#also we can see how male mages looks

[megs-98]

Like You Mean It

Hope yall enjoy this Gale smut piece :3

Heavily inspired by one specific line in Steven Rodriguez's song 'Like You Mean It'

Pairing: Gale x f!reader (Tav)

Summary: After a long, dreary day spent in Gale's tower, barely seeing him at all, you decide that you're going to get the attention that you crave. Even if it means Gale has to tame his brat with the help of a mage hand.

Tags: Explicit!, bit of a dom!Gale, use of mage hand, clothed nipple play, some voyeurism, male masturbation, riding, lots of praise, mutual orgasm (Please let me know if I missed any!)

Word count: 3.8k

It was a dreary, damp day in Waterdeep, causing you and your wizard to stay inside Gale’s tower. It wasn’t all bad though, as it gave you a chance to catch up on sleep and other various things you had been wanting to get done. It also gave Gale a chance to grade various assignments from his students at Blackstaff. 

You were laying on the couch, curled up with a book and plush blanket, when you noticed it was now dark. Closing your book with a sigh, you thought of how you had only seen your lover when you brought him food to his office throughout the day, receiving a curt thank you and kiss on the cheek. You knew he needed to get his work done, but enough was enough, you thought. Removing the blanket from your lap, you made your way through the tower to Gale’s office. He was still hunched over his desk, just as you had last left him hours before. You watched him closely as you silently padded over to his chair, noticing that his hair, that was being held back with a spare quill, was starting to fall in his face from constantly running his hands through his hair. You can hear him muttering to himself as you carefully place your hand on the back of his chair. 

“I just don’t understand how they keep missing these questions, it’s simple evocation. Perhaps I’m not as good a teacher as I thought” Gale whispered to himself. 

“You seemed to know what you were doing when you taught me when we were at camp.” You said to him as you knelt down beside the man so you could look at him.

Gale smiled at you as your eyes met his, cupping one of your cheeks, instinctively running his thumb over your cheekbone. “It certainly did help that you were an exceptional student, my love.” 

You kissed his palm as you leaned into his touch. Standing as you heard a content sigh come from the wizard, you grabbed his hand in yours, pulling on it slightly.

“Come on, time to stop for the night. It’s dark out, let’s go lay down.”

“My beloved, as much as I want to, I do really need to complete this grading. Why don’t you sit on the chaise and keep me company, hmm?” Gale said as he kissed your knuckles, glancing over at the lounge behind his desk where Tara was laying. 

The tressym yawned as she stood to stretch her legs and wings out. “Very well, Mr. Dekarios, she may have my seat. At least it will be warm when I come back to it later.” She said with a hint of annoyance in her voice as she gave you a side glance, slowly leaving the room. You gave her a small smile and quietly thanked her while closing the door as she made her exit. 

“I still don’t think she likes me all that much.” You sighed as you sat down on the chaise, with Gale putting a blanket in your lap. He kissed the top of your head and ran a hand through your hair. 

“Come now, you know Tara loves you! That just happens to be her favorite spot and she doesn’t particularly like anyone else sitting there. Now, I really do have to get back to these assignments, love. I promise I’ll be done soon.” 

You conceded, knowing that he would be done soon enough and at least being in the room with him would be better than going to bed alone. However, this did not stop you from quickly growing bored. Sure, Gale had an extremely impressive book collection, but your thoughts couldn’t focus on anything you read. You eventually left your perch on the chaise and began wandering around the office. Inspecting various items as if you hadn’t already seen them hundreds of times, taking more books off the shelves and quickly thumbing through them, haphazardly placing them down rather than putting them back in the proper spot. You accidentally bumped Gale’s chair a few times as you circled the office. 

“Tav, sweetheart, please. These assignments won’t grade themselves. Relax for now and then you’ll have me all to yourself for the rest of the night.” 

“Well, I mean, couldn’t you come up with a spell that makes the papers grade themselves?” You knew you were being a smartass but it was keeping you entertained, even if it was preventing your lover from getting his work done. Gale shook his head as he went back to his work without answering you, knowing it would egg you on if he did. You went back to the chair and looked out the window, watching as the various light sources bounced off the water in the port. You stayed like this for a while, going from watching the water, to your wizard hunched over his desk, to the candles that were slowly burning away. 

Growing ever exasperated by the continued promise of Gale being done soon, you thought of one last thing you could do that always worked to lure the man out of his office. Lifting yourself off the chaise, you went back over to Gale, placing your hand on his shoulder. He acknowledged that you were there by putting his hand on yours and stroking the back of your hand with his thumb. You motioned for him to sit back, which he did as this was something you often did to help with his posture. As he sat back in his chair, you took the opportunity to plant yourself in his lap as well as taking the quill out of his hair, discarding it on his desk. As some papers fell to the floor due to the lack of space, you heard the chair scratch across the floor as Gale scooted the chair back to give the two of you more space. You noticed as the man stifled a slight moan from you placing yourself directly over his cock, grinding down slightly as you made yourself comfortable.  

Gale pushed his hair back then pinched the bridge of his nose, giving a small sigh. “Love, what are you doing? I told you I was almost done and then I would be yours.” He said as he lowered his hands to your hips. 

“I do recall hearing you say that, several different times actually. It’s been hours and you’re still not done yet. I’m not moving until you agree to finish those papers tomorrow and come to bed with me.” You slid your arms around his neck, placing your forehead against his. Staring at him with half-lidded eyes, trailing your gaze down to his lips. You placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth while grinding your hips down, eliciting a small moan from Gale. You knew he couldn’t resist you and you were determined to get him to leave his damned office for the night.  

Gale furrowed his brow, thinking of what he could say to get you to move. He knew how resolute you could be and he knew this would be one of those times you used that to your advantage. It’s not that he didn’t want you, quite the opposite in fact, he just needed a little more time to finally finish his work. 

“Angel, please, I.. uhh.. I just.. Oh gods.. I’ll be done soon, then we can go to the bedroom.”

You continued your work on Gale, slowly rolling your core against him as you kissed along his jawline and down his neck. 

“I think I’ve been neglected enough for one day, my love. You’re going to fuck me one way or another..” You started untying his house robe, moving your hands lower, feeling his length harden beneath you. A smirk spread across your face as you saw your lover start to come undone for you and you knew you would have your way after all. Gale was quick to notice how smug you looked, he knew what was happening. There had been many times when the two of you fucked in his office. Hells, he knew this wouldn't be the last time it happened either. But Gale was determined to teach you a lesson for your haughty behavior. He remembered a conversation the two of you had had a week prior. 

~~

You and Gale were in bed, sunlight streaming in from behind the curtains. Having been up for a couple hours talking and cuddling, Gale laying between your legs with his head on your chest. You decided to bring up something that had been on your mind for a while. Gale raised an eyebrow at you as you explained that  you felt like there was one area of your intimate life that was lacking with the man. 

“No, I didn’t say our sex life is boring. It’s anything but love, though I do wish sometimes you would be a little rougher.”

“Rougher? I do suppose I’m rather gentle with you. I couldn’t risk hurting my goddess, now could I?” He winked at you as he worked his way kissing down your body.

~~

Gale decided that he would take this as an opportunity to give you exactly what you asked for. He stopped protesting about needing to get back to work, seemingly giving into your demands. You kept running your hands through his hair as you kissed him. That was until you heard him muttering to himself again. 

“I swear to the Gods, Gale. If you are still worried about those damn assignments.” You whispered to him. Then you heard exactly what he was saying to himself.

“Veni et iuva me. Come and aid me.” A mage hand. You looked at him confused as the translucent hand appeared with the flash of green and purple. 

“I thought this would be helpful tonight, for you to receive optimal pleasure.” Gale’s hands still resting on your hips, neither moving you nor stopping you from trying to find pleasure in both of your bodies. You knew that Gale would be able to hold the concentration needed for a while. You flashed him a mischievous grin, happy that he was just as eager as you were.

You watched as Gale moved one of your legs from the side of his hip to between his legs. You shifted your weight to be sitting on just one of his knees, watching as his mage hand lightly trailed over your thighs, sending a shutter down your body. Gale smiled at you as he noticed, looking at you through half lidded eyes.

“Oh, does my darling like that? You can have more, you can have everything you want, love. I just need you to be patient with me, just like I’ve been patient with you this evening.” He said as he brought his knee up into your core as you ground down on him. You tried to stifle your moan until you felt the mage hand on your cheek, brushing its thumb across your bottom lip. 

Gale clicked his tongue as he watched you. “Tsk tsk tsk, no, no. I want to hear those sweet moans. Now, open.” 

You felt the thumb on your lip apply pressure as it pressed down, causing you to open your mouth. Taking the thumb in your mouth as much as you can, you start to gag on it. All while keeping eye contact with your lover. 

“There’s my good, eager girl.” Gale’s breathing had quickened as he watched and you could feel him getting even harder against your thigh. His grip on your hips got tighter as you worked yourself more and more against his leg, making sure to let your moans out every time you felt pressure against your clit through your pants. You suddenly felt Gale’s mage hand leave your mouth, causing you to whimper at the sudden loss.

The feeling was quickly replaced by the surprise as you felt the conjuration pinch one of your hardened nipples that was showing through your shirt. The slight twinge of pain you felt as the hand continued tweaking and groping your breast caused you to moan out in pleasure as you pressed your core harder against Gale’s thigh, faster and faster as you felt the cord in your abdomen growing so tight it was close to snapping. Between the mage hand switching between your clothed breasts, pinching and kneading at your supple chest, the stimulation you felt as you rolled your hips against your love, as well as hearing his heavy breathing from watching you come undone was causing you to near your finish. Your lover knew this and stopped you before that could happen. A frustrated groan left your lips and as you opened your mouth to say something, Gale grabbed the back of your head, leading your mouth to his as he put his tongue in your mouth. Both you were lost in the passionate kiss until Gale pulled back, leaning back in the chair with a smirk and leaving an even more frustrated look on your face. 

“As much as I do enjoy watching you get off like this, my beloved, I’m not done with quite yet.” He patted your ass as he motioned for you to stand. “Stand, please.” 

You did as you asked, hoping that it would finally grant you access to Gale’s cock as he stood up right after you, walking over to his desk and leaning against the edge of it. 

“I want you to undress for me while continuing to let my conjuration work its magic on you.” You rolled your eyes as Gale chuckled at his own joke and winked at you. You made sure to take your time with this request and make a show of it. Starting with your flimsy shirt, you made sure to pull it taut against your body, causing your tits to lift and fall with it as you removed it. You could feel the mage hand barely brushing against your back, sending shivers down through your body. Moving on to your loose fitting shorts, you played with the waistband of them, trying to tease Gale, who quickly had the mage hand start pulling them down for you. You saw Gale’s eyes grow heavy with lust as he saw that you weren’t wearing anything under your shorts. Gale made quick work of pulling you into him, giving your ass a painfully pleasant smack as he held you against him. 

“What a naughty, naughty girl. This must have been something you’ve been waiting for all day.” He said as he kissed and bit at your neck. You tried untying Gale’s pants as he showered you in his affections but you were quickly stopped.

“While I do appreciate the enthusiasm, like I said before, I’m not done with you this evening. And there’s something else I’d like you to do for me.”

Gale’s hand found your back as he stepped to the side and quickly guided you to laying on your stomach across his desk, his hardened length rubbing against your ass as he bent over you, whispering in your ear. “I want you to lay here and enjoy yourself while the mage hand fucks you. Think of it as a little bit of foreplay before the main event, angel.” He kissed your temple as he removed himself from behind you. 

Just as quickly as he left, you felt his mage hand ghost over your slick folds, quickly finding your clit. You let out a moan as you watched Gale walk away.  Your eyes tried to follow your partner as he walked away, catching that he was standing at the tall windows, untying the curtain ropes, causing the heavy linen to fall across the windows. 

The mage hand continued its work on your clit as Gale walked back, standing at the side of the chaise, moving the blanket that you had discarded earlier on to the backrest of the chair. You could barely see behind you as he undressed himself and sat himself down against the back of the lounge, stroking himself as he watched his mage hand pleasure you. Your thoughts were quickly brought back to what was happening to your body as you felt the fingers from the conjuration start to stroke against your entrance. The translucent hand sank a finger into you, eliciting one of your sweet moans that Gale loved to hear. The hand thrust its finger in and out of you a few times before adding a second finger into you. Your eyes rolled back at the sensation, unconsciously grinding back against it as you were desperately hoping that Gale would give you his cock. The mage hand skillfully worked its fingers in you, stroking and flexing against you as you clenched against it, desperately wishing it was your wizard instead of his spell. The conjuration was hitting deep in you now, starting to hit that sweet spot you so loved when Gale hit it with his cock. You were begging for Gale, begging for him to take over and bring you to completion. 

Gale kept watching as his mage hand fucked you and you begged for him while he stroked himself. He thought that he had ascended with your sex life before, but watched you get fucked out by a mage hand was a new addiction for him. The way you were bent over his desk, baring everything for him, singing your sweet song as you moaned out for him. He stopped himself from cumming as he slowed his stroking, edging himself. Wanting to save his completion for when he was in you. He had never been harder in his life and he knew he needed to do this with you more often. Gale finally left the chaise once it sounded like you were on the verge of crying from overstimulation. He lightly placed a hand on your back to let you know he was there for you. 

He threaded one of his own hands through your hair as he stood next to you. “You’re doing so well, love, I’m so proud of you. I need you to let go before I put my cock into your tight pussy. Can you do that for me, angel?” He whispered in your ear. You nodded quickly as the mage hand started fucking you harder. You quickly came undone all while chanting Gale’s name like a prayer on your lips. You slowly stood while Gale guided you both to the chaise, where he laid down first. Gale helped you straddle his hips as you were still collecting yourself from the orgasm that just tore through you. You laid your head on his chest, panting heavily, while he rubbed your back, faintly hearing as he dismissed his mage hand. You listened to your lover’s heartbeat as you tried to calm yours. All the while you saw, and felt, his throbbing length resting between the two of your stomachs. You were quickly ready for the main event with your wizard as you watched his cock twitch as you peppered his chest with open mouthed kisses, leaving marks in your wake. You sat up to look at Gale, smirking at him, happy with yourself that your plan had worked, not knowing that your wizard had his own plan running as well. 

Gale sat up with you, bringing a hand up to the back of your head, massaging your scalp as he looked at you. You decided to press your luck with the wizard and started rubbing your folds against his throbbing length. The mischievous look in his eyes warned you that he thought that you were going to try something like that.

“You just don’t learn, do you, love?” He asked as he gripped a handful of your hair in his hand. “You didn’t think your insolent behavior all evening would be rewarded, did you? Now, I want you to be a good girl and fuck me like you mean it.” Gale’s voice was low and his eyes were blown with lust as he looked at you. You winced as you realized that you, in fact, did not have the upper hand like you thought you did. One of your hands gripped Gale’s shoulder while the other grabbed at his forearm, however, the slight moan that you let out the moment Gale grabbed your hair did not fall on deaf ears.

You were too surprised by Gale’s actions to fully give him an answer, instead lifting your hips up, lining his leaking tip up to your throbbing entrance. You both let out a breathy moan as you sank down on your lover. At this moment, you were feeling grateful for all the work the mage hand had done on you as you were able to take Gale all the way to the hilt immediately. Gale’s hands kept a punishing grip on your thighs, both of you knowing that it would most definitely leave a bruise. You started bouncing yourself up and down on Gale’s cock, quickly becoming wetter and wetter. The only sounds in the room were you and your lover’s moans and the lewd sounds coming from pussy as you rode Gale. 

You heard Gale beneath you, slowly losing his dominant demeanor he had held so well through the intimate experience.

“Oh, fuck, bloody hell, Tav.”

“Uhnn, yeah, just like, don’t stop. Gods, I won’t last much longer if you keep doing that.” 

“Look at you, my goddess, taking my cock so, so well. Fuck.” 

You both knew that the two of you were nearing the edge, rather quickly. Gale started rubbing your clit again, causing you to cry out in a mixture of overstimulation and pleasure. You clench down hard around Gale, your telltale sign that you were about to finish. He took his hand away from your clit as he held you by the waist, holding you steady as he rutted up into you.

“Come on, angel, let’s finish together. I know you can do it. Onhh, you look so beautiful taking my cock like this.” 

His praise was exactly what you needed as you tumbled over the edge, reaching the climax you had so desperately been seeking. Gale quickly came after you, feeling you clench down even harder around him as you felt his cum fill you. He kept pumping into you as you milked him dry. You let your head fall to his shoulder as you tried to catch your breath. Gale brought the blanket that was hanging over the back rest over the two of you as he tightly embraced you as he laid you both down in the chair.

“I think you should interrupt my work more often, sweetheart.” Gale said through heavy breaths as you giggled at him. He kissed your forehead as he kept whispering praises into your hair as you fell asleep against him. He smiled at you, watching as your breathing evened out, and drifted off into sleep himself.

[vitaeplaysda]

Finally a complete set with all my planned Rooks! It's just a first take, depending on the CC and the game and how I will feel in the next months they will change for sure. Also the clothing is all random. Purple because... it's Rook. Time to go back to Elgar'dad, commissions and other artworks. I will talk about them under the cut!

◆ Nadir "Lil'Rook" Lavellan

Elf ◆ Transmasc nonbinary ◆ he/they Antivan Crows ◆ Orb/Knife Mage (Spellblade)

My little baby, my firstborn, the first Rook I designed. Used to work as a lil kid in Skyhold's kitchen, until he met the demon Enfenim in that abandoned library hidden there, befriending him (it's another OCs of mines, check my pinned!)

Long story short he gets adopted by my Lavellan after his magic manifested, in the kitchens. Near boiling oil. The left side of his face and shoulder is covered in burn scars. Still he grows up to be a great but VERY unlucky mage, to the point he considers himself bad news and slowly starts to embrace this side of him in a selfdeprecating way. After yet another incident, he leaves her mother and their community, deciding he wants to make just one single good thing for her: finding Solas. Hiding his identity he ends up joining the crows, finding out he's quite good as an assassin. Relationship wise I brutally ship him with Elgar'nan, but more specifically he's in a weird... double triangle romboid (?) relationship with also Sulenan and Bellara??? (aka Sulenan also has a relationship with all of them but Bellara and Elgar'nan don't deal with each other.... unless the game will state otherwise >:D) He's hella young, in his early twenties, but usually fakes his age and tries to pass as someone older. He's also the shortest elf you'll ever meet.

◆ Saara(?) "Rook"

Qunari ◆ female ◆ she/her Veil Jumpers ◆ Bow Rogue (Arcane Archer)

She's meant to be the real Rook, you know, the one who Varric recruits. Qunari who was taken in by a (very open minded) Dalish clan. I'm still unsure if she was born in the Qun or not, in any case she embraced the elven culture as her own. She can be considered diplomatic and understanding, a good bean. The idea behind her is linked to the Qunari having metallic like skin... I wanted to make a golden one since they're usually grey in games. I'm not sure about the name Saara just because I remembered now Sera has a very similar sound. We shall see if I'm going to change it.

◆ Sulenan

Elf ◆ Male ◆ he/him Shadow dragons ◆ Two handed Warrior (Slayer)

I idealized him as a... mortal form Elgar'nan would use to mingle and learn the hell has happened while he was gone but he became a whole unique character. A Liberati of dalish origin, he's one of the angriest characters I have, hating humans for what they've done to his people and their rotten society, hating the chantry for its comforting lies, hating the elvhen gods because... well apparently they're evil now. In the end he's just very lost and heartbroken, desiring only for things to get better. Alas he's also practical and knows you gotta make your hands dirty if you wanna achieve anything. Headcanon wants Elgar'nan can control him through Vallaslin, I also fantasized about Sulenan sharing the same blood of his god. He feels comforted by Bellara's presence tho, his "Official" relationship it's going to be with her. For the headcanon chaotic one check LilRook above 👀

◆ Anarca

Qunari ◆ Agender nonbinary ◆ they/them in game but any pronoun works Mourn Watch ◆ Staff Mage (Deathcaller)

It's just... chaotic. Take the Dnd core rules and turn them into a person. They're unpredictable, at times taking a kind choice, while another time they will act in scary ways. It isn't like they don't like rules and push against them, for Anarca rules simply aren't part of their world. Beside their peculiar behavior, Anarca loves to experiment but mostly they want to have *fun*. You want to see the skeletons dance? You'll have that. Look wise people are always scared as they're extremely tall, most of their face half covered by hair with just their horns poking out.

◆ Veronica

Elf-blooded Human ◆ Female ◆ she/her Grey Wardens ◆ Shield Warrior (Champion)

Melancholic gal whom had to join the wardens in order to survive not so different from the Hero of Ferelden and also the token human (?) of this group. While she has a rooted sense of duty which made her a good warden, she still misses and fantasizes about the kind of life she would have gone through if she stayed among nobles, instead she had and still has to fight monsters and to come into terms with her Calling being closer than not. The idea was to have her romance Emmrich, letting her coming to term with the concept of death through him.

◆ Raibeart

Dwarf ◆ Male ◆ he/they Lords of Fortune ◆ Daggers Rogue (Sabouter)

The cheerful and funny guy of the group but also the most clueless one. Honestly he doesn't know why he joined the Veilguard... he probably doesn't even know he's part of the Veilguard. Still, he isn't one to ask complex questions to himself or others, somehow he's able to work with whatever is at hand, navigating through every situation, hopefully bringing a smile on people's face in the meanwhile. He's goofy but still charismatic and enthusiastic, a disney princess in the body of a burly pirate drawf.

[silent-words]

My favourite magic nerds (Gale Dekarios and Dorian Pavus)

Alright, I'll squeeze some DA obsession here by comparing two characters, one from BG3 and one from DA: Inquisition. Not only do I want to get back to Gale (my beloved), but also draw some attention to the least romanced character in Dragon Age: Inquisition (Dorian Pavus), who is, of course, unfairly neglected.

Appearance

First and foremost – stunning looks. They're both handsome in my very biased and totally subjective opinion. Just look at them and try to tell me they're not gorgeous.

Immaculate facial hair. I actually have screenshots of the underside of Gale's beard, it is as neat as Dorian's moustache.

They're both Mediterranean-coded tanned dark-haired men. Which is supported by Gale's Greek-sounding surname and Dorian's homeland being the analogy of the Roman Empire.

Profession

Both are wizards/mages, very skilled mages, who know what they are doing with their power.

Both are very talented mages, either by luck, or because of Tevinter mage breeding programme (how else would we call it?).

Both love magic, both are proud of their magic knowledge and fascinated by all things magical. If in both games you face some unknown magic, these companions will go 🤩

Dorian literally lives in a library in Acts 2 and 3 of DA:I. Gale makes a library out of his tent.

They both want to push the boundaries of magical knowledge (Gale does it in his confrontation with Mystra, Dorian in his timey-wimey magic).

To sum up, they're both magic nerds (and I love them for it).

Personality

Both are witty and make a lot of jokes. Dorian is more sarcastic, of course, while Gale is more subtle.

They do not lie to the main character and do not approve of lying.

They do not disapprove when you try to help NPCs.

Both are show-offs, especially when they can demonstrate their magical prowess.

They pay a lot of attention to their looks and want to look dashing. Dorian's make-up and Gale's earring make it even more pronounced.

Both are accustomed to the comforts of civilisation and feel uncomfortable in the wilderness.

They love their city/country of origin, although they know the downsides. With Dorian the very country of origin is a complicated issue, but the homesickness is the same as what we see with Gale (do you remember "I wish I could go home" from the House of Hope?).

Arrogance can be sexy, and those two are the embodiment of this phrase.

Trauma (but that's part of the definition of a companion in these games, so we go on to the next point)

Self-destructive tendencies. With Gale more than with Dorian, but the latter's addiction (referenced in the game) still counts.

Highly emotional and sometimes lashing out on the main character.

Romance

They like sex, but that's not what they actually want from the romance.

They fall in love not for the appearance (we just need to make adjustments for the DA:I weird romance system).

They do not betray the trust of the main character.

Both are not straight characters ;-)

Of course, there are many differences between the characters, but I just wanted to draw some parallels and to show you my pokemons wizards.

P. S. if you want to romance Dorian, you'll need to create a male main character (remember what I said about the weird romance system? it doesn't make sense not only after BG3, but also after DA2).

[notebooks-and-laptops]

I'm thinking about the Andraste cult "the disciples of Andraste" who believe that Andraste is now reborn as a dragon and I honestly have so many questions.

According to this codex they're all completely mad because of "inbreeding" by the time we reach them in DAO, but we actually know surprisingly little about them other than the fact that a) they at some point turned away from worshipping the ashes to worshipping the dragon which got them locked out of the inner sanctuary and the gauntlet, b) they looked after the dragons young and eggs and the dragon and her children never attacked them but instead let them drink dragons blood to become revers d) they distrust outsiders and c) their chantry officials are male much like Tevinter but unlike Orlais.

It's implied that the village possibly practices human sacrifice in DAO, although the exact reasons are unspecified (to feed the dragon? Are their mages blood mages? Why? I have questions!!!) And it's also possibly they were just sacrifing outsiders (the knights of Redcliffe) who managed to find their village? Other than that, there is little to learn by walking through the original haven.

Nothing much more is revealed by the series of quests you can do on the wartable about Haven in Inquisition either (much to my own disappointment). They point to the fact that the cave systems and the temple were built pre-andraste, but they kind of trail off in a very unsatisfactory manner regardless of which agent you pick to complete them.

We also have Tamar who was imprisoned by the inquisition and then began to fight for them to secure her freedom. She has some very interesting dialogue:

"Your Chantry goes belly up, the Inquisition steps in. Always something to keep the same people in power."

"The gilded Chantry says only one truth exists. And its servants lie, steal, kill to make it so."

This reads almost identical to what I would imagine the Dalish might say; and cast the cult in a very different light to "inbreeded mad men". From these quotes and other context we get the idea that she belonged to a group who secluded themselves and kept their own traditions away from regular society, and so her people were slaughtered to preserve the chantrys "truth" and deny her own. Even with the dragon gone (possibly dead) she still believes in her cults traditions and is faithful!!!! (Let me talk to her more PLEAEE.) But regardless, this is about as sympathetic as the games really get towards this cult.

So....what were they? I'm so facinated by these guys.

Because like. They clearly have different ideas about magic, ideas possibly handed down from Andraste herself? Or ideas that developed later? Regardless they have many mages in their group and there isn't any evidence those mages are restricted in any way. If anything their mages are sent to do important things like be the main religious leaders or to impersonate Wylen. Their ideas might honestly be closer to the Avvar which would make some sense geographically (did they have contact with the Avvar? Did they trade with them? Farming would have been hard in their snowy mountains as we know from needing supply routes to Skyhold/Haven in DAI so other than hunting, did they have contact with these groups or not?)

And I have MORE questions!!! Did they have similar religious holidays to regular Andrastism? How did they see Andrastes death most pre and post the arrival of her reborn dragon self? Did their belief in reincarnation spread beyond the dragon (to people as well) or was it something special that had only happened to Andraste? Did they have any religious texts that were important - maybe oral history was particularly favoured in this group like with the Dalish? If so, any oral history dating back to Andraste would have died out when the cult itself did.

I want to anthropologically study these people so bad and like learn everything there is to know but unfortunately they are fictional and in a game and bioware doesn't seem to have any plans to develop them so :/

[shithowdy]

Strange question, but I feel like you are the go-to person for this. Is there any official lore to how lolthsworn drow treat transness? I imagine it would be very terf-y, like amabs arent allowed to transition into a matriarchal caste, and afabs would be disgraced for transitioning to male.

Oh gosh I love drow stuff but I don't think I would even remotely consider myself an expert on their lore, I've only read wikis and scraped the surface of the books. I might page @rukafais though!!

I know there are some trans drow characters, though the only one I can think of right now is Fel'rekt, but as a Bregan D'aerthe member he's more sworn to that than Lolth.

It has always been my personal impression, and thus what I reflect in my RP (my bg3 tav is a trans woman "lolthsworn" who started the game looking masc and as the game progressed became more her desired self), that Lolthite society is very rigid with its gender rules and bioessentialism. Their entire social structure hinges on the matriarchs and priestesses maintaining power, and there's an entire book series about how Fucked Up And Weird they get if anything happens that threatens that order (and the irony of living by such strict order while worshipping "chaos" is lost on them). Much like gender expression being a threat to fascist ideals in real life, I think they would see any kind of gender fluidity as antithetical to their ideals. If men could just suddenly call themselves women, what's stopping all the mages from doing that? What kind of message does it send if one of the matriarchs decides to become a "patriarch"? Where would "agender" fall on the power structure? No. None of that. You are whatever we guess you are based on anatomy at birth.

Additionally, Lolth's hatred of Corellon, an elven god that straddles masculine and feminine, is burning. Elves blessed by Corellon are able to change their physical gender at will; it stands to reason that a goddess determined to be their opposite would revoke such freedoms in her society. She also loves suffering snd giving her own people more reasons to feel at odds with one another.

I think there's room for nuance in individual characters, but from a baseline worldbuilding standpoint I can't imagine lolthite societies being anything but horribly misandrist and by extension against anything that loosens the definition of "man" and "woman".

[alphian-hcs]

This probably applies to Riddle and Leona but I figure they both question why Yuu sleeps at their dorms. Then they look at the inside of ramshackle and they kind of shocked at how bad it is. Leona probably questions how Yuu can even sleep on that bed. Ace did offer for Yuu to room with him and deuce in chapter 2 and Yuu does bunk with Leona's dorm in chapter 3.

"Damn bitch, you live like this?"

NOT THE FIRST DRAFT DELETING IN THE FINAL STRETCH- goof thing i used docs lmao, otherwise i would by crying so hard rn-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riddle Rosehearts

-Riddle would see you walking into the dorm at night and get so confused. He immediately goes into rule mode, about to tell you off for rule 69 or something, already going to lecture you.

-You only survive due to Trey intercepting in time, stopping Riddle and explaining the situation to him, making the male shocked, but also calm down enough to collect his thoughts. 

-He'll allow it for one night, making sure Ace and Duce dont bother you while you sleep, otherwise it's off with their heads.

- the next day he walks to Crowley's office to have a very serious talk with the narcissistic living soon-to-be fried chicken.

With a loud bang, the doors to the head mage's office burst open, a red haired, red faced male at the door, seething with rage he had held back from the prior night. Crowley is already terrified seeing this, as the young prodigy walks forward, before slamming a paper on the desk, writing on it somewhat messy, as if it was written by a trembling hand, not from sadness or fear, but from anger, due to some spots being darker or bolder than others, the ink somewhat abused into the letters it formed on the paper. "This is a paper for a dorm reassignment. I would like the Ramshackle prefect to stay at Heartslabyul as a student until their dorm is safe to live in. I request that you sign it, or you would have to deal with quite the paparazzi if I were to tell a certain magical influencer of this." The headmage was surprised by this threat, reluctantly signing off on the transfer "Yes yes...we will start on that right away then.." he said, watching as Rose Hearts rolled up the now official paper. "Thank you headmage. I'm glad no heads had to roll today.."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leona Kingscholar

-Leona at first is confused, but all around doesn't care. He just finds it a bother to question something he isn't involved with. He just wants to sleep.

-He brushes your visits off until Jack brings it up with him, making a request that Ramshackle Prefect be transferred to Savannahclaw.

-Mans is so confused, like "Why though?" so Jack has to tell Leona of your living conditions.

- Ruggie is already bringing over Leona's wallet as he calls for a repair team, which he would force Crowley to let on campus, or his favorite "Best Headmage" Mug will be a lot more pieces of tiny glass.

Mug in hand, Leona stares into the eyes of the headmage's mask, growling while the headmage panics, calling the ghosts at the gate, telling them to just let the repairman in. Leona soon puts down the mug, watching the bird. "I hope you know I wouldn't normally do this, but that puppy kept getting worried about the prefect and coming to me. If you let this happen again, it'll be your stupid beat getting turned so sand, got that, bird brain?"

[anewe9]

My black mage is too cute... (and a carboncopy, too)

If you like Spy x Family (SxF) you might find this somewhat interesting. A plus if you are a wee bit familiar with Harry Potter (HP)

If not, skip this.

Warning: Chapter 1 Spoilers for My Black Mage is too Cute under the cut. Long post, too.

Yes, the above is official. It is not fanmade. The chap above is a student actually saying "I will kill you" whilst thinking "I like you". The pink-haired girl is a classmate, shocked as SHE CAN READ HIS MIND.

So... what can I say? The boy looks suspiciously like a teen SxF Damian, and the kawaii girl looks like a teen SxF Anya. Browse the damianya tag and you will see how similar they are.

Other than being students in a magical school (hi, Hogwarts), and girl is a prefect (hi again, Hogwarts) the rest does look like an AU Damianya to me... sans the Damianya/SxF charm.

-Background-

My Black Mage is too Cute (such an unimaginative title but on par with other shoujo titling standards) launched in the August 2023 Hana to Yume issue 17/2023.

The premise is quite damianya simple: Tsundere boy, named Jade, with a rather obscure family, is hiding romantic feelings for your standard bubbly, chirpy pink haired shoujo heroine, named Aria Popwell. She is a senior (third year) to him (first year), and prefect at their School of Magic.

-Aria, the female lead-

Seriously, "Aria"? Nothing to connect with certain Anya, right?

Anyway, chapter starts with introducing Aria, the female lead. She is a prefect (whatever this means) at Hogwarts Hardy Quartz Magic Academy, "where apprentice magicians attend classes" We don't know where this Academy is (Japan, I suppose)

Aria is in her third year (no sure if this is a grade, and in fact, how many grades there are if any). She also teaches other junior students (perhaps for being a prefect, this is not confirmed) Her first words are to let us know that Kafugori are big bad wolfs that are very dangerous and how to face them. This is important to the plot (more on this later) It also sets some expectations. To me, I am led to believe that Aria is proficient and competent in whatever she does as a magician or at least, as a student in a Magic Academy.

Yes, let's have a closer look at our heroine... Yep the ^_^ shoujo trope.

Oh no no... that is not a damian jade-shoujo-filter yet. This is how WE are meant to see her. The shoujo flowers are absolutely necessary to help you understand that she is the cutest, loveliest creature on Earth. Unfortunately, we have seen the same face, same flowers and same cheerful shoujo attitude hundreds of times.

-Jade, the male lead-

Yes, this is Jade. Probably if Damian's puberty makes him... agonisingly emo teenager whilst keeping his mysterious and irresistible good looks. Or else. And Yes, Anya Aria just read his thoughts for the first time, much to her shock. Apparently until now, she did not know she can read thoughts when she touches people.

-Giving Tsundere a bad name...-

In case the first time's insults (pushy bitch) were not clear, he escalates his attitude. (Note: I appreciate that the fan translation might not be that harsh, so probably bitch is not what the original Japanese intended to sound) As he is such a cute and charming misunderstood black magician, he has to make sure his prefect is well aware that he is not only terrible at throwing unimaginative insults... he is also proud to announce he will kill her. Why? I do not know.

If you are a hopeless 13-year-old romantic teen that finds that charming, I hope you grow up out of this as soon as possible. If not, please stay away from handsome, dark, mysterious boys/men who might feel the opposite when they say "I'll kill you" Good looks are not worth it and I bet you do not have mind-reading abilities.

There is a kind of cute tsundere (Damian himself, though he is just a young boy), this is not one. There is absolutely nothing sexy, romantic, attractive or remotely interesting in a guy that pretends to hate you, says he will kill you, when they actually like you. Insulting is no praise either and I detest this trope.

Some tsundere fail to recognise or deny (again, Damian, he is too young); some are a bit embarrassed and these pass soon. Insulting and threatening is not charming.

-No, we don't need to see your fantasies (part I)-

Is he really fantasising / wishing to be kissed by her???

Yep, he is. What a creep.

It is bad enough that this guy thinks Aria is cute/hot/pretty and admits (to himself) that he likes her, when in actuality he is insulting her (a charmer). Wait, why would she kiss him? Because she is flattered she is called pushy bitch? Slow poke? Because she likes to receive death threats?

I was truly hoping Jade wanted her to kiss him to destroy that stupid crush. Only an idiot would kiss such a jerk. That would be his eye opener, at least, to realise he cannot possibly like someone so daft. Otherwise, this is ridiculous.

-She is adorably clumsy... NO. She is not.-

Moving on, good news is that the story goes to the point, way too much. Does not waste time with world-setting, simple when/where/why/how/what...

No, we meet cheerful Aria, and dark Jade like that. Other characters do not have any names, and do not really matter. Simple and lazy storytelling.

As Aria is completely shocked she reads minds, she has some little insights/flashbacks about this newly (and conveniently) found ability. No creativity, no build-up, no surprise, nothing. It just happens. Maybe this will be developed later, but it is just dumped like that.

Next panels are a few random examples of him pretending not to care about her, but actually saving this clumsy Aria girl. Too fast and again, no time to digest anything.

First time Jade stops a magic lab accident by destroying a hazardous chemical aimed to that foolish girl.

Second time, he appears to be shoving Aria off his way when in reality, he was saving her from being poisoned.

Why is she even a prefect???? How come she is not aware of the hazards around school??? Why are there hazards like those in a school no matter how magical this is???

Frankly, instead of being charmed by Jade's apparent indifference (yet saving her arse), to me this is a disservice to the girl that started the story being introduced as a prefect. We meet this shoujo heroine explaining useful tips as to how to defend yourself from big bad magical wolves. Sets a bar, you expect some proficiency even if you are not (yet) explained her merits or how she got the prefect status. By being this dumb, requiring the hero to save her, we have to lower our standards. At some point, even Jade himself wonders how she even became a prefect in the first place...

Back to the story, as now Jade inadvertently picked Aria's interest after saving her, we have Aria determined to know him better because, and I quote "Is Jade actually a really good kid who's easily misunderstood?"

So she joins him for lunch. Basically now she is trying to connect with him which only makes him complain and insult again. Now I have to agree with Jade, and I hope these attempts to connect with him help him realise his crush is as dumb as Aria.

How many times have we seen the kawaii heroine with that exactly same pose??? Eye wink + finger + cute smile + shoujo flowers. This is supposed to charm boy who (for no reason) is already charmed by this standard shoujo/magical girl trope.

The highlight of the chapter is when dark boy saves clumsy useless girl from being eaten by a Kafugori. Yep, the same beast she started the chapter talking about. Too bad, I would have appreciated getting rid of this ridiculous FL.

Why is a prefect unable to defend herself when chapter started with this lady mentoring others? I've no idea.

Why is the first year student able to save her? Other than a convenient plot device, I suppose we are led to believe that (1) he is powerful (more than her, but this is not a high bar at this point) (2) as he is a dark mage or comes from a family of dark mages, then his abilities are better. Or both.

She is again pushy, wants to understand why he saved her again (and yes, we want to know too) The pacing and rhythm are confusing, he declares he does not want her around because he is dark magician and would stain her reputation. There is a flashback when they meet, on his first day at school, and apparently, how he started his crush on her.

Again, the same shoujo-face, with shoujo-flowers, with naive shoujo-girl that smiles at sad kid declaring she does not care about his dark magic nature.

-No, we don't need to see your fantasies (part II)-

After the flashback to understand (?) why he seems to like her so much, Aria insists she will help clarify that he is actually a nice kid so that everyone knows.

Then she touches him again, and so she reads his mind.

My face mirrors Aria's. D:

Why does he have such ridiculous fantasies about her?? Marry her??? WHY??? Even poor Damian, being six years old, did not even fantasise about marrying Anya (and it is overkill, yet so appropriate for the comedic tone of SxF) With panels like this one, I wonder if this is actually a parody of shoujo fantasies, inspired by damianya doujins, or the author is really serious about this romantic trope.

To be honest, there are damianya doujins that are ridiculously charming, and follow the comedic style that SxF has and it is so refreshing. Here, those fantasies seem so serious I am inclined to believe it is just feeding shoujo readers.

-Conclusion-

Yes, there are fics and doujins that do a much better job at using the crazy and hillarous setting of a tsundere boy crushing on a mind-reader... A tsundere's worst nightmare.

However, this story has not earned that tone yet. It feeds from the premise of Hogwarts with a teen damianya... but both worlds (HP and SxF) are set and well-constructed. This one not yet.

This is a confusing setting instead, I am reading this as a (serious) romantic story (shoujo) with some supernatural/magic environment and bits of comedy. But also, perhaps it is just a comedic shoujo with a HP/damianya parody; a parody of both shoujo and HP/damianya ship; an homage to SxF damianya... Or simply a confusing combination of shoujo tropes with zero creativity (nothing we are presented tries to be original) The humour/comedic tone is just not good either.

Speaking of... and considering that Damian and Any are in primary school and are just little kids, these two have so much charm. She can read minds, yes, but she is young (it is implied she is 4 or 5 and not 6 like Damian and the rest of her little classmates) Therefore, Anya cannot identify that Damian has a crush on her, and Damian, as a little boy, does not know how to deal with a crush. The insults are not cruel, they compete with each other and they also care for each other in a naive, adorable way. But here... Aria just unlocked this mind-reading ability, so maybe it would have been more interesting to see her confused by his feelings towards her, as a first time mind-reader, making the comedy more intriguing. But no, she clearly reads him and concludes he is misunderstood and wants to help him (?)

The fantasies he has (kiss, carrying her bridal-style) are so disconnected... Even with the lame flashback, we have no reason to understand why he seems so infatuated other than Aria being pretty and choosing to ignore his dark reputation. He does not even know her (ok a boy crushing on a pretty girl does not need more) And when Jade gets to know her just a bit, it is to realise she is useless. And the crush seems to be at least the same or worse (wedding!!!) But again, I cannot help to remember how Damian started his crush: it was earned. We see him noticing Anya at the student ceremony and smugly believes she is the one crushing on him. Such a conceited brat. Then she punches that very smug face (priceless!) and you cheer for Anya. And then she tearfully apologises for punching him. Damian realises he does like her, we are shown his now celebrated damian-shoujo-filter... and we have to adore this kid. Poor Damian runs away embarrassed and disgusted (he is a child) And then their friendship develops, with comedy and nice moments that do progress their connection (keeping it in line with their age) Anya does not take advantage of Damian's feelings for her, as she is clueless about these.

But with Jade and Aria, I found no chemistry, nothing to really empathise with Jade's feelings towards her other than she smiles too much and has the standard kawaii looks. Compare that to how badass Anya is, she stood her ground, yet she was such a sweetie when she genuinely felt sorry for punching him. She is not necessarily pretty all the time, but Damian's shoujo-filter sees her as such a cute girl. I insist: the crush is earned. I would have crushed on Anya, too. With Jade? Not really.

Conversely, I also struggled to understand why would Aria care for such a jerk, no matter how pure his actual feelings are. Yeah, we need to wait for him to realise, and publicly accept he is not actually a killer and he has this heroic streak blah blah. But I am not even intrigued by this potential either. Moreover, I mentioned that Anya did not take advantage of Damian's feelings as she is not aware of these. Aria declares this mind-reading ability will make her "feel guilty" and "she will not touch anyone again"... yet she definitely touches Jade, and does use his secret to approach him. How noble.

Regarding this mind-reading ability, with Anya, we don't know much (yet) other that she was experimented on since birth (or was she born with the ability?) With Aria, we are shown a simple flashback of her Mum mentioning this ability as "high level magic only used by some bloodlines with excellent magic manipulation skills" and that some Popwells have the ability. Being so useless, Aria is not in the Sue category yet... but I hope being such a special snowflake with such great blood and the cute shoujo clumsiness does not make her one.

Probably this Story has not found its place yet, and I am definitely not the target group. But I would have never considered myself the target group for the crush of a 1st grader like Damian, and here I am. I will read the next chapters until I confirm my suspicion, but this is definitely not my cup of tea.

If you like this, it is okay, too. It is simple (very, very simple), easy to read, and does not seem to deceive anyone: Aria will eventually fall for the misunderstood tsundere with a secret heart of gold, and probably more shoujo tropes will be added to the story (boy saves girl, exes, competitors, jealousy, his family of evil magicians...)

1/5 only 1 for some decent artstyle. Zero/few backgrounds making the art super amateur and lazy (only faces and people) And lack of originality.

[binart]

BINA WHAT??? YOU HAVE OCS?????? TELL ME MORE I LOVE OC CONTENT (Klance will forever feed me BUT-) THEY LOOK SO CUTE WHO. ARE. THEY.

😳😳😳

.....YOU WOULD KNOW MORE OF MY BOY.......?? TRULY????

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH HAPPY DAYS YES!!!!!!!! I TOO SUBSIST ALMOST ENTIRELY OFF OF KLANCE, BUT OCs HAVE PROVEN TO BE QUITE A DELIGHT ALSO!!

FOR REFERENCE, HERE IS THE PATHETIC LITTLE MAN IN QUESTION:

wait i have too much to say, i have to put this under a readmore

OK!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! i love him so much and i don't have many opportunities to talk about him, SO YOUR ASK IS APPRECIATED!!!

his name is E'li Leam (pronounced EE-lie Leem) and he's a Miqo'te from that MMO i really like FFXIV 🤩

Miqo'te are basically cat people (WHICH I MEAN. I GUESS I'M A FURRY NOW?? OK), and he's what's called a Seeker, AKA SUN CAT!! There's moon cat people too but don't worry about it.

Seekers have names that start with their tribe letter (26 in total, each one representing one letter of the alphabet), so for example Raha of the G tribe would be called G'raha. Only close friends and family can drop the tribe letter and call them their given name! Male seekers will also have either Tia or Nuhn after their names, with most being Tias! This is because Nuhns fuck like crazy and are the only ones who are allowed to LMFAO

LISTEN DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT

anyway E'li is your typical 32 year old shonen protagonist who woke up ~7 years ago with Retrograde Amnesia and was found in a giant forest by its resident magic rats

THESE FUCKIN THINGS. they're called moogles. if you've ever played a final fantasy game, you know these guys. ANYWAY they saw this random grown ass man with a GIANT SCABBED OVER HEAD WOUND who wouldn't respond to anything they said and were like "hey let's take care of him kupo, lol"

AND FOR MONTHS THEY LOOKED AFTER HIM. ate together. snoozed in cuddle puddles together. got fucked up on Kupo Nuts together. it was wild. they found him with a big ol explorer's backpack, and alongside a White Mage Soul Crytal (RARE AND PRICELESS ARTIFACT ALLOWING ITS OWNER TO ADEPTLY WIELD CURATIVE MAGICKS!!), they found a shitty harp inside with A NAME CARVED ON THE SIDE.........

THE NAME...?!? "Eli". there was a notch in the wood that MIGHT have been an apostrophe?? they're moogles though they don't really give a shit. SO THEY JUST START CALLING HIM E'LI.

Pronounced EE-Lie.

The correct pronunciation of E'li by Seeker standards is EH-Lie.

This incorrect pronunciation of his own name would routinely cause him significant embarrassment down the line.

anyway. They're fond of their weird little man, but after a few months the moogles are like, "hey if he's really good at healing magicks and we can't teach him how to read or write, maybe let's give him to the people in the Quarrymill. They'll take care of him." and so they deposited their Weird Son into the care of the people of the Quarrymill, who essentially hired him on as the resident healer in exchange for food/shelter/education because HOLY SHIT,

THIS GUY CAN HEAL!!!

you wander near him with an injury? BOOM he's there and suddenly ALL THAT AILS YE BE NO MORE!!

whatever life he lead prior to his severe head injury clearly included healing people. he also took to reading and writing extremely quickly, so it was assumed he was some kind of scholar?? Though he wasn't particularly fond of speaking, and learned Eorzean Sign Language because VOCALIZATIONS WERE WEIRD AND BAD.

so this guy spends like half a year there. DEVOURING BOOKS. Learning of the World At Large. Starts longing to see the rest of it.. the Quarrymill residents are hesitant to let their Weird Little Man go, but accept it & tell him he must call himself E'li Tia to all who ask.

(In his mind Tia and Nuhn both sound incredibly stupid, so he decides his surname will be Leam A.K.A LEAF ---> BUT ONE LETTER CHANGED. ((he was looking at a tree when he decided this, and it would ALSO cause him no end of embarrassment down the line)))

SUDDENLY, GOD (A SENTIENT CRYSTAL IN THE CENTER OF THE PLANET) REACHES OUT TO HIM AND IS LIKE HI. LISTEN GO OUT THERE AND SAVE THE WORLD.

E'li is like o..k... and starts his journey to become an Adventurer.....

and then gets to a place called Limsa Lominsa which SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF HIM, THEN IMMEDIATELY GOES BACK TO THE GIANT FOREST PLACE AND DOESN'T LEAVE.

GOD CRYSTAL actually told a DIFFERENT set of people to go save the world like FIVE YEARS AGO, and a bunch of stuff happened but TLDR; GOD CRYSTAL'S GROUP OF CHOSEN HEROS WHO ONCE TRIED TO SAVE THE REALM BUT WERE SPIRITED AWAY...!!!

find the strange little healing cat man one day during their adventures. their leader, Meteor (!!!!!! YES MR MAIN CHARACTER GUY HIMSELF), looks at him and this is how their meeting went:

and SO BEGAN THE JOURNEY OF THESE FIVE WARRIORS OF LIGHT, WHO WOULD GO ON TO SAVE THE REALM FROM MANY DIRE THREATS...

THEN METEOR DIES, E'LI THREATENS TO KILL THE OTHERS ON SIGHT FOR LETTING THEIR LEADER DIE, BANISHES THEM FROM THE SCIONS OF THE SEVENTH DAWN (a group of characters who like.. do good stuff For The Realm and all that), AND PROCEEDS TO SPEEDRUN PTSD AS THE NOW SOLE WARRIOR OF LIGHT

buncha stuff happens... E'li goes to War, does PTSD: The Again, GETS ISEKAI'D and does Saving the World: 2 but THIS time his best friend he made just before the God Crystal Group disbanded shows up and is like "I'M GOING TO DIE FOR YOU!" and he's like "???? I'M LITERALLY INSANE CAN YOU PLEASE NOT MAKE IT WORSE"

buncha OTHER stuff happens...

and currently him and his Best Friend (he didn't actually die) are now life partners who just want to go on adventures and take naps together.

BY THE WAY, HE DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE RETROGRADE AMNESIA IN THE CONVENTIONAL SENSE. GOD CRYSTAL ACTUALLY JUST YOINKED A 1500 YEAR OLD SOUL FROM THE AETHERIAL SEA (THE AFTERLIFE BUT IT'S REAL, AND IS INSIDE THE PLANET), MADE A COPY OF METEOR'S BODY, MADE IT A CAT MAN, SHOVED THE SOUL IN IT, THEN SHUNTED IT BACK UNTO THE MORTAL COIL TO GO FIGHT FOR HER. HE LANDED HEAD FIRST ONTO A FUCKIN ROCK AND SHE WAS LIKE "OOF, MY B. ANYWAY I'LL BE IN TOUCH"

when he realizes this, E'li decides he is not fond of god crystal.

AND SO THAT IS THE GIST OF MY LITTLE BLORBO. my pathetic little man. my sweet cheese, my rotten soldier etc etc. HE'S KIND OF A FREAK and i absolutely adore him.

i will continue to chronicle all the little problems i give him, desperate for anyone who will look my way and be like "oh yeah, pretty cool"........... and i thank you for reading LMFAO

[craybii]

So many new things in the newest trailer to go through, so many good and crazy shots. V2 is gonna be amazing.

But anyways, I wanted to go through some of them and write them down for myself, so SPOILERS BELOW FOR S3/V2 since there’s a bunch of new shots from the trailer included.

These two shots are linked - originally I thought the eyes below were Yennefer's but this is Francesca 100%. In the shot above, we see Fringilla's head (her hair from the tavern) + Francesca's iconic braided hair - both of them are looking up at the fire circle that's crashing right down below on top of them - and then they both fall back if you watch the trailer. So the shot below is certainly Francesca watching as the fire collapses down on them. And those are her blue eyes, not purple like Yennefer's.

The shot above is continuation of that - Francesca seems knocked out or something and lands on Fringilla who protects them against the fire with magic in the very last second - this seems to be why the entire hall is completely destroyed in the following shots.

Here, we can clearly see Artorius Vigo (Fringilla's uncle) very much dead with Tissaia trying to desperately heal him - Margarita pulls her away in the very last second as fire explodes all around them (the firecircle that crashes on Francesca and Fringilla???) and puts up a shield to protect herself and Tissaia. So Artorius is a goner for sure. Tissaia and Rita save themselves in the last sec.

This one is interesting - for anyone who knows the books, all of the mages depicted here are part of the neutral faction of mages who were neither on Philippa's side or on Vilgefortz's, with some new tossed in as well.

There's Artorius Vigo, Bianca d'Este, Gerhart of Aelle (the oldest living sorcerer), Margarita Laux-Antille and Tissaia, plus more male mages - just extras but these should be Carduin, Marquard and Dorregaray. They seem to be defending against the arrows of the Scoia'tael who're standing across from them - since Artorius is alive here and the room looks fine here, this is before the fire circle crashes down. Also, since the elves are there, it would stand to reason Francesca is present as well - Fringilla and Cahir should be too. This could very well be the coup but it begs the question - where are Philippa, Sabrina, Keira and Triss, the northern sorceresses?

Sabrina being a badass Kaedweni HBIC in a new dress. The woman behind her in the first shot is Keira Metz, so they're definitely there after the ballroom has been destroyed. Knowing how she hates the elves, this rock is probs heading for one of them. There's more shots that seem to be in this same sequence from other promo material - Cahir swordfighting someone in this room, Francesca blocking a lightning bolt from Tissaia (she fires it from above), Istredd killing an elf, Stregobor staring in anger at the destruction.

I have no idea what's happening here but it looks terrifying - the ocean is completely dried up and Aretuza is burning down. The lightning probably means the portal in Tol Lara is going haywire and we know how that ends.

Perhaps the most devastating shot of this trailer for me. Margarita, Keira, Tissaia, Yennefer and Marti Sodergren staring at what is no doubt Aretuza falling down in flames once the coup has ended. Notice how Tissaia is completely grey - no doubt caused by the huge tragedy that has just destroyed everything she's ever worked for.

[luolands]

Essek's work and responsibilities

Essek, c2e135: I only ask because I've seen a great many prospective talents like yours grow unfocused in times of.. necessity, and decisive action.

Marisha, c2e136: Does he have War Caster? He does, right? Matt: He does.

EGtW: He is eager to use the conflict as an excuse to practice the deadlier aspects of dunamancy

Essek, c2e94: It prevents me from some of my capabilities throughout the day each time I do this, so while I'm here in my home and things are not requiring me to be elsewhere rapidly, thankfully this is a moment in time in which I am more useful here in the city.

c2e99: [You see one of them, a familiar visage of the Taskhand Adeen Tasithar.] Jester: Essek, did you ever talk to him? Did you hang out with him? Essek: We once knew each other. For a while. Jester: Does he suck? Essek: That is a word, yes.

(Taskhands are warriors: Taskhand Durth Mirimm, an elite warrior governing Jigow; Taskhand Verin Thelyss, an echo knight governing Bazzoxan. The Dynasty has dunamancers partnered with warriors: Thuron - the echo knight infiltrator in Zadash - was partnered with a drow who cast a graviturgy spell similar to gravity sinkhole. Lythir VaSuun, a high-level graviturgist, was partnered with a high-level echo knight to lead a border scouting party.)

Essek, c2e91: And you believe that the individuals that make the laws and employ them across your empire are more capable than these mages? Do you not think there is perhaps a necessary balance between the two that maintains the order?

EGtW: The laws of the dynasty, which stem from the faith of the Luxon, are enforced by a network of trusted Aurora Watch captains and soldiers.

EGtW: Essek is both respected and feared for his intelligence and cunning.

c2e74: Now who you see arrived at the front: a male drow, short white hair, a perpetual soft smile, a similar mantle of armor to the soldiers that you saw exterior, but beneath it, a cloak of dark purple just drifts below and obscures the entirety of his body.

c2e57: A similar mantle to what you noticed Lythir wearing, but much more elaborate. You can see the robes that he's wearing that pretty much entirely obscure the body.

Essek, c2e90: We've investigated Adeen, found him already halfway across the Ghostlands on his own, shrouded and seeming to attempt escape. We ambushed and retrieved him, and have spent the better part of the past day interrogating him.

Essek, c2e77: There is indeed one beacon that still remains in the grasp of the Empire. We have.. numerous ways of pushing towards that goal. However, should you have been careful in your dealings, you have a little more reach within the Empire than someone such as I would, of course.

Twitter: Shadowhand is a title granted to those who focus on the dark mysteries of Exandria for the Bright Queen. This includes both subterfuge and arcana (like a specialist in the dangerous unknown). Spies, mages, and investigators that reach a certain station can be granted this title.

Essek, c2e131: I just know that I've also survived this long, weaving the intricacies of deceit like I have, by knowing how best to keep myself.. out of the complications as best as I can.

Essek, c2e80: I already have a few operatives looking to infiltrate- to locate and infiltrate the Cult of the Angel of Irons, you said it was, in hopes of gathering more information. Jester: You have? Essek: Yes, since you gave me this information a while back. ... I have a lot of plates I'm spinning at any given point in time. This is one, and I'm now giving it a bit more prominence, so.. I apologize to have misled you to think otherwise. And I also apologize for my attitude yesterday. I have been under some pressure.

Essek, c2e98: I mean, there has been a shadow war between the Dynasty and the Empire for.. decades. This is just the first time that it's brimmed out of the control of those that waged it.

Essek, c2e98: I just want to warn you about getting too close. I'm tied.. to a lot of dangerous individuals and teeter in the shadows at the crux of all of this conflict, intentional as it may not have been.

Essek, c2e131: I can find a place to go. I am capable of being slippery when I need to be.

Essek, c2e57: Take care of them and should you need anything, well... we'll know.

c2e79: [You made an additional deal for rapid transportation with your sponsor, Shadowhand Essek Thelyss. Who agreed, begrudgingly, for the very last time to do this.] Liam: The last, last time. Marisha: He keeps saying that. Travis: He can't say no. [Wow he's just racking up the debt points with you guys. He's going to make you do some fun stuff down the road.]

Essek, c2e78: I trust that your interests are forthright. I'll need your help soon anyway. Jester: He said he would need our help soon. He seemed like he would do it.

(Soon after) Jester, c2e81: Is there any news of the war? Allura: Yes. There has been a series of attacks on some of the military siege installations within the empire. There was an assault on some of the weapon creation factories in Hupperdook. This was about four days ago, as well as a counter assault by the empire within Xhorhas.

Jester, c2e63: Did you want to come, Essek? Essek: I have my own business to attend to, but I will vouch for their capabilities. And my tutelage.

Essek, c2e70: There is a lot of business I must attend to as well. As you've heard from the Bright Queen, a lot of things are moving and my interests lie elsewhere beyond a kiln.

EGtW: He is eager to use the conflict as an excuse to practice the deadlier aspects of dunamancy, and also curious to see what the powerful minds of the Cerberus Assembly may have gleaned from their research into the beacon they stole.

Leylas, c2e57: (turns and goes) Shadowhand, can we confirm that there has been some kind of imperial goblin capture? Nott: He's not a goblin like I am. (...) He's a halfling man. His name is Yeza Brenatto. He's a chemist. Essek: Yes, we do indeed have this figure in our Dungeon of Penance.

Leylas, c2e57: Well, first, I will say that this prisoner of yours that you're requesting could possibly be returned to you. I do not know the scope and depth of his involvement with the conflict to the west, but I'm certain the Shadowhand will inquire and if there is anything else required, we will attempt to close our interrogation and return him to you.

Essek, c2e90: All of this has been given, elements of it, to attempt to force them to fill in the blanks, to prove our.. curiosity and let them prove that they were involved. But upon magical inquiries, forcing of one's will, and through physical... persuasion, we managed to excise the truth, and the Taskhand has given his hand, if you will.

Essek, c2e90: Trust me, there's been plenty of punching for two days, I do not think that you would maybe- Beau: But do they have magical punches that make people talk? Essek: We have magical means of forcing the truth, if that's what you're talking about.

Fjord, c2e90: Is there any reason why you haven't told her yet? Are you trying to confirm or gather, or? Essek: I was- if you're going to, in a point of extreme tensions in warfare in which the queen is impatiently waiting for any sort of concrete proof as to why the ceasefire was necessary, we wanted to make sure that we presented it as an entire package, as opposed to piecemeal. It is better.. and also we need to cross our Ts as well, in the instance that perhaps any of this information is incorrect.

c2e63: Previously, you had all the raised platforms with the chairs of the different den heads that were there and the five chairs that were on the main central raised portion of the platform where the Bright Queen was. Now, you can see maybe six individuals present. Two on one side, two on the other and there is the Bright Queen and the right hand there. It seems like this isn't a formal gathering of all hands on-deck, more just general matters. You see Essek is present on the left side, Mirimm is in the right up in her chair.

Leylas, c2e63: They've been assigned as your wards, you trust in this, yes? You believe them? Essek: [Essek's sitting there in the chair, you can see the hands just barely crossed poking through the cloak] I trust them. Leylas: [She gives a nod] Well, we shall plan accordingly. They will rue the day they tried to assail us on their terms.

c2e70: Already, you can hear voices bustling. It's a little more active than last time you were here, when it was somewhat half as intense. You can see all the seats are filled, both on the two opposing house sides as well as the central chairs that flank the Bright Queen's throne. ... You can see a troop of four individuals, three drow and one hobgoblin are carrying a table out past you. It seems to be a map of probably Xhorhas. The length of the table will probably lead it quite deeply into the Empire and Western Wynandir. Essek: [You look over and you can see across the way, Essek has been sitting down in one of the chairs] Well, if a safe and quick means of transportation is required, that would probably be my specialty.

Essek, c2e133: The pursuit of magic, in the ways that we know it, in the ways that we've been disparately, but in some ways similarly raised and studied. At a certain point, it becomes about the self. It becomes about what I can do.

Essek, c2e124: I was granted this post and for the time being I am enjoying the change of pace, strangely. Jester: So you really don't know very much about Aeor, then? Essek: I'm learning as we go, but I just asked to be sent far away. And from what I'd heard, there was quite a bit of competitive acquisition of relics. And if I'm to be honest, that is an intriguing thing. I mean, I'm a man of arcane study, and if there are things here that can continue to progress my- well, my personal studies, then that would be, that'd be perfect.

Essek, c2e124: (Discussing Aeor's ruins) Well, there's quite a bit down there. I've only been in myself a bit, but we can go over that.

Essek, c2e124: I should not leave this outpost, I have responsibilities here and people that rely on me.

Essek, c2e124: Starguide Uraya, Uraya Hythenos, perhaps. A goblin friend of mine, I believe they spoke to you when I was unable to reach out that day. They have returned to Rosohna to deliver reports.

c2e141: He eventually began to feel the possible prying eyes of Dynasty discomfort, and absconded from the Aeorian trade post. (...) He went there to continue his business for the time being, because at least it was far away and there were people there that relied on him, but even that he eventually left.

Talks, c2e89-90: But as a person of his training, his station, and just his general persona and how he likes to present himself, he would never openly show that concern at first.

c2e124: He's intently listening and seems to be genuinely disturbed by the information that he's received. He's taking it in, he's very controlled. Like he's used to listening and, you know. His demeanor since you met him has been very constructed. It is very much an element that he instinctually puts forward. But even in that space you could see him being very contemplative and trying to just take it all in, and nod.

Beau, c2e91: Does the Dynasty have us bugged in this house?  Essek: It would not surprise me if they, at times, chimed in. You have been under watch, here and there, since you've arrived as you were a.. challenging addition to the proximity of the Bastion Fjord: To be specific, we've seen ourselves being watched. We were hoping it was you? Essek: At times it was. No, but it was part of my assignment when you first came under my wing to ensure that there wasn't any chances of undue.. Empire business finding its way within the proximity of the Bastion.

Wrap-up: He immediately was like, "I'll take care of them, I'll work with their business, I'll figure out what they're going, and I'll be their chaperone," essentially. And so it was him just trying to cover his ass, while also trying to figure out what you were up to, what your connections were, how much you knew.

EGtW: Twelve hours of daylight each day can become painful and physically detrimental to those beings adapted to subterranean life. To mitigate this problem, powerful dunamancers have woven arcane shields to temporarily block out the sun above Rosohna. 

Wrap-up: (Verin) was like the brother that kind of got him, and they got along okay in a family that Essek did not get along with at all, and was surrounded by people he didn't get along with. He didn't get along with his parents, he didn't get along with most people in the Dynasty unless they helped him maintain and advance his position of power and influence and so.. you guys fucked him up!

[mnemo-li]

Gosh, I have so many thoughts about Gromph Baenre. Maybe I’m reading too much into things lol, but here we go. Spoilers below for Starlight & Shadows, War of the Spider Queen, Companions Codex, Homecoming, Generations, and parts of The Way of the Drow.

Imagine literally being the most powerful man in a city, potentially the oldest (non-undead) man of a race, and still being limited in what you can do just because you’re born male. You have so much power, and yet in the end you are not free. People may fear you and perhaps even respect you, but no one cares for you. You, no matter all you have done, are replaceable and will be discarded the moment you are deemed a liability.

There’s this quote in Tangled Webs:

But no matter what powers he might command, what information he possessed, Gromph needed someone like Shakti. The archmage was tied to Menzoberranzan by the task of enchanting Narbondel—an honor that was also a chain with links forged anew with the coming of each midnight hour.

The so-called honor of being the only one allowed to enchant Narbondel is a double-edged sword. It’s a symbol of his status yet, because he has to do it daily, it means he can’t be away from Menzoberranzan for more than a day. It’s a chain that binds him to the city, to the control of the Matron Mother. It’s a leash.

I also find the mention of Narbondel in Extinction to be interesting:

Despite the toehold the enemy had gained—and lost—in Tier Breche, Menzoberranzan seemed untouched by war. The stalactites and stalagmites of the noble manors still sparkled, and a ring of magical fire was creeping up the great spire of Narbondel. Gromph frowned, wondering which of the wizards of House Baenre had been keeping it going in his absence. It seemed that he was not quite as irreplaceable as he would have liked. He’d have to speak to Triel about that.

That’s what I was referring to. The lighting of Narbondel — something that is meant to be performed only by the Archmage of the city — is in actuality a role that anyone could do, really. Logically, I’d agree with Triel too. The city needs Narnondel to tell time and if Gromph was missing, it was more pragmatic to have someone perform his duty in his stead. And yet, all of this goes to show how if someone else could do what Gromph does, then that means he isn’t irreplaceable.

I also find this exchange between Guldor and Gromph to be intruiging (and funny— I always love when Gromph is his good old surly and sarcastic self).

“Archmage!” cried Guldor Melarn. He was supposedly without peer in the realm of elemental magic, though it couldn’t be proved by his performance thus far that night. “We were worried about you!”

“I’m sure,” said Gromph, striding closer. “I noticed all the search parties you sent out looking for me.”

Guldor hesitated. “Sir, the mistress of the Academy commanded—“

“Shut up,” said Gromph.

The small interaction is also very telling. None of the other mages seemed to care about Gromph enough to go look for him, or it could be that what Guldor said was true, that Triel forbid them from doing so. It’s either that Triel believes Gromph is capable enough to get out of whatever trouble he’d gotten himself into by himself, or she too couldn’t be bothered (or has other pressing matters to deal with— and considering the state of Menzoberranzan, that’s understandable).

Whatever the reason, it still must be harrowing for Gromph deep down. To learn that he is replaceable, and to not have anyone he concerned about his disappearance enough to look for him. Of course, the concept of caring for someone is arguable something alien to the drow in the first place. Still, it would be interesting to see how Gromph would react should he realize that his position as Archmage isn’t secure.

As much as I sometimes joke about RA Salvatore being a shit writer — at least compared to the likes of Elaine Cunningham and Paul S. Kemp (whose Star Wars books I’m a huuuge fan of, whose contribution to the War of the Spider Queen series I absolutely adore) — Salvatore did manage to sprinkle bits and pieces to make Gromph a sympathetic villain or at least a villain whom we can partially sympathize with and feel pathos towards.

Take for instance, this excerpt from Vengeance of the Iron Dwarfs:

It is about embarrassing Matron Mother Quenthel, Kimmuriel said in Jarlaxle’s thoughts, and he looked from the psionicist to the archmage, trying to sort it out. Or perhaps it goes even higher than her. Jarlaxle snorted at that, for who could be higher than Quenthel, who served as the Matron Mother of Menzoberranzan? Then he figured it out, and he stopped snorting.

He looked at Gromph, only then beginning to appreciate how wounded his brother had been by the betrayal of the Spider Queen. Lolth had gone to the realm of arcane magic, had tried to dominate the Weave itself—and indeed, by all reports, she had made the magical strands encompassing Toril take on the aspect of a gigantic spider web. Gromph had dared to hope that Lolth’s move would elevate his standing, that he, as the greatest drow wizard of the age, as the greatest drow practitioner of the Art, would become more than a mere male in the matriarchal City of Spiders.That was Gromph’s error, Jarlaxle realized, and he nodded knowingly as he considered his brother.

Poor Gromph had dared to hope.

I feel pity for Gromph reading that. As an aside though, I really love the dynamics between Gromph and Jarlaxle throughout the series. I wonder too if Gromph is secretly jealous of or resentful towards Jarlaxle for his relative freedom.

Also, there’s this bit from Archmage that really makes me feel for Gromph:

His sly taunting of his sister did little to improve Gromph’s bitter mood. Even if he toppled her, even if he destroyed every matron mother and high priestess in the city, what would he accomplish? 

He was a male, nothing more, and even when Lady Lolth had turned to the Weave, to a domain he had come to dominate more than any dark elf in centuries—in millennia, in perhaps the entire history of the race—Lolth’s gratitude had not reached to him, nor his fellow male wizards.

Sorcere, the drow school of arcane magic, the academy under the control of Gromph, had counted among its students almost exclusively male drow, with only a few notable exceptions of priestesses looking to enhance their magical repertoire by adding arcane spells to their divinely inspired magic. Yet as soon as the Weave had become a web, as soon as it appeared that Lady Lolth would steal the domain of the goddess Mystra, the noble Houses had flooded Sorcere with their daughters as students.

The matron mothers, with Lolth’s blessing, would not suffer the males of Menzoberranzan their position atop the ranks of Lolth’s arcane disciples. Would Gromph’s ultimate title of archmage have proven secure? But Lolth had lost her bid for the Weave, so Gromph had learned, though the details were not yet known to him. The Weave was no longer in her spidery claws and the city and school would return to normal, perhaps. Gromph would remain the archmage, and, he now even more poignantly understood, would remain a “mere male” in Menzoberranzan. 

I’d like to argue that it isn’t Gromph’s ego or arrogance that is the reason behind his hunger for power. But rather, it’s Gromph deep rooted desire for security— not just in his position as Archmage, but security in the sense that he is quite insecure deep down. After all, excessive arrogance is often a mask for hollow confidence. Look at the scene here leading up to Gromph’s accidental summoning of Demogorgon.

“Your demon led the defense,” the matron mother spat. “This failure falls upon your shoulders. Be cautious, wizard, for Tsabrak Xorlarrin will surely survive this, and he remains in the graces of the Spider Queen.”

She spun and swept out of the room and Gromph fell back in his seat, his fingers tap-tapping once more. He tried to dismiss Quenthel’s overt threat, but he began to see some troubling possibilities. Would his sister cut a deal with Matron Mother Zeerith to absorb House Xorlarrin into House Baenre? Where might the Xorlarrins go if the dwarves gained an unshakable foothold? They would not be welcomed back into Menzoberranzan as a rival House, particularly not now with so many backroom alliances being formed among the ruling matron mothers.

And perhaps Quenthel would spread the whispers that Gromph had failed, that the archmage had, in fact, been the cause of the loss of Q’Xorlarrin. In that event, would Quenthel be in a stronger position to offer Zeerith one of her most coveted trophies: a Xorlarrin as Archmage of Menzoberranzan? Nay, this was not a threat Gromph could easily dismiss, and in that realization, so came his outrage.

His “outrage” was a reaction to being “threatened”. Sure, it was his anger and ego that overruled his common sense, the sense of caution that he should’ve had when summoning a powerful demon… but the root of it all was the fact that Quenthel threatened his position as archmage.

This all harkens back to the fact that Gromph is replaceable and will be replaced should he no longer be useful. Hence, his insecurity and the constant need to prove himself.

Additionally, I also find Gromph's interaction with Catti-brie in Maestro to be incredibly fascinating from a character perspective.

First though, I should put a disclaimer saying that I think their relationship is weird as fuck, and Salvatore's way of writing Gromph thinking of Catti-brie in a horny way is just... ew. The whole 'mind-rape' thing is not something I condone, the bit where Gromph uses his psionic abilities to impart a vision of him and Catti together into Catti-brie's mind. However, it does hint a lot at the way men are treated in Drow society and how Gromph's sexual relationship with women usually go.

In Daughter of the Drow, there is this quote:

Perhaps even more than his obvious wealth and famed magical power, Gromph's ability to select his consorts was a testament to his status. In this matriarchal city, males had a decidedly subservient role, and most answered to the whims of females.

I might be reading into it too much, but if men are suggested to be unable to choose their wives, then it is implied that they wouldn't have any experience in romantic courtship either. It's like their entire notion of what a relationship is for men, is that they are meant to be pickedby women and forced to marry or have children with women without any say in it. Men getting to get to know someone, to flirt with them and court them, before making the mutual decision to enter into a relationship doesn't seem to be a thing in drow society. Starlight & Shadows goes to explain more about how male drows don't even get to be a part of their children's lives either, which is why Gromph's decision to murder Sosdrielle Vandree and "adopt" Liriel Baenre to be such a major powermove and a violation of societal norm.

Anyhow, the point I am trying to make about Gromph and Catti is that, of course Gromph would "flirt" with Catti in such a fucked up manner. He doesn't know anything about courtship, doesn't have any other frame of reference for what a healthy courtship or relationship between males and females is like.

“I forgive you,” she repeated. “For your telepathic intrusions. I understand now that you were not even there in my thoughts, and that it was only a suggestion placed for me to find.”

“And to enjoy.”

Catti-brie’s expression went cold.

“Then I am no rapist,” Gromph smugly replied to that look.

“You are a scoundrel and a fraud,” the woman said. “But I expected as much from the outset. I forgive you because now I trust that you will not hold me in lust, in body, in mind, or in hatred.”

Gromph wanted Catti to "enjoy" the image of him and her together. In other words, that really is his way of initiating a sexual relationship, that is what he thinks flirting or courtship is. In real life modern day terms, Gromph's telepathic intrusion would definitely be a form of sexual assault... but Catti-brie is right in the sense that Gromph hadn't meant to rape her. Let me be clear though, I am not justifying any of his actions. I just find Gromph to be so fascinating from a narrative perspective. If the Drizzt series wasn't what is was, if it was more like A Song of Ice and Fire for example, then I'm sure the author would explore more about how Gromph's actions and attitudes probably stems (at least partially) from his women-related trauma.

Look at this scene in Archmage here for example:

She dared look up, to find Gromph glaring at her.

“You know nothing of what I know or do not know, Minolin of House Fey-Branche.” His reference to her lesser House, instead of naming her as a Baenre, was a clear and sharp reminder.

“You are not a woman,” Minolin Fey said quietly. “There is nothing more … personal.”

“I am not a woman,” Gromph echoed. “A fact of which I am reminded every day of my life.”

Gromph definitely has a sore spot about not being a woman, and thus being beneath a woman in terms of societal status. This resentment and emotional wound of his shows up again in Maestro, in this interaction of Catti-brie.

“You have no power over my free will, and that is the measure of intimacy,” Catti-brie pressed on against his sheer awfulness. “You’ll not get back into my thoughts, nor will you ever get beneath my robes.”

“Truly?” Gromph asked slyly. “Dear human, you will be amazed by the things I can accomplish, particularly when a woman tells me that I cannot.”

I find the latter half of the sentence to be poignant. It's as if he's taking Catti's resistance as a challenge, or an insult. Mind you, Gromph is still a monster for many of the things he does. But he has such a potential to be a multifaceted villain (who then becomes something of an anti-villain), something I believe Salvatore is working towards. I believe Salvatore’s attempt at a pseudo redemption arc for Gromph is very... lacking. The scene at the end of Maestro where he bows down to Catti also gives me weird vibes too ngl.

Yet, I still wouldn’t dismiss his attempts to soften Gromph recently. Take this scene in Boundless for example:

“And your friend in Ship Kurth?”

“Any who should concern us are in no danger,” the archmage assured her. Caecilia gave a little snort, but tried to cover it when she saw the scowl on Gromph’s face and realized he knew she was mocking him.

“Such a drow thing to say,” she admitted. “If all of Luskan other than those you deem valuable to you were to be slaughtered, would you even care, Archmage?”

“Should I?”

Caecilia blew a long sigh and let it go. Curiously, though, as she walked through the door leading to her extradimensional mansion, she realized that she actually didn’t believe Gromph. Had he been so battered by the distorted culture of Menzoberranzan that he thought it a sign of great weakness to admit compassion? How many others? the cloud giantess wondered. How many other dark elves had been similarly broken?

Gromph has spend pretty much the majority of his long, long life in the Underdark. Menzoberranzan is all he knows. Which makes me curious about the direction Salvatore plans to take Gromph’s character in the The Way of the Drow. Take this scene for example:

“To the Nine Hells with that ugly spider,” said Gromph from the tunnel. 

Drizzt turned to watch the sour archmage come forth, and took great pleasure and great hope in seeing the man verily transform at the sight, as if the tension and anger were suddenly simply falling away from him as he looked upon the wonder of Callidae.

“It was worth the journey, yes?” Jarlaxle asked him, and Gromph couldn’t respond, and he didn’t have to.”

Callidae, a place where drow may live in peace upon the surface, is a symbol of hope-- a hope so strong to the point where Gromph is willing to throw away his allegiance to Lolth. I know Cunningham is unlikely to come and write for the Drizzt series, but damn... I wish Gromph could meet up with Liriel again. I wonder what she’d think of her father now. I wish we could one day see Gromph fully embody his role as the Archmage of the Hosttower, shedding the former identity of Archmage of Menzoberranzan, both in name and in heart. Speaking of Liriel, a part of me wonders too how much Gromph actually cares to her (yes--- she is a tool to him, but Liriel seems to be capable of activating a strange sort of fatherly instinct in him, something very vulnerable and pure and hopefully enduring). We have this scene of their first proper meeting, in Daughter of the Drow:

"Look down," advised a lilting, melodic voice, a voice that rang with mischief and childish delight.

Incredulous, Gromph shifted his gaze downward. There stood a tiny, smiling female about five years of age, easily the most beautiful child he had ever seen.She was a tiny duplicate of her mother, whom Gromph had recently left sleeping in a nearby suite of rooms. The child's face was angular, and her elven features delicate and sharp. A mop of silky white curls tumbled about her shoulders, contrasting with baby skin that had the sheen and texture of black satin. But most striking were the wide amber eyes, so like his own, that regarded him with intelligence and without fear. Those eyes stole Gromph's annoyance and stirred his curiosity.

This, then, must be his daughter. For some reason that thought struck a faint chord in the heart of the solitary, evil old drow.

(Of course, I won’t disregard how he then goes on to murder her mother / his wife in the next scene... so lol. Gromph is still a ruthless drow, after all. But even monsters can love, or so I wish to believe.)

There’s also certain tiny details that stuck out to me:

"So, drowling. I don't suppose you can read?"

It was a ridiculous question, for the child was little more than a babe. Yet her brow furrowed as she considered the matter.

"I'm not sure," she said thoughtfully. "You see, I've never tried."

She darted toward the open spellbook and peered down at the page. Too late, Gromph slapped a hand over her golden eyes, cursing under his breath as he did so. Even simple spells could be deadly, for magic runes attacked the untrained eye with a stab of searing light. Attempting to read an unlearned spell could cause terrible pain, blindness, even insanity.

See what I mean about fatherly instincts? His immediate instinct was to protect her eyes, her sanity etc.

As Liriel grows up, her relationship with Gromph also seems almost... cordial. She seems relaxed with him, not holding back her tongue too much. At times, Gromph is seen chuckling and seemingly enjoying her presence too (unless he’s in a bad mood or she crosses a line somehow). Gromph is more lenient with her than one would expect, but also knows how to be strict when necessary, as befitting his station.

"Have a good time," Liriel mimicked bitterly as she and the archmage strode down the hall. "This, from someone whose idea of fun involves whipping people with snakes!"

Her blasphemous remark drew a shocked chuckle from Gromph.

"You must learn to guard your tongue," he admonished. "Few of the Academy's mistresses are burdened with a sense of humor."

"Don't I know it! Father, do I really have to become a priestess?" she demanded. "Can't you do anything to stop this?”

Liriel knew the words were a mistake the moment she spoke them. No one stayed healthy for long by pointing out to proud, frustrated Gromph that there were limits to his power. The expected rage did not come.

"It is my will you become a priestess," the archmage said coldly.

The scene continues with Gromph granting Liriel the means to go wherever she wish.

The archmage reached into a hidden pocket of his cloak and drew out a small book.

"This is yours. Learn it well, for you would surely go mad in Arach-Tinilith without the escape this book offers you." He paused for a grim smile. "I had this compiled for you—a task that spanned several years and cost the lives of a number of wizards—knowing this day would come."

That was quite a pitch, even for melodramatic Gromph, Liriel thought with a touch of wry humor. She took the book and opened it to the first spell. She skimmed the page, and the meaning of the symbols came to her with a rush of excitement and disbelief.

"This is a spell for summoning a gate!"

"And so is every other spell in the book," he agreed. "With this knowledge, you can travel where no priestess can follow."

Liriel leafed through the spellbook, her excitement growing by the moment. Magical travel was extremely difficult in the Underdark, and those who tried it often ended up as a permanent part of the landscape. This gift would give her greater freedom than she had ever enjoyed. Best of all, her father had foreseen this day, and prepared for it! Liriel hugged the precious book to her chest.

"I can't begin to thank you!" she cried joyfully.

Gromph Baenre smiled down at her, but his amber eyes remained cold. "Not yet, perhaps, but when the time comes I will tell you how you can properly express your gratitude. Become a priestess and seize what power you can. But never forget you are a wizard first and foremost. Your loyalty belongs to me."

The warmth fled from Liriel's heart. She held the arch-mage's hard gaze, and her golden eyes mirrored his. "Don't worry, Father," she said softly. "Lloth forbid I should ever forget what I am to you."

Gosh, this is why I love Cunningham sooo much. Much like Gromph’s scene with baby Liriel where the two have somewhat of a cute father-daughter moment, throwing faerie fire at each other etc.. the heatwarming scenes are always proceeded by an emotional whiplash, reminding the readers that this is Gromph Baenre we’re dealing with. In the first scene, Gromph murders Liriel’s mother right after having a cute moment with Liriel. Here, Gromph grants her what is one of the most valuable grimoires she’ll ever own, right before reminding her that she belongs to him as his tool.

A part of me could not help but wonder too though... does Gromph see himself in Liriel? The natural aptitude for magic, the fact that by their gender they are being forced into a role they did not want (Gromph being subservient to females as a male, Liriel being forced to become a cleric as a female despite wanting to be a wizard etc). The parallels are definitely there. I wonder if, through Liriel, Gromph may be unconsciously wishing to give her the opportunities he never had: freedom.

True freedom.

A part of me would like to think that Gromph, deep down, secretly wants Liriel to one day flee Menzoberranzan--- just as Jarlaxle did, to an extent at least. 

I could go on and on about this forever, but I’ll stop here. If anyone is reading my rant this far, thanks! Feel free to hmu if you want to talk to.

[anruraiocht]

TOA Anniversary Munday

from neffi (thank you neffi!!)

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: limit

Pronouns: they/them

Birthday (no year): 3/8 (thats march 8th for my non-americans)

Where are you from? What is your time zone? US | EST

How long is your roleplay experience? 10+ years

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? i was doing warrior cats roleplay on scratch dot mit dot edu at age 10 brother

How were you introduced to TOA? n was talking about it on call and me and the oomfs decided to play a little prank on him when he went to the bathroom. it was really funny to be fair

Do you have any pets? three dogs (australian shepherd, shiba, chihuahua mix) and a cat (stupid)

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) fall; i have pollen allergies that give me really bad headaches and live in a pollen bowl you can imagine my suffering.

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? i like to play and draw

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? i'm a visual novel (otome, yuri, general non-romantic) and rhythm game type of guy. jrpgs and action rpgs when i'm in the mood

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: the only pokemon type that matters to me is Dog

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! i used my wisdom teeth fun fact last yeah so uhhhhh did you know i can clap one handed but only with my right hand

How did you get into Fire Emblem? i think i saw awakening in gamestop and was like yeag i'll play that. my brother and i had just finished playing virtue's last reward together so we named our robins sigma and phi

What Fire Emblem games have you played? i've at least touched every game except for 1-3 (ymmv how much that means for each game)

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: Awakening first, FE6 or Engage for fave

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! honestly just look at my muse list for this one i only write my faves

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! lyn was the first fe character to really get me excited about fe i was writing essays about her in n's dms while in the middle of classes haha

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 i am in love with nel like /srs /gen i opened engage on my birthday so i could hear her say happy birthday to me

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays?

Awakening: Chrom (on purpose); married Olivia in my male run. i would still choose chrom Fates: kaden and keaton for birthright and conquest respectively. i stopped playing once i had my furry daughters. LMAO. Three Houses: never got that far. dorothea and mercedes probably. Engage: i have commitment issues and this is why i dont finish games

Favorite Fire Emblem class? Dark Mage(s)

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? sticking with what i said last year; a mage that just completely sucks ass. repping my special girls by also being a character that makes people say "why would you use them"

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? i apparently said golden deer last year. yeah sure

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Reason boon, Heavy Armor and Faith Banes, bow budding talent

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? i was gonna say elusia but then i remembered solm is partially brazil inspired and i felt my father breathing down my neck to not betray his country

How do you pronounce TOA? TOE-uh

Current TOA muses: Miranda, Marni, Reginn

Past TOA muses? Volug, Lyn, Sophia

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Volug; he's comfortably retired.

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? the three limit muse genders are as follows:

-depersonalization and/or self-isolation (we're not the same and never will be) -my siblings are all i have (but i dont know if love is enough to save us) -oh god where does the anger go after everything is over ..............the bonus limit muse gender is "man who is funny" ftr

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? i think i could do anything if i tried hard enough (hubris speaking) but i would have to become obsessed with them first which is the hard part because i feel like i'm pretty picky

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? i've really gotten back into my complicated sibling relationship era lately. i like non-traditional family relationships in general and having to work to keep that connection alive. i like relationships between women (not necessarily romantic but also yeah i'm a lesbian so romantic too) and the nuances that come with that. Honestly i like talking about gender in general HAHA

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? just happy to be here tbh :)

Favorite TOA-related memories? my friemds :)

Present or past tense? present tense but honestly i think im really bad at tenses. LMFAO.

Normal size text, small text, no preference? normal size is my default. i'll match whatever my partner prefers

Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 wouldnt you like to know weatherboy

[amayadartan]

14

Chapter 13

Arch makes a revelation....

In pic starting from top and going clockwise - Arioch, Olly, Cruz, Abriella, Dartan, Arch, and Amaya in the center

“Would anyone like the good news or the bad news first?” Arch asked, looking around the room and now seeing they had been joined by Arioch. “And don’t you ever do anything like that again, or you’ll not be the one having fun in Caligo.” There was something about the glow that flashed around the mage that made everyone a bit uneasy; and Arioch just nodded, not sure he wanted to find out what the fuck the mage really was.

“Bad. At least that way the only way to go is up.” Olly finally answered. He figured someone had to, and he wanted to get Dartan away from Amaya as soon as possible.

“We are going to need to keep them closer together.  If he’s far from her again, we’re going to have a repeat of the asshole’s behavior.  I’m sure they can be in different rooms, but not different wings of the castle.” Arch answered, which made every other male’s jaw tick. “However, I believe that I’ve figured out the key to why they are here.” Brows rose and glances were exchanged around the room.  “The spell worked exactly as it should have.  Whether she was to be bound to Dartan “Dar-tan” or an angel “Dare-ten” is debatable, but the spell worked exactly as it was designed.  The spectre is just an egotistical asshole, and she the unwitting victim of a pronunciation issue.”

Abriella’s brows knit together.  “It was a protection spell for her hunting for some kind of relic from Earth.  Why would they now be in Imperium and bound together as mates?”  The logic was escaping her, but she was sure Arch had figured that out as well.

“Whatever it was she was looking for, it’s now here for some reason.  It wouldn’t be the first mystical or magical item from Earth to find its way down here.  It could even be in the Palace itself, although I have a feeling it’s closer to wherever they were teleported in at.”  Abriella nodded in understanding, now starting to put the pieces together.  “Binding the angel or asshole, in this case, to her ensures that the weak human doesn’t die here or get abandoned because the selfish prick decides to trace off home.  This explains why Dartan couldn’t trace with or without her, and why none of us could do so with either of them as well. It also explains why he can’t be far from her, if he tries to abandon her, he goes insane and has to get back to her.  His presence was there to be protection.” Arch explained as Abriella and Cruz both rubbed the bridges of their noses in unison, something that amused him.  Sometimes for being so different in personality, they were very much the same in action.

“So, how do we break it?” Olly asked, still not happy about the fact that Dartan would have to be moved closer to Amaya. Currently he had put himself physically between the two of them. He was going to see to her needs and protection personally, and once it was over, he’d take care of her in Imperium.  He’d already made up his mide.  Fuck the spectre and whatever he wanted.

“She has to find whatever she was looking for.  Wherever it is here in Imperium, until it is found, she’s bound to him.”  Arch said plainly, as if it was the most simple thing in the world.  

"Is there any way to keep this idiot from getting her killed?" Olly asked, looking over to where Amaya lay in the bed.  Dartan already seemed to be doing a fine job of injuring her, she didn’t deserve to die because her spell was fucked six ways to Sunday.  It would be easier if they could just kill him and keep her safe themselves.  He and Arch would be able to do it.  Maybe even draft Cruz into it.

"Abriella or Cruz are going to have to make her immortal.   We can't let her go back topside anyway, not after all she's seen down here and could accidentally spill.  She can't live out the rest of her life down here as a human, she’s too fragile.  It’s not like we don’t have other newb immortals."  Arioch's voice from behind Olly had all heads turning.   He wasn't wrong, and they all knew it.  

"He's right.  Like your friend Delilah, she will need to become immortal and reside in Imperium from now on." Arch agreed.  It seemed new residents were multiplying faster than rabbits in the Palace.  Or chinchillas, given the gardens newest residents. 

"That will not be a problem, it’s done.  Who is going to help her with that adjustment?" Abriella looked around the room expectantly. She knew her friends, those not already helping others who had just arrived in Imperium would no doubt help, and even some of those who were helping probably would pitch in.

"I can as we're searching." Dartan’s dejected voice came from the floor.  As much as he'd been infuriated at her for fucking up his life, at least it would go back to normal when it was over.  Hers was now forever changed. 

"NO!" Arch's voice was firm and at a higher volume than normal.  He was quite sure he was not the only one in the room that felt that way, but would currently be the one with the most tact. "Olly and I will both help her.  You will just stay close enough to retain your sanity, and Arioch will make sure you stay in line" Arch turned to face the spectre.  "I understand you did not ask to be involved in this, nor did you intend for her to be injured by your actions…TWICE…but things are as they are.  When this is done and you go back to your life, she will stay with us.  We will help her.  Cross me and I will make you regret it, eternally."  Again Arch glowed and everyone, including Cruz and Abriella, backed up. 

Arch turned to Olly, their eyes meeting for a brief second and there was something unspoken that passed between them.  "I will go prepare the room next to my old one for her.  I'll move back to it for a while.   That old wing will be quiet and peaceful." Olly nodded to Arch then turned and headed off leaving Arch to finish up anything else that needed done for Amaya.  

Cruz's eyes narrowed at his oldest and closest friend slightly. "Isn't that just down the hall from your potions lab, Arch?"  His head tilted.

Arch winked before turning back to Abriella. "You know, old friend, I think you might be right.  How fortunate.  I might have to move to my old room right off it."  He didn't even try to hide his grin.  "Now, how long before we can remove her from the infirmary, dear?  I don't want our guest to feel like a prisoner."  

Abriella had to fight laughing.  No one could ever say that the males in the palace were not devious, or that she did not adore every single one of them for it. "Tomorrow.  And we will need to get Dartan set up with quarters down the hall.  Far down the hall." She sighed and looked to the spectre, "the only reason no one is going to cause you pain is that we now know that it will cause her pain.  I can only guess that you were spared the effects of the mushrooms because you lacked a corporeal form.  However, let me assure you of something, you pull another stunt like today and once the spell is complete, I will take supreme satisfaction in introducing you to my demons in Caligo. You will behave and remember that she did not ask for this situation any more than you did.  And she is NOT your wife."  Abriella’s eyes swirled silver then went completely black before returning to their normal hazel.  A sardonic smile graced her lips before her attention turned to Amaya and her expression softened.   A soft kiss was placed on the human's forehead then the Queen disappeared.

[liviavanrouge]

Twst x Food Fantasy

King Crab ran through the orchard, his hair flying behind him. He skidded to a stop, Silver appearing from behind a tree in front of him. He turned to go the other way but Sebek ran up behind him with Vex on his right side and Nex on his left. The four boys closed in on the food soul, King Crab staring at them taking each of them in. "Master Lilia wishes to remove the contract you've made with her ladyship!"Sebek glared his arms crossed over his chest. "You are much too strong and dangerous for my sister"Silver says stepping closer cautiously. "So come nicely-"Vex starts glaring at him. "-or take us right here"Nex finishes his eyes narrowed. King Crab sighed, looking disapproving. "Does mere mages think they can handle me right here and now?"King Crab asks touching the crown of his head. "Yes!" He lowered his hand, taking the four boys in once again. A first year. A second year. Two third years. "I see...."King Crab mumbles. He leaped skyward, and landed on a branch taking off. "GET HIM!!!"

~~~~~~

Livia sat underneath a tree, working on her classwork, Bean sitting beside her holding an open book up as her other food souls ran about with each other. "Don't your arms hurt?"Livia asks reaching to take the book. "Not at all Master Attendant!"Bean laughs getting an amused smile from her. She perked up, noticing Silver running past with Sebek, Nex and Vex right behind him. "What are they doing?"Bean blinked looking surprised to see them all moving so fast through the halls. Ddeokbokki sang not far, showing off for Cappuccino and Mousse, the two boys applauding her when she finished. "Hey little sis." Livia looked up and smiled, finding Maria standing there with Kimchi. "Hi sis!"Livia beamed. Kimchi went over to the other food souls, watching Ddeokbokki sing. "Master Attendant's friend!" A food soul with blond like hair and strange clothes ran over. "I am Qatayef, and Master Attendant Kalim wants to see YOU!"The food soul greets.

"We can talk later, Livia, Riddle will have my head if I'm late"Maria chuckled rubbing the back of her neck. Livia's ears started to twitch, picking up the note of fear in her elder sisters voice. "Okay"Livia nods looking curious about Riddle now. Kimchi returned to Maria's side, the duo walking away towards the school, making her curious about where they were heading off to. "Ddeokbokki, Cappuccino and Mousse! Return!"Livia orders. The three food souls glowed, turning into charms and darting over, clipping themselves to her bracelet. Qatayef led the way, a goofy smile on his face as they walked to the mirror room. "Who's Kalim, Master Attendant"Bean asks looking up at her curiously, holding her hand. "He's-"Livia starts. She bumped into someone, and stumbled backwards startled. "H-Huh!"Bean stared alarmed. A red haired male glared at Livia, accompanied by a blond haired food soul. "Riddle!"The males food soul gasped. "I'm fine, Fruit Tart"Riddle huffs looking annoyed.

"You should watch where you're doing, and not a single apology came from you"Riddle scolds narrowing his eyes. "S-Sorry.."Livia says surprised. Riddle looked her up and down, raising a brow when he eyed Bean then the charms on her bracelet. "You're childish, and prefer to run around playing rather than allow yourself to remain couped up inside all day, you also enjoy singing and dancing with those you love and cherish but can become fiercely protective of them when they find themselves in danger"Riddle says. She perked up, looking surprised that he knew all of that. "You're honest and sincere with your words but can get lost in your own world at times..you'd rather have a friend than a servant, willing to befriend anyone you come across and give them a second chance, you at times fall quiet and decide to busy yourself with other things, not to mention you love rough housing with loved ones whenever you can"Riddle continues looking her over again.

"How-"Livia starts stunned. She stopped when he held his hand up, continuing to analyze her. "If I have to say, the next time you summon a food soul, you'd end up summoning two accidentally, which are Lotus root with sticky rice and Ganache"Riddle guesses looking her up and down once more. He checked the time when Fruit Tart tapped his shoulder and flinched at the sight. "I'm two minutes late to meet Maria, I can't believe this!"Riddle sighs shaking his head. He gave her a look, confusing her. Wasn't he the one who started rambling on and on about her, figuring out her entire personality with just one look. "Food souls are summoned using a beings personality or their favorite food, I hope to see you with more mature food souls who won't baby you like your current ones!"Riddle frowned crossing his arms over his chest. Her eyes watched as he passed by her with Fruit Tart right behind him, wondering what his deal was with her already. "Master Attendant's friend!" She hurried over, quickly passing through Scarabia's Mirror.

~~~~

"LIVIA!" Kalim tackle hugged her, the two laughing as they crashed into the sandy ground. "It's great to see you again, Livia"Jamil smiled giving her a friendly nod. Five Snake Soup stared silently, his cheeks heating up when Livia beamed. "Nice to see you again too Jamil!"Livia giggled her eyes sparkling. Five snake soup turned and walked away. "Snake?"Jamil frowned looking after him. "I'm gonna go check on the curry"Five snake soup says. "Crap! THE CURRY! I FORGOT!"Jamil yells rushing away. "Thanks for coming, Liv!"Kalim beamed patting her shoulder happily. "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere! No matter what!"Livia giggled beaming right back at him. "Come on, Liv! Jamil's curry is the absolute best!"Kalim beamed pulling her after him. "Yeah!"Livia nods her eyes sparkling. Bean smiled slightly as she pulled him after her, Qatayef following right behind them. The four of them ran to Scarabia, wide smiles on their faces as they laughed, hurrying to try Jamil's famous curry.

~~~~

Riddle sat beside Maria, coaching her through her studies, a stern look on his face as he watched her. "Very good"Riddle nods when he saw she got the answer correct. He frowned, unable to get the girl he bumped into out if his head for some apparent reason and he didn't like that she kept distracting him from tutoring one of his dormmates. "Do you know a girl with black hair and blue eyes, she has a child food soul with her?"Riddle demands frowning. "Livia? She's my baby sister"Maria blinked looking at him surprised. "You're siblings?"Riddle questions suspicious. "Her Papa adopted me into his family, along with a few others, three of my siblings attend somewhere else and ones a king in a wolf kingdom"Maria explains looking reluctant to really elaborate on this further. Riddle frowned, looking curious. "I see.."Riddle says looking down at his book. "I actually have a few questions for her, I wonder if I should court her"Riddle mutters. She stared at him with wide eyes, wondering what in the name of the seven was he on about.

@anxious-twisted-vampire @yukii0nna @writing-heiresss @zexal-club @marrondrawsalot @yumeko2sevilla @abyssthing198

[cilant-lis]

rhian's time in dao pt.2

i can't stop myself from imagining just how gorgeous denerim would look if origins ever got remastered....

wahoo, romance with leli unlocked! i love her so much. kissing her in camp, kissing her in denerim, kissing her on a random battlefield, kissing her in front of the corpse of brother genitivi's assistant

perfect timing for the ghoul tamlen encounter :') on the way to the temple of sacred ashes and right after locking in leliana's romance, just as rhian got a tiny sliver of happiness, wham, gutpunch! (oh how i wish there was more companion reactivity, maybe even a cutscene of tamlen's funeral? i have to do everything myself smh)

respeccing rhian as dex dual wielding warrior because of story reasons (definitely not because i hate playing warriors)

i forgot how creepyy haven is. and how the inquisition decided to settle on top of the said freaky place.

more delicious angst for rhian with the guardian's test, but also some closure at last with the spirit-tamlen somewhat alleviating their survivor's guilt

at the urn of sacred ashes: leliana having a deep religious experience while morrigan, zevran and rhian are like 'wow, a vase....'

ugh eamon. hate that guy

off we go to orzammar and deep roads! first time going there with rhian. they're going to hate all the politics stuff sooo much

choosing the 'give me my troops' option every single conversation. i think rhian would support bhelen not because they care about his politics, but because they found bhelen less annoying than harrowmont

i think the most world-changing decision in the entire game is giving leliana a nug. in this essay i will-

bless the faster moving speed mod, breezed through the deep roads while still getting the lovely, creeping dread atmosphere <3

speaking of creepy, somehow i remember the boobmother broodmother fight being much harder. it took less than five minutes now, even though i'm playing on hard. honestly the stupid road to the anvil of the void took more time

cairdin :( i regret not bringing shale to the quest i gotta look up its dialogue during the quest

wahoo, congrats on the coronation bhelen. NOW GIVE ME MY TROOPS

back to denerim we go, and wouldn't you know it, another crash...

two elves and a mage walk into arl of denerim's estate, somehow no one bats an eye, until the arl is killed and all his prisoners are freed (except for vaughan, rest in piss)

captured! my favourite quest! this time i had rhian break out on their own and it was sooo funny. didn't expect being able to seduce the guard with my 'male' warden, but we honestly the unnamed guard is a bicon

doing the alienage quest and i'm wondering, how long ago did the riots take place? and was it during this uprising that the orphanage was wiped out? idk if i'm conflating the two but it really doesn't add up? the corpses are all bones inside, and the beggar outside of the orphanage is an adult? i guess i need to replay the tabris origin for a refresher

love how blase eamon is about what happened in the alienage. shame we can't kill the guy

i'm a queen anora truther, and nothing will ever change that. i'm tempted to play a cousland just so i can marry her <3

landsmeet cutscene is so great for screenshots, i can't concentrate on what is actually being said lmao. i briefly thought of conscripting loghain, but taking roleplaying into account, i don't think rhian would forgive him for what he did in the alienage. (and by now they no longer see being a warden as a punishment)

rhian entering their absent parent era... such an icon (WHY can't we discuss this with our love interest??? blease let me tell leliana and alistair at least) and in the wonderful version of dragon age that exists in my head, morrigan and rhian perform a blood magic ritual instead of boning

the final goodbyes with the companions ;_;

gods, i hate the final battle drag. just teleport me to the archdemon

rhian is my special little guy and they got the final blow animation on the archdemon AND the cutscene (even though in my worldstate they're not even the one to kill it but oh well)

wish the boon the warden chooses had some sort of an impact in the later games... the dalish getting a chunk of land in ferelden is kind of significant, isn't it

after the game, rhian visits their clan (the half of it which remained in ferelden) with leliana, and finally has a brief moment of respite, even if it's only a week. after that, they travel to weisshaupt to get officially recognised as the warden-commander (and in my canon worldstate report on alvea's 'death') and eventually return to ferelden

[kingluffy5]

Playing Detectives Pt 1 (Wednesday x Male Reader)

Y/N Barron is a student attending Nevermore Academy, he befriends new student Wednesday Addams as they uncover mysteries and stop monsters and murderers.

I used to be able to say that I have the weirdest family ever and for it to be honest, that was until I met her, she showed up out of nowhere and took the entire school by storm, and she took that title from me. I was eventually able to reclaim the title. But I’m getting ahead of myself, now buckle up and hold onto your butts.

— — —

I go to Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts and weirdos, I am one of the most popular among students, Y/N Barron, I am popular because of my family, the Barron family, we are rich and we are powerful mages. My grandfather Tim Barron practically revolutionized the Glyph and Rune systems. Everyday I have to deal with some random students I have never talked to try and act like we are friends, they only care about my family. Don’t get me wrong I have friends, Enid the Nevermore gossip queen and Ajax a guy who is too stoned to care about my family.

At the moment I am trying to read about alchemy when Enid comes up to me.

“Y/N did you hear about the new student, she��s going to be my roomie,” Enid told me excitedly.

“Weren’t you the same person who told me she murdered a student at her old school,” I replied looking up from my book. Enid is a werewolf, although she can’t fully wolf out, she can only extend her nails into claws. She was one of the few people who was my friend for the sake of me and not my family, although with a rep as the school gossip it did take me a while to actually trust her as a friend.

“Well either way I’m happy to finally have someone to bunk with,” She responded, she always looks on the bright side, “She is arriving today and Weems asked me to get you to help me show her around,”

“And I have to help why?”

“Well the Barron family is the school’s largest donators,” She explained, “She also felt that someone with your knowledge of the school and the surrounding area would be able to help,”

“Yay,” I said sarcastically.

— — —

We head up to Enid’s room at Ophelia hall, I show Ms Thornhill the pass Enid gave me from Principle Weems. We wait there for a few minutes for her new roommate.

Eventually Weems walks in with two adults and possibly one of the simultaneously most gothic and most beautiful girls I have ever seen.

Enid runs up and greets her new roommate who we learn is named Wednesday Addams.

“And this young man is Y/N Barron,” Weems said as she introduced me.

“Ah I likely know your parents, they would be?” Mrs. Addams asked.

“Oscar and Maxine Barron,” I replied

“Ah Maxine, don’t you remember her Larissa, such a kindred spirit, she had such a way with words, I’m glad that she and Oscar are still together,” She said fondly, “and how is the rest of your family, Gomez I remember you were close friends with Oscar and his brothers, and is Jane doing all right,”

“They are all good Mrs. Addams, Uncle Francis had a few kids but is still unmarried, same with Uncle Toji”

“Y/N, Enid, would you two be able to show Wednesday around the school and take her to get her uniform and supplies,” Weems asked

“Sure,” we agreed.

— — —

Enid was showing Wednesday around, I’m hanging around too but not really paying attention, while she is beautiful I am just waiting for the moment she tries to be my friend just to get to know my family.

Eventually we get to the quad and Ajax walks up to us, “You Enid you will never believe the dirt I just dug up on your new roommate, she eats human flesh, right off the bone,” he clearly did not see Wednesday.

Enid stepped aside to reveal Wednesday who tells Ajax he’s wrong, and that she feeds her victims to her pets, I have to admit that I found that pretty funny.

Me and Enid keep walking around with Wednesday who gets her things, eventually Enid left to go gossip around school leaving me and Wednesday together.

“Before you ask me about family I should tell you that is one way to get me to never talk to you again,” I inform her.

“Why would I care who your family is or for that matter you are?” she said, I couldn’t tell whether or not she was genuinely asking or she was insulting me but I feel like it was the second one.

“You actually don’t care about them do you?” I asked pleasantly surprised.

“Can you believe it?” She said sarcastically.

“So did you actually kill someone at your old school?” I asked now slightly curious about her

“No I dropped some piranhas into a pool with a imbecile, he lost a testicle, if anything I am disappointed that it wasn’t more.” She answers honestly, “What happened to your eye,” She asks intrigued referring to the scar across my eye which causes it to be pale and cloudy.

“Got into a fight, should’ve seen the other guy,” I said sarcastically, “see you around Addams,” I say ending this revealing conversation.

— — —

I was eating lunch with some of my family, my brothers Jason and Jack, my sister Amelia, and my cousin Gwen, we are the ones who go to Nevermore, the rest have graduated. Jason is factual and thinks purely on logic, Jack is sarcastic and jokey, funnily enough they are twins, Amelia is caring and kind, the three of them are younger than me, Jack and Jason one year and Amelia three years, Gwen is my age and is a gossip which makes her and Enid good friends.

“You got therapy again tomorrow right?” Jason asked.

“Yup,” I responded.

“So you hear about the new girl, she killed some guys at her old school,” Amelia said trying to steer the conversation away from the awkward direction it was heading too.

“Nah, she didn’t do that, she just dropped piranhas into a school pool,” I answer.

“And you say that like it is a normal thing to do,” Jack said.

“Hey I saw you talking with her earlier, do you like her?” Gwen said suggestively.

“I don’t know yet, she’s attractive and I find her funny but I have no idea what she is like, I know that she doesn’t care about our family status so that is nice,” I reveal honestly. They all stare at me shocked, I never was interested in someone romantically before so their reaction was understandable.

“I thought you were Aroace,” Jack said confused.

“Well this was fun,” I say getting up to leave.

— — —

Me, Gwen, Enid, and Ajax were in our fencing class, me and Gwen were sparring, the only person in the class who could give me a decent challenge, other then Gwen, was Bianca Barclay, queen bee of Nevermore, we mostly keep our distance from each other.

The doors open to reveal Wednesday clad in black fencing gear walking in the middle of sparring sessions up to Bianca and Rowan’s, Rowan was roommates with Xavier, both were more people I didn’t really talk to, Rowan was bullied a lot so I felt bad for him and whenever I see it happen I kick their asses, but we don’t really have that much in common. Xavier is the tortured artist of Nevermore and Bianca’s ex boyfriend, his dad is some famous psychic so we have something in common but we just don’t get along.

Bianca wins their match after Rowan falls to the ground he complains that she tripped him but the coach acknowledged that it was a fair play.

“Maybe if you spent more time practicing instead of whining you would suck less, seriously coach when are we going to start getting some serious competition?” Bianca asked.

“Do you really want a replay of what happened the last time we sparred,” I said referring to the time I beat her in a match, she gave me a look that said that I was pissing her off but that she would stop. Our staring contest was interrupted when Wednesday challenged Bianca to a match, I was excited to see what she could do and Gwen wanted to see if she could be a first eye witness to something that would explode the Nevermore gossip sphere.

The two started as everyone gathered to watch, Wednesday won the first point while Bianca won the second. “For the final round I invoke military challenge, no masks, no tips, winner draws first blood,” Wednesday challenges. Bianca agrees and the two duel for the win, they spin around a little their blades clash, eventually Bianca nicks Wednesday’s forehead winning the match.

“At least your face finally got the splash of color it so desperately needed,” Bianca trash talks.

“Xavier please take Wednesday to the nurse,” the coach asks.

— — —

“So Y/N at our last session we were talking about how you use apathy as a defense mechanism to avoid talking about anything personal to those close to you,” Dr. Kinbott references.

“Yeah I believe that was mentioned,” I said sitting in the couch facing the doc.

“Y/N we can’t keep continuing doing this where you don’t meet me half way, you have to put in some effort if you want to solve any of these issues your going through,” she informs me.

“I know, it’s just that I spent so many years not telling anyone about anything,” I reveal.

“Why don’t we talk about that, you spent years keeping everything inside so by now you feel that you need to keep it all in, did I hit the mark?” She asks.

“Maybe, I still don’t see why my parents arranged for this, I can diagnose myself, on top of what you just said I also don’t tell people because I don’t want to feel like a burden to those close to me.” I vent

“Well to answer why your parents pay for therapy sessions, last Christmas you had a nervous breakdown and drop kicked a twelve year old after you argued over a video game,” Kinbott answers.

“First of all I would say less of a full nervous and more of a small panic attack, secondly the spoiled brat was insulting me when he only wanted it for myself and I was getting it for one of my brothers,” I defend myself.

“Have you had any more panic attacks since then?” She asks.

“Ugh,” I groan as I lean back.

— — —

After the session I walked around town a little, seeing as I was wearing the Nevermore uniform the townspeople were giving me dirty looks and glares, the normies never liked outcasts. Eventually I looped back around to Dr. Kinbott’s office, it is there that I bumped into one Wednesday Addams who is seemingly shawshanking from Dr. Kinbott’s.

“Ms. Addams” I greet as we both walk away from the office.

“Y/N, did Weems enlist you to spy on me?” she accused.

“Believe it or not I am here of my own free will, it seems that you can’t say the same though,” I say acknowledging her daring escape in broad daylight.

“I am leaving this ridiculous school behind, but not before a decent cup of coffee,” she said as we entered the weathervane.

“Trying to leave without saying goodbye, hurtful Addams,” we walk up to the barista who over the years I’ve learned is named Tyler, son of Sheriff Galpin, the sheriff never liked me or my family because we are “chaotic psychopaths”. Tyler is attempting to fix the espresso machine and it isn’t until it blows another gasket that he finally notices us.

“Holy crap,” he says startled.

Wednesday orders a quad over ice but Tyler says that since the espresso machine is broken they only have drip, “But drip is for people who hate themselves and know that their lives have no real meaning,” we all look over to a costumer who was about to pour some drip into his mug but put’s both down. Wednesday then fixes the espresso machine and then asks Tyler for a ride to the train station which he agrees to do after his shift is over. While we wait me and Wednesday sit in a booth.

“So why don’t you want to stay at Nevermore?” I question.

“I thought I explained that when you and Enid were showing me around,” she pointed out.

“I have trouble paying attention to the things people say, it’s not that I have adhd or something, I just don’t care what they say,” I remark.

“Understandable, my parents sent me here and they are trying to turn me into a version of them,” she explains.

“Hm, personally I would either become better then they ever were or become nothing like them to spite them,” I say.

We were then interrupted by a group of guys dressed in pilgrim costumes, “What are a couple of Nevermore freaks doing out in the wild, this is our booth,”

“Why are you dressed as religious fanatics?” Wednesday asks.

“We’re Pilgrims,” one of the informs us.

“Same thing,” I say.

“Potato Pah-tah-toe,” Wednesday says at the same time.

“We work at Pilgrim World,” one of them says flipping over a flyer, starting to get pissed. The two of us look at it, frankly, a little confused as to why an entire theme park to murders.

“It takes a special kind of stupid to devote an entire amusement park to zealots responsible for mass murder,” she retorts, I can’t help but laugh.

“My dad owns Pilgrim World, are you calling him stupid?” He asks.

“If the buckle shoe fits,”

“Hey guys, backoff,” Tyler suggests.

“Hey stay out of this Galpin!” One of them yells.

“Yeah stay out of this,” Wednesday says as we both get up.

“So tell me, freak, you ever been with a normie?” He asked.

“Never found one that can handle me,” She responded, “Boo,”

We start fighting them, she uses Kung Fu techniques while I use a few kickboxing moves, we make quick work of them when Tyler asks us where we learned them, Wednesday from her Uncle who was a prisoner in a Tibetan Monastery, me from my older sister who did some fights for fun. The fun ends when the Sheriff walks in.

“Ah, Jesus, what did you do this time Barron,” He asks me looking around at the unconscious teenagers.

“Hey I resent these baseless accusations, besides your being sexist, she could have done this just as easily as I could have,” I say.

“So your saying that you had no hand in this,” He retorts giving an exhausted look that only my family could give him.

“Ok I kicked those two in the crotch, and broke that one’s nose,” I admit.

“They were harassing them and they put them in their place,” Tyler defended us.

“Apologies Sheriff, this one slipped away from me, and I see you were involved as well Mr. Barron, well come along Ms. Addams and you too Mr. Barron,” Principal Weems told us.

“Wait a minute, hang on, you’re an Addams? Don’t tell me Gomez Addams is your father?” The Sheriff asked spooked, causing Wednesday to nod, “That man belongs behind bars for murder, guessin’ the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I’m gonna keep my eye on you.”

Weems ushers us out and to the shuttle back to Nevermore.

— — —

The ride back mostly consisted of Weems chewing us out, Wednesday questioning her for information, and some guy crashed on the side of the road and Wednesday knowing how he died. Once we got back we went our separate ways, Wednesday to Ophelia hall and me to my room Othello Hall.

Later that night while feeding my pets, my raven named Odin, my octopus named Sashimi, and my Axolotl named Gravity, I heard Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones on the cello, I honestly liked that version better.

At the moment I’m studying for some of my classes when I hear a knock at my window, I turn and see a severed hand at the window. I let him in and he shows me a note on his palm saying “call me” and shows Enid’s number, I didn’t realize she gained an appendage as an assistant. I grabbed my phone and FaceTimed Enid to be met by Wednesday looking as pale and dead as ever.

“Wednesday, that means that this five fingered fellow must be yours,” I say.

“That’s Thing,” She informs me.

“Well why would you be calling me at this late hour?” I inquire.

“I have a plan to escape this educational penitentiary and I would like your assistance,” She reveals.

“Sure,” I say, mostly just happy that something exciting is happening in this place.

— — —

Me, Enid, and Wednesday met together at the Harvest Day Festival to enact her plan and to say our goodbyes. Enid and Wednesday bid farewell as we wait for Tyler to get ready, Wednesday went to darts while I did a water gun. Xavier went over to Wednesday to chat her up, sucks for him because she made it completely obvious that she was not interested. Eventually Tyler came over and I reunited with Wednesday, she sent the panda she won over to Weems setting the plan in motion, after the initial distraction I would cause a bigger one luring the rest of them away from Wednesday and make sure no one follows them while Tyler drives her to the station.

“In case I don’t see you again Addams, it’s been real,” I say as I go off to cause a distraction.

I wonder what I should do turn off the ferris wheel trapping people on their, small explosion in the distance, my thoughts are interrupted when a few of the guys me and Wednesday beat up show up in the crowd with bats looking a little angry as they walk towards me. I run away from them, because as cocky and god complexed as I am when it comes to idiots like these, I don’t have any of my stuff with me and I am not going to be able to fight them when they have metal bats and we are surrounded by outcast hating normies. Eventually I run into Tyler and Wednesday who likely have had a similar experience by the looks on their face.

“Let me guess Normies with bats?” I say.

“Yeah, you?” Wednesday asks.

“Yeah,” I say when Rowan bumps into Wednesday causing her to have what appears to be a psychic vision. When she comes to she looks over at Rowan, who is going into the woods, and runs after him, I follow quickly leaving Tyler behind.

We catch up to him, “Rowan wait!” Wednesday yells, whatever she’s seen it must have been bad for him.

“What do you want? Why are you following me?” He questions.

“I don’t have time to explain but you are in great danger,” She reveals to which he just starts laughing.

“I think you got it backwards,” He says then uses his psychic powers to push us back into trees, “You’re the ones in danger,”

“What are you doing?” Wednesday asks in shock.

“Saving everyone from you. I have to kill you,” He responds.

“The gargoyle, that was you?” Wednesday realizes as I just wonder what gargoyle.

“Yeah,”

“It’s always the quiet ones,”

Rowan then sends a page up to us and unfolds it revealing a drawing of a boy and girl who look like the two of us, “The girl in the picture, that’s you, and the boy is you Y/N,”

“You want to kill us over some picture?” I say shocked.

“My mother drew that picture 25 years ago when she was a student at Nevermore. She was a powerful seer, told me about it before she died.” He revealed

“Rowan put us down,” Wednesday tries to tell him.

“No! My mother said it was my destiny to stop this girl and boy if they ever came to Nevermore, because she will destroy the school in everyone in it,” He yells

“Rowan,” Me and Wednesday try to talk to him as he tries to kill us.

Then we all heard a growl as a monster leapt out and started tearing into Rowan’s gut, it then looked back at us and then ran off. We crawled over to Rowan who was obviously dead when the page flew down. We both grabbed at it but when we touched hands her head flew back and she had another vision like the one with Rowan, when she came to she looked at me with a look of slight fear, concern, and pity in there. As I question what she saw she gets up to leave and I follow suit.

— — —

We were now each in our own dorm rooms, we told Bianca about Rowan and told her to tell someone and went back to Nevermore, I now have many things to think about, what was up with Rowan’s prophecy and would we really destroy the school, what was the monster that killed him and what was it’s motive, and lastly what is it that Wednesday saw in my future that worried her, well at least I can’t say that this semester will be as boring as the last one.