#age of arcanum AU

[blorbologist]

quietly...

I... might have the prologue and first chapter for my next longfic done.

I wouldn't start regularly posting until I have a good buffer, but I'm mighty tempted to post this taste. Just 'cause it's been a while. and i miss it

#only hesitation is that bc this is So AU i need to make sure my prologue and ch1 set up things Properly while also hooking ppl good #yes this is for the age of arcanum au why do you ask #me at all times: hey what if vex and godhood. but what if her brother was that god. what if its both a good and bad thing #me even more: what if percy with the hubris of a wizard and none of the power so like canon. but in a society that encourages his very wors #age of arcanum AU

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

Vox Machina age of arcanum AU. Just think about it.

Keyleth being a Gau Drashari and having to deal with wizard hubris and two sealed primordials.

Pike being a cleric of a god in a time where gods were going out of favor.

Percy inventing weapons, mixing magic and technology with all of the unhingedness of the age.

Vex and Vax finding ways to survive in a world built around magic users with little to no magic of their own.

Grog simply trying to protect his best buddy and not being afraid to throw down with any mage that makes her feel lesser

Scanlan working his way up, trying to be more than a humble bard and the hubris of wizards either feeding his own ego or making every interation he has with them feel gross (maybe both).

Just. Age of arcanum Vox Machina

bro wait oh my god that's so good and the fact that none of them are wizards just makes this so much better.

Maybe part of the reason Pike was abandoned by her family was because of the divine magic that has always been a part of her and when Wilhand took her in and later Grog, he knew that she would constantly be degraded for it and makes sure that she and Grog are well equipped to deal with that kind of thing.

And Syldor wanted the twins to be wizards, tried to get them to delve into their studies to be worth something but they didn't and rebelled against him and as such have a bit of a hatred for arcana.

Keyleth knowing that what the Gau Drashari have planned is bigger than fucking wizards who would use any magic to do awful things and would destroy the world in the process being the one who decides that they must keep it a secret.

Percy making mechanical items only for them to be tossed aside because they have no magic in them so he teaches himself just enough to make them magic items so that the fucking mages will give them a second glance.

Scanlan finding true power and magic through his art, knowing that what he wields is more pure than wizards and mages because his magic comes from himself and as such has wax wings of his own.

#age of arcanum au #critical role #vox machina #lis makes hcs #this is everything to me now

[mllekurtz]

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: T Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Age of Arcanum, relationship status: about to get complicated, DTR Talk, Colleagues to Lovers, First Kiss, coworkers with benefits

Series: Part 2 of sinking star

Long before the fall, the Architect Arcane and the Keeper of Scrolls have a long overdue conversation.

aka the prequel to @saturdaysky’s very tragic, very excellent fic about confessing your feelings when it’s too late to do anything about it.

(this is inspired by Exu: Calamity, of course, but contains minor to no spoilers for the campaign!)

#there's a paragraph in this that is 100% sky and that i'm still yelling about #which includes the line 'how it might sound to hear Caleb’s thoughts warm the silence of Essek’s bedroom' #i'm feral about it #critical role #cr fic #my fics #shadowgast #critical role fic #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #age of arcanum au

[hinumay]

HELLOOOOOO

I was commissioned to draw these love birds in an AU fanfic setting set in the age of arcanum by @blorbologist !!!! Aka umwelt!!!

The fic is!!

Architect of our Demise

https://archiveofourown.org/works/51394138

☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

!!!!!!!!! Weeeeeee

#digital art #character art #digital aritst #commisions open #art #drawing commissions open #digital commisions #dnd #critical role #vex'ahlia #vexhalia #critical role campaign 1 #criticalrole #critical role fanart #critical role fan art #age of arcanum #exu calamity #percy de rolo #percival von musel kowowlski de rolo iii #percy series #percival de rolo #perchalia #de rolo family #alternate universe #critical role fanfiction #vox machina fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction

[aeor-is-for-reccing]

Hidden Gems: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have one of our recurring themes: fics with fewer than 150 kudos! Check under the cut for fourteen amazing fics that you might have missed the first time around:

Ocean Blues by Vailee (3836,General)

Warnings: None

On a remote island, Caleb meets a merman named Essek.

Reccer says: The description of merman Essek with his fins and tail is very adorable.

Breaking Inertia by futureshieldmaiden (31096,Teen)

Warnings: None

A time loop fic where Bren has to work with the Shadowhand Essek Thelyss to straighten out time.

Reccer says: There's a lovely slow burn between the two, and I like the plot develops - with a couple of twists along the way.

flurries by quinn_of_aebradore (1381,General)

Warnings: none

Caleb and Essek visit a night market

Reccer says: It's extremely sweet and soft, with a warm and cozy wintertime feel to it.

the start: wings to chase the sky by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (2662,Teen)

Warnings: None, but note that the other part of the duology has its own tags! (calamity fic)

Part of a duology of an Age of Arcanum AU where Caleb and Essek are prestigious wizards of Avalir. A getting-together ficlet.

Reccer says: Mlle is so good at writing the shadowgast getting together, and it's fun to see the wizards in this lavish arcane world.

in the blood by VexedVixen (11075,Mature)

Warnings: None

Vampire!Essek rescues an injured Caleb and brings him to his towers in Rosohna. Caleb is them offered a job by Essek - a job that includes donating some blood.

Reccer says: The worldbuilding is so cool! Always nice to see a good vampire AU.

A Thousand Words, Unspoken by soot_and_salt (3150,General)

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings (technically, but it's not a dark story)

Caleb runs a YouTube channel where he films himself restoring paintings. The latest one to come in is a portrait of a beautiful drow man.

Reccer says: If you're familiar with the story of Pygmalion and Galatea, it's a little like that.

you're the only light i've ever known by glossolali (1463,Teen)

Warnings: None

After their bath, Essek combs and plays with Caleb's hair. Caleb enjoys himself.

Reccer says: It's very sweet and tender. And like the author says in the end note, it shows how Caleb has changed and healed over the course of campaign 2.

Break Me, Mend Me by Kaiannae (21835,Mature)

Warnings: Depiction of depression and self-sabotage, CNC if you squint, borderline force feeding if you squint.

Caleb's self-loathing is rearing its ugly head and he is spiraling out of control, pushing his friends and chosen family away, isolating himself from those who care about him and attempting to sabotage everything good in his life. Eventually, Essek decides to do something about it. He knows that nothing mundane like talking would be of any help, so he offers Caleb what the human thinks he wants: punishment, atonement, debasement, a way to quiet the vicious voices in his head.

Reccer says: BDSM as therapy, sort of, getting into Caleb's head for the character study, aftercare for the masses, doms and subs alike.

Silver Couches To Recline Upon And Ornaments Of Gold by soot_and_salt (3242,Teen)

Warnings: None

Essek, unable to leave the tower he resides in, finds a cat on his balcony. He soon discovers there is more to this cat than he could have ever imagined.

Reccer says: It is a fairy tale au and I am a big fan of fairy tales.

Let the River Carry You by Operafloozy (2983,General)

Warnings: none

Essek knits something for each of the Nein

Reccer says: It's very sweet and thoughtful, and I love the description of the patterns

in vaults and cherished amber by allinna (4406,Teen)

Warnings: none

At the Vurmas Outpost, Essek receives some well-deserved love from Caleb and the M9.

Reccer says: it's a sweet, comfy fic that makes you smile! what more would you want.

born from beauty by hanap (2375,Explicit)

Warnings: None

Caleb and Essek have a conversation about their respective experiences with gender and what it means to feel at home in one's body, after which Essek shows his love for Caleb's body by giving him a blowjob.

Reccer says: I resonate with both Caleb and Essek's experiences of gender in this fic, so it was a lovely experience getting to read how much the two of them love each other's bodies that are so similar to mine.

if only I could see your face by lakrisrot (3399,Explicit)

Warnings: Can read having a sex-negative to sex-neutral POV character

Caleb spends some time with Essek after the Transmogrification fails. They end up more intimate that expected.

Reccer says: This fic offers a very intriguing look into Essek's mind as an asexual/demi person. I very much enjoyed that.

And two recs for

the hole in the stone by MinnesotaBruja (13243,Teen)

Warnings: Animal/Pet Death

Shortly after the end of campaign 2, Essek takes a position as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island north of Eiselcross. The fic is comprised of his letters to Caleb.

Reccer 1 says: Essek cares for chickens while living on the island and I find it extremely sweet. Reccer 2 says: Beautiful, heartbreaking, so very well written you will most definitely cry and it's worth every tear!

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. And hey! Don’t forget to leave comments and kudos for the lovely authors!

Check out the previous Hidden Gem Recs Lists here [1] [2]

Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week's theme is Time Travel/Time Loops!

#critical role fan fiction #shadowgast #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #aeor is for lovers #hidden gems rec list #fan fiction rec lists #cr fan fic

[newtthetranswriter]

Soulmates? Soulmates.

Paring: Soren x nonbinary half elf reader

Summary: You were born to an elf and a human in a world where elves and humans don't get along. At the age of five you lost your parents and end up being adopted by the King and Queen of katolis. Shortly after the queen passes, your soulmate bond appears. now you have to try and keep your true self hidden while hearing the thoughts of your not so bright soulmate.

Word count: 6687

A/N: so, this my attempt at a multi part fic, it is a soulmate au cause I'm a sucker for them let me know if you like it and want to read more.

MINORS AND AGELESS BLOGS DO NOT INTERACT

Warnings for this chapter: Death of parents and talk of assassination.

Being born to an Earthblood elf and a human really was not the best thing to happen to me. Sure being connected to the earth arcanum is amazing, when I was younger and still lived near the border of Xadia, my elven father taught me how to use planet magic. I learned how to help crops grow faster and stronger, I also learned how to do minor healing spells. I bet you are now thinking well you got to learn magic. How can that be so bad, well I’ll explain.

You see being half elf, I don’t exactly look very human. While I do have five fingers like humans, but my ears are pointed and have a pair of short branch like horns that sprout from the top of my head. You may be also asking how on earth do you hide that from humans, and there is a fairly simple answer. When I was younger it was easy to hide with hats or head scarfs, but as I’ve gotten older, my horns have become more difficult to hide. To help hide them when I was about five my family took me to The Moon Nexus deep within the human kingdom of Katolis and requested help from the guardian of The Moon Nexus. Lujanne was able to craft a moon opal necklace that created an illusion that made it look like I had normal ears, and no horns. The illusion also makes it so that if someone were to ruffle my hair they wouldn’t feel the horns either. 

There are two other things I need to address before we get into our real story. Firstly not only does this world have magic, elves, and dragons, but everyone here has a soulmate. Soulmate bounds can appear in numerous different ways, some are born with tattoos that match, some can hear each other's thoughts, some can feel each other's pain, basically if you can think of it as a connection it has probably happened. I’ll tell you about my connection later. Every creature, human or elf, has a soulmate. In most cases humans have human soulmates and elves have elven soulmates. On rare occasions a human will be paired with an elf and they are both forced to make hard choices: do they find their soulmate and risk both of them being killed because of disagreements between the two peoples or do they forget their soulmate and try to live normal life without them. My parents were one of these rare mixed pairs, obviously they chose to meet and had me. 

And secondly, like I said before when a human and elf soulmate pair chose to meet it almost always ends poorly. You see when my small family was leaving The Moon Nexus after getting an illusion to hide my true self, we were spotted coming from the Cursed Caldera. My father had yet to cover his own horns and one of the humans who spotted us reported it to the knights of Katolis. We were unaware of them following us until we decided to set up camp a few miles away as it was getting late. As we were about to eat dinner the knight ambushed us pointing their swords at my father.

“Step away from the woman and child, and you won’t get hurt.” yelled one knights as he moved closer to our small family.  

Frightened by the sudden yelling and pointed weapons, I hid behind my mother trying to get as far from the swords as possible. “ Please, you don't understand, I’ve done nothing wrong. This is my family.” I heard my father say as he tried to explain the situation, hoping they would let us go.

The next things I heard were the sound of a bow being fired, something hitting the ground and my mother’s scream of agony. It took me a moment to understand that the knights took my fathers protest as an act of disobedience and one of them shot him. My mother’s scream was one of horror and of pain as she felt her bond with her soulmate snap as my father died.

“You’re safe now, we will get back to town safely.” I heard one of the knights say as he started to pull my mother off the ground, as she had fallen to her knees from the pain in her chest. Apparently my mother was not willing to leave her soulmate's body as she fought with knights to get back to my fathers corpse. I had completely spaced out at this point, having just heard my father be killed and hearing my mother’s cries for her lost love. I didn’t even hear my mother shout at the knights for killing him, or the sound of the knights telling her he was better off dead, and lastly I didn’t register the sound of the same knight who shot my father taking another shot. All I know is that one second my mother was cursing at these nights and the next I was an orphan being carried away by a group of knights who had just killed my only family.

At age of five I had lost both of my parents in the span of a couple minutes all because of an ancient feud between humans and elves that I didn’t and still don’t understand. At the age of five I had to hide my true self from everyone because if anyone found out I would be killed as well. Being a half-elf orphan in a human kingdom was hard. No one even looked my way not because of what I am but because after that night I stopped smiling. No one wanted a kid who didn’t show joy or happiness. That is until Shortly after I turned eight.

At the age of eight I was greeted with something that would shock any kid. The royal family was traveling around Katolis to meet their subjects and see the status of their kingdom. Now you may be asking what that has to do with me. Well, the answer is simple, Queen Sarai saw me sitting alone and weak in the street and couldn’t bear watching a young child not much older than her first born son suffer in such a way. She decided then and there I would be brought back to the castle with her family. King Harrow tried to protest, commenting on how they already had two children and it didn’t make much sense to pick up a random kid from the street, but being the kind yet headstrong woman she was, Harrow had no choice but to agree. And just like that I was adopted into the royal family.

It was weird having a family again, Sarai treated me like her own child and tried her best to get me to open up. It was still hard for me to smile, after a week of being in the castle I had quietly told Sarai about what happened to my parents and accidentally let it slip that I was half elf. She was such a kind woman but I thought she would have me killed for it but she assured me that no one would find out about it unless I wanted them too, even going as far as hiding it from King Harrow. Being able to share that part of me again brought me joy but it was short lived.

Not long after I had joined the royal family, I lost another person who was very important to me. While on a trip into Xadia, to find a magical item to save two kingdoms, my adoptive mother gave her life to save the life of The high mage of Katolis. While I may have only known her for a few months, it felt horrible losing another mother figure and the only person I could be my real self around. To top everything off not only did I lose my adoptive mother but after years of hoping my soulmate bond would never manifest it happened, an hour after I was told of Saria’s passing.

I had been sitting alone in my room crying to myself about life being extremely unfair. I heard a small voice in the back of my head, but it wasn’t mine. Hey, who’s crying? I heard the voice of a young boy ask, but it seemed like he didn’t understand what was going on. I realized almost immediately.  

Of all the times for my soulmate bond to appear it had to be now. I thought to myself not knowing if he could hear me, but my suspicion was confirmed when I heard his reply.

What do you mean soulmate? Wait, don't answer that I think I heard my dad say something about it. So you’re my soulmate, does this mean we are going to be best friends? Anyway, why were you crying? Is everything okay? I heard the boy ask. I had to admit it was nice knowing that there was someone I could talk to right now, who hopefully wouldn’t judge me.

Nothings okay. My adoptive mom just died. I just got her and she was taken from me just like my first mom and dad. I don’t know why this keeps happening to me. I responded to him letting my feelings out that I hadn't voiced since King Harrow told me and Callum that our mom was gone. But I guess if you’re okay with hearing about my problems we can be friends. I followed up trying to make it so my first conversation wasn’t all bad even if I still was sure I wanted a soulmate after what happened with my parents and now seeing King Harrows face after telling his two adopted kids that his own soulmate was gone.

I’m sorry, you lost your mom, moms? I’m not sure which is right but I don’t mind hearing your problems, that's what friends are for. If you don’t mind me asking what happened to your first parents? Also I’m _____ what’s your name? The boy on the other side of my bond said, I was confused by the pause in his last question, but figured it was probably an aspect of our bond.

I don’t think we can share our names through the bond. It’s probably to stop us from finding each other before we are supposed to. And I don't mind you asking about my parents, they were killed in front of me a few years ago. I don’t want to go into detail but after that I spent three years living in the streets before I was taken in by a lovely couple. I left out the fact that it was the king and queen because I didn’t want my soulmate to feel different because I was now royalty by association.

 It’s nice to know someone took you in, I don't know what I would have done if my soulmate was left to take care of themself in the streets. Can we share where we are from with our bond or do you think it will also get blocked? My soulmate responded accepting my answers and questioning if we could at least know where we both are in the world.

I don’t think so, if it’s trying to keep us from meeting until we are ready it probably won’t let us say places. I responded, it was kind of frustrating that i can’t even know if my soulmate is in the same kingdom as me or if they’re an elf or human. But that’s just how some bonds are, some give you all the information you need to find them, while others make it impossible to meet before a set time and place. Hell, even with the ability to hear each other’s thoughts we could be looking right at each other and not know until the universe was ready for us to know. Anyway it’s getting late it was nice of you to talk to me, I guess I’ll think to you tomorrow. I said getting ready for a restless night.

The last thing I heard before falling asleep was a gentle goodnight soulmate. It brought me a small sense of happiness knowing that even though I begged the universe to skip me and not make me have to be bonded with another, it didn’t listen and gave me a connection when I needed it the most.

That was ten years ago, I still talk to my soulmate every day. I’ve gotten closer with my adoptive brothers but I still haven’t told them or Harrow about me being half elf, I just don’t know how they would respond. I did however accidentally tell my soulmate about my heritage. It was a couple years after our bond formed, and I was outside playing with my younger brother Ezran when I had tripped and cut open my knee. I had momentarily forgotten about the person on the other side of my mind, and had silently wished I could just heal myself. What i wasn’t expecting was to be integrated by my soulmate about the comment.

What do you mean heal yourself? Wait, can you do dark magic? My dad and little sister practice dark magic, I’m not a fan of it, it’s kinda sad. I was startled at first but hearing that his family practiced dark magic confirmed my belief that my soulmate was at least human. It was also nice to hear that he didn’t fully agree with their practices.

I don’t use dark magic, it’s horrible and cruel. I responded, how could I ever think of hurting innocent creatures for my own gain.

Ok, but how could you heal yourself, oh my god are you an elf? Hearing his question I froze for a moment. Do I tell him the truth or do I try and say it was just a joke, but then i realized he would find the truth anyways so might as well just tell him.

I’m Half elf, please don’t tell anyone. I know we don’t know each other, but i can’t risk people finding me, i don’t want to end up like my mom and dad. I begged him not to tell anyone. He may not know my face or name but if he shared that his soulmate is half elf, he may be pushed to find me so they can get rid of me. Especially your father, if he really does practice dark magic he might try to find away to get to me. Just please I like my life as crazy as it has been.

I don’t think my father would do that, but if it concerns you that much I guess I can keep it a secret. If you are so worried about people finding out does that mean you live in a human kingdom, I know you can’t say which one but, it’s nice to know we are at least on the same side of the border between the human kingdoms and Xadia. He responded, it was nice that he was willing to keep it a secret even if he didn’t believe people would try to use him to find me. If you don’t mind, how do you hide that you’re part elf, I would think you have distinct features that would give it away.

Yeah I live in the human Kingdoms, and I wear a special necklace that’s enchanted with moon magic to create an illusion. It hides my pointed ears and Horns, but those are the only things that make me look like an elf. I appreciate you keeping it a secret. After that I closed our connection for a bit to have time to myself. We both have the power to open and close the transmission of our thoughts but can sometimes just slip, which is how that conversation started.

Back to right now, where I am sitting watching my younger brother Callum be taught the art of Sword fighting by one of the crownguard. It was honestly amusing to watch, Callum sucks at anything that requires physical aptitude, so instead of training it was more Soren smacking Callum repeatedly with a wooden sword.

“Parry, Parry, You’re dead.” Soren said, hitting Callum in the forehead with the hilt of the wooden sword.

“You know Callum if you actually listened to Soren you might learn how to fight.” I shouted from my spot on the bench. The only response I got was an eye roll before he was once again smacked with the wooden sword being knocked to the ground, followed by a “you’re dead” from the knight enjoying beating up the young prince.

“Really? Are you sure? Even if I was wearing armor?” Callum asked from his place on the ground.

“Even if you were wearing the rarest legendary armor forged by Sunfire Elves… Super dead.” Soren chuckles leaning into the boy's face.

Callum scoffed “I’m terrible at this!”

Soren just responded with a yep and helped Callum to his feat. As much as I wanted to stay and watch Callum get his ass beat by Soren repeatedly I decided it was time to go somewhere else to relax. It totally had nothing to do with the fact that I noticed Claudia approaching, that girl just gives me the creeps. Don’t get me wrong she’s always been kind to me but knowing what she would do if she found out what I am, has put me on edge around her.

“Well I'm gonna go find Ez, see if he wants to go steal some jelly tarts with me. See you jerks later.” I said getting up and leaving.

After a few hours I was just sitting with Ezran and Callum eating jelly tarts, when a guard knocked on the door and informed us that King Harrow wanted to speak with us. We all just shrugged and left towards the Throne room. Now I have a slight idea what was going on, there had been murmurs all day about something happening tonight and I had a feeling it wasn’t good.

When we entered the throne room we were greeted by the High Council gathered around the war table off to the side of the room. Seeing this I knew exactly what was happening. I didn’t say anything because I know whatever we are going to be told will be a lie to try and protect my brothers from the truth.

“Kids! You’re going on a trip. To the Banther Lodge!” Harrow said with what seemed to be excitement, but I could tell he was hiding something. Callum and Ezran shared a look of confusion before Callum spoke up.

“But… It’s spring. That’s the winter lodge.” Callum said, perplexed as to why we were being sent to the Banther Lodge all of a sudden.

“Eh. Winter is coming eventually.” The King responded thinking for a moment.

Ezran looked more confused by what we were going to do there. “What will we do? Everything fun there has to do with snow or ice.”

“Maybe you can invent new versions using dirt and rocks. You could build a dirtman! Or what about mud-sledding? That could be a thing!” Harrow said, trying to cheer up the youngest of his children.

I just rolled my eyes at this. “It’ll be fine Ez, we can find something to do while we are there.” I said ruffling his hair, trying to cheer him up. God why do adults lie to kids, like they aren’t protecting them just prolonging the inevitable. I thought to my soulmate, maybe he would agree with me.

I’m not sure, maybe they just want to keep kids innocent for as long as possible. The world can be a really messed up place. I smiled at his response, he’s right I should try to keep it so Ezran and Callum can be happy kids without having to face the dark truths of our world. What brings this up though, is everything ok?

I’m not sure, my adoptive father is sending me and my brothers away for a last minute vacation and it’s obvious he’s hiding something. I responded to him before realizing we were being ushered out of the room, and being told to go pack. As I walked out of the door King Harrow tapped my shoulder signaling me to stay back for a moment.

I complied, understanding he wanted to say something to me without the boys hearing it. “Is there something else you need me to do, your highness?” I asked, still not willing to call him dad even after ten years of him treating me as his own.

“You know you don’t have to call me that,Y/n. But anyway I know you figured it out, you have always been very observant. I just ask that you don’t tell them until after everything happens, please try to protect them from the harsh truths that await them. Please help Ezran because he is so young and will have to deal with so much, please just help him.” King Harrow asked, he knew i wouldn’t say no, he knew I loved Ezran and Callum, so much to the point I would do anything for them.

I looked him in the eyes so he knew I was being honest. “I promise I will do everything in my power to help both of them. All I ask in return is please tell me what is happening? I understand it is something big and probably not going to end well but I need the details, so I can explain it to them when the time is right.”

“You do not need to concern yourself with the details. If everything goes as we plan, everything will be fine.” Viren said, making his way around the War table. I completely forgot that pompous ass was here. “Don’t worry your pretty little head princess. Now go be good and leave the safety of the King to the adults.” I sneered at the dark mage. He knew that I resented that title. It never felt right not only was I not royalty by blood, but I did not identify as a woman. Everyone in the castle respected that and just called me by my name, except Viren, it’s like he has a personal vendetta against me.

As I was about to snap at Viren for his comments, I was interrupted by King Harrow. “Everyone but Y/n out, I would talk to them privately.” With that the High Council left to give us the room. Once the room was empty and enough time had passed for there to be no one lingering by the door, he turned back to me. “I wanted to talk to you about this privately because I know you have your reasons for hiding it and I know you trusted Sarai, but shortly before our trip to Xadia she told me about you. I know you are part elf and you wear that necklace to hide it. I’m not mad, you have been a great older sibling to my sons, and are a very important member of the family.”

I was shocked, he’s known for ten years that he was raising a half elf and said nothing. He trusted Sarai’s word that I wasn’t a threat and let me live here like a normal human for a decade. Before I could thank him for his kindness he continued. “I believe that with your guidance and support Ezran can change the way things are. Please make sure he doesn't hate elves after tonight, tell him and Callum the truth when you get to the Banther lodge please. Help him forgive them and create a bond between our worlds. As for what is happening tonight, there are reports of Moonshadow assassins gathered in the woods, preparing to kill me tonight under the full moon. Viren is trying to find them or find a way to stop it, but we both know Moonshadow elves aren’t easy foes to best. I ask you to keep your brothers safe and help them forgive even after this. I did horrible things to the people of Xadia and those actions can only be repaid in blood.”

I couldn’t find any words. The man who took me in as a child and raised me like his own wants me to help his sons forgive a group of assassins, and work to bring peace between the human kingdoms and Xadia. It was mind blowing. “You have my word, I will do everything I can. And thank you for accepting me for who I am even if I wasn't the one to tell you.” With that being said King Harrow gave me a gentle hug before walking me out of the throne room.

I slowly made my way back to my room in the castle to pack my bag for the trip tonight completely lost in thought. I didn’t know how I was going to get my brothers to forgive a group of assassins for killing their father, after all I still haven’t forgiven the knights who killed my birth parents. I also had no clue how they would react to me being part elf, they have spent their whole lives being told elves were evil and now I'm supposed to tell them and an entire kingdom of elf hating humans that the king’s adopted child is one of them.

Hey soulmate, are you free to chat? I asked hoping my other half would be able to help me through my thoughts. Even though he tended to be a dork, when it came to serious conversations he was rather helpful with figuring things out.

I’m a little busy at the moment, there is a group of assassins after the King I work for, and I’m currently looking for them, but what’s up? I was completely shocked, what were the chances of two kingdoms facing an assassination attempt at the same time. I started to piece everything together, my soulmate was a member of the Crowngaurd, a group directly in charge of protecting the King, and he was currently out looking for a group of assassins. My adoptive father is a King currently writing out his last goodbyes to his kids because a group of assassins are planning to end his life tonight. Hey soulmate you still there, what’s going on why’d you get all quiet.

Are the assassins Moonshadow elves? I asked knowing that if the answer is yes, I know who my soulmate is.

Uh yeah, how’d you know? 

I took a deep breath before responding. I know because they are coming for my adoptive father, The King Of Katolis, which means we have already met on multiple occasions. I wasn’t sure if he would hear the part about Katolis because if the universe isn’t ready for us to figure it out yet, it won’t let us say places, but there are too many coincidences for it to not be time to figure it all out.

Wait you’re saying you’re Y/n, King Harrow’s oldest kid, but you’re part elf, what, i’m confused. I could hear the perplexion in his voice as he also connected dots but was confused as to why the King of Katolis would adopt a half elf. I laughed to myself as I placed my belongings in a bag knowing I would be leaving my home shortly, but hoping my soulmate would be back at the castle soon so I could look him in the eyes knowing who he really was to me.

Just get back to castle before me and my brothers are forced to leave for the Banther lodge. I want to wish my soulmate luck to his face before he fights a group highly trained assassins. Met me at my room when you get to the castle.

Wait I know who you are but how do you know who I am, I haven’t said my name. I chuckled to myself again.

It’s not hard to figure out that the great crownguard Soren is on the end of my mind, after all how many crownguards have a father and sister who practice dark magic. I laughed as I could hear him chuckle at my comment. 

It wasn’t long before I heard the sound of armor making its way to my door followed by a rather loud knock. I swung the door open to immediately be wrapped in a huge by the tall blonde. “I’m so glad I found you.”Soren said with his head buried in my shoulder.

I hugged him back, pulling him into my room. “ I feel the same, now I need you to promise to stay safe tonight, I know it’s your job to protect the king but I need you to make it out alive. I can’t lose you after I just found you.” I said looking into his eyes.

He was about to respond when there was another knock at my door, when I asked who it was, it was another guard coming to inform me that I needed to find my brothers and get ready to leave. “Hey I’ll be fine, and I’ll do everything I can to keep your dad safe. And don’t say he isn’t your dad, because he is, he’s been there for you for ten years. Now you promise that when you get back, I get to see beyond the illusion you wear. I want to see the real you.” Soren said after the guard had left my door.

I nodded in agreement before leaving the room to look for my brothers, the guard wouldn’t have told me to find them if they were where they were supposed to be. As I walked the halls I ran into Callum, who looked like he was also looking for Ezran, so we started looking together.

As we walked in silence only calling out occasionally for Ezran, Callum stopped suddenly. “Ez, is that you?” He paused to look around, while I looked at him confused. “Hello?” When there was no response we continued on down the hall looking for the boy and his glow toad.

After a few feet we both stopped feeling a presence behind us, Callum started smiling thinking it was Ezran, “You know you can’t sneak up on me.” he stated as we turned around only to be greeted by a Moonshadow elf with her blades pointed directly at us. “Uh, Uh, you’re not who I thought you… You’re one of those with the pointy…”

“Oh, you don’t like my ears?” the elf responded, unamused by the boy’s rambling.

“No. I mean, yeah. Yes, I do, I guess.” Callum said, fumbling over his words. I rolled my eyes at his stupidity.

“He meant the pointy swords.” I responded, for him before he kept putting his foot in his mouth. We both tried to step back from the blades.

“That’s far enough. I’m looking for someone.” The elf said.

Before she could continue her statement and ask questions Callum opened his mouth again. “oh , uh, did you check back there?” He pointed at a curtain, once the elf had turned away, he grabbed my hand and started running down the hall.

When the elf had realized she had been tricked, she started to chase after us. We made our way outside with Callum trying to block the elf’s path with armor stands he knocked over in the hallway. We saw a couple guards and shouted at them that we were being followed. I managed to watch as the elf jumped past the guards and swept their legs out from under them using her blades.

“Hey you swept the leg!” Callum exclaimed leaving both me and the assassin confused by his outburst.

“What?” she asked before stepping closer to us.

“Uh, uh, nothing” Callum said before grabbing my hand again and started running up one of the many towers in the castle coming to the doors of the High mages office. “Lord Viren! Claudia! Anyone!” He shouted as we pushed into the room.

All of sudden we were knocked over by the elf once again pointing her blades at us, now we were cornered. “Neither of you have to die.” She said, stepping closer to us.”There are only two targets tonight.”

I looked at Callum confused, “Wait, two? What do you mean?” I asked the elf, only thinking they were after King Harrow.

“I’m here for the King. And I’m also here for his son, Prince Ezran.” She said moving her blades closer to both of our throats.

We both looked up in shock. “ You can’t. That’s not fair. Why would you hurt someone who’s done nothing wrong?” Callum asked, voicing our shared question.

She pushed her blades closer to our throats, the tips now making contact with skin. “ Humans cut down the King of the Dragons, and destroyed his only egg, the Dragon Prince. Justice will not be denied.” She said matter-of-factly.

I watched as Callum thought of what to say next, when he spoke I definitely was not expecting the words he said next. “I see. Well, then, you’ve found me, I’m Prince Ezran.” I looked at him like he was crazy as the elf processed his words.

I was about to protest when we heard a small voice coming from a large painting, “Callum, Y/n” We all looked towards it slightly confused before I registered who was on the other side.

“Psst Callum, Y/n” ezran called again.

“Shh, go away.” I whispered back as I was closest to the painting.

“But Y/n, I found something.”

The elf stepped closer to me and the painting. “Are you talking to that painting?” she asked, confused by what she was witnessing.

Callum chimed in. “Uh, why would they do that? ‘Cause it’s not a good time.” He said getting a little louder towards the end.

Before either of us could stop her the elf reached over and swung the painting forward, revealing Ezran holding Bait and a jelly tart. “Uh… Jelly tart?” he asked, holding it up to the elf.

“Kid, get out of here.” Calum Said pretending he didn’t know his own little brother.

Ezran looked at me confused and concerned, before addressing our brother. “Callum, What’s going on?” I could hear the concern in his voice not understanding why his siblings were in the high mage’s office with an elf who was currently pointing blades at them.

“Callum? I thought you were Prince Ezran. You lied to me.” The assassin said, realizing she had been tricked.

I started to move into the passage with Ezran as I looked at the elf bewildered “How is he lying worse than you trying to kill someone?” I was amazed she felt offended by a lie when she was here to kill my brother and his dad.

After Callum had moved closer to us, Ez held up Bait for the elf to see him clearly, and asked “Have you met Bait? Say hello to my little friend.” And on queue the glow toad started to glow extremely bright blinding the elf. Taking this as a chance to escape we all moved down the passageway before closing the painting again and running as fast as we could. “Guys, follow me. I have to show you something.” Ezran said as we made our way through the tunnel.

After running for a little while, we could hear our new elf ‘friend’ chasing after us. “You’re only making this worse.” We heard her call out.

“Worse how?” Callum said, antagonizing our hunter. 

“Hey Callum, here's a great idea, don’t antagonize the elf assassin who is chasing us with the intent to kill.” I said, trying to keep up with Ezran as he turned down another path.

“This way” He yelled as we rounded another corner, only to be met with a dead end.

Callum was not impressed with our brother leading us to a dead end and popped off with “We’re trapped. What do we do now?”

Ezran approached the wall and handed Bait over to me so his hands were free before saying. “Time for a puzzle.” He then started to push the different rocks in the wall while saying “Rock, rock, stone, rock, stone, stone. Rock, stone, rock, stone, stone…”

“Wait, what's the difference between the rocks and the stones?” Callum asked, interrupting Ezran’s concentration.

The smaller boy let out a goan before saying “Ugh! You made me do stone instead of rock.” and then he returned to pressing the pattern into the wall. “Rock, rock, stone, rock, stone, stone, rock, stone, rock.”  I just looked at the boy confused, but figured he probably knew what he was doing.

After a moment Ez turned to us and grind as the floor behind us opened to reveal a spiral staircase into a hidden room below. “Wow” was all that came out of Callums mouth before we all made our way down the stairs. 

At the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by what looked like a dark mages supply cupboard. There were jars of animal parts and random books all around the room. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The first thought in my head was to ask Soren if he knew about this place as it obviously belonged to his father, but I decided against it as I know he was getting ready to try and protect the king's life. I figured I would let him reach out to me the next time he needs to speak with me just to not interrupt him and his job. 

I failed to notice that Ezran had closed the staircase but I did hear the conversation that followed.

“You’re sure she won’t be able to follow us?” Callum asked.

“No way. It took me over a month to figure out that combination.” Ezran said feeling proud of himself, before the sound of the passage opening again revealing the Moonshadow elf. “But how did you…” Ezran started confused as to how she figured it out so quickly.

She just smirked at him before responding with “ I just pressed the stones with the jelly handprints.” Ezran groaned facepalming leaving a handprint of jelly on his face.

I watched as she inspected the shelves lined with jars, and stepped back lifting her blades and pointed them at the three of us. “What is this place? Runaan was right. There’s nothing in humans worth sparing.” She stepped closer to us.” Times up. Humans destroyed the egg of the Dragon Prince. There must be justice.”

I pushed Callum and Ezran behind me remembering my promise to protect them, making eye contact with the young elf, “You’ll have to get through me.” I watched as she looked me up and down her eyes catching on the moon opal hanging around my neck before stepping closer placing the tip of on of the blades against my neck.

“Realy?” she asked, ready to take out whoever she has to inorder to complete her mission.

“Wait!” Ezran exclaimed. Stepping out from behind me looking towards a corner. “You need to see something.”

She rolled her eyes at this, “I’m not falling for that flashing frog trick again.” She said pointing the blade at Ezran.

The glow toad in question flashed red before Ezran responded to the statement. “He’s a glow toad. But there’s no trick this time. Please, look.” He pointed at an object covered in a cloth.

The elf hesitated, but eventually agreed. “Fine. You uncover it. Slowly.” She stepped back still pointing on blade at Ezran with the other pressed to my neck still.

Ezran walks over to it “I can hear something inside, something alive.” he said as he pulled the cloth of the mystery object. We were all stunned as it revealed a large glowing egg.

Slowly approaching the egg, the elf gasped. “It… it can’t be.”

Me and Callum both watched stunned as Ezran and the elf turned to face us. Callum then voiced what we were all thinking. “ The egg… It wasn’t destroyed.”

#x reader #tdp soren x reader #soren x reader #tdp x reader #the dragon prince #tdp soulmates #soulmate au #fluff #part 1??

[nilesdaughter]

Invisible to the Eye, Found by the Heart

Fandom: Critical Role Characters: Percy De Rolo, Vex'ahlia Pairing: Perc'ahlia Word Count: 1,165 Note: Gods, this AU is finally out of my head and out in the open. I admittedly don't have enough figured out to tackle a multific quite yet, but it seemed appropriate for today's prompt(s) for @percahliaweek!

[Also found on AO3.]

x-x-x-x-x

"You don't talk much, do you?"

Percival looked up from his book, blinking once. Twice.

"Pardon?" he finally asked when he pushed past his surprise.

Vex'ahlia's lips—soft, he recalled, though the memory was admittedly unbidden—curled up into a smile, amusement glittering in her dark eyes as she crossed her arms. "You heard me, darling."

"A-are you always this, ah… familiar with individuals you've only just met?" he asked rather than answer her question.

"I'd argue that we haven't just met," she countered, finally pulling out the chair opposite him. She turned it so the back was facing towards the table, straddled the seat, and propped her arms up on its back. She seemed to study him for a few moments before he noticed her amusement giving way to worry, her brow furrowing slightly. She then let out a little sigh and held her hands up in a placating gesture.

"I can keep this professional if you'd prefer, Mr. De Rolo. You are, after all, the one funding this expedition."

"I… appreciate that," he said slowly. "But I also did not mean to offend you by seeming so…"

"Distant?" she supplied.

Percy laughed once and he was startled that she had pulled such a sound out of him. "Yes, I suppose that is an apt description."

She smiled faintly, though he noted that the gesture didn't quite meet her eyes. Before he could linger on it, she continued in a teasing tone, "I suppose you do need to keep up that mysterious air of yours."

He did the same one-two blink of surprise and asked, "Mysterious?"

Vex tilted her head, something bordering on incredulity in her features. "This little group of mine has certainly had its fair share of expeditions and treasure hunts, Mr. De Rolo, but you are the first to have reached out to us, rather than the other way around.”

“Ah,” he said simply.

Her features softened once more into a smile and then she leaned forward, now hugging the back of the chair she was sitting in. “So, what exactly is it that you’re hoping to find out in the Shattered Teeth, darling? There are very few people who even dare to venture into that region.”

“You’re daring to do so,” he pointed out, evading her questioning once more.

“Yes, well… You’ll find that our little band has a penchant for running towards danger. My brother, in particular.” She let out a faint laugh before she continued. “I suspect that we might be one of the only mercenary companies that would have accepted your job, what with the rumors of moving islands and spirits and all that nonsense.”

“I take it you are not one for superstitions, Miss Vex’ahlia?”

“Not particularly,” she replied with a shake of her head. “And you’ve yet to answer my question, Mr. De Rolo. What is the purpose of this expedition? What do you hope to find?”

“...An artifact.”

She tilted her head slightly, a small quirk of her brow substituting her words as she silently asked him to elaborate.

Percy let out a soft sigh and, after being sure to mark his place on the page, closed his book and set it neatly in his lap. “I assume you know of the Age of Arcanum?”

“I’d be surprised if I didn’t, darling.”

“Yes, well, I have found that there are some individuals to whom it is not an interest, and they know little more than the very basic story that it was a technologically advanced era that then ended because of the hubris of humanity.”

She nodded and, to his surprise, she seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say, without any semblance of impatience or weariness in her expression.

“...Scholars believe that the Shattered Teeth are the remains of the first city that fell at the beginning of the Calamity,” he started, encouraged by her silent fascination, “Avalir, the City of Crowns. As it was one of the few floating cities that consistently interacted with the known world at the time, it often seems to be the one we know the most about. Yet, at the same time, we know next to nothing about it. I suspect that is due to the location of its ruins, to be honest with you, but I also suspect—as do many others that study the floating cities—that with the loss of Avalir specifically, we lost an incredible library of knowledge from that time period. However, there is also a common theory amongst academic circles that those records were actually preserved in an arcane artifact. The Por’co Sphere. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to find it in the Teeth.”

“And you’re truly only interested in the promise of knowledge? The fact that the Sphere is supposedly made of pure gold is none of your concern?”

Percy paused, again blinking twice, before he felt warmth spread across his cheeks. “You know your history,” he said with a faint laugh, hoping to hide his embarrassment about lecturing someone who already knew the lore.

“I know my treasure,” she corrected with an amused smile and an odd fondness creeping into her tone.

“Fair enough,” he said with a slight nod before he looked away in an attempt to save himself from further embarrassment.

“If nothing else, that explains what you needed us for,” Vex said. “A lot of people are interested in the Sphere, scholar or otherwise.”

“Oh, yes,” he agreed, grateful that the conversation had shifted. “I am not helpless by any means, but I believe I stand a better chance of dealing with what may or may not impede my progress if I have a team with me.”

“We’ll be sure to protect you, darling,” she assured him before she winked.

The same damnable wink that stole his breath on the day they’d been introduced to each other.

He cleared his throat and, gripping his book tightly, he stood up. “I… I do appreciate that, Miss Vex’ahlia. Your confidence is certainly a comfort. But if you’ll excuse me, I believe now would be a good time to retire for the evening.” He gave her a bit of a stiff nod and stepped past her towards the staterooms.

“‘Vex,’ darling,” she called over her shoulder.

He paused and turned to look back in her direction with a questioning look.

“You can just call me ‘Vex.’ If you’d like.”

“I… I will keep that in mind.” A beat. “And… you may simply call me ‘Percy.’” Another beat before he echoed, “If you’d like.”

“Of course, darling. I hope you rest well tonight.”

He nodded and continued along his way. At the end of the promenade, he paused once more and glanced back in Vex’s direction, watching as she stood and righted the chair she’d been occupying. He couldn’t help but smile, knowing that he would be treasuring her kindness and her willingness to listen to his ramblings. How lucky he was, then, to have hired Vox Machina.

#percahliaweek #critical role #perc'ahlia #percy de rolo #vex'ahlia #mild exu calamity spoilers #mild campaign 3 spoilers #the mummy au #prompt: treasure #fanfiction

[rexthefox]

Just got hit with the best AU idea I've had personally so far. It's gonna be a long post so be prepared!

An au that combines both Murder drones and the dragon prince! Focusing on the characters from murder drones placed in the universe of the dragon prince because yes.

The disassembly drones already remind me of moon shadow elves, with the white hair and how most are trained to be assassins! And the worker drones are obviously humans, however absolute solver could be viewed as dark magic! You see where I'm getting at?...there's also the blood moon clan of moon shadow elves that drink blood so like

It depends on your preference for the au but elf vampires would be closer to canon!!

The plot and characters so far would be similar to both.

Uzi is a rebellious human princess who researches dark magic but believes it's wrong, her mother nori passed away due to over using it or got too corrupted or smth, maybe they could have a dark magic curse running in the family that horribly shifts their body after using dark magic too much, mayyybe a curse placed on several human family's by a specific corrupted Arch-Elf?~ (Cyn not aaravos.) I'd like to think Uzi would be lore like Callum in this case as she does take over that role, age adores stories about Xadia and primal magic and probably thinks the elf human war is bull crap

Her dad, Khan rules the kingdom of copper 9 alone, Uzi often sneaks our to town to cause mayhem or be free of her princessly duty's much to her father's dismay.

However everything changes when 3 moonshadow-skywing elf hybrids..(thinking about having them magically made that way due to several curses..and also arch elf Cyn.) Show up in town and start killing some people, Uzi ofc wants to stop this, but her dad ends up forbidding her from leaving the castle, she does it anyway leaves and meets N after he tries to kill her and she successfully over powers him via weird magical weapon her mom gave her, boom railgun knife wand. I'm working on that bit.

It goes about as well as the pilot, Ns vision gets blurred because she hit him in the head, he thinks she's another elf, patches up her hand he cut with his blades and they end up becoming weird friends before Uzi runs off back to the castle before J and V return.

I want to connect the dragon prince story points more to this au as well but I'm out of ideas currently- however some plot points I am considering are:

Uzi is more attuned to the star and moon arcanums at first and struggles with the rest

V ends up tagging along on her and Ns journey to find a way to stop dark magic and because Uzi wants to go to Xadia to learn about the weapon her mom had stolen.

N is constantly a sweetheart as always and tries to befriend humans several times while in disguise, much to Uzi and Vs dismay

Thinking Doll and Lizzy may be the Claudia and Soren In this au (But lesbians instead of siblings....plus like dolls parents are dead-) at least for the first half?? Doll obviously could be a dark mage.

I don't know what to do with Tessa yet but she would become important when J returns later on in the story

But hey if people have ideas feel free to give them to me! Or other feedback on this weird lil au!

I wrote this at 11pm so excuse my grammar mistakes and spelling errors if there are any

#murder drones #glitch productions #murder drones uzi #Rex's rambles #the dragon prince #Au ideas #no but seriously think of the simalarities to tdp and murder drones #N and Uzi are also simaler to callum and rayla in a weird way

[renegadesfic]

Hello everybody new fandom new pinned new me. I am DETERMINED to establish myself as The verneider author on whatever platforms I post on SO. Here we go.

I'm Nathan, or Angel. We are a system, our main blog is @renegadessys and you can always message us there, that's also where we follow from. Our pronouns are he/it. Most of the stuff we write is highly self indulgent and written for our fictives of various characters but especially with the list that will follow lots of this is just for fun!

Our main fandom and the one we will be posting a lot for as of now is Reverse: 1999, our main ships are Schneider/Vertin, Sonetto/Vertin, Lilya/Sonetto (rarepair central LMAO), and some poly variations thereof (Vertin has two hands!!!!).

Fic ideas and links below!

EXPLICIT

1. A followup to the first smutfic I wrote on ao3, Vertin/Schneider reuniting post Storm resolution and having some wonderful heartfelt moments and then. You Know. POSTED HERE

2. A followup to that followup - several months later, their anniversary.

3. An alternative followup - Vertin wakes up from a nightmare and there is comfort and also You Know.

4. College AU - Vertin meets Schneider at a party. There may be follow up oneshots to this one! POSTED HERE

5. Vampire Schneider/Vampire Hunter Vertin AU. Mostly just insane flirting and nsfw. POSTED HERE

6. Either standalone or potentially a followup to 4: Schneider inviting Sonetto to join her and Vertin

7. Lilya and Sonetto fuck around after that one scene in the story where they do the training simulation together. (NOTE: in this fic and all other fics I write with Lilya in them I will be writing her as a non-op trans girl. This is for one of our system members' sake because that's how she identifies. Don't get weird)

8. Schneider/Vertin and Sonetto/Lilya partner/sub swap. Very simple.

9. College age Vertin meets Schneider after she and her friends visit a bar that is not expressly a gay bar but sure comes close!

NON EXPLICIT

1. Vertin being diagnosed with some variant of Hanahaki disease while in the artificial somnambulism treatments post-chapter 2. Very angsty. NOW POSTING HERE

2. Vertin/Schneider coffee shop au. Someone has to do it. Vertin is a perpetually tired college student, Schneider is a perpetually flirty barista.

3. Future domestic oneshot where Vertin and Schneider are??? Married???? Have kids??????? Idk I just live here

4. End of chapter 4, Sonetto finds out when Z's birthday is and convinces everyone to throw her a surprise party as thanks for helping Vertin and co. (NOTE: I will be referring to her as Dr. Z regardless of canon, she worked hard to get a phd in whatever weird science she does and I refuse to discount it)

5. Ghost Schneider AU. Basically Vertin is "haunted" by Schneider's ghost after the Storm takes her, presumably due to some arcanum fluctuation that sticks her to Vertin (handwaves away the details). Romance. But sad.

6. Time travel fix-it - Vertin goes back in time to try to stop Schneider's death. NOW POSTING HERE

I will update this list as I get more ideas and write these. Please send me asks or let me know if there's one in particular you want to read!

#verneider #reverse 1999 #reverse: 1999 #vernetto #lilya and sonetto need a ship name lol #schneider reverse 1999 #vertin reverse 1999 #sonetto reverse 1999 #lilya reverse 1999 #yaaay pinned post

[stormbreaker101]

Emma Stargem - Spirit Walker and Honorary Detective

Age: 20

Level: 42 Death

Personality: Upbeat, social butterfly, compassionate, cunning, generous, a little pranksterous

Status: Doing good! Living stellar best life with her family and myriad of friends.

Story: The Spiral used to be a game, and Star loved the social aspect of it. She was the kind of player who would host parties in her castle and lend a hand to new wizards, but didn't care as much about the main gameplay as her twin Emma had. When Nora corrupted the Spiral, that social interconnection was absolutely snapped. The only folks Star had left were her siblings and the NPCs who had just gotten the rudest awakening of their now-unscripted lives.

Star stayed in Wizard City with her little sister Savannah while Emma was off doing savior things of his own in Grizzleheim. Thanks to her status as a 'senior student' and being Nora's cousin, she quickly found herself involved in helping tame Wizard City's portion of Aberrant magic: Aberrant Death that roused the legions of Undead that Malistaire once summoned and Nora had quelled years ago. Star didn't mind this new normal of trying to dispel these old dead; it was a way she could help out without straying too far from what home she had.

Though her connection to Nora would not let Star rest easily. The Arcanum sought her and Savannah out after Emma had little choice but to ask them for help. Of COURSE Star wanted to be able to help (or at least see) Emma, and the Arcanum's promise of extra tutoring definitely sweetened the deal, as Ravenwood Academy had paused nigh-indefinitely thanks to the Undead uprising.

Star quickly made friends with some of the Arcanum scholars, including Qyburn Stellargaze, who introduced Star to a set of neopronouns that Star just had to take for herself. "It fits my aesthetic, yknow? Gotta commit to the bit." Star's relationship to her primary mentor, Qismah, was a bit tense though. Stellar bright belief that one's life ought to be filled with as much joy and whimsy and carpe-diem'ness as possible BECAUSE of the inevitable solemnity of death was a stark contrast to Qismah's more stoic and poised views of discipline and quiet respect of the living and dead alike.

Star was content with studying under the Arcanum and helping the scholars however she could, but calamity struck in Karamelle. Nora, who had been absent, villainized, and assumed dead for years by the Spiral, was calling for help. And the help that Star and the scholars were able to bring was too little too late. Nora was killed, eaten alive, and all that was left of her was her pet, some crystallized Storm magic she had left behind, the damages she had caused, and an absolutely heartbroken family. Most hurt was Nora's baby sister, Iridian, now guardianless. Star knew the Arcanum may have been a good place for herself and Emma and Savannah, who all wanted to study magic and help the Spiral in their own ways, but it was not a stable home for a young growing child.

Star's friend from another Spiral, Owen Macheca (@saturniidaze) offered to let Iridian and the three sisters move in with their own family in the (Multiversal) Reconstructed AU (@clockwork-fiends). Star technically was old enough by now (or so stel thought at the time, 17 years old) to not need a typical home with familial adult figures, but she wanted to stay close to Iridian and Savannah, take care of them, be a constant for them.

Star now lived a life with a foot in both Spirals, but the Macheca family was quickly becoming Star's main home now. And when other multiversal madness swooped in and stole Emma away, Star nigh-permanently pulled away from Wizarding. Her family needed her more than the Arcanum did, though stel would always be a friend to the Arcanum. Rather than a foot in both Spirals, she had both feet in (MV)R! and a hand in CS.

Things quieted down once Emma was saved. And a new chapter of Star's life, complete with an entirely new universe unlike any Spiral, was beginning. Owen had a dear old friend that they named a father, Akhtar Vice (@stormyykat), who could not remember his own death from 15 years ago. With her own experience with necromancy and the evergreen desire to help out however stel could, Star joined Owen on investigating what should've been a cold case.

Key word: should've.

Things got incredibly messy. I can't delve into it in a basic OC intro post. But from that experience, Star gained many new yet strong connections to this new universe and a passion for private detectivework. This universe, which quite closely paralleled the Earth Star remembered before getting stuck in her first Spiral, became yet another home to her. Star comfortably and truly lives with a foot in the Spiral and a foot in this other-Earth. Modern but still magical (including all the game-mechanic magics, much to her newest friends' bewilderments), bohemian but still involved.

#oc: star #wizard101 #corrupted spiral #reconstructed au #you can really see the point where my characters went from solo projects to being involved in rp with friends #character bio #nx!c #leah speaks :3

[blorbologist]

Architect of our demise: Chapter 5

Scheduling, chores, and discussions of religious desecration over black coffee. Such is the routine aboard a skyship.

The Grey Huntress sighs, as if in awe of the proceedings. The floor tilts beneath their feet as she rocks in the wind.

Percival knots his fingers together. He would like to think about this. He probably does not have nearly as much time to think as much as he would like. Not just yet, with Vex’ahlia watching him in the low light. Despite how still she stands her chest trembles and heaves in turn - trying desperately to keep a lid on her emotions. 

He gives himself until she’s evened out her breathing. Perilous little time, but enough to get to the heart of the issue:

“So,” he says. Her ears twitch. “This is… a lot.”

Vex’ahlia croaks a laugh. “You’re telling me.”

There are so many questions to ask. But Percival has enough tact to know he can only offer a few before she walls up this wound again. Best avoid the painful bits and stick to business.

(Why? Did the ritual go wrong? Why? So she’s over a hundred years old? Why? Is her bond to death strengthened by their relationship? Why? Why achieve godhood only to want to revoke it?)

“If I am, ah, understanding you correctly: you stuck close to me in the hopes I would know how you could undo the Reaper - your brother’s godhood?” She nods. “Without… wiping him from reality, as the ritual did to his predecessor?” Another nod. “And, hm. Putting him in an aeormaton?”

This time she shrugs. “I mean? Not necessarily,” she says. Her voice is weaker than she’d like; it comes out stronger as she continues: “I just want him back. And - well, his body is… a whole thing. So that makes more sense.

“And I understand,” she’s quick to add, “if - you said it can’t be done. Couldn’t, with your family.”

But the god of death is not dead. 

But the god of death is not a nobody, a soul like no other. 

Her optimism is sensible. But Percival keeps himself from flinching nonetheless. 

And yet - and yet! Sore as he may be, he is wired, humming with energy so vicious he might shock himself. Without a spark of magic he carved enchantment into being, leylines writ small. He, a mortal man, is creator of thousands, made not by messy biology or unknowable divinity but his own hand. Five names, a list of people too powerful to touch, and he had killed four and ensured no mage would ever feel so untouchable again.

What would the world look like, without a deity to mind death? Unshackled from fate? What if the Reaper Prince’s iron grip on his loom, cutting frayed threads, was not there to deny his family’s return? 

There is the one snag of his entire laboratory having gone up in smoke. And that he failed, before. But science is a ladder; perhaps this was the one wrung missing to reach his family’s hands and pull them out of the heavens.

They’ve been in the ship’s hold for a time, now. The thought of leaving the wheel unattended unsettles him; Percival stands, brushing dust and metal shavings from his coat. Some sticks. Ugh, he’d forgotten about the blood.

“... I can’t give you an answer just yet.” It comes out more gently than expected. “However, it’s - frankly, this is too tantalizing a prospect to not consider. Will he - the Warden of Ravens - try to stop you? Stop this?”

“I don’t know. But I know him - I know him,” she insists. “He won’t help, because he’s - such a dutiful shit about things. But I have to try.”

He understands that perfectly well.

Prologue | Keep reading on AO3!

#While I'm actually online for once in a lil reprieve before I get back to coding behavior: lookie new chapter <3 #critical role #perc'ahlia #percahlia #cr fanfic #age of arcanum AU #my writing

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

Is Vex still a Beast Master ranger in the AoA au, or does she go monster slayer for the anti-caster abilities it offers?

oooo that's a hard question! I love beast master ranger as a subclass (despite currently playing a monster hunter lmao) but I think that she would absolutely go the monster hunter way because she wants to be able to fuck up any mage that tries to hurt her and her brother. But Trinket is still her companion because I could never get rid of the boy <3

#age of arcanum au #critical role #vox machina #lis makes hcs

[burr-ell]

For bingo: Laudna and Fresh Cut Grass

there is so much about laudna that could have been better if just like, she had another patron. literally anyone would do, let delilah DIE already, honestly i'd unplug laudna's life support if my phone was at 100%, what's imogen and her tissue paper ass gonna do

fcg is just SO charming, i would for SURE give him a leetol kees on the head <33 explore faith and romance and life you funky lil robit!! also @blorbologist will be including them in her perc'ahlia age of arcanum au, architect of our demise, and it's gon be GOOD yall

character bingo asks

#asks

[spacefinch]

I can’t stop making crossover AUs, send help

Anyway: Octonauts characters in the Dragon Prince universe:

Shellington: a human mage with an affinity for Ocean magic. He carries a satchel full of Primal gems, which he uses for spellcasting.

Dashi, a Skywing Elf. She’s one of Shellington’s best friends. Maybe even more? Has a photographic memory.

Not illustrated:

Barnacles: a human sea captain from the north.

Kwazii: Tidebound elf, and ex-pirate. Blind in his right eye.

Peso: Earthblood elf. A talented healer, and has a vast knowledge of Xadian plants.

Tweak: Human inventor from the kingdom of Evenere. (If that’s how you spell it.)

Professor Inkling: Can’t decide if he should be a human or an elf, but he is old. He is also a wheelchair user.

Notes:

The Vegimals stay exactly as they are. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say their species could exist in the Dragon Prince Universe. And yes, Shellington is still their adoptive dad.

Ages:

Shellington: 27

Dashi: 28

Tweak: 28

Kwazii: 25

Peso: 22

Barnacles: 35

Inkling: 70s

Shellington isn’t a good fighter— in fact, he’s rather clumsy. But for a human, he’s very good at magic.

He’s also one of the few human mages not to use Dark magic. It’s always disgusted him, and he’d rather not be corrupted, thank you very much.

Does he “understand” the Ocean Arcanum like Callum understands the Sky Arcanum? No. Does that matter to him? Not really.

Loves to collect rocks— partly for their Primal energy, but mostly because they’re pretty.

Professor Inkling taught him how to craft Primal Stones.

#octonauts #the dragon Prince #shellington

[jaskwritesthings]

hi jask! it's @glossolali 💜 here's some prompts~

- Caleb and Essek tether essence hurt comfort

- Caleb and Molly fey AU

- Caleb, Molly and Essek cuddle puddle (bonus points for one or more of them being sassy menaces)

tags: hurt/comfort, blood and injury

(ao3)

first one, other two to follow buddy!

Teether Essence 

7th-level necromancy (dunamancy)

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 60 feet

Components: V, S, M (a spool of platinum cord worth at least 250 gp, which the spell consumes)

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

Two creatures you can see within range must make a Constitution saving throw, with disadvantage if they are within 30 feet of each other. Either creature can willingly fail the save. If either save succeeds, the spell has no effect. If both saves fail, the creatures are magically linked for the duration, regardless of the distance between them. When damage is dealt to one of them, the same damage is dealt to the other one. If hit points are restored to one of them, the same number of hit points are restored to the other one. If either of the tethered creatures is reduced to 0 hit points, the spell ends on both. If the spell ends on one creature, it ends on both.

With the Aeorian creature finally felled at his feet Essek took a moment to fish a potion from his wrist pocket and undo the damage the creature's massive claws had done to his leg. 

He rather felt like they were a dab hand at adventuring alone through the ruins now. Not so long ago two Reverser’s would have been the cause for no small amount of panic. Now, Essek and Caleb had dealt with enough of the loose monstrosities of the age of Arcanum that they knew how to dispatch them quickly and efficiently.  

Caleb was close by, merely on the other-side of what might have been a lovely courtyard once, now it was an ice shattered ruin of stone and deadly moss. He was finishing his own opponent with ease so Essek wasn’t overly concerned. He trusted his partner to yell if he required aid in the battle but he kept a close eye on things just in case. The dark stain on Caleb’s side did worry Essek a little, though it didn’t seem to affect Caleb all that much. But it was enough for Essek to decide he’d risk Caleb’s usual lecture and expand another high level spell for tether essence. Perhaps he could convince Caleb it was more economical to use the spell to heal them both? He doubted it would work but it might be worth the amused smile he would get for his attempt.

The platinum cord sparked and disappeared from his fingers as he felt the spell settle over them both like a fuzzy blanket. Caleb didn’t offer even a token of a fight against the spell and it warmed him deeply, the show of unshakeable trust in him.

With that pleasant feeling settling in his gut, Essek uncorked the potion but before he could taste the first bitter drop there was a sharp, tearing pain ripping through his side as his world tilted dramatically sideways. He was flung unceremoniously aside like a rag doll by another Reverser that had snuck up on him. The echo of one their limited potions shattering against the stonework was overshadowed by the agonised cry Caleb let out as the pain vibrated through the bond.

Essek whimpered as the fragile bond splintered and shattered like ice under the weight of his echoing pain. Caleb’s pain would be short lived at least, it was a small consolation as his gaze darkened and the green ape-like monster advanced on its fallen prey.

“Essek!” Caleb yelled and Essek’s eyes snapped open, disorientating him. He was much closer than Essek remembered and their foe was nowhere to be seen. How long had he fallen unconscious? 

“I am here Caleb,” Essek said, his voice weaker than he’d expected.

“Drink this, I’ll set up the dome,” Caleb shoved the neck of potion into his mouth and moved away only as far as necessary to begin setting up the dome.

“The tower?” Essek questioned as he swallowed the remedy.

“Nein, I may have overdone it on that last Reverser…” Caleb admitted quietly.

Essek pushed himself up enough to note the smouldering remains not that far from them both. It hardly resembled a Reverser, the sickly green of its hide turned black and broken by the heat of Caleb’s fire. It was touching in a way. 

The dome shimmered into existence around them, the chill of Aeor replaced by the warmth of Caleb’s protective dome. That, mixed with his wounds knitting back together, allowed him to relax and sigh as he sunk back against the broken stonework safe in the knowledge they were okay for now. 

“All right?” Caleb asked.

“Better,” Essek admitted with a sigh as he set aside the empty bottle, “my apologies, I should have examined my surroundings better. Are you hurt?”

Caleb shook his head, “Nein, only shaken. I thought…”

Caleb went quiet and Essek waited for a few moments but he didn’t appear to be able to continue, “Caleb?”

“The tether snapped so suddenly, I thought I’d lost you,” Caleb whispered, his voice wrecked in a way Essek hadn’t heard before.

“My concentration slipped,” Essek said gently.

Caleb chuckled without humour, “Slipped, mein schatz, you felt like you were dying and then...nothing.”

Essek reached out, tentative as he worried about the welcome of his touch in the moment, Caleb seemed almost as though he could shatter under the weight of his short lived grief and Essek didn’t want to be the one that broke Caleb for good, “I’m sorry.”

Caleb’s hand snapped out and clasped Essek’s hand tightly, his grip almost painful as he pulled Essek’s hand to his lips. It wasn’t so much of a kiss as an excuse to feel the warmth of him, the beat of his heart under Caleb’s shaky breath.

“There’s nothing to apologise for,” Caleb said but the shake in his hand as he held tight told a different truth. 

“Lay down with me for a moment,” Essek asked him, eager to wrap Caleb in his embrace and chase away the lingering fear as he’d so often done for Essek.

“The packs-“ Caleb argued but Essek merely pulled his hand, not releasing him, down towards the earth hoping to coax his partner to follow.

“Caleb, please.”

Caleb hesitated for a moment before his shoulders slumped, tension seeming to ooze out of him like an open wound, “Ja, for a moment.”

#jask answers #critical role #shadowgast #shadowgast fanfiction #critical role fanfiction #glossolaliac

[dent-de-leon]

hm thinking about...Plank King Tealeaf and Caleb arranged marriage AU--

Or perhaps with Volstrucker Caleb and fate touched Molly/Lucien, but they're in the Age of Arcanum--

#having many circus man and magic man thoughts--