#borderwatch

[andrevalias-tes]

'Wait, are you talking about the 'Prince of Blades'? Yeah, I saw him fight at the skirmish near Borderwatch. Him AND his three bound swords; possessed of fiendish grace, he was. He wasn't alone, though. Traveled with an odd-looking Dunmer; scantily clad but wore a masked helm, and her blade looked fiercely wicked. Not sure how you could have missed her.'

-- Brigadine Atrius Helturian, when asked about Lysander Avexus' mercenary pursuits

[multi-baker]

Dragon's Dogma 2 Sphinx Guide

Here is the easiest way to do the Sphinx in DD2 with minimum hassle. spoilers for the Game of Wits quest beneath

So before you go to the first location, you're gonna need a few things. Bring a port crystal to make things easier and set it down near her.

1. Sphinx Mother OR Sphinx Father pawn in your party (if you're unsure it's the correct ones, their Arisen will be listed as CAPCOM)

2. an item you want to duplicate (i recommend a portcrystal, you get one as a reward)

3. any NPC who you have max affinity with (your main pawn can also work for this one)

4. the location of the first Seeker Token you picked up

anyway, onto the riddles.

Mountain Shrine:

Riddle of Eyes:

step through the door and turn to your right, go up the small path and open the chest to get the Sealing Phial (DO NOT USE IT). You can do the full dungeon if you want, it's just some Hobgoblins and an Ogre in the basement, not much in the way of loot. present the Sealing Phial to the sphinx, and claim your reward.

REWARD: Wakestone

Riddle of Madness:

pick up your max affinity NPC or main pawn and set them on the pedestal with you, then talk to the sphinx.

REWARD: Portcrystal

Riddle of Wisdom:

pick up your Sphinx Mother or Sphinx Father pawn and set them on the pedestal with you, then talk to the sphinx.

REWARD: 1200 Rift Crystals

Riddle of Conviction:

hand over any item in your inventory that you want duplicated, again i'd recommend the portcrystal.

REWARD: Duplicate of your item

Riddle of Rumination:

now for the hard one. the sphinx will give you 7 in game days to return to where you found your first Seeker Token, and pick up the Finder Token to return to her. There is no way to check where the first you found was, you just have to remember.

Mine was in a harpy nest somewhere around the Borderwatch Outpost

Once you find the token, return it to the sphinx and she'll move to the Frontier Shrine. REWARD: 3 Ferrystones

Important info for the next shrine:

You're going to want a portcrystal in Bakbattahl before starting the next shrine, and one in the border town if you're lazy like me

Grab a handful of ferrystones because you're gonna need them

Switch your vocation to Archer BEFORE the final riddle i cannot stress how important this part is to getting the final reward

I would highly recommend sleeping at an inn or your home before starting the Frontier Shrine as a backup

Frontier Shrine:

Riddle of Reunion:

finding her was the riddle, so claim your prize from the first chest

REWARD: 100,000 Gold

Riddle of Futility:

WARNING: FAILING THIS PART WILL BAR YOU FROM THE REST OF THE QUEST. REST AT AN INN OR YOUR HOUSE (NOT A CAMP) BEFORE BEGINNING THIS RIDDLE

the sphinx will ask you to carry a pot from the Frontier Shrine to a man named Maurits in Bakbattahl, if it breaks you fail the quest. THE JAR DOES NOT RESPAWN, YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEW GAME+ TO FINISH THIS QUEST. the easy way to do this is to go to Bakbattahl, find Maurits in the Mural Byway, pick him up and use a ferrystone to transport you two to the Frontier Shrine portcrystal. set him down near the pot to complete the riddle.

behold. Maurits.

REWARD: Eternal Bond

Riddle of Differentiation:

the sphinx will show you an NPC, immediately screenshot what they look like just in case. the NPC always looks the same EXCEPT FOR THE HAIR.

if their hair is straight, it's Dante on the Vermund side of the border gate in the checkpoint town. (i do not have a picture of Dante, unfortunately)

if their hair is curly, it's Vergil on the Battahl side of the border gate (the log entry for Vergil says he is in Bakbattahl, he is not)

so, grab your twin and ferrystone them back to the Frontier Shrine, bring them onto the pedestal with you and talk to the sphinx

REWARD: Whimsical Daydream

Riddle of Contest:

the sphinx gives you a ring that lowers your damage to the minimum and challenges you to fight a guard. pick up the guard and throw him off the cliff, she'll laugh and grant you your reward.

REWARD: Ring of Ambition

Riddle of Recollection:

the sphinx asks you to pile stone statues in front of her equal to the number of riddles she has asked you. just add 5 + number of chests you have open in the Frontier Shrine. pile them around the pedestal and talk to her.

REWARD: Arrow of Unmaking

immediately after answering the final riddle, she will begin to fly away to leave, and this is where being an archer comes in. equip the Arrow of Unmaking and shoot the sphinx with it. she will die immediately and thank you for the game and drop the key to the large golden chest. pick it up and claim your final reward.

REWARD: Eternal Wakestone

[muralikesgames]

Adventures Across the Realm - Part 9

Not all adventures require badge completions. Sometimes, Hildy just want to take familiar faces on a stroll, albeit an inevitably violent one with all the monsters around. Lir (@beastren) and Seresa (@themanwhomadeamonster) were ready for anything, including random boxes next to explosive barrels in the latter's case.

Their first major encounter was an Ogre who probably leapt over the walls of the Borderwatch Outpost after smelling the scent of a woman. Luckily, the party arrived just in time.

Red vocation begets the flames of pain.

Further down in their travels, Hildy found some useful herbs in the forest north of Harve, so the Pawns took points and kept watch. Respite were few and far between, but whenever they could have a calm moment under the canopy of trees, Lir and Seresa enjoyed it.

Chaos quickly found them when a Cyclops set its eye upon them with a patrol of Hobgolbins. Unfortunately for them, they're not the only ones finding strength in numbers. Kassandra together with Lir kept destabilizing the behemoth with their sheer strength, allowing Seresa for a precise finishing strike to its eye.

Much blood were spilled, which probably attracted the attention of the nearby Drake.

Hildy would like to apologize to Seresa for accidentally falling into her bosom in the midst of battle. She made up for it by freeing Seresa from the Drake's grasp before it could possess her.

With the Drake's defeat, Hildy's promising them all a wonderful meal later alongside a round of mead. Seresa responded with the most adorable smile. Who could resist that?!

[patternwelded-quill]

Myka's (New) Intro!

I'm going to make me a fresh 

Writblr Intro

Just like revising a story!

I kinda-sorta did before, but not really, so here's a new one. I'll also be rolling the status updates for my fanfics in here for those of you following me for my apparent obsession with Ranma and elves...

My name is Myka, she/her. Nice to meet you!

I'm a trans swordsmith, armorer, jeweler, and watchmaker. I'm also an artist and author, and like all creatives, I have my days where I love my works and days where I hate them and think they're trash. For example, I did the trans flag colors on the rank pips of my PFP, but they're too tiny to see, so I'm planning to redo it out of frustration!

I'm here to build friendships and community. So feel free to send me a message or an ask about metalwork if you're looking for answers or curious. Tag games are great, too, I try to get to them within a day or so of the notif.

Original Works:

Red Angel Saga (Irae, Interitus, Impere): The story of Relarial, an elven mercenary warlord and grandmother, as she attempts to avenge the death of her family, recover from that terrible loss, and return to some semblance of a life she understands. Rated R (for Relarial, hah!) for ultraviolence and the fact that she can't avoid constant profanities.

-Status: Book 1 is being revised/rewritten, book 2 is rough drafted, and book 3 is outlined and halfway drafted.

Blades of Fate (Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove): Captain Malekah Thaynn was a divisive figure, known to some as a hero and others as the 'Butcher of Borderwatch.' The latter helped get her tossed into a dark hole for years until someone thought she'd be useful to their ambitions. But you don't pick up the epithet of a butcher of anything by playing nice with assholes.

-Status: Book 1 is a rough drafted hot mess, but it's my hot mess, I guess.

Fanfiction:

Wet Behind the (Long) Ears: What if Ranma was knocked into the 'Spring of Drowned *Elf* Girl'?

-Status: Part 1 is complete, and I am contemplating continuation!

The Stone Will Sing: Thematic companion to WB(L)E. Maybe Ranma's so short as a girl is because it was a young dwarf girl who drowned in Nyannichuan. Or perhaps the Khazad didn't die out, but vanished as a distinct race. Worldbuilding crossover with LoTR.

-Status: Have yet to be accused of blasphemy against Tolkien. Second arc updating!

Big Wish in a Small Pond: What happens when you mix video games, wishing swords, and a damn fool? More trouble for Saotome Ranma, that's what.

-Status: First arc completed at chapter 11!

Blood in the Water: Nǚyāoguàinìquán: the Spring of Drowned Demoness. Though a redheaded Ranma still emerges from the waters, things quickly prove to be more than they seem.

-Status: 6 chapters posted!

Once We Were Warriors: OC Relarial is isekai'd into a 1996 Tokyo shared by Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon. This was prompted by a convo w/ a friend about our OCs as Senshi.

-Status: Complete!

A Fire Inside Me: Sequel to OWWW. The things from the space between spaces that followed Relarial from her world to Japan are becoming an increasing threat. Only by working together can the semi-feral martial artists (looking at you, Saotome Genma!) of Nerima and the Sailor Senshi fight back.

-Status: Posting, chapter 6 is up.

Twice the Curse? Double the Fun!: Ranma discovers that P-chan is actually his old frenemy Ryoga. But somehow the Lost Boy managed to get himself *two* Jusenkyo curses. ...or, did he? One-shot for muffinmoonn.

-Status: Drafting, using as a nice palate cleanser when I get stressed with other writing.

Child of Sin: Soun and Genma end up in debt to an old-school fae, but one of them (nobody is surprised) reneges on the deal. Amusement at his suffering ensues.

-Status: Drafting

[lisa-and-shadow]

It's WIP Wednesday and I actually have something I'm working on.. Whaaaaaa??? This is from my Beren x Arisen Dragons Dogma fic.

I'm tagging some of my DD2 peeps @bearlytolerant @fangbangerghoul @staticpallour @arisenreborn

💜WIP WEDNESDAY💜

She had not known what to expect when first tasked with meeting the captain of the guard for Borderwatch, only that he was a skilled warrior and spoken of with respect. Truthfully, she had prepared herself to meet a gruff old man who would bark orders at her. But instead she had met Ser Beren.

The beastren warrior was knelt in his garden, tending to the moonflowers nearest his tent, but stood to greet Lyra and her party as they drew closer. Imposingly tall and broad shouldered, he cut an intimidating figure. But he had a gentleness of spirit that seemed to put those around him at ease, and a broad smile which he now turned in Lyra’s direction. It was a smile that never failed to make her stomach flutter like the butterflies that surrounded his camp. 

“Hail! Tis good to see you!” he strode across the last rows of plants toward her, carefully watching his steps to make sure he didn’t tread on any blossoms. 

Lyra found his display of care for his flowers so endearing that she had to bite her lip to stifle a chuckle. An impish smile curled around the corners of her mouth, “I hope I didn’t interrupt you from your work.”

Beren laughed heartily, “You may interrupt me anytime you like, Arisen. I’d fain have you visit more often. Though perhaps under more pleasant circumstances than usual.”

This time Lyra did laugh, “Well at least this time, I promise there aren’t any goblins to fight.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t mind a bit of excitement when you’re around.”

Lyra felt heat creep up the back of her neck at the way Beren’s deep voice rumbled around those words.

Over the last weeks, Lyra had assisted Ser Beren with several tasks both personal and for the Borderwatch Camp. During that time they had formed an easy friendship, and to Lyra it seemed, perhaps more. Tonight she hoped to find out if she was only imagining that spark between them.

As if reading her mind, he closed the space between them, placing one hand on her shoulder.

“So what brings you all the way out here? Do you need my aid? I would be happy to lend it, you have but to ask.”

“I know that you would, but no. I came to see you.” Lyra's chest felt tight, suddenly nervous, “Might we spend some time together this evening?”

Beren’s eyes widened and he smiled down at her. “Would you care to join me for tea?”

Lyra looked up at him through her lashes, nodding, “Yes. That would be lovely.

[aperture8]

Dragon's Dogma II

... Borderwatch Outpost

[edgier-than-a-diamond]

(from arisenreborn) Arisen #2, Arisen & Pawn #14, Misc. #2

What is their favorite and least favorite part of being the Arisen?

James dislikes the undue attention he gets from being Arisen- he feels that the Arisen's charge is a burden he isn't fit to bear, let alone the expectations of a whole nation. He does, however, enjoy the respect that people gain for him once they realize he's not another fake Arisen (though his feeling on it are a bit complicated since their respect stems from something he did not choose for himself).

What do they bond most over?

In general, it's all of the little soft moments that they spend doing mundane tasks together. The mutual patching of wounds after battle, the maintenance of their equipment, the shared meals.

There are many "bigger" moments where they bond as well, but the most poignant is probably the day that Allen, stricken with dragonsplague, wiped out the population of the Borderwatch Outpost. When he was resummoned from the rift, he expected his master to be furious or distraught. Instead, he was met with a quiet "Welcome back," and a sad- but understanding- smile. James reassured him that everything would be alright before using their wakestone stash to revive all of the people Allen had felled. As they each thanked his Arisen, Allen noticed something like a flash of giddy glee cross the man's face. He didn't end up asking James what that expression meant, but that night he dreamt of a world where a strange drake ravaged Vernworth- a drake that he for some reason felt a deep connection to.

If they lived in our world, what would they do for a living?

Allen would definitely have a career where he could work with his hands, maybe something like car repair or carpentry.

James would probably end up as an engineer or IT guy- something where he could solve technical issues with his skills.

Ask game that this is from here!

[courtierofdementia]

People think Sheogorath's obsession with cheese started with his 'Cheese for everyone!' line in Shivering Isles, but that, and the bit about you being a rat, were as far as I can tell references to the main game's daedric quest, where you used cheese to lure rats into Borderwatch.

So, Sheogorath made two cheese jokes in Oblivion.

[corvidgames]

Platinum Hunt, Dragon’s Dogma 2

I’m getting closer to hour 40 of my playthrough (approximately) and oh my god, some of the achievements for this game are draining my soul. I’ve been genuinely enjoying DD2 for almost the entire playthrough but something about going back to mop up the achievements I need before I can continue on with the main quest is grating on me this time. Normally veering off course to get achievements is something I really enjoy, but with 3 of the trophies so far boiling down to elaborate fetch quests/location finding for no real reason, it’s really sapping all enjoyment out of me.

Side quests are fun! Exploring is fun! Collecting stuff is fun…When I don’t have to find 80 seekers tokens and somehow remember where I found the first one 30 hours ago in a tiny crevice of Vermund. I would like to throttle whoever at capcom decided to let the sphinx’s finders token be a real quest in the game without any sort of hints…

And the goddamn Master of Maister’s trophy. I was having fun for the most part, travelling to areas of the map I hadn’t found yet and meeting new characters… only to be suddenly bombarded again with another fetch quest for the sorcerer Maisters’ teachings. Just let me give the girl random spell books I found on my adventures, I beg you.

I really want to just get these mind-numbing trophies out of the way so I don’t have to start a NG+ later down the line specifically for them… but knowing I’m going to have to look up another guide for The Tourist after all of that to once again slowly and painfully walk around the map to find insignificant caves with very little loot? It’s just a little disheartening.

Don’t get me wrong, I said it before and I’ll say it again. Up until this point, I’ve been really enjoying DD2, for all of its faults, I’ve been able to look over them and instead enjoy the games’ world and combat system. Getting to make my silly little original characters into my arisen and main pawn is great, and I love nothing more than parading around town as a buff beast-slaying archer. But oh my god if I have to run all the way back and forth between the capital city and the borderwatch I think I’m going to flip my lid.

I really do want to platinum this game, but it’s really making it feel more like a chore than a fun experience…

Anyway—enough complaining from me—I’m going to admire my favourite gays again and huff a whole load of copium to get through this trophy list before the end of the month.

[areeis]

Going well :>

Started with the Borderwatch Outpost. Seeing Luksa stand over one of the dead was a well-timed coincidence.

ok, what if I started playing DD2 AGAIN but both Ryo and Spe get no weapons (fists only) and I try to speedrun wiping out settlements with dragonsplague while still doing all other necessary quests to finish the game? And since there's no reason to even do unmoored without people I could go for Peace ending..

[gibsalad]

Time for some old skool shit

[tprika]

badass crossover’s fun! If i had more time, I could draw this like all day.

Unkempt Harold and Jolly Roger. (Borderlands one of the best looter shooter period!)

[dandunn]

I’m seeing more Overwatch/Borderlands crossover fodder lately.

Echo/??? (the alien from the Pre Sequel, both of which I’m dying to know more about) 

Also Echo’s design reminds me a hell of a lot of the Eridian guardians

Ashe/Nisha (seriously the darker version of Ashe from her concept art looks exactly like Nisha, I wonder if they made her lighter to not step on Gearbox’s toes because GODDAMN).

If I were to stretch a little here I could also say that BOB reminds me of Gaige and Deathtrap and I’m wondering if it will work in a similar way too.

[muralikesgames]

Adventures Across the Realm - Part 2

The past few days were a little eventful trip across Vermund to reach the Waterfall Cave for Mati's Gorechimera badge (@bees-tes-blog). There was a classic moment of a Griffin giving the group a vibe check. It won't be checking out preys anymore now.

Taking some shortcuts to reach northern Vernmund always end up with this little encounter with an Ogre. I think it was daydreaming because no matter how many waving Hildy did, it had no interest. She responded with a burning mace up to its face.

Speaking of a burning mace, a Minotaur made the huge mistake of attacking the Borderwatch Outpost with a hungry Hildy there. Needless to say, they had roasted beast steak for lunch.

That lunch almost went to waste after Mati gave Hildy a little heart attack with this trust fall. Good thing she always keeps an eye on her comrades, just in case someone decides to not take the ladder like a normal person would. Thanks Mati. Very cool.

In the end, they reached the Gorechimera and defeated it with ease. Mati's used to it at this point after the many times Hildy brings him there, so he's always got his Anodyne ready for some steady DoT on this undead foe.

[patternwelded-quill]

I'll shoot one back at you for STS---if your books were made into a movie, what would be on the soundtrack? What song plays for the intro, the climax, the end credits, etc?

Hope you have a lovely day also <3

My fantasy stuff would be epic early 2000s orchestral type stuff: Gladiator, LoTR, etc. Growing up on the old sword and sorcery stuff because that's what I had access to has instilled an aesthetic of big sweeping scores with brass and drums and rawr.

The scifi trilogy however, I'd love to get some power metal like Beast in Black. I can see parts of the climactic Siege of Hlóðyn having their titular song 'Beast in Black.' Maybe credits out the series to 'Die by the Blade.' I don't know about the trilogy by the prequel about the Borderwatch Rebellions feels suitable for 'Cry Out for a Hero.' Even if the MC's female and the song gendered male, lol.

[pybun]

Borderwatch