#demon dancer

[rue-x3]

Blehh angst attack :3

Demon Dancer au

“Yuan-ge!”

Shen Jiu awoke with a start, rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he looked around. He had another nightmare of the fire. They were never this bad—often able to be forgotten as Shen Jiu watched Shen Yuan’s early morning dances. The man was graceful—always moving to a different tune each morning as if he was welcoming the sunshine and seeing the moon off on its journey across the sky.

This time there were no familiar jingles of the bells Shen Yuan wore, none of the normal sounds of paper folding together to weave yet another story. Shen Jiu felt his heart drop as he stared at his surroundings. He was alone in an unfamiliar room, panic settling in briefly before he calmed himself down and tried to think logically.

He didn’t remember how he got here but he was bound by anything and there were no visible restraints anywhere. On the bedside table was the instrument Shen Yuan had crafted for him—with powerful strings made from some material Shen Yuan had never told him about. (Spider demon silk ehehe. Shen Yuan isn’t a spider demon in this one he just knows a guy lol). Shen Jiu snatched it up quickly, stepping out of bed and reaching for the door. It swung open before he could, a young looking healer meeting his gaze with surprise in their eyes.

“You’re awake!”

The disciple chirped, placing the bundle of medicinal herbs down and attempting a quick check up on Shen Jiu. Shen Jiu shrugged the touches away, narrowing his eyes at the other and demanding to know where Shen Yuan was.

“Is that the man that brought you here? He was talking with the sect leader a while ago. Do you want to see him?”

The disciple didn’t seem too bothered by Shen Jiu’s actions, instead offering him guidance. Shen Jiu was wary, but since Shen Yuan had brought him in he reluctantly accepted the help. Quietly, the two made their way over to where the sect leader had been seen last—near the entrance of the peak. The sect leader and Shen Yuan had taken a walk to discuss something, having finally come to an agreement.

Shen Yuan and the healer had just made their way over when Shen Jiu saw Shen Yuan descending the peak. Shen Jiu immediately followed—or well, he tried too. A firm hold on his shoulder stopped him. The sect leader looked at Shen Jiu with an interested expression, curious about the disciple such a strong man had recommended.

“Let go of me.”

Shen Jiu hissed, trying to shrug the other’s hand off while keeping his Gaze on Shen Yuan’s back.

“Disciples aren’t allowed to leave the peak for another 3 years.”

Shen Jiu looked up at the man holding him, his eyes narrowed into another glare.

“I’m not a disciple of this peak. Release me.”

Shen Jiu’s words were spat out so venomously the disciple that guided him flinched back and nervously looked at the sect leader’s reaction. The sect leader just smiled, tilting his head as if coaxing a child.

“Who are you a disciple of then?”

Shen Jiu froze, understanding clicking as he turned to Shen Yuan and called for him. His voice loud as he struggled against the Sect Leader’s grip.

Shen Yuan stopped, pausing his steps. He didn’t turn around.

“Where are you going?”

Shen Jiu said with a slight tremor in his voice, unable to hide the trace of panic in his tone. Shen Yuan stood still, silent. Then he continued moving down the mountain, bounding down it in giant leaps. By the time Shen Jiu managed to wriggle free (the sect leader loosened his grip) Shen Yuan was just a small figure in the distance, moving forward despite Shen Jiu’s desperate calls.

“This is for his own good, for his safety.” Shen Yuan thought to himself, trying to quiet down his feelings of guilt inside.

At the top of the peak Shen Jiu stood there, watching Shen Yuan disappear from his vision. A burning sense of shame and rage welled up in him—rendering him unable to hold the tears of fury back as he watched Shen Yuan go. Shen Jiu threw his instrument down on the ground, kicking it as he tried to glare it into nothingness. His hands flew to his eyes, trying to rub the tears away with rough forceful movements.

Oum sorry if this is ooc I’m tired Luls and now that I’m rereading it I kinda hate it, yikes

[kuker-solitaire]

Ask blog intro - The Balladeer

The far outskirts of Ryeham gaze on in their silence as the fields of wheat sway in Autumn's breeze.. The clattering of cow and sheep bells a distant yet clear echo, and with them, a ghostly tune.

"When you hear the rattle of heavy copper bells, the soft ringing of wistful longing, and the tapping of wood on ground rhythmic– Know, beware,

of the Demon dancer roaming nearby.

For the Boogieman, will lead you astray."

Two hands move- one clawed and one not, gestures shifting in a flow of muted language only the urban legend knows.

'But that's just hearsay, right?' A weary sigh from under the Tired mask. 'People really do tend to accuse of evil what they don't understand. Don't worry though– I don't bite at all.' A strained smile wan and slightly wry, face shifted to Happy once more. 'The most I can do is smack you with my staff, honestly– If you give me a reason to.'

The Missing lifts his stick– Tap-Tap. -And leans on it casually, moving his free hand to gesture.

'Nevertheless, heard you wanted to chat. So, what brings you to this neck of the woods? Also my right eye's fine, just...affliction acting up, it'll go back to normal.' ("....Ask away your questions.")

[charmed1998confessions]

I never understood when Cole killed the replica of Phoebe when he was like "Do you know what I want?" She turns into Phoebe and does her dance on him and he was like "That's what I want, baby." and kills her. I don't get the concept of why he killed the girl.

[dailycharacteroption]

Demon Dancer (Skald Archetype)

Like the maenads of legend, tales speak of how skalds turn performance into a frenzy of death and blood. However, some take this further, or some may argue, TOO far. Today’s archetype invites their allies into a deadly dance with them, one that not only fuels their rage, but also allows demonic forces into their body, twisting them and empowering them, while at the same time risking their souls. Found in tribes and other cultures that worship demons, or perhaps other fiendish forces, demon dancers are not commonly found in the company of goodly beings. At least, not for long. Their demonic power can be partaken of normally, but it constantly tempts the receiver to accept it deeper, increasing the boons, but also giving the evil more control. Of course, those who already share the same evil perspective of the skald will have no issues with this, while others who choose to associate with them may indeed struggle with the demonic power till they either succumb, or swear off that power. Strange times call for strange bedfellows, after all.

These dancing performers begin investing demonic energy into their inspired allies early, twisting their faces into increasingly more enlarged and muscular jaws, capable of tearing foes apart. The fiend totem is truly integral to this brand of skald, and they learn several of its profane powers, including making allies grow wicked barbs from their flesh, and infusing them with an unseen force that invisibly tears at foes that get too close. Finally, the inspired rage of these skalds temps those who utilize its power for greater destruction. Those who succumb, willingly or not, are empowered further, but are compelled to end the lives of their foes no matter what. Worse still, they are compelled to mark the corpses of those they slay with the demonic mark of whatever demon lord the dancer worships. Whether or not this has any actual effect on the souls of their victims, it is most certainly a blasphemous act, guaranteed to bring shame to the goodly who do so, and shake their faith in their own morality. Perfect for an evil campaign, or for a villainous NPC, this archetype is great for adding a lot of melee power to a group, with the potential for an even higher bonus. I recommend a build focused on increasing the power of the party’s granted and already present natural attacks, not to mention melee power.

Naturally, this archetype probably isn’t appropriate for a lot of games, and paladins in particular will be especially leery of these individuals because of the corrupting nature of their powers. For their part, these skalds don’t care what others think, only caring for the advancement of their tribe and demonic masters. That being said, this archetype could easily be rewritten with other brands of patrons in mind, tied most likely to the various totems that barbarians and skalds can take.

Feeling the presence of chaos in the world again, the tribes of the rainbow serpent have begun to raid again, their skalds dancing the dance of ruin, channeling the power of proteans and raw chaos into their warriors. The Lawkeepers will need aid to fight off their ancient foe, who this time are aided by the forbidden demon dancers.

Recently, the members of the White Regiment of the Askvaran army have all been having strange dreams. Ever since their new marshal was assigned to them, they have heard whispering voices, tempting them to greater power. Nothing can deny the effectiveness of the squad, however, though they black out often, awakening when the battles have ended.

Though devoted to the Great Defiler of the Swamp, Ikjar has one secret treasure he has not destroyed. The lizardfolk skald treasures his collection of mithral rings, taken from the hands of an elvish bride. However, those rings are royal treasures of the Kaleian elves, who will do anything to get them back. Conflict is on the horizon for the demon-worshipping lizards