#isokell

[soawen]

Come Fly (Pangaea fic for Silvy)

Title: Come Fly

Author: Soawen

Summary: After the Final Battle, Rannon has trouble seeing anything but a battlefield when he approaches a zenaqet board. Combine that with the darkest night coming up, and he’s in free fall. Fortunately for him (and his surroundings), Khata is used to dealing with foolish ZanTaoyakas.

Warnings: Mentions of battle, a so not realistic cure for the aftermath of war

A/N: https://pangaea.silvystrand.se/?p=1849 is the cause of this. I realize Rannon and Khata are being all bad-ass here (no better player indeed!), but maybe the aftermath was less ... fun.

Isokell was careful not to scowl when Rannon carefully stepped around their zenaqet board and ignored their game completely despite it being his turn.

Not that she minded how he sank down next to her with a murmur of her name, not at all, but it was so frustrating that he didn’t want to talk about the lack of- of- she didn’t know what, only that he had stopped playing after what had become known as the Final Battle, claiming that he had played enough, and only that he was not getting any better with new year and its dark night closing in.

She would have pulled down the sun and tied it to his arm if she could, just so he would have light.

Or maybe she should just settle for a good whack at his head, knock some of his former sense into him.

“Rannon-“ she began, but another voice dwarfed out hers and it took her a hammering heartbeat or two to recognize it as Khata’s.

“Rannon. Come fly.”

*

Khata was a patient being, she thought. For instance, she hadn’t eaten any of the stable boys, tasked with keeping her home neat, even when they squealed so amusingly when she sneaked up upon them. (One of them had earned her grudging approval, though – he hadn’t made any noise, just looked her up and down, bowed, and waited until she was outside before fainting. Good kid.)

She also liked queen Isokell and would graciously allow the human to feel her face, fangs and spines included, because no one else had dared ask if she was as warm to the touch as they imagined.

But Rannon, the man who had dared climb upon her back when told to do so, who had kept his composure and played an exquisite game of real life zenaqet while so many others had died screaming in fear under them, who could sympathize with her loss of her twin… He was so different once on firm ground.

Gone was the hastily squashed joy of flying – and yes, she had known from the light in his eyes, no matter what he had denied to himself.

Gone was the human that had won her respect.

She had overheard some of the court gossip as they walked by her home (at an appropriately respectful distance, of course, but her ears were keen), and apparently it was ‘worse than usual around this time of year’.

Now, Khata wasn’t stupid and had made the connection between the encroaching darkness and her rider’s sour mood (surely it couldn’t be the battle – it had turned out well, had it not? Despite her not being allowed to eat anyone). What she didn’t get was why he didn’t just set something ablaze and warmed himself by the fire, but Isokell had very politely told her of the custom of the darkest night and requested no sudden bonfires, so that was out.

Hmph.

She rose from her resting place and went to the nearby royal gardens, sniffing a few flowers on the way, taking her time to make sure that quiet had descended everywhere, before rising to her full height and sticking her head through the balcony doors.

“Rannon. Come fly.”

*

“Rannon. Come fly.”

Staring blankly at the enormous head poking through what had been very pretty but apparently also very flimsy balcony doors, Rannon slowly let go of Isokell whom he had grabbed hold of as soon as the doors gave away.

“Khata,” he managed, “this is a surprise.”

“Khata, what a pleasant surprise!” Isokell said and eeled out of his grip, no doubt wanting to greet her guest properly.

The dragon growled and fixed him with a narrow stare. “Now.”

“Good thinking! Rannon, dear, remember your gloves and have fun.”

Flexing his hands, still a bit stiff after the many hours clinging to a sharp-edged dragon at the Final Battle, Rannon tried to formulate some form of protest, something, anything that would mean not going into the black night where even the stars were blocked by heavy clouds.

He failed, and suddenly his gloves were on and he was sliding down Khata’s neck to sit in place just before her shoulders, and Isokell was laughing in that way she did when she was trying to be quiet, and the ground disappeared with a high jump and a beating of mighty wings.

“Khata,” he finally managed, “Khata…”

“The words you are looking for are ‘thank you’,” she rumbled.

“Thank you,” he said automatically and then his stomach lurched as they rose steeply further up into the air and hit the clouds.

Rannon was now engulfed in darkness. He could see nothing. There was no light, no-

“Close your eyes,” Khata snapped, and he obeyed, taking the order to do anything that could get him away from this place with gratefulness.

He drew a shuddering breath. He might not be able to see anything, but Isokell lived with that every day and she was fine, she was fine she was fine she was stronger than him she-

“Look.”

It took him a few deep breaths but then he risked it, trusting Khata. If she had wanted to hurt him, she would have set him on fire, no doubt there, but quite frankly the damp cold that now permeated him made him welcome some warmth…

There was the palest of gold everywhere.

Clouds lit with starlight covered the darkness underneath, and when Rannon looked up, he could see the stars bright and clear, the familiar constellations being somehow even more eye-catching than usual, as if they were closer, and they were, they were, there was nothing to dull their light here, and there, a star shooting brighter and clearer than the others, and there an unfamiliar formation until he turned it over in his mind and it became part of his favourite constellation…

Khata carried him silently through the night until he went from shivering from cold to downright shaking and then took him down.

For some reason the clouds didn’t bother him this time around, his mind filled with stars, and he tumbled gracelessly to the grass, looking up at Khata with wonder.

The dragon reached out with a paw and allowed him to support himself there as he got back on his feet and gathered himself.

“There is always light somewhere,” she said, surprisingly gently before adding, “foolish human.”

Rannon bowed with as much grace as he had ever presented in the presence of other royals. “Thank you,” he said simply.

“Hmph.” Khata turned and stretched a bit before sauntering back to her stable.

Rannon winced as his inner thighs and hands reminded him that even leather was no match for dragonhide before going back to Isokell’s and his chambers.

She had long since retired to their bedroom, so she wasn’t there to see him approach the zenaqet board.

It was his turn.

Rannon made his move.

The end :)

[golddeneyes]

Hey Everybody! GolddenEyes here to tell you that after FIVE MONTHS the first episode of my famine campaign, Hack The Planet, is ready to go! In this episode, the players are in the “Eternal daydream” nightclub, trying to prove that even a group of people who met on a line can be cool. The party consists of:

Oto M. Denwa, played by @ballastmcgee is the disc Jockey of the local radio show “Otomatic supersonic radio hour!” His epithet, coincidentally, happens to BE radio, which has been guessed over 1,500 times live on air. He’s here to meet the hottest new artists to keep his fans in the loop of the music world.

His co-worker, played by Gnome Overlord, is Melodia Tyrannia, also know as the self proclaimed Sailor Mel, is a wannabe hero and rock star from the ocean trying (And, frankly, failing) to make it big on the surface! Since arriving here, she’s taken quite a liking to electric guitar and crappy reality TV shows.

Fellow weab Jabril “Jabs” Isokel, played by @cocomere is a bouncer at a less cool club, pro bodybuilder hopeful, and hardcore magical girl fan. She cosplays in her spare time, but not very well.

And finally there’s Ytho, playing Gerald Wellingotn, a 14 year old snob child of the “Prestigious Wellington Family” whose best personality traits are being very punchable, and being able to bribe his party mates. (But not necessarily being able to bribe his party mates to not punch him.)

My co-GM is JuniperJams, and my cameraman is @axiskae. You can catch this episode on my twitch channel this Saturday, July 7th, 2018, with an expected start time of 12:30 PM EST. Hope to see you there!

(Wanna get to know these characters a little bit better? Watch the roleplay session 0 right here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/230644770 )

[techbugs-digital-marketing]

Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, And Redmi 9 may launch in India in mid-March

Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi recently launched the i10 and i10 Pro in China. According to a new report, the Mi 10 smartphone could be launched in India in mid-March. And in addition to the Mi 10, the Redmi 9 will also be openly launched at the same event. The Redmi 9 is one of those mysterious phones that Xiaomi didn't tell us much about. Xiaomi's Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain has said that soon I can start 10m in India. Xiaomi Mi 10 India is likely to launch as I launched the 108-megapixel camera phone from India a few months ago. The latest Xiaomi Mi 10 has a quad rear camera setup, which has a 108-megapixel sensor.

Full features of the Xiaomi Mi 10

The latest Xiaomi Mi 10 features a curved 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1,120 Nits peak brightness. The device comes with a single hole-punch display design. The smartphone panel supports a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The newly launched i10 display offers a contrast ratio of 5000000: 1. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. The brand revealed that it's Mi 10 phone has finally hit 585,232. The company has added a large 4,780mAh battery to the phone. The Mi 10 will support 30W wired flash charge technology, 30W wireless charging as well as 10W reverse wireless charging. The Pro version of the phone comes with 50W charging support and has 4,500 mAh battery. It provides support for the latest standard Wi-Fi 6 for home wireless networks. It's the successor to Wi-Fi 802.11ac, now called Wi-Fi 5. There are a total of four cameras in the back for photography. The newly launched Xiaomi Mi 10 features a 108-megapixel main camera that uses Samsung's Isokel Bright HMX sensor. The rear camera setup has a 13-megapixel sensor and two 2-megapixel sensors. The phone has 8K video recording support, OIS and EIS. On the front, the device packs a 20-megapixel sensor for selfies and video. Connectivity options on Mi 10 include 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, dual-frequency GPS, high-res audio, NFC and infrared (IR) blaster.

Xiaomi Redmi 9's design teased

Xiaomi has shared some teasers about the Redmi 9 probe, which gives us an idea of ​​what to expect on the front and rear of the device. According to the teaser, we get a drop notch display on the top of the smartphone. In addition, we also get a thicker chin with Redmi branding in the center of the bottom of the device. This is rumored to be Xiaomi Redmi 9, similar to Redmi 8 launched last year. Xiaomi is marketing upcoming smartphones with the tagline "Country Smartphone Smartphone".

In addition, Xiaomi also says that Redmi 9 will be "strong" in various aspects of performance. These aspects include entertainment, cameras, and batteries. We're not sure about the front-camera resolution, but the screenshot shows portrait mode with a built-in Google lens. Xiaomi also confirmed that the Redmi will come with a 95,000mAh battery. Read the full article

[magicingreyscale-fr]

The Perma Legacy - Generation Two

Generation Three Goals:   - Skydancer Breed   - Red Primary (?)

[lola-wolf1106]

Hatchlings upcoming

Isokel+Ara have 2 Forest+Denethor have 2 Orayros+Plum 4 (8/27/17) Trunt+Stonefrill 2 (8/27/17) Darkdiscord+Jewel 4 (8/27/17) Yay! Come buy my hatchlings

[doomcheese]

Mystery sketch as a gift from @chigrima to @silvysartfulness

[silvysartfulness]

@chigrima replied to your post “@chigrima replied to your post “Thanks for answering the Karaon ask!...”

...does Isokell ever come with him to hold his hand?

Isokell sensibly feels that it’s good father-son bonding time, and that the panicked concern is good for helping Rannon getting more in touch with his emotions. u.u

I’m sure she had a calm, friendly talk with Keela when the arrangement was first made, about how delighted she is that her old friend is mentoring her son so he will stay safe. Not once making any threats or being anything but pleasant, but still managing to convey “I love you, but if you harm a hair on his head, I will end you and all you hold dear.”

She’s flawless at reading people, though, so she’s never really worried. She knows Keela wouldn’t actually hurt Karaon - and if Rannon’s fatherly anxiety paints him more human in his detractors’ eyes, that’s really just a good thing.

[silvysartfulness]

um, so i need battle-scarred isokell in my life like IMMEDIATELY by which i mean at your own convenience but o m g

Just a quick concept, I may decide on something completely different in the end, but…

You’re welcome! 8D

Being blind, Isokell never cared much about physical beauty - and some badass scars reminding everyone she was on that battlefield fighting for her homeland isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a soon-to-be queen.

I’m fairly certain she took two nasty blows, one across her face and one shoulder-to-hip across her torso. (You should see the other truck.)

[silvysartfulness]

Sister Queens

The fragile peace between the two peoples was tested to the breaking point at the Battle of Hope, but once the ashes clear, the two living embodiments of the unity between the peoples still stand, straighter than ever.

Isokell fought and bled on that battlefield, for her kingdom, her people and her family - as the new world dawns, she will officially step up and succeed her father as ruler of Kayalana. The battle cost her an eye, but out of the ashes, she picked up the ring of Akaua and became one with its great powers of magic.

Ziradess, not long on the throne before she was overthrown by her beloved mentor, had to flee her kingdom - but ever running toward the fight, never away from it. When the fate of the world was in the balance, she was the one to deal the decisive strike, claiming the double-edged sword of the dark powers that have offered the world both salvation and utter destruction. With her mother’s support, she will retake her rightful place on the throne of Sirn.

Instead of the traditional carnelian, Ziradess’ crown holds a Kayalan blue diamond, and framed by Sirn-inspired crystal wings, its match adorns Isokell’s crown.

Queens of two great kingdoms, uniting the peoples of the east and west through their very existence, it’s up to them now to defend the peace their parents wrought. Holding the greatest sources of magic known to the world, both great-hearted and stubborn to a fault, they step up to face the future side by side.

And right about there, at the cusp of that new beginning... our story ends.

[silvysartfulness]

5 for Isokell!

On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets? 

Hmm. That’s a good question. I don’t actually think there’s any specific items she always carries. She’s more about carrying stuff in her mind, where no-one else can see them or try to take them away.

I think she does, in many ways, share Rion’s tendency for nostalgia and getting attached to things, but she’s learned (even though that was no-one’s intention) that things she likes can be taken away “for her own good”, and so she’s careful not to show any great attachment. She may feel it, and think it, but she’s very cautious about showing it to the world; whatever affection or approval she shows is carefully weighed and calculated, and rarely touches upon the things she really, deeply cares about.

And since she’s also stiflingly doted upon, she doesn’t really have a reason to carry practical things herself. Doors are unlocked and opened for her, food is served, and being blind she has little interest in things that are pretty for pretty’s sake.

Possibly once Ziradess leaves for Sirn, that she carries a memento of her sister, since that’s something no-one could possibly object to or deny her.

Thank you so much for asking!

[silvysartfulness]

I am so sorry you're sick! I hope you recover soon and that you and your family stay safe. And I hope if nothing else Pangaea can remain a refuge for you. So on that note, for the meme: Rannon (37), Isokell (38), Ziradess (32), Lazuli (17), Keela (42). Plus literally anything else, I will read any meta not joking. -Roquen

Thank you! Knock on wood, I am feeling a bit better today, and my roommate’s also doing better. ♥ I really hope that it has actually been Covid-19 we’ve had, and that the worst part is over. It’d suck to have had a common flu and then be even more at risk for the real thing. I just want to get better asap and then be immune. ;_;

Rannon (37) Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status

I guess that depends on what you read into the concepts. Believing himself to be the last of his line, a lot of his action were a combination of both - his status as king was important not because of the power it gave him, but as the legacy he had been given to protect. (He does have a bit of a hard time letting go of his regal status, though. But for all that he can be very assertive and on occasion forget he isn’t in charge of making decisions anymore, he does genuinely defer to Rion as his king, and supports him without question.)

But his sense of honour is extremely important to him, and living on in disgrace, perceived as a coward for still being alive, is definitely one of the most painful aspects of his pardoned existence after the war. In many ways his punishment at the hands of the Karakali, and the trials of Ku'Ombos dented that already rather tarnished self-image, and the final blow was learning the truth of his affair with Aurora/Isokell.

But in a way, he came out the other side a more free and relaxed person, concerned more with human matters than abstract honour and reputation.

Isokell (38) Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

Both, depending on the situation. Her greatest problem growing up was frankly all the limits placed upon her by her over-protective parents, and a lot of time was spent thinking up increasingly creative ways to circumvent that. She couldn’t challenge them outright, so she became very good at subterfuge, collecting knowledge and strategy to use to get her way.

Much of the end goal is to remove herself from the stifling situation, though, so I suppose the latter. First with Ziradess’ help, then disguised as “Aurora”, and finally when she fled to Sirn with her secret child. After that, she refused to play on anyone else’s terms anymore, and made people back down through sheer force of will rather than manipulation and secrecy.

Ziradess (32) Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

Sitting still. Sitting still, in uncomfortable clothes, behaving like a good girl/woman/princess, paying attention to boring things said by boring people because it is apparently of political import.

It’s not that she doesn’t have the intellect for politics, but the parts where you have to sit still for endless hours and argue back and forth over petty things to keep petty people satisfied is the most boring thing in the world. And she hates being bored.

Lazuli (17) What was your character’s favorite toy as a child?

I have absolutely no idea, to be honest! I mean, I sketched a cute picture of him with a teddybear and a knife many, many years ago, but that was mostly a joke.

I know the sketchy basics of his childhood and youth, but the details are very hazy. It mostly wasn’t a bad childhood as such - albeit strictly structured with some discipline and expectations of performance - so supposedly he had some personal possessions he liked, like toys. I’d love to say something sentimental like a gift from his mom, and maybe it was, but it’s also as likely that he would favour the most glamourous thing he owned, no matter its background. I clearly need to delve deeper into Machra-la’s recent past at some point…

Keela (42) Has your character ever had a parental figure who was not related to them?

Ahaha. If you want to be really cruel, it’s hard not to say Rannon. When she was little, she often did get to come along with her father to court, since he spent so much time at Rannon’s side, and for all that Rannon was somewhat reserved (ie not really having a clue how to deal with little kids), they did have a kind of older/younger sibling or parent/child relationship. There are certain sword moves she still uses that she assumes her father taught her, but it was actually Rannon (who in turned learned them from Shayari).

Clearly that all fell apart when her father died, and the betrayal cut all the deeper because the killer was a man she had trusted.That aside, I think Kamiyeh is definitely a parental figure of sorts, aside from her highest commanding officer. And there’s Mikala, another Karakali shanti I don’t know much about, but that I think was also one of Keela’s mentors after her father died.

Plus literally anything else, I will read any meta not joking. -Roquen

Thank you so, so much!! ♥♥♥

Honestly, trying to get back into Pangaea is a priceless refuge, and questions like these, and encouragement to just ramble, it means so much! I’m really hoping to have more spoons once I feel better, and maybe even draw (or write! D:) some again. But until then, these Pangaea asks are life-savers. Thank you so much.

I’m always more than happy to ramble meta on any subject, whether it’s follow-ups to any of these answered asks, or just whatever plot point my mind has latched onto for the day!

(Lately it’s been the encounter I think Rion had with a young Arani girl during his escape through the Sirn desert, as well as a never-to-be-au with Rannon and his servants, that nonetheless amuses me. Remains to see what Brain will serve up tomorrow…)

[silvysartfulness]

🎭 Isokell (if you don't mind a nudge i would die for darklord isokell but anything would be amazing tbh)

Congratulations, I think you managed to pick the one thing that would freak Rion out more than anything else in the entire world! :D

[silvysartfulness]

hey it's me the anon who accidentally (cough) destroyed rion with the darklord isokell request! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE AS THE DAWN and I love it!!! I regret nothing. Rion might be devastated but how's Rannon feeling? >:]

Yeah, I mean, he wouldn’t really approve of the whole “evil” bit, but... All-powerful Isokell, virtually aglow with raw power and strength? He could definitely see some appeal there. Perhaps. Just a little. XD

(Which would not make Rion feel better about anything.)

[silvysartfulness]

I asked for battle-scarred Isokell and you DELIVERED thank you she looks incredibly awesome! Rannon is a lucky man. Also I just saw your year in review and I especially wanted to say the style you used for Inktober was just amazing, truly beautiful and creative in design, composition, detail, everything :) x

Thank you so much! After some thought (and suspicious leafing through old art), I decided to move the scar to the other side of her face, though - looking back I realized I already have two other characters in the story with scars on the left cheek, and variety is the spice of life, so... Right side it is. XD

Revised current design can be seen in the picture I made of Ziradess and Isokell after the Battle of Hope, here!

(Rannon is a lucky man, and he knows it. His wife is most awesome wife.)

And thank you, again! ♥♥♥ Maybe I’ll see if I can make some more art in that Inktober-style. I didn’t get much feedback on those images at the time, so I was a bit discouraged, but if it’s something people want more of, perhaps I can give it another shot. :)

[silvysartfulness]

Clearsighted.

Isokell’s profile picture. Her eyes may be blind, but she is one of the most perceptive people in Pangaea, seeing far more than most.

I’ll try to get back into the habit of posting, at least the finished pictures I already have lying around. Thank you, yet again, those of you who are still hanging around. Your comments and notes mean so much to me.

[silvysartfulness]

Time to upload the Pangaea sketches I made while I was logged off!

Concept doodle of what Isokell may look like on the day she presumably ascends the throne of Kayalana after Rion retires.

It was only supposed to be Isokell, but she stood there looking awesome and gorgeous and amazing, so Rannon just couldn't stay away. She doesn't seem to mind, though. Quite the opposite. ♥

(It’s nice to be back on tumblr, though I have to say, Pillowfort is amazing, with a working comment function. I’m so stoked to get direct feedback on the things I post! Thank you so much, people who follow me over there! :D )