"I would apologize for my rudeness, if I had manners. Happily, I don't."
- Rikash Moonsword, Emperor Mage, Tamora Pierce
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"I would apologize for my rudeness, if I had manners. Happily, I don't."
- Rikash Moonsword, Emperor Mage, Tamora Pierce
A little girl, shrieking, tried to climb the statue to escape the mob. A boy who might have been an older brother pushed her from behind, trying to get her to the top, the only safe place he could see. A handful of other children splashed through the fountain. One of them was pushed into the water toward that bit of safety, by a woman who fell then beneath a man's club.
Light blazed from steel. Down came the Stormwings, deflecting the rare arrow with a sweep of deadly wing. The first seized the girl in her claws; the second grabbed her brother. Others came for the remaining children, carrying them up to the balconies that overlooked the square.
Aunt Daine wasn't joking, thought Aly with awe. They do like children.
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce
First book of The Immortals quartet, Stormwings are evil, enemies.
Second book of the quartet, we meet Rikash. Daine observes that he doesn't order Maura around, he tries to reason with her. And Maura tells Daine that the Stormwings take her flying. When Daine asks Rikash, he says they bear young with difficulty, so they value the young of others, especially if they're neglected, like Maura is.
In the third book, Rakish becomes a bantering companion, not restrained by diplomacy. Daine finds him refreshing among all the politicians. And it's Rikash's trick that ends up deposing Ozorne, paving the way for Carthak to improve.
In the fourth book, Rikash becomes an ally. He helps Daine and Numair in the Divine Realms, and in the mortal world at the Battle of Legann. He dies for the cause, and it's because of him and his clan that Daine argues with the great gods to let Stormwings stay in the mortal world instead of being confined to the Divine Realms.
In the Protector of the Small quartet, Stormwings are neither ally nor enemy, more of a nuisance than anything. Kel deprives them of the dead for the most part, but at the very end, she lets them at the bodies in Blayce's castle; the Stormwings aren't the monsters--Blayce, Stenmun, and any other child killers are. The Stormwings are just fulfilling what they were made for--making war more horrifying.
In Trickster's Queen, Daine names her second child after Rikash.
And it's all because he showed kindness to a neglected child.
Stormwings enjoy battle and destruction, chaos and fighting, but if there's a child endangered? No. They won't stand for that.
Daine: For Tortall!
Rikash: I don’t share that sentiment but I’M ALSO HERE!
Welcome to the bard party, where the cool kids hang out
The Gang™
Felben: Exclusively sings Mongolian throat music accompanied by hang drum and/or windchimes. Wears the hang on his back like a turtle for +1 to AC. Specializes in divination, healing, and dimensional spells. Smokes weed.
Rikash: Multiclasses as a monk literally only so that she can dance better (spoiler alert: she dances Hella Good). What sort of dance? All dance. Russian soldier dancing? Traditional Georgian dancing? The fucking polka? She’s got that shit on lock. She meets up with her step-dancing group on Wednesdays when the moon is waning. Also, she’s the best drummer, period. Specializes in evocation and intimidation-based spells. Uses an ironshod quarterstaff that may or may not have a lead core (at any rate, it fucks people up real good).
Pelliwen Piper: No one’s really sure when she showed up, why she’s here, or really what she looks like. She doesn’t talk, and she’s about three feet tall. She might be Fae. No one wants to ask. At any rate, her name doesn’t lie (which is solid evidence against her being Fae, actually). She keeps her pipes inside a trench coat at least six sizes too big that she’s never (to anyone’s knowledge) taken off. And she’s got them all. Pan pipes, wood flute, recorder, slide whistles, the works. One time, she reached into the trench coat and produced a bagpipe and after that, everyone stopped asking about the coat. They’re all pretty sure she could haul out a full church organ if given enough time. Specializes in illusions and evocations that are basically illusions (like faerie fire and dancing lights).
Billiam: Not his real name. Fantasy Linkin Park stan. Proto-emo. Nobody Understands™. I think he might play bass but he’s really trying to get this whole lead singer thing going. Specializes in conjuration and necromancy, because Of Course He Fucking Does. Also uses a scythe.
His Majesty aka Charles Anton Mariner III: The Orator. Ran away from his noble family to play jazz. Kind of sucks, actually?? Can play the saxophone fairly mediocrely. Actual bardic skill lies in making speeches and telling stories (mostly the former, bc his stories aren’t that interesting). Continuously tries to deny that fact, because he’s Not Like His Father. As such, makes attempts to start a jazzy jam sesh in every town they hit. Also tries to get people to call him Chaz. Consistently fails at both (though he does get called variations of Prescott, Willoughby, and Thurston). Specializes in enchantment and transmutation, and uses a sword (rather well, though only when he has to-- he was trained in his father’s court)
Elsie: Poetry lesbian. Also plays guitar and ukulele. Dances like Lorde. Will braid ur hair. Mom friend, but like if your mom is 22-year-old Luna Lovegood. Always has mints and hand lotion. Pure™. Comes to Rikash’s step-dance Wednesdays to watch, and sometimes calls His Majesty Chaz to to make him feel better. For some reason she and Pelliwen are bros?? They’ve worked something out. Uses a bow and arrow. Probably dating Rikash but they’re chill about it. Specializes in enchantment, abjuration, and healing.
These mismatched fuckers met because they’re in the same dorm building (they assume Pelliwen lives in the kitchen because nobody’s allowed to put anything on the bottom level of the fridge and she’s not actually on the roster. they checked). I’m not sure why they decided to leave college-- maybe they graduated, maybe it got too boring, maybe they heard about the oppressive regime of Capitalism (a dragon) in a desert city not too far from where Rikash has family, but at any rate, they’re off adventuring, leaving scores of terrorized deer and parents rethinking higher education in their path.
Rikash: That sounds like a horrible plan.
Daine: Oh, we’ve had worse!
Rikash: You with him?
Daine: Unfortunately.
Rikash: It must really blow being you.
Daine: You have no idea.
Daine: Well, what do you think we should do?
Rikash: Think about our place in the universe?