as someone who has never watched any of the episode of critical role that they’re adapting into tlovm it’s very wild to me that the show will drop absolutely banger lines like “you’re at the bottom of my list” or “darling, take off the mask” or “do not go far from me” or “take me instead you raven bitch” or “i was made to pass through fire” and then i log on here and learn that they were all originally IMPROVISED in the original campaign
Sometimes sad cat wizards deserve to get swept off their feet by their narrative foils.
Many, many thanks to both @flappingduster-scribbles and @aboxthecolourofheartache for helping me un-weird the anatomy. Why did I need to un-weird the anatomy? Well, let’s look at the reference below the cut…
This one is a special tribute to the fic Lay Your Bones by @ladyorpheus which grabbed me by the scruff and dragged me along on an adventure so enticing I literally couldn’t drop my phone. It started off as a doodle as I pondered just how fucking COOL that fic was, and ended up as… this.
Alright, as threatened, it’s time for another list of fic recs, since you guys keep churning out absolute bangers. If you missed the first list, check it out here.
As before, the rules:
I’m limiting this list to one fic per author (but may repeat some authors from list #1.) I also link author profiles, so please check out their other fics as well!
These are MY personal favorites. That means if you reply “you’re wrong because you missed X”, no I’m not.
Without further ado, (More of) My Favorite Shadowgast Fics:
Professor Caleb Widogast and Dr. Essek Thelyss’ students just wanted a
break from the sheer amount of assigned readings they had. As it turned
out, both professors were single.
Events escalated from there.
It’s epistolary! It’s outsider POV! It’s a university AU! It’s literally everything you love! This fic is hilarious, heartwarming, and brilliantly rendered in the form of syllabi, chat messages between Essek and Caleb’s students, emails, and Rate My Professor reviews.
Essek watches Caleb languidly through the lashes of his usable
eye. He has unquestionably just endured the worst day of his entire
life: his title, his Den, the respect of his Queen, everything he’s
worked towards for the past half-century, crumbled to dust in an
instant. Adding injury to insult, he barely survived the two separate
ambushes set by his former colleagues long enough to deliver himself as a
warning to possibly the only people who might avert the impending
apocalypse. In the past half hour, he has been repeatedly (and very
painfully) jolted to and from the brink of death like a child’s yo-yo.
And yet…
And yet, seeing this human’s face—this foreigner, who,
not so long ago, he might have imprisoned or killed as “Empire scum”
without a second thought—the tender studiousness of Caleb Widogast’s
expression, as he gently dabs at Essek’s eyelid with a damp cloth…
Essek finds himself strangely at peace with it all.
This is an older one–to the point where it’s not canon compliant anymore–but still 110% worth a read. The author has wonderfully vivid language and a superb blend of emotion and humor (and Yussa’s appearance is a ton of fun).
There’s something in Caleb’s dreams. It wants him to know that
he’s not alone. It wants him to know that he’ll never be alone again.
Elves don’t dream, so all Essek can do is watch.
A long canon-divergence fic that assumes Caleb didn’t take Mind Blank has his eighth-level spell and Trent Ikithon played a longer game in trying to take him down. If you’re looking for the emotional equivalent of getting repeatedly knifed in the gut, this fic is for you! Warning for dark themes; please be mindful.
In which the humans do a politics, the Xhorhasians learn about potatos,
and everyone decides five hundred years of living in disguise and on
the run isn’t actually a great life plan, Essek.
This fic is an absolutely delightful post-canon Shadowgast epic. It has it all: Essek and Caleb slowly inching their way into a relationship Without Talking About It, while all of Xhorhas is talking about their torrid love affair, with incredible dialogue and a beautiful look at the rest of the Mighty Nein on the side. Can’t recommend this one enough for the thoughtful worldbuilding and warm fuzzy feelings. Also, title is from “Rome” by Dessa, which is a banger.
Shadowhand Essek Thelyss of the Kryn Dynasty has been
selected to spend the year at the Soltryce Academy, teaching the basics
of an esoteric school of magic known as dunamancy. While the goal is to
build better relations between the Dwendalian Empire and the Dynasty,
it’s also the best way to prove to his mother he is committed to
furthering the reputation of their well-regarded Den.
Renowned
former adventurer Caleb Widogast has recently been appointed the
Archmage of Civil Influence. Beloved by the common folk, Caleb finds
himself frustrated with cutthroat peers and a morally lackadaisical
aristocracy. Being able to attend every dunamancy lecture, plus new
students and old friends, should keep his troubled mind away from
unfinished business.
Though Essek and Caleb met three years ago, a
misunderstanding put them at odds. The more they talk, the quicker
Essek falls into his first romance…which unknowingly leads them both
into a web of underhanded machinations.
Oh, man, I can’t say enough good things about this epic-length (seriously, long as hell, and if you’re anything like me you won’t want to stop reading) fic. It’s a gorgeous alternate universe, blending elements of canon with a university AU. The development of Caleb and Essek’s relationship is thoughtful, the dialogue is excellent, and the author even got me to enjoy things that usually aren’t to my personal taste.
Footsteps pad down the hall and past the stairs. Actual footsteps.
Verin can’t remember the last time he saw Essek walk on his own two
feet. He feels a twisted knot form beneath his sternum; something isn’t
right.
Thinking only of justice and restoring his family’s honor
after Essek’s betrayal, Verin Thelyss finds something he never expected,
an Essek he never expected. A mission for justice turns into a race
against time and a family finds their world upended.
A really powerful blend of kidfic and one of my personal favorite genres, ‘Essek gets arrested by the Dynasty and the M9 save him’. The use of POV is excellent and the characters are written thoughtfully and realistically.
Essek shows up on Caleb’s doorstep in the bitter cold of winter.
It
is still early in the day, barely three-sixteen, but the sun is already
disappearing between the city houses, leaving only blue light in the
streets. The temperature is falling with the sun and the moons are high
in the sky, white and pink shadows against the blue. Essek is dark and
indistinct in the doorway, the shape of him muffled by a heavy cloak,
and they have need of each other’s complicated company.
As with all of renquise’s fics, this is a beautiful and delicately written fic about intimacy. The dialogue is exquisite, the language and POV is impeccable.
Caleb knows what it is to be hunted. He sees it in Essek’s
careful placement of his minimal luggage, how he has not unpacked
anything more than what is needed at the moment, the modest
respectability of his nightclothes, how he sets his boots by the bedroom
door instead of on the tray in the foyer.
The Dynasty’s memory is longer than lifetimes, and
Kryn lives are already long. Ludinous Daleth keeps fat ledgers. Their
quarry will go to ground tonight with his head on Caleb’s pillow.“
Another post-canon fic about Essek on the run, and Caleb, and Essek and Caleb together. If you enjoy being punched in the gut by your own emotions, this fic is for you! This fic is so well constructed, and it manages to hurt a lot and be warm and hopeful at the same time.
“Okay, you definitely have something new,” Beau said when he stalled for too long. “Spill.”
Essek continued to chew his thumbnail. “Tour group on the lava field. There was a sudden breakout from a soft spot.”
“…And?”
He took a breath, then shrugged. “It looked like hands?”
(Aka, the spooky volcanology AU that absolutely no one asked for.)
The concept of this fic is fucking bonkers but the emotions it will cause you to have are worse! I feel especially compelled to recommend it because It’s Really That Good, No Really, I Swear. Funny and heartwrenching in equal measure.
It’s… the stupidest thing. Essek grits his
teeth. It’s a trained habit - a way to redirect some of the pain without
showing any symptoms. A Shadowhand never shows his hand, and it is this
he excels at - a poker face, a well-concealed illusion of poise and
grandeur and tolerance. But today, he is unlucky. Because there is little that escapes the keen mind of Widogast - and here he has quite the disadvantage. It is, quite literally, his least favored terrain. Stairs. —
When keeping mages in an enclosed terrarium, please keep in mind the
following: They need lots of places to hide and explore. Provide
enrichment opportunities for them to keep them from getting bored -
plenty of books, hidden treasures, and secret chambers. And if you’re
feeling bold, think about including an Anti-Magic staircase just to
challenge them. See what they do with it.
A light-hearted one to end the rec list with; while of course I love Essek and Caleb at their most tortured, have a delightfully funny one with great, snappy dialogue where they’re only at the mercy of their own pride, stupidity, and each other.
And if you’re still on the hunt for more Shadowgast fic, there is my own ouevre, but I will rec my most popular one:
Essek clung to her; his fingers gripped the front of her coat. He
looked small in a way he never had before, frightened in a way that
Caleb hadn’t fully processed he could be. It wasn’t Essek’s nervousness,
the anxiety of a brilliant man who could see danger all around him, who
could see the falling dominoes and the way the web he had woven had
entangled him. It was the fear of a small child, or indeed, a stray
cat—the fear of a creature trapped in a terrifying world it did not
understand.
Essek, brilliant Essek, Essek who believed he could find the
answers to everything, unable to understand a thing—the thought of it
stabbed at Caleb’s heart.
—
In a world where Trent makes it back to Eiselcross
before the Nein do, Essek spends a night under the effects of the
Feeblemind spell. Caleb undertakes a duty of care, and the Nein learn
how Essek feels about them beneath everything.
For the baby fic x execution angst shadowgast duality we have now, can I recommend Lay your Bones by @ladyorpheus? Because it’s a really good fic and it will rip your heart out.
Can’t stop thinking about this little spider I found several years back just hanging out in a fake halloween cobweb, clearly confused and disoriented. Like can you imagine what must have been going through that little guys head?? Imagine waking up to find a giant fucking mansion in your front yard and naturally you move in, only to find out it’s made out of like. Styrofoam.
advertising in general does not encourage me to buy anything they’re trying to sell but youtube ads specifically go one step further and awaken in me a desire for incredible and bloody violence
spotify ads too actually
if you interrupt my tunes you have my attention but in the same way as a hiker disturbing a sleeping wild bear
Donna Tobias - the first woman to graduate from the US Navy’s Deep Sea Diving School in 1975.
Brave women of the Red Cross hitting the beach at Normandy.
Dottie Kamenshek was called the best player in women’s baseball and was once recruited to play for a men’s professional team.
Kate Warne - Private Detective. Born in New York City, almost nothing is known of her prior to 1856 when, as a young widow, she answered an employment advertisement placed by Alan Pinkerton. She was one of four new agents the Pinkerton Detective Agency hired that year and proved to be a natural, taking to undercover work easily. She had taken part in embezzlement and railroad security cases when in 1861 the Pinkertons developed the first lead about an anti-Lincoln conspiracy.
Catherine Leroy, female photographer in Vietnam.
The three women pictured in this incredible photograph from 1885 – Anandibai Joshi of India, Keiko Okami of Japan, and Sabat Islambouli of Syria – each became the first licensed female doctors in their respective countries. The three were students at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania; one of the only places in the world at the time where women could study medicine.
Female Samurai Warrior - Onno-Bugeisha - Female warrior belonging to the Japanese upper class. Many women engaged in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war.
One of the most feared of all London street gangs from the late 1880’s was a group of female toughs known as the Clockwork Oranges. They woulde later inspire Anthony burgess’ most notorious novel. Their main Rivals were the All-female “the Forty Elephants” gang.
Maureen Dunlop de Popp, Pioneering female pilot who flew Spitfires during Second World War. She joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in 1942 and became one of a small group of female pilots who were trained to fly 38 types of aircraft.
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston marathon. After realizing that a woman was running, race organizer Jock Semple went after Switzer shouting, “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers.” However, Switzer’s boyfriend and other male runners provided a protective shield during the entire marathon. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines, and Kathrine later won the NYC marathon with a time of 3:07:29.
Women have always participated in fighting; whether that is in war or in breaking down barriers that have been set in front of us by society.
Take inspiration from our foremothers and continue breaking down barriers, wherever you are.
-FemaleWarrior, She/They
nothing to do with my blog but how could I not reblog this???
Hey, quick point - your image for Onna Bugeisha is actually a kabuki actress. I know, because I’ve used the image for presentations on the subject. In her stead may I introduce Niijima Yae, aka Yamamoto Yaeko.
Born in 1845.
In 1868, fought at the Battle of Aizu. Her father was the gunnery instructor, and she was trained on a Spencer carbine, which she used to defend the castle.
1871, divorced her husband and went to Kyoto to find her brother, who had been taken as a POW.
1871-1898, remarried a western-educated man, co-founded two schools (including a girls’ school), became a certified Tea Master and flower arranging instructor.
1890, following the death of her husband, became a Red Cross nurse. Served in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-5) leading a team of 40 nurses, and the Russo-Japanese War (1904). Decorated for her service in both.
I’m proud of people adding their own knowledge to this.
“but adding women to [insert title] isn’t accurate!” women existed back then too, baby. history was just written by men, for men
No, you absolutely don’t have to watch exandria unlimited to enjoy or understand campaign 3. Yes, in not watching it you will miss out on the experience of a fully armed Orym with frosted tips made from Fearne’s hair successfully being passed off as the four year old daughter of a 19 year old party girl named Opal, while Fearne, Dorian, and Matt’s PC (disguised as a famed burlesque dancer) do an importune very attention grabbing street music/dance performance in the middle of a town they’re actively being hunted by assassins in.
She/her. Gray-A. Ravenclaw. INTP. Fandom Old. United States.
Are there any words to sum up a person? Well if there were I'd be a cornucopia of contradictions, each epitaph in an abnormal juxtaposion with the next, hardly conceivable and strangely chimerical...
ALT
