#factory gate woods

[itstimeforstarwars]

I think my dream job would be buying fabric and sewing supplies for a small business or like a quilt charity I love buying fabric and notions so so much but the older I get the less I care to do like. Any sewing.

[velvetinks]

Takes One to Know One

Joel Miller x Jackson! Reader

Warnings: Enemies to lovers, dom!Joel, dirty talk, vaginal sex, unprotected sex (in fiction), rough but emotional sex, wall sex, possessiveness, reader and Joel both emotionally repressed and horny, homophobia (called out), protective Joel, minor angst, language.

You and Joel Miller couldn’t be in the same room for five minutes without tearing each other apart.

Not literally. Not yet.

You clashed over patrol routes, rations, radio static, the fucking weather. He thought you were reckless. You thought he was a control freak with a savior complex. The only thing you agreed on was your mutual hatred.

So of course Maria put you on security duty together during Jackson’s annual church dance.

“Try not to murder each other,” she’d said.

You lasted twenty minutes before Joel got under your skin.

“You always gotta fidget?” he muttered, arms crossed as you shifted your weight from foot to foot beside him.

“You always gotta breathe so loud?”

Joel exhaled through his nose. “I swear, you were built in a goddamn factory just to piss me off.”

You opened your mouth to reply but that’s when it happened.

From inside the church, you heard a voice. Loud. Cruel.

“Didn’t know they let d*kes slow dance now.”

The music stuttered. A few people laughed, awkward and mean. And in the middle of it all, Ellie Williams stood frozen on the dance floor, her hand still in Dina’s, cheeks burning red.

Your vision tunneled.

You were already halfway through the crowd before you realized Joel was right behind you.

“Say that again,” you snapped.

The man a smug, soft-bellied prick named Jared raised his brows. “Just surprised, is all. Thought this was a family event.”

Joel stepped beside you. “You run your mouth again, and I’ll make sure you don’t come back to any event.”

“Or walk straight,” you added, voice like ice.

Jared held up his hands. “Touchy, touchy. Damn. Didn’t know y’all were the lesbian defense squad.”

Joel grabbed him by the collar. “And I didn’t know bigots made it past the gates.”

“Joel,” you warned. He didn’t loosen his grip.

“I got it,” he muttered, shoving Jared back. “Get the fuck out.”

When the asshole stumbled off, Joel turned to Ellie. “You good, kid?”

She nodded stiffly. Dina held her hand tighter.

You knelt a bit, lowering your voice. “Ignore him. He’s not worth the dirt on your boots.”

Ellie looked up at you, surprised, then gave a single nod. You ruffled her curls.

As you stood, you caught Joel staring. Not with contempt.

With something else.

Outside, the air was cooler. The music kept playing, muffled now behind stained glass. You sat on the steps, cracked open a new beer, and tried not to let your pulse trip over itself. Joel stood next to you in silence.

“You didn’t have to do that,” you muttered eventually.

“I know.”

“But you did.”

He nodded.

You glanced at him. “You care about her?”

“More than I care about being right all the time.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Joel turned to you. There was something unreadable in his face. “You think I like fightin’ with you?”

You blinked. “Don’t you?”

“I do it ‘cause if I didn’t, I’d be…” He cut himself off. Jaw clenched. “Forget it.”

“No. Say it.”

His voice dropped. “If I didn’t argue with you, I’d be tryin’ to fuck you.”

The beer nearly slipped from your hand.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

He stepped closer. His broad body blocked the lamplight. His voice went low, rough. “You get under my skin like no one ever has. You piss me off, make me lose sleep. And I still wanna taste you so bad it makes me dizzy.”

Your heart pounded.

“I hate you,” you whispered, voice shaking.

Joel smirked. “Yeah? Then hit me.”

Instead, you grabbed him by the collar and kissed him like you were starving for it.

He groaned into your mouth, hands gripping your hips like he’d been waiting years. The kiss was messy, open-mouthed, full of teeth and heat. You bit his bottom lip, he backed you into the church wall.

“Goddamn mouth on you,” he muttered, pressing you hard into the wood. “Always runnin’. Gonna fill it.”

“Promises,” you hissed, grinding against his thigh.

He shoved your coat aside, fingers working your jeans open with practiced ease. “Tell me to stop.”

You didn’t.

Instead, you gasped as his hand slipped into your underwear, two thick fingers finding you wet and throbbing.

“Fuck,” he growled. “You’re soaked. All that fightin’ just gets you worked up, huh?”

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. Your head fell back against the wall as he pumped his fingers in and out, curling them just right, watching you come undone like it was his goddamn mission.

When you came, it was sudden and sharp, and he swallowed your moan with another kiss.

But he wasn’t done.

“Turn around,” he said, voice gravel.

You obeyed, hands braced against the wall. He yanked your jeans down to your thighs, grunted as he undid his own belt.

Then you felt him—hot, hard, lining up against your entrance.

“You want it?” he asked, chest pressed to your back, breath at your ear. “Say it.”

“I want it.”

“Say my fuckin’ name.”

“Joel—”

He pushed in slow, deep, a rough groan ripping from his throat as you clenched around him.

“Goddamn, girl,” he muttered. “Tighter than I imagined.”

He fucked you hard, one hand gripping your hip, the other covering your mouth as your moans got louder. Every thrust punched the breath from your lungs. Your fingers dug into the church wall like you were praying.

“This what you wanted?” he rasped. “This what all that attitude was about?”

You nodded frantically.

“Not so mouthy now, huh?” He bit your neck. “You take me so good, baby.”

You came again with a choked sob, and that set him off. He groaned your name into your shoulder, hips stuttering as he spilled into you.

For a minute, neither of you moved. Just panted. Pressed together. Sweating. Shaking.

Eventually, Joel pulled out and helped you fix your clothes, hands strangely gentle.

You turned to face him, lips swollen, neck marked.

“So,” you said breathlessly. “Still hate me?”

His smile was crooked. “Guess I’ll have to fuck the hate outta you.”

You kissed him again. This time, it wasn’t rough.

This time, it felt like maybe, just maybe, you’d been wrong all along.

[dhl-au]

Master-post:

Main blog: @ark-fork Support me: [🔥Boosty] - requests ✅

This post is too big, so, just press <keep reading> button and enjoy! Old tags: The horror circus au, thc au

The Amusement park

Tutorial area: [Unlocked] The park [The park is full of attractions, abandoned a long time ago.] [The danger inside - Mannequins that can move if the lights are off. Happily that there's always bright.] The Circus tent [A dark circus tent that has no bright light inside.] [The danger inside - two clown puppets whom a tutorial encounters that Pomni uses to teach the player how to fight. A dark maze where Pomni plays hide and seek (under the tent)] Boss: Pomni [immortal]

Side chapter: The attractions area [there are many attractions, all of which are broken and not working, where you can see a lot of old mannequins.] [The danger inside - Mannequins, light cut off] The carousel [12 horses, mainly unicorns, pegasus, and common horses.] [The danger - these encounters can move and try to kill you if you come too close.] Boss: [̵͎̜͕̊ͅḐ̸̧̞̦̯͐Ĕ̷̪̘̑L̷̮̭͇̮̏̑̓̓ͅÊ̴̺͊͗̊͝ͅT̵̖̭͙̜͗͐́̕Ę̸̛͙͎͌̏͌͜D̴̢̨̢̬̚]̵̝̈́̉̀̕

Greek drama comedy pantheon

Chapter 1: [Unlocked] The pantheon [The giant ancient Greek pantheon that is based on Greek attributes like mazes with common myth encounters, traps, and puzzles.] [The danger inside - Minotaur, soldiers, dark in location] The Amphitheater [A large arena with a stage where operas were. Mostly destroyed.] [The danger inside - traps, gladiators, common myth encounters] Boss: Gangle

Dollhouse

Chapter 2: [Locked] The garden [The big garden with a dollhouse in the center, abandoned and broken giant villa with three floors. The garden is desolated and filled with dangerous encounters.] [The danger inside - Dolls, spiders.] The house [Giant villa, abandoned, broken, made in dark-colored wood and stone. ] [The danger inside - Dolls, bugs, traps, old floors.] Boss: Ragatha

Playground Meat Factory

Chapter 3: [Locked] The Factory [An abandoned meat factory for a long time, but with the mechanisms still working. There are many gigantic rooms here, which have complex mechanisms] [The danger inside - traps, puzzles, encounters "workers" and mechanisms] Boss: Zooble

Wonderland Nightmare-land

Chapter 4: [Locked] The forest [Huge forest full of mushroom trees, trees. Some of it can remind of human silhouettes.] [The danger inside Wild creatures (animals mostly), Card guards, flowers with faces, living trees.] Mini-boss: Cheshire cat The Madman's house [A small house in the shape of a hat is unremarkable at first glance. However, the inside of it is much larger and consists of long corridors with many doors. The location is full of scratches of nails, broken portraits, and furniture.] [The danger inside - Jax] Boss: Jax

Chess castle

Chapter 5: [Locked] The chess desk [A giant chessboard inside a majestic castle divided in half by two colors - old, slightly faded platinum and dark copper. There is weak lighting around the field from torches attached to holders.] [The danger inside - the chess. The Pale King] Boss: Kinger

[Locations gates] [The gate is giant and looks heavy because of the forged steel. Each gate has its unique tag belonging to one or another boss of the location behind these gates.] [Five gates in summary]

COMICS:

[redacted]

MASTER POST REF SHEETS:

Pre horror: [dont turm on the light!]

Game stuff: [cover]; [chapters menu]; [...] About: [DLC?]; [non canon DLC]; [winter DLC]; [...]

--

Post horror:

Size line: [additional]

3 | 6 Main Bosses

[lostinthe-void-666]

Fic recommendations!

Before we start I would like to say that all the summaries I post here are pulled directly from my own brain, also may contain spoilers (if so I apologize.) Please check the fics themselves for the tags/actual summaries, and just generally more information. Also let me know if any of the fic links are wrong and I’ll replace them! Thank you :)

Also give the authors all the love. They’ve made us all some amazing fanworks <3

Starbound: Scavenge for Survivors - a humans are space orcs fic in the form of Xisuma picks up some aliens and goes running through the cosmos. Also in this series is Starbound: Savage (Forgotten Conquest) although if you plan to read the first, I would recommend not reading it until you get to a certain point in the other fic!

TAXI! [Totally and Xisumally Insane] - college dropout Xisuma runs a taxi service to stay afloat, but some odd people inadvertently become regulars of his.

Well, Well, Look Who’s Inside Again - Ex is unbanned from the Void in a really bad state. Oh and can’t remember anything. A lot of angst ensues :)

Love Me Like I’m Dead - Xisuma whump. There’s more to it and it’s extremely good I love it so much, but that’s the most basic summary.

Skin and Bones - febwhump from the same author as love me like I’m dead! Have to have an acc to view but a lot of the same themes and it’s really good ^^

proverbs uttered by utter fools (i’ll do anything it takes!) - I’m awful at a summary for this one. Ai Xisuma is a mascot for the company that Grian works for. A lot of stuff ensues.

Curiosity and their Consequences. - Cub realizes that the admin has never shared things about his own past. So what happens when he goes digging?

Potion of Forget This - After Tango bans the saturated soups and honey bottles from the lobby of his decked out game, a few of the Hermits start mixing soups and potions! Xisuma mixes a soup for one of his experiments. This time, it wasn’t just some funny effect.

cosmology - a series! Really love their world building and admin headcannons! The first one is post season 8, the second is set in season 10

i of the storm // salvation - Wels puts himself in a dangerous situation, to follow the call of salvation

quality entertainment - The Watchers are the audience, and they have to be satisfied.

Detecting and Other Gerunds - Xisuma finds something in the woods. Little does he know, that sort of creates a person.

The Devil’s Casino (and it’s not-so-devilish people) - Ex runs a casino in the city, Xisuma lives in a town near the city, and they’re forced to move out and go to work at the casino for a little while

get 360ed, bitch (EX + Xisuma) - a lot of really great fics, I can’t list them all out, but the devil’s casino is part of it and it’s so cool :)

Gates of Evolution - Xisuma is transported back in time to Evo. An elaboration on something that happens in another of the authors fics, Hermitcraft Chaotic Group Chat

stumbling in the dark (please come find me) - GIGS and ghostie Mumbo!!

The Orb Factory - Servers are orbs manufactured by the watchers and each admin gets one when they reach 18 yes, new addition, shh. I think it’s a really cool concept ^-^

The Major is walking on general ice - I haven’t personally finished this one yet, unfortunately, but it’s super good. Xisuma angst and the writing is so good

Well I Would Give You My Whole World - 5+ 1, Xisuma keeps getting so absorbed with helping others he keeps forgetting about himself

The art of taking care of others (and the unconventional methods that come with it) - (taken directly from the fic summary) 5 times Xisuma was a hypocrite while also being a worried dad, and one where people finally caught up on what was happening.

The Cloned Series - not much of it is out yet but is seems angsty. Very fun.

Hermitcraft brainrot (mainly Xisuma or EX) - self explanatory

Secret admins are a really bad idea - series! The first is an 8 +1 of the hermits not knowing who their admin is, the second is a pre-fic oneshot explaining something in the other fic

i can be the one you call - THE hurt/comfort Hermitcraft series.

I Can Be the One You Call AU Stories - self-explanatory. A series :)

Ex’s Quest to get a Single Night of Rest - Ex gets brought back onto the Hermitcraft server. The Hermits are annoying.

Iron Bleeds Green - a Hermitcraft/bionicle crossover, no idea what bionicle is but this fic is great, Xisuma and Ex find a demon of their past is following them.

the fracture - …just yeah. Xisuma and ex are pitted against each other, they were never meant to be close. Xisuma tries anyway.

Parasites aren’t the only thing you need to heal from. - (taken from the series summary) This is an Au where E.X was a parasite that practically used Xisuma's body to hurt the hermits then framed him till the point that the hermits did something that they will continue to regret.

Nobody will notice. - the hermits are inadvertently awful to xisuma and he finally ends up breaking down. I need more xisuma whump like this.

Void Medic EX - series, first one is an explanation kinda, the second, ex keeps finding their own sibling in the void..

it gets a little lonely here - series!! About an experiment facility, first one is Xisuma-centric

Void Siblings AU - trans ex, a rocky sibling relationship, and also their awful parents.

From the Archives - MAGNUS ARCHIVES BUT MAKE IT HERMITCRAFT!!! Hard to explain. Spooky and silly :)

your destiny is yours to write (or play) - xisuma-centric band au!!

AniMCYT - I understand that this one is really niche, but if you were ever a fan of animorphs, ever, that’s what this is :)

Oneshots/shorter 2/3 chapter fics:

xisuma and the void - a snapshot of what it’s like to be an admin

A Creaking Heart - Shapeshifter EX and Xisuma!! Creaking!EX!!! Angst!

Xisuma Oneshots - a series of random Xisuma oneshots.

When You’re Down Let Me Run To Your Aid - post season 8, and Xisuma isn’t responding to any of the Hermits. They’re worried.

Dragon’s Whumptober 2024 - a bunch of really fun oneshots, I could never list them all separately

Never Make a Contingency Plan Based on an Assumption - Xisuma gets caught in a death loop :D

Mis-take - (this summary taken directly out of the summary of the fic itself) The Watchers’s declaration of war against mortals, among all the grandstanding, also boasted the capture of Xisumavoid, the Admin Voidwalker.

Shouldn’t you know better? You opened the door for an apex predator - VAMPIRE MUMBO GOING FERAL YES!!!

The Workers Have Left Their Stations - Joe and Xisuma have a chat

Don’t let X and his friends cook - Xisuma and some off-server friends engage in shenanigans

Make a mercy out of me - MORE VAMPIRE MUMBO GOING FERAL!

Not Ready? - Xisuma leans something about EX

Worldeater - an admin headcannon, very cool :)

A knock at the window - Xisuma’s locked outside late at night again.

Rouge’s Gallery - an explanation of the hermits (and why they’re terrifying-)

Flowers. - Xisuma angst

i am a phony - what if xisuma and ex were in third life?

Lean On Me, Let It Out - only Doc knows about Xisuma’s previous server and what horrible things happened there

Honeycomb - Voidwalkers have some weird instincts… love this one :D

Withering Pains - (actual fic summary) Xisuma was just heading out to the nether to fix a glitch. He did not sign up to traumatically die to the almost extinct Wither effect.

Just a Day - Ex doesn’t have a good birthday.

Violet Mistique - Ex’s blindfold gets ripped off…

it’s a hollow play - Inspo of quality entertainment!!! Mumbo breaks something, and Xisuma really doesn’t want to punish him.

I’ve Seen Your Face Before - shapeshifting SCP Ex

The Tale of Suma - Xisuma and Ex are kept by the listeners while they’re growing up I can’t do this justice it’s so amazing

Ancient Secrets, Come To Light - …just yeah. Read the summary. Different timeline and watcher Wels

squishy or not, we all still love you - JEVIN FLUFF RAHHHH

Breaking and Entering - Ex tries to escape the void

bee - (actual fic summary) Xisuma gets a little more than he originally wished for with his 'Beesuma' persona.

Soulmarks AU “Hermitcraft” - everyone has a mark representing friendships they form, Xisuma reveals his

naps and high places don’t mix - Xisuma falls asleep in a high place. Instant regret.

Night Night Little God - about the sleeping glitch from the beginning of season 7

Flesh & Diamond - what if Xisuma actually used to be the doomslayer before he came to Hermitcraft?

Doppelgänger - (taken from fic summary) Xisuma confronts his double

when you were flyin’ your white flag, who never gave up on you? - Wels and Xisuma at the end of the world, in the End

You can’t Heal if you Hide - (taken from fic summary) Keralis helps Xisuma after the aftermath of a respawn

Welsknight’s Hoarding Problem - Wels hoards things :)

It’s Inadvisable to Attempt to Fight God as Any Mortal - paladin X!! His god starts to say things, though, and he starts to slip

And the World Stops Turning Just for Me - Xisuma’s tired. So tired, but he can’t give up just yet.

Exhels oneshots!

i love you like the ashes in my cigarette box

If you want a hyphen last name, I guess I don’t mind the cadence

Patterns in Petals

your honor, he’s a cornball

why the fuck are you using tilt controls

[abandonedography]

The mausoleum is hidden in the woods off a seasonal road not far from Beardslee Castle and "Beardslee Falls" in the East Canada Creek. It was built by Augustus Beardslee and stands on private land. The crypt and nearby area is rumored to be haunted. Unfortunately, many years ago the mausoleum was vandalized and some of the bodies inside were desecrated. The metal gates are gone and all that remains now is the stone structure. The contents were moved to a cemetery somewhere in the nearby City of Little Falls as far as I understand. It does not seem to be maintained in any way.

It is also one of the few remaining makers for a community that once existed in this area called "Beardslee's Mills" or "Beardslee's City."

From The Evening Telegram; Local, Saturday, September 2, 2000:

"It represents a bygone era when the Beardslee family lived on East Creek in Manheim and helped bring prosperity to the area. John Beardslee was the pioneer of the family to first settle East Creek. Born in 1759 in Sharon, Conn., he moved to the Mohawk Valley where he undertook many building projects including mills in the Utica-Whitestown area and a number of bridges in the Little Falls and Fort Plain area. He liked the area and in 1794 purchased a 100-acre tract on which he built a home and mills along the creek in the town of Manheim. A settlement grew up around his home called Beardslee's Mills or Beardslee's City. By 1800, the town consisted of two stores, two taverns, a blacksmith shop, nail factory, cooperage, a brewery, a sawmill and grist mill. When the Mohawk Turnpike and the Erie Canal came along, trade began to dwindle because of the lack of proximity to the two main thoroughfares and the village slowly declined. All that remains today is the old cemetery located near the Beardslee Mausoleum, hidden from view in the woods."

(source)

[who-needs-reality-anyways]

Bellamy Blake: A Seven Season Anthology

Season 2x05: Human Trials

After a day of walking, the gate of Camp Jaha finally comes into view. His feet ache, but not nearly as much as the pain in his chest not knowing where Clarke is. He can’t believe he not only let Finn go after her, but gave Murphy a deadly weapon to go with him. Bellamy’s whole body buzzes with the need to go after her himself, but he just found Octavia again, and he needed to get Mel back to camp after just saving her from the side of a cliff. Once he knows they are safe within the walls of camp, he will be gone again.  

“Open the gates!” a female voice shouts from inside. Then two loud, electronic buzzes sound, signaling the door is unlocked.  

He isn’t two steps in when guards are grabbing for his weapon. He doesn’t want to give it up because he will need it again soon, but he reluctantly hands it over with a raised hand. It doesn’t take long for Abby to approach him, but she only glances at him for a second before assessing Mel.  

“I know you,” she says with her hand on Mel’s cheek. “Factory station. Where are the others?” 

“There are no others,” Mel replies.  

“We found her a day from here,” Bellamy reports. “No survivors, lots of supplies.”  

Abby looks to the left, over Mel’s shoulder. “Get her to Medical.” After the lady walks Mel away, Abby guides Monroe as well to get that arrow wound checked out.  

Bellamy starts to turn towards his sister. He needs to explain why he is about to leave again and beg her to stay here and stay safe while he is gone. Even though it will be like talking to brick wall since she has someone out there that she... needs to find too.  

Except he doesn't get a single syllable out because Clarke runs right into him and throws her arms around him. He can’t help the surprise that flashes over his face. How is she here? Where has she been? Why is she hugging him so tightly right now? What could that mean? All these questions, plus the utter relief that she is alive, makes him realize he hasn’t even reacted yet.  

Bellamy encloses her body in his arms and holds his breath. His eyes close as he burns this feeling into his mind. Clarke presses her face into his shoulder and squeezes harder. He can’t believe he got the two most important people in his life back in one day.  

“Now, there’s something I thought I’d never see,” Octavia jokes. 

Bellamy finally lets out his breath with a tiny laugh. When they pull away, they are both smiling at each other. Clarke gives Octavia a small hug with a few exchanged words, and Raven joins their little group.  

“How many with you?” Bellamy asks Clarke eagerly. Did she get their friends? 

“None.” Clarke’s smile fades, as does his own. When she looks over his shoulder towards the woods, he knows who she is looking for, and his chest involuntarily deflates a little. But it doesn’t matter because she is alive and here with him. “Where’s Finn?” 

His smile is completely gone now. Because since Clarke is here, Finn is out there with Murphy and their guns on a wild goose chase. Finn has gone unhinged looking for her, so who knows how many people he will hurt to find Clarke. He doesn’t want to explain that all right now, so he simplifies it, but not without warning in his voice and grim expression.  

“Looking for you.” 

[rinwellisathing]

Domain Of Dread: The Obsidian Gauntlet

Hey all! Here's the info for my Gortash themed Domain of Dread and more info about it! This is for the campaign I'm currently running, so it includes my own Durge, but you could plug in your own Durge instead if you wanted to run it, make up another NPC in place, or use the stats I provided! I hope you enjoy it!

The Obsidian Gauntlet

Domain of Clockwork Wonders

Dark Lord: Lord Enver Gortash

Genre: Mad Science, Gothic Horror

Hallmarks: Charismatic tyrant, tragic romance, clockwork horrors, vigilant tyranny

Mist Talismans: A pendant of Ilmater, A golden gauntlet, A clockwork tadpole

Noteworthy Features:

 The Obsidian Gauntlet is a Domain based upon an idealized version of The City of Baldur's Gate according to the mind of Lord Enver Gortash. People who dwell In Obsidian Gauntlet know that:

The city is patrolled by The Steel Watch and its commander, The Golden Sentry.

The Watch and all the rest of the city's clockwork wonders were invented by the domain's Dark Lord, Enver Gortash. Most view him as a savior and a genius, but those who don't view him as a tyrant and a conqueror.

Lord Gortash has a beloved daughter who is supposed to be a prodigy who helps her father with his inventions, but no one has ever seen her. The only glimpse of her presence is donations to the less fortunate of the city marked with a seal in the form of a clockwork raccoon.

There is a museum chronicling Lord Gortash's rise to power and storied life at his birth place, Flymm Cobblers. This is the only original building left in the city that has not been updated and instead is kept as aforementioned museum. Sally and Dravo Flymm, the proprietors, are relentlessly cheery, almost to an unsettling degree, and dress in old timey fashions.

There is a strange wicker creature that haunts the woods and fields outside civilization, a behemoth of thorns and flame.

A powerful vampire lord lurks in the mountains, but his apparent fear of Lord Gortash keeps him from attacking the main city. 

Settlements and Sites:

The Black City:  The Black City is a perfect one to one replica of Baldur's Gate from the world of Toril, but the buildings and features have all been reinforced in steel and infernal metal. Everything in the city is advanced and up to date with street lamps and clockwork soldiers. There are scrying eyes created by Enver and his elite artificers as well as magic mirrors which can project images and recordings across them. The city's visible population appears to be well off and cosmopolitan, dressed in finery and the latest up to date accessories and clockwork technology. But the slums tell a different story as do the factories and work houses near the docks. The city is constantly under complete surveillance and crime, real or imagined, is very swiftly punished by Lord Gortash's upgraded Steel Watch. Patrols from his Golden Sentry are also common, especially when there is talk of dissention. 

The Town of Mourn: The Town of Mourn is a small settlement about a day's journey from The Black City. It used to be home to a pious lord and his family, but a circle of mad druids destroyed the town and slaughtered his family. The town has begun a small resurgence, however its people dress strangely, covering up as much of their skin and faces as they can.

San Ojeda:  a small, pious town right outside of the gates of the city. A temple to the Faerunian God, Ilmater, is located there run by a kindly old priest and paladin as well as one of their adopted children, a kind and handsome young Paladin who is rumored to be the brother of the original Golden Sentry. The city is considered sacred as the birth place of the hero who inspired The Golden Sentry.

Flymmstown: a slum outside the city, placed where Little Calimshan was located in the proper city of Baldur's Gate back on Toril. Many of the city's poor and Destitute live here out of the public eye to avoid tarnishing Lord Gortash's perfect image.

Martyr's Field: a massive necropolis not far from The Town of Mourn. Great heroes and important political figures are buried here and it is said to be incredibly haunted. There are rumors of a small, clockwork creature collecting treasure and hoarding it in a small mausoleum. Rumors also persist of a haunting by the ghost of a slender teenage tiefling in a long cloak who tends the graves, though no one has seen her up close.

The Junk Heap:  a trash Heap outside the city where defunct Watchers, old tech, and other such things that don't fit Lord Gortash's vision of a perfect World are dumped and abandoned. Mad artificers cast out from the city congregate there and build strange monstrosities with the refuse.

The Foundry:  an enormous factory located where Candlekeep would be in the proper world of Toril. It is where Lord Gortash's greatest creations are built and sent out into the world. The domain's finest minds are recruited to work there and engage with the DarkLords's greatest secrets.

Lord Enver Gortash:

Enver's Powers and Dominion:

   The Golden Sentry:  Enver Gortash has a clockwork replica of his lover, Sentry Ojeda, a tiefling Oathbreaker paladin. The being is a specialized custom steel watcher that appears as a handsome male tiefling in his thirties with golden horns and armor, silver hair, and gold tinged skin. While he is physically a perfect replica of Enver's lover, he can only follow direct orders and cannot love Enver on his own or express/form opinions or thoughts of his own.

   The Steel Watch:  Enver's impressive clockwork army, controlled with altered Illithid tadpoles within the preserved brains of his political enemies and condemned prisoners. The watchers are tall and imposing and his design and their abilities have improved greatly since his first batch back in Baldur's Gate. Enver can summon two Steel Watchers to him as an action once per day in personal combat. Out on the streets of The Black City, an alarm can sound when a crime is observed to summon a company of these clockwork soldiers.

   Choking Smog:  Once per day, Enver can open and close the borders of his domain by either increasing or decreasing production at The Foundry, raising a polluting smog which acts as this domain's mist.

Enver's Torment:

Enver longs to be seen as a benevolent, all powerful leader who is loved and feared in equal parts, however there will always be people within the domain who view him in either a wholly negative or wholly positive light, never in perfect balance.

Enver cannot be happy with his power and wealth if Sentry and Teela are not there by his side. No matter what he tries, he cannot find and reunite with their souls and his replicas of them are never exactly right.

Although Bane cannot reach Enver within the Domain of Dread, he can still feel the tyrant's breath down his neck as though he is only a few steps behind and ready to close his iron fingers around his soul once again.

Roleplaying Enver:

    Lord Enver Gortash, since his failure in the Absolute plot, has been resurrected as A lich by his lover, Sentry Ojeda, Bhaal's son and former chosen. He bears the scars of his torture for failing Bane in the form of elegant but cruel golden scars across his body. He appears handsome and well preserved, but constant pain still racks him from Banes's punishments. When he was brought back, he found himself face to face with his daughter,  the child Sentry had given birth to before his unfortunate fall from grace at the hands of Orin. 

     Enver attempted to connect with his child and earn her trust and love as well as rekindle his connection with Sentry, but right as he seemed on the cusp of achieving this, Bane schemed to regain his hold on Enver's soul and many other beings with interest in tyranny were drawn to Enver as well.

      Sentry became the means to which these beings could gain control of Enver ans many sought to capture him or endanger him. Ultimately,  Sentry was taken and Enver fought to gain power to get him back, committing atrocities which his daughter,  Teela, opposed intensely. Ultimately,  Enver and Teela came to blows over his methods and in a fit of rage he accidentally killed her.

   Consumed with grief, Enver's atrocities mounted and he was consumed by a thick smog of mist reeking of engine oil and ash.

     Enver is outright affable and diplomatic, putting on a winning smile and a friendly face, but underneath lies despair and frustration, for no matter how much he builds and how hard he works, the city is never to his standards and the replicas of Sentry and Teela only do as he commands, never showing the spirit and spark that made his beloved family his only equals.

    He is more than willing to treat player characters with similar interests or goals that align with his as potential allies and his first course of action is always diplomacy or subterfuge if confrontation can be avoided.

Adventures in The Obsidian Gauntlet:

A young up and coming artificer hopes to catch Lord Gortash's attention for a job at The Foundry they hired the party to help them give a demonstration of their creations.

A young man from the Ilmatari clergy in San Ojeda feels strangely drawn to The Golden Sentry, almost as if there was a kinship with it. Lord Gortash takes note and hires the party to arrange an introduction.

The ghost in Martyr's Field raises a fuss to gain the party's attention, when they arrive, either to put her down or find out what's wrong, she introduces herself as Teela Gortash and asks for help reaching her father. 

Sally and Dravo Flymm task the party with recovering an important item from Enver's childhood for their museum, unfortunately it has made its way to The Junk Heap.

Construction is beginning on a fabulous new section of town, but the feral druids out in the woodlands are vehemently opposed to this, the party is tasked with protecting the workers.

A bounty is placed on the wicker monstrosity that roams the countryside at night, the party accepts  a quest to destroy it.

The party receives an invitation from the local vampire lord wishing to discuss an important matter.

The temple of Ilmater is experiencing a strange occurrence at its basement shrine, if there is a cleric or paladin in the party, they may be called to examine it.

More hauntings are being reported at Martyr's Field. When the players investigate, they find renegade artificers from The Junk Heap are stealing body parts and siphoning spirits for their macabre products. 

The party are hired either as apprentices or guards at The Foundry and are able to investigate its secrets.

Where Is Sentry?

   Sentry's location can be decided by either a roll of the dice or DM’S discretion depending on what works within your world. The only constant is that he has been killed or abducted by a tyrannical power that intends to use him to get to Enver.

Sentry is being held in Bane's domain and tortured, his soul trapped there.

Sentry is the unwilling consort of the demon lord Grazz't ,  who not only realized he could get to Enver through Sentry but also realized he could breed powerful demons with a Bhaalspawn.

Sentry is frozen in one of Mephistopheles dungeons in Mephistar as vengeance for his and Enver's past transgressions as well as a way to force Enver into an infernal contract.

 Sentry is dead, his soul is awaiting its judgment or could even have made it's way to Martyrdom where Ilmater and his adoptive family await him.

Sentry is alive and well at the home he and Halsin share outside of Reithwin on the material plane or the modest manor he and Astarion share in Baldur's Gate.

 Sentry's soul has followed Enver to the domain of Dread in the hopes of saving him, he is reincarnated as a local NPC.

Where is Teela?

     Teela was accidentally killed by her father in a confrontation over his actions after Sentry's abduction. Her restless spirit haunts the necropolis with her clockwork companion,  Trash Can the Raccoon. She hopes to redeem her father or at least put him to rest and end the domain's nightmare, but she lacks the power to do so. Stats:The Golden Sentry: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/138208049/nG8JNG Teela Gortash: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/138209185/VzRCcl(Remember to include ghost traits such as incorporeal)

Lord Enver Gortash: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/138209584/4GUqNF  (Include Lich Traits as well)

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This is interesting. It's The Earthquake House, a 1990 earthquake-safe construction via revolutionary, (at the time), technology that makes it resistant to seismic tremors. It's a landmark in Los Angeles, California. Looks like a factory, doesn't it? 3bds, 3.5ba, $2.8M.

The floor plan is easy to adapt to multiple uses, and can be a home/business, or just a business and even a restaurant. It was architect, artist & educator David Ming Li Lowe's own home.

Note the springs so it can absorb impact. I bet those cement stairs would crack during a strong quake, though.

Closeup of the springs. Looks like the cement has cracked already.

Here's the living room when it was featured in a magazine article.

The house is empty, so it's hard to figure out, but here's a door that looks like it's an entrance by the garage.

You can see the steel going to the corners of the wall. I wonder why he used glass, though. Maybe it's shatterproof.

He used a lot of steel. Look at the rods in the wood beamed ceiling.

Industrial style kitchen.

This looks like a primary bedroom.

Most of the rooms look alike with the yellow crisscross support beams on every wall.

One of the baths.

This looks like another bedroom and bath. Look at the flexible hose attached to the sink. There must be a reason for the deep pitches in the ceilings.

It was part workspace and part residence, so this looks like it may have been the office space.

Unless it's a bedroom, b/c it has a laundry closet.

Looking down from the top floor. It's 3 levels high.

This bath has some nice built-in cabinetry. Now, this sink has a regular pipe coming down, not a flexible hose. Are those light bulbs coming out of the ceiling?

I think that this is an entrance gate to the driveway and garage.

2 car garage has an industrial door.

This just looks like a little, non-earthquake-proof covered patio in the yard.

[drugs-and-daddyissues]

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍𝐍𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐏 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

✧ A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) ✔

✧ Crybaby (1990) ✔

✧ Edward Scissorhands (1990) ✔

✧ Arizona Dream (1993)

✧ Benny & Joon (1993)

✧ What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993) ✔

✧ Ed Wood (1994)

✧ Nick of Time (1995)

✧ The Brave (1997)

✧ Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

✧ The Ninth Gate (1999)

✧ The Astronaut's Wife (1999) ✔

✧ Sleepy Hollow (1999) ✔

✧ The Man Who Cried (2000)

✧ Blow (2001)

✧ From Hell (2001)

✧ Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) ✔

✧ Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

✧ Secret Window (2004)

✧ Finding Neverland (2004) ✔

✧ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) ✔

✧ Corpse Bride (2005) ✔

✧ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) ✔

✧ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) ✔

✧ Sweeney Todd (2007) ✔

✧ Public Enemies (2009)

✧ Alice in Wonderland (2010)

✧ Dark Shadows (2012) ✔

✧ Transcendance (2014)

✧ Into the Woods (2014) ✔

✧ Mordecai (2015)

✧ Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

✧ Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

✧ The Professor (2018)

✧ Day Drinker (????)

[bestfictionalplant]

Bracket reveal

Text version under cut!

The tourney is split into 4 32 brackets, and the winners of each will go to the semi finals! I'll make a different post about HOW the tourney will run, and this will serve as a pinned post for round 1 :)

Bracket 1, Side 1

Peppino (Vampire Survivors) vs Winged Strawberry (Celeste)

Herb (Monster Hunter) vs Triffids (Day of the Triffids)

Gigi (Xiaolin Showdown) vs Silent Princess (The Legend of Zelda)

Breath of Evil (Wings of Fire) vs Thorn Thallid (Magic the Gathering)

Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors) vs Farewell Flower (Mistborn)

Togemon (Digimon) vs Silverwood Tree (Witch Hat Atelier)

Golden Apple Tree (Greek Mythology) vs Potbelly (My Singing Monsters)

Sculk (Minecraft) vs MocDonald (One Piece)

Bracket 1, Side 2

Vida (The Promised Neverland) vs Glaze Lily (Genshin Impact)

Dr Brewer's Clone (Goosebumps) vs The Spring (Friends at the Table)

Kite Eating Tree (Peanuts) vs Zotoh Zhaan (Farscape)

Wheel Tree (His Dark Materials) vs Mushtree (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Medusoid Mycelium (A Series of Unfortunate Events) vs Radial (Ooblets)

Chikorita (Pokemon) vs Blast Cone (League of Legends)

Gooloog (AAAHH!!! Real Monsters) vs Venus (Bug Fables)

The Thorian (Mass Effect) vs Yggdrasil (Norse Mythology)

Bracket 2, Side 1

Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda) vs Blood Blossoms (Danny Phantom)

Hotblonde37159 (Angel: The Series) vs Vash the Stampede (Trigun)

Kinoko (Don't Hurt Me, My Healer) vs Wolfsbane (The Vampire Diaries)

Plant (Monster Rancher) vs Flower of Life (Mesopotamian Mythology)

Truffula Tree (The Lorax) vs Slurperon Enchantress (Internet Scam)

The Brain Tree (Neopets) vs Ginseng Baby (Scarlet Hollow)

Chompy (Bug Fables) vs Whispy Woods (Kirby)

Clavu (Overlord) vs Ivern (League of Legends)

Bracket 2, Side 2

Bulbasaur (Pokemon) vs The Trees of Valinor (Lord of the Rings)

Leslie (The Amazing World of Gumball) vs Hayzee Dayzee (Paper Mario)

Piranha Plant (Mario) vs Specimen 34/The Blessed Eternal (Wolf 359)

Potted Plant (Wander Over Yonder) vs Morbuzakh (Bionicle)

Jabe & the Trees of Cheem (Doctor Who) vs Black Mercy (DC)

Mr Plant (The World of Mr Plant) vs Feculant Gnarlmaw (Warhammer 40k)

Tree Rex (Skylanders) vs Flowey (Undertale)

Sundrop Flower (Tangled) vs Venus McFlytrap (Monster High)

Bracket 3, Side 1

Pinchley (Long Gone Gulch) vs Frank the Plant (Harley Quinn: the Animated Series)

The Venus (Hello From the Hallowoods) vs Nirnroot (The Elder Scrolls)

Food Fight (Skylanders) vs Paopu Fruit (Kingdom Hearts)

Phillogenous esk Piemondum (Rod Albright Alien Adventures) vs Plant (Wall E)

Tannot Root (Farscape) vs The Broccoloids (The Powerpuff Girls)

Rockbud (The Stormlight Archive) vs Sylvan Hound (Guild Wars 2)

Eldridge Johnson-Mayer (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) vs Hyacinth/Hyacinthus (Greek Mythology)

Selas Flower (Kingkiller Chronicle) vs Treant (Disgaea)

Bracket 3, Side 2

Dragonflame Cacti (Wings of Fire) vs Sunflower (Plants vs Zombies)

The Bioplant (The Rising of the Shield Hero) vs Turnip Boy (Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion)

Shambling Mound (Dungeons and Dragons) vs Mandrake (Shin Megami Tensei/Persona)

Cowplant (The Sims) vs Ebony Queen's Apple (Limbus Company)

Devil Fruits (One Piece) vs Donkey-Cabbage (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

Oaktopus (My Singing Monsters) vs Field Dungeon (Rune Factory 4)

Mushroom Tree (Stardew Valley) vs Jumpkin (Cassette Beasts)

Undergrowth (Danny Phantom) vs Karzahni (Bionicle)

Bracket 4, Side 1

Dreamstalk (Kirby) vs Myconid (Balders Gate 3)

Stingbulb (Fablehaven) vs Treebeard (Lord of the Rings)

Stray Cat (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) vs Peashooter (Plants vs Zombies)

Giant Turnip (Codename: Kids Next Door) vs Treasure Mushroom (Guild Wars 2)

Tree of Wisdom (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs Fire Flower (Mario)

Stump (The Angry Beavers) vs Groot (Marvel)

Maise (Oneshot) vs Konohana Tree (Okami)

Red Weed (War of the Worlds) vs Pod Plant (Fortnite)

Bracket 4, Side 2

Plantera (Terraria) vs The Grass Snake (Friends at the Table)

Breathweed (Warhammer 40k) vs Campestri (Dungeons and Dragons)

Neo Alraune (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) vs Kringlefucker (Homestuck)

Slimefoot the Stowaway (Magic: The Gathering) vs Gatfruit Tree (Space Station 13/14)

Sex Pollen Plant (Fanfiction) vs The Rumor Weed (VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed)

Dr Madley Radish (Papa Louie) vs Vervain (The Vampire Diaries)

Yatevon (OCTAHEDRON: Transfixed Edition) vs Echo Flower (Undertale)

Wither Rose (Minecraft) vs Hydramon (Digimon)

[commercialfencesolutionsinpe]

Top Commercial Fence Solutions in Peoria for Business Security and Curb Appeal

When running a business in Peoria, IL, security, privacy, and professional appearance are essential. A well-designed commercial fence not only protects your property but also reinforces your brand’s image. Whether you're managing a construction site, office complex, manufacturing plant, or retail space, the right fencing solution can make a significant difference.

Benefits of Installing a Commercial Fence in Peoria

Business owners in Peoria are increasingly investing in commercial fencing for reasons beyond basic security. Here are some top advantages:

1. Enhanced Security

Protect valuable inventory, equipment, and assets from theft or vandalism. A properly installed fence creates a clear physical barrier and deters unauthorized access.

2. Improved Privacy

Some commercial operations require discretion. Fencing with privacy panels or slats helps shield sensitive areas from public view.

3. Controlled Access

Add automated gates or keypad entry systems to restrict access and monitor who enters and exits your property.

4. Professional Appearance

First impressions matter. A clean, well-maintained commercial fence adds credibility and visual appeal to your property.

5. Compliance with Local Regulations

Many Peoria zoning ordinances require proper enclosures for certain commercial activities. A local fence contractor can ensure your fence meets city codes and guidelines.

Popular Commercial Fence Types in Peoria

Not all fences are created equal. Depending on your industry and property type, one of the following options might be ideal:

Chain Link Fences: Affordable, strong, and widely used for utility yards, factories, and sports complexes.

Ornamental Steel or Aluminum Fences: Stylish and secure — ideal for professional offices, schools, and government buildings.

Vinyl Fencing: Great for commercial plazas and apartment complexes; offers a clean, modern look with minimal upkeep.

Wood Fences: Often used for restaurants, daycare centers, and outdoor venues needing a natural, warm appearance.

Custom Security Fences: High-security fencing with razor wire, anti-climb mesh, or electric gate systems for sensitive facilities.

Working With a Peoria Commercial Fence Contractor

Choosing the right contractor is just as important as selecting the right fence. In Peoria, a top-tier commercial fencing company will offer:

Free on-site evaluations

Customized fencing plans to match your business needs

High-quality materials built to last through Illinois weather

Timely installation with minimal disruption to your operations

Long-term warranties and maintenance support

Be sure to work with a licensed, insured, and locally experienced fencing provider familiar with Peoria’s business zones and regulations.

Keep Your Investment Protected

After installation, routine inspections and repairs are key. Many fencing contractors in Peoria also offer:

Emergency repair services

Gate automation tune-ups

Fence painting, sealing, or cleaning

Replacement of damaged panels or hardware

Regular maintenance extends your fence’s life and keeps your property looking sharp.

Final Thoughts

Your commercial fence is more than just a boundary — it’s part of your business's identity and security infrastructure. From functional chain link fencing to elegant ornamental options, Peoria businesses have access to a wide range of fencing solutions to suit every need.

Ready to Fence In Your Business?

Partner with a trusted commercial fence installer in Peoria and take the first step toward a safer, more polished business property today.

[landofspaceandrainbows]

Thanks to @flashfictionfridayofficial for the prompt!

~

Content: some minor sickness and gore.

~

A Report of the Monthly Activities of the Society of the Holy Wound Chapter Located in East Kent.

(A rough counting of events without any analysis or applied collation.)

~

There are so many ways, in this new 19th century, of asking the divine for answers.

~

Slee Knows his illness well, he keeps a blanket by his seat in the dining room of his one room flat, he makes soothing tea. And also whenever he wakes, coughing, in the night, he keeps his pen close and writes a poem about whatever he sees. a flower, the stars, so many candles, sometimes it is his walker or his pill bottle, and so often it is the light again, warped into streaks that make the whole scene look different, warped by the tears filling his eyes as he hacks again and again. The great and holy leader of his organization, the illuminated one, slips in at 5 am at times, he holds Slee to his breast, buys him willow bark and morphine, cooks until he's feeling better. And then Slee shows him a poem or two he wrote. But he'd write them anyway.

"If the Sun is a puncture wound in the sky, and the stars are like pinpricks, like ant bites or bee stings, then what is the universe's coughing fit, and more importantly what is it's chills?"

Tristan and Valcianne trace the shapes of cut-off, discarded, and scrapped metal from their forge for answers.

The girl who once called herself Sylvia takes a job in a garment factory, she rides the streetcar to the woods, first she blindfolds her eyes, then her one good eye, then when her vision starts to fade in that eye she buys ear muffs and ear plugs as well. She feels the rough cloth on her skin and the branches in her hands even more and wanders the woods. She writes a description and measurement of whatever autumn leaf or bug she sees when she pulls off the blindfold. Little brown beetles no scientist has catalogued, butterflies with only half a wing because of some accident that can still fly. She notes the bugs on the busses too.

Slee sends her a softer pair of earmuffs, more gentle earplugs, some chocolate. He knows the Great Illuminated one is busy, his care erratic. And he has favorites, Sylvia is not one.

Enid Keeps up on her Tetanus vaccinations. And when a nail rips it's way through her foot, rusted and tearing at skin, revealing red and white fat. She brings a notebook with her to the hospital, and when she falls asleep she reaches for it in dreams. The gate is open for her, and she has so many questions for Saint Baldomera, Enid is pleased when she reaches for the notebook and it is in fact in her hand in the dream.

On Sunday mornings they go to church to keep the suspicions of the neighborhood low, and then slip into the back room of their bookstore, and nurse hot tea, and compare notes.

[corellianhounds]

“The Jedi” AU

Media: The Mandalorian

Word Count: 4.1k

Rating: Gen.

Warnings: None

Art Credit: Anton Grandert

Summary: What if Ahsoka wasn’t the Jedi on Corvus?

Mando doesn’t go through with Bo-Katan’s heist after she changes the terms of their deal midway through the mission and instead jumps ship prior to the full takeover, leaving her and the Nite Owls to the consequences of their deception. Since he does not receive intel about a Jedi from Kryze, he researches the Jedi and other followings of the Force himself, hoping for any clue that might guide him to a mentor for the child. His findings direct him to a settlement on Corvus known for having disciples of a religion that may give him some answers.

The figure moves like a wraith through the smog. The hired guns whip around at every crackle of foliage, every snap of a branch that might relay their adversary’s location. They fire at shadows in the mist, hearing nothing but singed wood and the screams of their fellow men echoing around them. Still they find nothing in the swirling dark until a bright, iridescent light streaks through the air and another mercenary falls. Humans, Kubaz, Geranites— each of them as different from the last and none of them stand a chance of escape or victory while the Jedi hunts.

Lang stands atop the watchtower to the left of the magistrate. Elsbeth watches impassively as the light darts impossibly between the geography of the wastes, steadily drawing closer to the gate. Another mercenary’s cry is silenced and a hush falls over the night watch.

Slowly a hooded figure emerges from the smog, their cloak rolling back in an unnatural wind so Elsbeth can see them clearly without mistaking who they are and why they are there.

Elsbeth watches, and she waits.

Slowly the figure lowers their hood and finds the eyes of the magistrate.

“Your reign over these people has far outlasted my patience, Elsbeth. Surrender yourself and I’ll consider sparing your life.”

Elsbeth sniffs in derision. “You won’t receive the information you seek, Jedi, and I have as many guns as I do civilians within these walls. How many of their lives is your mission worth?”

The Jedi doesn’t waver. Elsbeth can feel their presence lurking on the outskirts of her mind, but she has had nearly triple the time and experience they have to hone her psyche, and the resistance they meet is impenetrable. The Jedi’s reputation means nothing to her, regardless of their rumored origin and past.

The men around her are more easily suggestible though, and she can feel their mounting trepidation as they try not to fidget in place, their mental fortitude wavering under the Jedi’s intimidation.

The figure speaks again in a tone that brooks no argument. “You have one day to surrender, or you and the lives of your men will be considered forfeit. I’m not leaving until I get what I came for.”

And with that the Jedi turns and disappears into the wastes.

“Double the guard,” Elsbeth tells Lang. “Track their movements. When you’ve subdued them, bring them to me. Jedi or not, they’ll bleed all the same.”

“At your command,” Lang says, and then he leaves.

The Mandalorian passes the capital city of Calodan, finding a clearing in the ashen trees out beyond the city walls to land the Crest. Corvus, though a terrestrial forest planet, appeared to be the site of major manufacturing and exports, the toll of the factories affecting the surrounding landscape and atmosphere. He didn’t have a rebreather small enough for the child and was loathe to take him out in the haze, knowing how detrimental the brown smog of industrial refinery planets could be, but he was hesitant to leave him onboard the ship without knowing how long the roundtrip back to the Crest would take.

Sighing and feeling like he was making yet another compromise to the kid’s overall safety, he picked the boy up and slid him into the satchel at his side, making a mental note to look for a filter while he was in the market.

As Mando trekked through the dead forest towards Calodan, he couldn’t help but feel a mounting sense of unease at their surroundings. Shadows shifted between ashen trunks, the unseen wings of unseen things displacing the smog beyond what his sensors could pick up in the helmet. His hand tightened on the satchel and he made note of each landmark, hoping they could make a quick return back the way they came.

The Mandalorian arrived at a thick stone and iron wall with a gate guarded by a dozen men carrying heavy repeating blaster rifles. A thirteenth stood at the center bereft of a rifle but wearing armor not unlike Guild hunters or retired-soldiers-turned-mercenaries. Mando came to a stop several meters from the door.

“State your business,” the captain of the guard called.

“I’m here to restock supplies,” Mando said. “Just passing through.”

The guard looked him over. “You Guild?”

“I’m not on assignment.”

The guard watched him a moment longer but gestured for the others to open the gate as he spoke into a comm, and the Mandalorian went through. The level of heightened security was concerning: he hadn’t found anything during his search to suggest Calodan was under a military occupation. The guards on the wall and inside the gate weren’t uniform in appearance or armament though, and his suspicions grew the farther he traveled into town. Though there were market stalls set up and people milling through the streets, it was too quiet to suggest this was the regular atmosphere of barter and trade. Even Nevarro had a climate of conversation and busyness to the average working day despite the most common trades there being in black market goods and bounty hunting.

Vendors avoided his gaze as he passed. Windows were shuttered, homes and businesses boarded up or padlocked from the outside. Guards were stationed nearly every other street, not even conversing with one another. He was able to buy a few necessities, but any small talk or questions about the town were rebuffed or dismissed with a grunt. “Best not to ask questions,” they said, swiftly pocketing the credits and refusing more in his attempt to gather information.

The unsettling disquiet only thickened with the draw of dusk. He hadn’t seen another child the entire time he’d been on the planet.

Eventually the Mandalorian passed the stoop of what used to be a healing house, looking down the alley to an older man with short black hair and deep lines etched into his face. Out of everybody Din had passed that day, he was the only one others of the city had collectively drawn to, and the only one whose eyes followed the Mandalorian in the crowds besides the guards. Din saw no market goods or exchange of coin, no ledger recording appointments for services. Nothing except a walking staff and the bearing of a weary man who had once been in a position of leadership.

The man watched him from the corner of his eye as he spoke in hushed voices with a younger man and a Twi’lek woman. Upon seeing the Mandalorian stop at the mouth of the alley, he waved them away down the other end, folding his hands into his sleeves on his approach. The knotwork lotus trim edging the collar and foot of his robe was worn from excessive time spent outside and walking the streets, and his shoes were worn thin enough the soles were coming loose.

The kid perked up, shifting in the satchel as he looked out over the edge.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the man said quietly in greeting. “Be gone by sundown.”

Mando held up a hand. “I’m looking for somebody. I won’t be long.”

“You shouldn’t have come in the first place,” the man said. “Assume everything you say in this city is under suspicion. Don’t speak with anyone else or that suspicion will be cast on them when you leave.”

Din frowned. “Can you tell me what’s happening here? Where is everybody?”

Before the man had the chance to answer, Din heard footsteps behind him.

“The magistrate would like to see you.”

The Mandalorian turned to see two of the city guards. He didn’t think their statement was a suggestion.

As he turned to leave he could still feel the eyes of the older gentleman on his back. The rear cams of the HUD in his helmet revealed nothing but the man’s retreating figure as he took his staff and slipped back into the shadows of the buildings and disappeared.

The estate the magistrate resided in was at least another kilometer into town by foot, an escorted walk Mando didn’t have much choice in making. He knew he could still jet out of range and head back to the Crest if things broke bad, but it would make any visible return to the city near impossible, and the Armorer had said the governor of the capital would be his best source of information anyway; she’d said they were a former member of the old religion themselves before giving up their place of service for a position in politics. If the magistrate reported to them, he might be able to negotiate a meeting.

The guards didn’t speak beyond giving blunt directions from behind him. The child shifted in the satchel, and Din knew he had to be restless from the long afternoon spent mostly people-watching, unable to stretch his legs. Din rested his hand over the bag, willing the boy to be patient a while longer.

He the buzzing in the air before he even saw them. As they turned down the brick street he could see the tops of trees and a manor house peeking over a thick stone wall, but more noticeable was the street itself leading to the gate boasting several gibbets forcing prisoners to stand upright inside electrical cages. All had thin clothes and were in varying stages of exhaustion, their feet blackened and skin dirty. Every face spoke to more than a few days of misery.

Two of them tried to speak as he passed by, but the croaked out words were almost indecipherable. They might have been asking for help.

As they wavered on their posts the red electricity sizzled and crackled across them, gasps of pain following. Din’s stomach rolled, his guarded opinion of the magistrate dropping to nothing. The smell of burned hair and skin followed as he passed.

Upon his entry to the magistrate’s property, several things became clear to him:

First: Two HK-47 assassin droids stood sentry outside the manor door, freshly oiled and looming.

Second: The magistrate could either devote enough time to tending the gardens of the palatial dwelling herself, or had enough money to pay an expert in horticulture and animal maintenance. Eel koi were notoriously delicate and dangerous animals to keep, and they were, at present, being fed by hand by the woman he assumed had issued his summons. The writhing mass of eels sent ripples across the pool, rocking water lilies and reeds.

And lastly: the crest on the keystone of the archway didn’t match the stylized pattern of the magistrate’s dress, but it did match the brooches on her cloak.

The magistrate looked him over with the eyes of a cat. Her apparent deliberation came to a consensus and her approach over the stone bridge made no sound. She almost seemed to glide, her bearing regal and authoritative. If she’d ever been told No in her life it was when that was the answer she wanted to hear.

“Thank you for coming, Mandalorian,” the magistrate said warmly. The smile didn’t reach her eyes and Din thought it wise not to point out his lack of say in his arrival. “Forgive my escort, but we have had some local trouble as of late. I’ve been told you might be able to help.”

“I’m not currently taking commissions,” the Mandalorian said. “I’m just passing through.”

“I think you’ll find my proposition interesting,” the magistrate said. “And my lieutenant tells me you are the best there is at what you do. I have been plagued by a rogue assailant terrorizing my city, and I want you to kill them.”

“Like I said, I’m only passing through.”

The magistrate hid a smile in the corners of her mouth, and with a gesture one of the assassin droids disappeared behind another archway. “My lieutenant also tells me you may be persuaded by means other than credits. It might interest you further to know that the target is a Jedi.”

Din shifted, his left hand resting over the satchel.

“The historic enemies of the Mandalorians were once thought to be extinct, but this target has proven they can be none other than one of their kind. Kill them, and in exchange I offer this.”

The assassin droid returned while the magistrate was talking, carrying a long, gleaming weapon it handed off to the woman, who in turn held it out to the Mandalorian in upturned palms.

Carefully, Mando stepped forward until he could reach out and take the spear the magistrate held. The weight in his hands was immediate and familiar, the polished sheen of the metal flawless. It had been masterfully crafted, artfully formed, and spoke to years of dedicated workmanship behind the forge. Mando held the spear up, feeling the perfect balance at its midpoint before he lifted his left arm and struck the spear against his vambrace.

The clear ringing tone of metal on metal sang in the twilight, spreading throughout the garden like the reverberations of a bell.

“Beskar,” he said quietly.

“Pure beskar,” the magistrate said. “It is yours in exchange for proof the Jedi has been terminated.”

The Mandalorian considered the spear a moment longer, then returned it to the magistrate. “What do I need to know?”

“… What is that thing?”

Lang was an ex-military gun for hire the last time Mando had heard of him and it didn’t appear as though anything had changed. A seasoned spec-ops mercenary, proficient survivalist, tactical ranger, and hand-to-hand fighter, he’d risen through the ranks of the Guild with aplomb nearly a decade before Din was initiated himself. He was known for being fairly unassuming, quick and clean about his work and good with money. He worked alone more often than not but ran point when crews were needed on jobs infiltrating and extracting Guildsmen, civilians, and criminals alike from whatever walls they’d found themselves trapped behind. He ran a tight ship and never left a job undone, calculating and lethally efficient in a number of proficiencies, and he expected nothing less than perfection from those placed under his command, as severe a hunter as he was a soldier. He didn’t stand out in a crowd and he made his business clear with each target he acquired, no performance or intimidation needed beyond his presence alone.

He was also one of the most brutally efficient gunmen the Guild had seen in recent history and cared little for what happened to the people under his employers’ thumbs, provided he was paid at the end of the day. His indifferent disregard of the civilians in the electrified cages outside the magistrate’s manor told Din all he needed to know about Lang’s position there in Calodan under Morgan Elsbeth’s command.

Mando glanced at Lang from the side, seeing him eye the kid.

“Business associate,” he grunted.

Lang snorted, amused. “Well, you’ll need all the help you can get, where you’re headed. Keep your wits about you— The mist does strange things to your mind.”

Dusk fell as the Mandalorian left the walls of Calodan. Once they passed the sickly treeline beyond sight of the gate he pulled the child out of the satchel and let him stretch, but carried him all the same as he trekked out into the wastes. He didn’t trust the look of the ground, poisoned by industrial smoke and dampened by acid rain. According to his recent archival searches, the planet’s vegetation had only succumbed to the effects of the industrial runoff once Elsbeth arrived and set up shop some years before, but the details were vague on what she produced or who she sold it to. If he had to guess based on the readout of the smog’s chemical makeup, heavy arms and munitions were a strong contender, and factories and shipyards of the size he’d seen on their circuit through the northern hemisphere bore a striking resemblance to those of Kuat and Corellia.

Every crackle of foliage and shifting stone had him on high alert. Shadows bent and twisted in unnatural ways, the outlines of rock faces almost blurred around the edges. Din kept a steady stride, but couldn’t help but feel like there were figures lurking between the trees, watching them in the mist. He could see no lifeforms on his scanners, but it was a big galaxy; there was no way for technology to account for every phenomenon beyond human understanding. He turned down a path around another rock formation and continued forward.

The child, undeterred by the mysterious fog, perked up as he took in their surroundings. The trees were beginning to cast long shadows in the setting sun, and the Mandalorian tread carefully to avoid the fallen branches. Southwest, the magistrate had said, until he crossed over into the natural cairns that bordered the rocky wastes at the edge of the black forest. The sun was setting fast though, and without knowing what or who to expect, Din was uneasy at the prospect of coming face to face with them in the dark. All the magistrate had told him was that they were inhumanly fast and had torn her men to shreds with the aid of a lightsaber.

When he’d spoken to the Armorer on Ceredo, she’d told him of the preferred weapon of the jetiise: a hilt of a sword without crossguard or sheath housing a beam of pure light powered by rare, archaic crystals, a blade capable of cleaving metal as easily as bone. She’d never encountered one herself and was unsure of their exact construction, the craft typically only undertaken by those who wielded them, but she told him beskar was stronger. That didn’t mean the heat transfer couldn’t seep through the metal, but if their people’s historic enemies still bore a grudge against the Mandalorians, having the armor on gave him a better chance of survival if he ever wound up on the wrong side of the blade.

As it turned out, he didn’t have to wait long.

When Mando and the child stopped to rest, Mando pulled the strap of the bag containing the boy over his shoulder and set him to the side, following the move with his rifle. The boy wiggled out, inspecting the stone beneath his feet as Mando scanned their surroundings. Night was falling fast, and just as the Mandalorian stepped away and turned the bend to scope the horizon, a shadow registered on the HUD and he heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind him.

Whipping around, Din drew his blaster, and his eyes widened in horrified recognition as the silhouette of a cloaked figure emerged from the fog. Clad in black from head to toe, his face obscured, all Din could register was the blinding light of a blade streaking into existence in front of his very eyes.

No, Din thought desperately, No it can’t be, he’s— he’s dead, he’s supposed to be dead—

Mando brought his left arm up on reflex, blocking the strike of the sword with his vambrace and feeling the heat behind it as his adversary bore down on him two-handed. He twisted, knocking the blade to the side before decking the Moff in the face— His adversary grunted in pain but kept his footing, darting around him and twirling the luminous blade to strike again as Mando fired.

How did he survive? How did he find them?

The Moff’s deflection sent the bolt of Mando’s pistol back at him and shot the gun from his hand.

Where did he get a lightsaber?

The Mandalorian growled in fury, blocking each blow in quick succession. He had to lead him away from the kid, he had to put space between them—

Mando ducked and the Moff’s sword carved through the dead tree behind him, sending it to the ground in smoldering pieces. Mando grabbed his gun. He heaved himself up out of a roll and raised his fist, firing a volley of whistling birds, only for the Moff’s saber to skillfully sweep through the air faster than Din could even see, a spray of shrapnel blowing past either side of his body. Din’s eyes widened and he had half a second to block the next strike, gritting his teeth as his mind raced, driving the Moff back with all his might.

He shoved his gun back in his holster, needing both hands to block the lightsaber’s blows. A plume of fire ejected into the air, forcing the figure back even farther as he exhausted the first reserve of his flamethrower. His vision cleared as a streak of light swiped through the smoke to hit his pauldron, sparks flying as he dodged, rolling to the side and thrusting his right fist forward: with a sharp *thwip* his whipcord wrapped around the biceps and chest of the presumed-dead Imperial, banding his arms to his side, and the Mandalorian ignited his jetpack and shot upward into the air. Mando jerked him to the side before the saber could slice through the cord, feeling the housing run hot in his bracer at the combined force and speed with which he reeled the Moff up; he dropped heavily over the branch of a tree, snarling as he swung down and met the other man’s momentum square in the chest with both feet.

The Moff grunted, sailing back, but then, in what Din thought was an uncharacteristic display of grace, he twisted upside down and deftly cut through the whipcord, landing in a crouch. His opponent’s hood fell back and confusion flickered in the periphery of Din’s mind, realization staying his hand as he landed, and in that split-second hesitation the swordsman lunged. Din deflected the blade, blocking again and again as the man caught him on the backfoot, forcing his boots to skitter over loose rocks and earth back towards the rock formation he’d first started from, the rifle and empty satchel within arm’s reach. The blade cracked off the rocks behind him, and as the man struck again Din crossed his bracers in front of his visor and yelled:

“Wait!”

The swordsman shoved off several feet but otherwise remained still, the lightsaber humming with unearthly energy in front of him. His stance was controlled and ready, his cowl down around his neck. A flicker of scrutiny passed over his face and he narrowed his stance.

“Sorry,” the other man said, lowering the glowing phantasmal sword enough to see the Mandalorian. “Thought you were somebody else.”

Blood dripped from his opponent’s nose and chin as he watched the Mandalorian, standing almost eerily still, and Din uncrossed his arms but kept his hands raised in a show of good faith. “Are you the Jedi?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether you’re here to kill a Jedi or not.”

“I was hired to.” Mando slowly straightened, keeping his hands steady. “But I wasn’t going to follow through. I’ve been told you may be able to help me.”

“What kind of help would you need from me?” the swordsman asked evenly.

Din gestured behind himself. He knew the child had to have hidden at the first sound of conflict, but now he could feel the boy come up behind him from wherever he’d crawled out of hiding as the noise died down. His ward scooted closer to his back, clinging to his cloak as Din tried to regain his breath. “The child. I’ve been looking for someone to train him.”

At the mention of a child the Jedi straightened, relaxing almost completely, though his frown deepened. “You have a Force-sensitive child?”

Din didn’t know what a Jedi was supposed to look like. The Armorer’s description of the historical sorcerers conjured up images of drawings in children’s stories, the long robes and mystical lights swirling around spindly, gnarled hands. The man in front of him looked like a commoner out of place on the corroded forest planet. If he weren’t dressed entirely in black, Din wouldn’t have singled him out in a crowd.

The boy behind the Mandalorian finally peeked around his arm, and the Jedi’s look of amazement was visible even from a distance. His immediate extinguishment of the saber startled Din as he hooked it to his belt and strode forward, and Din’s hand reflexively went back to his holster.

The Jedi halted, hands raised, surprised. He continued to approach, slowly this time after Din relaxed and then, of all things, apologized. “Sorry. I’ve met very few others sensitive to the Force, and I’ve only known one other—” (He gestured to the child) “— Who looked like him.”

“You… recognize his species?”

The Jedi stopped a few feet away. “One of my own Jedi masters.” He tilted his head to get a better look at the kid and smiled warmly before looking back at the Mandalorian. “May I?”

Mando carefully stepped aside, allowing him to see the boy. The swordsman came forward and crouched down, holding out his left hand in greeting as he smiled, and Din’s stomach lurched as the child took hold of it with both of his own.

“Hey, kid,” the Jedi said. “My name is Luke.”

Notes

The phrase “the unseen wings of unseen things” is a direct pull from The Last Basselope by Berk Breathed.

[knightleon64]

The Last Craft Chapter 3: The Factory Work

Elias stood at the factory’s gate, its vast bulk a shadow over the dawn. The machines’ hum struck deep—a relentless pulse, no kin to the workshop’s song. This was no craft’s home; it was a forge of steel and haste, cold as the coin that drew him here. His hands, once sure, faltered at its threshold.

Mr. Phelps, the overseer, loomed sharp—eyes keen, voice a lash. “You’ll tend the lathe,” he barked, cutting through the din. “Match the rest—quick.”

Elias nodded, bile sharp in his throat, pride a weight he’d not shed. The shop was gone—sold for bread—and here he stood, a stranger to his own skin. The lathe snarled, gears gnashing like teeth, and he fed it wood—its shape born swift, a twin to countless more. No care lived here, only the churn of iron will.

Workers moved around him, shadows of men—eyes blank, hands deft from rote. Elias watched, a chill in his gut—would he fade to this, a cog in their grind? He thought of his father, his growl at haste—dead now, spared this cage. Could he bear it, where skill was naught?

The lathe spun, relentless, each turn a theft of his breath. His hands shook, not from age, but loss—the wood’s grain mocked him, shaped by steel, not heart. A lad nearby cursed low, fingers bloodied by the beast—Elias’s chest tightened, rage a knot he’d not loose. This was no work; it was a yoke.

Shift’s end dragged him out, legs leaden, spirit frayed. The factory’s hum clung, a chain he’d not yet snapped—an iron tide drowning men like him. He felt the chisel in his pocket, its edge a silent vow—not of craft’s old pride, but of the lad’s curse, his father’s scorn—a spark unbent. He’d not break here, not yet, though the din pressed hard, a foe he’d face with hands still his own.

[whisperthatruns]

Gate

Do you love words as a shy magician loves the moment of quiet after he’s left the stage, alone in a dressing room where a yellow candle burns with its greasy, pitch-black flame? What yearning will encourage you to push the heavy gate, to sense once more the odor of that wood and the rusty taste of water from an ancient well, to see again the tall pear tree, the proud matron who presented us aristocratically with its perfectly formed fruit each fall, and then fell into mute anticipation of the winter’s ills? Next door a factory’s stolid chimney smoked and the ugly town kept still, but the indefatigable earth worked on beneath the bricks in gardens, our black memory and the vast pantry of the dead, the good earth. What courage does it take to budge the heavy gate, what courage to catch sight of us again, gathered in the little room beneath a Gothic lamp – mother skims the paper, moths bump the windowpanes, nothing happens, nothing, only evening, prayer; we wait . . . We lived only once.

Adam Zagajewski, tr. Clare Cavanagh (text found here)

[br4inr0tx]

The Masterlist

This is a list of all the fandoms I write for.

Anime/Manga

- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

- Boku no Hero Academia / My Hero Academia

- Kuroshitsuji / Black Butler

- Death Note

- Angels of Death

- DevilMan Crybaby

- Kakegurui

- Diabolik Lovers

- Panty & Stocking

- Hellsing

- Bungou Stray Dogs

- DAN DA DAN

Games

- PURPLE: Director’s Cut

- The Phobia Project (Demo)

- John Doe

- House Hunted

- Frost Bite

- Boyfriend to Death

- The Price of Flesh

- Your Boyfriend

- Small Yan Visual Novels (Broken Colors, Somethings Wrong with Sunny Day Jack, My Dear Hatchet Man, 14 Days With You, Monster x Mediator, Trapped With Jester, Lurking For Love, Mushroom Oasis, etc…)

- Hiveswap

- Yandere Simulator

- Danganronpa (V1, V2, V3, and Despair Girls)

- Sally Face

- Identity V

- Dead by Daylight

- Billie Bust Up!

- A Hat in Time

- Sonic the Hedgehog

- Super Mario Bros!

- Dark Deception

- Resident Evil

- Five Nights at Freddy’s

- Friday Night Funkin’

- Undertale / Deltarune

- RPG Horror Games (Ao Oni, Mad Father, Ib, etc…)

- Loveless Biker Boys / Wild Biker Boys

- Baldur’s Gate 3

- Poppy Playtime

- Call of Duty (Modern Warfare 1-3, Ghosts, and Black Ops 1-6 Only)

- That’s Not my Neighbor

- KinitoPET

- Indigo Park

- Regretevator

- Zenless Zone Zero

- Amanda The Adventurer

- Love and Deepspace

- Homicipher

- Mouthwashing

- Bad Parenting

- Papa’s Pizzaria

- Little Nightmares

- Mortal Kombat

- Stardew Valley

- Finding Frankie

- Ultrakill

- Spooky’s Jumpscare Mansion 

Shows/Movies

- Southpark

- Hazbin Hotel

- Helluva Boss

- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

- Monster High G1

- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-2018 Only)

- Metal Family

- The Amazing Digital Circus

- Transformers (Prime and Bayverse only)

- Murder Drones

- Scott Pilgrim Vs The World / Takes Off

- Gregory Horror Show

- Happy Tree Friends

- Beetlejuice

- K-12 / Crybaby Series

- Dream SMP (CHARACTERS ONLY)

- Psycho Cuties

- PUZZELVISION

- Eddsworld

- The Boondocks

- Vampair

- Camp Camp

- Squid Game

- Aphmau: MyStreet

- The Gaslight District

Musicals

- Dear Evan Hansen

- Legally Blonde

- Heathers

- Hamilton

- Beetlejuice

- Six

- Be More Chill

- Seussical

- Legoland / Ride the Cyclone

- Into The Woods

- Newsies

- The Phantom of The Opera

- 21 Chump Street

- 9 to 5

- Mamma Mia!

- Cinderella

- Chicago

- Death Note

- Mean Girls

- Hedwig and The Angry Inch

- Carrie

- Little Shop of Horrors

- Cabaret

- Sweeny Todd

- Hadestown

- My Fair Lady

- Falsettos

- Crybaby

- The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals

- Black Friday

- Nerdy Prudes Must Die

- Hairspray

- The Addams Family

- Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory

- The Great Gatsby

- The Drowsy Chaperone

- Something Rotten!

- Wicked

- Death Becomes Her

- Anastasia

- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

- Footloose

- EPIC

- Repo! The Genetic Opera

- Jekyll and Hyde

- The Rocky Horror Picture Show

- School of Rock

- Waitress

Misc

- Homestuck

- Randal’s Friends

- Vast Error

- Vocaloid

- Creepypasta

- Marble Hornets

- EverymanHYBRID

- The Walten Files

- The Mandela Catalogue

- The Outsiders

- Welcome Home

- Fundamental Paper Education

- Lacey Games

- Monsters We Make

- Luluyam / Lucifer Lucifer

- The Eltingville Club