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[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (155/?)
Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation. This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.
Continuity Note: This story takes place about 1000 years before 66 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z.
Hey, it’s the Hero Lab!
[1 July, Age 726. Planet Plant.]
The latest reports from the frontlines were very encouraging. The Tuffles were a stubborn enemy, but the Saiyans had managed to drive them out of the north quarter of Orange City, while the Truffle pushback in Cidertown had slowed to a virtual standstill. Nappa smiled as he laid the report down and enjoyed the view from his new penthouse. The blood of the previous owner still stained the walls and floors, but he rather enjoyed the scent of dead Tuffles. It gave the place some much-needed personality.
"You seem to be in a good mood today."
Nappa looked up from the balcony and spotted a young Saiyan floating overhead. He didn't recognize the man, but judged him to be part-alien from the color of his hair and the strange clothes that he wore. He looked more like a Tuffle than a Saiyan, but the scent was proof enough that he wasn't Nappa's enemy. Whatever the young man's parentage, his blood was nothing like the kind that decorated his new home.
"Why wouldn't I be happy?" Nappa asked. His thin mustache framed his smile as he crossed his arms over his massive chest. "The Tuffles have been lording over us for years, and now we're finally taking over this planet, just as easily as I took over this apartment. Before long, the Tuffles will be the ones begging us to let them stay on Planet Plant."
"I guess you're right," the man said. "At least until someone stronger comes along and takes it all away from you."
"I like you, kid," Nappa said with a gravely laugh. "You sure do know how to tell a joke. What brings you here?"
"I had some questions," he said as he alighted on the balcony. "I need information, and I heard you knew my father, so I thought I'd start with you."
Nappa eyed the man suspiciously. "I know a lot of fathers," he said. "None of them wore long black coats, or carried a sword, though. What's your dad's name, kid?"
"Vegeta," he said.
Nappa laughed. Then he looked at the young man more carefully, doing his best to ignore the blue eyes and the lavender hair that hung around his face. Then he laughed harder.
"Something funny about that?" the man asked.
"I do see a bit of a resemblance," Nappa said. "Guess King Vegeta II had a few 'unofficial' heirs over the years, huh? Who knew he had it in him? So which is it? You want to blackmail the royal family? Or were you hoping they'd give you a cushy civil service job?"
"Nothing like that," the man said. "I just wanted to ask you some questions. Nothing personal, just general background stuff."
"Yeah? Well why should I help you?" Nappa asked. "For that matter, killing you would probably be a smarter play. One less would-be usurper for the king to worry about, right? I’m sure your old man would make it worth my while."
"Oh, I probably should have been more specific," the young man said. "My father isn't Vegeta the Second. It's Vegeta the Fourth."
Nappa gave him a sidelong glance. "There is no Vegeta IV," he said warily.
"Not yet, anyway," the man said with a knowing smile.
"That's it, I don't know what your game is, punk, but I'm through playing!" Nappa said. "You can tell your lies in hell!"
He drew back his arm and threw a punch that would have killed most Saiyans on contact. Nappa had made a name for himself on the battlefield for defeating entire companies of Tuffle mechatroops all by himself. He fully expected to turn the young man's head into a cloud of red mist.
Instead, the man blocked his strike with such incredible speed that Nappa couldn't even tell that he had moved. In one instant, the man had been standing with his hands in his pockets. And then in the next, the man was now gripping Nappa's palm with his thumb and index finger. He squeezed slightly, and Nappa nearly dropped to his knees from the pain.
"Nnnghhh!" was the noise he made as he struggled not to show how much it hurt. His free hand reached up for his scalp, where he tugged at the tuft of thick black hair on his head.
"Look, let's cut to the chase, all right? For you, this'll only take a few minutes, but I might be doing these interviews all night, so don't waste my time, okay? Those Tuffles you're fighting might be pushovers, but I'm not. So now that you know that you can't brute force your way out of this, what'll it be?"
He released Nappa's hand, and Nappa gasped with relief as he cradled it in his other palm. He stared at his hands for a moment, then at the man. Then he paused to consider the sword, and how much worse it would get if the young man decided to make use of it.
"Heh. Uh, yeah, sorry, Your Majesty. I-I should have recognized you sooner. Anything you want, just let me know, Prince... uh... Prince... What'd you say your name was?"
"I didn't," he replied. "So, let's start with a simple one. Have you ever heard of a Saiyan named Luffa?"
*******
[1 December Age 893, Earth.]
"Honestly, I didn't expect him to know Luffa. Nappa didn't recognize her when she faced him on a Time Patrol mission, but he did fill me in on a few things."
By Age 889, the arcade game Super Dragon Ball Heroes had become a popular pastime, and the city of Hero Town became the global headquarters for the craze. Gaming enthusiasts from around the world traveled to Hero Town to partake in the game, which was based upon actual events from the previous century. Trunks had logged many hours in front of an SDBH cabinet, though his reasons had nothing to do with recreation. For all its popularity, the game had a very strange secret. It was the Capsule Corporation who developed the software, but the world within the game was actually made possible by the Time Patrol. Deep beneath Hero Tower was the Hero Lab, where the Time Patrol occasionally conducted secret research and reconnaissance.
"I don't get it, Master," said a teenage girl standing near one of the main computer terminals that surrounded nearly every surface of the Hero Lab. "You formed the Dragon Ball Heroes Team to help you defeat Sealas, right? So why didn't you come to us on this Towa situation?"
"Note's right, Trunks!" said a teenage boy eating mochi from a bag. "I'm Goku's descendant, after all! It's not fair to leave me out of a case like this."
Trunks deactivated the Hero Switch device and handed it to Anne, one of the scientists who maintained the lab. His black trenchcoat and sword hung next to several labcoats on a metal rack in the corner, revealing the olive-green sweater he wore underneath. He smiled at Note and Beat, and then Dr. Leggings, the project director of the Hero Lab, who was programming the next simulation.
"I understand where you're coming from, kids," Trunks said, "and I appreciate the offer, but it's not that simple."
"Why not?" Beat asked. "From what you've told us, Luffa's a Saiyan, right? If that's all you needed, then I could have tackled these missions for you. I'm a Saiyan, too."
"Oh, here we go..." Note grumbled. She made sure to roll her eyes dramatically enough for everyone in the room to see.
"What?" Beat asked. "It's true, isn't it?"
"Beat, even I have Saiyan ancestry," Dr. Leggings said without looking up from her computer terminal. "After a hundred and thirty years of Saiyans living on Earth, it's not as uncommon as you might think."
"She's right," Trunks said. "We have a lot of Saiyan-Earthling Time Patrollers back in Toki Toki City from the next century. A few of the stranger ones call me 'Your Highness', but I try not to hold it against them. Besides, if all I cared about was Saiyan blood, I'd go to my father for help. So that's not why I recruited you, or Luffa, for that matter."
"Then why did you recruit Luffa instead of coming to us?" Beat asked.
"Listen,” Trunks said. “In my timeline, No. 17 and 18 had destroyed much of the world. Son Gohan was the only Z-fighter left, and he was reluctant to train me. He needed the help, but he was worried about me getting hurt. I think eventually he decided he didn't have a choice. He knew that if anything happened to him, there would have been no one else to defeat the Cyborgs. But now I understand how his reluctance. After he... well.... Later on, when I was on my own, I was determined to defeat them alone. I wanted no part of my mother's plan to use her Time Machine to get help from Goku."
"But, Master, if you hadn't gone back in time," Note said, then you never would have joined the Time Patrol, or formed the Dragon Ball Heroes Team!"
"Exactly," Trunks said. "Working with Goku and his friends in the past, I learned how valuable it can be to have allies. It's not just about having extra hands to help with the hard work. You can learn from each new friend you make. And they can learn from you, as well. I think that's why the Supreme Kai of Time created the Time Patrol in the first place. So it wouldn't be right to keep turning to the same handful of allies every time. Besides, I need you guys here, keeping an eye on things in Hero Town."
"Well, yeah," Beat said. "I guess that makes sense. But it's been so dull around here lately."
"Tell you what," Trunks offered. "Once things settle down in Toki Toki City, I'll pull a few strings, maybe bring you guys in on a Time Patrol mission. How's that sound?"
"Really?!" Note cheered. She jumped into the air and kicked her heels behind her with excitement.
"Awesome!" Beat said.
"Don't get too carried away," Trunks said. "I can't make any promises. Ultimately, it's up to the Supreme Kai of Time. But I think we can manage something."
"I think we're ready for the next session, sir," Leggings said. "Assuming these coordinates you gave us are valid. Are you sure we can trust Nappa?"
"She's right, Master," Note added. "He's bad news. Just because you're stronger than he is doesn't mean he would have had any reason to tell you the truth."
"Which is exactly why I'm using Hero Lab to access the game world instead of traveling back in time," Trunks explained. "Our research teams back in Toki Toki City are constantly using time machines to observe historical events, but they can't interact with anything or ask questions, because it might alter history."
"But the SDBH game is a simulation based upon the Scroll of Eternity itself," Dr. Leggings said. "Meaning it's a nearly perfect copy of the real world, one that you can tamper with and not have to worry about permanently changing anything."
"Of course!" Note said. "It's like how Sealas used the game to learn what changes he could make to alter history. He used the game like a practice run for the real thing."
"Only, instead of changing the way things happened in the past," Beat said, "you're using the game to find out how things are supposed to have turned out. But how does that help you learn anything about Luffa?"
"I asked Shenron to bring me a powerful ally," Trunks said. "I should have been more specific about the wish, but I was kind of desperate for the help. Shenron sent me Luffa, but she had no idea what was going on, and neither of us knows how to get her back where she came from. She talked to one of our historians, and it's starting to sound like she's from some other part of the universe, or maybe from another timeline. But wherever she's from, she's still a Saiyan, and not a descendant of Goku or Vegeta, like we are. So I think if I go far enough into the past, I'll find some historical information we have in common, and maybe I can follow that thread back to her home."
"Phew!" Beat said. "That sounds like a lot of work! I'm worn out just thinking about it."
"You're not even doing anything," Note muttered.
"There's no telling what kind of trouble I might run into in the simulated history," Trunks said. Dr. Leggings has only ever run the simulation in a very narrow time range. A few centuries at most. I may end up taking the simulation into uncharted territory, and everything I know about Saiyans tells me that they had plenty of enemies to fight. If things get hairy, I'll need some backup, and that's where you two come in. I can't think of anyone better qualified than my two top students."
"Gosh...!" Note said.
"Yeah! Now you're talking!" Beat cheered.
Anne handed the Hero Switch back to Trunks. The device was a powerful computer, but it looked like a black bracelet covered in glowing blue lights and a Capsule Corp. logo. Trunks placed it onto his right wrist and prepared to activate it.
"In the game world," he said, "Nappa told me that "Saiya" was a name for several planets colonized by Saiyans throughout history. The most recent one was destroyed around four hundred years ago. Hopefully, someone there will know more about King Rehval, or the Camelian Empire, or this Planet Nagaoka that Luffa once mentioned."
"What if they don't know, sir?" Anne asked.
"Then I'll have to keep traveling backward until I find someone who does," Trunks said. "Wish me luck."
"Wait, Trunks, one more thing before you go!" Dr. Leggings said urgently.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Trunks asked. He held up the Hero Switch on his wrist and pointed at it. "Everything looks good on this end."
"It's just... are you sure you don't want to wear the Great Saiyaman 3 outfit for this mission?" she asked.
"I'm positive," Trunks said. Before anyone could object, he activated the bracelet, and vanished into the game world.
*******
[12 May, Age 513. Planet Saiya.]
"You picked a fine time to ask about the weather, stranger."
The Saiyan’s name was Reeque, and Trunks had no idea how old she was. The small settlement he found on Saiya was it's largest population center, and they directed him to an old hag who lived in the wastelands. Trunks found her easily enough, but then the blood-wraiths attacked, and they had to take their conversation on the run. Powerful as Trunks was, his technology and ki were useless against the intangible creatures, and Reeque's warnings were enough to convince him that he should keep his distance.
"They become solid every seven months," Reeque told him. "Then we pay them back a thousandfold, but in the meantime, we run and hide until dawn. They say the storms left them behind, but I doubt that. Not even Luffa would be so cruel."
She carried a walking stick carved from some gnarled length of driftwood, but Trunks was impressed with how swiftly she crossed the rough terrain. Her dark red robes flapped behind her back like the wings of some great ugly hawk.
"I apologize for not making myself clear, ma'am," Trunks said as he hopped over a rock. "The Luffa I asked about is a Saiyan, not a storm system."
"Well that's perfectly clear to me, boy," Reeque said, "but it doesn't change the fact that you're mistaken. Only Luffa I've ever heard of is the one my great grandmother told me about. Wiped out the entire Kingdom of Saiya in a single day. The smart ones fled while they could. The rest stayed, but only the hardiest few survived. The environment here was harsh before Luffa, and it only got worse from there. Without the supplies from allied worlds... well, you learn to savor the taste of roast blood-wraith."
"Then where did the Saiyans go when they abandoned this planet?" Trunks asked.
"Hell," Reeque said. "If there's any justice, they went to hell. Otherwise they scattered across the galaxy. There was a kingdom on Sadala, but my life wouldn't be worth a zinc coin on that forsaken place. My parents were banished, and they joined the usurper kings during the civil wars. Fifty years ago, they tried to rebuild Saiya, like the name alone would restore their fortunes. But there's nothing left here. Nothing but blood-wraiths and ruin."
None of this was surprising to Trunks, since Nappa had told him this planet would eventually be destroyed altogether. He had tried to arrive on Saiya well before that day, but it seemed like the destruction of Saiya had been set into motion long before whatever warrior finally put it out of its misery.
"And King Rehval?" Trunks asked. "What became of him?"
"Why should you care, boy?" Reeque asked. "You've come a long way in search of the dead."
"I think he's my ancestor," Trunks said. "I, uh, I'm trying to settle a dowry on another planet, and they're very interested in genealogies."
"Social climber, huh?" Reeque said. "Well, I can't help you with that. Anything else you wanted to know?"
"The Camelian Empire," Trunks said. "Do you know where I can find it? I don't need exact coordinates, just a general idea will do. Er, is something wrong, ma'am?"
She began to make a sort of rhythmic coughing sound from her throat, and Trunks eventually figured out that it was laughter. "You're an amusing fellow," Reeque finally said. "When I saw that purple hair of yours, I thought I might be seeing things, but my imagination isn't wild enough to dream up such silly questions. Oh, I've spent countless nights like this one, running from bloodwraiths, but I think I'll remember tonight for a long time to come."
"Then you can't tell me about Camelia either," Trunks said.
"There's nothing to tell, boy," Reeque said with a rasping chuckle. "The Camelian Empire fell more than three hundred years ago!"
*******
[23 February, 238 Before Age. Chai I.]
"The ‘Super Saiyan’? Now what in the world is that, Trunks?"
"It's a legend I heard when I was a boy," Trunks said. "According to my father, once every thousand years, there's a Saiyan who surpasses the limits of what Saiyans can do. They're considered the ultimate warriors. Powerful, invincible, and with an insatiable craving for battle."
Rehval III considered this tale for a moment while admiring the bouquet of his wine. At last, he took a sip from his glass, and sampled a bite of his fish entree. Trunks waited patiently at the other side of the table. The restaurant looked fancier than any Trunks had ever seen on Earth, in any century. And this was merely a section of a minor administrative building in the Camelian capitol.
"I'll be blunt, Trunks,” Rehval finally said. “You seem like the kind of man who likes to get to the point, so I won’t keep you in suspense. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I see," Trunks said.
"Do you believe in this legend yourself?" Rehval asked.
"No," Trunks said after a pause. "In my experience there's no such thing as an invincible warrior. There are extraordinary Saiyans, but not necessarily one every thousand years. There could be two or three, or a hundred, or none at all."
"I'll tell you what I think," Rehval said. "I have heard tall tales of ancient Saiyan heroes. Chanisp was said to have lived about a thousand years ago. For all I know, they've been saying "a thousand years ago" for centuries. I mean, a year ago, was anyone saying Chanisp lived 'nine-hundred and ninety-nine years ago'? Of course not. The round numbers make for better storytelling, but I deal in precision."
Rehval paused his meal to point at a gold watch on his left wrist. "My summit with the Camelian Imperial College begins in three hours and twenty-two minutes, Trunks. I can't afford to offend the Camelians by rounding up. Time can be a strict mistress."
"I take your point," Trunks said. "And I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me."
"Not at all," Rehval said. "There aren't many Saiyans in this part of the galaxy, besides common raiders, I mean. And you're a man of unusual manners and poise, Trunks. You're exactly the sort of citizen I want in the Kingdom of Saiya. I think you'd find life very prosperous under my rule."
"I am... interested in hearing more," Trunks said. "Let's put it that way."
"Well, then, it's a good thing you found me during this gap in my schedule," Rehval said. "I have all afternoon to convince you to come home with me."
Trunks smiled as though amused by his remark. In fact, this had been his third attempt to speak with King Rehval III. An earlier visit to the Camelian capital world gave him access to important diplomatic records, which showed him the exact date and time of an official visit by the Saiyan King. Trunks found him on the first try, but he was too busy to talk. Trunks reset the game world simulation and tried again, approaching Rehval three hours earlier, but wasn't able to catch the man's interest. This time, he figured out that the key to Rehval's attention was to show interest in joining his cause. Rehval’s Kingdom was the most powerful Saiyan faction in this era, but his subjects made up less than half of the Saiyan population, and Rehval was very keen on getting more Saiyans to rally to his flag. Even half-aliens like Trunks were welcome, apparently.
"Where did you say your mother was from?" Rehval asked. Trunks was pretty sure Rehval had aims for establishing diplomatic ties with Earth, even if he had no idea where it was or if it was worth his time.
"The Yajirobe System," Trunks lied. "It's pretty far off the beaten path. But what were you saying about Chanisp?"
"Well, there are lower classes in every society, Trunks," Rehval explained. "It's not something Saiyans think about much, but other civilizations have demonstrated it time and time again. The problem is that, in disorganized societies, these lesser citizens don't understand that they have a duty to follow their betters. And so, in their confusion, they turn to superstitions."
"Go on..." Trunks said. He took a bite of his salad and chewed thoroughly.
"They say Chanisp defeated a mighty demon and liberated the entire Saiyan race from slavery. Did it actually happen? Maybe. Was he one of your father's 'Super Saiyans'? He might have been. How does any of that prove that there should be another one like him ten centuries later? Oh, and the cycle just happens to reset in the present day. So the tale expects us to believe that, at any moment, any one of us might miraculously transform into an invincible, demon-slaying superhero. How convenient."
"Well, when you put it that way..." Trunks said.
"I'm not one to brag, Trunks, but as far as I know, the strongest Saiyan alive is sitting across the table from you. That's not a challenge, or a demand for respect, just a statement of fact. I'd have to be stronger to be the king, or I wouldn't be the king for very long, now would I?"
"Makes sense to me," Trunks lied again.
He only brought up the legend to gain historical context. Rehval seemed to enjoy discussing it, so that worked to Trunks’ favor, but what he had truly wanted to know was whether Rehval had heard of a golden-haired cryptid running amok in the galaxy. He had not, which meant that there had been no Super Saiyan in this era, or that the Super Saiyan hadn’t appeared yet.
"These legends are just stories people invent to convince themselves that there's a way out of their reality. When the thousandth year passes, they move the goalpost, or invent a new story to replace the old. 'Oh, the Super Saiyan is real, he's just invisible and working in secret, but he really is here to help us all.' That sort of thing."
"And that's why you're pursuing diplomatic ties with Camelia," Trunks concluded. "You can't afford to wait for a messiah."
"The Saiyans are at a crossroads, Trunks," Rehval said. "If our race is going to survive, we need to follow the same well-tread path as the Camelian Empire. Statecraft. National unity. It's not as romantic as your father's legend, but it works. It's a path that leads to prosperity. If we all unite as one kingdom, under one law, then we grow stronger as a people. That means forming alliances, brokering treaties, and all the other minutiae that goes with it."
"Well, this has been a very interesting discussion, but I'm afraid I need to get going," Trunks said. He stood up from his chair and gestured to the waiter to bring his coat and sword. "It's been a pleasure, Your Majesty."
"Wait," Rehval said. "I thought you wanted to hear more about Planet Saiya. The great society that I'm building there. I'd like you to be a part of that society, Trunks."
"I'm sure you would," Trunks said as he put his arms through the sleeves of his coat. "But I've already seen how Saiya turns out, and I'm already a part of the society you envisioned. What's left of it, anyway."
"I don't understand."
"It's simple. Your vision isn't all that visionary, Rehval. No matter how strong you think you are, there's always someone stronger who'll come along to challenge you. That's not a leader, that's a gunfighter daring someone to come along and defeat him. I've grew up in a world ruled by strength alone, and you're half-right. It is a well-worn path, but it doesn't lead to prosperity."
"What do mean you've already seen Saiya?" Rehval asked. "Who are you?"
Trunks activated the bracelet on his arm, and vanished from the game world. The simulated Rehval who existed within it was left with more questions than answers, though he would not ponder them for long. Soon enough, the simulation would be refreshed, and he would have no memory of this encounter.
NEXT: Burning Questions
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Dragonback Pt. 3
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
AO3
----
The four of them managed to reach the river by the late afternoon and follow it upstream through various foothills and thickets until the sun set. They stopped near a pond, one that had been carved out probably by some Omnic-era blast and flooded. Nature had retaken the area, of course, made it look more natural than it really was, Setting up camp wasn’t too time consuming an affair. Aedan assumed the Shimadas would have a Vishkar Hard-light tent projector or something similar, but instead, they just set up their would-be campfire and their sleeping bags around it, under the stars, well, what would be stars, eventually. They ate a light but satisfying dinner of seasoned tofu, lentil, and chickpea-stuffed onigiri that Genji had apparently adapted from his time in the Shambali, and by the time they had cleaned up the full moon hung in the purple-gray light of dusk. Rei was standing at the edge of the pond, frowning at it, as Genji came up alongside her.
“So,” he said, folding his arms next to her, “How do you want to go about this?”
---
“Anything?” Genji called out as Rei floated in the middle of the pond on her back, wearing a plain navy one-piece.
“Nope,” said Rei, frankly feeling a little ridiculous being the only one in the water.
“Just... try and remember what Zenyatta taught you. Close your eyes, open your mind, take deep breaths, empty yourself of all distractions, all doubts, focus on your breathing, on the sound of the wind in the trees, let yourself--”
“Can you not narrate this?” said Rei.
“Right,” said Genji, “Sorry.”
Rei closed her eyes and floated on her back for a few more minutes. “Can you guys leave, actually?” she said after a long pause.
“Of course,” said Genji.
“That includes you too, Dad,” said Rei, flatly.
“Oh-of--Right. Of course,” said Genji as he walked off with Hanzo and Aedan to give her space.
Rei gave a glance back to the shore of the pond to see the three of them weren’t in sight, then took a breath in and closed her eyes.
---
“I’m messing this up,” Genji was pacing back and forth in a clearing a ways away from the pond, “I’m making it worse. I’m putting too much pressure on her---”
“To be fair, in all of our stories of all of our family, we’ve never heard of anything like this happening,” said Hanzo, “We don’t know how to deal with losing a dragon, because no dragon has ever been lost like this before.”
“..Never?” said Aedan, rolling his knuckles against his leg nervously.
Genji and Hanzo looked at Aedan as if they had both forgotten he was there.
Hanzo frowned but Genji stepped forward. “Well, Rei’s dragon hasn’t really behaved like previous dragons, either,” he said, pacing again, “I mean our leading theory is that Angela’s biotic spinal implants affected how Rei’s dragon would manifest itself when she was pregnant with Rei, but the truth is, we never really know what comes with the dragon’s manifestation. Hanzo’s and my dragons are actually some of the simplest manifestations. According to the stories, other members of the main branch have had dragons that can sense things beyond human perception, make their wielder invisible to the eye and mind, or even control the minds of opponents.”
“But these are just Father’s stories,” said Hanzo.
“Part of the reason the Shimada Clan’s empire stood so long was because it could do things no one else could do. The reason that it could do those things was the dragons.”
“But you still don’t know what the dragons are,” said Aedan, “Why they are.”
“We’ve tried,” said Genji, “Or at least Shimada before us have tried. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this particular generation of Shimada have been a bit busy fighting Talon and... our own clan. But we’re trying to understand it... as much as we can.”
“But if Rei can’t get it back... we may well never figure it out,” Aedan said quietly.
“I couldn’t imagine losing my dragon,” said Genji, “It... it must feel like being gutted. And I’ve been gutted.”
“Thanks,” Hanzo said flatly.
“Oh thank you,” said Genji, folding his arms.
Aedan just glanced back in the direction of the pond, unable to see anything through the thicket.
---
Rei stared up at the leaves framing the darkening sky, their green fading to dark blue against star-dotted lavender.
“I know you’re in there,” she said very quietly. She shut her eyes. “Please,” she whispered, “Please, please be in there.”
How did I do it the first time? she thought, How did it happen when I didn’t even know it was there?
“What if I don’t have it?” she remembered the smell of Shambali incense and the hum of the processors within the Sanctum.
“Then that’s fine,” she remembered the feeling of her father’s prosthetic hand on her cheek, “You’re your mother’s daughter too, and she never needed a dragon to do amazing things.”
“You summoned yours sooner--” she started,
“Because your grandfather pushed me and your uncle much harder than was healthy for any of us,” said Genji, “No matter what, Rei, you represent a new future for our family--something brighter, kinder. If we have to leave the dragons behind for that future, I’m fine with that.”
“I’m not fine with it,” Rei muttered.
“Oh? Why’s that?” said Genji.
“The dragons make us special,” Rei said quietly, “I know Mom’s special too, but...” she fidgeted with her hands, “But I’m not special like mom. And-and--if I’m supposed to be brighter, and kinder, maybe it’s my job to make the dragon that, too.”
Her father had smiled at this, his mouth tugging at the scars on his cheek. Rei had glanced down, but she felt her father’s finger’s trail under her chin and lift it slightly so she was facing him, “I think, dragon or no dragon, you’re already special. Whatever happens in this sanctum, you’ll be loved just as much as you always have. Are you ready?”
Rei nodded and Genji left her. She sat down cross-legged and closed her eyes, letting go of her distractions and...
And then what?
Rei opened her eyes and she was still floating in that pond, staring up at a starry sky.
“Some half-gaijin bastard shouldn’t even have the dragon,” the tattoo artist had said as the needle beat into her back. It wasn’t a tattoo gun, either. It had to be Tebori, the old way. The needle was being jabbed on the end of a black bamboo stick, the tattoo artist’s hand pressing hard against her back to keep her skin steady. Biotics at least sped up the process. Without them, getting a tattoo of this size and detail should have taken months. Rei remembered her uncle squeezing her hand. Genji couldn’t be there. They could accept a bastard of Hanzo, but there was no telling what they would do if they knew Genji was still alive.
“You won’t speak of her like that,” Hanzo had warned.
“I’ll speak however I damned please. I may hate the Shimada clan enough to help you with this, but that doesn’t mean I forget what it once stood for,” the Tattoo artist dabbed away some of the excess ink. Hours and hours had passed, short biotic-treatment breaks were taken, then more hours, more jabbing, before finally the tattoo artist had said, “Dammit.. I think this might be my best work...Hey kid. Make it count. Show me the dragon.”
Rei had peeled her cheek off of the plastic of the bench she was laying across and looked at Hanzo.
“Come on, kid--We’ve been at this for 20 hours,” the tattoo artist goaded, “You can at least summon it, can you? This isn’t some bullshit where you can walk in and get a pretty chrysanthemum or a Koi--”
“The Shimada Dragon is not a parlor trick,” Hanzo had interceded.
“I’d say it’s worth 20 hours of my goddamn life,” said the tattoo artist, “Come on kid...” he paused, “You can’t even do it, can you?”
The words were drying up in Rei’s throat. I used to. I used to. I loved it. It was beautiful. It was powerful. It was me. But instead her mouth just hung open helplessly.
“That’s enough,” Hanzo had said.
“Figures,” the tattoo artist scoffed, “Fucking gaijin...”
Rei opened her eyes and she was floating in the pond again. The sounds of night birds and insects bled into her hearing and she squeezed her eyes shut and pushed herself beneath the surface of the water, exhaling through her nose as she did so to keep the water rushing up it. She remembered herself as a little girl, sitting cross-legged in the Shambali sanctum, imagining herself in a vast dark space. The first feelings of something prickling and bright and warm coiling up inside her, an almost dizzy sensation radiating out from her solar plexus, a light ribboning around her arms.
I know you’re in there, she thought furiously, I know you’re in there. I know you’re in there. Please come back to me.
Like flexing a muscle that isn’t there, she remembered Aedan’s voice, Something that was always there that I just had to figure out how to call.
Except I could call it before, she thought, Now there’s just a dark and empty space where there once was this light and warmth and power and--oh scheisse I need to breathe.
Rei’s head broke the surface of the pond and she gasped, got a droplet of water in the back of her throat and then coughed, then cursed under her breath. “Stupid pond,” she muttered, swimming to the edge and then wading out.
---
Genji perked up at the sound of a twig snapping, then stood up from the log he was sitting on as Rei pushed through the thicket, her clothes on and her hair dripping wet.
“Rei--” he started but he read her face in an instant. His shoulders slumped slightly but he closed the distance between himself and his daughter in a few brisk steps, “It’s okay---” he started, moving to put a hand on her shoulder.
“No, Dad, it’s not!” Rei snapped, knocking his hand away, her voice was rippled by near sobs, “It’s not okay! I’m not okay! I’m--I’m---Something in me is broken, and--and--and the dragon won’t come as long as it’s like that and I don’t know how to fix it,” She stared at Genji for a few seconds before saying, “Or... or maybe that’s not it either. If--if the dragon didn’t come to broken things, you and Uncle wouldn’t be able to call it either. It just... it hates me. I--I died, so it won’t come back to me because it knows with me it could die. I’m not worthy of it. I’m not strong enough for it. And--and you keep saying it’ll come back. That it’ll be okay. That I just have to be patient. But I’m empty! I’m empty! I can’t do this!! I can’t keep doing this!!”
“Rei...” Genji started, but Rei just briskly walked away from him, sniffling.
Aedan moved to go after her but Hanzo put a hand on his shoulder. Aedan looked back at Hanzo in protest but there was a steadiness in Hanzo’s expression and Aedan instantly realized that there was nothing he had no idea what he could say to Rei to make things better.
---
“Zeroing in on the target’s location now,” said the Talon pilot.
“Hold position,” said Faustine, “Circle the target at an eight mile radius with the cloaking on. The trees should give us enough cover, but it’s too early in the evening for us to attack. We’ll take the target later in the night, catch him when he’s sleepy and disoriented.” Faustine leaned back in her seat slightly and looked over to Andrea, who was suiting up with the rest of her strike team, “Sound good to you?”
Andrea looked up from strapping on her combat layers. “You are my controller, aren’t you? You aren’t Reyes, but I will still defer to your decisions.”
“Well we’re partners, as well. You’re the one with 200 years of Mnemosyne-crammed martial knowledge in your head. If you have ideas for potential strategies I’d love to hear them.”
“Partners...” Andrea repeated.
“Well just because you’re fresh out the amnio-tank doesn’t mean you’re a child, obviously,” said Faustine.
Andrea blinked a few times and then glanced down as if confused.
“Have I said something that’s bothered or confused you?” asked Faustine.
Andrea shook her head. “I am used to Reyes as my controller. He tends to be more...” Andrea furrowed her brow thoughtfully.
“Controlling?” Faustine smiled.
Andrea nodded. “He... never told me I’m not a child,” she said.
“Well, you share half his DNA and he’s been shown to have a history of emotional compromise” said Faustine with an easy shrug.
“You don’t think I’m a child,” said Andrea, “Despite my artificial aging.”
“Well, the way I see it, we put Omnics out into combat when they’ve been functioning for only a few hours,” said Faustine. She held up her hand, turning it over to show the latticework of neuroprostheses on the back, “There’s never been a large distance between wires and flesh for me. Programming doesn’t make Omnics any less of people, why should we except you from that sentiment?”
Andrea tilted her head, weighing Faustine’s words.
“We’re partners here. We listen to each other,” said Faustine. She extended her hand, “Knight and Bishop?”
Andrea stared at Faustine’s hand, not really sure what she was being prompted to do. Faustine waited with her hand extended for a few seconds before grabbing Andrea’s hand, shaking it, and saying, “Knight and Bishop,” again.
“Knight and Bishop,” said Andrea, shaking Faustine’s hand hard enough to jostle her shoulder slightly.
---
Rei came back to the camp about an hour or so later, eyes puffy and bloodshot. They had the campfire going then, and had taken the time to set out her sleeping mat alongside it. Genji glanced up at her as she came into the light of the fire.
“If you need to talk about it...” his voice was gentle.
Rei shook her head.
“...We can head back to the Watchpoint in the morning,” Genji offered.
Rei nodded.
“All right,” said Genji. A long pause passed before he said, “It was really brave of you to do this. And I’m so proud of you for trying. And... and you’re still wonderful and amazing to me. You understand that, right?”
Rei looked up at the, her eyes glistening in the light of the campfire before she rubbed at them and looked down again. She gave a short, shy nod.
The campfire died down to embers, but the words stuck hard in Aedan’s mind. “I’m so proud of you for trying.” He couldn’t recall anything like that ever being said to him in Talon.
The night carried out in a quiet, muted manner. Aedan wondered if it would be more of a shouting session between Rei, her father and her uncle if he weren’t there, or if it was simply the exhaustion of the trip here and the following hike and the emotional exhaustion of Rei being unable to summon the dragon wiping everyone out.
Conversation was almost nonexistent as the four of them watched the embers of the fire die out. They each silently went to their own sleeping bags, forming a square around the low-burning campfire. Rei was the first one out. With Hanzo and Genji supposedly serving as a buffer between them, and the fire blocking most of her out from his vision. Her features rippled in the waves of heat, but still Aedan studied her face--thick, concerned eyebrows, furrowed against thick eyelashes. He wondered what she dreamt of until sleep swept over him, too.
He dreamt of his own hand pressing against the glass of the amnio-tank, the face of his mother through the haze of biotic amnio-fluid.
“I can give him everything I never had,” her voice was thick in his mind.
The face of Moira suddenly morphed into McCree as the yellow fluid of the amnio-tank and the glass suddenly phased into a wall of blue light between them.
“How many more of you are there?” McCree’s voice was like a pile of sharp rocks.
The words of Aedan’s own voice seemed muted, half drowned out to postulate and memory.
“There’s no others of you? You’re sure about that?” McCree’s fists suddenly slammed against the blue field.
“What makes you think you have any right to be here?” it was McCree’s voice but Aedan couldn’t recall the words in a memory. The world suddenly plunged into yellow again, his hand against the glass and that plane of glass separating Moira’s hand from his. He glanced down to see the inside of the tank slowly filling with a dense black liquid. He banged a fist against the glass but Moira’s hand only slipped away
“She’s a monster!” the glass shifted to the walls of an elevator, Rei was two feet from him in a yellow sundress, running her hands through her hair as the elevator was filling with the black liquid as well. It was around both their waists at that point, “She’s a Talon psycho!”
“So what does that make you?” Mercy, Hanzo, and McCree’s voice seemed to overtake Rei, the dense ink around his waist suddenly sloshed away and then Aedan was on his back, desperately crab-walking back from massive form of shadows.
“Nary a soul to be seen,” he could hear his own voice from the mass of shadow.
And then he was in the hangar. Rei was in his arms. Dead? No--no--no, he couldn’t go through this again---
“She’s gone, a thaisce,” he could hear his mothers voice, but no, he coudn’t accept that.
“Rei--” he shook her, “Rei--please--don’t leave me---”
Rei’s eyes flicked open, glistening ink-black, with black tears running down her face.
“You’re not alone,” her voice sounded drowned, strangled, wrong as black dripped from her mouth. Her hand clawed at his cheek and he woke with a start.
He always had a tendency towards nightmares, he figured it was a side effect of Mnemosyne being used on a developing brain, but they hadn’t been that bad in a while. There were a few seconds of soreness and disorientation as he sat up from his sleeping bag and looked around.
Camping. Right. Because I love camping, he thought, rubbing at his back, bitterly. Why did rocks always seem to find a way to poke up through the sleeping mat and jab him in the spine?
He could hear the soft snores of Hanzo and Genji’s slightly electrically warped breathing, but a shaft of moonlight shined down through a gap in the canopy on Rei’s empty sleeping bag. He stared at it for a few seconds. Probably using the bathroom? he thought, and then glanced over at the roll of toilet paper resting on top of one of their backpacks, Nope.
He blinked a few times then padded his hand around his sleeping bag for his flashlight, but he only managed to find his biotic rig next to it. Well, it would have to do. He unzipped his sleeping bag, then looped the straps over his shoulders and rolled his shoulders, prompting the biotic rig to unfold, the wires winding once around his arms and the biotic nodes clicking open at his palms. They had streamlined the technology for it significantly since his mother’s day, and his own physiology eliminated the need for a massive biotic tank in the back.
He flicked his wrist and a small yellow sphere of biotics alighted on his palm before he stood up and pulled his trainers on. He stepped off of the sleeping mat and a twig snapped under his foot. Hanzo grunted and Aedan immediately flinched and looked over his shoulder at the still-sleeping 50-something ninja stir, then his eyes flicked to Rei’s sleeping bag. Aedan decided it would probably best if Hanzo or Genji didn’t wake up to both him and Rei gone from their sleeping bags. He faded, decomposing his physical form into smoke and slipping away from the camp. He reformed, then became acutely aware of how sweaty his shirt was from his nightmare, relieved himself in some bushes (albeit awkwardly with one hand holding his biotic light source aloft), then made his way to the pond to clean up a bit.
He dimmed the biotic sphere off as he knelt at the water’s edge, rinsing his hands off. As his eyes adjusted to the lack of biotic light, he stared at the pond in the moonlight for a bit, the waxing gibbous reflected mirror-like on its surface. The whole ‘outdoors’ thing wasn’t so bad, he figured, all things considered. He shook his hands off then brushed a bit of the cold water on his forehead and the back of his neck to try and relieve the greasy, clammy feel of his own sweat, then flinched hard as a dark shape broke the surface of the water. A mass of black. He scrambled back but then two pale hands came out of the water alongside the black lump, and parted it. Aedan made out thick eyebrows, and eyelashes. It was Rei, tucking her dark hair away from her face and smoothing the water from her forehead. She hadn’t noticed him. He got up from the pond’s edge as quietly as he could. Well she wanted privacy last time so--
He moved to walk away and another twig snapped beneath his foot.
“Scheisse—!” she splashed the water around herself with a start and her head jerked toward Aedan, “Don’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry, you just… weren’t in your sleeping bag so…” Aedan trailed off, “You’re trying it again.”
“Yes, I’m trying it again. Go back to sleep,” said Rei, turning away from him.
“I mean, I would, but it’s really not safe, swimming alone at night,” said Aedan.
“Well if I get into trouble, maybe the dragon will help me,” said Rei, “Go back to sleep.”
“I’m—I’m sorry did I say something wrong? Is this some kind of ninja ‘I need to do this alone’ thing or—”
“Aedan I’m skinny-dipping,” Rei said flatly.
“Oh god—” Aedan immediately turned around and Rei just snickered.
“It’s fine, I know you didn’t see anything,” she said.
“Well I have no intention of… seeing anything. I—I didn’t set out with the intention of seeing anything, and I’m just going to continue not seeing anything,” Aedan stammered. He paused for a few seconds, “Can I ask why you’re skinny-dipping?”
“Same as I said earlier: Trying it again,” said Rei, “I guess I thought, ‘Maybe I need to humble myself about it.’ Get more… primal or primordial about it, you know? Maybe the dragon’s seeing me with all these modern trappings and preconceptions of self and it’s not having it, so I should just…” she trailed off, “Admittedly it seemed like a much better idea when I was half-asleep.”
Aedan was quiet, his back still to the pond and her. “Um--I--You told me to go, right?”
“Well... I mean if you’re up and out, anyway...” Rei said, “Just... keep not-looking, I’m getting out.”
Aedan put a hand over his eyes just to be safe as he heard the soft sloshing of water. “Wait--” Aedan said after a few seconds, “So... it didn’t work?”
“Well I guess... when I see myself in relation to the dragon,” Rei toweled herself off, “Like... in my head, I don’t have clothes--and I guess it was stupid and desperate to think, ‘Oh I should get naked’ rather than the more obvious answer which is...” she grunted as she shimmied into her sweatpants, “The dragon doesn’t see clothes, so it doesn’t even make a difference if I’m naked or not. It’s stupid. I was stupid.” She pulled her ‘Glitchbot Studios LTD’ shirt over her head.
“You’re not stupid,” said Aedan, he snorted. “You’re... probably the bravest person I know.”
“Bravest?” Rei repeated, toweling out her hair.
“Well, I mean, only you would go skinny dipping when literally the only people who could walk in on you for miles around are either your father, your uncle, or me--”
“You?” Rei arched an eyebrow, stepping in front of him and smiling as he still stood there, hand over his eyes.
“You know... me,” said Aedan gestured with his free hand.
Rei tilted her head with some smug expectant expression. The silence from her only made Aedan more nervous.
Aedan could feel his ears burning. “I mean--There’s a thing, right? With us? I’m not crazy? There’s this...thing?”
“‘Connection?’” Rei guessed the word.
“Yes--C-connection,” Aedan nervously ran his free hand through his hair--God, he needed a haircut.
Rei glanced down at the ground beneath her feet and stepped forward tentatively, soundless against soft dirt, no crunching of leaves or snapping of sticks. Aedan’s hand was still over his eyes. She could kiss him now, if she wanted to. She kind of wanted to, but she wasn’t sure how fair that would be to him. If she spoke now that would give away how close she was. She leaned forward slightly, catching her own breath so he wouldn’t feel it on his lips before pulling back and thinking better on it, stepping backwards. Then he started talking again.
“I mean---That’s--that’s not what I’m here to talk about--I mean, granted I didn’t really come out here expecting to talk about anything. But--I guess as long as we’re here... I’m sorry.”
“For what?” said Rei.
“For getting your hopes up,” said Aedan, “It wasn’t fair to you. I just... I guess I wanted it to fix things, too.”
“It’s okay,” said Rei, “I... I know I’ve been angry and bitter this whole time but... It really does mean a lot to me to be spending time out here with you and Dad and Uncle...” she trailed off.
“You can come back, you know,” Aedan said quietly, “I mean, dragon or no, you were always... one of the strongest, most quick-thinking, most capable people I’ve ever met. If you’re not in Overwatch because you don’t think you’re good enough without it---”
“I get it,” said Rei, “I don’t know if I’m ready to do that, but... thank you, Aedan.”
“Also I’m sorry for walking in on you skinny-dipping, I swear I didn’t see anything--”
“Aedan... I’m decent,” said Rei.
Aedan brought his hand away from his eyes and he instantly flinched at how close she was.
“...Oh...” he managed.
“What was that you were saying earlier?” Rei leaned in a little closer, “About a connection?”
“I---” Aedan swallowed hard, “I--I was kind of rambling. You know me. I ramble.”
“Uh-huh...” said Rei, leaning in.
“I should... probably... learn to shut up... once in a while,” said Aedan, tucking a bit of Rei’s wet hair behind her ear.
“Maybe,” said Rei, her own fingertips brushing along his jaw as her other hand took hold on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, stooping his neck slightly to angle his face towards her more. Stupid O’Deorain height. She pushed up slightly onto her tiptoes, felt his breath against her lips and then...
Rei heard a heard a twig snap. She glanced over Aedan’s shoulder to see smoke amassing.
“Rei?” Aedan opened his eyes as he realized he was being left hanging but Rei suddenly seized the front of his shirt and tackled him down to damp soil as a ‘K-CHK’ was heard and the tree right behind where they had just been standing shattered to splinters with shotgun fire.
Rei recovered quickly from the dirt, hauling Aedan up to his feet alongside her.
Standing there in the moonlight was a figure clad in the black, white, and red armor of Talon. The sides of her head were shaved and her remaining long dark hair was tied up in a bun. Her face was covered by glowing red-lensed tactical goggles and a black mask with white skeletal teeth painted on it.
“Subject Six,” she spoke before cocking the shotgun one-handed.
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Part 62 Alignment May Vary: Valley of the Fane
This is the ongoing journey log of my longest running Dungeons and Dragons campaign, started in October of 2016. The campaign will be broken into five parts, the fourth of which you are currently reading. For the first part, which focuses on adventures in the Moonsea, click here. For the second, which focuses on the search for the Tomb of Haggemoth, click here. For the third, which focuses on the confrontation with the Red Hand of Doom, click here.
Imoaza leads the companions to the Vale, a large valley looking down upon a ruined tower that reaches into the sky like a man-made mountain. Before they can go down into the valley, they are waylaid by five serpentine figures: Imoaza’s brethren have been waiting for her to try to enter the Vale and had one of her daughters, Hecaté, a Yuan Ti who hatched after Imoaza left her people, set a trap for her.
Hecaté weilds the Malnora, a hexblade scimitar capable of cutting through space time to allow Hecaté to warp all around the battlefield. Still, it proves no match for Imoaza’s Drosselgreymer and Hecaté was not preparing Imoaza to come with companions. Because of these missteps, the players make surprisingly short work of the Yuan-Ti, defeating them while taking barely any damage. Only Hecaté survives, using Malnora’s power to dive through a tear she makes in space, promising that she will return. After this, the players make their way down to the tower.
The part of the adventure is meant to be a puzzle. Getting into the tower is the first part of that puzzle. This leads to a climbing sequence which becomes unintentionally funny when Aldric continually fails his strength check despite his massive strength score and keeps plummeting down a hundred feet or so to the last climbing check point he made. Level 11 characters are built tough!
After the fight, Aldric has a sad moment as he realizes that he can’t bring Anope, his horse (and second to bear the name), with him. So he releases her into the wild, telling her to “find her way back home.” She runs off, leaving behind this adventure, but maybe starting another one... more on that in a future blog.
Carrick also notices a few very odd things as they climb the tower. First, in their journey to this valley, they have seen nothing indicating the presence of an army. No marks on the land, no signs of campgrounds, and definitely no hobgoblin encampments. Are they actually heading to the right place? Also, this tower is odd. It’s made of a a strong material, maybe like iron, that Carrick cannot identify. What was its purpose?
Finally managing to scale the tower and create a path for the others using rope, Aldric pulls himself through a crack in the tower wall and onto a huge ledge. The companions find a nest here, filled with large warm eggs, and a skeleton near it that gives Aldric quite a shock: when he finds the skeleton’s magical +2 longsword, he realizes that he knows the blade and its owner.
The sword is Mistreaver and the man is Longrimor. He was a member of the Green Company, a chronicler of their exploits, who left the Company not many years before it was destroyed by the Behir, saying that he was seeking a great treasure, the “greatest of treasures” in a lost valley. His journal details his final days:
... found the tower, precisely where the legends and the sage suspected it would be. If my theory is correct, this changes everything we thought we knew about (here the writing is illegible). I cannot turn back now. I will sleep in the shleter of the (illegible) tonite, meditate on my discoveries, and in the morning press on.
And then there is one final hurridly scrawled entry: THE LIGHTS!
Aldric mourns the man’s death and keeps the sword but continues to use Blackrazor for the time being. Which, speaking of Blackrazor, the dark sword has gone eerily silent on Aldric, refusing to speak or to use any of its powers outside of its base magical strength. This began right after Aldric first witnessed Imoaza summon her Drosselgreymer during the fight against Hecate and the blade’s sudden change in nature concerns Aldric, though he has no idea what it means.
The inside of the tower contains a forest, at the edges of which they can see a small lake. The sun is setting fast, the rising peaks surrounding the vale cutting off the light that much faster, and the shadow of the tower hangs thickly on the woods beneath them. A roar and the sudden movement of trees below signals that the woods contain unseen dangers and the companions decide to settle for the evening here on the ledge rather than face those dangers in the dark. Also there is the note to contemplate: what did Longrimor mean by his final words? What are the lights?
Oakshadow
“I grew up listening to stories about you, mother. I heard what you tried to do. It was admirable, impressive even. But you failed and you should have accepted what that meant. Instead you stole our most holy of weapons and fled from us, like a coward. You made your choice back then, mother: you chose to die. Now rejoice, because you finally get what you asked for.”
~ Hecate
I need to note that the next bit of the adventure was inspired (and in parts copied) from an MT Black adventure called Expedition to the Lost Peaks. It’s not my favorite MT Black adventure (it ends a little too quickly and the pacing isn’t great) but like most of his adventures, it is unique and interesting and I recommend checking it out!
The night does not pass without incident. The nest turns out to belong to two mated Wyverns, who attack during the night, divebombing the companions. The fight goes exceptionally well for them: none of the heroes take damage, though Carrick narrowly avoids being shoved off of the tower when a Wyvern charges him. Aldric blocks the attempt and Carrick is only pushed to the very edge of the tower, teetering for a sickening second on the edge of a deadly fall.
With the Wyverns dead, the companions decide to eat the eggs. It’s not a good idea: Wyvern eggs are vastly poisonous. Only Imoaza thinks it is a delicious meal, but then she is immune to poisons.
Rather than clamber down the tower again, Imoaza casts fly on the three of them and they all float down towards the lake. Why the lake? After the Wyvern fight, Aldric was too enervated to sleep. He decided to stay up all night and during this watch saw lights in the distance, coming from the lake. They lasted for hours, only fading with the dawn.
Right before reaching the lake, the party is startled by the trees moving beneath them. They land, prepared for a fight, but instead meet a friendly Treant. The Treant, who calls himself Oakshadow, is surprised to see the three of them and isn’t quite sure what they are. Oakshadow has been here for as long as he can count time. He says he simply remembers sprouting from the ground and seeing stars falling around him. The world as he knows it only exists within the walls of the tower. He cannot comprehend anything beyond its walls. When he awoke, his world was one of destruction and decay, but over many years he has used his powers to grow the forest, which he cares for deeply. The lake is not his doing: that was once a deep crater, but centuries of rainfall have filled it.
It seems he has no knowledge of humanoid creatures, saying that it is only him, the hunters, and the Black Beast in the forest.
“They come at night, mostly,” he rumbles. “They hunt along the edge of the lake. They seek flesh, so they do not bother me nor my plants. But they would make quite the meal of the three of you.”
He does mention something that perks all of their interests: there have been many little earthquakes lately. It seems like a small thing but it does make them think that something might be going on underground.
Heeding Oakshadow’s warning that the night around here is dangerous, the trio decide to move forward and tackle the lake right away, while the morning sun is still shining down on them all.
Submerged
The lake ends up being my favorite part of this part of the adventure. Now that we’ve left book material behind for the most part, I’ve changed the style of my DMing to being more of a sandbox scenario presentation. This means that I present a challenge to the players and then after that I become almost entirely reactive, improvising responses to their solutions rather than running them through pre-built encounters. To prepare for this, for each situation I write down three or four “interesting” ideas, things that I think would be fun or exciting or cinematic for the players to encounter and then I use these if the situation feels like it is appropriate.
For the lake, the secret is that the lights at night come from actual giant lights embedded in the ground at the bottom of the lake. Finding them and following them reveals a hidden passage that leads out of the lake and into the next area. Some things I felt would be interesting here were an encounter with a huge black beast, the thing that was pushing through the trees in the evening, who chases the players through the water, some buried treasure in the silt of the lake, a deer which can the players can save from a predator to gain some unexpected help from Oakshadow in getting to the next area, and a storm passing through the area which disturbs the lake waters and makes swimming difficult.
That last scenario would have been really easy to instigate with the Rod of Storms but, honestly... I forgot that they have the rod of storms at this point! The problem is that no one is attuned to it right now because no one is the right class to use it and they all have other items they want to use. So I keep forgetting that it should be making the weather poor. Instead I describe a sunny day, with a lone deer peacefully drinking from the lake’s edge a litle bit away.
As usual, the players surprise me. I think their most likely choice is to camp by the lake until night, so they can see and try to understand the lights. But they are too nervous about what might be coming at night, so they take the safer route and Aldric dives solo into the lake to explore, using a potion of water breathing to make it a little easier.
This creates a really fun underwater adventure, where Aldric is trying to figure out what to do in the lake. He quickly finds the great black beast and recognizes it as a huge version of the one he faced at Brindol. However, I want to reward the players for being smart, so the beast is asleep, simply a looming threat that makes the entire underwater journey a little more tense.
Also, because I didn’t expect the party to split up, I have to find something for the other players to do. So I grab a creature out of Kobold Press’ Tome of Foes, the Vapor Lynx, and stage an attack by two of the predators.
Carrick tapped Imoaza on the shoulder. “The deer,” he said. “It’s run off.”
Imoaza immediately began sniffing the air, opening her mouth slightly to let the taste of the air run over her tongue. She looked then off into the woods, narrowing her eyes at a mist that was rolling through the trees. She didn’t tell Carrick to be ready. In her mind, if the Half Elf couldn’t see what was coming at them, then he deserved to be ambushed.
The mist reached them far too quickly to be a normal fog and as it came it formed teeth, claws, and a long sleek body that sat low to the ground, its powerful back legs curled under it in readiness to pounce.
This is a fun fight. The Vapor Lynx can release a poisonous cloud of fog and then hide in it. Being able to see through it, they can launch a sudden surprise attack from almost anywhere. Carrick and Imoaza display their very different fighting styles. Carrick likes to use ready actions to let enemies come to him, using his high AC and health to take a hit in trade for getting them close and striking them with a readied action. Then, once they are close, he tries to keep them there, unleashing a barage of physical attacks and only healing at the very last moment. You can tell the character is used to fighting alone, as he sometimes strays too far from his other companions to be of use to them in healing, a cool little character trait that makes him feel more individualized than “just another paladin.”
Imoaza, on the other hand, is a boss killed. Once she pulls out Drosselmeyer, she has so many options for attacking. She can hook them with the scythe then launch eldritch blasts directly into her enemy’s face. She can pull it apart into two weapons, spinning and swirling in a dance of death. She has unusual magic, too, that can change the combat situation in a single action. She uses one of these magics here when the Vapor Lynx gets in past her swirling scythe and mauls her, leaving her badly injured. She encases herself in an ice crystal for a turn, removing her from combat until the Vapor Lynx gets bored trying to cut through her crystal and turns to join the fight against Carrick... at which point Imoaza bursts free from the prison and attacks again.
It’s a tough combat and there are no real victors: the Vapor Lynx’s eventually flee back into the woods, having been dealt enough damage to chase them off. Imoaza and Carrick are hurt, but neither fell in combat, and as they take stock of the situation, Aldric paddles back to shore: “’Sup guys?”
Enter Stage Left
What Aldric found in the lake was a series of glass circles embedded in the floor of the lake. He doesn’t know that they are lights, but he suspects a connection. He followed them across the lake floor, coming eventually to an opening covered by a jelly like substance that he eventually gathers enough courage to push through. It’s not a slime as he at first thinks: it is a forcefield!
He leads the other two now to the other side of the lake, roughly right above where this opening lies, about 20 feet down. The companions all dive into the lake: Aldric does a cannonball; Carrick does a graceful swan dive; Imoaza painfully belly flops on the surface of the water.
Finding and entering the forcefield, the companions find themselves in a long cylindrical tunnel, down the middle of which flows a small stream of water, coming in from where the forcefield is not perfectly sealing off the tunnel. The tunnel is cold, the walls (made of the same material as the tower) doing little or nothing for insulation. They travel it for several hundred yards before their way is blocked by massive cobwebs. Aldric lights a torch and tries to burn away the webbing, but then...
Imoaza looked up and hissed a challenge (and a warning). The ceiling above was pulsating, unfolding its dark mass into eight massive legs attached to a giant fur covered body. The lazy yet deliberate movements of the giant tarantula reminded her of a hand slowly opening and stretching. The beast shuffled and shook and bits of its fur fell down around her, all of them thin and razor sharp, one of them leaving a trail of blood across her cheek where it sliced her. There was other movement now, too, and clittering and clattering. Soft padded feet moving on metal. Mandibles clicking together. They were coming: a horde of spiders to drink them dry.
There are nine giant spiders here, led by one giant tarantula (a creature I converted from Pathfinder). The fight was designed to be even sided, but my players didn’t heal after their lake escapades, putting them at a disadvantage.
Five of the spiders swarm Imoaza, webbing her in place so they can get close. Carrick is targetted by the rest, while Aldric strides forward to block the giant Tarantula’s way. The Tarantula has its own defenses: its barbed hairs act like a razor sharp shield, cutting Aldric every time he lands a hit on the creature and eventually poisoning him. However, he keeps fighting, not only bringing it down to half life, but stopping it from getting past him to attack his waylaid party members. Eventually the Tarantula retreats up the wall to launch barbs at range at Aldric instead of engaging in melee. Aldric blocks them with his shield and turns to help his fellows.
But by now, things have gone poorly. Imoaza falls under the swarm of spiders, her last action a spinning death whirl with her blades that takes three of them with her. Carrick, poisoned and webbed, continues to fight off his own spiders, killing them surely, but not quick enough to come help Imoaza. So it falls to Aldric to save her. He runs over to the pile of spiders about to feed on her and slashes Blackrazor in a wide arc, slashing through hairy legs and bulbous bodies alike. With the spiders cleared, he takes a defensive stance over Imoaza and...
“Kill her.”
The voice surprises him and it takes Aldric a moment to recognize that it is Blackrazor speaking to him.
“Stab her in the back, man.”
It’s been a moment since the sword last spoke to him. Now Blackrazor’s harsh rasp holds an element of command and determination that makes Aldric raise his blade over Imoaza’s prone figure.
“Take her down. Take her down and inherit the power she wields. Do it.”
Aldric actually has to roll a Charisma save at this point to see if he will do it or not. He fails, badly. Still, he manages not to murder Imoaza and to ignore the blade. But his failure leaves him influenced by Black Razor: a new flaw he gains is that he doesn’t like Imoaza and will actively work to oppose her. And a time may come in the future when he will again be compelled to arrange her demise. Now, if he had rolled a critical failure here...
While this drama is playing out, Carrick finally dispatches the last of the giant spiders and the Tarantula, enraged, stomps back into the fray. Aldric and Carrick face it together, Aldric bravely using his alchemy jug to spray the Tarantula with oil and then setting its face ablaze with his torch. But a critical hit from the Tarantula brings Aldric down and Carrick is forced to flee back up the tunnel to heal himself and consider his options while the great beast rages in pain from the fire. It is certainly going to murder Aldric, who set it ablaze and made so many cuts on its body, but then it pauses as a whistle sounds up and down the tunnel. Despite its still aflame face, the Tarantula goes mostly still, its back bobbing slightly as it lowers its face to the stream and rests it in it, putting out the fire.
From past the cobwebs emerge several tall slender figures garbed in grey and black. Elves, but dark skinned elves that Carrick recognizes immediately as Drow. They point poisoned arrows towards him and order him to surrender and with no further choice, he does. Then one of them approaches, a tall female warrior.
“You certainly did a number on our pets,” she says, and her voice is not kind.
“They certainly did a number on us,” Carrick answers, but before the words are fully out the female drow has driven a needle into the side of his neck and the world goes black.
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Three: Eight
Fandom: Dragon Age
Pairing: Solas x f!Lavellan (Modern!AU) / Minor Cullen x f!Lavellan
Rating: T for Teen
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They drive out to Dragon’s Peak on Friday morning. Early, and she sleeps the whole way, waking up when the car slows to find the mountains filling the windows and Cullen’s hand resting on her knee. Gravel crunches under the tires as they weave through the campsites. Most are unoccupied, but it’s nice not to have neighbors when there are no walls. After a while, Sera’s car comes into view, a round yellow rusted thing surrounded by more empty campsites and the color green. They park at the next site over, get out, and stretch their legs.
It’s beautiful. The trees here are limbless for the first twenty feet, all dark wood and wonder, reaching invariably for the bright blue that peeks down from between them. A tiny packed-dirt path between the sites leads through the edge of the woods, down to a wooden dock and a small sandy beach.
Athi pulls out a french press, sets up the camp stove, and helps Cullen with the tent until the water boils.
Sera finally shows, emerging from the woods with a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of sanitizer, and Athi pours her a cup. Then the three of them sit, quiet on the dock. Coffee in their hands and the wind in their hair and their toes in the water, soaking up too much sun.
Leliana, Josie, and Cassandra show up first. They come prepared with towels and suits and Leliana brings a raft made for lounging.
Bull, on the other hand, brings his new boyfriend, Dorian. One of those guys who are handsome enough to kick the wind right out of a perfectly healthy set of lungs. He’s funny and clever, with charisma coming out his ears.
And he insists that Cullen join them for a hike.
“So, frat-boy came after all,” Sera says once they’re gone. “That’s good, right?”
“He didn’t go to university.”
“Like that’s the point.” She kicks out her legs, inspecting their color as the water drips down, then grabs the sunscreen from behind her. “Blonde. Beefy. Boring. Frat-boy!”
“How would you know if he’s boring?”
“Is he?”
“He runs into burning buildings to save people for a living, how could that possibly be boring?”
Sera bumps her shoulder, cherry blossom streaked with white, into Athi’s. “That’s not a real answer.”
“Fine, he’s not boring!”
“If you say so. Ah, shite. Got too much of this mess. Take some?”
They swim and sit and float and play, jeans and sundresses stuffed into bags, abandoned on the beach, draped over the dock. Athi goads Cass into a race to the floating island, and then loses by more than a hair. The sun trades places, east to west, and suddenly the day is gone.
Athi pulls herself onto the dock and wriggles back into her jeans. Finds her tank top on Sera’s shoes, and twists her hair up to keep the lake water off her back. When she offers to go back to camp for drinks, the response is more than enthusiastic.
To be perfectly honest, it’d be nice if someone else would fetch the drinks for a change.
Back at the camp, Varric is crouched next to a rather pathetic excuse for a fire.
“Please tell me you’re not cooking,” she says.
“Oh, I’m not. Though I’d like to think I could rise to the occasion and warm up some hot dogs. You know, if the people needed me.”
A trunk slams shut, and she startles. “Thankfully, the people do not, or they would likely all starve.”
Solas walks toward her—no not her, just the campsite. But when she catches the flick of his eyes down her form, her heart still does an uncomfortable flip-flop inside of her ribs.
No, she tells it. No, keep it together.
But creators, she must be a mess. Rolled-up jeans, no makeup, no shoes, swim top soaking through her shirt, and a hasty bun. Probably fried and frizzy. Come to think of it, she’s not even sure she’s looked in a mirror yet today. Not that it matters, of course.
Then there’s Solas. Sharp features and ocean eyes. Somehow immaculate, despite the heat, in cuffed tan shorts and an easy olive v-neck. He’d worn it to that party, all those months ago. And it’s half tucked in over the bone of his hip, not that she dwells on it.
And he’s here.
Not that she cares.
He opens a cooler by a small blue tent. Comes back with three beers and a bottle opener, and he holds one out to her. It’s ice-cold and dripping. Off the bottle, into her hand, leaving cool wet tracks down her forearm.
“Hey,” she says softly. For such a small word, it comes out awfully shaky.
“Hello.” His smile, too, is an uncertain little thing, hanging crooked on his mouth like a—
Not that she’s looking at his—
Oh, fuck.
She tears her eyes away, resting them instead on Varric’s dying fire.
“Do you want some help with that?” she offers.
“You know, I thought you’d never ask.”
Setting her bottle beside her, she uses the end of a piece of firewood to push his blackened sticks to the center of the pit, extinguishing whatever flames actually managed to survive his efforts. Then she lays it in the ashes next to the pile. More logs, arranged crosswise, more kindling in the middle, and a burning match sets it freshly alight.
“Hey, Solas! Glad you made it, buddy!” Even coming from the edge of the campsite, Bull’s voice booms in her ears.
Cullen and Dorian trail a ways behind him, talking like old friends.
“You know each other?” she asks.
“Sort of, yeah!” Bull claps Solas on the back. “I was on the squad for some big deal museum thing a couple months back, and he was there, and we got to talking.”
Solas laughs softly. “As I recall, you asked if my companion was single.”
A log slips free of her grasp and clangs against the heavy metal fire guard, but no one seems to notice.
“Mmm. Yeah, I remember,” Bull says. “Redhead. Good times! Anyway, we’ve hung out a few times since then.”
Varric leans over. “I’ve tried to get in on it, but so far, no luck. Whatever they get up to, it’s gotta be good.”
“Oh, it’s good.” Bull waggles his eyebrows, but Solas only grins, tips his bottle up, and drinks.
“So, this is where you went!”
Cassandra, walking up the path from the lake with the others, has her you’re in trouble face on. Brows knit tight, eyes fierce, voice shrill, and Athi can’t help but wonder if this is what it feels like to be accused of murder.
But Varric cuts in before she can ask for a lawyer.
“Hey, Seeker!” he says. “Fancy meeting you here.”
The look Cassandra gives him is withering. “Oh, it’s you . I suppose I should have known.”
“Sorry, I was”—Athi gestures to the now-healthy fire—“waylaid.”
Varric laughs. “Taken captive by my charming vulnerability, she means.”
“Charming!” Cass rolls her eyes. “I have never heard anything so ridiculous.”
Dorian swoops in like the guest of honor, rather than somebody’s plus-one. “Well, this has been a delightful bit of repartee,” he says, “but might I suggest we consider our supper? I’m not sure about the rest of you lot, but the three of us did just climb a mountain.”
“Not the whole thing,” Cullen admits, and is quickly shushed by Dorian.
Athi lets the fire die a bit, and over the embers they cobble together a meal: Bull grills the veggie kebabs he’s had marinating, Sera roasts up some corn, Leliana tucks potatoes wrapped in tin foil into the warm ashes, and Cullen cooks the chicken they brought on hot-dog skewers.
They make a weird bunch, she thinks as they eat and talk and laugh and tease and argue. Humans and elves, a qunari, a dwarf. Different homelands, different jobs. With the exception of Leliana, who has known Josie since high school and Cass since college, all the connections between them are thin. Sera did a couple of Leliana’s tattoos. Varric was (briefly) a suspect in one of Cassandra’s investigations. Cullen and Dorian hadn’t even met before this afternoon. Yet those bonds were struck and somehow held fast in an instant.
It’s difficult to tell where she fits. What gap she fills, what role she plays, but then Bull tells the one about the time she took him shopping, and she decides it doesn’t matter. So long as she fits at all.
Seconds and thirds, then Bull stands and pulls a handful of cigars from his shirt pocket. “Anyone want to go down to the dock? Genuine Seherons, been looking forward to these babies. Dorian? Cass?”
“Thank you, but no.” Dorian grimaces. “I don’t smoke. Besides, I’d like to wear these clothes again someday, and ‘campfire’ is going to be difficult enough to get out.”
“I’ll join you,” says Cass.
Cullen goes as well, leaves her with a warm smile. She never expected him to be so interested in socializing. Not like he ever asked to meet her friends. She’d been worried about him, thought he’d feel out of place or something, but it was needless. He has charmed them all in a single afternoon just by being his polite, well-spoken, surprisingly funny self.
“Surprised you let her out of your sight,” Sera says to Varric, throwing a piece of onion across the fire at him.
He bats it away like he’s done this before. Knowing Sera, he probably has.
“I’m just giving her a chance to miss me, that’s all.”
Everyone seems finished, fed and content. Instinctively, Athi starts to clean up. Collects the trash and plastic plates, the empty bottles, then goes for water but Solas is already elbow-deep in suds. He tells her to sit with the others; instead, she picks up a towel and dries. Feels good to have her hands busy. Feels better to be near—
No.
Josephine gasps. “Oh, Leliana, we never set up our tent!”
“Now is as good a time as any, don’t you think, Josie?”
“Now it is dark! Do you know what you’re doing? I’ve never actually done this before.”
“Well,” Dorian says, “I shall volunteer my services, as I neither prepared dinner nor cleaned up after it.” He nods gratefully toward her and Solas. “Luckily for you, I’m a natural at pointing a flashlight.”
The three of them disappear into the darkness, chattering away.
After the dishes are done and the trash packed away, Athi adds another log to the fire. Another hour or so of Sera fixating on the marshmallows nobody brought, and Varric smacks his palms to his thighs.
“All right, I think it’s about time for me to head out,” he says. “That actual, sheltered, comfortable bed is calling my name.”
“Really?” Athi teases. “It’s barely nine! I’d have thought you had more life left in you than that.”
“Hey, not all of us want to have the same special loathe-hate relationship with mornings that you have, early bird.”
Solas chuckles. “You’ve noticed this as well?”
“Yeah, I made the mistake of calling for a favor at a perfectly reasonable time of day—”
“Reasonable for who, exactly?” she protests.
“—And she picked up, swore colorfully at me in, I believe, no less than three different languages, and disconnected.”
“Oh, please. That’s nothing,” Sera says with a scoff. “She shattered my guitar!”
“I apologized for that.”
“Can’t play an ‘I’m sorry,’ now can I?”
Athi groans. “Just go, Varric. Go to your mattress and mini-bar and room service and take your slander with you.”
“It’s only slander if it’s not true,” he says, and walks away with a casual wave of his wrist.
Sera yawns. “Think I’ll turn in, too.”
“Seriously?”
If Sera leaves, she’ll be alone with him. Really alone. And if they’re alone, he’ll almost certainly look at her at some point, and her heart will do that thing it always does and is not supposed to. Athi pleads with her eyes, begs her to stay, but Sera doesn't notice—or pretends not to. She walks behind the canvas chairs and plants a kiss atop Athi’s head with an exaggerated smacking sound.
“Be good!” And she slips into her tent.
Athi briefly considers following their lead, then remembers it’s been all of five minutes since she declared it too early to do so.
“I suppose you’re the next to fall,” she says to fill the silence, hoping he is.
Hoping he isn’t.
“I could not abandon you so easily.”
Seven words, and she melts. It’s not fair, how quickly he breaks her down, leaves her bare. It's not right. His nearness is intoxicating, their solitude is terrifying, and she’s stuck somewhere between the fear and the falling. Safe, though, like he’s the solid ground. Searching, and he's an answer. Brimful, satiated. Like she’s been trying to breathe underwater, and he’s the air above its surface.
Like she's a foolish, stupid girl with a foolish, stupid heart.
He’s abandoned her once already, practically ghosted her after that stupid fucking morning. Not that she can blame him; she’d disappeared too. And Cullen—
As if summoned by her guilt, his laughter drifts up from the dock. If she blocks out some light from the fire, she can see him from here—just a shadow among shadows.
“He seems nice,” Solas says, and stares intently through the flames like he can see what she does.
“He is.”
“And you are happy?”
Yes , she tries to say. It sticks in her throat. Instead says, “He’s a good guy,” as if that’s enough.
But he accepts it, nods and leans forward to add another piece of wood to the fire. It shifts, and sparks fly. Some disappear into the dirt around her bare brown feet, some float into the air and mix with the stars.
This time, he is the one to break the silence. “Before the world was changed and much of history concealed, magic came to some as easily as breathing.”
His voice, much like a hearty red wine, goes straight to her head and its cadence leaves her giddy.
He continues. “A fire could be summoned or extinguished with a thought; without need for wood or matches to ignite it. Many feared such power, and locked mages away to prevent what they might someday do.”
A story, like the ones about the stars. He settles back into it so quickly, so unexpectedly. On the rooftop at Varric’s with the music thundering beneath them—that’s when they had started. She’d matched his rhythm, once, and the counts of the syllables. Trying to see if he noticed. Trying to provoke him. Trying to see what his ruffled feathers looked like. But he hadn’t missed a beat, only looked at her as though she was all that existed, and begun another story.
Athi tucks her feet underneath her and watches the smoke curl up into the ink-black sky. Carefully, she considers her story and patiently, he waits.
“The Dalish have some stories still, of spells that sunk into the earth and made the forest twist and grow around them. A secret gift from silent gods to keep the world from chaos, because nature has a way of running wild. So they kept it to themselves, passed down from every Keeper to their First.”
“Very good.” His voice wears a smile and a hint of pride. “I’d hoped you had not forgotten.”
“It’s your turn,” she says, still looking up.
“You are right. Give me a moment.”
Feeling indulgent, she lets her eyes rove his face. The glow of the fire on the rise of his cheeks, the focused calm, the cut of his jaw.
“At night, when people slept, they’d dream—but not the empty flailing of a restless mind devoid of stimulation. They visited the Fade, a realm of spirits who reflected expectations, memories, even desires. Waking and sleeping, each world shaped and reflected the other.”
She grows too content, watches him for a split second too long, and it bubbles up in her chest before she can stop it. “I’ve missed you,” and it feels good. Feels honest.
His eyes shift to meet hers, the calm replaced by something soft, surprised, sorrowful.
“And I have missed you.”
Her heart beats wildly against her rib cage. She doesn’t know where to go from here, but then sees a head of yellow curls and the kindest face she’s ever kissed, and Cullen walks up to stand behind her. His hands on her shoulders, he leans down to whisper in her ear.
“Come to bed?”
She wants to say no, wants to stay, but she shouldn’t. She’s lost enough ground already. So she nods, takes his hand, and fills her smile with an apology.
“Goodnight, Solas.”
He smiles back, sort of.
Back in their tent with a flashlight hanging overhead, she roots around the bottom of her bag.
“Hey Cullen?” she asks. “Is my toothbrush in with your stuff?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? I’ll check when I get back.”
“Back? What happened to bed?”
“Yes, back. I need to go use—well, a tree.” He chuckles and kisses her on the forehead and rustles off into the darkness.
Athi changes out of her jeans and her tank top and sits there in the mostly-dark, watching the target-shaped circle of light sway slightly over the blankets. Then she grabs his backpack and starts looking.
It’s not in with his toiletries, or buried under his clothes. Last, she checks the side pockets, and her fingers brush something smooth and hard and suspiciously shaped. Her gut says leave it , but she pulls it out anyway. Just to look, so she won’t wonder.
It fits in her palm. A small square box with rounded edges, black and sleek and velvet, but there’s no way it is what she thinks it is. Still, she flips back the lid. Just to check, so she won’t worry.
Inside is a delicate silver-colored ring, engraved vines climbing toward a deep blue stone. Inside the band, a tiny engraving: everlasting.
The tent zips open again.
“Any luck? Maybe you . . .” He trails off when he sees what she holds in her hand.
“Cullen, what the fuck is this?”
#ellster writes#dragon age#dragon age inquisition#solas#solavellan#dragon age fic#athi lavellan#solathi#modern!au#three#an UPDATE WHAAAAT#*self five*#i meeeean piss-poor time to post about it ell but okay#that's what reblogs are for right?#*sweats* this thing is mammoth compared to every other chapter#pls do not get used to this#it is a outlier#i think#i hope#anyway#CAMPING!!!
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Roleplay server Log #162
“Hyrule the water Baby”
[TLOT] Poor Notch... He won't be getting any sleep at all
[CP] - Exactly, where as I'm trying to coax Lie into sleeping again
[TLOT] Poor Lie, she's still having those nightmares?
[CP] - Don't know, she hasn't fallen asleep yet
[Doc] at Steve- you found the gems?
[Steve] Yeah! Here, My love has some of them as well. Here's the diamonds - holds out the blue rock candy-
[Doc] makes a click copy and offers the gem to the little dragon
[Yaunfen] Sniffs and starts to happily gum on it-
[TLOT] Well... She is a brine, she doesn't have to sleep if she really doesn't want too
[CP] - I recall you telling me how well that worked last time...
[Doc] I think we hit the jackpot in more ways then one, was that what you wanted little one?
[Yaunfen] Happy squeaks-
[TLOT] flustered- well it's hard on your psyche if you don't let your main-frame rest, but it can be done!
[CP] Sighs- Come on, let's get going
[CP] Opens a portal to the digital realm and steps through, once everyone is through he closes the portal and turns to Doc- Okay, find the server
[Doc] is just floating in the nothing and holding Yaunfen- ummm I think... - they're looking for something that feels like hir lover- that way!...?
- the vanilla cow seems distressed and Steve puts Stevie on its back
[TLOT] I can feel it too Doc... Go that way
[CP] - Consider this training for going out into the real world, because getting back is just as important
[Doc] Oh.... - Is casting about and starts going in a slightly different direction. - I do feel something familiar close by.... over this way...
[CP] Is fighting down his snickers-
[TLOT] Uh.. Doc I'm not sure that's our server.
[CP] Motions for TLOT to shut up-
[Doc] I think you're right, but it is one I know. - reaches out with hir free hand to touch the faint square.
[Doc] Walks forward and emerges into Cp's office. - Ah fuck.
[CP] Bursts out laughing-
[TLOT] Not nice Cp. They did find someplace we've been before, it wasn't a random seed.
[CP] - Oh but it is funny, and hey, at least they didn't find a way out to real world first
[Doc] Looks around for a moment and gets a naughty idea. Xe takes out one of the lollipop flowers and gives it a big lick before sticking it to the seat of Cp's desk chair and pushing it back under the desk.
[CP] - Come on Doc, I'm sure your mate is eager for you to get home
[Doc] Comes back out - Dammit.... Okay, I'm trying... - starts headed off in a different direction.
[TLOT] Just relax and feel around.
[Doc] This is odd... - Xe puts out a hand and touches a different pane. - it feels like... BEN actually...
[CP] - That's because that is Majora's Mask
[Doc] Ech... I don't have good memories associated with that game... Still feels a bit like his energy though.
[CP] - Probably not his copy
[Doc] Makes a suddenly brighter face and points a ways away. - I know there's at least one Pokemon game that direction, I don't know which one though.
[CP] - No
[Doc] I wasn't suggesting we go. Though I'm sure Stevie and your Honedge would enjoy it. - Is moving along at a walking pace.
[Stevie] Is lightly kicking the cow he's on-
[Steve] Be gentle Stevie, I think this cow is a bit freaked out being out here.
[Stevie] - Okay
[Doc] Actually there's a place here you don't know about, I bet. - Trots a bit to one side. - This one is where our friends Richtofen and Takeo came from. I can hear the zombies screaming from here. - It's also a good place for... aquiring unusual equiptment for experiments....
[CP] Growls a little-
[TLOT] That's a shooter isn't it.... Let's not...
[Doc] I wouldn't. The cow would get infected and it would be far too dangerous for Steve and Stevie.
[Stevie] - No zombies, zombies are bad and they bang on doors really loudly...
[Steve] playful- They're also stinky and bad tempered.
[Stevie] - Uh-huh!
[CP] Flicks a hand which forces a stray bit of coding farther away-
[Doc] Gets a devious look and sticks a hand into a rather dusty pane. Xe pulls hir hand back out with a large green leaf and tosses it at Cp. - Hey Cp, think fast!
[CP] Swats it away-
-As he touches it there's a VOOFP noise and suddenly Cp has a pair of raccoon ears on his head and a racoon tail on his rear.
[TLOT] Nearly chokes with laughter
[CP] -Doooooooooc....
[Stevie] Giggles as well-
[Doc] If you wag it you'll fly faster and I bet Stevie will laugh in a very sweetly endearing and childlike way at his funny big brother.
[CP] - How about I ram my sword up your ass instead!
[Doc] Yikes! Okay! I'm going! - Scoots out of reach and starts sniffing around for the feel of the server before heading off in a determined way.
{Stevie] - Let's go moo moo
[Doc] Ohhh. Cp... we should come back to this one just you and me later....
[CP] - What asinine thing are you talking about now?
[Doc] It's Vice City. I could go for some crazy driving, and I think you'd enjoy the flamethrower.
[CP] - I don't need a tool for that
[Doc] Then the plethora of targets would be to your liking at least.
[CP] - Whatever
[TLOT] Puts his ear near a pane. - I hear roaring...
[CP] - That's a Jurassic Park game
[Steve] Swallows - No.. dinosaurs please...
[Doc] Don't worry, I want to go home too.
[CP] - If you can find it
[TLOT] I really don't think we should be out here longer then nessesary. NOTCHs can seed hop too you know.
[CP] - Yeah yeah
[Doc] If holding Yaunfen close with one hand and touching pane after pane with the other. - Good gods there are so many Minecraft seeds...
[CP] - Yup, oh hey, that's one of the ones I used to be on
[TLOT] does that mean your NOTCH wrecked it already?
[CP] - Nope, I did
[Doc] Has caught a scent now and is starting to run.
[CP] - I don't feel like running
[TLOT] Then walk. - Hurries after Doc pulling the cow along with Steve beside him.
[CP] Decides to float along instead, setting the tail and ears on fire to destroy them-
[Doc] Is inputing a complex passcode onto a pane that's much shinier then the ones around it. - I found it!
[CP] - Found what?
[Doc] Opens the wall to show the savannah and an afternoon sky- Home.
- There's a bit of bellowing as the mammoths react to the humans and brines and shuffle farther away.
[Stevie] - What are those!
[TLOT] Leads them inside after Doc - They're mammoths Stevie. Lie took a liking to some on an outing with Doc.
[Doc] I couldn't resist rescuing a few. They're so fuzzy and majestic.
[Stevie] - Look brother! Home!
[CP] - Yeah yeah
[Doc] I wonder how Aven and BEN are faring? We're near their house.
[aven] -is siting outside with hyrule in her arms-
[CP] - I don't know or care right now
[TLOT] Leads the cow towards Gem's house since they can see it from where they are anyway.
[CP] Groans and follows to keep an eye on Stevie-
[Steve] Runs up ahead of the others - Hey Aven!
[aven] oh hello.
[Steve] Awww, how are you holding up Aven?
[TLOT] I smell something stinky...
[aven] I was going to have gem give hyrule a bath when she got back while I distracted ben because he is over protective.
[Doc] Walks up as well - Hey Aven. Ah, that sounds like a good idea. Look what I have, you're not the only one with a little babe to tend now. Meet Yuanfen.
[Yuanfen] Still gumming on the candy diamond-
[aven] is it made of candy while eating candy?
[Doc] They just look like candy as camoflage I think. But yes, Yaunfen likes candy. Their whole home seed is candy and cake and ice cream. It's heavily modded. The cow came from there too.
[TLOT] The milk is vanilla flavored, want some?
[aven] yes that sounds good.
[Steve] Pulls out the bucket again and fills it for her before passing it.
[TLOT] Um Aven... I could wash Hyrule again if you want, it smells like he needs it.
[Stevie] - What's the tiny thing?
[aven] -takes the bucket in one hand while holding hyrule- I will have to distract ben but sure it would be helpful.
[TLOT] It's a baby Stevie. A tiny person.
[Doc] Where is BEN anyway?
[Stevie] - How did it get here?
[Steve] Aven made him. With some help from BEN.
[aven] he should be inside -takes a sip of the milk- oh this is good.
[Stevie] - So a boy and a girl can make a baby?
[Steve] Yep. That's not the only way you can do it, but I think it's the simpliest.
[Stevie] - So brother could make one with miss Lie?
[TLOT] Takes out some of the lollipop flowers- Looks at this haul Aven, you should have seen it. It was crazy pastel everywhere.
[aven] that seem like a lot of candy.
[Steve] Well... no because Lie gave up one of the parts she needed cause she's not ready to be a mom just yet. But she could if she changed her mind.
[TLOT] Oh yes. Toffee for gold, rock candy diamonds and sticky strawberry lava.
[Stevie] - But I want a little brother so I can play the big brother!
[Steve] Aww. What about Ashe? You're older then he is.
[Stevie] - But he's already bigger than me sometimes
[Steve] Bigger doesn't matter, you're still older. Besides. He could use someone strong to help him out.
[Stevie] - But his momma is really strong!
[Steve] Yeah but she's not a kid and she has to look after Willow and Oak too. It would be a big help.
[Stevie] - Okay
[aven] gem would have a field day with that candy she has a huge sweet tooth
[TLOT] I didn't know that! Hang on, I'll copy some of this and give it to you.
[Doc] Just not the endstone sponge cake. It seems to expand if you leave it anywhere.
[CP] - Stevie, do you wanna head home? You still have that... Blanket, fort to work on...
[Stevie] - I wanna keep riding the cow!
[TLOT] Gives Aven a big handful of candies and cake blocks - Here you go. And you should let me take care of Hyrule. Is it better to tell BEN or just be quick about it?
[aven] then lets head inside the main area there is a caldron in the bathroom there.
[Steve] I'll stay out here and watch Stevie and.. Moo Moo?
[Doc] Do you need help TLOT?
[TLOT] Only if BEN attacks me.
[Doc] I'm coming with you.
[BEN] Has barricaded the bathroom door and hung a sign- NO BATHING THE BABY IN WATER!
[aven] -starts to head inside-
[TLOT] Hmm... should we go in the kitchen instead?
[aven] yep.
[BEN] Is in the kitchen eating-
[Doc] Offers Yaunfen hir shoulders - could you crawl up and lay down?
[aven] -hands tlot hyrule-
[Yuanfen] Scrambles up, digging hir claws in a bit-
[Doc] Winces a bit, but hir coat mostly protects hir from the dragons thick claws. - What do you need TLOT?
[BEN] Glares at TLOT- Why do you have Hyrule?
[aven] -goes over to ben- because you need to chill
[TLOT] You know why BEN, he's stinky. I just came over to visit, but it looks like you needed help anyway. -turns to Doc- Just a diaper and some bone meal.
[BEN] Is immediately between TLOT and the water source- Don't you dare
[aven] -trying is dragging ben away upstairs-
[BEN] - NO! MY SON WILL NOT DROWN!
[TLOT] Come on BEN, I didn't hurt him last time, what makes you think this would be different?
[aven] I will get one of gem's guardian to carry you upstairs he won't drown I promise.
[Doc] BEN, it does make my hearts happy to see how much you care about him.
[BEN] Is snarling at TLOT-
[TLOT] I'll make it quick. Trust me. - He switches the baby to one hand and puts some water in the cauldron sink before turning up his glitch around his fingers to make it a bit warm.
[aven] -yells- hey vin can you help me carry ben upstairs?
[vin] -comes downstairs and because he is very tall picks up ben-
[BEN] Struggles desperately to get out of Vin's grasp-
[vin] -is strong and carries him upstairs-
[Doc] Sets out some cloth for a diaper and a bone meal blob.
[TLOT] Lays the baby in the bit of water and starts washing him gently.
[BEN] - HYRULE! DON'T DROWN!
[Doc] Oh hush, you'll make him cry yelling like that.
[hyrule] -starts babbling and bouncing once he sees the water-
[CP] Is snickering at BEN-
[TLOT] Is making silly noises at the baby and playing with his teeny fingers and toes.
[hyrule] -is giggling trying to grab tlots fingers-
[TLOT] makes tiny splashes with his fingers for Hyrule.
[hyrule] -splashes along with tlot-
[BEN] Can be heard yelling upstairs-
[TLOT] Gives the baby a through washing and reaches for the towel Doc is holding to pat him off. - Man you really like a good bath. Somehow two hydrophobics equaled one hydrophilliac.
[Doc] Yeah, he's gonna have an interesting childhood.
[aven] yeah ben is going to be going insane over it and gem will probably teach him to swim.
[BEN] - HYRULE!
[aven] ben chill he is fine.
[BEN] - HE GOT WET!
[aven] wet doesn't equal drown ben.
[BEN] - YES IT DOES!
[aven] unless hyrule breaths though his skin he isn't going to drown by being wet.
[TLOT] Powders Hyrule's butt and ties a clean diaper around him. - There we go! All clean and not even a teeny bit drowned.
[Doc] Unless BEN considers that his last name...
[BEN] - THERE IS SUCH A THING AS DRY DROWNING!
[Doc] Oh is that when your lungs fill with fluid and you choke?
[aven] -is facepalming-
[BEN] - USUALLY AFTER A NEAR DROWNING!
[Doc] Shush, he's fine. Look he's smiling. Ready for his proud parents to coo over him some more
[hyrule] -is giggling-
[BEN] Get's free of Vin and darts downstairs again-
[snake] -kazoo's loudly at ben as he almost stepped on him-
[TLOT] Is holding Hyrule gently
[BEN] - Hyrule!
[Doc] Is scratching Yaunfen's chin lightly.
[TLOT] Here you go- Holds the baby out for BEN to take.
[BEN] Takes Hyrule and floats up by the ceiling holding him protectively-
[Doc] Looks up - So apart from the conniption fit, how are you doing BEN?
[BEN] - Okay I guess...
[TLOT] Losing sleep? I hear babies cry a lot.
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] Freezes-
[aven] well it looks like hyrule's first word is water
[Doc] First word! Awww!
[BEN] - noooooooooooooooo
[TLOT] I guess he really does like getting a bath.
[hyrule] wa-er wa-er
[BEN] - No, how about lightning?- Brings a little of his green electricity into his hand
[Doc] Too many syllables for a first word.
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] Groans-
[BEN] - Aven! Our child is defective!
[aven] hyrule is fine the only reason he isn't scared is because he never drowned and I would like to keep it that way.
[BEN] - Are you sure we can't trade him in for another?
[aven] -face palms- that's not how that works
[BEN] - Are we sure?
[aven] one hundred percent
[BEN] Whines-
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - No, lightning
[hyrule] wa-er wa-er
[BEN] - Light-ning
[aven] I don't think he is going to say lightning
[BEN] - Shut up
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - No, light-ning
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - Light-ning
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - Light-ning
[hyrule] wa-er wa-er wa-er
['BEN] Groans- I will find a way to remove that word from your vocabulary
[aven] ben let him say it
[BEN] - No way, water is evil and dangerous and why aren't you on my side? You were killed by it too!
[aven] only my ben half drowned
[BEN] - That's not the point!
[aven] the point is our kid doesn't have hydrophobia like us.
[BEN] - HOW CAN HE NOT HAVE IT!?
[aven] because where you born with hydrophobia I know I wasn't
[BEN] Grumbles a little-
[aven] he was just not born with any fear of water
[BEN] Turns his attention back to Hyrule- Say light-ning
[hyrule] wa-er
[aven] try some thing easyer like mommy or daddy
[BEN] - ANYTHING, but- grimaces- water...
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - No
[hyrule] wa-er
[BEN] - NO! Light-ning
[hyrule] -starts crying because ben yelled-
[BEN] - Shit! Aven!
[aven] give hyrule to me
[BEN] Hands Hyrule over before pulling out his ocarina and begins softly playing Zelda's lullabye-
[aven] -starts rocking hyrule in her arms-
[hyrule] -slowly calming down now-
[BEN] Keeps playing-
[hyrule] -falls asleep in aven's arms-
[BEN] Lets the music dwindle away before lowering the instrument-
[aven] -quietly- I think it's time to put hyrule in his crib
[BEN] - Just no more water
[aven] hyrule is already clean
[BEN] - No more water ever...
[aven] if hyrule likes water then sooner or later he is going to want to swim
[BEN] - NOOOOOO!
[aven] shush you will wake hyrule.
[BEN] Whimpers-
[aven] there will be water in hyrule's future but not drowning
[BEN] Growls- No water, ever!
[aven] -is already starting to bring hyrule upstairs- it's not just your decision
[BEN] - Watch me!
[aven] -is already halfway across the hallway upstairs-
[BEN] Grumbles-
[snake] -he is on the edge of the stairs- hyrule needs baths ben.
[BEN] - No he doesn't... Neither do I...
[snake] you both do -kazoos at him-
[BEN] - Bath's are over-rated!
[snake] even aven knows when to keep her self clean.
[BEN] Growls-
[snake] -kazoos at ben because he growled-
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Great White Witch Excerpt #3: Fire Manes
Coughing, sputtering back to life, I hastily sat up to expel the rest into a cupped hand. The fit seemed endless, bringing tears to my eyes and small dribbles of spit to my lips, until I felt something very warm ball out. Once I saw what it was, I grew nauseous and began to wobble back. An appalling amount of blood-filled phlegm dripped between my fingers. Something caught me by the head.
“Got ye right n’ the lung din’ she?”
It was the little old man. His voice was deep but had a sharp aspect to it, like a bear mixed with a mouse, and nested a twang that I can't quite explain. Like a dragon, his breath blasted out with sundry smokes and a pungent smell of wine. Having not noticed it before, I found that his massive whiskers also had little gold rings on each end, causing them to fray wildly beyond the metal. We were inside a pelt tent of sorts, though it looked terribly broken and stepped-through in some places, which I soon recognized was my fault.
“Hot-headed, that one, evryn’ knows yer s’pose to aim fer the heart.”
He slipped the hand back to his side once I summoned the strength to sit upright again. Then proceeded to pull out a familiar looking pipe that appeared pieced together with a sloppy amount of sap, bringing it to his bushy whisker-hidden lips, and puffed on it for a few moments before speaking again.
“Looks like it got the job done though. Gotcha deep. Why, when I found ye lyin’ an' bleedin’ in that mud, you were pretty dead. Luckeh for you, if I hadn’ come along, nobody else could've dug out this damn thing-” He reached back and held out two ends of split and bloodied arrow with a red fletching, the head looked hooked and devious, three fingers in width. “made it me self.”
I wasn’t quite sure what to say. Thankful for saving me but very confused as to why he, a complete stranger, would do so, the words were hard to find in the fog. I felt groggy and empty, and most of all, very cold. When I rubbed my eyes to inspect the tent further, I blinked at the pewter light of dusk and little stars that had begun to twinkle in the sky. Shakily feeling for the wound, I noticed a little lit lamp beside us, and that my robe was gone. Awareness steeply came back, I wasn’t wearing any actual clothes at all. Scrambling back into the corner after letting out an abrupt yowl, I tightly covered my chest in arms and locked my legs, glaring drawn-eared at him.
“Awww, I’m sorreh lil’ one, din’t see nothin’ if that makes ye feel better, not with all the fluff yeh cats got.” He looked out and smiled to himself, bringing the pipe to his hidden lips again, "especially yers". I felt greatly embarrassed and even more so disturbed. He smelled of pinecones and other wonderful scents of the forest, but noticeably hadn't bathed for a long while. Neither had I, at least for a moon or two, my fur felt grossly clumped and greasy in many places. As if he were reading my thoughts, "K'll be back from washin' up any moment now, if ye want to rinse all that blood away. Might wanna stay out of those robes fer a bit anyway, whole reason she didn' trust ye in the first place. She doesn' like magic, you see. But don't worreh, she ain't gon' set off on ye again. Made damn sure of that." He said this between white puffs, giving me plenty of time to think of how to escape. As far as I could tell, nothing was keeping me from leaving save the mushroom, a pair of boots, and my apprentice's robe.
"Wan' some tea?" He asked.
Shy from having been seen bare, though utterly awake, I didn't say a word. But, I was curious what "Tea" was, and nodded my head almost unnoticeably. He toked his pipe deeply, exhausting what was left, then pushed the tent flap aside and pulled it back suspiciously like a tavern's curtain. Outside, a fire crackled, and some metal pots among other utensils clanked together soon after he disappeared. Leaving me alone and naked with the lamp, and a roll of bandages.
Later, tea was being poured into little pewter cups, and the old man called. I entered the open meekly, still attempting to cover myself. He glanced from the pot to me, and smiled for only a second, then did a double take. Worry rushed my mind, thinking the happy man may get furious at what I'd done. His cheeks raised immensely as he stifled a laugh. "Y'know yer s'pose to cover wounds with those, not your bits. Ye look like a mummy." I had a thick layer of gauze wrapped around my hips, waist and chest, then crossed over my mark and to my bitten shoulder, like some odd dress with big gaps in its midsection. Though I knew it would not last long, I was quite proud of my shoddy tailorship, and a small smile curled into my cheeks upon hearing his remark. He held out a thin-metaled mug for me from afar. I took it comfortably, constantly trying to keep my new covers from becoming unwound with every step.
Tea just tastes like water with grass stirred in. No special color or smell. Nonetheless I drank it all to be polite, and partly because I was extremely thirsty, then handed the cup to him with a silent thank you. We were sat upon two fallen trees around the fire, stripped and smoothed by the river, with a barked third left empty set across from mine. With a gleeful expression, the elf in his smelly sleeve-rolled tunic stoked and poked the fire, sending a thousand little red sparks into the blackened sky. Khenarthi breathed life into it and through the tips of the dead long grass around us, rustling them gently into a mesmerizing sway. The sight and radiance calmed my thoughts of "This doesn't make sense, why hadn't they skinned me?". Then, I realized that nothing in the past few days had made much sense at all, and played along with his temperance as if this were any normal day. The fire dried and cracked the mud plastered to my face fur. Sitting tightly cross-legged and scratching the log with my claws, I thought about his offer of taking a bath.
"Do you have any soap?" Were my first words to him since the day before, though I didn't tear my eyes from the fire.
"O'course.
“But I don't know if yeh cats can use bars." He said as he sprinkled more leaves into his pipe. "There's a pale jus' over there-" A loose-skinned and boney finger pointed towards another tent just behind the third log, still trampled, and beside it an uneven bucket whose contents; lumpy self-made soap from the fat of a troll, practically spilled. I nodded again in thanks, lifting away from my claw-scarred seat, as he attempted to light his pipe with a branch amusingly too big. On my tip-toeing trip to the soap, I conjured a flame at my middle fingertip and snapped. The charred opening of his pipe flared, and his little leaves caught light as I smiled, continuing on my way without looking back. Pipes and other harmful pleasures such as sweet sugars were not a seldom sight in my caravan. I was often called to help set the things for Ma’dran in addition to Ri'saad's fellowship, and if anything, this was the least I could do for the elf's courteous conduct and otherwise humble hospitality. Of course, since I had never done anything so precise with flame, I was worried his red beard might catch fire. Out of the corner of my eye, he looked genuinely confused when I did it, but it made me feel nice and my tail uncontrollable. There was a spring in my steps as I went, bounding merrily through the tallgrass like wildlife, going from tiptoe to tiptop. Until I met her.
Utterly and shamelessly naked spare the axe amulet and holding her bandana in one hand, she stood so close I was afraid her nipple would poke me in the eye. I hadn't noticed her in the warmth of my success, the old man's surprised expression playing over and over in my head, otherwise I would have made sure to be armies away. She smelled nice, and dripped big puddles from every end when she stopped, obviously having just finished her wash. Unlike before, she seemed restrained, barely. There was a look about her tightened lips that said she was holding back a very strong urge to strangle me. I tried to stare at my feet as much as I could, holding my tongue and breath, cautious and considerate enough not to look at anything else. I wished she'd done the same. The bush woman ran her wet hip into my arm after what seemed like two moons of mortification, though there was plenty of space to go around, and left me staring into the distance at nothing. And I stayed in this spell of anxiety as I self-consciously unraveled and stepped into the once green water, now oranged by clouded streaks of Falmer fluid, where a few curly red whiskers floated. Frightened at first by its freezing coat, and chilled by a hideous remembrance, I bravely let it level at my knees and no further. Then melted the fire mane's soap to a slippery white sludge in my palm and scraped away at the crust of mud and my own blood.
I had no idea people could be so... pink.
How anyone could be comfortable so bare, baffled me. Does she not feel the fingertips play upon her spine and the shudder that ensues? Does she not tense upon the caress of an unfamiliar breeze? I thought as she guzzled innumerable bottles of the glazed drink labeled as hers across from me, letting it trickle, sometimes cascade unmannerly from her low lip, down her chin, and onto her sinewy thighs. A truly terrible sight. Relief filled me when the Nord finally tied on linen unders in the firelight, as the old man asked of her, which soon faded once she began to stare and continue drinking. I tried looking to the fire instead of the discomforting sight. But, even in its presence, the relaxation and imperturbability the flame sustained before ebbed, contested. This was a woman of fire both in appearance and passion, she must have been playing with it or overpowered it, because here there was a ward between us yet no sensation of safety. Evasively, I tried to wash myself with licks just to avoid eye-contact, although I'd just cleaned in the lake. No matter what I did, where she went, an untrusting eye was trained upon me with a furrowed and bushy brow. Though I had my sullied bandages wrapped carefully to cover everything, her icy sapphire eyes that gleamed like a dagger's point exposed me, and were digging deeper and deeper, searching furiously through the dancing flames for every secret, any trace of who I really was, and into the deepest darkest desires of my soul.
What more could she possibly want? Revenge already belonged to her, fulfilled the moment she pierced my side and brought upon me an agonizing yet fascinating pain. Did she want death? How much had she seen in our battle of mind boring? I prayed that Ra would overlook my current state, if she were to show, I would wake within a mountain of gore; a hideous way without reason for defending me that I will never understand. Which left only what was among us to a claim savior. The fire may not be able to fight one of its own Ilk and save from this savage, but there was one who could.
"Be back, gotta take a leak" He gruffly announced, lifting from the log and interrupting what to him must have been a very long and awkward silence. The one called "K" put on an unsavory grin that I did not like.
Leak?
"But it isn't raining-" I tried to say, holding perilously onto the hope that he'd stay, but he danced a funny way into the dark before a thing could be said, and was gone. Nothing. Devoid of defense, swamps of consternation drowned my mind, and I started to shake. At any moment fire, would be upon me, to stab, skin, and devour, as any hunter should. As curiosity dared, I turned with an utmost unwillingness and terror only to find her seat empty.
Hello again! I wanted to expand upon this further as a single part, but since I’d already released it to the thread I thought it best to stop here. I’d like to thank http://mrhaar.tumblr.com/ for permitting me to use his characters in these amateur stories, I’ve had a blast working with their personalities honestly, but sadly, I believe their inclusion will be wrapped in in excerpt #4.
I know I’m no Jo when it comes to writing, but I hope you at least enjoyed this part! Thanks for reading thus far.
Excerpt 2: http://mordessathemad.tumblr.com/post/156478930458/the-great-white-witch-excerpt-2-mushroom
Excerpt 1: http://mordessathemad.tumblr.com/post/152582902633/the-great-white-witch-excerpt
ALSO, if anyone has a suggestion on a different background to make reading easier, or more pleasant, I’m all ears. I still have no idea what I’m doing on this site.
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The Great Wall of China is the collective name of one of China’s longest and most well known fortification systems, it however isn’t one long wall but multiple borders between various nomadic states and parts of China. The oldest dating back to the 7th century BC. Some were connected later on by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang in 220-206 BC. It wasn’t all meant as a defense, it also housed border control, the regulation and encouragement of trading along the Silk Road and the regulation and control of immigration and emigration. The defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor along the 21.196 km it provided.
Some parts near Beijing and tourist centers have in these years still been preserved and extensively renovated, many other locations are worse for wear. At some point the stones of various walls were used to build buildings and roads or destroyed to make way for other construction or mining, others have been vandalized and inscribed stones had been stolen and sold on the markets. 22% of the wall has disappeared up until 2012 and in the coming 20 years after this more than 60 km will disappear in the Gansu province due to erosion by sandstorms.
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Various square look out towers that characterize the most famous images of the wall have disappeared. Many western sections of the wall are constructed from mud, rather than brick and stone because of this are more susceptible to erosion. In 2014 a portion of the wall near the border of Liaoning and Hebei province was repaired with concrete. The work has been much criticized.
Visiting When I was living in Shanghai, China it was obligatory that I traveled down to Beijing to do some sightseeing there, As I was in a hostel called Happy Dragon Hostel in the center of Beijing. There were a couple of hostel travel groups I could join for not too much money through them. As I was only there for a couple of days I asked them what would be the best one and where to go when I wanted to see the Chinese Great Wall. I was told that if I wanted a little bit more time to visit without having too many people around I should go to Mutianyu Great Wall. This part of the wall is one of the best preserved sections but also not too crazy busy (at least back in 2012). It’s located 65 km away from Beijing and you can reach it with public transportation (bus # 916 Express with a transfer in Huairou District).
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credit to https://www.milosh9k.com/
The Mutianyu Great Wall measures 5400 meter and is rebuild in the Ming Dynasty to strengthen it’s defense using granite slabs. Between 22 watch toweres there are two parts, one side you can walk and look out over the beauty that is Chinese nature and take some nice pictures but the older part features a rise up the mountain where you WILL have to use both hand and feet and climb up the steep wall (this was awesome). It also features a chairlift going up to the walls and a rodel slide attraction where, when you leave you can slide down in a cart from the wall to the tourist center.
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Opening times & Fees March 16 to November 15: Monday-Friday: 07:30-18:00; Weekends: 07:30-18:30 November 16 to March 15: 8:00-17:00
Adults: CNY 40 Seniors elder than 60: CNY 20 (valid ID or passport required) Children between 1.2 and 1.4 meters (3.9 and 4.6 feet): CNY 20 Children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) are admitted free.
Of course these prices are a bit higher if you’re going with a tour, I think I paid around CNY 500 (around €50,-) for the entire day, including pick up and drop off by bus at the hostel, lunch at a nice place, entry to the wall and the tour guide.
My Trip We left early in the morning as a group and had a lot of information and what not told about the Chinese Great Wall before we arrived about an hour or so later. There was a small little village with a lot of tourist stuff right below the entrance and we had to pass right through it to get to the gates. As they were already paid we all got up there and had a few hours to walk along the walls and climb the steep slopes and take many pictures before we all met back up at the rodel slide. It wasn’t a very long wait before we went down in small groups and let me tell you, this was so much fun. You had he chance to see a little bit more of the walls and of the nature as we were going down with loud happy yells.
My impression of the walls is that they’re absolutely immense, even after shrinking quite a bit. I really want to go back some time during the summer so the sky will be more clear and all the plants are green instead of the brown gray we faced now. Even though we could see the wall for miles it was quite a barren look. I love history so much and thinking of the battles, trades and people having passed such an immense place is breath taking. I don’t remember where we went to eat but I do remember how great my group was, all nationalities and all around my age back then. It was the best decision I ever made.
If you’re into culture, history and old stuff.. go here, either as a group or individual. I feel like this is a thing you have to see.
The Great Wall of China is the collective name of one of China's longest and most well known fortification systems. It's worth going to when you're in China. Mayo went to Mutianyu Great Wall, heres her short travel log. The Great Wall of China is the collective name of one of China's longest and most well known fortification systems, it however isn't one long wall but multiple borders between various nomadic states and parts of China.
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Arc of the Dragon Keeper
She felt water on her skin, the light feathery touch of mist against her face making her open her eyes. Iounn saw a colorful mist around her so thick she couldn’t see anything else. She looked around confused until she felt something in the mist around her. The presence closed around her, but she saw nothing in the mist.
“Don’t worry,” Hors said soothingly. “I’ve guided your spirit here.”
“Why?” Iounn asked.
“We need to see what is happening in Tir Aesclinn, but I cannot travel the lines alone,” Hors answered.
“Where are you?” Iounn asked.
“Anchored to your spirit, you can’t see me,” Hors answered. “I’m not strong enough anymore to walk the lines.”
“What about that spirit you spoke of?” Iounn asked.
“The Crippled One cannot patrol all the paths of the lines, nor does he know them all,” Hors answered. “Do not speak his name or you may draw his eye. Come, let us walk on.”
Iounn followed Hors’ prompting and walked on through the mist. She flinched at every shadow, fearing the soul eater that Hors had spoken of. He had made it seem like the creature was an evil from old tales, those used to scare children to stay inside. She still remembered her own mother telling her tales before the fire of bad children that wandered from home. Many of the creatures in those tales had been dark spirits that ate children.
A light ahead made Iounn quicken her pace hurrying to reach the light. It was a cedar tree, half of it ablaze and the other half bright green. Iounn couldn’t smell smoke, instead the fumes coming from the flames smelled like steam.
“It is the Burning Stone,” Hors said.
“It is a tree,” Iounn said puzzled.
“It is petrified wood,” Hors answered. “Water still runs through the tree, it is the water boiling within that mingles with the aether.”
“But how is it green? And on fire?”
“I don’t know,” Hors answered. “The Burning Stone has been the marker for Tir Aesclinn since it came into existence. I always thought of it as a visual representation of the four elements, earth, air, water, and fire.”
Iounn looked at the tree in awe and realized Hors was right, it was a blending of all four of those elements. She moved on past the Burning Stone and into the forest beyond. Iounn had never seen such a forest. Near Stóstund the forests were dark pines and evergreens, old trees that had stood as old as the mountains. Yet even those could not compare to the trees of this forest.
The giants stood taller than buildings, taller than mountains, their trunks thick and covered in moss or lichen. Smaller trees and bushes stood between them, making the forest thick and green. Hors guided her on through the forest and to the edge of the islands. The sight of the floating islands convinced Iounn then she was no longer in her world. The stars filled the skies and below them, the mist of aether floating between the islands.
Iounn crossed several bridges and on to the heart of Tir Aesclinn. She hid in a bush when she heard voices and looked out into a clearing. Below were gathered Hors’ kin in a great crowd of creatures. Iounn stared in astonishment at the gathering awed by its size.
“Clíodhna,” one of the Queens in the center of the gathering said to a strange creature dressed in raven feathers.
“Clíodhna is the Queen of the Banshee,” Hors whispered quickly to Iounn. “Titania she and her twin sister Mab are Queens of the Fairies.”
“Titania,” Clíodhna said as she bowed her head to the other queen. “We heard the song was sung and came. We cannot march.”
“Why not?” one of the many creatures asked startled.
“The Dullahan still slumber,” Clíodhna answered gesturing to the headless men on horses behind her. The crowd erupted into such a ruckus Iounn flinched away and woke. For a moment she lay in her bed confused and muddled, sitting up and looking around. Lofn and Nora lay next to her snuggled together around a pillow. It must have been early dawn, the shutters still shut tight and fire burned down to coals.
Shivering Iounn rose from bed and went to the fireplace, stepping around Colm carefully. She stirred the coals and tossed in a new log, the fire warming the room. She fetched a tapper from the mantel and lit it, returning to bed. Hors sat curled on one of the pillows watching her.
“So, who are the Dullahan?” Iounn asked pulling the covers back over Lofn and Nora.
“The shadow riders they were known to guide lost spirits of the dead,” Hors answered. “After the march the Dullahan fell into a mysterious sleep, they have not woken since.”
“They were the black riders?” Iounn asked. “They had no heads.”
“Yes, the Dullahan carry their heads usually,” Hors answered. “Their heads must still be slumbering.”
“But how…” Iounn shook her head, deciding she didn’t want to know how the Dullahan’s body could move around while the head was asleep.
“They’re sleepwalking,” Hors answered. “The Banshee must have guided them to the clearing, but they’re probably not aware of what is going on around them. The Phay cannot march if the Dullahan still slumber.”
“Why?” Iounn asked.
“The Dullahan cannot leave their heads behind and they can’t carry the head while it is asleep. The body will sleep if it touches the slumbering head. They can move if guided while they slumber but they can’t leave their heads behind.”
“What if others carry their heads for them?” Iounn asked.
“The rest of the Phay fear touching the Dullahans’ heads since they may fall asleep like them,” Hors answered. “I had expected when the song was sung the Dullahan would wake. The song had been sung before and they stirred. Maybe they will wake when the answer comes.”
Iounn was about to answer when Lofn stirred and woke, yawning as she rubbed her eyes.
“Morning,” Lofn said sleepily.
“Good morning,” Iounn said smiling to her daughter.
“Why are you still in bed?” Lofn asked.
“Just waiting for the room to warm,” Iounn answered. “I just woke up; did we wake you?”
Lofn shook her head sleepily and went to fetch the chamber pot. Nora woke as well and went to her father after a brief nod to Iounn. Iounn stood and went to the water basin to wash. After their morning routine Colm fetched breakfast from the kitchens. They ate bacon, eggs, beans, and sausages for their breakfast today, always spoiled with fine food.
“Colm watch after the girls today,” Iounn said once she finished eating.
“Meeting with the king again milady?” Colm asked.
She just nodded, it had been two weeks already and she had yet to even go in search of a boat or more news at the docks thanks to the king and princes. Hors leapt up onto her shoulders and hid himself in her hair and hood. Iounn left her rooms and went to the King’s council chamber. Meetings of law were hardly ever public, so the king held these meetings in the council chamber. Iounn arrived third it seemed, Sten and Soren already present. Soren seemed to have just arrived as he was setting out parchment for the meeting. Sten sat at the table staring at the peace treaty from the King’s Wars.
“If you keep staring at it you will go cross eyed majesty,” Iounn said as she sat at the table next to Sten.
“I know,” Sten said wearily as he pushed the paper away to rub his eyes. He looked at her then and reached out, trying to pet Hors hidden in her hair. Hors merely retreated further into her hair. “What is his name?” Sten asked still trying to coax the dragon out. He still thought Hors was just a cat and Iounn had a felling the king liked cats.
“Hors majesty,” Iounn answered.
“Hors… That sounds familiar,” Sten said as he frowned.
“It is the name of the King of the Dragons from legend,” Soren answered, startling Iounn with his knowledge.
“You named your cat after the King of Dragons?” Sten asked laughing.
“He thinks himself very kingly majesty,” Iounn said defensively. Sten laughed but Soren looked pensive, almost contemplative as he stared at Hors hidden in her hair. Before he could think long on it Roland and Roque arrived. Roland finally looked sober; the hopes of gaining some standing seemed like the best medicine he could ask for. Roque however looked cross for a reason. Their debate would begin again.
“So, have you found that loop hole that will let you put a dagger in my back?” Roque asked sourly.
“Not yet,” Sten growled.
“No one wants to put a dagger in your back, Lord Roque,” Iounn answered. She was sure the only reason this had not come to blows was because of her presence.
“Only in the front,” Roland said, and Roque glared at him. “Only Regarians are cowardly enough to stab a man in the back.”
“Is there any more?” Iounn said firmly and everyone turned to her. “Go on get it all out so we can just get on with this.”
“Then we would be here all-day milady,” Soren said sounding tired.
“I do not even know why we are here!” Roque argued as if Soren had not even spoken. “If Sten wishes to abdicate he can feel free to. But I am the Prince Regent; I will take the throne until my son is fit.”
“I will not step aside if you are the one to take the throne,” Sten growled and Iounn raised her hands and silence fell again.
“You forget where you are milord Roque,” Iounn said calmly. “This is Nyrgard not Regis. Our laws are different than yours.”
“In regard to inheritance you are right,” Soren said enthused and retrieved a tomb. Laying it on the table he opened it to a certain page. “In the cases of multiple heirs, such as sons or brothers, the king may choose his heir, no matter the succession.”
“The treaty says different,” Roque argued. “And I am sure my brother will have something to say about all of this.”
“You wish to rule Nyrgard Lord Roque?” Iounn asked and Roque looked at her a little surprised. “That will involve a lot of duties I’m sure you know. I do believe it would cut into your hunting time. Winter is a prime season for fur hunting is it not?”
Roque looked annoyed then, glaring at her and then Sten.
“I’m sure we agree that certain provisions could be made,” Roque said lowly.
“Provisions milord?” Iounn said and Roque looked back at her. “I fear your brother may have words with you about that. I doubt very much High King Drasir will like the idea of his brother passing his duties off on another just to go hunting. If he learned of this I do not think the High King would be very pleased.”
The blood drained from Roque’s face and Iounn knew her guess had been correct. Roque feared his half-brother and wasn’t willing to cross him.
“Lady Iounn I am sure there is no need to notify my brother of this matter,” Roque said. “I was sent here to enforce the treaty, we can settle this here. There is no need to bother my brother with such petty matters; he is very busy after all.”
“Very well,” Iounn said, it would be much easier to deal with things if the High King was not involved.
“I want to be named regent,” Roland said ruining all Iounn’s work.
“Never!” Roque shouted. “I am the Prince Regent!”
“Lord Roque I ask you not to raise your voice,” Iounn said with the conviction of a mother in her voice. Roque flushed with shame and anger glaring at Roland. “You said we could settle this here, I do not see why Roland cannot be named regent.”
“I am the Regent here,” Roque said waspishly. “It is the best title I can ever hope for.”
“It is only a title,” Roland argued.
“You only say that because you had always been granted a grand title,” Roque said bitterly. “After all, if it only a title why do you want it so badly?”
Roland looked away; obviously he had no answer to this sally.
“A title is a great thing,” Iounn said calmly. “It gives a man standing and power in the land. People respect him, and he is expected to guide and rule the people well. There are responsibilities and consequences of holding such power. Lord Roque, if you are not willing to take on the duties of Prince Regent why should you have it?”
“Does he want the duties?” Roque asked pointing at Roland. “He’s a miserable drunk and a lout. What right does he have to the title?”
“I have the right to more than that, yet you and your brother stole it from me!” Roland shouted.
“Lord Roland I ask you as well do not raise your voice,” Iounn said and Roland looked at her surprised. “You wish to be Prince Regent so act the part. Now Lord Roque asked you, do you want the duties of Prince Regent or like him do you only want the title?”
Roland looked at her wide eyed as if it were the first time anyone had ever asked him what he wanted. His eyes drifted away as he contemplated what she asked of him. Maybe for the first time in his life he was given a choice if he wanted the weight of the title that had been his since birth. Iounn couldn’t sympathize, she had been a blacksmith’s daughter, she was not of noble stock.
When he looked back up at her Iounn noted a new light in his eyes. He was determined and composed just as a king should be.
“Yes, Lady Iounn I want the duties of Prince Regent,” Roland said determined.
“There you have it Lord Roque,” Iounn said proudly.
“I will not stand for this,” Roque said angrily.
“Lord Roque, what do you want?” Iounn asked. “You want to hunt in peace, have as many women as you want, and live with little cares or duties.”
“I want respect,” Roque growled. “If I give up my title none of you will respect me anymore.”
“We don’t respect you now,” Roland said, and Roque glared at him.
“Never the less if I give up my power will anyone really respect me anymore?” Roque asked. “All my attendants will abandon me.”
Iounn wanted to point out that the respect he gained from such people wasn’t real if the moment he lost power they abandoned him. Roque didn’t care about real respect he only cared about adoration. He was right too; his followers would jump ship the moment he lost power.
“What if you were granted another title instead?” Iounn asked Roque.
“Prince Regent is the greatest title I’ve ever had, if I give it up for a lesser title it would bring me only shame,” Roque answered.
“Then what of you Lord Roland?” Iounn asked. “Will no other title suffice?”
“Not if I am to do the duties,” Roland answered. “I need the weight of the title behind me. That means as Regent not just one of the princes, or my brothers would have the same power as me.”
“We wouldn’t take it from you,” Soren argued.
“No but only one of us must have power over the rest otherwise it will cause confusion in court when we come to arguments over issues,” Roland answered. “My age over all of you means nothing since we are brothers, I know none of you will listen even if I had the title of king. But the rest of the lords will, and the knowledge of my title would keep you in line. You would fear demeaning me by showing disrespect at least.”
“He is right,” Sten said. “Roland needs the title.”
And so, they were faced with the problem two men wanting the same title they both could not have. Iounn felt Hors shift in her hair to lean up and whisper in her ear.
“Interim,” Hors whispered and Iounn smiled.
“Milords I think I have a solution,” Iounn said smiling. “Roque, how would you like to leave court?”
“Leave?” Roque asked puzzled and suspicious.
“There is very good hunting to the south in the Holt Forest,” Iounn answered. “If you leave soon you can beat the snows through most of the passes. While you are gone you can name Roland the Prince Regent Interim. He would have all the power of the title but only while you are away.”
“I own a hunting lodge in the Holt Forest,” Sten added. “A palace much nicer than the drafty castle here.”
Roque sat drumming his fingers on the table seeming to think it over. A tense silence stretched as he considered it.
“If I leave, I risk losing my title,” Roque said at last. “What is to prevent you from simply locking the door behind me?”
“This,” Sten said tapping the treaty. “I would not want you to return with an army from your brother after all. I assure you that you will find the hunting lodge to be to your liking, as well as the village nearby.”
“Plenty of frisky milkmaids as I recall,” Roland said grinning.
“Very well,” Roque said trying to seem uninterested in the prospect of women. “I will take my men with me.”
“What of Modi?” Iounn asked and Roque looked surprised. He obviously hadn’t even thought of his son.
“May he stay here?” Roque asked looking to Sten.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sten said. “We must have a celebration to send you off with.”
“Tempest’s Day is only a few days away,” Iounn said eagerly. “We must hold it then. What better day, than a god’s day to celebrate.”
“Very well,” Roque said nodding. “I trust you will see to the details milady?”
“With help,” Iounn said wearily. She heard Hors huff in exasperation; he wanted to go to the docks to search for news. Yet his wish was not granted for Iounn’s time was soon consumed again by preparations for the celebration. Tempest was the favorite god of Nyrgard, so his day was the most celebrated of the god’s days. Labor was forbidden on his day and a feast was held in Hòlmsted.
The day of the celebration arrived and Iounn was busy from the break of dawn. The servants all now deferred to her, going to her before Ekkehard. There was the feast to prepare and great casks of mead, beer, and ale to roll out of cellars and set up in the great hall. Decorations of evergreen garland and streamers had to be hung and everything had to be cleaned. By midday everything was ready, and the mood was high.
Other lords from over Nyrgard arrived; the five great Dukes and many Counts and Barons arrived dressed in rich furs and jewels. Iounn had hosted Tempest’s Day before in Stóstund but never on such a scale. She had also never hosted for nobles before, Stóstund was too isolated to receive other visitors. Often it was she who had been going to other lord’s estates for celebrations.
Iounn was surprised to see a familiar face walk into the great hall and hurried to meet him.
“Duke Genson!” Iounn said pleased and the lord smiled at her. The Lord Genson was a balding man, tall and muscular with a thick gray beard. Fine lines around his eyes and mouth showed he smiled a lot.
“Baroness Iounn, what are you doing here?” Genson asked as he embraced her briefly. “I heard of Goran’s death, I am sorry for your loss.”
“I thank you milord,” Iounn said. “After my husband’s death I wanted to make room for my son’s new wife. I had never seen the Court of Legends and so I came here.”
“You chose a fine time to,” Genson said smiling. “I heard about your son’s match though. I can’t believe you agreed to Count Ferris’ daughter. He’s an oaf.”
“Well her daughter proved to have a good head on her shoulders,” Iounn answered. “She takes after her mother thank Tempest.��
“That’s good to hear,” Genson said as he laughed. “Oh but speak of the devil.”
Iounn turned to see Count Ferris walk into the hall. He was more heavy set than Genson, not fat but wide. He was a plain faced man and Iounn now saw where Ragna got her looks. Ferris noticed them and made his way over, grinning like a toad. A woman much younger than him was tagging along after him, dressed in a gaudy red gown; his mistress Iounn guessed.
“Baroness Iounn,” Ferris said brightly as he took Iounn’s hand and bent over it. “I am glad to see you here milady, is my daughter with you?”
“No milord I left her in the care of my son,” Iounn answered. “They are still getting to know each other, and I thought it best to leave them be. Ragna must get used to her new home without her mother-in-law hovering over her.”
“More like it was too noisy with that harpy that is my wife,” Ferris said rolling his eyes. “I do not blame you for seeking more pleasant surroundings.”
“The Court of Legends is lovely,” Iounn said avoiding a disparaging remark about his poor opinion of his wife. Polite conversation continued and Iounn went around the hall talking to the lords and princes. The feast commenced, and the drinking began songs and tales joining the overall din of the hall.
Iounn joined Sten and the princes at the main table as the feast went on. Iounn saw Roque at one-point drinking heavily among many women, looking to be drowning his sorrows. Iounn realized then that she hadn’t seen Lofn for some time a looked around for her daughter. She saw Colm with Nora, listening to one of the bards tell a tale but Lofn wasn’t with them. She stood and went in search of her, worried that she had gotten in trouble.
“Over there,” Hors said and Iounn turned her head to see Lofn sitting with Modi with the dogs. The excitement meant many scraps for the dogs and many now lay by the fire asleep. Lofn and Modi sat with the hounds petting them.
“Lofn, what are you doing?” Iounn asked a little displeased. “You should not be on the floor with the hounds, you either milord.”
“We were just relaxing,” Modi said frowning up at Iounn.
“No excuses, you are a prince of the house Tyr. You should not be on the floor with the hounds. Come on both of you.”
They both stood and Iounn quickly straitened their clothes. Leading them back to the head table she sat back at the king’s side. Sten looked over as she sat and frowned.
“What is he doing here?” Sten asked crossly and Iounn stopped shocked.
“I’m sorry majesty?” Iounn said confused.
“You heard me, what is that brat doing here?” Sten asked.
“He’s drunk,” Hors warned her and Iounn looked at the king surprised. He was drunk, his cheeks red and eyes unfocused. She hadn’t noticed how much he had drunken, everyone was drinking a lot.
“Majesty I think you’ve had a bit too much mead…”
“I asked you a question, why did you bring that murderer here?” Sten asked lowly. Modi shrank back, nearly hiding under the table.
“He is your grandson majesty,” Iounn said hardly.
“He stole my Frida, my only daughter…” Sten bent over his cup looking broken. Iounn heard conversations petering off and eyes begin to drift to the king.
“Majesty, let’s get you to bed,” Iounn said kindly putting her arm over Sten’s shoulders. He stood up suddenly, knocking Iounn back and slamming his tankard on the table with so much strength he broke it in two. Silence fell like a smothering blanket everyone now looking up at the table.
“Enough of your talk woman!” Sten roared. “I want you to take that monster out of here! He belongs in the trash heap with the dogs!”
Modi was now completely under the table, Lofn crouching next to him. Ekkehard and Soren were hurrying over looking pale, but the rest of the princes were drunk as well. Iounn stood between the king and his grandson, feeling her heart break.
“You are my king,” Iounn said feeling tears rise. “I cannot believe you are a man that would hate his own kin. Frida gave her life to her son, your grandson. You would not dishonor her by turning away her son.”
Sten stood swaying his eyes wild and guilt ridden. He was shaking, his hands trembling and shoulders slumped.
“He took her from me, my little Frida.”
Soren arrived and took his father’s arm guiding him away. Ekkehard arrived as well smiling at Iounn apologetically.
“It seemed my father got into his cups a bit too much,” Ekkehard said with forced humor to the room. “The old battle ax gets like that when he drinks too much. I imagine Tempest is much the same!”
The crowd roared in agreement and the feast continued though with a strained air. Lofn coxed Modi out from under the table and they sat. Iounn blinked until the tears disappeared from her eyes feeling tired.
“He took it the hardest,” Roland said nearby and Iounn looked to him. He was staring at his cup his head bowed. “Frida had always been weak and sickly, Father doted on her. She had many miscarriages before Modi, with each it was like a little bit of her died each time. We had to watch her waste away and there was nothing we could do.”
“It’s not my fault!” Modi said angrily. “It isn’t fair!”
“None of this is fair,” Raban said morosely. He pushed a tankard over to Modi and raised his cup. “Welcome to the club kid.”
Modi took the tankard and took a long pull, but coughed up most of the mead. Ekkehard laughed and patted him on the back. Modi blushed deeply but he was looking up at his uncles with a bit more hope now.
“Mother, will he be alright?” Lofn asked softly and Iounn looked to her daughter a little surprised. She wondered then if Lofn was growing fond of Modi.
“I’m not sure Lofn, but I hope so,” Iounn said.
The rest of the night was uneventful of any drama at least. Iounn saw the children to bed and oversaw the rest of the celebration to avoid any more disasters. The night was long with drinking and feasting, but eventually everyone wore themselves down and went to their beds. Iounn finally retired, exhausted from the long night.
With the God’s day over and Roque finally gone from court Iounn was free to go down to the docks and look for a ship. The port of the city was sheltered under the mountain in a great cave. The only display of mage lights lit the cave; too many lanterns would be dangerous with all the ships in the cave. The smell of tar, salt, urine, and much else filled the cavern, joining the sounds of shouts, swears, and catcalls of the whores. The groaning of timber and the murmur of waves was a constant drone that the ears forgot was even there.
Iounn walked through the crowds of sailors unloading supplies looking around at the overall organized chaos with apprehension. Colm stood next to her looking around with interest and distaste. She was glad he was the only one to accompany her; he didn’t stick out as much as one of the princes. She wished Hors could come, but the docks were too busy to risk accidentally revealing him.
As it turned out news was easy, there were ships and sailors from Dridia and Lir here with plenty of news from the east. The taverns of the docks were all the same, unwashed sailors and equally dirty whores lounging around rickety tables and drinking piss poor ale. Iounn and Colm visited most listening to news of the coasts.
Most of the talk was about storms, the seas getting worse and worse. Iounn was surprised to find the whores more talkative than the sailors, once a coin changed hands. Men talked more to women after bedding them and so the whores seemed to know more than the sailors. Unfortunately, most of what they knew was innocuous, a marriage in a small village, a man hung for theft, or a husband cheating on his wife. Little about the gossip helped Iounn at all.
Finding a ship was harder. Most of the captains coming in were making their winter birth and so weren’t seeking to go anywhere. The best offer Iounn got was a ship going up through the bay to the other shore. The weather was so poor that no one was willing to risk it. Tales were being told of other ships sinking, many weren’t arriving at all which was a bad sign.
Days became weeks and soon the month of Nimal giving way to Noral. Court went on as usual, Sten having given most of his duties now to Roland who like his father seemed to like Iounn’s company. The princes all seemed to go to her for advice and council, cutting into the time she could go down to the docks. Iounn gave what advice she could, always a little surprised in their confidence in her. After Tempest’s Day Euria’s Day often went by unmarked in Nyrgard, the gentle goddess of rain nothing compared to the wrath of Tempest if he were ignored.
Iounn kept returning to the docks when she could, hearing news and looking for ships. Nothing new as news reached her and as time went on the captains became more adamant about leaving port. Storms were getting worse and more and more stories of ship wrecks reached Hòlmsted. Iounn saw one ship make port with a broken mast, barely limping into port. Iounn was losing hope of ever finding something until one of the whores at the docks gave her a recommendation.
“Why not try the Rhodin?” Lola said. Iounn had been going to her for news a lot recently, though she had little to give. “They’ve set up winter camps already outside the city I hear. They’ll know things more than sailors who spend most of their time at sea.”
“Thank you,” Iounn said intrigued. She left the docks with Colm, heading out through one of the tunnels and into the lower city. On foot Iounn found the shanty town even worse than before, the streets muddy with piles of refuse in alleys and corners. The town seemed bigger than before as well, mountaineers, fur trappers, and the nomadic Rhodin all coming in from the mountains to huddle at the bottom of the mountain. Iounn found the Rhodin camp easily at the edge of the town, shocked by the size and number of the wagons. It was almost a village of its own.
No one stopped her from entering, but the moment she did Iounn felt hostile eyes on her. She spoke to the Rhodin she passed, but all only shook their heads or answered with a few grunts. None were willing to even speak to her. She was about to give up when she spotted an indigo wagon painted with stars. It reminded her strongly of the sky of Tir Aesclinn, so she went up and knocked on the door.
“Come,” a muffled woman’s voice answered. Iounn opened the door, leaving Colm as guard outside. Inside it was dim, lit by only a few shuttered lamps. Silk and gossamer drapes hung all over the wagon, giving an air of mystery to the place. It smelled of honey and myrtle, with a hint of cinnamon and was wonderfully warm inside. The curtains shifted, and a woman stepped out.
She was Rhodin, her skin as dark as leather and hair a mane of black waves. She was shapely, moving with a lithe grace like a cat. She wore fine silk robes over a dress, looking a bit like something an Aldan would wear. Iounn realized then that the woman’s ears were pointed, telling of Aldan blood in her. She looked at Iounn with slit indigo eyes with as much mystery as Hors’ eyes.
“Ah, here to get your fortune read,” the woman said with a smile and bow. “No doubt you heard of my prowess my lady, my name is Kree.”
“Baroness Iounn of Stóstund,” she answered automatically. Something about the woman startled her, she felt an immediate fascination with her which she had not expected. “I am actually looking for news…”
“Sit and I will read you palm,” Kree said. “Then I will tell you what I foresee.”
Iounn sat, shoving doubt away. Many said the Rhodin were charlatans and thieves, but Iounn kept a dragon so who was she to say they could not predict the future? She sat at the small table and gave Kree her left hand. She felt her skin prickle with excitement as Kree took her hand and began tracing the lines on her palm. It was more than excitement though; Iounn felt warmth spread through her, almost as if in arousal.
“You are a noble soul though one not born to it,” Kree said, her fingers were long and her nails painted. “You have lost your husband, but found something that you had not expected…”
She trailed off frowning before she looked up at Iounn and their eyes locked. Iounn felt the power of her gaze, Kree looking through her. Yet Iounn met her eyes looking into her in turn, but only seeing Kree’s entire attention bent on Iounn. It was intimate and it startled Iounn who had never felt so exposed even in bed with Goran. She pulled her hand free and stood, hurrying from the wagon without a word.
“Ye alright?” Colm asked as he hurried after her. “Ye be flushed.”
“I’m fine,” Iounn said though she could not answer him. She was confused and refused to admit she had felt anything when Kree had looked into her. She did not mention the encounter to Hors and did not return to the Rhodin camp. She returned to seeking news at the docks, but she had given up on finding a ship so late in the season.
One day Iounn noticed a small merchant vessel had arrived. The vessel was unremarkable as was the crew, but Iounn hadn’t seen it before so it was new which meant fresh news. She hurried over to the vessel, Colm hot on her heels. Iounn arrived at the vessel just in time to see another person disembark from the ship. Iounn was surprised to see a mage disembark the merchant vessel.
Iounn had never seen a mage before, but she had heard enough about them to know one when she saw one. The woman wore ragged robes bleached by the sea water, and Iounn guessed her to be a ship wreck victim. The merchant vessel certainly wasn’t one likely to be carrying a mage, small and only manned by four men it would never have been able to make the trip from Dridia.
As she stepped out onto the wharf Iounn saw her face. The woman was a pretty young woman, but her face was pinched with sorrow and pale. She wore spectacles which made her red brown eyes seem bigger, her pale blonde hair straight and cut to her shoulders. As Iounn walked up she heard the woman thanking the captain of the ship.
“…saved me,” she was saying. Her accent was unlike anything Iounn had heard. Her vowels were long, and consonants clipped. “There is no way I can repay you.”
“Like I said milady it is good luck to save a ship wreck victim,” the captain said with a kind smile.
“I’m no noble sir,” the mage woman said shaking her head. “Just a simple mage.”
“Nothing simple about that,” the captain said. “Are you sure there is nothing I can do for you? Surely some coin at least…”
“No, I will do what I can on my own,” the mage answered. “I thank you for the offer.”
“Perhaps I could be of assistance,” Iounn said stepping forward. Both turned to her surprised to have someone listening in. “My name is Iounn, Baroness of Stóstund.”
“Milady,” the mage said seeming flustered as she bowed. “My name is Zaire Weaver.”
“Welcome Miss Weaver to Hòlmsted,” Iounn said. “I couldn’t help but overhear you are the victim of a ship wreck. I would like to hear your tale. In return I will host you in the king’s court for as long as you need.”
Zaire looked shocked at such an offer, her cheeks reddening with a blush.
“Milady I couldn’t possibly…”
“I insist,” Iounn said. “We must seek to aid those whose luck has struck them down.”
The woman looked at her with such pain then that Iounn felt her heart nearly break for her. What had she suffered to look so forlorn?
“Then I will graciously accept your hospitality,” Zaire said with a bow.
“Come then,” Iounn said and led the way back from the docks. Zaire followed in step with her, seeming stunned by this turn of events.
“It seems you found another castaway milady,” Colm said as he walked behind them.
“So, it seems,” Iounn said smiling at Zaire reassuringly. Zaire didn’t smile back, but she did nod which Iounn took as a good sign. They walked back through the docks and crowds, Zaire looking around with wide eyes. The way back to the city above was a lift, a great contraption engineered by mages some fifty years ago. Before the lift stairs were the only way up to the keep.
Iounn showed her ring to the keeper of the lift and he waved her through. The lift was large enough to let about twenty people on board. Iounn, Zaire, and Colm weren’t the only passengers and soon they were joined by other servants or pages with packages to deliver. Once the lift was full it ascended, Iounn’s stomach lurching. She looked to Zaire who was staring at the lift’s mechanisms, which could be operated by any layman. She wondered what the mage could make of the contraption.
The lift stopped, and they were let out into the tunnels under the main city. There were a lot of tunnels burrowed into the heart of the mountain, used as roadways between houses and establishments. There were many staircases out of the underground and they quickly left the tunnels, there tended to be vagrants and thieves hiding in the tunnels under Hòlmsted.
Zaire stared openly at the city as they walked through the streets, seeming amazed at everything they passed. Iounn wondered at her amazement, she was a mage after all and Iounn would have thought she would have seen much more impressive things in Dridia. Maybe she wasn’t from a city. Iounn knew little of Dridians and their culture.
They arrived at the keep and the guards there let Iounn pass with little regard for her new companion. They went on through the keep, Iounn leading them through smaller halls to avoid the king’s hall. Zaire had been through enough for the day and Iounn was sure it would be too much for her to deal with the Court of Legends.
Back at her rooms Iounn found Lofn and Nora were gone, probably to play in the gardens with Modi. Hors however lay on the bed asleep in a beam of sunshine curled up like a cat. He woke and scurried away under the bed in a flash.
“What was that?” Zaire asked as she came in after Iounn.
“I have a cat,” Iounn answered. “He’s a bit shy. Colm go and see to getting a bath drawn for Zaire and finding some new clothes. See that luncheon is served in my room.”
“Yes milady,” Colm answered with a bow before he left. Iounn motioned Zaire to the table to sit and turned to setting a fire in the grate. Though the autumn sun was warm the castle was cold, the stone walls eating heat like the night ate the sun. Once the fire was crackling Iounn sat across the table from Zaire looking at the mage in the eyes.
“So, tell me about the ship wreck,” Iounn said. Zaire looked away and though Iounn was sure the subject was hard for her she also sensed what was to come was not going to be the full truth.
“I set out from Myr with my lover,” Zaire said. “He was a freed slave and the rumors were getting rather fierce, so we left. I have no family left and he was a bastard, so we were leaving nothing behind us. I don’t remember the name of the ship we traveled on, we sailed for weeks through several storms until one finally got the better of our ship. My lover went down with the ship.”
The last sentence was spoken so quietly Iounn barely heard her. Iounn reached out and took her hand that lay on the table.
“I’m sorry, I just lost my husband not too long ago,” Iounn said though she knew it was not the same. Her husband had been old and ill, it was almost a relief to know his pain had ended. He hadn’t been torn from her. “What was his name?”
“Xavier,” Zaire answered, and she broke down crying. Iounn stood and went to hold her as she wept out her sorrow. Colm knocked softly, obviously hearing Zaire’s weeping.
“The bath is ready milady as are some clothes,” Colm said apprehensively.
“You should go wash,” Iounn said kindly and Zaire looked up at her. “You’ll feel better once you’re clean and in some warm clothes.”
Zaire nodded dumbly and went to follow Colm out. Once she was gone Hors crawled out from under the bed, shaking the dust from his fur. He jumped up onto the bed and began grooming himself just like a cat.
“What do you think of her?” Iounn asked.
“I think you picked up another castaway,” Hors answered. “Did you use to bring home wild animals as pets?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Iounn answered thinking back to a badger she had brought home and tried to raise before her mother had made her return it to the woods. “Does it matter?”
“No, I just think we should be careful with her,” Hors answered stopping his grooming to look her in the eye. “She was lying.”
“Yes, but for what reason?” Iounn asked. “She could be lying for good reasons.”
“Or for bad ones,” Hors answered. “Until we know her full story I don’t want to trust her with the truth of my existence and of the Phay planning to march. Find out news from her and keep her around until we learn the truth.”
“How will we learn the truth?” Iounn asked.
“Be yourself,” Hors answered with his strange dragon grin. “Be kind to her and she will eventually trust you.”
“Very well,” Iounn said as she nodded but she wasn’t so sure it would be that simple. “Hors, I think it is too late in the season to sail from here. The storms are getting worse and the sailors are too reluctant to leave a safe port now.”
“I know,” Hors said frustrated. “We waited too long. The storms are because of the song but I still cannot tell when my kin will march.”
“We will keep looking for news,” Iounn said. “But I think we will have to winter here, the passes are nearly closed already.”
“I know,” was all Hors would say before he returned to his grooming.
Zaire returned to the room and this time Hors hurried to hide in Iounn’s hair. Zaire was dressed in a Nyrgardic dress with fur boots. The clothes were too long as she didn’t have a Nygarder’s height, but she filled out the dress in girth. Colm came in behind her carrying a tray of food. They sat as Colm served them a rich beef stew and hardy bread. Zaire ate delicately and only finished half her food before she stopped. Iounn decided not to lecture her, after all Zaire was an adult as well.
“So, tell me is there any news from Myr?” Iounn asked when they had finished.
“What kind of news?” Zaire asked.
“Anything unusual,” Iounn answered. “I’ve heard of the storms of course, I’m more interested in the likes of that rather than things like the wedding of the royals.”
Zaire looked almost scared, her eyes flickering away. She knew something but was reluctant to say anything. One thing was obvious; this woman was not a very good liar.
“Well, there is one thing,” she said at last looking at Iounn hesitantly.
“Anything is fine,” Iounn said, trying to project trust.
“I am an astronomer,” Zaire said. “The High Magic is dependent on the movement of the stars, so mages often make a study of the stars. I’ve noticed of late the stars have been moving strangely.”
“How so?” Iounn asked, feeling Hors dig his claws into her shoulder to show his interest.
“Well there have been two occurrences,” Zaire said her tone much like a teacher’s. “One is the Fallen Stars, which isn’t as it seems. Some minor or dim stars seem to have disappeared from the sky but the entire Sacred River has shifted slightly.
“Another occurrence is the Rise of the Hunter. More of the constellation known as the Golden Bow has been revealed for the first time in millennia. Xavier…” She broke off for a moment her eyes flickering with pain. “Xavier noticed that the bow could be drawn. Dione, one of the wandering stars, will fit into the curve of the bow as the arrow.”
“When will this happen?” Iounn asked feeling Hors interest in this by his tail lashing against her back.
“I don’t know,” Zaire answered. “I could calculate it but without my instruments and charts…”
“I will get you what you need,” Iounn said. “And I am sure the king has star charts in his library. We are a sea faring race after all and the stars guide us at sea.”
“Lady Iounn I could never ask you for such a thing,” Zaire said her eyes wide behind her spectacles.
“I ask it of you,” Iounn said reassuringly. “I don’t mind being your patron.”
“Thank you, milady,” Zaire said amazed. “Why do you wish to know about the stars?”
“My reasons are my own,” Iounn said coolly and Zaire flinched a little. “Get some rest,” Iounn said her tone softening. “We will see to this matter tomorrow.”
“Yes milady,” Zaire said bowing her head. Iounn stood and left the room to seek out her daughter. She found her out in the garden again, running about with Modi and Nora. The three seemed to be playing tag, running and laughing. Modi, his cheeks flushed, ran from Nora with a big smile on his face; it seemed he got over his dislike for the Daunish. Iounn stood watching the children play feeling lighter for it.
“So, do you think the stars will tell us what we need to know?” Iounn asked quietly.
“Maybe, it depends on what they reveal,” Hors answered. “I certainly hope so.”
“You really have no idea how long it will be?” Iounn asked.
“Time moves very strangely between worlds,” Hors answered. “It is not so soon to be a few days from now, nor is it so long away that it will be years or decades. It is somewhere between.”
Which could mean it could be months away or maybe even a year.
“And when you learn when?” Iounn asked.
“Well we still need to find the song and Eileen,” Hors answered. “We should start looking for one or both.”
“How?” Iounn asked. “Will there be news of either?”
“Maybe, but I was thinking of checking the library you mentioned,” Hors answered. “The old tales may have some recourse we can look into.”
Iounn nodded and continued to watch her daughter play with the prince and Nora. Watching them she wondered what world they would grow up into. Time would tell all it seemed.
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A local’s guide to the Gold Coast – the best spots to make you feel alive
Apply to enter the Gold Coast’s first ever content awards for your chance to win fame and prizes – deadline to enter is September 30, 2018
You’d be forgiven for thinking the Gold Coast is one endless stretch of golden paradise.
You might know of Surfers Paradise or the famous thrill-seeking theme parks, heard about the amazing beaches and great holiday spots. But trust me, take it from a local, there is so much more to our endless beaches, blue-water estuaries, green headlands and forest hinterlands than what you think you know.
As a travel photographer I spend most of my time abroad, working for different tourism bodies around the world. And even though I am an avid mountain lover, I’m a true water-baby at heart – I couldn’t live my life without the ocean on the Gold Coast.
I feel so lucky that in between my travels, I get to return to this idyllic place I get to call home to reset and restore.
You see, on the Gold Coast the skies are blue year round and the ocean sparkles a mesmerizing shade of blue. An abundance of nature and wildlife can be found with the hinterland only a stone through away from our beaches and filled with the most incredible ancient forests and dramatic waterfalls to explore. Warm days and good waves are what the Gold Coast is famous for creating that feeling of a seemingly “endless summer.”
If you’re visiting or just passing through, here are some of my favorite places that’ll make your heart sing too. Enjoy!
BEACHES
Rainbow bay and Greenmount & Snapper Rocks Beach
The Southernmost beaches of Queensland are some of my personal faves.
Rainbow Bay is a protected cove nestled between two rocky outcrops. A famous surf break meets a relaxed, very casual local vibe and popular walking track with world-class views along the beachfront from Kirra to Snapper Rocks. When the tide is right there are natural pools to swim, dive and float in – relaxing while you watch the surfers and dolphins pass by.
These are the perfect locations to watch the sun set and look back on the endless stretch of golden beaches.
Burleigh Hill
This is where the magic happens.
Parking at the base of Burleigh Hill car park, you will find people at any time of day mesmerized but the rolling waves. An abundance of surfers, fitness enthusiasts and picnic goers it is a perfect place to escape the “city”, where it meets the sea.
With views from North Stradbroke Island to South of Coolangatta from the headland, this national park is a beautiful way to immerse yourself in nature.
My favorite way to start the day is to walk through the headland along side the lizards and bush turkeys, stopping at Tumgun Lookout for a world-class view of the Gold Coast’s beaches.
Tallebudgera Creek
A perfect setting for a family day of fun and it’s a popular spot in Queensland for good reason.
On the other side of Burleigh Hill, enter through the national park and meander for 5-10 minutes until you come out through the bush and find yourself on a small but incredible beach.
There are no waves here, which makes it perfect a day of relaxing, floating in the ocean parade or learning to SUP and with the dolphins – if you’re lucky.
Currumbin Beach
As the sun goes down the view of Surfers Paradise seemingly floats in the distance on the golden water.
A famous place to learn how to surf with the constant right break, or to pull up and watch the last light linger in the sky as it sets over the distant hinterland.
This is a popular place for photographers like me or just for those who walking around the base of Currumbin rock as it rises from the sea.
The Spit
Who doesn’t love a good old dog beach, with a jetty you can walk along at night and the one of the best spots to learn how to dive on the Gold Coast.
Popular with scuba divers, free divers, fisherman and surfers paddling out to stradie, it’s not hard to see why the Spit is bustling with locals, including the occasional turtle.
From here you can access Wavebreak, South Stradbroke Island, or hire a houseboat and cruise up the river.
HINTERLAND
Hard to choose just one here, a place I escape too often and thoroughly enjoy taking visitors too as I watch their face light up from the beauty of the Gold Coast’ Hinterland.
Just a 45 minute drive from the beach ,you can be completely immersed in nature, and it feels like you’re in a different country.
Referring to the lush land behind the mountains on the Gold Coast, the Hinterland is an extraordinary place and still a relatively unexplored part of Australia, especially by international travelers.
Springbrook National Park
A highlight and easily accessed place to visit is The Natural Bridge, with glowworms at night and a stunning flowing waterfall – it is one of my most loved places to breathe and enjoy the sounds and comfort nature.
Local tip: When you head down from the car park instead of turning left at the impressive Stranger Fig trees, go right and head over the bridge. You will view the waterfall from the top and descend into the cave to appreciate the beauty below once inside the natural bridge.
As you leave continue along the loop track and on the way up to the right there is a natural “swing.” – for your curious side, give it a go – I can guarantee it will bring a smile to your face.
*Please when entering the cave keep your noise levels down, don’t take flash photos and definitely do not cross over the fence – it is home to glow worms and their environment is fragile. Definitely worth visiting at night it’s a magical world when your eyes adjust.
Nearby there are lookouts offering views of the rolling mountains that carry on in the distance as far as you can see. The hues or purple and blue on dusk here are magnificent for me this is a place I go to when I want to be alone, reminded how small I am.
Here, I feel humbled.
Lamington National Park
Paradise for rainforest bushwalking and sanctuary for bird and animal lovers.
One the Gold Coast’s best-kept secrets are along one the scenic trail of the Box Forest Circuit in Lamington National Park. Elabana Falls is a popular place to cool off by the pools at the base of the waterfall as you eat your packed picnic lunch, surrounded by some of the oldest known trees on the Australian mainland (approximately 1500 years old).
For keen walkers keep going along the trail to find Box Log falls and Darragumai Falls – they are both worth a visit if you have the time (bring plenty of water).
Moran Falls is another personal fave of mine; meandering through the subtropical rainforest you will find yourself on top of the falls staring out to the distant rolling hills of the hinterland. A place to disconnect from a noisy and connected world, and the best place to watch the sun go down in the whole hinterland.
Tamborine Mountain
Tamborine Mountain is part of ancient volcanic rim and full of quirky cafes, cottages, great food and local markets. As a teenager I spent a lot of time on “Tambo” at Cedar Creek Falls – a refreshing and charming swim hole.
Here is the ideal spot to let the day float by.
Hang gliders is a fave “lookout” of them all while the Bearded Dragon is perfect on a Sunday afternoon for live entertain and a good vibe.
Currumbin rockpools
Some of the best memories I have made as an adult have been at the Currumbin Rockpools with good company.
As you drive out don’t forget to leave your worries behind and pack a picnic lunch for a day of dipping in the refreshing, fresh rockpools.
I hope this has inspired you to get outside, explore more of what this charming destination has in store.
There is so much see and experience on The Gold Coast, a place of such incredibly rich, diverse scenery, amazing and endless natural attractions, refreshing waterholes, rolling hills, sparkling oceans and rejuvenating rainforests.
Every turn there is something unique, for me there really is no place like home – a place with it all. Come and see for yourself, I hope you fall in love with it the way I have.
Apply to enter the Gold Coast’s first ever content awards for your chance to win fame and prizes – deadline to enter is September 30, 2018
Have you been to the Gold Coast? Is it on your radar? Have any local spots to share? Spill!
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Just to let you readers know, I’m changing the format of my blog a bit to make it easier for me to post. Now instead of separate days, the days will be consolidated into one post with a range of dates, where I started that section of the post and ended it, and the total mileage I’ve walked in the section I’ve just written about.
Cascade Locks, OR - Mile 2211.7 8/8 - 8/10 - 67.3 miles
Dustin had to do his entire resupply for the state of Washington while we were in Cascade Locks. In the morning we waited for the post office to open and I helped carry his boxes down the street just before 9. We went to the grocery store after, got coffee and started walking. The day felt new and fresh as we approached the Bridge of the Gods, where Oregon ends and Washington begins. The bridge was made of many pieces of metal riveted together and painted light gray. The bottom of the bridge was corrugated, and I looked at the deep teal Columbia River beneath it as I walked. A breeze soared through the railing of the bridge, birds swaying on it between the mountains on either side of the river. A sign at the other end of the bridge read in large letters, “Welcome to Stevenson, Washington”. After walking across the bridge we got back on the trail and began a short, flat section before a large climb, passing a deep green lake and, occasionally, poison oak. The climb turned steep but was mostly in the shade, making it a bit easier. I listened to the news all day. I was really behind and wanted to catch up. It was oddly distracting, taking my mind off the long gravel roads we had to walk due to a logging closure. At the top of the climb I stopped at a small tent site looking out over mountains draped in smoke. I ate chipotle cheddar pasta shells and listened to a news episode about the political situation in Venezuela, shooing ants off of my tyvek. After dinner I had six miles left to walk and realized I was burning daylight, beginning down the hill at a fast pace. My feet ached but I was in a good mood. I got to Snag Creek, set my pack down and walked down the bank to filter water in the last light of the day. I looked out at the trees with their branches totally enveloped in thick moss. They looked like giant worms. Huge flat green leaves waved at me from the opposite bank as a gentle breeze fluttered over the creek. It looked like an illustration of a Miyazaki movie. I hurried back to my pack, did my bedtime chores, spread out my tyvek and sleeping pad in a depression in the earth, a little cradle of dirt, and laid on top of my bag, hoping my skin would become less sweaty in the cooling evening. I wrote and listened to the snores of someone in a nearby tent, deep blue light filling in space behind the tall trees around me. My alarm buzzed in the hood of my sleeping bag, rattling me awake at 5:30. I poked my head up and looked at Dustin, still asleep. I decided that I would also go back to sleep. I felt a bit lazy. I stirred around 6, ate my cold oatmeal, put on my damp clothes and started walking around 7. The day was humid already. Sweat dripped down my forehead and gathered on my eyebrows. About two miles later I stopped to filter water, cameling a full liter. I knew I would lose a lot of sweat today. I cruised on into the morning, Dustin ahead of me. I listened to my morning news podcast as I hiked in the dank shade, surrounded by mossy logs and huge ferns. Thirteen miles into the day I stopped for lunch at Wind River, laying out my tyvek and making myself as comfortable as possible on the warm stones. I drank water, filtered more, ate and then decided it was too hot to do anything but get into the river. The water was ice cold, numbing my feet. I waded in and rubbed my legs trying to wash layers of dirt off. Finally I plunged my entire body into the water. It felt so good. I walked onto the bank and shook some of the water off. I laid in the shade for a while and rested. After lunch a long climb awaited us, 3800 feet, and we would camp a few miles before the next water, meaning I would have to carry way more than I wanted to. I vaguely entertained the idea of pushing more miles to the next water and not carrying any. I decided against that and begrudgingly put 3 liters in my pack. I sweated through all of my clothes during the climb, my forearms dripping, my hair soaked and stuck to my forehead. I pushed on and on, stopping once to eat dinner and then got right back to it, climbing another 1,000 feet to our campsite. It was a little gravel perch, not quite at the peak of the mountain, but it provided a beautiful vista. Dustin and I chugged water, sat on dry moss and looked out onto smoke-laden mountains all bathed in the sunset. I had heard rumors that a meteor shower might be visible tonight. I spread out my tyvek, hung my damp clothes on a spruce tree nearby and tended to all the chafed parts of my body, all of them red and angry after the recent humidity. I crawled into my sleeping bag, feeling the enormous wave of relief of laying down, all of my muscles rejoicing at not having to hold up my body any longer. A couple of shooting stars danced across the sky. I thought about the last time I watched a meteor shower, a couple of summers ago in a big open field a couple of miles outside of Richmond. So much had changed since then, but I was filled with a similar feeling of being content in change, newness, excitement. A mosquito buzzed around my head all night. I pulled on my headnet and drifted off to sleep, my stomach rumbling a little. I dreamed of food all night, scenes of giant piles of ice cream and pancakes filled my subconscious. In the morning I took my time getting ready, leaving camp around 7:15. I stopped to get water a few miles from where we had camped and Dustin and I decided that we would do more miles today than we have been. We agreed on about 15 before lunch and to get close to 24 miles for the day. I felt good. After filtering water I hiked on through lush greenery, ferns and raspberry bushes thick along the sides of the trail. I listened to a news segment covering a heated disagreement between a politician and a journalist about the current relevance of Emma Lazarus’s poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty, reading, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” That part of the poem played over and over in my head. A warm breeze floated across the trail, all the plants trembling in its wake. I thought about what it meant to disagree with that statement, as the politician had, about the way our society is moving, about all the times my father has apologized to me for the world he says his generation has left mine. Later I found Dustin filtering water at Sheep Lake. A tremendous buzzing sound hung in the air, black flies, dragon flies, mosquitoes, bees all hummed out their part in the orchestra. We sat on a log, looked at the lake and made sheep noises in the direction of Sheep Lake. I squeezed the water from one bottle to another, sweating already in the warm morning. Two food thoughts have been darting around my mind for days. Well, not really food thoughts, drink thoughts. I have been craving Diet Coke and lemon water. Day after day I’ve envisioned my sweaty, grimy hands picking a cold bottle of Diet Coke out of a gas station refrigerator, opening the top and heading the fizz of carbonation. I keep obsessing over how the soda would tingle and pop all over my taste buds. I thought about soda and lemon water all the way to the next water source, Blue Lake, where Dustin and I eat lunch. I ate my cold soaked ramen in huge spoonfuls, hungry after hiking 14.8 miles before lunch. Since we made sheep noises at Sheep Lake, we decided it was only fair to serenade Blue Lake with the song Blue by Eiffel 65. We yelled the words out over the lake:
Now listen up here’s a story About a little guy who lives in a blue world And all day and all night every thing he sees is just blue like him Inside and outside Blue his house with a blue little window And a blue corvette And everything is blue for him and himself And everybody around ‘Cause he ain’t got nobody to listen
Today I hiked my 1000th mile. Most people who started the same day as me reached theirs a while ago, but I’m not bothered. I thought a lot about my first few days on trail, about Ellen, who is back in Richmond. This hike would have been so different if she had been here this whole time. I wish I could have seen that play out, I thought as I walked. I realize there are 330 more miles until I have walked half of the trail. Though I’m not even half-way done yet, I thought about how much time had passed, how the miles continue flying by faster and faster. Town stops are shorter now, we enter and leave as quickly as we can I wondered if the rest of the trail would fly like this. It’s August already. I can’t believe that. I stopped to cook dinner at junction and Dustin caught up just as I finished cooking an alfredo pasta side. Mosquitoes nipped at my skin through my thin shirt, flies buzzed loudly around. When we finished we walked quickly to a flatter area just before a parking lot and found a couple of tentsites. I wanted to cowboy camp again but the bugs were too irritating, I needed some peace. I set up my tent and crawled inside, eager to peel off my sweaty clothes and wriggle into my dry sleep clothes.
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Captain’s log part 1
Okay so this is a different D&D character made for the Eberron setting. Random notes: 1) I know that Dragonborn technically don’t exist in the base Eberron setting, but due to this character’s story, the DM let them. 2) HOWEVER, Bahamut does not exist in the Eberron pantheon of gods so he chose the closest dragon god fit for that world. This is heavily inspired by a several hours long binge of listening to “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.
A young winged dragonborn peeked out from behind a large bush to survey the beach. The crest that lined his head and neck quivered in anticipation. The scent of the salt water called him, but he had to make sure nothing was there. All he could see were the ocean waves crashing onto the sandy shore, and the wind playfully picking up the spray and sand. The accompanying sound of the gulls calling to each other hinted at peace. He tentatively took a few steps out of hiding, and his green, cat-like eyes shut in the pleasurable heat. Two huge wings that were almost too large for his skinny frame flapped open as he stretched them out. Clawed feet kneaded into the sand while clawed hands grasped each other above his head in a stretch.
Once he finished the full body stretch, his eyes opened again. A toothy grin overtook his face, and he bolted straight to the water. His wings angled themselves to aid rather than hinder his run, and his taloned feet kicked up a surprising amount of sand. The journey was short, and the feel of seawater on his feet felt right. He slowed down as the waves greeted his presence, but he kept going until he was chest deep. The slight webbing in his hands and feet aided his movement, and his wings manipulated the water as if they were made for that purpose instead of flight. Everything about this felt right in all the ways the school of Chronepsis felt wrong. He belonged here.
Taking a deep breath, he dove, and his six limbs worked together to move through the water with surprising grace. His clothing was sopping wet, but he couldn't be bothered to remove them. Cautiously, he opened his eyes underwater, and one would be surprised to note that it didn't bother him. His training mates always complained about that... Any more thoughts on that were distracted when he saw multiple flashes of silver. His stomach reminded him that he was hungry, and a predatory urge arose to chase the fish. Finally able to give into this without judgement, he began following the school of fish slowly. The green markings on his scales and drab clothing helped camouflage him, and once he found a suitable alcove to hide in, he floated up to refresh his air before diving back down to hide.
It took much longer than he had been expecting for the school to finally wander back over to where he had been hiding, and he had feared that his need for air would betray him. Though once the flashes of silver floated above him, he pounced straight up with his maw wide open. A powerful fishy taste hit his tongue as several fish caught on his long fangs, and once he breached the surface, the still living fish flailed in an attempt to break free. He quickly ended any attempts by snapping his jaws shut and breaking their spines. He shook his head for good measure and almost lost half a fish for his efforts. Deciding that this was a good enough catch, he carefully kept his head above the water as he took powerful strokes back to land. While it almost pained him to leave the water, he had to take this back to his mother and the other dragonborn. Dropping the fish from his mouth, he counted about five. Hopefully they wouldn't ask too many questions about how he had caught and killed these.
His journey back to the village was quick, and most of the dragonborn there simply shook their heads at his soaked appearance. The cooks accepted the fish without question, for they already knew the answer.
#ocs#Captain#Original verse#My writing#He does kill some fish if that bothers anyone#Yeah just wait until you find out why the poor fuck doesn't fit in rip#other note he's on argonessen if anyone who knows that world was wondering#He's the equivalent of an older teen or young adult here. Aging is wonky with non human races
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Inexpensive, Small-Scale Landscaping Flower Garden Ideas : Professional Gardening Tips
$(document).ready(function(){ $(".accordion-toggle").on("click",function(){ var th = $(this); th.toggleClass("expand"); th.find(".plus-sign").toggle(); th.find(".minus-sign").toggle(); var th = th.next().slideToggle(); }); $(".accordion-toggle").each(function(){ var th = $(this); th.prepend("<span class='plus-sign'>+<span class='minus-sign'>-"); }); }) Benefits of Long Leaf Pine Straw in your landscaping: It provides the perfect level of level of acidity for your plants to soak up maximum soil nutrients It does not float and get rid of and breaks down more slowly, so it does not have to be reapplied as regularly as other mulches It is easier to handle and lighter per cubic foot than other mulches: one large bale can cover as much location as 30 cubic feet of the majority of mulches the cost per square foot is competitive with other mulches It breathes better, does not compact, and permits better water seepage It is easy to use: just unroll the bales and scatter by hand It doesn't attract termites It adds natural product and nutrients to soil and reduces weeds The uniform color and great texture of pine straw highlights the color, contrast, and texture of your landscape You can utilize it for disintegration control where grass will not grow to hold soil, even on hillsides and courses Frequently Asked Questions
When Is The Best Time To Transplant Herbs From Your Garden To Pots? I Have A Veggie Garden And Some Herbs In It And I Am Really Running Out Of Room So I Have Decided To Transplant The Herbs To Pots. Is The Winter A Good Time To Transplant Them Because They Aren'T Growing? Or In The Summer When They Are?
Hi: Transplanting your herbs from the garden to pots will depend on where they are at maturity. If a Basil plant is in full bloom, I would wait until blooms die out. It sounds like you are in a tropical location or in summer time in the Southern Hemisphere. If you can, wait until fall to transplant your herbs as the herbs love the warm weather and will peak during this season. Fall will work great as you can transplant your herbs and either bring them in for the winter, (which they will continue to grow) or if your climate is warm enough, they should do fine in pots outside. When you transplant the herbs into pots, purchase a light weight potting soil. Add some vermiculite and some humas to your soil. (Herbs love this combination) Containers need more watering then plants that are in the ground. You can also add a little pine straw or mulch in the pots to help retain the moisture. There are evergreen herbs also that will do well year around outside. Rosemary is a perfect example. I hope this has helped some. I will link you to the spice and herb section of my website. There are different articles that may help you. I will also link you to the site map as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if there is any other information that may help in this garden or any other landscape project. There is a page also on container gardening. Have a great day! Kimberly http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c... http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Can You Tell Me The Full Name Of This Tree? The Tag Reads &Quot;Pinus Den. Pculus Praconis&Quot;??? How Big Does It Get? I Purchased These Trees At An Auction. They Look Like Some Type Of Cedar? They Do Have Little Pine Cones On Them Now. They Have Needles That Are Yellow And Green In Color? I Am Tring To Find Out Just How Big They Get So That I Know Where To Place Them In My Landscape? Thanks For Your Help.
Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) "Oculus Draconis" Straight species grows 40-60' in height with equal spread. Numerous cultivars exist. "Oculus Droconis" (Dragon's Eye Pine) cultivar has green & yellow foliage. Link to this pine is: http://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Dragons/... Dragon's Eye grows as large as species. Are you sure the label says: pculus praconis? I've never heard of that cultivar.
Any Good Ideas For Making/ Buying Cheap Fillers And 'Scary' Stuff For Jumps? I Want To Know Some Things I Can Buy And Make For 'Fillers' For My Jumps And Also, How Do I Build My Own Standards And Where Could I Get Cheap Poles?
hay bales/straw pine needle ect..... silk flowers, the horses can't tell how cheap or ugly they are, so buy the stuff from the dollar/warehouse stores. barrels plastic or steel though the steel is heavier and don't tend to roll as much and they make louder noise when dirt or rock hit them...... Plywood walls painted like stone or brick.... you can make liverpools out of regular tarps laid under fences, you can make an oxer and then drape a tarp over it to make it look solid (make sure it won't blow in the wind, anchor it with groud poles), fallen logs or railroad ties ect. It doesn't have to get expenisve, if you have a natural ditch or stream on ur property set two railroad ties in front or behind it and tad-dah a new natural/event obstacle. As for plans google it or amazon it, there are tons and i do mean tons of books on building jumps both stadium and cross country type.
Feeding My Baby Chicks.? I Purchased Five Baby Chicks. They Are About Four To Five Days Old. I Was Told To Give Them Medicated Chick Feed By The Man I Purchased It From. I Went To The Closest Store That Sold Feed. I Asked A Worker If They Had Medicated Chick Feed. He Said They Had Chick Grower Which Was Medicated And Should Do Fine. The Guy Really Did Not Seem Like He Knew What He Was Talking About Since He Had To Radio In To See If They Did. They Also Did Not Have Chick Starter. Just Grower And Larger Feeds. I Read Online To Either Use Chick Starter Or Medicated Chick Feed If They Have Not Been Vaccinated And Then Switch To Chick Grower. The Chicks Eat Their Food, But Not Really Much. They Prefer To Scratch And Peck At The Pine Shavings. I Am Not Sure If They Are Just Wanting To Eat The Pine Shavings Instead Of Their Feed. So I Sprinkle Some Feed Around Where They Scratch And Leave Some In Their Feeder As Well. Will This Feed Effect My Chicks? The Store Also Was Out Of Grit. How Long Can The Chicks Go Without Grit? I Went Outside To Search For Small Pebbles But The Ground Is Covered In Thick Layers Of Ice And A Little Snow. Any Help From Experienced People In Raising Chickens Will Help. Please Don'T Just Post A Link Or Copy What A Website Says. I Have Probably Read It Considering I Have Looked All Over The Web For The Answer To My Question.
They should not be eating pine shavings - which will kill them. Straw is better, even if they eat it, it will not kill them. Any feed is better than no feed and the chick starter is likely the best. Once they are eating either cracked corn or laying pellets they can be outside as long as it does not get cold where you live. If you put them outside in a pen, you will need to hang a heat lamp to keep them warm. There are a ton of books and of course Google has a ton of info for you. Good luck.
Do Pine Trees Have Different Yearly Cycles Where One Year Produces Tons Of Needles And The Next Year Cones? This Year I Have A Ton Of Pine Needles, Where As Last Year I Had A Ton Of Pine Cones. Do These Trees Cycle Yearly Like This?
Some species of pine have male and female trees (most are unisexual, both male & female) The females take a year or so to develop mature cones after being pollenated. I would think you may have a female that is being pollenated by a nearby male. Males also develop cones but theirs are yearly and fall off shortly after releasing pollen. So in theory, your tree may have a bumper crop of cones every 2nd or 3rd year. Your best bet would be to find out what kind of pine it is to know for sure.
Inexpensive, Small-Scale Landscaping Flower Garden Ideas : Professional Gardening Tips
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