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sydsrichie · 1 year

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'til queendom come, ch. 7

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aemond targaryen x targaryen oc

wordcount: 10,004

ch. 7, pariah: "It is about time you young ones learned what it is to play the long game. Now is not the time for the rashness and hot blood of youth. It is time to dig in before winter and lay plans, Lady Visenya. Will you trust me on that?"

warnings: canon-typical violence, canon-typical incest, abusive parent/child relationship, nsfw/18+ in later chapters, mentions of canon sexual violence & abuse (including against minors), spoilers for HoTD/F&B

a/n: each and every ask, reply, reblog puts a gigantic grin on my face, guys, so thank you so so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Once the maester came to tend to her father, Sena did not waste any time in using the distraction to slip out of Dragonstone. The wind on the rolling moors before the keep’s walls was ice cold and it penetrated Sena’s dress like so many knives. She wrapped her arms around herself, her splinted one still aching angrily, and carried on up the incline to the smoking home of her family’s dragons.

The tunnel she found was a familiar one, and the skeletal remains of fish and seabirds littered the floor as she retreated into the cave. It was dark. So dark. And cold. The blackness was only broken by a thin few shafts of light penetrating the ceiling. She usually would have asked Grey Ghost for light, but she did not find him there. He was not coiled in the cavern, dozing safely and happily, knowing as sure as the sun rises in the east that it was only his master who approached him. His master, his only friend, who would never let harm come to him.

Sena’s chest started to constrict and spasm and she threw her weight down onto the cavern floor.

The sobs started wracking her body like they were being drawn from the depths of her stomach, the marrow of her bones. Her throat felt raw and her cheeks stung as she swiped at them angrily. She could not draw breath, could do nothing but gasp and pray desperately to every God she knew of that she would find air. The sounds that were shredding their way out of her throat echoed off of the rocks around her and bounced back to her ears like the wails of a ghost.

Maybe she was a ghost, doomed to haunt this smoking isle forever, lonely and lost. Try as she might to pretend otherwise, she was still little more than that sad child who fifteen years ago had wandered off into the hills, searching for a fabled dragon of the fisherfolk who was as alone in the world as she was.

The last few moons were nought but a bleak blur in her head. It had been savage blow after savage blow. Aemond, her poor, sweet uncle, Aegon’s crowning, Luke, Grey Ghost… and now this.

She had promised Jaehaerys they would race his uncle and sister on her own Grey Ghost. Now… now Aemond seemed an entire world away, and Grey Ghost was dead at her hands, and poor Jaehaerys. It did not bare thinking about. A tiny blood-soaked body… Helaena screaming.

Sena hit her hands off of the cave floor until they were raw and bleeding. She screamed and screamed until her voice failed her, throwing every rock and shard of bone she could lay her hands on, listening to them ricochet in the dark.

Her father.

The wet arc of his blood spattered across the front of her gown.

The split in her lip that leaked her own blood onto her tongue. The aching of her jaw where her father had struck her.

She needed to move. The castle garrison would come looking for her soon, once Prince Daemon was bandaged. When they asked the guards on the walls and found out she’d made for the Dragonmont, the empty haunt of her lost dragon would be the first place they checked. She had to move.

The only problem was that she could not see anything. Her hands were aching, her left arm had lost much of its sensation, and she was desperately cold, shivering even as she dragged in ice cold air like a dying man. Was this how Grey Ghost had always felt, like he was stumbling around in the dark? This was how she had killed him, flying him into a storm and taking his sight from him.

She got to her feet shakily. The cold air of the Dragonmont felt like knives in her chest. She needed to find somewhere safe to hide, somewhere in the smoking hill. Somewhere closer to the molten veins, far from the surface, far from where the Queen’s guards could find her.

Would she hang for it, she wondered? What sentence would the Queen pass down for an attempt on her consort’s life? Hanging was probably too kind - if they did it right, it would snap her neck and end it all instantly. No, her father would not like that. Maybe it would be Caraxes? The Blood Wyrm would do it, certainly - he held no love for her, did not even tolerate her like Vhagar did. But then, her father’s words rung in her head like a struck bell. He had no intention of wiping her from the face of the earth until he had first hurt her each way he could.

She would not be a prisoner until that day came, she decided.

The floor of the Dragonmont was uneven and slippy beneath her feet, damp in the cool air of the nearing winter. Her cotton dress and shift were like a paper shield against the penetrating cold, so she pushed forward, up the connecting passage and deeper into the heart of the hillside. She felt her away along the wall, probing carefully with her feet before her with every step so as not to be caught unawares by a sudden drop. Meagre sunlight broke up the darkness when it could, but she was mainly on her own, her eyes straining for any kind of guidance.

It was while she fumbled in the dark that she first heard a low growl. Fuck. She was just trying to find warmth, light, not step on the tail of a sleeping dragon-

The grumble grew louder and she crouched into the wall, as if it could give her any cover. It had to be one of the bigger dragons she had stumbled across, as the sound was distant and echoing, like it was coming from overhead. Not Syrax, Vermax or Tyraxes. She winced. Maybe Caraxes was about to put a swift end to her after all. “Lyks,” she hissed urgently. “Lyks. Lykiri.” Peace. Calm down. She crouched down before the beast, making herself small, willing the racing of her heart to slow.

The dragon did not set fire to her, at least. Not straight away. Recognising its own tongue, the blood of the dragon, the way she was only sitting somewhere close by and not actively trying to come nearer, was enough to get the beast to settle some.

Sena let out a long breath and calmed her racing heart. “Nyke jeldan naejot sagon mērī,” she said, I wanted to be alone. “Kesan daor jenigon ao.” I will not bother you.

The dragon grumbled its assent. The cavern was warmer, at least, with the great beast’s breath filling the air, and Sena felt her shivers subside as she set herself down on the stone. The floor radiated a little heat, closer to the glowing heart of the Dragonmont. She could stay here - for awhile, at least.

She focused on her breathing. In and out. That was it. That was all she had to do.

-----

Sena had no idea how long it was before she heard boots approaching and distant calls of “Lady Visenya?” Men’s voices. More than one. The castle garrison. As soon as the dragon she shared her cavern with heard, it shifted in the dark and growled, low and menacing.

The steps in the hallway faltered. “Careful,” one man hissed to another. “That one doesn’t sound friendly.”

“We have to find her,” the companion hissed. “We can’t go back to the Queen empty-handed.”

“We won’t go back to the Queen at all if we get torched.”

The second man made a sound and said, “C’mon, then, craven. We’ll look for her elsewhere.”

The footsteps retreated again.

Sena could feel the dragon’s gaze on her, the beast’s steady breathing causing her skirts to ruffle a little. She hoped the beast would not decide her to be more hassle than she was worth and just torch her there and then.

It wasn’t until many hours later that she heard someone approaching again. She’d been passing in and out of a light sleep, her thoughts exhausting her and her stomach starting to growl. But she heard light feet on the hallway she had come down, and the dragon sharing the cavern stirred once more, growling at the incomer.

“Lykiri,” came a woman’s voice. “Nyke māzigon isse lyks.” I come in peace.

The woman bore a torch, and blinding light flickered across Sena’s field of vision for the first time in hours. She flinched and averted her eyes. Gods, could no one in this damned family leave well enough alone?

Princess Rhaenys stood at the mouth of the cavern, her eyes catching on Sena’s crouched form with an unreadable look on her face. “There you are, my lady,” she said. “You’ve had the entire castle garrison and all the family scouring Dragonstone for you all day.”

Sena gritted her teeth at the idea of Jace, Baela and Rhaena knowing what she had done and being made to search the entire isle for her. “The dragon kept the garrison away.’

“He could do that, yes,” the Princess raised her torch, and the light caught on a truly fearsome beast, bronze in colour and twice the size of Sena’s Grey Ghost. The dragon peered at Rhaenys through a slit of eyelid, then lay his head down to go back to sleep, unbothered by the intrusion. “He was my grandfather’s mount, once upon a time. I flew across the realm upon Meleys with him on a royal progress, when I was a young woman. The same progress where I told my grandfather I intended to marry Lord Corlys.”

Sena gazed up at the bronze beast in wonder. “Vermithor?” She breathed. The name was like legend in her family. The mount of her great-grandfather, Jaehaerys I, the progenitor of all living Targaryens and the greatest King their House had put on the Iron Throne. The King who seized back power and restored order to the Seven Kingdoms after his father’s throne was usurped by Maegor the Cruel. The Conciliator. It had been Vermithor who bore Jaehaerys I across the realm, from the North to the Stormlands, cowed his enemies and sired clutches of eggs that had birthed many of their current dragons.

Rhaenys had a wistful look in her eye. “Those were better days,” she said, and looked down at where Sena still huddled on the cavern floor. “If you had told me then as a young woman that my good, kind Uncle and bawdy, courageous Aunt would sire a man like your father… I would have been too naive to believe you.”

Daemon never told her about her grandfather and grandmother, Baelon the Brave and Princess Alyssa. Truthfully, she thought he struggled to speak of them. Childbirth scared her father - he had not been with Rhaenyra through any of her births after losing both his mother and his second wife to the birthing bed. And if someone who seemed so destined for greatness as her grandfather Baelon could die of something as menial as a burst belly… she sometimes thought it had put a recklessness in her father, a distaste for patience, reserve, morality. He could die at any moment and it weighed on his mind constantly. It made him dangerous. “So you’re not here to drag me back to Dragonstone and clap me in chains then?”

Rhaenys gave her a wry look. “If I was, I wouldn’t waste time by standing here talking to you, girl,” she said. “Your father has left for his troops in the Riverlands. The Queen commanded him to stay and heal, but he is as wilful as he is foolish.”

“’Twas only a letter opener,” Sena said darkly, “he’ll live.”

“I can’t decide if you meant to kill him or not. Lord Corlys thinks you did. My grandchildren think you did not.”

“I knew I couldn’t. Like I said, it was only a letter opener. I just… wanted him to feel the fear he inflicts on others,” Sena said, rubbing at her eyes with the backs of her hands. There were still specks of blood on them, she noted with a grim smile. “So I guess there isn’t an answer to your question.”

Rhaenys nodded, as if that was answer enough. “Are you going to come back down to the keep for supper and a salve on that bruise or shall I have to send your sisters up with a plate?” She asked. “The Queen will not punish you tonight. The immediate threat to Daemon’s life is over and I do not think she would wish to lose the loyalty of any more dragonriders.”

Sena looked at her, really looked at her. Took in the snow white streaks in her hair and the fine lines on her face. She envied the Princess her wisdom, she realised with a pang. She envied the assuredness and the strength that Rhaenys walked through the world with. The kind of certainty you only get from having your world fall to pieces and putting it back together many times over the years. The assuredness that nothing in life was unsalvageable if you knew how to pick through the rubble. Sena did not know if she was strong enough to make it as far as the Princess had, not if her next twenty years were to be anything like her first. “Am I supposed to just go back to normal? Pretend nothing’s happened?” She asked and her voice was hoarse from the screaming.

“No,” the Princess said, shaking her head. “I am not asking you to do that. But it is about time you young ones learned what it is to play the long game. You will not get your revenge today, my lady… or tomorrow, or in the next moon, or maybe even next year. Now is not the time for the rashness and hot blood of youth - you tried that today and it failed spectacularly. It is time to dig in before winter and lay plans, Lady Visenya. Will you trust me on that?”

Sena considered her and thought about it. It was true, rashness had not prevailed today. Her father was still breathing and more livid than ever, even if he had run off to the continent to lick his wounds. She also knew she had lost much of her favour with the Queen. Not that she could truly care who liked her, not while Helaena was leagues away, drowning in agony and grief. But if she wanted to stop this war, wanted to stop the pain, the death, wanted to right the wrongs that had been done to her and the people she loved… she sighed. “I guess I had best keep my strength up, if it’s the long game we’re playing,” she said and pushed herself up from the ground, a little wobbly.

Rhaenys gave her the barest hint of a smile. “Now you’re getting it.”

After that day, Rhaenyra was loathe to be in Sena’s presence. Whether it was fear or anger or shame, Sena did not know. But truthfully, she did not mind. She too could not stand to be in the presence of a Queen who either had not known that Daemon had set his eyes on Prince Jaehaerys or had elected to ignore it. So Sena trained instead, and helped train Jace and Joffrey and Baela, and wandered the Dragonmont when she needed some quiet, some time alone. And with every meal and prayer and parry and heartbeat, she thought of Helaena.

Helaena, Alicent, Aegon, Daeron… Aemond.

The maester to her father’s army reported his swift recovery. Targaryen blood burned out infection better than all others and she had clearly missed everything vital. Sena made a grim mental note to herself to study the veins and arteries of the neck when she got the chance.

Harrenhal fell quickly to Prince Daemon’s burning wrath, and by all reports it set the green council ablaze. Ser Otto Hightower was dismissed from the Tower of the Hand, with Ser Criston Cole taking up his office and the Usurper’s armies being ordered to march. It seemed the war of words was well and truly over, and the storm of swords was about to begin.

It was the day that Maester Gerardys removed the splint from Sena’s arm and she was testing out her healed arm that a new line of dominoes began to fall. She had managed to dress herself and was overjoyed at being able to wear her favourite gowns again when her handmaiden, Sophey interrupted her. “Pardon me, m’lady, but the Queen is requesting your presence at the war table.”

Sena looked up, shocked. “Are you sure?” She asked Sophey and the doe-eyed girl nodded hurriedly. What could Rhaenyra possibly want with her at the war table? She had not spoken to Sena in two long moons and this was how she chose to break the silence? “Okay,” Sena nodded stiffly. “I’ll be right behind you.”

When she entered the makeshift throne room in Dragonstone’s great hall, she curtseyed low to the Queen. Rhaenyra was more gaunt than the last time Sena had seen her, clearly was not sleeping well, and let Sena stay crouched in a curtsey for a moment, seemingly deciding whether or not to relieve her legs. “Rise,” she commanded eventually, coldly, and Sena’s thighs burned with relief as she followed the order.

Around the war table, the Queen, Prince Jacaerys, Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys were focused on the small corner of the map they currently stood in, the mouth of Blackwater Bay. Sena could see black dragons on Dragonstone, Driftmark and Harrenhal, showing their forces, and a green dragon advancing up the coast. “What news do we have?” She asked, drawing close to the table to observe the troop positions.

“Duskendale has been sacked,” Lord Corlys said, “with heavy casualties for us and the death of a member of the Queen’s black council. Now, Ser Criston Cole lays siege to Rook’s Rest, and Lord Staunton is asking for our aid.” He slid the letter across the table to Sena, who took it up to read it.

Some 3000 knights, men-at-arms and sellswords at the gates of a town garrisoned by a hundred men, and that was not even considering the usurper-king on dragonback. It did not look good for Lord Staunton. “Then we should send dragonriders. The greens are attacking our declared allies to prevent further defection in the Reach, the Riverlands, the Crownlands. If we are to gain more supporters, we must defend the ones we already have.”

“Our allies?” The Queen bit out. “You still count yourself amongst our number after making an attempt on the life of your Queen’s consort, your own father?”

“Mother,” Jace warned in a stiff tone.

“It’s alright, Jace,” Sena placated him with a small smile. He looked so grown, standing there in his fine wool and steel, his brow adorned with a circlet. “It seems as though I’m here because you are asking me for help. Is that right?” She asked the Queen, who looked away from her with a flicker of rage.

Lord Corlys seemed to be suppressing a weary sigh when he said, “Yes, my lady.”

“What do you want from me?” She asked and eyed Princess Rhaenys. She remembered her words in the Dragonmont that day - that it was time to dig in and lay plans. Sena would not end this war today or tomorrow, as much as she might wish it. But if she was to have any hand in it coming to an end sooner rather than later - fuck whoever sat on the damnable throne in the end - it was high time she rolled her sleeves up and started incurring favours and loyalties.

Princess Rhaenys gave her a knowing smirk, and Sena felt a burst of pride. It was high time she sharpened up and learned to play. Aemond would be proud. “We think it is time you claimed another dragon and joined me in defending Rook’s Rest.”

Sena raised her eyebrows and looked to Lord Corlys, who was clearly in on the plan, eyeing his wife. The Queen was stoney faced, and Jace seemed even less pleased. “Do we have a shortage of dragonriders on Dragonstone?” Sena asked, a little perplexed.

Jace frowned unhappily and was ready to speak up when his mother silenced him with a hand. The Queen met Sena’s gaze. “Baela’s Moondancer is much too young to go to war. Rhaena has no dragon, no experience as a dragonrider and I will not put my sons into the monstrous paths of my half-brothers again. Nor will I risk making them orphans by going myself.” The implication that by comparison Sena was expendable was clear.

“I also have no dragon,” Sena said. He died, trying to save your son, she longed to say. “Aegon’s beast is young, still not so large. Smaller than my Grey Ghost. The Red Queen is more than a match, Princess,” she told Rhaenys.

“Nothing is ever so certain when dragons dance, my lady,” Rhaenys said grimly. “If we can stack the deck in our favour, we ought to. Make a decisive victory of it and shatter Cole’s advance.”

Sena considered it. “What dragon did you have in mind?” She asked. “We have a number of riderless ones. Will it be a case of wandering the Dragonmont like it is the Street of Silk until one takes a liking to me?” She got a hint of a smile out of Jace at that.

“I think one already has,” Princess Rhaenys said dryly. She was a somewhat humourless woman, Sena thought, and found she liked that about her. “My grandfather’s mount is not a kindly beast. He is ferocious, only tolerates my presence because I have been around him and pulling at his tail since I was out of swaddling clothes.” Lord Corlys looked a little horrified at that, as members of other houses were wont to when they heard of children playing with dragons. “The fact that he did not eat you that day I found you in his cavern is enough indication to me that you could be a good match.”

Sena thought of the gigantic beast, the colour of beaten bronze, large enough to ride a horse down his gullet, and shivered. “Just because he liked me enough not to make a meal of me does not mean he will let me ride him or command him,” she said. “Even if he did, we would need time to bond so I could control him. Time we do not have. I will not have a repeat of what happened above Storm’s End.”

Princess Rhaenys, Lord Corlys and Jace all stiffened at the mere mention of Storm’s End, and the implication that it had not been entirely under Prince Aemond’s control. It was so much easier to hate him, call him One-Eye and kinslayer if they could believe him to be evil to the core. But for the love she still bore the Prince, Sena would not have it. The Queen glared at her. “On the contrary, that might be exactly what we need. Put an end to the Usurper and I’ll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.”

“I do not see what that would achieve,” Sena said coldly, her tongue dripping with acid. “I am already rich, and Aegon has heirs… unless we were planning on murdering Aegon’s other infant son, as well.”

Queen Rhaenyra gripped the model black dragon in her hand hard enough to splinter and clenched her jaw. “If that’s what it takes,” she said, but it sounded weak to Sena’s ears, like she could not bring herself to mean it.

Rhaenys looked like she was stifling an eye roll at their dramatics. “This war will not be ended by cutting off a single head, for two more will always grow in its place,” she said plainly. “We need to do this with force, with decisiveness. And with unity.”

Sena sighed and looked across the table at her cousin. Rhaenyra looked tired and broken. “If my Queen will have me, I will join this fight, Princess.”

Rhaenyra looked up at her from across the table and her expression was conflicted. So vengeful, and yet Sena thought faintly that it was not directed at her. She was just unlucky enough to be close at hand, catching the brunt of it. “I will have you,” Rhaenyra breathed, and Princess Rhaenys gave a barely audible sigh of relief.

Sena nodded at her cousin, then looked down at her dress. “I guess I had better go change, then.”

-----

The morning was brisk as Sena pulled her dragon-hide gloves into place. The leather under her chainmail felt strange on her body, too stiff, too new. The armour was an inky black and her breastplate was emblazoned with the crest of her family, a crimson three-headed dragon reaching for its own tail. As she stalked up the incline to the Dragonmont, she prayed to every god who would listen that Vermithor would be in a pliant mood.

Thrice. That was how many times she had ridden Vermithor so far. She could barely even work the chains on his saddle that kept him from throwing her midair. But needs must, and Rook’s Rest was in distress, so she was approaching the great bronze dragon with trepidation in her chest, ready to meet Rhaenys and Meleys on the cliffside.

Vermithor surveyed her with amber eyes as she entered his dwelling. He was still young enough not to be as sluggish as Vhagar and that made her even more nervous, being surveyed by a dragon big enough to swallow her whole, nimble enough to catch her off her guard and interested enough to bother doing it. “Lykiri,” she commanded as Vermithor’s tail flicked with irritation at being disturbed once again. It had been some five-and-twenty years since the Old King’s death, and Vermithor had grown used to being his own master. “Dohaerās.”

The dragon did not seem pleased to see her but did not protest as she started the long clamber up his wing and onto his back. As soon as she brought him back from Rook’s Rest, she would be adding some sort of ladder to his saddle, but there was no time for that now. With a grunt, she jumped and caught the stirrup and back of the saddle with her hand and elbow, and her left arm twinged as she dragged herself up. Undignified, but worth it to be riding one of the largest dragons her House had ever hatched. That was, if she could control him and not accidentally set a killing machine on the people of Rook’s Rest. She had some comfort in the fact that Vermithor was familiar with Rhaenys and Meleys - at least they would be safe from whatever carnage she unwittingly unleashed.

The ground shook as Vermithor moved, and he clawed his way forward, out of his cavern and onto the side of the Dragonmont. When he met the fresh sea air, he let free a deafening roar that almost had Sena clapping her hands over her ears. She hurriedly fastened the saddle chains to her armour before he could take flight and throw her off with a well-timed flick of his tail. “Gīda,” she commanded the beast. Calm. Whatever good that would do.

Above her on the side of the Dragonmont, Sena saw the vibrant red of Meleys emerging from her cave and a sharp salute from the Princess. “Are you ready?” Rhaenys bellowed down the hillside.

“As I’ll ever be,” Sena gritted out below her breath. Then, “Sōvēs,” she commanded the dragon in a strong tone, and the bronze giant lurched forward. His size meant he was not so manoeuvrable as Grey Ghost, and instead used the sea cliffs to drop off of to take to the air. Sena’s heart lurched every time he did it, pitching them both over the edge and letting them fall for seconds that felt like hours. Then, with a solid, swooping beat of his wings, they would soar up, up into the clouds.

Meleys followed behind her on the wind as Sena turned Vermithor due west. It would not be a long flight - as they climbed into the sky, she could practically see Rook’s Rest on the horizon - but every moment, her heart was in her throat.

It was bizarre, to ride a dragon this large. Larger than her father’s own Caraxes, larger than Syrax and Vermax put together. Vermithor’s wings covered vast swaths of the bay, blotting entire islands from Sena’s view, and sometimes, when she pulled at him or bellowed commands, she felt like she was trying to reign in a glacier, so vast and uncaring was the beast.

She could do this, though. She needed to believe it. If she was to have any chance at putting a stop to this bloodshed and torment, she would need to be riding a dragon like Vermithor. The only thing her family ever bowed to, the thing they had been wielding as a weapon for more than a century now was the pure, unadulterated power given to them by their dragons. Without them, they were nothing.

After some time in the air, with Meleys close behind, Rook’s Rest drew closer until it was beneath them. From here, Sena could see the town’s walls and the thousands of soldiers marshalled outside, laying siege and blockading every road in and out.

Trying out her control of him, she commanded Vermithor lower and he swooped down over the King’s army. She squinted her eyes and could make out dragon banners, mounted knights, men at arms. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and turned to the sky to watch the two dragons circling overhead, one a vicious red and the other monstrously large. Sena’s breath caught in her throat when she laid eyes on Sunfyre - proclaimed to be the most beautiful dragon to have ever lived. He was a fine beast and shone like beaten gold against the burnt ground he coiled on, watching his kin circle above him with lazy interest.

Sena sighed and commanded Vermithor down to land in the town square. It was barely big enough - she gritted her teeth as smallfolk rushed out of the way and Vermithor’s tail knocked the top of the spire off of a sept, but she was suddenly surrounded by gasps of relief and cheering, so she guessed she was forgiven.

She met Lord Staunton in his keep with Princess Rhaenys. He was beyond relieved to see them - the people of Rook’s Rest would have needed to start slaughtering the horses to keep eating if relief had not arrived soon, he informed them. “Relief is here,” Princess Rhaenys said, standing tall in her armour and doing her best to calm him.

There was little to be done to calm anyone when the letter from the encampment outside arrived, however.

Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men and Protector of the Realm requests the presence of the Bronze Dragon at parlay. In one hour, a pavilion will be erected before the gates of Rook’s Rest. Guest right will provided in the form of bread and salt so that negotiations may proceed peacefully and safely for all parties.

The Bronze Dragon. Sena gripped the letter in her hands and nodded at Rhaenys. It had been what they wanted. They had hoped that Vermithor’s mere presence would be enough to scare off the enemy and end the siege without blood being shed. She could only hope that Aegon would be smart about this. “I will go-“

“I will come with you, my lady,” Princess Rhaenys said firmly. Sena’s pride smarted at that. The Princess caught her look and sighed. “I mean no offence but in these matters, you remain as green as grass.”

Sena set her jaw, knowing that Rhaenys meant it in more ways than one.

Within the hour, a pavilion was hastily erected before the town gates, and Sena and Rhaenys approached under a peace banner. Their dragons stayed inside the town but the women remained armed for their own protection.

Sena ducked under the tent flap and came face to face with Aegon and Ser Criston for the first time in many moons. Aegon could not be said to look kingly - he was as gaunt and tired-looking as ever - but he was still the handsome lad she remembered and he sent her a menacing grin. Ser Criston nodded his head at her but showed little warmth despite knowing her from girlhood. The badge of his new office shimmered on his cloak.

Both men were less impressed when Rhaenys followed behind her. Aegon huffed and poured them wine, which they hastily ignored in favour of the bread and salt Ser Criston pushed towards them across the table. Sena chewed at the dry heel of loaf the enemy had scrounged up and grimaced at the salt on her tongue. Aegon might have been enough of a cur to not care for the symbolic protection of guest right, but Ser Criston was nothing if not a stickler for the rules. When it suited him, at least.

“What is the meaning of this?” Rhaenys asked as soon as she had swallowed her own guest right.

It was Aegon who spoke, leaning forward in his seat. He shone from neck to toe in polished plate, his circlet of Valyrian steel and rubies nestled in his silver blonde hair and the other ancestral blade of their house hung at his hip. Sena was not fooled. It would take more than Blackfyre and the crown of the Conqueror to make Aegon a King. “We simply wish to give you an opportunity to turn tail and leave before things get… messy,” he said with his familiar lilting smirk.

“It’s more than you gave Prince Jaehaerys,” Criston cut in, surveying them both stonily.

Sena clenched her jaw and Rhaenys balked at that, going pale in the face and rounding on Aegon. “If it is mercy you speak of, what sort of mercy did your mad dog of a brother show my grandson?” She spat.

Aegon grinned at the mere reminder of Lucerys’s fate and it only set Rhaenys further on edge, reaching for the hilt of her blade. Sena laid a hand on her arm to stop her, trying to catch her gaze with a glare. Where were her lectures about rashness and hot blood now? Was it just that she did not know Aegon? Did not know how purely aggravating and contemptuous he could be?

But it was Ser Criston who spoke up, cutting through the thick tension between the Princess and the would-be King. “Careful, Princess. You speak of someone who is very dear to all those around you,” he said, and Sena glared at him, her cheeks flaring with shame.

Aegon looked at her and smirked at the embarrassment on her face. “Everyone knows, goodsister. It’s alright.”

“Shut it,” she snapped at him and Gods, if she could only reach across the table between them and clobber him with his own crown.

Ser Criston was not looking at her, though, and addressed the Princess. “We are willing to incur what casualties we must to raze Rook’s Rest to the ground, Princess. It would certainly show your allies how little the support of their so-called Queen is worth. You need only look outside this pavilion to see we are equipped to accomplish this,” he said. He crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed Princess Rhaenys with a hard look. “Of course, neither of us truly desires a battle where considerable life will be lost, and potentially another dragon. We would like to discuss the terms of a mutual retreat, if that is amenable.”

Sena looked at Ser Criston in confusion as he rounded the table. Mutual retreat? What in the name of the Gods was this about? It made no sense. Ser Criston offered to escort Princess Rhaenys from the tent, and rage flared inside Sena. The disrespect of it all, speaking as if she was not there-

Once they had left the tent however, Aegon turned to Sena, furious, and it all became a little clearer. “Why did you bring her? I asked for you and you alone.”

Sena rolled her eyes. It was all a ploy. “Do you think I can command her about like a servant? Do you truly think I got a choice in the matter, fool?”

Aegon scowled at her. “It’s King Fool to you.”

“Fine then, King Fool. Do you care to explain to me what in the seven hells this parlay is about? You don’t truly expect me to believe you would give up so easily, or expect us to,” she said, leaning over him where he sat.

Aegon considered her for a second, clearly trying to come up with some pithy response. He eventually realised where he was, though and that time was of the essence. He cut to the chase. “He won’t fight you.”

“Who?”

Aegon screwed up his face like he was talking with a simpleton. “Gods, Visenya, who do you think?”

Her brow shot up. “Aem-“

King Fool stood up swiftly and slapped a gloved hand over her mouth, eyeing the tent flap where Ser Criston and Princess Rhaenys had been moments earlier. “Shut the fuck up,” he hissed.

Sena’s blood thundered in her ears. “He’s here?”

“Yes,” he nodded and her heart swooped, suddenly turning her head this way and that like Aemond was going to materialise in the corner of the pavilion or pop out from under the table. “This was a trap for Meleys, but even my clever brother did not think to anticipate you swooping in on the second largest dragon in the known world. You really ought to have words with him - underestimating you like that shows a certain lack of respect, no?”

“Aegon,” she hissed, willing him to focus.

“Right,” he said, conceding with a nod. “So we’re at a stalemate. He does not wish to fight you - I think the whole nearly killing you the first time thing is weighing on him, y’know? And if I know this ridiculous little lovesick dance of yours well enough by now, I know you do not wish to fight him. So what does that leave us with?”

Sena thought about it for a second, leaning down to the table to cradle her head in her hands. Aemond was here. He was near her, near enough to talk to, near enough to explain, near enough to babble apologies, touch, kiss until they were drunk on each other. “We both go home,” she breathed. The thought was agonising. “Aemond goes to King’s Landing, I go to Dragonstone.” And in the ensuing battle, Meleys would snap Sunfyre’s neck, she thought grimly.

“No way,” Aegon waggled a finger at her. “Not good enough, goodsister. I would like to propose you and Princess Rhaenys turn around and go home and leave us to Rook’s Rest. No bloodshed, no sad ballads to be written about star crossed lovers dying on each other’s swords today.”

She scowled at him and looked around her. “Where is he? You can’t expect me to stand here and have this conversation with King Fool. Gods, even Cole would be better.”

“No,” Aegon snapped, his expression gone hard and he looked so like his little brother in that moment that Sena’s heart leapt to her throat. “You don’t get to speak to him. You don’t get to bat your eyelashes at him and say pretty please, none of that shit. You are going to turn around, go and explain to our sweet cousin Rhaenys that the largest dragon alive is sat behind a hill five leagues away, and go home. You won’t win this fight, Sena. And I know you think I don’t care about this family, but I won’t watch my brother destroy himself by killing you.”

“I can’t, Aegon,” she hissed, her throat burning. “I can’t counsel retreat. Don’t you think they already mistrust me enough, for how I love your sister? For how I feel about your brother? If I turn tail now, my own father will take it as a betrayal and slit my throat in my sleep.”

Aegon looked as though he could not care less. “Not my problem, sweet Sena,” he said. “You could have switched sides anytime you liked… you still can.”

Sena ignored that vehemently, blazing right past it. “And what if we hold fast? What if you turn around and go home?”

“We don’t go home,” he said. He was growing weary of this now, his expression sullen. “There will be a fight if you do not retreat, Sena. And Aemond is dutiful, he will do what I command of him and turn Vhagar against you if he must. I don’t want that to happen, but the alternative is giving up the crown and losing my fucking head. Not just mine, all of our heads.”

Sena leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess we’re at an impasse, then.”

Aegon shook his head at her in disbelief. “Trust my brother to love the most stubborn fool in the Seven Kingdoms. It seems we are, Sena.”

She surveyed him. The armour that was tailored to him perfectly but still did not seem to fit, the crown that was seemingly causing his neck to buckle under the weight. She eyed Blackfyre on his sword belt. Could think of few people in her family less suited to wield it. “I’ll speak to Rhaenys,” she said at long last. “If I can convince her to retreat, you will have my word by daybreak tomorrow.”

Aegon nodded his acquiescence and sunk deep into his chair, raising his goblet to take a long gulp of wine. “Think about it carefully, Sena. And I meant what I said. Whatever you feel towards me, there will always be a place for a stubborn bitch with a big dragon in my army.”

Sena shook her head at him and turned to leave. She paused at the tent entrance though, and her heart stuttered in her chest. She could not stop herself saying it. “I’m sorry,” she said, “about your son. He was a sweet boy.”

Aegon’s petulant manor froze and his jaw went tight. “Why are you sorry? You didn’t kill him,” he said, and she could hear a quiver in his voice.

“I’m sorry it has come to this, Aegon,” she said softly.

He frowned down into his lap and the crown slipped deeper down his brow. “So am I.”

Sena braced herself with a breath. “How is Helaena?”

But Aegon wasn’t having it. He shook his head at her. “You have made your choice, Sena. I think you have lost the right to ask me about her.”

“Aegon-“ she said with a pang in her chest, but he cut her off.

“Good day, Lady Visenya. Consider my terms carefully.”

-----

“There is not a decision to be made,” was Rhaenys’s answer to Aegon’s proposal over supper that night. They had been given Lord Staunton’s private dining room, and a fire crackled low in the grate, their food barely touched. Sena felt guilty for wasting what was already in short supply, but her gut was churning so much it was unthinkable to eat. “We must stand and fight.”

Sena dragged her hands through her hair with a weary sigh. “It’s not truly a decision, is it? If we turn back now, we’ve as good as lost this war. Our lives will be forfeit.” What hope did they have of suing for peace if their allies saw their words meant nothing? What leverage would they have to stop Aegon storming Dragonstone and putting them all to the sword? “And if we fight… the odds are about as even as they’re ever like to be.”

“Even? We’re still a hundred against an army.”

“The real battle is the one in the air, you know that,” Sena said, eyeing Rhaenys. Their family’s battles were fought and won with their dragons - the Conquerors had shown what little use men-at-arms were against the winged wyrms of Old Valyria.

“So it is the dragon battle you’re concerned about?” Rhaenys asked and Sena knew that was what she had been probing at all along.

Sena narrowed her eyes. “I would be a fool not to be concerned about it. I ride a dragon I have no bond with against two of my cousins, one of whom rides Vhagar.”

“It is not Vhagar you are worried about, though, is it?” Rhaenys said, leaning back in her seat and holding her wine goblet close. She surveyed Sena with hard eyes, and the words caught in Sena’s throat. Rhaenys sighed. “You shall take Vermithor against Sunfyre and I shall take Meleys against Vhagar. Do you think you can do that?”

Sena raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect, Princess, I don’t think that is a fight you can win.” There were few dragons alive who could hope to survive a bout with Vhagar and at first glance, Sena would not put Meleys among them.

“You give me little choice, Visenya,” she said, and pushed her chair back with a scrape. She composed herself and went to leave, the matter having been decided.

“If it was Lord Corlys,” Sena said, stopping Princess Rhaenys in her tracks. “If you found yourself on opposing sides with the Sea Snake, could you truly meet him in battle?”

Rhaenys turned back to her and gave her a pitying look. “If what you feel for that brute is a shadow of what I feel for Lord Corlys… you are truly lost, Visenya,” she said, and Sena’s heart plummeted. The elder woman sighed, not uncaring. “And truthfully, I do not know what you are doing here.”

Neither did Sena.

Daybreak came and went, with no peace signed.

It was midday by the time Aegon’s vanguard made to breach the gates. Lord Staunton’s men held it valiantly and defended their position, but the two dragonriders knew that their time had come. With a nod to Rhaenys and a prayer to the Gods, Sena took to the skies upon Vermithor. No sooner had she chained herself to his saddle than she caught sight of Sunfyre rising with her, a brilliant gold-and-pink blur against the sky. She set her sights on her target and steadied herself.

It was only when she saw Vhagar’s monstrous form looming in the distance that dread flooded through her like ice water.

As Vhagar drew closer and Meleys circled above her, Sena suddenly knew for certain that this did not bode well for Rhaenys. Meleys was not a small beast by any measure, but Vhagar loomed nearly twice as large.

Before she could intercede though, Sunfyre was tackling Vermithor and the battle in the sky begun. It was as though the brothers could read her mind exactly and knew they needed to divert her to give Aemond a chance to take down Rhaenys.

But Sena forced it all from her mind for now and focused on her own battle. Vermithor was new to her, did not know her well enough. That coupled with Sena’s own gnawing uncertainty was enough to draw the fight between Vermithor and Sunfyre nearly equal as Meleys and Vhagar clashed behind her.

Sunfyre banked and rolled, resplendent in the high noon, missing Vermithor’s gnashing teeth by the breadth of a scale every time. Sena could hear Aegon laughing. Could hear the howls of Vhagar and Meleys tearing at each other on the wind.

Gods be good, if this was the end, she wasn’t going to die fighting Aegon.

Sena directed Vermithor for one more wild snatch, letting Aegon become complacent and arrogant, as he was wont to do. He was a lazy swordsman, and even bearing Blackfyre, he could not make up for the fact that his next move shone on his face like a lit beacon in winter snow. The same principle seemed to carry over into his dragonriding. Sena and Vermithor came around on Sunfyre and Aegon one more time, and, at the most logical moment for the larger dragon to dip and lunge, she screamed “Navemanon!” into the wind. Vermithor hesitated - it was not a Valyrian command, not even a word in their tongue, but it sounded enough like it to Aegon and it worked beautifully, because whilst her dragon was confused and trying to work out what she wanted him to do, Aegon turned his entire head to the right. There. “Nābēmagon, Vermithor! Paktot!” Attack, Vermithor! Right! And as Aegon feinted right to dodge the first, false attack, Vermithor lunged with him and clamped his teeth down into Sunfyre’s wing.

The scream from the golden dragon was piercing, and it was all Sena could do not to let go to cover her ears. Vermithor gave one good shake of his head, shredding the membranes of Sunfyre’s wing, and the King’s dragon screamed, spewing flames back at Vermithor. But Vermithor was too large, his scales too thick, and with a sharp “Dracarys!” from Sena, he caught the King’s dragon in a blast of his own flame. Sunfyre roared and began to wheel desperately in circles, only born aloft on one good wing. Sena commanded Vermithor to bank so they could take a final swipe and be done with Aegon for the time being, but there was no need, as the King’s dragon was falling from the sky at speed.

That was when she caught sight of Vhagar raking her claws down Meleys’s back in the distance. There was an almighty roar from the Red Queen as steaming blood began to spurt from the wound. “No! No!” Sena screamed. Aemond would not add another dragon or another Targaryen to his headcount. Vermithor sharply banked towards Vhagar, nearly colliding midair with Meleys who was reeling in descending loops, fighting to stay airborne. To deal so much damage to such an experienced dragon so quickly… Aemond was either letting Vhagar wreak carnage as she saw fit or he was the greatest dragonrider in a century. Sena found herself not wanting to know the answer.

She spotted Rhaenys on Meleys’s back - shaken but unharmed - and commanded Vermithor around, determined to keep Vhagar’s attention away from the failing Meleys. Vhagar seemed to have the same notion, deciding to deal with the fitter prey before finishing off the weakened one. As the two mighty dragons set on a collision course towards each other, Sena felt her blood run cold as she thought of Luke, and whether Aemond had any control of the ancient beast right now.

Sena threw herself flat against Vermithor’s back, bracing for impact, letting free a wild howl as the dragons came closer and closer. And then, Vhagar feinted left, and the force of the wind from her wingbeat would have knocked Sena clean from her saddle if she had not been chained down. The message from Aemond was clear. Stand down.

Vhagar followed a long arc downwards to where Meleys was reeling, pulling up at just the right second to catch the Red Queen’s neck in her maw. Claret blood spurted and steamed as the Red Queen gave a feeble shudder. It was too late by the time Sena brought Vermithor round and slammed down onto Vhagar. It knocked all three dragons - two living, one in the final throes of a bloody end - the last thirty feet to the ground. Vermithor and Vhagar hit the ground with enough force to knock every soldier within a league on his back. A wave of searing pain and nausea hit Sena as her head whipped off of Vermithor’s hard-scaled back, her nose burst with blood and her vision swam out of focus.

“Fuck,” was all she could manage, and Vermithor was furious at her handling of him. He roared and swung his weight in an attempt to throw her from his back, but her chains held her down. He then moved as though to roll with her still on his back, crushing her beneath his weight, and Sena’s stomach lurched, desperately pulling at the chains on her belt.

At the last second, she unhooked her entire sword belt, wrapped her hand around the hilt of her sword and threw herself from dragonback.

She hit the ground hard, and Vermithor screeched once more. Her head swam as she staggered to her feet, desperately trying to drag air back into her lungs, terrified the dragon would round on her once more. But instead, free of his rider, Vermithor took his chance and rose to the sky again.

“Well, fuck you then!” She screamed after him and attempted to staunch the blood flowing into her mouth with her glove. She stood there on the field, a wide circle cleared around her where her dragon had fell, sword in hand and watching her dragon retreat West. She was utterly alone in a field of green soldiers who were staggering to their feet, watching her, waiting for orders. She was truly fucked now. Meleys was down, twitching in her last throes of death, and Sena could see no sign of Rhaenys. Sunfyre and Vhagar were down too, the former seemingly for good, the latter only dazed, somewhere on the field behind her. Sena turned to watch Vermithor’s retreating form in the sky and groaned in frustration. Vhagar would be free to torch the entire town now once she regained the air-

“Back,” snapped a commanding voice. “I’ll deal with her myself.”

Sena spun around and her heart lurched in her chest. Aegon’s troops had fallen back from her at the sharp command, Vhagar was watching her from across the field with beacon-like eyes and her rider… Aemond stood before her, sword drawn, clad in armour from head to foot. He raised the corner of his mouth in his soft smile. “Pure ingratitude,” he said, nodding at Vermithor. “Most men would kill to have you all to themselves.”

She swallowed around a lump in her throat. “I don’t know about most men,” she said and her voice was barely a croak.

“Fine, maybe I meant I would kill to have you to myself,” he said.

It was a poor choice of words and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. Her blood surged rebelliously in her veins. “You’ve killed for less.”

His expression faltered. “I have,” he said wearily, shamefully. “Lay down your sword and I’ll get a maester. Your nose needs seeing to.”

She clutched her sword tighter. “I can’t.”

He shook his head at her, looking tired. “Stop fighting,” he told her. “Please. Let me take care of you.”

“Take care of me?” She asked, her voice trembling. “You killed Luke, Aemond. And Grey Ghost-“

“I thought I had killed you.” he said, his own voice shaking, drawing closer to her. His eye was glossy. “When I watched you fall, I thought I would die with you.”

She clenched her jaw and raised her sword as he tried to approach her. She kept him at arm’s distance with the point of her blade.

He let the point of the blade catch on the centre of his chest. Met her eyes with a beseeching look. “Give up this folly, my lady. Come back to King’s Landing, come home and marry me.”

“You’re betrothed,” she bit out, and that was another part of this that stung like hell.

He shook his head in disbelief. “There’s not a woman in the world I would not spurn, not an oath I would not break for you. How can you not know that by now?”

Her eyes were swimming with tears, her knuckles gone white from how hard she was grasping her sword. “Give up everything I believe in? Give up my Queen, my sisters, my brothers, to come stand silent at your side and bear your sons? No, Aemond. No.”

He held his expression carefully blank, though she could see the bob of his throat. “You would not be you if you were so easily swayed,” he said, “but to hear you reject me so plainly, reject us and our children… it hurts more than I thought it would.”

Everything in her was shaking. She needed to end this now, before she went weak. Before she folded. Before she succumbed and pulled him into her arms.“I can’t let you take this town without a fight, Aemond. I owe it to my family, to everyone your army will put to the sword.” Her voice was shaking. She wrapped both hands around the hilt of her sword, the point still resting against his armour.

“I understand that, Sena.”

Sena. Her name from his lips had haunted her dreams since all this began.

A breeze picked up behind him and his long hair blustered around his face. Leather, brimstone, rosemary filled her senses.

“Why did the gods make me love you, Aemond?” She asked, her voice shaking.

He smiled a sad smile as he stepped back and raised his sword. A tear rolled freely down Sena’s cheek. “Because they made me for you.”

Their swords clashed between them and at long last, they danced.

They knew this dance well, knew each other well, and it showed in each parried blow, each perfectly timed deflection and dodge. Aemond’s bare steel swung through the air on a counter and she met it with a sharp ringing sound, throwing his strength back at him and slashing with a backswing. He stepped backwards, grimacing as a few strands of silver hair were cut loose from his head, and looked at her with fire in his pretty eye. “You’re going to have to do better than giving me a haircut, issa jorrāelagon.” Sena’s heart seized. My love.

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped and swung at him again.

Time and time again, her strikes fell. And time and time again, he batted them away like he was swatting flies, but never advanced on her. She grew frustrated, grew furious and howled with rage as she swung at him again. He caught the blade inches from his shoulder and deflected it, sending a sharp glare at her, but she did not care, swinging her arms back up again-

It was Ser Criston that caught the next blow, approaching from the side. She’d been so focused on Aemond, she did not even see him approach. Neither did Aemond, his mentor coming at them from his blind side, and he flinched away from the ring of their steel meeting.

“Stand down, my lady,” Ser Criston Cole commanded her sharply. “We have you surrounded. There is no way out.”

But Sena was too angry. Seething at the thought of it all. Luke, Aegon, Jaehaerys, her father, all of it, all she wanted to do was win, just this one time. She struck out one final, savage blow at Aemond, but it was sloppy, made in anger and exhaustion. He side-stepped her easily and pulled her back sharply towards his chest with an arm around her middle.

Ser Criston Cole knocked her hard against the head with his armoured elbow and the scorched field tilted out of focus.

Her vision spotted, her stomach rolled. The ground did not so much rush up to meet her as she was lowered to it. She thought she heard Aemond - her Aemond - murmuring in her ear. “It’s okay, love. It’s okay. Look at me. You’re okay.” She couldn’t be sure.

But she did feel cold shackles closing around her wrists, and a murmured “Apologies, my lady,” from a misshapen blob that looked like Ser Criston Cole.

Then, there was something sweet on her tongue, and the world went black.

taglist (dm/ask/reply to be added): @stargaryenx @trap-house-homiecide

#aemond targaryen x oc #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen #aemond one eye #hotd #tqc #aemond targaryen fanfic

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stayxlix · 3 months

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Heyyy!! It's good to hear from you, even if it's just a reblogged photo. I was wondering what you were up to!👀 Are you ok? I hope so. Is it too early to ask for a little spoiler...? I'm dying to know what you are working on, and I'm suffering the withdrawal symptoms from your fics 🥹

Hugs 💕 -C

hiii my loveeee<33 i hope all is well with you.💕ever since my week off over the holidays i've found myself in a bit of a struggle with motivation to write, but i was feeling much better this week!! i made some progress and i’m so so excited to FINALLY have a little spoiler of your request that has taken me far too long to write🥹 (with concept photos bc i just can’t resist). remember how i said i was fighting the urge to turn it into a multi-part fic?? well im still heavily considering that option seeing as this spoiler is 1.5k words.😂😭 im just so in love with this concept.🥹

there will be more to come of course, this is just the beginning as i’m still working on the rest.💕but from the bottom of my heart, i hope you enjoy this and that it aligns with what you had in mind so far. thank you endlessly for your continued support.<3 (oh and no specific warnings for this little sneak peek🤭).

The beach lay in hushed silence, cradled in the silver embrace of moonlight. Seated at the edge of the isle, the breeze wrapped around you with tender warmth as your fingers delicately sifted through the white sand—luminescent grains that glowed stronger in response to your touch, matching the ethereal symbols engraved on your skin.

Every night, the symbols on your body came alive to emit a soft glow underneath the moon's presence. Each shimmering mark told a tale of ancient magic, a heritage woven into the very fabric of your being. As you traced a swirling symbol on your forearm, a subtle ripple of energy pulsed through the air.

Despite the appearance of solitude, perched by yourself on the shoreline, you were never truly alone here. You found companionship in the gentle murmur of the wind as it whispered sweet nothings in your ears. It spoke of the trees—the stories etched in their rings and the creatures that sought solace in their branches. It told tales of ancestral wisdom that flowed through the veins of your people—a connection to water, the tide, the moonlight.

With each gentle wave that lapped against the shore, the symbols on your skin glowed brighter as your connection to the island deepened. They pulsed with quiet energy, resonating with the gentle ebb and flow of the tide.

Amidst the harmony, a single tear traced a path down your cheek before falling gracefully onto the white sand below. As it touched the luminescent particles, the island seemed to sigh in acknowledgment.

Sometimes, on nights like these when you embraced the magic in your veins with complete surrender, an unexplainable ache would seep into your being. A deep sense of longing, that felt as if the very soul of the island was yearning for something it has lost long ago. It was an ageless sorrow so profound that it brought forth tears—a manifestation of the connection you shared with the land beneath your palms.

"What's bothering you, hm?" your fingers dug into the cool sand as your hushed words melted into the darkness, carried away by the lull of the waves and the gentle breeze.

The symbols on your skin responded to the question by glowing brighter, and the ache in your heart only intensified. Feeling overwhelmed by the heightened energy, you contemplated leaving. However, just as you began to rise, another gentle wave caressed the shore. The warm water reached your toes in a deliberate manner, as if it were whispering a silent plea: stay.

"Five more minutes", you sighed, sinking back into the soft embrace of the sandy shore. Maybe ten, you thought as your eyelids began to drift shut. As the sounds of the sea faded and your consciousness slipped into blissful oblivion, the luminescent symbols on your skin dimmed to a soft glow. Like a benevolent guardian, the isle wove a protective aura around you as you slept, ensuring that your dreams would be undisturbed by the troubles that awaited under the sunlit sky.

With a lazy stretch, you inhaled deeply, savoring the slow return to consciousness. When you registered the scent of salty air, your eyes shot open, squinting against bright light.

You blinked as you came to your senses. The sea now churned with restlessness, its waves crashing against the shore in a turbulent attack. The sand had lost its luminescence, now resembling a simple stretch of beach. The sun had risen, the once-glowing symbols on your skin now lay dormant. And your connection to the island, so vivid and palpable underneath the moon, had faded with the morning light.

When it dawned upon you that you had slept through the entire night, a soft "shit" escaped from under your breath. The matriarch of the island—your mother—would be more than displeased by your failure to return last night. The heated disagreement between the two of you, which had driven you to seek solace on the beach in the first place, had likely left her on edge. And by now, you were pretty certain she'd have the whole island searching for you in a state of panic.

Shit.

Another curse slipped from your lips as you scrambled to your feet, frantically brushing off the sand clinging to you. Barefoot, you sprinted across the beach. Rocks and uneven terrain pressed into the soles of your feet as you navigated the familiar path.

Your people thrived in subterranean cities—a system of burrows and caves hidden beneath the island's surface. When the sun set each night, they emerged to the forests and beaches to relish in their connection with the island and it's magic. But when daylight painted the sky, they retreated to the underground sanctuaries crafted by your ancestors. The sunlit hours were meant for rest and reflection beneath the earth, not for the spirited escapades of a wayward girl with a rebellious spirit.

You were, for lack of a better term, fucked.

The distant murmur of the sea faded as you darted beneath the canopy of foliage—the impending consequences of your mother's wrath propelling every hurried step. The forest enveloped you in a tapestry of vibrant green, sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Thick vines draped down around you, replacing the salty sea air with the rich scent of soil and damp vegetation.

Despite the burning sensation in your legs, you moved with practiced ease, the winding pathways throughout the island ingrained in your muscle memory like an extension of your very being. When you were just mere minutes away from the nearest hidden entrance leading to the network of passages beneath the island, your return was disrupted by an unsettling sound—a crisp, snapping noise that echoed through the air.

You stumbled to a halt, foot catching on a root. And the forest joined you in holding its breath as the sound repeated again.

And again.

With each crack, your heart skipped a beat. Despite the absence of your glowing symbols in the sunlight, an unsettling feeling told you that the island was in distress—that it was being harmed in some way.

Turning on your heel, your eyes swept across the foliage. Following the direction of the noise, you ventured into a sunlit clearing where an unexpected sight met your gaze.

At the edge of the clearing, a solitary figure stood with his back to you. Pale blonde hair cascaded down in subtle waves, nearly reaching his shoulders. And sunlight played upon the strands as he casually broke off limbs from a tree.

The ancient trees scattered across the isle were like living archives, their roots intertwined with the very essence of the island's energy. To harm them was to disrupt the delicate balance of magic that coursed through your own veins—along with the rest of the island’s inhabitants and wildlife.

Your gaze bore into the intruder, eyes ablaze with a blend of disbelief and anger that only surged as he reached for another branch. A scowl etched deep lines on your forehead as you stepped forward, propelled by a protective instinct. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The stranger flinched harshly at the sound of your voice—a jolt that coursed through his entire frame. A startled gasp escaped him as he spun around, branches tumbling from his grasp to the forest floor in a clumsy cascade.

His appearance was more than enough to wipe the displeased expression clean off your face. It stole the air from your lungs, making you rub your eyes and question whether or not you were still asleep on the shore, caught in a dream.

Your gazes met, and for a fleeting moment, all you knew was the sight of rich, deep brown eyes framed by disheveled blonde hair—an appearance that reflected the wild, untamed beauty of your island home. A few strands of his hair clung together in damp disarray, and your eyes traveled downward to note the wet clothing that clung to his body, as if he had just emerged from the sea.

The boy stumbled back as his mouth fell open, plump lips parting in astonishment. He took another step to steady himself, shifting into the dappled sunlight, and it only heightened the striking beauty of his features. When the rays of warmth kissed his skin, you noted the tiny freckles scattered across his cheeks, along the bridge of his nose..

But when you squinted, you were nearly certain you were dreaming, because the small dots appeared to glow. Much like the symbols on your own skin did underneath the moon, they radiated a subtle luminescence. A warmer tone than your own, softer, but..

"Felix?! Mate, what's taking so long?" a voice belonging to a second male sliced through the delicate tension in the air. "We don't need much to start a fire."

Felix blinked before turning around to face the source of the interruption. "I—" he met Chan's eyes, disbelief resonating in his deep voice as he turned again to face where you stood.

"I—There..She—"

But his unfinished sentence hung in the air, sheer bewilderment falling across his freckled features as his eyes scanned the now-empty clearing.

Felix stared and stared at the space where you'd stood, like a mirage, before vanishing without a trace—your sudden disappearance leaving him to grapple with two possibilities: either he was already hallucinating from dehydration, or he had just let something extraordinary (and possibly their only chance at making it off this island alive) slip right through his fingers.

#alex answers asks♡#C #anon #💕

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mysticstarlightduck · 8 months

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Happy WBW!

What would the world of your WIP look like in a hundred years?

~ @tabswrites

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the Ask, @tabswrites

What would the world of your WIP look like in a hundred years?

This is a very interesting, and complicated question.

Let me explain:

The continent of Agrannor has been torn by multiple wars and conflicts for the past few centuries, especially the Agrannorian civil war which was especially damaging (I mean, the Kingdom of Eldon was literally destroyed by the end of it, there was nothing left when the war ended) and the persecution magical folk have faced ever since the rise of the Morosyn Dynasty has also caused serious consequences. The Continent's development - though the kingdoms still thrive in most places - has slowed down considerably, and that is only bound to get worse with the approach of the War of Prophecy in the current events of the story.

This means that, by the time the current story of The Last Wrath ends, most kingdoms (be it Imperial, Free Realmer, or Borderlands) have some serious rebuilding and reestablishing to do, before development and technological growth can even begin to take place.

This is important to know, because such a halt on the continent's development and the aftermath of such brutal wars, means that at least the first half of those 100 years will be spent recovering and rebuilding what was lost, as well as changing unhealthy prejudices and helping those who were once hunted down find a place to safely restart their lives. That is a lot of work, even with the kingdom's efforts combined with the new magical and tech discoveries. Some semblance of technological development should start to be noticeable by the middle and the second half of the coming century.

And that's where the answer to your Ask comes in!

After the continent is done rebuilding, the kingdoms would likely use the magical and technological advancements learned during and after the War of Prophecy, and use it to make their lands thrive. Better housing, more advanced road systems, and expansion of trade relations with new kingdoms and even other continents (which the growth of dragon rider academies - who can fly long distances - and also the creation of better, faster sailing techniques, with the Storm Isles making an alliance with the continent once again)

SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT ✨

Some key political changes also happened during those years, especially in the aftermath of the War of Prophecy, after which the Morosyn Dynasty fell and their lands became once again the Seraphian Empire, with the lost heir of the First Empress being crowned as ruler, and the re-establishment of a friendly relationship between the Imperial lands and the Free Realms, with the Empire stopping its efforts of conquest and the crooked ways of the Temple of Radiance being outlawed for good (a temple should be a place of peace and diplomacy and not a horrifying monstrosity that hunts innocents for their magical blood).

The Hidden Cities of the Elves began to thrive once again, no longer having to live isolated from the world, and trust between human and elven rulers slowly began to rebuild. More importantly, with the end corruption of the ancient magic sources, the elves no longer found themselves ill or cursed by the effects of forbidden magic and were able to live their long lifespans to the fullest once again.

The lost enclaves, where the last Faeborn that managed to survive the Hunts lived, reappeared for the first time in almost 30 years, with the support of the kingdoms to be free to return to their ancient territory. The Faes then shared much of their magical knowledge with a few selected human and elven individuals, who went forth to use said knowledge to try and improve the lives of everyone in the lands.

As for the Free Realms, much of their current structure and political systems remained the same. The kingdoms remained independent and free to thrive as they pleased, without the threat of Imperial Occupation. The Free Realmer lands conquered during the Agrannorian Civil War and the War of Prophecy were restored to their rightful kingdoms, and given independence by the Seraphian Empire. When it came to important decisions and diplomatic solutions, the rulers were once more united in the Primordial Council (which gathered every five years or whenever should it be summmoned, to discuss important matters), which had fallen millennia ago during the Ancient Wars and was reinstated after the end of the War of Prophecy, a century ago, by request of Queen Ellinor and the Dawn Knight. This was meant so that a conflict of such magnitude could be avoided in the coming future.

Due to all of this, a growth in the presence of magically talented populations grew, now that their lives were no longer in danger. Many more people became interested in learning arcane magical arts, and the old sorcerer orders and academies were reopened (both in the Empire and the Free Realms) to train those interested in following a sorcerer path.

Of course, not all was beautiful, nor fun, and games, and the kingdoms still suffered through many minor conflicts and harsh times to get where they would be 100 years later.

(Since the world of Agrannor was heavily inspired by some aspects of IRL late Ancient Times and early Medieval Times - and considering the halt in the fictional continent's development mentioned earlier - in 100 years, it would likely be very medieval-coded but more developed)

#writeblr #writers #my wips #my characters #my writing #character writing #writerblr #writers on tumblr #worldbuilding wednesday!#asked and answered #The Last Wrath wip

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marztheincredible · 1 year

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Woah! Influx of new people! Guess it’s time for a new introduction!

Hey there! I’m Marz! Fanfic writer and lore enthusiast!

Currently, I’m writing an ambitious project and retelling of The Owl House called “Titan’s Blessing”

To keep this intro as short as possible, the gist of the fic covers these points:

1.) What if Luz turned into a Witch while she’s was on the Boiling Isles? Yes you read that right. And I don’t mean POOF! She grows a bile sac in a day. I mean a long and arduous forbidding change that starts small and grows exponentially. In this version of The Boiling Isles, The Titan still has presence, influencing life and watching his Children (Demons and Witches). Magic, the gift he gave them is bright and comforting. So when humans stumble onto the Isles, He notices, they’re empty, that won’t do.

So he judges them, if they’re worthy he changes them, adapts and gives a little push to human evolution. If not, well, you’ll stay a regular old human.

“Luz tastes the copper tang of blood on her tongue as she stares at the lone tooth embedded in the piece of meat she tried to take a bite out of. That’s…not supposed to happen, she has all her adult teeth! She’s been brushing and flossing every day since she’s been here! Why-?

“Huh, ah is that what’s freaking you out? Congrats kid! You lost your first baby fang! Make sure you eat it to get the extra calcium!” Eda cheerily states.

She’s lost what?!” —Titan’s Blessing

2.) Culture. In TB I do not shy away from the obvious evils the Coven System has implemented throughout the years of Belos’ rise to power and his reign. It is a fascist system, one where an eradication of culture is detrimental to a society that was once whole.

So we ask questions and break down the small tidbits of lore that are sinister underneath the surface. Just how serious is it to lock away the rest of your naturally born magic for the rest of your life?

What happens when you raise a generation who’ve forgotten the sacred bond The Titan gives them from the rooted trees that birth their Palisman?

The eradication of language is another one of these questions. The use of TOH runes is pivotal in this story and once YOU the reader learns them just as Luz had, the story becomes much more intricate…and frightening.

3.) Worldbuilding. With the help of @urbanbirdbud and their artistic talent every other chapter contains what we call Codex Entries. While most of them involve the reader decoding runes, many give more information about the world of The Boilings Isles. From letters between two Clawthorne sisters, to anatomical charts of a Witch’s anatomy, even Calendars, Titan’s Blessing is a fic of expanded and dissected lore!

You’ll also find here on this blog that many asks also delve into more details told beyond TB. So, don’t be afraid to leave a question! I’m more than happy to answer! (providing its not spoiler territory)

Eventually, there will be a World Anvil Page for TB!ToH!

Thank you all for following and joining us on this crazy adventure! Happy reading!

#titan’s blessing #I tried to keep it short as possible #I failed #ANYWAYS expect some reblogs of old asks coming here soon!

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ventureawaybitches · 8 months

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Fate Legacy Game 2 (part 1)

This is a spoiler warning, you are being warned of spoilers, consider yourselves warned

Love that when needing more information everyone's like I'll phone a friend, except Kara who's going to punch stuff

Genuinely thought to call the Raven Queen Arrnodel would pick Alistar up like a phone and talk into him

The Raven Queen is just so cool and scary and I love how oblivious Arrnodel is to how creepy it all is

Very interested in the idea that with demi-gods giving their power to someone it's like giving a part of their life force, and it hurts the demi-god if they aren't close. What would happen if they were on different planes? That's an immense amount of trust

Our darling Rem

I'm gonna take a bath to clean off all that sexual tension (same girl)

Bastard's Breach is being rebuilt. Interestiiiinnggg

I am water. You are hope. That is your kind.

They were talking to Phin (and maybe Amalthea, I can't remember) about finding a base for the Furies so...it might be on the Jade Isles???

Presana's whole thing that mortal kind are made of hope is really beautiful.

Isolde wearing white in a place where everyone and everything is covered in dust and sand all the time is such a power move (also Rem's favourite colour is black, just saying)

I never loved anyone before her. And I don't know if I'll ever recover. To love a demi-god is all consuming, and when I lost her I felt I lost something of me. WHAT IF I DIE CELESTE!!! HOW DARE!!!!!

Chess has diamond patterned skin, very cool (yep I was surprised they have skin)

I would like Chess and Rem to fight for fun and profit

Carillon brewery confirmed, spend years learning insanely difficult and dangerous magic, also how to make beer 10/10 no notes

Leading on from that please tell me the carillon temple has a gift shop

Sawyeh with the how about y'all just don't fuck my god

Aaron and Arrnodel broke up, I'm not surprised and I think everything going on with Arrnodel at the moment is laying the foundations to her moving to the Shadowfell on a more permanent basis, now she has less ties to the mortal realm

CO-CAPTAINS!

Kara and Fera's talk and how it expands on Fera's arc/rise to power/taking responsibility-autonomy in her life, I like that Fera doesn't want to step back, and she's not going to let go now

This might be cos i haven't listened to the finale in ages and forgot everything but

It's obvious that the cast have discussed where they want to go and retconed a few things from legacy game 1 with more thought about the maidens' future, and maybe how this will tie into Favor.

I don't understand why they had to evacuate New Breach, but i might've been wrong thinking only the Keep was pulled into the Fates realm. I find it slightly frustrating that all the political efforts in Kara's arc to get the fey tree are rendered pointless and all these people who wanted to live away from the Eldrin Empire are forced back to it.

(all quotes are approximate, i do not trust my notes)

#venture maidens #venture maidens podcast #venture maidens fate #fate legacy #legacy game spoilers #venture maidens spoilers #fate spoilers #my posts don't need to be perfect i'm allowed to have opinions etc etc

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fiercefrizz-a · 7 years

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Rise of the Isle of the Lost sentence starters (part 1)

(feel free to change pronouns/places/etc)

❝ Here comes (NAME). Let's get her! ❞

❝ What's she doing here, anyway? ❞

❝ She likes to have first dibs. ❞

❝ She's always hoping someone will throw away an old fur coat. ❞

❝ You let go! You're splashing it on me! ❞

❝ (NAME)! Where are you? Are you okay? ❞

❝ You didn't fall in! ❞

❝ Yes, I'm okay. But you're not! ❞

❝ What's going on? Are they leaving? ❞

❝ Rumor has it they're going to (PLACE). ❞

❝ Some kind of new proclamation or something. ❞

❝ It's the (EVENT). Wish we could be there. ❞

❝ (NAME), do this filter with us! ❞

❝ Come on, (NAME), give them a wave. ❞

❝ How do they fly so high? ❞

❝ I thought they were mermaids, not fairies. ❞

❝ They're jumping, not flying. ❞

❝ Right, when are tryouts again? ❞

❝ It's nice to be back. Even though we were only gone for a day, it felt like we were down in (PLACE) for a long time. ❞

❝ I'm glad everything worked out. ❞

❝ Totally! Group hug? ❞

❝ Each one is unique. No two are alike in the world. ❞

❝ Do you want one? ❞

❝ No, I just like looking at them. ❞

❝ Wow, how does it keep from melting? ❞

❝ Which one do you want? My treat. Let me guess. ❞

❝ I wonder why they haven't switched to offering it on a digital streaming service yet. ❞

❝ The mermen swim so fast you can't even see their fins! They're just blurs in the water! ❞

❝ You're not joining us? ❞

❝ Huh, that's weird. All the weathermen predicted sunny skies for today. ❞

❝ Let's get out of here. ❞

❝ Follow me to the limo! ❞

❝ Where did that storm come from? There were blue skies just a second ago. ❞

❝ She texted me earlier. She said she was going to stay a little longer at her grandfather's party and not to wait. She's with her family. ❞

❝ We need to get home before it gets any worse. ❞

❝ So much for the festival. ❞

❝ It's too bad. They worked so hard to make it special. ❞

❝ I was hoping you would say that. ❞

❝ I've been carrying this for a few days and it gives me the creeps. ❞

❝ I don't know, it's kind of fun having them around; it reminds me of where we came from. ❞

❝ Well, unlike you, I don't want to be reminded of (PLACE) all the time. ❞

❝ I wanted to leave it in my room because I don't like carrying it around, but it felt like too much of a risk. ❞

❝ Great, I'll let (NAME) know we're on our way. ❞

❝ Did you give (NAME) my regards? ❞

❝ The festival was wonderful as usual, except for this strange storm at the end. ❞

❝ I saw on the news. What a shame. ❞

❝ So there they are, huh? I've been expecting them. ❞

❝ Sorry, we got distracted by school. ❞

❝ Absolutely understandable. It's not as though I were looking forward to this task either. ❞

❝ Oh dear, what a collection. ❞

❝ They will have to be destroyed, of course. ❞

❝ But sometimes the consequences of using such great magic remain unknown until much later. ❞

❝ Do you like my hair this way? ❞

❝ (NAME), you look a bit woozy. ❞

❝ Well, let's hope the only damage was the ceiling and windows. ❞

❝ Like I said, you never know what happens when this kind of wild magic is unleashed. ❞

❝ I thought of that, and I was worried too, until I remembered something. ❞

❝ Codes can be reprogrammed. ❞

❝ So we're safe now, right? ❞

❝ Did you get caught in the rain too? ❞

#rise of the isle of the lost spoilers #sentence starter meme #ask meme #starter meme #✘ ( ɢɢ ) ——— ‘ true evil is seductive. ’ 〈 memes ! 〉#this took a while to finally post because i've only been doing it on and off and giving it like last priority #but i couldn't not continue the series #i did the first 25 chapters so i have like........10 memes drafted #or nine since this one is posted now #so here we go !!!#book three !!!!#this one will have a lot more parts than the last two because i'm putting less on each post

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princess-of-the-lost · 7 years

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RISE OF THE ISLE OF THE LOST CONTENT DISCUSSED BELOW. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

Let’s talk about some things, friends.

•Ben says Lonnie is like a sibling. How cute is that? Also, this means that Mulan and Belle probably hang out a lot so that’s a fun thought, right?

•Ben is a wonderful king? I cannot get over the intelligence, kindness, and patience of this character. He’s so sweet. Bless.

•Mal is an insecure little nugget. But she loves her friends with all her heart.

•Headcanon: Sophie is not straight.

•Doug is also a precious baby? It’s clear how much he cares for Evie and I love it. And him.

•Herky, Aziz, Li'l Shang… amazing. That made me really.happy.and I don’t know why.

•Carlos made the R.O.A.R. team before Jay!

•Jay is R.O.A.R. captain!

•Chad Charming full-on sobbing after Audrey breaks up with him is a hysterical mental image.

•Some plot inconsistencies where fixed (ex. Harry, CJ, and Harriet are canon SIBLINGS!)! Thank you, Melissa De La Cruz!

I’m so excited for Descendants 2 now! What about you guys?

#rise of the isle of the lost #disney descendants #descendants 2 #descendants #rise of the isle of the lost spoilers #spoilers #book 3 #book 3 spoilers

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jaylos · 7 years

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this might sound like a really dumb question but is there any given explanation at this time for why uma doesn't appear as an octopus-person?

it’s not a dumb question don’t worry :}

there was no explanation given in the book. Ursula herself still has tentacles, which leads me to believe that the barrier doesn’t automatically make everyone human.

Uma’s father might be human? that’s the only explanation i can think of

#disney descendants #descendants 2 #uma #ursula #rise of the isle of the lost spoilers

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evilveined · 7 years

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Reading that Evie isn't invited to princess functions breaks my heart. Especially since she apparently designs all their dresses. I mean how many times does this bitch have to save the world to be a valid princess? Gently cries.

#rise of the isle of the lost spoilers

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rcseau · 7 years

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okay so i’m just gonna say it right now, line 14 on page 271 in chapter 38 of Rise of the Isle of the Lost is not part of my canon for audrey.

#me: girl who is you #ᴛʀʏ ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ ᴜɴᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜs ( ooc. )#anyway i'm almost done #I Have Thoughts #i mean i'll rp it should someone want to #but it is Not compliant with the way i write auds so #bye #rise of the isle of the lost spoilers

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sixbillicnsoulsarchive · 7 years

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also, the whole uma stealing harry’s hook shit at the beginning gets super fucked up when i remember i headcanon that my harry’s hook is actually real.

like.. uma straight up takes his hook and he’s left with his stump.

on another note, i need to read cj’s stuff don’t i? the book says he’s the middle child between harriet and cj (which does not stand for captain james like i thought. it’s calista jane.)

#( ʟᴀᴍᴇʟʏ ᴘᴜᴛ; ɴɪᴄᴋʏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ‣ ooc. )#rise of the isle of the lost spoilers

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mutedmascot-a · 7 years

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i can’t handle the purity and goodness that is this scene wtf

#rise of the isle of the lost spoilers #✧ ┊ ❝ i gotta go lie down. ( ooc )#say what you will about janelos........#(a ship i'm neutral on)#but their relationship be it platonic or anything else #is adorable af and the sweetest thing #i need more interactions with carlos wtf #i need a strong and loving friendship between them #is that too much to ask #also btw ps my girl remains cute #like she's the cutest #how innocent #i've been blessed #also should i tag as spoiler??#since it's vague?#gonna anyway idk

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lilacevil-blog · 7 years

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me when there’s absolutely no anthony and very little marlos

youtube

#( off the island ‣ ooc. )#rise of the isle of the lost #rise of the isle of the lost spoilers #descendants spoilers

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justaself-shipper · 3 years

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Golden Guard x Reader- True Colours

A/N: I wanted to get back into the swing of things before redoing the requests. There may or may not be a few Amphibia references in here…since i watched it quite recently... Spoilers for Hunting Palisman. Also anyone get the reference of the title?

Being in the Emperor’s Coven wasn’t easy. From battling monsters and demons to rogue witches and a certain human, I was surprised I was still alive. A regular guard was just a pawn for the Emperor. Yet, I had no choice, since my parents had already planned my future while I was still young. I wanted to make them proud, and I really did try. But it seems like being a normal guard in the Emperor’s Coven wasn’t enough. I needed to go bigger, eliminate anyone in my way if I had to. I was going to do it for them, and for my lost Palisman, Froggit. (IT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT CAME TO MIND-) Standing at attention, I watched all the servants and guards walk by. I was assigned outside the Throne room today. Kikimori happened to be walking by as the door opened. She gasped. “Golden Guard?! You’re alive! I heard about the crash-“ The “Golden Guard” came into view. He greeted Kiki, and I had the time to observe him. He was about my age, with blonde hair, red eyes, and a scar on his right cheek. As he walked away from Kikimori, he looked my way. I hadn’t realised I had turned to face them. Quickly standing to attention, I stiffened as he stopped in front of me. “Sir.” I saluted. He raised an eye-brow, looking at my badge. (Ima just pretend the badges have names engraved into them in small lettering or something). “Haven’t seen you around here much. When did you join the Emperor’s Coven?” He asked casually. I glared through my mask. “Two weeks ago, sir.” I replied, trying my best to keep my voice calm. He smiled. “Well, miss ‘Y/N’, it’s nice to meet you. The names Hunter.” I didn’t reply back. After a few minutes of silence, he sighs. “Welp, I better be going. See you around.” As he walked away, I let my shoulders relax a bit. Glaring after him, I watched him disappear. So, a higher rank, right? Well, we’ll see about that. Don’t try to chit-chat me, Hunter. You’re nothing but a rival. Later that evening… I let out a yawn. It was late, and I was the only guard patrolling this side of the castle. Lifting my mask to rub my tired eyes, I heard a loud bang, followed by yelp of pain. “Palisman!” Someone hissed. Pulling my mask back down, I held my staff out. “COME OUT! I KNOW YOU’RE THERE!” I yelled out. There was nothing but silence. Turning a corner, I caught someone running away, carrying something. “Hey!” I gave chase, following the intruder down the corridors. As I ran, I realised they seemed to know exactly where they were going. Running by halls that lead to dead ends, and avoiding doors that entered into closed off rooms. Using my staff, I sped up, running in front of the witch. He came to a stop, almost tripping. Holding out my staff, I was about to zap him, when I realised it was Hunter. A small, red bird Palisman sat on his shoulder. I smirked under my mask. Hiding a Palisman? One that has wild magic? This was treason. Oh, Emperor Belos is going to love this. “You stay here.” I stated, using a spell to keep him in place. As he struggled, I began to walk off. If he’d been keeping a wild Palisman, who knew what he could do with it. Best to retrieve back-up, and quickly. As I turned my back, he yelled out to me. “Wait! Don’t tell Belos!” Ignoring him, I continued. “I know what he does to them! He kills them!” Stopping, I turned back to the Golden Guard. “What do you mean by that?” I questioned cautiously. Hunter closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. “Emperor Belos isn’t a witch. I don’t know what he is, or what happened to him. All I know is that he uses the magic in the Palismans to keep himself powerful and in a stable condition.” My mind went to Froggit, my Palisman before I joined the Coven. He went missing as soon as I joined…he couldn’t have… “Y-you’re lying, aren’t you?” I growled. The Palisman sitting on his shoulder chirped. After a moment of silence, I released the Golden guard. Turnng my back to him once again, I growled under my breath. “Get out of here before I change my mind.” Hunter didn’t need to be asked twice. Making sure the Palisman wasn’t hurt, he left, returning to his dorm. About an hour later, another guard took over my shift. Rushing back to my dorm, I leaned against the door. It couldn’t be true. Emperor Belos would never hurt my Palisman, would he? I let out a shaky breath. He couldn’t have…right? Finishing up my carving, I stared lovingly at the Frog as I held it up to the sunlight. “And done! Welcome to the world little buddy!” I whispered, blowing the flakes away. Smiling widely, I placed the wooden frog on my bedside table. All I had to do now was wait. He should wake up in a few minutes. Leaning back on my bed, I picked up my book, looking at all the human creatures inside. I loved looking at all the pictures, and even chose one as my Palisman. There were so many amazing creatures, for awhile I couldn’t pick. I had finally settled for a “frog”, since they sounded so amazing. Hearing a croak, I looked up from my book. My new Palisman had woken up, and was crawling around and curiously peering at the objects on my bed stand. “Hey there little guy.” I cooed, picking him up. He let out another croak. “Welcome to the Boiling Isles! You’re so cute!” He tilted his head curiously in my direction, letting out another excited croak. Giggling, I gently pet him. “I’ll keep you safe Froggit. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” I jolted awake, rubbing my teary eyes as I sat up. Silent sobs threatened to erupt from my throat. Taking a few minutes to calm myself, I inhaled slowly. This wasn’t a coincidence, wasn’t it? Froggit was gone, and I had failed to protect him. He had probably died a horrible death, scared and all alone. Checking the window, I noticed the sun was rising. I had to get ready for today. As I stood up, I felt my stomach squirm in guilt. Looking around my room, i grabbed a satchel, collecting things and preparing. I had to get out of here. I was NOT going to work with a Coven that murdered my Palisman, no matter what my parents say. I would have failed them, but nothing was worse than knowing I had failed my Palisman, my only friend. A loud knock came from the door. Looking up, I stared hard at the door. Who could that be? I’m not late for something, am I? The knocking came again. Walking over, I opened the door to find Kikimori there. She seemed to be glaring daggers into my soul, even though she was way shorter than me. “The Emperor wants to speak with you immediately.” She stated, walking away. Why does the Emperor want to see me? I took off my mask as I stood in front of the throne room. My knees shook thinking over the things the Golden Guard had said the night previously. The Emperor wasn’t who I thought he was, and that thought alone terrified me. Clutching my mask, I opened the doors. Mutterings were coming from the other side of the room as I entered. Walking along the corridor, I took note that a few guards, as well as the Golden Guard and Emperor Belos were in the room. Belos was talking to the Golden Guard, but stopped when I entered. I bowed down to the Emperor, as I felt his eyes bare into my soul. “You must be Y/N L/N, right? Hunter has told me so much about you.” He stated. I bowed my head, keeping an eye on Hunter. He seemed to be distracted, since he didn’t seem to be paying attention to us. “He’s told me of all your hard work so far, and that you’re trust worthy. So, I have made up my mind.” He stood up, grabbing onto his staff. What was he doing? “You’ve been moved up to Captain of the guards, since ours has…retired. How does that sound?” Shocked, I glanced up to Hunter. His eyes were averted, refusing to look at me. “I-it’s an honour, my lord…” I stuttered. “B-but, I-i’m just a humble guard, there’s no need to put me as Captain so soon-“ I was cut off as something headed my way, barely missing me by a hair. I stiffened, following the pointed object toward the Emperor. It was….his…arm…. He took the object away. “I'm afraid you don’t have a choice in this matter. Your first mission starts tonight. You’ll be accompanied by Hunter. You’ll be given your badge in the morning.” He waves his hand, signifying I could leave. I nodded. “Y-yes, my Lord.” With that, I placed my helmet back on, walking briskly out of the room. Opening the door, I jumped a little when Kikimori was waiting on the other side. She said nothing, just simply glared at me then left. After watching her disappear around the corner, I let out an angry sigh. What was I gonna do? Later that night…. The Golden Guard was standing beside me, steering the ship we flew in. There was an awkward silence for the first 10 minutes of the flight, with both of us avoiding eye contact. Apparently, we were meant to be looking for Palismans. “So…everything you said the other night was true.” I mumbled. The Golden guard hummed in response. “Unfortunately, yes.” Another silence ensured. “I wasn’t expecting him to make you Captain. I just wanted to help you out a bit, since you helped me. I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you wanted…” I let out a sigh. “It’s fine." That’s when he turned to me. His eyes were filled with sympathy. “I’m also sorry about your Palisman…” I whipped around to face him. “How-“ “It’s not hard. Everyone has a Palisman when they first arrive. They disappear after the first week, and given a “new and improved” staff. It’s becoming more common. Only a few are allowed to keep their Palismans.” He stated, his brows furrowing as his gaze returned to the horizon. “You seem to know a fair bit.” I said. He shrugged. “One of the few perks of being the Emperor’s right-hand man.” I nodded understandingly. Being right-hand man couldn’t have been easy. There would’ve been many people trying to back-stab him. I WAS one of them.

“…what was it like? Your Palisman?” He asked curiously. I smiled under my mask. “He was my best friend. A lot of people questioned why I chose a monster from the human realm, but it didn’t matter. I loved him almost like my own child…” I felt the tears threatening to overflow once again. Hunter smiled. “He sounded nice.” I looked over to him curiously. “You say that as if you’ve never had a Palisman.” His eyes widened, before he turned his face away from me. “…this Palisman is actually my first. I didn’t do well in school, so I never achieved my staff.” Was all he replied. Great. Now I felt bad. “I’m sorry…" He chuckled. “It’s alright. There wasn’t a chance you could’ve known.” Letting out a sigh, I took my mask off. What was the point of hiding my face while meeting a new friend? Letting my hair fall down, I hear Hunter let out a small gasp. I raise an eyebrow, turning my gaze to him. His eyes were wide open, staring at me. “What are you looking at?” “You…you’re beautiful…” My own eyes widened, and I felt my cheeks heat up. Hunter realised that he said it out loud, and his own face lit up. “I-i’m so sorry! I-“ “Just be quiet.” I growled, turning away so then Hunter wouldn’t see me. The ship shook, and I felt it begin to fall rapidly toward the ground. I watched in terror as the ground came closer, and I blacked out as we hit the ground. “Hey! Y/n, wake up!” Someone hissed quietly.

I let out a groan as I opened my tired eyes. Hunter was gently shaking me, looking around frantically at his surroundings. “W-what happened?” I grumbled, sitting up. Hunter clasped a hand over my mouth. I was about to object, when he pointed to a certain short monster on the other side of the rocks. It was Kikimori, and she did not look happy. She seemed to be carrying a stone. I recognised it from history books. They made the possessor stronger. “I KNOW YOU’RE HERE GOLDEN GUARD! AND I KNOW WHAT YOU DID THE OTHER NIGHT!” She shrieked. My brows furrowed, looking toward Hunter. “What is she talking about?” I hissed. He reached for his broken staff. I hadn’t noticed that before. “I’ll explain later. Right now, we need to get out of here.” He whispered back. Without warning, he grabbed my hand, leading me away from the angry monster. Once we were far enough away, I pulled my hand free from his. “What the hex was that about?!” I yelled. Hunter let out a sigh. “Look, the other night I was assigned to collect Palismans. I told my Uncle that I had failed, but the real reason was that I let them go. Kiki and the human Luz was involved and…things just got out of hand.” He was looking down at his feet. “If I told him what had really happened, then he would kill both of us…” I listened carefully. When he was finished, I smiled softly. ‘Hey…you did the right thing.” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Surprised for a moment, Hunter smiled. “So, what are we gonna do? We can’t tell your Uncle we failed to retrieve them again. He’d find out for sure.” I said. Hunter thought for a moment, before a smirk crossed his features. “Not unless we disappeared.” I stared blankly at him for a moment. What did he mean by that? “What do you mean?” “Alright, this is the plan.” Waiting outside the castle, I tapped my foot impatiently. Hunter had gone into the castle to retrieve his Palisman, leaving me outside to wait. It had been 10 minutes already. Shouldn’t he be back by now? Something must’ve happened. Letting out a growl, I clutched my staff, heading inside. Once inside, I passed a few of the guards. None tried stopping me, just giving a nod as I passed by. They took note of my badge it seemed. As I walked pass the throne room, I halted when I heard a cry of pain come from within. “NO, PLEASE! DON’T HURT HIM!” That was Hunter. Rushing over, I swung the doors open. There was Hunter, being held by two guards. Kikimori held his Palisman, about to hand it over to Emperor Belos. Everyone stopped what they were doing when I entered, turning to face me. Emperor Belos was the only one to recognise me. “Ah, Y/n! A nice surprise! No need for any assistance. You see, Hunter here has been keeping secrets from us.” He stated gesturing to Hunter. “But Kikimori has saved us by warning us of his treason. He’ll be thrown into the dungeon shortly, and this…Palisman will be dealt with.” At that, Kikimori was about to hand the Palisman to the Emperor. Rage filled me, and before I realised what I was doing, I had sent a spell their way. The Palisman was thrown from Kikimori’s hands, falling to the ground out of reach. Everyone let out a gasp. Tears overflowed from my eyes as rage coursed through me. “No one else’s Palisman’s are getting hurt under my watch.” I growled. Belos straightened his posture. “I see. You’re a traitor to our kind. Guards, get her!” He yelled. The guards holding Hunter let him go, charging toward me. Using my staff, I quickly defeated them, swinging my staff against their skulls. Both fell unconscious. Without thinking, I charged Belos. He killed my Palisman. Before my staff made contact with him, he used his own magic to throw me against the wall. Yelping in pain, I stumbled to my feet. My vision was still blurry from the impact, hence why I didn’t see Belos walking towards me. I was pushed back against the wall. Something was piercing into my neck, and I realised it was the Emperor’s staff. “You’ll have the same fate as your Palisman.” He hissed. Choking for air, my vision was getting darker and darker as I stared murderously into Belos’ eyes. I finally felt myself drop to the ground, the Emperor letting out a groan of pain as he was attacked from the side. Strong hands lifted me up, helping me limp away from the scene. Hunter got his Palisman ready, ordering me to get on. Doing so, I left my staff lying on the ground, clutching his waist tightly as we escaped the castle. I buried my face in Hunters shoulder as we flew over the Boiling Isles. Neither of us had spoken for a while, and honestly I was too shocked. Finally, Hunter spoke up. “Thank you for that. That was very courageous of you to stand up to him. Are you ok?” “Y-yeah, I’m ok…where are we going? Do you have a place in mind?” I asked, looking down at our surroundings. We were near Bones Marrow (was that what it was called?), and I curious if he had a destination. Hunter smiles at my question. “I have a friend nearby. We’ll seek shelter there if she’ll allow it.” With that, he neared the forest floor, landing quietly in the bushes. I looked up at the building in front of us. I knew this place, although I’d never been to it myself. This was the Owl House, home of one of the most powerful witches on the Isle, Eda the Owl lady. Well, WAS the most powerful. Hunter walked up the doorstep, and was about to knock when a large owl tube on the door spoke up, startling both of us. “OOH VISITORS! FROM THE EMPEROR COVEN TOO! HAVE YOU COME HERE TO BE MY FRIEND?!” The door opened, revealing Luz the human. Her smile lit up when she realised it was Hunter. “Hunter! Hi! What are you doing here? And who’s your friend? You aren’t…here to arrest me, are you?” She asked suspiciously, closing the door ajar as she squinted her eyes. I almost laughed at how childish she was. “No, sorry to disappoint. Me and my friend were going to ask if we could stay for awhile? We…kinda left the coven.” Hunter said, gesturing to himself and I. I gave a little wave. Luz’s eyes widened in surprise, her smile returning. “Of course! Come in! We have…room for two more!” Opening the door, she let us inside. Hunter stepped in first, but was stopped by an ice wall. He let out a yelp of surprise, and Luz was yelling at someone. “Lillith! Be nice!” Lillith? Where have I heard that name? It clicked when I caught sight of her. There, in what I assumed to be human clothes, stood Lillith, my role model ever since I was a small witchling. I almost jumped up and down in excitement, if it wasn’t for the shock of the ice bars between us. “Human! This is the Golden Guard! We can’t let him in here! What if it’s a trick?!” Lillith shrieked. Luz tried to calm her down, explaining that he’d changed. Another woman stepped into the room, followed by a small demon with a skull on his head. “Alright, what’s going on here?” She muttered. Luz sighed in relief. “Oh thank god you’re here, Eda. My friends need a place to stay, and-“ Eda? Lillith cut her off. “HE’S THE GOLDEN GUARD! It could be a trap!” She screamed, gesturing to the two of us. Hunter didn’t say anything, just let out a nervous chuckle. Eda only stared at us tiredly. “…..if it’s a trap we won’t hesitate to knock em’ out cold. Just let em in.” She grumbled, sitting on the couch as she drank something from out of a cup. Lillith stuttered indignantly, while Luz used what I assumed a random piece of paper to create fire. Melting the bars, she let the two of us inside.

A few minutes later, Hunter and I were sitting beside each other on two chairs, while Lillith, Luz, and Eda were sitting on the couch. He had just finished explaining what had happened with Emperor Belos mere hours before. Lillith had her arms crossed, staring at us suspiciously, while Eda was peacefully sipping at her apple-blood. Luz was holding the little demon, who I found out was named King. Luz spoke up first. “So…now you’re wanted criminals?” She asked, concerned. Hunter pat his Palisman. “It would appear so.” He muttered. Lillith didn’t say anything, but it was obvious from her body language she didn’t trust us. Eda the owl lady smiled comfortingly. “Well, I guess an enemy to Belos is a friend of mine. Welcome to the Owl House kids.” She chuckled. “Thank you.” I replied. Luz pointed accusingly at me. “AHA! YOU DO SPEAK!” She yelled. I chuckled. “So what’s your name, kid?” Eda asked. “I’m Y/n. Nice to meet you all. Especially you Lillith!” She turned to me, raising a brow. “Why’s that, witchling?” “You’ve always been a role-model for me! I feel so honoured meeting you in person!” I said, my smile brightening to finally have an opportunity to speak to my hero. Lillith smiled. “Thank you, witchling.” A few weeks later… Hunter and I had officially moved into the Owl House. It was a bit crowded but it became our home. Eda was teaching Hunter how to take care of his Palisman, plus how to use and treat it. I on the other hand, began to classes with Lillith and Luz, learning how to master glyphs. Sure, I still had my powers, but in case of emergencies I wanted to learn about these strange little symbols. We had become wanted criminals that day, and our wanted posters were stuck up all over the Boiling Isles. I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I realised it was Hunter. “Hey Y/n, I have a surprise for you.” He said, grabbing my hand and leading me away from the Owl house. Dragging me through town, we snuck by many wanted posters of us. He finally stopped outside of Hexside, a school I had once attended before joining the Emperor’s Coven. Knocking on the door, Principal Bump opened. “Ah, good you’re here! Just in time too!” He whispered, taking down another poster that was stuck to his door. He smiled down at the two of us. “Good to see you again Y/n. Come this way!” Leading us onto the Grudgby field, I noticed Eda was standing beside a large, wooden stump. She walked over to us excitedly. “Y/n! Hunter had told us what had happened to your Palisman, so Bumpy, Hunter and I decided to give you a little surprise. I introduce to you…” The Bat Queen flew down, landing on the stump and opening the door. Many Palismans with cracks ran out, looking around curiously. “To the Palismans! These little guys need a good home again, and one lucky one may pick you.” My eyes widened in awe, as I clasped my hands over my mouth. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I hugged Hunter, who was standing beside me. “THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” I cried. Realising what I was doing, my face heated up, and I immediately let go, looking away in embarrassment. He did the same, scratching his neck as a pink flush covered his cheeks. Eda chuckled at our interaction. “Alright. All you gotta do is kneel down, say a goal you want to achieve and one should choose you.” She stated. I grinned as I knelt down, looking at all the cute Palismans scuttling about. “I want a powerful Palisman to help protect those I care about.” I said. One Palisman began to glow. It looked like a lizard from the human realm, but with a scorpion tail and sharp claws. I held out my hands as it turned into a staff, landing gently in my hands as the Palisman happily growled. My grin widened as I looked excitedly back at Hunter, hugging the Palisman close. Everything was going to be ok now.

A/N: HOLY CRAP FINISHING THIS I REALISED IT PRETTY MUCH TURNED INTO A FULL BLOWN NOVEL-

#golden guard #hunter #toh #the owl house #spoilers #the owl house season 2 #self insert #golden guard x reader #hunter x reader #x reader #reader included #reader #toh s2

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shibe-myths · 2 years

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Demo Romances

Within the demo for Lich Gate the MC has a chance to meet all Seven of the possible romance options. The Following is a quick character sheet for the possible Romances. Spoilers ahead.

❅The Lady in armor❅

Name: Lamis Bashar Alias: Lady B (By associates), The ALMOST Sultana (By Laz), Lami (intimate relations.) Gender: Female (not customizable) Pronouns: She/Her Age Range: Mid to late thirties Species: Human Class: General (close combat) Weapon: A crook’d spear.

Personality: Noble | Austere | Passionate | Stubborn

Romance Option: Yes. However, Lamis is only romanceable towards those who are male or male presenting. Romance Style: Hot and Cold

Appearance: Tall, almost impossibly so, lady B stands just shy of 7ft/213.36cm. With a swimmer’s build and a lancer’s training it is no surprise that the lady hides a muscular physique beneath her many layers of roughspun silk and armor. Drenched in fine jewels. She possesses calf-length caramel hair kept in a tight braid, dull yellow eyes, olive skin, and dramatic kohl lining her eyes and that of her lips.

Description: Wandering the kingdoms of Edalehan and Ibereli with her merry band of misfits, the lady spends much of her days foregoing her royal duties for the call of adventure. Believing that she may do more good for the people out there in the thick of it over that of a throne room. It is yet unknown whether or not she’s bitten off more than she can chew.

But, good luck telling her that.

The first romance option (technically the second) that the Player will meet during their journey. Lady B, born Lamis Bashar, is the great-granddaughter of the prior Sultana and an unknown consort - now the leader of a mercenary band. She finds the player lost upon the roads to ruin and takes pity, bringing them into her guild without so much as a second thought. She spends much of Lich Gate’s beginning aiding the MC in regaining their lost memories.

Notes:

Both Lady B and Bernie are distant cousins, hence the similar eye colors

Lady B owns a Pogona Lizard named Princess. Princess lives within her sleeve and will sometimes rest atop her shoulders; judging those around her.

☼The Noble knight☼

Name: Ser Bernadette Emili Regis Narcissus Ingle of Noble House Bulgari Alias: Bernie, B.B. (by Laz), Berns (Laz) Gender: Nonbinary, born AMAB. Pronoun: They/Them Age range: Mid Twenties Species: ‘Human’ Class: Cavalier Weapon: Sword and Shield.

Personality: Honest | Kind | Romantic | Naive

Romance Option: Yes. Bernie is Romanceable to a player of any gender. However, they prefer good-nature MCs. Romance Style: Flustered and drowning in courtly romance.

Appearance: Shoulder length dreads beaded with jewels, heavy brows, fine, lightly calloused umber skin, a broad nose, pale gold eyes, and a lithe build. Somewhat akin to that of a fencer. Standing at 5’8”/172.72cm, they make up for their rather average appearance with that of heavy armor that is more ceremonial rather than practical. And beneath their eyes is a thick line of kohl.

Description: The eldest twin of the noble house Bulgari, Bernadette is next in line to inherit the throne of the Bridge Isles. It’s just too bad that Bernie does not desire to take the crown until they’ve accomplished an impossible feat worthy of House Bulgari. No matter how much their family has claimed otherwise, Bernadette has set themself with the task of saving the day- just like their ancestors had before the rise of magic. Even if it kills them.

Bernie has spent the past year wandering the continent in search of a cause worthy enough for them to champion. With minimal success. It isn’t until they meet the mysterious stranger that they might have found a cause worthy enough for the title of Sovereign.

Notes:

Bernadette is a twin, both they and Josephine (their sibling) have equal right to the throne due to the circumstances of their birth. However, thanks to Josie’s insanely poor health, Bernie is expected to take over once they return from their little ‘adventure’.

Both Lady B and Bernie are distant cousins thanks to their great grandmothers both being married and having issue (children) with the same person: The Ghost of Bulgari.

⚘The Serpent⚘

Name: Lazarus (male), Lazeria (female) Attor Alias: Snake (Lady B), Laz (commonly) Gender: Customizable (Male or Female) Pronoun: He/They (male), She/They (female) Age range: Early Thirties Species: Naga Class: Rogue Weapon: Talons and poison

Personality: Drunkard | Sarcastic | Observant | Nosy

Romance Option: Yes. Laz is Romanceable to a player of any gender. They can also stay as a friend with benefits if the Player so chooses. Romance Style: Hot and Heavy (Friends with Benefits), Devoted and Willing (Romance)

Appearance: Damn near twenty feet in length, Laz is the very example of their serpentine lineage. With bright green eyes, scales varying from the deepest of bronze to the brightest of emerald, three taloned fingers, fangs, and ochre flesh. They are almost a menace in comparison to the rest of the companions. A warrior’s physique despite their preference for cloak and dagger. The Serpent is distressingly quick despite their size.

Fem!Laz tends to wear a tightly wrapped emerald breast band and matching headscarf. While her male counterpart only wears an emerald cloak.

Description: A child of the sands, not much is known about Laz's past. If asked they will come up with an outlandish story on the spot. Never the same tale. They will never tell the truth- no matter how much booze they've been plied with. Besides, who wants to think of the past when the present is already here?

A spymaster for the Sultanate, Laz spends much of the day drunk. Plying the lonely with affection in exchange for the juiciest of gossip. It isn't until Lady B and her mysterious stranger walk into their tavern, that Laz is forced to give up their life of luxury for something more...

Daring...

Notes:

Laz’ work leaves them knowing far too much about their compatriots. Whether or not they’ll use this to their advantage is a given.

Laz has two separate romance routes.

ღThe Rangerღ

Name: Amyntas. Hunter of the Corvi Alias: Amyn (Intimate), Amy pronounced Ah-me (Laz), Bird (Laz and ???) Gender: Male Pronoun: He/him Age range: Late thirties Species: Aveles Class: Ranger Weapon: Bow and Arrow

Personality: Stoic | Romantic | Stubborn | Inexperienced

Romance Option: Yes. Amyntas is only Romanceable towards a female or nonbinary player. Romance Style: Nervous Affection born from inexperience

Appearance: Squarely standing at 5’5”/165.1cm, the Aveles hunter is quite plain for a member of his species. With jet black hair feathers, silvery white skin, and a scrawny frame. He isn’t much of a threat at first glance. However, don’t let him fool you, Amyntas is a prolific hunter for his clan and WILL use that knowledge against you. A real david versus goliath type. He dresses in heavy woolen cloaks, lengthy scarves, and mix match leather armor of various origins. Much of which barely seems to fit the young harpy. Interestingly, Amyntas has made a habit of enchanting

Whatever he has lying around really. And all of which he enchants as he goes to keep himself whole while he stalks the Fell mountains.

Description: Born amongst the follies of war between that of the various tribes of the Aveles and that of the Fallen children of the mountains, Amyntas was raised in a precarious environment where any moment might be your last. Constantly forced on the verge of life and death, the hunter has taken it upon himself to do the unimaginable- abandon his clan in favor of ending the life of the Lich Queen and her generals.

Whether or not he'll survive is entirely up to you. Notes:

Amyntas technically knows ‘about’ the player character’s possible past before they lost their memories. However, they do not know just WHO the Player is once they meet.

Amyntas is easy to ‘flirt’ with, however they are hard to romance within a first playthrough as they tend to defer towards other possible romance options..

◍The plagued Warrior◍

Name: The Bishop Alias: Bishie-boy (Laz), War Boy! (Laz), Bore (Laz) Gender: Male, (technically The Bishop should be classified as Genderfluid since he can change his appearance at will. However he prefers presenting as Male.) Pronouns: He/him Age Range: Unknown, appears to be somewhere within his late twenties Species: Godling Class: Berserker Weapon: A magically soulbound axe twice his size.

Personality: Polite | Intelligent | Blood thirsty | Sneaky

Romance Option: Yes. The Bishop only has a sexual or romantic interest in Men or Male presenting individuals. Romance Style: Transactional (In the beginning), Doting (Near the end).

Appearance: The Godling of War is one who is the very definition of a short king, standing just shy of 5'/152cms. He is probably the shortest Romance option to be had in the game. Save for a one night stand that the MC can take part in. A powerful man built like a tank, The Bishop possesses pale skin, waist length auburn hair, eight eyes, four arms, and two sets of horns. Honestly, he makes for quite the silhouette, especially with his habit of dressing in the finest of cheaply put together bandit leather armor beneath a priest's robe.

Description: Left to walk the earth after his untimely death thanks to the rise of magic. The Bishop has made it his mission to take over the role of the god who fell so that he could rise. Such is the life of a young godling. But, unfortunately for the Spider blooded man, he was not the only such being born for his role. With seven other contenders for his throne, the bishop is forced to hunt and consume his kin, one-by-one so that he may achieve godhood. It has been a long and arduous road laid ahead of him, yet he must go on. And maybe, with just a little push from the MC he might reach his goal.

Notes:

The Bishop does not remember his original name before he became a godling, only that he was once a war-monk who served under the divine hand of the Flaming Sword.

Bishop does not enjoy flirting, finding it to be beneath him, however he WILL flirt with the MC if it means getting what he wants. (AND THEN FALLS IN LOVE LIKE A FOOOL)

♬The Muse of Saltus♬ Name: Indigo Montoya Alias: Indie (Laz), The Siren of Saltus (professionally) Gender: Genderfluid (Normally female presenting) Pronouns: Fluid (She tends to present as Female, but will accept being called by any pronoun.) Age Range: Early twenties Species: Mermaid Class: Bard Weapon: A dagger, voice, and rapier

Personality: Adoring | Vivacious | Passionate | Flirty

Romance Option: Yes. Indigo is only available towards those who are female or female presenting. Romance Style: Lighthearted and Fun Appearance: The siren of the sea is the very example of her species. With vibrant purple-grey skin, deep black eyes, elegant tail ripped in two, a curvy frame, and an even more striking head of kelp braided indigo dyed hair. The lass will always try her best to stand out. Being just over 8'/243cm in her true form (much of which is situated in her tail.) Indigo usually starts to underwhelm people when it comes to her land-dweller form, 5'3"/160cm. Montoya tends to wear the same thing: a pair of gloves to hide her talons and a loose white tunic. Only the gods will know if the wild child ever wears underwear.

Description: Sirens tend to have a harsh life, one destined for ridicule and shame. Yet, the Siren of Saltus has made it her mission to take over the world stage and to gain the begrudging respect of ALL who meet her. Whether or not she'll succeed is entirely up in the air at this point.

Notes:

Indigo does flirt with any MC (no matter their presentation) however she is only interested in romancing women (or female presenting individuals).

Oftentimes Indigo will play songs during time spent in camp. She can be asked to teach the MC how to play one of three instruments. That being: Tambura, Flute, or the Oud.

❥The Dream Lover❥ Name: Perierat Alias: Peri (Laz), ancient one (epiphet), Rat (Laz). Gender: Agender Pronouns: Ne/Nem Age Range: Unknown, presents as early thirties. Species: Titan Class: Sorcerer. Weapon: A dagger and magestone

Personality: Possesive | Pliant | Passionate | Patient

Romance Option: Yes. Peri is a very... protective romance option. To the point that I STRONGLY suggest NOT romancing anyone else when romancing Peri. Or at least, do so at your own risk. (If you plan on romancing another option I strongly suggest Laz or Bishop as Peri brings out a different side of the two.) Romance Style: Terrifying and bloody (when romancing another as well as them.), Devoted worshiper (when only romancing them)

Appearance: The titan born is fairly nondescript, forgettable almost. Standing at nearly 5'9/175cms, with chest length gingery-blonde hair, white eyes, dark tawny skin, and large molten antlers atop their head. With a penchant towards flowy, murder-husbandy robes. It's difficult to describe Perierat without revealing too much.

Description: Spoilers. Sorry.

Notes:

Peri is behind a great deal of the events that make up the story of Lich Gate. Giving any more details may spoil some rather LARGE parts of the story. Sorry, sorry, sorry!!!

Obsessed with the MC, Peri owns a giant Huntsman spider named after them. Their 'baby' tends to make webs within their antlers Which Peri finds to be QUITE stylish.

#romance #lichgate #lich gate #choice of games #if games #romance options #ROs #sneak peek #companions #interactive fiction

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