Tag Archives: The Pale Tree

The Necromancer and the Orchid Prince: Part 11

I guess this is kind of the second half of LW3, but not really, because it has nothing to do with game plot. This chapter’s kind of a mess, but anyway I’m a little closer to the end and that’s all that matters. I mean, Trahearne’s kind of a mess, so it works thematically lol.

Caoilfhionn was listening to Enya again, and also a bunch of Christopher Tin music. (If Christopher Tin were the prime indication of where classical music was going in the 21st century I’d be totally okay with that.) Trahearne, however, has been listening to more Aviators music, even though it doesn’t quite fit as well as Let There Be Fire fit Trahearne during the Orr campaign. But anyway I needed something gloomy, and Tharash reminded me that this existed! Also Fear Not This Night needs more screentime, I miss it ingame.

Contents:
1: Cracks
2: New Horizons

Part 10: Putting the World Back Together

 

1: Cracks

He was warm, and naked, and relaxed, and was wrapped around something smooth and slowly breathing, and they were both wrapped up in thick fleshy leaves. He lifted his head and opened his eyes, and was surprised and pleased to find they both worked – though his left eye was blurry, like he’d gotten water in it. Before him, under his nose, were familiar green leaves shot with magenta luminescence, softly lit by diffuse dark green light soaking through the seedpod’s walls. Just over his head, the pod was slowly peeling open, and he could see a gentle blue sky that suggested it was late afternoon. Continue reading

The Necromancer and the Orchid Prince: Part 9

The good end is here! Caoilfhionn’s last fight is soundtracked to This Game from No Game No Life! I really like the piano arrangement by Animenz, better than the original song actually. Really short chapter, because the story actually continues from here. And in fact we’re starting to head towards the end of the fic? I’ve still got story arcs for the boys to go through but from this point on the game story started to interest me less so you’ll see less of it. I’m still loving the areas in PoF, and exploring them, but the plot still hasn’t quite grabbed me yet. It would help if I could figure out whether I’m shipping Damara with Faren or Canach… or both, one after the other… and if Faren had more screen-time to make that sort of feasible. But anyway.

Btw, I’m not having Trahearne be giant-sized in this story. I’ve seen some really nice art of ‘Trahearne post-HoT’ and I really like that idea, but I’m going a different route.

Part 7: The Bitter End

 

Part 9: The Strength to Fight

He woke to find himself lying upon damp earthen ground, and sucked in a heaving gasp of air. How sweet it was, after such exertion! Even down here, where it smelled of decaying plant matter. He had truly pushed himself to the brink and it was good to wake and rest.

But Trahearne! He sat up, a little woozily as his sap took a moment to adjust its flow, and then pushed himself shakily to his feet. Continue reading

The Necromancer and the Orchid Prince: Part 5

Here comes LW2! Ugh it’s actually pretty well written in-game (some minor nitpicking about logistics aside) but it was actually a pain to write? It’s probably because I’m losing steam. I’ve started on LW3 in-game and so far that’s been fun! I don’t know if I’ll have the interest to write the sequel starring Damara just yet but if I decide I just don’t have the interest then I’ll put down my ideas at the end of the last chapter of this story.

With this chapter I tried to make clear more how the PCs are involved in the Pact in the Silverwastes. It felt a little in the game like the Pact Commander shows up well after Trahearne’s already got everything underway, which seems irresponsible. I also felt the final attack needed more explaining, it seems a bit hare-brained in game. Also on a character-driven note, Caoilfhionn cries when he tops but as a bottom he’s more mischievous. ;D I did use a soundtrack for the final dragon fight, Chasing Daybreak.

Thank you Tharash for beta-reading! “Can I call your plant romance ‘sappy’?”

I’ve been getting slowly more and more invested in Critical Role and I’m really upset about Molly, how dare he be so beautiful and fun and kind and also dead.

Contents:
1: A Leader Will Die
2: The Eternal Alchemy
3: Gathering the Cast
4: The Dragon’s Reach
5: The Silverwastes
6: Caithe
7: A Fleet of Airships

Part 4: The Day the World Ended

 

Part 5: The Dragon’s Reach

1: A Leader Will Die

Taimi was in a good mood as she puttered about Scarlet’s student room, rushing from object to object as quickly as her body would let her. “Do you realize the historical significance of this whole find?” She picked up a gear, turned it over rapidly, put it down and flipped through a pile of notebooks beside it. “Not to mention the salvage rights. I’ll be writing papers, treatises, and dissertations on this until I’m eighty!” Continue reading

The Necromancer and the Orchid Prince: Part 2

This one goes up to the end of the level 60 quests, and Caoilfhionn is actually in-game half-way through the 80 quests. Zela, my main, is almost up to Heart of Thorns.

Reminder that ‘Caoilfhionn’ is pronounced ‘kee-lin’, though I’m strongly considering changing it to Caolán, at Tharash’s suggestion. Also Tharash edited the dialogue for his characters again, whoohoo!

Contents:
1: Raven’s Shaman (Level 40 quests)
2: Ghosts and Guns (Ascalon Catacombs)
3: Hope’s Legacy (Caudecus’s Manor)
4: Hearts That Beat (Twilight Arbour)
5: The Fall of Claw Island (Level 60 quests)
6: A Slow Blossoming (Level 60 quests)
7: The Marshal of the Pact (Level 60 quests)
8: Your Place is At My Side (Trahearne)

Part 1: A Valiant’s Quest

 

Part 2: Hope’s Legacy

1: Raven’s Shaman (Level 40 quests)

Returning to Lion’s Arch was less of a culture shock this time. Caoilfhionn knew what to expect, both from the surroundings and the people, and he didn’t so much as jump when a Norn staggered past him in the outskirts, waving a tankard and bellowing insults to everyone she saw. The centre of town was more peaceful, with more… ‘ordinary’ people gathering near the beautiful lion fountain. Now that he looked at the place from a new perspective, it was not overwhelming at all. People thrived here, Sylvari included. The gulls stirred his heart, the towers of masts and rigging, the slosh of the waves against the docks, the smell of seaweed. Continue reading