I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but due to this year taking a massive toll on my mental health, I am cancelling the exchange. It’s very taxing, and I was already considering it, but my IRL work has quite suddenly picked up, leaving me little time for outside projects.
Because the exchange was created in order to encourage and uplift fan works during a time when many fans were hurt and disappointed, and because the data of this year’s participants was given to me in confidence, I will not be handing the reins over to anyone else. The TDP Holiday Exchange is not happening in 2020.
Others are certainly welcome to start their own (and always were because no one has a monopoly on fan projects), but please note that these exchanges will not be affiliated with the TDPHE. I do not have the capacity to participate in or promote these exchanges, and I will not be giving any kind of official sanctioned blessing to a “successor”.
I’m sorry to disappoint everyone, but the fandom will be fine without this event and I’m sure there will still be many fanworks flavored around the holidays.
Have gifts been assigned yet? If not, no rush at all, but I just wanted to make sure I’m not missing anything since the last post mentioned having them ready by Monday? Thanks in advance!
Your head mod’s been having the real poo brain lately, sorry! IRL stuff got really busy and all my executive function points for the day go to my job and keeping my house clean these days.
I WILL have assignments out soon, I just have to take care of a handful of things first. Hopefully this weekend!
well, you can do anything creative that you like! Draw a picture, write some fanfic, or even something as simple as some nice headcanons or graphic edits. We try to be as inclusive as possible and not make it about the most popular writers and artists. Just make something nice you think your giftee would like.
You can read more about it in the FAQ here: https://tdpholidayexchange.tumblr.com/post/188885871970/frequently-asked-questions
Hello everyone~
Expect an annoucement about the exchange for 2020 next week! We’re opening submissions earlier this year, and also assigning the giftees early, so that there is more time to complete gifts.
Now that we’re in the back half of the year, guess it’s time to start thinking about whether or not I want to do the TDP Holiday Exchange again.
I will probably start it earlier (sign ups in october) and make the deadline earlier (like early-mid December) to avoid people having to work during finals and holidays with families.
Anyone into participating again this year?
A pox upon my head forever because I forgot one person in the @tdpholidayexchange - the lovely @deetheteadrinkingdragon
Well, what do you get one of the major Rayllum shippers for (a very belated) Christmastide than… some Rayllum! Power couple ready to spring into action :V
Fun fact, I’m digging these designs so much I’m considering making them stickers. (obviously, if I do that, Dee, you’ll get some for free).
Anyway, with this I *THINK* that’s the entire TPD Gift Exchange for 2019 closed! I’m gonna look real dumb if there’s still someone I missed but uhhhh let me know if that’s you :[
I MEANT TO GET THIS UP YESTERDAY BUT
The final gift for the TDP Exchange @tdpholidayexchange! It was Soren’s birthday yesterday and @gwenuine requested Soren x Happiness and honestly that’s all I want is for everyone to remember Soren’s birthday and give him ALL of the pancakes.
Hey there @mikitheswiftie! I’m your secondary Santa for the @tdpholidayexchange and I absolutely LOVED making this for you! It turns out we have similar taste in both elves and pokemon which made this so much fun! I hope that you have an amazing year ahead of you!
SO sorry for the late gift! I feel unbelievable bad but it's here! I haven't written for many years and it shows but I did try and I hope that shows through the rust. What you asked was also pretty vague so I hope this is what you can like. Enjoy!
P.s I was hoping to make this longer and well better written but writing was WAY harder than I remember it being so I apologize for that.
It was supposed to be a simple mission, well as simple as it gets when your task is to assassinate the royal family of the largest most powerful nation of a species that you haven't gotten along with to say the least for well over a thousand years.
Unfortunately, there had been... complications. Mostly caused by herself Rayla would admit, and she did hold some guilt and shame over them. But that was why she was here now in the Castle by herself. She messed up by herself and she would fix it by herself. To make Runaan proud and redeem herself of her parent's failures.
So here she was, stalking through the Castle seeking to fulfil her mission. Though while Rayla was unsure precisely of what her targets looked like, she was confident in her own ability to piece it together. Moonshadow elves were taught strongly from a young age to conjoin together clues from the landscape, her especially since she lived with Runaan. These skills included observing many different elements such as class, race, age, color, body language, speech and the local environment.
Naturally they came especially useful in situations like these, Rayla couldn’t exactly go around slicing the necks of anyone who could be the heir. She had to be patient and first locate and confirm his identity. Her target wouldn’t be a knight or wearing any major forms of armor, those in simple or plainly colored clothes would be servants and the such. He would be wearing fine and colorful clothing to signify to others his position and standing, which in a place like this and its expense to create is typically only worn by royals. Thankfully leaving Rayla with only a very slim handful in the Castle that would fit within her criteria, allowing her to be confident in her decision of who her target was.
Close to her Rayla spotted a young lone human wandering somewhat aimlessly down a hallway. “Ez is that you, hello?” he said to the empty hallway. Peaking from around the pillar covering her Rayla scrutinized closely his appearance. Upon him lay what she could tell was very fine clothes dyed in rare and royal colors, a large knapsack on his shoulders and around his waist lay a very large book. Clearly no one else of his age would be walking around the kings Castle assorted with these items other than the heir prince himself.
Rayla smirked to herself in satisfaction and pride for successfully deducing her target, while which she stalked up behind the human to take the kill. “you know you can't sneak up on me..” the human had gotten out half his sentence mid turn until noticing she wasn’t at all obviously who he was expecting judging by his bewildered look.
After an awkward moment he quickly jolted off and Rayla gave chase. Moving throughout the castle and dispatching guards where necessary. Until finally they found themselves in a high study tower. “Lord Viren, Claudia, anyone?!” he desperately wheezed out, clearly exhausted by the panicked run for his life. But not a soul but her was around to answer him. Clearly recognizing the dead end, he had trapped himself into the human prince turned around to face her, slowing backing up until he hit the edge of a nearby study table.
This was it, avenging the destruction of the Dragon Kings egg and her parents' shame was just within her grasp. In the doorway blocking any escape for the Prince, Rayla stood with both sleek assassin blades extended before her ready to both serve justice and revenge.
Callum had not had the best day looking back on it currently and getting chased around the Caste by a deadly bloodthirsty elf assassin was definitely the worst of it. He had hoped that by running in here he could have located Viren or Claudia and their capabilities with that creepy dark magic could have held back the assassin, but no avail. Even Soren with his excellent swordsman skills would have helped but no, and now Callum found himself at a dead-end staring at the sharp pointed blades that would likely end his story here.
Rayla slowly strolled her way across the room to her defenseless target, positioning herself right before him and just one of her blades just at his throat. “Prince Ezran you and your father King Harrow are our only targets tonight, accept your fate and your suffering will be naught”
“You can't that’s not fair!” gaped out the Prince, “why would you hurt someone who has done nothing wrong” he finished. “Humans cut down the King of the Dragons and destroyed his only egg, the Dragon Prince!” Rayla spat out moving to the point her second dagger at a point of deadly precision “Justice will not be denied”.
Callum knew now that this was his end, and as the older brother to his sibling, was ready to make the sacrifice under his responsibility so that Ezran may live. “I see, well then you found me. I am prince Ezran” said Callum calmly accepting his fate.
Rayla herself was struggling to catch the nerve to finally strike. And while she always enjoyed training and honing her abilities, she always struggled with the thought of being an assassin, snuffing out the life in others. Tinker had always seemed to imply to her to consider something else but Runaan would have never allowed it, and Moonshadow culture was quite rigid when it came down to starting a path you finished it.
Now that this Prince had seemingly just accepted her fate, she couldn’t commit the act. This was not at all what she had imagined it would be like. “I have to do this, im sorry. I don’t want to but I have to” Rayla apologized.
“Why? You know this is wrong” said the Prince
“An assassin doesn’t quite right and wrong, only life and death” replied Rayla but the words tasted foul in her mouth.
“That’s very clever, but come on really. How does solve anything?” Argued back Callum
“This is justice!” explained Rayla “Humans attacked us an unprovoked”.
“So it's okay for you to do the same thing?” said Callum.
“Well no, it's not the same thing. Because we’re attacking you, Provoked!” finished Rayla.
“Then it’s a cycle!” Callum realized out loud. “You hurt me; someone will get revenge against the elves. It won't end!” emphasized Callum.
Rayla couldn’t believe it but this human was actually making sense. And looking at him down there on the floor she realized she couldn’t do it; she couldn’t kill him. Not only did she not want to kill him but Rayla also realized it would be hypocritical of her to kill and judge a soul of their parents' actions. Afterall she was already being judged by her parent's failure and she hated it all.
Making up her mind Rayla raised her sword causing the prince to quiver in its fear only to quickly slam its but across his temple knocking him out cold.
“I will simply have to convince Runann to present him to the Dragon Queen” muttered Rayla as she hoisted the unconscious body across her shoulders, ready to travel back the camp.
Runaan was furious back at camp, he could see now Etharie was right and taking Rayla on this mission was a huge mistake. Compromising the whole mission almost entirely by herself due to herself reluctance. And then again when she took off in some vain attempt to redeem herself. BUT now she returns not only failing to complete what she set out too, but with what she claimed was the crown prince around her shoulders!
“Rayla have you gone completely mad!? Every action you have undertaken on this mission has directly undermined the whole operation, are you trying to sabotage the very will of the Dragon Queen!? He venomously spat.
“No Runaan wait you don’t understand” begged Rayla “We need to take him to the Dragon Queen since as the Prince he can make peace again!
“Rayla your comprehension skills are under some serious scrutiny after all this and it only since I trust you and the fact the mission is already compromised beyond any hope of completion, is why I am forced to take your suggestion” said Runaan much to Raylas relief.
And thus, the group of Elven assassins reluctantly took off back to Xadia and the Dragon Queen with one false human prince in tow. Hopefully to make peace and almost certainly bound for adventure. Leaving behind them one upset and confused brother, one furious step dad and one ungodly mad aunt when she found out of course. Using all available resources to find and retrieve Callum.
one final @tdpholidayexchange gift, this time for @north-star-flickering! Ylysha requested startouch elves and something with belly dancing, so I have made a Startouch belly dancer! Designing her was a lot of fun, and I had to look at TONS of reference, so I hope I got it right!!
Happy holidays, even if it’s a bit late!
