Aphrodite (Greek: Ἀφροδίτη) was the Goddess of love, lust, passion, desire, beauty, sex, pleasure and procreation. And just as beautiful, she is smart as wise.
Aphrodite generously rewarded those who honored her, but also punished those who disrespected her, often quite brutally.
Octavia as Lofn
Lofn is the Norse goddess of marriage and forbidden love. Lofn is also the goddess of love and Praise. Her duty was to remove obstacles from the path of lovers who struggled to unite.
The goddess Lofn is serene and tender, which is not typical of Norse gods. So many of the Norse gods were both revered and feared, but she was beloved by those who turned to Lofn in their darkest hour.
Cassandra as Athena
Athena is the Olympian goddess of wisdom and war and the adored patroness of the city of Athens. A virgin deity, she was also – somewhat paradoxically – associated with peace and handicrafts, especially spinning and weaving. Majestic and stern, Athena surpassed everybody in both of her main domains. In fact, even Ares feared her; and all Greek heroes asked her for help and advice.
Achlys as Persephone
Persephone was the goddess queen of the underworld, wife of the god Haides (Hades). She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter.
[Edit: This break was from January 2021 and is now over] Hey y’all, I’m going to be taking a little break from gtms. I still plan on finishing it, I’ve just been hating what I’ve been writing and I think a break will help me. I’ll still be writing and posting content, including Bagley and Obermann content (been in the mood for fluff over angst and drama).
Chapter Warnings: swearing, guns, verbal argument, threats/mentions of death/murder
For a moment, the siblings just stared at each other.
Cassandra stood, eyes wide. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, uniform pressed and ironed—but her left arm was in a sling. Beneath the collar of her crisp uniform, plum colored bruises swirled around her neck and dipped below view. There was an attempt made to powder her face, but the blotchiness gave away the bruises underneath. Wade stood beside her, mouth agape. She looked like she’d been giving Cassandra a report.
Bagley stood rooted in place. He was sure all the blood in his body was being drained as his mind drew a blank. “Uh.” He said stupidly. “Wrong tent!” He turned, slamming into a chest.
“Oh! Sorr—Bagley?” Surprised blue eyes met his and something in Bagley died. Chase stood in the entrance to the tent, flap still against his shoulder.
Cassandra recovered from her shock. “Grab him!”
Chase blinked. Bagley tried to wiggle past, but a strong hand grabbed his arm and he whipped around to face Cassandra—fucking Cassandra.
“Wade,” she said, voice firm. “Pick your jaw up off the floor and quit looking like a skewed fish.”
Wade blinked, closing her mouth and straightening. “Yes, ma’am. Of course.”
Cassandra sat, gripping her arm as she collected herself. “Guard the entrance, in case the Second Lieutenant does anything…” Her eyes met his and Bagley struggled against Chase’s grip. “...brash.”
Wade saluted, passing Bagley and Chase with a furiously curious look.
“Search him.”
Chase patted him down, pulling away Nick’s pistol. Bagley’s shoulders drooped a little. Fuck.
“Sit.”
Chase pushed Bagley forward and he took a seat in the little, rickety chair in front of Cassandra. He crossed his arms and raised a brow, masking his furious pulse.
His sister’s eyes were steel cool. Her tone was smooth and collected, but her peeking fingertips twitched from inside her sling. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” He shot back. “Shouldn’t you be back in the city? There’s no way you’ve got that portal under wraps—who’s in charge of evacuation, if you’re out here on a wild goose chase?”
She ignored his question. “We presumed you dead after the monster took you.” She rapped her nails against her desk. “And yet, here you are.”
Bagley rolled his eyes. “Oh, fuck off. I know you’re bullshiting and you know you’re bullshiting. You’re not after a monster. You’re after a person.” He sat back. “A person I freed.”
Chase went stiff behind him. Bagley could almost hear his thoughts click into place as he realized the speculations were true. Cassandra narrowed her eyes, gaze dancing between Bagley and Chase, tone cautious. “Concussions often leave their victims… confused.”
He snorted. “Only thing I’m confused about is why my dear sister would confess to knowing the Alliance was making war machines out of its citizens.” He tilted his head as Chase’s breath hitched. “Or did that giant hit you so fuckin’ hard you can’t remember? Is that why you’re sellin’ this bullshit story about a monster?”
Cassandra’s expression was unwavering. “Where is it?”
Bagley forced a grin, spreading his hands wide. “Bite me.”
Chase stifled a snort with a cough. Cassandra, on the other hand, remained as annoyingly composed as ever, expression giving away nothing. It reminded Bagley a bit too much of Obermann, though this was far more calculated than the giant’s stare. “Don’t play with me, Lieutenant. The weapon—the source of this ‘wild goose chase.’ Where is it?”
“Oh! So you admit she’s not a monster. A weapon. You’re getting closer.” Bagley gave her the look of a teacher praising a toddler. Shuffling, he made a show of getting comfortable in his little, flimsy chair. He tilted his head and smiled as innocently as he could muster. “I don’t know where she is.”
Cassandra raised a brow. “Lieutenant, you released a classified weapon—a particularly dangerous and unpredictable weapon—into the public. Don’t lie to me.”
Bagley shook his head, holding a finger up to interrupt. “You keep using that word. ‘Weapon.’ People aren’t weapons, Cass.”
She rapped her nails on her desk. Her gaze drifted, unbothered. “It’s Captain. My brother called me Cassandra.”
Bagley narrowed his eyes. Motherfucker. She knew just what to say and just how to say it to get under his skin. He balled his fists, wishing it didn’t work. The satisfaction in Cassandra’s eyes—the break in her composure to let him know just how much she enjoyed this reaction—only made Bagley’s blood boil. He started to rise but Chase jerked him back into his seat, hand clamped on his shoulder. He seethed. But as he opened his mouth, he caught another glimpse at her expression. That’s what she’s waiting for, he realized. For once in his life, Bagley resisted the urge to yell back. Instead, he flexed his fingers, relaxing his fists. He shook his head, barking out a laugh.
Cassandra knew just what to say to get under his skin—fine. But he also knew what to say to get under hers.
Bagley tried to shrug Chase’s hand off, scoffing. “You turned people into war machines. I’ll bet they had no idea what they were signing up for.” Bagley leaned in with a sneer. Chase’s grip tightened on his shoulder. He tried not to shout, forcing his voice into a level whisper. “You think dad would be proud of you? You think any of them would be proud of you? You think they could stand looking at you, you sick fuck?”
Sweet success—Cassandra’s nose flared, mouth pressed into a firm line. She took a steadying breath, eyes glassy. How similar her eyes were to their father’s and yet how different the emotion behind them was. “They were criminals, proud to finally be of use to soci—”
Bagley cut her off, leaping to his feet. Chase tried to grab him but Bagley wriggled out of his grasp, jamming a finger in her face. Chase was a fly on the wall compared to the fire burning in his chest. “No, shut the fuck up and listen, Cassandra!” He spat. “Do you know what he’d say? Do you know what he’d fucking say? You think dad would have stood by and watched you try to speak for the people whose lives you’ve destroyed? You think he would have stood for this? Huh? Tell me, Captain! Were they proud—were they willing?” The words spilled out of his chest at rapid fire—he couldn’t stop himself. “And you know what? She’s a hundred-somethin’ fuckin’ feet tall, capable of ripping a man into two, but the monster is right here.”
Cassandra leapt up from her desk, gun trained at his forehead. She grit her teeth. “That’s enough. This is for the greater good—so no more poor fools end up like us. That’s what dad wanted—what every parent wants: for their children to be safe and protected.” Her eyes were watery. “This is how we do it, don’t you see? For him and every other parent and child dead, separated, and lost. For him. For us.”
“Captain—” Chase interjected, removing his grip to protest.
Free, Bagley slammed his hands on her desk. “Well then, what are you gonna do?” He sneered, staring down the barrel of the gun. “I might be a fuckin’ traitor, but if this is how you execute your cause, I’d rather you just put a bullet in my head. End this shit right here.” Bagley pressed his forehead against the pistol, right between his eyes. His heartbeat roared in his ears. He bared his teeth, snarling. Fury pounded through him so hard his eyesight went hazy, pushing his forehead against the barrel so hard it hurt. He was playing with fire, and it was the most alive he’d ever felt.
Cassandra’s hand trembled. Sweat gathered on her forehead. Her eyes were slits as she stared at him from the other end of the gun. Something shifted behind them—fear.
“You couldn’t shoot me then, could you, Captain?” He whispered. “What makes you think you can shoot me now? You keep preaching about the greater fuckin’ good, but what are you willing to pay for it with? Criminals?” Bagley shrugged as Cassandra remained frozen. “Sure. Maybe they deserve it—to have their lives ripped from them, their memories—their voice? Fuckin’ maybe! Maybe that’s fair, to you. But what about your family? Are you willing to kill the only one you’ve got left—are you willing to give up your life?”
Cassandra lowered her pistol. She took a shaky breath and the fear dissolved from her eyes. “Without hesitation.”
Bagley felt his anger disintegrate, rage crumbling to emptiness. All at once, his fury deflated, leaving him with a pooling dread.
The Captain put away her gun and met his gaze. “You are alive because you are useful. Don’t mistake it for kindness or mercy, and especially not fondness.” Her voice held a foreign venom. When he looked at her face, he didn’t recognize the woman who looked back at him. “My brother died that day in that isolation chamber, crushed to death by a giant.” Bagley stood frozen as she sank back behind her desk. “So,” the Captain said, “I will ask you once again: where is the weapon?”
“Captain!” Wade burst into the tent, face slick with sweat. She looked like she was going to be sick.
“Wade.” The Captain’s face twitched with agitation. “Back to your post.”
Wade’s chest heaved and she shook her head. “No, Captain, you better come quick. There’s a—” Her breath sputtered and she steadied herself. “I was right, Captain. There was a giant, on that rescue mission—and there’s one out there.”
The Captain rose, brows drawn. “What? Where? How close?”
Someone cut off Wade’s reply with a laugh and it wasn’t until all eyes turned to him that Bagley realized it was his. Something about the dread in his stomach made him grin. “You’ve been asking me the wrong question, Captain. It’s not about where the giant is.” He lifted his chin. “It’s which one.”
Chase’s hand fell from his shoulder. “Oh my god.” He whispered.
The Captain turned, expression filled with outrage. The sight was so fucking satisfying, Bagley couldn’t wipe the smugness from his face. The Captain crossed the tent to look him square in the eyes. She searched his face, no guard up to hide the terror in her own. Her next question was a whisper:
Not pictured are the love interests of the girls at the side, including the Archduke, the toxic men blender contents, canon Durge, Astarion, Gale, Minthara, Shadowheart, Lae'zel and Karlach. Guess who matches up with who.
I was tagged by @deianestormborn for her tag, thank you so much <3
What if your TAV/OC was an Origin Character and they could have evil endings? What would those endings be?
Octavia
The Wrath of Avernus
Only accessible when killing Raphael and killing/not freeing Hope
You look over the city, the same city that once chewed you up and spat you out. There are so many possibilities now, your own power that can unfurl in so many different ways. You could be a kind ruler, you could be merciful and forgiving.
If only they had done the same to you. You would repay their own apathy in tenfold, you would turn away from their agony. You're now the ruler of the House of Hope, why should you not combine the both.
Let them see the horrors of the Hells, let them feel the suffering that you had to go through.
Show the Gods what happens when they forsake a child. Show them what happens if a soul gets twisted by the infernal. Let the city burn down, let Toril burn down.
The Material Plane will fall at your hand and let Asmodeus tremble until you set your eyes on the Hells.
Seara
The Queen
Since birth you were raised to rule beside another, to have your power be reduced to the person that decides to make you their wife. Now they all kneel at your feet.
Let them see who prevails at the end, let them see the raw power that you hold.
No Duke, no Archduke, you will be a queen. Fierce as you are beautiful, they will fear and love you all the same. No others beside you, nobody else who will even reach a fraction of the power that you hold. The whole of Toril will fall to your hand, every living soul will be under your control and your rules.
You will be the name on everyones lips and they will know that the descendant of the red dragon her reign will burn.
Cassandra
The Reign of Bane
Where others have failed, you have preveiled in giving Bane just what he wanted. Total control and domination, you can feel his approval fill your whole being. You did it, you rose where the other Chosen has fallen.
Everyone falls to their knees in front of you, all will bow their heads to you and to Bane. The whole Material Plane is yours for the taking and that is only where your dominion will start.
First Baldur's Gate, then the Sword Coast and then Faerûn, it will all fall to your mace.
And Bane, oh, now you will be His favourite.
(Achlys only has the evil embrace Bhaal ending and something else that I'm already cooking up)
I was tagged by @missfortunetherogue , @saylofwaterdeep , @ele-millennial-weirdo , @perpetualmaladaptivedaydream , @lucretiouswept , @carnivaley , @fireflyeyes and @deianestormborn
I tried to incorporate some different mythologies and folklore (including some Dutch/Belgian) for the girlies.
Witte wieven/Dames Blanches
According to mythology, their spirits remained on earth, and they became living spirits (or elven beings) that either helped or hindered people who encountered them. They tended to reside in the burial sites or other sacred places. It was thought that mist on a gravehill was the spirit of the wise woman appearing, and people would bring them offerings and ask for help.
Seara
Siren
"The Sirens bewitch everybody who approaches them. There is no homecoming for the man who draws near them unawares...For with their high clear song the Sirens bewitch him, as they sit there in a meadow piled high with the mouldering skeletons of men, whose withered skin still hangs upon their bones. "
Cassandra
Keres
The Keres were female spirits (daimones) of violent or cruel death, including death in battle, by accident, murder or ravaging disease.
Achlys
Banshee
The banshee acts as a warning of death in a family. According to Irish folklore, the banshee is said to be heard wailing mournfully or singing a lament (referred to as “keening”) when someone in the family is either about to die or has already died.
However, banshees don’t just presage deaths – though that is their most common function. Banshees have also been known to act as an omen of other tragedies or misfortunes as well, particularly those of significance.
I was tagged by @perpetualmaladaptivedaydream , @thesanguinesonnet , @archduchessgortash , @ele-millennial-weirdo , @graysparrowao3 , @carnivaley and @lucretiouswept .
I've been working on some stuff for Cassandra and Aradin/Octavia but let's go with Cassandra today.
Cassandra had expected an older man to appear from the warehouse, someone who knew what responsibility was, someone who knew the weight of the plan that they were going to carry out. Someone mature enough to understand the severity.
She got a man who was only a few years older, tan with a mop of black hair, slightly disheveled that hit his shoulder and dark eyes that were on her from the moment he stepped outside. A quick, easy smile on his face, his attempt at disarming her.
Enver had expected an older man to come from Mulmaster, someone who knew the doctrine with a devotion that rivaled his own. Someone that would stand besides him while he built an empire, a sage advisor who kept the will of Bane in mind.
He got a woman who was a few years younger, a woman that he would have sooner expected in Sharess' Caress' than in the temple of Bane. Green eyes that were almost defiant as they looked at each other, a calculated distance that was created by her.
Gentle tagging @dynamicducks , @saylofwaterdeep , @fireflyeyes , @theendofanerror , @asorceresswrites , @unovafarm , @cinder-rellish181 , @toomanyfamiliars , @litsenn , @missfortunetherogue , @arlynx , @deianestormborn , @faeriiefire , @ghost-of-a-dream-girl and a reverse tag to the lovelies who tagged me <3
I was tagged by @thesanguinesonnet , @doomedlamb , @cinder-rellish181 and @deianestormborn for this tag so let's go.
I think most people have done this tag, so consider yourself tagged and gentle tags to @dynamicducks , @unovafarm , @bladesingerlily and @ele-millennial-weirdo (sorry if you did it already).
Cassandra, the conqueror
Inspired by Carmilla in Castlevania.
Why would my undeath be determined by lesser men than myself? I will bring the world to heel myself, cloak it in an eternal darkness for my children and for my own hand. Let them think lesser of me, let them underestimate me.
They will see me when I come for them.
Achlys, the daughter of blood
The flesh of the divine wrapped in the tendrils of undeath, do you fear me more now? I will bathe in blood as my birthright and my own pleasure. It is a life force after all.
Father will be so proud.
Octavia, the Dark Consort
His most beloved spawn, his dark consort, his sweetest little creature. If you listen well outside of the Crimson Palace, you can hear her they say. You can hear her begging him to love her, begging him to be the man she fell in love with.
Seara, the Vampire Bride
(VP of Seara by @carnivaley)
She was my everything, she was the other half of me. Her fire cleansed the world pure, tore down what held me down to my shackles. No moment did she hesitate to help me step into my full power.
I knew that she was more than a spawn, she was to be fully mine. She was to be by my side as my wife, my bride in blood.
Seara is the only character that I can see the vampire bride working.
