qlossytbh

[daeva-agas]

I was thinking "I should clarify my designs/mental image of the AV druids some more because of Lore (TM)", but LMAO I can't help thinking of the daeva all the time...

I've had this mental gag for the longest time that "Rashnu looks kind of creepy, and Nanghaithya looks more like the druid than him". Wanted to draw visuals to compare (also Nanghaithya's full face without the covering on his mouth).

Rashnu isn't actually fierce, he just... has permanent frown lines from years of overthinking. Nanghaithya has a few braids that can turn into vines and thorns (because of his Earth element thing).

I probably should make a more detailed character drawing/profile someday... I originally wanted to try to fanfic it, but it's been like 5 years and the words still aren't working.

This version of Nanghaithya is different than this one because the one pictured in this post is for a specific AU/canon divergent lore. Mostly canon compliant, but there's a few flights of fancy taken. That other one is more fully canon compliant.

[iztopher]

if you're still doing the writing wrapped: 4, 6, 10, 16, 27!!

yess!!

4. Favorite paragraph you wrote this year?

Graduation was heartening. The tattooing process, while painful, hurt less than her freshly-healed lightning strike from Nanghaithya. She looked at herself in the mirror: sword inked along her sternum, sheet music curling around her calves, and reminded herself they meant she had proven herself a hero. She found she had some faith in Rhen Darzon, Sword Singer, to save the world.

from with rhyme and reason!

6. Favorite sentence you wrote this year?

It was the blade Rhen wielded - she couldn't herself think of the Sword of Shadows as her sword, not when she would be returning it so soon and hopefully never have to hold it again - that sliced down Ahriman's chest and sucked in his horrible, shrieking soul.

also from with rhyme and reason! I like this sentence a lot because it turns out I enjoy writing violence LMAO

10. How did you help other writers this year? (i.e. leaving comments, reviews, borrowing books, beta reading, etc)

I beta'ed for a handful of people this year, which was really fun, and I tried to make a point to get back into the swing of leaving comments. still have some to leave, though...

16. Who was your favorite character to write?

it's always a 50/50 shot for me. this year, Galahad wins.

27. Which books, movies, etc, helped instruct your storytelling this year?

saying "I'm not sure" is such a copout answer but truly I am not sure. I enjoyed a LOT of new media this year but most of it is very different from the stories I've been telling, so while I'm sure it subconsciously influenced me all the same it was kind of all just soup to me and I can't separate it out.

I played Zero Escape ages ago, but I think the most interesting is that ZE definitely inspired part of with rhyme and reason. The idea of different timelines was very present in my mind writing that fic, and my thoughts on that in media are very heavily influenced by ZE. also watched russian doll this year so that was probably also knocking around in there

I started Black Sails last year, and I do think watching it & finishing it this year was a big part of my interest in writing more characters making decisions I actively disagree with. I watched this part last year, but as specific as it is I rewatched the one incredibly :( Flint & Miranda sex scene before writing YTSLTLM lmao. there was an emotional discomfort there that really spoke to me I guess

overall the type of media I like engaging with is leaning darker/unsettling/weird and unexplained - horror, drama, stuff about death, time loops & other time shenanigans, mysteries - but the type of writing I like MAKING is staying solidly in goofy high fantasy land and Aveyond fanfiction, so I'm not 100% sure how those are gonna end up being reconciled. I want to make a point in 2023 to keep engaging w/ stuff that's more of My Vibe as a creator, which to be fair I did this year, but mostly by replaying Aveyond and rewatching Galavant LOL and not by experiencing anything new.

[satohqbanana]

Love it when Nanghaithya just hisses at Rhen when he sees her and boasts of how defeating her will earn him a reward from Ahriman, then Rhen just Siren Calls him into Silence and renders him essentially useless throughout the battle as she and Lars pummel him to dust and Elini's just cheering at the back waiting to gain Nanghaithya one of her summons.

[konzertmeister]

Ff?

@angelicbutblack @burayagelkedicik

@backtooblack @bcertnian

@kursuniirenkler @nanghaithya

@alfalutfen @creiwu

@artikailedenbiri @kafamdakidunyalar

@duslerintanrisi @nightarts

@piyanokokusu @caylarolduu

@pixielss @darknessthenight

@badforyourmentalhealth @loa-asecret

@dead-minds-society @sevgilmsoylesene

@sadeceuyumak @kafasikarisikpanda

@turuncuveyesil @pandalarolemezmoruk

@sonbenzenhalkasi @not--for-nothing

@pizzaolsadayesekk @morsivrisinek

@gufraa @goktekimaviii

@letterstokafka @koyununmavitonu

@tuhafbey @gokkusagiininsekizincirengi

@frpmasasi @ikinoktaltustee

[queenrhenpendragon]

Day 10 of the Aveyond 31 day fandom challenge is dream fandom crossover. I just really love Aveyond how it is but the opportunity to portray the daevas as divas was too good to pass up

[vaftizolmayanrahibe]

@nanghaithya

[muzicnews]

 دنیای تاریکی‌ها و بدی‌ها (قلمرو اهریمن)

آفرینش دیوان و موجودات اهریمنی به‌وضوح آفرینش مینوی اورمزد و موجودات اهورایی، در اوستا و کتاب‌های پهلوی توصیف نشده است. نام دیوهای بسیاری در منتها آمده است، ولی آگاهی چندانی از آن‌ها نمی‌توان به دست آورد و گاهی تنها در حد یک نام است. همان‌طور که بدی در مقابل خوبی است، اهریمن نیز در برابر اورمزد و سپندمینو قرار می‌گیرد. برای هرکدام از امشاسپندان و ایزدان، هماورد (هَمیستار در منتهای پهلوی)یا رقیبی ذکرشده است، اما با توصیفی کمتر و گاه بسیار مبهم.

سردیوان (کَمالگان یا کمار یگان)

سرکردگان دیوان هستند و در ردۀ نخست موجودات بد مینوی قرار دارند. آن‌ها شش سردیو(به قولی هفت سردیو)مقابل امشاسپندان هستند که به ترتیب عبارت‌اند از:

اکومن(اَکه منَه)۱

دشمن او پیام‌آور اهریمن است. بهمن است و نمادی است از بداندیشی و آشتی‌ناپذیری.

اِنذر/ ایندَر/ ایندره

دشمن اردیبهشت است. در آثار ودایی نام خدایی بسیار نیرومند است و بیشتر صفات او به ایزد بهرام و تعدادی از صفاتش به مهر منتقل‌شده است و خود در باورهای ایرانی به‌صورت دیوی درآمده است که آفریدگان را از نیکویی کردن بازمی‌دارد. او ضد نظم و ترتیب است. تأثیر تفکرات روحانیان ساسانی، این صفت را هم به او نسبت داده‌اند که مانع کُستی۱ بستن می‌شود.

ساوول (سَروَه)

دشمن شهریور است و نمادی ازشهریاریِ بد و ستمکاری. احتمالاً همان رودرَه سَروَه، خدایی از تبار دئِوه های هندی بوده است که در ایران، شهریاری بد و ظلم را تجسم می‌بخشد.

ناهیه (نانگهیثیه)۲

دشمن سپندارمد که آفریدگان را از قانع بودن بازمی‌دارد و آنان را ناراضی می‌سازد. او نیز احتمالاً تجسم ناستیه، خدایی از تبار دَئِوه های هندی است.

تَیریز (تئیری)۳

دشمن خرداد که گیاهان و دام‌ها را به زهر می‌آمیزد.

زَیریز (زئیری)۴

دشمن آمرداد که زهر می‌سازد. گاه خودی اهریمن و گاه اَئِشمه (دیو خشم) را بر شش دیو فرق می‌افزایند.

  اکوان دیو

  دیوان و دروجان

علاوه بر سَردیوان، همۀ جلوه‌های زشت و صفات پلید نیز به‌صورت دیوان و دروان در برابر ایزدان شصیت می‌یابند. درو در آغاز نامی برای ماده دیوان بود است، ولیسپس کلمه‌ای می‌شود مترادف دیو. دیوان نیز مانند ایزدان سلسله‌مراتب دارند و ازنظر اهمیت و قدرت عمل در مقام‌های بالا و پایینی قرار می‌گیرند، ولی شخصیت وجودی آن‌ها به‌اندازۀ ایزدان روشن و واضح نیست. تعداد دیوانان به نسبت دیوان مذکرمحدود است، ولی در کل، جنسیت دیوان کمتر از ایزدان مشخص است. تعدادی از این دیوان عبارت‌اند از:

جِه /جَهی

دیوزنی که نقش تخریبی عمده‌ای در آغاز آفرینش دارد. نماد مۀ پلیدا و آلودگیهای زنان و نماد روسپی‌گری است. او در متن‌ها هم دختر و هم زن اهریمن به شمار آمده است. اوست که اهریمن را به یورش دوم برمی‌انگیزد. چون اهریمن برمی‌خیزد، بر سرجَهی بوسه می‌زند و آلودگی‌های زنانه از این راه پدیدار می‌شود. پس از آفرینش، در اسطوره‌ها دیگر از جَهی نشانی نیست جز اشاره‌ای کوتاه در هزارۀ اوشیدر و اوشیدرماه.

سهمناک‌ترین دیوها، دیوهایی هستند که با مرگ ارتباط دارند. این دیوها که به دیوهای مرگ معروف‌اند عبارت‌اند از:

استویداد/اَستوِهات

دیوی که مفهوم نام او درهم‌شکننده و از هم جداکننده استخوان‌هاست. او دارای کمندی است که آن را بر گردن قربانی موردنظر خود می‌اندازد. اوست که برای نخستین بار مرگ را برگیومرث، پیش نمونه انسان، مستولی می‌کند. دیوی است که چون دست بر مردم زند، خواب آورد و چون سایه بر آنان افکند، تب و چون دیده بر آنان دوزد، مرگ.

ویزَرِش

همکار استویداددیو است که با روان درگذشتگان در آن سه شبانه‌روزی که هنوز در گیتی هستند نبرد می‌کند و آنان را می‌ترساند. او بر درِ دوزخ می‌نشیند و روان گناهکاران را با زنجیر تا پل چینود می‌کشد.

وای بد

بخشی از فضا را در اختیار دارد که روان در گذشتگان از آن می‌گذرد. اوست که جان را از تن جدا می‌کند (نک ایزد وای)

نَسو/نسوش

دیوی است که به بدن انسان، درحالی‌که هنوز زنده است، یورش می‌برد و آن را می‌گنداند و چون بدن فاسد و گندیده شد، روان دیگر نمی‌تواند در آن بماند. در حقیقت نخستین عامل مرگ این دیو است. اثری از تأنیث در نام این دیو دیده می‌شود.

  تصویری از یک دیو

معرفی گروهی دیگر از دیوان

  بوشاسب۵ (بوشیانستا)۶

دیو خواب مفرط و تنبلی است. احتمالاً دیوزن است و به دارندۀ دست‌های دراز موصوف است. هنگامی‌که خروس در بامداد می‌خواند، او همۀ کوشش خود را به کار می‌برد که جهان را در خواب نگه دارد. سحرگاهان پلک‌ها را سنگین می‌کند و بدین‌سان مردم را از برخاستن و رفتن به سرکار بازمی‌دارد.

شم (اَئِ��مَه)

دیوی است که با نیزۀ خونین ظاهر می‌شود. او نیز از پیام‌آوران اهریمن است. دیو خشم و دیو آز دو دیوی هستند که با اهریمن به پایان جهان می‌رسند و سروش دیو خشم را از میان می‌برد و به قولی، دیو آز او را می‌بلعد. دیو خشم رقیب و دشمن سروش است.

آز

دیوی است ک صفت سیری‌ناپذیر دارد و در پایان جهان، اهریمن او را می‌بلعد.

سیج/سیز 

  دیو درد و بلاست. فریب‌دهنده است و کار خود را پنهانی انجام می‌دهد.

هیز(هیچه)

دیو قحطی و خشک‌سالی و نایابی است.

اپوش (اَپوشه)

دیو خشکی و خشک‌سالی است که تیشتر با او نبرد می‌کند (نک مبحث تیشتر).

اسپنجروش/سپنجروش/ سپنجگر (سپنجغریه)

همکار اپوش دیو است.

سِپَزگ دیو

دیو سخن‌چینی و غیبت است. دیو بدکاره ای‌که در دوزخ به‌جای پیش رفتن پس می‌رود.

وَرَن

دیو شهوت است و همراه با دیوآز در متون اخلاقی از بزرگ‌ترین دیوان به شمار می‌رود.

چِشمَک

دیوی است که موجب گردباد، زمین‌لرزه و ویرانی می‌شود. در اسطورۀ زندگی زردشت نقش این دیو این است که شهر و ده را ویران می‌کند و درختان را درهم می‌شکند تا مایع مقدسی را که فروهر و گوهر تن زردشت در آن است از میان ببرد.

زَرمان

دیو پیری است و صفت بدنفس دارد و به‌عبارت‌دیگر، نَفَس مردمان را بد می‌کند.

بوت/بود

دیوی است که نماد بت‌پرستی است و از مخالفان سرسخت زردشت. در بندهشن آمده است که او را در هندوستان می‌پرستند.

مَلکوس/مَرکوس

دیوی است که سرما و زمستان سخت را در پایان هزارۀ اورشیدر به وجود خواهد آورد.

میتوخت

دیوی است که نماد گفتار نادرست است و به قولی، نخستین آفریدۀ اهریمن به شمار می‌رود و بدگمانی می‌آورد.

اَکَه تَش۷

دیو انکار است که مردمان را وادار می‌کند که هر چیز خوبی را انکار کنند.

اَشموغ/ اَهلَموغ

دیو بدعت است. از منفورترین دیوان است که سوشیانس در پایان جهان سپاهی برمی‌انگیزد و به کارزار او  می‌رود و سرانجام او را به سوراخی فرومی‌کند.

اودَگ۸

دیوزنی است ک به قولی هفت سَردیو (کماریگان) و ضحاک را به وجود می‌آورد. او جمشید را به‌سوی لذت‌های دنیوی می‌راند و مردم را به سخن گفتن درجایی که باید سکوت کرد وا‌می‌دارد.

ترومت/تُرومتی

دیوی است که نخوت و تکبر و گستاخی می‌آفریند، درست برعکس سپندارمد که نماد تواضع است. این دیو سرانجام به دست سپندارمد از میان خواهد رفت.

پریمتی

دیوزن تکبر است. او نیز دشمن سپندارمد به‌حساب می‌آید.

پِنی (پِنیه)۹

دیو خسّت است که مردمان را وادار می‌کند که انبار کنند و نخورند و به کس ندهند.

رشک

به مفهوم حسد، دیوی است که کینه و بدچشمی می‌آورد.

اناست

دیو تباهی است.

آگاش

دیو شور چشمی است که مردمان را چشم می‌زند.

کوند

دیوی است از دشمنان سروش که بدون مادۀ سکرآور مست است و مؤنث آن به‌صورت کوندیره آمده است.

فهرست اسامی دیوان را می‌توان با قائل شدن نماد برای هر پدیدۀ بد و صفت ناپسند به درازا کشید. در این فهرست که متعلق به دوران مینوی است، نام دیوانی که در رویدادهای زمینی نقش دارند و همچنین نام «پری»ها، یعنی ماده دیوانی با ظاهر زیبا غالباً به فریب دادن قهرمانان در دوران گیتیی می‌پردازند، نیامده است.

  آثار باستانی از دیو‌ها

۱.Akamanah

۲.Nanghaithya

۳.Tairi

۴.Zairi

۵. ۵. در فارسی ب صورت گوشاسب نیز آمده است.

۶. ۶.Bshyansta

۷. ۷.Akatas

۸.Odag

۹. Penih

  منبع:

کتاب تاریخ اساطیری ایران، اثر ژاله آموزگار، انتشارات سمت، چاپ شده در مهر ۱۳۹۵

تهیه الکترونیکی: سایت تاریخ ما، اِنی کاظمی

    نوشته  دنیای تاریکی‌ها و بدی‌ها (قلمرو اهریمن) اولین بار در تاریخ ما. پدیدار شد.

source https://tarikhema.org/ancient/mesopotamia/29261/%d8%af%d9%86%db%8c%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%8c%da%a9%db%8c%e2%80%8c%d9%87%d8%a7-%d9%88-%d8%a8%d8%af%db%8c%e2%80%8c%d9%87%d8%a7-%d9%82%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%88-%d8%a7%d9%87%d8%b1%db%8c/

[daeva-agas]

Nanghaithya

Element: Earth

Original species: Quarem

Special ability: Mind control

The quarem uses song to snare their prey and eat them. Nanghaithya is of the ascended class of the kind who has evolved the skill so that he can control others with normal spoken words. For that reason he had to wear a sealing cloth on his mouth, to prevent him from using his powers.

Quarem are, typically, immune to the mind control abilities of their fellow kind, and more perceptive of other methods of hypnotism.

---

I can't believe I forgot to post this here. Or, if I did, I tagged it incorrectly because I can't find it. Was going to make a full set of "encyclopaedia profiles" for 'em, but I got sidetracked while doing Zarich and never finished.

Because of Elini's summon animations, I always headcanon the daeva as being associated to a specific element. How it works has been evolving in my head over time, but currently they are "elemental guardians" who are each assigned to one element. They individually have other spell abilities based on whatever demon species they are.

Also, walking cactus, one of Nanghaithya's minions:

They're about as ridiculous and dumb as those yellow Minions.

[daeva-agas]

Crack animation 2: Crispmas. There's a HP/MP bar because in the initial scene it was meant to look like someone actually playing a game and switching around party members to decorate the room.

Never finished for the same reason as the other one: I forgot the script/plot. Was making these between school/college activities, and then like... Woops.

Why are the daeva just chilling there with the druids having "Crispmas party" together together and everything's fine? It was supposed to be explained in the thing, but yeah, silly me for not actually writing down the script.

Funny scenes from the "footage" I already did:

Inside joke about venisons from Ye Olde Forums (courtesy of @druidofdarkness).

Breaking the Fourth Wall

And references to AV3

[daeva-agas]

Crack animation from around 2010 or so.

No matter whether it's a canon compliant or AU scenario, in my headcanon Derez and AV1-Gavin and all the random warlock/sorcerers/etc in AV2 and 3 that are recolours of that same base sprite will always be "Nanghaithya clone minions".

Man, I suddenly kind of want to replace that Vohu faceset, because I just grabbed a random drawing that I had on hand and it was a bit bleh, but I don't wanna reupload this stupid video. It's short but for some reason it takes forever to upload and process.

I really was also gonna make the capture scenarios of all the druids, but at the time I was like "I don't need to write this down, I can remember all my dialogue script". Well, of course I forgot everything afterwards LMAO. The idea was that all 6 daeva had a different spell/method for it, plus chaotic interactions.

I did make Eithera and it's even sillier than this one and I now have second hand embarrassment from it LOL. I'll show the "soul capture" spell at least:

[daeva-agas]

More druid drawings. Trying to actually get around to every single one of them.

My Rashnu headcanon is that he's a summoner. Pictured, summoning Nanghaithya.

Also playing with the idea that every "school" of summoning has different hand gestures for the summon. If/when I try to draw Elini she'll have a different one.

[daeva-agas]

Redraw of old art I found in my old folders. The old painting is from 2009. I’m amazed how old that drawing is. It wasn’t that bad, so I had assumed it was newer.

Pre-redesign Nanghaithya is so... well, not soft per se, but he’s nicer. 

I feel like. In Saiyuki terms. He's vaguely reminiscent of Hakkai ahaaahaha my Saiyuki phase is showing.

I cannot remember for the life of me why I designed Nanghaithya with (mostly) Chinese aesthetics despite the typical Western fantasy RPG setting. I guess I was just trying something different.

Since in the older drawing it’s just a flat art with no environment/BG I took the BG design from an even older art. It’s some lake with falling stars and for some reason I called it Lake Averne just because it sounds cool. It has nothing to do with the mythology/legends. 

[daeva-agas]

An even older drawing from 2008

Haha hoho hehe

[daeva-agas]

I found a painting I made when I was... uuuhh... somewhere between High School and first year of college :’D 

I can’t find the original file in my folders so I can’t check the date, but I approximate this is around 2009? Maybe? 

Lord, the only timestamp of this would have been in the old Amaranthia site, but it’s dead, so now I don’t know anymore

[satohqbanana]

Aveyond Divergent Fate Part 13-5

A/N: Short one this time. Versus Zarich!

--

The party meets up at a long corridor filled with vertical metal bars: first to arrive is Dameon, then Elini, then Rhen and Lars, and finally Te'ijal, who arrives from the ceiling.

While everyone walked through the hall of mirrors and faced something unpleasant, Te'ijal tells the group that an undead monster grabbed her and lifted her to the next level. After defeating the monster, she realized she was in Rashnu's room. There, the petrified body of her former teacher stood.

She did not know where to go from there, but she just followed the scent of blood when it came. Rhen's blood to be exact. Te'ijal couldn't find a proper way to the lower level, so she simply tore a hole through the floor to meet up with everyone.

They have no time to check out everyone else's stories, as they all feel an ominous presence from the other end of the corridor. They brace themselves - it is the daeva who took control of the Cathedral.

To open the metal bars, Te'ijal helps them answer a set of questions about darkness and its druids, something she learned as an ex-acolyte of darkness.

And at the end of the corridor is a lone door. The resonating power is stronger, and they decide that the daeva is hiding behind it. They divide their supplies among themselves, and they cautiously enter the door.

There, the daeva Zarich floats above the room. He hisses in greeting.

His abilities involve lightning, and that makes it tricky for Lars' water-element magic to work out. However, when Elini summoned Nanghaithya, the controlled daeva countered his former comrade’s spells with earth-element magic. The spells within the Sword of Chaos isn't too effective on him, but Rhen is at least thankful that the sword still packs a punch.

Te'ijal keeps from a distance to shoot arrows at Zarich and make him lose focus once in a while. Dameon supports the party by healing or rousing them from the Zarich's spell of sleep. The party's strategy to split resources among them is effective, as Zarich also tries to siphon away their mana.

One against five, Zarich grows weak. Finally, Rhen deals the final blow, and Elini binds Zarich's will to her.

The party finds themselves exhausted after the fight, most especially Rhen and Lars. Perhaps, the mirror maze was meant to weaken them. At the least, they were all alive. And now, they have Rashnu's soul.

[satohqbanana]

Aveyond Divergent Fate Part 11

A/N: Let’s take a slight detour to deal with a plot point that I deliberately wrote out a few parts ago: Devin!

--

Halloween Hills can be accessed via the Wildwoods, and Rhen and Lars get a victory welcome from the Wildwoods hunters. Both teens tell the hunters to shut up because they're there for business. While the two get busy getting info about Halloween Hills, Elini and Dameon are told the apparent story of how Rhen and Lars defeated the hind and rescued all the petrified travellers. Rhen and Lars appear embarrassed by said tale, much to their companions’ confusion.

Rhen and Lars are both told to stake some vampires, but both disagree as they only plan to find the portal to the Cathedral of Darkness. The hunters think they're being insane, as the only way to that portal is littered with vampires.

Lars thinks the vampires can be avoided, so the exasperated hunters give their party some garlic necklaces. Rhen thanks them for their concern as Elini drags a fuming Lars threatening to singe all the garlic he'd just been given.

Elini grows curious about Rhen and Lars’ relationship. True to their truce, the two sum it up as a rivalry carrying on from their time at school. Dameon feels suspicious of it, even thinks it might have to do with slavery, but even he cannot goad Rhen into telling anything.

As the party travels, they find a cabin in the woods with trails of blood. Alarmed at the struggle, the party cautiously approaches the cabin and finds Devin lying there. Rhen almost faints at the sight, but Lars and Dameon examine the man. He is still alive!

The party stays with Devin for a while. While Rhen and Dameon nurse Devin back to health, Lars and Elini try to figure out what happened. There is too much blood for Devin for be the only victim, and the blood trail leads to outside. The trail slowly turns into merely drops of blood, meaning the other victim(s) either healed themself/ves or was/were carried.

Being away from the siblings, Elini decides to mention Rhen to Lars.

“You know, I’m envious of you and that girl.” “What?” “You and Rhen are so in sync! Like you know each other inside-out.” “...n-no?!” “Have you seen yourself fight against Nanghaithya?” “Yes, but we haven’t known each other for too long! What are you even saying?!” “Alright. I stand corrected. You don’t know everything about each other. But still, you guys are as tight as threads in a waterproof pouch.” “There’s nothing between me and her. I swear! We’re just schoolmates and that’s it!” “Schoolmates with a history, methinks.”

It gets Lars blushing in embarrassment, and leaves Elini with the wrongest of ideas.

Meanwhile, Devin wakes up. Rhen hugs him tightly, telling him that she thought she lost him. Devin assures him he’s strong and he can handle himself… except when swarmed by vampires.

He tells Rhen and Dameon that he met Danny, who was worried about both Rhen and Dameon. Danny reported that he lost Dameon on the ship to the Eastern Isle, and that he had toured around the Empire without seeing any signs of Rhen. Devin decided that he’d accompany Danny back to Clearwater, before Clearwater loses another one of its children.

However, when night came, Devin and Danny were attacked by vampires. The vampires took Danny, who is of “young blood”. Devin doesn’t know how long he’s fainted, but he urges the two to find Danny immediately.

Rhen is filled with sorrow to learn of Danny’s fate. Dameon feels guilty because his actions led to Danny’s fate. The two swear to Devin that they will find Danny, but for now, they give him a travelling rune so he can meet up with Talia in the Sun Temple.

They also inform Devin about the current state of affairs - the prophecy, and daeva-hunting. Devin regrets not telling Rhen sooner about the prophecy, but if she needs him to explain more about it and Thais and her biological mother, he’ll gladly tell her all about it. Rhen chooses not to know more about that side of the story. For now, she will enjoy the knowledge that her father is safe.

Later on, Rhen informs Lars and Elini that they should stay with Devin for now until he is well enough to walk. Lars thinks this is unnecessary since they can just teleport Devin to Aveyond and have Talia take care of him, but Rhen tells him that she’s the leader of this troupe so they will follow her plans. Of course, an argument ensues.

“You?! The leader?! If it weren’t for me, you would’ve never turned that hind into stone!” “And if it weren’t for me, you’d have gone into stone the moment you stepped into her cave!”

Due to this incident, Elini thinks they used to be on-off lovers as students, and they probably still are. Dameon disagrees and thinks it’s because the incredible Rhen managed to overshadow the pompous and overconfident Lars during their youth. Devin remarks that Rhen is so strong to have befriended a boy who… has personality…