#essektheylyss

[utilitycaster]

Unpopular opinion: the tower conversation between Caleb and Essek was a define-the-relationship conversation on a 20+ intelligence level and with the context that defining a relationship does not inherently mean "we have decided whether or not we are dating from this point onward with the only options being a static yes or no," and if more of the fandom read it that way, there would be significantly less equivocating over their relationship and how often Essek is mentioned in regards to existing and potential post-canon content

This is very funny to me bc if you were not off anon I'd be like "man what does Megs say about it, she'd know more!" Anyway, after this one I'll be taking a break bc I do need to do a bit of D&D prep and this is going to be a slightly long one. To that point, it's below the cut.

Anyway, thank you, because I very much enjoy Shadowgast but I don't know if I've made as much of a study of it as others have, or as I have for other ships, but this led me to rewatch/reread the transcript for this speech (2x133, btw, starting around 3:26:00 for those wondering) and: yes.

I think this is definitely the 20+ INT level version; it is entirely about theory, and the arcane, and everything is subtext. But it's not unprecedented. If I were to do the mathematical thing, and I will, and reduce it to a problem I already know, this is akin to Fjord and Jester's conversation in episode 2x72. Compare:

LAURA: Would you do anything to get them back?

TRAVIS: No. No, but, I feel like I knew what I was doing, and I realized I have no idea.

to

MATT: "You spoke once of intent, lot of fortunes have changed since. What is your goal? Ultimately?"

LIAM: I think my priorities have mostly shifted since we last spoke about things like this. I think what's going on right now is more important than my petty, earthly grievances. Still very much fascinated with and attracted to ability and skill. And it's not fashionable to say, but to power. Who doesn't feel the tug of such a thing? But, uh-- yeah, I said it knowing what your reaction was going to be. I see you outside. (laughs) But it doesn't matter. There are bigger things than you and I.

MATT: "I think that's the key. The pursuit of magic, in the ways that we know it, in the ways that we've been disparately, but in some ways similarly raised and studied. At a certain point, it becomes about the self. It becomes about what I can do. And it's impressive that you've deviated at your skill level. I just hope it holds."

LIAM: That's the key, isn't it? Because if you were to put the very thing that I have wondered about for so many years in front of me, I'm really not sure what my reaction would be.

It is, as you say, a definition of the relationship. It's not "we are now dating;" it's them figuring out if they want similar things; if they will be not just compatible but good for each other. It's foundation laying and setting boundaries for something that won't come to fruition for some time yet, but it's undeniably something more serious than mere friendship.

I think the tower conversation is also uniquely important because it's Caleb's first romantic overture after meeting with Trent. He volunteers the information about his past not just willingly, but specifically in order to connect with Essek rather than to protect him or push him away. They are even able to laugh about it together, and that's really it. This is the point where romance becomes an option.

There's more - I think that Essek admiring Caleb's ability to set aside himself despite his rapid progression as a wizard is absolutely a flirtation, as is Caleb saying he's attracted to "ability and skill" - but really in the end it's them saying "this is my condition, and you have met it." I think the relationships that lack some kind of condition and stakes like this - and to be clear, it's okay if, as with several relationships I don't cover here, those stakes and boundaries are set not through a clear conversation that serves as a turning point but rather more implicitly/through actions - end up feeling fundamentally empty and lacking in possibility because there isn't that tension and that recognition of each other.

[revvethasmythh]

trick or treat! 🦇

okay I THINK I've shared this particular excerpt once before but it's both relevant and makes me laugh so *captain holt voice* you'll read it again!

“What really happened?” Luc asked, blurting the words out so quickly it took her a moment to register what he’d said.  She blinked. “What? What really happened when?” He hesitated. It was never a good sign when he hesitated. Usually he just said whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. “That time,” he said, nervously plucking at his pant leg, “when you were gone. What really happened? Dad never told me. And I…I guess I never had the nerve to ask you before. Because you were gone, Mom. For, like, a while. And I remember being with Edith? I think? Because Dad was gone, too, and-and, yeah. That sucked. But you guys have never…you’ve never told me what was actually going on. And Caleb always speaks in these long-winded Zemnian riddles. I think he does it to throw me off so I won’t ask him about it any more.” “You’ve asked Caleb about this?” Veth asked with a jolt. “Well, yeah,” Luc said, like this was an obvious conclusion. “At least he says more than Caduceus does. All Cad’s ever said was ‘It was a lot.’”

[justalittlebluetiefling]

I was laughing about reading your indignation over genres being too subjective when it comes to bookstore categorization because it made me realize I definitely unconsciously view my genre sorting as a Formal Complaint and Correction to the fools in the publishing industry who dictate (wrongly) how their publications are indexed

but also my categorization is more of vibes that all blend into each other, which imo is how genre SHOULD be 😤

The last 24 hours have been so eye-opening for me because I didn't even realize that I had such strong opinions about genres.

Really, if I branched out genre-wise, I would probably do something similar to what you do which is putting them in their Correct™ genres. I could make cute signs for my bookshelves to indicate genre and everything. However, it would look pretty sad to have my 2 biographies and 3 horror novels in their own sections lmao.

[kmackatie]

🌹!

thanks, friend

It paled to the vision of Essek whole, though he was unsure if he was hale.

(send me a 🌹 for a sentence from a wip)

[mollymauktealeef]

WIP Title Ask Game

the rules are: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it. And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

tagged by the ever amazing @spottedenchants

the edge of the blade

42

whistle sweetly

a christmas detour

dune au

romancing the stone au

the aftermath

evil au

wall-e au

zombae

i have too many wip's, 21 at the last count so here is a small sample for your enjoyment

tag you're it:

@andrewserkis @callingvoicemail @essektheylyss @foxqueen-katarian @mllekurtz @thechekhov and anybody else who would like (tired not to double tag anybody but thy brain is fuzzy from being ill so sorry)

[letsoulswander]

writer asks: 15, 17, and 30!

(from asks here)

15: What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

Probably all of them! I'm working on some Mission: Impossible fanfiction, as well as some fanfiction for The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. I'm resisting the urge to write anything for Bedlam Stacks, because I know if I go too deep into this rabbit hole I'll never get out. I also started a fic for Unnatural Magic, but I think I need to reread choice parts of it to get the tone right.

My saddest WIP is the one where I put the Magnus Archives characters into Severence, because both of these are workplace horror/thrillers, but this way all the same characters can't even take it home with them. :) Dunno when I'll ever finish that one tho.

17: Your favorite character to write this year?

This year has been so long and has included so little writing that it's hard to say. For the sake of "what can I remember writing recently", Benji Dunn! I think he's chilling in Rogue Nation (yknow, in that climax scene) and that kinda life will Fuck You Up if you're not careful. And he's not. :)

30: Biggest surprise while writing this year?

I remembered that I actually like writing because I'm sharing it with someone. When I'm writing in a void, it's hard to get the words on the page, but I've even made multiple drafts recently because I want to get the thing right, dammit. I hope it comes out right. I wanna make my friends cry.

[captainofthetidesbreath]

here's how a cleric/wizard multiclass in Campaign 3 can still win

[essektheylyss]

Also I did forget that Calamity wrap up was tonight but I stopped at the campus bookstore on my way home and picked up a few books off the bargain shelf, and... man, really living up to my blog title with this combo

[geneticdriftwood]

thinking about divine soul sorcerer of the luxon essek. something about how divine soul sorcerers occupy a strange place between power granted by the divine and arcane power drawn directly from some wellspring. and the luxon's odd place in between a traditional god and a raw force of nature. and dunamancy’s place as a school of arcane magic but one deeply tied to the luxon religion. also favored by the gods lets you manipulate fate in a very dunamancy way. 

[bloopitynoot]

3 Shadowgast fics that made me ugly cry

Okay so I read a LOT of shadowgast fanfics and I wanted to share some of the ones that made me absolutely weep. (I was going to wait until tomorrow but I got too excited to share).

All of these have some intense emotional distress, but I promise you all they may be angsty but they absolutely have happy endings.

They are all set in very different AU's, are hefty completed fics, and have similar feels!

1. the breathe before the phrase

(171513 words) by @kmackatie Chapters: 20/20 Rating: Explicit Summary: The ringing note of a concert A is played by the oboe, echoing on its own in the space. It’s picked up by the wind section, followed rapidly by the brass, and the familiar feeling of an orchestra calibrating takes over Caleb. The tonal adjustments as each person brings their instrument into alignment sinks into him and something inside Caleb shifts in recognition as Essek leads the strings into their own tuning. It’s like something is waking up, like something unfurling and firing across long-unused paths of memory. His hands shake slightly, as he raises his bow and joins them, fingers fumbling against the pegs and fine tuners that give him control over his instrument. ---- Essek Thelyss is a leading violinist, his spot as Shadowhand of the Rosohna Philharmonic Orchestra has been uncontested for over a decade. Caleb Widogast is a recent arrival to the city, convinced by his friends to audition for one of the vacant violinist positions. After starting off on the wrong foot, Caleb and Essek get to slowly know each other, discover what brings them joy, create while defying expectations, and find out that what they can produce together may just be better than anything they can do separately.

Why I cried: The amount of pressure put on Essek made my heart absolutely shatter. That plus the pinning between Caleb and Essek had me weeping. The hurt/comfort energy. The bad parent Dierta and of course past Caleb Ickythong trauma healing. Other than the story itself Katie has put so much energy into explaining the music, the playlist is stunning, and the inspiration for the played pieces in the fic are grounded in actual compositions. No spoilers, but the ending is gorgeous <3

2.Till Human Voices Wake us

(66080 words) by @ariadne-mouse Chapters: 23/23 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Merman!Caleb, no Mighty Nein but otherwise canon setting/events, Neutral evil Essek, Essek-typical anxiety and fatalism, Loneliness, Hurt/Comfort, spooky gothic vibes, some horror and disturbing imagery, the ocean as a threat/love language, Illustrations, drowning themes Summary: Essek Thelyss, lonely and ambitious prodigy, comes to Nicodranas to make a risky gamble with the Assembly. At the water’s edge, he finds himself swept up in another dangerous entanglement he can't seem to escape — and as time goes on, he's less and less sure he wants to. Will his treasonous alliance or the sea itself devour him first? (Or, the one where Caleb is a merman.)

Why I cried: okay so look, this story was so fucking sad I can't even begin to describe it. The love and longing between the two, the tragic backstory for Caleb. Treason = death for Essek (it's a happy ending though so do not worry, but I definitely worried so you don't have to LOL). It also has some stunning art in it!!!

3. what luminous worlds await

what luminous worlds await (178674 words) by @essektheylyss Rating: Mature Additional Tags: Champion of the Luxon AU, Alternate Universe - Future, Space Opera, Religious Conflict, religious trauma, Violence, Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Dreams vs. Reality, Demisexual Essek Thelyss, Past Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Angst, Fictional Religion & Theology, Implied/Referenced Sex, Mention of Using Sex as Self-Harm, several immortals grapple with loss while trying to save the world, so so many liberties taken with consecution, this wouldn't be a problem if you'd EXPLAIN matthew mercer, and/or if a certain drow would give literally any straight answers, (I mean he can't give straight answers when he's not straight), Background Fjorester (Past), Post-Canon, …very post-canon Summary: “You seek my nature. It is a lonely endeavor. Would you like to join me on this path?” “Yes.” — After a thousand years, a divine champion awakes in a lightless cave above Port Damali with little memory to speak of and a beacon in his hands. Even as he struggles to piece the past together and process what he has lost while he slept, the future demands he answer for the crimes of his elders. It offers little in return, but perhaps there are fragments of possibility awaiting him.

Why I cried: Omg oh boy, this one made me BIG cry- honestly one of my favourite fics I have read so far. A true space opera, a story of love, in many forms, over time, space, and multiple lives. I sobbed from chapter one literally until the end. Though I think you will need an A03 account to read this one, but it is worth the wait to set one up. My partner watched me cry so much while I read this. I totally did download and save this fic to send to pals so they can cry with me. It is worth the agony for this happy ending. I might still be crying LOL

[aeor-is-for-reccing]

EPISTOLARY: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have fics that feature an epistolary format! Check under the cut for 9 fics that are told through the format of letters, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

you're the one to change your story by idontreallylikebutterflies (4009, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek sends a letter apologising the Mighty Nein. He and Caleb start exchanging letters.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Another Time, Another Place by Operafloozy (9780, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek Thelyss figured out a way to travel through time and bend reality to his will. Bren Ermendrud, Volstrucker for the Dwendalian Empire, acquired the Shadowhand’s notes, and led history in a different direction.

Reccer says: A very fun read, a lot of really good world building!

To Have Owned the Sun by Dragonslaeyr (59213, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb Widogast goes to Rumblecusp to finally meet Essek Thelyss, who has been his correspondent for years. There's only one problem: no one on the island has heard of Essek.

Reccer says: It's an extremely atmospheric mystery with a wonderful supporting cast - the snippets of correspondence only make it better.

gods upturning inkpots by essektheylyss (divinationwizard) (6833, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek start exchanging letters, without acknowledging them out loud.

Reccer says: The PINING in these wizards, from small notes in Aeor to full blown (love) letters at Caleb’s home, still never talking of it. And Beau was amazing at the end

The Care and Keeping of a Human Lover by Essek Thelyss by measuringtheabyss (2159, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death

Essek discusses the best practices, difficult moments, and interesting hurdles involved in dating someone of a shorter lifespan, using his personal experience with his anonymous human lover, "Caleb".

Reccer says: This will make you cry (positive)

Love Letters to Toss Into the Fire by Anonymous (59420, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek and Caleb exchange letters over a longer period of time and try to figure out what they are to each other.

Reccer says: It's so creative! It's such a interesting take how Essek and Caleb write letter with the help of magic.

As per my last email by LivThael (11651, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek Thelyss is an asshole with a questionable taste in spreadsheets. Caleb Widogast has more important and certainly more interesting things to do than filing travel expense claims. A series of mails turns into a escalating meeting.

Reccer says: I liked it!

A tale as old as time: A historical analysis of Jester Lavorre’s romance novel ‘Delights and Delusions’ by LivThael (17063, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes, Arranged marriage

An appendix of a research paper with love letters between Essek and Caleb.

Reccer says: I love these types of experimental fics and the author has done an amazing job! With academics looking at the past and seeing glimpses of Essek and Caleb’s lives, the gossipy newspapers and the implied story between the letters

As per my last email by LivThael (11651, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek Thelyss is an asshole with a questionable taste in spreadsheets. Caleb Widogast has more important and certainly more interesting things to do than filing travel expense claims. A series of mails turns into a escalating meeting.

Reccer says: I liked it!

The following fic received three recs!

the hole in the stone by MinnesotaBruja (13243, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Pet Death

Shortly post-Cognouza, Essek takes a position as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island north of Eiselcross. These are his letters to Caleb.

Reccer 1 says: I liked it! Reccer 2 says: A absolutely lovely use of the medium. It's fascinating learning the world through Essek's eyes using only what he would willingly admit to Caleb Reccer 3 says: Incredibly moving, this fic changed me

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with Series!

[utilitycaster]

it is entirely possible and probably likely that there is no real mighty nein massachusetts au and the caduceus cranberry bog remark was purely a joke, but I absolutely MUST ask about it on the off chance there is more to this concept

There will never be a coherent fic not in the least because I have not actually lived in New England for a decade, but:

Beau is from a wealthy suburb of Boston (in my heart I want her to be from Brookline but the vibe is further out, like Newton or something). Veth is from a not wealthy suburb of Boston, further out than Beau. I was going to say Caleb dropped out of Harvard but actually given his age at the time it should probably be some kind of Frankenstein of Boston Latin with Philips or Groton.

Caduceus is in fact from an ancient line of cranberry farmers in western Mass.

I feel like everything east of the Ashkeeper Peaks should just be like. New Hampshire and Maine, which sort of undercuts the grandeur of the Kryn Dynasty, but I'm really struggling to place Yasha and Essek in Massachusetts.

Actually for peak hilarity Essek should be from Montreal in this analogy which puts Yasha in rural Vermont or New Hampshire.

Technically I think this means Beau dropped out of College of the Holy Cross.

Obviously both Fjord and Jester are from the Cape; she is wealthy old money whose mother decided to live in the summer house all year long. He is a working class townie who is faking the accent and his native accent is just generic non-regional US. Uko'toa is real and I saw him in the Boston Harbor on a field trip in fourth grade. Veth still ends the campaign running a summer camp.

Every joke I had about Molly's death I have rejected for not being nearly funny enough to offset the incredibly poor taste it is in but most involved the violent and unhinged avian wildlife along the Freedom Trail.

Caleb crashing through the window with Cat's Claw but it's the Citgo sign

I was going to also joke that Teleport lets you summon the T after midnight but apparently it runs until 1 and possibly 1:30 now so fuck me I guess.

[revvethasmythh]

"laugh" for the wip game!

Context: you are Caleb Widogast and you have never had a non-awkward interaction with Yeza in your entire life (also you are giving him a book for Luc)

“Ja, one I am familiar with from my childhood. The stories are not so grim as most Zemnian fare, though,” he laughed, a couple short, awkward “ha’s” that made Veth wince.

[hydraxx]

An excerpt from Dunamantic Transmutation and Transmutative Dunamancy: A Cross-Disciplinary Chronicle (Iothe Bramblebrush, 955 PD), made available to affiliates of the Wynandir Society for Transmutative Studies as part of marketing materials for Coastal Academic Presses.

here we are, the most questionable use of my academic training to date, the wizard historiography fic! this is going to appeal to approximately two people and that's an optimistic estimate. it's a shameless indulgence of my own love for worldbuilding. it's also a gift to myself for submitting my final phd dissertation today.

shoutout to @essektheylyss for posting about "joan in the garden" that one time and absolutely jumpstarting my brain for this madness, the concept of which i've been sitting on since at least last august.

shoutout also to the incredible folks at @encyclopediacr for enabling me to do unnecessarily detailed research! you are legitimately more thorough than some of my real academic sources.

speaking of sources, i do have a half-completed bibliography for this "chapter," so let me know if i should finish and post that...

[kmackatie]

sand spirit and fall for the elemental asks!

thanks friend!

(ask me an elemental writer ask)

Sand: What’s the softest scene you’ve ever written?

Oh boy, I write a lot of soft scenes, narrowing it down to one is going to be incredible challenging. I am quite partial to the bath+hair braiding scene in chapter fourteen of the breath before the phrase, just for the indulgent moment it is. Similar, this tumblr ficlet I wrote based on some art also falls into the definition. A different vibe, but still soft, is this fic written for Christmas last year. That's probably a good sample.

Spirit: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received on your writing?

Oh gosh, I adore the ones where it's just yelling, that knowledge that I inspired someone to a reaction is priceless. A more specific time is any comment I get about a reread -- the fact someone liked it enough to read twice and tell me both times.

Fall: Have you ever completely abandoned a WIP?  What led to that decision.

Yes, I have. In this case, it's the follow-up oneshot I wanted to do for like coloured indigo. I may yet clean up the scenes I do have and just post them, but the full fic as I envisioned it just won't happen any more. I still love the story I wanted to tell, but my writing focus has changed and there are other ideas that I'm actively working on and excited to share.

[shrugsinchinese]

heir to the devil’s fortune by @essektheylyss

I’m actually obsessed with this fic, very glad that I finally got around to drawing fanart for it