#full tarokka deck

[dreadreflection-if]

How would the ROs react to a wizard MC that always uses fireball for any situations without any concern for the safety of themselves or others

Oh, boy… 👀

———

I: Constantly Stressed™. What if you hurt someone?? What if you hurt yourself?! Pleads with you to find another spell to use - or at least to be more careful! Probably cries - they don’t want to be separated again.😢 They don’t like it, but they’ll stay with you to try to minimize the risk. Would be more unhappy the longer you do it.

Akriel: She thinks it’s fun - the first few times. As the novelty wears off, though, she starts to get concerned. Don’t you think this is a bit… much? You’re putting the group in danger. And even she thinks you’re drawing too much attention to them. Mysteriously vanishes each time you do it - she can’t have anything ruining her reputation.

Firan: Judges you, hard. You do realize you are a wizard, correct? There are so many spells you could learn - you can even raise the dead! Yet you insist on almost blowing yourself up. He will even be gracious enough to teach you some spells, if you beg properly. As long as he isn’t in danger, though, he sees no reason to stop you.

Clove: You’re scaring them.😰 They don’t really like loud noises - or all the attention you draw to them with your antics. They won’t ask you to stop, though - they’ll just suffer through it. Probably the one in most danger from the explosions: when they’re raging, they might not notice what’s happening. I don’t see it ending well for them if no one stops you.

E: Activates Protective Mode. Already bodily carrying you away from the scene before the spell is even completed: they made an oath to keep you safe, and they intend to keep it - even if they have to protect you from yourself!😤 Not happy that you’re putting other people at risk. If they can’t stop you, they’ll just have to take out the enemies before you can.

Lei: Doesn’t really care about it. It doesn’t matter to her whether you blow yourself or someone else up. If you put her in danger, though, she will be pissed: MC will probably have to watch their back for a while.👀 As long as she’s safe, though, feel free to use Fireball as much as you want… just leave some of the enemies for her.

Dimitrius: Not really surprised: his Sight warned him this would happen. He’ll let you do whatever you want so long as you don’t endanger him or his grandmother. Will intervene if he Sees you’re going to get hurt - he was hired to guide you, and he can’t do that if you’re dead. The one expressionlessly watching on as you burn something down - again.

Noel: …Are you a fool? You are an investigator, not an arsonist. How are they going to find anything if you keep blowing up everything around you? They aren’t particularly concerned for your safety, but are worried for everyone else. Will argue with you about it, but if she can’t make you stop then she will eventually leave the party.

Uriel: Cheers you on - from a safe distance, of course. He enjoys the chaos you create, since it makes everything a little less boring. Acts as the devil’s advocate for any arguments from the other party members. She would probably be a bit sad if you got hurt, but not enough to tell you to stop. The only one happy with the situation.😅

[shadowchloe]

Tarokka Deck Commission (33/55): Illusionist

The Illusionist card is the seventh of stars, and it represents lies and deceit; grand conspiracies; secret societies; the presence of a dupe or a saboteur.

This one was fun! A bit lengthy to render, which is my own fault for basically rendering two full different faces, but it was worth it! I'm also learning that I really like rendering wrinkles and skin details 😅 which is good I think? Anyways, I'm pleased with this one.

Like what I do? You can tip me on ko-fi! My commissions are also open! Everything linked in bio! (Commissions ordered now may be delayed until this current commission series is done)

[justcaytlin]

Oh yeah, one good thing about moving back to Tumblr is I can chronicle my FFXIV D&D group much easier!

I'm DMing a campaign where I run my friends through the ARR story (and eventually the rest of MSQ, but one bite at a time, eh?) and we've just started.

Prior to the campaign, I put together a 123-page PDF player's guide for them, as they are unfamiliar with Final Fantasy in general and also to convert lore into D&D mechanics. Rather than taking the homebrew route of creating all the jobs/classes from whole cloth, we converted existing D&D classes into FFXIV flavor.

The PDF also contains custom backgrounds, "This Is Your Life" from Xanathar's Guide but Eorzea-ized, and of course races (tweaked from someone else's homebrew, which is linked in the document).

Of course the PDF is already out of date because that's how these things go, but it's still, like, 99% good.

June was a feverish month of creation LOL

Anyway, here's our intrepid party:

Maeda Matsu (Matsu is her given name) is our Au Ra White Mage (Druid of Stars 2/Cleric of Life X, a Hydaelyn cleric). Barry Spalding (Barius) is our Garlean Gunbreaker (Artificer Armorer). And Sayonji Himemiya is our Red Mage (Wizard Bladesinger).

The First Rising

The first two sessions, I wanted to introduce them to the setting, its characters, its story, etc, and also help them kind of get a feel for their party dynamic. So I set it during the very first annual Rising Festival after the Calamity. For funsies, I decided it would be held at the Gold Saucer, because of course Godbert would hold the first Rising Festival in an attempt to reunify people and bring joy to those who were hurting.

I played the ARR trailer video up until the end of the Calamity, narrating over it and what was happening so they could get the emotional enormity of what had happened.

Then I spent time with each character, doing some story RP with them that explained their normal circumstances and how they got to the festival. Matsu's flighty, flaky mom wanted to take her to the cool new festival. Matsu's a Sharlayan Scholar, and Krile is her mentor, so I had Krile give her a Twilight Sparkle-esque assignment: go have fun and make some friends.

Barry was tagging along to his brother's friend's bachelor party, which was a dumbass stunt of "tee hee let's sneak into savage Eorzea in disguise and have our party at their casino!" They basically brought Barry along because he's sorta always the hanger-on, and his brother Nero thought it would be hilarious to get his baby brother drunk as a skunk in Eorzea. Shortly after arriving, they basically abandoned him to go have fun themselves.

Sayonji is a neglected lil baby whose mother was one of the Company of Heroes, but vanished when he was a child. His father then vanished with the other Warriors of Light during the Calamity. He puts on airs of arrogance and being full of himself to hide his hurt. A traveling bard, Temur Himemiya, came to his town of Summerford to talk about the Rising Festival. Sayonji fell *instantly* in love (hence, taking on the bard's last name) and declared right then and there he'd be an adventurer too. He went to the festival riding high on being ~in love~.

He was 15.

How It Went

They met and had a blast doing a bunch of party games. They competed against Yda and Papalymo in the obstacle course up Mount Corel, doing the limit break mechanic to launch Sayonji to the finish line.

They had an astrologian read their fortunes using the Tarokka deck (especially since my husband had already coded up a really cool tarokka reading table). Barry is 100% sure it's fluff and nonsense because lol being in the middle of a corrupt regime??? what lol??? He's a soft baby boy.

Sayonji started to cotton on that Barry might be a Garlean. Most especially because he was weirdly neurotic about keeping his dumb pirate bandanna on over his forehead.

They made contact with a pair of extremely arrogant 11 year old Sharlayan twins whom Matsu had seen around the Studium.

Suddenly, a *tower of light* appeared in Event Square and Godbert made a big show of it, like, OH NO, HEROES, WHAT DO WE DOOOOO, GATHER IN PARTIES OF NO MORE OR LESS THAN FIVE PEOPLE PLEASE THANK YOU

They nabbed Alphinaud and Alisaie as their fourth and fifth (the twins had been arguing with Godbert that they should be allowed to run the tower on their own because they were PRODIGIES) and entered.

The whole tower was an exercise in getting to know your party:

A philosophical discussion with a couple of moogles about what to do if you find a Garlean baby in a camp after you've killed all the soldiers. (Party was solidly in the Don't Kill the Baby camp) The only goal here was to come to a party consensus.

A room where a freaky candy was created to represent each person's deepest fears. You had to eat someone else's candy and be in their shoes for a little Echo scene. Note, they had to attune to a crystal, and Barry could not. He was trying and panicking, and Godbert basically was like "Oh oops it must be on the fritz :D" and had it generate an appropriate chocolate. Matsu learned that Barry is a Garlean, and both Matsu and Sayonji came to the conclusion that he is a soft sweet boy and not a spy, and also he has a shitty family.

A room where you had to speak out loud your worst flaw, and someone else had to talk about how they'd be able to compensate for that flaw. Heroes should be able to lift each other up! Speaking your flaw would summon a platform that would help build a bridge across a chasm, and having it compensated for would stabilize it enough to be able to stand on it.

At this point, both Alisaie and Sayonji were commiserating on "WHAT IS THIS UNAGREED UPON GROUP THERAPY BULLSHIT"

Final room was a fight against Mama Moogle (fat moogle) and her moogley minions. Lots of goofy combat, and they knocked Mama Moogle so hard she quit early.

They got lil plastic medals that, when pressed, would do the tinny victory theme. They say "I survived the Tower of Light at the first annual Rising Festival!" on them. Super gaudy.

Everyone parted ways a bit sadly, assuming they'd never see each other again. Matsu gave Barry a lil kiss in hopes of impressing his jackass brother and friends.

And Then The Call

Last session, I had another round of "here's what you've been doing ever since that day." Matsu had realized her mother was a flake when her mom casually dropped that Matsu was a foundling and didn't seem to get that this was Big News to her. Sayonji had been adventuring, and by adventuring, I mean being a gal friday for Bentbranch. Barry was busy trying to experiment on solidifying the gunblade and the art of gunbreaking.

Matsu was in the middle of discussing with her father and Krile about trying to become a cleric of Hydaelyn, and then breaking the news that she knew about her birth, when her vision blurred and she blacked out.

Sayonji ran into Temur again, was horribly embarrassed that he hadn't done hardly enough, Temur composed a little ditty on the spot about him helping little old ladies, and Sayonji blacked out.

Barry was walking through Ala Mhigo with his brother when Nero got into a spat with a little girl and her mother, and when the girl attacked him, Nero reacted without thinking and went to rifle-butt-smack her in the face. Barry intervened and blacked out.

They all had a joint vision of themselves in a floating void -- the others were glowing light figures, like the Warriors of Light -- and they got to see themselves as max level as a lil glowing light did the Hear, Feel, Think shtick.

Then they saw the glowing orb start to bleed black mist and shrivel, and an Ascian appeared, picked up the orb, and crumpled it in his fist. Then he shot away, and the three of them were able to give chase and limit break him into non-existence.

When they woke up, they all basically got lil scenes that got them to a boat. Barry asked his brother to cover for him while he went "field testing" and Nero took this to mean he wanted to basically do Garlean Rumspringa and also probably do some casual murdering of Eorzean soldiers, which is a-okay in his book. Nero gave him the thumbsup. Krile was excited about the vision, and Matsu's dad was worried. They urged her to start adventuring, and Krile offered to put in an appointment with Baderon at the Adventurer's Guild in Limsa. Sayonji told Temur about his vision and got a lil ditty in compensation.

It's worth noting right about now that I've been making quest plates for them, so they can keep track of the long-term questions.

Anyway, they all got on their boats. Sayonji and Barry had about a month on the boat together to catch up (Barry was a stowaway). They met Matsu in the Cieldalaes, where Limsa customs is presently, since the Yellowjackets are buttoning up everything in response to a spate of kidnappings.

They met Brennan, the friendly peddler, who chatted with them and asked them why they were adventuring and whatnot.

THEN PIRATES ATTACKED, and we stopped for the day.

Whew

Most of these writeups won't be this long, since they won't encompass THREE SESSIONS plus setup, but at least I have something I can point to now lol

[wanderingjournalofshadows]

principium II

I shall tread down on the path of creating a character.

But before that, allow me to correct my previous writ regarding the system I will use.

Most of the Ravenloft setting has been published in its full glory under the second edition of AD&D, thus I shall use that one. Luckily, I also possess a Player's Handbook of this edition, which will be quite handy with character generation and general rules. The spells are also straightforward, and there is the possibility to uitlize Gavin Norman's Theorems and Thaumaturgy but also Wonder & Wickedness from Lost Pages. I've been quite excited to include those in some games already, and so far haven't had the luck to do so.

Today's post will be about character creation, and establishing the starting area - one of the Domains of Dread.

I'm also thinking about creating a Wiki for myself, or something that functions as a Wiki - maybe Notion could be a good option, but I leave this decision for now behind. There is a character to be made.

I was thinking about using some inspirational practices, like using the Tarokka deck to determine certain things. I know for certain that if I would play a human, my option to have multiple classes is only to dual-class, meaning I have to level up one class to a certain point, where I stop and start the new class, retaining all the benefits of the previous one, but I can't move forward with the old one.

All the other playable races can Multiclass, meaning they always use the most favourable benefits of the classes but have certain restriction.

But again, maybe the cards tell me otherwise - so let's see! I will draw four cards of the Tarokka deck to determine my character's past as a child, how they flourished/survived through out adulthood so far, what is their ideal and their burden. I will also draw a fifth card that should give me a certain idea of the first Domain of Dread this character will venture into.

The cards are:

Seven of Swords - Hooded One - Bigotry, intolerance, and xenophobia; a mysterious presence or newcomer

Innocent - A being of great importance whose life is in danger (who might be helpless or simply unaware of the peril)

Four of Coins - Merchant - A rare commodity or business opportunity; deceitful or dangerous business transactions

Two of Glyphs - Missionary - Those who spread wisdom and faith to others; warnings of the spread of fear and ignorance

Nine of Glyphs - Traitor - Betrayal by someone close and trusted; a weakening or loss of faith

So what I can deduct from this - Through the Hooden One, the character had a family being executed for a sin they commited. As a child they had to grow up on the streets, fending for themselves, becoming streetwise.

The Innocent card suggests me an adulthood where they were seeking the truth about their family being executed. Something that might've drawn them to investigation and knowing the truth.

The ideal and the burden is fairly interesting, since the Merchant ideal would blatantly suggest that the character is mainly motivated by monetary gains, but the ideal behind it is risk taking, running a business, taking rare opportunities that come with interesting consequences. I think their ideal is being daring, or ambitious.

The Missionary says is the wisdom and faith, of caution and preaching of dangers. Maybe they might be overly cautious? Although that might be fairly against the ideal. Catastrophizing might be the actual burden. While they will take the risks ahead, the scenarios in their head could be the worst of the worst nightmares.

Now the Traitor is a very interesting choice for the Domain of Dread. I reach back for the Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft - to see which Domain might be the best fitting for this. I specifically don't want Barovia, even though there are some aspects of it that might work well with this.

I found Borca to be the most fitting one with its hallmarks of political intrigue, poison, and revenge. Noble families, conspiracies and corruption is definitely fitting to the Traitor card.

I'm thinking of a Half-Elf, specifically a Half-Elf Thief/Mage multiclass. But now I realize that OSE with the Advanced books might be a good option for the rules. It seems to be closer to 1E than 2E, but has some elements well massaged within the rules, that make it certainly more appealing, like Humans can also multiclass.

Nevertheless, I'll roll first my Ability scores - in the 2E book six methods are presented, for the joy and randomness, I shall roll 1d6 to determine which method I'll be using.

Number 3 - Method III - Rolling 3d6 six times and then assigning them to the abilities. Fair and harsh. Good start.

16, 12, 12, 11, 11, 9 - I rolled fairly well for this.

Following OSE character creation, now I choose my class(es). I'm still thinking of Thief and Mage (or in OSE's case, Magic User). The wonderful thing about the OSE multiclass, that it allows you to have the best armour, weapon, spell casting, and stealth skills of your classes, as long you have the appropriate equipment.

And the Advanced books hold some goodness when it comes to the races, but I will stick to the half-elf. And thusly, I record most of the abilities and saves, and additional things. I'll take the advice from Theorems and Thaumaturgy, and start with Read Magic as a first spell, and generate two random from my list, Magic Missile and Sleep, then I choose two freely - which I'll do so from the T&T (ain't gonna write that title again) - Reptilian Metabolism from the Vivimancy list, and Crystal Resonance from the Elementalist list

And due to the nature of OSE, I'll start with a wonderful amount of hit points: 3. Main priority - don't die.

At this point I slowly get the idea of the character on a mechanical level as well. Use spells wisely, sneak often, fight only when needed.

Gotta get some friends during adventuring.

Backstory will come around for the next post - most likely in the company of the Oracle I'll be using.

Cheers,

Mythwriter

[rabdoidal]

would yall be interested if i designed a tarokka deck or a deck of many things? im interested in doing a full tarot deck, but designing 78 cards would take a while compared to either 22 or 54 cards depending

[johannstutt413]

[So, I don’t have a Tarot deck, and despite loving Persona, I don’t really put any stock in it. However, because I’m a DnD nerd, I do have a “tarokka” deck (Curse of Strahd/Ravenloft, basically the setting’s variant), so for the sake of this piece, that’s the deck being used. And yes, I did actually do this]

After a long day in his office, the Doctor was ready to head back to his room and relax...Just as he was turning off his computer and putting his jacket back on, however, there was a knock on his door. “Come in.”

“Good evening, Doctor.” Gitano stepped into his office, closing the door behind her. “I know you must be tired, but I have seen something in the cards that I must confirm. Would you indulge me and allow me to read your future?”

“If you think it’s important, Gitano, I’m more than willing.”

She nodded. “Thank you. This desk is free, correct?”

“Yeah, I sent Shaw home already.” He rolled his chair to the opposite side of the assistant’s desk as Gitano took a seat behind it. “Same process as last time, right?”

“Not quite, but I appreciate that you remember.” She brought out her deck, located the Beast card, and shuffled it thoroughly after setting the Beast in the center. Once it was satisfactorily mixed, she unfolded it and let the Doctor pick four cards, shuffling again after each selection, and then arranged them in a cross shape.

The Doctor eyed the setup curiously. “This looks about the same to me.”

“In some ways, they are identical.” Gitano smiled. “The object, however, is a particular one. For your first reading, I had you select a card for this place as well; based on the vision I saw, however, I needed to start with the Beast.”

“Why the Beast?”

Her smile became an elusive smirk. “It represents passion, Doctor.”

“Passion...” His eyes lit up. “I have an inkling, but please continue.”

“First card...Mercenary.” She flipped the card closest to her.

The Doctor looked up at her. “Do we wait until after all the cards are revealed?”

“I can delve into the specifics with you, Doctor, if you’d like.” He nodded, so Gitano continued. “This card echoes the past; for our purposes, it represents the source of the passion in question. In this case, a person’s strength of character made an impression on the other.”

“Fascinating...”

She smiled and flipped the card left of center. “Second card...Necromancer. Not inverted, which is...troubling. This card should call forth the present, but it says the passion is an obsessive sort...and unhealthy.”

“That does sound bad.” The Doctor stroked his chin. “Maybe the other two can save it?”

“Let’s see. Third card...Miser. The fate of this passion, as it were, is to be kept in the passionate person’s heart.”

He sighed. “No dramatic revelation, then?”

“No...Last card...the Darklord, inverted? Now that’s...fascinating.”

“What does it mean?”

“Well, the last card represents what happens if the passion is acted upon; this would suggest that, in defiance of the Miser, revealing the passion would not have serious consequences for either party...” Gitano looked the Doctor in the eye. “This makes my course of action rather complicated.”

The Doctor cocked his head. “Why’s that?”

“Well...This may sound odd, but would you mind doing this reading for me? I can explain the cards, but I need you to handle the deck.”

“Um, sure,” he agreed. “Are you trying to get around the whole ‘predicting your own future’ thing?”

She blushed. “Perhaps.”

“Well, Gitano, I don’t think you’ll need the deck for that.”

“Hmm?” She smiled. “What makes you say that, Doctor?”

The Doctor took a deep breath. “Revealing the passion won’t have serious consequences? That’s because you don’t need a fortune teller to tell you how I feel about you.”

“I thought it might be the case...but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Predicting your own future is rather taboo, but I felt such great duress over it I couldn’t stop myself.”

“You? Under duress?” He reached over the cards to take her hand. “Gitano, why would you be worried? Do you know why I play cards with you and the others every weekend, despite clearly being a terrible player?”

Gitano chuckled. “Should I assume to spend time with me?”

“Because you get so invested in the game, you show everyone your true colors, and I love seeing you flustered. Especially that one time I won because you didn’t think I could possibly have a full house and I did- not that I’m giving you more crap about that-”

“Oh, I know I overreacted,” she waved her free hand, “but that’s beside the point. I find it curious that the cards made it out to be an obsession, though.”

His face flushed. “Um...before I give you a possible explanation, I just want to be sure - you were disturbed because you like me, too, right?”

“I saw good fortune in love for you during my routine readings and wanted to be sure someone else didn’t reach you before I did, so yes.”

“Good.” The Doctor sighed. “You’re going to think less of me, and I’m ready for that.”

Gitano smiled. “We’ll see.”

“Okay. There was this one time I heard Spot say something about asking you out, so...I spiked his drink the day before open season.”

“...You did not.” She covered her mouth as she did her best to control herself. “Doctor, if I remember, wasn’t that the one when-”

He nodded. “I’m lucky the sedative was out of his system by the time he went to the infirmary, otherwise, well...there would have been disciplinary action, I’m sure.”

“That certainly qualifies as unhealthy, I suppose - but it certainly could have been worse.”

“Right.” The Doctor wasn’t quite sure about that. “Well, um...we still have some time before I need to head to bed...although honestly, I kind of just want to call it a day.”

Gitano glanced at the door. “Would you like me to help you fall asleep?”

“Help me fall asleep?”

“I know a few ways to ease a person’s mind.” She winked at him. “Then again, I could just wear you out~”

He swallowed. “That sounds like a plan to me...”

[crucibleknight]

my PCs wanted individual card readings from Madame Eva so I just used my normal tarot deck but I’m tempted to figure out a more full reading system using the Tarokka Deck

[dndeviants]

A Nasty Bite

Jeeves had pulled Aric aside as he was gaining his senses in this new place. He didn't particularly care about the stranger that had come to greet them, preferring to stick close to the shadows.

Jeeves examined Aric’s bite. The wound was turning black, and it looked worrisome, "My lord... are you doing alright?"

“I feel... strange. I think i'm getting sick...” Aric looked nauseated and trembled.

Jeeves frowned at the bite and began to search through his pack, throwing together a quick disinfecting salve. He applied it to the wound after washing the area with water from his canteen. He dressed the area in bandages and murmured to himself, “Damned beasts. You were lucky you only escaped with a bite... but...” 

He sighed, "I think... if I recall correctly... werewolves are cursed monsters... and you can become a werewolf just from a bite."

Aric thought for a moment. From everything he could gather from folklore, it seemed that what Jeeves said was true... Even a man who is pious and says his prayers at night may become a wolf when the full moon shines bright... He looked up at the moon: a waning crescent just beyond the half moon. 

I have maybe a week before the full effect of the curse can take hold... Aric sat in stunned silence.

"My lord?"

Jeeves’ concern drew Aric to the reality at hand. Aric felt numb, “So... I’m going to be a werewolf? That’s going to be hard to explain when we return.’”

"There has to be something we can do... just like any disease... there has to be a cure, and there has to be time to find one. But if not..."Jeeves crossed over his heart,"Your secret will be safe with me. No one shall have to know."

“Yes, for now i think that's best...”Aric stood, grimacing in pain as his shoulder began to sting, “Maybe we will find a cure in this place.Where are we exactly?”

Jeeves stood with Aric and looked at the moon,"I heard 'Barovia' mentioned quite a few times... that gentleman also welcomed us...” he looked down the road, and saw no sign of Linda, Ruki, or the gentleman, “..and left us it seems. The village is just up ahead... there has to be a doctor... and perhaps information to the rings as well."

Aric clutched at his shoulder, “Let’s head there, but no doctor until we know who we can trust.”

 "Of course my lord,” Jeeves nodded, “We can never be too careful... especially if Mehmet is involved too... do you think he is a werewolf as well?"

“Honestly...” Aric thought of what they knew... stealing the rings with help of the Pershakahl... “He would do anything for power, so its possible,” Aric assessed.

Jeeves offered his hand in support, "In any case, we'll keep our situation quiet. Now, let's find an inn, or... something."

Aric grunted, taking Jeeves’ arm in support, “An inn and a bed sounds good right now.”

Aric and Jeeves hobbled down the street into the village. It was quiet and dark, but they could hear unsettling sounds... like movement in the dark houses... especially at a time when people should be sleeping. Nonetheless, they continued onward toward the center of the village, where they saw the only building still lit. A hanging wooden sign proclaimed: “Blood o’ the Vine Inn.”

Aric looked up at the sign that creaked slightly when it hung, “I guess they sell wine?”

Jeeves shrugged and let Aric stand by himself, "I'm fairly certain... but let us hope they have a room..."

Jeeves opened the door for Aric. They entered the Inn and studied it quickly. They found empty tables where someone had recently left, gold coins resting on one surface. Another table held empty wine bottles and dirty glasses. Three women with darker skin and black curly hair, dressed in colorful array sat at one of the tables. They spoke among themselves in a different tongue, and appeared to be making comments in regard to a card game they are playing. Chairs are in disorder all around the tables, and a man polishes glasses absentmindedly behind a bar.

Aric tiredly turned to Jeeves, “Can you see about getting us a room?”

Jeeves nodded and approached the barkeep, "Excuse me, but we are weary travelers, and we seek shelter for the night. How much will a room be?"

Jeeves waited for the man to respond, but the man continued to polish a glass, staring straight forward.

Jeeves looked back to Aric in confusion. Aric shrugged, then grimaced in pain for the gesture. Jeeves looked back to the man and spoke a little louder,  "Ahem. Excuse me? How much for a room?"

The man continued to polish absentmindedly. The ladies giggled amongst themselves, before one of their number addresses Aric and Jeeves, "You'll have to excuse him... Barkeep Arik isn't much of a conversationalist."

Aric glanced sideways at Jeeves, “That can't be good for business,” he looked over to the woman who spoke, “So who do we speak to about getting a room then?”

The lady shrugged "That would be Arik. But he's asleep right now-" she indicated the barkeep who was absentmindedly polishing glasses, "You could just grab a room and pay later. It makes no difference to him..." 

She looked Aric and Jeeves up and down, smirking, "A little far from Calimshan, are we?"

Aric eyed the woman with suspicion, “I guess that would depend on where we are exactly.”

She made a flippant gesture, "A little to the left of the Prime Material plane... so not far in cosmological terms... however, in mortal views... you are in a different world from your own... No longer in Toril... but the Plane of Shadow."

As Aric was contemplating on that new information, the woman swiped her cards off of the table, and shuffled them into her deck. She walked over to Aric and sat at a new table, spreading the strange cards in front of him.

 "Would you like your fortune told?"

“The plane of shadow,” Aric spoke softly, “I thought traveling the planes was difficult, how did we get here? Will my fortune tell me that?”

The woman smiled cryptically, "It might. You'll just have to see."

“I guess there's no harm in it,” Aric pulled a chair out and sat in front of the woman.

"Pleasure to meet you. I am Alenka...” she gestured to the other women, “These are my sisters, Mirabel, and Sorvia. And this..." she indicated the deck, "Is a tarroka deck." 

She flipped over a card, revealing a macabre image on the other side. To Aric, it looked as if there was a skull encased in a cloche, resting on a pedestal. The card proclaimed its name: “Artifact.”

 "You are here because something of great importance was lost,” Alenka interpreted, “ You seek to get it back. You were brought here..."

She flipped over another card. This one was the “Diviner.” It showed a picture of a wise woman sitting at a table, holding cards not so dissimilar from the ones Alenka called tarokka. 

"... By one of our own, it seems. A Vistana like ourselves. She will aid you on your quest," She looked up at the genasi, "Would you like to know where your treasure lies?"

Aric's stomach lurched with anticipation. Already, this woman was very accurately outlining his situation he was in. The more information he could gain, the better. “That would be very helpful, yes,” he replied, working diligently to contain his emotion.

Alenka squeezed her eyes shut, and muttered something to herself, seeming to focus entirely on her deck. Aric eyed every card that she drew and placed face down on the table. One card, two, three, four... eleven in all, spread in the shape of a “V” with Aric at the bottom point.

She flipped over the card at Aric’s top left, the Paladin, "A man of honor has stumbled across one of your treasures. He seeks to restore the village to order, and faith. Aid him in his endeavor, and he will return what was lost to you."

The next card she chose was at the Abjurer, at Aric’s top right, "There is an order here, kept imprisoned by the Land itself, doomed to repeat history, lost to light. Return their once holy order to the light, and what you seek will fall before you."

Hooded One, was under the Paladin. The Vistana paused at this one, "Ah, it seems that enemies are conspiring against you even now... but is it better to stick with the Devil you know? Or the Devil you do not? Either way you choose, when confronted with the choice, what you seek will be yours."

The Enchanter was beneath the Abjurer, "Ah, this is a sad one...” Alenka spoke softly, “A sad story, told over and over again... all the endings are the same, but different. Go to the ruins, and seek out her monument. The master of the marsh will know what it is you seek."

Her hand followed the line of the left, and drew the friendly looking Guild Member, She chuckled, "It seems a shopkeep found something, but doesn't know its true worth. Whatever price you have to pay will be trivial to its value, but he may be persuaded to give what you seek to you- if you aid him. Go to the town of silver... there is where you will find him."

Shepherd was the sixth card revealed, "It seems that a humble family has stumbled across an ill-fated treasure... they are in danger, but you can rescue them and claim your reward."

The Missionary was the seventh, "It seems that there is a Missionary in Barovia. He seeks to return light to all of it, but in bringing in light, he has fallen to darkness. Deal with him, and you will find your prize."

So close to the bottom of the point, she flipped over the dashing Rogue, "Some people are not who they appear to be... birds of a feather will flock together, and if you prove yourself to their flock, they will help you find what you seek."

The last card on the left line was the Conjurer, "A dangerous woman has what you seek... she lurks in the marshes and will be loathe to part with her prize. Deal with her how you must, her obsession has changed her."

The Wizard was the last card on the right, "A man of learning, a man of a haunted past... he hides in his tower, plotting, planning to use what you seek in order to gain control over the dark influences in his life... Persuade him to part with his unhealthy obsession, and the treasure will be yours."

The card at the very end of the point flipped over. The Charlatan was revealed, its mischievous face hiding behind a wicked mask. Alenka paused, “Ah, there is a man here... one of many secrets, one of malice... he has the last of the treasures, and he will not part with it so easily. He has one last trick up his sleeve. Don't fall for it..."

She took the cards up suddenly, and shuffled them back into her deck, "I hope this helped."

Aric sat shocked at the motion, and had to take a moment to gather himself. “That was very specific, thank you for your help. Is there anything i can do in return?”

Alenka stroked her chin in thought, "Well perhaps. Whenever you leave the village, you can visit the Tser Pools, and speak with Madame Eva. She is the raunie, the leader of our people. She is always helpful to strangers, and I have a feeling that you will need her help with your enemies. Oh, and you could hand me those coins on the table there... your friend Vasili left it to cover his guests’ various expenses. I'll make sure your room... and my services... are covered."

Aric stood up and moved to pick up the coins laid out on the table. How no one had already stolen them was beyond Aric, but he was grateful not to have to spend his own limited funds while in this place. 

He handed the coins over to Alenka, asking “Are you sure that will be okay?”

Alenka nodded, "Lord Vasili is a... very close associate of the Vistani people. We regularly do errands and business for him..." She counted the coins out, and handed  Aric a spare gold piece. 

She nodded to Aric, "That should cover everything."

“Thank you again for your help...” Aric stood up and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He grunted and spoke to the Vistana, “I think my friend and I will go to our room now...”

Alenka looked over to his bandaged shoulder, nodded and pointed up the stairs, "First one to the left. That one is available."

Jeeves thanked her quietly, and waited for Aric to steady himself. They walked up the stairs and into the room that the helpful Vistani woman indicated. They found the room to be quite modest, having only two wooden cots and a dresser. A small pipe ran through the room to put out heat. There was also only one small, square window that revealed the village outside, and the drapes that were beside it appeared to have once been red... but have since faded and were now very moth eaten.

“Not exactly the nicest place we've stayed, but it will do I guess...” Aric sat down on the closest cot, eager to get some rest.

Jeeves set down his pack on the other cot, "We are just lucky we had all our effects before all that mess happen. Could you imagine if we left anything at the other inn?"

“I'm sure we could have found replacements,” Aric swept his feet off the floor and laid down on the cot.

Jeeves opened his pack and checked his supplies, "Not sure if any of it could be easily replaced, save for maybe clothes. But wyvern toxins? I'm not so certain...” Jeeves looked over to Aric, seeing him hold on to his shoulder, "Does the bite hurt still?"

Aric pressed his wound a bit, “Only a dull ache now, thank you for treating it.”

Jeeves noded and paused, thinking about the circumstances. He looked out to the moon hanging in the sky, and did not quite whisper, "How much time? How much time do you think you have before you're stuck a monster?"

Aric sighed, “I don't know for certain. The full moon is in about a week. I'd imagine ‘til then.”

Jeeves is quiet as he looked out the window. After a long moment of thought, he proclaimed,  "No matter what, I am still sworn to protect you with my life. I have no intention of abandoning my vows. I just thought you'd like to know..."

“Thank you,“ if nothing else, Aric could always count on Jeeves’ loyalty.

Jeeves laid down on his cot, "Now, what to do about Mehmet?"

“I don't know,” Aric admitted, “He willingly walked into the fog that brought us here. It seems like he may know something we don't. He has the upper hand for now.”

"But, if what Alenka said is true, we have information on the rings that he doesn't. So, we also know something that he doesn't. So, I suppose we are back on even grounds."

Aric mused, “That's true, assuming her information is correct. I wasn't expecting such specifics when she offed to tell my fortune. although how we arrived on a different plane is still a mystery...”

 "She said the plane of shadow, right?" Jeeves shuddered.

Aric leaned over to face Jeeves, “Yes, do you know anything about it?”

He shook his head, and laughed, "Absolutely nothing, but it doesn't sound good!"

“No, it doesn't,” Aric agreed, “I guess we'll be stuck here for a while.”

"If there is a way into something, there is a way out," Jeeves closed his eyes, yawning, "We'll figure this out. And stop Mehmet from doing... whatever it is he's doing..."Jeeves covered his mouth to stifle another yawn,  "I suppose rest is the best thing to do now."

Aric felt his eyelids grow heavy, “Yes, goodnight Jeeves,” he let the fatigue finally wash over him, and take him into a restful sleep.

[currycurrie]

I’ve seen in the tag occasionally people doing tarot readings for upcoming episodes. I thought it would be a bit of fun and more in-universe to do a tarokka reading for the next episode since we ended last episode on such an explosive note. If you’re not aware, tarokka is a game mechanic in the Curse of Strahd campaign that helps determine the locations of important items and NPCs. I’m going to be running Curse of Strahd at my local game store so I recently picked up a tarokka deck, and need some practice with it.

This is bound to get a little long so I’ll throw the reading under a cut. If you’ve got any requests for readings, throw me an ask! I’ll be happy to do them. And, as always with this sort of thing, this is just for fun. Fun only. I put no stock in what a deck of cards made for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign say.

A tarokka reading is done with an array of five cards. Card one represents the past and how it may aid you in understanding your enemy. Card two represents a holy symbol of great hope, and where you may be able to find it.  Card three represents power and strength, and where to find a weapon of great vengeance. Card four represents an ally who will aid you in the battle. Card five represents your enemy and the circumstances around your confrontation with them.

So without further ado…

Card One - Nine of Stars - The Conjurer

The coming of a supernatural threat; those who think themselves as gods.

The connection here is very on the nose. Perhaps this suggests that using Uk’Otoa and, by extension, Fjord against Avantika would be very effective should the opportunity arise.

Card Two - Four of Swords - The Mercenary

Inner strength and fortitude; those who fight for power or wealth.

It’s a pirate island. The place is crawling with people fighting for power or wealth. But within the context of a symbol for hope there is only one easy answer. The Plank King. Getting him on their side could be the difference between life and death.

Card Three - Four of Glyphs - The Shepherd

Those who protect others; one who bears a burden far too great to be shouldered alone.

Caleb. The man who drew the line in the sand. The man who stepped up and put a literal wall between the enemy and his friends. As far as Avantika is concerned he’s the number one target here. Alone, he’s a dead man walking. Should the Nein step up and make their true alliances known, he could be a direct foil to Avantika’s symbol of power.

Card Four - The Broken One

Defeat, failure, and despair; the loss of something or someone important, without which one feels incomplete.

The book. If they should lose the book in the coming battle they will have the full force of all the pirates in the Menagerie Coast upon them. Information is their greatest ally in this conflict.

Card Five - The Darklord

A single, powerful individual of an evil nature, one whose goals have enormous and far reaching consequences.

Avantika will release Uk’Otoa if she wins. She will usurp the Plank King if she wins. A queen of the ruined coast. This battle has so many more far reaching consequences than on the surface level. A loss for the Nein here could mean the destruction of a whole country. And should they survive, a life spent running from all the forces the sea can muster.

Anyway I hope this was fun for you! I’ve always loved tarot, and to be able to cross it with D&D shenanigans has been super fun for me. Let me know what you think!

[dreadreflection-if]

What are the ROs types (keeping in mind lots of MCs can probably date them)?

I've tried to keep it open so that many different types of MCs can date each RO, but still show that they have preferences. There are some personality traits they're more drawn to, but MCs with any personality can romance them. 🥰

The important thing with the ROs is alignment. MCs of certain alignments will find it much easier to get close to certain ROs, while other ROs will dislike their actions and views at the beginning.

---

I: (likes: good, dislikes: evil)

They like someone who is kind, and who tries to help others - or at the very least, doesn't actively hurt people when its not necessary. They have a hard time accepting people who go out of their way to hurt others, or who know their actions will cause harm but do not care.

I is drawn to people who are brave - since it's a trait they lack - and merciful - since they believe people should treat each other with compassion.

Akriel: (likes: chaotic, dislikes: lawful)

She likes people who are confident and driven - someone who is just kind of drifting by in life usually doesn't catch her interest. She doesn't care about rules or traditions, and won't mesh well with an MC who is adamant on following them.

Akriel finds it easier to be around people who are sociable or emotional. She's not exactly sure how to interact with someone who is withdrawn, or who only focuses on facts and logic.

Firan: (likes: lawful, dislikes: chaotic)

He tends to like people who have an interest in learning. He finds it easier to converse with someone if they are knowledgeable in some field of study. He dislikes people who are unpredictable, and thinks it's better for someone to have a structure or code that they follow.

Firan is drawn more to people who are logical or impulsive. He believes relying on emotions to dictate your actions is foolish, but can also respect someone who isn't afraid to act immediately to get what they want.

Clove: (likes: neutral, dislikes: chaotic)

They like people who are calm and open-minded. It's admirable to them when someone focuses on their own desires and motivations, without worrying about what others will think of them. They don't like when someone is too erratic, though.

Clove gets along better with people who are reserved or timid. They are still learning how to interact with others, and can get overwhelmed when someone is too loud and outgoing. They also can relate to someone who gets nervous very easily.

E: (likes: good, dislikes: evil)

They find it more attractive when someone is willing to help others, even if there is no personal gain. Honor and loyalty are very important to them, and they are more drawn to people who value those as well.

E likes people who are genuine and brave. They admire people who are able to face dangerous situations with courage, and who are sincere in their interactions with others.

Lei: (likes: evil, dislikes: good)

She finds it attractive if someone is willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. She thinks people who preach about morals are weak, and is more drawn to someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.

Lei gets along better with people who are ruthless and reserved. She thinks compassion is a weakness, and has little patience for someone who constantly tries to engage her in conversation.

Dimitrius: (likes: neutral, dislikes: lawful)

He admires people who put the happiness and safety of those they care about above everything else, even the law. He also finds it attractive when someone is faithful and keeps the promises they make.

Dimitrius is more drawn to someone who is logical and cautious. He tends to dislike people who are overly superstitious, or who put themselves and others in danger because of rash actions.

Noel: (likes: lawful, dislikes: chaotic)

Someone who is always doing what they want, no matter the consequences, would easily get under Noel's skin. They believe it's important to follow the rules, and tend to like people who agree with this opinion.

Noel believes it's important for a person to be cautious and genuine. They hate when someone has a habit of lying, and believe the truth is most important. She prefers to plan things carefully, and respects others who do the same.

Uriel: (likes: chaotic, dislikes: lawful)

She likes to have fun, and enjoys being with someone who can match her energy. She doesn't care at all about the norms of society, and mostly finds anyone who strictly follows the rules a complete bore.

Uriel likes people who are sociable, since he hates being unable to tell what someone is thinking. Unsurprisingly, he is drawn more to people who are deceitful - he likes to make it a game to see who is the better liar.

[shadowchloe]

Tarokka Deck Commission (26/55): Wizard

The Wizard card is the master of stars, and it represents mystery and riddles; the unknown; those who crave magical power and great knowledge.

I really should've eased myself back into full-fledged drawings with something a bit easier I think 😅 That aside, I really like the way this one turned out! Dramatic lighting is always fun to do 😄

Like what I do? You can tip me on ko-fi! My commissions are also open! Everything linked in bio! (Commissions ordered now may be delayed until this current commission series is done)

[dreadreflection-if]

I wonder if the all the ROs have vicious mockery what would their be their best insult to someone

I have a confession, anon: my Vicious Mockery game is weak.😔 I had to search around for some ideas, so some of these may seem a bit familiar.

———

I: They’ve only made one decent insult in their life. The psychic damage for the rest is secondhand embarrassment.

“I will make sure to say a pr-prayer for you. It’s clear you - you will need it.”

Akriel: Brutal. Inventive. Makes her opponent wish they’d never shown up to the fight.

“I was about to insult your parents, but it looks like I shouldn’t bother: they’ve already got you.”

Firan: He comes up with something clever, but then talks for far too long.

“Casting one of my spells on you would just be a waste of components. After all, your minuscule brain could not even begin to comprehend the sheer magnitude of my magical prow - wait, Skeever, let me finish!”

Clove: Unintentional insults that are somehow terrifying. Doesn’t even realize they’re using the spell.

“Do not worry. This will be over quickly. It will not hurt for long.”

E: Their insults would be subtle, and always about the opponent’s character.

“I’d say it’s an honor to fight you, but I don’t make it a habit to lie.”

Lei: Her lines are always said deadpan and sound mildly threatening. Probably causes fear too.

“I should be getting paid to punch your shitty face in. Clearly doing the world a favor.”

Dimitrius: His insults are rare but scathing. Alternatively, just flips them off.

Don’t worry, you won’t be a complete idiot for long - just half of one.

Noel: Always uses insults about the enemy’s lack of intelligence.

“Insulting you is simply a waste of time. Our fight will be long concluded before your mind can process my words.”

Uriel: Finds what the opponent is most sensitive about and attacks it mercilessly.

“Well now, darling. I’d ask if that’s a shortsword in your pocket, but it’s clear you only have a dagger. At best.”

[dreadreflection-if]

Do you have any animals, color, or flowers you associate with the ROs? Or what motifs and aesthetics in general? Thanks!!

Ooo, this is interesting! I hadn’t thought about some of these, so it was fun to figure out!😊

I:

Animal: Dove - peace, gentleness, devotion, hope and sacrifice

Color: #FDFCFA, Vista White - :)

Flower: Anemone - loss, forsaken love, change

Motif: Rings

Aesthetic: Dark Academia - curiosity, existentialism

Akriel:

Animal: Coyote - cleverness, cunning, intelligence, playfulness and adaptability

Color: #8A9A5B, Moss Green - the color of the jacket she always wears

Flower: Angelica - inspiration, encouragement, protection

Motif: Moon

Aesthetic: Musical Academia - creativity, dedication

Firan:

Animal: Hawk - alertness, strength, drive, courage and vision

Color: #E06E04, Greek Orange - the same color as his eyes when he casts magic

Flower: Amaryllis - pride, strength, determination

Motif: Secrets

Aesthetic: Wizardcore - ambition, control

Clove:

Animal: Ox - strength, loyalty, longevity, sacrifice and diligence

Color: #1F305E, Delft Blue - the color of the tinge to their hair

 Flower: Lily - remembrance, mourning, rebirth

Motif: Rain

Aesthetic: Gloomcore - solitude, mystery

E:

Animal: Dog - loyalty, bravery, protection, patience and devotion

Color: #9966CC, Amethyst - the color of their eyes

Flower: Gladiolus - honor, faithfulness, integrity

Motif: Shield

Aesthetic: Knightcore - chivalry, justice

Lei:

Animal: Panther - courage, power, aggression, protection and self-reliance

Color: #B80F0A, Crimson - her eye color

Flower: Red Dahlia - inner strength, change, perserverance

Motif: Teeth

Aesthetic: Scrapper - grit, rage

Dimitrius:

Animal: Crane - isolation, endurance, vigilance, faithfulness and wisdom

Color: #DAA520, Goldenrod - his tattoo color

Flower: Marigold - jealousy, passion, strength

Motif: Hands

Aesthetic: Trad Goth - sarcasm, expression

Noel:

Animal: Owl - knowledge, freedom, independence, observation and change

Color: #ACACAC, Silver Chalice - the main color of her clothing

Flower: Black Petunia - strength, individuality, rebellion

Motif: Eyes

Aesthetic: Film Noir - cynicism, mystery

Uriel:

Animal: Snake - impulsiveness, transformation, power, charm and rebirth

Color: #E3256B, Razzmatazz - the color of her magic

Flower: Pink Rhododendron - beauty, warning, passion

Motif: Stars

Aesthetic: Baroque - flamboyance, grandeur

[dreadreflection-if]

This is such a stupid idea, but I've gotten this scenario stuck in my head and I can't help but get it off my chest😭

So with this whole detective and nior aesthetic going on, I'm just imagining what would be the RO reactions if in a certain crime scene the Bard MC pieces together the clues; and does a whole song and dance number of "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson to convey the meaning of the clues and what they deduced had happened. Ofcourse Annie is the name of the client.

Maybe they multi-classed into necromancer and can summon a few skeletons to act as backup dancers. I dunno, it's so stupid but this scene idea is something I had to share with the world🥹

🤣 I mean, Bard MC has to show off their skills somehow! They’re just making the case interesting for everyone.😉

Also, anytime anyone mentions the idea of a bard/necromancer multiclass, I always think of this song.

---

I: They’re happy that you’re enjoying yourself, but they think this might not be the time and place for a performance - there was just a crime. Anxiously tries to stop you and offers to watch your performance later instead.

Akriel: Accomplice #1. Plays her instrument alongside you and provides back-up vocals for your number. Will probably insist that you both do performances like this every time you solve a crime.

Firan: Your performance is certainly... interesting. He’s not particularly surprised by it - it’s hard finding something that will genuinely shock him. Probably reading a book while it goes on.

Clove: Amazed. They haven’t seen any song or dance numbers before, so this is a whole new experience for them. Sits and watches the full performance with rapt attention.

E: Probably actively trying to stop you. They want to support you, but the client just went through a horrible crime! There might be someone who needs to be brought to justice - song and dance will have to wait!

Lei: Nope. Not dealing with this. She’s already a pretty impatient person, and having to watch your full musical number is not something she wants to do. Leaves and doesn’t come back till it’s over.

Dimitrius: Flabbergasted. How long have you been planning this? Leans against a nearby wall and expressionlessly watches the performance - trying to hide his foot tapping to the beat.

Noel: This is a serious case, and is not the time for song and dance. They tell the deduction to the client before your number is even over, then also leave the scene so they don’t have to witness this.

Uriel: Accomplice #2. Probably dances alongside the skeletons - how she knows the moves, you aren’t sure. Gives you a standing ovation after the performance and also insists you do this every case.

[dreadreflection-if]

How would the ROs react if they got in a fight that ended with them being unconscious then they herd a familiar voice saying ‘why isn’t it working’ then they wake up and see the necromancer MC then they noticed a light on the MC hand that look very similar to the light when MC rise the dead and MC said ‘oh hey you’re still alive yeah that’s good’

(For context MC saw the ROs unconscious body thought they were dead and try to turn them into zombies)

These poor ROs.😭 First they’re being set on fire, and now this lol. They just can’t catch a break.

---

The monstrosity before you lets out one final cry as your magic slams into it, a sickly green energy enveloping the creature and sucking out its life essence. As it collapses to the ground, you’re finally able to catch your breath and survey the scene around you. Though little, the carrion stalker that had suddenly burst out of one of your servants proved to be a deadly opponent - evidenced by the prone form you see lying a few feet away. Approaching the body of your presumably dead companion, an idea forms in your mind. That same lurid green magic covers your hand as you raise it, staring at your target. Maybe this doesn’t have to be a total loss, after all...

I is exempt from this one. :)  

Akriel:

“Welp, that didn’t go like I planned.” Akriel groans as she slowly sits up, her normally immaculate clothing now covered in grime and blood. With a grimace, she shakes her head and looks around - quickly spotting your hand still hovering over her. Grinning, she raises her own towards you. “That’ll teach me to try to play mind games with a thing like that. Mind helping me up?” As you go to do so, she laughs when you tell her it’s good she’s still alive and merrily agrees. But when you look into her eyes, you see something in them past the cheer.

She knows what you were trying to do. And though she won’t say anything about it now... she’ll remember.

Firan:

"The reason it is not working,” Firan begins, not even bothering to open his eyes, “is because the target of your spell must be deceased. Which, clearly, I am not.” Rising to his feet, he dusts off his clothes and does not even bother to listen to your reassurance before beginning to stroll away. It’s clear he means to pretend this never happened. It’s only when Skeever swoops down to land on his arm that he stops to address the air. “However, I would advise you not to try that again, MC.” Both him and the raven turn to look at you as one, eyes pinning you in place as your blood runs cold.

“You never know what you may be bringing back to life.”

Clove: (tw: panic attack)

Clove suddenly shoots up, frantically looking around them. They tremble as their chest heaves, and you can see their fingers twitch as they dig them into their temples. They don’t even seem to register your words or presence, eyes glassy as they grapple with something you can’t see. Eventually, their arms lower and their eyes meet yours. “MC,” they croak out, voice full of relief. “I’m still me.” When they hear you say it’s good they’re still alive, they give you a rare smile, tears shining in their eyes. They seem to have no idea about your earlier plan.

It might be best to keep it that way.

E:

E’s eyes slowly blink open, confusion written on their face. When they see you standing above them, though, the fog clouding their mind seems to clear and they rocket to their feet at a surprising speed. Their gauntlets are heavy when their hands land on both your shoulders, but they don’t seem to notice as they scan you for apparent injuries. “Forgive me,” they say gravely, face serious. “I’m supposed to be protecting you, yet you’re the one who saved me.” Their eyes shine with determination when you give your reassurance, and they kneel as they reply, “On my oath, I promise this won’t happen again.”

Their bowed head hides the dark look they give the dead monstrosity behind you.

Lei:

"The hell’re you doing,” Lei grunts as she cracks an eye open. She’d still managed to look annoyed somehow when unconscious, but now that she’s awake she looks practically furious - though whether that’s because of you  or because of her own predicament, you aren’t sure. Before you can tell her it’s good she’s still alive, her hand shoots out and grabs your wrist, pulling you down to meet her halfway. “Don’t pull that shit again,” she snarls, “or I’ll break that flimsy wrist of yours.” Her hold on you tightens, grip almost strong enough to bruise, before she finally lets go.

Threat finished, she rises and pushes past you, only stopping to give the dead crawler a viscous kick before stomping away.

Dimitrius:

He doesn’t open his eyes or try to get up, but you can tell when Dimitrius awakes from the way his face immediately morphs into a frown. If you’re doing what I think you are right now, he signs to you, stop. Reluctantly, he sits up and raises his head to meet yours. You think he looks tired, but it’s hard to tell past the already prominent bags underneath his eyes. You tell him you’re glad he’s awake, but his frown only deepens. I’m not, he admits after a moment. It was quiet for once. Nothing to See. Before you can respond, he’s already begun to walk away - most likely to avoid any questions.

For a long time after, the look that had been on his face when you found him stays seared in your mind: a look of utter relief.

Noel:

A weary sigh leaves Noel’s lips as their eyes open to stare at the sky above them. If they were religious, you think they’d be praying to one of the gods right now. “Why am I not surprised,” they exasperatedly mutter, pinching the bridge of their nose. Checking for any injuries as they rise to their feet, they give a disbelieving huff when you remark you’re glad they are alright. “I will pretend to believe that,” she replies, giving your previously glowing hand a dubious look. “Both for the sake of your dignity, and for the sake of my rapidly deteriorating sanity.”

They’re suspicious tone lets you know they’ll make sure to keep an eye on you from now on, however.

Uriel:

You watch as Uriel’s body twitches and begins to rise, arms and legs jerking back and forth until the zombie is fully standing in front of you. His shoulders slump forward, head tilted downward as gravelly groans leave his throat. Satisfied, you mentally command him to follow you as you walk away - but only manage to take one step before you are grabbed by stiff arms and crushed to the body behind you. A loud growl is the only warning you get before the zombie lunges at your throat, mouth opening to... nip you. “Got you,” Uriel laughs, breath tickling your skin. His eyes shine with mirth as he proudly says his next line.

“I can’t believe you fell for that one! Trust me, darling, if I ever do end up dying - you’ll know.”

[dreadreflection-if]

ROs on a scale from nerd to thembo?

Ah, the age old question.🤔 Listed in each tier from most to least.

———

Peak Nerd:

Firan, I, Noel

Nerd Vibes:

Dimitrius

Nerds Fear Them, Thembos Want Them:

Uriel, Akriel

Thembo Vibes:

Clove, Lei

Supreme Thembo:

E