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dragonologist-phd · 2 years

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#9 "CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP NOT SURE HOW TO STOP (WHY STOP)" for Rudi?

thank you for the prompt! I can't believe I haven't written a sparring fic for Rudi and Maia yet, this finally gave me the excuse to do one- and to write Rudi for the first time in a while, I forget how much fun she is to write!

Rudi and Maia are enjoying the process of getting to know each other- and nothing helps people get to know each better than a sparring session.

On AO3

Rudi has to admit- she may not be a fan of sailing, but the unsteady motion of the deck beneath her feet does add a new element of fun to sparring sessions. The recent change in surroundings means that she’s had to learn to balance herself in an entirely different way, to lean against the tilting of the oceans waves as she dodges and weaves around Edér’s blows.

It had been tricky at first, but she thinks she’s getting the hang of it. Either that, or Edér is even worse of a sailor than her.

Whichever it is, Rudi still enjoys some self-satisfaction as she leaps away from another swipe of her friend’s training sword. Within the same motion, she slips around to his unguarded side and throws the entirety of her weight against him, sending him tumbling to the floor. The move nearly sends Rudi sprawling right with him, but she manages to catch herself at the last moment.

Her movement isn’t exactly graceful, she’s sure, but it’s still enough to declare victory.

Only when she’s certain that Edér is down does Rudi spare a moment to glance over her shoulder, where a handful of her companions watch from the sidelines. Serafen is watching with clear amusement, and Xoti seems about to burst into applause. But it’s Maia who Rudi is really searching for, and she’s pleased to see the amaua woman is staring right back at her, a begrudgingly impressed smirk on her lips.

Rudi shoots her a wink, and she feels a second thrill of victory when Maia’s smirk widens in response.

The moment is broken all too soon as Edér groans from the floor. “You’ve been practicin’, huh?”

“Duh,” Rudi says, reaching out to help him back to his feet. “Do you want Zahua to show up in the next barrel of supplies we bring on board? Because that’s what would happen if he ever knew I was slacking off. And he would know. Besides, how else am I supposed to stay busy?”

“I bet I could come up with a few ideas.” Maia’s voice rings out confidently as she strides across the deck to stand in front of Rudi, stretching her arms as she moves. “Especially now that someone’s finally found their sealegs.”

Rudi raises an eyebrow. “Really? Like what?”

“Like…” Maia pretends to ponder for a moment before cracking her knuckles. “…sparring with me, for example.”

Edér shoots Maia an incredulous look as he rubs the side of his arm that met the wooden deck. “You just saw her take me down and now you want a turn? Anyway, I thought you were a long-distance fighter.”

“Everyone in the army knows their share of hand-to-hand,” Maia says, waving Edér away as she slides into a fighting stance. She tilts her head, and her sharp sniper’s eyes focusing in on Rudi. “Besides, she’s not that scary.”

Rudi scoffs and places a hand over her heart in mock offense. “And here I thought I was impressing you.”

“Might be more impressed if I hadn’t already watched you puke over side of the ship.”

“Ah, I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.” Rudi shakes her head, then takes up a fighting stance of her own. She’s never been one to turn down a challenge, after all- and she’d be lying through her teeth if she ever said she didn’t want the chance to impress Maia for real. “All right, let’s spar. Gotta earn that respect back somehow.”

It starts slow, the two women circling slowly as they size each other up. Rudi isn’t sure what to expect; she’s never seen Maia fight in a way that doesn’t involve Ishiza or her rifle. All she knows so far is that the woman is patient, much moreso than Edér; instead of charging forward, she hangs back, and waits Rudi to be the one to approach. Their height difference means Maia also has a much longer reach, and while Rudi is normally very appreciative of the other woman’s stature, she’s currently not fond of the advantage it gives her.

Finally, Rudi tires of the slow, circling dance and darts forward, intending to sweep Maia’s feet out from under her. She feints in one direction and strikes in the other- but Maia is ready for her. The amaua woman dodges out of the way, firmly grabbing Rudi’s wrist in the process and sending her flipping through the air.

Rudi definitely hadn’t been expecting that, and she’s so taken off guard that she can’t even brace herself against hitting the ground. Her back slams into the wood with a thud that knocks the breath from her lungs. For a moment she’s completely disoriented, but when she blinks her eyes open, she’s met with the sight of Maia standing over her, a smug smile on her lips.

This turn of events doesn’t exactly help with the dizziness Rudi is feeling, nor does it put the breath back in her lungs. The wind off the ocean pulls at Maia’s tight bun, catching a few stray hairs and twirling them like ribbons across her face. And despite the fact that Rudi kind of just got her ass kicked, all she can think is-

Gods, Maia is stunning like that.

“Giving up already?” Maia taunts, and it’s the threat of losing so quickly that finally snaps Rudi from her daze.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Rudi taunts, and before Maia can respond, Rudi hooks her leg around the other woman’s knee and twists away, sending Maia sprawling backwards as Rudi scrambles to her feet.

Maia tries to catch herself, but it’s too late- now it’s Rudi standing over her, pinning her to the deck of the ship. She makes an attempt to throw Rudi off, but her height can’t help her now, and Rudi’s arms are strengthened by years of archery.

But Maia doesn’t seem bothered by this at all; rather, her grin grows sharp in a way that sends shivers down Rudi’s spine. “Playing dirty now, Captain?”

“Playing to win, soldier,” Rudi replies, doing her best to sound confident and smooth and not at all as though she’s becoming more and more distracted by the idea of being in this position in a very different context.

“Alright, then,” Maia chuckles. “Glad to hear it. Means we just might have a chance at completing our mission.”

The change in subject to matters of business is, Rudi must admit, a bit disappointing. “Don’t try to tell me all this is another one of your little tests. And here I thought we were having fun!”

Maia’s eyes glint with amusement. “Who says I can’t test you and have fun at the same time? I’m pretty good at multitasking.”

Rudi rolls her eyes, although smile a still tugs at the edges of her mouth. “If you say so. As long as we can agree I won.”

Maia raises an eyebrow, and Rudi realizes what she has in mind a second too late. Before she can react, Maia twists out of her grip, pushing back against Rudi to send her rolling once more across the deck.

Rudi springs up quickly, raising her hands to meet the lightning-fast blow that follows. She catches Maia’s fist in her hands and the two meet each other’s eyes, their arms locked. Rudi can feel her heart thumping madly in her chest, and after what feels like ages but is probably only a measly few seconds, Maia relaxes and eases out of her stance.

“Not bad, Captain- and I mean it this time. Call it a draw?”

A breathy laugh escapes Rudi’s lips, and she dips her head in acknowledgement. “Fair enough.”

Later, when Maia and Edér are trading their own tips and Rudi is trying to catch her breath, Serafen sidles up with an expression that is far too innocent to be sincere. He plops himself down next to Rudi and, without preamble, says, “You got it bad for that one, eh, Cap?”

“Serafen,” Rudi says in a warning tone, “what did I say about spying on my thoughts?”

The pirate snorts. “You can’t call it spyin’ if it be obvious to anyone with half an eye.” He glances in Maia’s direction, then adds, “And if we’re to be speakin’ of spies, you do realize those brass-boats sent her with us for a reason, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Rudi replies, although her mouth twists into a frown as the reminder deflates her previous good mood.

Yes, she’s aware that Maia has been given this assignment for reasons far more serious and ill-intentioned than to flirt with Rudi. It’s not as if the RTC are subtle, after all, and Maia herself come clean about her intentions the very first day they met. And yes, there’s probably more to Maia’s role than even what she has already admitted to, because everything has to be complicated these days. Even so, Rudi keeps her voice casual as she says, “We’re just having a bit of fun, Serafen. I’m sure you know how it is.”

Serafen scoffs, but it’s obvious he can’t argue with her rather pointed words. “I know I ain’t the one to be lecturin’ about this. Just don’t have too much fun, Cap. You gotta be careful with yourself around these soldier types.”

“Right. Careful,” Rudi repeats. She knows Serafen is speaking out of friendship, and she knows he has a point. So there is a part of her that means it when she nods and says, “I can do that.”

Because she can. She can flirt and tease with Maia while still keeping her guard up, still keeping her at arm’s length, still remembering that getting in too deep with an RTC soldier is not a good idea in her current situation. Probably in any situation. She can be careful.

She’s just not sure she wants to.

#pillars of eternity #fanfic #ch: rudi #maia rua #watcher x maia #i prob hadnt done this before bc i hate writing action scenes lol but luckily sparring scenes can be short #ship: like a hurricane

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quenthel · 2 years

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↓ Ishiza

#quenthel special #if you can guess what im drawing im giving you a big shiny coin

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zhaba-marya-blog · 5 years

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Pick a best friend, Brouatai edition.

#Pillars of Eternity #Deadfire #hazanui Karū #Atsura #Maia Rua #Ishiza #Maneha #Kana Rua #shitpost #i personally would pick kablooey in heartbeat

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rannadylin · 6 years

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That bird is full of surprises.

#ishiza #maia rua #eder teylecg #deadfire #pillars of eternity #banter #deadfire spoilers #not really a spoiler just a cute banter about a cute bird :-D #from the desk of ranna

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cranesofibycus · 4 years

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Just finished Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and I’m so torn about it. I loved playing it, but the ending is terribly unsatisfying. Spoilers ahead, but the fact that you basically can’t stop Eothas is baffling to me. I get that he’s powerful, but the whole premise of the game is hunting a god, so I did expect there to be a chance for me to confront him and stop him from breaking the wheel in the end.

Anyway, it was such a joy to go on that adventure with the best group of companions. Edér, Xoti, Maia and Aloth. Double Matt, Marisha and Laura as the voices guiding me through the Deadfire was just incredible. I also created most of Vox Machina (I made Grog a cleric... sheer comedy) and loved it whenever I recognized another voice.

A good game, but I’m not as in love with it as I was with the first one. Though I’ll certainly miss the open seas...

#pillars of eternity #deadfire #Marisha's voice acting was my favorite in this game #her voice made me fall in love with Maia to the point where I wouldn't pick ANY path that lead to Maia leaving the party #ISHIZA STRIKE!!

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edeer · 6 years

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#maia rua #pillars of eternity 2 #pillars of eternity ii: deadfire #deadfireedit #deadfire spoilers #i was half expecting to ishiza fly to her when she started tapping her arm but no such luck lmao

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elfyaoi · 3 years

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pillars has its share of bugs, and i find a lot of them, but so far my top one has been during the survival trial in seeker slayer survivor the game started referring to pallegina as ishiza for no discernable reason.

like i get theyre both birds but hello?

#pillars of eternity #using my blog to post for the first time in...... years

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secretsfromwholecloth · 4 years

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Deadfire, day 7.

Oof, those nāgas. And when it’s not those nāgas, it’s those traps. I had to reload a couple of times, most notably after Serafen died. Properly, four-injuries-in-one-fight died. Ciphers are squishy, I’ve learned that quite well, but damn.

Wow, the rathun sure are friendly to a fire godlike Watcher.

After all this time, I still can’t not laugh when Tekēhu makes his “What a glorious hole” crack.

Talking Jadaferlas down is one of my unbreakable habits. I’m not even sure why, considering that across my various playthroughs I’ve killed both scarier dragons and ones with better arguments for letting them live. I guess because talking her down is so easy and has no negative consequences whatsoever, so I’ve never had to fight her, which would’ve reinforced that the option was there?

This is the first time I’ve brought Pallegina to Ashen Maw, as far as I can remember, and her habit of roasting unspeakably powerful entities that could squash her like a bug is as delightful as ever.

The conversation with Eothas about why the Watcher has accomplished great things, whether because they’re just inherently more capable or because of the situations their life has put them in...gnrf. The latter would be the obvious answer if a. the “strong soul” thing weren’t canonically true and b. there weren’t the whole extra meta-level of the Watcher being the protagonist and having a player behind them, and then I get to thinking about all of it, and, well, gnrf.

Xoti got an approval bump from Pallegina. That’ll be a red-letter day in everyone’s diary.

Why yes, I do have a whole bunch of feelings about Eothas telling Edér to take care of the Watcher, thank you for noticing.

I think Aeldys’ speculation about the afterlife merits another “gnrf”. Just one of those things.

Woedica, your “I <3 eugenics” speech isn’t exactly endearing you to me right now. No, that it’s magical eugenics doesn’t help.

I’ve gotten the second teleportation quest, and my regulars are all level 20, so I think it’s time to take some of the more neglected babies on a jaunt around the Neketaka hinterlands. Right now that means Rekke (level 16, I hope to all the gods I can give him some attention in the DLCs), Fassina (level 15, I’ll be needing her for you know what), and Xoti (already level 20, but I need a specialized healer with this lot, and Pallegina’s tankiness is unnecessary with Rekke to hide behind).

Yes, I’ve left it extremely late this time. I usually don’t eliminate quite so much of the mapping and bounty hunting before Ashen Maw, and sometimes I’ll make the rounds on foot when I get the bounty for Nomu rather than wait for Flaune to send me out there.

Ooh, hello there, Animancer’s Energy Blade. Yes, Anlaf would love a lightsaber to wield alongside Marux Amanth.

I normally make sure I have Pallegina along for Castol’s performance review, but you know what, I’m curious, I think I’ll dive in with the party I have.

Wait, which archmage is meant to be in attendance? Duc Remasi cuts Nirro off before he can say the name, and while there’s a person in a robe standing off to the left, I can’t pick out anything except their hair color (brown, I think).

Well, that’s done, Castol is safe. Unless he tries to come for me on the way to Ukaizo. We’ll see.

“I hear the Huana hate few things more than a food stealer.” Heh, yes, I’ve been to Tikawara.

Oh, hey, I got the box of, er, “beans”. Still no visits from any archmages on dragonback, though.

So Clelia actually saw Furrante hanged, but she didn’t go back to Fort Deadlight to finish the quest, because she wasn’t about to throw in with the Príncipi no matter who was leading them, and she got the epilogue slides for Furrante still being alive and in charge. We’ll see if I can get his death to register this time.

Looking at the Darcozzi oath, I see we have another Vailian name for a god—”Dicenas fiaces” in the Vailian text has got to correspond to “Magran’s flames” in the translation. Elsewhere we see that -s seems to be the possessive suffix, among other functions, so that’s Dicena for the Vailian name of Magran.

And I think this is the part where I turn down the difficulty and start doing the real fun stuff. First up, Splintered Reef, since I’m over here buying a certain ship upgrade anyway.

The additional challenge of Easy/Relaxed difficulty can be fun, but sometimes you just want stuff to die already. And that’s what Story mode is for. :D

Eh, the fuck happened here? Fassina, is there something you’d like to tell your casità?

...nope, I did not mean to disembark in Port Maje with Maia in the party. Nope. Maia, get back on the ship.

The reason I was in Port Maje in the first place was to buy that beautiful, beautiful bow. But who’s going to use it? No one who uses a ranged weapon and doesn’t already have their good one is going to be spending much time in the party. Maybe I can give it to Xoti. It won’t kill either of us to have her switch away from her sickle and lantern. I don’t think. And depending on who else is in the party, she could move from the melee squad to the ranged one. It’d be a way to give Rekke more attention, for one, if the fifth spot goes to someone like Aloth, Fassina, or Tekēhu who mostly does crowd control.

What’s that? My playstyle and taste in companions is tailored to Watchers with good support capabilities, playing a rogue was always going to be a trial, and I must be positively itching to rerun one of my favorites by now? You don’t say.

And now, we go after Concelhaut, because I very nearly forgot about him.

Bweeheehee, Concelhaut is so angry. :D Go on, Edér, needle him some more.

Yeah, his VO is so much funnier here. Something about all those trilled /r/s combined with the sheer indignation in his voice. And the hamminess. There’s hardly a piece of virtual scenery without bite marks in it by the end of the conversation with him.

The sheer speed with which Concelhaut was defeated only adds to the hilarity. I may be somewhat overleveled for this quest.

Oh, and the killing blow? Came from Ishiza this time. Never mind the farmhand, Concelhaut, this time you got taken down by an animal.

Hello, Tayn, and hello again, Llengrath. We’ll talk more later.

And I think Nemnok is up next, because I’m pretty sure I’m down to just that, DLCs, megabosses, and the endgame. And I’d like to get that last blackwood log to finally give my ship its good hull. But I’ll have to actually go after him in the morning, because it’s late.

#pillars of eternity #deadfire #watcher Anlaf

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sun-marie · 2 months

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Birb 🐦

#wip #pillars of eternity #xoti #maia rua #eamoc #ishiza

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thessalian · 4 years

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Watcher!Mych vs the Gullet

Tekehu: ...This ... is the Gullet?

Watcher!Mych: Yeah, surprise! Neketaka’s not all fancy ‘gem of the archipelago’, y’know.

Tekehu: ...You grew up here?!?

Watcher!Mych: I survived here until I could get the hell out, yeah.

Serafen: Y’know ... I did sorta wonder how a lass from the Dyrwood learned the tricks of the trade. Guess here’s my answer.

Watcher!Mych: ...Dude, if you think the Dyrwood’s soft, remind me to show you Defiance Bay sometime.

Serafen: From the name? I like it already.

(Later)

Thug: Well, this here’s your lucky day! A bag of coppers for your lives!

Watcher!Mych: ...Tikor? Is that you?

Thug: ............Mychae?!? What the hell’re you doing here?

Watcher!Mych: Being an adventurer and shit. Bigger question is, what are you doing here? This isn’t your territory. Korrik catches you poaching, he’s gonna kick your ass from here to the Old City. As in, off a wall.

Thug 2: You ... know this person? Since when do you know a person with money? And she knows this place?!? What the fuck--?

Thug: It’s ... a long story can we just get out of here? I’m not crossing blades with that one anyway; she’s fucking nuts.

Thugs: *fleeeeeeee for their lives*

Tekehu, Maia, Pallegina, Serafen: *staaaaaaaare at Watcher!Mych*

Watcher!Mych: ...What? I told you I’m a local.

Tekehu: This is madness. Cruelty. A jungle, under my city.

Watcher!Mych: Dude, two things. First, this is still ‘your’ city; just the part you don’t like. Second, ‘your’ city’s a jungle too. At least you can see the claws and fangs in this bit. Yours is all poisonous flowers and gorgeous birds that’ll rip your face off. Like Ishiza here.

Ishiza: *preens*

Maia: *also preens*

Tekehu: I do not like your ... ‘life lessons’.

Watcher!Mych: Yeah, yeah; try actually living them. Come on; let’s go.

#Thess liveblogs PoE Deadfire

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dragonologist-phd · 3 years

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Would you write something for 13. Accidental hero and Rudi/Maia maybe?

thank you!!

So this got way longer than I expected, and probably isn’t quite what the prompt intended...but once I got the idea I had to write it because the inherent humor of this canonical interaction with Hylea is too good.

Lovebirds

Hylea never meant to interfere- only to observe. But despite her reservations, the goddess of poetry and song simply can't resist a good love story. And who makes a better wingman than a bird?

(AO3)

Hylea never intended to become directly involved in the Watcher's life. Her desire was simply to observe, never to intervene. This was the way of the gods- or at least, it should be. Eothas and Woedica had always been prone to taking things too far, and of course there was that whole debacle with Ondra and the moon. Now Berath was following suit, plucking their Herald from the Beyond and sending the soul back into the world.

But Hylea knew better than to tangle herself in the affairs of mortals. For centuries she had been content to watch from afar, and even now, with Eothas walking the world, she never meant to do more than keep an eye on things. The presence of Ishiza on the Watcher’s ship was too good an opportunity to pass up, after all, and there was no reason for anyone at all to notice her watchful eye.

Rudi Xavell, however, had a knack for stumbling through even the best-laid of plans. It wasn’t long after Hylea began her vigil from Ishiza’s soul that the Watcher turned her powers upon him. Why Rudi had decided to examine the bird’s soul, Hylea couldn’t guess, but evidently she was not expecting what she found.

“Hylea?” The woman blinked in shock, her mouth hanging open for a second before the expression shifted into a scowl. “Why the Hel are you spying on me from Maia’s bird?”

Hylea sighed, the sound coming out as a low coo from Ishiza's throat. Why did mortals have to take everything so personally? “You should know by now that I am not the only god who wishes to stay informed of your…activities,” she said, letting her words flow through the mental connection Rudi had established.

“Okay…” Rudi furrowed her brow, studying the bird with confusion. “I’ll admit, it’s somehow not the weirdest thing I've seen from the gods. But again, why do you have to do it in Maia’s bird?”

Hylea allowed her own amusement to roll over to the Watcher’s senses. “Did you not realize I have a special connection with all of my avian messengers? What better way to observe the mortal world than from their eyes? And I must say, this is a particularly intelligent and noble creature. It is only natural I should make use of our bond. The real question is: why are you peering into his soul?”

Rudi glanced behind her, where a bemused Maia Rua was watching from the opposite side of the ship’s deck. The sight of his kith companion brought forth a warm affection from Ishiza’s soul; he was exceedingly fond of his sharpshooter. Judging by the look that passed between Maia and Rudi, he was not alone in this regard.

“For the record, this is still bizarre,” Rudi said under her breath as she turned back to face the bird with a serious expression. “But I’m trying to get on Maia’s good side here, and to do that I need to get on Ishi’s good side. So I’m willing to table the whole please stop snooping on my crew discussion for now…and maybe in return, you can help me ask Ishi if he has any helpful advice?”

“I see,” Hylea hummed. She should have guessed- didn’t it always come to down to this with mortals? “This is all part of your mating ritual.”

Rudi huffed through her nose and pressed a hand to her temple. “Why do you lot always have to make it weird…one step at a time, okay? Right now, I just need to impress her.”

Hylea laughed lightly. “Is that usually how you impress a mate? You ask birds for relationship advice?”

“Hey, don’t knock my methods. In my experience, the way to a woman’s heart is through her pets. All you gotta do is help me figure out where to start.”

Hylea considered this request for a moment. Her limited time communing with this animal had informed her that he was indeed a valiant and hardworking bird, and if indulging this strange foreplay meant Ishiza was shown more appreciation…Hylea could allow that.

“He likes shark meat,” she told Rudi. “Good luck.”

Hylea thought that would be the end of that. She continued to check in on the Watcher’s crew through Ishiza from time to time, knowing that the Watcher was aware of her eyes but assuming that she had other things to worry about.

And apparently she did, although her priorities were not quite what Hylea expected.

“Eothas continues his rampage and the Deadfire is on the brink of collapse- and yet you call upon my aid for this?”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Rudi said with an irritated wave of her hand. “It’s just a simple question. But if you’re going to bring up the whole Eothas thing, then I’m going to point out that all the gods kind of owe me one right now. Including you.”

Ishiza’s feathers ruffled with Hylea’s irritation. It was just like this impudent Watcher, to speak so brazenly to a god. Hylea didn’t quite see the appeal of such a creature. But she did have it on good authority that Rudi had followed through on the shark meat tip in quite a generous fashion, and that at least was something to be rewarded. After a quiet moment of searching through Ishiza’s memories, Hylea finally relented. “She likes chocolates. There’s a little shop by the docks that makes them in the Rautaian fashion. Don’t give any to Ishiza, they upset his stomach.”

“There,” Rudi said with a grin. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“It is hardly an effectual use of my time and abilities, nor yours.”

“If it’s such a waste, then stop spending your time spying on me,” Rudi replied, giving the bird a sharp look. “So long as you’re here, you can hardly blame me for asking questions. You’re a literal wingwoman right now.”

She snorted at her own joke as Hylea sighed. “You are quite fortunate that I happen to find these rituals endearing.”

“If it means you’ll stick around and keep helping, I’ll take it. Now, can you tell me if Ishiza knows anything about her favorite drinks…”

“You’re putting a great deal of thought into this.”

“Well, yeah. It’s all for Maia, and it has to be good.” Rudi tapped her quill against the parchment laid out before her, closing her eyes for a moment as she thought. Her lion sat at her feet, its eyes fixed on Ishiza. Hylea had never been very taken with Galawain’s beasts; they lacked the elegance of her own favored birds. This one, at least, was keeping its claws to itself.

Ishiza was accustomed to the lion by now, just as he was accustomed to Rudi. Hylea was somewhat impressed in this regard, as Ishiza was not easily befriended. Nor was his owner; perhaps it made sense that two equally stubborn women such as Rudi and Maia were so drawn to each other.

“Still,” Hylea murmured. “This is quite the elaborate bit of foreplay.”

Rudi shrugged, pausing to write a few words before answering. “The challenge is the half the fun.”

“And you’re certain she is worth this much effort?” Hylea inquired. Ishiza’s memories of Maia contained many instances of relationships, but none seemed to very long-lasting. They were on the move more often than not, and no partner had ever tempted Maia to stay for very long. Hylea wondered if Rudi truly thought she could be different. “You must realize it will take a bit more than a handful of treats and some charming words to woo her. She does not easily allow others into her confidence- there are far more important things on her mind.”

“Of course there are,” Rudi said, a small smile now playing on her lips. “She’s whip-smart, isn’t she? You can tell, the way she watches everyone…and she’s tough, too, doesn’t let anything phase her. She’s funny. A crack shot. Good with animals.” With that, she shot a teasing smirk in Ishiza’s direction, which Hylea did not deign to acknowledge. “What’s not to like?”

Hylea sighed- and there was perhaps a tad more wistfulness in that sigh than she intended. This was frivolous, of that there was not doubt. Few of her brethren would have the patience to aid in a kith’s romance the way she currently was. But Hylea had a soft-hearted persuasion, and there was something poetic to the intricacy of this little mating dance. Two kith, finding comfort and companionship in each other amidst such tragic times- how could any goddess of song resist the potential of such a love ballad?

And if it did turn out badly, tragedies could be sung just as beautifully as romances.

“And besides,” Rudi continued, oblivious to Hylea’s musings, “the effort is the whole point. She already likes me, too- I just gotta prove that her instincts are good.” She chuckled, but despite the lightness of her tone, her eyes betrayed the slightest self-consciousness as her gaze flickered over to Ishiza. “And she does like me, right?”

With a patience known only to the gods, Hylea once again dipped into Ishiza’s mind. Yes, she saw, Maia often smiled and laughed in Rudi’s presence and spent more time ‘observing’ her than was strictly necessary for her reports. “Have no fear on that account, for it does appear she is somewhat taken with you.”

Rudi’s grin widened. “Of course she is,” she said nonchalantly, as if she had never been worried about it at all. “Now, if you could kindly deliver this to Maia for me?” She held out a rolled up note, and as much as Hylea did wish to see this courtship play out, that was simply too much for her to take.

“I am not here to run your errands.”

Rudi rolled her eyes. “Then ask Ishiza to do it for me. Come on, it’s so much better this way.”

Hylea was tempted to depart completely on sheer principle…but it was a more romantic notion for Ishiza to deliver the letter. She was silent for a moment, communing with her temporary host, and finally said, “He may be persuaded, under the promise of a generous reward for his labor.”

There was no use in denying it- Hylea was now well and truly involved in Rudi’s developing love life. Despite the inconsequence of it all, the situation was actually rather charming. Besides, she needed to keep an eye on the Watcher anyway, and if she had come this far she might as well make sure her attentions paid off.

So when the time finally came for Rudi to act, Hylea hovered within the back of Ishiza’s consciousness, letting the bird maintain control as he swept through the sky above Maia and Rudi. Both women were rarely seen without their respective animal companions, so it was no odd thing for Ishiza to be close behind as they trailed side by side through the dockside market. Hylea doubted even the Watcher knew of her presence- she had other things commanding her attention at the moment.

Thus concealed, she watched with idle amusement as the two wound their way through the market stalls. They stopped by a certain chocolate shop, and Hylea could see Maia’s grin as Rudi presented her with a bag of treats. They made their way to a fountain Maia and Ishiza often frequented, enjoying the sun and the oceanside view as they ate and talked. They stayed clear of the higher walkways, for Maia didn’t care much for the raucous noise of the street musicians, and instead wound their way near the canals, where Maia happily pointed out the different types of boats and regaled Rudi with tales of her previous adventures at sea.

As the day drew to a close, they ended up at The Wild Mare. That wasn’t part of Hylea’s recommendations- it was hardly an impressive establishment, and it stank of sailors and stale beer. But Maia did seem to enjoy the lively atmosphere, and from their table on the balcony they appreciated the ocean breeze and a view of the stars. Hylea and Ishiza perched as one on the rooftop, watching as drinks were shared and the night grew dark.

The tavern was beginning to finally empty when Maia pulled Rudi close and pressed a kiss against her lips. “You sure know how to show a girl a good time,” she said . “This was…well, it was damn near perfect. I don’t know you do it.”

Rudi gave her a coy smile. “A Watcher never reveals her secrets. Although I have to admit, I’m disappointed it’s not completely perfect. Anything I can do to improve your assessment?”

She bounced her eyebrows at the suggestion, and Maia chuckled before leaning in for another fond kiss. “The night’s still young, isn’t it? I’m sure we can come up with something.”

Hylea took this as her cue to finally depart, leaving Ishiza at his perch to watch over his companion and steal stray food from the plates of unobservant tavern-goers. He deserved this break, Hylea decided- the date was an apparent success, and their work here was done.

The next day Rudi sidled up to Ishiza and gave the bird a knowing look. “All this spying is really becoming a habit, huh?”

Hylea wasn’t too pleased at being found out, but she didn’t let it show. “I told you I like to keep an eye on endeavors I’ve become invested in. And you were the one who asked for my involvement.”

“Guess I can’t argue too much with that,” Rudi said with a shrug. “Don’t tell the other gods I said this, because I will go to my grave denying it…but as far as Engwithans go, you’re not that bad. In fact, when it comes to planning dates, you’re kind of my hero.”

“Ah, yes,” Hylea said wryly. “Of all the hymns and praises written of me, this shall go down in history as my greatest accomplishment.”

“It’s certainly the most use you’ve ever been to me, at least,” Rudi said, her previous sincerity fading back into her usual snark. “But seriously, I’m trying to be nice here and say thanks. And give Ishi my thanks, too.”

“You know how to him show him thanks.”

“Yes, yes, shark meat,” Rudi laughed. “Although at this rate he’s going to clear out the supply of the whole archipelago.”

“Not that,” Hylea said softly. “Or not just that. He cares about Maia’s well-being very much, I'll have you know. It is a rare person who can earn such loyalty from such a dignified creature. Treat her well.”

Rudi blinked, taken aback for a brief, serious moment. “Yeah. I intend to.”

“Good,” Hylea said firmly, and she could sense Ishiza’s approval. Not for the first time, Hylea sincerely hoped they all survived the upcoming confrontation with Eothas. She had always wished that, of course- she did care for kith, even if she typically did so from afar. But now she had an even more personal interest.

She may have become involved with this particular love ballad by complete accident, but now that she was hooked, she was looking forward to seeing how the song ended.

#pillars of eternity #fanfic #ch: rudi #watcher x maia #maia rua #thanks for the prompt!#i intended this to be like 1 page and its 5 #story of my life lol #risualto #ship: like a hurricane

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seres-catalogue · 5 years

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time to introduce the new kids in the class--

@at-sixes-and-sevens At Sixes & Sevens:

What happens when the Gods are basically your extended family since childhood? Well, you get sent on a quest to save the world, obviously! Also, there’s Clem. Everybody loves Clem.

Meet Nemorio Badal (or, Nemo). Follower of Ane and magic tends to make him a fairytale prince which Descennie thinks is adorable. Flower vine tattoo and is ready to find Cas! BOY NEEDS HUGS. Nemo is good for expedient deliveries! As shown by how he chooses to climb a wall vs climb some stairs. Gotta go fast.

@anathemafiction The Golden Rose:

Aww yeah, finding artifacts and getting into arguments with your horse (ilu billy). Medieval Indiana Jones feels. I get the dokis in my anthropology major heart!

Meet Micah Lugano. He reads Latin! He’s got a bow! He’s making heart eyes at Hadrian when he thinks dude ain’t looking. (PS we know he’s looking and these two nerds with the blushing-- Alessa isn’t getting paid enough for this.)

@event-zero Event Zero:

Ever want to play a CoG that reminds you of the SCP Foundation? Found it! Join a team of misfits as you hunt down and secure dangerous magical (yes Carlisle, magic) places, items and people.

Meet Fiorello Song. Former thief turned infiltration and stealth “expert”, also the original token afflicted team member before Oliver showed up (you go, you funky foul mouthed ginger), blessed with an eidetic memory that affects more than just remembering things. He’s already put some moves on Captain Thorne~. Safest place is with the guy with the guns, right?

@athousandmilesofsky A Thousand Miles of Sky:

MISCHIEF IN SPAAAAACE. You’re a captain who’s in the wrong place at the wrong (right?) time. You’ve got agents after you for running into someone by accident, your former partner is being harassed over your ship lease AND Rami makes fun of your jimjams. Rude.

Meet Captain Indigo Almasi, callsign Echo. His ship, The Starbug, is his pride and joy and while he may not enjoy hauling cargo from spaceport to spaceport, it pays the bills. And everything else that happens? Well, he’s a smart cookie. Make the right friends and say the right things with the nicest smile and I’m sure things’ll turn out fine! ...:D??

@sviyaginthegreat Return to Zemia:

Ready to be alien royalty? Too bad, you’re going to Zemia anyways! Everything’s gonna be fine, they promise! Just smile and wave for the people! (Nothing is ever that easy, even on another planet.)

Meet Ishiza Patel (or, Ishi). They’re a, now former, elementary school teacher who is in way over their head. At least the new clothes are comfy. And they get to learn about their family? That’s good, right? Sure. Keep being positive, Ishi. I’m sure Vivien’ll appreciate it when the time comes.

#at sixes and sevens #return to zemia #a thousand miles of sky #the golden rose #event zero #choice of games #choicescript games #catalogue models

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olivedoesmagic · 3 years

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hey olive, so i was watching your time travel vid and i was wondering if ishiza was an alter, a character you made for the video, or someone else? i'm mostly wondering where you get your info on this stuff. is it first hand experience?

He’s a feather! If you want info on feathers their mentioned briefly here! A feather is a spiritual kind of spirit that I best describe as a mix between an alter, a kin and a possession but they are a type of spiritual possession! Harun is a real life actual time traveler! I have studied time alot! I have alternate memories and bullshit but um I have never actually done it (to my knowledge? my relationship with time and time travel is very complicated), but Harun and other aspects of me have! Harun is a crack of me! So it’s really really rather strange! I’ve certainly studied it! That’s all I’m comfortable disclosing at the moment! :) - Olive Brimstone

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masterskywalkers · 5 years

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Faeluna as a companion

Questions for the ‘Watcher as a companion’ challenge can be found here!

If your Watcher, or other Pillars OC, was a recruitable companion instead of the main character, how and where would they be introduced to the main party?

First Game: Faeluna would likely be found along the Woodland Plains (away from Sagani). She wouldn’t be noticeable at first, but as the party got closer to her you’d first hear the sound of someone humming. Eventually she’d be found near a selection of trees, near a small little camp that she’d made for herself.

Deadfire: Faeluna would be found probably somewhere around the docks of Neketaka.

What would their companion quest involve?

First Game: Trying to find any others from the caravan she’d travelled with. Sadly, the quest would end with finding the remains of a group she remembered from the caravan (believed to be the last survivors until ... well. They died), and Faeluna truly feeling alone in the big new world she’d travelled to. But, it would be an opportunity for the Watcher to tell her that she wasn’t alone, not now that she travelled with them + their companions.

Deadfire: Faeluna would be looking for hints into Eothas and his intentions, on behalf of both the Watcher and the destruction of Caed Nua. She’d have a lead on something she feels would be of importance to the Watcher, but need their help in really working out if it’s of any use to them. The lead would end up being a dead end, and Faeluna would sadly tell the Watcher that following it had helped to put her mind at ease about loosing both their home + the believed loss of the Watcher. She’d reveal she thought she was alone again, but that she liked keeping busy and feeling like she was helping honour the Watcher’s memory and, after learning the Watcher was okay and following them, eventually the Watcher themselves.

What traits would affect their approval, positively or negatively?

Faeluna enjoys actions that are kind to animals, non judgemental to differing beliefs, and those who aren’t afraid to look out for the underdog.

Negative reactions would come from selfish actions, ignorance to the world + people they deal with, and those that blindly follow the Leaden Key.

Which other companions would they get along with, and which would they bicker with, in Party Banter?

Faeluna would get along especially well with Edér, Aloth, Kana, Sagani and Hiravias in the first game. She’d bicker with Durance endlessly and feel very uncomfortable with what he says a lot of the time.

In Deadfire, as well as Edér and Aloth, Faeluna would get along better with Pallegina and also get along with Xoti and Tekehu. She’d bicker with Maia (but adore Ishiza). She wouldn’t clash as bad with Maia as she did with Durance however, and most of it would stem out of Faeluna’s own confusion.

Would they be romanceable? Would they end up in a romance with another companion, if both were left unromanced (à la Maia & Xoti)?

Probably not, simply because I feel like Faeluna has a big learning curve to deal with in relation to finding where she belongs. If the Watcher never romances Aloth however, Faeluna and him would have the potential to develop a relationship behind the scenes instead.

Would anything make them leave the party, or would they be there for the long haul?

Hmmm I think they’d be there unless they died to be honest. She’s still learning a lot, and seeing as she wouldn’t be thrown in the deep end like she is when she’s Watcher, she has more time to come to terms with appreciating and understanding the world around her. She’d be too interested in learning to just up and leave — and Faeluna would probably feel lost as to where to go anyway if she did.

#pillars of eternity #pillars of eternity: deadfire #poe #ch: faeluna #gaming: pillars of eternity #misc: gaming

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