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aspoonofsugar · 11 months

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Ironwood and Penny: Atlas and Amity

Winter: You chose nothing. This...was a gift.

Winter: No, you have sacrificed everyone else!

Winter’s 2 remarks above highlight 2 important themes explored by Ironwood and Penny throughout the Atlas Arc:

Trust - Ironwood wants to control Winter, but Penny trusts her with the Maiden Power

Sacrifice - Ironwood sacrifices others, while Penny sacrifices herself

These ideas are also at the core of 2 settings of volume 7 and 8: Amity and Atlas.

On the one hand Amity means “friendship” and the arena represents the ideal of unity among Kingdoms (the Vytal Festival, the Amity Project). It is then a place symbolic of trust.

On the other hand Atlas takes its name from a Titan in Greek mythology, who holds the sky in place. This alludes to Atlas’s role as the Greatest Kingdom, which should support everyone else with its technology and richness. For this reason the Kingdom frames itself as ready to selflessly make sacrifices. In reality, though, it is supported by others’ sacrifices.

How do these 2 places comment Ironwood and Penny’s arcs? And what do these characters have to say on trust and sacrifice? Let’s discover it, by analyzing their parallel and yet opposite arcs.

CREATOR AND CREATION - 2 SIDES OF TECHNOLOGY

Ironwood and Penny are introduced in the Beacon arc along 2 opposite creations of Atlas Technology.

Ironwood: There are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch. So, we are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!

Penny: Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura.

Ironwood wants to substitude soldiers with robots and presents the Atlesian Paladins. Penny is instead the first synthetic person with aura and she wants to be a normal girl.

This juxtaposition foreshadows 2 things:

1) Ironwood is linked to a technology with no humanity, while Penny embodies technology made with humans in mind

2) Ironwood is a creator, while Penny is a creation

Ruby: You're not like those things we saw back there. You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!

Ruby juxtaposes the Paladins to Penny. They are only puppets, but she is a real girl. This opposition gains more weigh when we remember that:

The Paladins are made by Watts

Penny is made by Pietro

Watts and Pietro are Atlas’s 2 top scientists, but Watts’ creations are cold and logical, while Pietro’s have hearts. And yet, when it comes to choose a project, Ironwood chooses Pietro’s.

Why is that so? There are 2 possible answers.

a) The first one is what Pietro believes:

Ruby: You wanted a protector with a soul. Pietro: I did. And when General Ironwood saw her, he did too. Much to my surprise, the Penny Project was chosen over all the other proposals.

Ironwood used to wish for a protector with a soul, even if he later changes his mind. It is coherent with Ironwood being the Tin Man who loses his heart. His problem is not that he is a bad person. If anything, several characters aknowledge Ironwood’s heart is in the right place:

Glynda: You're a good person, James. You've always done what you think is best for the people, even against strong protest. It's admirable.

Blake: The General's heart seems to be in the right place, but that doesn't mean we should trust him yet.

Still, he sees it as a weakness and refuses to follow it:

What if it’s true as they say That I don’t have a heart That I'm more a machine than a man? What would that change? Would it matter at all? I've made my plan Hearts and minds may not agree Emotions topple strategy

b) The second one is present in subtext:

Ironwood: For the past few years, Atlas has been studying Aura from a more scientific standpoint; how it works, what's it made of, how it can be used. We've made... significant strides. And we believe we've found a way to capture it.

Isn’t it interesting that Atlas has been experimenting with aura machines while also developing an android able to generate aura?

The aura machine takes and transfers aura, while Pietro gives his aura to Penny to bring her to life. It sounds as if the 2 technologies might be similar, doesn’t it? What if what really intrigues Ironwood about the Penny Project isn’t giving a soul to a robot, but rather controlling a soul? By studying how Pietro gives his aura to Penny, Atlas can learn more about aura itself, how it works and how to artificially manage it.

In the end, we don’t know why ironwood chooses the Penny Project over others, but this ambiguity fits his inner conflict between the heart and the desire of control.

At the same time, Penny ends up objectified in both cases. She is seen as a protector at best and as a puppet, at worst. This ties with the difference between creator and creation (point 2).

2) Ironwood finances new creations, like the Paladins and the Penny Project. In this sense, he is a creator. Penny instead was built by Pietro, so she is a creation. This dychotomy is articulated in 2 ways:

a) Ironwood is active, while Penny is passive

Ironwood: I refuse to believe that a man that I've trusted for so long would act so... passively.

Penny: I want to stay at Beacon. Ruby: Penny, they'll never let you do that. Penny: I know, but I have a plan.

At the beginning of the story Ironwood and Penny are opposite in how Ironwood has much agency, while Penny has none.

Ironwood is basically the ruler of Atlas and everybody in the Kingdom follows his orders. He is so used to have his way with everything that he enters a conflict with Ozpin over exactly this. He claims Ozpin is too passive and uses his influence to take control over the Vytal Tournament.

Penny is a child-soldier whose life has been decided by adults around her. Pietro asks her not to venture too far despite how lonely and curious Penny is. Ironwood controls her schedule to a ridiculous degree to the point she is forbidden to talk with anyone. Even when Penny musters the courage to pursue a personal goal, the narrative kills her off before she can act on her wish.

In the end, Ironwood and Penny’s arcs in Vale are decided by their respective activity and passivity. On the one hand Ironwood is so active he doesn’t trust others’ agency. He wants to control everything and everyone, but this is his downfall, as Cinder and Watts use his own robots against him. On the other hand Penny is so passive her role is reduced to that of a pawn in Cinder’s plan. Her feelings are ignored and dismissed to the point they meta-narratively have no impact on the story.

b) Ironwood is framed as a “second father” to Penny

Ruby: Was your dad that upset? Penny: No, it wasn't my father...

In A Minor Hiccup Penny links Ironwood and Pietro. This is a way to show Ironwood is an authority figure in Penny’s life. He is some kind of metaphorical father to her. Not in the sense their bond is necessarily familiar, like Penny and Pietro’s. Still, Ironwood is the one who finances Penny and is her teacher and mentor. His influence on the girl is as much if not more than Pietro’s. Ironwood is the one who decides Penny is gonna be a Huntress and a Protector. Penny instead loves and trusts him.

In summary, Ironwood starts the story as a controlling father figure, while Penny as a controlled daughter. From this initial point they have opposite progressions.

On the one hand Ironwood loses his 2 daughters (Penny and Winter) and ends up passive:

Ironwood: So, consider this my last order: step aside. Winter: I've never wavered in fighting the enemies of this Kingdom--And I won't start now.

On the other hand Penny emancipates herself from his 2 fathers (Ironwood and Pietro) and grows more active:

Pietro: I want the chance to watch you live your life. Penny: But dad… I am trying to.

They do so by adhering to opposite ideals. Ironwood chooses repression and control. Penny chooses expression and trust. Ironwood acts selfishly and loses himself. Penny acts selflessly and finds herself.

THE BATTLE OF AMITY

Ironwood: It goes without saying that this arena holds a significance to all of us.

Amity is an important place for Ironwood and Penny. On the one hand it is both where Ironwood loses the battle of Beacon and a weapon to use against Salem. On the other hand the arena is where Penny is killed and it gets repaired together with her, after they make it back to Atlas:

Pietro: Died? I guess, in a manner of speaking, she did. But we were able to recover her core from Amity Arena once it had made its way back to Atlas.

At Beacon Ironwood loses both Amity and Penny, but in Atlas they are repaired and enhanced, so that they fit the general’s plans even better. Amity Arena becomes Amity Tower, a giant antenna that can unify all nations against Salem. Penny becomes the Protector of Mantle, a super-hero that fights for the poorest and most defenseless people of the Kingdom. The overlapping between Amity and Penny is highlighted also by their technologies being similar:

Watts: Penny’s blades operate on the same principle as Amity in the launch terminal. In order for her to control them all, they need to communicate with one another.

Ironwood and Penny’s stories are intertwined with Amity, but once again Ironwood gets to be active, while Penny is forced into passivity. Ironwood controls the arena and Penny, while Penny is a super-weapon tasked with the burden to be a symbol of trust.

However, things start to change in Amity itself, where both Ironwood and Penny have a pivotal fight with a dangerous villain:

Watts and Cinder are strong foils and personal antagonists to both Ironwood and Penny.

On the one hand Watts is a foil to Ironwood. Both are Atlesians’ elites who believe true strength is found in the mind rather than the heart. They are also very ambitious and wanna best and control others. In particular, they wanna control Penny.

On the other hand Cinder is a foil to Penny. Both are girls (maidens) objectified and used by Atlas, who wanna be free. This search for freedom leads them both into a conflict with the elites (Ironwood). However, the way they go at it is different. Penny refuses the mentality of Atlas, but tries to save its people. Cinder can’t escape the Atlesian framework, but wants to destroy the Kingdom.

So, Watts and Cinder are dark mirrors, who are meant to challenge Ironwood and Penny. Are the General and the Protector of Mantle really different from Salem’s servants? And why?

In particular, the 2 villains test Ironwood and Penny on the theme of trust, especially in the 2 Amity Fights. After all, both confrontations happen because of an exhibition of trust:

Ironwood chooses to trust Robin and to tell Mantle and Atlas the truth. He is open about everything, even the Amity Project, which works as bait for Watts. Penny chooses to trust Ruby and the world with the secret behind Salem. This is why she has to protect Amity Tower at all costs when Cinder arrives.

At the core of both Ironwood and Penny’s plans there is a dangerous bet:

Watts: It wasn't finished... it was bait.

Penny: This does not seem like a very good idea. Pietro: There is a difference between a good idea and our best idea. Sadly, we don’t have time for much else.

Ironwood knows that telling his Kingdom the truth may cause panic. He knows he is putting Amity in danger. Penny knows that Ruby’s message may go ignored and the world might not come for Atlas in time. Similarly, she knows Pietro’s method to have Amity work is dangerous.

They both trust and take a risk:

Weiss: Trust is a risk.

Watts and Cinder appear out of nowhere to weaponize this risk for their own selfish interests:

Watts: Our tin soldier's heart has cost him his mind. We need to keep their attention on Mantle for as long as possible.

Cinder: Salem doesn’t know those children like I do. They wouldn’t just abandon their misguided attempt to save the world.

The main difference is that Watts understimates Ironwood’s feelings, while Cinder takes advantage of Penny’s.

Watts immediately thinks the General has fallen prey of his emotions and has made a misstep. In reality, this is a moment of clarity for Ironwood, where he follows his heart and makes smart choices.

Cinder reads the protagonists’ way of thinking correctly. She understands Ruby and the others would want to try and use Amity to warn the world. She doesn’t ignore their feelings, but makes use of them.

This is why Watts embodies control, while Cinder represents manipulation. Control relies on the repression of feelings. Manipulation is instead the ability to twist emotions, so that a person would act in a certain way. These 2 approaches are present also in the 2 Amity fights.

Watts uses his rings to control the whole Arena and have it attack Ironwood.

Cinder uses Penny’s feelings for Pietro and the world to manipulate her.

Still, by the end both Ironwood and Penny win. They defeat their opponents in what is a crowning moment of awesome for both characters. So, is it everything alright? Have they defeated their nemesis and affirmed they are good? Not really, because heroes are really tested not when they win, but when they lose:

Just after such draining fights, Ironwood and Penny have to immediately deal with another problem. Ironwood is manipulated by Cinder, while Penny is controlled by Watts. They are both victims of the enemies’ schemes. Still, their reaction is different.

Ironwood gives up on trust immediately. This choice is conveyed also through him sacrificing the Amity Project:

Ironwood: We are going to take our plan for Amity Tower and apply it to the city of Atlas.

Penny chooses not to give up on faith. She decides to launch Amity, despite Pietro’s protest:

Pietro: You’re in no condition to do something like this. Even just the temperature out there could-- Penny: It is our only option.

This moment marks who they are going to become. Ironwood freaks out and turns into the antithesis of who he is. Penny is steady and stays loyal to herself. That is because Ironwood and Penny’s value is not measured in them winning a fight, but rather in what they do when they discover their victory solves nothing. Are they ready to push forward with no guarantee they are going to succeed? Ironwood isn’t, while Penny is.

As a result, Ironwood fails to learn the main theme:

Ironwood: You can label me whatever you'd like, but the fact of the matter is I was right! The minute I softened, let my guard down, that's when Salem had her opening.

While Penny comes to embody it:

But our greatest fear will be realized If we fall and lose ourselves to fear We've become what we feared all our lives

The point is not that trusting and following your heart will always lead to victory. In many cases it won’t. Still, if you resign yourself to be cynical, you’ll lose who you are and may end up failing anyway.

This is why from here on out Ironwood and Penny switch when it comes to activity and passivity. Ironwood still has freedom and power, but he ends up tricked and manipulated over and over. Penny isn’t given many options and all of them are bad. Still, she keeps on making her own choices. After his Amity fight Ironwood is left (passive) by Penny. After her Amity fight Penny leaves (active) Pietro.

At the same time, here Ironwood chooses to sacrifice everything, but Atlas:

Ironwood: I will sacrifice... whatever it takes... to stop her. Watts: Oh, I hope you do, James. I hope you do.

Blake: But we're nowhere near finished evacuating everyone! You'd be leaving Mantle to die. Ironwood: Yes… I would.

Differently, Penny chooses to sacrifice herself for everyone and comes to embody what Atlas should be:

Cinder: I don’t serve anyone. And you wouldn’t either, if you weren't built that way. Penny: That is not… I choose to fight for people who care about me.

This is ironic because deep down Ironwood wants to be a hero:

Take my hand I’m here to protect you Nothing will stop me Understand There’s no sacrifice That I won’t make I’ll risk it all To keep you safe Trust me to be strong I’ll be your hero Just hold on

While Penny just really wants to be a girl:

An answered prayer A chance to Share the world To be a girl Who fin'lly felt alive

And yet, Ironwood becomes a villain, while Penny grows into a hero. Why is that so?

ROBOT VS HUMAN

Penny: One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn.

Ironwood’s plan for Penny is to become the first of a new generation of Huntresses and Huntsmen. A new type of heroes that can be fabricated and controlled. Fighters who are smarter and stronger than humans and that can be accessorized with laser beams and other weapons.

Well, Ironwood is right on Penny being one of the best Huntresses, but he is wrong as to why:

Winter: No, Penny. You were always the real Maiden at heart.

What makes Penny a Huntress is not that she has a cannon or can fly. Rather it is that she has a human conscience, which leads her to make the right choice. Even if it is painful and difficult:

Penny becoming the Winter Maiden is what cuts her life short. At the same time, it is also what saves the people of Mantle. She becomes the real Protector of the City not when she takes down the Goliath, but when she chooses not to leave her people behind. It is this simple decision that makes her a hero. Penny doesn’t need a robotic body for this choice. Nor flying jets. Nor a laser beam. She only needs her human heart. That is the reason why she is a Maiden, a Huntress and a Savior. It is not because she is the special Creation of a genius. It is because she is a simple soul:

A story will be told, and victory is in a simple soul.

This is Ironwood’s mistake. He believes that to defeat Salem and save the world there is a need for special people. The truth is that it is sufficient for many people to make the right choice. Even if it hurts. Even if it is scary. Anybody could have made Penny’s choice not to give up on Mantle. The Ace Ops could have. Winter could have. Ironwood himself could have. And yet, they don’t. Penny instead does. This is why she is a hero, while they aren’t.

In short, Ironwood believes heroism is born by leaving humanity behind. Still, Penny shows that a true hero needs her humanity to succeed. This idea is commented also through Ironwood and Penny’s metallic motif. Both characters are in fact linked to specific metals of alchemy.

Ironwood is associated with iron through his name and to tin through his allusion (the tin man). In alchemy iron is linked to war and is more refined than tin. So, Ironwood’s growth lies in him letting go of his General persona (war) to fully embrace who he is and become gold/silver. And yet, he fails and as a result he regresses into tin. Symbolically, he loses his heart and becomes the Tin Man. A toy soldier for others to move around as they please:

By the end, all Watts has to do for Ironwood to come in the way of the protagonists is to simply open a door. Ironwood acts like a robot, completely under Watts and Cinder’s control.

Penny is associated with copper through both her name and color. On the one hand pennies are made of copper. On the other hand copper is usually green, just like Penny herself. Copper is more refined than both iron and tin, but it still needs to reach the perfection of gold. This happens when Penny grows up and symbolically becomes a “real girl” (a full self-actualized person):

In Pinocchio, the protagonist becomes a “real boy” and he discovers that his 30 copper coins are now 30 golden coins. In RWBY, Penny affirms she is a “real girl” through her final choice (giving Winter the Maiden powers) and becomes gold herself (she literally turns into a golden cloud while she disappears).

So, Ironwood gives up his humanity and loses both himself and his heroic ambitions. Penny instead holds on to her humanity and is celebrated as a hero and a wonderful person. This is why symbolically Ironwood transitions to a robot in the same episode Penny receives a human body:

This progression is shown also through their opposite relationship with Watts and Cinder. On the one hand Ironwood works with Watts, only to be tricked and eventually controlled by him. On the other hand Penny fights Cinder off until the very end and even negates her the Maiden Powers (what Cinder truly wants).

However, even if Ironwood is framed negatively and Penny positively, they both die tragically. Why is that so? What do Ironwood and Penny’s falls have to teach?

THE FALL OF ATLAS

I may fall But not like this – it won't be by your hand

Both Ironwood and Penny fall together with Atlas, and yet their final moments are complete opposite:

Ironwood is alone and makes no decisive choice. He is given one final chance to die heroically by fighting Cinder and Salem, but gives it up. Is that because he realizes all his efforts are useless? Is it because he accepts he is no hero? Or is it because Winter is right and he can only sacrifice others, but not himself? In the end, there is no definitive answer and that is the point. Who is James Ironwood? Nobody. He doesn’t leave back anything and there is no-one with him. Not even the viewers, who are negated his final moments. There is really nothing left to see.

Penny is with 2 friends, who witness her final choice. Jaune accepts her heroic sacrifice and Winter accepts her legacy. They both trust her and she manages to make one final choice which defines who she is. A friend. A real girl. A fully self-actualized person. She is a Creation who becomes a Creator. She is Pinocchio who gives life to the Blue Fairy:

Penny’s final moments are so meaningful and rich that the viewers are given the chance to follow her shortly after death. They see Penny’s goodbye to Winter and the affirmation of love for her friend.

Penny’s choice is an expression of her destiny:

Pyrrha: When I think of destiny, I don't think of a predetermined fate you can't escape. But rather... some sort of final goal, something you work towards your entire life.

After all, what is Penny’s final goal if not this?

My wish came true The day that you appeared And called me a friend

The thing Penny works towards her entire life is to be a friend. It is to affirm her personhood through her bonds with others and this is exactly what she does in the end. Right or wrong she chooses to be a friend. She goes back to protect RWBY and leaves the Maiden Powers to Winter. Her final decision is tragic, but it is still an affirmation of who Penny is, as a person. This is also why it is the only thing Cinder fails to anticipate:

Cinder: Where did it go?!

Cinder manages to manipulate everyone almost perfectly. She knows how the heroes and villains alike will act and makes use of their wishes and emotions. Penny is no exception and actually the love for her friends is what leads her back into the fight. Still, no matter how skilled Cinder is at manipulation, she can’t take away who Penny is. So, in the end Penny does something unforeseen, which gets in the way of Cinder’s objective. The Winter Maiden powers are kept safe from her and given to Winter.

Winter herself becomes symbolic of Penny’s moral victory over Ironwood. Our Winter Maiden chooses the future of Atlas.

Robyn: What do you think a Kingdom is? The people, or just the chunk of land they live on?

The General embodies an Atlas, who is isolated, cold and controlling. He is obsessed by the land and the resources. This is why he dies with his city. The Protector of Mantle represents an Atlas, who is friendly, warm and trusting. She sees the citizens are what matters. This is why she dies with her people. Eventually Winter chooses Penny and opens up a new path for the Atlesians:

In synthesis, both Ironwood and Penny die, but the way they fall marks them as different. Ironwood dies passive, isolated and pathetic. Penny dies active, surrounded by love and a hero.

In other words, Ironwood falls like Atlas:

An empty shell of his former self. A kingdom with no people. A man with no heart.

Penny instead falls like Amity:

She falls after having brought people together. She falls, but has trust in others and faith in the future. A real Maiden at Heart.

When the protagonists arrive in Atlas, they find a Kingdom which is scared to open up. It is scared of trusting:

Now that Kingdom is gone and not just physically, but also from the hearts of people:

Atlas welcomes the protagonists with an army ready to stop any intruder from other Kingdoms. Vacuo welcomes the protagonists with an army made of all the ships from every Kingdom.

Atlas (Ironwood’s mentality) is gone, but Amity (Penny’s mentality) is floating again in the sky.

#rwby #rwby meta #penny polendina #james ironwood #tw: penny's death #penny & friends #winter schnee #my meta

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bogbees · 1 year

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bunny is like. idk. there's stuff going on and I'm going to try and compose my thoughts ab it.

in Tweek Vs. Craig we get Kenny in home ec learning shit like "i think a trip to Hawaii will really improve our sex life" and being told the likelihood of him marrying a rich man is unlikely, and he's put into shop class for it.

and like. how Kenny ends up traveling to Hawaii with Butters so Butters will be able to chill out — in a way that mirrors the plot of Amok Time, thee sprik episode, the grandaddy of slash fandom.

And how Butters ends up being Kenny's right hand man in the future, both funding the projects and being the only other one who can access the research with voice recognition...

how we just had an episode where Cartman uses Kenny to manipulate Butters into getting what he wants, Butters' Paycheck, all like "Kenny deserves smth nice don't you agree? Do as i say and he'll get smth nice" ab it?? And it's just like "well Butters has always been down to give Kenny money"

the way in Major Boobage Butters is there like "there there buddy" comforting Kenny's brutal withdrawal. the lil drawing Butters made of him and Kenny in Kenny Dies. the way Kenny held Butters hand for most of Going Native.

and the line "I can't believe I had a secret crush on you Princess Kenny!" fr Paladin Butters in The Stick of Truth after Princess Kenny turns bad?? That's real and not smth i dreamed up???

and Mysterion vs. Professor Chaos??? like?????? the whole. hero vs. villain thing????? Mysterion Rises opens with a comic spread of the two fighting even!!

and then there's the Princess Kenny and Marjonne?????? genderqueer bunny??? t4t lesbians?? nonbinary and genderfluid?????? Kenny's interest in boobs ending up being a longing to look like that???

The way Kenny looks like he belongs on a beach in the future???? going back to hawaii?? how he and Butters both have sunglasses on????? how we saw both of their dicks??? no one else had their dicks out, just them??????? how tin foil is crucial to time travel not killing ppl, how professor chaos wears tin foil...

there's just. stuff. stuff i feel absolutely insane to be looking at like this. feels more insane than our schematics of creek that turned out to be canon. batshit crazy ab this

like, Band in China has Butters and Kenny in Stan's death metal band, and while they're trying to make their biopic Butters says this and Kenny looks at him?????? For what purpose animate Kenny's eyes and nothing else besides Butters?¿ He's surely just surprised at how upset Butters got over this, right, yeah, that's all this is, I'm just insane and my bff who got me to watch this show and doesn't care for the fandom aspect going "i remember noticing that when i watched it!" is like. nothing.

im insane looking at the colour of the popsicle. looking at the colour of Butters swim trunks. Butters wears teal, navy and green. Orange??? Orange?????????????

how Catman accuses Stan of inviting Butters but he says he didn't and they all look at Kenny

you need to kill me. Like for real just kill me.

#bogs' muttering #south park #sp bunny #i crave the sweet release of death fuvk them #cyan and orange *sobs into hands*#they're why i like those colours so much they have to be

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cannibalcaprine · 1 year

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originally a poll, now i know that [tumblr] just loves to pick things, so i wanted to make a more permanent post, so put your answer in the tags:

pick a class!

knights are your middle-range battle class, well-rounded and versatile. whether a wandering traveler with a blade or a holy paladin.

priests are conduits for higher or lower powers, holy prophets speaking the words of their masters, no matter if it's a holy god, an evil demon, or eldritch star-beasts.

wizards are your classic spellcasters, reading over ancient tomes and contacting great spirits to learn the secrets of reality. may be a bit eccentric.

machiners are master crafters, leave them with a bit of wood or clay or iron, and you'll come back to a functioning automaton or weapon. can be swarmers.

thieves are lithe and sneaky, hiding in back alleys or treetops with a notched arrow or gleaming knife in hopes of snatching up some gold. very magpie-like.

brawlers are unarmed fighters, only needing killer kicks and punches to get their point across. may be calm and collected monks, or brutal wrestlers.

woodsmen have natural contact with nature, speaking with the trees and fair folk. they specialize in plant and animal control, and can actually be fairly tanky.

summoners, rather than casting spells traditionally, summon little creatures or spirits from the empyrean, imbuing them with will and life.

marksmen, whether dead-eyed gunners or master archers, are your best long-range option, able to hit a target from as far away as they need. jar sold separately.

barbarians are right what they say on the tin, wild fighters only rivalled by brawlers in strength. they're as to woodsmen as paladins are to priests.

any questions, like what other systems' classes are in this analog? ask away!

#ttrpg #fantasy #dnd

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susiephone · 1 year

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ok here’s my pitch for a Neverafter version of Dorothy Gale, because the part of my brain that likes to make Ever After High-style OCs will never die

Dorothy blew in from some world unknown to most of the Neverafter, to the region of Oz, when she was about 12. in some loops she’s returned home, but in others, she’s stayed. sometimes by choice, sometimes not.

in this loop, Dorothy is now in her late twenties

she’s an oathbreaker paladin, formerly in the service of Glinda the Good

as a girl, Dorothy was guided on her journey by the two good witches, and was promised that if she found the Wizard who ruled Oz, she could go home. she traveled through Oz, facing much danger, but found friends along the way - a Scarecrow who wanted a brain, a Tin Man who wanted a heart, and a lion who wanted some courage

of course, the Wizard of Oz turned out to be a charlatan, an ordinary man from Dorothy’s home, with no real power, ruling Oz with nice-sounding lies and parlor tricks

in kinder versions of the story, everyone got what they wanted anyway.

not this time. this time, they were just stuck with what they had.

Dorothy’s friends promised to shelter her, and they did. the four retreated back into the unruly and wild world they’d traveled through, resolving to carve out a life for themselves.

when she discovered the Wizard’s lies, Dorothy’s love of the Neverafter was tarnished, and her trust in what she’d been told began to decay

Glinda the Good Witch of the South, possibly out of pity, kindness, or ulterior motives of her own, took Dorothy under her wing, teaching her magic and combat. Dorothy took an Oath of the Ancients and became a paladin under Glinda

as she grew up, Dorothy tangled more and more with cruel and even violent witches and fairies, and began to turn her back on the “good” witches of the North and South.

eventually, Dorothy met Ozma, a young woman who was the true ruler of Oz, kidnapped at birth and raised by a witch named Mombi (possibly with influence from the Stepmother)

quickly becoming friends, Ozma and Dorothy vowed to take the world back from the oppressive forces controlling it

staging a coup in the Emerald City, they killed the Wizard and officially cut ties with the witches, with Ozma taking her throne back and Dorothy taking on the role of the Wizard, officially going oathbreaker

as the new Great and Powerful Oz (she feels weird when people insist on calling her that), Dorothy works to grant the wishes of her and Ozma’s subjects, learning all the magic and alchemy she can to try and protect them and make them happy

eventually, she and Ozma fell in love and got married, technically making Dorothy queen consort of Oz. just “Dorothy” is fine, though. “the wizard,” if you insist on being formal.

Dorothy and Ozma now rule an increasingly-crumbling Oz together as a power couple, with the Scarecrow as Ozma’s advisor and The Tin Man and Cowardly Lion leading their army. Ozma’s own companions, Jack Pumpkinhead and Tik-Tok, are in her own royal court.

Ozma is an artificer, with Jack and Tik-Tok both being warforged

Dorothy prefers to wear simple clothes that harken back to the clothes she wore on the farm of her childhood, but for special occasions, can be spotted in somewhat masculine emerald green formalwear (she leaves the dresses and jewels to Ozma). the only exception is her choice in footwear - heeled silver boots, which provide her protection from most magic.

she still has a small scar on one of her cheeks, from where one of the good witches kissed her. if she gets too close to anything too dangerous, the mark burns.

she has a broomstick (taken from the Witch of the West - rumor has it she picked it off the crumpled remains of her body) and an alliance with the flying monkeys

Toto, due to the magic of the Neverafter, is still alive. he’s the spoiled, happy little lap dog he always was, always at Dorothy’s heels. however, he’s also a useful familiar, as Dorothy will sometimes use him as a spy, looking through his eyes and using Speak With Animals to talkto him about what he’s heard and seen

meanwhile, Glinda and the other witches are starting to want their kingdom back...

#dorothy gale #the wizard of oz #the wonderful wizard of oz #oz #neverafter #d20: neverafter #dimension 20: neverafter #neverafter oc #dimension 20

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blackjackkent · 4 months

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VERY challenging fight among the mind flayer pods. I think this might be the first time Hector and Co. have actually fought mind flayers directly, and these fuckers are SCARY. They have an attack called Mind Blast which can (and did, on one occasion) stun the entire group out of their turns, and another called "Extract Brain" which didn't seem to do exactly what it said on the tin (thankfully) but did do an absolute shitton of damage. I had to restart the fight twice because Hector was unconscious for the subsequent conversation with Zevlor, which I wanted him to be awake for. XD

(I've realized recently that I completely fucked up redoing his build as an Open Hand monk and I need to redo it again, but I haven't been able to go back to camp since we went down the Flesh Slide. But for Act 3 hopefully he will be a little beefier. For right now I'm just pretending that he's doing more work than he's actually doing in combat. :P )

The thing I'm most worried about here is that we don't have the option of taking a long rest, and everyone is REALLY hurting and low on spell slots and there's got to be some enormous boss battle coming up. :/ But we'll cross that bridge when we get there, I guess.

Also, Zevlor and the two Flaming Fist who were also in the pods fucking KICKED ASS during this fight. I don't know if I buy the tieflings' story that he showed cowardice out in the shadow-cursed lands, because he was definitely not messing around against these mind flayers. My personal suspicion is that he tried to surrender because innocents were in danger of being hurt, and didn't realize that surrendering to the Absolute cult isn't like surrendering to sane people.

But I guess we'll find out because we can talk to him now!

"Hells. I didn't think I was going to make it... Thank you..."

Wyll chimes in before Hector can speak. "Zevlor."

Zevlor glances towards him - then does a double-take, registering the horns and mottled skin now gracing the man's face and head. "Watching gods... The Blade of Frontiers? Wyll? What happened?" he asks, startled.

Wyll smiles bitterly. "I paid the price of angering the wrong devil." His voice is surprisingly cool, cautious, despite having known Zevlor before. The tales they have heard of Zevlor's supposed cowardice have clearly bothered him more than he's let on; after all, he considers himself the protector of the common people.

Zevlor looks at him steadily for a moment. His own smile is sad, weary. "And shouldered the cost to spare someone else a worse fate, I'd wager," he murmurs. A pause; then he turns to look at Hector. "I... owe you an explanation," he says. "Much more than that. But first... please..." His glowing gold eyes narrow anxiously, betraying the placidity of the rest of his expression. "The others. The ambush... tell me they survived."

Hector nods slowly. He isn't really sure what to think of Zevlor at this point; the reports of his cowardice and surrender do not mesh with the image he has seen of the man himself. "They found refuge," he says cautiously. Well, most of them at least. "But what the hells happened out there, Zevlor?"

"You've heard some of it, I'm sure," Zevlor says flatly. "That I froze, or broke, or some other lie that is kinder than the truth." His gaze grows distant, lost in memory. "We were ambushed by cultists, yes. And then I heard... Her. Their false god, whispering promises in my mind. I would be a paladin again - with a god's purpose, a god's power. Everything I needed to protect my people." He swallows, squeezes his eyes shut, regret and shame written in every line of his face. "And all the while, the cult tortured them. They fought, and ran, and died around me, while I imagined myself their savior."

He scowls, opens his eyes again, though he can't seem to quite meet Hector's. "By the time I regained my senses, it was too late. I did not just surrender to the Absolute," he mutters. "For a moment, I welcomed it."

Oh, gods. Hector stares at him, unsure whether to feel sympathy or revulsion.

The great horror of the Absolute, he reflects, is not in all the death, or even in the eldritch transformation and absorption of the mind flayer hive mind. It's in the way that this enemy preys upon the deepest weaknesses and fears of those it consumes, stripping them bare, with no corner of safety or identity left to them.

He saw only a few minutes ago how Zevlor suffered during the aftermath of the Descent - a paladin of Elturel, attacked and exiled by his own people without cause, his faith shattered apart. Yet another flavor of that same lost emptiness that Hector has seen in Lae'zel, in Shadowheart, as they have seen a pillar of their life taken from under them. Is it any wonder that, given a vision of that certainty being returned to him, he should be tempted by it?

Hector could, no doubt, chastise Zevlor for the weakness - but what good would it do? It's obvious that Zevlor already feels more shame than he can bear for what he did, for the loss of control and the sacrifices that went with it.

Like Madeline, in the grip of He Who Was, grieving for those she turned over to the Justiciars. I cannot grant you forgiveness you deny to yourself - but I can tell you that I understand.

"It sounds like you were being enthralled," he says quietly. "It's not your fault.

"It would be nice to think so," Zevlor says; his shoulders relax just slightly at the expression of understanding but none of the tension leaves his eyes. "But whatever these monsters twist us into... I believe it begins in us." He lets out a heavy breath, steadies himself - the military mind taking over, although Hector sees in the moment something of his own rituals of calming and self-discipline.

"I won't make excuses," Zevlor continues, more briskly. "I can't make amends. But I know something of what you came to do - I want to help, if you'll let me." He glances past Hector down the slime-ridden corridor behind him. "Ketheric is below. He thinks you're no longer a menace. Descend and show him how wrong he is. If there are any more survivors to be found, I'll find them and lead them out of this place."

Hector nods slowly, impressed by the force of personality it is clearly taking for Zevlor to stand against his own shame and exhaustion. "I could use another blade in the fight to come," he points out.

Zevlor smiles without humor. "Only if you can trust it won't be buried in your back. The Absolute swayed me once before. I won't risk it happening again." He puts a hand against Hector's shoulder briefly. "Go, my friend. Please. Let me do this much."

He lets his hand fall, turns and walks away down the corridor.

----------

Hector watches him go, his eyebrows knitted together in a troubled frown. "Damn," he mutters. "What a mess." He sighs, rubs a hand down his face. "I'm glad we found him. He's a good man, in spite of... all of this."

Wyll raises one shoulder in a slight shrug. "I want to think you're right," he says. "But people died because of his moment of weakness. Innocent people. People who trusted him to protect them."

Hector glances sideways at him. "And who is to say what vulnerable spot of ours would not be dredged up to destroy us at this moment, if the Prism was not protecting us?" he points out. A rueful smile tugs his lips for a moment. "We all have our regrets. Things we would like the power to change. None of us are exempt from that."

Wyll tips his head to the side and returns the wry smile after a moment's pause. "I suppose I can't argue with you there."

#bjk plays baldur's gate 3 #hector carlisle #bjk writes her own party banter #:( :( :( :( :(

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roll-for-something · 1 year

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My Number One Tip on Writing a Convincing Villain

the following is MY personal number one tip on writing villains and BBEGs for whatever use you may need them for. It are in no way the DEFINITIVE way to write a villain. I for instance like writing more morally complex villains that let the players think about the villains motivations because when the players can question if the villain is fully wrong it can lead to more interesting interactions. This is just a process I use. If you want your villain to be a true and horrific villain, then by all means do so. All that being said lets get into it! Everyone is the hero in their own story: Put simply its exactly what it says on the tin. If your villain is doing something villainous its usually because they think its the right thing to do. If you want your villains final goal to be to plunge the world into darkness, ask yourself WHY your villain wants to do that. Maybe its as simple as theres a much larger threat coming that feeds off of light or can weaponize the light in some destructive way, so there can be no light on the surface and millions will die. Or maybe its more complex than that. Maybe the villains clearly tragic backstory has a part where a group of paladins of the sun god committed some great atrocity against him and he vowed to blot out the sun so people will lose faith in the sun god, rendering him powerless. Both of these different reasonings give way to interesting interactions between the party and the BBEG. They also allow your VILLAIN to act VILLAINOUS without being absolutely reprehensible. As an example well use the first idea from above here. The BBEG is actually trying to protect the world from a much greater danger. The party could come across an absolutely DESTROYED caravan. Charred guards skeletons still in their soot blackened armor, a horse and buggy absolutely blasted to splinters, the ground charred and burnt 100 feet around never to grow plants again. the party comes across this with no context and its an inarguably horrific scene of brutality only a short time past. Its destructive. Its horrific. Its villainous from the parties perspective. But on the other hand... we have our BBEGs perspective. the caravan had some kind of super rare or even one of a kind super powerful magical reagent the BBEG needed to cast his ritual to plunge the world into darkness. He tried to settle things peacefully. He tried to explain the situation to the guards. But they drew weapons, discarding his stories of a light wielding monstrosity as a bandits distraction. Your BBEG doesnt have time for this. Time is running out. One spell. One blast. They died instantly. Painlessly. a few quick deaths to prevent the slow painful deaths of millions. A regrettable sacrifice that needed to be made. The Interaction of these two wholly different perspectives on the same horrible event allow for some of the most interesting role play possibilities in TTRPG or even just simply written history. At least in my opinion. this one interaction of the players coming across this scene after the fact also opens up many possibilities for the narrative. Do they side with him or oppose him? Do they talk or fight? Do they oppose him, only to talk to him halfway through the game, then side with him? HOPFULLY. Examples of this idea in fiction include Magneto from the X-men, Black Adam from Marvel comics (Not the movie. ew.), and oddly enough Principal Ed Rooney from ferris Beullers day off. (Think about it. Hes just doing his job.)

#ttrpg #dm #writing #writing tips #pathfinder 2e #dnd stuff #d&d

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fallout-drabbles-n-stuff · 1 year

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Okay so I was looking for a rule list/master list but I couldn't find one so idk if I'm crossing any writing boundaries or smth or if you already did this, but can you do headcannons for fo4 companions x Bird like sole? Like sole picks up their phrases and says them or sole like shiny objects and brings them to said companion?

I found this super cute! Here’s a part one because I’m a little tired! I should have part two up tomorrow (hopefully 💀)

Cait:

•At first she’s a bit insulted. I know- sounds bad but when she hears you mimic her phrases or the way her voice fluctuates..it’s not exactly the most welcome thing considering she’s likely been picked on it before because of how unique it is in the ‘wealth.

•won’t admit it but she thinks your collection of shiny objects is..dare she say…cute. Yes, cute. Wanna give her a neat looking rock? She may scoff but on the inside she knows she’s gonna treasure that damn rock.

Curie:

•Peculiar turn of events- Curie herself has a couple “bird-like” traits.

•The two of you go together just fine. She’ll show you neat specimens that she deems her treasures and you show her your’s- both of you appreciating the other’s oddities with just as much fascination as your own.

•Will be a little confused with the mimicry but will eventually just chalk it up to a normal behavior…..and then proceeds to start doing it. Keep her away from the tin can unless you want “Outstanding” to be perpetuated.

•If you happen to share a house or camp, she’ll think it’s absolutely intriguing if you “nest” by specifically arranging your belongings and so on.

•You are definitely a subject of her attention quite often.

Danse:

•Similar to Cait in the idea that the first few times you copy a phrase that he’s aware of himself saying, he’s not going to take it too well. He’ll automatically assume you’re mocking him.

•Never fear, eventually Danse realizes what’s going on and loosens up a bit. If nothing else, you were listening to him and he loved that. Maybe he might start taking note of phrases you use and do a bit of mimicry back.

•Might gripe and say you need to quit hoarding garbage but truthfully? Call him Paladin hypocrite because he’s just as bad, if not worse about picking up random items.

•Give him one of your special items though…oh atom have mercy. He’s moved.

Deacon:

•actually really digs your more obscure way of being. You’re interesting to him.

•Will definitely crack a couple quick quips like “hey, that’s my job” whenever you mimic his phrases and so on but he means it all in a lighthearted kind of way.

•Is more amused than anything by your quirks and not afraid to admit it.

•Might start suggesting you have your code named changed to better reflect your unique characteristics.

Gage:

•Doenst really seem to pick up on your actions-or not care for that matter- up until you bring him an item like the shiny objects you create.

•Now, this raider is by no means a sentimental sap but something seemed so strangely sweet about the action that he had no choice but be touched.

•truthfully, he had noticed your behaviors from the moment the two of you began your “overboss conquest”. He originally thought it was quite strange but as time passed, the raider grew fond.

•He won’t ever outright say anything but he loves it.

#Cait #curie #Danse #deacon #gage #fallout 4 #fallout #fo4 companions #paladin danse #fallout companions #elder maxson

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baddieladdie · 9 days

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On Love & Loss

For mature audience, TW: Grief, Fear, mild gore

Chapter 5: Brotherhood Might

Chapter 4, Chapter 3, Chapter 2 , Chapter 1

Danse cautiously opened the door to his quarters where Nora had been left to recover safe from prying eyes and curious initiates. She sat at the edge of his freshly made cot, flipping through the burnt remains of a Silver Shroud comic book. Nora glanced up at the sound of the metal door scraping against the tin floor of the Prydwen.

“You again.” The General of the Minutemen, Nora, responded dully, setting aside the comic.

“Right,” The Paladin awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “About that, our initial meeting wasn’t meant to go poorly. I apologize.”

“You.broke.my.fucking.arm.”

"Right..."The Paladin nodded sheepishly, finding a sudden interest in the wall decor. “How's the arm?”

“It’s fine.” Though the way she hugged her arm close to her body said otherwise.

Danse awkwardly spun the spare bullet he kept in his pocket between his index and pointer finger. “So…we found the group of children you were transporting to Sanctuary Hills -”

“What did you do with them?” Nora lept her feet, interrupting him. She moved in so close to him, Danse could feel the warmth of her breath on his 5 o'clock shadow. “So help me if you hurt them, I’m killing the lot of you! We’ll burn this fucking blimp to the ground!”

“Hey, hey hey” Danse firmly gripped her good shoulder, locking into her steel-grey eyes. “Please, don’t talk like that. This isn’t the place to be making enemies.”

“I can handle myself.” Nora hissed, squirming free of his grasp.

“I don’t think you can.” He gestures to her limp arm with confidence. The wasteland must have ruined her to be so blind. Nora was outmatched and outnumbered. There is no faction in the Commonwealth as powerful or respected as the Brotherhood of Steel.

Danse sighed, raising in his hands slightly in metaphorical submission “Let’s start over. My team flew the children the rest of the way to Sanctuary Hills. We left them with a man there by the name of Preston. He seemed rather fond of you.”

Nora paused, eyeing him nervously. “You didn’t hurt him, did you?”

Danse sighed in frustration. What’s it going to take to make this woman believe he’s not just another wasteland monster? “Preston is fine. I explained that you required specialized medical care that only the Brotherhood can provide.”

“Is that the only reason why I’m being held here?”

“I…” Danse paused, weighing the tension in the room. Clearly, Nora still did not trust him. There was no way to tell if she would provide full and accurate intel. No, not yet. Given the injury he had inflicted, the General likely wouldn’t share such privileged information with him. Scribe Haylen, however… “Look, why don’t we get you to see the doc about that arm?”

“Don’t avoid the question, you….you brute!” Nora shoved Danse, the palm of her good hand pressing firmly against the padded orange BoS uniform.

“I have a name.” He responded flatly, unprovoked by her meek attack.

“You seem to know mine. No surprise you’ve lost your manners.”

He wrapped his hands gently around hers, as a gesture of affection but mostly to prevent her from striking him. “It’s Danse. Paladin Danse.”

The Paladin's light brown eyes and demeanor were unmistakable. There had been countless times where Nate had held her hands just as the Paladin did now. They sweet ways he’d win her back over after some trivial argument. Grief threatened to drop hot tears down her face. It nearly felt like Nate was looking back at her. “Thank you, Danse.”

“I’ll escort you to the doctor for that arm.”

“I said - it’s fine.”

“That so?” Danse reached back into his pocket for his lucky bullet, placing it on the desk with a hefty Clank . “Then, pick up the bullet.”

She hesitates for a moment, debating whether to hide the pain or take advantage of the medical support while she was here. It was her dominant arm, afteral. How long could she survive? Could she ever learn to shoot accurately left-handed? Either way, it wasn't worth the risk. For now, the Paladin was right. She needed the support of the Brotherhood, as much as she hated it.

“Lead the way” she slouched in submission.

Nora watched the busy bodies of BoS soldiers curiously as they rushed from one task to the next. Some people focused intently on machinery. Sparks from their wielding illuminated their stony expressions. Others carefully measured solutions while scribes feverishly took notes behind them. It was surprisingly productive compared to the battle to survive down on the ground. The Brotherhood were doing more than survive, they were innovating by the looks of it.

“Where’s my vault suit?” Nora asked causally, still focused on the action happening around them.

“You still want that old thing?” Danse questioned in disbelief. The tattered Vault 111 suit was in such poor condition, it wouldn't be suitable as a cleaning rag.

Silence.

“It’s in a locker we had assigned to you for your stay here.”

Silence.

“So why did you…I mean, that thing was practically a rag.”

“I was wearing it when my husband was killed and my baby stolen. I just…couldn’t part with it.”

“Oh…I’m sorry.”

“No, i-it’s alright”

Maybe it wasn't worth the risk to issue Nora the fatigues. Maxson was particularly disturbed that BoS property was being issued to 'an enemy of the brotherhood'. “Do you not like the BoS fatigues?”

“Well,” Nora looked down at the loose uniform she wore, “It certainly is more comfortable! Warmer too.”

They laughed to fill the uncomfortable silence.

“Ya know, you really aren’t so bad when you lose some of that power armor and weaponry. We could almost be friends, if I didn’t think you’d kill me.”

“Nora…” Danse paused at the Clinic door.

“I’ll see you later, Danse”

-the clinic room within the Prydwen-

“Well, I don’t see many civilians here on the Prydwen. You should consider yourself quite lucky.” Knight-Captain Cade flicked open his instant operation kit.

“Yeah. Real lucky.” She looks away.

“I’m real sorry about your arm. Believe me, Danse feels terrible about it. We never had any plans to hurt you.”

“Then what do you want from me?,” Nora scoffed.

The doctor sighed, injecting a stimpak into arm. “The brotherhood of steel is interested in all technology. Intelligence is a valuable commodity to us. They want some information from you. That’s all, I promise.”

“What kind of information?”

The doctor pulls out a chart. “There have been some sightings of an unidentified structure being built just outside the Sanctuary Hills settlement. We want to know what it is. As General of the Minuteman, you have this intel. The Brotherhood gathers technical data to save humanity. That's how we have the medical technology to save your arm."

Nora stared blankly, trying to find a way to respond. But the doctor didn’t press.

“Alright, then. Time for a few medical-related questions for the record. Just answer me to the best of your ability. Let's begin - As a child, were you ever exposed to radiation for an extended period of time?"

“There wasn't that much radiation around before the bombs fell."

"Before the bombs? What? Let me check my notes." Knight-Captain Cade muttered softly to himself, flipping through the files on the clipboard. "Ah, here it is. Vault 111, cryo-preservation testing." He place the clipboard on the desk and picked up the ophthalmoscope. He adjusted the settings briefly before testing Nora's eyes. "Other than your injury, you're probably healthier than anyone else aboard. Anyways, moving on to the second question, Have you ever had or come in contact with a person confirmed to be carrying a communicable disease?"

"I mean, that's pretty hard to tell. I can't exactly ask that when a Raider's trying to fucking kill me."

"Fair point. It can't be easy surviving without the support of the Brotherhood. Third question for the record, and please answer honestly, Have you ever had sexual relations with any species considered non-human?”

“No, no."? Nora shook her head earnestly. ":My husband, Nate, was killed by cybernetic man named Kellogg. He stole my baby. I wasn’t released from my pod until later. Until it was too late.”

“I’m sorry for you loss, ma’am. What was Nate like?”

She pauses “Similar to your Paladin Danse, actually. Sometimes, I can see Nate’s face on his.” She smiles sadly. “He was in the military too, you know. That’s how we ended up getting a spot in the vault.” A pregnant silence filled the room, grief choking her. “I really miss him. Everyday.”

“I’m so sorry. Well, your arm should be fine in a few days. I have one of the initiates at the bar escort you back to Danse's quarters. Elder Maxson says your welcome to stay, but you walk freely. It's just a matter of privacy, you understand”

"But the Brotherhood still wants my secrets?"

"Well, yes..." Cade avoided the topic, glancing outside the clinic to see who was chatting at the rec-room bar. "Scribe Haylen? Escort Nora back to the Paladin's quarters?"

"Yes, sir." Halyen responded, guzzling down the remainder of her beer before rushing to his side.

"Alright, you should be well enough to leave in few days. I'll have the Paladin stop by to answer any questions you may have. Good Evening, General" Cade held the door open as Nora passed through, shooting him a suspicious glance.

#On Love & Loss #fo4 fanfic #paladin danse x sole survivor #paladin danse #female sole survivor #fo4 danse #fo4 #fallout 4

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darklordazalin · 1 year

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Azalin Reviews: Darklord Soth

Domain: Sithicus Domain Formation: 720 BC Power Level: 💀💀💀💀💀 Sources: 3e: Ravenloft, Secrets of the Dread Realms, Gazetteer IV; 2e: Domains of Dread, Domains and Denizens, When Black Roses Bloom, The Evil Eye, Tales of the Lance; 5e: VRGTR; Novels: Knight of the Black Rose, Spectre of the Black Rose, Tales of Ravenloft; CW: Spousal abuse Since the new Dragonlance book came out this week, I thought I’d do a throw back Wednesday (I’m a King, I do what I want) for Lord Loren Soth, everyone’s favorite overcooked BBQ Knight of the Rusty Bucket. Creator arguments aside, Soth’s history is a bit complicated and at times convoluted, so I will be sticking mostly to how he arrived in Ravenloft and the dust he collected while there.

Lord Soth is the embodiment of what a Knight should not be wrapped in a burnt tin can covering the remains of an overdone sausage. Once a member of the highly esteemed Order of the Rose of the Knights of Solamnia, Soth was known for his so-called good deeds throughout Krynn. Now, if such good deeds are done for one’s ego and not selflessness, what are they really?

No one can doubt Soth’s devotion to the Order of the Rose after he not so subtly designed his castle, Dargaard Keep, to resemble a rose. A lack of many tall towers and skulls in my opinion, but there is no accounting for taste.

Soth had an arranged marriage with lady Gladria of Kalaman. Their marriage was a loveless and barren one. A story a bit too familiar for my tastes, so we will move on. As unhappy at home mangers tend to do, Soth forced his 13 loyal Knights to roam the relatively peaceful country side with him to “do good” so he could spend more time working than being a family man. One day they saved a group of elf maidens from ogres and Soth fell in love with one of their number, Isolde.

Soth broke his Knightly vows through his infidelity with Isolde and instead of stepping down from the Order as his womanizing father before him did, he decided the best course of action was to have his Seneschal, Caradoc, murder Gladria so he would be free to marry Isolde. And with Gladria’s corpse still warm, he did just that.

Surprisingly, the Knights of Solamnia can count to 9 and upon seeing how very pregnant Isolde was after a month of marriage figured things out. Soth was stripped of his Knightly Orders and imprisoned for his crimes. He was shortly after rescued by his 13 loyal knights and, lacking any actual plan of escape, they returned to Dargaard Keep.

Shortly thereafter, the Knights laid siege on Dargaard, demanding justice against Soth’s crimes. Stirring behind the stone pedals of his keep, Soth became physically and, at times, mentally, abusive to his men and his wife.

In a rare moment of clarity, Soth realized what a rusty old piece of junk he was being and prayed to Paladine for redemption. Why do religious types go directly to their gods? Perhaps not beating your wife and facing punishment for murdering your other wife is the actual answer here? No? Too easy? Well, as gods tend to do, Paladine offered Soth a chance at redemption – stop the power-hungry Kingpriest of Istar from binding the gods to his whim or Paladine will send a giant meteor to destroy all of Istar. Paladine: God of Ultimatums.

A little background for those unfamiliar with Istar. Istar was a center of peace for a long time but slowly descended into corruption after declaring itself to be the center of “good” and “light” in the world. The Kingpriest’s orders became more and more corrupt, eventually declaring a mere “evil” thought as a crime. He planned on binding the gods to his will and this is what Paladine sent Soth to stop.

Soth, being the dried out husk of a Labrador retriever that he is, set forth to do just that. However, he came across some of Isolde’s companions while on the road and they convinced him Isolde was being unfaithful. Soth, having no confidence in his abilities to please a woman, believed their tale without question and ran back home to yell at his wife.

As he confronted his wife, who did everything to shield their son from him, Paladine’s Cataclysm struck, setting Dargaard Keep ablaze and knocking a rather conveniently placed chandelier on top of Isolde and their son. She held out their son to him, begging Soth to save him, but he ignored her. As they died, she cursed him to “live the life of all those he had doomed”.

The flames consumed Soth and he rose as a Death Knight and the only remaining etching on his once fine armor was a single, burnt rose earning him the moniker “The Knight of the Black Rose”. His loyal Knights turned into mindless skeletons, Isolde’s elven companions into banshees, and Caradoc into a ghost.

In Krynn Soth served the dragon deity Takhisis for many years and eventually became obsessed with the Dragon Highlord, Kitiara. Ignoring his duties once more, Soth planned on trapping Kitiara’s soul in a gemstone while Takhisis was throughly distracted fighting Raistlin. Not one to do his own work, Soth sent Caradoc to collect Kit’s soul and promised Caradoc his returned mortality if he did so. Caradoc might have been considered a “fop” by most, but he was smart enough to realize that Soth would not fulfill that bargain and hid Kitiara’s trapped soul to ensure his side of the deal.

Soth, who solves all things with violence, managed to snap the neck of the ghostly Caradoc instead of bowing before him to get the soul gem. At the same time, the two were enveloped by the Mists and transported to Barovia.

In Barovia, Caradoc was under von Zarovich’s so-called protection. Caradoc stayed at the Castle Ravenloft and informed Strahd about Soth’s character and Strahd used that information against the Death Knight.

Soth’s time in Barovia mainly amounted to him falling for von Zarovich’s obvious manipulations as he ran around with the werebadger Azrael and the Vistana Magda. This resulted in one dead red dragon and Gundar’s disturbing progeny before Soth realized Caradoc was with Strahd the entire time.

After swinging his sword at everything von Zarovich could throw at him, the Count gave in and handed over Caradoc to the Death Knight. Seems bad tactics to send an army of undead against a Death Knight without using any destructive spells in his arsenal…but Strahd was not the best of students.

His ghostly seneschal back by his side, Soth proceeded to go about killing him (again), but he was denied this as the Mists came for him, forming Sithicus as his Domain.

Sithicus is a land dominated by elves, songs of lament, and a rusty Death Knight gathering dust on his throne as he stares at the Memory Mirrors Tindalfalus fashioned for him. There he was gifted with Nedragaard Keep (literally means “not Dargaard”), which resembles his old home but its shifting nature irritates the orderly soldier. He has command over his 13 skeletal knights and 13 banshees continually inform him of how horrible he his. On the full moon he must sing of all the wrongs he’s done, which in Sithicus is about every 8 days.

While Soth was collecting dust, Azrael carved a position of rulership for himself. Azrael’s machinations lead him to conduct a ritual within the Black Chapel of the Veidrava Salt Mines in order to gain control of every shadow within Sithicus and thereby grant him the power to destroy Soth and claim the throne.

Azrael was thwarted by some do-goer. The interruption of his ritual resulted in a giant ball of negative energy smashing into Nedragaard Keep. Soth was unharmed and granted a chance to undo his past by reliving the moment where he refused to save his son. He refused once more, yet was removed from Ravenloft. Depending on which source you wish to believe, back in Krynn, he found redemption after refusing service to Takhisis, which caused the goddess to grant him mortality and a swift death. Alternatively, Sithicus is now part of Klorr in 5e where all the failed Domains delve. Lord Soth may be among them.

Before all that, Soth was quite active in his Domain – seeking a way back to Krynn, obsessing over Kitiara, annoying the elves he decided he hated, and creating the most horrifying type of vampire – vampire Kender. He’s a formidable opponent with only a few spells, but of the powerful/destructive type. He has control of vast undead armies and is unstoppable force that will beat down anything in his way until it crumbles.

When not doing his best statue impersonation, Soth is not one I would want to face without sufficient preparation. His power level is certainly a 5 out of 5. Personality on the other hand…I’m not sure he has one.

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