View source for Aethon Part 2, Thistle's Blooding, A New Lady

=== Aethon’s Journey ===
Aethon Nyzreth sets out in midwinter, driven by dreams pointing him toward Valkaenar. Traveling with his color-shifting dog Prism, he pushes through storms, tavern gossip, and tangled rumors about Silvaeari and Vaeari.

Travel Conditions: Harsh February weather, barn-sleeping, Prism for warmth. Roads neglected except in Silvaeari lands.

Encounters: Bandit avoidance, tavern whispers, offers to buy Prism. Hints of Rivvin Silvaeari’s reputation.

Arrival at Brookhaven: Signs, switchbacks, Klaus’s eccentric house. Arrested at the gate after giving his true name.

Dungeon to Dialogue: Valkaenar’s fury at “family wounds” being stirred. Aethon convinces him with intimate memories.

Family Revelations: Daryndel, Vey, Nox, Averon Silvaeari, Raven, and the tangled Vaeari/Silvaeari branches revealed.

=== Thistle’s Blooding ===
Vaith goes into early labor at Valkaenar’s party. Thistle is born early but safe, even amid chaos from the Nethys guests.

The Ceremony: Ancestors choose Valkaenar as patriarch. Thistle receives three gifts (wit, sorcery, a subtle third boon). She falls unconscious, guarded by Rivvin and Vaith.

Family Roles: Zendril learns on the spot. Averon frustrated but later comforted in a dream. Amber impatient for her own blooding. Yaria distracts her with baking.

Aftermath: Celebration follows; guests trade gossip and discuss curses, ethics, and threats.

=== Kaiju Notes ===
During a hunt near Brookhaven, Valkaenar’s party encounters a Rift-warped kaiju: snow-pale, orangutan-like, with three eyes and a prehensile tail. It keeps stags alive, showing unusual intelligence.

Treatment: Arrow removed from its ear. Healing potion triggers painful growth. A custom dispel ritual reduces size and restores clarity.

Culture & Behavior: Dismisses soft gold jewelry as useless. Hosts tea with salvaged cups—shows remnants of civility.

Research Value: Valkaenar hopes this kaiju proves non-lethal methods are possible. Suggests kaiju are warped beings from Dreamstate rifts.

=== Equinox Law & Order ===
Zero pushes for reform in the Equinox, ending murder-parties and requiring posted laws. Nobles resist but adapt.

Local Leadership: A former rebel-turned-teacher is chosen as new Lady. The current lord steps down to live as a wealthy citizen under taxes.

Anna’s Rescue: Zero saves her from a demonic-arranged marriage contract. Anna makes first decrees, celebrates freedom, and begins her own leadership path.

Public Image: Rumors call Zero “Plant King.” Bards spread exaggerated tales of vine-magic; Zero corrects and reshapes the legend into something useful.

== Detailed Summary ==


Their History Together

Aethon Nyzreth was Valkaenar’s teacher in the Dreamstate.

Aethon admits Valkaenar was incredibly gifted, learning everything Aethon could teach him in under 40 years before Aethon’s death (Valkaenar was 53 when Aethon died).

Valkaenar humbly says that while he surpassed Aethon quickly, he’s only mastered many of these abilities after 16,000 more years of experience.

Dreamstate Hibernation and Rescue

Valkaenar explains how he survived a near-fatal ambush by hibernating in the Dreamstate, slowing his own bleeding to stay alive.

He jokes he was saved by one of his “birds” — actually a chocobo — who sat on him, insulating him in the snow.

Averon (Drenevyr), Valkaenar’s son, knew he was coming and searched for him, eventually finding him and bringing him home for medical treatment.

Yaria, who was up north at the time, immediately traveled south as soon as she heard he was hurt.

Moving Brookhaven to the Equinox

Valkaenar admits he literally moved Brookhaven — the family’s seat — south into the Equinox to escape their old Northern overlord’s control.

He performed massive magical research to enable the move.

It didn’t go perfectly: they teleported it 500 feet into the air, and it crashed, injuring Valkaenar and Yaria badly. Daryndel wasn’t hurt.

The Secret Plan with Daryndel

Valkaenar explains to Aethon that Daryndel (his eldest son) had been resurrected in secret in the Equinox by his brother Averon (Silvaeari / Drenevyr) at their father’s request.

After repenting in death, Daryndel wanted to help free the family from Northern rule.

Their plan:

Keep Daryndel’s resurrection a secret.

Have Daryndel “rise from the family crypt” under Brookhaven.

Burn everything down.

“Kill” Valkaenar and Yaria publicly.

Teleport the estate south into the Equinox.

The plan worked, despite the crash on arrival.

Nox’s Story: Daryndel’s Grandson

They discuss Noxtheris (Nox), who is Daryndel’s grandson.

Daryndel had tried to force a prophecy by having a child (Vey) with Lady Renthelvar.

Vey was not the prophesied child they hoped for, but Daryndel loved him deeply.

After Daryndel died, Vey’s life with his mother was horrific. She hated him, and eventually killed him when he became a political liability.

Vey had a son, Nox, who was treated as trash. He was forced to use the Vaeari name (which House Renthelvar despised), and suffered relentless abuse.

Nox was a small, ill-fit boy in fighter school when Quetzal (Raven’s partner) recognized the truth and raised the alarm.

Nox was rescued, and Vey was resurrected.

Vey’s memories showed Valkaenar what Daryndel had been trying to do all along: provoke Valkaenar to force him to spill Vey’s existence, without Daryndel breaking his sworn word.

Valkaenar was enraged by House Renthelvar’s cruelty. He used the Dreamstate to possess one of their Reavers, destroy the house from within, and then burn it to the ground.

Valkaenar’s Political Past

Valkaenar explains he wasn’t always a researcher or recluse.

He built himself up as a powerful swordmage in his early years.

He led two failed rebellions against his old Northern overlord (not Zero—someone else who dominated their region at the time).

After the failures, he deliberately pulled back, made himself “useful” as a research wizard and supplier of potions, poisons, and medicines to other Northern lords, appearing weak while protecting his family.

He says Yaria "tamed" him over the millennia.

Bloodings

Valkaenar explains that blooding rituals are deeply important to the family.

He’s performed three in his long life:

Two before Aethon died.

One since.

He’s planning a major one soon.

Joining the Church of Ryn

Valkaenar reveals he and Yaria are both members of the Church of Ryn.

Ryn (T’Ryndiel) was an elf from Relune who ascended to godhood after his death.

Valkaenar once tried to recreate a visage of Ryn in the Dreamstate to better understand him—and accidentally summoned the god himself.

Rather than striking him down, Ryn simply talked to him. The raw power and presence convinced Valkaenar to worship him.

He explains that Yaria’s moral guidance, and the teachings of Ryn, transformed him over centuries.

He admits he no longer feels he can harm others without real cause—he's not the cruel dominator he once was.

Equinox Philosophy and Change

Valkaenar tells Aethon he genuinely believes the Equinox is a better way.

The Equinox sits between the Summer and Winter Courts. The Summer Court is to the south, the Winter Court is to the north.

He says he’s not just hiding there—it’s the future.

Zeromaeus ("Zero") Nethys

Valkaenar explains Zeromaeus (often called "Zero") is an Ayldarzi.

Zero is not a Dreamwalker himself (though he has the potential), but his father Zathus Nethys is a powerful Dreamwalker.

Zero was born into House Nethys, which suffered a 10,000-year curse of infertility that killed almost the entire bloodline.

Zero’s birth broke the curse.

He is prophesied to unite the Equinox first, and then the Summer and Winter Courts, ultimately ruling the entire faerie realm as the King of Twilight.

Valkaenar has pledged himself to Zero and considers him practically family.

Averon (Silvaeari / Drenevyr) has also pledged to Zero.

Brookhaven’s House Politics

Valkaenar says House Vaeari is now firmly settled in the Equinox.

He notes that House Silvaeari is essentially Averon’s branch, but the fissure is healed—they are one family, just using two names depending on relation to Averon.

He’s working to ensure this family unity remains strong.

Raven Nevermore

Valkaenar discusses Raven (Erevan’s son, Averon’s grandson):

Raven was born at high noon on the summer solstice, marking him with prophetic significance.

He’s a bardic superstar—hugely famous in the Equinox.

Raven is respected, celebrated, and expected to play a major role in the coming transition as the Twilight Age dawns.

Valkaenar’s Current Outlook

Valkaenar admits he’s changed.

He doesn’t want to rule in the Northern way.

He says he lives by Family is Everything.

He is committed to supporting Zero in building the next age, which he calls the infancy of a new era.

He jokes that Zero and Elara (Zero’s partner) are family-adjacent, practically his own kin.

- - -

A family gathering at a hotel/apartment was unexpectedly large. Raven and Quetzal ended up hosting far more people than planned.

Tension arose because Aethon casually called Zero “the future king” in front of guests, upsetting Zathus and generally creating awkwardness.

Rivvin and Vaith discussed how that remark was premature since it wasn’t public knowledge, though Aethon apparently thought it was fine since Valkaenar considered them family.

2. Discipline for Amber

Back home, Amber is punished for following her father in a way that put her in danger.

Rivvin scolds her during the ride home, explaining she could have gotten hurt or her nurse in trouble.

Her punishment: three days living in the barn with no Dolly (her doll). She’s deeply upset about losing Dolly specifically.

Vaith (Isa) and Rivvin both oversee the discipline.

Eventually, Rivvin compromises: she can have Dolly in the barn but can’t play with her. He seals Dolly’s hair with a hardening gel so it won’t get ruined in the hay.

She’s assigned double lessons for failing her first day’s lessons seeminly on purpose out of anger.

3. Life in the Barn

Amber finds the barn punishment boring but not scary. She sleeps a lot, is scolded for slacking on lessons, and sneaks little pretend games under the hay.

She understands this is punishment but knows it’s far better than what could have happened in her previous, harsher environment.

She’s also warned that repeat offenses will mean a beating and another stay in the barn.

Rivvin checks on her at night without letting her know he’s there.

Her first night without Dolly is extremely hard; she cries herself to sleep.

4. Emotional Development

Over the three days, Amber gets bored, behaves better, and completes her extra lessons.

Dolly suffers some damage in the barn (mice chew marks), which devastates Amber.

Rivvin comforts her by saying they’ll fix Dolly but also asks her to help clear the mice out—letting her get “revenge for Dolly” in her shapeshifted cat form.

5. Surprise Reveal – The New House

Once her punishment is over, Rivvin and Vaith have a surprise: they show her the new family house they’ve been preparing.

Rivvin guides Amber through all the rooms:

Her new bedroom (she chooses the green-painted one).

Thistle’s future room (unborn sibling).

A huge shared playroom with slides, climbing ropes, water and sand areas, and customizable blanket forts.

Frog pool with natural habitat features for her future pet frog.

Frog nursery with tanks for tadpoles.

Family pools for exercise and parties.

Clear rules about private vs shared spaces.

Amber is overjoyed, exploring, asking questions, and thoroughly enjoying the tour.

Rivvin emphasizes that the playroom is family-shared and will be limited in access so she doesn’t spend all her time there.

6. Final Celebration

Rivvin plays with her in the new playroom, tackling her during tag and watching her squeal with joy.

He lets her play long past bedtime until she’s so exhausted she curls up and falls asleep.

7. Background Thread – Raven’s Manic Episode

Simultaneously, Raven is experiencing a full manic episode.

He’s jumping from project to project, sculpting, songwriting, unable to finish anything.

Quetzel notices and suspects drug use but finds no evidence.

Erevan distracts Raven during dinner and cleanup with questions about raising frogs.

Raven stays up for days working before finally crashing for several days of sleep.

Quetzel keeps worrying but can’t figure out the real cause (manic cycle, not drugs).

- - -

CITIZENSHIP AND TRAVEL PLANS

Elara and Zeromaeus talk about going north (Unseelie territory):

Elara wants to visit now that her exile has been lifted.

Discussion about whether she ever formally renounced Seelie citizenship.

She did not, but was threatened with exile if she consorted with Unseelie.

They talk about how dual citizenship might not help—both sides would see her as a problem.

Plan to travel north in a month when the snow clears.

She proposes disguising herself as part of the honor guard to avoid political trouble.

Zeromaeus points out her Seelie habits would give her away.

She tries to renounce Seelie citizenship on the spot but realizes it’s not official without Seelie Court paperwork.

GUARD TRAINING

Elara insists she wants to learn to act as a guard.

Meeka is extremely skeptical, telling her she's too flighty and friendly to strangers, especially wounded enemies.

Elara begs for training anyway.

Meeka finally agrees, but warns it’s going to be harsh:

Starts her with four-hour shifts standing at attention.

Corrects every tiny mistake—stance, weapon position, alertness.

Elara struggles, realizing how hard it is to hold guard posture.

Gains new respect for guards she used to ignore.

Meeka refuses to personally train her more but says others might do so.

Elara continues training daily (4–6 hours, longer on weekends).

CHOCOBO ANECDOTE

Reminder of a past trip: Elara had to be strapped onto her chocobo because she couldn't sleep in the dirt.

(Just background on how unsuited she is for military camping.)

BATH / HOT SPRING

After training, Elara limps to the hot tub to soak.

Zeromaeus joins her. They talk about the brutal training.

She complains about her sore arms and legs.

Zeromaeus reminisces about having to do guard duty himself as punishment, describing similarly unpleasant experiences.

PARTY PLANS FOR VALKAENAR

Zeromaeus and Elara plan to involve themselves in Valkaenar's party.

It’s a birthday-adjacent gathering of old friends and nobles.

They want to give a clever gift:

Joke about buying him a yacht, then settle on a symbolic toy boat with a bill of sale.

Plan to let him customize it. Then they decide it would be better to gift him his old tropical estate back.

Elara proposes baking an enormous chocolate cake with pudding in the center (inside joke).

She also wants to sculpt a chocolate mantid that moves with enchantment (leans forward and “pokes”).

Zeromaeus helps her research spells to animate it.

She tests designs and recipes, handing out practice chocolate to willing tasters.

Final plan: big cakes for the crowd, special enchanted chocolate for Valkaenar.

SCHOOL / GUARDING BALANCE

Elara balances school, guard training, and chocolate-sculpting project.

Finds guard training very dull but commits to it, despite being repeatedly corrected for daydreaming about candy designs.

Zeromaeus keeps busy with his own schooling and local politics.

Meeka now accompanies him to parties as his visible bodyguard, especially after a recent incident rattled him.

REFORMING THE EQUINOX

Zeromaeus is angry about the lawlessness in Equinox.

Parties with no rules.

Recent violence even among nobility.

Plans to clean it up, despite local culture being very anti-authority.

Starts investigating potential leaders to appoint as local lords or ladies.

Considers his school teacher (bard) as best candidate despite her rebel past.

They talk candidly:

She used to be in a short-lived anti-noble revolution in her youth.

Thinks it’s hilariously fitting to end up as a “Lady” enforcing order.

Agrees to do it after the school term ends.

NEGOTIATION WITH LOCAL LORD

Zeromaeus visits an existing Equinox lord:

The man is relaxed, common-born who made himself rich, dismissive of formal titles.

Initially resistant to change.

Zeromaeus lays out expectations: no murders at parties, posted laws, accountability.

Lord grumbles but negotiates:

Agrees to step down from ruling.

Will remain on his land as a wealthy citizen.

Will pay taxes.

Zeromaeus explains the new Lady (the teacher) will take over after the semester.

FINAL PLANS

Zeromaeus prepares to:

Install the teacher as local Lady.

Impose a new legal structure in Equinox.

Continue attending school and training Elara.

Elara commits to finishing her guard training so she can safely travel north with Zeromaeus as part of his guard.

They both juggle school, politics, and personal projects.

- - -

Zeromaeus (Zero) finishes meeting with the local lord, who grudgingly agrees to step down eventually. Zero leaves the meeting, wary of an attack, and sure enough someone throws a rock at him. It turns out to be a young girl named Anna who is protesting being forced into a betrothal. She wrote a crude note on the rock complaining about Unseelie rules and arranged marriages.

Zero’s guards find Anna, who is covered in dirt and bird droppings from playing in the barn despite being dressed in expensive formal clothing. She’s just barely of legal age, very much a tomboy, and furious about being married off against her will. When Zero questions her, she explains her parents arranged the match without her consent, planning the wedding for the spring equinox to boost luck and fertility.

Zero explains that even in the Unseelie realm, consent is required- even in arranged marriages. He reassures her that she won’t be forced to marry. He tells her to go change before riding in his carriage, though she protests the maids trying to scrub her too thoroughly. Eventually, she and her maid/nurse join Zero in his carriage. Along the way, they talk about her family lands, which border the local lord’s. She explains her parents’ fields were ruined (possibly salted), forcing them into this political marriage for survival.

Zero makes it clear he plans to send a letter to her parents ending the arrangement. He talks about his expectations for local leadership, saying people will need to work harder to meet higher standards. Anna is blunt and a bit sarcastic about how hard that will be, but seems willing to help. They also talk about Zero’s reputation as the "Plant King" and rumors that he controls deadly plants—rumors he finds amusing and even useful.

During the ride, Anna confides she’s actually not interested in men. She admits she’s probably a lesbian but has only had awkward encounters with unwashed farmhands. Zero and her nurse explain that consent matters, that sex shouldn’t hurt if done properly, and that it’s okay if she’s only into women. She’s also been raised believing she was supposed to be a virgin sacrifice at age 16, and is genuinely shocked when Zero tells her that won’t happen. She struggles to process that her god likely never cared, and that her parents saw her as a bargaining chip.

Zero reassures her that her life is her own now, and she can figure out what she wants to do. They talk about gods in general—Zero explains he has followers who see him like a god, but even he has to focus to know anything about their lives.

When they arrive back in town, Zero puts Anna and her maid up in a decent hotel, pays for a long-term stay, and invites them to dinner at his house. He sends a magical message to Elara letting her know they’ll have guests. At dinner, Anna relaxes a little but reveals more gaps in her education—she’s bright, but her learning was religious and narrow, focused on preparing her for sacrifice. She’s surprised and shaken to hear she’ll live an ordinary life instead.

Zero tries to explain that life can be normal and hers to choose. He also gently tells her that while everyone is a tool in some way, she’ll now have more say in how her life goes. She starts to understand that her future is open, even if she doesn’t yet know what she wants.

Zero ended up taking out her parents, which sadly was not transcribed.

After the rescue of Anna (the girl betrothed against her will):

Zeromaeus orders his troops to garrison the local lord’s keep, ensuring that power shifts smoothly. It's clear the previous lord was greedy but not stupid—he knows Zero saved him from a worse fate involving dark magic and a shady marriage contract.

That contract even had fine print saying upon consummation, the groom’s soul would be forfeit to a demon. The local lord realizes he dodged something horrific and vows never to touch Anna again, even if she’s 800.

Meanwhile, Zero notices rumors swirling among bards and locals about the dramatic battle and his use of plant magic. Much of what people saw was only the pods bursting from the ground; the real work happened underground. He’s amused at how the story is already growing into legend.

Anna’s First Decrees:

When Anna returns to her home (now safe), she shyly announces her first “decree”—to hold a celebration of their freedom. Her nurse helps her figure out the traditional three-day preparation time for a feast. Anna also declares her nurse will be her advisor and will find her a good teacher so she can become a strong leader.

Zero overhears townsfolk praising the “three-day” tradition—though it was actually a clever way to buy prep time for the meal she wanted.

Zero Returns to School:

Back at his apartment near the bardic school, Zero listens to all the chatter about the “Plant King” and the dramatic takedown of the keep. The bards love rumors—stories now say he used pigs as armored troops and plants as living weapons.

Zero tracks down the bard who wrote the song about it. They have a friendly talk over “spice tea” (which is apparently drugs), and Zero corrects the bard’s exaggerations. They collaborate to make the song better, describing his real powers—like vines sneaking through cracks and growing explosively.

The bard loves the improvements and quickly rewrites the ballad. They also debate titles like “Plant King,” “Verdant King,” or even “Necromancer of Plants” (which Zero rejects because his plants aren’t dead).

Talking About Prophecies:

The bard mentions a book in the library full of weird prophecies. Some were laughable—like one kingdom supposedly dying under a giant’s poop. Others were eerily accurate.

One strange prophecy says, “The Queen of Hags will be a King.” They joke about it, and Zero shares a real story about a hag he knows named Gova—who has three souls fighting for control in one body. He mimics her shouting “SEEEEEETHE!!!”, which makes the bard crack up.

More Bard Gossip:

They also discuss another bard’s song about Zero’s plant pods saving people, even if one pod held a dead body, which isn’t exactly a cheerful detail. Zero reminds them that bards have to record all history—even the sad parts.

They agree to meet that evening to share more stories, have some devil weed, and generally unwind (since weekday parties are limited and mild because of school rules).

Pre-Party Developments and Context

Pregnancy & Birth: Vaith is heavily pregnant; Thistle (the baby) is eager to be born, expressing discomfort and impatience. Medical assessment confirms early birth is not an emergency, though not ideal.

Dream State Memory Work: Valkaenar, Ava, and Aethon use dream-state magic to reconstruct Aethon’s appearance from his memories for the party. Ava sketches Aethon from multiple dream perspectives for the Flesh Shaper.

Flesh Shaper’s Role: The Flesh Shaper is hired for several days to alter Aethon’s appearance to match Valkaenar’s family, using mana potions to speed up the process. Reginald also receives modifications for a family resemblance, though less specific.

Party Preparation: Ava designs wardrobes for Aethon and Reginald. Elara creates elaborate desserts and a chocolate sculpture, requesting special display space.

Party Guest Arrivals and Social Dynamics

Key Attendees:

Blackwood and entourage (including the floating octopus “Bobb”)

The uninvited Nethys family (Nell, Zathus, Zenza) with their giant monitor lizard “Fluffy”

Other nobles, including Equinox and Unseelie representatives

Transport & Status Displays: Blackwood arrives in a lavish carriage drawn by eight black chocobos, signaling wealth and status. Nethys’ arrival causes discomfort among guests.

Social Interactions:

Nethys family’s behavior is intentionally provocative and eccentric, unsettling others.

Reginald debuts his new look, frustrated at being overshadowed by Aethon’s transformation.

Elara’s desserts and a mysterious voodoo doll become conversation pieces.

Pet dynamics: Fluffy (lizard) and Bobb (octopus) draw attention.

Party Events and Escalations

Unusual Incidents:

Nethys’ monitor lizard chases Bufo, causing chaos; magical interventions (sleep, stasis) are used to control the situation.

Nethys orchestrates a pudding “prank,” launching pudding-filled dishes at guests, followed by a mass cleaning spell.

Social Maneuvering:

Nethys family repeatedly disrupts and seeks attention, engaging in needling conversations and public displays.

Nell (Nethys matriarch) publicly reclaims her son Zeromaeus, inviting him to a future party and challenging his relationship with Elara.

Elara and Zero maintain composure, navigating Nethys’ provocations.

Critical Event: Unexpected Birth

Thistle’s Birth: Vaith goes into labor during the party, with the baby initially breech. Magical and clerical intervention is required; the baby cooperates, responding to verbal instructions to reposition.

Aftermath: Thistle is born healthy but early, with immediate magical and familial support. The event draws attention and temporarily shifts focus from social tensions.

Post-Birth & Party Resolution

Party Recovery:

Raven performs music to restore order and distract from earlier chaos.

Valkaenar and staff work to salvage the event, redirecting servants and smoothing over guest discomfort.

Nethys family departs abruptly, stealing Blackwood’s carriage as a final act of mischief.

Political Fallout:

News of Nethys’ uninvited attendance reaches Queen Mab, who feels slighted for not being invited. An Inquisitor clarifies Nethys was not invited and was disruptive.

Valkaenar receives a warning from a Dreamwalker that Mab may still hold a grudge due to public perception, but a greater crisis (Mab’s entanglement with a demon) distracts her.

Valkanar intervenes in Mab’s dream, exposes the demon, and shifts her focus away from him and his family.

Next-Day & Ongoing Arrangements

Blooding Ceremony: Plans are made for Thistle’s blooding (naming/protection ritual), with family and friends gathering. Guests present impromptu christening gifts.

Guest Activities: Blackwood and friends remain for a few days, exploring the area and engaging in further social exchanges.

Family Dynamics: Ongoing discussions about Thistle’s early birth, her spirit’s determination, and the unique magical and familial circumstances.

Thistle

Has three gifts from ancestors: sharp wit, sorcery (from her past life), and something else that’s probably just interwoven with those two.

Screeches when the blooding energy hits her before passing out.

Is expected to stay unconscious for at least 24 hours after.

Family debates if she's a shapechanger. None of Rivvin’s other kids were.

Rivvin curls protectively around her to sleep.

Vaith

Coaching Zendril on what to do for his blooding; Zendril has no clue.

Vaith is recovering from giving birth prematurely. Was supposed to be pregnant three more months, so baby is very small.

Talks about how feeding will need magical provision or a wet nurse since his milk isn’t in.

Vaith rests while Amber gets bored.

Gives Rivvin a kiss before going to the party.

At the end of the night, Vaith quietly lets Rivvin know they're going to bed.

Has armored skin to handle sharp baby teeth while nursing.

Zendril

Completely clueless about blooding traditions.

Wants Valkaenar to do the cut for him so he doesn't do it wrong.

Watches the older men guide and coach him.

The Twins, Vael (Eravael) and Vasta

This is the first blooding the twins have participated in that wasn't their own.

Averon

Frustrated that he's not the one supposed to do bloodings anymore.

The blooding bowl cracked in half when the ancestors chose the eldest.

Feels hurt but understands why; doesn't want to overcompensate in other areas.

Joins the party after initially struggling to put aside his disappointment.

Has a dream where an ancestor apologizes for the harshness of the spirit that chose Valkaenar over him.

Wakes up feeling better knowing it wasn't all against him.

Aethon

Knows the traditions better, even though he's physically younger than Zendril, his soul is much older.

Coaches him a bit about what to expect in the blooding.

Once misread Dreamstate energy in the real world.

Amber

Is allowed to see the baby before the Blooding.

Allowed at the party, though too young to participate in the Blooding ceremony.

Complains: "When am I going to get blood spilled all over me too?" Told she'll have hers in a few months when she turns seven.

Gets bored at Brookhaven without toys except Dolly.

Yaria distracts her with baking cookies.

Very determined to have Dolly with her (who is named “Heather”).

Rivvin

Paces protectively during the Blooding because his baby is in pain.

Stays at Brookhaven to guard Thistle after the ceremony.

Curls around the baby and Vaith to sleep.

Gets up to greet Averon when he returns at night.

Says he finally got to invite his child into the world properly—something he couldn't do with previous kids.

Very protective and determined to be there for his family this time.

Valkaenar

Conducts the blooding because the ancestors chose him as the patriarch.

Tries to comfort Vaith, telling him to rest and that he can drink now.

Provides a snuff box and golden spoon as sacrifices for the Blooding spell from his non-present friends.

Later invites his friends to his study to discuss things.

Questions Elara why she didn’t hug two of his guests at the party. Learns one was because of the undead bat (just too close to her face), and the other she described as just “hinky,” giving her a dirty feeling she couldn’t explain.

Has Zendril present when his friends come back so Zendril can read their auras.

Discovers one guest's aura is "wrong"—dark, not quite black but off—due to a family curse from a lich four generations ago.

Talks privately with the cursed friend to learn about it.

Advises the friend to consider asking ancient fey like Nethys for help lifting the curse.

Jokes about the plan to mess with a Beholder as a grand project.

Plays poker for ownership of a human they captured.

Blackwood (Lord Malakai Blackwood)

Part of Valkaenar's friend group in the study.

Brings up that Valkaenar's flighty friend hugged him at the last party despite being told not to.

Jokes about his complicated relationship with Malakai himself.

Laughs about Elara saying "I hear you. I just don't listen"—predicting a spicy marriage for her and Zeromaeus.

Teases about the plan to take eyes from a Beholder over years.

Necromancer Friend

Had an undead bat on his shoulder that creeped out Volkanar’s friend.

Explains that it's part of who he is—a necromancer.

Jokes about raising fallen enemies in battle for morale damage.

Laughs about calling himself "icky" but apparently not triggering that sense in others.

Yaria

Distracts Amber by checking for toys in the house (forgetting at first they all burned).

Instead decides to bake cookies with her, successfully engaging and entertaining her.

Bonding with her great-grandchild and helping the adults rest.

General Blooding Scene Notes

Blooding is a magical tradition that leaves the child unconscious.

Everyone donates blood.

Sacrifices (like the snuff box and spoon) are given to the spell.

Spirits rarely speak, but in this case, the Patriarch was chosen to lead the Blooding ceremony and boons were granted to Thistle. It is explained that she was previously one of the family ancestors, who lives again.

Emotional reactions are normal; people stand by to keep parents from interfering.

Party After Blooding

There's a big family party afterward.

Rivvin, Vaith, Amber, and Thistle stay at Brookhaven so the baby can rest.

Friends talk about their Reavers, planning to deal with a Beholder.

They joke about adventurers being glorified burglars.

There's debate about what actually counts as evil.

Valkaenar’s Hunt:

Organizes a hunting trip with his friends.

Initial disappointment: No sign of prey for hours. Frustrated about his "good intel."

They eventually find old remains of the target and much larger tracks: a kaiju was the real cause.

Realizes multiple recent kaiju incidents near Brookhaven—notes it's a worrying pattern.

Decides to track it.

Kaiju Description:

Huge simian-like creature, orangutan-inspired design.

White or yellowish fur for snowy camouflage (imperfect).

Three eyes.

Prehensile tail with strange mutations from Rift exposure.

Size: ~two-story house (small for a kaiju), ~12 feet after partial dispelling.

Intelligent enough to build lean-to shelters and tie up prey for later.

Tried (poorly) to cover its tracks with branches—a sign of cleverness.

Initial Encounter with the Kaiju:

Kaiju had taken two stags from a fey hunting party but didn’t kill them—just carried them away.

Eladrin hunters were alarmed but confirmed the kaiju didn’t eat or harm them.

Valkaenar’s party finds the stags tied up outside the kaiju’s cave, fed and safe.

The kaiju is injured (arrow stuck in its ear), causing it pain and aggression.

Valkaenar’s Approach:

Uses Comprehend Languages and Tongues to speak with it.

Calls into cave, says he wants to help.

Kaiju roars but eventually responds to speech.

Invites Valkaenar in, complaining of pain and confusion.

Admits it used to be "different" but can’t remember details.

Notes it's been changing for three moons.

Treatment Scene:

Valkanar inspects wound (arrow in inner ear).

Warns that removing it will hurt.

Uses superior healing potion on the wound after removing arrow.

Healing triggers painful growth spurt—kaiju grows two feet in front of them.

Valkaenar explains Rift mutation is making it bigger and less intelligent over time.

Kaiju's Personality and Behavior:

Regretful about attacking anything.

Expresses fear about losing its mind entirely.

Mentions keeping the stags alive but not remembering why.

Talks about strange differences between its world and this one.

Dispel Ritual:

Valkaenar sets up a custom dispel ritual to halt transformation.

He is able to partially reverse the mutation:

Kaiju becomes smaller and smarter.

Some mutations recede.

Kaiju thanks Valkaenar, admitting it can think more clearly now.

Kaiju Culture Insight:

Recognizes gold chains, jewelry, and art objects in the cave:

Calls ugly jewelry items worthless because they're soft/useless.

Learns gold is valuable here.

Likes useful art like fans.

Notes in its culture, “wealth” was owning herds (but can't translate the word fully).

Learns to sort loot into "junk" vs. "valuable" as Valkaenar instructs.

Valkaenar’s Plan:

Tells kaiju to stay put in the cave overnight.

Plans to return in the morning to guide it back to Brookhaven.

Warns not to eat the stags—they’re valuable alive.

Instructs kaiju on how to sort through the cave's contents for salvageable trade goods.

Comedic/Roleplay Details:

Valkaenar’s party has tea with the kaiju in the cave:

Kaiju has a salvaged tea set, insists on using tiny cups.

Clearly shows remnants of civility and intelligence.

Necromancer in the group uses Mending to fix broken teacups after kaiju accidentally crushes one.

Blackwood jokes about this being the "weirdest kaiju" ever.

Entire group humors it to keep things calm.

Blackwood (Lord Malakai Blackwood):

Part of the hunting party.

Participates in the tea scene.

Quips about the situation being bizarre.

Helps remind Valkaenar about details when questioned later.

Stays behind at Brookhaven after other guests leave.

Necromancer Friend:

Present during the hunt.

Fixes the kaiju's broken teacup with Mending.

Sarcastic about using magic on such trivial repairs but agrees it's necessary.

Post-Hunt Conversation with Alara:

Valkaenar gets back to Brookhaven a bit high from celebrating with friends.

Opens a portal to Elara to tell her the story.

He explains in detail:

Hunting trip turned into kaiju encounter.

Comprehend Languages and dispel magic used.

Helping it regain intelligence.

Plan to bring it to Brookhaven for further study.

Elara’s Reaction:

Amused but skeptical.

Teases Valkaenar about being high.

Laughs at the absurdity but listens seriously.

Discusses kaiju intelligence and possible origin as warped beings from another world.

Reminds him to be cautious and responsible.

Dream State Mishap:

While high, Volkanar accidentally sends Alara into Zero’s dream instead of her own.

She ends up "riding shotgun" in Zero’s dream, seeing parts of it.

When Zero wakes up, she wakes up.

Mildly annoyed but understanding, they talk it over.

Elara sends a message later asking if the kaiju thing was real.

Valkaenar confirms yes, with Blackwood backing him up.

Closing:

Elara tells Zero about it.

Confirms they’re invited to dinner at Brookhaven to meet the kaiju.

She’s excited to see it, while acknowledging the weirdness of the whole situation.

---

Valkaenar is talking privately to Aethon (his grandfather) during a carriage ride with his family present. He admits he missed Aethon deeply even though the time apart was a small fraction of his 16,000-year life. He describes having nightmares about Aethon being hurt before they reunited.

They talk about Valkaenar’s parenting mistakes, especially with Daryndel, his son. Valkaenar says Daryndel always resented him, was sweet to his mother and siblings but combative with Valkaenar. He explains that they fought constantly, but Daryndel never seemed to want to outright hurt Valkaenar—until the end, when Valkaenar killed him after being attacked. Valkaenar could only wonder what finally pushed Daryndel over the edge to try to kill him.

Valkaenar then speaks of how Daryndel's son Vey was the catalyst, and Vey had Nox. House Renthelvar needed to be destroyed for hurting Vey and Nox. He used his mastery of dreamwalking to possess a Reaver (a nightmare predator) and destroyed thier compound. He admits he acted faster than planned—he was supposed to make them suffer for centuries, but chose to wipe them out to protect Nox. He also, on a seperate occasion, rescued Blackwood (Lord Malakai Blackwood) from an attack in the Dreamstate by controlling one of Blackwood’s own Reavers. He explains Reavers can speak and think, but most people don’t know that because smarter Reavers get culled.

He tells how he once pulled a creature—an 'imaginary' friend of Ava, Raven’s mother—out of the Dream State over months of work, only for Brutus (the pet frog) to eat her. He’s determined to 'resurrect' her someday, though it will be difficult.

Valkaenar discusses holes in reality that let Dreamstate monsters cross over. He says Zeromaeus, King of Twilight and his ally, was vital in stopping such threats. He praises Zeromaeus’s unique power to command plants in the real world from the Dreamstate, which helped close dangerous portals. Valkaenar was a consultant in these efforts, staying in the real world to shut the portals once the other Dreamwalkers succeeded.

He explains Zathus Nethys—an extremely powerful wizard and dreamwalker—is his old rival and sometimes-ally. Zathus even admitted Valkaenar surpassed him, despite being older and more formally trained. Zathus helped coordinate training for other Dreamwalkers, including threatening Mab’s agents with destruction if they reported him.

Valkaenar lists those with Dreamwalking talent among his family and allies: Zeromaeus and Elara both have talent, while Nox (Daryndel’s grandson), Rael, Erevan (Rael’s full brother, Averon's son and Raven’s father), Raven, and Rivvin (Avron’s son, half brother to Erevan, Mera and Rael, bonded to Vaith) all have varying levels of potential. He notes none of his own children had much talent despite his efforts to force some skill into them.

He talks about the political headaches of dealing with Mab, Queen of the Winter Court. He’s kept her distracted by feeding her selective intel and even intervened in her dreams in disguise to warn her about a demon in her bed. This forced her to focus on internal threats instead of targeting his family. He’s wary of Mab but wants her in power rather than someone worse.

Valkaenar reveals that because of his alliance with Zeromaeus, the Raven Queen herself offered him help if he ever needed it to protect his family from Mab. He muses about the best punishment for Mab if she ever crosses him—turning her into a hound to serve eternally instead of just killing her.

He also talks about family properties. Rivvin and Vaith expanded the family holdings with modern amenities, including magical spaces like a pond ecosystem to help raise Amber (Rivvin's daughter) and teach her about frogs. He mentions  how the family homes are better to be moved magically rather than rebuilt because of all the expensive enchantments.

The conversation wraps with Valkaenar reflecting on the rarity of Dreamwalkers and the danger of killing them off. He admits that despite his power, he’s cautious about showing his full strength or threatening the status quo. He wants to protect his family without starting a war that could expose them all to greater threats.

- - -

Valkaenar is talking mostly about recent events with Blackwood, Elara and Zeromaeus, explaining things he's frustrated or amused about, and giving context on recent security failures and magical mishaps.

He starts by describing how Elara and Zeromaeus realized he was too inebriated in the Dream State, embarrassing himself in front of Elara after once scolding her for being drunk there. He admits he made himself look like a hypocrite, but he's hoping she realizes he wasn't trying to be careless.

He jokes about being able to handle a little drink normally but admits it hit too hard unexpectedly, making him unfit for Dreamstate work. They share a bit of humor about how she had once gone in drunk looking for him—like a clueless, unarmed college student wandering dangerous woods—highlighting the real danger of Dream State when unprepared.

They talk about a recent party that went mostly well except for “the baby” messing it up, but Valkaenar doesn't seem too worried since the truly important upcoming blooding can't be ruined. He plans to sacrifice his blade as part of it, acknowledging its importance and that he lost so much in a past fire. He jokes about borrowing the ancient bardic weapon Vindication while his sword is remade.

He also shares about a bard performance at the party—Raven Nevermore—who took initiative and got the attention of Unseelie informants, which was actually helpful.

Valkaenar then has a grimly funny story about torturing someone while distracted, accidentally cutting off their ear, stapling it back on multiple times while joking about it with Blackwood. He explains he healed it afterward with a potion, though it’s now hideously messed up, and the victim would rather keep the staples than go through more cutting.

Brutus the ancient frog also shows up: Valkaenar jokes about offering him the ear but says he'd have eaten it in one gulp. They talk about Brutus’s bad behavior (including having eaten someone's pet cat years ago) and how he’s selectively senile, living now with Valkaenar because his own “owner,” Dren, was fed up with him.

He shares how he brought Flora from the Dreamstate, only to have Brutus eat her in the real world. She’s back in the Dreamstate now, and Valkaenar plans to try to retrieve her again eventually.

They also talk about Brutus's age: he's 1,300 years old, well past normal lifespan, with the first Brutus having lived 700 years before dying in a fight with another male frog.

They talk about party gossip, the political landscape, and Blackwood getting summoned home by two of Mab's knights. Valkaenar’s courtyard defenses fail, letting them appear inside instead of outside the gate. He’s furious and humiliated, calls himself a “buffoon,” but also notes this might be good if it causes Mab to underestimate him.

He gives the knights full respect while cursing out his own guards for shooting at them—pointing out they’re lucky not everyone died. He even sacrificed one guard (who had no family) as a gesture of appeasement.

After Blackwood leaves, Valkaenar magically cleans the courtyard of any trace and thinks about redoing all the enchantments because the house was moved but the wards weren’t updated. He plans to make sure this never happens again.

Finally, Elara and Zeromaeus arrive and find the place on high alert. Valkaenar is annoyed but polite. Elara asks if everything is okay via sending spell before approaching the gate. He explains the knights’ visit, admitting the security hole.

Inside, they visit the kaiju he’s been helping. Valkaenar explains he’s trying to “de-grow” it—it got bigger and dumber before, but he was able to reduce it with dispels. He wants to study it to find better ways to deal with kaiju without killing them all. The kaiju even used a tea set, convincing Valkaenar it was once a civilized person warped by magic.

He shares research theories: kaiju might fall through rifts, get warped to giant size, or cross over while small. He hopes the rescued kaiju can give useful data for preventing future deaths.

Valkaenar also confesses going into Mab’s dream—something he vowed never to do—after realizing she was furious about being snubbed at his party. He posed as one of her dead daughters to warn her about a demon in her bed, distracting her from punishing him and making her too busy to bother him anymore.

He knows it was risky, admits he did it to protect his family, and that he’s “slipping” because he’s distracted by lust and love for Blackwood. He’s worried about getting entangled in politics or being used.

They close with Valkaenar acknowledging how unpredictable and uncontrollable Mab’s succession is—it’s not something anyone can reliably rig—and venting about how manipulative plots to replace her might just make things worse.

---

Valkaenar and Yaria return home after a long, stressful day. They likely stay the night at their guests’ place because it’s winter, but when they finally get home, Valkaenar is tense and agitated. Yaria notices immediately.

Late that night, Valkaenar confides in her in their bedroom. He explains that lately he’s been blurting out secrets he kept for millennia—things about his abilities and plans that he feels shouldn’t be shared. He’s worried he’s grown careless, distracted, and sloppy. He talks about neglecting wards on his property (which let Mab’s knights appear unchallenged), and how angry he is at himself for missing it.

He describes feeling pulled in too many directions: rebuilding Brookhaven after it was burned, taking on new lovers in addition to Yaria, dealing with Winter Court politics again, caring about family, and indulging in freedoms he denied himself for thousands of years. He calls it behaving like a teenager, says he never really got to do that, and jokes grimly that it’s a 16,000-year-old "midlife crisis."

Yaria listens patiently and suggests making a long list of priorities. He jokes it would be a book. She gently encourages him to focus, to decide what truly matters, and to plan carefully instead of reacting.

In the morning they eat breakfast with Aethon. Valkaenar admits he needs help reorganizing his massive, damaged library. The building had been burned and warped in the fire, leaving piles of scattered, sometimes ruined books. He says it’s critical to fix because he can’t do any of his research—about wards, the kaiju, family curses—without it.

He and Aethon discuss their plan: clear shelves, sort books by damage level, prioritize repairs. Valkaenar is overwhelmed, at one point crying from frustration. Aethon comforts him, says they’ll do it step by step.

They realize they’ll need more help. Valkaenar starts brainstorming who to ask:

Zephira, bonded to Rael, is a wizard and agrees to help.

Ava and Raven might help, but they arent immediately nearby, and Raven might get too restless.

Aeris, Averon’s girlfriend, could help with moving books carefully.

Drenavyr, Valkaenar’s own son, knows his system well but is busy with leading Silvaeari's own ambitions.

Valkaenar worries that calling in favors from family might be resented but knows he has no choice. He laughs about imagining an Amish-style barn-raising for the library.

By the end of the day, Valkaenar and Aethon have only made a dent in the job, but it’s a start. Aethon encourages him to see that progress is progress.

- - -