#chalced

[chloristoflora]

"Climb up, climb up now, now, NOW!" The man on her back was roaring the words, and then, "Climb now, now!" commanded the dragon, the words echoing through Selden's bones.

He tried hard to do as she commanded, but the weakness of his body betrayed him. He felt Chassim grip the back of his robe and push him forward. He caught at the strap on the dragon's chest. The man on the dragon clambered down the harness, clamped a grip on his bandaged wrist and dragged him up. He screamed in pain and scrabbled feebly with his feet, then his hands found leather and iron rings to grip. Chunks of the balcony were falling away as the dragon tore them free in her desperate bid to cling to the side of the tower. The rider dragged him up and held him before him on the dragon's back. Selden sagged forward, and then gripped tight as the dragon pushed off from the tower face. She swooped away from the structure as he screamed, "Chassim! No, go back, Tintaglia, fair queen! Chassim!"

"I… am… here!" Her voice was weak with terror.

He looked down. Chassim clung grimly to the rings of Tintaglia's harness, her garments whipping in the wind as the dragon fell suddenly away from the tower. He more saw than heard her wild scream as they plummeted together.

Then, with a sickening lurch, the fall became a glide. With a beat, beat, beat of Tintaglia's powerful wings, they slowly began to rise. Chassim, her teeth bared in a determined snarl, her hair a wild stream of glory around her face, climbed doggedly, ring by ring, until Selden's reaching hand closed over her wrist. Wisely, she did not trust his grip, but he could not let her go. Ring by ring, she came closer and then was hugging him as tightly as the man who held onto him. He twisted to see the rider and found himself looking upon an Elderling such as Selden had seen only in old tapestries.

"Sir, I thank you," he gasped. "Oh, Tintaglia, blue queen of the skies, most powerful and wisest of all dragons, I give you thanks."

"Little brother, I am always doomed to find you in the damnedest places," the rider said, and abruptly Selden knew that it was Reyn who clasped him so securely. "You look but two heartbeats this side of death," Reyn added.

Blood of Dragons, by Robin Hobb (Rain Wild Chronicles #4)

[bluejaywalker10]

Imagine

Hetalia but with Realm of the Elderlings countries

[cinematografieliebhaber]

Die Händlerin ist der erste Teil der "Das Geheimnis der Seelenschiffe"-Trilogie, welche zwar im gemeinsamen Universum von Fitz Chivalric Weitseher spielt, aber davon unabhängig in der Region von Bingstadt, zur Zeit des Kriegs des Königreichs der sechs Provinzen mit den roten Korsaren. Es ist eine Stadt, beherrscht von reichen Händlern mit ihren mystischen Seelenschiffen, eine Stadt, die sich im Umbruch befindet.

[cinematografieliebhaber]

Prophet der sechs Provinzen ist der zweite Teil der "Das Erbe der Weitseher"-Trilogie, welcher über die neuen Gefahren für das Königreich der Sechs Provinzen erzählt. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei ein Bastard, Fitz, der einst der Assassine des Königs war und nun seinen Sohn ausbilden soll, damit seine leibliche Tochter weiterhin ihr behütetes Leben führen kann.

[zani-is-a-stan]

What do we know about Chalced?

It's a slavery-driven economy. The dehumanization/othering of women is a big part of their culture. Expanding territory and the othering of foreign enemies into slavery is a big deal. Making deals and sticking to their word is important to Chalcedians. (?) Corruption of the religious following of Sa is rampant in Chalced. Chalced apparently has some great works and architecture- libraries and such. At some point, all the skill pillars were toppled? Yet this location is the center of the ruler's palace. It boarders the Six Duchies, Bingtown & the Rainwilds, AND the Mountain Kingdom - but nowhere near Jamailia, despite the political affiliations historic to the countries. They formed into a country around the same time or right before Tilth and Farrow became part of the Six Duchies under the queen of the era. Chalcedony (originally chalced'ony) is a stone supposed to keep a body healthy and rigorous if worn as a charm (if you believe in that sort of thing) What else? What do we know about Whites and Chalced?

[hermitknut]

Once the fortress had stood upon this peak, and within its walls a circle of black standing stones under the open sky had been a place of great magic. Tales told of how those stones had been toppled, their evil magic vanquished. Those same stones, the ancient runes on them obscured and defaced, now lay splayed out in a circle around his throne, flush to the grey flagged floor that had been laid around them. The black stones pointed to the five corners of the known world. It was said that beneath each stone there was a square pit into which the sorcerous enemies of ancient Chalced had been confined to die.

City of Dragons, by Robin Hobb.

This is so cool, though - I have a deep craving for Chalced backstory now. What happened? Which enemies, were they Elderlings? Did this happen after the catastrophe at Kelsingra? What was going on in the Duchies at the time, what kind of timeline are we talking about? Presumably those black stones are the same as the Witness Stones in Buck, so do they still work? Hypothetically they should, even with the symbols scraped off. Though given what happens at the end of Blood of Dragons, it might be a moot point - what would still be standing after the dragon attack? Can dragon acid melt through memory stone?

[madopiano]

fitzandthefool replied to your photo: I didn’t see this??? It is weird! I say...

I say tchal-sehd and tchal-SEHD-ian too!

Awesooome, score one for our team.