaten the destiny of two worlds. And in the process, they will share a great adventure filled with clues that lead readers to the surprise revelation of the legendary storytellers these men will one day become.

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey (2003-2006)

The first book in this thrilling new series introduces us to a young slave who dreams of becoming a jouster-one of the few warriors who can actually ride a flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon...

Frontier Magic by Patricia C. Wrede (2009-2012)

Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent -- and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to the frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates settlers from the beasts of the wild.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (2017)

The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border ― unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and ― best of all as far as Elliot is concerned ― mermaids.  "Serene," said Serene. "My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle." Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands. It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world. In Other Lands is the exhilarating new book from beloved and bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan. It’s a novel about surviving four years in the most unusual of schools, about friendship, falling in love, diplomacy, and finding your own place in the world ― even if it means giving up your phone.

Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn (2012-2014)

Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai.

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.

Old Magic by Marianna Curley (2000)

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn’t know why.

Jarrod is the clumsy new boy at school that Kate can’t take her eyes off, and it’s not just because he has amazing eyes, but because she senses something different about him, and when he inadvertently blows up the classroom, she knows exactly what it is. He has powers like her, except he doesn’t know it and Kate sets out to show him. On their journey of discovery Kate learns Jarrod has an ancient curse on his family that will keep hurting his little brother and parents if they don’t do something to remove it.

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist (1988)

Successful screenwriter Phil Hastings decides to move his family from sunny California to a ramshackle farmhouse in New York State. The idea is to take some time out, relax and pick up the threads of his career as a novelist. Good plan, bad choice. The place they choose is surrounded by ancient woodland. The house they choose is the centrepoint of a centuries-old evil intent on making its presence felt to intruders.

[expectiations]

River Song returns from the dead

Alex Kingston stars in The Death and Life of River Song, a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas, coming soon from Big Finish Productions. 

An archaeologist from the 52nd century, born and raised to be an assassin, destined to marry her intended target, and to have many of her own adventures too – Professor River Song’s very messy timeline began (or maybe ended) when she first appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library. 

Since then, Alex Kingston has reprised the role of River numerous times for Big Finish Productions, including in her own series, The Diary of River Song, which ran from 2015 to 2023. And, starting in August 2024, she will carry on the role in a brand-new series, The Death and Life of River Song. 

The first box set in the series, Last Words, is written by Robert Valentine. It begins with River, after settling down to an afterlife in the Library’s computer core, finding herself waking up in Earth’s future, her consciousness having been temporarily transferred to a new body. 

Alex Kingston said: “We have gone post-Library! We’ve done another episode in the past where I was within the database, which I loved, and I thought that’s the only way you could go forward with River, given her situation. So, I was actually really surprised when this box set came my way, and that we are now so far advanced in the history of Earth that she is able to be brought out as data and put into a cloned body. So very, very clever!” 

Producer David Richardson added: “When every single day during the recording, your leading actress says “This script is brilliant”, you know you’re onto a good thing. Even better, at the end of the last day, Alex popped the script in her bag and announced that she loved Last Words so much she was taking it home to keep and treasure.” 

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, either as a collector’s edition four-CD box set, for £29.99, or as a digital download, for £22.99 per volume.   

Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector’s edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.