Chiaroscuro

Constance the ghost bride



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  1. Rec *

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    Summary

    He wonders if he has a life beyond today. He wonders if he has time to erase the chalk plans in his home before abandoning it forever. He wonders if he was the one who looked into the mirror, or the one who stepped out of it.

    — Essek and the Nein succeed in defeating the Somnovem, but their return to the Material Plane is a backwards trip out of Aeor. He is haunted by his memories, his guilt, the monsters around every corner, the threat of Trent Ikithon — and a shadow in his periphery that looks remarkably like himself. For Essek Thelyss, love and annihilation go hand-in-hand, until he learns otherwise.

    [This fic contains illustrations.]

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    141,219
    Chapters:
    14/14
    Comments:
    439
    Kudos:
    713
    Bookmarks:
    203
    Hits:
    20,519

    27 Mar 2023

    Bookmarker's Notes

    Essek's extended nightmare, featuring his past, his family, and an emotional rollercoster.

  2. Rec *

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    Essek Thelyss, lonely and ambitious prodigy, comes to Nicodranas to make a risky gamble with the Assembly. At the water’s edge, he finds himself swept up in another dangerous entanglement he can't seem to escape — and as time goes on, he's less and less sure he wants to. Will his treasonous alliance or the sea itself devour him first?

    (Or, the one where Caleb is a merman.)

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    66,080
    Chapters:
    23/23
    Comments:
    1,079
    Kudos:
    2,257
    Bookmarks:
    527
    Hits:
    53,100

    12 Feb 2023

    Bookmarker's Notes

    Mercaleb <><

  3. Rec 85

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    The Vigil bells are still tolling, calling the monks to the nightly orations. In his bed, Caleb is still adrift between sleep and wake, not sure if he is dreaming the gentle fingers combing his hair in absent-minded strokes, their owner absorbed in his reading.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    10,324
    Chapters:
    2/2
    Comments:
    67
    Kudos:
    394
    Bookmarks:
    85
    Hits:
    4,341

    30 Jan 2023

  4. Rec 30

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    Criminal punishment among the upper echelon of the Dynasty is determined by the court, but implemented by the umavi of the den of the convicted.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    3,619
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    32
    Kudos:
    253
    Bookmarks:
    30
    Hits:
    1,427

    22 Nov 2022

    Bookmarker's Notes

    Ow.

  5. Rec *

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    Summary

    It starts like this: Essek, in a fit of lonely idiocy, agrees to partake in a honeypot scheme with the Mighty Nein. It goes about as smoothly as he should have expected.

    It evolves to this: by decree of Deirta Thelyss, Verin is tasked with protecting his brother and his brother’s friends(??) as they parlay with the Children of Malice over the diplomatic incident they caused. Verin remembers his brother being much more of an aloof douche and much less of a floating disaster.

    Or: In a reality where the Mighty Nein do a stop in Xhorhas prior to meeting up with DeRogna, Essek agrees to help with one side quest and ends up with a lover, a brother, and a fight with a god.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    65,989
    Chapters:
    9/9
    Comments:
    638
    Kudos:
    1,478
    Bookmarks:
    417
    Hits:
    24,641

    14 Jan 2022

    Bookmarker's Notes

    This is fucking hilarious.

    Notable moments:
    - Lolth orgy with Essek appetizer
    - Cuddles the arborscythe
    - the Aurora Watch think Cad is spec ops
    - don't worry, Verin will contact Mother