#especially since they’re an arcanist

[anonymocha]

Does MedPoc piss?

Trust me this is very important to a debate I am having with someone

Yes but in my headcanon, they underwent urostomy since they were a baby, so the fluids goes to an ostomy bag like above. I drew them with it on before.

[fruityfroggy]

ASGKJKUYFG TYSM @anonymocha FOR GIVING ME A DIRECTION TO GO WITH MY RAMBLINGS<3

Anyways…oh Verdigris, I’ve come up with so many extra bits and pieces to her lore in the past month or so and I didn’t really get to talk about her in the first place, so I’m glad that someone’s interested (this is gonna be so long, I can feel it)

First things first, we’ll get the big thing out of the way: her arcane skill. Kind of a big part of her story is how she is a “plant whisperer”, which means that she’s able to hear the voices of plants and therefore communicate with them. This made her form a prominent sense of empathy for plants, as they are unheard by everyone except her.

(Now, a lot of the things I’ll mention about Verdigris will make a lot more sense)

So a fun little fact is that plants have a “way of speaking” that sounds more poetic than your normal speech, since they’re just describing things based off of what they know from nature. And because of her arcane skill, Verdigris does talk like them a little (which just comes off as being poetic/dramatic). Another thing that comes with this “way of speaking” are “Titles of the Plants”, which is the thing that you remind the plants of, that they therefore refer to you by (Vertin is “The Wandering Wind”, Sonetto is “The Shade in Daylight”, etc).

Why am I mentioning this? Well but of course it’s for yuri reasons! Because this is the perfect way for Verdigris to subtly and sapphic-ly pine for a certain arcanist by the title: Ray of Sun (and who this refers to is not disclosed). She mentions this “Ray of Sun” quite frequently in her diary, which I’d imagine could be one of those pages of text you can find between stages, as well as in her intimacy voiceline (which I haven’t written, but we can imagine, okay).

Anywho…when it comes to interacting with other arcanists, Verdigris is very much the most likeable out of my three ocs here (she’s just a cinnamon roll, not toxic or hard to communicate with). So she gets along with basically everyone in the suitcase. Chaotic or calm, she’s patient enough to talk to them. Tho she’s the closest with Lilya I’d say, since they’re bonding over a shared language/heritage and shut up, it’s adorable. Especially since Verdigris didn’t have anyone to speak Russian to for a long time (she lived in Spain, that’s why) and Russian was her mother’s language (she never got to meet her, so it holds special significance to her (things are getting angsty haha)). This problem was the whole reason she created her own critters actually. But hey, now she has someone and the vibes are good again.

As for their dynamic, it’s obvious that they have a “balancing each other out” situation, and I like to call it “Lilya and her designated driver” as a joke. But truthfully, Verdigris is surprisingly down with most of her shenanigans and no one understands why. Lilya kinda just wants to show Verdigris all the “fun stuff” she usually does, and she just goes along with it while some of the other arcanists watch them in horror (they’re just having a good time tho). When Verdigris is busy, Lilya would go visit her workshop to see what she’s doing like: "What you making, Verdie?:]" (she finds it interesting).

Considering what she does, I feel like Verdigris would probably be crossing paths with Medpoc kinda often as well (hehe). Verdigris just isn’t super affected by Medpoc’s hostility, and still treats them very well after getting yelled at. Once they warm up to her tho, she kinda becomes their emotional support (aka the person they rant to while she hands them a cookie or smth), and they’d pass out together while working across from each other, since neither of them remember to sleep (or do anything else).

I also think that she could help Shamane repair and/or upgrade his mechanical arm (since that’s kinda her specialty), and in turn gain a new father figure. Shamane would definitely like her Dendrogues and greet them when he sees them hopping around as well.

Some honourable mentions are the other calm healers (Dikke and Tooth Fairy). Dikke would grow fond of Verdigris for how fair and thoughtful is, but she'd tell her to not be so tolerant of everything. As for her and Tooth Fairy’s situation, they actually have pretty similar vibes, so they’d probably do some somewhat questionable things together that aren’t so questionable if they’re doing it, like baking together (there’s definitely no tooth fairies in the muffins they’re making, don’t question the taste of plums) and going out into the forest to look for teeth.

Oh right! Verdigris also has a small interaction with Pristine after implanting the new heart she made for her, since Pristine’s original heart (crystal) is the thing that makes her body possessable to Arcana (there’s some context from this post that is needed to understand what I’m talking about). This is a big plot point in Pristine’s story, so guess who’s growing attached to Verdigris. Yeah, she kinda just follows her around whenever she sees her from there on out, maybe even tugs on her sleeve saying “Where art thou headed to? Let me go with thee!” (Welcome to motherhood, Verdigris!)

[sixrandompirates]

Trying to come up with a build for this guy, a Dunmer whose adoptive grandfather was an arcanist and complete Mora simp in the 2nd era.

Dual wield, because that’s my arcanist. Swords will be the scimitars from the Tribunal quest, until I get my hands on Miraak’s sword at which point I’ll switch to that - less powerful but fashion is way more important.

Archery will be Ruin’s Edge just because it’s weird and has an eyeball.

Throwing in some conjuration so I can summon a seeker once I find the tome. They’re not the most powerful conjures, especially considering the Watcher you summon in ESO melts enemies and then looks for more to melt, but what kind of arcanist would he be without Seekers? Absolutely no necromancy (he tolerates Serana’s) save for the Ayleid Lich, who did this to themselves as far as he’s concerned.

Light armor for the Redoran helmet and netch leather gloves and boots. To Oblivion with mage armor.

Alteration and Restoration for the explody green spells, and also because these robes are as close as you can get to the Fate’s Chosen costume you get at the end of Necrom.

Alchemy since poison and potions are a good backup and lots of recipes counts as knowledge.

Enchanting because the robes and the helmet are unechanted and I may want multiple sets, and because it’s really funny to make Neloth sass you if you ask for training.

Miraak’s staff, because more tentacles.

If I delve into destruction it won’t be the big boom variety but the ones that absorb health or runes and usually only for emergencies. I can see myself using spiders more than spells, and there’s a nod to White Ridge Barrow in Necrom.

Shouts, because there’s no way he’d get this epic power and not use the shit out of it.

Black Books, because Black Books.

And fishing, because my arcanist is obsessed with fishing and because where he goes, Sharp goes.

[midnights-call]

For the ask game!

Malachite and Jasper 👀

Thank you for the ask!

I’m going to pick a wip for these so for this one I’m a going to do Arcanist’s Gambit, which you can read more about here x

Malachite: What do your characters have to lose?

I’m going to go character by character for this since I have three mcs

Teali: Teali has tons to lose, and boy, do they go through it in this book. First thing is their life and freedom at the hands of Ober if he finds out they stole Umbra from him, which is definitely super bad. Then there’s everything with their shitty parents, who could also take away their freedom at any time, along with their resources, their home, everything short of their life. They could lose Umbra, who they come to care for a lot during the book, and their best friend since childhood in Julien. And the thing they wrestle with the most, the thing they aren’t sure if they want to lose or not, is a chance at revenge against everyone who ever hurt them, and the opportunity get everything they think they want. That’s the title of the book, the Arcanist’s Gambit; what’s worth more? What do they want? What are they willing to lose?

Umbra: Arguably, he has the lowest stakes of the three due to not having very much of anything to begin with, but that also meaning he technically has the most to lose? For him, it’s his freedom from Ober and a life of hardship and abuse. What he suffered within the walls of the Vautour Estate is horror beyond comprehension, but thanks to Teali, he no longer has to fear that. But Ober still lives and if he found out what Teali and Umbra did, he’d do anything to get Umbra back. But other than that? Just his life, really. Umbra stands to gain the most out of the three, and I’m happy to say he does eventually. Y’all know me, I don’t like to write a sad ending, especially not for a character as important to me as Umbra.

Julien: Julien is an interesting case, because his stakes aren’t always explicitly discussed or seemingly as pressing as the other two. It’s not a looming presence on the narrative, this impending sense of doom. But it exists, it is there. Mainly, it’s in the form of his reputation. As the head of the illustrious Archambeau house, he has a lot to maintain and take care of. Harboring Umbra is dangerous business, but he and his father can afford it due to how powerful they are. Ober would have a lot of trouble touching them. But it still looks poorly to have participated in such a thing and to bring this strife into any kind of public eye. So long as certain affairs stay private, few will ever truly care that they exist at all. And calling in so many favors to protect Teali has also damaged certain relationships, since Teali has never seen a bridge they didn’t want to burn, and Julien frequently has to come and bail them out of bad situations. He does it because he loves them, they’re his best friend after all, but it isn’t healthy, and he fears losing them to themself someday.

Jasper: What is your antagonist’s greatest strength / weakness?

Lithara is a very conniving villain, one who is always thinking ten steps ahead and knows how to manipulate people to get what she wants. She’s an excellent puppeteer and easily pulls strings to make Teali do what she wants and isolate them from the people who love them. But her downfall comes in the form of her domain. Each god in this world has a domain that can vary, from being something niche and specific like “the god of forked rivers” or something really broad and abstract like “the god of grief.” Her domain shall remain secret for spoiler reasons, but it along with her desire for vengeance leads to her eventual defeat. That, and her choice in Teali as the one to be the one to free her, since everything that made them ideal also makes them the perfect person to destroy her. So it’s a lot of the thing that makes her strong also makes her weak, showing that anything you are or could be is always capable of being some sort of double edged sword that leaves you bleeding.

Original ask game

[demigoddessqueens]

How about being in a poly relationship with Allura and Kima.

Please and thank you

Two powerful ladies?? Yes please

The three of you all knew of each other from traveling back in the day.

You thought them completely opposite of each other but it’s what kept things interesting in the traveling group

You could tell both Allura and Kima were drawn to each other, but there were also aspects that drew you to each other.

Allura’s stories from her past were always fascinating and she blushed at times when you admired her magic conjuring, being a highly respected Arcanist

Lady Kima’s ferocity and willingness to protect others (especially you and Allura) is much appreciated and she won’t deny that she adores you two doting on her post-battles.

Since you’re with both members of the High Council, Vox Machina finds a close ally with you too. And they’re the polycule’s biggest hype men too

Despite the demanding tasks of the Council, you three do regularly plan trips and vacations to get away and relax. Always buying little gifts and trinkets, here and there as tokens of love and affection

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Day 19: Turn a Blind Eye

I don’t really have a cutesy summary for this one. It’s very angsty. cw traumatic childbirth

They ‘ave no bloody idea, the idiots. Kay Aldis laughed to herself as she dried glasses in the Drowning Wench. For the third time that day, a patron came up to the bar to tell her that’s she’s turning a blind eye to Brant’s activities on the ship. “He’s a pirate!” The older lalafell woman said in a hushed voice. “He’s surely cheating on you, no?”

Kay told the woman, after she paid for her drink, to kindly fuck off because her Brant would never.

Not my Brant. Not when we’ve been together since we were teenagers and known each other our entire lives.

My Brant…

Kay sighed happily at the thought of Brant Longsong, the Gentle Giant of the Reavin’ Rascals. Her Brant, who was raised by his grandmother. Who was like a grandmother to me too. After my family died, she took me in. Kind ol’ Mistress Agnes Longsong. And then she passed too. Old age and infirmity catch up to us all. Me and Brant ‘ad each other.

Do ‘ave each other.

Will always ‘ave each other.

“Ye can take yer break now, Kay.” Jonah, the supervisor for her shift, said. “And no breakin’ customers!” He winked.

“So long as they don’t tell porkies ‘bout my man, then they’re safe.” Kay rolled her eyes. “See ye in ten.”

“Fifteen.” Jonah nodded. “Ye deserve the extra time…in yer condition.”

My bloody condition. I’m just pregnant! Kay forced a smile and walked out of the Wench to the Aftcastle, finding a bench under a blooming tree to sit under. Taking a wrapped item out of her apron pocket, her eyes widened at the leftover sandwich. Been ‘ungier lately. Yer growin’ so much! Kay realized she looked a lot further along than five moons, but with a Pa like Brant, it’s no fuckin’ wonder yer already so damn big! I’ll be servin’ drinks and food til the day yer born! She patted her belly and felt the baby kick. So strong too. Bet yer a girl. Lil’ Agnes Longsong. ‘Ventually Longsong. Brant’s insistin’ on a damned ‘spensive ring! Jus’ marry me already! Yer Pa’s a romantic deep down, ya know. Wants to travel the world the three of us.

Kay sighed as she took another bite. Rather ‘ave a stable ‘ome. Brant. Me. Lil’ Agnes. Travelin’s all well and good, but our babe deserves a ‘ome. Ooof! Ye lil’ bugger!

“When are you due?” An elezen woman, whom Kay did not notice sat next to her, asked. “Must be soon?”

Kay shook her head. “Nay. ‘nother four moons.”

The elezen woman smiled warmly. “And here I was thinking you’re about to go into labor any minute. Pray forgive me, mistress.”

Ain’t no one’s mistress ‘cept Brant’s. Kay shrugged and continued to eat her sandwich. “Nothin’ to forgive. Every master an’ mistress an’ in between been thinkin’ I’m ‘bout to birth my babe. Their Pa’s jus’ big. ‘ighlander.”

“Ah yes, that makes sense. Forgive me once again, but…” oh for fuck’s sake! “You should start making arrangements now. For the birth, I mean. It’s good to be prepared.”

Kay grunted, finishing her sandwich. “Hmph, we’ll call a midwife once labor’s started. That’s ‘ow it’s done at…’ome.” Limsa’s ‘ome. It’s our ‘ome. Not the island. ‘ere. “I’ve delivered babes before.” Well, assisted.

The elezen woman expression changed. “I know I’m a stranger offering unwanted advice, but as a member of the Conjurers Guild in Gridania, you should prepare. Even someone as young and healthy are you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the dangers—”

“E-nuff.” Kay stood and faced the conjurer. “Listen ‘ere, missy---I ‘ave me an’ Brant an’ our babe an’ I don’t need a ‘olier than thou conjurer lecturin’ me. I’m goin’ back to work, and ye can piss off.”

Serves ‘er right. Meddlin’ in other people’s affairs.

***

Kay Aldis was in an extraordinary amount of pain. Labor had started nearly a day ago, and no matter how hard she pushed, her baby simply wouldn’t come. Babe, ye need to leave my body! Ye need to live! For me and yer Pa! My Brant…My poor Brant…

The arcanist at the Children’s Home in Limsa looked especially grim. “Mother and child will die if we can’t get it out soon.” IT?!?! MY BABE ISN’T AN IT?!?! The male miqo’te turned to a midwife. “Fetch Dennis.”

WOT?!?!? Kay’s eyes widened and began to scream. “MY BABE! BOY BRANT! GIRL AGNES! MY BABE!”

“Begin preparations for sedation.” The arcanist looked down at Kay with a condescending look. “You and your baby are going to die if we can’t perform a c-section. You simply cannot push it—”

“MY BABE ISN’T AN IT! MY BABE IS A BABE!”

The arcanist rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t matter. You will both die. We need to perform a c-section. You need to be put under because we must cut your baby out.”

WOT?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Kay could feel the midwife holding her hand, whispering something comforting that she could not hear. “BOY BRANT! GIRL AGNES! TELL ‘EM I LOVE ‘EM!”

The midwife nodded silently and gave Kay a reassuring smile.

Kay suddenly felt her body grow heavy like she was drifting off to sleep. “Boy…Brant…Girl…Agnes…love ‘em…”

***

Oh Kay…I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry. Agnes cried softly as she read the report. While “advising” the termination of the Limsan blasphemy, she felt an urge to look back to her birth with her baby arriving a few moons. What Agnes found was that her birth mother spent her last day of life in agony, pleading for someone to name her baby Brant or Agnes. “Kay Aldis, aged twenty-four summers, departed this world at seven and a half bells past noon. Cause of death: blood loss resulting from childbirth.” Agnes read aloud. “Child named Agnes Aldis. Baby girl is healthy and feeding from wet nurse.” She tossed the report aside and wept.

“Agi! Agi, what’s wrong?” Estinien asked, rushing to his wife from the bathroom. “Sweet girl, what’s the matter?” He hugged Agnes and glanced at the report. “Oh Agi…”

“She suffered so much! I even found the midwife who was the one who recorded my name on my birth certificate. She said the arcanist was cold and cruel to her. Oh gods, poor Kay!” Kay, I’m so sorry. Hiccupping and still crying, Agnes continued. “S-she just arrived at the Children’s Home in labor and was terrified! She was all alone and was treated so badly! ‘Stinien, when we get home to Radz-at-Han, we’re finding a midwife right away! I’ll draw up plans just in…just in…”

Estinien rubbed her back and rocked her gently. “We’ll do that, I promise. Tis good to be prepared. But listen to me, my love…” he moved to kneel in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Simply because this happened to Kay doesn’t mean it will happen to you.” Estinien brought her hands to his lips and stared into her chocolate brown eyes. “You’ve survived the Final Days. Survived Zenos. Survived listening to Professor Jewelry’s lectures.” Okay, that was funny, but also Urianger has a lot of interesting things to say! “I’ve confidence you can deliver our babe safely. Stay in the moment, Agi. Stay right here with me.”

Agnes closed her eyes and breathed deeply for a few minutes. Kay. Brant. Mum. Da. Estinien. Esme. All with me. Forever with me. Never alone. Carry their love wherever I go. She opened her eyes, still crying a bit, and smiled. “I’m here.”

[holdmecloser-gandydancer]

read here or on ao3!

Being a Regulator was one of the worst jobs Killian had ever decided to take. Don’t get her wrong, she knew that the purpose she served was great; she totally believed in doing everything in her power to keep the world safe, but it was so incredibly lonely. A good portion of Killian’s job description involved being prepared to kill any of her colleagues at a given moment. Didn’t exactly make for the most fun office relationships.

It was scary to think that at any moment, anyone in the Bureau could make a break against their procedures and require - well – regulation. When the Director had first approached about employment, Killian didn’t think much about it.

Okay, so my duties would be to stop people who use these things that you’re looking for?

In very simple terms, yes.

Great. When do I start?

Are you certain, Killian? This is going to be a highly dangerous job.

Listen, Madam Director, it beats the current gig I got so I’m in.

As the Bureau grew and turned into something much grander and more professional, Killian began to excel. She proved herself time and time again to be the most competent Regulator that the Bureau had. But it was that fact that she grappled with most.

Killian tried to keep a neutral face when she entered the Director’s office. She was being sent down planetside, though the details of the mission hadn’t yet been revealed to her.

“Killian, thank you for coming so quickly. As you know, your services are needed,” The Director’s face looked troubled and far away. “It’s Brian.” Killian let out a sharp, exasperated laugh.

“No way, Brian? Magic Brian? Director, surely there’s some kind of mistake! He wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Killian thought of the highly complimentary, dramatic drow she’d met her first day on the base. They had both been in the first crop of employees and they had become fast friends. Everyone had taken to calling him Magic Brian because he was simply too bombastic to have such a plain name. And he was one of the most accomplished arcanists any of the Bureau employees had seen.

“Killian, I wish that were the case. Unfortunately, during his reconnaissance mission to locate the Phoenix Fire Gauntlet, he began to turn his back on the Bureau. Rather than seeking the Gauntlet for the good of the organization, we have it on good authority that he has started to seek it out for personal gain. In fact, we believe that he has,” the Director paused for a moment, considering her words carefully. “We believe he has hostages of sorts. It’s vital that you get down there, deal with him, and if you can, retrieve the Gauntlet.” Killian’s stomach fell. Regulating was one thing. That was her job, one she was very good at. But the idea of having to actually handle one of the relics herself? It scared her more than she cared to say.

“And I’m going alone?”

“Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be another option. Leeman is in the midst of preparing for a reclaiming mission himself and I don’t feel comfortable sending another Seeker down because I do fear that would put you in a hard position. Furthermore, I don’t believe the other Regulators are capable yet, frankly.” Killian’s thoughts rushed to Carey Fangbattle and to Boyland. Her regulator team. She was the unofficial captain, she supposed. She’d been at the Bureau for a few months longer than the two of them. And she also understood the Director’s unspoken addendum. She didn’t want to send more Regulators than necessary in case Killian herself had to be dealt with. Killian clenched her jaw, hoping no hesitation showed on her face.

“I’ll go get suited up and meet you and Avi at the hangar.”

“Actually, it’s just going to be Avi. He’s now going to be the sole one in charge of the Bureau’s transportation needs. The Millers have been working on adjustments to our system that make it easier to be manned by a single operator.”

“Oh shit, good for him.”

“Yes, he’s proven himself to be quite competent.” Lucretia reached into her desk and retrieved parchment and an inkwell. Killian turned to leave the Director’s office. “Oh, and Killian?”

“Yes, Madam Director?” the Director pressed her lips into a tight line.

“Don’t disclose the details of this to anyone yet. I know this is likely going to hit everyone hard and I frankly don’t want you to have to deal with that. I’ll figure out how to break the news.” Killian nodded and exited the office.

 

Late in the night she returned from the ruins of Phandalin, Killian found herself in the voidfish’s chambers. There had been a miraculous amount of excitement at the fact that a relic had been recovered and that the Bureau’s Reclaimer team had grown by three. Killian had done her best to slip away, sight unseen after she debriefed with the Director. She didn’t exactly feel like celebrating.

Instead, she felt like sitting on the ground in front of the voidfish’s tank, basking in its gentle light. She knew that Brian's Rites of Remembrance had been hastily done since the Director informed the Bureau of his treason. Traitors don’t get honor. But they do get grief, Killian thought to herself. She knew that Brian was too far gone by the time she reached him. She knew that he’d been ready to kill her with no second thought. She knew that he’d betrayed the Bureau and that betrayals wouldn’t stand in the organization. But all those facts didn’t keep her heart from twinging at the thought of Brian’s life just being wiped from memory.

“How’re you holding up?” Killian turned and saw Johann stride out from the shadows of the large room. She sighed and shrugged. Johann gazed at the voidfish for a moment before sitting on the ground beside her. They sat in silence for a while until a squeak by the doorway caused them both to turn around. Avi gave a meek wave before entering the room.

“Hey Avi,” Killian murmured quietly. He said nothing as he sat on Killian’s other side. The trio’s gazed up at the voidfish.

“Killian,” Avi began suddenly, “How was he?”

“He wasn’t himself. Not at all. I don’t know if that made it easier or harder, to be honest. I'm just glad that it wasn’t me who did him in.”

“Right, it was one of the new guys?” Johann turned to look at Killian for a moment. She nodded.

“Yeah, that new wizard, Taako, I think. I just still can’t believe he’s gone.” Killian didn’t tell anyone about the fact that she didn’t land a single hit on Magic Brian or his stupid fucking spider. She went running as soon as she could.

Avi tilted his head back and frowned. “Shit. His fiancé.” The trio grimaced. They all had lovely and ornate invitations in their own dormitories to Brian’s wedding. But at least the voidfish was supposed to handle all the messy things for the non-inoculated.

“I'm gonna miss that son of a bitch.” Johann mused quietly.

“Me too.” A gravitas-filled voice made the trio turn. The Director stood in the doorway, flanked by Carey and Boyland. They approached, staying mostly silent. Carey squeezed Killian’s shoulder and the six of them stayed in the voidfish’s chambers for some time.

 

Killian really did her best to keep from getting close to her coworkers, especially after what she was forced to do in Wave Echo Cave. It was terrifying to think that someday someone could be her coworker and then her assignment the very next day. Annoyingly, though, Carey Fangbattle seemed determined to break through Killian’s walls. She had done her best to get Killian to open up about her past, her fears, and everything in-between. Killian did her best to keep the dragonborn woman at arm’s length but the rogue was persistent.

“So, what was your deal before the Bureau?” she had asked one day while the pair was sparring. Boyland was home visiting family.

“Uh, you know, typical stuff. Pretty small family, we’re from a town outside of Neverwinter. They’re mostly all fighters so I took up that mantle. It was a pretty basic choice. What about you?”

“Heh, less basic than that. Small family too, just my parents, my brother, and me. He became a bard and I became a rogue. Our parents hate both these paths for both of us,” Carey chuckled after dodging a particularly swift sideswipe from Killian. “But you can’t ever seem to please barbarians, you know?” Killian laughed stepped out of the way of a deft roll Carey did. They continued sparring and joking for hours.

 

Killian found herself back in the voidfish’s chambers after she heard about Leeman Kessler and again after she heard about Captain Captain Bane. She hadn’t been particularly close to either of them be she saw that both these losses hurt Avi and Lucretia, respectively. Both times, she found herself surrounded by the five others who’d come together after the death of Magic Brian. They never coordinated it or spoke about it but something about basking in the company of each other in the glow of the voidfish gave them all a comfort none of them would admit to needing. At one point, Carey began to slip in beside Killian, forcing Avi to scoot to the orc’s other side. The rest of them changed position pretty frequently, depending on when they arrived. The Director eventually began siting on the floor with the five of them. When they were all in their unofficial ceremony for Captain Captain Bane, everyone had the courtesy to ignore the few tears shed by the Director.

 

Killian began to grow closer to Carey which scared the orc. It wasn’t that she didn’t love all the joy that the rogue brought her. That wasn’t it at all. But she couldn’t help but think about the fact that part of both their job descriptions involved being prepared to destroy their colleagues at any given moment. It wasn’t that Killian didn’t want to grow closer to Carey. If she was being honest, she’d love nothing more. She was just terrified.

 

Five of them gathered after Killian and Carey returned from the Miller’s lab. Boyland’s Rites ceremony wouldn’t be performed for some time. None of them were prepared to write out every detail of the man who’d brightened their days countless times.

They’d all already gathered after learning of the passing of Maureen Miller, but this time was different.

Maureen Miller and Lucas Miller would not receive Rites, though that didn’t stop the group from mourning them. Killian and Carey had quietly agreed to keep up the charade Magnus had set up in the lab. They both intended on interrogating him about it, but this was not the place to unwind it.

Truthfully, all of them were openly crying. Their tears were mostly quiet but they traced bright, shiny paths down their faces in the glow of the tank.

“Fucking Boyland. Him and his fucking cigars,” Carey said, leaning against Killian. She said nothing, instead choosing to wrap a protective arm around the dragonborn woman.

“I just can’t stop thinking about all his kids,” Avi’s face was unusually solemn. He retrieved his flask from his pocket and took a swig from it before passing it to Johann.

“Well, I mean, I understand that he was using a relic but,” Johann took a swig and passed the flask to Killian “Lucas was just a kid. I can’t believe that the Miller line is just… gone.”

Killian drank from the flask and passed it to Carey. “I can’t believe all the sketchy shit he was doing in that lab.” Carey gulped down some Brandywine and tentatively passed the flask to the Director.

“Grief is one hell of a drug,” the Director said hollowly, draining the remainder of the flask. “He was destroyed by the loss of his mother. Losing a loved one makes you do terrible things, especially if you think you could get them back.” She slid the flask back to Avi. The four others in the chamber glanced at the Director but said nothing. She was a woman who seemed to be haunted by griefs none of them could ever imagine.

 

Killian let her guard down at last. She let Carey inside her walls and was truthfully never happier. There was still an ever-present stripe of fear in Killian’s heart but somehow, when Carey was in her arms, it didn’t matter so much. Killian decided to appreciate and love Carey while she was alive rather than wait until she was despairing in front of a cryptic fish with an assortment of her closest friends and confidants.

 

After the day of Story and Song, after the Hunger had been defeated, after the base had been cleaned up, after a world of revelations had come to light, Killian and Carey found themselves in the voidfish’s chambers. Well, what used to be the voidfish’s chambers. Fisher was no longer there, the tank was shattered, and there was a noticeable absence in the room. They still sat in the spots they’d become so used to sitting in, though the room was far darker than it used to be. They both had their head in their hands when they heard familiar footsteps pad into the room. Avi practically collapsed next to Killian. She wrapped an arm around her friend and pulled him in close. None of them could speak. What could you say?

“I can’t believe it. In his last fucking act he just –“ Avi broke his sentence off and shook his head. He reached into his pocket and fished out his flask, dented but still functional. He held it up in a toasting motion and took a deep drink. Killian grabbed it from him and followed suit before passing it to Carey. Like a ghost, the Director, Lucretia, the woman they all suddenly knew in ways they never expected, appeared at Carey’s side. She wordlessly and unceremoniously sat down, taking the flask.

“How are you all doing?” she asked after a sip of Brandywine.

“Uh, not fucking great.” Avi reached out for the flask with one hand, scrubbing tears away with the other.

“Yeah, Madam Director, it’s been a bit of a day,” Carey said hoarsely before burying her face into Killian’s side.

“Please don’t call me that.”

“Well, how are you doing, Lucretia?” Killian asked after a moment of silence. Lucretia barked out a humorless laugh.

“Shitty.”

 

Carey and Killian’s wedding was a beautiful affair, but it wasn’t without its more somber moments. The two women had an entire row of empty chairs reserved at the ceremony. They said nothing about their purpose but it didn’t take much energy to determine their purpose.

At one point in the evening, the pair found themselves sitting with Avi and Lucretia.

“And here’s the beautiful couple!” Avi said brightly, wrapping the brides in a tight hug.

“The ceremony was beautiful,” Lucretia delivered a hug to the couple once they detangled from Avi.

“It really was, huh?” Carey squeezed Killian’s hand. Killian’s smile was tinged with sadness.

“Hey um. Thank you both for being here. There’s already too many people missing and I don’t know how it would have been without you both.”

“Killian, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Lucretia reached a hand out and squeezed the orc’s arm. Avi looked around and snagged four glasses of champagne off a waiter’s tray. After passing glasses to the three women around him, Avi raised his glass in a toast.

“To Johann and Boyland.”

Carey raised her glass. “To Noelle and Captain Captain Bane.”

Lucretia followed suit. “To Maureen Miller and Magic Brian.”

Killian raised her glass. “Fuck it, to Fisher and Junior.” The four laughed gently before toasting.

Killian was never more grateful for her friends than she was in that moment. So much had been lost in the pursuit of balance, but she was grateful that their memories would remain with her. And she was never so glad to have been finished with a job.

[tlaquetzqui]

Thinking I might change it so prepared casters can do the arcanist thing, where you prep a certain number of spells and then can cast each one as many times as you still have daily spell slots, like a very flexible spontaneous caster. And then I guess give the spontaneous boys the undercasting that only psychic magic can do, in RAW? (With psychic magic, when you learn summon monster III, you automatically forget summon monster I and can take a new 1st-level spell, but can burn a 1st- or 2nd-level daily spell use to cast summon monster I or II.)

Kinda want to give all casters both arcanist style prepared spells and the ability to undercast, and just have the difference between wizard and sorcerer, cleric or druid and oracle, be casting from Int or Wis vs. Cha, and sorcerers not using spellbooks (but, since they’d no longer be spontaneous casters, they prepare spells by sitting around and reminiscing). But I think that’s probably a bridge too far, since the flavor of the classes partly depends on whether they’re prepared or spontaneous. Kinda reverse 4e, which made all mages spontaneous casters.

Seriously though what the hell do spontaneous divine casters like oracles and inquisitors do? Like we get wizard vs. sorcerer, but clerics and druids just…pray. Are oracles, and especially inquisitors who aren’t as spooky, not praying? I dunno maybe they just go into a sibylline trance and their spells are there in their head. Sorcerers are often described as just “knowing” their spells, after all.

[dailycharacteroption]

Base Class Review: Witch part 1

 Intro

 This week marks the end of the base class reviews (Unless I go back and do some pseudo-official ones like the Vampire Hunter from the “World of Vampire Hunter D” supplement and the like), and we’re going out on an interesting one that explores the line between arcane magic as it is traditionally seen and an older, much more primal force.

In the real world, what we think of as witches and witchcraft grew out of the various folk magic and folk medicine of countless different cultures across the globe, some benevolent, others, malevolent, something that has been true in all forms of mysticism and early medicinal knowledge across the world.

However, the term witchcraft, and indeed the idea of witches being servants of evil, really took off with the rise of Christianity and their long-favored method co-opting the benign aspects of a culture or “pagan faiths” like their holidays, while denouncing other aspects of them as consorting with The Devil.

Buuuuuut we’re not here to talk about that.

What is interesting is that when one goes back to the actual etymology of “witch”, it was actually derived from a masculine term, which only further confuses the whole “female witch, male warlock or wizard” thing, especially when witch was used interchangeably for both often anyway.

Suffice to say, the witch in Pathfinder is a gender-neutral appellation, just like the warlock vigilante archetype.

In any case, the witch in Pathfinder is another full arcane caster, much like a wizard, sorcerer, or arcanist. What sets it apart, however, is their connection to a patron entity.

This entity is unlike a deity in that it does not invest the witch directly with power, but rather acts as a tutor for the witch, usually whispering them secrets of magic through the witch’s familiar, granting them access to spells and mystical arts called hexes.

The patron forms an interesting story thread for witches, as most have never met their patron in person, and may not know who or what is providing them their powers. While certainly there may be plenty of evil patrons, which may range from evil fey to fiends and more, there are plenty more that offer magical power for more benevolent reasons. Unless otherwise stated by a GM, these patrons do not ask for payment for their teaching either, rather, the act of teaching the witch benefits them in some way, guiding the witch to certain actions through the nature of the spells they teach, perhaps.

That being said, the witch is still a free-willed being, and since the knowledge persists, they might choose to go against the agenda of their patron in the end, though they may need to seek out a new one at some point.

The witch is very much a class of equal parts heal and harm, given their tendency to draw upon classic witch stories and a general folk magic vibe. As we’ll see through the week, they’re not usually offensive figures, but they can benefit allies both by punishing foes and healing and bolstering those in need. The witch has a lot to offer an adventuring party, and we’ll see exactly how much as the week progresses.

[dragon-grunkle]

star wars and flight rising are in the same universe and here’s why, a ted talk by stanley

in an effort to both 1. talk about my lore more often like i’ve been meaning to and 2. explain what i meant when i went off about it in the tags of my last post, i’m gonna attempt to explain my rationale for deciding star wars and flight rising can totally coexist in the same universe.

there’s a tldr at the very bottom! i do use rebels as a basis for some of this lore, since it basically just confirms concepts i was already thinking of before i even watched the show, but it IS a little spoilery sometimes.

SO. what do we know about sornieth? here’s a summary: it’s the fourth planet from its sun. it has at least one but possibly two or more moons. powerful beings of pure elemental energy sprung up in the early days of the planet’s formation. a darkness from beyond attacks the planet, and the gods build a pillar to keep it out. after this, humanoid races flourish and they learn to combine magic with technology, but eventually someone gets too arrogant and builds a big machine that blows up all of civilization. from this, the arcanist is born. he grows curious and encounters the shade, which breaks the pillar. the other gods see this and decide to go their separate ways. they create dragons.

this new society has reached a point roughly equivalent to the 1920s, and that’s as far as we’ve gotten. that’s it, that’s flight rising. no aliens mentioned, except for the shade (and possibly the forbidden portal enemies if you count those, but that’s for another time).

what about star wars? as we all know, it’s set ‘a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away’. there is a lot of history here that isn’t really relevant, so i’m just going to talk briefly about the layout of the galaxy: it isn’t named, but there are different sections to it that are, and they’re grouped according to how far away a planet is from the center of the galaxy. you have: the core worlds, the inner rim, the mid rim, the outer rim, and wild space. generally, planets are more densely populated towards the center of the galaxy and less as you go out. compare coruscant, a core world entirely covered by a city and inhabited by trillions of people, to tatooine, an outer rim planet that wookieepedia states has 200,000 inhabitants total. 

-----

where does sornieth fit in this map? the answer is simple: wild space. this region lies beyond the outer rim, where not many bother to travel because it’s just not worth it, and it’s where i’ve placed sornieth in this scenario. wookieepedia says:

Unlike other regions of the galaxy, Wild Space existed along the entire circumference of the galactic disk and on the borderlands of the Unknown Regions. It was inhabited by sentient species but not fully charted, explored, and civilized.

star wars: rebels touches on wild space a bit: one of its main characters is a lasat, a species thought to be wiped out by the empire. lasats come from lasan, but they have a legendary ancestral homeworld called lira san. except it turns out that lira san isn’t a myth: it’s real, it’s populated, and it’s in wild space.

the fact that an entire species believed their original homeworld was a myth means we can easily set sornieth there without ever having to worry about political groups such as the republic, the empire, and the rebellion coming across the planet and mucking up our established rule of No Aliens Besides Shade (And Maybe Arcanist). it’s conveniently out of the way AND protects the lore of both continuities very well, ensuring that they don’t interfere with each other by introducing a previously-unheard-of super-powerful flying magical race to the galaxy, or having stormtroopers invade the southern icefields, or something else fucky like that.

------

now that we’ve got location covered, we have to talk about the force, magic, and the gods. i’m gonna get a little handwavey here, but it’s also, i think, the most interesting part of this whole thing, so here we go.

first off, the force. what is it? here’s how obi-wan describes it in a new hope:

It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.

with that description in mind, i want to draw attention to one little throwaway line from the flight rising lorebook chapter 1: the first age: 

From this bedlam, the magical energies themselves began to concentrate and change. Similar particles receded into four great beings, each overwhelmingly dense with a different element. As if eager to proudly display their emergence to some unseen divinity, these beings took on the shapes of great wyrms.

that ‘unseen divinity’? yeah, that’s the force. you could even take the ‘similar particles’ bit to mean midi-chlorians, if you want to acknowledge the prequels’ interpretation of the force.

as we know, some people are stronger with the force than others. these people usually become jedi or sometimes sith, depending on whether they use the light or the dark side. but the jedi and sith aren’t the only force users out there: there are plenty of civilizations who have different names and explanations for it and how it manifests itself varies from person to person. in fact, the lasat people i mentioned earlier recognized the force as something called ‘the ashla’. so different concepts for the force exist across the galaxy, and it’s very possible that what we know as ‘elemental magic’ on sornieth is simply how dragons see different aspects of the force. as if that wasn’t enough, we also know some force users can use the force to manipulate the elements themselves, like how palpatine can use the dark side to create lightning.

so really: i don’t think it’s a stretch to say some intensely powerful creatures born of the universe itself could specialize in a specific aspect of the force and manifest entirely that way.

[billy mays voice] But Wait, There’s More! i’m gonna reference rebels again. yeah, i know. on the planet of atollon lives the bendu, a being of the force who is neither light nor dark. he’s powerful, and at one point, turns himself into a giant storm and strikes down ships with lightning to defend his planet. loth-wolves are a similar concept. they’re animals which are shown to have a deep connection to the force, but only as it relates to the planet they call home, lothal. at one point a character asks if the loth-wolves are on their side and the answer is "they're on lothal's side.” this is how i see the gods as existing in the greater star wars universe: powerful beings intrinsically linked to the planet they originate from. they’re capable of great feats on their own, but can guide others (like humans or dragons) to use the force / magic in their stead.

the gods are real inasmuch as the force is real, and act as extensions of one another. if we wanna go a step further, the deities could all be light-side users and the shade is their dark counterpart, which is a REALLY fun concept to explore.

-----

phew, that’s it. i’ve covered most of it except for how dragons get off sornieth and into the wider galaxy, which is...somewhat less essential than the stuff i talked about above, but i still want to address it, especially since we’ve established they have no outside contact and are limited to 1920s tech. to keep it brief, the easiest answer is...magic.

i don’t want to get tooooo deep into rebels stuff again, but space-time portals do exist in star wars, which is really exciting for me personally, and also a nice setup for dragons to get out into the galaxy - if they have access to them, that is; in rebels they only appear in a jedi temple, but i think it’s possible other access points exist, given that other force-societies also exist. the point is, being handwavey and saying ‘eh, portals’ is a valid excuse that doesn’t totally break either universe because they are canon to both universes. you could also go the route of magic experiments gone wrong, the deities picking off a few special individuals and sending them out, or crazy lighning-arcane tech mergers shooting dragons off into space, never to be heard from again.

there’s any number of possibilities here, ranging from crazy space wizard shenanigans to early spaceflight gone very very wrong.

-----

tldr: sornieth is located in the far reaches of the galaxy, away from major events, and has remained undiscovered. the deities are manifestations of the force channeled through the planet itself; the gods and the force are extensions of one another. sometimes dragons can get off sornieth, but not often, so dragons are rare in the wider galaxy. there is no conflict of lore that says these two things CAN’T exist in the same universe, and in fact, the lore sometimes even supports them coexisting.

or in other words: star wars and flight rising coexist because i want them to, but also because i have legitimate justification for it. i’m too powerful and nobody can stop me from making star wars dragons now.

[potassium-pilot]

Not As A Scion

"Now that the dust has settled, what will you do? Not as a Scion, I mean, but...what do you want for yourself?"

What might have arisen if Thancred only arrived with Alisaie later?

The WoL is a female elezen scholar/arcanist named Dia Sito in this story. This takes place during the 3.4 msq “Promises Kept”, starting with a divergence right after he asks the question above.

Ships: Aymeric/WoL, Alphinaud & WoL, Alisaie & WoL, Scions & WoL, Edmont & Warrior of Light, previous one-sided Haurchefant/WoL

Dia searched through her head for an answer only for her brain to return visions of the past two years. Everything from her arrival in Limsa Lominsa to the very moment she was invited for a drink with the newest Lord Speaker rushed through her third eye like running water. For some reason, looking beyond that felt nigh impossible.

“You ask a very good question, Ser Aymeric- if only I had a very good answer to give you.” He chuckled at her response. “Truly no thoughts to the future?” She shook her head, “The future feels far too ahead of me to really think of it, especially since there’s so many avenues that tend to hit all at once.” He nodded.

“I suppose”, she thought aloud, “I should probably find time in that future to rest, shouldn’t I?” He smiled, “That is customary, yes. Positions like ours, we so rarely are graced with such moments of respite, it’s never a bad idea to plan ahead of time.” She smiled back, “Time is not the issue to plan against; it’s the Scions.” He laughed aloud, “Cunning, are they?” She smiled with her teeth now, “Only the best possible people in Eorzea to ask to ruin my day.” He continued to laugh, giving her a very pleasant feeling of accomplishment.

Dia managed to make him laugh a good portion of her time in the manor. It was quite easy with him. She loved the Scions, of course, as they’re a second family in her mind, but it was harder to truly do anything with them as it was also work, and the Warrior of Light works constantly. She felt the ‘ruin my day’ comment a little harsh, but she also knew perfectly well she cared for them greatly, and they for her. It just felt nice to talk to someone who, especially in this moment, didn’t make her feel like she was working. He gave her a spectacular meal, some of the best drinks in Ishgard, and wonderful conversation. She had never seen such a side to a leader of Eorzea, probably due to his not being a leader of Eorzea just yet.

“What of an apprentice?”

The thought piqued her interest, causing her to raise her eyebrows to him. “If you happen to know another talented warrior blessed with the gift of Hydaelyn, I beg you bring them to the Rising Stones.” He made a noise that she couldn’t truly discern, but sounded uncomfortable, before saying, “Yes, I didn’t think of that, did I…?”

She grimaced, “That came out harsher than I expected. I’m sorry.” He lifted a hand and shook his head, “No apologies necessary. It reminded me of why so much tends to fall to you.” He took a bite of what remained on his plate. She looked to her lap, clad in amethyst due to her napkin.

“It’s not to say we haven’t tried. It’s just very difficult, especially when the needs of Eorzea come so suddenly and so harshly. Even if I were to have found the perfect warrior with the gift and everything, and made them my apprentice, whose to say I’m not dooming them to certain death?” He swallowed his food and replied, “An understandable concern. I would highly doubt they would follow you everywhere you go, but problems seem to escalate quickly for you lot. I would imagine it would take far too long what with the pressing matters that seem to come quickly for you, although we don’t know what that might be at the moment.” She nodded.

They took a moment to continue eating the meal, roast beef with a delicious spread of mushrooms, popotoes, spinach and green onion, and to the side was a soup of her particular liking, a popoto, cheese, and broccoli soup.

“I’m happy to answer your personal question, Ser Aymeric, but may I ask the same of you?” Eyebrows rose on his face. “What do you, not the Lord Speaker of Ishgard, not the Lord Commander, but you, Aymeric de Borel, want outside of the needs of Ishgard?” Did my eyes look like that after he asked that question, she thought to herself. They almost clouded in contemplation. “I’m afraid as you ask a similar question of me, I must give you a similar answer.” She smiled at that, “Ah, a kindred spirit.” She raised her glass and announced a toast, “To not planning anything!”

He grinned and followed suit, his own glass in hand, raised to the sky, “Here, here!” They both took a quick swig of their respective drinks and giggled at their silliness. Once they calmed down, he continued, “I believe my future will involve the state of my house.”

You can read the rest on https://archiveofourown.org/works/32128531/chapters/79597504

[anonymocha]

This may sound a bit cheesy, but, with my abundant amount of r99 ocs, do you think that arcanist-Lamont would interact with them and what would that be like? Like a little oc crossover perhaps?

(I'm just rlly interested in her personality, I feel the sudden urge to get my own little weirdos involved)

I WOULD LOVE THAT…. OC INTERACTIONS ARE ONE OF MY LOVE LANGUAGES…………

I am going to focus on Pristine. I am also interested in Lady Clef and Verdigris interactions but I would like your input for them since they’re more complex (what if we rp them or discuss their interactions hiii bats my eyes at you). Do let me know if I get OOC and feel free to correct me since you’re the creator of Pristine after all! Also here’s Lamont’s doc for a bigger glimpse on their personality since I finished their voicelines.

Let’s go:

Lamont is incredibly perceptive (and obsessive) in treating things deemed ‘unorderly’ as much as they love setting things out of order. They would notice her cracks first thing they laid their eyes on her. They love mending things they didn’t break as much as they love mending the things they broke themselves. So…

Assuming her cracks couldn’t be healed by Lamont’s prayer healing alone, they would be more than happy to treat her with a more hands-on approach. Of course, only if Pristine allows it. Flesh wounds are the main things they typically have to work with when it comes to treating others’ bodies, so Pristine’s cracks are incredibly interesting for them.

But… If she tries to hide her cracks from everyone else, why wouldn’t she hide it from this creepy practitioner? If anything, she will probably try to avoid them. Especially since Lamont is quite infamous in the for breaking stuff on purpose. Yes, they patch those things up later, almost perfectly. But the things they fixed still had to undergo the displeasure of being broken. So yeah. It’s 100% understandable if anyone tries to distance themselves from this little girlfreakthing.

HOWEVER if she does allow them to treat her and they become friends, then they would actually treat her with care. They know they shouldn’t treat others’ bodies the same way they treat inanimate objects. They recognize that her cracks wouldn’t be an easy fix since she’s not just any ceramic vase. They’ll try various ways; From medications usually used to treat flesh — to a more craftsmanlike approach by using glue or spot epoxy. They’ll do whatever it takes until she’s completely spotless. And if the cracks do occur again, they’d gladly keep doing it over, and over, and over again.

They can be quite a talkative person so they may be a yapper to her unprompted throughout the process. A gentle, meticulous, and curious yapper. They would tell her so many things about their time in boarding school, about their patrons, or some random fun fact. And they would also be genuinely be interested in her own origins.

Lamont is quite the jack of all trades — Great with ceramic arts, tailoring, medicine, and countless other skills they picked up due to their obsession with fixing (and breaking) things. They’d go out of their way to help her discover a hobby if she haven’t found any, teaching her stuff and seeing what sticks. They could be a bad influence if they ever teach her any destructive skills, though.

More things I headcanon if they become buddies:

Lamont teaches Pristine how to summon and make connections with various cosmic entities. For fun. It’s basically a way to get more arcane skills with little need of, you know, actually practicing said arcane skill. Lamont would note that Pristine has a lot of potential due to her almost ‘blank slate’ condition. But an entity would struggle to ‘borrow’ a part of her body since she’s likely not of the same material as the entity (flesh). She won’t end up monstrous like Lamont did.

The fixer becomes the fixed. Lamont got hurt somehow and their healing prayer couldn’t help them this time (they may have angered their patron). It’s Pristine’s turn to help Lamont out. She may try the tricks they used on her before, except for the glue one because of course that wouldn’t work on Lamont’s flesh. Lamont wouldn’t guide her and quit yapping for once since they’re really interested in seeing what she’ll do for them. It’s a rare chance for them to experience some mending on themselves by others, or a chance to see how bad Pristine fucks up and tease her about it.

Lamont picks up some of Pristine’s old english talking mannerisms, meanwhile Pristine picks up some of Lamont’s Indonesian greetings (since that is the only Indonesian words Lamont remembers, outside of the curse words).

Toxic yuri (probably in a platonic/familial way since idk if Pristine is an adult or ace or not) situationship where purposefully orchestrate dangerous situations that’ll ensure Pristine cracking just to spend more time with her. OR Pristine herself gets cracks on purpose, knowing that Lamont would not turn down a chance to tinker with her, even if Lamont knows that she did it to herself. Actually, Lamont may actually be happy about that (😭 WHY ARE THEY SO WEIRD).

OK THATS ALL SORRY FOR THE LONG POST I AM A LITTLE UNNORMAL!!!! FEEL FREE TO BE UNNORMAL WITH ME!!!

[lyxine]

Writing down Grim Dawn story headcanons before finishing Ashes of Malmouth or Forgotten Gods, let’s go! These are completely random but yeah.

- Creed sees Ulgrim as more than a brother in arms and really loves him romantically speaking.

- Ulgrim probably spends at least 5 years per century being a professional cook. He just loves cooking that much.

- Ulgrim and Creed are a couple, although Ulgrim is always saddened by the thoughts of Creed eventually growing old and dying, while he’ll keep on living and saving the world.

- Creed will surely become a hero with time, but never become an Ascendant like the Taken.

- Captain Bourbon needs sleep and everyone in Devil’s Crossing tries to get him to go to bed for a healthy amount of time. The kids are probably the best at that.

- The smugglers are all from the same family, and even if not directly blood related, they are family. And probably the ones who step through the rift gates the most since your Taken spends their time hopping between locations on a whim.

- Duncan probably studied under a spellcaster before turning to smithing. He might be able to cast some simple spells, but prefers to just imbue weapons and armors with magic.

- Angrim, after the Taken secures Fort Ikon’s riftgate and deal with the Loghorrean, probably goes to Devil’s Crossing to oversee his student’s progress with the Malleum Menhir.

- Ulgrim and Creed see in the Taken lots of hope for the future, especially since they’re on their way to become an Ascendant. Both kind of see them as their student. Or kid.

- Dreeg is tired of Solael and Bysmiel’s constant arguing even though they ascended long ago.

- Solael kins Dio Brando. Also owns lots of butterfly knives when not using his sacrificial blade.

- The source of their dispute is probably Bysmiel duct-taping Solael to the ceiling after a drunken party that involved human sacrifices (it's canon, Solael's worshippers practice this)

- The worshippers saw Solael like this and he blames Bysmiel for tarnishing his reputation and slowing his Ascension.

- The Taken has a hoarding problem.

- The Taken, regardless of their class, holds their liquor pretty well. Especially the spellcasters because they’re chugging elixirs of spirit like there’s no tomorrow.

- Anasteria deeply respects the Taken (if they didn’t kill her) and instinctively smells the ascendant energy around them. She knows they’re growing stronger each time they come back to see her.

- Lindt Klost, my Druid Taken (shaman + arcanist) rides her Briarthorn in battle.

- Plans to face Mogdrogen’s avatar just to test her strength one day.

- Also plans to kick the aetherials back to their plane of existence if they refuse to behave. Same for Chtonians.

- Loves her Razorleaf Glaive. Yeets herself into hordes of enemies and just zaps them. Ruthless with enemies, very caring with the various survivors.

- Eats things raw and Ulgrim just wants to make her a bit more civilized. Were they in a Modern AU, Lindt would run on instant ramen, raw meat and ham.

- Lindt kicks doors on a daily basis.

[chysgoda]

14-16!

So I’m not sure why I read this as 12-16 but I did.

12) Which of your character’s allies do they get along with best? Which do they have the most difficulty with?

Art: Despite their relationship ending Yugiri remains one of Art’s best friends and allies. X’rhun Tia has also walked the road from mentor to friend to lover (as of the end of 5.1). Art’imis would trust both of them with the lives she holds most dear.

Art’imis’s opinion on G’raha Tia ranges from indifference to active distaste depending on when you ask her.

Bel: Estinien is Bel’s favorite uncle and she is his source for Ishgardian gossip. Bel has an emergency linkshell she can contact Estinien with. Aymeric is the only person who knows of its existence and has been directly told no when a situation did not meet the parameters that Bel and her uncle had agreed constituted an emergency.

Bianca Pelinore had been both her best friend and sister since first seeking refuge in Ishgard with her foster mom. The pair trained together and earned their drachenmail together. Within the temple knights and knights dragoon they’re referred to as the twins, which is very confusing for outsiders when the twins turn out to be a Miqo’te and an Elezan. While Bianca has developed quite a bit of wanderlust as they’ve gotten older they are still very close.

Bel has not been able to trust Ken-E-Senna since the Bloody Banquet. Now as a young woman who has been on the front lines of battle and an aide to the Lord Speaker of Ishgard’s parliament she understands that the situation was not nessecarily simple for the other alliance leaders. This doesn’t make it any easier to let go of the memory of a ten year old girl watching a woman she idolized walking away when her mother and the scions needed the Elder Seedseer the most.

13) Does your character have any pets?

Art: I usually have the baby Opo-Opo out when I’m playing the game but I’ve never found a smooth way to integrate that into Art’s story. She co-owns a champion chocobo stud with Thancred, does that count?

Bel: No

14) How does your character interact with working animals— chocobos, other mounts, etc?

Art: Art works very well with working animals, especially those for riding. She had a brief stint as a chocobo jockey but was banned after it was decided that the Echo constituted an unfair advantage.

Bel: Learned a lot about Chocobos for her mother, Haurchefant, and Artoirel and does very well with them. She’s more nervous with other types of working animals though.

15) What is the most important item in your character’s possession?

Art: this is a three way tie.

Her sketchbook/travel watercolors is one of the few things she has complete control over sharing and not sharing. As such she’s very guarded about who gets to see it when. Currently Alphinaud and Bel are the only people allowed to just pick up the sketchbook and look through it.

Her broad sword was a gift from “Doma” that Yugiri dictated the design of. The hilt has very distinct Doman styling and engrave in the Fuller near the hilt is the Hinigashi for “What I have I keep”

A vambrace enchanted to produce an aetheric shield that Edmont commissioned for her while she was recovering from the fight with Zelibibus. Elidibus’s final blow cut through the Fortemps shield Art used and into her arm, causing enough damage that she now only has a fraction of her former grip strength. When Edmont gave it to her he said that he hoped this shield would match her strength of will in a way mere metal could not.

Bel: Popo the Lucky is a small stuffed chocobo that is currently enjoying retirement in a place of honor (Bel’s bedside table) in Fortemps manor. Popo the Lucky has survived Bel’s birth family being taken captive by tempered amal’ja, the raid on the waking sands, the bloody banquet, and the Dragonsong war. When she was young Bel snuck Popo the Lucky into Art’imis’s pack a few times reasoning that Popo’s luck would make sure her foster mom came home. She somehow managed to sneak Popo the Lucky into Estinien’s pack before the great dravinian road trip.

16) What does your character do for fun or during downtime? Do they have hobbies or side projects?

Art: sketches and paints in the aforementioned sketchbook. She also still occasionally makes guest appearances on the blood sands and helps Mylla train the baby gladiators. She’ll also drag Thancred to the occasional Chocobo race and still dabbles in the culinary arts after a failed attempt to give up adventuring by becoming a cook.

Bel: Bel can play the lute, violin, and flute but she rarely shares this talent widely. Since her injury at ghmlyt dark she made Unukalhai teach her everything he knows about aetherology and has been starting to pick up the skills of an Arcanist as her ability to return to knights dragoon after her injury is in question.

[callsignbaphomet]

14, 15, 17, 25, 32, 36, and 46! Caveat is 25 has to be answered by at least the big three, J, A, and L! Otherwise go w/whoever uwu

Lol so you know what? Let's just triple it up for all Qs because why not.

14. Do they look up to anyone?

Loke: His mom. She's always been there for as far back as he can remember. She taught him a lot of what she knew about healing, her fighting style which when mixed in with his dad's made him a threat. She also managed to teach him an arcane attack her tribe uses which was a huge deal since regular berserkers can't use magic. He always hung around her and kind of hero worshipped her as one of the most wisest women and fiercest warriors. He learned everything she taught him and he even became the field medic because of her.

He always thought of her as a mother even before Sanaa and Ingvarr married and she was okay with it so when they DID marry he was ecstatic.

Jelani: His mom and grandpa Haakon. His mom taught him everything she taught Loke. Everyone was sure he was an arcane berserker just like her so she taught him magic as well but like Loke it never really stuck. The bit he learned he did on his own and it wasn't anything he'd been taught but he modified it to mimic his mom's lessons as best he could. She naturally taught him of her people and culture and he was always stunned at her accomplishments and was a positive influence in his life. Unbeknownst to him his parents but especially his mother helped in making him more "human" if that makes especially during his teens when his previous self was kinda threatening to emerge.

His grandpa was a huge influence on him and emotional support. Thing is Haakon always had a suspicion that he was something entirely else but Jela did as well difference is that Jela felt really alienated because of it and was often afraid of that but Haakon always made sure to make him feel better about his differences and would often sooth his feelings of alienation. He was also an extremely accepting and open minded person and he learned a lot of compassion from him.

Angelus: Ever since he was in his grandpa's custody he was surrounded by people who influenced him and shaped him into the man he currently is. So he has a lot of people he looks up to. Trevor introduced him to a woman he looked up to (so much so that he took her surname). Ravencroft was a werewolf and the first exposure Angelus had to the arcane. Because of her he became intrested in magic and decided to learn it. She showed him all that was possible within the arcane and pointed him in the right direction to get started and ever since then he's continued.

Between Jelani, Loke and Trevor he learned to write, read and speak (as in forming coherent sentences) and he learned confidence from them.

Aleksey taught him everything from his family history, got him the help he needed and taught him all there is to know about werewolves and what it meant to be one. He also taught him to read, write and speak Sumerian and Russian.

15. Who is their best friend?

Loke: Okay, so like, Jelani is his best friend. Those two are like THE definition of unconditional love.

However, Abigail is also his best friend. They really got to know each other when she was his spotter for a wet works and from then on it's like thick as thieves. They've even been mistaken for a couple but it's because of how they talk to each other and behave with each other. Abby has no closely related living relatives so on her wedding he walked her down the aisle.

Really close to a best friend is Trevor. First person he ran up to when he found out he was gonna be a dad was Lo. I've never mentioned them being best friends because they've never given it much thought. When they first met Trevor didn't trust him but it wasn't personal. Then he found out that Jelani, who he was hanging out with a lot, was Lo's younger brother and when he saw how they were with each other he liked Lo even less but this was because how they treated each other reminded him of him and his younger brother who'd died of pneumonia. Lo found out Trev was uncomfortable around him so he gave him the space he needed until one day they just started talking and got along pretty well. As the years went by they just kind of hung out a lot. And then a lot of years later they fucked for a while and then just stayed really good occasionally fuck buddies especially after Jelani and Angelus became boyfriends.

Jelani: Let's get the obvious answer outta the way first. It's Loke. Those two would die for each other and on several occasions have actually almost died protecting each other. They're never far apart for long, neither of them like it.

There's also Trevor who's been a really good friend ever since they met. At one point Trev became the third one in the group and the three of them were inseparable.

And many, many, years later Jelani and Trevor fucked for a while. I like to think their friendship is really solid. Was a little rocky after Jela was crushing on borderline in love with him but things went back to normal after Jela got over it.

Angelus: Well, first and foremost it's Ginger. They liked each other the second they met but as soon as each they found out that they were both arcanists it was like heart eyes motherfucker! Like Loke and Abigail they're a power duo in the field and anything one doesn't know about anything arcane the other will know. Basically Ginger is his bff.

Close but also the big brother he never had is Trevor. He thinks of Loke the same but more so Trevor. At one point after he was in his grandfather's custody and was recovering physically and mentally he went silent. Didn't want to talk at all to anyone, not even Jelani. It wasn't out of anger he just couldn't bring himself to talk. Trevor had experience with this because his little brother was mute. Also tbh Trevor really felt for 'im. Jelani told Trev and Lo how he'd found him and then later the three of them found out what had happened to him during all those years. During that time he wasn't talking Trevor managed to communicate with him and after he gained enough confidence to speak he was usually seen talking to Trevor a lot. He absolutely loves Trevor and will fuck you up if you even breathe wrong in his direction.

And of course there's his husband who he considers his best friend and safest person to be around in the world. J's pretty much been his first everything. Well, except for boyfriend that was someone else. He was in love with him but kept it a secret and took every chance he could to be with or near him until muuuuuuuuuuuuuuch later he accidentally revealed it. The rest is history.

Lol Trevor might be friend shaped.

17. Who is the person they hate most in the world?

Loke: Man who killed his grandpa and the man who killed his fiancé.

Jelani: Man who killed his grandpa. I'd say he hates that man more than even his peers from his "previous" life that betrayed him.

Angelus: His abusers for obvious reasons but at the same time he doesn't hate them. He hates everything he had to endure but at the same time he was conditioned to believe he deserved it and even in modern times he still kinda thinks the same way so in a way he feels like any hatred he feels towards them isn't justifiable. These mixed feelings also extend towards his grandmother and one of his uncles. Both were the worst of the bunch with his grandmother allowing all the torture and knowing about the raping done by his own uncle but not caring. Then her emotionally and mentally abusing him.

To say he got some sense of relief after he got some payback on his uncle is an understatement.

He kinda hates his father as well. If it hadn't been for his dad selling him to his grandmother to leave his dad and mom alone none of the abuse and attempted murder woulda taken place.

25. How do they handle being complimented?

Loke: He likes to follow up a compliment with another. If you compliment him he'll cheerily compliment you back.

Jelani: For someone who's always confident and sure of himself on the surface every time he gets complimented by someone he gets easily flustered and he immediately smiles and does this thing where he kinda bites one of the corners of his lower lip.

Angelus: Setting aside all the obvious things like being shy and insecure he kinda doesn't know how to react to compliments. His default is to lower his eyes and says a simple thanks but then he worries if he sounds like he wasn't enthusiastic enough or if he says more than thanks he worries it sounds disingenuous. Even in his better more confident days he'll still give a simple thanks but his tone will be louder and may add more to it.

32. If they could change one thing, what would it be?

Loke: Kind of a tie between not having asthma or hemophilia. Both are his biggest worries.

Jelani: Oh boy there is a ton he would change. But the one thing that he would change if he could would be to be a berserker like the rest of his family. Yes, even after finding out what he is. Hell, especially after what he is and how he was back then. He wants nothing to do with that part not with everything that went on, with those who betrayed him and those he hurt.

"He's a Maker. Why doesn't he just do it?"

Can't. Deities are deities whether they like it or not. They can live as anything else and mimic that species as best they can but they'll always be deities. The most they do is forfeit their duties and exile themselves or literally just walk away from it all and come back when they so choose. Those are his only two choices.

Angelus: What doesn't he wanna change? But for the sake of sticking to just one it would definitely be to have no mental illnesses whatsoever. He haaaaaaaaaaates the fact that he was the victim of years of every abuse you can think of and he's left scarred, knee deep in therapies and medications meanwhile his abusers are living good normal lives as if they didn't fuck up a child just because he's a Crossed Breed and not an Outsider.

36. Do they believe in destiny?

Loke: Tbh he kinda doesn't really care much about destiny or has even thought much about it. He just takes things as they come.

Jelani: No. Glossing over the irony of this answer he just doesn't believe destiny somehow controls your outcome. It's you who controls that.

Angelus: He's not a believer in it but he doesn't deny it either.

46. Are they a fast learner?

Loke: I think he's more average in terms of learning things he isn't too interested in or knows much about. He is definitely more practice than theory oriented tho.

Jelani: Yes. A very fast learner. Theory or practice it doesn't matter. He catches on fast and learns fast.

Angelus: Also kinda average but he needs both theory and practice and examples help a lot.

[arkt-nehrim-archive]

Feelings about Kim dearest? :D

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaauuuugghhhhh  I can’t! Too Soon!  

I’m kidding, let’s do this.  

I love Kim.  I think Kim is a precious cinnamon roll too perfect, too pure for the likes of us.  That said, I blaspheme in the slightest sense that I did not gel with him (i’ll be referring to Kim as a he in this purely because that’s the Kim I got) in the way that was likely intended for the story.  -That’s- because I went into Nehrim with a pre-established idea of my PC’s backstory before realizing “-Oh-, my backstory was decided for me just like Enderal? -Shit!-” and had to make some edits on both sides of things.  Not having the “nameless nobody orphan” backstory probably screwed with the intended immediate wanting to saddle up to Kim because relatable person who saved us after we saved him. 

Still, Kim is a darling and a stark example of how one can get swept up in and used by a cause if they’re not careful. -This- is a stretch, but he’s even a solid example of how organizations prey on the young and disenfranchised to radicalize them (not saying Kim was radicalized no no). 

I think Kim is beautifully flawed in the sense that he latched onto -us- super hard because we saved him, and in the end, the only reason he stuck around was less for the Order and more because he loved us dearly and in a world where his family has been gone for years (and was blatantly abusive) and he’s been a slave since then, so we are like, his only- apart from the Order itself which I imagine became a surrogate in -some- sense before he came to his senses and realizes -oho no this is not what I wanna do with my existence-.  He is understandably timid and anxious, my heart hurt when he triple-backed super hard after standing up for himself and us like someone with his traumas/issues realistically would, yet regardless of this nature he exhibits with people, he is still -so- brave and so strong; -genuinely- talented as an arcanist, like omg fam you can handle Restoration magic, not just -anybody- does that as easy as you make it look- that’s not EVEN bringing up the fact he chased on Arkt’s tail toward the end of the game; -that’s- impressive, especially considering how spooked he was of him when first encountering our angelic hype man and said angelic hype man employs teleports seemingly without runes/root destinations, so I would -assume- even harder to track.  Kim is just, the best lil’ Aeterna that could who is a precious soft boi as much as he is a deadly killing machine not to be crossed, he’s -great-. I love him. 

Even if my PC for Nehrim wasn’t -super- into Kim and even rejected his advances (kiiiind of, it’s complicated, she’s Qyran), she still forged a strong bond with him and absolutely regretted what ended up happening. Outside of her Aeterna caravan back home, she’s not really had genuine bonds with anybody and Kim’s unconditional adoration and care for her left its mark. 

Overall I think the whole romance thing with Kim could’ve been done better than just, binary “Yes/No” options, but I also understand tech and experience were not as far as what we got in Enderal. I mean it was 2010, romances in games weren’t -great- across the -board-. I WILL however, live vicariously through everybody’s fics.