Got a few drafts to do up hopefully this weekend.
Therapy has been exhausting both mentally and emotionally so I am pretty dead the rest of the day :/
I built my house on sand Hoping it would stand The storms that come my way And now I’m left to face The weight of my mistakes And a chance to start again
Oh, oh Build my life again Oh, oh Build my life again
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
Reblog if your inbox is always open to:
- Memeless Asks
- Headcanon Asks
- IC Anons
- OOC Anons
- Anything and everything pertaining to your muse and how you depict them.
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
"We know we are lucky. Each of us has had our fair share of loneliness."
Drefan, he and Sevuk.
A brow rises and he smiles at Nunnally as she laughs and says what she thinks he was based on the name. He would say nothing on it but the smile was knowing and amused. As she was, without her knowledge, correct.
"My Mother had me believe since I was young that I had a destiny of greatness. She taught me much but I did not learn about Royale as it was so far from where I lived. But I learned people, and how to read them, use them," and kill them.
"But Father came to me five years ago and brought me to speak to our God, Nanqa. I was told that this land required an Emperor of the Blood and that I had that Blood. I have not reconquered all of Royale, at the moment we have an alliance with a prior province. But I had enough power to take what I had to when I had to.
"and when I finally sat on the throne and activated the obelisk in the wrist of each Royalian they knew I was Emperor. Few put up a fight after that as they knew I was of the Blood. As this land has been ruled by someone of the Blood for over three millennia."
The few leaders who refused to either be conquered or enter into an alliance with, were dealt with personally.
A moment later he would look to her, and he elaborated for her benefit as a foreigner, "Each Royalian as a child has an obelisk of onyx inserted into their wrist alongside bone. When they reach thirteen they say an oath to the Emperor. It allows the Emperor to speak to them directly in their mind. It does require the Emperor to have a piece of onyx behind their right ear."
Gesturing to the right side of his head where the surgery had taken place to insert the token of onyx.
She smiles: --
“So, when you look at me, what can you read in me?” – Nunnally knows that - too much extent - she is an open book. For many. She does not (and will not) pretend that’s not the case. Of course, Samuel doesn’t know her. Of course, they are strangers, but it would be interesting to know what impression she is giving him. Even if he’d just offer her a nicely made up story.
Nunnally looks at Samuel, when he continues speaking: --
“So, you were not meant to become an Emperor before that five years ago?” – it’s more like a statement than a question. Who was he then to became – “So, who was to rule then?”
“If you of course do not consider it an intrusive question…”
Chosen by god. Not prepared for the role. With the task to reestablish (reconquer) the lands of the empire. How does he feel to be fated to that? Though he claims he has friends…
And then he explains about the obelisk and pieces of the onyx. If she wasn't a princess (taught to always stay calm and composed), she’d shiver in a sudden fear. Nunnally doesn’t like the notion of it. The notion of full control. Full submission. That’s so terrifying. Would she, if married to him, be given a piece too? Would that be the fate of their children? Does Drefan also have a piece?
“So, when a prince becomes an emperor do they move their piece from wrist to behind the ear? Or perhaps those of the royal blood are not subjected to saying the oath?” – that would be surprising though. Would Samuel reply to her questions?; she wonders. They seem neutral in her mind.
If she’d ever become the Empress, or rather if she’d have a son or a daughter to inherit the throne, she would not allow for it. But would anyone listen? She looks at Samuel. Does he accept this tradition or is it simply not the time for change?
Samuel hums and he watches Nunnally's features for a moment before he says, "There is a reluctance to your visit here, but I see that you will do what is asked of you for your kingdom. There is an unease as you hope your match will be good for the kingdom and you. Behind your laughter, there is a deep well of you that you are not willing to share with just anyone."
The politics were complicated after Thom died in 3392.
"I was not told about the throne here until my twenties. When Taedras and I deemed me ready I came here to take the throne. I had to have a rudimentary understanding of the history, culture, and religion of the lands first. As a Camarian Inquisitor ruled the capitol until 3396 and outlawed every Royalian tradition and religious ceremony.
"The throne was then taken by a woman named Shnorhik, but again she only ruled the capital. Both were unable to use the oath. The provinces at that time had become independent duchies once again. So there was no Royalian Empire after the death of Prince Thom in 3392. It is 3421 today. These lands were without an Emperor for 16 years."
A gentle shrug of his shoulders as he drew her to a northern window where she could overlook the military training area to the northwest and the gardens to the northeast.
"All children are subject to the oath depending upon who is Emperor. The heir has the onyx behind his ear but the other children have the onyx in their wrist like ordinary citizens. It's done to keep the will of rebellion in the other prince's down as they cannot seize the throne without the oynx behind their ear. The priesthood and the throne heavily regulate the sale of onyx for that reason."
A smile, "It's much to take in, I realize. I hope I''m not overwhelming you."
What is the relationship between Samuel and his father? Was he present when the future emperor was growing up? And what is Samuel's relation with his mother? Do they often see each other now, when he become a ruler?
Taedras came for visits as Samuel grew up, but he was not there the whole time. His visits were something special for Samuel. Vincentia has a husband Dorian that is a demon and Samuel grew up with Dorian around far more often. Both Dorian and Vincentia had assassination assignments which could take a few weeks to months at a time away from ‘home.’
So he was raised collectively by the assassin’s guild members. This is where he gets his morbid sense of humor.
Samuel glorifies his mother, and tries to emulate her. From the way she talks to her laugh. His wardrobe matches hers even when she is not there as she mainly wears magenta to match her wings. He is rather laid back, but won’t take anyone badmouthing his mother. He has his mother’s wings and his father’s hair and eyes.
He tries to make sure to see his mother at least a few times a year, flying from Royale to Niben which borders between Camara and the deserts of the north. Vincentia comes down to Royale during the Winter Solstice and the day after called Pash-Sevlusha. Due to their closeness and how seldom they see each other, the two are far more physically affectionate than some in terms of public acts of affection. [Such as holding hands, leaning on each other, and hugging.] She’s also known for not letting people bad-mouth her son.
Vincentia is rather dangerous like a silk glove holding steel, appearing sophisticated and pleasant until she feels the need or want to kill you. Then she turns into a monster, killing you with metal claws and reveling in the gore. This is the one thing that separates Mother and Son, she loves blood and gore. He hates washing it off, so his kill methods are dissimilar.
Taedras also makes an appearance on Pash-Sevlusha, reuniting the small family. Taedras is often in Royale, sometimes in Tuima but not usually with his wings visible. Arch-angels and half Archs can hide their wings from others' vision. So he looks like a human with white hair and blue-purple eyes.
I'm going to be group therapy for my anxiety :D
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
Memento Mori, Philips Gijsels, 1650.
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
"True, but then I'm seldom like this when I am Sovereign."
Joscelin admits with a small smile. But he nods to her when she tells him of being a druid. Clearly, he understood what she meant at least in part. Though he did, as there were druids on his continent as well.
But here he would let go of her hand going on to talk about a few other smaller things about his home for her.
Time passed on the ocean voyage, coming to a finish sometime later. Arriving in Nua Aghacarra, the port city was bustling with people and trade goods. A carriage was waiting for them both as it was still some time to the capital. Joscelin gently quipped that she would be sick of him by the time they arrived.
In the evenings, they would find lodging at inns along the way.
The capital was walled in though there were farmlands surrounding it. The city within was large by the standard of the times, its population nearing ten thousand. The capital of Illander was broken up into 6 districts and the castle to the northernmost point of the city. Where one entered it from the south. Down the main corridor, the buildings of the trade district were multi-floored, with colorful roofing and glass windows. It was surprisingly clean.
Joscelin turns from his carriage window to Kiara.
"Once we are at the castle I will introduce you to Lady Milistree and then I will have to update myself on the last month's politics with my High Advisor. I may not get a chance to check in with you for a few days but I will find a way soon. You have my word."
He did not want to seem as though he was handing her off and abandoning her. But his duties came first. As they always did.
The voyage seemed to last a long time, and although Kiara got accustomed to the ship moving beneath her, she still flinched each time a wave hit against the deck or the porthole of the cabin she was residing in. Sailing was decidedly not one of her interests!
It was a relief for her feet to return to solid ground, although it seemed their journey was far from over. Still, she did not regret in the slightest the choice she had made to start a new life. Despite her nerves, she gazed at their surroundings with obvious wonder and excitement - she'd really done it! She'd left Camelot far behind her.
"Thank you. You have been far kinder than I deserve," she murmured, sincerely. "I do not wish to be more of a burden than I have been already." It was touching that he assured her that he would continue to visit her, when his schedule allowed. She had grown quite fond of his company, over this long journey.
"I will miss our talks," she admitted, with a soft smile. "I hope I can prove myself useful to you and your people." She was a quick and eager learner, she hoped she would be able to do more with her powers than the healing spells she had taught herself.
"I will...miss our talks as well," Joscelin admits and he files that away to be thought deeper upon later. He did not have friends outside of his circle of Sovereign Guard and his Blade Dancing Master. It would likely be good for him to have someone else to talk to. Someone who was not invested in the politics.
"And you are not a burden Kiara, I know you will try your hardest and learn as much as you can. That is all I could ask of you."
Joscelin smiles gently once again to her before he looks off outside following the farming fields and rolling hills with their sheep.
"Once you are trained with Lady Milistree you may wish to help those outside of the castle as well. The city is always calling for more healers and surgeons. My sister-in-law Iardacil lives and works in the Danaigh and Islay Ghetto with the poor.
"I have a sister named Gardarine who was considered a Bastard by law and she is now Captain of the Militia for the Ghetto. She does not overly like me, considering me to be regal and stuffy, but I am proud of how hard she has worked for her position."
There was some bad blood between the siblings but Joscelin was proud of Gardarine. He just never got the opportunity to say it.
Do you want to change the culture of the Royalian Empire? (for both Drefan and Samuel)
(yes, she mainly means the obelisk simply because she still have not learnt about the rest)
Drefan - No. Though some of our ways appear strange or cruel to outsiders, our traditions and culture are what make us Royalian. If Nanqa or Tardraes wants us to change our ways they will tell us.
Samuel - The people must be open to change before I would try to implement anything. I do not want an all-out rebellion on my hands. The only tradition I would change is the Royal Sacrifice. But that is not in my hands to change. Lord Nanqa would have to give his agreement on that.
Which Nanqa would change if they were to ask him!
Did you really want to become an Emperor? If you could freely choose would to take the crown? (Nunnally to Samuel)
No. I was a rather reluctant royal. I'd much rather be back with my Mother and her people than be here with all this responsibility. I took Royale out of curiosity, wondering if it was true that the people would bow to me because of my Father's blood. They did.
If I was not royal I would not have to worry about marrying or courting those I barely know. But then I imagine you feel the same way? I only want to marry those I know well and have developed a bond with. The same for anything more physical.
However, I would not have met Sevuk or Drefan that way. So I take joy in their brotherhood and off-set some of my work onto them.
Why don't you want to get married and have children? (Nunnally to Drefan)
I'm not against marriage if I can find the right person. Someone who doesn't make marriage feel like a trap. I'm more likely to marry a woman than a man for that reason.
I had a lot of unpleasantness in my youth to do with my Father that I do not want to replicate with my children. Was the sickness my Father and his ancestors had something passed onto me? How would I be with my children? Would I hurt them too?
I'd just rather not take the chance...
(Ahrièn to Drefan) "be honest. what do you really think about me?"
"You seem sad Ahrièn. Where I am bitter in my low spirits, you have a deep melancholy. As you have been kind to me thus far, I wish that I could help. But I know that such things are buried in us deep and even those close to us cannot go that far down. I would be a hypocrite to ask. As I have my own deep-seated troubles. But I will remain quietly here."
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
send me "be honest..." with a question your muse has been dying to ask mine and they'll answer truthfully.
xxofloveandlossxx reblogged
Mallie's brow rose at the joke, but she did give a small smile. Walking into the lounge once again she nods. This time she had her viola case on her.
"I'd appreciate that," to the drink.
She hardly looked around, but that was because she had done so earlier, in detail before she had asked about working at the lounge. Having taken a measure of the place before she had asked.
Settling at the bar she sets the viola case down at the base, pushes curls behind her shoulders, and crosses her legs.
Knowing some form of introduction needed to take place she sets her palm at her breast, "I'm Mallie. I have a ridiculously long name so I tend to go only by my first. I'm a stage actress by trade but I was taught how to sing, play the viola, and acrobatics. I also tend to travel quite a bit."
Which was why she was asking to work at the lounge for a time.
Matthew nods in response to her accepting the drink, going behind the bar to get started making them. His was the same as always, a rum and coke. "Just tell me what you're feeling, I'll make it. I've got just about anything we'd need over here." he says, sipping his drink before setting it aside to get started on her own.
"So, Mallie then. Noted." he replies. "Matthew Blake, but you can just call me Matthew, or Matt. With introductions out of the way, sounds to me like you've got quite the impressive resume." He leans against the counter a bit to glance at the viola case for a second. "You've even got your own hardware. Definitely promising. But you mentioned that you travel; about how long are you staying in N-A?"
"Hmm," Mallie thinks about what alcoholic drinks she likes and what she could ask for here. Her eyes swept the back wall, eyeing different alcohol.
She was definitely a cocktail girl.
"A Clover Club?" she asks with a raised brow. The drink was a mix of sweet raspberry or grenadine syrup and zingy lemon and gin.
"Definitely depends. On how long I can afford a hotel," she slips out an easygoing smile.
"And how I like the city. If I can find long-term work and enjoy the scene I tend to stick around longer. Otherwise, I'll skip town and find my way somewhere else. I don't tend to let much hold me down these days. But of course, I'd let you know if I was starting to feel the traveling itch."
Lichdom
A lich is a powerful necromancer who has survived the ritual of ripping out their soul and binding it to an inanimate object (a phylactery), which has given them resurrective immortality, allowing them to reform from their phylactery unless it has been destroyed before they do so.
Could a person exist at the moment where life ends, but before death begins? If such a liminal moment could be understood and held, might the wisdom of life be combined with the clarity of death?
The Ascension Ritual
The ritual transformation can take place anywhere. However, places that are filled with spiritual energy or death energy are preferred.
Drefan's transformation happens in the Menel Swamps in Cypress Tree Grove. Cypress is seen as the 'Tree of Death' and is used to honor and empower the dead while mending sorrow. The area is lit by mullein (corpse candles.) Frankincense is lit. Drefan's blood is used to make binding sigils around the grove. His phylactery is a black diamond.
The necromancer during the ritual can attempt to anchor themselves to the world in a variety of manners to survive the process, using such things as their ambitions, emotions, and memories of desires.
Without this attempt at anchoring, they may lose their identity or fail the ritual entirely.
Eirdandri - The Accursed (Fallen Arch angel) attends to the transformation of a lich, he is called forth for the ascension ritual. He puts his hand into the necromancer’s chest and stops their heart, in true agony as the bony hand squeezes their heart to burst.
“...as the fragmenting of mind and body are sewn back together, resulting in a period of illumination during which the undead sees the world in all its brilliant facets.”
Drefan, through his love for his brother Thom and by sheer force of will, keeps his soul and identity intact as he becomes a lich.
