#iovara

[misty-seashore]

Multiverstober: 13. Victim Iovara became a victim of betrayal, torture and eternal imprisonment after death.

[thewardenisonthecase]

god ok i need to talk about iovara because her story makes me so upset.

this woman found out that her gods were a lie and in it, she still found purpose. that there is still something you can do and you dont need the gods. and she had people to her cause. and the fact that, despite being betrayed, despite being tortured, despite being trapped in this prison, her will cant be broken. bc so long as she exists, its a reminder to the gods that someone knows the truth, that they're not all that and about mankind's willpower is stronger than the gods. "i will remain here with joy in my heart knowing ive shown them who they really are"

But. also. the inquisition was succesful is erasing her. nobody remembers iovara and even if they did, you cant reach her without godly aid. everything about her has been forgotten. its the fact that she cared a lot for the people around her - she didnt want her truth to be a pain, she didnt want creitum to suffer to protect her - and even if she finds peace in knowing she brought truth and freedom to people shes still. gone from history. its so long in the past its been forgotten.

and also her conversation with a watcher whos feeling she reciprocrated particularly hurt me. the fact that, despite being betrayed, she is still happy to see the watcher/inquisitor again even saying my love has come back to me. the fact that she valued their opinion so much and that if depending on what you say as to why the inquisitor betrayed her, she is relieved that even after knwoing the truth you didnt choose to live in a lie bc you were righteous and if you did that then how could she know she was even changing people's minds.

its the fact that even if the watcher is not exatcly who she once knew and loved, shes is grateful to have seen them again and feels hope after such a long time. its the fact that you could send her soul into the beyond (and i know depending on choice you can) but *she* doesnt want to. it was particularly painful to me because during the whole game, my watcher was sending everyone's souls back bc no one deserved to die and stay trapped in this plane of existence. but she couldnt do that for Iovara because iovara remaining here, alone and forgotten, means something. its the fact that the watcher is now the one who remembers her and what she fought for and the truth.

and her farewell being "If ever we should meet again, in this life or any other, I hope to find you at peace" BREAKS ME

[maryfranlmes]

Bewnen i Ankew and Ankew i Bewnen

[restlessspiritofboomkin]

𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬' 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬

​Commissioned the incredible artist @aeonmistyx to weave this illustration, based on My fanfic writings: Chapter 2 of — Innlið /lɪːð/ host · gate · generation, part of The Watcher Inlith series - Berath Sneezing with Their Eyes Open.

⊙SPOILERS AHEAD⊙

Meet Inquisitor The Eyeless One :

The Betrayer of Iovara ix Ensios.

Anonymous. Agender. Age unknown. Not a godlike, but an entity from the Halls Obscured, atop Wael's lost titan body.

"The Archives contain the sum whole of Eora's history—both the original drafts and the edits. The Collections contain individuals and creatures detrimental to Eora and the work of the gods. " They knew the gods were false from the very beginning. As a spy for the Hand Occult, they joined Woedica's Inquisition intending to apprehend Iovara in the Enclosures before Thaos' people.

But everything changed upon their meeting. A profound mixture of Agape and Mania awakened within the Inquisitor. They longed to help Iovara's cause in a way no other ever could, and prevent her soul and memory from the cleansing in the Wheel. Why would someone brutally betray the only person they loved and agreed with? Fascinated by this perfect riddle, Wael was willing to hide the Inquisitor's true mind from the other gods for two millennia.

The Inquisitor knew Iovara would stand, refuse the Wheel, and witness the downfall of the false gods. However, defying the Cycle creates a massive debt to the gods of death and entropy. To pay this price and serve their self-imposed sentence, the Inquisitor surrendered their own soul to the punishments of Berath and Rymrgand.

They believed a weak soul could not stop the Inquisition during the height of the Engwithan civilization. Through endless, tormented lifetimes as a Death Godlike in The White That Wends, their soul was forced to become a Watcher's soul, growing stronger in suffering - strong enough to kill Thaos and clear the Endless Paths of Od Nua, so that Eothas could consider claiming the adra titan when the Engwithans were long gone.

Their longing created a soul bond, tethering their own to Iovara's soul. This invisible umbilical cord was woven from their own spiritual intestines, knotted at its end with the original riddle sacrificed to Wael: The Eyeless One's plucked eyeball. This visceral tether ensured The Watcher would inevitably return to Breith Eaman and do their work. The entire two-thousand-year exile was designed for a single era: the day the Dawnstar would awaken the giant adra statue and finally smash The Wheel.

In the end, The Watcher vomited out the eyeball, severing all prophecy and omniscience from their past life, embracing the freedom of Dasein.

The Eyeless One returned to Iovara's hand as that single, severed eyeball. Nothing could see them, and they could see nothing. Thus, in peace, they listened, and heard:

"So my love returns to me at long last."

[hallaheart]

"The soul of the Watcher is a difficult thing to describe. Imagine seeing a reflection of yourself in a mirror, but only when you aren't looking."

It's not a groundbreaking idea, but I had this visual idea when fleshing out Taliesin's past life as the Inquisitor and wanted to design what they looked like. Then after inking the sketches, got carried away as usual.

[dragonologist-writings]

Title: Dreams of the Past Fandom: Pillars of Eternity Rating: G Status: One-Shot Characters: Iovara, Inquisitor/Watcher Rudi, Maneha Ships: Iovara/Inquisitor Additional Notes: Angst, Awakened Memories, Quiet Bonding Word Count: 800 Summary: Memories of love and betrayal bleed into the Watcher's dreams.

Femslash February #12: Crab Blossom (stop, you need to rest)

read below or here on ao3

“You need to get some sleep,” you say, as you lean down to wrap your arms around your lover’s shoulders.

Iovara sighs and rubs at her eyes, granting a bleary look to the candle on her desk which has burned itself down to a stub. “What time is it?”

“Late. You shouldn’t keep pushing yourself like this. You need rest, else you keel over in the middle of a sermon.”

“Speeches, not sermons. And nobody’s keeling over,” Iovara insists, but her words are not so convincing when paired with the visible exhaustion which lines her features and leaves deep shadows beneath her eyes. A kiss pressed against her check makes her smile, however, and she finally sets down her quill.

“You have a point, as always. But these missives are important-”

“And they will still be here in the morning. Let yourself have a few moments of peace.” Iovara opens her mouth to protest, but you place a finger against her lips. “I’m sure you have a very impressive argument ready, but consider this: we’re both just mortal women, and mortals like us need to sleep.”

“Ever the voice of reason,” Iovara murmurs, but it’s clear she’s relenting as she melts into your touch. “Very well, very well. But only if you come with me.”

“Naturally.”

Iovara rises from her desk, sliding a hand along your arm with a gentle, gliding touch. You pause to blow out the candle- you must resist the urge to topple the thing right onto Iovara’s missives, to turn those wretched words to ash before they spread their poison further out into the world- and then follow her to bed.

You were correct in your assessment of Iovara’s mental state; she falls asleep the minute her head hits the pillow. You watch her a while, smoothing the inky black hair from her face and marveling at the will of this woman you have loved for so long. Even asleep, the effects of Iovara’s mission are clear; her face is pale and drawn, and stress has brought streaks of silver to that lovely raven hair of hers.

Iovara has always been so tenacious, so bright, so unmovable once she seizes upon an idea that she believes in. It’s an admirable trait, and an inspiring one…until she seizes upon ideas that are dangerous. Dangerous and hedonistic and wrong.

You loved Iovara, once. You love her still. But you are tenacious, too, and all the love in the world cannot sway you from doing what is right. Even if you have to do some very wrong things in the process.

Tomorrow, you will suggest to Iovara that Creitum become your next destination. You already know she will trust you enough to agree.

You lean close and press another kiss to Iovara’s cheek, then settle down into bed at her side. Thoughts of the future which await you both plague your mind for some time still, until the gentle rhythm of Iovara’s breathing lulls you to sleep.

Rudi wakes from her sleep with a gasp and lurches out of her bedroll. There’s a twisting weight in her stomach, and for a second she’s sure she’s going to be sick.

But no. It’s not a real sickness. It’s just memories. Again.

Sol is sniffing at her with concern, but Rudi waves the lion away, giving him a quick scratch behind the ears to let him know she’s fine. But there’s no chance of getting any more sleep tonight, so she pulls her boots on and rummages around in her sack until she finds the half-full bottle of brandy she’d bought off an innkeeper two towns back. Prize in hand, she sits down by the dying fire and takes a long swig, and tries very hard not to think about anything at all.

She must be doing a pretty good job of it, actually, because she doesn’t notice Maneha is awake until the amaua woman takes the seat beside her.

“Bad dreams?”

There’s a note of understanding in Maneha’s tone, which is the only thing that keeps Rudi from flinching away and denying everything. She still doesn’t know how to actually talk about this stuff- how can she, when she can’t even tell the good dreams from the bad ones anymore?- so she just gives a stiff nod and says, “Yeah. You?”

“Not the worst. But yeah. Still pretty bad.” Maneha holds out a waiting hand, and Rudi passes the brandy over without another word.

And it works. The two of them, sitting like this, ignoring their dreams in tandem until the sun climbs up above the horizon. By the time their other companions are waking, Rudi has almost forgotten the feel of Iovara’s trusting body, warm and soft against her own.

Almost. Not completely. But enough to shake off the shadow of her former self and carry on for one more day.

[yelly-ink]

Iovara!

[triflingshadows]

Iovara in Sylveon, for the palette meme?