#war chief's bounty

[domesticandlovingmonsters]

War-Chief’s Bounty (Part 3)

Pairing: Thralest (Male!orc) x Female!Reader Notes: It’s finally here! You have no idea how much I adore this story, but life and such and etc, you know the usual stuff, got in the way. I really hope you enjoy this! Part 4 will be worked on soon. Warnings: Some minor NSFW, blood and small violence. Previous Chapters: Part 1 and Part 2

The discomfort wasn’t nearly as bad as your rasped moans were making out. You groaned and forced yourself to relax. Feeling Thralest halt behind you. He pulled back and a pleasured shiver ran through you as his cock half slid out from you.

His large hands ran along your back. Trailing up along your spine to push your hair away from your neck. 

“Are you alright?” He asked. The war-chief’s voice was gentle, reassuring. And you nodded as his palm cupped your ass. Massaging the flesh there as you turned your head to look at him. “We can stop for a moment if you need.”

“You feel different in this position.” You explained. You experimentally rolled your hips back against him. Slowly piercing yourself along his thick shaft. You’ve fucked him many times and you thought your body had adjusted to his length. But being on your hands and knees, facing away from him, it felt like Thralest had grown twice in girth and length. “It feels really good. But the angle is different.” Thralest moved against you. Holding you still as he lifted his hips. Further spreading you, but immediately stopped when you gasped out a pained breath.

He pulled out then. Leaning down to kiss the back of your neck and roll you onto your back. You tried to fight him. But he easily overpowered your human strength with his own orcish physique. You sighed and let him spread your thighs so he nestled between them. Lowering his head down between your legs to soothe the ache with his warm tongue. 

“I’m sorry.” You grumbled through a moan. “I should be able to take you like that. But-”

“Do not apologize.” His voice vibrated against your clit as his lips wrapped around it. And your hands tangled in his braided hair. Pulling on the thick, black strands as his tongue flicked over your sensitive nub. “Everyone’s body is different. I’ve seen you do things I haven’t done with other humans before. And I do not find your body any less pleasurable just because you can’t take it from behind.” 

His words were a comfort. And you allowed yourself to relax and enjoy the moment. Laying on the furs in the warm tent. The winds of the desert battering against the canvas shelter as a small, smoldering fire sat in the center of the tent. And Thralest, the orc war-chief, laying between your thighs with his arms hooked under your hips to hold you against his lips. He licked and suckled like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. And you were the first meal he was having after a long trek. 

Thralest brought you onto the verge of climax. His tusks dug deep into your skin as he wrapped a trunk-like arm around your waist. Holding you down and pressing his mouth hard against your center. His eyes glowed hungrily in the low firelight as he watched you squirm and your back arch as you clawed at the furs. Your scream was louder than you wanted it to be. The orc soldiers outside definitely would have heard you. 

But as Thralest lifted his glistening chin from your thighs, a victorious smirk stretching his lips, you didn’t care at that moment. Your legs twitched and Thralest crawled over you so he loomed above you. Resting his weight on his elbows as he leaned down and kissed your panting lips. 

“There are many other ways for us to enjoy each other's bodies.” Thralest murmured against your lips. And his hand slid up along your side until he was able to envelope your breast in his palm. Molding the supple flesh as he nuzzled against your neck. Peppering soft kisses against your skin. Until his teeth latched onto your neck, just under your jaw, to suck hard as he pushed the head of his cock inside you. Piercing you to the hilt of his hips in one smooth movement. You screamed your pleasure as the soft touches quickly changed to rough, desperate ruts. Your body was rocked by Thralest’s brutal strength. But he kept you pinned under him with his body. Keeping you in place as he fucked you like an animal in heat. 

You could only cling to him. Clawing at his back as he slammed into that spot that caused waves of pleasure to crash down on you. Your legs wrapped around his waist. Pulling him deeper inside you until he released your neck from his teeth and bellowed his finish. 

You rolled your hips and locked your thighs around his waist to keep him inside you as his seed filled you. Dripping out and along your thighs, looking up at him as he furiously rubbed your clit in a rhythm that had your final climax rush forward and clench around him.  He grunted and gasped as you fucked yourself on his softening length until your climax ended. Leaving the giant orc overstimulated just as much as you were. 

“Fuck…” Thralest gasped. He pulled out of you slowly. Wincing as the sensitive head slipped from between your folds. Rubbing itself against your center as he laid over you for a moment. Catching his breath. “You’re like a succubus when you do that.” 

You laughed. Reaching down to trail your fingertips along his chest, down his panting abs, to touch his soft cock. Almost immediately, it twitches in your hand and Thralest grunted your name. But he didn’t pull away. Watching you with a hooded gaze as you massaged him. 

“You like it when I do that.” You said with a proud smile. “And I love seeing how weak it leaves you.” 

Thralest groaned and rushed forward to kiss you. His tongue pressed against yours and you pulled him down on top of you so he was crushing you against the furs. Your fingers were still wrapped around him and his body twitched and tensed with every movement of your hand. But just as he was returning to his full length, the flaps of the tent were thrown open. And one of the Orc guards, Bahk, you remembered, stood in the opening. Looking everywhere but at the tangle of limbs in front of him. 

“Chieftain, we have scouted a lone rider heading in our direction.” If you have ever seen an Orc look uncomfortable, it was right now. He looked everywhere but at you and Thralest. Seeming very curious about the low burning fire or the bundle of weapons in the corner. And the war-chief sighed heavily. Pulling away from you with reluctant haste. Bahk didn’t seem uncomfortable with his war-chief’s physique, but on;y yours. The moment you stood from the bundles of furs, the orc turned his back and huffed an orcish word. You ignored him. A little amused by the guard’s reaction as you started to dress. Thralest didn’t put his armor back on. Only the tight fitting trousers and white undershirt that was far too small for him. You’ve been meaning to ask where he got his clothes. The armor was orc craftsmanship. But the clothes were fit like they were meant for a large human man.

He then grabbed his massive ax and strode out of the tent after his guard. Only stalling long enough to speak to you. 

“Stay in the tent. And don’t get too comfortable in those clothes.” The grin he flashed was mischievous and it made your stomach do flips, with butterflies fogging your mind with impure thoughts. You smiled and nodded. Going to the fire as the tent’s entrance was covered again. You sighed as you sat. The food the two of you left over the flames was nothing but charcoal. Forgotten entirely once Thralest’s hands had slid over your thighs. You plucked the burnt meat from the spit and threw them aside. You’d have Thralest feed them to Ruchla later. The oasis had brought much bounty to the orc group. Your stay here had strayed longer than the group intended. But none of the guards were going to argue with their chief when all he did was fuck you and fish in the glistening pool. You had asked if orcs relax like this, and Thralest had explained that relaxing was seen as a sin in many tribes. 

“Why relax by a river when there's a fishing village to pillage?” His words had carried on a tone of anger. And you dropped the subject the moment you sensed a sensitive subject. But you didn’t care for the other orcs. They idled by the water and went hunting in the sands. Today they seemed restless. Perhaps you would convince Thralest to leave tomorrow. The plan was to get everyone home after all. You sighed and added another log to the fire. Watching the flames begin to consume it as you relaxed in the furs. 

But then the air around you changed. The warmth from the fire was diminished for only a moment with a chilling breeze. You tensed, but didn’t move right away. Reaching for another log to put on the fire. Taking your time to choose a heavier one. Until you felt the furs behind you shift and you spun with the log firmly grasped in your hand. The wood narrowly missed the cheek of a leather armored woman. She reeled back. Her steel gauntlet rose up to deflect the second swing of  the log. 

“Wait, wait!” The woman hissed as she ducked. You were on your feet the moment there was space between you. Holding the wood in front of you like it was a sword. Ready to swing or block an attack if the woman moved. 

“What do you want?” You hissed. “Who are you?” 

“My name is Varmoh, I’m a mercenary.” You couldn’t make out the woman’s face behind her helmet. She looked professional. A badge was clasped to her cloak on the left shoulder and the armor, though worn and was battle scarred, was well looked after and had many repairs done to it. She was definitely a mercenary of the professional side of the name. Not some bandits taking up the label for money. “We took up the bounty for the orc War-Chief. I’m here to get you out before we storm the camp.” 

We. There were more of them. You lowered the log a little, easing the tension in your shoulders as you licked your lips. 

“You’re here to kill the orc?” You asked. And the woman nodded, offering you her hand. 

“We must hurry. We know the orc took you hostage, you’re safe now. The orc will be back in a moment. And it’ll be more dangerous to get you out when the battle begins.” 

You looked down at her gloved hand. The leather was old and the stitches were fraying from the seams. They were too big for her hands. On her hip was a sword. A simple, steel broadsword and a dagger on her other hip. You looked back up at her eyes. Brown. Shadowed by exhaustion from a long ride and little sleep. 

You gripped the log harder and shook your head. 

“This is my bounty, Merc.” You hissed. “Get another.” 

The log cracked against the woman’s helmet with a heavy thud. She cried out, thrown to the ground by the hit and she scrambled to unsheathe her weapon. But the cloak tangled with her hand in the haste to retrieve it. You dived on her. Ripping the helm from her head and slamming the log into her temple. She fell to the ground like a wet sack. Unconscious. You removed her sword and dagger. Wrapping it around your waist as you hurried outside. Near the watering hole was Thralest and another orc. A rider was standing beside them. Talking from atop his steed as the horse drank from the fresh water. Three other orcs were around the fire, watching the newcomer with their hands on their weapons. All eyes turned to you as you burst from the tent.

“Thralest! It's an ambush!” Your words barely left your lips before a horn sounded from over the sand dunes. And the sound of beating hooves and cries of battle soon followed. Thralest grabbed the rider before his horse spun to run. He threw the person to the ground and he roared as Bakh pierced the man’s armor with his sword.

The three by the fire were on their feet, weapons in their hands and excited bellows of their own ripping from their chests. You stared up at the dunes as the thundering hooves crested the sandy hill. And you counted ten people, each on their own horse, stampeding towards the camp. 

“Get ready boys!” You heard Thralest yell. A wide smile spread over his tusks, “Time to send these mercs running home.” 

The orcs laughed and you joined the three by the fire. Sword in front of you, watching as the fastest of the riders headed straight for you. But from the shadows a monster screeched its fury and tackled the first incoming steed. The animal went down with a gurgled cry and the rider was thrown from its back. Ruchla picked up the horse like it was a ragdoll and slammed it into another rider as they tried to veer past it. The stampede scattered. Attempting to maneuver around the beast as it bellowed a grotesque roar and swiped at them with blackened claws. Another horse went down and the rider was Ruchla’s next victim. The orcs rushed forward as the calvary spun to face Ruchla, ready to fell the monster as it leapt away from the bloodfest it made. You kept back. Letting the orcs swing their massive weapons without worry of you getting too close. Thralest and the other orc followed suit. And with one wide arch of his ax, Thralest fell two more riders who got too close. An archer readied his bow, but a thrown dagger pierced his chest before he could lose. Bahk retrieved it by rolling over the body and deflecting a blow with his ax. What was once an impressive display of mercenary numbers, was quickly diminished by the orcs. Riders were dragged from the saddles and others leapt from their steeds in favor of fighting the orcs from the ground. But met only a gruesome fate as Ruchla joined the fray. 

Then you glimpsed a felled mercenary drag himself to his feet and raise his sword. Thralest was closest. Too fixated on the swords-woman in front of him to see the limping threat as he rushed forward. Sand kicked up behind you as you leapt into a sprint. Sword ready in an arch at your hip, releasing your tensed arm to swipe up at the opposing sword as you jumped between the war-chief and the man. The clang of metal caught Thralest’s attention. And he laughed as you forced the mercenary back. Striking heavy blows against his blocking stance. Until he put too much weight on his injured leg and went down with a cry. Your sword silenced him. And you turned just as Thralest finished his own adversary. 

His smile was wide and blood splattered the white shirt. 

“That’ll earn you a divine climax.” He said. 

You found yourself smiling. A small pant parting your lips as you looked around. Only a few of the calvary were still moving. But one had stayed on its steed. A younger man, possibly new to the band of mercenaries. And as the last of his group was tackled by Ruchla, he kicked his horse into a gallop and rode at a hastened pace towards the dunes. 

“Stop him!” You called, pointing to the retreating rider. 

Bahk grunted and withdrew a crossbow from his back. He aimed, pressing the weapon against his shoulder and took a slow breath out. The bolt whistled as it flew through the air. But it missed the horse’s hindquarters by an inch of air. 

“Let him go!.” Thralest chuckled. “The Wastes will have him.” 

You couldn’t let someone get away. You needed more information, possibly anything about other mercenaries. And you couldn’t let a witness of your cooperation with the War-Chief spread. 

“We can’t risk it.” You snapped. Running over to a horse that miraculously strayed by the camp. You swung up onto the saddle and immediately kicked its sides. The steed jolted forward with a harsh snort and the cool wind of the desert tore at the fabric of your clothes as you forced it into a gallop.

You heard Thralest call after you. But you ignored him. Rising over the hills of the oasis to peak the dunes and continue forward. The moon was bright in the desert sky and the sands were cast with a bluish light. The rider had gained some distance, but was a dark spot against the bright moonlight. An easy target in the empty Wastes.

You leaned into the saddle and gave the horse some rein. Kicking its sides to keep the speed up. 

Then you heard the gurgling howl of Ruchla. And you glanced over your shoulder to see the beast hurl over the dune’s crest and give chase. With Thralest in the saddle calling out to you. Whether the beast’s presence frightened your steed into going faster, or the rider ahead was slower, you were beginning to close in on him. 

In the distance, in the direction the rider was heading, you spotted the sand dunes dipped into the rock and jagged formations pierced from the desert ground. You watched the rider race into the canyons, disappearing around a bend in the rocks. You cursed and allowed the horse to pick its route around the bends and twists. Giving it direction only when you neared a split in the paths. 

You were just close enough you could see the flapping ends of the mercenary’s cloak as he galloped around corners. The sand beneath you was more like crumbled slate than sand. Thralest’s voice boomed in the cavern. 

“(y/n)! Come back! It is not safe here!” You needed to know what the boy knew. If anything, even a crumb of information, would be beneficial. And if he found his way to civilization, your name would be slandered. And possibly even join Thralest on the bounty board. 

Then, your horse skidded to a stop and reared with a frightened whinny. You clung to the animal. Yanking on the reins to keep its head forward, trying to get it to move. “Go, you stupid cow.” You hissed. But the animal only pivoted and threw up its head. Refusing to move. Pebbles rolled down the cliff face beside you, and you looked up to see Ruchla’s finger-like claws grip the edge of the cliff it stood on. It looked down at you with a hungry look and a display of black teeth. Thralest pulled on its chains. Forcing it to look away from you. 

“It is useless, (y/n). These canyons are a labyrinth of rock and sand. You will not find him here.” His voice was hard. Staring down at you like a commander to a ruly soldier. “We must go back.” 

“But he may-”

“We’re going back!” The echo of his voice was like a clap of thunder and your horse nickered uneasily. Shying away from the cliff Thralest stood on. But you glared up at the orc like a stubborn child. 

“If he goes back to town, my involvement with you spreads.” You said slowly. Hoping he would understand your meaning. “The risk of that happening is too great. I cannot let him go without knowing if he-”

There was a different sound. An answering roar to Thralest’s voice. You stared down the corridor of rock. Unable to see what was coming beyond the bend up ahead. But you didn’t need to wait long. For a wall of black enveloped you in seconds of the sound shaking the air around you. Sand bit at your skin and clogged your nose and mouth. You squinted your eyes shut but felt the world tilt, and suddenly you were falling. Your back slammed into the hard, jagged ground as your horse reared its fright and galloped away. Pain shot through you and the air left your lungs as you slammed into the hard floor. All you could see was black. You didn’t dare open your eyes to the storm and your ears were deafened by thundering winds. You pulled your shirt over your nose and mouth. Attempting to protect them from the biting sands. It did very little. You reached out for the cliff side somewhere beside you. Hoping to find something to hide against. A crook in the rock or a sheltered cluster of boulders. Instead, your searching hands rubbed up against scaly flesh and small spines. A massive hand clasped around your arm and you were lifted into the air. Seated between Thralest’s arms as he yanked on Ruchla’s chains. 

“Hide your face!” Thralest called over the winds. And you buried your face into his chest. You could smell the blood on the fabric, but you kept your face hidden. “Find us a cave, girl!” Ruchla made a sound like a drowning howl and started to move against the wind. The beast lowered its head against the sand and leaned into the storm like a bulldozing rhino. You could feel it straining against the winds and somewhere the sound of rocks cracking split through the wind. 

It felt like you were in the storm for an eternity. But then the winds died and the howling whistles dulled only a little. But the drumming in your ears didn’t fade until Ruchla was deep into a darkened cave. You couldn’t see a thing. It was pitch black in this shelter. 

“We’ll stay here until the storm passes.” Thralest grunted. And you felt him slide off of Ruchla’s saddle to stand beside you. There was a pause. And then you felt Thralest’s large hand take yours. An amused tone coated his words. “You can’t see can you.” 

“I’m human.” You coughed. Your throat was dry and scratchy. And your eyes felt like they had vinegar poured into them. “I’m not gifted with dark sight like you.” Thralest’s hands moved to your hips and you allowed him to lift you from the saddle and place you beside him. Almost immediately, a sharp pain shot up your leg, and you crumpled against him with a cry. 

“M-My leg.” You gasped. Gripping your thigh and feeling the material wet beneath your hand. 

Thralest held you against him, keeping the weight off of your injury, but leaned over to ruffle through the saddlebags on Ruchla. You didn’t see what he retrieved, but the bright flash of light was blinding. And you winced against the sudden spark of fire as a waxy, burning torch was struck to life. “You’re bleeding.” Thralest grunted. “Here sit.” He guided you to a rock and helped ease you onto the seat. Keeping your leg straight as Thralest stabbed the torch into a crook in the rock. Leaving it there to light the cave as he crouched in front of you. His large hands tenderly tilted your leg to display a deep gash in your skin. And a sharp slate of rock protruding from the bleeding flesh.

The pain was beginning to set in and you grunted as Thralest’s fingers brushed too close to the wound. 

“I guess this is karma for not following orders.” You tried to joke. But Thralest didn’t share your humor. He took a hold of the fabric of his shirt and tore it with one smooth motion. Tying the shreds of material around your wound, applying pressure to the gash and you gritted your teeth against the pain.

“I cannot remove the rock without risking you losing too much blood,” Thralest said through a growl. “We will have to wait out this sand storm. It may be hours before we get back to camp.” 

You nodded. Breathing heavily as you tried to keep your leg still. The fabric was already turning red and the pain was turning hot. It was either losing too much blood or risking an infection. And as you met Thralest hard stare, you knew he was thinking the same thing. 

“If we find some kindling and a stick, we could cauterize it.” You suggested. But it was meant with a curl of Thralest lips, as if he detested the idea. 

“No. There isn’t enough plant life in these canyons for that. The torch’s fuel is not well suited for Human skin.” He huffed a heavy breath and looked towards the entrance of the cave. Where Ruchla was curled up, its large maw resting on its massive paws; watching the raging sands and winds pass by. “There are people in these cliffs that could help you. It may be their magic that brought on this storm.” 

You followed his gaze to the whirling sands. Or more, the blackness that was the storm. You couldn’t see anything beyond the small circle of light from the torch. The shadows danced around Thralest’s large frame like curious critters. Casting a somber light over his face as he turned to address you. 

“I will need to leave you here to find help.” You grabbed his arm and shook your head. You scolded yourself for the spark of fear that rushed through you at being left alone in a cave, in the dark, Injured. 

“I’ll be ok.” You half laughed. Hoping your smile was more reassuring than the shake in your voice. “It's only a small gash. I can survive a tiny rock.” 

Thralest looked down at your leg once more. And you hoped the pain wasn’t plain on your face. You’ve had worse things sticking out of you. A rock was nothing. He finally gave in to the feeble tugs on his arm. Having him sit next to you on the rock. His eyes never left your leg as you looked past the circle of warm orange light, to the dark figure of Ruchla. You really couldn’t make out what was a leg or its head or a paw.

“I’m sorry for panicking.” You finally let out. The crushing silence finally cracking with your words. “My…My masters, the people that gave me your contract, don’t take kindly to turncoats or deserters.” You sighed heavily. Unable to meet Thralest’s gaze as you continued. “I’ll be killed. Hung from a noose or put in a cage on the city walls to rot. That’s why I went after the mercenary. In case he knew something. Or to ensure he doesn’t speak about us if he ever found civilization again.” Your fingers drifted to touch Thralest’s arm. Feeling the muscle beneath his skin and the warmth that radiated from him. “I’m just…” The word sat on your tongue like a sour taste. Your lips didn’t dare speak it, but in your heart you felt it drum against your ribcage and rattle your mind with unwanted memories. Thralest seemed to understand the unspoken words. And he didn’t let your mind wander too far. His finger dipped under your chin and tilted your head back so he could kiss you. His lips enveloped yours in a comforting softness. And you felt that unwanted feeling disperse as his scent surrounded you. 

When he leaned away, Thralest rested his forehead against yours and brushed his thumb along your cheek. “Whatever you left in the Realm, is lost in the Wastes.” He said. “Here we do not care if you are a murderer or runaway. Here, you can be whoever you want to be. That is the beauty, but also the curse, of the Wastes. In order to become someone new, you must also let go of your older self. Don't forget them. But release them.” Another kiss was given and you felt your body relax against his. “Out here, your masters cannot follow. And if they try, I’ll ensure their chains can never hold you.” The venom in his voice didn’t cause you unease. But held enough conviction to soothe the last of your worried mind. Here in this cave, with his presence beside you, you felt like nothing could touch you. 

You smiled. Feeling a small burn build behind your eyes and nodded. Wordlessly thanking him with a deep kiss that had your fingers curling in his hair and pulling him down into you. But the moment was shattered when his leg bumped yours and the pain made you gasp. He grunted a humorless laugh and brought your hand up to his lips. 

“We will have to be patient.” He said against your skin. With a glow in his eyes that had your lower half smoldering for his touch. 

“I’ve never been very patient.” You huffed. But the two of you fell into a comfortable silence as the storm continued to rage outside.

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[themodernwitchsguide]

greek god epithets

this post includes zeus, hera, athena, demeter, ares, hephaestus, and poseidon. for part two including hades, persephone, hekate, aphrodite, hermes, apollo, artemis, and dionysus click here

epithets are surnames (as <god's name> <epithet>) used to call upon the greek gods without saying their name directly. the epithet that you choose often corresponds to the purpose you are invoking them for

ZEUS:

-OMBRIUS/HYETIUS/APHESIUS= of the rain

-SCOTITAS= the dark/murky

-CERAUNIUS= of the thunderbolt

-ASTRAPAEUS= of the lightning

-CATAEBATES= the descending

-LABRANDEUS= the furious/raging

-ICMAEUS= of moisture

-CONIUS= of the dust

-MAEMACTES= the boisterous

-EVENEMUS= of fair winds

-LIMENOSCOPUS= the watcher of sea havens

-BASILEUS/CORYPHAEUS= the king/chief/ruler

-HYPATUS/HYPSISTUS= the supreme

-CTESIUS= of the house/property

-HERCEIUS= of the courtyard

-BULAEUS= of the council

-AMBULIUS= the counsellor

-TELEUS/ZYGIUS= of marriage

-MOIRAGETES= the leader of the Fates

-CLARIUS= of the lots

-SEMALEUS= the giver of signs (like clairvoyant messages)

-MECHANEUS= the contriver

-COSMETES= the orderer

-THEUS AGATHUS= the good God

-EPIDOTES= the giver of good

-PLUSIUS= of wealth

-PHILIUS= of friendship

-XENIUS= of hospitality/strangers

-HICESIUS= of suppliants

-PHYXIUS= of refuge

-PALAMNAEUS= the punisher of murderers

-CATHARSIUS= of ritual purification

-PROSTROPAEUS= the turner of pollution

-APEMIUS= averter of ills (ailments)

-SOTER= the savior/deliverer

-MILICHIUS= the gracious/merciful

-PANHELENIOS= of all the Greeks

-LAOITES= of the people

-POLEIUS= of the city-state

-SOSIPOLIS= the city-savior

-ELEUTHEREUS= of freedom

-CHRYSAORUS= of the Golden Sword

-STATIUS/AREIUS= of war/the warlike

-STHENIUS= of strength/the strong

-TROPAEUS= turns to flight/who defeats

-PHYXIUS= puts to flight/banishes

HERA:

-PAIS= the girl

-NYMPHEUOMENE= the betrothed bride

-TELEIA= the (adult) woman/the goddess of marriage

-CLEIRA= the widow

-GAMELIA= of marriage

-ATAUROTE/PARTHENOS= the virginal

-ZYGIA= presider over marriage

-HENIOCHE= of the chariot

-ANTHEA= of the flowers

-ARGOEA= of the ship Argo

-HYPERCHEIRIA= whose hand is above

-BASILEIA= the queen

ATHENA:

-NIKE= victory

-AREIA/PALLAS= of war/the warlike

-ZOSTERIA= girded in armor

-STHENIAS= of strength/the strong

-POLEMODOCUS= the war sustaining

-HIPPIA= of horses

-CHALINITIS= bridler of horses

-ERYMA= the defender

-SOTEIRA= the savior

-ALALACOMENEIS= the protectress

-POLIAS= of the city

-POLIUCHUS= the city protectress

-POLIATIS= the keeper of the city

-ERGANE= the worker

-PAEONIA= the healer

-HYGEIA= of good health

-ALEA= of escapes to refuge

-AMBULIA= the counsellor

-PRONOEA= of foresight

-APATURIA= the deceiver/of deception

-MACHANITIS= contriver of plans

-OXYDERCES= the sharp sighted

-CORYPHASIA/CORYPHAGENES= relating to the head (like her birth)

-PARTHENUS= the virgin/maiden

-CORIA= the maiden

-XENIA= of hospitality (especially to strangers/foreigners)

DEMETER:

-CHTHONIA/DEO= of the earth

-CHLOE= the green/the first shoots

-EPOGMIA= of the furrows

-ANESIDORA= she who sends forth gifts

-PLUTODOTIRA= the giver of wealth

-CARPOPHORUS/MALOPHORUS= bearer of fruit

-THERMASIA= of warmth/heat

-MEGALA THEA= the great Goddess

-MEGALA MATER= the great Mother

-THESMOPHORUS= the bringer of law

-THESMIA= of the laws

-PROSTASIA= the patron/leader

-PANACHAEA= of all the Greeks

-ERINYS= of fury/wrath

-MELAENA= the black

-LUSIA= the bathing/purifying

-HORAPHORUS= the bringer of season

-POLYPHORBUS= the all nourishing/bountiful

-AGLAOCARPUS= the giver of goodly fruit

-AGLAODORUS= the bestower of splendid gifts

-CALLISTEPHANUS= the beautifully crowned

-EUSTEPHANUS= the lovely crowned

-EUCOMUS= the lovely haired

-XANTHE= the blonde/golden-haired

-CYANOPEPLUS= the dark veiled/cloaked

-CALLISPHYRUS= the beautiful

-CHRYSAORUS= of the golden blade

-DIA THEA= the bright Goddess

-SEMNE= the holy/revered

-HAGNE= the pure/chaste/holy

-ANASSA/POTHIA= the queen

-POTHIA THEAON= the queen amongst goddesses

-CYDRA THEA= the glorious/noble goddess

-ORGIA= of religious orgies

-MYSTERIA= of mysteries

ARES:

-THERITAS= the beastly/brutish

-HIPPIUS= of the horses

-APHNEIUS= the abundant

-GYNAECOTHOENAS= feasted by women

-MIAEPHONUS= the blood stained/bloody

-LAOSSOUS= he who rallies men

-BROTOLOEGUS= the manslaughtering

-ANDREIPHONTES= the destroyer of men

-CHALCEUS/CHALCOCORUSTES= of the bronze/armed with bronze

-TEICHESIPLETES= the stormer of cities

-AATUS POLEMOEO= insatiate of fighting/war

-ENCHESPALUS= spear-brandishing

-RHINOTORUS= shield/flesh piercing

-OXYS= the sharp/piercing

-THOOS= the swift/fleet

-THURUS= the violent/furious

-OBRIMUS= the strong/mighty

-DINUS= the terrible/fearsome

-ENYALIUS= the warlike

-CHRYSOPELEX= of the golden helm

HEPHAESTUS:

-CLYTUS= the renowned/famed

-PERICLYTUS/AGACLYTUS= the very famed/the glorious

-CLYTOMETIS/CLYTOTECHNES= famed for crafts/skills

-POLYTECHNES= of many skills

-POLYPHRON= the ingenious/inventive

-POLYMETIS= resourceful

-AETHALOIS THEUS= the sooty god

-CHALCEUS= the bronze/copper smith

-CYLLOPODIUM/AMPHIGYEIS= referring to his disability

POSEIDON:

-BASILEUS= the king/lord

-PELAGAEUS= of the sea/marine

-AEGAEON= of the Aegeon sea

-PROSCLYSTIUS= who dashes against

-ASPHALIUS= who secures safe voyage

-EPOPTES= the overseer/watcher

-GAEOCHUS= the holder of the earth

-ENNOSIGAEUS= shaker of the earth

-HIPPIUS= of the horses

-HIPPOCURIUS= the horse tender

-PHYTALMIUS= the plant nurturer

-GENETHLIUS= of the kin/the kindred

-DOMATITES= of the house

-LAOITES= of the people

#pagan #paganism #polytheist #witchblr #witchcraft #polytheism #witch #magic #magick #ancient greece #hellenic pagan #hellenic polytheism #hellenic polythiest #hellenic deities #hellenic gods #hellenism #hellenic paganism #athena #zeus #hera #ares #demeter #poseidon #hephaestus #deity work #deity #deity worship

[princesscolumbia]

Star Trek Captains, A Review and Categorization

Star Trek is a show about a Neo-military organization that has rank structures, ships, and fights wars, so naturally there's plenty of captains to talk about, but for this post I'll be highlighting specifically the main cast captains, in something resembling chronological order. (But, I mean, this is Star Trek, so even that's kinda up in the air)

Captain Archer

That Guy who had to hand crank the warp engine up-hill both ways in the blinding ion storm. We don't need no stinkin' Prime Directive! Remember The Alamo Pearl Harbor 9/11 Florida! But...uh, maybe don't be dicks about it, not everyone who looks like the ones responsible for that thing we're never going to forget actually wants us dead. Got transformed into an alien, got possessed by another alien, slept with a couple more. Never got pregnant, though (that was his chief engineer)

Scorecard

Ships commanded: 1

Wars started: 0

Wars ended: 3

Times on screen naked: 1

Nazi facilities destroyed: 1

Category: Grampa

Captain Pike

Midlife crisis? What midlife crisis? Everything's fiiiiine. Now eat something, it'll make you feel better. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. Number One, don't tell me I can't adopt more kids, I don't care that they're from the future they're mine now. Besides, we've already got a whole ship-full, what's two more?

Scorecard

Ships commanded: 2

Violations of the Temporal Prime Directive: -3 (yes, it's an irrational number, we're talking time travel, people!)

Musical Numbers Participated While On Duty: 3

Hair: Really Great

Category: Dad (or DILF if you swing that way)

Captain Georgiou

You will be captain when you can snatch the stone from my hand.

Scorecard

Ships commanded: 1

Protege's who required a redemption arc: 1

Awesomeness: Transcendent

Category: Gone too soon, also, MILF who can kick your ass

(Edit: Courtesy of @cheer-me-up-scotty for pointing out an oversite on my part)

Captain Burnham

Cosplays as a Vulcan 'cause she's jealous of her adoptive brother. Accurately called an audience-stand-in-self-insert-mary-sue (shut up, Star Trek fandom invented the Mary Sue, it was a term coined by women fans, so shut up!), but by season 2 she actually gets interesting.

Scorecard

Mommy Issues: Has a subscription

Moms: 4

PTSD inducing life events: Like, all of them

Ships commanded: 3

Mutinies led failed: 1

Category: That One Cousin who married surprisingly well and made something of herself in spite of all expectations

Captain Kirk

Golden retriever energy, would be the Useless Bisexual Himbo if he didn't have so much game. Probably smarter than he lets on. Polyamory King and certified Alien Fucker. Boyfriend is a half-space-elf, main sometimes-girlfriend will go on to create the deadliest super-weapon ever built by humans by accident.

Scorecard

Number of Klingon Bounties on his head: [CLASSIFIED]

Number of women he's slept with: [CLASSIFIED]

Nazi regimes toppled: 1

Number of times he should have had a test that determines if you can stick your dick in it that got named after an upstart from that other science fiction show instead: 1

Ships Commanded: 3

Ships He's Stolen: 3

Category: Slut(affectionate)

Captain Kirk (the other one)

Golden Retriever that got left behind when his family moved away and had to lead a ragtag team of a crotchety older dog and a wet cat on a journey...

No, wait, hold on...

Right! That's the one!

Scorecard

Times he should have been kicked out of Starfleet: At least 4

Ships commanded: 3

Ground transport destroyed: 2 (that we know of)

Number of middle fingers given to Admiralty: 2

Category: Bad Boy

Captain Picard

You know that guy who you see going to the library all the time and always seems to have his nose in a book and always seems to be telling people off for breaking the rules and doing dangerous shit? You'd never know it but he used to be That Guy in college who got, like, ALL the girls and is going to be the Hot Grampa that you don't know how he has that much game, but he got it.

Scorecard

Ships lost in the line of duty: 2

Number of times he married and then estranged his best friend's wife who named their son after her dead first husband: 1

Number of toxic omnipotent and omniscient boyfriends who are obsessed with him and spends their spare time playing with ponies: 1

Category: Inexplicable Sexyman

Captain Badass Sisko

The Cool Dad with baggage. He's got game, but he's got priorities as well, and DON'T mess with his son or you won't even exist anymore to regret it. BLM before it was cool. Led a civil rights riot two centuries before he was born. Space Jesus who can make the best jambalaya you've ever had. Fought and won a war, punched a god, then became one.

Scorecard

Civilizations saved: 4

Native Cultures Treated With the Respect They Deserve: Many

Times He Bent the Rules so his CMO could get some nookie from a Cardasian spy plain, simple tailor: The counter broke

Successful black-ops assassinations completed: 1

Category: BAMF

Captain Janeway

THE single most decorated captain in Starfleet history. Successfully dropped the hammer on dozens of petty tyrants, oppressive regimes, roaming mass murderers, and the Borg. What Prime Directive? Your Mom. Also, probably slept with your mom, that's how much she is the Domme-est of Dommes. She told the Borg to use the safe word...and they DID!

Scorecard

Borg Daughters: 1

Times she told the Borg to step off: 3 (or 4...or 5? Honestly, with the time travel shenanigans it's hard to know for sure)

Nazis she's personally shot: 1

Category: Mistress, but it's "Ma'am" to you

Captain Freeman

She's angry AND disappointed! She's just as good as all the other captains in the fleet, and the good ones know it, but all the rest? They see "cali class" and assume all they're good for is the jobs nobody else wants. But jokes on them, because thanks to that attitude her crew are the flippin' Jacks and Jills of all trades and are more capable of fixing AND fucking AND "fucking" shit up than damn near anyone else!

Scorecard

Times the ship has nearly been destroyed but she and her crew got through it: ...uh...how many episodes are there? And then there's the times that get casual mentions that we never get the details on!

Daughters who should probably be captains now if they were at least a LITTLE more respectful and didn't actively try to piss off Admirals: 1

Times the Cerritos has had to be rebuilt to the point it might as well be called "The Ship of Cerritos Problem": At least 4

Category: Your mom...get back here, I'M NOT DONE TALKING TO YOU!

Captain R'El

Cinnamon Roll, just let m'boy into Starfleet! He just wants a home and a family! I'd like to see full-grown captains who can keep up with half of what this Best Boy is capable of!

Scorecard

Number of species his genetic code is made up of: All of 'em. Even the GODDAMN Q!

Number of Janeways he impressed the socks off of: 2

Quality of his Janeway impression: Bad

Number of Ferengi he out-Ferengi'd: 1

Nazis punched: Give him time...

Category: Teenage Boy Who's NOT GOING THROUGH A PHASE, MOM!

Should I do Captains Shaw and Seven? How about Alternate Timeline Tripp or Future Chakotay? (Going too far down that rabbit hole will eventually lead to Imperial Kirk and Captain Spock from the movies.) Let me know in the comments.

Next Post in this series

#captain r'el #dal r'el #captain janeway #captain picard #captain sisko #captain kirk #captain pike #captain archer #captain georgiou #captain burnham #captain freeman #Star Trek Captains - Review and Category

[radiofreederry]

The crew of the Rambler, from our actual play series Star Wars: Tales From the Ramber! Art by my friend @bijillion.

Five years after the Battle of Endor and two years after the ultimate defeat of the Empire in the Liberation of Coruscant, the Rambler is the lead ship of Halcyon Transport Solutions, a transport company based out of Coronet City on Corellia. Having gained a reputation for both legitimate work and grey market smuggling, Halcyon Transport Solutions has been contracted for a job by no less than Chief of State of the Republic Leia Organa herself, a contract that will launch the crew directly into the seedy underbelly of the galaxy...

Janica Halcyon (played by myself): A female human from Corellia. Owner of Halcyon Transport Solutions, and captain of the Rambler. The daughter of two union activists, Janica had radical politics from a young age and became a decorated pilot of the Rebellion, flying in its most prestigious starfighter unit, Rogue Squadron. She left the navy after helping to capture the Super Star Destroyer Lusankya during the Battle of Coruscant, and formed her company soon after. Clever and resourceful, she is often a moderating voice of reason when her crew are getting up to some antics.

Bhuri'Hssyngigg (played by @lakemojave): A female Trandoshan. Raised in the traditional religion of Trandosha as a devotee of the Scorekeeper, Bhuri ventured out into the galaxy to hunt and gain Jagannath points and favor with her goddess. After some time running with a gang of hunters led by fellow Trandoshan Bossk, Bhuri was saved from an assassin droid on Raxus by Janica, and in Trandoshan tradition pledged a life debt to her, much to Janica's chagrin. She has remained by Janica's side ever since, styling herself Janica's bodyguard and copilot.

Ced Saverem (played by @brucebocchi): A male human from Corellia. A career mechanic and tinkerer, Ced spent many years working for the Corellian Engineering Corporation, while also supplying aid to the Rebellion on occasion, having grown to find the Empire disagreeable. After the end of the Galactic Civil War and amidst the Corellian Revolution, Ced signed on with Halcyon Transport Solutions as the Rambler's mechanic, and will never miss a chance to point out how competent he is at his job. The oldest of the group, he is often grouchy and cantankerous, but nevertheless is loyal to the group and unafraid to jump into danger to protect them.

Val Griv'ir (played by @chansaw): A female Bothan. The youngest of the crew, Val signed on mostly out of convenience. The daughter of Rebel intelligence officers, Val was uninterested in serving the Republic and struck out on her own at a young age to make her fortune - as quickly as possible. She gained infamy as a con woman in the Outer Rim, while also dabbling in thievery. Her most recent major heist earned her a bounty from both Black Sun and the remnants of the Hutt Cartel, forcing her to flee onto the Rambler as a ship's hand. She is a frequent source of headache for the rest of the crew, as she has not changed her ways at all and will happily try to pull a scam for some fast credits.

Caitvuna Conu (played by @thottacelli): A female Twi'lek. A native of the planet Ryloth, Caitvuna was active in the fight for her homeworld's freedom as well as the Rebellion, but the Republic's intervention in the Rylothian Civil War and subsequent annexation of the planet soured her on the Republic, and she left it, finding work on the Rambler as its newest crew member. Officially head of security, Caitvuna is an experienced warrior who knows many ways to dispatch an enemy.

R6-GB (NPC): The Rambler's astromech droid, and one of the original members of the crew. While easily distracted and a bit of a coward, R6 is deeply loyal to Janica, the crew, and the ship, and has gotten them out of a jam on more than one occasion. She usually does not join the crew on their adventures ashore, but stays behind to watch and maintain the ship.

You can catch new episodes of Tales From the Rambler and get to know all these colorful characters better streaming every other Saturday! We hope you'll join us as the crew's adventure continues!

#star wars #tales from the rambler #tabletop #tabletop rpg #tabletop roleplaying

[talonabraxas]

Goddess Danu 'Tuatha Dè Danann'

Danu, Great Mother Dana, Anu, Ana, Anann, Danand, Dôn (Wales), Danuvius (Roman), Duna (Hungarian), Donau (German)

Danu is an ancient Irish triple goddess who is considered the “Great Mother” of Ireland.

She is the Mother of the Irish gods and faery people, the Tuatha Dé Danann , which literally means the “People of the Goddess Danu”.

Danu means knowledge, wisdom, wealth and abundance. However her name is also connected to water, and could mean ‘the flowing one’.

Danu is thought to have married Bilé and was the mother of the Dagda, the chief leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In other myths, she is known as the daughter or lover of the Dagda.

Her other children included Nuada, Dian Cécht, Ogma, Airmid, Etan, Miach, Cian/Kian, Sawan and Goibhniu.

Because of the similarities in correspondences, Danu has been associated with other goddesses, including Anu, the Universal Mother, and the Morrigan, the goddess of war.

Danu is also very similar to the Welsh goddess Dôn, who is the mother figure of the medieval tales in the Mabinogion.

Danu was also sometimes associated with Brigid, the daughter of the Dagda.

It is thought through her association with water, the River Danube was named after her.

Also, there are two round-topped hills in County Kerry, Ireland, called Da Chich Anu/Anann (the Paps of Anu), thought to represent the two breasts of Danu/Anu.

Danu has a strong connection to the land and water. She is a goddess of fertility, bounty, plenty, prosperity, wind, rivers, water, wells, wisdom, and inspiration.

Some of Danu’s symbols include holy stones, horses, seagulls, fish, amber, gold, flowing water, air, wind, earth, moon, keys and crowns.

Danu reminds us that we are capable of realizing our own dreams, empowering us to create our own destiny.

[3rdeyeblaque]

Today we venerate Hoodoo Saint Harriet Ross Tubman aka Black Moses on the 110th anniversary of her passing🕊

Whew! A legendary Freedom Fighter, Mama Moses wore many decorated crowns as a mammoth Abolitionist, chief Conductor on the Underground Railroad, an expert Hunte and Lumberjack, a Nurse, an armed scout & spy for the Union Army during the Civil War - becoming the 1st Woman to ever spearhead an armed military assault. Later, she opened her door to the elderly, sick, & disabled, and advocated for them until her death.

Born Araminta "Minty" Ross as the middle child of 9 siblings to enslaved parents on a plantation in Dorchester County, MD, she suffered a massive blow to the head that would spur a lifetime of seizures, headaches, deep slumbers, & visions. She went on to marry a "Free" man by the surname of Tubman & took on her mother's first given name, "Harriet". In 1849, her husband, parents, & siblings were set to be split up & sold off. Under the cover of darkness, she fled the plantation solo on foot and followed the North Star to escape the jaws of slavery by way of Philadelphia, PA. She'd survive13-19 rescue missions back into the Antebellum South, liberating over 300 souls, as the most infamous Conductor on the Underground Railroad who, over the span of a decade, had "never lost a single passenger", which dubbed her the nickname, "Moses". The bounty for her life maxed out at $40K. Freedom wasn't free & Mama Moses never hesitated to remind her passengers of that. She carried herbs to silence a crying baby and pulled a gun on any cowardly man who might give away their position.

"You'll be Free or Die. " - Mama Moses to her passengers on the Underground Railroad.

Venerated as a Hoodoo Saint to many, Mama Moses was a Seer, a Clairvoyant Dreamer, Dream Interpreter, a Revolutionary Conjurer Woman & Rootworker - born to parents of the same cloth. She received Divine messages & Ancestral knowledge/wisedom through prophetic visions & dreams. Mama Moses proudly attributed her unparalleled death defying success to her Divine guidance, Conjure, Rootwork, intuitive gifts & her faithful willingness to trust/follow them.

Folks have a tendency to grossly undermine, if not outright ignore, the significant pillars that Hoodoo Cosmology, Religion, & Tradition played in her life and in her fight for freedom. Recently, archeologists uncovered her "spirit cache" at her family's home in Maryland; these were some of the Blackbelt Hoodoo staples of her time including: glass bottles - for protection against evil spirits, a figurine made it iron nails - possibly a something akin to an Nkisi, a copper button, perfume bottle topper, and other red & blue items.

Mama Moses transitioned peaceful & free at her home/on her land in Auburn, NY where she is rests at the cemetery in Auburn, NY. She is still expected to be immortalized on the $20 bill USD, however that promise has yet to be met.

We pour libations & give Mama Moses her 💐 for her bravery & selfless service. May she bless the elderly, disabled, young, women, & Workers who seek/fight for freedom.

Offering suggestions: Milk, Apples, & Orange flowers

🌟 FINAL copies of The2023 Hoodoo's Calendar are available for purchase (once sold out, that's it)! Subscribe to the official e-newsletter for the latest updates & exclusive content access. https://thehoodoocalendar.square.site 🌟  

#hoodoo #hoodoos #atrs #atr #the hoodoo calendar #rootwork #conjure #black Moses #harriet tubman #Hoodoo History #Hoodoo Saints

[lakemojave]

LIVE WITH TALES OF THE RAMBLER, EPISODE 2!!!

DM'd by Bill @gabajoofs, starring Dot @radiofreederry as Janica Halcyon, Sebastian @lakemojave as Bhuri'Hssyngig, Jordan @brucebocchi as Ced Saverem, Heather @chansaw as Val Griv'ir, and Julia @thottacelli as Caitvuna Conu!

Recap under the cut:

THE STORY SO FAR: It has been years since the end of the Galactic Civil War. The New Republic struggles to rebuild the galaxy after decades of Imperial rule, locked in a cold war with the remnant Pentastar Alignment. All the while, in the dark corners of the galaxy, organized crime groups compete with each other to gain power in the galactic underworld after the collapse of the Hutt Cartel. Now, the crew of the transport ship the Rambler have been thrust into this gritty, cutthroat world...

LAST TIME: The crew of the Rambler successfully delivered humanitarian supplies to the New Confederacy of Independent Systems after exploring an abandoned ship in the Drift. They were then called to Coruscant by none other than Chief of State Leia Organa. Leia explained that shipments of tibanna gas from Bespin had been going missing, and charged the Rambler crew with traveling to Cloud City and figuring out what was going on. After making it to Bespin, the crew went to a nearby cantina to get some information. Janica and Bhuri picked up a lead from a visiting Mandalorian bounty hunter, who promised them information if they took down a target, a former Imperial, for her...

#star wars #tales from the rambler #actual play #twitch #stream #shameless plugging

[helix-studios117]

Halo Effect

In the year 2150, humanity found the Halo Arrays. Ancient ringworlds which they decided to use to achieve Slipspace-Travel, and they reverse-engineer old Forerunner technology from these ringworlds to make all sorts of neat tech, leading to a technological new-age that lasts for 400 years and counting. (Forerunners are still called 'Forerunners,' but they play the Protheans' role).

It's currently 2552...

The United Nations System Alliance (UNSA, which is The UNSC + The System Alliance) are the military and political arm and protectors of humanity, but a shadowy intelligence-agency called "Agamemnon" (ONI + Cerberus) led by 'The Visionary' (Doctor Halsey + The Illusive Man), operates in the dark as they commit various war-crimes in the name of humanity and it's protection; the military and the police are one-&-the-same.

Agamemnon created a program that would train a new breed of military-police troopers that are above jurisdiction and have free-reign to do what they'd like called the "Spectre-II Program" (The Spectres + N7 + Spartan-II) with the best Spectre among them being a Commander-ranked Engineer-class Colonist with a background for being particularly ruthless named John Shepard-117, though he likes to go by the callsign that Captain Jacob Anderson gave to him: "Master Chief" (Anderson was previously Master Chief when a young John asked if he could Master Chief one day).

The Spectres are dedicated to fighting The Matrix (Covenant + Geth), a hivemind of religious cyborgs who believe that the Halo Arrays are ACTUALLY created by The Warforge (Reapers + Prometheans), a legion of sentient starships that are piloted by The Spores (The Flood + The Collectors), and want to liberate thenselves from humanity and their ancestors by activating the rings.

The truth is they were obviously made by the Forerunners to be a counter against the Spore/Warforge, as the SWs collect and harvest any all sentient life to feed and cleanse the galaxy so that the whole universe can live under the Spore's rule; so the Forerunners made death machines, the Halos, which destroys all life in the galaxy so that the mech-piloting parasites can starve. It worked and life began again...

But the Spores/Warforge returned.

And the fate of the galaxy rests in John Shepard-117's hands after he learned about all of this from a Matrix excavation-site on Madrigal Prime, where he touched an ancient Forerunner beacon they were digging up. So assembles a ragtag-team of remarkable people to help him, including: Garrus "The Seraphim" 'Vadamee (a vigilante who atones for his past mistakes by killing the wicked across the galaxy), Kai Alenko-125 (a fellow Spectre-supersoldier and a powerful biotic), Leenda'Zorah (A sniper with keen-sight and is constantly in a skin-tight Hazmat-suit; John gives her Spectre-armor that's the same in-design as her original Hazmat-suit, but offers far more protection and has all sorts of bells-&-whistles that'll keep her safe), Miranda (a super-spy and scientist who is the daughter of the Visionary; her real legal-name is either Keyes or Lawson, but she'll never tell), Ares (a brutish bounty-hunter and ex-clan-chieftian who hails from a planet of dying warriors) and Durandana (the UNSA Normandy's ship AI, given physical form in the form of a blue woman who looks exactly like a younger version of the Visionary).

@mrtobenamedlater, @authortobenamedlater, @makowrites, @empresskadia, @ageless-aislynn, @inthatfandom, @ionlymadethissoicouldleaveanask, @pelgraine, @jellotherelol, @killer-orca-cosplay.

#halo #halo fanfic #halo fanfiction #mass effect #mass effect fanfiction #Halo au #Mass effect au #crossover

[todaysdocument]

Cato Greene was discharged from the U.S. Army on June 15, 1783. 

Greene had been born in Africa, was enslaved in Rhode Island, and fought in the American Army to gain his freedom. 

Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Series: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service

File Unit: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application File S-38753 for Cato Greene (or Green) (Colored) of Continental Troops from Rhode Island

Transcription: 

[Printed document with blank spaces filled in by hand]

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ

General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the

United States of America.

[handwritten: Cato Greene, Soldier; Rhode Island; five years] THESE ARE TO CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof Cato Greene, Soldier in the Rhode Island Regiment, having faithfully served the United States five years and being inlisted for the War only, is hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army.

GIVEN AT HEAD-QUARTERS the

[handwritten] 15th June 1783

[signature] G. Washington

By HIS EXCELLENCY'S

Command,

[signature] J. Trumbull [word?]Jr

REGISTERED in the Books

of the Regiment, [handwritten] Rhode Island

[signature] JGreenman [printed] Adjutant.

THE above

has been honored with the BADGE OF MERIT for [handwritten] 5

Years faithful service

#archivesgov #June 15 #1783 #1700s #American Revolution #Revolutionary War #military #U.S. Army #Black history #African American history #slavery #Rhode Island

[originalcollectionartistry]

To be Claimed - SFW version

Hello friends! I found these marriage prompts by @brainbright for our favorite batchers! I immediately felt they struck gold and pushed this fic out in 12 hours.

I have two versions of this fic: a sfw and a nsfw. The sfw one ends before the smut begins so if you want sexy times, I'll link the sexy one at the end.

CW: brief violence, mention of misogyny, revealing of feelings, idiots in love.

Hunter x reader

Word count: 2197

Enjoy!!

You didn’t expect the mission to go as it did, but all of you were alive. That’s what mattered to you. Hunter, Echo, Wrecker and Tech were all alive and Omega was safe at Cid’s. That’s all you could ask for.

Cid came to you with a new mission. In exchange for some pure spice, you and your Batch were to offer protection for a week to a leader from this backwater planet. The culture was rather archaic. Women were subservient and silent, to be seen and not heard and the men handled everything. Being on that planet made you grateful to have grown up on Naboo. You were in the same classes as Padme Amidala, or Naberrie as you knew her. You were quite a bit younger than her though. She excelled in her politics and academics, while you were more a physical girl. You would rather settle a fight with your fists than words.

You made the decision to keep your helmet on the whole time you were on this planet. Tech modified your armour to give you more protection on your chest and midsection, so your gender wasn’t obvious to others as it was to your squad. You were grateful for the voice modulator. It deepened your voice a bit, so it just sounded like you were effeminate man.

You were protecting the leader of this community for a week from some assassin. You didn’t know which assassin was after the leader, but you knew there were more bounty hunters around trying to lure you away from the leader. They’d threaten locals to make you distracted. So, you and Tech were stationed with the leader, while Echo, Hunter and Wrecker took care of the other troublemakers. As you waited for the all clear to move the chief from Hunter, you and Tech conversed quietly.

“You are certainly mistaken. There is nothing going on between Phee and I.”

Rolling your eyes, you pointed out that Phee flirted with him constantly with every encounter you had with the pirate.

“Tech, she calls you Brown Eyes at every opportunity! She pays more attention to you than any of us! She’s clearly into you.”

Glancing up at you from his datapad, Tech shook his head. “Regardless, I have no interest in pursuing Phee romantically. Not when I have the squad to look out for.”

That was the one thing you loved and admired about Tech. He’d sacrifice everything for his family without question or hesitance. You only hoped he wouldn’t get himself killed protecting everyone.

“Alright boys let’s move the bird out!” you heard Hunter through the comms.

You lightly pulled the chief to his feet as Tech told him it was time to move. Tech pulled up the rear as you held the lead, blaster in hand. You shot at every bounty hunter you saw, hoping to deter others from trying anything.

As you rounded a corner, you nearly met your fate at the end of a blaster barrel. You paused, looking at the blue skinned woman in front of you. You recognized her deadlocked ponytail and single antenna and clocked that Aurra Sing was in front of you.

“Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise,” she sneered. “My target handed to me on a silver platter by two clones.”

You pushed the blaster away from your face. “Sing. I should’ve smelled your disgusting perfume from atmosphere,” you hissed.

Chuckling, Aurra took aim at you again. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll make sure I’m the last thing you see before you die.”

“Like kark!” You pushed her aside, pinning her to the garden wall, shouting at Tech to move. If someone was gonna die, it was gonna be Aurra Sing. The bounty hunter took far too much from you during the clone war and so you had a little vendetta.

She kneed you in the torso, causing you to be winded for a moment. You immediately swung back, clocking her in her nose. As she backed away holding her nose, you kicked her head, bending her antenna.

Aurra became furious, lunging at you and pinning you to the ground on your back. You gritted your teeth, pushing her off as best you could but she had the advantage. Aurra took your viroblade from its sheath and moved it to your neck. As it dug closer to your jugular, you thought of your squad and how you’d miss them if you didn’t push her off.

Blaster shots rang out from your right, causing Aurra to pause in her assault on you. You turned your head, seeing Hunter and Wrecker firing at the assassin. Aurra quickly got off you and bolted, firing back at your boys.

Eventually, another bounty hunter picked Aurra up from your pursuit of her. You fired your blaster again at the small ship, hoping to bring it down but she escaped again. You prayed someone would take her out one day.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You and the boys were celebrated as heroes and offered a feast in compensation. Never one to turn down a way to keep Wrecker full, you all gladly accepted. There was music and dancing and singing, in a way you’d never seen before. Sure, you had had parades on Naboo but nothing this extravagant. There were colours of red, blue, turquoise, orange and many more. You were carried on these little mini beds by some locals. You and Echo sat side by side, admiring all the colours and festivities.

“So, you gonna say something to Hunter? Once we’re back on the ship?” he murmured into your comm channel.

You looked at him through your helmet. You almost regretted telling Echo about your feelings toward your sergeant. Sure, there was nothing to stop you now from fraternising with squad mates, but the gods know there was something stopping you from revealing your feelings.

“Depends on how the rest of this goes. There’s always chaos to follow us so I’m just waiting for it to reveal itself.”

Reveal itself it did. As soon as you were all seated the leader gave a speech in their native tongue before gesturing to you to eat. You removed your helmet for the first time in days, grateful to breathe fresh air and eat fresh food. A collective gasp rung out from everyone except you and the boys, confusing you as you took small bites.

The leader and the elders look furious, yelling at you in their language. You were scared and confused, looking to Tech for an explanation.

Tech put his helmet back on and translated quickly, fearing the worst for your safety.

“Apparently, they are accusing us. We deceived them into thinking we were all men. According to tradition, all women of marrying age who step foot in the chief’s house, as we did early this week, are automatically married to him unless they are already claimed. Since you are of marrying age and do not seem to be claimed, he claims you as his wife.”

As Tech finished his translation, you were yanked from your seat and dragged through the seating to be thrown at the chief’s feet. You yelled and screamed, begging the boys to help you. They did, but not in the way you had expected. You almost wanted to face palm.

“She is claimed though!” Wrecker yelled out, looking to Echo for support.

Echo nodded, playing along. “Yes, she’s claimed by our Sergeant! They were wed last year!”

The leader looked from you to Hunter and back. Spitting out another question, Tech translated, going along with this idea. “He asked why we didn’t reveal that upon arrival. Why such deception?”

Echo looked to Hunter, who was both furious and concerned for your wellbeing, and tilted his head almost to say, ‘do something!’. Hunter was shocked at the turn of events but over his dead body you stay here as some archaic cultures wife. He came up to you and pulled you up to your feet. Pressing a gentle kiss to your temple, he pulled you closer. You nuzzled into his chest, fearing for your life. You had no idea this culture was that antiquated. Hunter brought his hand to your head and started to gently stroke your hair, making it look like a husband consoling his wife.

“We didn’t want to put the other in danger. Should anyone find out we were wed, they would use it against us. We never meant to deceive you.” Hunter had Tech translate.

Hunter led you to the seat next to him. “You okay with this?” he whispered.

You smiled weakly, hating that this was the improvised plan the boys chose. “I kind of have to be, don’t I? You sure you’re okay with playing husband?”

Hunter took your hand, kissing your knuckles gently. He could feel the leader’s anger at him and at you, so he laid the lovesickness on thick. Pulling you closer, kissing your temple, holding your hand and much more. You were blushing like crazy, wanting nothing more than this to be real. Gods you wanted this to be real. Hunter was so good at being loving. You wished more than anything that this was real, and you really were married.

As the festivities settled back into joyous ruckus, the boys encouraged you and Hunter to move into a private area so you could discuss things a bit more. You needed to make things convincing if you were to get out of there as one squad. You didn’t really want to leave the other three, but Hunter agreed it would make it look like you finally had some alone time as husband and wife. Shifting from one foot to the other, you reluctantly agreed to follow Hunter away from the celebration.

Hunter led you to secluded clearing, a short walk from the tents of the settlement. You sat on the ground, not facing him. He sat next to you, listening quietly to your heartbeat. You did not want to make the first move. You had no idea what to say!

Smiling, Hunter pulled you closer, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. You froze a second but relaxed into his hold. Taking a breath, you finally spoke.

“I’m gonna kill Echo. I should never have told him about my feelings for you.”

Chuckling, Hunter squeezed your shoulders. “You really thought you could hide those from me? I can feel your heartbeat, I can smell your scents, and I certainly read your body language well enough.”

You froze again. You were a complete nong! Of course, Hunter could tell! He could feel the electromagnetic pulses from a base halfway across the planet! He would obviously be able to tell you had feelings.

Pursing your lips, you wanted the ground to swallow you whole. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Figured you’d say something when you felt the time was right. Didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Laughing, you elbowed his ribs gently. “Well, you failed at that! I’m so embarrassed.”

Smiling and laughing with you, Hunter let his head fall to meet yours gently. “You wouldn’t have had to worry about rejection. The others have known about my feelings since you joined us back in the Clone War. Didn’t want to endanger you by risking fraternisation.”

Your heart was ready to burst out of your chest. The man you had held feelings for, all this time wanted you just as much! Leaning in, you brushed your lips lightly over his, letting him control the rest. You could feel your heart beating harshly in your chest, and you knew Hunter could feel it too.

Hunter, softly took your chin and pulled you back to his lips, giving you a fiercer kiss than what you gave him. It felt amazing, to finally have his lips caress yours in a way you’d only had imagined prior to today. His were slightly chapped yet soft, pressing to yours softly as you keened for more.

Hunter pulled you onto his lap, having you straddle his hips to have a better angle to kiss you. His hands met your hips, lightly pulling you down to meet his pelvis. Your kisses eventually became heated, as your hands pulled at his chest plate, wanting it off.

Moving to your neck, leaving little kisses and bruises, Hunter whispered into your skin, “Should we head back to the ship?”

Smiling, you pulled his hair lightly to bring his lips back to yours. “Oh, kriff yes!”

Hunter smirked, lifting you up from the ground. You wrapped your legs around his torso so you wouldn’t fall.

You were in for a fun night.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Echo was watching Wrecker show off his strength to some locals when all their comms beeped with a message from Hunter.

You might wanna avoid the Maurader for a few hours. We have some more things to discuss ;)

Groaning, Echo settled in for the night in his seat, waiting for Wrecker to switch weights until they got a comm, saying your “talk” was finished.

“It was only a matter of time,” Tech reasoned. “They’ve been pining for years now.”

Echo grimaced, knowing Tech was correct. This was gonna be a long night.

Hopefully this is one better than my last fic! I'll see if I can create a taglist somehow if anyone wants to be a part of that!

Thank you all!

Here is the NSFW version here

#the bad batch #ao3 fanfic #sw tbb #tbb hunter #hunter x reader #fanfic #star wars the bad batch #tbb hunter x reader #clone thirsting #clone force 99 #smut #hunter smut #bad batch smut #clone smut #spicy clones

[elenwen-and-ondolemar]

Dearest First Emissary and Chief Justiciar of the Third Aldmeri Dominion of Skyrim,

Fine greetings from the Fellowship of Anchorites, I send this belated letter to you and your equals scattered across Tamriel to thank your for the bountiful harvest your efforts have granted me and mine for our research and experimentations. Not since the calamities of the 2nd era had Tamriel seen such untold destruction and death so wildly spread in so short a time, with the proper preservation techniques my order now has enough material to allow our initiates to try and fail to make a thousand thousand flesh golems each. Might I ask what you officially do with the bodies of those your loyal soldiers capture and bring back to your embassies to be tortured? One of my adepts has heard of a delightful technique he overheard being discussed by some of your soldiers in Solitude, "Intermediate Manual unwinding" I believe it was? Is this a magical technique or something more physical involving the intestines? I can only imagine the kind of cathartic energies that is left on the subject's body after such an experience, and am eager to know lest I end up wasting one of our ever so preciously rare live subjects. Let alone one of our more unliving captures. Our newfound wealth and succor would not have been possible without your aggressive war, and so we salute you and your efforts. May the next war be just as in your favor as the last.

signed, Worm Anchorite Rhobar of the Many-Rivers

Elenwen: @vigil-of-stendarr-official These and other deranged missives lately arrived at the Thalmor embassy have left me questioning the commitment of Skyrim's governors to protecting its citizens from daedric and necromantic threats. Perhaps your organization could look into this.

Of course, this letter writer could be an over-imaginative trouble maker. "Intermediate Manual Unwinding" sounds like a fevered fantasy from a cheap novel. Real interrogation is a painstaking labour of asking questions, comparing answers to the evidence, and and arriving at a mutual agreement of fact. It does not end in dead bodies, but in exoneration or confession. In the latter case, the appropriate sentence or rehabilitation is not carried out by the interrogator but by the duly appointed authorities.

#thalmor

[kwebtv]

Carl Weathers (January 14, 1948 – February 1, 2024) Actor, director and gridiron football linebacker. 

On television he portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the series Street Justice (1991–1993) and a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development (2004, 2013), and voiced Omnitraxus Prime in Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2017–2019). He had a recurring role as Greef Karga in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian (2019–2023), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Weathers began working as an extra while still playing football. He appeared in an early 1975 episode of the sitcom Good Times titled "The Nude", portraying an angry husband who suspected his wife of cheating on him with J.J. He also guest-starred in a 1975 episode of Kung Fu titled "The Brothers Caine", and in an episode of Cannon titled "The Hero". In 1976, he appeared as a loan shark in an episode of the crime-drama Starsky & Hutch, and in the Barnaby Jones episode "The Bounty Hunter" as escaped convict Jack Hopper. In 1986 he starred in the short-lived series Fortune Dane.

During the final two seasons of In the Heat of the Night (1992–1994), his character, Hampton Forbes, replaced Bill Gillespie as the chief of police. He also played MACV-SOG Colonel Brewster in the CBS series Tour of Duty. (Wikipedia)

IMDb Listing

#Carl Weathers #TV #Obit #Obituary #O2024 #Fortune Dane #The Mandalorian #Arrested Development #In the Heat of the Night #Tour of Duty

[stitchlingbelle]

Watching Halo, Episode 7

I have no doubt the diehards rioted over this episode, which turned out to be centered entirely on Kwan (and Soren), who the youtube comments inform me is terrible. Why, I’m not sure, but here we are.

We open with a flashback to the Madrigal resistance, and I was surprised how happy I was to see them all. We only got one scene with them in the pilot, but they pull off the loving community vibe so well that it’s easy to fall in love with them. It was nice to have them back, even as ghosts, and even with pre-heroic Kwan having a teenage moment with her dad. Back in the present, Kwan’s driving straight into a sandstorm, which is a TERRIBLE IDEA that in the real world would probably have killed her. The wind and sand can literally rip your skin off. Anyway, she gets kidnapped.

Soren’s miraculously back on Rubble—what is the FTL tech in this universe and how fast is it? I have questions. He’s throwing a party and we finally get to see him in his element, as pirate/ businessman/ rich popular dude. He’s loud and boisterous and clearly grating on his shady, uncool business partner, whose only redeeming virtue is speaking Hungarian. Squirrel challenges Soren on not getting Kwan Ha’s bounty, and ignoring his own shady heist plan, but backs down immediately when pushed. Soren is obviously disturbed, though I assume it’s more about breaking his word to John than not getting paid for Kwan. (He also had a lovely moment about his love for his wife and kid, and I’m still convinced they’re marked for death, which is a shame, because I love Laera.) Sometime I need to go back and rewatch this scene with the pause button, because there’s a load of costumes to look at here.

Back to Kwan and her kidnappers, who of course turn out to be the mystics. They have the classic “you’re not ready, I sense much anger in you” conversation, which honestly I could have done without, especially since my meta-brain knows the mystics will change their mind, and they immediately do. (As they must have planned to, since they kidnapped her, not the other way around.) (Very cool costume design, low-quality wigs.) There's a lot going on with the tropes behind this Magic Desert People thing that other people have no doubt covered better than I can, but it does leave a lot of questions. Where are they from? Why are they so detached from the other humans on Madrigal? Why do they know the things they do? What do they need the Ha family for, that they couldn't do themselves?

Vinsher, meanwhile, is being extremely Extra and Poetic, which is apparently normal enough that his driver gets in a well-chosen poetic reference of his own in response. They know about the mystics and can’t find them, but Vinsher is determined to at least find Kwan. Vinsher is an interesting choice, juxtaposed against the rest of the people in the show: a cartoonish villain who only wants power, in a universe where everyone else claims a "greater good" justification for what they do.

On Rubble, Soren gets his shady guy Squirrel alone on the tram. And instead of killing him (or getting jumped or triggering a gang war that gets his family killed, my other guesses), Soren butters the guy up a bit, in a very threatening way, and agrees to go with the score the guy had bitched about at the party. I Have Concerns. (The scene ended with a GREAT dissolve, as the tram disappeared into the dark, just a single light distantly visible, which faded into the scene on Madrigal. Just a great directing choice, very evocative.)

The mystics are giving Kwan her Lore Dump, complete with hallucinogenic drugs that take her into her subconscious to deal with her issues. In this case, flashing back to the beginning of her relationship with Master Chief, which turns into them fighting so she can let go of her rage, presumably. (We brought back Reth for this?) (STOP aiming for the best part of his armor! If you’re going to try to stab him, which I’m not even sure you want to do, aim for the weak parts!) It's a little odd given that she seemed to have worked through some of the stuff with John back when he saved her life. (Honestly, it just made me think they wanted Master Chief in the ep so they could remind everyone "it's the Halo show!")

Eventually she gets told her family’s purpose, according to a being from another time or existence (again, man, this series has everything and the kitchen sink), is to eventually help John with his purpose, which involves a portal that must be protected from oppressors. (Like the UNSC, hence the rebellion.) The reunion with her dad was moving, and he ends by affirming her ability to step up in her own way, and tells her to go back to where it all began: the outpost where they lived, and he died.

Soren and Squirrel’s heist goes swimmingly, but Soren uses it to drop a weight on Squirrel’s foot to teach him a lesson. He could still be setting up a gang war, in other words. Later, Laera calls him on the action’s necessity, and in the course of defending himself, Soren wanders off to talking about Kwan and how that situation is eating at him. Laera tells him that Kwan must be alive, since Vinsher just tripled the bounty on her, and it’s clear Soren’s headed back to Madrigal. Laera, I love you.

On Madrigal, we flash between Kwan back in the ruins of her home, and Agatha getting questioned by Vinsher. Turns out she’s not a traitor after all, and she stands up to him, despite knowing it’ll get her killed. It does. Agatha had told Kwan that Vinsher had allowed them to collect the dead for burial, and so as she explores she doesn’t see any human bodies, but I was quite surprised to see the Covenant dead left where they were. I realize the UNSC labs likely have samples of everything there, but no local scavengers (of the animal sort) have dealt with the bodies, and no local scavengers (of the human sort) have looted the gear? Weird. Kwan also manages to find papers of her father’s that reference the portal, and pockets them. She hears movement, but I’m pretty sure it’s…

…Soren! Called that. They bicker a bit, especially over her keeping his gun. I do like the way they play off each other. Vinsher shows up and Kwan explains her plan to blow the joint sky-high. (Vinsher, are you SMOKING A CIGAR AT A HYDROGEN DRILLING FACILITY?) Unfortunately, the place is not in great repair after the battle, and she needs to fix something before they can detonate it (and take cover). She and Vinsher speech-ify at each other. (The byplay between Vinsher and his smart guard was great. “I give you my solemn word.” Guard: shocked, dubious look. Vinsher: immediate “of course not” headshake. Big Humperdink and Rugen energy there.) Kwan also manages to pay Soren after all, so that’s nice. (Stick it in your pack and get on with it, Soren!)

Kwan brilliantly uses her insider knowledge of the base and its maintenance tunnels to get across the battlefield safely, while Soren wrecks absolute havoc as only a Spartan can. He’s incredibly impressive, and I can’t help but wonder if these people know they’re facing a (former) Spartan? (Two seconds later, it turns out they do, as Vinsher taunts him with it. Not sure that was smart, but ok.) (Again, is he the only one who’s ever gotten out?) They 100% get me to believe they’ve killed Soren off and might get Kwan too before Kwan manages to blow the place with one of the un-looted guns from the Covenant massacre, and she and Soren both make it into the vault, just in time. (Realism? I don't know her!)

The rain from the hydrogen drill as they emerge is a nice touch. We wrap up with the most perfect Kwan-and-Soren bickering possible. Kwan: “We’ll see each other again.” Soren: “God, I hope not.” HA.

#halo tv show

[radiofreederry]

Star Wars: Tales From the Rambler is an actual play series in Fantasy Flight's Star Wars tabletop RPG system. With @gabajoofs as GM, the series stars myself as Corellian pilot Janica Halcyon, @lakemojave as Trandoshan bodyguard Bhuri'Hssyngigg, @chansaw as Bothan con artist Val Griv'ir, @brucebocchi as Corellian mechanic Ced Saverem, and @thottacelli as Twi'lek mercenary Caitvuna Conu!

THE STORY SO FAR: It has been years since the end of the Galactic Civil War. The New Republic struggles to rebuild the galaxy after decades of Imperial rule, locked in a cold war with the remnant Pentastar Alignment. All the while, in the dark corners of the galaxy, organized crime groups compete with each other to gain power in the galactic underworld after the collapse of the Hutt Cartel. Now, the crew of the transport ship the Rambler have been thrust into this gritty, cutthroat world...

LAST TIME: The crew of the Rambler successfully delivered humanitarian supplies to the New Confederacy of Independent Systems after exploring an abandoned ship in the Drift. They were then called to Coruscant by none other than Chief of State Leia Organa. Leia explained that shipments of tibanna gas from Bespin had been going missing, and charged the Rambler crew with traveling to Cloud City and figuring out what was going on. After making it to Bespin, the crew went to a nearby cantina to get some information. Janica and Bhuri picked up a lead from a visiting Mandalorian bounty hunter, who promised them information if they took down a target, a former Imperial, for her...

Part Two of Tales From the Rambler will air Saturday, April 20, at 2:30 PM PST!

[evilwriter37]

Old Chains

Rated: teen

Warnings: none

Pairings: Hiccup & Valka, Hiccup & Toothless

Word Count: 2,183

Summary: Hiccup is captured by a bounty hunter who found one of Viggo's old posters.

Ao3 Link

Hiccup didn't know why he was being captured. He'd thought those days were over, now that there were no wars to fight, no enemies vying for his attention.

And yet, here he was, the Chief of Berk, sitting tied to a mast on a ship. He couldn't remember returning home from the Mead Hall the night before, and he'd woken like this, muscles screaming with stiffness, head pounding, mouth dry. Had he been drugged?

There were a few men working around the ship, a crew. One of them noticed that he was awake and trying to get his bearings.

"Captain, he's up!" the man nearest him shouted.

There was a grunt, then heavy footsteps coming from behind. A man circled around to Hiccup, and put his huge hands on his hips. He was big, almost as big as Hiccup's father had been, and there was something cruel glinting in his dark eyes. His thickly braided brown beard came almost to his waist.

"Where's my dragon?" Hiccup demanded before the captain could say anything. He was worried over Toothless more than he was himself.

"The bounty didn't ask for your dragon," the captain said. "Just you."

"What did you do to him?"

"He's having a nice little sleep back on Berk. Gave him a higher dose of what I gave you."

Hiccup's worry over Toothless was beginning to fade a little now that he knew he hadn't been captured with him. He was worried over him being drugged though.

But then something registered in his mind.

Bounty?

"What bounty?" Hiccup asked. There was a clenching in his stomach at the familiarity of all of this. He thought back to that awful day where he'd gone from bounty hunter to bounty hunter, thinking he would end up in Viggo's cruel and malicious hands. Somehow, it was like he felt the chain around his neck again.

The captain took a rolled up piece of paper from his pouch, showed it to Hiccup. Hiccup started, taken aback, blinking.

He knew that bounty poster, knew those words, knew the portrait of himself with the nose drawn too big.

It was Viggo's poster. An old one.

"I-it's old," was all Hiccup said, realizing too late that those words were not wise.

"Well, let's hope the Grimborns are still collecting for you."

Hiccup almost laughed, even as grief drove a stake through his heart. He almost told the captain that both the Grimborns were dead and their tribe had dispersed. But he thought better of it. What would happen to him if the captain knew that? Would he just kill him for all his trouble? Clearly he wasn't from around here and had very old information.

"I didn't get your name!" Hiccup called as the captain began rolling up the poster and walking away, clearly done speaking with him. Hiccup wanted something to call him in his head other than "the captain".

"It's Oddi!" the captain called back, not even bothering to look over his shoulder. "Captain Oddi!"

Well, Captain Oddi, Hiccup thought, today is going to be the worst day of your life. Because Hiccup knew that his mother and his friends were coming for him, and that he might not survive their wrath.

---

Valka was trying her best not to panic. The village had woken to find Hiccup gone, missing. Toothless was still here, and there had been no note.

Now, she and the Riders were trying their best to get Toothless to come to.

"He's been drugged," Valka said. "Doesn't look to be with Dragon Root though."

"I almost wish it was," Fishlegs said. "I know the antidote for that."

Valka pet a groaning Toothless on the neck. He didn't seem otherwise injured, just tired. He wouldn't be able to come with them on the rescue mission.

Because they were getting ready to rescue Hiccup. He couldn't have been taken too far, given that he'd probably been taken by someone on a ship, rather than on a dragon.

"We have to go," Valka announced, rising. "Astrid!" she called up into the loft. "Did you get something with his scent on it?"

Astrid came hurrying down the stairs with one of Hiccup's tunics in hand, and Valka just nodded. She looked around at the gathered Riders.

"Fishlegs, you stay with Toothless," she decided. He was a healer, and a damn good one at that. He'd learned from Gothi and the Defenders of the Wing. "Keep him safe."

Fishlegs looked like he wanted to protest, most likely wanting to go after Hiccup as well, but right now, his absence meant that she was in charge. He had to listen to her. So, he nodded. 

Together, Valka and the rest of the Riders left the house, finding Eret outside saddling Skullcrusher.

"Did you get the scent sample?" Eret asked. Skullcrusher was the best tracker they had, would be able to find Hiccup even if he was miles away with his scent muddled by others.

Astrid hurried over and handed Eret the tunic. He offered it to Skullcrusher, who came forward and sniffed intently. His pupils turned to slits, and he raised his head in a roar, pawing at the ground.

"Guess it's time to go!" Eret hopped nimbly into Skullcrusher's saddle. He'd gotten awfully good at maneuvering with and around his dragon.

Valka still rode Cloudjumper without a saddle, and her dragon helped her climb onto his back. She knew why the others used saddles--it was practical--but she didn't feel the need for one after so long of having been flying with Cloudjumper without one.

And together, they all took to the skies, Eret and Skullcrusher in the lead. Soon, they were leaving Berk behind to become nothing more than a speck amongst the clouds.

---

Hiccup could do nothing but wait. He didn't talk to these people, not wanting to antagonize them at all. He knew pain, and that was certainly something he wanted to avoid in this situation.

So he was just left in silence to think. He wondered how this man had gotten ahold of this bounty poster. Granted, there had been a lot of them, and apparently there had been some left floating around even after Viggo had called it off.

Even after Viggo was dead.

Hiccup tried his best not to think about the man often. All it did was cause him great pain and sadness. Viggo had loved him, and he'd learned that only at the very end. He hadn't had time to tell him anything, to really process those feelings. And then he'd died trying to protect him.

It hurt. It hurt badly. Hiccup had never felt the same way for Viggo--though for a time after he wondered if he had--but that didn't make his death any less painful. Hiccup didn't want people dying for him.

Sighing, feeling an ache in his chest, he rested his head back against the mast and stared out at the sky. The Dragon Riders would be coming for him soon. He could feel it.

---

Valka, not used to flying in any type of formation, made a beeline for the ship once they spotted it. She could hear the other Dragon Riders calling out to her, but she didn't care. She wanted her son back.

There was shouting from the ship. It wasn't a big Dragon Trapper ship, not like the ones Drago had commanded. Instead, it was a single longboat.

This was going to be too easy.

She quickly saw Hiccup tied to the mast, and so avoided it, not wanting to injure him. Instead, she had Cloudjumper blast along the sides. The last thing they needed was the ship sinking.

The deck had been cleared by the time the other Dragon Riders had appeared. Just as Valka had expected: easy. Some men had jumped into the water to avoid the wrath of Cloudjumper's fire, but most had met their end in a cyclone of heat. That just left Hiccup tied to the mast, waiting for them.

Valka jumped down as soon as Cloudjumper landed, rushing over to Hiccup. She drew her knife, quickly cutting at his bonds. The ship was on fire and would be sinking soon. They had to get off of it. She desperately wanted to ask him questions, but his safety came first.

Hiccup breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks, mom!" He gave her a quick hug, and then let Astrid help him onto Stormfly's back.

"Are you hurt?" Ruffnut asked as soon as they were flying away from the ship.

"No, no, I'm fine."

"What happened?" Valka asked. "Who were those people?"

For a moment, they flew in silence save for the great beats of their dragons' wings.

"Bounty hunters," Hiccup finally said.

The rest of the Dragon Riders looked at him shocked, though Eret and Valka were confused, clearly not in the know. Hiccup had a history with bounty hunters?

"But... You mean... Your old bounty?" Snotlout asked, clearly trying to make sense of the situation.

Hiccup nodded.

"What old bounty?" Valka felt fire in her gut. Someone had put a bounty on her son and she hadn't known about it?

The Dragon Riders glanced around at each other. Hiccup, arms wrapped around Astrid's waist, let out a  huge sigh.

"I'll tell you when we're on Berk," he finally said.

---

Hiccup didn't know how to explain the war with Viggo to his mother. Though, it had been a war with Dragon Hunters. Maybe she would understand.

He kept trying to script it in his head, trying to find a good starting point. Really, he didn't know what to say. How was he to explain Viggo and all the complicated feelings that went along with him to his mother?

Hiccup didn't have to straight away though, because as soon as they landed at Berk, he was hailed by Fishlegs and taken into his house to see Toothless.

His dragon leapt to his feet as soon as he entered, even with Fishlegs telling him to take it slow. Slow was not what Toothless did. Instead, he jumped on Hiccup, tackled him to the floor, and licked him all over.

Hiccup laughed. "I missed you too, bud!" He took his head in both his hands. "How are you feeling?"

Toothless warbled at him and let him get up off the floor. Hiccup sat, just petting Toothless, whose tongue lolled out of his mouth. The two were terribly happy to see each other.

"So, he's okay?" Hiccup asked, turning to Fishlegs. "No Dragon Root?"

"No Dragon Root," Fishlegs confirmed.

That made Hiccup feel even more relieved. The bounty hunters clearly hadn't been trying to kill Toothless. They'd just needed him out of the way to get to him. Hiccup would much rather have any negative attention sent his way than his dragon's.

Valka hovered in the doorway, seemingly unsure of how to enter or what to say. Hiccup decided he would break the silence.

"Mom, thank you." He rose, took her by the shoulders, and then gave her a much longer embrace than the one they'd shared on the ship while surrounded by fire and smoke.

"Now," Valka began, holding Hiccup out at arms' length. "What bounty?"

Hiccup sighed, ran a hand through his hair. It smelled like ash.

"I..." He looked at Fishlegs, who nodded and left the house so it was just them and Toothless. "Maybe we should sit down."

---

Valka just nodded. Hiccup hadn't expected her to after all that he'd said. He could see her mulling it over, but the nod made him feel better.

"So this... this Viggo... He changed?"

"He did."

"And that's why you thought you could change Drago."

It wasn't a question, but Hiccup nodded.

"What did he mean to you?" Valka asked.

"What?"

"He clearly meant something to you," Valka said. "What was it?"

"I don't know," Hiccup responded after some time in thought. "He... he loved me. It was clear by the end. I don't know if I loved him back, or..." He didn't know what to say. Even after so many years, his feelings over Viggo were still complicated.

Valka reached across the table where they sat and put a hand over his.

"You don't have to know," she told him. "It's okay."

Hiccup nodded. He inhaled deeply, let out a sigh that relaxed his shoulders. 

"How are you feeling?" Valka asked. She rose, began moving around the kitchen. "I can make dinner."

"Tired," Hiccup responded. His mother wasn’t a very good cook, but he really could go for one of her meals right now. “More so emotionally than physically." It was such an ordeal to be captured, even when he hadn't been hurt at all save for being drugged. It was just all the memories, the talk he'd had with his mother about Viggo Grimborn.

Hiccup rubbed at his throat, and Toothless rumbled at him in concern. He gave him a weak smile.

"I'm fine, Toothless."

But, even as he said it, he could still feel those old chains around his neck, the past coming up to suffocate him.

#httyd #httyd 2 #how to train your dragon #httyd rtte #race to the edge #hiccup haddock #valka #angst #fanfiction #writing

[eorzeashan]

Echani Wintertide: "Trul's Tide"

Winter is a vital time in Echani culture, given their connection to the cold and the frost of their home planets. While it is a time of life and celebration much like the rest of the galaxy, it is also one of war and tribulations for the Echani. This period bears witness to some of the most important rites of passage for a people said to be born from the fallen snow, as cold and majestic as the season they revere the most.

To understand the naming convention of such an auspicious event, one must revisit the Echani religion. Trul is a main deity of the Echani pantheon, the mother wolf and the god of the Echa'olm, ancestor to all Echani and Eshan wolves whom the Echani owe their descent to. She is a multi-legged, massive Echa'olm who rules over the night sky, and it is said the light of the largest stars seen from Eshan are her eyes--with the rest of the constellations being that of her many children.

The season of winter is named after her not only because of ancient Echani reverence of the cold, but because legend states that freshly fallen snow is the shed fur of Trul, whose pelt is whiter than bone, softer than feather down and colder than the sea. Every winter, Trul and her pups do battle in the sky with the giant armored nerf-deer named Ne'Yool to kick off the annual hunts, and the ferocity of their battle is said to be the cause of earthquakes and massive snowfall in the region. This is true in part, as Ne'Yool's own species are not actually nerf-deer as the name suggests, but a mammalian semi-aquatic fish who migrate to land every winter in search of warmer climates. The nerf-deer tunnel through Eshan's glaciers, causing earthquakes and such, and bringing with them a dark tide as they ascend the ice beaches. This is why winter is named "Trul'stide".

The nerf-deer are hunted every winter in preparation for the celebratory feasts, as tributes to Trul and the primary source of meat in a time of little sustenance. Due to their natural outer bone formations, nerf-deer are considered formidable foes, and great honor is given to warriors who slay any number of them. Nerf-deer goulash, cooked right within the shell, is a regional specialty that varies from planet to planet, province to province, yet each Echani settlement claims theirs is the original recipe. Such is the importance of Ne'Yool and Trul's bounty; adults partake of the meat, and children are given the bones and tendons to chew and play with. The children of the chief hunter are given the marrow, seasoned with spices, as a reward.

Winter is not just for the hunt; it is a time of reflection, observation, survival...and the extension of the family. Seekers, or single Echani searching for the children of other families to adopt, take this time to adorn themselves with a pup-pouch--an elaborate outer carrying bag lined with decor that speaks of the life they've lived thus far as a warrior, with the inside containing soft blanket material made from their own fur. As explained before, Echani often raise children unrelated to them by blood, and it is common for children to choose different parents to live different life experiences with before moving on to the next, and rarer for them to only stay with the parents of their birth. The pup-pouch is scented with the bearer's pheromones on Trul'stide, and if successful, will attract a new child who will climb into the pouch to signify that they accept their new parent. Seeker meetups often happen at the Trul'stide feasts where most Echani gather, hence marking Winter as a time of family.

Recent adaptations of Life Day from the wider galaxy to Trul'stide have seen the adoption of the cultural precedent of gifts in Eshan, especially those to children, but it is not seen as a requirement. Young adults are more likely to celebrate the modern way, given their fascination with the outer worlds (and partying). While Eshan sees much jubilation in this time like many other cultures, it is not always peaceful: in late winter the government exams are held. It is a time when Echani warriors vye for the highest position on the Seat of Sisters, Eshan's main governing body.

However, the government exams are not written. Rather, mass combative tournaments are held where warriors challenge each other to single combat with a judging panel overseeing the duel, who keep note of the character of the fighter and their methods, as well as the eventual victor. Echani body-language reading abilities allow the panel to judge the fitness of an individual for a particular government seat by measuring their strength in both physicality and mentality, and if the panel is in unanimous favor, they are allowed to move on to the next battle until only one individual remains to be elected for their new position. Warriors seeking to rise politically train all year for the exams, and current seat-holders strengthen their defenses in case of declared war outside of the tourneys. Ancient times saw much bloodshed in wintertime as warriors fought one another for seats and privileges, leading to the creation of the exams.

In more recent times, in an attempt to appeal to tourism and the spirit of the season, Eshan has seen fit to hold the tourneys over holovid, and for the first time in many centuries, allow offworlders to spectate the tournaments in person--resulting in a multi-billion credit sport where fans flock to the stadiums to witness Echani martial arts in this time. Echani Exam tickets are a popular Life Day gift, and signed paraphernalia has become part of the exams itself for those who treat the tourneys as a special occasion. The mascots representing the government games, Echi and Thrys who are white and brown echa'olms, are especially loved by children and given exclusively as Life Day plushies.

Eshan has seen much modernization when it comes to Trul'stide, even adapting to the galaxy-wide cultural phenomenon of Life Day, yet retains its own traditions when it comes to winter. This, and its importance to the culture, will never change.

#star wars #echani #phew i made it in time to write a lore post hehe #life day #yes i'm saying echani beat each other up in WWEE SMACKDOWNS for government positions #winter is about fighting yule deer to the death