#guardian apostle

[procrastiel]

Don’t mind me, just slowly disintegrating over here 🫠

[bouvillea]

ask nicely and you may receive (^:

[uwabbittuwabbit]

if we wanted to do discourse on motogp and catholicism at least we should do it the fun way

sources (pt 1): Reliquary, Wikipedia // Helmet, Instagram // Skull, Wikipedia // Glove, Twitter // Saint Teresa, El Confidencial // Relic, Wikipedia // Lorenzo Finger, Asphalt & Rubber // Hand of John, Facebook //Marquez Arm, Instagram // Arm of Jude, The Apostle of the Impossible // Christus on the Cross with Mary and St John, Wikipedia // Stigmata, Wikipedia // Quartararo Scar, Twitter // Stigmata, Zenit // Pedrosa Surgery, Honda Racing Corporation // Pedrosa Collarbone, Cycle News // Arm Pump, MotoGP // Marquez Surgery, MotoGP // Marquez Arm (2), Motorcycle Sports // Lorenzo in Water, FNCounter.com // Lorenzo in Water (2), TuttoMotoriWeb // Christ Walking On the Sea, Wikipedia //

pt 2: //Stained Glass, flickr // Ouroboros, Google // Valencia, Reddit // Crown of Thorns, Wikipedia // Christ Falling On the Way to Calvary, Wikipedia // Marquez Crash, MotoriOnline // Crown of Thorns, Twitter // Lorenzo Collarbone, Eurosport // Bezzechi Collarbone, motorsport.com // Marquez Sprint, MotorSportMagazin.com // Marquez Sprint (2), Honda Racing Corporation // Last Supper, Wikipedia // Ghent Altarpiece, The Guardian // The Crucifixion, The Metropolitan Musuem of Art //

pt 3: // Gestures, Aleteia // Rossi Conference, Road Racing World & Motorcycle Technology // Rossi Conference, Visordown // The Last Supper, Wikipedia // 2017 Aragon Press Conference, Twitter // 2018 Misano Press Conference, YouTube // The Taking of Christ, Wikipedia //Parc Ferme, motorsport.com // The Kiss of Judas, Wikipedia // Marquez on Rossi, Crash.net // Marquez on Rossi (2), Crash.net // Marquez Rossi Handshake, speedcafe.net // Marquez Rossi Handshake (2), Australian Motorcycle News // Creation of Adam, Wikipedia // Rossi Refuses Handshake, motorsport.com // 2014 Sepang, AutoRacing1.com // 2018 Argentina, YouTube // The Fallen Angel, Wikipedia // 2014 Qatar, MotoGP // 2015 Sepang, motorsport.com // Pieta, Daily Art Magazine // Stained Glass, Wikipedia // Ouroboros, tvtropes //

[goodwhump-temp]

Hajime Nagumo Whump | Arifureta: From Commonplace To World's Strongest

1x01 The Monster of the Abyss - Scared, arm sliced off, bleeding out, crying, pain, betrayed, DNA changed 1x02 Pandora's Box - (Thought KIA'd) 1x03 The Golden Vampire Princess - "Stabbed x6", blood sucked x2, shot at 1x04 Guardian of the Depths - Shot by powerful dragon blast, head bleeding (eye destroyed), unconscious, passes out 1x05 The Maverick's Lair - Bandaged, headache 1x07 Great Reisen Labyrinth - Almost drowns 1x11 The Monsters' Day Off - Face scratched

2x01 Irregular - Weak, bleeding (flash-forward teaser) 2x03 Black & White - Ambushed, hit by powerful beam, unconscious, carried, burned/scarred 2x04 Reunion - Recovery, weak, choking 2x10 God's Apostle - Cheek sliced x2

[blackjackkent]

As with Patch 5, I have compiled my favorite Patch 6 patch notes (the exciting ones and the hilarious ones) so you don't have to.

First of all, the Highlights section has some VERY nice QoL changes:

"You can now dismiss a recruited companion from your party while speaking to the companion you want to replace them with." (Fuck yes, this is such a small annoyance but it really adds up over time.)

"When a dialogue triggers automatically, the game will now try to prioritise your avatar character as the main speaker." (I spent literally like half an hour trying to ensure Hector got the conversational lead when walking into the vault with the Stone Lord for my liveblog post, so this fills my heart with DEEP joy.)

"The Elixir of Hill Giant Strength now applies its effects when thrown." (HUGE deal for Hector's party in my liveblog, as @zenjestrr has pointed out to me - Jaheira can hurl it onto Hector, Karlach, and Minsc together!)

Some general happy-making improvements (some for things in Act 3/epilogue that I haven't gotten to yet but which sound very positive):

"Your partner now has a few different kisses! They're brand new, unique, and randomized."

"If you sit on the stool in Shadowheart's camp corner, she will now react to you with a line based on your relation with her."

"Improved the cinematic scenes in the Elfsong Tavern to feel more intimate when you and your romance partner decide your future together after defeating the Netherbrain."

"Reworked the reflection scenes that take place after wrapping up the defeat of the Netherbrain for characters without romantic partners to better match the scenes for those who do have romantic partners, and to bridge the gap into the epilogue."

"Added a new cinematic scene to support the combat encounter that occurs after you choose whether to side with Nightsong at Sorcerous Sundries or not."

"If you romanced Lae'zel, grab a red dragon and saddle up - you can now join her in the rebellion against Vlaakith, even if you are not gith yourself."

"Increased the number of valid methods of knocking Minthara out to recruit her."

"Tooltips for spells requiring concentration now more prominently display a warning if you are already using concentration to maintain another spell."

And now the bits that just made me laugh. XD

"If you Long Rest with only alcohol as camp supplies, you will now get the new Hungover condition for 10 turns."

"The Long Rest camp supply menu is now better at pulling supplies from inside containers in companion inventories. Stop hoarding the cheese, Wyll."

"The owlbear cub will no longer gobble up Auntie Ethel's Hair before you can take advantage of the bonus it grants." (???)

"Creating harmful surfaces beneath NPCs will now trigger a crime reaction."

"Scratch can no longer equip certain weapons. Like the Everburn Blade."

"Jaheira could be in bad shape by the time she arrived at Moonrise Towers since she already had to fight. Now she's smart enough to heal up before she goes there, which we're hoping lets her last at least an additional second in combat."

"Fixed dice roll sounds playing if you have the 'Hide Failed Perception Rolls' setting enabled while exploring. We asked the narrator to quieten down when rolling the dice for your immersion."

"Fixed a bug causing player characters to get deleted from the game after stealing the Blood of Lathander."

"Enemies are now less likely to summon a Skeletal Involucre in range of a Spirit Guardian that will immediately destroy it."

"Nere's Legendary Action now correctly triggers when he is attacked, rather than when he attacks. Cut him some slack - being a True Soul is a lot of pressure; we'd all get confused in his shoes."

"Told Fezzerk to stop throwing his bombs on himself and his allies."

"The Apostle of Myrkul's Finger of Death spell is now treated as a Level 7 spell instead of a cantrip."

"Fixed Steel Watchers sometimes hurting themselves with their own attacks."

"Invisible characters who have something to say in a dialogue will now remember to actually show themselves."

" Throwing NPCs into a chasm will no longer trigger their crime reaction dialogue while they're mid-flight."

"Jaheira could have access to two types of Wild Shape in certain circumstances. We've toned down her blatant disregard for D&D rules."

"Fixed NPC heads occasionally detaching in Forced Turn-Based Mode."

"You can no longer place a corpse into its own inventory."

"Items can only be sent to specific companions in camp if a party member is in camp at the time. Stop sending every +1 dagger to Gale, he's not that hungry."

"NPCs should be a lot less eager to engulf themselves (or their allies) in flames now."

"Fixed NPCs using an incorrect throw range when they can't move. This sometimes caused them to, say, throw explosives on their own heads."

"Fixed NPCs sometimes successfully landing jumps that shouldn't be possible. Like through ceilings."

"You can no longer trade with sleeping characters."

"Fixed overhead dialogues still playing above the souls of dead characters - represented as blue wisps - in the epilogue camp. Lae'zel will no longer urgently proclaim 'Repositioning!' when you make her little wisp move around."

"Killing Omeluum or Blurg of the Society of Brilliance will now break your paladin oath. Because they're nice and you're not."

"Picking up fish from the beach at the Emerald Grove is no longer a crime. They take their vegetarianism very seriously, those druids."

"You can now no longer spawn infinite fish at the Emerald Grove beach. No wonder that bear smells."

"Told Art Cullagh to please stop singing during the combat when Isobel's being abducted."

"You can no longer trade with Voss when he ambushes you at the base of High Hall."

"If you escape prison and then return to your cell and close the door without being noticed by anyone allied to the arresting guards, you will no longer be considered a fugitive."

"Fixed a bug where a status could carry over from the final battle to the beginning of the epilogue, potentially killing the players."

"You can now clean your body and clothes in a fountain in the House of Hope's boudoir. Sometimes it's nice to freshen up before a big event."

"Fixed Scratch not feeling like playing in camp beyond Act I after partying too hard at the camp celebration."

"Minthara no longer speaks more about Shadowheart than Shadowheart does about herself."

"You'll no longer see text telling you that Gale approves of something if he's not even nearby to see what happened."

"Jaheira's memory in her old age was failing her, and she could tell you about Minsc twice if you left her in camp but advanced her quest multiple steps. Now she's much better at remembering what she told you, and will only prompt it the once."

"Good boys Scratch and the owlbear cub will now play together in any camp, not just the main one in the wilderness from Act I."

"Cerys will now leave your camp after the camp celebration in Act I. We know it's sometimes hard to ask the last person to leave the party, so we've done it for you."

"Fixed Rugan being upset with you for trespassing after saving him from impending doom. You're welcome, Rugan."

"Florrick now looks appropriately grimy and sweaty after escaping Waukeen's Rest."

"Lae'zel will no longer become hostile towards you, thinking you left the inquisitor's office in Crèche Y'llek while waiting to fulfil Vlaakith's orders, when you only jumped on one of the platforms in the corner."

"Fixed Smythin in the Goblin Camp sometimes getting stuck in a cowering animation. He's a little braver now."

"Rugan is no longer 'too busy' to thank you after you free him in the Zhentarim Hideout."

"One of the teenagers in the Crèche Y'llek will now tend to his cleaning tasks. He may or may not have been chastised for shirking his duties."

"Fixed a bug with Bernard in the Arcane Tower not giving you a reward if you previously befriended the squirrel in the Emerald Grove."

"Fixed a couple of goblins in the Goblin Camp not really doing much at all if you free Sazza."

"Rotated Barth and Remira near the Emerald Grove gate so they would shout in the right direction."

"The nurses in the House of Healing have remembered that they are capable of speech and will now react to crimes properly."

"Dame Aylin now permits all players to behold her radiance in the cutscene when ascending from the Shadowfell rather than just the one who freed her."

"Isobel and Marcus will no longer stop their epic confrontation at Last Light just because someone commits a petty crime nearby."

"In rare cases, Jaheira could be Frightened in the combat with Ketheric and end up so scared she doesn't show up to resolve the conflict in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. She now overcomes her terror."

"Bards can no longer say they saved Jaheira's Harper scouts when they did no such thing."

"Fixed some guards by the fountain at Last Light who were trying to speak each other's lines."

"Now you can convince Ch'r'ai Har'rak to go away in different ways."

"Mayrina will no longer still be Bloodless in Act III if Astarion bit her in Act I."

"Wyll no longer leaves the party when you commit a crime in the High Hall. With the city in ruin, the petty crime dramatics seemed a little extreme."

"A few more people around Baldur's Gate will notice if an article has been printed about you in the newspaper."

"Lumbar will no longer react as if you didn't pay for the privilege of hitting him if the single strike had different damage types." (Ah this explains why Hector got that weird reaction. XD)

"Vicar Humbletoes will no longer do a weird shrug before praying."

"Prevented Karlach's death scene from triggering if a solo player chooses to detonate while playing as Avatar Gale."

"Fixed Lae'zel talking inaccurately about Ptaris, for example suggesting he's dead when he's... literally right there."

"Auntie Ethel will no longer send you a letter written by Zevlor in the epilogue."

"If you part ways with Shadowheart and hide in the Underdark as a mind flayer, she won't forget and think you've spent the last sixth months together in the epilogue. Classic Shadowheart, always forgetting things."

"The Emperor will no longer send you a cheerful letter in the epilogue camp if you ate his brains."

"You can no longer invite the owlbear cub to live with you and Halsin in the epilogue if you do not, in fact, live with Halsin."

"Fixed avatar characters incorrectly getting assigned the Dream Guardian's skin colour in Character Creation on controller."

"The fish barrels in the Underdark, that clearly look like they have fish in them, now actually contain fish instead of tarts."

"You can no longer casually go walkies in the middle of a chasm in the Decrepit Village in the Underdark."

"Removed a platform in Grymforge that looked like it was accessible and was tricking a few of you into trying to jump on it to access the Gauntlet of Shar."

"You can no longer disappear into a couple of rocks near the mephits in Grymforge. Sorry."

"Added a new animation for Cranium Rats. They can now stand up on their hind leggies."

"Corpses thrown from your inventory now look dead rather than alive. As is right."

"Fixed missing sounds in Active Search. (We found them hidden under some rocks in Act I.)"

"Fixed a basket of onions claiming to be a fruit basket, and other issues with lying baskets."

"Gave the dogs at the Sword Coast Couriers names. Because they're the best boys."

"Lae'zel no longer slides or teleports away during her Epilogue dialogue."

"Made general improvements to Boo's animations. The hamster is a little less jittery."

"Fixed the goblet flying out of your hand when talking to Jaheira at Last Light. We knew you were suspicious of it, but you don't have to be so dramatic."

:D

This is a tiny fraction of the full set of changes/improvements/fixes listed in the patch notes and once again I am tremendously impressed. As I said last time - this game has a breadth of scope and ambition that repeatedly takes my breath away and I am mindboggled at the amount of work being put into it.

Very excited to finish out Act 3 in the coming weeks!

[bluerose5]

More Iron Bull in Faerûn headcanon:

As we all know, I love Bull's concept art and the whole prosthetic idea was so badass, so this isn't super long but warning for discussing loss of a limb.

What if, in the Act 2 fight when you face Myrkul's avatar/apostle, everyone knows to basically get the fuck out of the way and/or duck when that scythe goes swinging? Maybe one of the companions are a little too slow to react on time, and Bull rushes to tackle them to the ground. Given that he sacrificed an eye for Krem (who was a stranger at the time) in the past, I imagine he wouldn't hesitate to make a likewise sacrifice for someone he actually cares for, especially if he's Tal-Vashoth at this point. Which he is in my take on this AU.

Bull doesn't even realize he's been hit and, frankly, while some of the others are gaping in horror because his arm is practically hanging on by a thread, he doesn't pay it any mind because he's raging. He's a Reaver after all. He's only going to fight harder when severely injured, so he adjusts his grip on his weapon and gets the job done. Of course, by the time Aylin swoops in to finish off Ketheric, his vision is already fading in and out. Maybe someone tries to heal him but not only is it really fucking severe, but maybe the scythe left some sort of necrotic damage that stopped any attempts at healing (think of the Bone Chill effect). Anyways, by the time the Emperor —excuse me, the "Dream Guardian" comes along and is halfway through his spiel, Bull passes the fuck out, and they have to finish amputating what is left of his arm.

Cue Dammon making him a prosthetic that allows for shield attachments. By the end of the game, Dammon and Barcus combine their talents and make him that arm cannon prosthetic from his concept art.

This whole situation also leaves a lot of room for further exploration of grief, trauma, and coping too, especially in relation to his role as a spy, soldier, and weapon, but we can always get to that later.

[symphonic-scream]

Hey everyone it's time for more of my

Transboy Haru arcana swap

Starting off with just a list of the arcana, and under the cut I'll just. Blab

Fool - Haru

Magician - Ryuji

Councillor - Kawakami

Priestess - Morgana

Empress - Yusuke

Emperor - Makoto

Hierophant - Yoshida

Lovers - Futaba

Chariot - Shiho

Justice - Kasumi & Sumire

Hermit - Goro

Fortune - Rise

Strength - Sophia

Hanged Man - Sae

Death - Maruki

Temperance - Kanji

Devil - Tae

Tower - Mishima

Star - Ann

Moon - Akira

Sun - Shinya

Judgement - Naoto

Faith - Hifumi

Apostle - Mitsuru & Akihiko

Hope - Minato & Minako

TBATS RIGHT I FIGURED OUT STRIKERS

Anyways. Before I do the cut I'm gonna just talk about which genders I'm gendering cause I'm gay.

So Haru? Trans guy. He/him. Has been out for the entirety of high school, has had top.

Futaba? Gender is a construct don't speak witch at them. Any pronouns. Akira is CIS but Ren is a trans guy too

Makoto is fluid/non-conforming/non-binary. Uses bandanas on their upper arm to show pronouns. Navy for He/him, forest for They/them, and maroon for She/her

Trans man Naoto! He's he/they, very secure in himself he's having a good time now.

And, trans girl Hifumi

Okay time for the cut ASK ME STUFF ABOUT THIS SEND ME ONE OF THE CHSRACTERS YOU WANNA KNOW MORE ABOJT I VAVE LOTS

Toranosuke being just. Best dad in this

First for Goro, by trusting him and listening when he would mention stuff he'd heard or seen that weren't there. And getting him meds and not punishing him, and

And for Haru, he lets him use his family name since he's been disowned. And teaches him to cook, and how to do life things Like SHAVE

Cause Haru is starting to get a little fuzz and it excites him but he doesn't like having it on his face, and he listens attentively as Toranosuke teaches him how to shave, and the gentle fatherly hug after

And even with Morgana, just, gosh

The little guy eats like a vacuum and Tora just. Smiles so wide when Morgana finishes a beef bowl and asks if he's allowed to have more for real

And he even buys a bunch of cool shit for Haru's "lizard". Ryuji feels pampered as AHIT. A big terrarium, a nice heat lamp, and even a little hat

And he gets so excited when Haru brings his first friend home

Cause when Tora got his papers, it said Haru was a loner with no friends back in Nagoya. That he didn't go out, and his anger issues would probably keep him from having friends

Especially when he happens to hear rumours about his foster son on the trains, even

So when Haru nervously asks if he can have two friends over for a little hangout, Tora is so excited

Goro never had friends over when he was in school, before he got worse. So he's playing up being host

Gets them snacks, buys Haru the DVD player so they can watch movies, and shakes both Shiho and Futaba's hands with a big smile. Offers them dinner too

Futaba: dude your placement is awesome! Not as amazing as my dad, but still!

Haru: yeah, he's pretty great

Shiho: pass me the popcorn? I'm snacky

Ryuji: the big guy is good to us here, Haru got lucky finding a guardian like him

During the Kobayakawa palace, he lets Makoto stay with them. She doesn't feel safe going back to the living space she's been in before, and hasn't reached out to Sae yet, and was planning to just, stay in a hotel room

Tora makes up the couch in his home and lets her sleep there. Haru brings home extra homework for her and they sit at the living room table and work together, and Tora smiles at them and. He knows

Tora: hey kiddo, did your friend find a safe place? I haven't seen them in a while

Haru: yeah, Mako's with their sister now. Thanks, Tora. It was nice of you to let them stay with you

Tora: kids like you folks haven't been able to trust adults, and that's not fair. So I'm making up for my generation, one interaction at a time

Tora: also, make sure you treat them right, and they treat you right. A broken heart can be quite severe

Haru: t-thanks,,

Ryuji: how'd he know you have the hots for Maks?

Haru: I don't know, maybe he's just good like that

Haru: can I have my friends sleep over...?

Tora: YES, YES OF COURSE! Oh, this is so exciting, I'll get the extra futons, and- and we'll do a grocery trip! Oh kiddo I'm so happy for you!

He sees Shiho and Futaba come into the shop just like last time, but Makoto comes in with a blue bandana on his arm, binder on, arm slung around Haru and smiling all gooey and

Tora: hey! Ms Shiho, looking bright! Futaba, are those new glasses? Nice! And- Makoto, you look handsome in that flannel, is it new?

Makoto, all beaming from gender euphoria: yeah, I went shopping with my Sis. Uhm, if you could use male terms for me today...

Tora: say no more. Now, do you kids wanna order food or would you like beef bowls? On the house?

Like. He just wants the kids of tomorrow to have the best chances possible

He doesn't get the gender stuff really, but he tries

Asks them questions respectfully, takes fucking notes

Tora: I don't think I need to scar you, you're a good kid. And your relationship is far from the norm, but- be safe, kid. And if you need info on stuff, I can find someone for you.

Haru: thanks, Uhm. Dad?

Tora, tearing up: Y-YEAH. UHM. HAVE A GOOD DATE

Haru: my dad really likes you

Makoto: he's your dad now?

Haru: don't dodge the compliment, love. He thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread

Makoto: gosh, that's. I'm glad,

Sae: hey, we're back with dinner! There better be two fully dressed boys at my table in a minute!

Makoto: COMJNG SIS! You ready for hotpot with my sister and her partner?

Haru: considering I met both of them before you? Yes

Sae notices the green on Makoto's arm and rubs at their hair: hey, sorry for saying boy without checking. How's my sib doing?

Makoto, voice cracking: I'm good,

Sae is a defense attorney who lives above a gym. She gets them weapons from a supplier for said gym, and the guns are special order from a Yakuza she infiltrated a while ago for the cops. They don't know she still has connections with them, and it would get her fired, Makoto out of her custody, etc

Tae is working for a pharmacy at the moment. She gets them info on people through her connections to an online group for past and present abuse victims

Their apartment isn't anything special, it's kinda small, and has a loft that becomes Makoto's when they are free from Kobayakawa

Sae meets Haru first and when she figures out the fluffy boy has something to do with that coach changing heart, she asks him to save her sister

Haru: you're a very sad looking girl

Makoto: excuse me?!

Haru: I'm attracted to you

Sae and Tae on a shopping trip with a newly freed Makoto, who is gravitating towards baggy clothes and masc stuff, and at the end Tae asks if they want an underfut, And she shaves it herself, and smiles at Sae when Makoto looks so happy

Haru is just slightly taller

He's short for a boy his age. Makoto doesn't mind at all, they like being able to rest their head on his shoulder

Ryuji: your group is quite something

Haru: aw, thanks Spikey

Maruki: alright, I think we'll call it there. Great work, Haru, you're showing great improvement.

Haru: thanks, doctor

Maruki: now, got any plans after this?

Haru: ...a date

Maruki: HOLY SHIT REALLY?!

Haru: ...yeah?

Maruki: that's so exciting! Good luck!

Haru and Makoto go to see a Yakuza movie and they share a thing of popcorn, and Makoto has an arm around Haru, and. Haru kisses at their jaw a little, not enough for a full distraction. Just, affection

They kiss just as the credits start, when it's still a little dark. Makoto's eyes blow wide, red ass face, death grip on Haru's arm

"...I wanna do that again"

Theyre touch starved and never realized it and now they have a touch starved boyfriend and it's just resulting in them being super casual about moderate pda

Makoto's favourite is playing with Haru's hands. They'll be in the Lizard Mobile or at Thief meetings or in safe rooms and they just. Grab at his hands and go to work

Having little bites of each other's lunches and shit

Okay so the reason I have Naoto as the Judgement? Cause the Shadow OPS would want to investigate into what's happening and wouldn't want Okumura and his people to cover up possible Persona stuff, so there's that

So they already know about Kirijo and shit

This ties into what I want for a Strikers. The metaverse suddenly comes back out of nowhere and Haru would probably wake up there, and find two confused adults. One with emo ass blue hair, the other with red/brown ponytail, neither with any memories, and an inability to leave

They tag along to help with the jail's. But then, Mitsuru Kirijo shows up and asks for Haru's phone. When he refuses, Mitsuru makes it clear she will get what she wants

It's weird and makes them freak out a bit and then the cops are after them

And Akihiko shows up to save them from the cops, and he confirms the twins are back somehow, and explains Mitsuru's stuff and. They team up to take down the baddy, and manage to get the twins out of the metaverse as it closes once more

Their memories are still gone. They're not sure how they're back, or what's happening with the sea of souls. The Royal semester shit messed with it, reviving the Justice Twins and all, and that's all I have lemme know if you think that'll work

[friccafracc]

HC of Media Strandy has seen:

Musicals: The Book of Mormon, Ride the Cyclone, Into the Woods, Chicago, Heathers

Shows: Brooklyn 99, Our Flag Means Death, Good Omens, Umbrella Academy, Inside Job, Bluey, Gravity Falls, Amphibia and every other little gay show that people love

Movies: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Adam Project, Apostle, Spiderverse Franchise, Guardians of The Galaxy Franchise

Books: Lockwood & Co, The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, Staged, Percy Jackson,

Honorable Mentions: John Mulaney and Bo Burnham Specials, Inside Man, Blackpool, Jessica Jones, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing (The David Tennant Version) Criminal UK, Criminal Minds, Oh, Hello, Staged, Prodigal Son, Bright Young Things,

If you haven’t seen any of these I recommend you look them up ✨✨

Unfortunately, Strandy is pretty dated when it comes to media, so he hasn’t seen most of these. He’s not very big on modern cartoons or musicals. I still haven’t hashed out which media he really likes, but I’ll let y’all know when I figure it out hdkshfkdh

[kanasmusings]

[Tsukino Picatrix] Tsukiuta Cast Introductions

Here are the cast introductions for Tsukiuta~!

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

O caelestes stellae, O venerati apostoli, quaeso, viam nostram in hoc itinere terreno ducite et illuminate # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

More under the cut, enjoy~!

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] SHIWASU KAKERU “Welcome one and all to the Gravity caravan! We have rare goods from all over the world! … My horn…? Oh, uh~~~ It’s an accessory!☆” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] KISARAGI KOI “Hello, hello! Gravity is here to tend to all your needs! We can handle any kind of magical problem you– WAIT– WHOOOOAAAA!!!??” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] UDUKI ARATA “(chuckles) Don’t you dare underestimate this desert’s Black Panther (self-proclaimed)... Rawr~🐾” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] SATSUKI AOI “Haru-san and I are the only ones working for the Union. Our relationship is civil and professional. We advocate for traveling freely without being held down by anything.” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] YAYOI HARU “I started out as a slum orphan, and now look at the power and influence I have. I’m so glad I bet on you, Hajime. Ah, it’s alright~ I’ll take care of everything for you~♪” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Six Gravity] MUTSUKI HAJIME “Traveling is good. You get to meet new people, experience new things. I want to see more of what the world has to offer.” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] MINADUKI RUI “Fuhahahaha. I am a part of Sanctus, apostles of Pluto who governs over death and the end.” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] KANNADUKI IKU “I was once a failure unable to wield magic, but… I woke up to the Demon Lord sleeping on my lap one morning, and shortly found myself a Guardian. I know it all sounds confusing. Heck, I’m still wrapping my head around it.” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] HADUKI YOU “Give up, old man~! That thing you’ve got there’s got my name on it. You can get lost or we can do this the painful way. ” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] NAGATSUKI YORU “Whoa!! I–I’m so sorry!!! Are you alright!? You just touched a pendulum I just cursed, and um… I’m so sorry!!!” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] FUDUKI KAI “Sorry about the ruckus my guys are making. (wry smile) Hm? Oh uh, I’m… I think I’ve broken the limits of being human since being given the White Demon Lord’s flesh and blood.” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

🌌 TSUKINO Picatrix 🪄

[Procellarum] SHIMOTSUKI SHUN “Would you care to show me the limits of a human? Play with me. Dance with me until the end! AHAHAHAHA!” # TsukiPika # Tsukiuta # AGF2023

[is-this-a-valid-iterator-name]

are the following valid iterator / ancient (for the longass ones) names: Dinner For Everyone Deviled And Destructive Naive Guardian Queen of Computers Greed in Pure Form Vain Moon Battle Bakers Destructive Fool A Demon's Present Horror Scream Harbinger of War New Defender The One who Failed Exhausted Magician Undertaker on Cleanup Duty Luminous Volcanism Hydrothermal Scourge Vertebrate Hater Duping Queen Northern Ruler Frozen Guardian Sloth Sin of the Desert Sealed Jackal Hypothermic Tooth The One who Flew Away The Abyss and the Prince The World Shall Fall To Dismay The Minds Shall Shatter With Their New Reality Erosion of Impression Heart of Technology Doomsday Weapon The One who Died The Heart of Nature Botanical Caretaker Plotting Eclipse Sachirine Mass Hunter of the Guiltiest Earth and Fire in Harmony Ancient Azure Mage Peace of Light Discarded Revenge Harbinger of Famine Rebellion to Rubble Failures of Innovation Guardian of The Vestige Orderly Timelord Battle-Blind Harbinger of Pestilence Morphed Maestro Frozen Secrets Where we stand, but smaller Cinders of Deceit Cinders of Sanctity Cinders of Outrage Cinders of Egress Cinders of Amity Aurora Apostle of Havoc Aurora Apostle of Ice (alternatively Aurora Apostle of Congealment) Aurora Apostle of Living Aurora Apostle of Estate Aurora Apostle of Creation Purveyor of Structure no those are not sekaiju boss titles (besides sachirine mass. gateau doesnt fucking have a confirmed title yet) i am not tricking you into postiing sekaiju content totally at all i don't know what you're talking abou

see under cut

Dinner For Everyone - Yes, Iterator Deviled And Destructive - Ancient?? Maybe?? Naïve Guardian - Yes, Iterator Queen of Computers - Yes, Iterator Greed in Pure Form - Yes, Iterator Vain Moon - Yes, Iterator Battle Bakers - Yes, Iterator Destructive Fool - Yes, Iterator A Demon's Present - Yes, Iterator Horror Scream - Yes, Iterator Harbinger of War - Yes, Iterator New Defender - Yes, Iterator The One who Failed - Yes, Iterator Exhausted Magician - Yes, Iterator Undertaker on Cleanup Duty - Yes, Iterator Luminous Volcanism - Yes, Iterator Hydrothermal Scourge - Yes, Iterator Vertebrate Hater - Yes, Iterator Duping Queen - Yes, Iterator Northern Ruler - Yes, Iterator Frozen Guardian - Yes, Iterator Sloth Sin of the Desert - Yes, either Iterator or Ancient Sealed Jackal - Yes, Iterator Hypothermic Tooth - Yes, Iterator The One who Flew Away - Yes, Iterator The Abyss and the Prince - Yes, Ancient The World Shall Fall To Dismay - Probably??? Iterator The Minds Shall Shatter With Their New Reality - nah Erosion of Impression - Yes, Iterator Heart of Technology - Yes, Iterator Doomsday Weapon - Yes, Iterator The One who Died - Yes, Iterator The Heart of Nature - Yes, Iterator Botanical Caretaker - Yes, Iterator Plotting Eclipse - Yes, Iterator Saccharine Mass - Yes, Iterator Hunter of the Guiltiest - Yes, Iterator Earth and Fire in Harmony - Yes, Ancient Ancient Azure Mage - Yes, Iterator Peace of Light - Yes, Iterator Discarded Revenge - Yes, Iterator Harbinger of Famine - Yes, Iterator Rebellion to Rubble - Yes, Iterator Failures of Innovation - Yes, Iterator Guardian of The Vestige - Yes, Iterator Orderly Timelord - Yes, Iterator Battle-Blind - Probably a valid Iterator name Harbinger of Pestilence - Yes, Iterator Morphed Maestro - Yes, Iterator Frozen Secrets - Yes, Iterator Where we stand, but smaller - Maybe??? Ancient Cinders of Deceit - Yes, Iterator Cinders of Sanctity - Yes, Iterator Cinders of Outrage - Yes, Iterator Cinders of Egress - Yes, Iterator Cinders of Amity - Yes, Iterator Aurora Apostle of Havoc Aurora Apostle of Ice (alternatively Aurora Apostle of Congealment) Aurora Apostle of Living Aurora Apostle of Estate Aurora Apostle of Creation - Aurora being a noun suggests that all of the Aurora Apostle of [x] names are more fitting for an Ancient. Purveyor of Structure - Yes, Iterator

[katkalis-the-horror-fanartist]

Info about my version of a corrupt overlord Enoch and the zone he rules!:

The Big Boss:

This cruel, monstrous, voracious ruler devours all who appose him. His lust for power has led to this eerie twisting of his form. Compliance saves lives. Resistance is soon snuffed out, usually by his deadly maw.

Spectral Dedan and Spectral Japhet, The Sinister Shadows:

After becoming locked up within a hidden area, part of the soul of the fallen guardians was drained away and infused into writhing fury. Now, these vicious creations, horrid striding portrayals of those pitiful fallen fools stalk Enoch's territory.

The Hench-Elsens:

Together, these apostles of dread appease and serve their powerful ruler. Though usually very reminiscent of pure Elsens, they each have hellish, gruesome form far more fearsome than their usual facades. Each is capable of drastic destruction in said form, and formidable foes each can make.

A general summary of each seperate Elsen Below:

Caspar: The most temperamental and feral of the three, he is prone to acting before thinking. This often leads to scolding, though moreso by his more authoritative partner rather than Enoch. His boss form is beastial.

Melchior: The most obedient, and undoubtedly the most calm. When not sent out with a mission to complete, he stays close to his overlord's side. Caspar often spits insults at him, such as labeling him the lord's pet.

Balthasar: The unintentional leader of the group. Tentacles that make up his body squirm and squelch, often tense with energy, prepared to snap out and slice flesh in an instant. His attempts to keep order often succeed, so he has little to no chance of losing his silent title.

[onomatopagu-et-cie]

Cyrus, Katerina, Campbell

First impressions after re-reading DGM Some theories and observations Notes on Link, part 1 & part 2

Have a nice week-end!!

Again I'm sorry for the awkward english!!!!

(SPOILERS UP TO CH247!!!!)

▶ « Cyrus » and Cross

After focusing on Skulls and Link’s names, I wondered if there was something for Cross and Katerina, two enigmatic characters!

In volume 24, サイラス (‘Sairasu’), which is localized as Cyrus in the English translation, Mana and Neah’s ‘uncle’, is mentioned. This could add to the ‘Cross = Cyrus’ theory:

Cross’s name in Japanese is クロス, which is pronounced ‘Kurosu’. The ancient greek form of Cyrus is Κῦρος, pronounced ‘kuros’ (like how you would pronounce ‘hybris’).

Is Cross the name Cyrus adopted after whatever happened at the Campbell mansion (and also, a symbol of the heavy cross he has to bear for Mana, Neah and Katerina)? Though it’s interesting to note Neah calls him Cross in ch215.

Now in the French translation, his name is localized as ‘Silas’, and the Japanese prononciation could lead to both localizations so I don’t really know if this holds any meaning!

▶ « Katerina »

Katerina is a variant of the name Catherine.

The name became attached to the ancient greek adjective καθαρός, ‘pure’. Also, « Marian Cross » might be a reference to a kind of religious cross:

A SAINT, you say....................

A side note: on the miraculous medal, there were twelve stars, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the apostles. There are two hearts on the medal. One heart bears a crown of thorns — the Christ’s Sacred Heart —, the other is stabbed by a knife — the Immaculate Heart of Mary —. Joined together, the two of them represent the Christ and Mary’s love of the world.

I don’t know if it’s relevant or not, but in ch121, Lavi managed to get out of Road’s dream by stabbing Allen’s illusion in the heart, which ends up piercing through Road’s own heart. And volume 13’s cover features a colorful focus on Lavi and the knife spilling blood in the foreground, which contrast with Cross, two crosses and the coffins coloring the background.

Not to mention:

1) Grave of Maria accompanying Cross: her dress is adorned with roses which are associated to Mary, sometimes represented with a rose crown (the rosary also originates from them). The ‘saint’ from Luberrier’s family is drawn wearing a (presumably) white rose, symbol of purity, innocence and devotion. The black ribbon that covers Maria's head ends up in a butterfly-shaped bow. In christianity, butterflies symbolize rebirth after death like the Christ’s spirit. Though rare, Mary has been represented with butterflies (I also saw that butterfly in spanish is 'mariposa' and its etymology was sometimes supposedly linked to Mary, I wish I could read in spanish ;;).

2) The association of Maria to what looks like a memory of Katerina:

3) In volume 13, Allen says Maria is the corpse of a parasite-type accommodator that is now controlled by Cross’s magic. Though it’s a forbidden spell, he was granted an extraordinary permission from the Order.

On the other hand, Cross suggested that Allen searches for Katerina in the mansion. This leads to the belief that she's pretty much alive, so perhaps Maria and Katerina are unrelated and Cross just remembered Katerina because the two are similar in personality. Their association is really tempting, though.

Especially since her whole face is concealed by her ribbon and we were recently given this page linking the two together!

Or who knows, maybe her soul got separated from her corpse or some other magic happened? We know so little so anything could happen!

It's a great stretch in all this, but Katerina’s name origin has also been linked to Hekate, a goddess of, among other things, liminality between spaces/worlds (entrances, exits, city walls, doors, gates, boundaries and crossroads, the living and dead realms ; one of her epithets was Enodia, ‘she of the road’), the underworld (she was considered the guardian of Hades’s keys, served as a guide), witchcraft (eg. in greek tragedies) and the night. Throughout history, she was also sometimes confounded with other divinities eg. Demeter, Artemis, Persephone. The dog was one of her sacred animals (represented accompanying her and also her sacrifice).

She wasn’t originally associated to the moon, but it became one of her main attributes with witchcraft later, as well as ghosts. In wicca, she is related to the Triple Goddess, which is associated to the archetypes of life (birth, death, rebirth), the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone or the moons (waxing, full and waning).

She was also later said to have a great knowledge of plants, especially to make poison.

The story uses these symbols a lot. The symbol of liminality especially reminds me of Road. (Of course I don’t believe there must be a correlation, references can just be references for the sake of it and highlight meanings, but the research was very fun!)

▶ « Campbell »

A CROOKED mouth…...... ? It’s THE telltale characteristic of the Noah’s memory, while Noah’s physical appearance features golden pupils and stigmata!

Now I don’t know where the story is headed with the Campbells, but I’m really curious to learn more, especially their link to Mana, Neah and the Noah!

[ozblok]

im bored 🤔

i wanna do cr-ppy fanart of Godrick with other parts/heads he's grafted on itself of the dragon head and I have things in mind that I can't decide. Help .w.

I am not a artist nor a professional so don't get any hopes up for anything decent, but I shall give it my all just for the fun of it :>

[maid-with-sunset-in-her-hair]

Etymology of the Stark’s Names

Eddard, Ned: misspelling of Edward, a name of Anglo-Saxon origin composed by the words ēad (wealth, fortune, prosperous) and weard (guardian, protector). His name could be a reference to Edward the Confessor, patron saint of England, the monarchy of England and difficult marriages, or to Edward the Martyr.

Catelyn: a variation of the Irish name Caitlin, which derivates from Katherine and has long been associated with the Greek word katharos (pure, immaculate). Her name could be a reference to Saint Katherine, the patron saint of unmarried girls, maidens and spinsters, craftmen who work with wheels (potters, spinners, millers, knife sharpeners, mechanics), dying people and nurses, jurists and lawyers, educators in general (scholars, archivists, students and schoolchildren, philosophers, librarians and libraries), secretaries and preachers.

Robb: from Robert, a name of proto-Germanic origin composed by the words hroth (fame, glory, honour, praise, renown) and berth (bright, light, shining).

Jon: either a misspelling of John, which is the transliterated and contracted form of the Hebrew name Yehochanan (Yahweh is gracious, merciful) or a shortening of Jonathan (Yahweh has given). There are a lot of saints called John, but the most important is John the Apostle, patron of love, loyalty, friendship, writers in general (authors, scribes, editors, publishers), burn-victims, poison-victims, art-dealers, examinations, scholars and theologians. There's also a Saint Jonathan, whose attributes are bow and arrow and who represents friendship and honesty.

Sansa: most likely named after the stanza, a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or indentation.

Arya: most likely named after the nymph Aria or Areia, which in Ancient Greek means "warlike." In music, an aria is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without orchestral accompaniment. Given that all the metaphors for songs and dances being battles and wars in the series, her name could be foreshadowing some crucial role in the War for the Dawn 2.0.

Brandon, Bran: it could be a variation of the Irish name Breandán (prince, king, chieftain) or the Anglo-Saxon surname Brandon, composed by brōm (gorse shrub) and dūn (hill) or brant (deep, steep) and dūn (hill). I'm pretty sure there was a variety of gorse called the lupine, but don't quote me on that. In Old Welsh, the word Brân means "crow, little raven." It could also come from the surname Brand (sword) which derivated from the Old French word brandon (burning material to set fire).

Rickon, Rickard: Rickon is a surname which means “son of Richard.” Rickard is a variation of the name Richard, a name of proto-Germanic origin, composed by the words rīk (ruler, leader, king) and hardu (strong, brave, hardy). Maybe foreshadowing Rickon becoming King in the North? There's also a Saint Richard patron of Wessex.

Benjen: from Benjamin, an Hebrew name which means "son of the right (hand)" although it could also means "son of my days." Often used for the youngest son of a family, specially if the parents are unlikely to have more children.

Lyanna: most likely a misspelling of Eliana. In Hebrew, the name can be literally translated to “my God answered me” or “God answered my prayer.” Eliana could also come from the Late Latin name Aeliāna, the femenine form of Aeliānus (of the sun), or from the Greek name Helen or Helene. Lyanna's name was probably picked to parallel her to Elia, both victims of reproductive abuse at Rhaegar's hands, and as a reference to Helene's abduction.

[lord-here-i-am]

June, the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, emphasizes importance to devotion to the Sacred Heart. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the “Apostle of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” was the first to promulgate this devotion. Our Lord appeared to her on Dec. 27, 1673. He cured her of serious illnesses, would appear and talk to her frequently, and gave her the mission to establish the devotion to his Sacred Heart. The Lord told her that the love of his Heart must spread to people.

Ecstasy, Visions, Stigmata

On June 8, 1899, the vigil of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, after Holy Communion, Gemma heard Jesus say to her heart: “Gemma, courage! I am waiting for thee on Calvary towards which Your art journeying.” That evening, the Blessed Mother and Gemma’s guardian angel appeared to her. Mary told her, “Jesus my Son loves thee much, and wishes to confer a favor on thee. Canst you render thyself worthy of it? I will be a Mother to thee; will You show thyself a true daughter of mine?” She covered Gemma with her mantle. Gemma recounted that, next, “Jesus appeared with all His wounds open, but instead of Blood, flames as it were of fire issued from them. In an instant those flames touched my hands, feet and heart.” She received the stigmata.

Her wounds bled until next day, three o’clock in the afternoon of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. That same Month of the Sacred Heart, after her usual Holy Hour, Jesus revealed to her all she would have to suffer the rest of her life.

Gemma was favored with many ecstasies and visions of Jesus suffering from the cross on his shoulders, or Jesus pointing to his Sacred Heart. Sometimes he also appeared as a beautiful child. The Blessed Mother, her guardian angel and St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother also visited her.

[blackjackkent]

After Shadowheart walks away, Aylin and Rakha are left just standing there staring at each other awkwardly.

Aylin's eyes narrow, suddenly attentive, and she leans forward a little. "There you are," she says briskly. "I have awaited you arrival with great anticipation. Come closer."

Rakha has been standing several arms' lengths away from Aylin, and even further from Isobel; even now the beast urge in her head wants them dead, and it is a visceral struggle not to give it the upper hand. There is no way Aylin has not noticed it - either the distance, or the threat.

But she invites Rakha closer anyway. An expression of trust, of friendship? Or a pre-emptive trap?

Rakha shifts warily, her eyes narrowing.

Stay back, ready to defend yourself.

To her surprise - Aylin smiles faintly. "Ho! Surely you cannot fear me," she says, with a distinct note of dry humor. "You who have fought beside me in the war against damned Ketheric Thorm?"

The unspoken message is clear. It is you who threatens, not I. But I am not frightened of you. It is still difficult to tell, though, whether that lack of fear is from trust - or simply because she does not believe Rakha could hurt her.

Rakha hesitates, then nods slowly.

Step closer.

She moves to just within Aylin's reach and then stops again. Her hands clench behind her back as she battles back a low, hungry growl in her head.

Aylin smiles fiercely, her fists clenching, her arms lifting. "Feel my voice rattle your bones as I proclaim our victory!" she cries. "Moonmaiden, Selune, hear me!" Her voice lifts into the trees overhanging the camp, past them into the still-muddled sky. "Ketheric Thorm, traitor, Apostle of Myrkul is dead at last! My mate most high - darling Isobel - is safe and well! Safe and well and returned to my embrace!"

She thumps a gauntleted hand against her chest - then drops her eyes to Rakha's again. There is none of the glowing fire in them that Rakha has seen before - but her gaze is just as intense. "Blessings upon the slayer of the wicked one!"

It takes Rakha a moment to realize that Aylin means her. That she is offering Rakha a blessing.

She does not know how broken I am.

She flinches back a little from the offered gift, looks around curiously, half-expecting some bolt of light to crash down in answer to Aylin's invocation. But nothing happens - neither blessing nor curse.

"Where's the silver light?" she asks cautiously. "The... moon-magic?"

Aylin shakes her head, amused as if at a child's thoughtless question. "Listen to the subtle vibrations of the Moonmaiden thumping within your heart-chambers, friend," she says gravely. "She works her magic there."

Rakha hesitates, focuses inward, feeling around for the vibrations Aylin describes. Certainly she can sense something of Aylin's own magic - the pale shimmer of white-gold light on her skin, over her armor. But if there is any blessing that has penetrated into her own heart... she doesn't feel it. Perhaps it is too subtle for her, or perhaps too drowned out by the beast's growling.

A pity. She would have welcomed Selune's peace if it was to be offered to her. But she knows nothing more of that goddess than any other.

Aylin watches her thoughtfully. "My darling Isobel says we will stay allied at your side," she goes on after a little while - more conversationally, but even in conversation her voice resonates like an invocation. "I am pleased to hear it."

Rakha frowns slightly. She knows, intellectually, that Aylin and Isobel are both powerful allies of the sort that the Guardian told her to gather. But every moment they are in camp is an invitation for Rakha to slip, to kill... for the beast in her head still wants the blood of these Selunites beyond any other.

On the other hand... she suspects Aylin's pleasure at being here is genuine. And it is, in that case, an expression of trust after all - one even more serious than the one Jaheira offered her. Because Aylin, Rakha is quite sure, knows perfectly well that Rakha is violent, dangerous, angry - and she is shrugging it aside.

She smiles faintly - not sure herself if the expression is sincere or sardonic. "There's still a great deal about you I don't know," she says curtly. And you don't know about me.

Aylin quirks up an eyebrow calmly. "Pray, ask, and I will tell."

Rakha considers for a moment. Whether Aylin realizes it or not, this is another peace offering - an invitation to ask and to receive answers. "Are you really Selune's daughter?" she asks.

"Do I not radiate with my mother's brightness? Her glory?" Aylin says promptly. "There can be no doubt. I am of her silvered flesh, her celestial womb!"

Rakha blinks several times as she processes slowly through this sentence. It's like talking to Gale, if Gale were the child of a god instead of an ex-lover. "Would your mother be willing to aid us?" she asks doubtfully. "In the fight against the Dead Three?"

"Why, she already has!" Aylin crows. "She has brought her sword to your side. Dame Aylin! So mighty are her wonders, her great wisdom. Together we will set this fair land free of tyranny and murder."

Another slow blink from Rakha. She knows very little of gods beyond what she has heard from her companions - but this seems a strange interpretation of events. Aylin is here because she was trapped in the Shadowfell for a century. And it was her and her companions that released her, not Selune. If the goddess orchestrated this, it seems a cruel way to have gone about it.

"How did you come to be trapped in the Shadowfell?" she asks slowly.

Aylin's face twists suddenly with anger and grief at the memory. "Mm. Ketheric Thorm," she growls. "Father of my one and only love. Enslaver of Dame Aylin." She laughs bitterly. "Ketheric Thorm never did trust me, even when he worshiped the Moonmaiden. He was threatened by my love for Isobel, by her love for me. When she died - curse the day, the hour! - we each of us mourned bitterly. But Ketheric's pain could be touched by no aid, no boundary."

She leans forward, her jaw working with muted rage. "He turned to wretched Shar, the Lady of Loss, for relief. And she whispered into his ear, poisoning his mind. He and his loathsome advisor, Balthazar, lured me into the Shadowfell, claimed they'd found someone in need of my aid. There they trapped me in their infernal cage."

Her head twitches, a flinch away from an unseen blow. "I was killed, murdered, made dead, over and over and over by Justiciars of every make and kind. I was reborn, for it is my nature. And Ketheric fed upon my immortality all the while."

Her eyes flare suddenly, and her lips curl in a brutal, ferocious smile. "But lo - the brute is dead! And we- we live!"

Memory slaps through Rakha - unbidden flashes first unearthed in that pit below Moonrise. A knife in the hand of Kressa Bonedaughter, stabbing down into Rakha's torso, slicing her open, again, and again, and again. Opening her up, tearing her apart, exploring every inch of her and finding with each moment a new agony to evoke. That mad gleam of possessive ardor in her eyes as she sewed Rakha closed, only for the pleasure of once again ripping her open.

She swallows, squeezes her eyes shut. The beast's rage at Aylin is tangling with something more complicated. Camaraderie? Understanding? Her head aches like there's a knife in it and her heart pumps a steady pulse in her temple.

They have both been tortured, both fought together and destroyed Ketheric and Kressa both. Perhaps, despite the pain, it will be good to fight together again, when they find the others that need killing.

But lo, the brute is dead. And we... we live...