#and casting fireball but its lightning

[one-in-a-nillion]

Not related to todays Revenant Inclusa session (might draw stuff from that later) but. mwehehe

[clos-posts]

Okay so, hear me out:

I've been on a bit of a Merlin fanfic hyperfocuse and came across another "I'm Emrys" where Merlin has to perform magic for Arthur to believe him, in front of the entire round table council, and I had a thought.

So, we all know that Merlin is magic itself, spells that seemed powerful to other sorcerers are not that powerful to Merlin and my hc is that these spells barely make his eyes turn gold, like maybe a flicker so fast the average person will miss it.

So I imagine Merlin saying he's Emrys and Arthur being all 'well then prove it' and Merlin makes a fireball (cliche I know but bear with me). Now Arthur has seen this spell and though he has a merger knowledge of magic, knows that it's quite a powerful spell and that most sorcerers eyes are practically a blinding gold, but Merlins eyes don't change. That and Merlin doesn't even speak and therefore didn't cast a spell.

Arthur, thinking that some other sorcerer helped Merlin with his self-sacrificing, kind-hearted, not wanting anyone to die personality, appear as if Merlin is this 'Emrys' and in a patience but patronizing tone tells Merlin that's is honorable to try and protect this Emrys, but his eyes didn't even change colour and therefore can not be a sorcerer.

Merlin, in a very Merlin way, huffs and proceeds to say something like 'Well duh, that was a very simple spell. Doesn't even require that much magic to perform' and the entire room goes silent.

(meanwhile Guise blood pressure has skyrocketed and is on the verge of either killing Merlin himself or having a heart attack. He hasn't decided yet.)

Arthur, absolutely baffled (and a little turn on at the casual display of apparently immense power), asks: 'What will make your eyes gold then? If you even are a sorcerer?'

Merlin, never one to back down from a challenge and already too deep into this, shrugs and says 'We would need to be outside'

And that's how the whole council ends up on the training grounds opposite Merlin waiting in anticipation as to what he will do.

There's silence so thick that no one dares break until Merlin starts to chant. At first nothing happens and Arthur is relieved (and a little disappointed), but then clouds start to gather, think dark clouds above them, and Merlin starts to get louder. Thunder claps across the sky and there electricity in the air making Arthur's hair stand on end and a shiver works its way down his spine. He looks at Merlin and though it's subtle at first, his eyes are glowing gold.

The tension builds and builds and with one final shout from Merlin, his eyes, a brilliant gold, as lightning falls all around him, clashing to the ground destroying the train field in its wake.

Arthur can do nothing but stare. Breath caught, heart hammer, and a sudden hot arousal catching him off guard. He can do nothing but stare at Merlin, his loyal manservant, standing amidst the lighting with his head thrown back and a look of contentment on his face, as if performing magic of this magnitude is comfortable, relaxing, an everyday occurrence.

When Merlins eyes meet Arthur's, there's a, small, sad smile on his lips, and then quicker then it had started the lightning stops and the clouds disappear, and the only thing that can be heard is the birds beginning to sing again.

Arthur can't think of anything to say and stupidly say 'you destroyed the training grounds'. Merlin at this point blushes, stammers out an apology before waving his hand with a few muttered words and the training field is in perfect condition once again.

Arthur and the entire council are baffled.

Then, before anyone could say anything, Arthur blurts out a command for Merlin to go to Arthur's chambers and he does. Without question. Just a shrug, and walks off. Arthur is wheeling. This powerful sorcerer, who just showed them a feat that no mortal man will ever replicate just listens to his command with nothing but a shrug!

Anyway, once Arthur has calmed the council somewhat he makes his way to his chambers. Once he enters Merlin is speaking so fast it's hard to keep up, something about coins, destiny and then shockingly how Arthur is the only person that can kill him if he uses Excalibur. What. The. Fuck.

Arthur: I'm not going to kill you Merlin!! Why would I kill you?!?

Merlin: Well, I mean, umm, I'm a sorcerer? Emery's? The strongest warlock to ever walk the Earth?

Arthur: I'm not going to kill you Merlin. However! If you do not take me to bed and absolutely ravish me in the next 10 minutes, I may have to resort to drastic measures!

Merlin, absolutely gobsmacked, face red: Wh- what measures..?

Arthur, absolutely confident, turned on beyond belief, practically gagging for it: I'll start begging.

And before he knows it Merlin pounces, and the rest is history.

That was not meant to be as long as it was... 😂

BUT!! If someone who writes fics could take this and write a fully fleshed version on this and then tag me in it I would be forever grateful. ADHD and dyslexia does not make a good writer for me unfortunately 🥲🥲🥲

OH! One last thing! I have a hc that cold iron had a natural negative field which repels energy which is why those that have learned magic have it cut off when chained in cold iron. They can't draw upon their magic from the energy around them. However, with Merlin being magic it's a little different for him.

So, I had this image of a knight, without prompting thinking he's doing what the king would want, walks up to Merlin at some point during his light show and slaps cold iron shackles on him. But, instead of the magic stopping, Merlins eyes grow brighter and bright, and the shackles start to shake and groan, because whilst cold iron does repel energy, it's a little hard to do that from both sides and can't take the pressure. At some point the shackles start to glow as the negative properties of the iron are being overwhelmed and forced into itself. Merlin looks down, looks back at the now terrified knight and says: You should probably duck. And no soon has the knight hit the ground the shackles explode, for lack of a better word. No harm done to Merlin tho.

[chocodile]

Amaranthine Magic System PART II: Spellcraft for Wizards

This is Part III of a three-part worldbuilding set.

Part I - Part II (you are here) - Part III

So, what makes a wizard different than a non-magically capable mundane? A few things:

Unusually strong personal magical field

Ability to sense/”see” magical energy

Some unknown characteristic that allows them to manipulate their own magical field as if it were an extension of their body. Possibly a physical difference in brain structure?

The last part is the most important and is truly what sets a wizard apart from every other creature on the planet. Though, of course, without the first two traits, it’s going to be of limited use.

As mentioned in Part I, wizards cast their spells by applying a mental “filter” their own magical output. This is referred to as active casting. Passive casting, which will be covered in Part III, is typically the realm of animals and plants. Being able to filter something mentally is an extremely unique skill only possible by sapient creatures (probably) due to the complexity involved. However, wizards do typically use hand gestures in casting as well. Hand gestures provide an additional optional channel on which you can “filter” your spell. Because it’s easier to do hand gestures than to teach yourself these complex mental filters, it’s common for amateur wizards to use many more hand gestures when casting, while very advanced wizards use fewer of them because they are capable of juggling a larger number of simultaneous “filters” mentally. Additionally, hand and arm gestures are commonly used like the barrel of a rifle, to control and direct the magical energy being shaped by the mind.

Learning how to control magic like this takes many years of study and practice. You must really understand the “physics” of how the waves work and how each puppeteer string will affect the shape of the waves when pulled. On top of that, you need a good understanding of the object you’re interacting with. Magic will move differently through water, air, or stone. If you are trying to create a spell that will create a net of energy that will catch fish in a river, you need to be very familiar with the physics of how magic will interact with water and flesh, as well as have an approximate awareness of how deep the water is, whether the bottom is rocky/uneven or not, how fast moving the current is, etc. Gathering that info will require several steps of study and reconnaissance before you ever get to the “make a net and catch some fish” part.

Healing magic is very tricky for this reason. Flesh can be knit together, but because the blood vessels and nerves and such are so small, and so many different types of material are present in, say, a cross-section of an arm, successfully re-attaching a limb would be something only an expert who has dedicated their life to studying anatomy would be able to pull off. You know those radioactive tracers doctors use before imaging tests? That sort of thing gets a lot of use in healing magic. Healers can train themselves to recognize the tracer (well, a magical energy equivalent) and follow that through a body, then target their spell on the location where the tracer ended up. Much easier and more reliable than trying to guess exactly where someone’s alveoli are from outside their body.

Spellcraft has two primary “branches”. The First Branch is a school of magic based on unleashing your own magical potential in a very basic, direct way. Its rawest form would manifest as something like a lightning bolt: an erratic, jagged bolt of pure, difficult-to-control energy. Pretty much all “attack” type spells are variations on this, as well as any spells that involve pushing/pulling/moving things. This branch of magic is seen as much easier and, ironically more beginner friendly. Though it does have the capacity to cause grievous injury, the concentration and mental effort involved mean it’s very hard mix up a “pull” spell and a “fireball” spell. Western Kingdom schools almost exclusively teach this branch.

The Second Branch deals more with manipulating the world’s “background radiation”. (if First Branch magic can be visualized as a line, Second Branch magic is more of a plane or 3D sphere) The wizard alters and exaggerates the shape of their own magical aura to exert pressure on the “background radiation” around them to produce type spells that are more like buffs/debuffs in a video game. Some examples would include a spell that makes everyone in the area feel weirdly invigorated or sleepy, or slows down/speeds up time in a small area, or makes a room with your dead mom in it really, really cold (cough, cough). These spells tend to be more subtle and frankly kind of weird… it’s a very versatile branch of magic with some interesting potential implications. However, it tends to be the harder type of magic to learn by far and requires a very steady hand and calm mind to maintain.

Though they use First Branch magic as well, it’s worth noting that Second Branch magic is very common in the Eastern Kingdom, where it has been well-studied for thousands of years. Their extensive library of research is kept by the Eastern Kingdom Sultan in his private library. Westerners tend to view the Second Branch as shady and manipulative… who knows what a Second Branch wizard could be doing to you without you knowing? The only Second Branch magic to be commonly used in the West is healing magic.

However, as mentioned before, one important thing about the magic system in Amaranthine is that wizards are not psychic. They don’t have x-ray vision and do not innately know how every object or life form they encounter works, and a lot of specialized magic involves knowing the inner workings of things and being able to picture things clearly in your head. A wizard cannot use telekinesis to pick up an object they don’t know the location or shape of (if they tried, it would likely either not have any effect, or they’d break it/damage it/knock it over by targeting it incorrectly, depending on how “off” they were). Nor could they use magic to pick a lock if they didn’t already know how locks worked well enough to visualize the inside of it.

For this reason, wizards tend to be pretty well-read in general, as you have to know a lot about the mechanics and structure of the world around you in order to make the best use of your powers. Hyden specifically has a lot of esoteric nerdy technical knowledge about how things are put together but also huge blind spots when it comes to how the world works in practice. For example, he may know a lot about the anatomy of a corn plant because he had to study them one time when the Royal Mages tasked him with purifying a village’s corn field of crop blight, but still be unable to identify a carrot or yam. He may be able to draw a detailed diagram of the wheels and axle of a carriage because he helped assemble a fleet of them once upon a time, but not have any idea why those parts go together or what they specifically do.

[roseandxanderfics]

“Unsteady Hands, Unbreakable Will” - Alanna x AesSedai!reader x Ihvon x Maksim

Summary: Her hands tremble, always have—but in battle, her wild, chaotic weaves turn the tide. She’s never had a Warder, never let anyone close. Until Alanna and her Warders see her, truly see her—and offer her a place at their side.

——————

The cup rattled against its saucer.

She clenched her fingers tighter, but the tremor would not stop. It never did.

The inn was quiet around her, candlelight flickering against the wooden walls, casting long shadows. She could feel eyes on her, the quiet judgment of strangers.

An Aes Sedai should not shake.

She had learned this early in the White Tower, when her hands had betrayed her in every lesson. She had seen the other novices whisper, seen her instructors frown as she struggled to keep her weaves from unraveling under the constant motion.

They had told her it was impossible.

That she would never be precise enough.

Never be controlled enough.

She had proven them wrong.

Now, as she sat in the dim glow of the fire, she let her fingers relax, let the tremor run through them unchecked. She had spent a lifetime fighting it, hating it.

Now, she simply endured it.

A familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“You’re doing it again.”

She looked up.

Alanna Mosvani leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with knowing amusement. Behind her, her Warders lingered—Maksim and Ihvon, their presence as steady as always.

She sighed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Alanna raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to take the seat across from her. The Green sister’s gaze was warm but sharp, always sharp.

“You think I don’t notice?” Alanna murmured. “You’re bracing. Preparing.”

Her fingers curled around the cup again. She did not answer.

Because Alanna was right.

The signs of war had been creeping closer. Soldiers on the road, talk of skirmishes. They would be called to battle soon.

And battle meant weaving.

And weaving meant—

She exhaled.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, though the words rang hollow.

Alanna studied her for a long moment, then smiled—a slow, knowing thing. “I never doubted it.”

Her Warders exchanged a glance, and then Maksim sat beside her, nudging the cup from her hands before she could spill it completely.

“You should sleep,” he said. “Big day tomorrow.”

She almost laughed.

Yes.

A very big day indeed.

⸻

The battlefield smelled of smoke and blood.

The clash of steel filled the air, screams woven between the ring of blades.

She stood at the heart of it, her hands unsteady, her mind sharp.

She wove.

The enemy forces surged forward, and she sent fire crashing into them, not in clean, precise lines but in wild, unpredictable bursts. Where other Aes Sedai wove with perfect control, each thread placed with careful intent, hers were chaotic—flickering, shifting, never still.

A fireball meant to strike a single soldier split at the last second, licking across multiple enemies in an erratic blaze. Lightning crackled, arcing unpredictably, catching foes who thought they had escaped.

She did not fight her tremors.

She used them.

And the battlefield became hers.

Alanna fought nearby, her Warders cutting down those who broke through. They did not try to protect her.

They knew better.

She was not a shield to be guarded.

She was a storm to be unleashed.

But storms did not rage without cost.

She felt it—the toll on her body, the strain of wielding so much power through hands that never stopped moving.

It hurt.

Light, it hurt.

She swallowed back the pain, weaving again.

More.

Just a little more—

Then something went wrong.

A shadow in the corner of her vision. A figure too close.

She turned, too slow.

A blade caught her side, slicing through cloth, through skin.

Pain flared, sharp and hot.

She staggered, losing control of the weave in her hands—

And then Alanna was there.

Steel met steel, Maksim and Ihvon cutting the enemy down before they could strike again.

A firm hand caught her shoulder, steadying her.

She met Alanna’s gaze, saw the fury there—not at her, never at her.

At the world.

At fate.

At whatever cruel twist had left her fighting with hands that would never still.

“You’re hurt,” Alanna said.

She swallowed. “It’s nothing.”

Alanna’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Then, without another word, she pulled her close, pressing a hand to her wound, her Warders forming a shield around them.

For the first time that day, she let herself be held.

And in that moment, despite the battle still raging—

She felt steady.

————————

Pain burned through her side, but she forced herself to keep moving. The battlefield did not stop for injury, and neither would she.

Alanna’s hand remained firm against her wound, warmth spreading from her palm as she wove healing into her flesh. It was not enough to fully mend it, but it stemmed the bleeding, dulled the pain to something she could ignore.

“I can still fight,” she murmured, straightening.

Ihvon gave her a look, one eyebrow raised. “Of course you can. But should you?”

She rolled her shoulders, feeling the pull of tender flesh where the blade had cut deep. Her hands still shook—always shook—but she flexed them, weaving a small thread of fire between her fingers in demonstration. The weave flickered, nearly slipping from her grasp before stabilizing.

Alanna studied her for a long moment, lips pressing into a thin line.

Then she nodded. “Stay close.”

They moved together, seamlessly slipping back into the fray. Alanna and her Warders fought like an extension of each other, their movements fluid, instinctive. She had always envied it—the unspoken understanding, the tether of the bond. She had never bonded a Warder.

She had never trusted anyone enough to.

Because who would tie themselves to someone who was always on the brink of falling apart?

The thought was bitter, but she pushed it away. This was not the time.

She lifted her hands, weaving once more.

The enemy was pressing forward, an unrelenting tide of soldiers and mercenaries. She saw another Aes Sedai fall—a Yellow sister struck down before she could finish her weave. The woman’s Warder let out an anguished cry, cutting his way through the enemies, but it was too late.

They were losing ground.

She refused to let it happen.

Her hands trembled as she pulled at the Source, the familiar hum filling her veins. She did not try to force precision, did not try to smooth the shaking. Instead, she embraced it.

The weaves danced erratically, spinning outward in spirals of destruction.

Lightning arced across the field, unpredictable and wild, catching enemies even as they tried to dodge. Fire flared, licking at armor, finding gaps where controlled flames might have missed.

Chaos.

Perfect, unrelenting chaos.

And suddenly, the tide was turning.

Alanna fought beside her, her own weaves strong and sure, but there was something different in her gaze now.

Awe.

She had fought beside Greens before, warriors who wielded the One Power with skill and precision. But this—

This was something else entirely.

“You fight like a madwoman,” Maksim muttered, cutting down an enemy who had gotten too close. “It’s terrifying.”

A breathless laugh escaped her. “I know.”

And she did.

Her weaves were reckless, unpredictable. But that was what made them unstoppable.

She burned through her strength faster than most, but she had learned long ago that raw, unchained power was sometimes more valuable than carefully measured control.

She would never have the grace of other Aes Sedai.

But she had power.

And in this moment, it was enough.

⸻

Hours passed. Maybe longer.

The battle raged, then waned, then raged again.

By the time the last of the enemy had fallen or fled, she was on her knees, her body screaming in exhaustion. Her arms felt like lead, her fingers twitching even as she tried to still them.

She could feel the cost of what she had done.

She had channeled too much. Again.

Pain pulsed through her skull, a deep, unrelenting ache that told her she had pushed herself further than she should have.

But they had won.

That was all that mattered.

A hand touched her shoulder. She looked up, expecting Alanna.

It was Ihvon.

He crouched beside her, studying her with quiet intensity. “You’re not fine.”

She wanted to argue, but she was too tired to lie.

He sighed, then shifted, offering his arm. “Come on. Before you fall over completely.”

She hesitated, but took it. His grip was firm, steady in a way she had never been.

Alanna was waiting nearby, watching.

When she reached her, the Green sister shook her head. “You’re going to kill yourself one of these days.”

She tried to smile. It came out more like a grimace. “Not today.”

Alanna rolled her eyes, but there was something softer in her expression now. “Come on. Let’s get you somewhere safe before you pass out.”

She let them guide her.

And for the first time in a long time, she let herself be held.

———————————

The battle was over.

The field was littered with bodies—some of their own, but far more of the enemy. Smoke curled in the air from the fires that still burned, the scent of charred flesh mixing with blood and damp earth. She should have been moving, helping to tend to the wounded, ensuring that their side had truly won.

Instead, she was struggling to stay upright.

The exhaustion had settled deep, curling into her bones, wrapping around her like a weighted cloak. She had pushed herself too far. Again. The shaking in her hands had worsened, her fingers barely responding as she tried to flex them.

Ihvon’s grip on her arm remained firm, steadying her. He had not let go since helping her up.

“Let’s go,” Alanna said, voice softer now, less exasperated than before. “You need rest.”

She wanted to argue. She always wanted to argue. But she could feel her body betraying her, the way her legs trembled beneath her weight, the way her vision blurred at the edges.

So she let them lead her.

Maksim had already begun clearing a path through the field, his sword still drawn, though the fight was over. Ihvon stayed close to her side, his presence grounding. Alanna walked ahead, her usual confidence untouched by exhaustion, though she had fought just as fiercely.

Their bond must have helped.

The thought sent a sharp pang through her, one she did not fully understand.

She had never bonded a Warder. Not because she lacked options—there had been offers, here and there. But she had never been able to take that step, to trust that someone would stay.

Because who would tie themselves to someone so broken?

The thought haunted her, even now.

⸻

They made camp some distance from the battlefield, setting up within the ruins of an old watchtower. The stones were blackened with age, half-crumbling, but they provided shelter.

She sat near the entrance, her back against the cool stone, forcing herself to take slow, even breaths.

Alanna knelt beside her, pressing fingers to her wrist, checking her pulse. She frowned.

“You’re running too hot,” she said. “And your hands—”

She lifted one without asking permission, studying the fine tremors that had never gone away, only worsened from channeling.

She hated the scrutiny.

“I’m fine,” she muttered.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

She looked away.

Maksim crouched nearby, setting down a water skin. “You burn through yourself faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

It wasn’t a question. Just an observation.

She swallowed, reaching for the water, but her fingers wouldn’t cooperate.

Before she could try again, Ihvon took it, holding it out to her.

“Let me.”

She hesitated.

Letting someone help was unfamiliar.

But she was too tired to fight it.

She let him tilt the water to her lips, drinking slowly.

Maksim watched, his expression unreadable. “How long have you fought like this?”

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Since I learned to channel.”

Alanna’s gaze was sharp. “The Tower let you push yourself like this?”

“They tried to stop me,” she admitted. “But there was no stopping it. The shaking never goes away. So I learned to fight with it instead of against it.”

Ihvon hummed, studying her. “That’s why your weaves are so—”

“Chaotic?” she supplied dryly.

He didn’t deny it.

“They’re terrifying,” Maksim added, stretching out his legs. “Effective. But terrifying.”

Alanna sighed, rubbing at her temple. “You’re lucky you haven’t burned yourself out yet.”

She had come close. More than once.

The ache in her bones, the constant tremors—she knew she was paying a price.

But it had been worth it.

She had to believe that.

Silence stretched between them for a moment.

Then Maksim shifted, tilting his head. “You know,” he mused, “if you had a Warder, you wouldn’t have to carry all of this alone.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

She forced out a breath. “No one would want that bond.”

Ihvon frowned. “You think so little of yourself?”

She didn’t answer.

Maksim exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “You don’t see yourself clearly.”

Alanna was watching her again, something unreadable in her expression.

Then she sighed. “Come here.”

She frowned. “Why?”

Alanna rolled her eyes. “Because you look like you’re about to fall over and I want you to rest. Properly.”

She hesitated, but exhaustion made her compliance easy.

Alanna guided her to lean back, resting against her shoulder. It was warm. Solid. A reminder that she wasn’t alone.

She had never let herself have this.

But for tonight, maybe she would.

Ihvon and Maksim settled close, their presence a quiet comfort.

She didn’t sleep easily, not with the pain, not with the ache in her hands. But she rested.

And for the first time in a long time—

She let herself be held.

——————————-

She woke to warmth.

It took her a moment to remember why.

Alanna’s arm was still draped over her, a steady weight keeping her anchored. Ihvon and Maksim were close, their presence solid and unwavering. She had never let herself rest like this before. Never let herself be this close to others, to share in something as simple as warmth.

She should move. She should.

But she didn’t.

Not yet.

Instead, she let herself stay.

Her hands still ached, the tremors no better than the night before. But for once, she wasn’t fighting alone.

That thought settled uneasily in her chest.

She wasn’t sure what to do with it.

⸻

By the time the sun had fully risen, the camp was stirring. Others had joined them in the ruins—soldiers, scouts, a few scattered Aes Sedai.

She pushed herself upright, forcing the stiffness from her limbs. Alanna gave her a knowing look but said nothing. Maksim and Ihvon moved efficiently, already checking supplies, preparing for the next step.

She followed their lead.

The battle had been won, but the war wasn’t over.

She wasn’t sure it ever would be.

As she moved through camp, the looks she received were familiar—part awe, part wariness.

People talked.

They always had.

About the Aes Sedai who couldn’t hold a cup without spilling, the woman who had somehow fought through every battle with her hands shaking so badly she shouldn’t have been able to weave at all.

She had spent years ignoring it.

But today, she felt the weight of it differently.

Because for the first time, there were three people who didn’t look at her like she was a miracle or a mistake.

They just looked at her like she was herself.

And that was worse, somehow.

Harder to ignore.

⸻

Alanna found her again before noon.

She approached with her usual confidence, but there was something unreadable in her eyes.

“You should bond a Warder.”

It wasn’t a question.

She exhaled, already tired of the conversation. “We’ve been over this.”

Alanna gave her a look. “No, we haven’t. You’ve avoided it.”

She turned away, but Alanna followed.

“You don’t fight like other Aes Sedai,” she continued. “You push yourself too far. You take on too much. You burn through yourself, and there’s no one to pull you back when you need it.”

Her jaw tightened. “I manage.”

Alanna scoffed. “Barely.”

She didn’t answer.

Alanna sighed. “Let me guess. You think no one would want the bond.”

The silence stretched between them.

Then Alanna tilted her head. “Ihvon would do it.”

She stared at her.

“What?”

“Ihvon,” Alanna repeated, like it was obvious. “Or Maksim. They would.”

She shook her head. “They’re your Warders.”

“They are,” Alanna agreed. “And they care about you.”

She swallowed hard.

Alanna’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to be alone, you know.”

She didn’t know how to answer that.

Because wasn’t alone all she had ever known?

⸻

That night, she found Ihvon sitting by the fire.

He looked up as she approached, like he had been expecting her.

She hesitated, then sat beside him.

Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

Finally, she broke the silence. “Would you really do it?”

He turned his head slightly. “Do what?”

She curled her fingers into her palms. “Accept the bond.”

Ihvon studied her for a long time before he spoke.

“You think it would be a burden.”

She didn’t answer.

He sighed. “You’ve been fighting alone for so long you don’t know how to trust someone else with the weight of it.”

She hated how much that struck home.

He exhaled slowly, then reached out, carefully, deliberately. He took her hand in his, steadying the tremors.

“It wouldn’t be a burden,” he said.

She let out a shaky breath.

For the first time, she let herself believe it.

——————

She didn’t make her decision that night.

She couldn’t.

Even when Ihvon’s hand closed around hers, steadying the tremors, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. The bond was permanent. It wasn’t something she could undo.

And the fear, the deep-seated certainty that it would be a mistake, that it would be a burden—it wouldn’t let go of her.

So she left.

She went back to her tent, lay awake for hours, and didn’t sleep.

⸻

Morning came too soon.

The camp was already alive with movement, the remains of battle being cleared, scouts coming and going. Maksim passed her a ration of food without a word, and Alanna was deep in conversation with another Green Sister about their next course of action.

She should have felt relief.

She had time.

But when she looked across the camp and saw Ihvon watching her with quiet patience, she knew time wouldn’t change the truth.

This choice wasn’t going away.

⸻

It took another three days.

Three days of overexerting herself, of ignoring the ache in her bones, of pretending her body wasn’t fraying at the edges every time she channeled.

And then, when the next skirmish came and she nearly collapsed from exhaustion in the aftermath, Maksim caught her before she hit the ground.

“You’re going to die like this,” he told her bluntly, lowering her to sit against a fallen log.

She let out a ragged breath, her vision swimming. “I’m still here.”

“Barely.”

Ihvon crouched beside her, his gaze unreadable. “You’re fighting like you have nothing left to lose.”

She didn’t answer.

Because wasn’t that true?

She had fought alone her entire life. If she fell, she fell. No one else bore the cost.

Except—

She looked up, and Alanna was there too, arms crossed, her usual amusement replaced by something more serious.

And for the first time, it struck her that maybe she wasn’t alone.

Maybe she hadn’t been for a while now.

And maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t the only one who would feel it if she fell.

⸻

She found Ihvon that night, standing at the edge of camp, keeping watch.

He glanced at her as she approached, but didn’t speak.

She didn’t either.

Not at first.

Then, finally—

“I want to do it.”

The words tasted unfamiliar.

Ihvon turned fully toward her. “Are you sure?”

No.

Yes.

She let out a slow breath. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be sure. But I know I can’t keep doing this alone.”

A pause. Then—

He nodded.

And just like that, the choice was made.

⸻

The actual bonding was simple.

She had expected it to be harder, for the moment to drag, for her hands to shake so badly she’d make a mistake.

But it was seamless.

She channeled, weaving the threads with practiced ease, and when it settled into place—

It was like breathing.

She gasped, a sharp inhale, as the presence of him flooded her mind.

Not just his thoughts, not just his feelings—him.

Steady, solid, there.

And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t standing on her own.

She felt his quiet acceptance, the way he braced against the weight of her, the way he held her, without ever touching her.

Her hands still trembled.

But she wasn’t falling.

Not anymore.

And when she met Ihvon’s eyes, he just nodded.

Like he had known, all along, that this was where they would end up.

————————

The bond was disorienting at first.

Not in the way she had expected—there was no pain, no sudden loss of self.

Just presence.

Ihvon was always there—a quiet steadiness in the back of her mind, like a mountain she could lean against without fear of it crumbling.

It unsettled her.

Not because it was unwelcome, but because she had never truly believed she could have something like this.

Someone who wanted to carry the weight with her.

And yet, he did.

He didn’t take from her. He didn’t demand that she change, or push her beyond what she could bear.

He simply stood with her.

And in battle, that changed everything.

⸻

The next time they fought, she felt him moving before she saw it.

Her hands still trembled as she wove, but now she could brace against him—a constant anchor in the storm.

She didn’t have to divide her focus between protecting herself and attacking.

Because Ihvon was already there.

A blade where she needed it. A shield against the strikes she didn’t see coming.

And she, in turn, shaped her weaves to him.

Not just wild destruction, not just chaotic bursts of power—precision.

She fought like she had never fought before.

And when it was over, and she was breathing hard, standing in the wreckage of what they had done together—

Ihvon only gave her a knowing look.

Like he had always known she was meant to fight this way.

That she had just never been given the chance.

⸻

She adjusted faster than she thought she would.

She learned the feel of him, the way he was in her mind. The way his presence settled like a steady heartbeat, grounding her in a way she had never known.

And she was content with that.

For a while.

But then there was Maksim.

And Alanna.

And for the first time, she began to want something she didn’t quite have words for.

⸻

It started with Maksim.

He had always been easygoing, always teasing her in the way that only a man with absolute confidence in himself could.

But now—

Now he was watching her with something softer.

Not pity. Never pity.

Just… understanding.

And when he caught her hand one evening, stilling the tremors for a moment, she didn’t pull away.

She should have.

But she didn’t.

Because for the first time, she let herself want.

And that was terrifying.

⸻

It was Alanna who pushed her.

Not with words.

Just with presence.

Alanna didn’t force her into anything. She just made space.

And one night, when Maksim had his arm around her, and Ihvon was close enough that she could feel the warmth of him, Alanna only smiled and said—

“You don’t have to be alone in this, you know.”

And for once, she didn’t run from the truth of that.

—————————

She didn’t know how to ask for it.

The wanting was there, heavy in her chest, but the words felt foreign—too fragile to give voice to.

She had spent her life proving she could stand on her own. That her hands, unsteady as they were, could still wield power. That she didn’t need anyone to steady them for her.

But that wasn’t the same as not wanting them to.

And Alanna saw it.

Of course she did.

The woman had always seen through her defenses as though they were made of glass.

So when she didn’t say anything—when she only waited—it made it easier.

Just a little.

It was Maksim who finally spoke first.

“You already have one of us,” he said, nodding toward Ihvon. “What’s stopping you from having all of us?”

The simplicity of it nearly broke her.

She had an answer.

She had a dozen of them, all carved from old wounds, from the fear of being too much or too fragile or too wrong.

But none of those answers made it past her lips.

Because the truth was—

She wanted this.

She wanted them.

And for once, she let herself reach for it.

⸻

She felt the shift in the bond first.

The moment Alanna wove the connection into place, she gasped—not in pain, but in sheer, overwhelming feeling.

It was different than Ihvon.

Ihvon was a steady foundation, an unshakable presence that kept her grounded.

Maksim and Alanna were something else entirely.

Maksim was warmth—bright and teasing, a slow-burning fire that she could lean into without fear of being consumed.

Alanna was depth, an ocean she could sink into and trust that she would not drown.

It was too much.

It was perfect.

Her hands shook as she reached for them, but for once, she didn’t feel the urge to hide it.

Maksim caught her fingers in his own, tracing gentle circles over the back of her hand.

Ihvon was there, steady as ever, but now Alanna was there too, her touch warm as she smoothed trembling fingers up her arm, over the curve of her shoulder.

And she let them.

She let them touch her, let them hold her, let herself be wanted.

It was terrifying.

It was right.

And when Maksim leaned in, pressing his lips against hers—

She didn’t pull away.

Because this was hers.

And she was keeping it.

Part 2

[john-boneman-lich-lord]

Spell casting needs a focus, and that has always been an interest of mine. While there are no universal rules, I have observed the following generally applies:

Wands, rods, and staves are all in a similar vein of spell casting focii. In that order they increase in size and power, but generally shift in purpose. Sure you could use a staff to do a wand's job but the wand is right there and its just easier to use the proper tool, ya know?

Orbs are generally best for scrying and other forms of divination, speaking to spirits, etc. But if pressed you can certainly shoot some lightning out of one. It just might hit everyone.

Hand-casting (or any body part, really just using one's own body as a focus) is risky because if the magic backfires, there's no barrier to absorb the backlash. That's all going into you. Otherwise it's great for raw power and is adaptable to most situations.

Cauldrons, candles, and other implements for rituals are your go-to for more permanent summoning, hexes/curses, reanimation, and exorcism. Classics all-around, really.

A sword or shield as a focus is great for battle magics, offensive or defensive respectively.

But I wish to learn the limitations and use of a more recent potential focus : the Gun. The main question being along the lines of: can an automatic rifle be used to rapidly cast spells? Like fireball? Can a sniper rifle be used to cast extremely precisely at an extremely long range?

[guiltygearconfessions]

dnd 5e builds for base strive cast (+ goldlewis!)

Sol: either an Artificer (Battlesmith) w a Barbarian (Totem) dip where his Steel Defender is his bike and Elk/Bear rage is dragon install OR a Wizard (Bladesinger) with a belt (headband) of giant strength and Tasha's Otherworldy Guise as his DI

Ky: Hexbalde Warlock w a Battlemaster Fighter dip since he seems charismatic and his patron cld be the Thunderseal. His manouevres: Trip (Stun Dipper), Lunge (Foudre Arc), Riposte (Vapor Thrust). Meanwhile, Eldritch Blast = Stun Edge, Booming Blade = Dire Eclat, can blow his limited spell slots on Lightning Bolt (Sacred Edge) or Hasted Booming Blades + Relentless Hex or just Thunder Step (RTL). Possibly take a sorc (Storm) dip or the Metamagic Adept feat to transmute spell and change his damage types to lightning + gain flying speed.

May: Ranger (Beastmaster) for sea animal shenanigans. Possible dips into Paladin (Devotion, to the Jellyfish Pirates) or Fighter (Cavalier) for mounted combat features and bonuses (e.g. Find Greater Steed)

Axl: Ranger (Horizon Walker) + Monk (Kensei)/Fighter (Battlemaster). The boring and "correct" answer here is pure bladesinger wiz using a flavoured whip for the Time Stop spell, but the teleportation offered by Horizon Walker and the idea of slipping between planes of existence seems flavourful. Ranger features also have a bit more trap laying flavour. Monk bonuses for movement speed + unarmoured defense to remain slippery while dressing casual.

Chipp: Monk (Shadow) with the Fey Touched and Shadow Touched feats for access to Shadow Teleport + Misty Step + Shadow Blade and maybe a small spellcaster dip into Sorcerer (Shadow) if only to get Quickened Spell for ninja flavour + Mirror Image (multiple Chipps!)

Potemkin: although a pure Fighter (Champion) is tempting, the 4 attacks per turn feels at odds w the slower, lumbering idea of Potemkin. Instead I propose DM fiat to allow smiting while Unarmed, then build Potemkin as a Variant Human (base feat used to learn Unarmed Fighting style) with full Paladin (Glory or Redemption). His devotion and larger than life presence give him moral power behind his blows which are weighty (big ass smites) but infrequent (2 per turn). The other athleticism, tanky abilities come from his Paladin subclass features. Spells like Command and Compelled Duel reflect his intimidating presence and ability to control the field. Spells like Thunderous Smite and Destructive Wave reflect his sheer terrain-altering strength. Feats could include Grappler, Tavern Brawler, Tough.

Faust: Pure Wild Magic Sorcerer or an even split btwn Wild Magic Sorc and Life Cleric. Dimension Door/Misty Step for teleports. Items could represent by: Meteors (Minute Meteors), Bomb (Delayed Blast Fireball), 100T Weight (Earth Tremor/Earthquake), Donut/Banana (Healing Word/Cure Wounds), Afro (reflavoured Web since its also a control debuff that turns into damage after fire exposure), Minifaust (so many summon spells but I like the idea of Guardian of Faith from Cleric), Trumpet (Insect Plague), Hammer (Catapult). And then Haste can be used with Quickened Spell to simulate item throw super. Tack on a couple fighter levels perhaps to Action Surge and emulate the 100 tension version + give some oomph to the occasional scalpel normal.

Millia: not base dnd but i think she fits a Blood Hunter (Lycan) pretty well. The flavour of undergoing a dangerous and forbidden procedure for power, the hair transformations... probably uses Rite of the Oracle (psychic) and Blood Curse of Binding (tandem top) to hold enemies in place for devastating up close "mixups" while still remaining highly mobile.

Zato: Fighter (Echo Knight) w a Monk (Long Death) dip (or, potentially, Undead Warlock). Fragile but frequently summonable puppet fighter w a Monk dip for the "unarmoured melee fighter" vibe + undying flavour or Warlock dip for more spell slinging vibe+ access to flight spells.

Ramlethal: taking a bit more from her Xrd incarnation, a mixed Cleric (Twilight) for access to Spiritual Weapon for the "remote/hovering sword" + a hover/fly movement rather than regular walking and a Warlock (Hexblade) with the Eldritch Smite invocation to burn spell slots for chunky damage that knocks enemies flat on their asses (Mortobato).

Leo: Rogue (Swashbuckler ) + Barbarian (Totem). Probably a Tiger/Elk Barb for the movement speed and the animalistic vibe, while the Rogue levels and Swashbuckler features give the idea of a speedy duelist who occasionally snipes out big damage hits from "converting" movement speed based mixups. (also Swashbucklers benefit from Charisma, which leo definitely has since hes led so many soldiers to their deaths 🥰)

Nago: Fighter (Samurai). I think a majority of Nago's features and design are reflected in this subclass- the idea of a fighter who takes a slow and measured approach while occasionally bursting into a flurry of sudden violence. The high level Samurai feature of taking another turn upon getting dropped also kind of feels like Nago blood rage- a last second gambit at the verge of defeat type of deal.

Gio: Monk (Astral Self). Gio's features as an unarmed, unarmoured, mobile fighter w a not-quite animal spirit are perfectly encapsulated in this subclass, down to her appearance transformations at high tension

Anji: Bard (Swords) with Fighter (Battlemaster) dip and the Dual Wielder feat. Swords Bard explains his armoured twirl (Defensive Flourish) and other more magical effects like the butterfly, koi, and his cinematic super. Battlemaster Trip (rekka low), Push (corner carry off fuujin), Sweep (spinny spins), Parry/Riposte (dedicated counters).

I-No: Oddly enough i dont think she's a pure bard. If anything, I think her style seems more offense oriented than support, so she probably has way more Sorcerer (storm) levels for flying and her other magic shit. For her Bard dip, probably a Whispers bard to play into her role as a mysterious and menacing antagonist figure.

Goldlewis: Paladin (Watchers) with a Warlock (GoO) dip. Watchers paladins already deal w abberations and aliens, and his smites could be flavoured as his big behemoth typhoons/down with the system. Warlock spells and blast reflect the gadgets stored by his alien.

Wow! Points for being so thorough! This is cool

[energyprison]

My favourite spell effect in morrowind is damage health because it really does feel the most evil. Its not like fireball or chain lightning where im evoking something that will hurt you. Im just casting a spell ive named "heart attack" and you drop dead

[quitealotofsodapop]

Double anon answer cus similar ideas.

I can imagine that the immediate reaction from the Red Sons, is to cast fireball at the "imposter" DBK just in case its SWK playing a really complicated prank (he did turn himself into DBK in Jttw).

After a lightning round Q&A - including the infamous "When was the exact hour Red Son was born?", both families determine that they are in fact alternate versions of one another.

Princess Iron Fan is the first to notice something very off about her Au self.

Canon!PIF: "You look... exhausted." Au!PIF, smiling excitedly: "I am!" Canon! Ironbull, like a psychic lightbulb moment: *simultaneous gasp!!!* Canon!DBK, uber hyped-up: "LET US SEE THE CHILD!" *cue both pairs of the Ironbull parents charging off towards the Demon Bull palace's nursery*

The Second Son/"Black Boy"/Huoshan is about to have a bunch of confusing wake-up kisses.

The spicynoodles reaction to one another depends on whether or not spicynoodles has already occurred in the canon verse. Otherwise, if we're strictly canon; then this the first time Canon Red and MK have considered eachother anything but shaky powerful allies.

Canon!Red, at seeing their parents run off: "What was that about?" Au!Red: "Probably about my little brother Huoshan. He was a long time coming." Canon!Red, trying to hide his own excitement: "A baby brother!? How dare you not be overjoyed on our parents behalf!" Au!Red: "Normally I'd be running off with them too, but I too am exhausted. The twins have been running me ragged." Canon!Red, blue-screen-error: "wut?" (°∀°) Au!Red, too tired to wonder what the issue is: "Yeah the girls have been keeping Me and MK up at all hours. Monkey plus bull genes equals loud chirping calves." Canon!Red, blush covering face: "..." Au!Red: "Of course there was the whole debacle with Uncle True Compliant sabotaging mother and father's plans for more children, and trying to kill MK. That really stressed the situation." Canon!Red, hair starts steaming: "....!?!" Au!Red: "And thank buddha that jiā gōng [father-in-law] gave mother that vase from Guanyin. Would have never gotten rid of that curse from grandmother otherwise." Canon!Red, mouth agape: "!!!!!!" *making sound of a boiling kettle* Au!Red: "Thankfully me and my sunflower get a lot of help from-" *notices the look on Canon!Red's face* "Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost." Canon!Red: *hair flooms up like a pink wildfire* Au!Red, realizing: "AH. You uh... haven't gotten to those parts yet I bet?" Canon!Red: *nods head slowly* *the two MKs walk into the room* Canon!MK: "Hey Red Sons! Other me was just showing me the baby bull photos! The twin girls are super cute! Are they this Red's sisters or-" Canon!Red, flames growing higher: "AAAAaaaaaa...!" Au!MK, looking disappointed at his Red: "You told him the twins were ours, didn't you?" Canon!MK, interrupting before Au!Red can reply: "THEY ARE!?! OH MY BUDDHA! No wonder they have little monkey face patterns!" *starts squeeing loudly* *Canon spicynoodles are both screaming, and theres now a large fire in the Demon Bull palace entrance hall* Au! Spicynoodles: "Could have gone worse, right?" "I mean, the Nezhas had a little more flames."

The Canon MK & Red are in near shock for the rest of the visit, and refusing to meet eachothers gaze. Mostly cus they keep getting reminded by the Au!DBK about his "PERFECT GRANDDAUGHTERS!" (currently being babysat by their other grandparents), and by the baby photos plastered almost everywhere. A small fight does break out between the Bull Families at supertime though.

Canon!DBK: "So did your son release you from under the mountain as well?" Au!DBK, spoon-feeding little Huoshan: "Yes, in a sense. My body was trapped under the mountain for sometime until my Red and the little thief lifted the staff. Canon!DBK: "Ah. Much the same." Au!DBK: "Ingenious how he was able to contact me in the astral plane in the meantime though. Brother Pigsy and Sandy really helped Red bring out the best in himself." Canon!DBK: "...excuse me? The swine and the boatman!?" Au!PIF: "You seem shocked. We've known Chef Zhu and Sandy almost ever since I brought Red home from the Southern Ocean. Save for the whole, underworld and the staff fiasco, we've been nothing but amicable." Canon!PIF: "The Southern Ocean? But I brought Red Son home with me over... how long has your Bull been out of the mountain?" Au!PIF: "Physically? Only a few years. It's a bit of a long story. His physical body couldn't be released with the staff still in the mountain, but my genius little boy honed his mediatation skill enough so we could at least have some family time in the astral plane." Canon Ironbull: "...what." "WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT!?" Canon!Red: "Hey! I don't know if I can do that! This is an entirely different universe father!" Canon!MK: "Yeah! And at least thank him for making the gauntlet in the first place. If he never made that, you would probably still be a bull skull underground." Canon!DBK: "Not another word little thief. I am still wondering why you and your simian counterpart are even here." Au!MK, already peeved at Canon!Ironbull: "Cus me and my Red are married!" *Table is quiet, esp on the Canon end* Canon!Ironbull: "What." Au!MK, realises that he shouldn't have said that: "Hehehe, yeah... married. Where do you think the twins came from? Hehe" *nervous laughter* Canon!Ironbull: "..." Canon!DBK, turns seriously to his Red: "Son... WHY HAVEN'T YOU MARRIED THE LITTLE THIEF AND GIVEN US PERFECT GRANDCALVES?!" Canon!Red, hair flooming up blush-pink: "Father! You just don't say that!!!"

So yeah, most of the Canon and Au crossover is Canon Ironbull getting dunked on + Canon Red Son dying of embarassment at learning that the Noodle Boy becomes his Noddle Boy in marriage in the alternate timeline. Canon PIF & DBK might have reservations on Red being with MK, but the thought of beautiful grandkids (and Red's confirmations that there's hope for more Ironbull children) really makes a compelling argument.

[coffieolore]

Chapter Zero

Corrupted

The explosion sends Selasi flying back across the moonlit desert floor. Touching down on the heels of his leather dress shoes, he skids backwards without losing his balance. By the time he comes to a stop, he is almost crouched. He swats at the purple flames on his trousers, quenching them as he rises: a svelte, dusky boy with close-cropped hair, in a slim cut black suit. He tightens the grasp on his witch-arm—the slender, silver sword in his trembling hand—and frowns.

About a hundred yards away, a pillar of lilac fire rises from the ground, shredding its way through the night air and into the sky. The earth quakes beneath the raging pillar, and the wind whips into a swirling frenzy, drawing eddies of sand around the fiery column, up to the darkening clouds.

It is a catastrophe. One that Selasi has tried and failed to approach six times thus far. He isn’t injured. Yet. But his skin is glazed with sweat, and his otherwise fine clothes, covered in layers of dust he will never successfully wash off.

Just as Selasi’s despair brims, a voice next to him says, “How did this happen?”

There is a woman at his side who was not there a second ago. She is petite, with the visage of a middle-aged woman, although Selasi knows better. Her chunky dreadlocks, too large for her head, tumble down her stern face to rest on the shoulders of her bright blue kaba. Her sable skin is already sheening from the heat of the pillar. But there is an unmistakable toughness about her that suggests ancient baobab roots grow in place of flesh and bone beneath her skin.

Selasi fights back the impulse to weep gratefully at Her feet. Where have you been? He wants to cry.

Instead, he fights the quiver in his voice when he answers her. “I don’t know. I came as soon as I got the call, but I have no idea how things got this bad. I’m sorry, Mama Wu.”

Mama Wu sweeps her braids off her shoulders and binds them into a headwrap. “And the others?” she asks, right before the pillar blows another gust of burning wind.

“Kiira and Kamari said they were busy.”

Mama Wu narrows her eyes at him. “Busy?”

“Hemmaa didn’t even respond to my texts.”

“And Shi?”

“Oluman Shi has still not arrived.”

Mama Wu’s expression is dark, severe, still. Her gaze is bottomless.

“I know,” is all Selasi can say.

Mama Wu turns back to the pillar of fire. “Go. Check on the village.”

With a nod, Selasi leaps away, each bound distancing him from the ancient witch by several hundred feet.

Mama Wu rolls her head around to loosen her neck, and throws a hand out to her side. An item begins to materialize in her grasp, drawn into this world by crimson forks that snap and crackle off her fingertips. The item is a sickle—broad, crescent, forged from moonlight and damascened with ribbons of sun-fire. And across its argent face, runes of other worldly beyie stir and shift in an eternal dance.

She begins towards the pillar of fire, her steps slow but firm. “Hello!” she calls into the flames. Her voice carries a haunting reverb. “Can you hear me? Do you understand me?”

There is a silhouette at the heart of the pillar. A man’s. His eyes are lightning, and his screams thunder, the fire engulfing but not consuming him. He stretches his palms towards her and—

The fireball is the size of a truck, streaking out of the pillar to strike Mama Wu with an ear-shattering explosion. Fire and dust twist and swish at the point of impact. With a wave of her hand, Mama Wu dismisses the purple flames, casting them off her body like a dirty blanket into the wind.

“I’m sorry,” she says, as she spreads her feet apart and poises for attack. “This is mercy.”

Her movement is wind, a crack, a trail of light. In one blink, she is outside the pillar; the next, she is within the roaring fire, right behind the tortured silhouette. Her sickle is slick with blood.

It takes a second for the man to realize the gash in his side spraying ruby life. He lets out a low moan, and shudders from shock. The pillar dissipates with a resounding rush, like the final breath of a dying giant.

Silence settles upon the desert.

The man grabs his side, as Mama Wu’s sickle fades away. And then he crumples. Mama Wu breaks his fall and they drop into the sand together.

On closer inspection, this isn’t a man. This is a boy. Fifteen at most. “I-I couldn’t help myself,” the boy whispers, his eyes filling with tears.

Mama Wu wipes away the wet trail forming down his dusty face. “I know, child,” she whispers back. “I know.”

The darkness of the Sahara seems to grow infinitely around them, closing in like a vignette as Mama Wu cradles the dying boy. An eternity passes.

Mama Wu sings a lullaby under her breath:

Babi kaa fo

Ŋgbɛ o mami ete?

Ete lai

Mɛni hewɔ eshi bo?

As she sings the same four lines on repeat, her voice grows softer and the boy gasps for his last breaths, his fingers clutching at her clothes. Desperately at first. Then weakly. And then, not at all.

Mama Wu feels the exact moment his sunsum leaves his body. She makes sure to hold his gaze as it happens, knowing his eyes no longer see her.

Still, she sings. She rocks him. She runs her thumb over his cheek. Gently back and forth, back and forth.

Eventually, she feels Selasi’s presence again behind her. And she can sense his trepidation. If he is reluctant to speak, that can only mean one thing.

“The village is gone, isn’t it?” she asks.

Her back is turned to him, but Selasi still cannot lift his eyes when he answers. “It is. Every inch of it. Reduced to ash.” He swallows. “None of them survived.”

Mama Wu is silent for a long time, her body motionless.

“This wasn’t an accident,” she says.

“I didn’t think so,” Selasi says.

“Somebody deliberately corrupted his sunsum. They wanted him to lose his sanity. To turn on the village.”

“You don’t think it could be… I mean, there’s just no way they would…”

“We’re the only ones who showed up, Selasi,” Mama Wu says, finally letting go of the boy to rise to her feet. “What do you think?”

Selasi clenches his fists. “Shit.”

As Mama Wu turns around, sunsum begins to rise from her body like a luminous vapor. It is a dense, sizzling, seething aura; one notch away from bursting into a full-on inferno like the one she stopped this very night.

“I have theories. But until I know for sure what’s going on, we handle this with the utmost discretion,” Mama Wu says. “Not a word to anyone about our suspicions, do you understand?”

“Of course.”

“And—” Mama Wu hesitates. “I cannot stress this enough, but that means Ama too.”

“Ama?” Selasi is taken aback, confused. “Why would I tell Ama? What’s she got to do with any of this?”

“Just a precaution,” Mama Wu says. “We must tread carefully. One mistake and I fear it will mark the end of everything.”

Selasi throws a glance at the dead boy in the sand. “And what’s the plan when we find them? The ones responsible for this?”

“Is the answer not obvious?” Mama Wu says as she walks away. “We will kill them all.”

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 97

Are they ... are they NOT doing a sponsorship plug this time? Just straight to the announcements? Interesting ... not complaining, mind ... more time for GAME, after all ...

Well then, so it's just STRIGHT INTO THE GAME, then ... okay then ... maybe that's a GOOD sign ... O.O

Yeah, that was A LOT of failed teleportations ...

Stright into an Initiative Roll ... wonderful ... cue Wizzkids plug!

An Essek sandwich? I wouldn't say no ... XD

Ashton's going to RAGE ... he charges in and just immediately starts swinging! Yeah, I should imagine 30 would hit ... and now he's been sprayed with acid blood! Of course he has ... and now it's STUCK TO HIS HAMMER!!! Fuck ... so he tries to BEAT IT OFF ... splat! Oh yeah, that just DESTROYED IT.

Great, they're swarming already ... might not have been the smartest move to just run staright into 'em, Ashton ... now they're going fot Laudna ... holy shit, Matt is rolling BALLS right now, ALL THREE attacks fail to gain purchase on her! XD But a couple of them do manage to bite Ashton ... eurgh ...

Fearne casts Flaming Sphere on the big thing! She torches the fucker ... but she's doing it at a higher level so it may be about to get weird ... oh boy ...oof ... roll a D20 then, Ashley ... 14? Phew ... she's safe ... bloody Wild Magic ... then she hides out again ...

Orym uses his fancy boots to jump over Chetney and rush in behind the monster ... Goading Attack! Yeah, Wee Man ... Matt fails his Wisdom save ... whoa ... did Liam REALLY just roll a Nat1 he COULDN'T reroll? Holy shit ... very first time for this Campaign ... oh well ... Tripping Attack! Wait ... this thing can REGENERATE? Boooo! Then he disengages and it gets an aAttack of Opportunity ... and HITS HIM!!! Crap! Thankfully he manages to clear his Strength Save so it doesn't smash him on the spot ... thank the gods for that shield ...

Essek glides into the fray and starts weaving a spell ... a Gravity Fissure? Holy fuck, Hot Boi! Okay, so ... that's doing good, but also thoroughly perilous for the group too! Maybe this wasn't the SMARTEST move right now ... don't suck everybody into a bloody mini Black Hole!

So it's the Monster's turn ... here comes the ridiculously huge hammer ... oh shit, CENTRE MAW!!! It bites at Orym ... crap! 24 points of Piercing damage ... and now it's FUCKING CHEWING HIM!!! Meanwhile it makes a swing for Dorian ... fuck, that just batteres Dorian hard enough he gets knocked CLEAN THROUGH the nearby building ... ouch ...

Dorian picks himself up and sets off his Winged Boots, then flies over to the Monster, then casts a 5TH lEVEL LIGHTNING BOLT!!! Holy shit ... Imogen, meanwhile, coordinates with him and does the exact same thing! Cool ... Matt fails both saves! Sweet! 10 D5 Lightning damage from EACH OF THEM!!! 40 from Dorian, 42 from Imogen! Holy fuck! CRACKADOOM!!! Thor's in the House!

Oh crap ... what did Imogen do? Laura has to roll a D100 ... Wild Magic strikes again ... 4? a Fireball explodes RIGHT ON TOP of Imogen? Holy shit ... Laudna manages to make her save, at least ... Laura: "At least I'm not a sheep." Yeah ...

Chetney unleashes Turmoil and casts Shatter against the Monster ... 20 Thundr dmage halved right up its butt ... then he starts to circle round as cautious as he can for a better vantage point ...

Laudna decides to try something NEW, unleashing Void Puppet on it ... that is some FREAKY SHIT right there, Dead Girl! Oh yeah, that spirit effect is just HORRIFYING ... now she dumps a Fireball on as many of the crawlies as she can ... BOOM!!! Using a Sorcery point to Empower, she lands 38 points of Fire damage on each of them and annihilates THREE of the fuckers ... and now the tent's on fire ..

Ashton triggers a Hyper-Rage and charges the Monster, leaving WEIRD streaks and after images behind him ... while Taliesin elbows Liam in his funny-bone, Ashton inflicts 25 points of Gravitational damage on it and shoves it hard backwards ... then he leaps on top of it to swing his hammer HARD down to land another SMASHING hit ... BOOM!!!

Fearne pops out Mister and chucks him close to Laudna, then throws a Scorching Ray at 3rd Level at the Monster ... one miss THREE hits! Sweet! 17 points of Fire damage, plus 7 more thanks to Mister ... and it does NOTHING to the creature? Shit! It's immune to fire? NOOOOOOOO!!!

Orym takes another 19 points of piercing damage from the maw ... then pulls a Misty Step to pop OUT of its mouth and run up its arm, then goes swinging ... he proper carves it up, doing some genuine damage ... it's like carving through dead meat? Yuck ... one last hit and he gets the HDYWTDT!!! Yes! Down it goes!

Oh ... so there's SOMETHING moving off in the distance somewhere ... is it a potential threat? Hmmmm ...

Yeah, might be best to put the tent-fire out ...

Motivational Speech? Nice one, Dorian! 4th Level ... that's 10 temp hit points to five of them and temp advantage on saves ... cool ...

GO FOR THE TOWER!!! FAST!!!

Not particularly safe, then ... but it's a hiding place, at least ...

Weird fur-less oversized wolves ... charming ... with eyeballs on the end of theit overlong tails? Freaky ...

Crap ... something else is coming from another direction? Great ...

Oh yeah, a Short Rest might be a good idea ...

Weird gorilla-like things? Also creepy ...

There's something horrible on the ceiling grabbing things? Oh my FUCKING GODS that is nightmare fuel ... O.O

Pass Without a Trace ... group Stealth check with advantage ...

Oh yeah, the gigantic sinkhole ... flying would likely be helpful to avoid THAT shit ... oh yeah! Dorian could TOTALLY carry Orym, that would be IMMENSELY helpful. Also it'll be REALLY fun for the shippers too ... XD

So this was a hole from something being blasted up and out, then ... lovely ... oh, they're going down INTO IT ... great ... O.O

The smell of ASSSSSSSS ... LOL

Tingly, creepy, oppressive ... just WRONG, basically. This place is NOT a good place to be ...

The Occultus Thalamus ... yeah ...

That is ... A LONG FUCKING WAY DOWN ... O.O

Awwww ... remembering FCG ... please don't, I'm not strong enough ...

Touchdown, then ... yeah, this place is a mess ... but it's also CLEARLY been disturbed ... another leftover Vanguard camp, it seems ... and something weird ... breathing in the dark distance ... oh, that's just PEACHY ...

Is that blood? Hmmmm ... sniff check for Chet ... not fresh, then ... it's a smear from something being dragged off into the dark ... charming ... that's not, like, FOREBODING at all ...

Hello Pate ... immediately he's admonished for being SO LOUD ... yeah, he doesn't really HAVE an "inside voice" ... oh yeah, he can talk in her head instead, that's better ... time for scouting, then ...

And Matt calls it a break ... okay then ...

Yeah ... this place really does give us the collective creeps ... oh ... an open door? Hmmmm ... this is where the blood trail is leading, too ... lovely ...

Some kind of storage chamber ...

Big glass containers? Hmmmm ...

Dorian's gettign awful far ahead ... maybe that's not, like, SUPER smart ...

Ah, so this is about to become virgin ground for Essek? Great ... and his knowledge has some holes, too ... hmmmmm ...

Remembering Caleb ... yeah, he's a hell of a guy ... :3

Insight Check? Really, Ashley? Oh, WHISPERS!!! Intriguing ...

Oh, so clearly somebody's been through here since and opened it up ... yeah, looks like this is the way, then ...

Chetney checks for traps ... nothing of note ...

Aha ... children's hospital colour theory ... thanks for that, Tal ...

Yeah, looks like this might be the smarter place to check for traps ... is that stone fixed? Movable? Should we be suspicious?

The wooden chair ... yeah ... LOL

Push the stone ... the door's open ... nothing happens ... and they''re all still obssessing about the stone ... this bunch, they're so paranoid ... I love it ... XD

Liam: "Any velociraptors hiding out in here?" Matt: "What are you looking for? Velociraptors?" LOL

Boiling tar? Oh lovely ... best avoid THAT shit ...

Oh, so the stone's an arcane lock ... okay then ...

Carrying on, then ... it's opening up ahead ... and there's that smell again ... metallic ... somewhere up ahead ... loads and lods of ancient corpses littering the floor ... and lots of dangling chains hung from the ceiling ... with more bodies hanging from several ... great ... O.O

The hanging bodies are FRESH ... great ... Vanguard, looks like ... seemingly suffering a similar fate to the last batch upstairs ... great ...

Yeah, it would probably be4 too much wishful thiniing for one of THESE poor buggers to be Ludinus, wouldn't it ...

Oh, like this could be a TRAP, then? Rogue Aeorian tech? Hmmmm ...

Wait ... WHAT THE FUCK?!!! Pate is just suddenly GONE. Shit!

Form of Dread! Yeah! Mama's ANGRY!!!

Hunter's Bane ... Chetney sniffs for undead ... something here is FIENDISH ... great ...

Religious or Arcana check ... 16 Arcana ... the chains seems to have been conjured THROUGH the stone? Oh that's just GREAT ...

Spiderclimb ... smart ...

Oooh ... Essek has more fancy tricks up his sleeve ...

Ah, I see ... so question a corpse, then? Hmmm ...

Here we go, then ... Speak With the Dead ... cool ...

"The whispers in our head"? Oh, that's just ... AWESOME ...

"This started with the engine room"? Oh, that's interesting ... is that some kind of clue? Something about that rings a bell ...

Oh, Fearne's summoning her demon bae Tevan ... trying to be as discreet as she cane about it for Dorian's sake ... yeah, that don't work too well soon as the massive intimidating infernal smoking hot BADASS appears ... "The pact begins." Yeah ... great ...

Crap ... HE KNOWS Dominox ... great ... a "great enemy" from ancient times? Awesome ...

Laudna: "Do you have any bros you can call on? Now might be the time." Tevan: "... there is a bit doing on."

Essek is clearly more than a little flabbergasted by this whole business. XD

Orym (observing all of this going on around him): "Metal ..."

Whoa ... is Chetney POSSESSED?!!! Is Dominox getting into his head? "The bad wolf"? What? What the blue FUCK is this creepy Stephen King freakiness?

He can't see his friends anymore ... oh, that's not good ...

Oh sweet fuck ... Chetney, WHAT DID YOU DO?!!!

THIRTEEN? Fuck ...

Laudna can't get through to him ... not good ...

Orym touches Chetney's shoulder and HE FEELS a blade stabbing into it ... fuck ... hew responds very much IN KIND ... and claws into Orym ... SHIT!!!

Oh fuck! He snapped out of it! How ... how the hell did he do that? WAS IT real? Is it this place or did that GENUINELY just shake some buried memory loose in him? I don't like it at all ... this is all SO BAD ...

Shit ... yeah that is a GOOD FUCKING POINT, Ahston going off like that would be a REALLY BAD THING ...

Tevan is not much help right now, clearly ...

Dorian: "And we have the power of friendship! Which is why we'll WIN!!!" Bardic Inspiration! Yeah, fix that shit for 'em, Dorian!

Grim Psychometry? REALLY?!!! Right now? In THIS hellhole?

The hooks are simply facilitation, they're not the agents here ... interesting ... pure abyssal energy? Oof ... it's TOO MUCH to even interpret, clearly ...

Dorian's investigating ... oh, that's interesting ... the chains are just LYING there on the ground, pregnant with possibility, like they're WAITING ...

Trying Speak With the Dead again ... one of the "crazies" this time ...

"The Pinion of Service"? That's how Dominox was captured. An abyssal soul anchor ... shackled to THE ENGINE? Oh WOW ... that's interesting ... and now we know WHERE THE ENGINE IS. Cool. If the seals are intact Dominox is dormant ... well that's surely a big giveaway, then ...

Dominolx "feeds on insecurity" ... Imogen: "Oh gods ..." NO SHIT!!! O.O

DORIAN has to throw a Wisdom save? OH FUCK NO!!! Not now! 16? Hmmm ... is that GOOD?

He sees his brother Cyrus in one of the hanging corpses ... and it starts talking to him ... AND THIS is where Matt calls it for the night! SHIT!!!

Fuck ... once again, the very worst kind of cliffhanger ... O.O

Oh wow ... so THIS is where they're gonna pick it up on the Live Special? That is SO COOL ...

[hyakatakatales]

“These bloody bandits will pay for their crimes!”

Announced suddenly and without prompt, the youngest member of the militia squad practically shouted the statement, and then looked around nervously to the rest of his mates, clearly looking for support.

None was found, these were all dour-faced men, they knew how well the bandits were equipped and manned.  We were trained to contend with the simple weapons and fare they had been reported to have, not this.   Bows, real swords, even mages at times.  We were not prepared for the mages most of all. 

We lost three men during the initial attack, we surrounded their camp and tried to flush them out.  It didn’t matter how careful our planning was, all strategies went out the window when fireballs and bolts of lightning came flying out of their main camp building, sizzling the ground and igniting the trees nearby.  Everyone hugged the ground, thinking the casting can’t go on forever, I knew magic of this level takes a heavy toll on its user.  That was our saving grace, in the end.

We pushed forward, sieging the house.  Mages are notorious for not enjoying hand-to-hand combat and we counted on that, sweeping aside the stragglers who were just as dazzled as we were by the pyrotechnics. 

A haze of smoke and wreckage littered the campgrounds, the blasts and discharges creating a sort of under-canopy which reduced visibility to mere yalms.  From the building, there was a great eruption of wood splinters and noise, cascading across the ground.  The door was blown off the building and standing there was this shabbily dressed mage, staring into the night. 

I pushed ahead, using my size to my advantage as I got closer, sticking to shadows and trying desperately to flank this maddened mage.  He was screaming something incoherent, raising his staff into the air and charging his magic for another no doubt deadly blast.  Acting quickly, and while some stairs below him, I used my shield to sweep his legs out from underneath him.  He was so entranced with his own power that he failed to react, he landed hard on his side, knocking the wind out of his lungs. 

Before he was able to consider his next move, I smashed his staff from his hands, sending it spiraling out into the night.  We recovered it later, it was a craggy shattered thing, how it managed to not explode in his hands was a miracle.

As he started to right himself to recover, a punch square in the forehead sent him reeling, disoriented and spinning back into the house. 

“Secure the rest, then cover me!” I shouted, sprinting after the mage into the house.  It was dark, and only lit by the fires and torches outside.  Shadows shifted and loomed in the mid-twilight of the Shroud, and I couldn’t see the mage anymore.  Knowing I had maybe a few minutes before he was able to cast again, I cast my eyes around, looking for any sign of the man.  In the corner, behind a turned-over table, I found him cowering. 

“You have no staff, no crew and no hope.  Surrender and we will prosecute you fairly.”  It was my only warning; I knew better than to relax my guard.  His anxiety suddenly sagged, and he started nodding “Yes, surrender, yes.”

My sword out and pointed at him, I followed his advance from around the table towards me.  I didn’t see his face; I looked at his hands.  A man’s hands, mage or not, will tell you way more than their face.  He twitched, pushed a hand out and started shouting something with far too many vowels in it.  I panicked, remembering the devastation outside this hovel and pushed my sword into his chest, making sure I didn’t stop until it came out the other side. 

I was commended by the militia’s office for bravery and decision-making in the heart of battle.  I was promoted for the cost of a man’s life.  That still sits unwell with me.

[agentshades]

Things My Wife Has Said While Playing Baldur's Gate Part 6

We keep playing, she keeps saying. Everybody give it up for @everyoneinmckinneyisdead

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

*after casting Fireball, and to the tune of "Blinded by the Light"*

Kelsey: "Blinded by the baaaaaallll!"

--- 

*Myrkul appears*

Kelsey: "Is that literally three skeletons in a trenchcoat?"

---

Shadowheart: "How could you have known that? I told very few people. Certainly not you! And yet, you knew!"

Kelsey: "Lisan al-Ghaib!" 

---

*Looks at the spell description for Moonbeam*

Kelsey: "Only 20 damage? That's not very much..."

Me: "Being a Sorcerer may be skewing your perception of 'not very much...'"

---

*after building Jaheira into a Circle of Spores Druid and realizing she can make spore zombies*

Kelsey: "HA! Take that Astarion! What can you do? Bite people, stab people, and stab people sneakily? Zombies!" *gesturing at screen* 

--- 

*The person Kelsey is talking to shapeshifts. Orrin appears* 

Kelsey: "Wait, she was just that random guy? I just picked some random dude to talk to and it happens to be her? Crabby tits?"

---

*she tries to target two enemies with lightning bolt but an ox is also in the blast radius*

Kelsey: "NOOOO THE COW! I don't want to kill cow but I want to hit both of them. Ughhhhhhh." 

---

*when invited to join a clown on stage for a magic trick*

Kelsey (to me): "I bet you'd just go up on the stage with him instead of doing literally everything possible to get out of it like me. Cause thats what you'd do in real life. You weirdo."

---

*when a guard demands 200 gold to get into Baldur's Gate* 

Kelsey: "What?! I'm not paying her! Its an open road! I pay taxes! Probably!"

[lilyblackdrawside]

Something that really bothered me about Octopath Traveler (aside from how all the best equipment comes from purchasing/stealing it from npcs, meaning once you get Cyrus' encounter reduction ability you can just walk across the whole world to fetch most of the best gear and trivialize everything) is how boring a lot of the jobs' active skill sets are. Like, take Cyrus and his Scholar job: He starts with an aoe fire and ice skill and the other skills are an identical aoe skill for lightning element, a skill that analyzes the target and three other aoe skills that hit twice and have the same elements as the previous set. Then there's also the divine skill, which is pretty neat. There are also first tier aoe spells for the other elements scattered across other jobs, totally pointless single target spells on some of the physical ones, the physical attack skills feel pretty copypaste as well and then some like Merchant or Apothecary have some interesting unorthodox skills but for the most part, the interesting character building comes from the passive skills instead, but that can only go so far when I'm spending the entire game belabouring my option of casting Fireball or Fire Storm. Like, compare this to an FF5 Black Mage: Black Magic is divided into 6 levels, with the first covering the same three elements of Fire, Blizzard and Thunder which can be single or multi-targeted (for half damage), then you get three status spells on level 2, the next tier of attack spells on level 3, Drain, Break and Bio on level 4, which are unorthodox attacking spells, the highest tier of attacking spells on level 5 and then Flare, Death and Osmose on level 6. So instead of having all of 7 skills, 6 of which are made up of two sets of copy-paste elemental spells, those elemental spells just make up half of the spell levels with the other half giving interesting and, since it's FF5, actually useful status or other attacking spells. The passive skills given by Black Mage aren't as interesting as what you get from Scholar, since it's mostly just letting you transfer Black Magic to other jobs and has an MP increase ability but I vastly prefer that over having such a snoozefest of an active skill list. Granted, Scholar is easily the most egregious (on par with its special job older brother Sorceror which has 6 copypaste skills for every magical element and a debuff skill), but like there's also Dancer where four of its seven slots are occupied with Single Target Stat Buff instead of for example merging Physical and Elemental Atk Up into one buff and doing the same for the Phys Def and Speed buffs it brings (Magic Def buff is somewhere else). Because two of the other slots are taken up by Single Target Shadow Spell and Multi Target Shadow Spell, which could've (should've) been one spell that has a multi target function. Dancer could've easily had 3 other interesting spells instead of this bland platter. It just all feels like "Well we gotta have this, we gotta have that" and they just slapped it on with little thought.

With all this, the Thief job feels like a lucky shot since that one has a very good and well-thought out skill list of Steal, Single Target Fire Spell (gotta have one dud), two different debuffs for Physical Atk and Physical Def (this is reasonable to split, because you don't care about having both physical and elemental atk up on the same character but having both debuffs on one enemy is very desirable), two separate skills that deal (an unreasonable amount of) damage and steal HP and SP (Mana) respectively and lastly one that lets the Thief give away their SP to an ally. This works, is interesting and effective. And then Scholar has 6 different spells that could've been 2. It could've just been 2 spells, one for each tier, that say "Pick one of these three elements" when you cast them and then they could've put something interesting in there too. Sorceror could've had FIVE other skills with this method.

[mdhwrites]

I know you've criticized TOH's magic system as a whole before, but what are your thoughts on the actual types of coven magic themselves? (abomination, bard, beast keeping, construction, healing, illusion, oracle, plant, potions)

I mean, I like magic enough to like just about any school of magic. If I had any real issue with them it's that Bard is amongst them. I know that may seem weird but the rest are actually very specific, to a degree of being kind of... material. Illusion is the closest to being different but you still have a specific idea of what sort of spell is being cast, even if it falls into a more broad category than specifically plant instead of Earth (I'll get back to this point). Bard on the other hand? As far as we can tell in TOH, the biggest thing about it seems to be that it designates that you actually use a spellcasting focus instead of a spell circle but otherwise you can do as you please. Otherwise, why is it that they can literally summon storm clouds and lightning? Why is bard magic also akin to weather magic?

And that's kind of the issue I have with trying to actually talk about each. Do I like plant magic? Sure. Do I like construction magic? Sure. Why are these two different covens though when what seems to be the material different between the two is that one's power is flexible while the other makes concrete pillars? Maybe if we saw them actually use their magic for more than offense that'd be one thing but as it is, you have to wonder why they aren't one coven. Or hell, where do medicinal plants fall into this system? Do they not have potions of healing or potions of growth because they cross into another coven's territory?

And all of this excludes an evocation coven. In D&D, that's the school of magic that does fireballs but there IS NO FIREBALL COVEN!?

Sigh.

So yeah, it's kind of hard for me to judge them individually because most of them are just very basic. And that's just conceptually. If we go by what the show shows us: Potions: Boring and barely used.

Plant: SURE HOPE YOU LIKE VINES! And then one toxin despite the fact that you'd assume that was a potion coven thing.

Abomination: Definitely the coolest by asking what happens when you focus on golem making but also just does whatever the writer wants it to. Otherwise, why the fuck does it have a teleportation spell? Let alone one that doesn't require a golem. Also they never actually do anything with the golems they make except turn them into robots and that's not interesting.

Bard: Listed my issues above, especially since clearly much of its magic just does whatever, regardless of if you can hear it or not.

Healing: Pretty much not in the show.

Illusion: Fucked over by the show lying about it not being able to affect real objects and the show never actually does anything interesting with it and when it has fun with it, it's only once for the actual potential of the coven.

Beast Keeping: We see it only a couple times and it looks cool but is ill defined and doesn't seem to actually be familiar based. In fact, with how easy it seems to be for witches to call upon creatures and there being a super mode for it, it comes off as just an objectively better form of what abomination magic's main gimmick is.

Construction: Has the amazing fact of having power GLYPHS when glyphs are supposed to be Luz's thing and also they never come back. Otherwise, it's literally just stone pillars. Boring.

Oracle: We never actually see anyone tell the future or have future sight be a plot point of the show so entirely pointless. Otherwise, ghosts and telepathy, the latter of which seems to have been through an artifact and not through an oracle power, so again: Boring. Hell, the only thing we ever see one of their spirits do is attack like any old golem or beast so that's THREE covens where they effectively all do the same thing. Also the second coven who's primary color is purple.

And if you're going "Well, what about using them outside of the show?" I don't think that's a good question. It's MAGIC. It can do quite literally whatever the fuck you want. It is only limited by the rules of your setting and your imagination. As there effectively zero rules on what any of these covens can actually do, no power limits, it was only ever the limits of the creators.

And that only made it ever look like the creators lacked any creativity. Or, bare minimum, lacked interest in their magic to make it creative and distinct in anyway.

======+++++======

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[katgametable]

TAZ Balance Episode 27: Petals to the Metal Chapter 10

Written 27 Apr 2025, shortly after relistening, having listened to the entire Balance arc some time ago.

The ram’s horns on Hurley’s battle wagon rotate to form wings, and they and the boosters on the back fire off massive jets, charging forward to draw level with Sloane’s longboat-battle wagon and Taako on the Enlarged motorcycle. They’re nearing the pylons for the finish line right by the edge of the cliff - and it looks like the militia might’ve turned up. Hurley and Sloane are both laughing. (They take moment to remind themselves that the plan is to beat Sloane to prove to her that she can still be beaten and convince her to take off the Gaia Sash.)

But Sloane is pulling ahead! Taako takes out the Wand of Switcheroo, hitting the brakes, then switching places with Sloane. Taako wins the race and hits the brakes. The others come second. But Sloane comes up on the motorcycle, but she doesn’t look good - there’s lightning coming from her chest, vines sprouting where it hits the ground, and she goes right through the crowd and off the cliff.

A tornado comes into being, ravens flying all around. Hurley, devastated, takes her mask off, before climbing back into her battle wagon. The others quickly join her, Merle using the Repair charges to fix the damage, and Hurley drives the wagon off the cliff and into the tornado.

Inside, they can see a pillar of vines supporting Sloane. Her mask is off, her skin is mottled grey, the power of the Sash having taken her over. Taako deploys the harpoon cannon and catches the pillar near the top, winding in as they circle it, until they smack into it. They scramble onto the platform on top with Sloane.

She looks bad, like Gundren Rockseeker just before he lost control. Hurley is despairing, wondering if she ever even knew her. Merle casts Zone of Truth and asks Sloane how they can get the Sash off her, but a different voices tell them they cannot save their friend. A humanoid plant-creature forms and attacks them, but Taako and Merle are running low on spell slots. A vine whips at them. Taako casts Fireball. Merle casts Prayer of Healing. Magnus rips into the vines surrounding Sloane and tries to punch her unconscious, getting trapped in a cage of vines himself. The vine creature heals itself and attacks Taako and Merle. Hurley ducks off the platform, and retrieves the arcane core from her battle wagon, smashing it on the platform floor, emitting masses of magic, which are eaten by the Umber-ella and restoring Taako’s spell slots. He casts another Fireball, aiming for the spot Magnus ripped open. It comes out massively overpowered, and the vines are burned away entirely, freeing Magnus and Sloane.

Sloane laughs again, and a bramble grows around her, a deadly poisonous bramble. Hurley pulls them back, and tells them they need to stay as far back as possible for her plan. She hugs Taako, thanking him, and sneakily clasping her safety harness onto him. Then she blasts them all off, the bubbles activate, and Hurley starts glowing white as she leaps at Sloane. That’s all they see before they black out.

They wake up in Goldcliff city centre, where several rivers come together. With them is the Raven, looking much better, but she’s holding Hurley, who’s looking really bad, black veins standing out. Sloane says she was looking for something more powerful that the Sash, but it’s too late for Hurley. She pleads with them to never let this happen again, and there’s a brilliant flash. As it fades, there’s now a cherry tree, roots like two entwined figures at its base. And next to it, a raven mask, a ram mask, and between them, the Sash.

Taako approaches the Sash, which starts whispering in his mind about all the power, but this time, he can’t resist. Before he can put it on, Merle punches him, takes Sash, and packs it away. Meanwhile, the Goldcliff militia surround them. Captain Bane quickly runs in, and takes custody of them, taking them to his office. He debriefs them, and then they all drink a toast to Hurley - at least that’s the plan; they refuse to drink, which upsets Bane. Taako casts Charm Person, except there’s another mind control already on Bane. He smashes two of the glasses before drinking the third, turning black-veined like Hurley, before dropping dead. There’s a figure in a red robe floating behind him, incorporeal. Magnus fails to attack it. It asks if they are afraid. It shows them faces of people who’ve died for the sake of the Relics and tells them that this is the fate of man. Searching Bane and his office produces the prize money for first and second place in the race, and a vial of poison, plus that tainted bottle.

This was a very dramatic and tragic conclusion. Taako bringing out the switcheroo at the end of the race was genius, but honestly, after that, it felt very cinematic. I didn’t get the sense that there was anything the players could have done to change the outcome and save Sloane and Hurley, or Bane. It was a great story, but this bit was definitely Griffin telling it on his own. That’s not to say the players didn’t put their hearts into it, but at this point, Griffin had still to learn to loosen the reins a little with the big moments.

[cloaksandcapes]

For the Wizard player in your life who likes to specialize in a specific element because Fireball is too mainstream.

Spellflair Tome

Wondrous Item, very rare (requires attunement by a wizard)

“The front and back cover of this spellbook has been expertly crafted using various materials. It includes fine detail work, inlaid gems, and complex weaving and interlocking of the different materials to create an extraordinary magic item. The theme and colors of the tome are dependent on the elemental affinity of the tome.”

Elemental Affinity. These magical tomes are infused with a specific elemental affinity. When a spell of the matching element is scribed into the tome and then cast it is enhanced in a variety of ways. The different elemental types that these tomes can come in include: fire, cold, lightning, and thunder.

This magic tome can be used as a wizard spellbook.

Whenever you cast a spell from this magic spellbook that deals damage matching the spellbooks element, you can choose to spend an additional spell slot (by upcasting, or using a separate level one spell slot) to enhance it. Choose one of the following enhancements.

Gain advantage on the first spell attack roll.

One target has disadvantage on its saving throw.

Reroll any 1s on the damage dice, taking the new result.

Bypass any resistance to the damage type of the spell.

Spellforged Enhancement. This magic item enhances your innate spellcasting capabilities. You gain a bonus to spell attack rolls and the saving throw DC of spells cast from this book equal to half your Proficiency Bonus (rounded down).

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