#Imperium 3: Chapter 7
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Imperium 3: Chapter 7
Tempus est dicere bonam noctem. (It’s time to say good night.)
Starr knew his eyes were open. He could feel himself blinking, shaking in the onslaught of confusion, but everything was pitch black. There was no structure below his feet; he was floating, somehow, in this dark expanse of nothingness. Was this death? Was this somewhere in between? He took a deep breath, the air cold and frigid around him, but no condensation dared to form, no sign of life emerged from his being.
“Mira?” He called out, hoping for some kind of answer. It was foolish to expect one if he was dead, but maybe the planet had a way of reaching him in this state, so far from the realm of reality and life.
I am here. I just…
The planet responded, hesitant, unsure. Starr grit his teeth. They had no time to be cowards. This was what needed to be done, and the sooner it was over with, the sooner he’d be gone. He didn’t want to linger here, not in this world, not when the beings that formed him had clearly changed their minds about fusing together and finding their path towards healing. Were they both happy with this, truly? Was Starr really just a plaything for them to find their peace, and now that he’d fulfilled his purpose, they’d discard of him? The longer the silence lasted, the more Starr felt angry at the entire situation. This was wrong. This was unfair. He opened his mouth, about to scold Mira for taking its sweet time in killing him, when -
“You must be tired of falling into holes and dying. I hope this is the last time you’ll ever have to do it.”
…
Starr turned his body, his heart plummeting into his stomach, freezing over from the ice that electrified his veins. There, floating in the darkness, kissed by the faintest blue glow…
“Hello, Starr,” Nessa said, her smile so soft and sad and full of pity. “I’m Nessa. Mira’s told me a bit about you.”
“So we are dead,” Starr couldn’t help but hiss the truth, “Mira lied.”
“No, not exactly. Not yet, at least,” She leaned towards him, moving slowly closer. “Right now, we’re in a kind of limbo between life and death. You’ll die when Mira leaves your body and Pongo takes over. It’s just having a hard time letting go of you, I think.”
“Why? We were pointless, in the end. They both used us as a means of achieving their own personal goals without any consideration as to my own happiness. We were an escape and nothing more.” He hissed, the initial shock of seeing Nessa turning into rage. Her smile faded, replaced by an even sadder frown. The pity even shifted into sympathy, the understanding of his plight. Somehow, it felt worse.
“Do you really think you were pointless?” She asked, “Because the way I see it, you’re the reason both Pongo and Mira were able to heal. You saved them both from sinking deeper into their trauma.”
“They made us live with it instead of dealing with it themselves! They were too weak to carry their memories, so they dumped the hard work onto us in the hopes we could fix it for them!”
“...They did. You’re right.”
That caught Starr off guard, her readiness to agree with him. She pressed her hands together, held them up to her chest as she massaged her own knuckles. “I don’t think it’s fair that you got dragged into this. I think there might’ve been other ways to help Pongo and Mira both. But…well, that’s the shitty part. We can’t go back and change things. We have to live with the consequences of both our own actions and the actions of those around us, as unfair as that might be.”
“I never asked for this!!” Starr cried out, the sudden increase in volume causing Nessa to flinch, “I never had a choice, I never wanted to be their puppet! And now they expect me to die!! Was everything I did meaningless? Was it a waste to try and live?!”
“...That’s not something you should be asking me.” Nessa said, “Ask yourself that. Was it a waste, living the life you created for yourself? Was it a waste forming the bonds that you did, or fostering the powers that you got? Was it a waste, making all of those memories over the last six months?”
Starr didn’t respond right away. All of the memories he’d created came to the surface: meeting Vanala and Froyoyo, being accepted into the caravan, learning how to use water ether, creating the gauntlets to house his ether and using it to defend the caravan from indigens, playing with the littlepon and listening to their bedtime stories until the night had fallen and they’d snuggled up together. There were memories of being awake, being alive. But just as many memories were of his sleep, the blissful and peaceful slumber. The Disgrace’s nightmares would sometimes greet him in the unconscious, but Starr never let them prevent him from sleeping, because he knew the waking world would be kinder to him. He was so thankful for that, so incredibly thankful that he’d been able to forge ahead of the Disgrace’s fears. And in reminiscing, in his gratitude towards the past six months, Starr found himself grinning. No, none of it was a waste. He’d lived. He’d lived the life he was given, and he never regretted a second of it.
“I lived.” He breathed, “I am so thankful that I got a chance to live.”
“You lived for yourself, and in doing so, you lived for Pongo and Mira,” Nessa told him, “You are Starr, and Starr lived according to his own desires. But Pongo and Mira were able to see how you lived, and your joy is what set them on their path to heal. They never told you how to live, they just…they wanted you to live. That’s all.”
Hearing that brought tears to Starr’s eyes, and he sniffled, looking down. Only the darkness existed around them, and yet, he began to find it soothing in a way he couldn’t quite describe. When he looked back up at Nessa, her sad smile had returned, and her hand was extended out towards him. He willed himself forward on instinct, his own hand getting closer, closer. A memory shot forward of himself, the Telethia self, flinging his tail upwards and launching Solstice and Nessa into the skies to plummet to the ground below. He could feel her shock, her betrayal, her pain.
He did not take her hand, his arm falling back to his side.
“I hurt you, back then.” Starr whispered, “And I am hurting Mira and…and Pongo, now, by existing. They gave me the chance to live, but in doing so, they denied themselves that very same chance. They have always deserved that chance, far more than I ever did.”
“Don’t say that,” Nessa begged, her own tears beginning to spill over, “You deserve to live just as much as they do. I’m just…I’m so sorry you can’t. I would’ve given you the biggest hug.”
“You sound like Pongo when you say that,” Starr chuckled. It felt strange, using Pongo’s name again, but…but it was harsh, calling him the Disgrace. Pongo’s only sin, after all this time, was the severity of his breakdown. He and Mira had both come a long way, and Starr could attest to their growth more than anyone. A moment passed, and the warmth left his body, fleeting into the cold expansive void. He couldn’t revel in this comfort forever, this chance at seeing Nessa again.
“I…I think I am ready,” Starr confessed, “But before I go…can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“You, um…you are dead. Do you know what comes after dying? Will you be there?”
Nessa swallowed hard, the topic causing her shoulders to tense. “Death is like falling asleep. There’s not much afterwards. But for the time being, even if we can’t see each other, I’ll be there with you.”
“Then I welcome sleep with open arms,” Starr said, grinning despite the pain. Was it pain, at this point, or was it resignation? Could it have been both? How fitting, it was, that he was born into life welcoming the darkness of sleep, and in death he was holding himself to the same acceptance.
Nessa looked up, almost looking at something specific, but there was nothing there. Starr felt his heartbeat slowing down, Mira’s presence becoming increasingly stronger. It had been a part of him this entire time, and though he knew this swelling in his chest was the beginning of the end, he could only feel gratitude. He’d been given a chance to live, however small his time had been, and dying with rage in his heart would leave a bitter taste on his tongue. No, he refused to die with regrets, not when he’d lived such a wonderful and beautiful life.
I am sorry. I am breaking my promise.
“It is okay,” Starr said, “We both knew this would not last forever.”
That does not change how much it hurts.
“I know.”
…Good night Starr.
“Good night, Aidoneus.”
Starr closed his eyes. The world left him, and he passed into the arms of eternal slumber.
~
Good morning, Pongo.
“...”
How do you feel?
“...”
I know this must feel strange, after all we have been through, but -
“It still hurts.”
The body’s eyes opened, and both were now indigo, Pongo’s color. The separation had gone smoothly; he felt no traces of Starr internally. Externally, however, this was not Pongo. It was his body, taken over by someone he’d forced into handling his pain. It didn’t feel right, returning to what Pongo had been gifted, but…but what else was there?
“I feel like a fool,” Pongo said, “Starr was right. I am a coward. I…I do not regret his creation, but it was wrong of me to agree to it. I should have been strong enough to handle my own trauma.”
It was my prerogative to fuse. The blame is as much mine as it is yours.
The planet sighed, a deep and wistful thing.
But we cannot linger. You know what has to be done.
“I do.”
Are you ready for it?
Pongo did not respond, not immediately. His hands shook, quivering with the weight of expectation. Nessa had been right, too - how many times did he have to do this? Fall into a hole, die, and somehow save the world? Why, why was it constantly him who had to make the sacrifice? Why did he keep placing himself into that role, why did fate keep insisting that this was all he was good for?
Pongo?
Pongo buried his head into the crook of his arm, a combination of cool metal and warm fabric rubbing against his skin as he attempted to push his tears down. When he finally had the strength to respond, his voice still shook, weakened with emotion.
“Starr was angry. He had every right to be, considering his circumstances. I always thought his anger towards me was justified, because I was being selfish. I should have simply pushed it down and gone back to NLA to continue my life. But…but I would not have been living, if I had done that.”
Because the pain you carry would have held you back.
“And I would never have forgiven myself, knowing it would have. I would have wanted to push through it and act normal so I did not worry those around me. But I…I was not strong enough to do that.”
That was never going to be a question of strength, Pongo. You are putting too high a standard onto yourself.
“I am. I did,” Pongo admitted through his tears, “And that is something Starr taught me. I need to…to be kinder to myself. I want to live. I want us both to live, and not be burdened by the pain we have accumulated. I want to drink hot chocolate with L’Cirufe at his shop, I want to help Lin with her schematics, I want to get book recommendations from Elma, I want to meet people and make friends and just…I want to live.”
At his confession, the space in front of him grew brighter. Pongo half-expected the figure that appeared to be Nessa, but she’d disappeared when Starr died. She was keeping her promise to him, that she’d be there with him in death, and Pongo couldn’t fault her for that. Instead, what formed was a small ball of white light, ether sparkling and rising up from the shape inside it. A little draconic tail, spined and curled around itself - Mira.
When it spoke again, a strange effect occurred. Pongo could hear it in his mind, just as he always had, but he also heard its voice echoing from its ethereal form.
That is what you deserve. You have deserved the chance to live ever since I created you. I am so sorry that your life has treated you so unfairly up until this point, but I swear that no matter what comes your way, you will never have to face it alone. Myself, your friends, your family…you are surrounded by people who love you. Now, the last step is to love yourself as much as you love those around you.
Pongo sniffled, wiping the tears from his eyes. “That may be the toughest thing I have ever tried to do.”
It is a good thing you are brave enough to try.
Another deep breath, filling his lungs with all that he felt, all that he had pushed so deeply inside his subconscious returning to the surface with the strength he finally knew he had. Pongo was shaking, his nerves comprised of fire and electricity and a deep, deep sense of responsibility. He was stalling, right now, but he didn’t care. This was a good feeling, being able to speak, able to be heard. He would never let go of this blessing again.
“I am ready now,” Pongo told Mira. “I am ready to end this.”
It will hurt.
“It will be nothing I cannot handle.”
Pongo.
“You should know more than anybody else that I have suffered through worse. As long as you are by my side, I will bear it.”
…I made a promise to Starr. I will extend that promise to you. We will be together until the end of time.
“May the sun and the moons above grant us the power of the star. Let us, the humble servants, protect the land and the sea, the sky and all between…” Pongo finished, trailing off into a quiet smile.
It is time. I will be here when you wake.
The image of Mira pulsed, forcing itself back into Pongo’s chest. The impact threw him into an expanse of white, and he felt full, bursting to the brim with energy about to ignite. He knew his body was morphing, morphing to accommodate the expanse swelling within him, and the resulting effect on his body was indeed a physical pain he’d never experienced before. But Pongo was telling the truth, before. He could handle it, because he knew Mira was there with him. That would always make the pain worth it in the end.
Before he fully receded into the back of the body’s subconscious, Pongo could see Nessa. She was smiling. She was proud.
He smiled back.
~
Elma thought she had seen it all. Mira had thrown challenge after challenge at humanity, yet they always came out on the other side. Even with the understanding that there were new continents to explore, that there were threats at their doorstep that were awesome in their destructive capabilities, Elma truly thought that nothing could phase her.
Corvhesperikon’s reawakening, its reanimation from a pile of bones, did not surprise her. Sure, Elma admitted to fearing the yggralith, especially after dealing with Pharsis. She understood the danger that yggraliths posed to Mira, a planet which was nothing short of a tasty appetizer to a world-eating extraterrestrial goliath. She would stop at nothing to defeat Corvhesperikon and see to it that humanity’s home remained relatively hospitable.
Elma had even seen Starr tumble backwards into the pit, swallowed whole by the darkness. She’d been firing at Corvhesperikon’s legs - minimal damage, hardly left any impact at all - when the monstrosity directed all of its ire towards the “little godling”. She could only conclude that it was referring to Starr. After all, Corvhesperikon took the plunge into the darkness after Starr fell, screaming with all the rage it had stored in its blackened heart. Elma was not surprised by this, no, she was scared. Fear and shock, though they often worked in tandem, were completely separate entities.
That being said, Elma was shocked by what emerged from Cocytios’s pit.
There was a brilliant beam of light, nearly as wide as the pit itself, reaching up and into the night. The sheer force of the blast nearly knocked Elma off of her feet, but she maintained her balance, shielding her face. She heard a screech as the light separated and Corvhesperikon emerged, its wings flapping with wild abandon. Was it hurt? No, no. That was anger of the highest caliber, anger that could never be tamed.
As the initial wave of light began to recede, a figure became apparent. It wasn’t as large as Corvhesperikon, far from it, but it was far taller than any xenoform or human Elma had ever encountered. It was white, blinding white. Every part of its body was a beacon, dimming down to the point of acknowledgement but not to comfort. A massive pair of wings stretched out of its back, reminiscent of the Telethia’s, and its limbs were long and dangly and coated in stardust. Parts almost appeared as armor, chitinous and otherworldly. Centered in its chest was an emblem, a draconic tail that swirled around itself. From its head, two jagged horns, two elongated and pointed ears, something akin to hair covering one ear. A halo of every color imaginable shone just behind it, and those same colors danced in its singular eye like a galaxy contained.
From a respectable distance, Corvhesperikon spat at the figure with nothing short of hostility.
“IT IS YOUR TIME TO DIE, AIDONEUS.”
Aidoneus? Lumina had mentioned the name, Lumina admitted to seeing this Aidoneus’s ether strand intertwined with Starr’s - Pongo’s? Fuck, this was getting complicated, and all Elma knew was that Aidoneus was a friend according to Vanala and Lumina both. It had fought alongside them in the first battle against Corvhesperikon and Syriahnydra. It was here again, rising from the depths that Starr had been pulled into.
Aidoneus had no mouth with which to speak, yet its voice rang out as a song; Elma heard it all around her, from above and below and behind.
“I WILL NOT LET YOU DESTROY WHAT I HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO CREATE. THIS ENDS HERE.”
Corvhesperikon screamed, charged at Aidoneus. Its maw was easily larger than Aidoneus’s body, it could swallow the entity whole if it wasn’t careful. Yet Aidoneus snapped out of existence, reappearing by Corvhesperikon’s left flank and throwing balls of energy directly into its side. Finally, attacks that did noticeable damage to the yggralith, noticeable and painful. Elma could only stand and stare, watching the exchange unfold in the sky above. A tinge of orange on the horizon, an indication that the dawn was close to greeting them. Did the sun want so badly to witness this fearsome battle? Elma had to admit she was thankful for the dawn, for the chance at seeing a new day grace the world. But for now, the darkness was nearly all there was, save for Aidoneus’s everlasting glow.
“Friend Elma!!” Vanala sprinted over, her wings balled up behind her. Her fire ether sparked in her hands, her gloves turning red from the flames. “Need to get far away from here!! Take Sprinkle Sprinkle and run!!”
“I won’t leave,” Elma spoke before she could fully think things through. Wait, Vanala’s idea was smart - what help could she possibly provide? But there was this nagging feeling in her heart, a need to remain behind and see things through to the end. Was Aidoneus a permanent resident? Was Starr dead? By extension, was Pongo dead? Fuck, FUCK. Elma reiterated her stance, “Aidoneus may still yet need our help.”
Vanala looked up at her, and somehow, she must’ve known there would be no convincing Elma out of her current plan. “Vanala will help Aidoneus. But friend Elma can’t fly, and -”
“LOOK OUT!!”
Froyoyo charged at the two, carrying Sprinkle Sprinkle in his wings. Behind him, Aidoneus was tossed into the side of the mountain, Corvhesperikon roaring in absolute delight at getting a hit in. The resulting impact brought down debris, sprinkled in with snow and rubble and boulders the size of houses. That was not what Froyoyo warned them against, however. Corvhesperikon circled the mountain perimeter in the hopes of repositioning and getting a better angle on another attack, and in doing so, it swept low to the ground, its claws mere inches away from slicing through the snow. Elma lept to the side, dodged with a swiftness she’d perfected over the years. Vanala flew up, lingered by Elma and Froyoyo even though everything about her suggested she wanted to give chase.
Aidoneus never made contact with the ground, but it dipped in a moment of recovery from the blow it had received. By the time Corvhesperikon returned to re-engage, it was charging more energy-based attacks to throw at its body, and still every hit made its mark, still every hit burned through the layer of feathers protecting the flesh and bone beneath. Elma was in awe, tracking the battle and maintaining close visual contact with Aidoneus. Even with Vanala’s help, weakened after the first battle, would Aidoneus be able to defeat Corvhesperikon? There had to be something, some way she could make a difference, it was torture just standing by while the fate of the world was decided in a matchup between two godlike entities -
What the hell was that?!
Another screech, beyond the horizon of snow-peaked mountains. That didn’t belong to Corvhesperikon. It couldn’t belong to Aidoneus, no? No. Something was flying towards them, something with long crystalline wings, yellow shards of ether mimicking the movement of feathers. Elma couldn’t contain her smile, the single laugh that escaped her mouth.
“Hello again, Solstice!” Elma called out. Telethia, the Endbringer responded with another screech - they heard her, they knew, and they were happy to see her again. But kicking Corvhesperikon’s ass was their duty, and their duty came before all else.
Aidoneus looked over its shoulder. Curse that form for not having a mouth, because Elma was certain it was happy to see Solstice, happy enough that it would have smiled. A resolute nod later, and the two were tag teaming blasts at Corvhesperikon. Man, maybe Elma didn’t need the sun to rise after all. Solstice and Aidoneus were doing just fine pushing the darkness back on their own.
“Go, mamapon, go!!” Sprinkle Sprinkle cheered, drawing Elma’s attention for long enough that she saw Vanala push herself up into the air with her wind ether, joining the fray. Her attacks had hardly left a mark before, and they didn’t do much now, but Elma had to admire Vanala’s willingness to fight despite the odds. Froyoyo had placed the littlepon down in the snow, watching the scene just as intently. That was worry there, in his eyes, that familiar shine of hope and concern. Elma wished she could reassure him that this wouldn’t be as devastating as the first time he had fought against Corvhesperikon, but how could she say that in due confidence? She wasn’t there. She hadn’t seen the devastation all those centuries ago.
Solstice dove down onto Corvhesperikon’s back, her claws digging into its flesh and ripping chunks out one by one. It wasn’t a pretty sight, far from it, and yet Elma felt resolute pride in how effective their attacks were. Lightning cascaded off of their body, a storm of ether surging straight into the freshly formed wounds. Corvhesperikon screamed, its neck suddenly swiveling as it tried to bite at Solstice. Solstice darted out of the way long before the yggralith was able to land a hit; in this form, they had access to its mind, its thoughts, its plans. And even without that ability, she was fast, terrifying so even for her size. Elma remembered her very first encounter with Solstice, back in Noctilum, back when she and her team had been fighting the Sphinxes. Even then she’d displayed an intergalactic strength, an unparalleled speed - a recognition that Elma hadn’t been able to decipher. Now, looking back, she knew that Solstice had been bowing her head to Pongo, to Mira, to the body they inhabited together and to the being that gave her purpose.
Aidoneus released another powerful blast of ether, directing the energy towards Corvhesperikon’s face. It flinched backwards, shaking its head. It swung its claws in every direction, blinded for the time being but still enraged enough to keep fighting. Aidoneus floated, hands balling up into fists as it spoke to Solstice and Vanala.
“KEEP THE BEAST OCCUPIED.”
Solstice roared again to convey their understanding, and Vanala reacted with a hearty cheer. “Vanala do her best! Send Corvie to hell!!”
And off the two went, unleashing blast after blast into the yggralith’s flank. Corvhesperikon kept swinging in each direction, its focus constantly switching and propelled by blind rage. It snapped at Vanala, and the Nopon was able to just barely dodge out of the way. She was hardly visible when paired against the other three beings, an insignificant speck spouting fire and ice and lightning. She had speed on her side, however, and she used that to her advantage. Solstice continued drawing most of Corvhesperikon’s ire, flipping onto their stomach to release a beam of ether out of their mouth and into the yggralith’s neck. Corvhesperikon screamed, and quicker than anticipated, it struck at Solstice with a mangled talon that rivaled their size. Solstice wasn’t able to dodge the attack and took the brunt of the damage, faltering and falling a couple hundred feet out of the air. Speckles of blood dripped down to the snowy surface, an impromptu rainfall. Elma flinched as the wind carried some over towards her, not far enough to stain her armor but far enough to leave a mark a few feet away from where she stood.
With Solstice out of commission for a short period of time, Corvhesperikon was able to direct all of its attention towards Vanala. Elma cried out a warning, but it came too late, it came without enough strength to carry it to her ears. Corvhesperikon lunged, and in one fell swoop, it snatched Vanala up into its jaws. She had no time to react and disappeared from Elma’s view, trapped within its maw.
“VANALA!!!” Froyoyo cried, his voice cracking from the strain. Sprinkle Sprinkle watched on in horror, shrinking into their father’s side. Elma felt her heart plummet, thinking that Vanala couldn’t survive such an attack.
Solstice roared, pushing their wings furiously in an attempt to return to the fight faster. Corvhesperikon anticipated how fast she was, where she’d attack next, and grabbed Solstice out of the air with their talons, locking her within its grip. More blood rained down as its claws dug into Solstice’s body, and the Telethia yelped and squirmed in pain.
But then, Corvhesperikon’s mouth began to leak. Something was trying to emerge out of it, something blue and white and shining. It tried to scream, but that was exactly what it wasn’t supposed to do. The floodgates opened, and from inside its mouth, ice formed along its jawline, freezing it wide open. The source of the ice was none other than Vanala, poised on Corvhesperikon’s tongue as ether glided out of her hands. Sprinkle Sprinkle cheered at the sight of his mom, but Froyoyo remained wary, watching, anticipating the worst.
“Aidoneus…better…be ready!!” Vanala shouted through gritted teeth, the frost from her hands beginning to falter. Some of the ice began to crack as Corvhesperikon waved its head back and forth, attempting to regain control of its mouth. Vanala wouldn’t be able to hold the effect for much longer.
Aidoneus had been floating in the same spot all this time, unmoving. Swirls of ether were condensing in the air, flowing straight into its chest where the spiked draconic symbol was ingrained. It was amassing power, but how would it release it? Was Vanala seriously suggesting that she’d keep Corvhesperikon’s mouth locked open and let Aidoneus fire its shot through her and into the yggralith? That was suicide!! And even if Aidoneus couldn’t finish its charge by then, the ice would shatter and Vanala would be swallowed up, separated from her family and her ether feasted upon until she was nothing but an empty husk, a body starved of life’s building block.
“NOW!!”
Aidoneus yelled, and Vanala closed her eyes, tumbling forward. It was a miracle that she didn’t hit any of Corvhesperikon’s teeth on the way out, for the ice shattered almost instantly when she stopped supplying ether to create it. Corvhesperikon let out another painful screech - its loudest one yet, making Elma flinch back.
And then, Aidoneus let go.
From its chest, the ether had congregated and released into one fiery beam of energy, piercing straight through Corvhesperikon’s mouth and through its body, exiting out the other end. It was every color imaginable, a cosmic rainbow of sound and beauty. Elma couldn’t pull her eyes away, watching as the yggralith’s scream was cut off and its body torn asunder. The beam persisted for what felt like an eternity, and when it finally imploded on itself in a storm of light, Corvhesperikon’s body dispersed, fragmented into tiny pieces of flesh and unprocessed ether.
Elma hadn’t realized her jaw was slack until she forced her lips back together. Corvhesperikon was dead. The yggralith was no more.
The debris was like snow, polluted and darkened. They were the fragments of Corvhesperikon’s feathers, those that had once given it the capability of flight, now falling to the earth. Some clung to Elma’s armor, desperate and wanting, but she shook them off. They reeked of death and rot, bitter when mixed with the cold. She’d rather not have it surrounding her.
Vanala was the first to descend from the sky, but her first target was not Elma. She instead ran to Froyoyo and Sprinkle Sprinkle, hugging the two with her last ounce of strength. Froyoyo’s face nuzzled into her fur, and Sprinkle Sprinkle found themself happily squished between their two parents. The occasional sniffle rang out in the wind. Elma looked up when she heard another creature descending, quickly revealed to be Solstice. She landed, creating a whirlwind of snow and Corvhesperikon debris. If Elma didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought Solstice was trying to control how hard they flapped their wings in an attempt to lessen the pollution. Their flank was still soaked in its own blood; Corvhesperikon had held it in a vice-like grip, before, and it hadn’t freed them during Aidoneus’s attack. Elma wasn’t sure if any of their injuries were collateral. She took a step forward, seeing the recognition and respect in the Telethia’s eyes, and by the time her boot finished crunching the snow beneath, Aidoneus floated downwards, positioning itself between herself and Solstice. Elma paused, swallowed. She continued onwards until she was next to them both.
Solstice made a noise akin to a huff, and then a rumbling purr. Elma raised her hand, touching their snout gently. Through her gloves she could feel the swirls and delicate patterns in her chitinous body, a natural armor that housed a cacophony of ether below the surface. She allowed herself a moment to connect, to feel, to be.
“HELLO, ELMA.”
Aidoneus spoke, softer than before. Had it used up its strength, too, or was this tonal shift on purpose? Elma had a suspicion that it was the former, and thus, she found herself mimicking its tonal level.
“Hello, Aidoneus,” She said, “Thank you for saving Mira.”
“MIRA AND I ARE ONE AND THE SAME. IT WAS NOT MY TIME TO DIE, NOT WHEN I HAVE SO MUCH LEFT TO DO.”
Ah, that explained a few things. Elma smiled at the realization, the conclusion that Aidoneus was the being Mira had once been and the reason the planet was sentient to begin with. But that connection also harbored another question, one that she wasted no time in asking.
“If you’re Mira, then what happened to Po -”
Wait. No, he said that wasn’t his name. That hurt, that hurt so badly. She corrected herself despite the pain.
“- to Starr?”
Aidoneus seemed to recognize this tension, averting its gaze for a moment. Elma expected bad news - how could you feel good about an answer when the other party wouldn’t meet your eyes? But when it spoke again, it was with a combined softness. Yes, it was weakened, and that was affecting its volume. But there was a love there, too, a compassion so deep that Elma could feel it through every part of her being.
“THIS IS A TEMPORARY FORM I CAN TAKE. PONGO AGREED TO RESUME CONTROL ONCE I HAVE REVERSED THE TRANSFORMATION. HE HAS MADE PEACE WITH HIMSELF, THOUGH HE WILL STILL NEED TIME TO HEAL. I THOUGHT I COULD HELP, BUT…BUT I MADE THINGS WORSE. I REALIZE THAT NOW.”
A pause.
“WILL YOU BE THERE FOR HIM? HE WILL NEED YOU AND HIS FRIENDS NOW MORE THAN EVER.”
“Always,” Elma didn’t hesitate in her response, “But if you’re really Mira, then you must know that Pongo needs you just as much as he needs us.”
“...I DO NOT KNOW IF I BELIEVE YOU. HE IS WHO HE IS TODAY BECAUSE OF HUMANITY - BECAUSE OF YOU.”
“Sound like friend Aidoneus don’t know value of self,” Vanala piped up, having walked over with Froyoyo and Sprinkle Sprinkle by her side. Eye bags were beginning to form under her eyes, tired yet still shining with compassion. “Does Vanala need to sit Aidoneus down for pep talk like Vanala did with Starr?”
Aidoneus chuckled at that. “NO, THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY. BUT I ADMIT…I HAVE THINGS I MUST COME TO TERMS WITH REGARDING MYSELF. PONGO WILL NEED TO DO THE SAME.”
“And we’ll be there for him every step of the way,” Elma reaffirmed, “Thank you again, Aidoneus.”
“Many thanks indeed,” Froyoyo said, “Were it not for Aidoneus, wifeypon would be…” He shuddered, the mental image giving him pause. “Second time now that Aidoneus saved world. Makes you honorary Heropon in Froyoyo’s book.”
“...AN HONORARY HEROPON?”
“Not as cool as Legendary Heropon. Froyoyo still Legendary Heropon of Cocytios. Honorary Heropon like sidekick.”
“I CERTAINLY FEEL HONORED BY THAT. THANK YOU, FROYOYO.”
“Meh meh!! No reason dadapon and Aidoneus can’t both be Legendary Heropon!!” Sprinkle Sprinkle pouted, “Both heroes! Both heroes Sprinkle Sprinle forever look up to!!”
Aidoneus chuckled again, reaching down to pat Sprinkle Sprinkle’s head. The height difference between the two was laughable, even more so when Aidoneus returned to its previous stature. It looked off into the distance, to the pit that it had emerged out of. “EVERYONE, FOLLOW ME. IT IS TIME.”
And off Aidoneus floated towards the edge without further explanation. Was it needed, when they all knew what was going to happen? Elma and the Nopon followed silently, though moments after their first steps the ground below them shook. Sprinkle Sprinkle was the only one who looked outwardly panicked, and Elma couldn’t blame them. It was Solstice behind them, the great and powerful Telethia, attempting to follow as well. She made eye contact with the littlepon, and after that, all of her steps were calculated, softer.
The sunrise was beginning to dominate the night, midnight mixing with the oranges and yellows of the dawn. As everyone congregated by the cliffside, Aidoneus turned back towards the group, making a request.
“I ASK THAT NO ONE HERE SPEAKS OF ME, OR WHAT HAPPENED THIS DAY. I DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE ANY UNNECESSARY CONCERN, NOR DO I WANT HUMANITY TO RELENTLESSLY PURSUE ME IN THE HOPES OF ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS.”
“Humans are a naturally curious race,” Elma said, “But I understand. I promise BLADE and those who live inside NLA’s borders will not hear of this.”
“THANK YOU AGAIN.”
A pause.
“THE EARTH WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU. FOR HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME, AND FOR HOW YOU HAVE GROWN.”
Elma wasn’t sure what to make of those unspoken implications, but she could feel the sentiment, the nostalgia dripping through Aidoneus’s voice. All she could do was smile, nod, watch as Aidoneus flew upwards and then descended into the darkness of the pit. The same beam of light that had graced its entrance to Cocytios returned, though nothing emerged from it for quite a while. When something finally did begin to take shape, Elma observed with keen interest. There was a torso, arms, legs, a head. As the light began to fade, more details became apparent - black hair, pale skin. Elma got her hopes up…
Until she recognized Starr’s armor.
Starr descended down from the light, eyes closed and body limp. His hair was short like Pongo’s, and the scars across his right cheek were gone. Maybe this was Pongo. He fell into Elma’s arms just as the light vanished, and Elma turned him over so that he lay in her arms. The moment reminded her of when she’d first met Pongo, that fateful day in Starfall Basin. How time had flown past them, how time had treated Pongo. If she could only go back in time and warn him then about all the pain he’d bear, all the loss and tragedy…
No. There was only the present, there was only the gift of today. Elma had to make it count, and she’d make sure Pongo made it count, too.
Softly, gently, Elma spoke.
“Wake up, Pongo.”
#xenoblade x#Imperium 3: Chapter 7#ow.#yeah i lost track of how many times I teared up in that first scene#but um...yeah.#good night starr.#one chapter remains.#and then...it's over.
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Heaven In Your Eyes || Masterlist
Pairing: Arthur Shelby x Reader!OC (Heaven Lavey Shelby)
Additional content/Info: CLICK HERE
Fic Summary: He meets her at church one dreary night, guided by her singing. Her name? Heaven Lavey. White ivory hair, fair porcelain skin, and petite shape, this almost ethereal creature is Arthur's strict opposite. Yet, all it took was one dive into her heavenly eyes for him to be convinced God has sent His sweetest angel to save his bastard soul. The two lovebirds, obsessed with each other, are determined to live their love no matter people's judgments and no matter the dangers of a Peaky Blinder's life. They are together through the best and through the worst.
But behind her holy appearance and sweet facade, Heaven Lavey is dangerous. With rumors of witchcraft and murder, her shady past weighs on her shoulders. And if she is a blessing for Arthur Shelby, she will soon prove to be a curse for those who dare to stand in her and her husband's way. Even Thomas Shelby himself.
She is Arthur’s Angel,
but don't get fooled by her doe eyes: for the rest of us, she is the White Devil.
And by extend, you are too.
Why? Because Heaven Lavey… It’s you.
TW: Major character death, explicit sexual content, canonical violence, graphic description of violence, blasphemy, witch trials and burning of innocent women, dependent relationship (if Arthur and Heaven are happy in their relationship, they are obsessed and possessive, which leads to bursts of violence and deifying from Arthur. By no means I am claiming their relationship is healthy, but it is what works for them)
ACT I.
♢ Ch. 1 || Heaven in Your Eyes
♢ Ch. 2 || Never Did, Never Dared
♢ Ch. 3 || Something Wicked This Way Comes 🔞
♢ Ch. 4 || Dead Bird at Witchin Hour
♢ Ch. 5 || The Hell in His Eyes
♢ Ch. 6 || The One They Should Have Burned
♢ Ch. 7 || Of Matches and Gasoline 🔞
♢ Ch. 8 || Tango on Broken Dreams
ACT II.
♢ Ch. 9 || For Whom the Bells Toll
♢ Ch. 10 || Closer to Heaven or Closer to Hell? 🔞
♢ Ch. 11 || When The Bridges Burn
♢ Ch. 12 || As They Always Did
♢ Ch. 13 || Cross My Heart and Hope to Die
♢ Ch. 14 || Pure As a Lamb 🔞
♢ Ch. 15 || Women Like Me in a Men's World
♢ Ch. 16 || Après Moi le Déluge ( c o m i n g . . .)
♢ Ch. 17 || ( Il Diàvulu Biancu)
♢ Ch. 18 ||
ACT III.
♢ Ch. 18 ||
♢ Ch. 19 ||
♢ Ch. 20 ||
♢ Ch. 21 ||
♢ Ch. 22 ||
♢ Ch. 23 ||
♢ Ch. 24 ||
♢ Ch. 25 ||
♢ The series can be longer.
Some events from the show are taken and obviously reworked. Yet, except for a few quotes and scenes, everything else is imagined by the author.
Related works - in chronological order-
♢ From Blood We Will Grow
♢ To Bark and Bite
♢ Kaiser Meeting Cyril (requested)
♢ A Bone to Pick With It (requested)
♢ Perfect Lines
♢ Savage Daughter
♢ A Slice of Us (Modern!HYE)
♢ Love Ritual (@zablife's celebration)
♢ The Woods Whisper 1, 2 (Halloween Horror)
♢Little Lamb 1, 2, 3 (Yandere!AU)
Moodboards and other content
♢ Playlist
♢ Moodboard Aesthetic
♢ Moodboard Chapter 6
♢Heaven In your Eyes Act II trailer
♢ Moodboard Chapter 12
♢ Heaven in your Eyes chapter 16 trailer
Looking for more? Check out Heaven's masterlist I and II.
Taglist: @adaydreamaway08 @theshelbyclan @jomarch-wannabe @esposadomd @zablife @woofgocows @anathemasworld @anastasia000 @kate654 @kxnnxy @babayaga67 @meowtastick @shelbyssins @sarai-ibn-la-ahad @bluevenus19 @raincoffeeandfandoms @kishie8 @zablife @alexandra-001 @dearshelby @alexizodd @helen06dreamer @kmc1989 @emotionalcadaver @peakyswritings @peakyltd @chaosinkest1996 @vanhelsingsbigtoe @cherubswhispers @he6rtshaker @bemyqueenofdarkness @cljordan-imperium @cjarbo @red-riding-wood @rysko
#arthur shelby#arthur shelby x reader#Peaky blinders#peaky blinders imagine#Arthur shelby x oc#Thomas Shelby#Tommy shelby x reader#Tommy shelby x oc#Arthur shelby x you#arthur shelby jr#arthur shelby x y/n#Arthur shelby fanfic#peaky blinders fanfic#john shelby x reader#Arthur shelby x ofc#Heaven Shelby#Polly Gray#Michael Gray#tommy shelby#peaky blinders x reader#Paul anderson#Cillian Murphy
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Ok so guys, I have a fic idea and I'm curious if any of you would be interested in reading it
It's basically springback but for the imperium AU so each chapter is based on one of the episodes in the first imperium AU playlist but a flashback to an earlier event
To illustrate it:
Chapter 1: Kody pitching the slicer plan to Blake
Chapter 2: Kody and Vin meeting for the first time
Chapter 3: Huxley's first day at the job as a security guard at damn (ft. His family)
Chapter 4: Lasko's first day at the office as the academy president (or something I don't have a good idea yet)
Chapter 5: Avior's first day at the academy after being given the director title
Chapter 6: Damien proposing to Angel and asking them to be his consort
Chapter 7: Sam's first day working for the imperium right after being turned
Chapter 8: David and Asher confession (or I could do David's death but confession seems more fun)
Chapter 9: Vincent coming to Adam for help
The idea is still very much a work in progress but I'm willing to do it if any of you care enough to see it
#redacted audio#redacted asmr#redactedverse#redactedaudio#redacted fanfic#redacted imperium#redacted kody#redacted blake#redacted vindemiator#redacted huxley#redacted lasko#redacted imp!lasko#redacted avior#redacted damien#redacted sam#redacted david shaw#redacted asher talbot#redacted vincent#redacted adam
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7 Lines, 7 People
Thank you @vcaudley for the tag. I'm in a severe creative and motivational rut at present, so I did seven lines from the remaining chapters of Wend in the Shadows, trying to inspire myself to keep going 😅
1. From Chapter 8, the chapter that should not have been, still stuck between two titles 😭
It was in the gleam of his Master’s red eyes, the quirk of his lips, the tap of his fingernails against the wine glass like a jarring staccato laugh.
2. From Chapter 10: Mix, Mingle, and Meddle
She was obsessed with open air and unobstructed views and Renathal was obsessed with making her happy, so long nights spent in his rooms ended in mornings adjourning to hers for anima-infused tea and coffee and the food she required for survival on the terrace.
3. From Chapter 11: An Invitation to Treachery
She watched him, unblinking, for several fraught seconds before saying, without cruelty, “Renathal, you are remarkable at many things, but you are not an accomplished liar.”
4. From Chapter 12: A Reflection of Truth
For an idea he only had yesterday, his existence had become quite dependent on it.
5. From Chapter 13: The Master of Lies
Renathal recognised the smooth, inviting iron in his Master's voice: the inextricable pull of Dominion.
6. From Chapter 14: The Authority of Revendreth
The end of Elisewin Maw Walker, twice defeater of Denathrius, Champion of the Shadowlands, and Lady of Darkwall Tower’s time in Revendreth ended with even less fanfare than it began.
7. From Yet More Interruptions, the smut piece for Wend in the Shadows
Knowing the places she needed him most, he avoided them simply to tease her; he was in that sort of mood.
Tagging: @imbrisvastatio @frozen-fountain @ceph-the-ghost-writer @isabellebissonrouthier @cljordan-imperium @malicious-compliance-esq @owlsandwich
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20 Questions for Fic Writers Game
Tagged by a darling, @autisticempathydaemon! Thanks for the tag!
Tagging @agentplutonium because I wanna pull some SH style interrogative shenanigans/lh
1 - How many works do you have on AO3?
Seventeen, not a lot but it's to be expected somewhat I suppose since I'm busy writing NeXus.
2 - What's your total AO3 word count?
64,509-Oh look I beat Lexi/j/pos
3 - What fandoms do you write for?
Redacted mostly, I have some unreleased Castle Audios fics, an unfinished JJBA SDC fic to finish and a Scott Pilgrim fic to start.
4 - What are your top 5 fics by kudos?
#1 is an Ironpanther Marvel Fic of Avenger's Academy I have not touched in forever called "How Tony Stark landed a king and how T'Challa landed a genius". It was fun tho cuz my hc of T'Challa being demisexual was really well received to my knowledge. #2 is "Spitfire", which admittedly is a good FL/Damien fic and people should read it. #3 is "Ghost of the Past", my Sam/SH fic where they both used to be roommates in DUMP. #4 is "Friends...Am I right?" which was a really fun Darlin/Sam & BE+Fred fic. Finally, #5 is "Moments That Flash By" which is a really good Darlin/David fic for my soul.
5 - Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?
I do respond when I remember...ADHD makes me do silly silly things like forget that stuff exists. I like comments and they let me know I'm doing s good job.
6 - What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
Easy! "Shattered Glass Makes a Good Weapon" Gods, I love that fic so much. It was really fun for me to reach deep down and write Darlin and Quinn like that.
7 -What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
uhhhhhhh I dunno, probably a Marvel fic called "Crossing Buckies and Dotting Hawkeyes", I am a winterhawk girlie and I had fun writing that, others might think it's "Spitfire" or "Break time, Gorgeous" but subjectively, it's that fic.
8 - Do you get hate on fics?
If I have then I haven't seen it. I don't really engage much with fandom to care about hate comments because "haha, look at you getting mad over words about fictional characters kissing", like shut your goofy ass and move on.
9 - Do you write smut? If so, what kind?
I have but I'm not releasing it. I don't feel compelled to do it-mostly cuz it's for me and I like toying with the idea in my head and the people of my current fandom are not ready for the depravity I could unleash.
10 - Do you write crossovers?
No? I have ideated one but I'm still not sure if I want to do it.
11 - Have you ever had a fic stolen?
Nope.
12 - Have you ever had a fic translated?
Nuh uh.
13 - Have you ever co-written a fic before?
Uhhhh no but I have ideated with Lexi about one and I have been too busy to finish the first chapter.
14 - What's your all time favorite ship?
My redactedsona/redacted men What? who said that? It's Darlin/Sam/David/Angel/Damien/Asher/Baaabe/SH/Milo. It's my ship and yes, they're all poly, yes, they're a network and yes, I am happy with myself.
15 - What's a WIP that you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?
"Platinum Portrait", It was an old JJBA fic with my OC/Jotaro and I really liked how it was going. Dunno, we'll see how it goes.
16 - What are your writing strengths?
I'm good at dialogue and characterization as well as pacing(?).
17 - What are your writing weaknesses?
Gore, writing long fics, Dead Dove Do Not Eats (I wanna do those at some point with Quinn or Hush OR Porter OR OR OR Imperium Vincent) I like dark shit, idk what to tell y'all and I wanna get better at exploring darker topics properly in my writing.
18 - Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?
Gods, I love doing it. If you've read "Break Time, Gorgeous" then I want you to know, I love you and it was fun as hell to write.
19 - First fandom you wrote for?
Marvel. Specifically it was my Ironpanther fic.
20 - Favorite fic you've written?
An unreleased Sam/Darlin smut fic where they fuck in an alleyway. I think it's fun.
#mr. laveau#redacted asmr#redacted audio#redactedverse#redacted fandom#marvel fanfiction#jjba fanfic#redacted audio fanfic#ask game#fic writing#fanfic#ao3 fanfic
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Cupid kills with arrows
Gif by @alienas
Summary:
To prevent a war that ends the already dwindling population of Targaryens and Dragons, Viserys betroths Aemma, Rhaenyra’s only legitimate child and heir to Aemond, the boy who just lost an eye but gained a dragon.
An au losely based on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton AU
Tag:@darylandbethfanforever9 @cljordan-imperium @mercedesdecorazon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
#aemma velaryon#aemond targaryen x velaryon!oc#cupid kills with arrows fic#queen charlotte au#ewan mitchell
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National Anthem
History changes forever when the enigmatic witch marries Jack Nelson in 1918.
Rated: M 🔞
Moodboard done by @zablife
Taglist: @cljordan-imperium @thegreatdragonfruta @zablife @call-sign-shark
Oneshots: Like an American
Guide for reading in chronological order
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
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My 1st Randomly Generated Marine Chapter
This was my first attempt at creating a Space Marine Chapter randomly.
So I decide to randomly create and generate a Space Marine chapter by using and messing around with 1d6chan(rip 1d4chan)'s Space Marine Chapter Creation Table and Roll A Die to get the results. Why? Because I thought it would be fun. Note; I did for fun, and there is going to be a lot of interpretation and speculation on my part, but I guess that's the part of the fun.
So here are the results of this me messing around;
______________________________________________________________
Chapter Origins:
Why Was The Chapter Founded? (d10)
10: Crusade - "We need people running around and hitting the Imperium's enemies. Found a Chapter!"
When Was The Chapter Founded? (d100)
97: M41/M42; Ultima Founding consisting of Primaris Marines. Actually in two waves (+ intermittents in-between), first in 999.M41 and 000.M42, intermittent foundings during the intervening years to replace destroyed chapters or garrison key areas, and the second in 012.M42 after the first phase of the Indomitus Crusade ended with victory at the Battle of Raukos from the last core of Unnumbered Sons veterans, capping off the largest founding in history.
Who was the Chapter's Progenitor? (d100)
71: Dark Angels
Chapter Properties and Flaws:
Gene-seed purity (d10)
10: Flawed - Chapter's gene-seed is flawed and sets them apart from their progenitor - roll on Chapter Flaws table
Chapter Demeanour (d10)
10*: Uphold the Honour of the Emperor - Performing unheroic acts? *BLAM* NO
or alternatively, since I'd already rolled 10 once for above, I decide to roll again and I got...
1: Swift As The Wind - Going slowly and thinking things out? BLAM NO
Based on the Chapter's Progenitor, how likely are they to suffer gene-seed mutation? (d100/d20)
Dark Angels - 10% (1-2)
d100; 44/d20; 12
If they have a new mutation, what is it? (d10)
7: Lost zygote - Something's gone. One of the silly EMPRAH-BLESSED things like the Betcher's Gland or Melanchromic Organ, not something critical like the Black Carapace
Progenitor-specific mutation
Dark Angels Lost zygote
Lost Zygotes (d100)
60: Oolitic Kidney
Since I got really confused and didn't know really about interpreted them above as I didn't know if it there only need to be one lost zygotes or two, I decide to roll again
100: Roll twice on this Chart
68: Neuroglottis
59: Oolitic Kidney*
I'd already rolled for Oolitic Kidney, so either the above is good enough or I reroll again
27: Occulobe
If one exists, what is the Chapter's Flaw? (d10)
4: Pride in the Colours - The Chapter hates doing anything that covers their livery, including wearing Deathwatch black.
Chapter Legends:
Figure of Legend (d100)
96: Battle-Brother (roll d10 twice to determine company and squad).
I decided to roll both 2d10 once and roll 1d10 twice
6 & 7: 7th squad of 6th Company
or alternatively,
5: 5th Company
4: 4th squad
Deeds of Legend (d100)
69: The figure led an action against an Eldar craftworld, boarding it and inflicting grievous casualties before withdrawing.
He and his Chapter are especially hated by the pernicious Eldar, for whom the event is still fresh and raw.
Chapter Homeworld and its Properties
Chapter homeworld (d100)
35: Feral World
Fleets 10+d10 vessels: 8
Homeworld terrain (d100)
29: Desert
Rule of homeworld (d10)
3: Stewardship - "Hi, Planetary Governor? It's me, the Chapter Master. Just calling you to remind you that I outrank you, even if I don't do anything."
Not Fleet-Based, so I can ignored that
Tactical and Strategic Organization
d10 Result - Chapter organisation and Variant Base Chapter
10: Unique organisation/Unique(Codex)
Combat doctrine (d10)
6: Drop Pod
Characteristic Chapter Training (d100 Result)
44: Endure Anything: Training in this chapter emphasizes the need for any squad to be ready to endure any trials they find themselves in. They produce tough, durable brothers with diverse specialties.
Chapter Specialities
Specialty restrictions (units the chapter cannot field) - Only roll if Unique Organisation was selected (d100)
15: Apothecary (someone still needs to collect the progenoids)
Special equipment- Roll once if Divergent was selected, twice if Unique Organisation was selected (d100)
Rolling 2d100
81: Preferred Fighting Style: The Chapter has a specific way in which it prefers to go about killing the enemy in the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind. Examples: Bolt Pistol and Chainsword, dual Power Swords, special Bolter pattern or ammunition
99: Modified Weaponry: When the Chapter’s forges produce a weapon, they produce them in a style that is specific to their Chapter. Examples: Power Sabre, Bolt Pistol with weighted butt for clubbing.
or alternatively,
Rolling 1d100 twice
58: Blessed Wargear: It is common for members of this Chapter to have their Wargear blessed by a Chaplain before battle. Doing so puts the Battle-Brother’s mind at ease and more focused on the task at hand.
81: Preferred Fighting Style: The Chapter has a specific way in which it prefers to go about killing the enemy in the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind. Examples: Bolt Pistol and Chainsword, dual Power Swords, special Bolter pattern or ammunition
Chapter Beliefs
What form do the Chapters' beliefs take? (d100)
84: Totem Creature - "You know how we've got an animal as our Chapter symbol? Yeah, we're going to stick that everywhere."
Chapter Strength
At what strength is the Chapter? (d10)
2: Under Strength: The Chapter is recovering from a defeat or accident that occurred several decades ago, or has recently suffered heavy, but not irrecoverable losses. It is probably at a minimum of half strength, and should return to nominal strength within a decade.
Chapter Relations
Who are your Chapter friendly with? (d100)
24: Another Chapter (choose one)
Hhhmmmm… Maybe either the White Scars or the Space Wolves, depending on how your interpreted it.
Who are the Chapter's enemies?(d100)
27: The Tau Empire (alternatively, you may select a particular Sept, Commander, or Ethereal)
Ooooooo, the Tau Empire, my favorite faction in 40k (mostly due to the battle suit, so sue me :P), but I think I'll go with selecting a particular Sept, Commander, or Ethereal option. But i'll most probably do that in one of the reblog of this post.
#warhammer 40k#warhammer 40000#40k#1d6chan#random generator#random character generator#space marines#adeptus astartes
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15 Questions: Character interview edition
Thank you for the tag, @words-after-midnight. I do enjoy writing in-character responses to questions.
Passing the tag to @cljordan-imperium, @theprissythumbelina, @blind-the-winds, @oh-no-another-idea, @dogmomwrites, and an open tag for anyone else who wishes to join in the fun.
Since this week's upcoming Empty Names chapter is from Ashan Glassheart's POV, I'll queue him up for this. I'm tempted to go do the rest of the Empty Names cast at some point in the future as well, like I did last time.
1. Are you named after anyone?
My grandfather, although I have not used that name in more than half my life. I still think of it a name of mine, but it is also a memento of a time I cannot go back to. Meanwhile, "Glassheart" is an homage to my teacher's epithet of "Glassgaze." As is traditional.
2. When was the last time you cried?
When I visited the tombstone my parents put up for me.
3. Do you have any kids?
No, and I would prefer to avoid the possibility. I may consider adoption one day though, particularly if I ever decide to take an apprentice.
4. Do you use sarcasm?
Only sparingly.
5. What's the first thing you notice about people?
Their overall demeanor. Tone, body language, and etcetera. Useful elements for planning impending interaction.
6. What's your eye color?
Light brown. Someone once called them "amber," but that was an ill-conceived attempt at winning me over with poetry on his part coupled with odd lighting.
7. Scary movies or happy endings?
There is more than enough fear out and about in the world. And besides, I have not seen a movie since I was a child. Perhaps I should amend that.
8. Any special talents?
Other than being a wizard? I suppose I am a passable dancer. My teacher insisted it was good exercise for staying light on one's feet.
9. Where were you born?
Earth, the local anchor world iteration of it specifically, despite having left young. My early childhood memories are of a rural small town. Pray forgive me not being more specific, but my family still lives there and even if they think I died years ago I would prefer to respect their privacy.
10. What are your hobbies?
Finding relatively secluded natural areas to meditate in is the first thing that comes to mind for such a question, particularly since spending hours in a library pouring over tomes on arcane theory and practice is largely considered part of my profession rather than a hobby, no matter how much I enjoy it.
11. Have you any pets?
No, nor is my preferred practice of magic one that typically incorporates familiars.
12. What sports do you play/have played?
The closest I have ever come to playing sports is the time my teacher signed the two of us up as contestants in a gladiatorial tournament of sorts. She said it would be a good learning experience and practical test of my skills. She was correct, as usual, even if I was eliminated halfway through. Meanwhile she made it to the final bout and I have long suspected that she only lost that because she was holding back for the sake of not upsetting my image of her.
13. How tall are you?
Five feet, six inches. Roughly the same as my teacher. Given how much of a role model she was for me, I suspect the Autogenesis Principle may be as responsible for this a genetics.
"What is the Autogenesis Principle?" It is the tendency for the bodies of those exposed to the supernatural - particularly those from anchor worlds who had previously been unaware of its existence - to physically warp and change over time to align with their self-image. That is the simplified version at the least. In practice there can be any number of factors complicating this creation of the self, so that one person might be barely affected while another can undergo exaggerations that border on the monstrous.
14. Favorite subject in school?
I was still in elementary school when I... left home with the woman who would become my teacher, but the memories of reading classes are the ones that I recall most vividly. To her credit though, she did make a point of tutoring me in other subjects I was missing out on more formal education for alongside my magical training.
15. Dream job?
Being a wizard and helping those in need. As I am already doing.
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The End and the Death: Part 3
The story begins 6 years ago when I was bothering my little brother one night. I had spent the night at my parents’ house over the summer (he was home from college) and he was just trying to get some play time in Warframe. In an effort to get rid of me, and he told me to read Horus Rising, and to only come back if I got bored.
I did not. In fact, that night I read the entirety of the first book and spent the next morning begging for the next. I’ve written extensively over the years about my experience with Warhammer (if you click the tag “Djem reads Warhammer” you can track my rollercoaster over the years) but the thing that I have been waiting for since I first started was the end. The End - and the Death.
You see, I am a unicorn. I have, despite my years both on the internet and in nerd fandom, not actually ever encountered details of 40k. Part of this is because Games Workshop, and Black Library by extension, are both utterly terrible at marketing. They seem to approach Warhammer with a “if you know, you know, if you don’t, may God be with you” approach that means that unless you actively go hunting for information (and if you are careful to avoid fandom circles and not read the afterwords of novels) it’s actually remarkably easy to spend the last 6 or so years having absolutely no clue what the hell happened at the Siege of Terra—or after it. (For context, I have both played the Space Marine game and owned the Roboute Returned model for basically the past 6 years and I neither knew Roboute was dead or that he had come back, because neither mentions either. Yeah, I know.)
Before 3 days ago, I knew the following information only:
1. The Imperium survived
2. The Emperor, if not alive, was at least known and venerated as a god
3. Space Marines were still a thing, albeit organized differently
4. The Primarchs, at least the loyal ones, were known in the future (if not still physically present)
5. Xenos and man still fought
6. Chaos still had a grip on the galaxy
7. Horus lost
And that was about it. I didn’t know what happened to the primarchs after Horus was defeated (who survived, who died etc). I didn’t know what happened to the Emperor. I didn’t know how the Imperium came to be reorganized (although I did possess enough ability to discern, via context clues, that Roboute was at least responsible for the Codex and probably the reorganization of Legions into Chapters). I didn’t know what happened to many of the characters I had come to love and hate after the war was over. I knew virtually nothing. I didn’t even know if certain dead characters were actually dead.
As of 3:00 pm on Saturday, following the completion of EaTD3, I knew the following:
1. The Imperium survived
2. The Emperor “lived” to be venerated as a god
3. Space Marines were still a thing, albeit organized differently
4. The Primarchs, at least the loyal ones, were known in the future (if not still physically present)
5. Xenos and man still fought
6. Chaos still had a grip on the galaxy
7. Horus lost
If you are noticing a particular sameness to the lists, it’s because End and the Death volume 3 told us nothing. In fact, it told us less than nothing, because at least nothing would be something. But EaTD3 was 400 pages of walking and a fight, and it ended so abruptly I didn’t even have time to realize it was over.
I realize, to many, that because, other than lore implications, EaTD3 had to only serve to answer canon questions which have been evolving for the past 30 years, the novel simply ending when Horus died is hardly an issue. Most people know what happens next, they’ve been immersed in the lore, they may have even already read what happens to most of the characters. I realize that I am a unicorn. But regardless of knowing or not knowing, this book was a book. It wasn’t a lore guide or a codex. It was a novel, and it was a novel that was the capstone of, if not the entire Heresy, then at the very least the Siege. The fact that it was written by the man who started the series, the man who made me fall in love with Warhammer, meant that, perhaps, I expected something more. I expected a novel, an ending to the characters and stories that I had loved for the past 6 years, not an abrupt closing to a story that remains unfinished. This is the end of the Heresy, and while for most characters the story doesn’t end here, we needed closure. Catharsis. We needed a denouement.
The fundamental approach I think was flawed. The story should have been written as though no one knew what was happening, as the ending of a story, not a list of lore points that wrap up one era to introduce a new one. We needed to look at characters that mattered, if not in the Heresy as a whole, at least in the Siege, and we needed to end their stories. We needed to look at characters who have been important since the beginning, and make sure that their stories continued to matter until the end.
EaTD3 gave us none of that. Oh, it was beautifully written of course. Dan Abnett is nothing if not a wordsmith, and as usual his books are a pleasure to read. His grasp of language and his ability to turn a phrase or coin a term are second to none, but this book, for perhaps the first time, left me wanting more.
EaTD2 was an emotional rollercoaster. I think I cried at least every two chapters—even recounting certain moments later had me tearing up with the grief and loss and sacrifice and heroism. But it ended as abruptly as this one dead—Sanguinius dead on the floor.
I think that is what got me most about this book—the lack of feeling. For a man who can make me tear up over the emergence of a tank from the mists on Calth, I was expecting a deep wellspring of emotion regarding, well, almost everything, but instead, I was left feeling hollow. Dorn retrieves the skull of Ferrus Manus, and we don’t even see it. He just pops it into a grocery bag and hands it off to a random Blood Angel and that’s it. The Emperor’s near death is mostly ignored, with the focus less on the man himself and more on figuring out how to rig up a makeshift pallet. Sanguinius’ body is an afterthought left to his sons, and Garviel Loken is killed in a GOT style death that makes you wonder if Abnett had simply run out of steam. This novel was, in short, a couple of fun easter eggs on a series of lore points long known and oft debated, and was, in the end, nothing more.
What follows is a list of my particular issues, not in any particular order: (hyperlinked bc tumblr gets mad at me when I write too much)
Sanguinius
Right Scene, Wrong Person
Waste of Time or Too New?
Needed More (+ weird things)
Garviel Loken
#warhammer 30k#the horus heresy#warhammer 40k#horus lupercal#sanguinius#djem reads warhammer#i am at LONG LAST#free to follow all the warhammer blogs#bc nothing is a secret anymore!#so yay me
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Imperium 3: Chapter 6
Redi ad me. (Come back to me.)
Starr immediately began running back to the others, parts of the above stalactites beginning to crumble and fall around him from the impact. Some of the pebbles bounced off of his breastplate and head, but none were big enough to hurt him.
Everyone was waking up in the other room, with Elma being the most alert of the group. Her dual guns were in her hands, armed and ready for whatever came next. Starr stopped in front of her, explaining quickly.
“We need to go. We know what must be done to stop Corvhesperikon, but we need to get Vanala out of here first.”
“Friend found way to beat Corvie?” Sprinkle Sprinkle questioned, his mother now wide awake beside him. “W-Wait, what about friend Lumi?? Can’t leave her here!!”
Lumina smiled at this, surprised that anyone had taken to her wellbeing in the midst of the shaking cavern walls, the debris falling from the ceiling. “G-Go. I’ll be f-f-fine here, for n-now.”
The entire team looked between each other, eyes wide with pity, with remorse. Starr clenched his jaw, knowing that she was right, they couldn’t afford to waste any time here. If she had lived in his cavern for so long without the ability to move, then the reasonable thing to do would be to get out of this cavern, get out and draw Corvhesperikon away from her. And then…
“We made the promise before, and we promise you again: we will return for you,” Starr swore, quickly kneeling down and taking Lumina’s hand within his own. Her fingers slid between his, cold metallic joints that shimmered with the faintest golden light. “One way or another, we will come back, and we will find a way to heal you.”
Lumina sniffled, touched by his words, his sentiment. “I kn-know you will. Good luck…b-both of you.”
Both of you.
Starr’s shoulders relaxed. Mere hours before, he would’ve been confused, hurt, angry - but now there was nothing. Nothing but the overwhelming feeling of knowing that he couldn’t run from who he was. The Disgrace could run as much as he wanted, he could cower behind this façade and never speak again for fear that he would destroy more than he’d repair -
“Starr!”
He quickly turned around as Elma called his name, a slight bounce to her step as the ground shook once more and her anxieties became more visible. Starr squeezed Lumina’s hand once last time before letting go, hesitant, taking in her image one last time before joining the others. He scooped up Sprinkle Sprinkle as they all began to make their way out of the cavern, through another passage veering to the right of Lumina’s spot. More roars pierced through the mountain, deafening and rattling the stonework that created the cavern system. More stalactites tumbled to the ground around them; Elma sidestepped to avoid a large one as they ran through the darkness, illuminated by Vanala’s small flame.
It was nearly impossible to see the exit to the cavern once they reached it. The night had consumed the outer world, a dark void that no stars dared to alter. It was only the snow that indicated the transition, the white that counteracted the darkness from the ground up. The second that the snow crunched below Starr’s boot, Corvhesperikon screeched again, much closer than before. Everyone continued to run forward, with Elma holding her guns tightly, Vanala keeping her fire ether at the ready in her wings. With Sprinkle Sprinkle still in his arms, Starr wasn’t able to bring up either of his ether weapons, but he was afforded the chance - the risk - to look behind him. Sure enough, Corvhesperikon grasped the side of the mountain, neck outstretched to the sky and rocks crumbling under its uneven claws. Its wings stretched out to their fullest extent, far larger than the mountain it deigned to perch upon, and it shook its head rapidly as if it was trying to knock something off of its skull. At the same time Starr realized what the little figure on its head was, Sprinkle Sprinkle called out, “Dadapon!!”
Sure enough, Froyoyo was still in the midst of battling the fearsome feathered monstrosity, brandishing his broadsword above his head. The blade was coated in Corvhesperikon’s blood, inky black and dripping onto Froyoyo’s patterned white fur. He kept slicing and hacking at the yggralith with everything he had, and reassured that he’d buy them some more time to run, Starr picked up his pace. Starr thought this would be enough to keep the beast distracted while they made their escape, but like a moth to a flame, Corvhesperikon turned its attention to the group below. Beady eyes trained on Starr and Sprinkle Sprinkle, and despite his best efforts, Froyoyo was incapable of keeping it away. The yggralith screeched, its wings extending into the night, and as it dived from the top of the mountain, Froyoyo tumbled off, hitting the side of the cliff on his descent. The impact looked painful; it was like Starr could feel the rocks digging into his skin, drawing blood and ire from each blow.
Starr surged ahead, realizing he’d been watching far too long. He couldn’t outrun Corvhesperikon and he’d be a fool to believe he could. But as the ground shook, as Corvhesperikon landed and charged after him, Starr sensed an incoming attack and dove into a somersault, narrowly avoiding Corvhesperikon’s claws while keeping Sprinkle Sprinkle out of harm’s way. He kept running, kept Vanala and Elma in his line of sight. Elma checked on Starr with a quick glance over her shoulder. She must’ve sensed his fear, or created some of her own, for moments later her steps began to leave a trail behind them. They were so hard to see, shadows amongst a shadowed world, but the Disgrace lent his knowledge to Starr. Ghost Factory. A decoy Art generated from dual guns, applicable to the self and every party member within a certain radius.
Starr watched as copies of him danced around his person, mimicking his appearance, his movements, his fear. Corvhesperikon screamed, attempting to grab Starr and knocking a row of clones out of existence. Just because he was under the effects of the decoy didn’t mean he was guaranteed safety. His legs burned, stumbling through uneven patches of snow, only barely scraping the true surface of Cocytios hidden beneath. He forced himself to keep his head forward, don’t look behind him, don’t look -
Wait, what was that, in front of them?
The white expanse of snow turned into pure darkness, the ground falling away into an endless pit. It was still far enough away that he didn’t have to be concerned about falling in, but…
But that was where the Disgrace died. Where Starr - the monster, the feared, the terrified and uncontrolled - was killed.
That little discovery, that moment of hesitation that followed, was enough for Corvhesperikon to swipe Starr from behind and knock him out of his path. He tumbled for a considerable distance, and he felt Sprinkle Sprinkle leave his grip despite his best efforts to hold on. The littlepon yelped, and Starr lost track of them, landing face first into the snow. His mask pressed up against his face at an awkward angle before it flew off, one of the teeth grazing his forehead. A moment of panic, needing to hide behind something so his face was obscured, and he was back on his feet, frantically looking for his mask’s signature blue and purple horns. Right when he saw the colored tinge in the snow, another screech emanated from the beast, and Starr didn’t have time to dodge yet another swipe from its massive talons. They tore clean through his cape this time, drawing blood along his back as he landed once more in the snow. This time, he was fortunate enough - unfortunate, maybe - to land on his back, facing Corvhesperikon head on. And even worse, a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. Sprinkle Sprinkle, running towards Starr.
Thankfully he didn’t have to be concerned about Sprinkle Sprinkle’s interference for very long, because Vanala swooped in and scooped the littlepon up in her wings. She flew into the air, her wind ether carrying her up and away. Corvhesperikon was distracted, the short reprieve giving Starr enough time to stand up, to brace himself, to produce his water ether weapons. Two swords this time - the need for a shield would come, but in advantageous moment, the offensive strategy was the right call in his eyes.
He sprinted forward, climbing onto one of Corvhesperikon’s massive talons and plunging his blades directly into its leg. Corvhesperikon screamed, shaking its leg to try and throw Starr off. But he kept his blades firmly lodged into the blackened skin, the water ether connected to his gauntlets and ensuring he stayed put. A blast of wind ether drew its attention once more, and Vanala appeared, minus Sprinkle Sprinkle. He assumed that they’d been deposited with Elma, or at least taken somewhere safe and away from the chaos.
Vanala’s wings extended, the veins in her gloves glowing a bright green. “Come and fight, coward Corvie! Vanala refuse to run while Corvie hurt friends!”
The yggralith stared her down, but then it laughed, something hideous and sinister that made Starr feel sick to his stomach. “YOU THINK YOU STAND A CHANCE AGAINST ME?? PATHETIC LITTLE CREATURE, SO SMALL, SO FRAIL????”
“Vanala not small!!” She shouted, launching another torrent of wind ether directly into Corvhesperikon’s face. Starr grimaced, realizing it didn’t leave nearly as much of an impact as it had before. Corvhesperikon bared its teeth at Vanala, mimicking a smile with its beak.
“SMALLER THAN FIRST ENCOUNTER,” Corvhesperikon said, “TOO SMALL TO TARGET NOW.”
That made Starr freeze. He’d heard Corvhesperikon calling out, telling the “little godling” to stop, to give up. Though he’d never vocalized it, he’d always assumed that the yggralith was targeting Vanala, just as it had all those years ago. The confession made Vanala’s eyes widen, mixed with her scowl of abject confusion.
“Corvie too scared to fight Vanala, then?”
Somehow, Corvhesperikon’s smile grew wider.
“NOT SCARED. PRIORITIZING.”
And then, its large neck swiveled, positioning its head so that its smile, its teeth, its vicious gaze were pointed straight at Starr. All at once, Starr understood.
“WE TOLD YOU TO SLEEP, LITTLE GODLING.”
Oh no.
Corvhesperikon raised its leg, carrying Starr closer, closer. The distance was so short that Starr made the quick decision to jump off, which proved insightful when Corhesperikon attempted to bite him from his former position on his leg. He landed on the yggralith’s upper arm, his ether swords digging into the feathered flesh with little grace. He had to dislodge himself again as Corvhesperikon attempted the same maneuver, biting at him and coming up short. Now he was gaining ground, close to surpassing Corvhesperikon’s arm and climbing up onto its back. Though its neck was long, it wasn’t long enough to reach Starr at this point, and he silently thanked whatever entities had granted him such luck.
He must’ve jinxed it somehow, or the gods above that had bestowed such kindness decided that enough was enough, because mere moments later Corvhesperikon took to the skies, a feat that Starr didn’t think it could complete as fast as it did. The ground grew further and further away, Vanala chasing the yggralith up into the night sky. Starr felt the wind beating against his back, practically pushing him into Corvhesperikon’s matted feather hide. Frozen, clinging for dear life, he couldn’t hear anything beyond the wind. He attempted to look up, locate Vanala in the ascent. She was still blasting ether attacks at Corvhesperikon’s face, enormous boulders this time in lieu of the wind ether from before, but still the yggralith was unfazed.
And then, Corvhesperikon ducked its head towards its stomach, its body following in circular fashion. No amount of strength could have saved Starr, not against the force that ejected him from its hide. Starr plummeted back down to Cocytios, tumbling and turning in the air with no certain grace. Too late he tried to concentrate his water ether to create some form of appropriate landing, perhaps a slide that could catch his fall. Too late, and his back slammed into the snow, his body bouncing from landing point to landing point until he slid ungracefully into his final resting place. The Disgrace sent a wave of emotion through the pain, a hint of familiarity at the event, a memory from a mission gone wrong in Oblivia. That had cost him an arm. Starr wished he’d been granted the mercy of a clean source of pain, but it was everywhere, radiating through his very being and pulsing with every second through his veins. He took a second to feel it, let it become him - nothing was broken. He could feel the pain, he could feel it, and that in itself was a blessing and a curse.
Starr tried to push himself back up, biting his tongue and biting back the pain. It shot through his spine like lightning, an electrical current on the verge of short circuiting the entire machine. He could only afford to crawl forward, away, away -
Cocytios’s white snow gave way to a deep and dark abyss.
Starr had landed mere feet away from where The Disgrace had died. Where, in a sense, he’d been born.
He stared into the darkness. It would be poetic to say it stared back at him, but no, to characterize the void was to give it power over him. And yet, that was exactly the vice it had over him; it knew his past and it knew it had a vice-like grip over his conscience. It would’ve laughed at him, if it had been given a voice to laugh with, but it could only use the impending wind to mock Starr and his untamed thoughts.
Gun fire rang out from behind him, and with considerable effort Starr positioned himself so that his back was facing the pit. Corvhesperikon was returning to the continent’s surface, though it hadn’t landed. Elma fired every round in her dual guns at the beast, bullets piercing through its neck and body. She tossed both guns aside when they’d run out of ammo and exchanged them for her dual swords, charging Corvhesperikon’s leg just as it landed in the snow. Vanala swung around from the side, now shooting bolts of charged lightning ether from her wings while keeping herself afloat with her wind ether. Starr’s eyes widened when he spotted a third figure coming from behind Corvhesperikon, greatsword swinging up towards its tail. It was hard to make out Froyoyo’s condition from so far away, but judging by his enthusiasm in attacking the yggralith, he had more than enough fight left in him.
It was a shame that practically none of their attacks did any lasting damage on Corvhesperikon, who was still trained on Starr. It roared, a menacing and spine-tingling thing. It raised its front leg, about to clear the distance between itself and Starr in one massive stride, but then, another burst of wind ether blew against its skull. It wasn’t nearly as powerful as Vanala’s had been, and considering she was still using her lightning ether…
FUCK!
“Get away from friend Starr!!” Sprinkle Sprinkle shouted, their voice so little and weak in comparison to the mighty yggralith’s. Corvhesperikon bent its head down, its neck twisting to its right and meeting the furious gaze of the littlepon still on the ground. Sprinkle Sprinkle’s wings were balled up into fists, glowing wind swirling around their form. Fuck, they looked so tiny paired up against Corvhesperikon, there was no way in hell they’d survive an attack, there was no way they’d live to see another day and Starr was fucking helpless to stop it from happening, so fucking useless and pathetic and gods above why the fuck couldn’t he get up -
Mira spoke quickly, urgently.
Starr. Behind you.
“What is it?”
If you fall into the pit, we can enact the plan.
“We will die if we fall down there?” Starr swallowed hard, resisting the urge to look behind him. He did, however, bring himself up and onto his knees, kneeling in the fallen snow. Was that his blood, staining the white below him? Was it his shadow, his impending doom, the destiny he couldn’t escape? His hair, fraying out of his braid, clung to his cheeks and to his breastplate, begging him to reconsider. Starr gasped against another wave of pain originating from his chest.
Yes. That is how Nessa killed Pongo, after he…
It all made sense again. Mira had begged Nessa to send him into the pit, to reunite him with it so it could begin the process of recreating and restoring his body - a body he gave up to Starr in a moment of incomprehensible sorrow and rage. Starr couldn’t help the tears streaming down his face now. Fate was a funny thing, though it didn’t deserve characterization either. This was what he had agreed to do, and this was the path he would continue down.
“Corvhesperikon!” Starr used the last of his strength to call out to the yggralith, whose face was getting too close to Sprinkle Sprinkle for comfort. Its disgusting maw had opened wide, drool pouring out from between its sharpened teeth. Sprinkle Sprinkle hadn’t moved an inch, waiting for it to get closer. Both turned to look at Starr when he yelled. Every noise, every crackle of lightning ether and every slice into Corvhesperikon’s body, all of it became muted and soft.
“Goodbye,” He said softly into the night.
He closed his eyes, and he let gravity claim him. One last wave of pain, and he fell backwards into the abyss. Corvhesperikon screamed, the ground shaking as he flew in after Starr. Froyoyo nearly took the dive with it, but at the last second he jumped off and landed on the cliff, only able to watch as both descended into the darkness.
Starr asked a silent question before every sound dimmed into silence, before every feeling dimmed into numbness.
Did I make you proud?
Neither the planet nor The Disgrace responded.
#xenoblade x#Imperium 3: Chapter 6#yeah so I hate writing fight scenes#i'm so sorry this chapter is a little short but#god chapters 7 and 8 are gonna be a doozy#and yes I made myself cry again#also fun fact: froyoyo was originally supposed to go down in the pit with Corvie and Starr#last second I decided it wouldn't work so#be happy that the heropon won't suffer lmao
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Myreia's Fanfic Masterlist
Fics are listed in chronological order where possible. Any fics that are not FFXIV are only available on AO3. All fics are finished unless otherwise noted. Fics depicting sexual scenarios are labelled as explicit.
✦ FFXIV
A Realm Reborn
Far From Happenstance | Aureia x Thancred (pre-relationship) | 3,786 words
Uncertainty | Aureia x Thancred (pre-relationship) | 1,179 words
To Ash and Ember | Aureia x Thancred (pre-relationship), Lahabrea | 2,057 words
Sand and Stone | Aureia x Thancred (pre-relationship) | 1,915 words
Heavensward
Bitter Frost | Aureia, Alphinaud, Haurchefant | 2,216 words
Divergence of the Heart | Aureia x Thancred (pre-relationship), Aureia x Aymeric, Thancred x Hilda
✦ Chapter 1: In the Cold | 2,787 words
✦ Chapter 2: The Nature of the Beast | 4,788 words
✦ Chapter 3: Coerthan Wisdom | 2,176 words
✦ Chapter 4: Transpositions | 2,078 words
✦ Chapter 5: Those of Noble Stock | 7,127 words
✦ Chapter 6: Promises Kept, Promises Made | 7,625 words
✦ Chapter 7: Rough Divide | 5,446 words [mature]
✦ Chapter 8: Carpe Diem | 6,093 words [explicit]
✦ Chapter 9: Nascency | 6,520 words [explicit]
✦ Chapter 10: Heart of Light | 6,640 words [mature]
✦ Chapter 11: Heart of Stone | 2,851 words
For All the Truths Left Unspoken | Aureia x Thancred (not established), background Aureia x Aymeric & Thancred x Hilda | 1,520 words
A Question of Desire | Aureia x Aymeric | 1,791 words
A Question of Home | Aureia x Aymeric | 2,143 words [explicit]
Shadowbringers
Bound by Faith | Aureia x Thancred, Urianger, Ryne, Scions
✦ Chapter 1: Philia | 5,393 words
✦ Chapter 2: Philautia
✦ Chapter 3: Pragma
✦ Chapter 4: Eros
✦ Chapter 5: Storge
Other
The Long Way Home | Aureia x Thancred, Aureia x Aymeric, Aureia x Sidurgu, Aureia x Fordola | 7,870 words | mature | gpose + ficlet series (tumblr version here)
✦ Dragon Age
Rhea Tabris (Dragon Age: Origins)
City of Thieves | Rhea x Daveth | 14,206 words | multipart | abandoned
The Break | Rhea x Daveth | 4,210 words [explicit]
Resistance | Rhea x Daveth | 25,370 words | multipart [explicit]
Over a Pint of Dwarven Ale | Rhea/Alistair | 2,383 words
Moonlight | Rhea x Alistair | 6,914 words [explicit]
Venara Lavellan (Dragon Age: Inquisition)
Main Canon
Like a Whisper Upon the Cold, Harsh Air | Solas, Venara | 2,271 words
Frozen in Ice, Revived by Fire | Venara x Solas | 2,464 words
In Storm and Shadow | Venara + many characters | 13,404 words | multipart
The Portrait | Venara, Josephine, rude Orlesians | 3,760 words
A Dance for You and Me | Venara x Solas | 1,716 words
Farewell to the Lioness | Venara x Solas | 2,452 words
Serenity | Venara x Solas | 2,727 words
At Last | Venara x Solas | 2,313 words
Home | Venara x Solas | 748 words
A Gift and a Promise | Venara x Solas | 2,282 words
Snowfall in the Imperium | Venara, Sera, Varric, Dorian | 2,056 words
And So the Seasons Turn | Venara, Sera, Josephine | 5,653 words
The Wolf's Daughter
The Witch's Offer | Venara, Morrigan | 2,147 words
The Wolf's Daughter | Venara, Alia, Solas | 2,224 words
Birdsong | Venara, Alia | 1,733 words
Vidomeda Adaar (Dragon Age: Inquistion)
Alchemy | Vidomeda, Mira Lavellan | 732 words
The Inquisitor and the Diplomat | Vidomeda x Josephine | 4,069 words | multipart [explicit]
Rapture | Vidomeda x Josephine | 3,866 words [explicit]
Ariane Hawke (Dragon Age 2)
Spark | Ariane x Sebastian | 1,622 words
Sorrow | Ariane x Sebastian | 2,695 words
Lorenna Hawke (Dragon Age 2)
Blood and Wine | Lorenna x Fenris | 3,969 words | multipart
Never Say Never | Lorenna x Fenris | 2,672 words
Wine Night | Lorenna x Fenris | 1,022 words
Arrow of Carnations (Dragon Age: Inquisition)
Josephine x Solas series.
The Voice of Reason | Josephine x Solas | 1291 words
Unraveled | Josephine x Solas | 5,438 words [explicit]
Entangled | Josephine x Solas | 5,230 words
For the Best | Josephine x Solas | 1257 words
Crystal Grace | Josephine x Solas | 1,434 words [explicit]
A Test of Patience | Josephine x Solas | 1927 words
Distractions | Josephine x Solas | 3,573 words [explicit]
Divine | Josephine x Solas | 3,549 words [explicit]
Such Sweet Sorrow | Josephine x Solas | 2,090 words
Not by Fate's Design (Dragon Age 2/Dragon Age: Inquisition)
Varric x Bianca series.
Stolen Kiss | Varric x Bianca | 1,832 words
Playing With Fire | Varric x Bianca | 4,207 words [explicit]
Not This Time | Bianca, Bogdan | 732 words
A Crack in the Glass | Bianca, Celene | 4,025 words
The Paths That Never Cross | Varric x Bianca | 1,593 words
Other
Leave Me At the Shore of the Heart | Bethany x Anders | 9,333 words | multipart
Called | Alistair x Anora | 3,786 words
Candlelight | Iwyn Lavellan x Solas | 1,998 words [explicit] | gift for @thevikingwoman
The Inquisitor's Warden | Rhea Tabris x Mahanon Lavellan | 4,063 words [explicit] | gift for kagetsukai
✦ Horizon: Zero Dawn
A Girl and Her Strider | Aloy | 2,500 words
A Way to an End | Aloy, Nil | 1,541 words
Stardust | Aloy x Talanah | 3,254 words
Last Updated: 2024-04-25
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Hi Nevertwice
I challenge you to list chapters/scenes/the timeline of events of your wip using the "in which this thing happens" format
I think I'm interpreting this right XD
Chapter 1, in which Terran edits the newspaper
Chapter 2, in which Terran works on a puzzle that may or may not end in death
Chapter 3, in which Terran gets more paranoid than normal about people who are not the enemy
Chapter 4, in which Terran loses his target on purpose
Chapter 5, in which Mika learns that the abuse here isn't just emotional
Chapter 6, in which a college visit gets interrupted
Chapter 7, in which Terran experiences happiness
Chapter 8, in which Terran doesn't like strawberries
Chapter 9, in which there is an imaginary corkboard
Chapter 10, in which Terran does some wall-climbing
Chapter 11, in which we meet an even worse villian
Chapter 12, in which Raymond puts someone to sleep
Chapter 13, in which Mika is still mad for some reason
Chapter 14, in which Terran can't sleep
Chapter 15, in which Terran learns he has parents
Chapter 16, in which Terran and Raymond have a date (don't tell Terran)
Chapter 17, in which Terran has 2 anxiety attacks
That was really fun! Thanks so much for asking. For funsies I'm gunna add my syndicate taglist because I feel like it's most fun if you know a little bit of what's happened (no pressure to interact or anything)
@puzzleddragon02 @sleepy-night-child @drippingmoon @thegreatobsesso @athenswrites @charlesjosephwrites @wildswrites @cljordan-imperium @andromeda-grace @iris-words @unclevladscorner
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10 First Lines
Thank you @the-stray-storyteller for the tag! I think I’ve done this a few times but not for my current WIP which stands at 12 chapters. Since I’ve posted the first and (crosses fingers) should be posting the second tomorrow, I’ll do first lines for the remaining ten chapters of Wend in the Shadows
Chapter 3: The Endmire
“ ‘Discontent’ is one word, I suppose,” said the Accuser primly, “though, I might have chosen another.”
Chapter 4: Rebels on the Road
If the inside of his carriage had ever seen so much filth, the Dark Prince could not remember it.
Chapter 5: A Lesson in Humility
It was all well and good for the Master to tell Renathal to trust his instincts, but the instincts currently dusting themselves off inside him were ones he could not afford to indulge.
Chapter 6: A Conduit for Change
Renathal waited in the little used chair by the unlit fireplace in his bedroom, turning his medallion over and over in his hands and wondering if there was any point to wearing the thing at all.
Chapter 7: Safe in the Shadows
The Prince of Revendreth stalked up the walk to Darkwall Tower in a terrible mood.
Chapter 8: Mix, Mingle, and Meddle
“So what’s down there?” asked Elisewin, pointing at the Ember Ward far below them, which gesture required her to unwind her hand from Renathal’s tousled hair.
Chapter 9: An Invitation to Treachery
"Sire Denathrius must be stopped," said the Accuser.
Chapter 10: A Reflection of Truth
The first problem was where.
Chapter 11: The Master of Lies
Renathal’s eyes opened without his permission.
Chapter 12: The Authority of Revendreth
The end of the former Maw Walker’s time in Revendreth began with a letter.
Tagging: @shipping-through-eternity @mousterian-writes @fluffleforce-mysdrym @diaryofomellas @velvethopewrites @tananaphone @cljordan-imperium @27fanficlilies @kaiusvnoir @bran-writes
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It's DONE
The Universe to Mend
Summary: A grieving Q teams up with a temporally displaced version of Kathryn Janeway, offering her a way out of exile in exchange for her help investigating a threat to the universe's existence. Aboard the resurrected USS Protostar, along with Hologram Janeway, they investigate the cause. And when they discover the source of the crisis - the Krenim Imperium - and the scale - a multiverse ending event, will an exiled Q and two lost souls be enough to stop it?
The final four chapters were posted on the 14th, just in time for my Big Bang deadline! 80,834 words in total! It feels so good to be at the end of this one! My favorite that I've written in a while.
The Universe to Mend
1. High above the worlds you tread...
2. When the Fateless Soul and the Faithless God
3. Steal and Unturned Thread.
4. Slipped from her spool, the Fallen Star
5. Ventures where space is fraying,
6. Time unraveling,
7. Paths of unmade lives unweaving.
8. They will the universe to bend.
9. Here, nothing is whole.
10. But hope begins to spin once freed, so
11. A hand takes up a needle.
12. She sews a golden seam.
13. Tatters stitched into tapestry.
14. Now to defy the end.
15. When the Fated God and the Faithed Soul
16. Gather the universe to mend.
#elephantwrites#fanfiction#tutm#star trek prodigy fanfiction#star trek voyager fanfiction#star trek novels fanfiction
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hehe hello again, i have tiny question. so im currently working on a little story abt elves and dragons and the more i work on plots it just goes all over and i just wanna know how you can pace a story with mixed species and a rather large amount of world building, and also how to have proper transitions to different character povs as i have 3 main povs that i wanna try 2 being elves and 1 being a dragons. :)
That's a really cool story concept you have there! I've actually been developing my own fantasy universe for the past 7-ish years called "Draka Imperium", which is all centered around dragons and such.
Funnily enough, I've been struggling with the exact same problems that you have laid out here (complex worldbuilding, story pacing, multiple character POVs, etc), and I've been wrestling for the past few years with rewrites in order to make things work the way that I want.
One of my friends who is a published author (Fennah - you may recognize his youtube animations or his book, Amygdala), gave me some really good advice recently about writing in general, and it's given me some direction to help with my own rewrites. One of the things that stuck with me the most was about letting your characters speak for themselves. Don't try to put your own words or ideologies into the mouths of your characters - let them live and breathe in the world that you've created!
As for my own personal advice, at least when it comes to POV alternating, I'll let you know what I did with Unperson, as I am alternating between 2 POVs for that story. I planned out (roughly) what story beats I wanted to hit for each chapter and made notes for each POV in a different color - this just helped with organizing. But what helped the most with writing was to keep the environmental/story beats in mind from my outline, but to simply allow the characters to react to them. I never had dialogue pre-composed before I started writing; all of my chapters so far have mostly been written like a stream of consciousness. I merely led the characters to interact with certain things in their environments, and then wrote their dialogue and mannerisms as if I were an actor and improvising their lines/movements without making them stick to the 'script', if that makes any sense. In other words, in the process of writing a scene, if it felt more natural for the character to react in a different way than I had originally planned it in my head, I would simply allow the character to act in that way rather than trying to shoehorn them into a box that I had created for them.
Idk if that makes any sense, but I hope it helps somewhat!
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nice!