#tether essence: sexy in more than one way

[ariadne-mouse]

Hey remember when Essek cast Tether Essence for the first time in the campaign and it was to tie two giant eyeballs together like freaky arcane bolas... clutch move

[cameoamalthea]

Artagan is not the best guy, but he is really cool you guys

This post contains spoilers for Campaign One below the cut. Do not read if you do not want spoilers for Campaign One (this means you, sexy British accent guy. I love you and will protect you from spoilers). Vox Machina, with the exception of Scanlan, like Artagan and Vex and Percy in particular consider him a friend. With Vex genuinely liking him.

So this one time Artagan did ask to strangle someone until dead and to quote Vex (said character’s twin sister) "Artagan, this is weird as fuck."

That said, after their first meeting Vex's sentiment was

Vex: He was fucking cool.

Percy: Dear god, let’s get out of here before

something else happens.

Vex: I really liked him.

Later the party returns to the Feywilde and need to return without falling victim to a Time Warp that could mean returning to their world to find years have passed. When discussing asking him for help upon, Vex she reiterates her fondness

Scalan: He was not our friend. He was an asshole.

Vex: No, he was great!

Keyleth: He was cool.

Scanlan: Wasn't he the guy who sketched us and was creepy?

Vex: Yeah, he was funny, and he also helped us, and he also enjoyed us because we were weird.

The fact he is fucking weird and responded to their proposition of showing him a good time by requesting to strangle her (at the time) immortal brother may have changed her sentiments. However, she didn't seem bothered by him when he showed up skinny dipping with them and seemed to appreciate the free glamping set up he gave them.

Honestly, he was pretty nice during that exchange. They summoned him offering him 'a good time' because they needed his help.

Artagan: (chuckles) "Are you telling me that you would stumble into this space unannounced, summon me here under the pretense of a good time, and then request me to bend the very essence of time passage between my plane and yours?"

Keyleth: We can show you a good time first.

Vex: We definitely do want to show you a good time about it.

Vax: And what is your idea of a good time? *Vax begins to strip*

Grog: And we certainly don't expect that to be accomplished without something given in return. Of course.

Artagan: "Now we're talking. I could help."

He is a fey and fey are, in general, easily offended and don't abide slites. They trespassed into his domain, summon him with a dick drawing which reads "cum see us--4 a good time" and then ask a favor. They weren't very polite, but he's fine, slightly annoyed, but willing to make a deal to help them.

Artagan is very nice, aside from asking to strangle Vax. Vox Machina solicited his help and offered to show him a good time. Yes, his idea of a good time at the moment was fucking weird - as Matt put it "it was a fascination with something different and new and you said "cannot die," and that immediately piqued his interest. Even the nicest of fey are weird and have their dark sides" but he was very generous in what he gave in negotiations.

Artagan: "I wish to put my hands on your throat until you expire. If you say you're unkillable, well, that's a new experience entirely."

LIAM: Okay. (note: Vax can't feel fear and knows he can't die, so he's fine)

VAX: I have one further request on our end. Can you send us backward in time?

Artagan: I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, but I could give the mere passage of an hour. Day for an hour. I think it's a fair trade, yes?"

Keyleth: Can you give us a full day in order to make sure that he does come back?

Artagan: "Sure. Day for an hour. 24 hours are yours to do as you like.

He then gives them additional help and gifts simply because he considers them his friends. Fey work in deals and trades and binding promises. For a fey to give something freely is pretty generous. He's nice to them because they're his friends.

Percy: Since we're making a deal, I want to make sure of a few things, because I love making deals. First of all, as perhaps a token of friendship, do you have any idea what this is? I am still apologetically naked and wet.

He freely tells them it's a pulse stone and explains its use, and later remarks " I'm just happy to have friends" indicating he does consider them friends.

The deal he made only required him to allow them to stay in the Feywilde for 24 hours and then ensure they return only an hour after they left. That's all he promised.

In addition to that, he stays nearby for 24 hours so they can safely rest:

Vex: Oh. Is it safe to rest?

Artagan: "While I'm here, yes."

Makes them a camp:

Vex: Yeah, let's set up camp here. We know this area.

Artagan: "Of course! Please." And he points over and you look back to where you were on the edge of the pool, and you can see there's a bunch of stumps that weren't there before that seem to have elongated into chairs and couches and bits of furniture.

Vex: Oh shit. Nice.

Artagan: "Thank you."

He indicates an interest in spending time with them but understands if they don't want to hang out since he just killed Vax.

Artagan: "We can play."

Vex: This feels weird to play.

Artagan: Oh, do about yourselves. You seem disturbed by my presence."

And leaves them with a picnic set up.

Artagan: "Well, take your time! Rest. Food is prepared. You can go amongst yourselves. I'll be here, splashing away." And he splashes into the water.

When Vax comes back he returns they prepare their heroes feast and Vex invites him to join.

Vex: Artagan can join us.

MATT: Oh, he does. Don't worry. As soon as you guys begin to eat, at the far end of the table you see the orange mane erupt from the side of table as he takes a seat. "Oh, wondrous. I appreciate this, thank you."

He gives them more information:

Vex: Hey, Artagan, can you look at this wand?

Artagan: It's a war wand. It's a plus one wand. For anyone who's casting a spell through it, it's a plus one modifier to DC.

And then creates an outdoor sleeping space for their camp:

Artagan "All right. When do you intend to go back?"

Vex: As soon as we go to sleep and wake up.

Artagan: "Well then. Sleep it is." And he gestures over, his hand behind you, and as you look you can see there's a series of beds that have all constructed out of the nearby moss and vines. They grow and lift up out of the natural floor of the Feywild. As the beds form, you watch as the tethered vines and roots to the ground begin to form these dome-like tents over each specific bed.

Vex: Oh, good. Privacy.

He lets them have a full rest, even though it means they stay a little over the day bought in their deal but still keeps the bargain.

Artagan: "Well, then. Time is of the essence. You've been here more than a day."

Vex: Just barely.

Artagan "Just know. But whenever you're ready. I'll see what I can whip up."

He's not like the best guy, but he's really cool. He went above and beyond to make their stay comfortable and personally watched over them for over a day to ensure they'd be safe.

[toddrogersfl]

The launches we’re loving this week

On Mondays, we share with you news of newly-unveiled fragrances that are worth sniffing out – starting with these fab fragrant ‘finds’…

FRÉDÉRIC MALLE MUSIC FOR A WHILE We were astonished to discover that gentlemanly perfumer Carlos Benaïm is celebrating his 50th anniversary at fragrance house IFF – because this proves he’s still absolutely at the top of his game. Utterly transfixing, Music for a While delivers on its promise ‘to lift us up like an eternal melody’ – a crescendo of wonderfully contrasting notes that include lavender laced with patchouli, amber, vanilla and musk, with ethyl maltol and pineapple delivering gourmand moreishness. Encore, encore, Carlos! From £132 for 50ml eau de parfum fredericmalle.com

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER CLASSIQUE EAU FRAÎCHE All aboard for a collaboration with graffiti-inspired Parisian artist André Saraïva, the collectable limited editions re-interpreted with his subversively cute ‘Mr. & Mrs. A’ characters. Pink stripes and a smiling, cartoonish face adorn the curves of Classique, the fresh breeze of the Bahamas beckoning with an addition of sugarcane juice in the ginger and lemon sorbet mix. Tiaré flower, orange blossoms and jasmine tea overflow from the heart to a labdanum, vanilla and musk base. (Scroll down for news of the men’s counterpart.) £77.50 for 100ml eau de toilette theperfumeshop.com

L’OCCITANE TERRE DE LUMIÈRE L’EAU Calice Becker has streamed even more sunlight through the original Terre de Lumière, introducing armfuls of peonies to this limited edition, graceful floral. L’Occitane describe it as ‘the scent of daybreak, when the sun’s rays emerge gently over the horizon’, with pink pepper and bergamot to remind us of the crystal-fresh dawn air, before those peonies unfurl their blossoms. Finally, bitter almond essence, white musk and tonka tether this ethereal scent on the skin. £65 for 50ml eau de toilette uk.loccitane.com

PACO RABANNE LADY MILLION LUCKY Oh, lucky, lucky One Million lovers. (And there are probably way more than a million out there.) You’ll be taking no chances with this latest to join Paco Rabanne’s blockbuster line-up: an almost sherbet-y rose (as opposed to Lady Million’s original white flower heart), sitting alongside juicy raspberries, then wrapped in sandalwood. As ever, the bottle is a showstopper: like a diamond, with the golden juice twinkling through the facets. We say: place your bets, please, on another hit. From £46.50 for 30ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER LE MALE EAU FRAICHE Dressed like a sailor who definitely knows all the coolest bars in a graffiti-inspired stripy design by Parisian street artist, André Saraïva, collectors and fragrance fans alike will be adding this to their stash. Gaultier describe the scent as ‘a sexy fabric softener,’ – bring forth the snuggling, because you’ll want to get cosy with neroli and a minty breeze of fresh air before the comfortingly clean heart throbs with sage, sandalwood and moreish vanilla/tonka base. £60 for 125ml eau de toilette theperfumeshop.com

The post The launches we’re loving this week appeared first on The Perfume Society.

from The Perfume Society https://perfumesociety.org/launches-we-are-loving/