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monstergoblin · 1 year

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The Owl Pirates Chapter Five

First Chapter Tumblr Link HERE Previous Chapter Tumblr Link HERE Posted First On A03 Here It’ll be updated on A03 first and might take me a bit to get to updating it here as I always seem to forget about my tumblr. <3

Trigger Warnings Always Read Safe: Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Pushing down feelings, Overworking self to ignore feelings, Child Abuse (Belos is a bitch okay), Gaslighting, Self Gaslighting, Manipulation, Injuries

Notes:

I know Hunter seems to be flip-flopping with the "He's okay and plotting now" to the panic mode and crying. Its how I think he would process traumatic events though. Where he doesn't want to remember them so he's trying to busy himself with something else.

Like capturing pirates

That's totally a normal teenage hobby right?

Chapter 5: Bookclub

Something was wrong with the boy.

Other than the fact he was a navy dog.

Eda had been keeping an eye on him as the week went by. His first day was definitely his toughest. It was only natural for someone who had faced such trauma to be a little messed up from it. The ocean was something to be respected and if you forgot that fact you could die.

But after the first day, Eda had noticed the boys behavior change. Not a healthy slow change of getting used to the crew. No, this was different.

He was awfully obedient for a navy dog .

The second day on the ship his personality flipped from quiet, and crying to a disturbing thing. The boy was being friendly.

No matter what the chore was, Hunter would jump up and do it politely. He never talked back and even didn’t complain when Eda made him swab the deck again after he’d just finished. She did that to try to get a rise out of the kid.

She watched him. He only snapped at whoever was watching him once in a while- if they were being particularly annoying or trying to offer their help. Which was natural. She assigned the kids to stick around with him so they would always know where the brat was. Though, truthfully the kids were being used like a bell on him. She didn’t want him alone in case Lilith was right.

Because Lilith wont let her live it down if she is right.

Eda for the most part agreed with Camila. This was just a boy, raised by someone with evil intentions, but that did not make him guilty for every death Belos caused. Didn’t make the child at fault for the damage he was forced to do.

Lilith did not agree, good thing she was only navigator.

Eda wasn’t stupid, she knew the boy was planning something. Probably wanting to turn her in or something else idiotic.

At least he wasn’t crying.

The last time Hunter had been caught crying was four days ago. His first day, when Matt had gone to fetch him after dinner to find him under the stairs.

Eda was tempted to always have Matt at his side since the boy was also in the navy at one point- but circumstances were different for the two boys. Hunter was Belos nephew, Matt had just been a cabin boy because Steve wanted to earn a living to support him. Still, Matt might be able to relate to Hunter a bit.

Though Eda had already agreed with Camila, which is why they were rotating which kid watched Hunter. At the very least it made for very amusing entertainment to see how the different kids handled the navy boy.

Eda had to fight off the laugh at Gus’s attempt to have a water fight with Hunter for the navy boy just to flip out and tell him how childish it was.

However, no matter how much Hunter seemed to be “Fitting in”, Eda could see him watching everyone else. Everyone but the younger children were told to keep an eye on the boy at all times, if he’s in vicinity. Emira and Eldric being the only two children let in on the rule as Eda did not want the younger ones worrying about him and treating him differently.

No, that would probably have the opposite effect that they wanted.

Navy dogs always saw pirates as monsters. If they proved him right then saving the boys life might as well not have happened. If there was a possibility of him learning that people were people, or even that Belos’s twisted laws didn’t add up, Eda wanted to take it.

Maybe she was going a little soft.

Okay she was going soft, half her crew were kids.

Eda kept the boy busy. She knew if he wasn’t busy he’d be thinking. Thinking was dangerous for a navy dog on a pirate ship. If he did something stupid, Eda would be forced to carry out her word- and she really didn’t want to carry out her word.

Matt had openly complained to Eda the second day Hunter was on the ship. Mostly about his own responsibilites but he did also point out there was plenty to do around the ship. Eda had already planned for Hunter to be put to work, but it was nice to know if she thought Luz was letting the boy slack off, she could just stick Matt on shift for a bit.

It was funny to watch too. The shorter child shouting commands at the navy boy. Matt was always one to eat up any chance at being in charge.

It was Hunter’s fifth day on the ship today. Amity was watching him sitting on the railing of the ship- after promptly being snapped at that Hunter did not need help with swabbing the deck. Which was one of Hunters regular chores now.

Eda was observing from the helm. Looking as if she couldn’t care about the boy on deck but she was careful- even if Lilith complained she wasn’t- but Hunter did not seem to have come up with a plan yet. He was trying, but whatever ridiclous thing he thought he could do, was proving to difficult. She could see it when he’d stare at rope for to long, or a weapon- Eda was not about to hand him a weapon.

The boy was plotting something.

And Eda was going to make it as impossible as she possibly could.

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“You missed a spot.” Amitys pointed to an area that Hunter had gotten twice now.

“I know what I’m doing.” Hunter snapped, but still going over the spot the girl pointed out. He was not about to have her saying anything about him half-assing his work.

“If you let me help it would be done faster.” Amity sighed as she looked at her nails- which were somehow always perfectly painted despite her working on a ship.

“I don’t need help.” Hunter repeated for what was probably the seventh time today. He had only had Amity as his babysitter once before, and it was in the evening when everyone else was gambling. He had liked her better when she was talking to others instead of telling him how to do his job.

“I just said it would be faster.” Amity shrugged not really watching Hunter but looking out to the sea. “No need to bite my head off.”

He was getting it done wasn’t he, and he was doing a great job in his opinion.

Hunter bit his tongue trying not to say something that Amity could go report to the captain. She seemed the type to jump up at any reason to get him in trouble- even if she hadn’t yet.

“You’re so stubborn.” Amity complained hopping off the railing and landing with a small thud on deck. “if you just accept my help, you can finish faster and I can work on my own chores.” She put her hands on her hips waiting for Hunter to cave.

“No.” Hunter declared.

Amity threw her hands in the air letting out a little “Hmphf.” Before rubbing her temple. “Fine, Fine, I’ll just keep watching, because that’s all I’m supposed to do.” She resumed sitting on the railing.

“I can take over early.” The voice startled Hunter into flipping towards Willow who had approached them from behind him. “I mostly secured everything. “ She gave a little shrug. “I don’t mind.”

“Willow!” Amity jumped up giving her a hug. “Thank you, I owe you big time!”

Hunter only knew Willow from diner time, and the gambling sessions. Only learned her name because Gus decided the best way for Hunter to learn names was to start quizzing him during chores- after Gus had caught on to the fact Hunter had forgotten Gus’ name. In Hunters defense he had heard it once and wasn’t even paying attention.

“You’re awfully made at the mop.” Willow giggled quietly.

Hunter hadn’t realized he was gripping it hard and swabbing angrily. To be fair most his babysitters had been annoying. It made him miss the loud girl- though he didn’t like her either.

“Amity wasn’t trying to be mean.” Willow leaned against the railing watching Hunter. “She just was excited because Luz was going to help out and she wants every excuse to be around Luz.”

“She shouldn’t let that distract her from duties.” Hunter mumbled under his breath.

“It’s not hurting anything, Amity still pulls her weight.” Willow pushed herself back off the railing and began walking. “Besides her and Luz are cute, everyones placed bets on who's going to confess first.” She disappeared around a corner from Hunter's view before returning with a second mop.

“I don’t need help.” Hunter glared at her, why did everyone keep insisting he did. They just had to babysit him not do his chores for him.

“I didn’t say you did.’ Willow smiled, dipping her own mop in the bucket. “but I don’t like just watching, I'd much rather be helping.”

Hunter continued glaring at her as she started to help swab.

“You can’t stop me from helping, the sooner you accept it the sooner you finish.” WIllow remarked in a little sweet voice.

Fighting was just going to waste time.

Fine, but if the loud one uses this against him he’s going to be mad.

He’s only agreeing because Willow would probably find some way to get him in trouble if he didn’t let her help.

“You aren’t an outcast here.” Willow randomly said as her back was turned on Hunter.

“What?” He questioned.

“I know you probably feel like an outsider, which we all still need to get used to you.” Wiloow shrugged, turning to him. “But you aren’t so different from the rest of us. None of us really expected to become pirates, and we’re an odd crew. So don’t feel like the odd one out. You’re not.”

Was this an attempt to be nice? What made her think she needed to comfort him.

“Okay.” Hunter turned away from her hopping that was the end of the conversation.

“Sorry, I just noticed you never partake in anything. I just wanted you to know you can.”

“I don’t gamble.” Hunter stated.

“I can teach you if you want.”

“I don't want to gamble.” He enforced it. It was a stupid thing, wasting your money and time on a silly game of bets.

“Ah.” Willow wilted in on herself. “Okay, well we do lots of other things. Gus and Matt are always challenging each other to do stupid things. Emira and Edric like to play music. Amity and Luz have a book collection-”

He liked books.

His face must have revealed his interest as Willow perked up as he made eye contact with her.

“They are adorable about it. Gus borrows some from time to time too. It could be nice to have something to do other than work.” She smiled sweetly. “I can talk to them if you want?”

“I’ll do it.” Hunter decided. He did not need this girl holding his hand on getting things. He could do it by himself. He didn’t need help.

Yet here she was helping.

That wasn’t his choice though, she kinda forced it.

Right?

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The day went much too quickly for Amitys liking. This morning had lasted so long but then time seemed to have sped up after Willow took over her shift of watching the navy boy. Her time with Luz felt like it lasted only a moment before they were called for dinner - which Amity counted herself lucky when Luz wanted to continue their conversation on their book during it.

Before she knew it, the sun was on the horizon and Amity wanted to get an early start to bed so she could maybe sneak a chapter in on the book Luz was letting her borrow.

Which is how she ended up catching a blonde navy boy going through her things.

He looked ridiculous with her chest thrown open and his eyes wide as being caught.

“What are you doing?” Amity demanded.

They gave him shelter, saves his life, made him a hammock, and yet here he was stealing.

“Don’t touch my stuff.” She scolded, stomping over and slamming her chests lid down, nearly catching Hunter's fingers. “Who told you you can go through my things! Who should be watching you?” She looked around trying to see if anyone else was around. If this was someone's idea of a joke she was going to-

“Willow.” Came the boy's quiet answer.

“Willow?” Amity repeated. “Willows watching you? Where is she?”

“Said I could have a moment alone.” Hunter crossed his arms in defense.

“So you decide to steal?” Amity scoffed. “Wait till Eda hears this.” She started to walk away but her arm was caught by Hunter.

“No- I didn’t” He started

“You went through my things!” Amity yanked her arm away. “What am I supposed to do? Let you get away with it?”

Dammit Luz was right, he looked like a guilty puppy.

“Yes?” He shrugged looking away.

Amity could feel her face heating up. She took a deep breath trying to ground herself.

“Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” Her voice was angrier than she intended.

“Yes.” Hunter looked down, dropping his arms.

He looked rather pathetic for a thief.

“What were you even looking for?”

“Willow said you had books.” Hunter answered. “I was just going to borrow one.”

“Books? You’re stealing books?” Amity scoffed. “Why didn’t you ask to borrow one?”

“I don’t like talking to you.”

Why did she even bother asking? She should just be telling Eda. If he was going to be stealing they needed to be aware. She turned and made her way out of the crew's quarters.

“Please- Don’t- I was really just going to borrow it! Don’t make Eda throw me overboard.” Hunter pleaded.

Amity halted.

“Throw you overboard?” She scoffed turning to him, and part of her wanted to mess with him. Just how Edric and Emira did to her. His scared eyes made her think differently. “Edas not going to throw you overboard for ‘borrowing’ a book.” She sighed. “Or else I’d also be in the water right now.”

The understanding glow that crossed Hunters eyes made Amity realized she fucked up by telling him that.

“Look, I get it. You’re new. That’s how these things go. When I first joined I did far worse than you’ve done yet.” She crossed her arms. “So I’ll let it slide once”

Hunters lip slowly turned to a hopeful smile.

“But you owe me.”

“Owe you what?” His smile dropped again.

“I don’t know yet.” Amity trotted back to her chest and opened it. “Now if you want to borrow a book, I suggest you ask.”

“Can I?”

“No, ask Luz.” Amity felt a little smug as she grabbed her own book out of her things and made her way to her hammock. She had chosen this spot because the lantern nearby was the perfect amount to allow her to read in comfort.

“Oh, and you better hope she doesn’t catch you ‘borrowing’ from her. She will tell Eda.” Amity added hoping that was enough to scare the boy into not touching anyone else's things.

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Night on the ship was one of those uneasy feelings, being the only light for miles in the dark ocean only lit by the moon. Luz didn’t know why she found it nice, when others told her it made them feel so alone. It made her curious about the other things out on the ocean late at night.

She had a great day, and didn’t know why she was still awake truthfully. She should be down with everyone else in her hammock, resting. Yet here she was existing on deck watching the endless waves. If she kept up this her sleep schedule would end up as bad as Hootys.

Gilbert and Harvey were watching the deck tonight. With such a small crew the adults tended to rotate, but told the kids they needed their rest. It bothered Luz to know they did extra work to allow the kids to still be kids. She wanted to help out the best she could give them more free time. Camila told her not to worry about it. They had a small ship they could manage.

“Okay Kiddo, why are you awake?” Edas plopped herself down next to Luz.

“I’ll go to bed soon,” Luz promised. “Just enjoying it.”

“Everything you dreamed of?” Eda asked.

“It’s nice.” Luz smiled. “Always finding something new, meeting so many people.”

“Yeah, “ Eda lounged herself against the railing. “You picked up quite the crew didn’t you?”

“What do you mean me?”

“Well I never planned on sailing again until a little girl marched into my home demanding adventure.” Eda chuckled. “Something about me being the hero in your stories?”

“You’re in a lot of stories to be fair.” Luz chuckled.

“That’s because no one can resist writing about me.” Eda beemed.

“I guess the crew is pretty much family now.” Luz smiled. “Still not sure about Hunter though.”

Edas eyebrow shot up in interest. “Oh? What's wrong with him?”

“Nothing, he just seems off.” Luz contemplated.

“Its only been a few days, give him time.” Eda smirked nogging Luzs head which wiggled her bandana all messy.

“Eda stop!” Luz fixed it so she could see. “I know he just got here. I just thought he’d be more feisty.”

“Well, everyone's story is different, kid.” Eda put her head on her hand as she leaned against the railing. “We don’t know exactly what he’s been through, but it seemed to have messed him up pretty good.”

“yeah.”

“Or, maybe this is just how he acts.” Eda shrugs. “Truth is Luz we can’t really help someone we don’t really know. We just have to give it time. Make him comfortable.”

“What if he does leave?” Luz wasn’t sure why that would be bad. Eda was right they didn’t know him, but he was sad and it felt wrong to let him just leave at the next dock.

“That’s why you’re up.” Eda realized with a sigh. “Look, when we get to port, he has his choice. It's up to him what he does. You can’t force anyone to stay, stranger or not.”

“I know.” Luz turned away from the ocean and slid down to sit on the deck. “It just feels wrong to abandon him to be alone.”

“He’ll probably make his way back to the navy.” Eda explained. “He probably had friends there. He also has family even if it’s Belos. We don't know maybe the evil bitch is a good uncle.” She shrugged. “Either way it’s Hunter's decision, and we gotta respect it.”

“I can’t picture Belos raising a kid.” Luz twisted her face in disgust remembering her encounter with the man, when she bought his empty words of promise.

“He is his uncle, I never heard of Belos having a sibling but he must if he’s got a nephew. Maybe his family isn’t as bad as him.” Eda snorted. “Image Belos reading to a kid.”

“Speaking of which chapter are you and King on?” Luz asked.

“I read him chapter four tonight. He fell asleep before the witch made it to the school.” Eda chuckled. “he was so excited about her meeting a friend in the forest, but couldn’t keep his eyes open for the full conversation. “

“AW” Luz could imagine King trying to fight off the sleep to listen. Eda sitting in her captain's chair scooted next to his bunk. It was so sweet.

“I read ahead, the girl almost gets dissected.” Eda scoffs. “I could imagine you getting into that kind of trouble.”

“I learned from the best.” Luz chimed.

“I never said I wasn’t proud.”

They only continued talking for a bit longer- okay Eda and Luz did not know when to stop and kept talking for hours. It wasn’t until Hooty landed above them to loudly intrude that they stopped- even then it took a few minutes. The only reason they thought to stop was because Hooty was loud and people were sleeping.

Luz made her way back to the crew's quarters. Keeping quiet as she snuck around the hammocks. She nearly tripped into the person standing in front of her hammock.

“Why are you awake?” She jumped away from Hunter.

“Amity told me to ask before borrowing a book.” He responded.

“So you stayed awake till midnight waiting?” Luz whispered yelled. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”

Hunter shrugged. “Can I borrow a book?” he repeated.

“Fuck! I don’t know! Sure! Let’s talk about this tomorrow!” She pushed him out of her way.

Hunter didn’t respond, only started to walk past her to his own hammock.

“You know you could’ve come looking for me.” Luz added before climbing into her own hammock. “It would’ve saved you time.”

“I wasn’t going to risk my neck for a book.” The whispered reply came.

Luz stuck her head out of her hammock to eye the boy in the dark. “What?”

“I’m suppose to have a babysitter.”

“Oh, I think you’d be fine without one, once in a while.” Luz guessed. “Especially if everyones asleep and you’re waiting for someone.” She was too tired to play this game with the ex-navy. He seemed to value rules- which made sense with being navy and all- but really they were guidelines when Eda was in charge just don’t piss her off.

“Ok.” was all Hunter replied before leaving Luz to rest.

Truthfully Luz hadn’t told Eda everything she noticed about the boy. It was eerie how he just seemed to be normal after crying a whole day. How he seemed to have pushed his emotions to the side to value survival- just being obedient. Constantly acting like he was going to be killed for one wrong move.

Though Luz probably shouldn’t judge on pushing down feelings.

She was just worried about the stranger.

6TH Chapter Tumblr Link

#Mine #My Writing #TOH pirate au #TOH pirates #the owl house pirate au #the owl house pirate #toh Hunter #Toh Fic #Toh au #The owl house au #Toh Luz #Toh Gus #Toh King #Toh Eda #Toh Matt #Toh Willow #The owl house fic

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prince-toffee · 2 years

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So at the end of season 5 we find out, or at least it’s implied, that Horde Prime is the same kind of eldric horror eye shadow monster as the one that corrupted Shadow Weaver, and because they are a living parasite Prime uses up his physical form and must feed off of his clones’ ‘Life-Force’. And then when She-Ra dispels the evil horror being she solidifies herself as the true light. And I don’t know how I feel about that. Because I kind of hate it, because I kind of love it, because I kinda like it. It works extremely well, the same way Catra and Hordak are parallels, so are SW and HP, two of the biggest villains come from the same source. That’s kinda interesting, but that’s the thing; it’s kinda interesting. When She-Ra expels the evil spirit, it just happens, and you’re like ‘oh okay’. There’s no fanfare, no explanation. I mean that’s a neat connotation... I sure would love to see it happen on screen, you know, with this visual medium. And that’s the whole show, the whole show is kinda interesting. The First Ones are actually evil. Okay?... Are- Are you gonna expand on that? The First Princess Alliance. Who are they? Where are they? What happened to the Scorpion Kingdom and people? Even the individual Princesses, we barely explore them - for example my favourite Entrapta; what’s up with the robot parents? where are her real parents? where’s her runestone, why doesn’t she have one? The entire show feels like the tip of the iceberg and like we’re missing out on huge chunks of the story.

#salted toffee

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gazrgaleyart · 5 months

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A monster sleeping

eldric horror sleeping. What would you do if you walked in on this?

#digital art #artists on tumblr #artwork #vampires #warm blooded vampire series #manifestation of a monster #digital drawing #blender #gaz042 #3d art #3d model

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olivergarlic · 3 years

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its a boi! mike :)c

#tw eyes #oc #doodles #I think should post a warning I think #is he an eldric monster?#yes #art #mintreamsart

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baphymittens · 2 years

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Top 5 favorite monsters

Eldric, Beast, Demon, Undead, Alian.

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thegayfromrulid · 3 years

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Behind the Fic Writer: Pairings

I want to occasionally do little posts about me as a fic writer while we wait for Progressive! This is just a little snapshot into my favorite pairs to write for on AO3.

Yujikiri

What I Like About the Dynamic: It’s the goofy one shipped with the grounded one! Also they have good chemistry together, being able to make up for what the other lacks.

Preferred POV: First person from Kirito’s perspective; he’s very fun to write.

Favorite Tropes: Best Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers, Awkward Pining

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: Probably my one-shot Symphony.

Kirisuna

What I Like About the Dynamic: Nerdy child helps strict child be okay with being herself and then later is head over heels for her because she could whoop his ass...what isn’t to love here? 100% the way he looks at her and is like “Yes this is a strong woman and I love every bit of her” without question.

Preferred POV: Tough, but I think still first person Kirito here; I love writing him when he’s in love with someone...

Favorite Tropes: Established Relationship, Soulmates, Love At First Sight

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: Actually one I wrote the other day called Sunflower.

Alisuna

What I Like About the Dynamic: Very strong rivals who wind up kissing energy. Two strong people who are connected through that strength. A very capable duo who should be feared if their love makes them stronger.

Preferred POV: First or third person Asuna.

Favorite Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Not Realizing They’re Dating (But They So Are),

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: Still ongoing, Priestess of Light.

Eiyuuna

What I Like About the Dynamic: Tragic lovers who deserved better trope, would (have) died for one another. They will support the other until their dying breath and are just super loyal to one another and each other’s dreams.

Preferred POV: Third person Eiji.

Favorite Tropes: Awkward Pining, Musical Duo, Established Relationship

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: My one-shot Butterfly that I am seriously considering turning into a bigger fic.

Tieron

What I Like About the Dynamic: Very fricking SOFT lesbians that look like a chocolate-cherry combo that aesthetically pleases me. Supportive best friends to lovers, always helping out one another. Also they’re totally a baking couple.

Preferred POV: Third person for either of them.

Favorite Tropes: Awkward Pining, Forbidden Love, Baking, Friends to Lovers

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: An older one-shot called This Won’t Be the Last.

Sheykhan

What I Like About the Dynamic: The truest enemies to lovers ship I’ve seen and holy shit it’s canon! Two powerful beings who are probably very wild in certain settings. Physically monsters when it comes to powers but emotionally soft for each other.

Preferred POV: Third person for either of them.

Favorite Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Power Couple, Tough People Soft for Each Other

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: I’ve only dedicated one thing soley to them, which is called Just Them. I’m also enjoying playing with a complex issue with them in Starship Centoria.

Tieren

What I Like About the Dynamic: Cherry limeade vibes are real. Soft boy meets soft girl and pines after her after heartbreak and pain filled his heart, and she’s the warmth he’s been looking for. A gentleman who appears timid but will protect her at all costs.

Preferred POV: Third person Renly.

Favorite Tropes: Awkward Pining, Awkward Crush, Healing Through Love, Shy Flirting

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: A recent one-shot called Everfall.

Eldrice

What I Like About the Dynamic: The perfect gentleman knight-in-shining armor feel from Eldrie combined with a “I don’t really need protecting but thank you” feel from Alice, who is too busy protecting him for him to realize she probably doesn’t need help. A master-student relationship without an awkward age gap. Also Eldrie comes across as a dramatic romantic who is dealing with Alice, who is very blunt and straightforward.

Preferred POV: Third person Alice.

Favorite Tropes: Knight in Shining Armor (for either let’s be real), Hopeless Romantic (Eldrie)

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: So far, this ship only appears in Familiarity Within, but I hope to write more in the future!

Sugulis

What I Like About the Dynamic: Teasing character falls for easily flustered character. A girl who would crazy cheer for her girlfriend while she’s having a kendo match even though Suguha probably doesn’t want her being too loud. Rika totally teasingly feeling Suguha’s muscles. The pair also probably enjoys collectively messing with Kirito, a bonding point they enjoy a little TOO much.

Preferred POV: Third person Suguha.

Favorite Tropes: Teasing Flirting, Pining, Fluff and Humor

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: A playful one-shot called Catch Us If You Can! was super fun to write.

Renly/Renly’s Beloved

What I Like About the Dynamic: Very similar to the Yujikiri dynamic based off of some events in ARS. Soulmates who were inseparable. The guy fricking smiled at Renly as he died even though Renly was the reason he was dying and MAN that is some mad love right there. Respect even as I sob.

Preferred POV: Third person Renly.

Favorite Tropes: Soulmates, Awkward Pining, Attracted to the Other Because They’re a Literal Sunshine, Shy Flirting

Favorite Thing I’ve Written for Them: A little coffeeshop AU called The First Step.

#sword art online #sao fanfic #sao spoilers #yujikiri #kirisuna #alisuna #eiyuuna #tieron #sheykhan #tieren #eldrice #sugulis #renly x renly's beloved #aj_linguistik #long post

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im-totally-not-an-alien · 4 years

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Final Fantasy 7 prompts # 41

1. Gaia is dying and needs energy to heal itself. The problem is that even if Gaia had managed to wipe out all the life it harbors, it still wouldn't be enough.

So she sends out her warriors to different worlds, enticing them to steal magical relics and items to bring back and throw into mako springs where the energy would be absorbed.

Unfortunately, the inhabitants of these worlds aren't very pleased by random people stealing ancient treasures and religious artifacts and running away.

Good god the crossovers.

2. Jenova's point of view

3. Immortal Cloud saving Tifa's great great granddaughter from a creeper while she was walking home at night.

She now has daydreams about the handsome blond angel who saved her...even if no one believed her when she said he had a wing.

4. AVALANCHE is a group of demons/ eldrich abominations who hide from the human world in fear of cruel expirements being preformed on them.

Sephiroth wakes up in the body of a spikey haired blond and after admiring himself and his blue cat eyes in a slab of polished metal, (One likely used in place of a mirror), he set off to explore the tunnel system.

He was soon after approached by a small, and somewhat annoying Wutainese girl. What struck him the most was her slanted pupils and the tiny bat wings on her back. How many of his kind truely existed?

Cloud however, was strait up not having a good time.

The moment he woke up in the familiarity of a human environment he began having a panic attack and then a flashback. Humans took his mothers life. He was lucky that an AVALANCHE cell had raided the lab and rescued him before he met the same fate. Cloud eventually came back to himself to see a man in a red coat petting his hair with a deeply worried expression on his face. Who was he? And why was he calling him "Sephiroth"?

(Also works with those soulmate AUs where they swap bodies or whatever)

5. Genesis tracks down the only remaining boyfriend, the small Chocobo boy that Zack introduced to them.

He was tending to a field of flowers in a dilapidated old church. Strange, he didn't even know Cloud liked flowers.

He decided to make his presence known just after the blond placed a flower crown upon his own head. Thier youngest lover looked a bit sheepish to have been caught, but it was what he said that haunted Genesis.

"Hello, my name's Cloud. Who're you?"

It was like Cloud didn't recognize him.

6. Time travel fic, but Genesis is the protagonist and he freaking lives the loveless play.

...he also kidnapped a certain chocobo cadet but that's besides the point.

7. Sephiroth wakes up in the middle of the night, but instead of getting up to get a glass of water like he usually does, he peers down at a mysterious blond man in his arms.

In his bed.

In one of the most secure buildings on the planet.

Logic would dictate that he should call for backup immediately...but he didn't want to let go of the man. The blond radiated a euphoric feeling of comfort and belonging. Of home.

He snuggled up with the blond and cuddled him till the sun had risen and the blond began to stir...

8. Cloud with shrapnel impaled through his leg has to ride piggyback on Sephiroth while they both fight off eldric monsters that are attacking Gaia.

9. Sephiroth finds AC Cloud passed out in the Midgar wastes and takes him back to the camp. They try to look him up in the database and can't figure out who he is, so they assume he's a cosplayer or something.

Until he opens his eyes.

Featuring Cloud fighting Shinra machines Advent Children style and Genesis being his rival and eventualy one of his best friends.

10. Cloud getting the holy trinity to protect Aerith.

She's so proud of her wierd older brothers.

11. CC Sane Sephiroth wakes up in AC Clouds body while he's out on the road. He takes it pretty well and rides the motorcycle around and interacts with people in different towns. He frankly, enjoys the way he's treated like a person instead of a title. Sure, there's still hero worship, but it's not nearly as bad as it was.

He didn't understand why the shopkeeper gave him a knowing and sympathetic look when he threw out a fake name.

Cloud, on the other hand, destroyed Shinra from the inside withing a day and has taken over as Sephiroth. He exposed all of Shinras dirty secrets and turned everyone against them, and is now making the whole world government go green by force.

He also removed all SOLDIERS and infantry stationed in Wutai and gave them a very charitable peace agreement.

Essentially he fixed everything.

12. Cloud just wanted to sleep in for the day. Why did everyone pick today to come bother him?

13. After the events of Advent Children Zacks ghost started following Cloud around and forcing his blonde to take better care of himself.

14. Cloud was flying when he got caught in a sudden storm...and crashed into an unfamiliar redhead.

15. Cloud and Yuffie were training in Wutai and yuffie accedently popped Cloud in the face with a bamboo.

Then they started walking eachother with bamboo like children and were properly embarrassed when lord Godo showed up with entourage.

It didn't help when they heard a few of them giggle.

#Yuffie and Cloud being siblings #cloud strife #sephiroth #yuffie kisaragi #ff7 prompts #ff7 #ff7 story prompts #final fantasy 7 story prompts #final fantasy story prompts #final fantasy 7 #genesis rhapsodos #zack fair #body swap #genesis being a bro #idk if I've already done 1 before

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curlybaxter12 · 4 years

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Is recommended to watch the videos in this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqAIrPheoT4t5pavj_Py7BUiNB9JTz73w before continuing (not trying to plug my channel the videos that this world belings to are in this playlist 😅)

So the species of this world are (from least powerful to most as well as how they class themselves):

-animal hybrids (they class themselves similar to humans but in packs, they are incredibally rare and are known to be sold off to the highest bidder to be experimented on/mistreated, but after death they become very powerful angels/demons, some even being apart of the seven deadly sins and seven heavenly virtues)

-Humans

-monster kind (yes undertale is intertwined here but they still are trapped underground)

-Skeleton monsters (they have their own kingdoms and are more powerful then the boss monsters of monster kind, they were allowed to live in peace on the surface as long as they dont actively all try to war against the humans, and it doesn't help that they were also blessed by heaven herself and the eldritch horrors with powers that only the "advanced" wizards of the humans can hope to master)

-Sand fae (the sand fae are organised simular to forest fae but also on how dark their skin is)

-Forest fae (the forest fae are organiased by wig shape, size, and colour, the highest being pure colours aka primary and black and white)

-Sand spirits (spirits are organised by their abilities with the most powerful being elemental and the common being things that wizards of the human race can do with ease)

-Forest spirits (forest spirits are organised by their altler size and shape)

-Water spirits (water spirits are similar to the mermaids and sirens)

-Mermaids and sirens (mermaids and sirens dont have class systems but mermaids were created by the daughter of the first proper god, they are completely beautiful and ethereal in colour, while sirens used to be mermaids but were corrupted by god so in consequence they have darker colour schemes)

-Dragons (organised by scales, females are smaller then males but are more powerful, gold scales are the most powerful and most rare, dragons are rare in on themselves because they turn themselves into humans to hide from dragon hunters)

-Vampires (Vampires have clans all based off eye colour and eye pupil, vampires who are considered pure have blood red eyes and any type of pupil)

-Demons (demons are organised by horns, wings, or both, horns are the lower class, wings are middle, but if you have both then you are the top, but if your wings are black angel wings then you are practically the ruler (aka this trait only appears in the ruling class (royal family))

-angels (angels are classed simular to demons but instead with halo, wings, wings size, halo type, how white ones wings are, halo is the normal angel, angels with medium wings but no halo are more powerful then the just haloed angels, big winged angels are more powerful then the medium winged angels, angels with small wings and a halo are usually princesses or princes, while angels with halos and big wings are the rulers, only exception is peter but that's only because he twisted everyone's view after murdering the daughter of the first proper god/ruler of heaven)

-goddesses (aka ruler of heaven, ruler of angels, ruler of hell, god/goddess of the forest, god/goddess of the sand etc.)

-eldric horrors are the most powerful but rare so rare they are known through myths, there are only two that are known about, the only one known by name so far is my self instert who looks like a normal hybrid, the eldrich horrors also are technically the parents to the first gods and goddesses

Examples of some of these species and races

A mermaid siren hybrid in human form

A skeleton hyrbid, the other side isnt known yet but some if her friends speculate that shes half demon

An angel demon hybrid also known as midnight

This is my self insert, only a small amount of her true form is showing, eldritch horrors hide their forms in 'lesser being' forms, her current form is of a wolf hybrid crossed with a skeleton demon, but if you can see there, her white and black wings are slowly growing back, they are apart of her true form, but when in their true form they are mostly emotionless, having a cold unfeeling smile and stare hence why when in true form people run, not just because of their form, no, because people know eldrich horrors are known to go emotionless in their true form, also here is what my self inserts true form is

#My own world

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death-v-elvis · 5 years

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I swear I made this Au for this comic of Crowley telling a meddling Eldric Monster to go away

I had more fun then I expected

I know it is hard to read transcript is under the cut

Great one: Your follower is cute..he should date mine. Tell him too. Istus: My knight? Don’t trust your warlock? Great one: Crowley no

Great one: bet they kiss today Istus: Not today but you are on

Meanwhile at a bar

Crowley: Fuck our patrons Aziraphale: Crowley! Great one: Fuck you too Great one: Crowley kiss him

Great one: please for a bet

Crowley: PISS OFF Aziraphale: My dear please- Great one: Come on just- Crowley: FUCK OFF Great one: I am trying to HELP

#why am i like this #art #dnd au #Ineffable Husbands #meddling gods #Istus leaves them be but she likes making bets with the Great one

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baggebythesea · 1 year

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A funny iteration to Glimmer using the Spell of Obtainment

Basically it goes the same way it does with Shadow Weaver and Glimmer tries to be her normal self as best she can while now being half eldric horror.

Example

Glimmer has court as usual, she may be a bit paler and have red eyes

Things go well

Glimmer loses her temper with a person who came to court and threatens to send them to the shadow realm, thankfully Bow, Catra and Adora are their to calm her down.

You know, I have a big problem with the spell of obtainment themes-vise (which is why I rarely use it). I think it implies that Shadow Weaver is the monster she is because of one big act of hubris rather than her waking up each and every day and chosing to do petty cruelty against children.

So I friggin love this take. Glimmer goes through the same act of hubris, she does the same deal with the devil, she becomes the same horror...

...only, she wakes up each and every day and choses not to be a monster. Proving that Shadow Weaver COULD do the same, only that she doesn't.

That would also go well with the theme of us being defined by our choices, not our origins (see: Hordak, Adora, Catra...)

#spop #glimmer #shadow weaver

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aiweirdness · 6 years

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D&D character names - generated by a neural network

There are algorithms called artificial neural networks that can learn to imitate examples of just about anything. They’re used in all sorts of everyday programs, translating languages, identifying photos, colorizing drawings, delivering ads, and tons more.

It turns out neural networks may also be a dungeon master’s best friend.

I’ve trained neural networks to invent new Dungeons & Dragons spells (part 1, part 2) and also trained them to name new D&D creatures. It worked very well (Shield of Farts, anyone?), thanks to the spellbooks and monster manuals I could use as datasets. But there weren’t any datasets for another big aspect of Dungeons & Dragons: all the characters who populate these worlds. So, over the past few months, readers have been helping me to build a dataset - which has now reached a staggering 20,908 entries.

For each character, people entered a name, a race (human, dwarf, elf, etc), and a class (wizard, rogue, bard, cleric, etc). Some of the races and classes got to be quite inventive - there’s a penguin, a fey corgi, a black pudding, and a sentient bucket. So I gave this huge weird list to a neural network to see how convincing it could sound.

With nearly 21,000 examples, the neural network could indeed sound convincing. Much of the time, the names matched the character type - at least as often as in the original dataset (which had 5 characters named Frank and 12 named Tim).

Rose - Human Assassin Dwarg - Half-orc Paladin Liandra - Elf Wizard Oron "The Star" Cartere - Dragonborn Sorcerer Silvar the Blackblade - Half-elf Barbarian Hank - Half-orc Ranger Jayne Arryn - Half-elf Wizard Annata Shortscale - Dragonborn Witch Fyrry - Half-Elf Ranger Rinas Mistfern - Human Ranger

Other names made perhaps less sense.

The Cart - Kenku Rogue Nine Case - Dark Elf Fighter Rump - Kenku Cleric Gubble Daggers - Tabaxi Monk Bog - halfling wizard Jameless - Dwarf Champion Barbarian Rune Diggler - Halfling Rogue Borsh the Bardlock - Human Paladin Spullbeard - Dwarf Fighter Tovendirgle - Human Ranger Pinderhand The Bugs - Gnome Wizard Rune Wash - Human Wizard Stumbleduckle - Human Paladin Dawne Shift the Monkz - Dwarf Barbarian Magnus Tieforian the magnificent von Cloriam Cyital DuP Ever - Dwarf Barbarian E Ch BISHL NEBe Garte II Cr D McLGHJ T U E AA t Rat lek TF Horn hand tree Whistle - half-orc barbarian

One thing I like is all the new character races and classes that the neural network discovered. I don’t know what most of them are, but you’ll be the only one in your party.

Kelph - Burryman Ranger Arczi-Sian - Human Dogminer Jho the Chrishpup - kuborg fighter Archein Morgurowood - Human Weaponic Bloodlind Bubblebottom Donder - Half-faerie Dewlze Cleric Altis Helder - Mander Human Star-Caver Pottlebard Bender - half-alf paladin Devith "Kurgbore" Mustwost - Fetchlen Cleric Varian Amerth - blackbear Bard Merellios Rose - Rope Gnome Wizard Mothrek McKingfoot - halfling inquisitive The Cowben - Human Opera Ayrell - Forest gnome Arcane Wood Hunter

One type of name the neural network did very well: silly compound names. This pretty much settles the question of whether a neural network would be totally on board with naming something Boaty McBoatface: it totally would.

Here is what it thinks dwarves should be named.

James Crucklebottom - Dwarf Wizard Frank Firethorn - Dwarf Wizard Willian Stonefrown - Dwarf Fighter

Actually, you know what? Pretty much everyone needs a name like this.

Kavar Blunderwood - Goliath Monk Hadrie Trumbledutch - Halfling Rogue Prinkina Timberspull - gnome sorcerer Arrina Cuprest - Human Sorcerer Tretcher Twestybeard - Dwarf Witch Ponny Stonecharles - Human Monk Ashrata Dangstrider - Ratfolk Rogue Den Splatterwoof - Halfling Druid Wolfrit Rockhole - Human Sorcerer Beddar Jacklebottom - Halfling Cleric Azrara Stoutfrogg - Half-orc Monk Lord Filedawn - Halfling Warlock Gripple Ravenhorn - Human Assassin Balfeart Wolfspleam - Dwarf Fighter Eldric the Bizzlebree - Human Warlock Pig Haystalker - Human Assassin Ladie Barewalker - Tiefling Warlock Fay Blutterlocket - Dwarf Paladin Millian Kricklebottom - Kobold Sorcerer

I’ve posted the entire original dataset here, and you can access a huge export of generated characters there as well. If you want the list plus a few extra that I deemed not quite G-rated enough for the main blog, become a supporter of AI Weirdness!

Update: I’ve got an experiment now where a neural net tried to generate D&D character bios as well!

#Dungeons and Dragons #neural networks #d&d #d&d character #char-rnn

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trinuviel · 6 years

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The Long Night - Myth and Mystery

About 8.000 years before Aegon’s Conquest, a period of darkness fell upon the know world - and lasted, according to legends, for years. This event is called the Long Night and it was a global phenomenon that left its marks in legends all across the known world.

In the novels, a second Long Night seems to be in the making. However, the purpose of this post is not to speculate about how this second Long Night will be averted but rather to take a look at the different legends about the first Long Night - as well as to speculate about what caused it in the first place and if there’s a connection to the strange seasonal patterns in Westeros and beyond.

THE LONG NIGHT IN LEGEND

Essos

The Far East

In the far east of the known world, they tells stories of a warrior with a burning sword fighting back the darkness with an army of the virtuous. Who did they fight? According to legend, it may have been the Lion of the Night, one of the gods of the Great Empire of the Dawn - or if not then god, then is his demonic minions.

In the annals of the Further East, it was the Blood Betrayal, as his usurpation is named, that ushered in the age of darkness called the Long Night. Despairing of the evil that had been unleashed on earth, the Maiden-Made-of-Light turned her back upon the world, and the Lion of Night came forth in all his wroth to punish the wickedness of men. How long the darkness endured no man can say, but all agree that it was only when a great warrior — known variously as Hyrkoon the Hero, Azor Ahai, Yin Tar, Neferion, and Eldric Shadowchaser — arose to give courage to the race of men and lead the virtuous into battle with his blazing sword Lightbringer that the darkness was put to rout, and light and love returned once more to the world. (TWoIaF, The Bones and Beyond: Yi-Ti)

(Hyrkoon the Hero. Art by Jordi Gonzales Escamilla)

Azor Ahai, Hyrkoon the Hero, Yin Tar, Neferion, and Eldric Shadowchaser. Whether all of these names refer to the same person is unknown but what is important is the fact that these stories are all variations on a common theme: The Hero with the Magic Sword, which is a common trope in fantasy fiction.

Asshai

Among all these stories of the warrior with the burning swords, the story of Azor Ahai and Lightbringer is of special importance since it has become co-opted by the cult of R’hllor.

It is also written that there are annals in Asshai of such a darkness, and of a hero who fought against it with a red sword. His deeds are said to have been performed before the rise of Valyria, in the earliest age when Old Ghis was first forming its empire. This legend has spread west from Asshai, and the followers of R'hllor claim that this hero was named Azor Ahai, and prophesy his return. (TWoIaF, Ancient History: The Long Night)

The story of Azor Ahai hails from Asshai and it has spread throughout Essos through the followers of R’hllor who regard AA as a kind of messiah and thus prophesy his rebirth.

Yi-Ti

However, not all the legends of the Long Night feature martial heroes with magical swords. Such as this story from Yi-Ti:

In the Jade Compendium, Colloquo Votar recounts a curious legend from Yi Ti, which states that the sun hid its face from the earth for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, and that disaster was averted only by the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail. (TWoIaF, Ancient History: The Long Night)

There’s no mention of war in here and it is also unusual that the hero in this tale is a woman but it doesn’t elaborate on what deeds she performed to bring back the light of the sun. The monkey tail is also an interesting detail as it reminds me of the trickster monkey god of Chinese legend. Could the woman with the monkey’s tail be a kind of trickster figure?

The Rhoynar

Not all of the legends about the Long Night feature warriors or battles. The descendants of the Rhoynar tell a very different story.

Lomas Longstrider, in his Wonders Made by Man, recounts meeting descendants of the Rhoynar in the ruins of the festival city of Chroyane who have tales of a darkness that made the Rhoyne dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the Selhoru. According to these tales, the return of the sun came only when a hero convinced Mother Rhoyne's many children — lesser gods such as the Crab King and the Old Man of the River — to put aside their bickering and join together to sing a secret song that brought back the day. (TWoIaF, Ancient History: the Long Night)

Here, the hero is not a warrior or a trickster but a negotiator of a kind who seeks out all the lesser gods and convinces them to join forces to bring back daylight through a secret song. Why a song? Though not much is known about them, the book does mention a certain kind of magic users called spellsingers. Could it be that the story is talking about a powerful spell?

Westeros

The Long Night and the Others

The legends of the Long Night vary according to culture and nationality but the legends in Westeros differ in two ways: 1) the world doesn’t just go dark for a generation but the darkness also brings an almost endless winter, and 2) humankind is faced by an implacable supernatural enemy - the Others.

"Oh, my sweet summer child," Old Nan said quietly, "what do you know of fear? Fear is for the winter, my little lord, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep and the ice wind comes howling out of the north. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides its face for years at a time, and little children are born and live and die all in darkness while the direwolves grow gaunt and hungry, and the white walkers move through the woods." "You mean the Others," Bran said querulously.

"The Others," Old Nan agreed. "Thousands and thousands of years ago, a winter fell that was cold and hard and endless beyond all memory of man. There came a night that lasted a generation, and kings shivered and died in their castles even as the swineherds in their hovels. Women smothered their children rather than see them starve, and cried, and felt their tears freeze on their cheeks." Her voice and her needles fell silent, and she glanced up at Bran with pale, filmy eyes and asked, "So, child. This is the sort of story you like?"

Old Nan nodded. "In that darkness, the Others came for the first time," she said as her needles went click click click. "They were cold things, dead things, that hated iron and fire and the touch of the sun, and every creature with hot blood in its veins. They swept over holdfasts and cities and kingdoms, felled heroes and armies by the score, riding their pale dead horses and leading hosts of the slain. All the swords of men could not stay their advance, and even maidens and suckling babes found no pity in them. They hunted the maids through frozen forests, and fed their dead servants on the flesh of human children." (AGoT, Bran IV)

While the Others have become legend, the events of the novels tell us that they are indeed frightfully real. However, they do seem to be a threat that is specific to Westeros. They do not appear in the Essosi tales of the Long Night whereas the Westerosi stories tell about a relentless march that drove the First Men south.

The Others are a threat that is specific to Westeros as they don’t appear in the myths from Essos. The show reveals that it was the Children of the Forest that created the Others as a weapon against the First Men.

The origins of the Others is such a HUGE plot point that I think that we can safely assume that this will be the case in the books as well - but perhaps in a different manner. On r/eddit the poster u/Lucifer_Lightbringer argues that the Others were indeed created by the Children of the Forest and that they are, in some way, related to the weirwood trees - the Others are also called the White Walkers of the Woods and there are tales of the CotF making warriors of the tree suring the war with the First Men 12.000 years before Aegon’s Conquest (AC). The poster presents some intriguing textual evidence for this theory. The creation of the Others as a weapon also forms a nice symmetry with how the Valyrians weaponized the dragons - as the dragons are Fire made Flesh, so are the Others Ice made Flesh as I have argued elsewhere. The magical incarnations of Ice and Fire were both weapons.

If the Children of the Forest did indeed create the Others, then these icy creatures are much older than the Long Night. The war between the The CotF and the First Men took place between 12.000 and 10.000 years before AC. The war ended with the Pact on the Isle of Faces more that 10.000 years before AC.

In the show, the remaining CotF tell Bran that they lost control with their creation, which is a classic tale of hubris - a magical, prehistoric version of Frankenstein’s monster.

The Long Night happened 8.000 or 6.000 years before AC, which would mean that the Others had been dormant for millenia. Whatever caused the Long Night, it woke the Others and strenghtened them.

The Last Hero

The legends of the North tell of an unnamed hero who seek out the Children of the Forest for advice on how to defeat the Others.

(The Last Hero. Art by Roman Papsuev)

So as cold and death filled the earth, the last hero determined to seek out the children, in the hopes that their ancient magics could win back what the armies of men had lost. He set out into the dead lands with a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions. For years he searched, until he despaired of ever finding the children of the forest in their secret cities. One by one his friends died, and his horse, and finally even his dog, and his sword froze so hard the blade snapped when he tried to use it. And the Others smelled the hot blood in him, and came silent on his trail, stalking him with packs of pale white spiders big as hounds—" (AGoT, Bran IV)

All Bran could think of was Old Nan's story of the Others and the last hero, hounded through the white woods by dead men and spiders big as hounds. He was afraid for a moment, until he remembered how that story ended. "The children will help him," he blurted, "the children of the forest!" (AGoT, Bran IV)

The stories do not reveal the identity of the Last Hero but I’ve argued elsewhere that it is possible to make a case for Bran the Builder, the legendary founder of House Stark, as the Last Hero. Bran the builder is also credited with the building of the Wall and the formation of the Night’s Watch.

The Battle for the Dawn

The legends of the North also tell of a great battle that routed the Others and marked the end of the Long Night.

How the Long Night came to an end is a matter of legend, as all such matters of the distant past have become. In the North, they tell of a last hero who sought out the intercession of the children of the forest, his companions abandoning him or dying one by one as they faced ravenous giants, cold servants, and the Others themselves. Alone he finally reached the children, despite the efforts of the white walkers, and all the tales agree this was a turning point. Thanks to the children, the first men of the Night's Watch banded together and were able to fight—and win—the Battle for the Dawn: the last battle that broke the endless winter and sent the Others fleeing to the icy north. Now, six thousand years later (or eight thousand as True History puts forward), the Wall made to defend the realms of men is still manned by the sworn brothers of the Night's Watch, and neither the Others nor the children have been seen in many centuries. (TWoIaF, Ancient History: The Long Night)

In this Battle for the Dawn, the very first members of the Night’s Watch rode out to meet the Others in battle and they prevailed - as told in the song The Night That Ended. Other legends seem to imply that the Children of the Forest also participated in the defeat of the Others, which would indicate that they did indeed loose control of their creation and therefore joined forces with their old enemy. However, the Others were only driven back (to the Lands of Always Winter) - now they have awoken to threaten humankind with eternal winter and death once again.

The Legends - similarities and differences.

All of these legends about the Long Night are different from each other but they all have one common denominator: a hero that sets out to put things right. However, that is where the commonalities end. The stories from the Far East of Essos feature a warrior hero with a magic sword and the stories are cast in a moralistic light - humankind is punished by the gods for their wickedness and the Chosen One with the Magic Sword is a leader of the virtuous only. I find that last detail somewhat ominous but it also explains why one of the variants of this tale (Azor Ahai) has been adopted by religious fanatics like the cult of R’hllor.

The story from Yi-Ti is vague but fascinating because here the hero is a woman who is also a possible trickster. The legend from the Rhoynar cast the hero as a negotiator who intercedes with the gods and convinces them to work together. That last bit is important.

The story of the Last Hero is interesting because this hero is both a warrior and a negotiator who intercedes with a magical race (the Children of the Forest). If the Last Hero is indeed Bran the Builder, then he was not only a warrior and negotiator that unified people under a common cause - he was also a builder, someone who both destroys (through war) was but also creates (through architecture).

THE MYSTERY

While different cultures in both Westeros and Essos have old legends about the Long Night, almost none of them mention what brought it on. The cause of the Long Night remains shrouded in mystery. However, a clue may have been left in the companion book The World of Ice and Fire - because the legends of the Far East of Essos claim that it was the Bloodstone Emperor and his usurpation of his sister the Amethyst Empress that brought on the Long Night.

When the daughter of the Opal Emperor succeeded him as the Amethyst Empress, her envious younger brother cast her down and slew her, proclaiming himself the Bloodstone Emperor and beginning a reign of terror. He practiced dark arts, torture, and necromancy, enslaved his people, took a tiger-woman for his bride, feasted on human flesh, and cast down the true gods to worship a black stone that had fallen from the sky. (Many scholars count the Bloodstone Emperor as the first High Priest of the sinister Church of Starry Wisdom, which persists to this day in many port cities throughout the known world). In the annals of the Further East, it was the Blood Betrayal, as his usurpation is named, that ushered in the age of darkness called the Long Night. Despairing of the evil that had been unleashed on earth, the Maiden-Made-of-Light turned her back upon the world, and the Lion of Night came forth in all his wroth to punish the wickedness of men. (TWoIaF, The Bones and Beyond: Yi-Ti)

The Bloodstone Emperor was the last ruler of the Great Empire of the Dawn. I have previously argued that Asshai could have been a central city in the lost empire. Asshai and its environs are the most magically polluted places in the known world. The land is completely sterile and its inhabitants are dependent on the import of food and fresh water - animals die in the city and no children are born.

(Asshai by the Shadow. Art by René Aigner)

I’d argue that the pollution of Asshai was caused by a cataclysm that was magical in nature - and that particular catastrophe was the cause of the Long Night. The stories tell of a black stone fallen from the sky and that could perhaps be one cause though that wouldn’t explain the magical aspect of the pollution. If the Bloodstone Emperor did indeed cause the Long Night then it would be because he meddled magically with nature on a level that has never been seen before or after (with the possible exception of the Doom of Valyria)

THE LONG NIGHT AND THE SEASONAL IMBALANCE

One curious aspect of the world of Ice and Fire is the uneven length of the seasons, where each season lasts several years. The novels offer no explanation on this strange phenomena but the companion book give us a tantalizing hint that this seasonal imbalance is not natural.

Though the Citadel has long sought to learn the manner by which it may predict the length and change of seasons, all efforts have been confounded. Septon Barth appeared to argue, in a fragmentary treatise, that the inconstancy of the seasons was a matter of magical art rather than trustworthy knowledge. Maester Nicol's The Measure of the Days—otherwise a laudable work containing much of use—seems influenced by this argument. Based upon his work on the movement of stars in the firmament, Nicol argues unconvincingly that the seasons might once have been of a regular length, determined solely by the way in which the globe faces the sun in its heavenly course. The notion behind it seems true enough—that the lengthening and shortening of days, if more regular, would have led to more regular seasons—but he could find no evidence that such was ever the case, beyond the most ancient of tales. (TWoIaF, Ancient History: The Long Night)

It is always worth paying attention to what Septon Barth has said about things historical and magical (x) - so when Barth has argued that the season imbalance was due to magic, it is worth to take it seriously, especially since GRRM himself has said that the answer to the mystery of the season will be a magical one (x).

However, I’ll go a step farther and say that it was the Long Night that messed up the seasons in Westeros (and Essos). The quote above appears in a sidebar in the companion book - and it is worth paying attention to these sidebars as they are written by GRRM himself while his co-authors were responsible for the main text (x). Furthermore, this particular sidebar about the inconstant seasons is placed in the section about the Long Night! So there are Doylist reasons for believing that it was the Long Night that changed the seasonal patterns in this universe.

#asoaif #a song of ice and fire #game of thrones #meta #the long night #myths #legends

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