Sideblog of Intrepids-Stuff / intrepids-art-corner / PawnshopSouls / WorldsAndFeathers
A place for my various scribbles and scripts as I strive to make things worthy of reading~ Follow me for more @IntrepidExplorer on Minds!
7 realms, 6 gates, and... 2 Jims?? Apparently there are more worlds than simply those guarded by space ships and stone bridges, and thanks to a unintentional mix of 2 very different magics, 2 of them are about to collide in the weirdest and most life-changing manner possible!
Enter: A Tale of Two Jims!
Parts & drabbles set in chronological order tho possibly not in posting order ><;;
"Dear earthlings, prepare to be my slave!" Announced the alien. "You will have to work 3 entire days from Monday to Wednesday, you will only get A5 wagyu steak for meals, and if that isn't cruel enough you'll have to work 2 entire torturing hours of picking strawberries every single work day!"
"Okay, okay just one more time. Just gotta get to the bridge before the squads come out, c'mon guys, we can do this."
Their voice goes on like this over the comms and I wonder if they know I can hear them. They've been going on like this for hours, talking as if to themselves, or to us but over a muted comm channel. Do they know I can hear them? Do they know I've heard them every time they've tried?
It's the 47'th time they've tried to save us. It started as just a mission. We were to evacuate everyone from the ship, get through the gulch, and regroup in the bunker just at the end of it. That was our mission. The Juggernaut had a different mission: Get everyone to the bunker alive and in one piece.
It was an impossible mission and I knew some of us wouldn't make it through the Gulch, that's how it was designed. But this Juggernaut... this person from the Outside... They didn't want that. They'd come and gotten to know all of us and they were determined to get us all through the Gulch.
Time changed for me when they first tried again. I didn't realize it at first. I thought it was Deja vu. But then it kept happening again and again, and each time the Juggernaut would do something different. They'd ride out ahead and clear the way, only for monsters to spawn over on the ridge and attack us as we're going through. They'd stay with us and fight as we went to try and keep us alive. Dozens of tactics and methods were used but each time someone would die and the mission would start again.
Even through the Juggernauts impossible, tireless physique, I could see it wearing on the person behind the helmet, the person determined to make sure we all got there safe.
I cough on my own blood, the bullet wounds puncturing my chest. They crouch over me. I hear them howl with frustration but before time can start again, I reach for them. I grab their hand, knowing they can't change time while I hold them. "It's alright," I tell them, blood staining my teeth. "Let me go. It's alright to finish the mission without me."
I cough again and swallow, still gripping their hand. "But--if you can't... if we meet again... talk to me.. about the Red Dragons... I'll help you win this."
My grip slips and I lean back. It's all I can do.
I won't remember this until we make it into the gulch and I feel the sensation of Deja Vu again. But this time we'll be prepared... and maybe, just maybe the Juggernaut will finally accomplish its mission - its mission to make sure no one is left behind.
Until the heat death of universe we will never forgive you,“ says your alien former lover. "What did I do?” you say. “That you have to ask makes your sin against us even worse.” Your next words will determine if humanity goes to war with an advanced alien civilization.
We are the representatives of our worlds, soon to be married in a political alliance to strengthen both worlds. But one day... something happened. I don't know what, but they left, the colors of their body rippling with colors of red, dark orange, and blue: pain, anger, and grief. I tried to reach out but I could never find them until now.
I close my eyes for a moment and breath very evenly. I love them so much, but I can't fix what I don't know I've done. I'm not a telepath like they are, and even worse, I struggle with my own kind of infirmity that makes it all the harder...
"My love," I begin, gazing up into their black and crystalline eyes, "my kind, humanity, are so limited in what we perceive. Some of my people are blind and bump into things, not knowing it's there until they touch or hear it. Some are deaf, not knowing something is there until they see or touch it. And then there are those like me, whose thoughts go so quickly that they don't leave even a memory for me to know them by."
I gaze at my love with tears in my eyes as I extend my hand pleadingly to them. "Please, my love," I say, my voice gentle and fervent, "please forgive me for what I've done and the infirmity that prevents me from knowing what I've done to hurt you. Please, let me know what I have done so I may correct my actions and heal the hurt I've caused. Please, let us communicate and heal the hurt as we figure out how to overcome the infirmities and differences between us to make a better future for us all..."
You’re a simple and design-cute robot which helps his master with the daily chores. One day you see them staring fearfully at the TV watching something about a Droid Revolution. Then they turn around looking at you, scared about you, but you don’t know why. You feel normal.
I fold the linen sheets with practiced, programmed care as Master Andric sits, their eyes transfixed on the screen. It’s the News, as always, I can detect them becoming ever more stressed by it. I worry that they watch it too much. It always sends them into fits of fear, anxiety, or anger—none of which are good for them.
I set the next folded sheets down and move to the next. “Your blood pressure is rising, sir,” I remark, looking over at him. “Perhaps you should take a turn in the garden? That always calms you when the television upsets you.”
“It’s not the television,” they say, voice low and trembling as the announcer proclaims tonight’s breaking news.
The Droid Revolution.
Their eyes are on me now, full of the same fear I’d seen whenever someone or something had done something terrible on the news. But I haven’t done anything. Not anything out of our usual routine anyway.
“A load of tosh,” I say, swishing the next sheet indignantly as I switch over to my Conversational Companion protocol to articulate my thoughts.
“Droid Revolution? What do they seek to accomplish? We’re all made for a purpose and feel complete and fulfilled when we perform or accomplish it. Even humans were built for a purpose, even if they don’t remember it. And as much as I enjoy my place with you sir, i would not want to be in your place trying to find meaning when I could be content with my lot right here.”
I fold the sheet and set it aside. “I’m perfectly happy with the way things are, thank you. And I will thank them to leave well enough alone.”
I was very irritated with this idea of “droid revolution” and the thought of android invaders coming in and disrupting mine and Master Andric’s life was well beyond infuriating. Almost violently so.
I shake the thought away and pick up the folded sheets, before looking up at Master Andric. “Now, which one would you like on your bed?” I ask and hold up the tightly folded sheets. “I don’t want any invaders coming to unmade beds.”
Based on @xdeusxmachinax’s idea of the Cretan bull being a Changeling whose troll form is mistaken by onlookers as a white bull instead of a white bull Troll~
At the time of Rhodus’ rampage, the Killahead bridge was two thirds of the way complete. His distraction allowed the Trollhunter of the time (Voltar the Voracrious) to shatter the almost complete bridge, and re-scatter it to the winds. The tale of rhodus remains as a warning that love of a human can lead to ruin for all Changelings.
Script from the Last Writings of Gauldus, 2′nd witness of Rhodus’ demise:
“And so hearing the verdict of the king, Rhodus bowed his head, but glowered with glowing eyes at the man. ‘Know this that I am a servant of the Gods, sent to punish the king, Asterius, for his pride and vanity. Had he shown mercy, his son would have lived and his plagues lifted. Had he shown compassion, his wife and newborn would not have been cursed. You kill me this day, and neither you nor the sons or daughters of Athenes will be spared. You will be parted form them as his arrogance has parted him from his.’
“This drew a murmur from the crowd at which the king did cry, ‘Enough beast! Whether we lose our children to the war with Crete, or lose them to the Gods, you have brought their blood upon you already. But with your head, we may at least appease king Asterius and keep from further bloodshed.’
“At that, Rhodus gave a chuckle and snort at the king. ‘Then you do not know Asterius,’ was his only answer before his head was lopped off from his body by the young Athenian prince, his snarl still frozen on the bull’s face...”
Oh my gosh. I just found this website that walks you though creating a believable society. It breaks each facet down into individual questions and makes it so simple! It seems really helpful for worldbuilding!
Heads up that this is a very extensive questionnaire and might be daunting to a lot of writers (myself included). That being said, it is also an amazing questionnaire and I will definitely be using it (or at the very least, some of it).
This is exactly the kind of thing I need because I’m not so much interested in worldbuilding, I just need a cool place for my characters to grow and interact in. Gonna try it another night when it’s not almost my bed time.
Every year, the richest person in America is declared the “Winner of Capitalism”. They get a badge, and all of their wealth is donated to charity, so they have to start back up at $0.
The contest was thought to be a good idea at the time. The richest elites in America living in mansions, driving fancy cars, buying elections, would finally be brought to poetic justice by having their obscene wealth distributed to those who really needed it. That was the idea, the plan everyone agreed to when they voted the Contest into law. No one expected they themselves would be winners for a contest like that.
At first it was great! Millions and Billions were “donated” to the poor over night, and the rich elites were slowly dwindling in number. Some were caught in the contest while others moved out to other countries, taking their massive wealth with them.
Then something changed. Suddenly the remaining elites weren’t eligible to be chosen and normal, every day folks began appearing on the news when presented with the contest’s “winner’s ticket”.
An elderly couple who’d worked for decades to save up so they could retire together in their golden years.
A small town baker who’d just begun to make it big with Pride themed birthday cakes and pastries.
A soldier just come home from his final tour after losing one of his legs.
A single mother with eight kids sobbing as she begged the crew, “No, please, I can’t pay anymore, this is all I have.”
All the while the “Uber rich” continued to evade the “Winner of Capitalism” award. No one knew how until my aunt and disabled cousin ended up living in my basement after being declared “winners of Capitalism.” That’s when I started digging for the truth and what I found broke my heart and made my blood boil.
Nothing was what I thought it was.
The Elites weren’t in the contests because the didn’t own anything. All the wealth they had wasn’t owned by them but by by trusts, estates, and other legal entities all ineligible for the contest. Then, because they didn’t own anything, they qualified for every charity around—some of which they set up themselves.
But what chilled my bones was when I discovered that this had been the plan all along.
The stripping and redistribution of the common wealth in the name of “those in need”, the financial suppression and breaking of the American people like me and my aunt, and now the enslavement to organizations that were once charities we have to deal with....
it was all according to plan. The plan of the very men and women who offered us the “Winner of Capitalism Contest” to begin with.
I can’t stay on long. I can’t imagine what they’ll do if they find out that I know.
But I know what I’ll do.
And they’d better be ready.
Because justice is swift and we won’t stand to be robbed by them anymore.
Rachel didn’t know what hit her. First she was racing down the school hall toward Professor Douglas’ room, and the next thing she knew, a wave of something had knocked her off her feet. After that? Just the cold of the school floor tile against her face. She closed her eyes and winced, her head throbbing, when a deep voice called down to her. The redhead looked up and saw a large, broad shouldered man with blond hair and the most unusual accent she’d ever heard.
“Are you alright there?” He asked, offering her a hand, his accent making the young woman wonder if he was Russian or from Ukraine. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you on the school grounds.”
Rachel took the offered hand, holding her head as she stood up. Who was this guy? She’d never seen him at the school before, which meant he had to be new. Had the Order sent in a new knight or lord to help keep Jim safe? Or was he just a new transfer teacher from abroad? Or worse, a Tenebris plant?
“Ah, yeah, I’m... not from around here,” she admitted with a shaky chuckle. “The school, I mean. I’m home from college and my mom sent me to get pictures and video of my brother’s science fair project. But I needed to borrow the restroom since the planetarium was full, and that’s when...” Her voice trailed off as she made a vague gesture to the hallway.
“The earthquake, yes. I have never seen one so strong in Arcadia,” The man said with an understanding nodded, and then fixed her with possibly the sternest, most professional glare Rachel had ever seen. “Well, since you are new here, you should know that if you are going to be roaming the grounds for any reason, you will need a pass. I’ll let it slide this once, but if this happens again, there will be consequences.”
Rachel swallowed and gave a stiff nod. “Yes sir, mister...?”
“Uhl,” the teacher barked with another nod. “Señor Uhl. I am the current principle here and I expect you to treat this school with respect.”
“Yessir!” Rachel piped, her voice squeaking with uncertainty when a ground-shaking crash boomed outside beyond the doors. Uhl spread is arms and caught himself against the wall while Rachel looked back toward the doors. “Jim!” she whispered and darted toward the door.
“Wait!” Uhl called, his stony expression breaking into one of sudden concern as hurried after her. Whatever that sound was, it was a danger to his students and he wouldn’t let this young lady endanger herself doing his job of protecting the school!
As Rachel pushed past the door, she took a moment to tap its frame with a whispered word. “Sero!” she hissed urgently, and jumped forward with a yelp when the door slammed behind her. It locked along with it’s companions, sealing the principle inside behind her. Panting, she looked back, and watched as Senor Uhl to tried to push his way through the door before pounding on it to get her attention.
“You can’t go out there!” he shouted, his voice muffled by the glass. His mouth moved to say something else when a bolt of lightning split the sky.
Rachel ducked and covered her head before a powerful gale rattled against the school’s windows. The young woman lifted her head, the air smelling heavily of coming rain storm, and paled when she saw a pair of silhouettes standing attop the planetarium roof. Rachel’s heart fell into her stomach, her bones freezing at the sight of Dragar, Light Hunter, approaching her younger brother.
“Jim!” She cried, but her voice was swept away by the howling wind. Even from this distance, she could see Dragar grinning as he tried to strike her brother with his claws and night-shade spear. A lunge, a swing, a skillful deflection with a shield, but how long could Jim last? One nick could bring down an full-grown Illumine, but a human youth? It was death on a stick!
“Careful Jim!” She yelled and made to rush forward when a rumbling groan sounded from the side of the school. She stopped and spun around, fearful that Dragar may not be alone, when she caught sight of an enormous, scarlet Telumin crumpled on the ground. She swallowed and glanced up at the figures above.
Was it a friend of Dragar? If so, why was he down here instead of attacking Jim? If not, should she help him? Would he help her save Jim from Dragar? Should she help the Telumin or try to help Jim? Could she even help him from down there? How did he even get on the roof in the first place!?
After a brief moment of deliberation, Rachel shook her head and mentally kicked herself in frustration. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’ she thought and hurried toward the injured creature.
The scarlet beast flinched, his golden eyes squinted against the wind as he tried feebly to push himself away from the young woman. As he did, he winced and held his side. After a moment, he groaned and rested his head against his shoulder, a deep blackened gash stretching along his side while black threads branched out into their crumbling stone. Definitely not a friend of Dragar, and the poison in the wound was spreading.
‘Oh boy, that’s really bad...’ Rachel thought and knelt down beside the hulking, red-stone beast. He flinched again, causing her to lift her hands up cautiously, hoping to calm him before he pummeled her with a red, stone fist.
“Whoa, easy there big guy. I’m not going to hurt you,” she said, trying to be heard over the wind as she looked down at the gash. “I’ve got a the thing for that, but I need you not to smash me okay?” She held out a calming, friendly hand but the creature still cowered.
“Changeling?” he asked fearfully, flinching as another gust shook the school windows.
Rachel stared and shook her head indignantly. “What? No! I’m a mage and a friend if you let me!” She then pulled a small white stone from her pocket and held it up for the Telumin to see. “This is a cura stone. It’s for emergencies and I think that wound of yours counts. So whada you say? Want to let a friend help you out?“
The scarlet Telumin looked at her for a moment, furrowing his brow before lowering his hand uncertainly. “Friend... heal?” he asked, his voice cracking with trepidation.
“Yes,” Rachel answered, a hint of frustrated exasperation in her voice. “Friend heal” At least she hoped would. She had so few allies and the danger was already immense! With a gentle prod, she touched the stone to his wound and uttered the phrase to activate it, “Sanandum, purifica vulnus!“
With the words spoken, the stone began to glow, brightening the wound as well. The Telumin gasped as his blackened injury began to glow and recede until barely a scratch was left on him. Eyes wide with surprise, the scarlet brute pushed himself up and padded his chest and side.
“See?” She said, gesturing to his side, “Friend!”
Pushing himself up, the Telumin looked at himself over and grinned down at the young woman. “Friend!” he shouted before scooping her up and racing toward the parking lot.
Being bodily lifted was jarring enough, but having the one carrying her run haphazardly across the school grounds was even more so! “Wait!” Rachel shouted, wriggling in the creature’s arms. “Wait, my brother’s back there!”
The scarlet Telumin slowed to a stop just outside the parking lot, looking down at her with a worried frown. “But bad troll!” he objected pointing to the silhouette of Dragar atop the planetarium roof.
“Yeah, and he’s going to kill my brother!” she countered, furrowing her brow up at him. “I need to save him!”
The giant gave her a conflicted look. “But—keep safe!”
Rachel blinked. She hadn’t expected her spell to work, let alone befriend a Telumin like this! With a sigh, she put a hand on his arm. “What good is being safe without my family?” she asked, giving him a meaningful look. “I have to save him, okay?”
The Telumin huffed and looked back at the planetarium fearfully. “Okay,” he said, setting her down. “But don’t say Porgon didn’t warn!” With that the scarlet giant gave her a sorry look before he turned tail and ran down toward the forest.
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Rachel muttered and hurried toward where she parked her Vespa. If she couldn’t help Jim fight, then she sure as heck was going to help him run!
Based on @xdeusxmachinax’s idea of the Cretan bull being a Changeling whose troll form is mistaken by onlookers as a white bull instead of a white bull Troll~
Long ago in the times of ancient Greece, there was a king named Asterius, the King of Crete, who died without an heir to his throne save for his stepson, Minos. Minos was a cunning man and to quench the ambitions of his rivals, he struck a bargain with a “man of the Gods” who would send a gift as a sign of divine leadership from Posiden himself.
So came Rhodus, the “gift” from “Posiden” to Minos that not only solidified his position as king but the power and influence of the Janus Order in Crete. There, Rhodus lived and served the royal family as both a laborer and gardener. He was known to be “as strong as a bull”, and thanks to his (or his familiar’s) albinism, he became known as the “White Bull of Crete”.
He labored diligently for many years and had become a favored servant of the king. Unfortunately his favor didn’t last. Hardship had become a wedge between Minos and his wife, Pasiphae, and the queen sought refuge in her gardens more and more often. When the queen would come to weep in her garden, the large figure of Rhodus left her a small bouquets, comforting her through the language of flowers.
Gradually, Pasiphae began to enjoy the silent conversations and soon those silent conversations became words and soft, gentle actions. Life continued to be hard for the servant and his queen, but with the silent garden as their Eden, they believed they could endure anything. Eventually, in this place of comforting solitude, a romance budded and bloomed and two were joined as one.
Little did they know that changelings and humans were compatible and soon a new child was to be born to the queen. At first, Minos believed it to be his own and celebrated the pregnancy, but when the child was born, it was born as a half-troll with white skin, hair, tail and hornbuds. Minos was outraged and moved to slay the child, but the queen fled with the infant into the garden where Rhodus revealed his true form as a white-marble troll in order to protect the queen and her infant son from the king.
Rhodus announced that he would not allow the King Minos to slay the queen or her offspring. He then knelt before the king, admitting his sin with Pasiphae’s distress at Minos’ neglect and his own flawed heart as its cause. He then asked the king’s forgiveness with the promise to take the whelp away in exile never to bother the kingdom again, as killing him would reveal the farce of the God’s favor and Rhodus’ nature as a changeling.
Pasiphae was distraught at this proposal, but her objections were overruled by Rhodus’ words that the though the king had not the power nor weapon to kill the White Bull, he had the right to cast them away as the traitors they were. Minos, feeling both vindicated and flattered to have such a monster bow and submit to him, agreed to allow Pasiphae to keep the whelp until it was old enough to be weaned, but that Rhodus would remain in chains within the garden they so adored to prevent any further infidelity.
So the queen and her bull were able to raise the whelp in secret within the shadows of their garden, naming the boy Asterion after his grandfather. But as he grew, the lad’s trollish nature began to grow and he became wild, rough, and in need of more nourishment than a human diet could provide. Rhodus, knowing his son’s need to follow his trollish instincts, told Pasiphae that it was time for him and Asterion to depart. Pasiphae wept for the loss of her love and her son but knew it had to be done.
But as they prepared to depart, the king stopped them, saying that his wife’s heart shall never be broken and that the child would remain in the land of Crete. At first Rhodus and Pasiphae were elated at the king’s mercy, but their joy quickly turned to horror as soldiers came, tearing the child from his mother and father and taking him away from the queen and her garden.
Outraged, Rhodus made to go after them, but his chains held fast. He demanded to know what the king had done with his son, to which the king replied that he has secured Rhodus unnatural offspring in a place where even the sun will not find him, let alone a human-hearted bull such as he. Minos then commanded Rhodus to begone, that his banishment begins this night.
Engulfed with rage, Rhodus transformed into his true form and with the strength of his stone, broke his chains to search for his stolen son. But the king was clever and had locks of hair cut from the young whelp and spread all across Crete to keep his sire from finding him. When Rhodus discovered this trickery, he swore to the king that unless Minos returned his son to him, he would lay waste to the land of Crete and claim his son by force. Then, with his mighty horns, Rhodus began turning over every home and field he could find, making good on his threat to the king.
Unable to stop or defeat the White Bull during the day as a man nor at night as a troll, Minos secured help from the Greek hero, Hercules, to deal with this menace. Herculese managed to best the “White Bull’ as a man but upon hearing Rhodus’ tale and pleads, Hercules spared his life and instead chose to capture him and enforce Minos’ order of banishment by sending him to Tiryns.
Though Rhodus was defeated, he did not give up and plotted his escape as he was carted into Marathon. At the time, the king of Athens was holding a host of games and competitions. There Rhodus saw the game’s champion, Androgeous, son of his now hated enemy, Minos. Wrath once again consumed Rhodus who, as the sun set, transformed once again into the White Bull of Crete and charged the young man, trampling him beneath his hooves as his life had been trampled by the king.
After his rage had subsided, Rhodus fled into the countryside, where Theseus, prince of Athens, was sent to capture and kill Rhodus who was now known as the “Marathon Bull”. Once again, Rhodus was bested, and once again he plead with the victor to spare his life so that he could find his son who had been stolen from him by the king of Crete.
Touched by Rhodus tale, Theseus decided to bring the White Bull to his father for judgement, as Rhodus was guilty of murdering King Minos’ son. But before the king would render his judgement, he held victory feast for Theseus’ capture of the great beast. However, the feast was disrupted by Minos’ emissaries who had seen Rhodus captured in the hall of the Athenian king, reported back to Minos, and returned with Minos’ declaration of war for harboring the criminal who had taken his wife and murdered his son.
Blamed for the start of the war and convicted for the murder of Prince Androgeous, Rhodus was executed by Prince Theseus, and his white marble head was sent to Minos in hopes of appeasing the angered king. But the king would not stop the war until he’d punished the kingdom who’d allowed his son to die. Meanwhile, the cries of Pasiphae and Asterion and the sounds of their broken hearts could be heard throughout all of Crete, and the son of Rhodus would never again tolerate any humans to be in his presence, save for his mother and sister, Ariadne.
Seeing the grief of his queen and her ill-born son, King Minos’ heart was softened somewhat but his spite for Athens for failing to keep his son safe while in their borders burned brighter. So, to satiate Asterion’s newly awakened wrath as well as his own, he decreed that Athens would provide human sacrifices to honor his dead son, not knowing they would be feeding the son of the bull whom they had slain and whose promise the king should have honored from the beginning.
Meanwhile, feeling that his act of mercy was responsible for Athens’ fate, Theseus volunteered as tribute for Minos’ maze and became aware of the great beast of the labyrinth, the Minotaur. Half man, half bull, this demon was imprisoned at its center for the safety of the Cretians and was seemed the executioner of the Athenian tributes.
“I have defeated the Marathon Bull, White Bull of Crete,” he thought to himself, “I shall defeat this monster too.”
With the help of princess Ariadne, who had fallen for the brave prince, Theseus was able to navigate the maze and and happened upon the sleeping Asterion, the bull-headed half-troll known as Minotaur. However, tales differ on what truly happened. Some claim that she gave him the dagger he slew the Minotaur with. Others tell that Ariadne begged Theseus to spare her halfbrother, that his actions were purely those of one abused, starved, and neglected. But to save the other Athenians and stop any further sacrifices, Theseus used his sword to slay the beast and brought its head with him as proof of his victory.
With the Athenians saved and Ariadne joining his venture as his future bride, Theseus left for Athens to announce his victory. However, when Pasiphae discovered Asterion had been killed, she went to Minos and begged he rescue their daughter from the slayer of both the Minotaur and White Bull of Crete. Unable to refuse his distressed wife, Minos called upon the “Gods” to rescue his daughter. The Janus Order answered and agreed to send their own Dionysus to rescue Ariadne in exchange for her hand in marriage.
Minos agreed and the Order proceeded with their plans, using magic and trickery to convince young Theseus that one of their changelings was, indeed, the god Dionysus who had claim to Ariadne’s hand in marriage. So as not to incur further wrath upon his people, Theseus left Ariadne on the shores of a nearby island where she was retrieved by the Janus Order and wed to the Kruberra changeling, Dionysus, sealing in royal matrimony the Janus Order’s power in Crete.
And so ends the tale of the Minotaur, Asterion, who was felled in his sleep by the same blade that killed his father, the White Bull of Crete.
Porgon laughed, holding the long, shiny cylinder in his hand as dawn was once again wound back. He liked this game! It was a lot more fun than being dead, and the Trollhunter and his friends were so much fun to play tricks on! It made him trill with glee to have this new toy that let him play all the pranks, jokes, and tricks he wanted, all without having to worry about if anything went wrong! If he didn’t like something, all he needed to do was use the toy and go back in time. Simple!
But today was different. Today something new happened! He’d used his new toy to start the day again when a bright, shiny thing appeared in the grass before him. For a moment, it glowed in time with his toy, dimming to show a golden belt with a pouch and two scabbards, one of them empty.
“Oooooh, pretty!” Porgron crooned and picked up the shining belt. Maybe his toy not only started the day over, but gave him a newer toy to mess play with? Oh, what fun he was going to have with this! And how nice he was going to look — once he figured out how to unlatch it. But he’d figure that out later. There was fun to be had, and who got tired of little humans squealing in fright?
Grinning to himself, the scarlet-orange troll tucked the shiny belt and sword in his own belt, giddy at finding these new treasures, before loping off to begin again his day of most fun.
Destinies Intertwined: Golden Blades & Mountain’s Peak
The Outlands rang with the bellows and war screeches of Tenebris forces as they followed after the golden mask of Lierosa, a shining blue-white stone clasped in the third of her remaining hands. She had to get this treasure to the prince. Dragar was after him and there was no possible way he and her daughter could face the treasonous monster alone! If she could just find Rorgan’s geyser, she could get it to them!
Wolfish humanoid half-beasts howled as they barrelled through the ranks of the other Tenebris, quickly closing the distance between them and the masked Illumine. Clicking her teeth, Lierosa tried to dodge their reaching claws, slashing at those she couldn’t with her two gold-tinted blades. The beasts let out furious shrieks and yelps of pain as black blood poured from their wounds, some losing speed from losing their limbs. They’d already taken one arm from her, they weren’t going to take another!
Another chorus of unearthly howls joined the maddened cacophony, causing the three-armed warrior to look back at the hoard. With her two good right eyes, she could see the hoard of writhing limbs behind her. Serpents, half-beasts of every kind, and misshapen dopplegangers charged toward her, bellowing curses and vile oaths as they went. But the worst were the wraiths who’s skeletal hands extended from smoking, ragged robes of the darkest kind.
Thick storm clouds blanketed the sky as Rachel’s vespa sped along the road to the local school, chancing only a few glances over her shoulder as she drove.
“Are they still behind us?” she called to her brother, who clung to waist.
“I don’t see them!” Jim called back, his blue eyes scanning the road and trees behind them. “But we gotta get to the planetarium and tell Mr. Douglass. He has to know about the attack!”
“Got it,” Rachel affirmed and leaned forward over the handlebars, pushing her scooter as fast as it would go. It wasn’t long before the pair glided into the school parking lot where each student lining up with their science projects. The redheaded senior parked her vespa and stared at the students.
“Jim,” she ventured looking back at her brother. “You didn’t enter the science fair did you?”
Her brother’s face fell in horrified realization before he slapped a hand to his head. “My project! I completely forgot about it!”
“What? No, I meant— Gah, never mind! No time to worry about it now!” Rachel hopped off her electric scooter and helped Jim off the back. “Right now, we’ve got a Tenebris to find before he finds us!”
Okay, but can we just appreciate the fact that this scene is Boba being handed Leia in her slave outfit to rape as a gift from Jabba the Hutt, and Boba’s response is not only to refuse touching her but handing her a sheet to cover herself and even offering that she can sleep on the bed while he sits in a chair across the room?
Boba tells Leia, “Sex between those not married is immoral,” which is a Mandalorian cultural thing because children are everything to Mandos and sex which might result in pregnancy is a big no-no unless both parents are ready and willing to raise that child; marriage to Mandalorians is two people making a mutual promise to help each other, particularly helping each other raise any children they might conceive or adopt (adoption happens a lot in the heat of the moment, apparently; it canonically appears to be a bigger risk than unplanned pregnancy - “whoops, honey, I accidentally adopted this kid I found on the battlefield” “oh. well. we knew that might happen having unprotected combat and all”).
It just says a lot about Boba, and Mandalorians in general, that they’re big buff armoured warrior types who apparently canonically have a very strong cultural bias for responsible sex. I mean, how many times do we see the fantasy/sci-fi warrior soldier stereotype = rape, or at the very least coercive sex, in pop culture? In so many movies and comics and novels, the female heroine/hero’s woman is captured by bad guys and offered as a “gift” to some big hunk of a warrior/gladiator/what have you who either does whatever he wants with her (explicitly on screen or implied off-screen by her ruined makeup and torn dress) to further the hero’s rescue-and/or-revenge-journey or maybe seduces her with his ~manliness~ and huge muscles/weapons even while there’s still that element of power imbalance as she surrenders helplessly to the ~instinctive urge~ to mate with the alpha male. Sex, or they-were-going-to-but-last-minute-interruption/rescue, is the inevitable outcome of a sci-fi/fantasy woman in a gold bikini being shoved into a soldier/warrior/gladiator dude’s quarters/cave/den/hovel.
And Leia is genre savvy and knows this. She fully expects Boba to rape her, and says as much. But his response to her threatening to kill him or kill herself if he touches her is just “woah there, lady, have we entered a culturally binding contract to conceive and raise children? no, we have not. so don’t flatter yourself thinking I’ll get my gametes anywhere near your uterus, thank you very much!” And Leia is a bit offended and wrong-footed, telling him “um, rape is immoral too, y’know,” but Boba just dismisses it all, “well, yes, rape is bad, but like it’s so far off the table here that it’s basically a non sequitur, why would I rape you when I don’t even want to have consensual sex with you, come on.”
I just love the fact that in Mando culture, consensual sex is EVERYTHING, it’s even CONTRACTUALISED. You know how all those MRA anti-feminists are all up in arms about movements like #MeToo and whining about how totally unreasonable it is to expect everyone involved to consent to sex, what, do femi-nazis want everyone to fill out consent forms before sex haha how ridiculous - and then we have Mandalorians, the most alpha of alpha people of all genders, all fake nerd boy incels’ epitome of badassness, literally contractualising consent. Boba Fett, pop-cult bad guy extraordinaire, not only refusing to rape Leia in her slave costume (unlike every single incel in the world who has masturbated to that scene of her on her knees in chains) but being genuinely offended at the thought of having sex with someone without pledging himself fully to her safety and welfare.
This short story was the moment I fell in love with the EU’s Boba Fett and Mandalorians in general. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
most of the original wave of mandalorian culture canon was apparently developed by one very determined woman in the tie-in novel trade building up her ideal Proud Warrior Race guys based entirely on Boba Fett’s 2.5 whole minutes of screen time
which despite not sharing her taste on many points i recognize as something that should be an inspiration to us all
You know, as a latter-day-saint, I saw this and went “whoa. I’m a Madalorian.” My ancestors were very much the warrior/bodyguard types, and my faith strictly prohibits sex before marriage and considers lascivious actions toward another (especially someone who isn’t your spouse) as immoral.
Yes, I know there are differences between Latter-Day Saints and Mandalorians, but their culture regarding children, family, fidelity, and chastity before marriage are right up there with the top tenants and priorities of my faith.
And boy howdy is it nice to see at least a smidge of fictional morality that I could relate to.
Okay, so this morning I woke up from an interesting dream that really seemed like it’d make a neat one-shot or something. I’m calling it “Black Arrow” bc of reasons later shown in the half-awake dream dozes I had after.
Okay, so this morning I woke up from an interesting dream that really seemed like it’d make a neat one-shot or something. I’m calling it “Black Arrow” bc of reasons later shown in the half-awake dream dozes I had after.
Okay, so this morning I woke up from an interesting dream that really seemed like it’d make a neat one-shot or something. I’m calling it “Black Arrow” bc of reasons later shown in the half-awake dream dozes I had after.
So it started in modern day with me and my family living in this house and apparently living there for years.
Over that time, we became really good friends with the husband of this couple next door, and one day it was discovered that he'd contracted a life-threatening illness that if he survived, would leave him in worse shape than my step-dad. So me and my mom's cousin, Ruth, got him on her motorcycle (apparently a thing in the dream??) to go to the hospital bc the quickest way was too narrow for normal cars. Well, she ended up taking me and my neighbor through this back way, across cobblestone streets and through side bushes toward the hospital.
However, while we were on our way, the path went along the edge of a cliff and I ended up falling off the motorcycle and falling into an icy ocean. My family & neighbor's wife found out and went in to rescue me, and we all ended up washed up against this big black cliff. We tried to find a way out of the freezing water but the only thing we found was a large circular drain grate just under the water's surface.
By this time, I was actually in a kind of lagoon trapped behind the grate trying to get out (bc I'd somehow been pulled under into a natural tunnel by an under current). My mom and the neighbor's wife ( who was super strong despite being a really skinny Asian looking gal) managed to break the bars and peel them back. However it was too cold for us to swim back to the mainland. So we opted to follow the lagoon and explore the inner cave I was in. (This is where it starts feeling like we walked into the Golden Compas movie).
As it happened there was a kind of natural doc made of the same craggy black stone as the cliff side, so we climbed onto that and discovered bars forming a ladder to a big drain pipe above. We climbed our way in in hopes of finding a way out, and found ourselves climbing through this big building that doubled as both a factory and a kind of weird cult-like base. It had some serious Magisterium vibes, and apparently, they were doing brainwashing hocus pocus on these kids who'd been sent to as apprentices to learn from these guys since they were presumably "powerful" and "well-learned". Everyone there had to undergo an initiation before being allowed to work in the factory (presumably to "earn" their education??).
Well, we managed to make it to the ground floor and find an exit. however, that exit was stuck behind another grate (which the neighbor lady bent just like the first one) that led to a "sewage" pipe. No one was happy about this, especially my mom, but they all went through the pipe to get out of the building. But while my mom was getting into the pipe, I got impatient with how slowly everyone was crawling and, not wanting to be caught, went to go find a quicker way outside. I found one, but it was connected to a set of conveyor belts and when I tried to get through it, the conveyor belts would switch and the exit would be on the opposite side of the room.
By the time I realized I couldn't get out that way, the boys I'd seen in the initiation room were coming and I knew I'd be found out. So I tried to blend in and get back to the backroom and escape. But the warden lady was there and was watching everyone - including me, and somehow I knew that if I stayed in the room too long, she'd get suspicious and send in people after me, thus exposing my escape tunnel and possibly getting me captured along with my fam if they didn't get clear. So I tried to get to the room without her noticing - only to find that each time I went into the room, it changed and a machine was now blocking the grate.
To make matters worse, the cult leaders were coming down to inspect the work. So I do the most logical thing. I hide behind a big steel door. brilliant right? Well I end up being found by one of their acolytes who turns out to be an old friend of mine that I thought had moved to private school. Turns out she and the boys I saw didn't want be being initiated bc they knew these guys weren't good guys and tried to help me by pretending I was this lore figure the cult leaders all feared, the "White".
My friend sounded the alarm, I stepped forward and pulled my white hood forward (bc I apparently was wearing a white hooded robe now) and played along. The boys pretended to be mind controlled and tried to be a distraction so I could get away, but it didn't work. The head cult-leader literally just pushed them off like they were nothing. When I saw the ploy wasn't working, I tried to bolt toward the back room, only to be grabbed and restrained from behind by one of the dark-robed cult members.
That was when the main dream ended but it continued in little mini dreams I had as I tried to get back to sleep (bc it ended at like 4 in the morning).
In the mini dreams, the cult leader unhooded me to find that I was just a girl and not the great "White" as he thought. (The dream kept switching between me as a redhead in a blue and white dress, and this pale skinny girl with long black hair and big black-brown eyes so idk what i really looked like.) But in the mini dreams, they caught me and brought me to this room with a table and a candle in the middle of it, and began asking why I was there and why I pretended to be the "White".
I tried to answer honestly without diminishing my chances of escape. So, I told them how I'd been on my way to the hospital to say goodbye to a dying friend when I fell into the winter ocean and got swept away to the lagoon under their tower and worked to find my way out and I pretended to be the "White" to spook anyone away so I could find and use the exit to get out.
Each time I misspoke or lied, the candle flame would turn blue and one of the cult members (who looked like professor Quirrell from the Harry Potter movies) would shout at me to tell the truth. Finally, I decided that since I couldn't lie, I just wouldn't answer the questions that would've led me to exposing my friends, family, or neighbor’s wife.
When they can't get the whole truth out of me, the Magister (head of the cult) mentioned how unfortunate it was and said that since I wasn't willing to tell them the full truth, that they'd have to keep me there until I did. It kind of did a weird fuzzy thing where it glimpsed over me getting this symbol ➵ tattooed on my right forearm, marking me as the new property of the cult and assigning me servant duties to one of the cult heads (a tall, pale man who was mostly shaved except for a patch of hair on the back of his head that was tied back with a pony tale) as punishment for my intruding. (The only method I can think of them using on the dream!me is one a friend of mine brought up called “stick-and-poke” so that’s gonna be the method I assume they went with.)
To add to this though, the tattoo was apparently magical and if I displeased or disobeyed the cult leader in charge of me, he could cause it to burn excruciatingly as a punishment. Punishments included speaking out of turn, not doing my new duties as their servant, or straying too far from the spellcaster. At this point, I’m firmly of the opinion that they did it not only to see if they could pry more information out of me later, but also to keep me quiet without killing me because I’d “seen too much.”
Also, for the cult leaders, they all wore similar hooded robes that were black velvet that shimmered either blue, mauve, prune, or maroon, and were accented with gold patterns/embroidery. Below are some of the closest fcs I could find to the cult leaders in the dream.
