The purpose of this event is to spend a week showcasing fanworks that celebrate the Shadow Dragons of Tevinter, from Dragon Age: the Veilguard. Prompts will be provided for inspiration, and during the event week and for a short period afterward, this blog will reblog the fanworks shared for the event.
◈ Do I have to follow the prompts?
No. While we encourage connecting your fanworks to the prompts for each day, the prompts are optional and are provided simply to help inspire creativity.
◈ What kind of fanworks are accepted?
Any and all types of human-created fanworks are accepted. While writing and artwork are two of the most common, this event isn't limited to just those. We'll accept gifsets, embroidery, playlists, virtual photography, quizzes, memes, etc. NO AI-generated works, though. This event is for human creativity (of all skill levels).
We also accept old fanworks, including fanworks made for other events; you do not need to make everything new for this if you don't want to. If you wish to submit an older work, please give it a fresh reblog and include the tag #ShadowDragonWeek2026 or mention us @shadow-dragon-week so we can see it.
◈ Can I include OCs?
Of course! We love all OCs (not just Rook Mercar). You can also include non-Shadow Dragons, but please make sure the fanwork still features the Shadow Dragons in some notable capacity.
◈ What tags will you be using?
The tag for this year (and the one we'll be watching for new works) is #ShadowDragonWeek2026. You can also mention @shadow-dragon-week in your post.
When we reblog, we will be tagging by fanwork type along with other tags as needed.
◈ How long will it take to reblog my work?
Please give us up to 48 hours to see and reblog your work. However, if 48 hours have passed and you still haven't seen us reblog your work, feel free to send us an ask with a link to the work, or mention us in a comment on the work.
◈ How long after the event will you reblog fanworks?
We will continue to actively watch the tag after the event for about two weeks. After that, we'll still reblog anything we happen to notice, especially if you mention the blog in your post.
◈ Can I tag you to share Shadow Dragon fanworks the rest of the year?
By all means, if you spot something related to the Shadow Dragons that you don't think we've shared yet, go ahead and send an ask with a link or mention us in a comment on the work so we can see it! It doesn't matter what time of year it is, if you think it's relevant to share on this blog, you're always welcome to draw our attention to it. Just be aware that we only actively monitor the event tags during the event and specific run-up activities.
◈ I have another question.
Our ask box is always open! Send a candlehop and we'll get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.
I’ve seen a few people ask this in tags. If you “missed” the start, you absolutely can post late/catch up. I keep things open for a while, so don’t worry if you post your day 1 fill on the 20th. Nothing closes until Summer, so don’t stress!
[LOG.4.2.1.1_START] Once again, it appears that Arcanus Isle has been… overrun with fluctuating energy. The Isle's totems possess the unique the ability to transform otherwise mundane beings into something other than their base form.… Hm. Yes. Unique, indeed.
I believe these Altered Echoes are certainly worth investigation. Perhaps they will prove themselves useful. If nothing else, they would make noteworthy pieces to add to my collection.
[RUNNING_DISPATCH_CGFLR_.EXE. - LOC_A_I _| ]
Run while you still can, Echoes.
[LOG.4.2.1.1._END]
[ COLLECT THE ALTERED ▁ ]
DEEP IN THE AETHER RESERVE,
A swarm of machines take to the sky. The air buzzes with the sound of them as they scatter throughout the woodlands. For some, these machines have never been seen before. For others, their ghostly blue light signifies weapons of greed and mass destruction, each and every one in relentless pursuit of Alter Aether.
How will you survive?
OVERVIEW.
With the resurgence of Aether during the Yestereve Harvest, the mystery entity behind the invasion of Kinohtala Isle has breached Arcanus with unnatural precision.
Now, it seems that the targets are the Echoes themselves.
Those who have adopted an ALTER FORM via Alter Totem may find themselves caught in the midst of this threat. It is up to their cunning and guile to find methods of escape.
Altered Echoes will be chased through the Aether Reserve, constantly avoiding the scorpion-like drones called OPTIC SNARES in hot pursuit of them.
Echoes may work together to escape the danger, or they may find themselves cornered and captured, taken to a CARGO SHIP.
Escaping the cargo ship may prove just as much of a challenge as avoiding capture in the first place.
Where this threat has come from and who is behind it continues to remain unknown.
Introducing: HALF MOON Event.
A HALF MOON EVENT is a brand new way to enjoy the seasonal festivals. Half-Moon Events will largely involve Aevum's Vices.
These abbreviated events focus on enhancing an already established aspect of the festival, for new and returning muses and members.
Participation is optional! No additional emblem rewards are offered for Half Moon event participation.
You may choose to only participate in the Half Moon Event for festival requirements and earn the standard 300 Emblems. All other thread length requirements apply.
ALTER - MAYHEM will be available from Oct. 15th - Oct. 31st.
Threads may be continued after the festival, but must be started within these dates to qualify for participation.
OPTIC SNARES
Optic Snares are a medium-large scale robot that loosely resembles the body of a scorpion. Internal propellers allow it to fly, allowing it an enhanced agility through urban and rural areas. Four metal arms protrude from its core. They are able to retract and extend as needed while the Optic Snare navigates and pursues its target.
The Optic Snare's true threat is its stinger and optic-sensor. The Optic Snare merely needs to scan a potential target once to allow for it to trace an Echo's Aether Signal. This allows the Optic Snare to track Echoes whether they are shifted into an Alter Form or not.
Once a target has been cornered and caught, the Optic Snare's chief priority is to pursue and utilize its stinger (a long, retractable needle at the tip of its tail) to inject its target with a neurotoxin. Once shot with the neurotoxin, the target will become paralyzed, and its mind will enter a trance-like state.
The effect lasts five minutes before beginning to wear off.
CARGO SHIP
The Optic Snares will transport their specimen to large, larvae-shaped, hovering vessel. The ship has been docked at the farthest end of Silverbrook Hollow. While the ship is landed, it is secured into the cliff-side by long metal beams burrowed into the earth.
One entrance ramp leads into the mouth of the ship, which the Optic Snares will use to deposit their captured specimen before returning to catch more. The ship is itself large enough for humanoids to comfortably walk around in, resembling the interior of a cargo plane.
All devices are sleek and modern, bordering on advanced, and made of steel, white microfibre materials, and illuminated by harsh, blue-tinted florescent lights. The ship boasts three main areas.
Storage Room
Optic Snares are constantly flying in and out of the storage room, uploading data and transporting captured Alters. It is filled with Optic Snare docking stations (that double as repair stations) indented into walls.
Large crates, cages, and boxes of spare parts are filtered into the storage room through shifting wall panels and conveyor belts, where emptied crate, loose parts, or broken devices are deposited for storage, reorganization, or demolition.
Cell Block
Beyond the Storage Room is the Cell Block, where captured Alters are contained behind small squares in the wall. The cell blocks come in various sizes for different size animals, but none are large enough for any animal (or humanoid) to reside within comfortably. Anything caged would be able to see outside of their cell block through a force-field doorway, which is opened by an Optic Snare inserting a three-pronged claw into a slot beside each individual cell block.
Prolonged exposure or physical contact with the force-field is highly discouraged.
Exposure to the force-field will produce an unrecommended stinging sensation.
Contact with the force-field will produce an strong electrified shock!
On the ceiling is a camera the size of a forearm from optic to mount. It is always shifting, locking onto any movement that it detects.
Close inspection of the camera will reveal a blind spot as it rotates its view along the room, typically directly underneath its mount or in any far corners. It will focus on anything it perceives as moving, including anything already within a cell.
Laboratory
The last room is a laboratory. Inside is a special, multi-limbed device hanging from the ceiling. Along the side of its chassis is the acronym G.S.D.O.S. (Genetic Sampling Device and Operating System) prepped with sample collecting tools. Alters transported to the laboratory are strapped to an examination table, where they pumped with neurotoxin, are scanned and DNA is collected.
All DNA samples are stored in a controlled environment at the back of the laboratory.
To escape, one would need to break out of the restraints and escape the room before it begins to fill with a gas form of the neurotoxin. G.S.D.O.S. has limited reach beyond the examination table, but it will activate alarms for Optic Snares to enter if specimens not dealt with.
ESCAPE THE SHIP
While challenging, escaping the machines and the cargo ship is not impossible.
Fleeing out of range of the Aether Reserve will cause the Optic Snares to give up pursuit (although it will be immediately alerted to an Echo's location on any return trip).
If an Echo is transported to the Cargo Ship, the Optic Snares will archive the Echo's data and signature, allowing for a swift escape if the Echo remains undetected.
FAQ:
DOES MY MUSE HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH THE OPTIC SNARES IF IN AN ALTER FORM?
No they do not! It is possible to engage with Alter Forms within the parameters of the city proper. The Optic Snares are limited to the Aether Reserve.
WHAT IF MY MUSE ALREADY HAS AN ALTER TOTEM?
Optic Snares can detect Echoes who have access to an Alter Form, regardless of whether the Alter is newly gained or previously owned.
WHAT IF MY MUSE HAS AN ALTER FORM, BUT IS NOT SHIFTED INTO IT?
If an Echo is not in their Alter Form, Optic Snares can detect and track the Echo's presence, albeit at a slower and less reliable rate. If found, the Optic Snare will be unable to capture the Echo for transport.
The Optic Snare will attempt to force the Echo into shifting into their Alter Form in order to take the Echo captive. They may do this by corralling Echoes towards the Alter Totems to trigger the transformation.
Echoes who can shift outside of the totem's influence may still be detected and captured, although not as easily as those shifted via the Alter Totems.
WOULD MY MUSE RECOGNIZE THE TECHNOLOGY?
If your muse participated in the Journey to Kinohtala Campaign, they would be able to detect similarities between the technology there and what has appeared here.
However, there were no Optic Snares in Kinohtala.
HOW ARE THE OPTIC SNARES DEFEATED?
While impressive machines, the Optic Snares have two primary weaknesses.
First, once they pick up speed they find it difficult to slow down. As an agile animal, you may be able to outrun the drones, or trick them into an air crash.
Second, the Optic Snare's primary weak point is their optic, which also acts as its sensor. When damaged, the Optic Snare's protocol will be to return to the Cargo Ship for repairs. If damaged or is fully destroyed, the Optic Snare no longer be able to function.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION BUT IT’S NOT ON HERE.
Please let us know by asking your question in the Aevum Isles Masterlist’s Ask Box!
Questions sent elsewhere (such as the Aevum Isles FAQ discord channel) will not be accepted, and instead Staff will ask to transfer your question to the Masterlist at this time.
You can find the Aevum Isles Event FAQ tag (HERE), the Aevum Worldbuilding FAQ tag (HERE), and the general FAQ tag (HERE).
-As in the title, this is a Lady Whump event! And, as I am only one person, this is restricted to OC stories only, unlike other writing events out there. It’s also only a week-long event. So if you want a longer Lady Whump event that does include fandoms, I know there’s others out there that would be interested, so you can always make your own! The world is your oyster.
-Since I've had it asked a few times now, this is also a *Whump* centered event. Comfort whump is allowed, however, it is meant to be more of a Whump centered event, not a Comfort one, if that makes sense. It is called "Beating the Babes" and not "Cuddle the Babes" after all, lol.
When does this event happen?
-The plan is to have this run from August 1st until August 7th. A secondary “BtB: Winter Woes Whump” event on this blog will be from December 25th until January 1st (which actually gives us an extra day there!)
Do I have to write all the prompts to participate?
-Nope! This is a for fun, no stress event. Fill them out to your comfort/timing/energy. As a disabled writer with a full time job, I’m most certainly not going to judge anyone for only getting one done vs all seven.
Do I have to write all of the prompts separately or can I combine them?
-Either or, it’s up to you! For certain challenges, it will be meant to be 7 days, but it’s by no means enforced. Like I said before, this is for fun! Don’t stress on the details.
Do I have to write the prompts in order?
-Also nope! I myself can’t write in order, so go wild as far as I’m concerned. My only rule here is that you label the entry for the day. So, in the tags write: #btbday1, #btbday2, etc; and for the headings, write the Day [number] next to the prompt/theme you're using.
Can I combine with prompts from other events?
-As long as the other events approve, I’m fine with that. However! This is still an OC Whump Story Only event. So if you use these prompts with a fandom OC, please DO NOT tag this blog with it. Thank you in advance.
I don’t write but I can draw. Can I participate?
-Oh for sure! Honestly, I’d love to see it! If I can ever get back into drawing, I might do it myself…
What if I don’t finish the prompts by the end of the week?
-That’s okay! I might not reblog it to this blog if you do, but you’re welcome to use the prompts at any time. Again, I’m only one person, so I’m just seeing what I can do on my own before needing to call for help, lol.
Any additional questions? Send me an ask! That's what it's there for :)
Is it okay if we don't do every single prompt? This is my first time participating in an event like this so I doubt I would be able to get every single one done.
You absolutely 100% do not have to fill every prompt! You are welcome to pick and choose the ones you enjoy.
And if you reach the end of September and haven't finished? That's fine! Keep writing! Keep posting! Keep using the sicktember 2024 hashtag! The AO3 collection remains open until August of the following year.
Do you have a question? Yes? You're in luck - we just might have an answer! :)
What is "Happy Birthday Er-ge"?
It’s an eight-day event for fans of Xiyao — Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novel Mo Dao Zu Shi / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (as well as the book's many adaptations) — to celebrate these two characters by making and sharing creative works about them.
When is the event?
October 8-15, 2025.
Can I only contribute if I create something for all eight days?
No, indeed! You’re welcome to make as many or as few fanworks as you want.
Can I participate even if I don’t ship them?
Absolutely! We only ask that your work focus on the relationship between Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao; the exact nature of that relationship is entirely up to you. We welcome all interpretations.
How do I participate?
Create a Xiyao-focused fanwork in any format, post it online during the event period, and tag it #xiyaobirthday2025. You’re welcome to use your own social media account(s) for posting, and/or to post to our AO3 collection.
Does my work have to have a birthday theme?
No, we just chose Lan Xichen’s birthday as the start date of the event, to give a “gift” of fanworks to our favourite bright moonlight. :) If a birthday setting inspires you, then go for it! But it’s definitely not required.
Do I have to use the prompts?
Not if you don’t want to. We made them to help inspire people and to organise each day by theme. You’re welcome to follow or ignore them as you wish!
What if I don’t finish my work in time?
Please keep going! We accept in-progress works to the AO3 collection, and we’ll happily promote your creation once it’s finished - even if the event has ended.
What are the rules of this event?
You can find them here! The tl;dr version is: focus on Xiyao, make your own stuff without using AI, create works of any size or work-safety, and be kind to others.
But what about…?
Great question! Please contact us at [email protected] or send an Ask to this Tumblr account, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Answering some questions from the interest check form
Thanks for the enthusiastic response to the interest check form so far! We'll be keeping it open for a while so feel free to continue to express your thoughts on the event.
Answers to some of the questions that have been submitted through the form:
How accessible the event will be: how long will we have to make things, are there limits or expected word count etc?
There is no expected word count and no word limit, and you can earn points for any fic you post. HOWEVER there are additional points you can earn for incremental word count starting at 1k. TL;DR there are no expectations but there are goals.
I would suggest making it like, full points for first fic and then partial points for any subsequent fics for the same prompt to make a fic not seem worthless? And maybe making "first" be the whole day? Those are just suggestions though
The FASTEST FINGERS FIRST bonus will apply separately from the points you receive for posting a fic and for word count. So you can still earn a lot of points just by posting, even if you aren't the fastest! We're hoping this balances out for longer works that people want to spend more time and energy on as well. :)
You are also free to post both one-shots and multi-chapters, but points will scale differently for both. More information about the point matrix will be made available closer to the event!
If you have any other questions about the event, you can also shoot us an ask!
