#fey goblets

[fluffyquill]

Happy Ostara everyone!

Introducing the newest member of the Court of Craft ❤️

[thenerdyindividual]

Persephone valentine bringing fans to The Seven? Jazmine Bhullar adding letters, candles and a goblet of “blood” to Coffin Run? Aabria projecting the monster’s silhouette on the dome in Misfits and Magic, landscapes in A Court of Fey and Flowers? These women understood the assignment. I go feral every time.

[fuckyeahdwarffortress]

i can't make my dwarves happy should i just dunk them in lava for this

Dwarfs being unhappy can be fixed in a few simple ways:

First: Ensure you have a steady supply of food. Place two Fisheries next to your active river (if you have one) or underground lake. Create a Zone that covers both Fisheries and the nearby water, and mark it for Fishing. This ensures a steady supply of fish for consumption. If you have a Kitchen, make sure you loop it on Fine Meals so that the fish can be prepared into proper food.

Second: Every Spring, Summer, and Autumn, make sure you Designate your Dwarfs to Gather Plants across all Grass-based tiles on the surface (or, failing this, Gather Plants in an underground cave at any time). You can then set up a Still to brew from the gathered plants or mushrooms. This will keep a steady supply of booze for your Dwarfs. Failing this, construct a Well above a flowing water tile to supply fresh water. Ensure you have plenty of Goblets/Cups to accomodate.

Third: Create three 7x7 rooms. Stock each with tables and chairs - give one room some bookcases and chests, and give the other one at least one altar. Designate each as a Meeting Space, set the table & chair room as an Inn/Tavern, set the bookcase, table & chair room as a Library, and set the altar, table & chair to a temple (do not specify which deity it worships). This ensures Dwarfs are not left unoccupied, that they have social activities, that they can pray to their gods, and also get an edumacashun.

Fourth: Ensure that Dwarfs have a variety of jobs that they can participate in. A lot of the farming tree has little to do if you're not keen on agriculture, so allow them to participate in carpentry, crafts, or jewellery. Masons can be set to Mining, Carpenters can be set to Woodcutting, so on. Dwarfs need an active skillset. If needs must, you can create a 7x7 Training Room, and draft Dwarfs into the Military to learn combat skills.

Fifth: Ensure that you have a room for your Dwarfs. A 2x2 space with a Bed and a Cabinet is enough for 99% of Dwarfs, but if you find yourself running low on space, you can create a 10x10 room and stock it with beds to create an all-purpose dormitory while you handle room creation. Each Noble should have a 5x5 room with a table, chair, 2 chests, an armour and weapon rack, and a bed. Assign this to each Noble that requires it. Your top three Nobles should be your Manager, Bookkeeper, and current leader (either your Expedition Leader, or Baron/Count/Duke/King). We all make the joke that you should kill your Nobles, but they are key to running a fortress efficiently and without troubles. They exist for a reason.

Sixth: Ensure you have plenty of Workshops and keep a large Stockpile (30x30 with all materials enabled save for refuse). This ensures Fey Mood Dwarfs to create Artefacts constantly and without issue, and each Artefact, regardless of Heirloom status, improves Dwarf moods significantly.

Finally: Ensure you have a graveyard. Create a 10x10 space and create plenty of coffins to inter the dead, and ensure you engrave a slab with their names. Seeing the dead/being reminded of the dead can create huge mood drops, and Ghosts can cause a great deal of issues when it comes to Mood-related issues.

That is to say, if you feel you cannot manage Moods in this capacity, yes, you can just wait for a Migrant Wave and drop your currently-depressed Dwarfs into a pit of molten magma for the Magma Crabs to nibble on.

[antleredthrone]

His wine was poisoned, that much she could tell by scent alone. The culprit would take more to flush out, the fey immediately reaching passed Thranduil to take the goblet and quickly pressing the rim to her lips to claim it as her own. She could hardly hear the sudden shout of protest as she drained the glass, nightshade and all.

Thranduil had been wanting to enjoy a relaxing evening. The elvenking's halls were busier than usual, the woodland elves hosting multiple delegates for trade. The busy days made for wanting calming nights, and he was happy to sit in good company with good wine. Only just getting back to his table after being stopped for conversation many times, he was happy to see Sasha but sorry to have kept her waiting.

He had not been expecting his goblet to be taken from his hand, and he looked over incredulously at Sasha.

"What are you doing?" The sudden movement and little outburst was not unnoticed by guards, and a server was already coming over to refill Thranduil's glass.

Something wasn't right. Thranduil pulled the cup back from her, and and instantly smelled the unusual scent coming from the goblet. Poison?

"Sasha, what have you done?!"

@sashaofravenlock

[too-destiny-panda]

Wyllvember Day 2: Wyll and Tav/The Devil

A/N:This time I switched Day 3 and Day 2 of @sagscrib 's prompt list to better fit the Wyllweek one by @commander-yinello. Hopefully you guys enjoy and thank you for the feedback on the first one, it warmed my heart that I haven't lost my touch as much as I thought:)

This would have been much, much longer than it already is, but I figured there would be another time for me to elaborate on this relationship. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

WC:820

Ah, how quickly one’s fate can change. Be it through physical or mental changes, it truly puts into perspective how flitting one’s sense of self is in the grand scheme of things. Our minds and bodies ever aging, ever changing. A small cut from a stray cat and your appearance is altered, no matter how small or unperceivable that change may be. The only exception to this is the celestial, fey and fiendish beings, perhaps, and even then, they may pick and choose how to manifest themselves to the mortal eye. And if a mortal soul does indeed at some point decide to drastically change their physiology, be it a druid using their wild shape or a bard deciding that their hair needs a different hue, they do so mostly willingly, and the majority of the time, the change is temporary. Not all are so lucky.

When Mizora enacted her punishment for the breaching of her contract (because it is her contract, no matter how technical one gets), she dragged Wyll Ravengard through the burning river Styx, through the hottest hellfire, and turned him into a devil. Gone was his warm brown eye, replaced by a pool of blood red in a black expanse. His neck was forced to begin to adjust to the curved horns now framing his head like a twisted halo as ridges grew into, and on, his skin, his tongue dividing, ears elongating and nails growing into claws. Where once stood the human Blade of Frontiers, the beloved folk hero, was now unrecognizable to many of his admirers as they cowered at the sight of a devil, crying for their hero to save them from himself.

Such trauma is impossible to overlook. A change so drastic, so shocking, and yet it happened in just a few moments. His entire body changed into one so foreign he almost wanted to believe it to be a bad dream were it not for the weight on his head and the occasional glances from camp members as well as the stares of anyone they met. It is no wonder that the Blade avoided mirrors, for a long while, despite the assurances from their leader and a few others that he was still the handsome Wyll they all knew. It was still too overwhelming, and despite being assured in his choice, having no regrets, it was not something he liked or wanted to think about.

Which is how he found himself alone, with a goblet for company as cheers and laughter, and some singing, rang through the air at the party behind him. He couldn’t bring himself to join them, to walk into that space and bear witness to how conversations turn hushed, and laughter quietens at the sight of him. As the Tieflings, despite knowing it’s just him, feel instinctual fear, drilled into them from Avernus as they regard a devil. So, he doesn’t, choosing instead to spend a night meant for revery in the pits of self-reflection.

When Tav had joined him, he felt both a sense of relief and guilt. Relief that he was sought out, that someone cared, and guilt that his choices were pulling them from a celebration of their victory. As he listed all the reasons why he shouldn’t be seen, they listened patiently, offering soft counterpoints and comforting words where they were needed. He truly believed this night was as good as it could get when they asked if they could kiss him. Their words and facial features feigned confidence as their eyes betrayed fear and anticipation, the corner of their lips twitching in anxiety where they formed a small smile. And he meant to refuse, he should have refused, but he just couldn’t. Not when they looked at him with such sincerity and bashfulness that was beginning to turn into embarrassment and regret as his silence extended for longer than he meant it to. And so, he conceded, deciding that this couldn’t be considered selfishness on his par if they offered, as he leaned in to bestow one single kiss upon their mouth. And oh, what a good decision that was.

Their lips were soft and pillowy. Tav’s kiss was tender, uncertain, as if they didn’t really know what they were doing, but he attributed it to nerves and rustiness. When their fingertips carefully brushed the underside of his jaw, he forced himself to pull away, to put some kind of distance between the two of them, before he wouldn’t have been able to stop. Their giddy smile, heated cheeks and starry eyes made him almost regret that choice, but as they parted ways, both leaving the other some space for their thoughts, he knew there would be a better fitted time for them.

And as he laid down for the night, his dreams already drifting towards the person of his developing affection, he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of dancer they were.

[glngrbred]

So I've realized the errors of my way by not making these long posts clearly part of a series on my blog. Since tumblr is *technically* a blogging website makes the most sense for me to just write my shit and say my lines in the comfort of my own blog, instead of spamming tags on them that aren't fully coherent.

Anyways, GOBLIN TIME >:) In the 2nd Garder blog post I briefly? threw out all of the humanoids in my setting and didn't really effectively go over them, so this time Ima go in Depth, the deep depths, of the far side of the pool, on goblins specifically

History lesson time! (Why Goblins look like that lol) Typical greenskin Hooked nosed Goblins were once upon a time anti semitic figure heads. And while most of the time the depiction of goblins and other related variant Humanoids are completely harmless, I still feel pretty uncomfortable about how particularly interested in the Big Ear, Hooked Nosed, unibrowed depictions of goblins people are. Because all of those features were added to the goblin story later, like way later, just for the purpose of making them as similar to anti semitic caricatures as possible. Basically I wanted to keep the familiar Goblin silhouette, as little guys with 3 big triangular protrusions on their head, But I didn't want to fall back on the typical portrayal of goblins as Jewish people Demonized. Do I think The Popular depiction of goblins Is anti semitic? No, but I acknowledge the history of that caricature and want to do something unique already, so having this guideline of subverting the typical depiction is very helpful to me.

With that in mind, here's my description of the Gobling/Goblet, Goblin, Erkling(TBD), Hobgoblin, and Mother tree. Origins: The Goblin Race Were Likely Derived from the same Fey Enchantments as Wendigo, However, When a Wendigo was Enchanted, It's Host would Have near always been an Animal, or Humanoid, Goblins would have come from plants given incredibly advanced magics to be made into a permanent, reproducing, forest dwelling race. Goblins all originate from a singular group of mother trees, again, these trees were most likely enchanted by Fey. And on that enchantment it was most likely to create a Race of Protectors for their forest homes. When I begin to design flavor stories for sets 1 through 9 I'll flesh out the method of delivery for this origin story. most likely goblin investigation/entries and Goblin Oral histories.Anatomy: Broadly Goblins are plants taken animal form, and through typical Human definitions, Goblins are animals evolved from plants as they technically fulfill all requirements to be part of the animal kingdom barring genetics. Briefly and visually, Goblins are defined by their woody subcutaneous, and flexible skeletons, phloem as opposed to typical veins, spongey innards, and foliage. With Pseudo Hearts resembling a twitching tulip bulb and "Musculature" that seems like hydraulics, They are Most similar to a Gnome in biomechanical structure. While goblins do have mouths, and rudimentary digestive systems, they don't have lungs, or vocal chords. And therefore cannot vocalize through natural means, though Goblins are quite good at interpreting language, they simply can't produce many vowels needed in other Group's languages. This has lead to centuries of Victimization where Goblins were unable to speak up for themselves. Goblins Have advanced ears that work quite similarly to a human ear though, the liquid filled Cochlea, film of matter making up the eardrum, sensitive fibers that mimic the human inner ear etc. All this leads us to the Goblin Brain. Like most Magically Borne beings, Goblins don't actually have a brain. It's just a hollow, fluid filled cavity that performs all the same functions and activity as a Human brain. This 'bike' is extremely sensitive to electricity though, as some exceptionally inhumane studies have found, and just like a human, an arrow through the temple is the quickest way to kill a goblin. Also, in apearence the goblin head is big ears, foliage hair, and then eyes. wich are eyes. and instead of a big nose goblins have a big anteater snout for a head, but with the big ears, and the mouth opens a bit more than an anteater's, so its not quite a proboscis but gets close.

this post was too long for a singleton but the sevond will be in a reblog

[covekat]

Hi there If you are still accepting requests maybe you'd consider one of my roleplay Princess Luella Tulloran and her personal servant/body guard a dark fey named Kenoth? I'd adore if Kenoth could be offering Luella a gift like in the ref image (lady in I'm blue dress with dude) but instead of a golden apple it's a golden Chalice/goblet? Thanks so much for considering!

Yes I'm still taking requests. I'll draw up a sketch for you to look at.

[fennharel]

title: the dread wolf watches when: post the tinkerer where: around trigger warnings: none

Known as the liar, the betrayer, the traitor; loyalty is not what Fen’harel is the most well known trait. 

Their name is associated with betrayal of the highest order, with disorder and dissatisfaction, with a knife in the back and poison on a goblet freely offered. They know, through Laer, that their name has begun to be used as a curse. No longer adored for their long standing collaborations to their kind, the Dread Wolf had become a shadow over the former fey. 

A name that is to be whispered by the people that she once led with distaste and rancor dripping from their lips. 

Funny, how everything they had ever done had been for them.

Funny, how despite the grief, despite the overwhelming loss, they do not know whether if they had the opportunity she would do it all over again or not. 

Fen’harel is angry. 

They have not been anything else but angry for millennia. Her leadership has been born from ashes and blood, and she had expected to endure it all without support or advice. 

They had done as expected, gone above expectations over and over again, but the anger had remained. 

And Titania had never done anything to erase it from them. 

Not, at least, until the Archfey used the truth to break them. 

It worked.

Entirely.

Under Laer, she had begun to heal. At Ayla’s touch she had begun to feel again. 

That didn’t stop the anger, but few saw it for what it was. 

A desire to conquer, to make the world their own after it had taken so much from them. 

Not, at least, until Octavian. 

The Archdruid had seen her anger and fanned the flames, seen her at her most spiteful and vengeful and seen another piece of the puzzle. 

He had gained their loyalty entirely, when he had reached out his hand after the people she had given everything for — the people she had lost her magic to protect — had abandoned her once more. 

Lifted out of the ashes of the Eladrin that she had been, Fen’harel had been given purpose and kin. 

The Lupine had been born, the Dread Wolf reborn with a new pack to follow and protect. 

Then their leader had killed them all. No mercy, no misericordia. A total annihilation of the people she had decided to protect. Octavian had taken them all, leaving no survivors amidst his new acolytes. 

Not even them.

Death, and Octavian’s consumption of their soul, had been quick.

But the memory lingered, once the world had been reset to nothing. 

Fen’harel cannot get themselves to betray Octavian, not when he had become her leader, their hope, their everything. They cannot turn away, even as they witness their own mistakes manifesting upon his skin. They had chosen the Archdruid as much as he had chosen them, and they refused to betray them. 

They will not be known as nothing but a traitor. 

Not again.

Never again.

And yet, they cannot help the wariness they feel around the man, now. Cannot help the way her eyes watch him interact with their fellow acolytes, ready to pull them out of the way if their Archdruid loses their mind once more. 

Fen’harel will not betray their Archdruid. But they don’t know if they should trust him as they once did.

[raindropsonroses123]

November Reads

Comics

Batman: The White Knight #1-8 by Sean Murphy 5/5

Batman: The White Knight: Red Hood #1-2 by Sean Murphy 5/5

Fiction

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 2/5

Moon Man Walk by James Ijames 3/5

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 5/5

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 4/5

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling 5/5

Dracula by Bram Stoker 4/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling 5/5

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 4/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling 5/5

White Fang by Jack London 5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling 5/5

The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales by Fei Dao 2/5

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee 3/5

Nonfiction

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park 3/5

[johanneswinstonwileyatmse]

I made a Magic the Gathering fan trailer.

[Video Description: an edit of clips to form a Magic the Gathering fan trailer set to The Requiem by Linkin Park. Tauriel from The Hobbit as Nissa Revane, Morgan Le Fey from Merlin as Liliana Vess, Assassin's Creed Film as Jace Beleren, Aramis from Three Musketeers as Dack Fayden, Madam Vastra from Doctor Who as Vraska, Drexl from True Romance as Tezzeret, Nuada from Hellboy 2 as Sorin Markov, Zombear from Annihilation as a Zombear, Aragorn from Return of the King as Gideon Jura, Mr. Tumnus from Lion Witch and The Wardrobe as Xenagos, Lady Sif from Marvel's Thor as Elspeth Tirel, Live Action Dovakhin-Garruk, Ajani as Ajani Goldmane, Ajhihad from Eragon as Teferi, Destroyer from Marvel's Thor as Karn, Mouth of Sauron from Return of the King as Ashiok, Merfolk from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Kiora, Mulan from Once Upon A Time as Narset, Elesh Norn as Elesh Norn, Mallus from Legends of Tomorrow as Nicol Bolas, Mrs. Who from A Wrinkle In Time as Saheeli, Cthulhu as Emrakul /end description.]

[taylor-reads-books]

Time for another @owlcrate unboxing! July’s theme was Courtly Intrigue. Inside was: •————————————————————————• 👑A wooden swivel pocket mirror inspired by These Hollow Vows and designed by @kdpletters 👑 A Priory of the Orange Tree inspired fine body mist created by @fictionbathco 👑 A Blood Forest souvenir style collapsible silicone water bottle from From Blood and Ash and designed by @thisgirlhasn0name . 👑 Throne of Glass inspired goblet charms created by @bandofweirdos 👑 a double sided BOWL COZY inspired by The Iron Fey series and designed by @loveyoumorestudio (of which I forgot to get a solo picture of 🤦🏼‍♀️) 👑 City of Brass inspired literary luggage tag designed by @heyatlascreative 👑July’s book pick is Violet made of Thorns by @actualgina This edition has an exclusive redesigned cover by @afterblossom_art (which is STUNNING), exclusive end pages, exclusive foil designs on both sides of the hard cover by @paperbackbones, dust jacket art by @nicholedeal, and signed by the author. My favorite items are, of course, THE BOWL COZY! I became quickly obsessed with the last one they sent out and was PSYCHED to see another one in this box! I also loved the goblet charms, the water bottle and the book BUT I LOVE THE BOWL COZY MOST OF ALL! 😆 August’s theme is Steeped in Folklore and it sounds AMAZING! A book inspired by Welsh mythology and items inspired by LOTR, Six Crimson Cranes, Uprooted, The Wolf and the Woodsman, and a non fandom related item. I am EXCITED for this box! Use my code TAYLOR15 to save 15% •————————————————————————• #owlcrate #owlcrateunboxing #ocintrique #bookishbox #bookbox #youngadultbooks #yabooks #yalit #yafantasybooks #bookishmerch #beautifulbooks #reader #readersofinstagram #subscriptionaddiction #subscriptionbox #subscriptionboxaddict #booklover #booknerd https://www.instagram.com/p/ChKz0RGLGv6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fluffyquill]

MOAR GOBLETS. Happy holidays, ya'll!

Was up past midnight finishing this. Babies are hard to draw. Originally, I wanted Hob's doll to be a horse, but I couldn't get it to sit where I wanted it, so I changed it to an owlbear.

Description below the cut!

More of the Goblet Mini-Series! The Pack of Pixies learn about Goblets Fable and Grabalba get the news Grabalba explains, and How Hob Found Out How to break the news?

[Description: An infant KP Hob is presented to the Goblin King in a goblet cup. KP is fast asleep, tucked in among bits of cloth. He's got an owlbear plush smooshed into his left side, and with his right hand, he's holding onto the Goblin King's pinky finger. The Goblin King's claw is almost as large as KP's head. Offscreen, adults have a conversation.

GK: What's the lad's name?

KP's parent: Knickolas, Your Majesty.

Lt. Anklebiter: Bit of an odd name, eh?

GK: Don't be rude... He'll grow into it, I'm sure.

Lt. Anklebiter: Just like he'll grow into those ears! Kid's gonna be a GIANT.

KP's parent: And thank you again for the doll, Lt. Anklebiter.

Lt. Anklebiter: My pleasure!

End description]

[swervinonalatenight]

Unearthing old fanfic ideas (pt 1?) (TW: Suicide mention)

Went roving through an old notebook full of fanfic ideas and came across one that unlocked a six-month long memory of a deluge of ideas. It was a harry potter fic called "Magic Eater", don't think I made wrote any of it though. Just a slurry of ideas and concepts I came up with so I figured I post some here. Title: Magic Eater Concept: Begins at Goblet of Fire for introducing the new houses and wizard characters. Post Order of the Pheonix when the world learns of Voldemort's return, a bunch of rouge wizards take this as a chance to go cause chaos in the muggle world, using magic to cause crime and get away with it much easier. This, in turn, causes the reactivation of a centuries old witch-hunting organization called the Magic Eaters, the ones to lead the original Witch-Hunts and were the real reason the Statute of Secrecy was created, and creates an entirely new front in the Second Wizarding War. Alongside this, whispers of ancient, extremely powerful wizarding families have popped up, and they aren't liking the sound of this "Dark Lord", nor the current state of wizarding.

Magic Eaters: An international, non-government organization of witch-hunters who keep the Wizarding World from interfering with the Muggle world. The way they fight wizards is through the magic-eater metal. A 'living' metal that landed on Earth millennia ago that feeds on, and negates magic, so any spell that comes into contact with it is negated, or "eaten" by the metal. Guns are used, but even with magic-eater bullets, are ineffective when compared the abilities of a wizard who can disparate and teleport away, and are also exceedingly skilled in ranged combat. So the only truly effective way for a Magic Eater to fight a wizard is through melee, which wizards are barely trained in Magic Eater Metal: The metal is a living, alien metal to Earth, crashlanding in a meteor somewhere during the time of the Roman Empire, and then began feeding off the natural magic of the world, multiplying and growing until it was found by witch hunters in the early 1300s, who used it in their hunts. After seeing this success, the witch hunters founded the Sacred Order of Witch Hunters, a proto-form of the Magic Eaters. The raw, unrefined metal grows when it eats magic, and often the main source, the site of the meteor landing, is fed wizards to grow more metal. The living aspect means the metal can "evolve", possibly storing magic rather than just outright eating it, but this has never been observed naturally before, only highly processed and purified MEM has been capable of this. The metal is highly adaptive, being able to be turned to dust and infused in tattoo ink and be safe for humas, but deadly toxic to wizards in any form. Can "mutate".

Ancient Wizarding Families Von Rhines: The Von Rhine family are one of the oldest and most accomplished wizarding families in history. Founded by Sir Rupert of the Rhine, they excelled in combat magic, creating an entire school of magic fighting, Spell-blading, which trade in wands for spell-swords, and are the only known wizarding family to be not only using, but also mastering close-ranged magic combat. They are obsessed with personal honor earned in battle, and each member of the family must prove themselves by besting a great enemy on their 16th birthday, only then do they become a true member of the Von Rhine family. However, the only way they were able to become so masterful in their skill is by waging constant war, and it was this that lead the family away from the Wizarding World to places beyond the known, and only recently have they returned to claim their next great prize, the head of this supposed "Dark Lord".

House Le Fey: Descendants of Morgan Le Fey, sister to King Arthur and the only true rival to Merlin, these wizards are the foremost researchers into the depths of magic itself, and are the creators of the widely accepted usage of and system for casting magic in the current Wizarding Society. But their research hasn't stopped, they only continued. So far into the secrets of magic that they have lost all sense of morals, their sense of right and wrong twisted to near non-existence. Scions of House Le Fey are only accepted by creating a new spell or form of magic, no matter the cost. It was in their research that the entirety of the House was lost to time, gone, into places beyond the known, perhaps into the depths of magic itself. But now they are back, and will show a "Dark Lord" how a true wizard does magic.

House Hephastialus: Barely a house, closer to a guild, they are a group of the most proficient and masterful craftsmen in the world. Creating countless magical devices, weapons and wonders, each member devotes their life to creating a magical artifact worthy of legend, the "Magnum Opus", a device said to bear the power of a god, or, the ability to slay one. They are close allies to the Von Rhines, and have sworn to act as their blacksmiths, forging masterful weapons and spellblades. The weapons they forge make the Sword of Gryffindor look like a piece of rusty steel.

Brotherhood of the Magi: A group of 'heretic' wizards who seek to enact wizard supremacy upon the world. They are secretive and elusive to both aurors and Magic Eaters, and have been trying to put secret members of their order into positions of power in both Wizarding and Muggle societies, it has been successful on the muggle front, but mixed to low success on the wizarding front due to mindreading spells and charms. Voldemort had tried to get them to join the Death Eaters, but they refused due to disagreeing with Voldemort's ideas of rule, seeing it as a child lashing out rather than a chance to overthrow a 'corrupt society'. Voldemort wants to rule over a pureblooded wizard society with muggles beneath them, Magi want to exterminate muggles entirely, viewing their existence as a threat to magic itself. They view muggle society as snuffing out wizarding ones, since wizards now are forced to live hidden from the rest of the world.

The Ones Beyond: A group of the most powerful and intelligent wizards in the world. These wizards are those who have dedicated mind body and soul to studying magic and the make up of the world. They have no written knowledge or texts, not oral history, no creed or doctrine to guide them. They are simply spell casters who’s power is so great no wizards could match them. They are untouchable, and unpredictable, as each one is beholden only to themselves.

Magic System: The magic system in Magic Eater is based on two, uncompromising aspects of spell-casting, "Intent" and "Layering". Intent is simple, its what the spell-caster wishes to achieve through magic. "Layering" is the act of layering the magic itself to create the intended spell effect. "Intent" cannot be acted upon without "Layering", and "Layering" is useless without intent. The way a spell is cast is the spell-caster starts with their intended spell effect. For example, "levitate an object". The next step involves the layering of magic. In the Standard Spellcasting System, the form of spell-casting in wide use and taught to every wizard in the known Wizarding World, there consists three levels of common layering. The wand, the wand motion, and the spell name. The wand itself is a natural layering device, it alone enough to layer magic enough to act upon intent. The wand motion allows for further layering, increasing the spell potency, the spell name is an additional bit of layering.

Layering itself is divided into two types, natural layering and additional layering. Natural layering is the inherent layering that the wand, motion and name provide. Additional layering is anything added onto the spell's natural layering to make it extra potent. Additional layering is simple after the base layers, however, the more layers added, the more complex the spell becomes, and the higher the risk the spell goes out of control. The more powerful the wand, the more natural layering. The average wand+incantation+motion can naturally layer around 100. Additional Layering by an average wizard is often reaching around 200 casually and 300 if focused. Advanced Wizards, such as professors and Aurors, can reach into the thousands. McGonagall can layer a spell up to 7,234 as a personal record. Veteran Aurors have been rumored to reach 10,000 layers, but only in a testing environment. In the field, they are close to 8,000-8,500. Master level wizards, such as Voldemort and Dumbledoor, truly focusing their strength and mind into a spell, can reach up to 100,000 layers. However, in most wizard duels, layering rarely exceeds that of the upper hundreds or low 1000s between two skilled opponents as the intended effects at that level are often more than satisfactory, and the amount of layering beyond that often takes up critical time. (It should be noted that the level of layering required for different intents varies on the intent of the spell. Most intents work fine with natural layering. However, the more complex the intent, the more layering is required just to make it work at all, let alone give the intended effect. So a simple accio spell takes far far less layering than, say, disapparate, or open a rift in space time. The middle requiring a big level of layering, the latter requiring impossible levels of layering) Spellcasting Types: The Ministry of Magic created the Standard Spellcasting System, a standardized form of easy spellcasting that all wizards can accomplish regardless of skill or intellect. It was based on the magic used by most wizards during the time of Merlin in the British Isles. This system is based on three things, a wand, a spell name, and wand motion. Spell names are either latin or greek, which provides layering, and the wand motion and wand apparatus also give natural layering. Additional layering is applied when a wizard concentrates to create these layers. Other styles exist, like the Modern Magic Mandates, which is a more unorthodox system of spellcasting, based off of magical creatures and can be used by hand motions and/or non-standard fetishes like staves.

New Deathly Hallows: The New Deathly Hallows is a concept later in the story where, in order to combat Voldemort who gains control of all of the original Deathly Hallows, The Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility. So, House Hephastialus brought it upon themselves to create New Deathly Hallows to act as a means to counter the power of the Deathly Hallows. (The aim was to make something of an 'opposite in power to the normal Deathly Hallows)

The Magnum Opus: The dream of House Hephastialus has been achieved, and is a means to counter the Elder Wand. Given to Lionel Von Rhine, it takes the form of a spellblade of pure light, and any spell cast with it achieves impossible levels of natural layering, enough to easily overpower Voldemort with the Elder Wand, and even slay a god if needed.

Homunculus Stone: A device crafted to counter the Resurrection Stone by creating life. It is an incomplete version, and the life it creates are not sentient and barely thinking enough to move, used only for the most basic of tasks unless focused on for WEEKS to make a 'perfect' homunculus.

Device of Enlightenment: A device created with a mix of magical powers, and magic-eater technology. It negates the Cloak of Invisibility, exposes any magical weaknesses, and negates any and all magical defenses. Used in the final fight.

Field of Daemonology: Daemonology is divided into two categories, Demonology, and Bio-theology. Demonology is the study of demonic creatures, and how to summon, bind, banish and exorcise them, along with language, culture, anatomy and physiology, and classification of demonic entities. Bio-theology is the study of divine or heavenly creatures, their classification, language, summoning, habits, culture etc.

A “demon” is a being that can only be found in the realm of Hell and one of its many sections.

Bio-theological beings are oft considers to be angels and their variations, but also gods, God, Demi-gods, and anything born in a “Heavenly” or divine realm

Dark Lord (Title): The label "Dark Lord" is actually a title given by the English Wizarding Community and the Ministry of Magic to the greatest threat to the English Wizarding World and to the Ministry of Magic, essentially, Public Enemy #1. It is a once-in-a-generation given title in that, when the threat of the Dark Lord is over, the Ministry enacts the policy of Ultimo Obliviate Damnatio Memoriae, a form of complete and total erasure of the Dark Lord's history and presence in the Wizarding World, essentially making it so it seems as if they had never existed. No memories, not written texts, no survivor testimonies, even the immediate and extended families of the Dark Lord's are either memory wiped, imprisoned or even killed to make sure that no remaining memories of the Dark Lord remain in the world, so any strategies, successful tactics and learnable mistakes made by the previous Dark Lords are not used by any potential later Dark Lords, as well as denying them any kind of veneration in death.

The only known text mentioning a previous Dark Lord is a single paragraph, written in the first edition text of Merlin's personal journal, which the Minsitry has used as a basis for the Drýcræft Magna Carta, the Founding Document of the English Ministry of Magic. The law itself is passed down by the Ministers of Magic to the next, and once out of office, they are obliviated of the law existing.

There have been 9 total Dark Lords, Voldemort is the tenth, but two have survived the Ultimo Obliviate Damnatio. The first was Vortigern, the rival lord to King Arthur, and the other was Oliver Cromwell. Ironic that the only two remembered Dark Lords were not mages. Oliver Cromwell: The reason he was declared "Dark Lord", was because, as Lord Protector of England, he sought to wipe out the English Wizarding Community, and was almost successful, as he had gained access to Magic Eater Metal and equipped his troops with it in his campaign. The Magic Eaters would claim every weapon and armor used in these campaigns, and wiped out any and all records of his fight against wizards. it is unknown how he gained access Magic Eater.

Hogwarts Castle and Grounds: The Castle as it is known today was built in 993 CE by the Architect and the Four Wizards, but the area itself is older and much more that it appears to be. The area that it resides on is actually a separated portion of the Isle of Avalon, which through magical means and natural geological drift had shifted into the Scottish Highlands. The nature of the Isle, immensely magical as it is an intersection between a divine realm and the mortal world, bends the very space in encompasses. There is a reason the Hogwarts Express direction is the only reliable way to and from Hogwarts, as it passes through the only guaranteed way. It is possible to gain entrance other ways, but require spells and magical power nigh impossible for anyone below Dumbledore's level. Even then it would take a few days and countless sacrifices to get a hole open long enough to actually get through.

Daemonologists can get through easier because of the demonic and divine contracts that allow them to travel realms.

Because of the nature of the Isle of Avalon, magical creatures flock to the place, which the total area of the grounds and beyond is unknown, the furthest anyone has bothered to explore is around 1000km in any direction, and it has kept going, not on any place on Earth. At the thousand mile mark, the vegetation was said to be lush, bountiful, peaceful, the air itself like bliss turned into oxygen. The exploration team was found at Hogwarts, all teleported back the moment they hit the 1000km mark. When asked, the exploration team stated that they had "glimpsed Paradise". Afterwards, most were found dead by suicide. Only one survived, but they are locked away in St. Mungo's.

Often times magical creatures and monsters find their way into the Hogwarts area as a refuge. Ranging from dragons, to trolls, major insects and other beasts. But enchantments and Hagrid's own concoctions keep the beasts away from the castle and students, and into the Dark Forest or the surrounding mountains. Unless someone brings them there on purpose.

The castle itself, inside, is rather non-Euclidian. In the millennia that it has existed, countless enchantments, spells, curses, changes and logical impossibilities have been added onto the castle. There have been entire wings, rooms and other sections that have only been seen by professors once in their lifetime. Entire forgotten wards filled with all manner of mysteries have been lost to magical means, only appearing once the magic has dissipated or uncovered by accident. The dungeons beyond the Slytherin dorms is a maze of unknowable horrors and locked away beasts, extending farther down than anyone dares to go, even Dumbledore himself. The Wards are maintained and reinforced daily, and the most dangerous are so far below they can never come back up. Most additions were added as needed, or a student/professor created it as apart of their experiment/research.

Warlocks: A type of spellcaster who gained power through a contract with an otherworldly entity, a devil or an Outer Being. They are seen as grand threats by both the Wizarding World and Magic Eaters, as Warlocks most often are muggles who made these contracts to gain power, and the corrupting nature of having magic in a muggle body leads them to becoming destructive and sadistic, and warlocks are not bound to the same rules as most wizards. That, and most often the contract is made to summon an unbound Goetia Demon or an Outer Being into the world. If a warlock is ever found, forces are immediately deployed to destroy them with extreme prejudice.

Time Turner: Time Turner's are extraordinarily rare magical devices that allow one to turn back time. However, the process to make one is nigh impossible due to the material needed to perform the time magic. In the hourglass of the Time Turner is Essence of Kronos, the powdered flesh of the Titan of Time after being flayed from his skin in Tartarus. There exists only about five Time Turners in the world, and each are controlled by the Ministry of Magic under a special division of randomly selected wizards, which the Minister does not know of, as they obliviate themselves of the knowledge, and none of the others know either. McGonagall is apart of the division, thus granting her access to the Time Turner she gave to Hermione for her classes, however, she placed a temporal lock on herself with it, so she is aware of the time turner usage.

Creation of the World: When the world was created, the Creator, what Christians, Jewish People and Muslims believe to be God/Allah, created creation, the universe and all its aspects, but left it to develop by itself. From there, it began to take shape into the worlds, planets and realms, forces, natural laws and dynamics. Then, the Creator made life, then humanity in its primordial form. Primordial man was truly made in the image of the Creator, and had some of its power, but not its knowledge. harness these forces with this power creating myths and legends and from this, gods of various pantheons were born from Primordial Man, and was given power and authority over these natural forces and laws, and began to shape Earth to their personal liking.

Pangea was the primordial Earth, but with the enaction of various creation myths by the newly formed Gods, broke up Pangea into the various continents known today.

Gods of differing pantheons had fought in the past, but decided to relegate themselves to their homelands and distinct section of the Heavens to avoid divine war, as it nearly destroyed the planet. The Creator: God/Allah/Adonai/Ahura Mazda/any monotheistic deity/supreme all powerful being is or were inspired by this being. It is the ultimate creator of the universe and all its concepts, it is all powerful and all knowing. It is an existence that cannot be surpassed. It is uninvolved in the affairs of the universe, however, it still acts as its ultimate entity, and is unknowable, even by the 'divine'. Before the flood, The Creator created a generation of man who roamed the earth, directly created by him, who would go on to create great works and civilizations. These were the 'Gods', as they, direct descendants of The Creator and imbued with minute fractions of its power. They were powerful and immortal, but the Creator took their ability to reproduce, preventing more Gods being born into the world.

The Biblical flood happened, which The Creator used to pave the way for the second generation of man, Humans. Those that survived the flood lived on to become objects of worship for these humans. The Creator then made one final, third generation of man, a mix between Gods and Humans, which held fractions of the Gods power, but the reproduction abilities of Humans. These became Wizards.

Daemons are either creations of Gods, or are mutated/evolutions of wizards who survived in the Hells/Heavens, meaning they can reproduce, sexually or asexually.

[matrica-a-novelized-actual-play]

Chapter 16: Rebellion

Everything had gone to shit. The rebels successfully infiltrated the masquerade ball unnoticed, pilfered many a silver utensil and crystal goblet, but a reckless attempt to remove a lady’s pearl necklace gave up the game. They fled from the party in two groups, each finding themselves tiptoeing upon rooftops on opposite sides of the chateau’s bailey. Madoc watched in horror as crossbow wielding guards poured out of the door directly beneath his accomplices. “Go,” he whispered to the friend at his side, voice muffled by his butterfly mask disguise. “What—” The fey elf didn’t let him protest. “Go or they’re all dead over there. I got this.” The moment his compatriot fled, Madoc stepped out from behind the statuary lining the chateau’s cornice. “For it is I! The… Butterfly!” Not very menacing, but it would have to do. “Give up you dogs! No more will your masters revel while the masses suffer! I—” he yelped as a spray of bolt-propelled plaster exploded off a nearby statue.

At the gala held in the heroes' honor, Madoc succumbs to the spirit of celebration, and he concocts a playful scheme to deal with the mercenaries who are crashing their party. Can he get the rest of the crew to go along with the plan? And more importantly, will it work?

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[noblehcart]

drabble: yule ball take 2  a  winter solstice @walkingshcdow

she thought of percy as the cold bit through her dress and the wind danced across the garden sending loose strands of hair to coldly kiss her cheek. "They don't feel the cold," Percy had said then, gazing at the revelers. "The Fair Folk are nothing if not a part of nature. Neither chill nor heat disturbs them."

she supposed she should've remembered that upon stepping out of the ballroom into the elements. the ballroom was still cool for her taste, but the heat of the swirling dancers and the raging hearths, torches and fireplaces burning solely for decoration were still just slightly warmer than the unrestrained elements. although she supposed it wouldn't matter soon enough. she'd eat something off the plate resting on her knees and she'd be tied to a fae court once and for all of her life. no more being left out. belonging somewhere some how. there would be more freedom. more choice in a way. she’d die eventually as she would die untethered, but at least it’d be easier. 

a willful part of her mind told her that she was just blinding herself to the truth of the matter. taking the easy road that would blind her to the truth. but she had been resisting on her own for quite some time now. cressida, her personal servant, had made so many sniping remarks to how long and willfully stubborn she had been to refusing food and drink. that now at the length it had been at that it was almost insulting. that she couldn’t continue toeing the line of honored guest for much longer. 

in complete honesty she knew her days were more likely numbered and that the rules that bound the unseelie king to protect an ‘honored guest’ were wearing thin if she displeased him. which more often than not she did. which was why she stared at the plate of food after a few hours of dancing late into the night. she stared at the rib of meat and fresh vegetables brought by the seelie court in token to celebrate the solstice. its rich abundance and warmth wafting up to her nose and made her think about the benefits of the seelie court. evergreen. bright. lively. the seelie queen masha, seemed kind and warm, if the golden glint in her eyes didn’t remind her of a golden arrow that could pierce anyone’s heart. her current champion, gleb, was kind and equally warm. one of the few in either courts to be friendly to her. she knew she’d like the seelie court. she felt like she knew the seelie court and creatures better. she could make a life for herself there somehow with whatever time she had left. 

-but she’d rarely see stefan again. 

she wasn’t sure how the law and restrictions worked between the two courts. unless she became a member of masha’s court then she could only assume she couldn’t travel between the two often or if ever at all. joining the seelie ranks would mean possibly never seeing her brother again. not that he cared to remember she existed. he seemed as of late to only live and breathe for his king. he was happy and she loved to see him happy though it wounded her to see him forget all about her. forget why he even came to the unseelie court to begin with. 

whether the king cared to admit it at all she knew in her heart of hearts that his happiness with her brother was thanks to her and her alone. it was debt she knew he’d never acknowledge or admit, but she knew. and she knew she’d love her brother till either breathed their last. she didn’t want to stop seeing him. 

eyes swept over to the clear goblet of wine and sumptuous dessert that resembled snow and candied ice in swirls of silver, white and dark blue. the closest thing to color aside from shades of black and grey that the unseelie court liked. she could stay with the unseelie court. see her brother. perhaps even have something of a title. champion’s sister. that had to mean something, didn’t it? a place at court no less. she’d have the freedom to roam the fey wild in the unseelie lands. she’d get to keep her friends, stolas and octavia, elwan and fania. she could stay in the silvers and content herself here. perhaps find work doing something with books. at least they wouldn’t drain at her the way they do now once she was claimed in-part by the fae law. 

“if i may offer an alternative-?�� 

she startled nearly dropping the plate and glass entirely at the sound of percy’s voice. she didn’t know how she didn’t hear him approach. 

the ground crackled with ice and crunched with snow amongst the fallen branches that had blown out with the wind. the fae of the hour. the real reason why the party was going on to begin with if yuletide hadn’t been already so close. winter solstice. shortest day of the year. darkness across the world creeps in for longer signaling and celebrating the cold that was to come. it was funny to her that it was percy’s duty to bring about the seasons, especially winter, because he was anything but cold. he was a playful autumn breeze, he was the shining light of summer, he was the bright color of spring....but he was nothing like the winter. the only thought that she could make of percy and winter was his warmth. he was the warmth respite of a hearth in the cold of winter. safe. comforting. burning with a flame unlike anyone else. he felt so familiar sometimes. like she could just fall into his arms and let herself forget the rest of the world.

-but she didn’t. 

it was improper. he was one of the esteemed rulers....of a sort. the uncourt. the wild hunt. one of the triumvirate of rulers though he had no court. however if stolas’s careful remarks were telling then perhaps the two courts lived in deathly fear of him. she wasn’t sure she wanted to know either. she wanted to keep thinking of him as the sole kind fae that was her friend. her confidant. her....she wasn’t sure of the word yet. defining that meant defining her feelings about him. though she could easily say that those feelings were as warm as his coat that he now draped around her shoulders after she had stood up after setting her plate and goblet on the bench beside her. 

 “thank you. it got to be so chilly all of a sudden.” she said now realizing just how cold she felt. the dress was impractical for a winter ball, but not for a fae winter ball. even still it was impractical for a human in a fae ball. 

although she couldn’t bring herself to regret it either. it was exactly what she wanted. elawn called it his masterpiece. she had begged and pleaded with him to undertake the daunting task of her idea, straying away from the winter themes of snowflakes, darkness, ice, and winter. i want it to shimmer like starlight. she had pleaded and he refused reminding her that starlight was difficult to replicate. the night sky with shimmering , she paused and added, silver stars. that’s court ties enough isn’t it? he had only scowled at her and gestured at her petite frame with a scoff.

i’m not putting you in dark colors, dearest. they’d swallow you whole.

she bravely stepped up to take his hands, squeezing firmly with unexpected fondness. i know but i also know you can give me starlight. please? a shimmery starlight gown. like the north star. 

 elawn had only made the sighing remark that she should ask her bird friend about it since he’s in the business that deals with miracles and curses and stars, but at the end he agreed to see what he could do. for a moment when the gown had been delivered to her room the afternoon of the ball she was admittedly disappointed. it looked like any celestial type of dress she had seen on teenagers going to prom or other dances. she almost asked if it was a mistake, but the words didn’t fall as elawn swept into the room with a wave of his hand sending the doors shut and the balcony doors shut in a whoosh. without a word he marched over to where she stood holding the dress and struggling to find something nice to say when he ripped it out of her hands and shook the dress with a snap. the sound of tinkling balls bounced across the marbled floor and the silver and gold star dress that befitted a teenager unveiled before her eyes into something else entirely. the tawdry gold stitched stars had melted into golden threads at the ribs like the silvers of the smaller stars separated and multiplied dispersing across the dress like tiny silvery flickering flames. 

the dress itself seemed to burn in silvery hued flames as it was consumed and transformed into starlight. hundred of pricks of flickering starlight of different sizes had congregated at the bust before cascading in a slight fade throughout the rest of the dress. the thin sheer cape at the shoulders unrolled itself from the tawdry silver pauldrons at the shoulders melting and unfolding into the sheerest shimmering spider thread like tulle. she wanted to weep. she’s pretty sure she was crying as he explained why the  dress had to be changed. he didn’t want to risk it being destroyed by jealous fae hands or would be courtiers who’d do anything to get their hands on it. 

even more he groused at her as he skimmed over the material again searching for faults. you have no idea how difficult it was to get this sort of faelight species to adhere to the dress. incredibly rare to find this color faelight as its mined from a notoriously difficult cave in the fae wild. i had to trade my favorite cufflinks for these so you’d better be appreciative of it. 

she’s sure she cried more, but all she could really remember was hugging elawn as he awkwardly and shortly returned the gesture before demanding she get into it so he can do final touches as he had other fae to finish up as well. so she put on the weightless dress in utter disbelief that it was made for her. 

now you are to tell the king, elawn griped under his breath as he adjusted a seam, that should he want something like this and better then to ask for me. 

liesel smiled wryly, you told me this dress was almost impossible-

the trick dearest, elawn hummed with a needle in hand, is to always undersell and overdeliver. that way the customer is always delighted. you wanted something as basic and silly as the *north star*, but i gave you the essence of the winter solstice. i gave you a dress of the star reborn in flashing shimmering silverlight. precisely what the winter solstice is about. rebirth. that is what you want isn’t it? to shine like the star born on the darkest of nights?

rebirth. she supposed now, as she stood in the frosted frozen roses with percy, that in the end that was what she wanted. rebirth into a new life. to live differently. to live again. whether it was a new life amongst the unseelie or the seelie. she needed a fresh start. a different slate. and her path to that sat on the abandoned plate she had left on the bench till his words echoed in her mind what he had said mere moments ago.

and so she asked in slight confusion, head tilting up to meet his eyes as her small diadem of faelights matching her dress shifted and shimmered with the movement..

“what do you mean alternative?”

[dovebuffy92]

Spoilers Below

INTRODUCTION

Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn created The Staircase miniseries based on a true-crime docu-series of the same name. The miniseries Episode One “911”, Episode Two “Chiroptera,” and Episode Three “The Great Dissembler” feature a family slowly falling apart after Michael Peterson (Colin Firth) finds his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette), dead at the bottom of the stairs. He calls the police to their Forest Hills mansion in Durham, North Carolina. However, the Durham police and the state prosecutors’ office believe Michel bludgeoned Kathleen to death. French documentary director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (Vincent Vermignon) and producer Denis Poncet (Frank Feys) document the criminal investigation into Kathleen’s murder mainly through Michael and his defense lawyer David Rudolf’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) perspective.

At first, Kathleen’s biological family, especially her sister Candace Hunt Zamperini (Rosemarie DeWitt), sides with Michael believing her death was accidental. However, the minute prosecutors Freda Black (Parker Posey) and Jim Hardin (Cullen Moss) show them her autopsy files, they switch sides. Candance and her other sister ardently attack Michael any time they can. Sons Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan), Todd Peterson (Patrick Schwarzenegger), and Michael’s older brother Bill Peterson (Tim Guinee) stick with him even after his arrest. Kathleen’s biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater (Olivia DeJonge), supports her stepfather Michael until she learns about his bisexuality, his affairs with men, and all the secrets he has been keeping from his family. Caitlin doesn’t buy that her mother knew about Michael’s bisexuality. Finally, Margaret Ratliff (Sophie Turner) and Martha Ratliff (Odessa Young) staunchly stand by their adopted father even though he was around when both their adopted mother and biological mother died at the foot of a staircase.

All the episodes flash between three different time periods of this tragedy. The first section takes place on February 24, 2007, when Michael and his French girlfriend, Sophie Brunet (Juliette Binoche), drive to an important appointment. Then all the events surrounding Kathleen’s murder on December 9, 2001. Finally, the third period begins in September 2001, three months before Kathleen dies. These scenes mainly cover the couple’s complicated relationship with each other and their children.

FAMILY DYNAMICS

The September 2001 celebratory dinner scene establishes the family dynamics in the Peterson-Ratliff- Atwater clan. In many ways, Kathleen and Michal appear to have a traditional marriage. Michael is the one in charge of his whole family. The patriarch of his clan. Michael orders his youngest son Todd to get off a business call when dinner is ready. Todd hangs up the phone right away. Next, Michael introduces their family tradition of pouring wine into this large goblet, passing the cup around the table until every family member toasts one of their siblings or parents. The father silences Todd when he starts speaking about his oldest brother Clayton’s past indiscretions during one particular spring break. Nobody can mention this specific spring break, revealing the family doesn’t talk about complex issues openly.

Clayton is the screw-up of the family even though he is doing well at university. Finally, Michael toasts the whole “imperfect unique” family, noting that they stick together and love each other. The toast is almost like an order for the family to protect one another from the entire world. Michael wields most of the power, but Kathleen nurtures the family.

The mother cooks and serves dinner to the whole family even though she is the primary breadwinner. She works as a successful business executive at Nortel Networks Corporation. Kathleen has a special bond with all three of her daughters. Before serving dinner, she gathers her daughters and Clayton’s girlfriend Becky (Hannah Pniewski) for a special toast honoring Martha, whose about to enter her first year of college.

Martha thanks Kathleen for “everything,” including a beautiful note that she wrote about her leaving home. She can’t wait for her parents to visit her in San Francisco. Martha ends the speech by saying she loves Kathleen. The mother tearfully calls Martha her baby girl, then hugs her and Margaret. Kathleen’s biological daughter Caitlin complains that she didn’t get a special note before college. Her mother argues that Martha and Margaret need her to reassure them of her love because they are adopted. Kathleen points out that she only “overshares” with Caitlin, which shows why the biological daughter knew that her mother couldn’t have known about Michael’s bisexuality. She never told Caitlin about his queerness.

During dinner, Kathleen toasts Martha again, giving her advice about embracing the happy moments in life. She states that Martha is her daughter. Afterward, Margaret salutes her adopted mother promising that she will always be there for Kathleen as she was for her. The daughters also have a close relationship with one another. Caitlin honors Martha by telling her adopted sister that she loves her and wishes her a fantastic first year at college. Martha echoes the sentiment back to Caitlin. After their mother dies, all three sisters sleep together in one bed for comfort. They go through her belongings.

All the daughters adore Kathleen and each other, but Michael’s two sons worship their father. Clayton pays tribute to his father. The eldest son thanks Michael for always supporting him and wishes him good luck with his election to the city council. Todd cheers on Clayton, telling him how proud he is of his big brother. They all seem supremely happy, sitting around the large table celebrating each other. Michael’s clan appears perfect on the surface, but there are fractions in their relationships when one digs below the surface.

UNEMOTIONAL AND CHARMING

Michael’s grieving husband facade dissipates when the French documentary film crew enters his home. In “Chiroptera,” Jean-Xavier and Denis fly over to North Carolina with a camera crew to examine the American Justice system through Kathleen’s murder trial. The cinematographer captures Michael’s back as he walks them through the night of her murder by literally giving them a tour of his property. He explains all the details leading to his wife Kathleen’s death in a  matter in fact manner.

Jean-Xavier, Denis, and the rest of the crew follow Michael through his mansion. He stops at the corridor right in front of the entrance to the staircase. Michael turns around to face the camera. The crime novelist finishes talking about December 9 by awkwardly stating that Kathleen was barely alive when he found her lying on the stairs. Denis jokes in French that he has never heard anybody as awkward as Michael talking about finding his “almost dead” wife. Jean-Xavier speaks directly to his subject in English, explaining that it is natural to be strained when first speaking on camera. Michael and Jean-Xavier have not formed a trusting relationship yet.

Michael doesn’t even realize how “strained” he was being. The director asks the crime novelist to try to speak about finding his wife dying on the stairs with a little more emotion. Michael pushes back, stating that he told them how he felt. Jean-Xavier requests that the crime novelist try to pretend that he is alone. That way, Michael can speak more openly about Kathleen’s death. He outright refuses to start blubbering on camera, telling the filmmakers to go to the DA for theatrics. The crime novelist rarely lets himself lose control in public.

What kind of person can’t even shed one tear while talking about his wife’s death? Does this mean Michael’s a sociopath or psychopath? Is Michael guilty? Or is the crime novelist just so shut off from his emotions that he can’t cry in public? Or maybe Michael is just socially awkward?

LAST THOUGHTS

The Staircase begins with a bang and doesn’t appear to be slowing down soon. Do you think Michael is innocent or guilty? Have you watched the original docu-series, or are you learning all this information about Kathleen’s death for the first time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.