Something's coming home (and it's now at Barovia) Pt I

Sadly for England, home means either Paris or Zagreb. The realist favours Les Bleus, the same goes for the pundits. For the romantics gunning for England before the inevitable, their eyes will be on Croatia. Ditto for the purists. Scarily enough, John may have discovered a way to satisfy all the purists and romantics alike. Hopefully, John can up the post by tomorrow. Because doing so deliberately less than 24 hrs before kick-off is a dishonourable act. So either someone has to hold his Croatian beer or he has to hold his own Tiger beer. Hopefully, it's the former.

But something's coming home...

And it's the Vistani. Okay, the Vistani is a people, not a thing. This post is not about objectifying beautiful Vistani women or strapping Vistani men. Continuing from where John left off, this post is all about mobs, some character specific stuff, and football analogy. Basically, the format goes like this:

1. Image of a female celebrity coming from a World Cup participating nation. Last 16 qualification isn't necessary. But definitely, they'll be from any nation apart from France and Croatia. Also fyi, John is doing this part 4 teh lolz.

2. Mob type

3. Comparisons between the nation's football team and the mob type. That plus how the mob type fights.

4. Random discovery concerning any given class currently in John's character roster. 

But before that...

Let's talk about the Barovian gear. Currently, Ravenloft may be your best chance to hit the highest Masterwork gear tier thus far. Mark John's words, you'll be seeing a tier 4 verily soon. Not in this mod, but very likely the next one. So sell stuff, buy stuff, and make stuff while you can before a new MW tier ends up jacking up the MW professions resources price again. After all, it's Cryptic. No offence intended to Thomas "his BFF is still eating stuff at your stronghold" Foss and his mimic army btw. Surprisingly though, Masterwork gear had been going from tier 1 (i.e. level 435) to the current tier 3 (i.e. level 510) in consecutive campaigns (i.e. Storm King's Thunder, The Cloaked Ascendancy, and Jungles of Chult in this order). Which makes no tier 4 for Ravenloft quite interesting. Of course, another way to see things is this: The devs will update the existent MW gear instead of doing more of it.

The gear system for this mod is good. The reason why is very simple: It forces you to rethink the correct definition of BiS. For those having the good Chultan/Omu gear, Ravenloft presents an interesting dilemma: Do you want to ditch your fave Omu gear for the unknown? It's one thing to play safe, quite another to take risks in the name of better efficiency. This is due to the presence of level 520 gear. So far so good, John only discovered 4 types so far for epic grade gear:

Tempter (level 520; arms and feet), Marionette (level 520; body), Horseman (level 520; head), and Raven (level 490).

Tempter armour is effectively the BiS for every HR. Depending on the build, at least one piece of Tempter gear is strongly recommended. Namely, Tempter's Gaiters. Alone in the open world, the 200 movement speed bonus per ally isn't a big deal. In party raids and group PvP, that's every HR's dream ride. Going by the five-member party format, that'd be 800 movement speed bonus. If companions (including augments) are applicable to the maths, that'd be a whopping 1800 movement speed bonus. No need to spend your zen on the Stormraider Cydesdale once you got the Gladiator's Guile insignia bonus. For Tempter's Bracers, it depends on whether you're going for combat or dps trapper. If the answer is yes, then this one is for you.

For Marionette, John decided to risk his bear coat which served him so well. The reason why being that when he got it (for Arylos), he already got a Horseman gear for the head slot. Right now, there's a problem with the HR: The armour penetration/damage resistance ignored stat got nerfed. For every HR, this is effectively the worst way to down the tools. John got no choice but to try beefing up the arpen/dri percentage. He checked the numbers. Hence, he knew that the Marionette body armour is the better choice. Don't just look at the Armour Class. Look at the overall damage resistance in the character sheet. More than any other builds, combat HR can never have too much damage resistance. So far so good, it's going well.

Horseman was only the head slot gear discovered so far. However, John likes the balance struck between this one and the Marionette body armour. The latter gives Arylos some heavyweight defence while the former evened things out with pure offensive stats. Also, combat HRs do need some semblance of one-on-one duelling game. Right now, the dps is based on crowd clearing (which makes stormwardens into absolute monsters in the combat tree). So yes, the Horseman hood was a much-welcomed addition. So welcomed, John is now planning to salvage the lizardman mask and bear coat he got at Omu.

On the rings, John decided to ditch Sudden Precision +4 for Primal Assault Ring due to the arpen/dri issue. To make things trickier for those crazy enough to choose what is arguably the most underused dps build in the game, the devs decided to force the Piercing Blades feat to down the tools. Piercing damage dealt post-damage mitigation instead of pre-damage mitigation? No, John isn't talking like Don T here. It's true. Just scroll down to Combat and Powers. As a result, this forced John to do a gear rejig. Out went the lizardman mask and bear coat, in went the Marionette and Horseman. It actually worked very well. Far better than expected if John says so himself. Sticking to the bear coat while going with Horseman is a viable option. However, the mob in Barovia is known to rack up the highest possible dps count. Not exactly the best option available for John unless Arylos manages to prise the Knotted Garbs from Gnarly Jak's gnarly hands.

Which now comes to the new Barovian artifact gear. Thanks to whoever was the smart guy (unfortunately John forgot his/her name) in the Protector's Enclave zone chat, John realised how the proc'ing works for Primal weapons when it comes to the healing part. So how the healing part works is this: So long it's a multi-target heal, the HP amount healed for one target is the same for the rest. And going by this amount, it's normal for Primal Response to proc based on the numbers and NOT on the amount of your character's HP. This also resulted in John rejigging the boons to make Arylos far more of a regeneration build than a 50-50 between regeneration and life steal. As a result, he decided to switch Baphomet's Might for Displace Fate (although this change was done after his first run in normal Svardborg 1-2 days ago). Right now, Arylos has completed the Sunsword chapter of the campaign. But he decided not to progress to the next chapter first. The reason why was that John needs to see whether he has already unlocked the option to purchase a Blood Raven Pendant. This is the best defensive neck slot gear one can ever hope to get. For combat HRs, this is something worth considering about. With a Blood Raven Pendant, John can afford to switch back to Fured Kiuno of the Bear since he already redid the boons in such a way that defence boons ended up replacing the power boons. Hopefully, this approach will result in a much better balance between offence and defence.

Add note: If John manages to get a Marionette gear for the head slot, then he'd most likely go back to the bear coat due to the 3% melee damage bonus.

So should you choose the new Barovian gear over your tried-and-tested level 405?

The thing with the greater belts of attributes is this: Say for example you got a Disciple of Dexterity for your HR. So should you exchange your level 405 Greater Twined Rope of Dexterity for, say example, a Vistani belt? Perhaps the more correct question is this: Have you looked at your neck slot gear?

The new level 500 artifact gear for neck and waist slots are there for a reason: Going by the old system, every build should just go for heroic feats involving specific attributes. Feats like Blood Pact of Cania, Learned Spellcaster, and Disciple of *insert attribute here*. This would severely hamper the build planning process. After all, it's no fun following every other Great Weapon Fighter when it comes to Disciple of Strength, no? Therefore, it's possible that the new level 500 neck-waist gear system starting from the Jungles of Chult campaign was meant to encourage players to explore other builds instead of getting too obsessed with the attributes-based feats. Yes, this would reduce your current Strength/Constitution/Dexterity/Intelligence/Wisdom/Charisma score by two. But this would also mean NOT choosing any heroic feat involving the relevant attribute. In other words, you wouldn't be sufferring a great loss. Loss, yes. Great loss, no. You can easily redirect 3-5 points to other heroic feats, hence giving you more leeway in working your creativity. Remember, Neverwinter is a game that encourages creativity rather than sticking to the tried and tested. At the same time, support builds tend to be the most underrated, yet arguably most important roles in any raid. If you're a Singaporean like John, please reconsider whether you'd want to play this game. Because Neverwinter is more for foreigners and Singaporeans who think like them.

For John, he prefers sticking with the old belt while making the appropriate change for the neck slot. This is to strike a balance between better stats and what works for the specific characters all the while. If your character is currently using a level 405 belt involving two attributes instead of one giving you a +4 for a single attribute, you may need to do some thinking. The Demon Lords' Immortality set involving Demogorgon's Girdle of Might. Baphomet's Infernal Talisman, and Shard of Orcus' Wand is to be the only exception. Because the set bonus is too broken for a level 405 artifact set.

Which now comes to the question of whether the Stronghold Company artifact gear is still worth your guild marks. Now it must be stated that to make things easier, John would recommend getting the correct neck slot gear while going for a greater belt. This would maximise whatever attribute based feat you've chosen. Of course, if you want the Protector set, feel free to get both the neck and waist gear for Stronghold Company. In fact, the set bonus should be the best for those out to play it defensive or more defensive (note that there's a difference between defensive and more defensive).

At the end of the day, Ravenloft should be considered a success. This is because the new gear requires you to think outside the box and beyond the comfort zone (actually, the two concepts tend to complement each other via subjective choice for the former and objective circumstances for the latter). The new epic dungeon gear can be used in ways more than one. You can gun for only one piece, two pieces, or even going pure Barovian. Or you can mix it up with any Primal gear (ideally either the body armour or two rings) or any post-level 500 one. At the same time, certain Tarokka cards do yield a post-level 500 gear upon taking down a hunt (i.e. the epic cards like Seer, Tempter, Marionette, and Executioner). At the same time, the AI poses a better challenge. This is not to say those you fought at Soshenstar and Omu were idiots. Chultan mobs tend to have higher defensive stats, but the offensive end was more lacking compared to Ravenloft. And because the game is all about surviving and winning, it's easier to make harder mobs via the dps rather than the defensive side.

However, it must also be stated that in the same way Barovia has been tainted by the curse of Stradh, Ravenloft is tainted by bugs. Right now, it seems that the devs are working to troubleshoot and firefight. Which is the only pity. Thankfully, it looks like the days of getting map blocked are nearing the end. That plus the Barovian merchants ridding the buggy. Hopefully, the gamers won't be reminded of Scaramucci's beef with Priebus. If you don't know what John is talking about here, good. If you know which incident he's referring to, then don't say it out loud. Either way, American politics aren't exactly the most family friendly stuff.

Now onto the enemies (and celebrities)

Chapter I: Wolves Of Men

Reasons why

Chapter II: Men Of Straw

Reasons why

Chapter III: Ghosts Of Yore

Reasons why

Chapter IV: Trees Of Blight

Reasons why

Chapter V: Cards of Fate

Reasons why

Note: This will be part of a multi-post series instead of just a one-shot. For this post, John will cover the Howling Hills and Bhaasmond Taran (otherwise known as John's only tank).

Chapter I: Wolves Of Men

Taking jobs from Szolodar Szoldarovich means you're on your way to hunt wolves and werewolves. If you want a quickie, he's the NPC you're looking for. This is because some of the quests can only be completed by going through Barovia both during the day and night. Big Daddy Szold, however, ain't got time for that. Actually, his gruff exterior might have revealed a man used to seizing the initiative rather than waiting for the right moment to strike. In a nutshell, Big Daddy Szold's jobs are the easiest to do due to two reasons:

1. You don't need to wait for night time to do certain parts of any quest in the Howling Hills.

2. Compared to the Whispering Wood, it's easier to get there. Actually, Howling Hill is of a shorter distance. At the same time, the region is considered the smallest out of the four. This is due to the winding paths flanked by rocky high ground.

Two daily quests are available: Dire Consequences and Tracking the Beast. For Dire Consequences, you only need to travel along the winding path after getting 15 pieces of deer meat along the river bank. Note that unlike other monsters in the game, the deer won't attack you unless you attack them first. For Tracking the Beast, this is a bit dodgy. John's tip would be to check the map. Not the flat one by pressing M, but rather the visible one on the top right-hand corner. Once you enter the blue circle zone, move around within the circle until you see the golden tracks. Then progress>rinse and repeat>until you see the quarry.

Word of Le Spoiler here: Your prey will be found in the forest somewhere at the edge.

Against all kinds of wolves and werewolves, this is a dps race. You can't prevent them from going rabid in the same way you can't prevent Les Diables Rouges from unleashing Eden "The Great BioHazard of football" Hazard and Dries "Dr Dries" Mertens from the back or middle 3rd. Once the pack goes red, they need to go dead. Try to bring down the HP to the lowest possible level before the red aura of menace appears. Because once the aura pops, it won't go down until you take the enemy down. At the same time, there is also an enemy type that looks like a human being. They're easier to deal with. And that's not to mention they can be found alone by themselves at times. Once engaged, you'll be fighting against the timer. The reason why is very simple: This particular enemy type would go naked after a certain period. Not naked like some Belgian model in West Jerusalem, but rather naked like Benicio "not Guillermo" del Toro's Wolf Dude.

However, the wolves and werewolves in Howling Hills are not just about the dps. They don't do duels. They do zerging. The wolves aren't that much of a problem although they most likely got the prone-bite attack which the winter wolves are famous for. The werewolves are the real problem because they've got a high frequency of jumping here and there. Like Harambe's BFFs in Omu, getting hit by the jump means you're knocked down prone. For the human version, turning into werewolves would also result in knockdown prone. This part should sound familiar with you unless your guild is too low level to deal with the barbarians in the stronghold map.

How to fight them:

The instinctive approach is to dodge/press shift. However, this is NOT the safe option. Yes, it's the kind of option any Singaporean would take. After all, it's easy to pull off, right? And if it's the easiest solution, then surely it must be the best solution. Nonsense. You try doing that, you'll get a stamina burn. And once you hit a stamina burnout, it's definitely not because of some hot naked Belgian model. Just move around. Don't think about how slow your movement is. Compared to death by stamina burnout, it's more practical to risk getting hit by running here and there. So long you keep your movement within a small circle, the seemingly risky will prove to be more efficient than the Singaporean brand of efficiency. So take some risk, don't save it for later. Because if you don't learn how to take risks, you'll never learn how to do it forever. Of course, you'll need to have a brain to do that. That's common-sense. Oh, and more thing: The werewolves are harder to kill than the jumping dinos in Soshenstar, so please do some practising with Harambe's BFFs in Omu if you're not comfortable enough with the break-neck pace. Because the werewolves in Barovia will not cease to speed like a Lamborghini manufactured in Belgium.

Righteous Shield And A Sword That Never Yields

John spent quite some time doing some experimenting. This was because when he got a Chultan weapons set for Bhaasmond, the off-hand artifact power read like: Aura of Vengeance. And because John didn't feel like spending astral diamonds on the Cubes of Augmentation, he decided to stop at Vengeance.

It's been a quirky process, to be honest. To max out the effectiveness of Aura of Vengeance, you'll need to get an effective mass protection game readied. At the same time, you'll also need to know when to taunt instead of constant aggro grab. This results in a weird situation where you need to play less like a tank despite being a... well, tank. To make this possible, slot in Aura of Protection or Aura of Truth. This build is more of a counter-offensive support rather than aggro pulling. So long you can ensure the party's survival, this build is viable for you. Actually, it's not that hard considering the Aura of Protection.

Currently, John has switched the Chultan set for Vistani set. Just a word of recommendation here: It's very easy to do the intro quests for Ravenloft leading up to getting the reward loot from Ezmerelda d'Avenir. The hard part comes only after you enter Barovia. So go for the Vistani set. You shouldn't have a problem in dealing with the intro quests so long your toon is 10-11K at least. And trust John when he says it's very easy to get any toon to 11K so long the toon has a guild.

So once John got the Vistani set for Bhaasmond, he needed to roll a bit of the D20. Hence, the need to spend on Cubes of Augmentation. Because John is never a fan of rolling the damn D20 till he gets a specific bonus for the off-hand weapon (and to a lesser extent, the main-hand one as well), he'd always make sure to max out all the class features. This to customise the character build into something useful instead of having a specific one in mind with plenty of astral diamonds to burn. If there's anything John learnt in the process of playing Neverwinter, it is every build can be a good build. While it may be true that not every build is an exceptional build, all you need to make any build work is a flexible mind and the ability to improvise. In this aspect, Neverwinter is truly a game not for the typical Singaporean.

Long story short, the main hand Vistani sword (because John transmuted it into one) rolled a Valorous Strike. Fact is, it's easier to proc the power increment aspect by slotting Valorous Strike as your staple at-will. The 5% damage resistance is good enough to keep the OP alive, but the best part is that having a 5% damage resistance bonus is different from proc'ing an anti-damage shield. At least you're guaranteed a decent chance of triggering the power increase where the Oath of Protection mechanic is concerned. At the same time, there's this damage reflect proc gained via Divine Call. Now all John needs is that one power point needed to max out Valorous Strike.

As for the off-hand Vistani shield, John is perfectly fine with rolling an Aura of Protection. In fact, the off-hand bonus actually increases the speed of Divine Call building. This is very important for justice OP because the 35% power increment from proc'ing Judge is always vital for the dps. In fact, there were moments where John had to trigger Judge twice in a row. Okay, it's not a matter of had to. More of a matter of doing things for fun. Either way, rolling the D20 and scoring Aura of Protection bonus should be an option every justice OP should consider. Otherwise, it's optional.

Currently, John is running Bhaasmond with Aura of Protection and Aura of Courage. For some funny reason, John couldn't get his DC and OP out from the mass support role. However, this is also a good thing since support members of any party would require a good AoE game. And OPs with their aura system can be very easy to use in this area. It's down to what kind of support (although certain auras like Vengeance, Wrath, and Solitude can be tricky to use effectively). Protection and Courage give the entire party additional damage resistance and damage bonus in the form of radiant damage. The norm amongst OPs seems to be using Aura of Wisdom and Aura of Courage. This is definitely an A grade offensive buffing. However, it also compromises the party's ability to survive since a single hit in any T2 raid can take down a dps member unless we're talking about the GWF. This combination requires the tank to aggro hold effectively. Which isn't that hard considering Binding Oath and Vow of Enmity. But if you choose not to use either/both, don't ask your party members to hold your beer. Because the risk is not worth your decision to roll a D20 hoping to get a score of 20.

Which now comes to Circle of Protection. This is every beginner's move. For the truly good ones, drawing the crop circle is nothing more than optional. However, there's a catch: Purifying Fire feat for the justice tree. Purifying Fire requires two buffing encounters and one direct damage encounter to mix things around effectively. If you opt for that feat, make sure you have Sacred Weapon ready. Because this encounter power would help a lot in maxing out the burn. Please note that the OP at-will powers are single target types, hence making Purifying Fire an ideal choice for OP users not high on recovery. At the same time, buffing encounters do not negate the Purifying Fire effect. That's unless the tooltip has been lying to the gamers all the while. The tricky part lies in when to use it rather than whether or not to use it. If you're running on an Oath of Protection, you can't spam it because that'd result in a defensive overload where you can't proc the power increase and damage reflect. However, it helps to keep an eye on your party members' HP. Once any member's hit points drop to around 60% or less (roughly speaking ofc), then prepare to draw the crop circle. But don't do it at the beginning of the battle. You got Aura of Protection, so things should be safe for a while. Here's a tip, though: When engaging the enemy, it's best to Divine Call first. Never mind who is the first person into the fray. Just do a Divine Call>Sacred Weapon>engage in battle. If you got Templar's Wrath, that's even better. Then it should look like Divine Call>Sacred Weapon>Templar's Wrath>engage in battle. The reason why Sacred Weapon should follow Divine Call is that this is to give the enemy time to take some HP off you in order to proc the power bonus and damage reflect. If you're not sure whether a single Divine Call is enough, then press Tab again after you trigger Templar's Wrath. So long your off-hand artifact power is set at Aura of Protection, it shouldn't be a problem. However, it's advisable to let the Divine Call meter to refill completely before attempting another Judge.

Now if only John would practice what he preached here.

To be cont'd...

Will it be coming home?

In less than 4 hrs (starting from the moment John starts typing this post), England will be playing its most important match. Lose and all the Scottish Jocks, Irish Macs, and Welsh Bales will be celebrating as if William Wallace actually overthrew the English government. Win it and the English will keep dreaming for one more match while Emilia "404 Jon and Daario not found" Clarke will be one step closer to finding her long-elusive love. Okay, the last part was a joke. A running gag going on until England's journey comes to an end, be it at the Loot Lake or Loch Ness Lake.

The number of stats is too damn high!

John isn't gonna read the whole article. As he said just now, the number of stats is too damn high. But before John starts, allow him to share some things he stumbled upon.

John doesn't know what's going on. But allow John L'Otter to use two images of Chinese generals, one for Croatia and one for England. All in the name of fun, ofc. But before that, let John do one for Manodonna himself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ce

Croatia (as portrayed via a specific Three Kingdoms era general)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_He

Going by historical text, Zhang He was one smart guy. In fact, one could say he's a master of terrain warfare. Apart from Deng Ai, it seemed that no one in the Wei faction could come close.

This is Croatia. Period. Like Zhang Junyi, this is a team priding itself on two things: Organisation and creativity. The former is the foundation of the latter. So how does the two work hand in hand? Two players make it possible: Ivan "the Great" Rakitić and Luka "the Force is still strong in him" Modrić. To understand how these two BFFs compliment each other, one must understand what makes Croatia tick as a team.

If there's one thing the Croats can do which the English can't, it'd be operating in a 4-2-3-1. For some dumb reason, England can't do a 4-2-3-1 to save its sorry arse. The opposite is true for Croatia. This is a nation which can whoop any nation's arse with 4-2-3-1. Apart from Russia, that is.

Against Russia, Zlatko "he's no Mr Socko" Dalić opted to emulate Le Professeur X. Remember the Modrić-Kroos partnership? That's most likely what inspired Mr Zlatko to pull off a Modrić-Rakitić combination. In a bid to pin back the Russians (and hopefully making them lose the ball), he started with Andrej "not Karpathy" Kramarić in the hole 9. Which effectively meant Croatia was opening up massive space between the attacking 4 and the defensive-holding four by two.

So will Mr Zlatko pull this off again? John truly doubts so. Against England, Croatia must make sure the ball bypasses the five-man midfield. Otherwise, they can't score, England would have a great chance to bring it home, and Emilia "404 Jon and Daario not found" Clarke may end up bringing a guy home to meet her mother. To understand Croatia, the equation is very simple: See who plays in the hole+where Modrić is deployed=the correct answer.

Modrić's positioning is vital to Croatia's cause. Quite obviously, Mr Zlatko would never be so stupid to play his greatest asset near Mario "Croatia's Super Mario" Mandžukić. That'd be binning Modrić's greatest strength. Namely, a superior passing game anywhere between the defensive line and offensive line. Not to mention renaming himself as Socko Dalić. Going by John's estimation, Modrić would most likely be deployed in the hole 9, which wouldn't be surprising. After all, that's what Mr Zlatko did apart from the Russia match.

Additional note:

Will Ante "he ups the ante in a certain way" Rebić start? If so, will he increase the offensive ante? If he's to go one on one against Ashley "not Luke" Young, you can't fault Gary "not Phil" Neville and Jamie "unrelated to Harry" Carragher agreeing with each other for the first time history. Rebić is young, Rebić is energetic, Rebić is big, strong, and fast. This is not some Magic Mike ad. This is really what Rebić is as a footballer. If you think he's a striker, you're wrong. He's a winger. Plain and simple. But not for a Young who is no longer young. Rebić's job may well be harassing Young once he got the ball. The moment Young loses it, the Great Wall of England will be broken. And England will be visiting Loch Ness Lake instead of Loot Lake. Just don't ask John whether the Khaleesi will find her long-elusive love despite whatever catastrophe caused by a young Rebić.

At the same time, we have to talk about doing the set piece. Any assumption that this is something only the English is good at should be debunked, rubbished, and incinerated on the spot. As the most creative player in Mr Zlatko's lineup, Modrić is able to pass it like Xavi and cross it like Beckham. In fact, John wouldn't be surprised if he's going to drift sideways in order to pass the ball forward. If he does that, England is in trouble. Not that a certain Swede will renege on his promise to have some fish and chips complete with salt and vinegar. So here's John's advice to Le Usurpateur:

https://www.quora.com/Do-British-people-put-vinegar-on-chips-as-well-as-fish-or-just-on-the-fish

Hopefully, the man who retired the whole of Denmark won't get a fur coat out of John.

England (as portrayed via a specific Three Kingdoms era general)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiahou_Yuan

Only 1 hr left. John has to make it fast. If Zhang He was known for the brains, then Xiahou Yuan was known for effective organisation and coordination. After all, how fast your units can travel depends a lot on these two traits. As a result, this also meant Xiahou Miaocai was a master of lightning-fast raids. And this is what England is good at.

For years, the English were ridiculed as jocks (not the Scottish ones fyi). They have physique, pace, and power. They even got the best domestic league in the world! However, they're not exactly the smartest people in the world of international football. And John isn't referring to the fans, be they from Millwall, West Ham, or anywhere else. Liu Bei's favourite strategist Fa Zheng said before that Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He weren't the best generals in Cao Cao's faction. Junyi lacked the composure when in dire circumstances (imagine Croatia struggling once England managed to cut off Modrić's passes at the middle 3rd, but 10 times worse). Zhang Fei exposed and exploited it. As for Miaocai, he's definitely fast enough, but not intellectually fast enough. That's what got him killed at Mount Dingjun. He was too dumb to realise Liu Bei (at Huang Quan's advice) was baiting him to the death row. As the result, Huang Quan's plan together with Fa Zheng's ability to deploy, redeploy, and plan five steps ahead in any situation did him in.

This is not about how smart Fa Zheng was or how dumb the English are (after all, Emma "not Louise Jones" Watson is an intelligent lady). This about England retaining what works for the nation all the while. However, Beaumains Southgate managed to add in that one ingredient completing what John would call the one and only fish and chips football. No, it's not the salt or vinegar. It's the brains. Although to be brutally honest, the English still can't do a 4-2-3-1 even it's to save their sorry arses.

Call it 3-5-2, 3-1-4-2, or even a 3-4-3. The approach is the same. If Beaumains Southgate wants to win it for self and country (c'mon, winning the World Cup is the same as winning Wimbledon Open when it comes to personal accomplishments), he has to make sure the Great Wall of England doesn't get broken. In fact, he must make sure it's way better than the Great Wall of China (where it's partially broken) and the equally (?) great Berlin Wall (where it's officially totally broken like the walls of Jerusalem during 70 AD). No cracks must be found. Otherwise, Croatia will come at England with the full force of Modrić's Force. And it won't be like this below.

Additional details:

Kieran "currently tripping his detractors" Trippier may be tripping critics, cynics, and sceptics alike right now. But if Croatia turns on the force, he will be the one being tripped. And once that happens, you can be very sure England will risk a 90-minute power trip where every anguished fan is better off on an acid trip. And to prevent the worst acid trip in the history of England, Beaumains Southgate needs to make a damning decision.

There's a problem with the analysis done by whoever in the Sky. And that is the failure to address Jordan "unrelated to Henderson Primary School" Henderson. Yes, he's currently having a ball of his time. No one wants to be Cinderella when the clock strikes 12. Let alone Henderson. But if there must be a place for Eric "Dire Dier" Dier, Henderson has to go. Not from the team but to the bench. The reason is very simple: Like Henderson, Dier is a player capable (and comfortable) in anchoring the ball. However, Dier has two things in his favour: Athleticism and the ability to pass it or cross it. Remember, this lad used to be a specialised right-back before an Argentine ten times smarter than Manodonna managed to reinvent him into a defensive mid. In other words, Dier can play in two positions. But that's only a fyi note.

If Beaumains Southgate wants to win it, he needs to play a direct offensive. Can Henderson give him that? Or will it be Dire Dier proving himself to be dire against Croatia instead of for Croatia? After all, Belgium wasn't the best moment of his life. The only catch? Belgium tends to push forward more than Croatia.

P.S: Before John ends this post...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa_Zheng

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ItAmusedMe

It's coming home (wherever your home is)

Before the World Cup got underway, the blokes and ladies at BBC decided to have a bit of fun with the hype. After all, Southgate was just another Beaumains while the current squad is full of kids and too few adults. Out of the sudden, the optimism hit a spike. Out of nowhere, it seemed that the golden club will be flying home and Emilia "404 Jon and Daario not found" Clarke will get to have her long-elusive love. Okay, the part on Khaleesi was a hyperbole.

Note: John tried to find that video again but to no avail.

But will football be coming home?

John's recommendation is to hold your horses and cavalry plus your beer. We've yet to come to that stage where the English will be celebrating and the Khaleesi will get her long-elusive love. So all you Jocks, Macs, Bales, and Manos can breath easy. At least for now.

France versus Belgium: Hold my French beer versus Hold my Belgian beer

In a few hours' time, the cruellest semi-final will start its kick-off. To the purists, it's a bummer. For the pragmatists, they'd just shrug it off like a dictator. Les Bleus and Les Diables Rouges have been nothing short of impressive thus far. The former needed time to peak while the latter had a smoother ride bar that moment where the Japanese nearly made Roberto "he's no Mancini" Martínez commit seppuku. This is a battle between blue and red, a clash pitting the red against the blue. John won't say it's like the politics in America, though.

Note: John isn't gonna do any prediction result wise. This post is strictly tactical.

One side of the coin: Hold my French beer

Les Bleus isn't exactly the kind of team we'd expect to see the likes of Zinedine "Le Professeur X" Zidane and Michel "not a Sablon" Platini to be in. More specifically, Les Bleus of now and not of the yore. Under Monsieur Deschampions, this is a team high on organisation and work rate with flair being placed at secondary priority. Against Les Diables Rouges, who are the key monsieurs involved?

Blaise "he will always protect your base" Matuidi isn't just the man. He is Deschampions' man. When you see the same guy starting in the same position, there's no need to over-analyse. But if the same guy can be deployed in two different midfield roles, then maybe it's time to ask why.

As a player, Matuidi is considered a defensive mid. However, such a statement would be an insult. Yes, he's defensive mid. But no, he's NOT just a defensive mid. Instead of calling him a defensive mid, it's far more accurate to call him a counter-offensive mid.

Against Belgium, it'd be interesting to see whether he will be deployed out wide in a 4-2-3-1 or part of the middle 3 in a 4-3-3. This is very important because the most effective way to knacker Belgium will be to force back their attacking players. If it's a 4-3-3, then Les Bleus need to play the ball forward fast in order to force back the opposition offence. If it's a 4-2-3-1, then Matuidi will most likely be deployed nearer to the holding 2. In other words, that'd be giving him the duty to shackle Eden "The Duke of Hazard" Hazard instead of a more direct "choose and take no prisoners" approach.

John gotta admit this lad above caught his eye. More specifically in the match against Denmark. Lucas "not another Leiva" Hernández impressed with his ball control and the danger he posed whenever he got himself forward. And he really did so quite a lot of times for a left-back. Assuming Matuidi will be playing out wide on the left as the counter-offensive fulcrum, will he pose a threat to Belgium? Once he got the ball, you can be very sure it'd be in the opponent's third.

Cloak and Dagger plus a Brass Knuckle

There's something seriously wrong whenever we saw Antoine "The Mann" Griezmann starting out wide. We all would know he's not gonna score. And as a striker, failure to score goals is tantamount to embarrassing yourself before your girlfriend's BFFs. Once deployed in the hole behind the main striker, however, that's when he becomes The Mann. In fact, it's very likely due to Matuidi's physical presence that he's afforded the freedom to move off-the-ball behind cover. In fact, Griezmann is at his deadliest when moving around without the ball. Yes, he's a born goal scorer. But he's no Filippo "born in an offside position" Inzaghi. He doesn't rely on predatory instinct within the 20-yard box. He relies on his brain to know where to run instead of just when to run. There are players thriving on freedom when it comes to covering the pitch. Then you have those like The Mann who thrives on freedom in movement within a limited range.

Then you have Olivier "Le Chevalier d'Londres" Giroud. Not exactly the sharpest 6 ft+ striker. However, his ability to hold up the ball means Deschampions would never attempt starting a specialist goalscorer up front. Without Karim "Le Benz" Benzema, Giroud becomes the main offensive ball anchor.

Kylian "he makes kimbap out of the opposition backline" Mbappé has to be the hottest topic in every French town now. Sheer power, sheer pace, and sheer physique. Against Argentina, he made more than just one kimbap out of the opponent backline, hence making Manodonna cry for Argentina. Against Belgium, will KiMbappé repeat history again?

Note: In case you've yet to understand the definition of Cloak and Dagger plus a Brass Knuckle, John was referring to Giroud, Griezmann, and Mbappé in this order.

Where the battle may be won:
Deschampions better not tell Giroud to hold up the ball too deep into the opponent's backline. The reason why being that Giroud would be zerged by five red shirts. 3 defenders and 2 holding mids. Once he got wedged in the middle, The Belgians can easily shut down the French while still allowing the attacking players to roam forward. That'd be playing into Belgium's hands.

To make sure this doesn't happen, Deschampions will have to tell Giroud to hold up the ball in front of Belgium's 4-man midfield. In this way, Giroud would be able to pass the ball with minimum pressure and it'd be easier for The Mann and KiMbappé to attack the gaps in the opponent's backline as well. However, this also requires another player to attack the other flank. In this case, that'd be Hernández. And in order to execute this plan to perfection, Deschampions needs his man to operate at his counter-offensive best. Not too far away from the back, but definitely not to far into the opponent's half.

The other said of the coin: Hold my Belgian beer

Well, who'd expect it to happen? Two years ago, Belgium sank like the Titanic. Despite the hype, there were already worrying signs where the backline was concerned. As it turned out, Belgium was kicked out of the Euro room and a local talent got the sack as a result. Fast forward to now and we got a foreign talent bringing the team just one step away from the final and two steps away from glory.

When Rob Mart took over, one couldn't be blamed for wondering whether Belgium should have consulted another Michel also known as Sablon. After all, one doesn't need to take a plane to do an email. And besides, emails are free of charge unless it's some sort of scam from Nigeria orchestrated by Boko Haram.

The reason behind Rob Mart's downfall at Everton was due to his score-and-leak style. His son-of-a-gun style was already evident while he's at Swansea. Once he moved to Wigan, critics were most likely left perplexed as to why Wigan never got relegated much earlier, if not at least earlier. It's quite interesting to see that his formation we see in Belgium right now is the same thing as pundits and fans alike saw during his days at Wigan. Namely, 3-4-3. Although granted 3-4-2-1 isn't literally 3-4-3. But still, it technically is.

No one gave Belgium a chance in Dante's hell to progress beyond the last 16 or quarter-final. In this sense, the Belgians ain't that crazy. That's apart from a Belgian model doing nude shots at West Jerusalem. Now that's another level of insanity compared to the crazy optimism in every English George right now.

Let's be honest here: Compared to the English, the Belgians have more reasons to be optimistic. Because the team actually overperformed instead of underperforming like two years ago. Who'd have imagined Rob Mart fixing the one thing which cost him his job last time around? There's nothing much to be fixed when it came to the offence. Les Diables Rouges has always been a team combining the best of Man Utd and the Spanish national team when it comes to attack and technique. However, the backline needed to be fixed. Because if it's broken, just fix it. Suffice to say, Rob Mart had to deal with a problem he's not known to be good at.

By adopting a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1, Belgium can afford to defend deeper. With a 3-man backline, the pressure to defend is greater. More specifically the wingbacks. Any formation involving a 3-man defence is bound to place heavy defensive emphasis on the wingbacks. In fact, it's very likely that all Rob Mart did was to change the way the Belgian team play when it comes to the width. He didn't have to fix anything apart from the two guys out wide. In other words, he's making the most out of whatever little he chose to work on (note that he could have tried fixing more than just the attacking width since he's now the boss).

John's focus is running low right now. So he might as well finish this asap. John is not gonna talk about Eden "The Duke of Hazard" Hazard because many will be those doing it on his behalf. Neither is he gonna talk about Romelu "the black Romulus" Lukaku, racist song or no racist song. This is about Kevin "Der Bruyne" De Bruyne.

Football can be very quirky at times. From Darren "not Marcus" Bent and his beach ball to the now infamous Pito Vilanova moment, from Le Professeur X using his head against the Juggernaut in the worst possible manner to a naked bloke invading the pitch. Then you have Pep "not a Clotet" Guardiola becoming bald because something went wrong with his job. If there's such a thing called the crowning moment of justification where Pep is concerned, people would remember how Man City won the league title in the most stunning fashion at J.Mou's expense. Yet, John sees another crowning moment of justification. More specifically the awesome crowning moment of justification.

In the world of modern football, seeing players capable of operating in 3 possible roles is a rarity. To see an attacking mid capable of playing as the holding mid has to be the most awesome of them all. Isco did it before, but Der Bruyne is able to make it his territory. For an attacking mid of De Bruyne's type, saying his mind was too weak for Chelsea is no different from saying he'd do a crap job of being a holding mid. And that's where Pep scored his greatest revenge.

In Man City, Der Bruyne has already proven how absurdly versatile he can be. In the Belgian team, Rob Mart did the same. Der Bruyne did have to go through a lot, however. Wolfsburg resuscitated his career, Man City decided to take a risk by signing him. If this sounds familiar, that's because Mohamed "the fastest Mohamed in the world" Salah went through the same process. John won't be surprised if Pep was the reason why Rob Mart could afford to deploy Der Bruyne in the holding mid position.

Where the battle may be won:

Der Bruyne's tactical awareness means one thing: Will Rob Mart start him along with Hazard as the two attacking players behind Lukaku? This is important because Der Bruyne's passing range can work in Belgium's favour if he's constantly somewhere between Lukaku and the midfield instead of in the holding mid area. In Lukaku and Hazard, Belgium got two strong and fast players capable of attacking the space between Matuidi and the opponent's backline. At the same time, it'd be easier for Der Bruyne to move up further via passes and crosses coming from the wingbacks. At the end of the day, Der Bruyne is no Scholes or Xavi. But is he a Modrić? The answer is yes.

P.S: The term "hold my beer" was actually a product of human stupidity. Somewhere down the road, the internet dictionary redefined the phrase.

A Wolf Fit For A Lady

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9

"What strong jaws you have, my love. What a majestic coat you have, my beloved. Let us enjoy the night while we can. For tomorrow I shall be eaten by you."

~A Parish's Daughter And Foolish Lass; a satire written by Gebrud Grimm

Source

)0(

The garden is a thing of beauty despite its subterranean location. Glowing fungus made their home on every rock and willow trunk, the entire place illuminated in a radiance of gentle cyan. Utnapishtim has always been a city associated with piety, glory, and beauty. Yet, a garden simple by comparison may well be the most beautiful existence in a place hidden from surface view. Despite its underground environment, bluebirds and orioles are seen making their homes there. In spite of different songs being sung, every singer is nothing less than a member of the most marvellous choir. And it is in the Garden of Elen where two men, one of conflict and the other of faith, first met.

“Confessions to make, Ostiel?”

Before Liegen’s greeting, the Vánagandr extends his hand. Not towards the priest, but the sky somewhere beyond a ceiling of rocks. Very little, if any, has changed since the last time they met. That was seven years ago where the azure eyes of a broken father stayed the same. There was no restitution to be made, the damage already beyond repair. The woman he loved died. The son he promised to watch over, he abandoned. There can only be one ending to the life of Ostiel, the one whom his own kind called the Executioner due the number of the corrupted Vánagandr silenced by his fists. A living fortress is he, both in terms of determination and power. A little wonder that boy resembles his father, muses Liegen as Aeravor’s visage surfaces in his mind.

“I’ve reserved food fit for a king and wine worthy of a prince for you,” smiles Liegen, his tone one of sincere jest, “Sadly, they couldn’t wait.”

“I met a little girl six years ago. Her name was Tanee. She reminded me of my sins. I should have snatched the dead baby away from Roshamahat before she did the unthinkable. Aeravor is better off dead. In this way, no one has to suffer. Most of all, him.”

A jerkin of camel’s hair with dark brown leather pants and matching boots… a belt braided from rope with its buckle of bronze utterly worn… this was the same set of garb since the day a weary Vánagandr stumbled upon this garden. Eyes of azure blue, a broken nose, and elven looks with a scar running diagonally from forehead to his cheek… together with his kind’s stark white hair held in a short ponytail, nothing has changed.

“All of us have sinned, greatly and otherwise,” answers the elderly parish, his visage that of pity, “Let alone yourself. This is why salvation has always been the favourite topic for the clergy to discuss and debate.”

A booming laughter reverberates throughout the surroundings, its echoes as loud as a lion’s roar. The birds flutter in response, Liegen in turn maintains his calm with a faint smile. He knows what his old friend needs the most. Ostiel has no use for salvation. Instead, he seeks redemption. To set right the mistakes he committed in the past, to lay to rest what has always been haunting him like a pack of spectres.

Spectres… huh?

)0(

Damn it. Not him again. And that meadow under a blue full moon where a campfire is burning. Why always this place? He better not lecture me over the fact that I went without disguise at Lindel. The Shroud of Hati is damn useful, I’ll give it that. After all, no sane Vánagandr would want to enter any settlement beyond Ván for the sake of being seen. Then again, no one ever accused me of being normal. They called me a monster, the Monster of Ván. So why should I pull off an illusion just like them? As for those dumb, drunk, and loud idiots, they’re barking up the wrong tree. What a shame to know that I’ve actually wasted moments of my life entertaining them. Ah well, at least I did use the Shroud of Hati afterwards.

“Hail, my dear disciple. I assume you’re fine.”

With a single gesture, I tell Erik Sohren to eat shit. Bastard refuses to leave me alone. Just stay dead and don’t come back again.

“Good. Your reaction assures me that things are going well.”

“Yeah, right. I’ve yet to pay my previous whore for her great service. Why are you here anyway?”

“You mean why I am here again.”

If this isn’t some sort of dream, I’d have strangled that arsehole. Either that or I’d just stab him with the Edge of Answerer. And to think he was the one who gave me that sword. Something about a hero’s weapon. Never a hero and never will be? What kind of bullshit is this? That Jinn el-Gilgam must have been pathetic enough to use such a phrase to impress Claudia von Stormhearth.

“When are you going back to Airgetlám?”

Wonderful. So he’s worried about me after all. Worried about whether or when I’ll get married.

“No, I’m not going back there. No, I’m not going back to Ineis von Stormhearth even though she’s a goddess in bed.”

“Don’t be childish. You know there lies the gateway to your goal. If you believe you can take on Aor on your terms, think again.”

Nothing changed a single bit since the last time we met. Then again, he died three days later. A sturdy build, fuzzy chin, shoulder length black hair, and dressed in brown and green... I never felt sorry for him. And besides, he never told me much about his life apart from the fourth ruler of Causacea who happened to be a woman. How amusing given that he’s always single and never seen with a whore. What a waste of his elven blood. I pity his disappointed human father. Or should it be his disappointed elven father?

“I don’t mind facing him on his own terms. And by that, I mean the jackass appearing before me in a puff of smoke.”

Well, what do I see here? Erik Sohren frowning like some angry grandfather? Good. The look has never failed to amuse me. He taught me how to be a ranger, but he always enjoyed lecturing me about getting some kind of life beyond killing and whoring. Might as well tell me to go back and shaft Ineis to her heart’s content.

“You idiot. You mean it’s perfectly fine for him to manipulate you? Aor is the closest thing to a god. He observes everything beneath the canopy that is Avalon. Trust me, he doesn’t need thaumaturgy to pull the strings. His mind is that dangerous.”

“I’ve dealt with Edeaux de Serpentwine before. So it’s not a big deal since I know a scheming bastard when I see one.”

Erik places a palm on his face, his head bowed slightly. That’s a priceless sight. Again, I managed to piss him off. Then he gives me that cold hard glare with those hazel eyes of his. I’ve seen that look before. It means he’s going to use his axe and someone’s going to lose his head minus the chopping block. Last time that happened, some poor arsehole got split in two parts in a single stroke after boasting about beating his wife. If you can’t do it from head to balls, do it across the waist instead. But I don’t understand why he’s got a problem with men who beat their wives. Maybe it’s because gods don’t exist in a world where divine justice means pissing on your enemy’s gods in order to glorify your gods. I don’t know Erik’s gods, though.

“Aor is different from the Serpent of Histalonia. One sees things from above, the other perceives circumstances from a straight line. That snake is smart, I’ll give him that. But…”

Getting up, I leave the Bear of Tara to his own business. But not before I give him a parting shot and a smug grin.

“But he’s not a god. No one is. Therefore, I can kill anything that moves. Thanks for the Edge of Answerer by the way.”

“What about your father?”

Shit, I should have known he’s going to pull that off. Annoying arsehole. I choose to walk away. But not before I turned back and gave him my sellsword’s salute.

)0(

Autumn has entered its first day, a carpet of gold and red formed below the trees. This was the day Eirlanna Ulst-Eliaden passed away, the cause of death being an unrepentant child of mischief playing with a tinderbox. No one saw how bad the burns were, not even Alestrial herself was given a glimpse. From the infirmary to the coffin, no one got to see her mother for the final time. Except Louthes Gaius Eliaden. If her father did spend an entire lifetime loving a woman who never reciprocated his feelings, his visage never betrayed bitterness and regret. Till this very day, his face stays the same: That of a man willing to be hurt for the sake of a woman he chose to love.

“Mother, I’ll be getting married next summer. You told me to follow my heart whenever possible. This isn’t one of these moments.”

Before Alestrial’s words, the tombstone remains cold and unyielding. This is where her mother was laid to her final rest eight winters ago. She remembers the swift and brutal manner of her father’s reprisal. Weeks before the fire which claimed the life of Eirlanna Ulst-Eliaden, the mischievous boy was reprimanded in public. Not by his father or mother, but the sole daughter of House Ulst. Despite the nature of his act, the arsonist showed no remorse. He even mocked her mother, his wicked sin igniting a bonfire of wrath within the Cinha daughter of House Eliaden. As a smallborne, however, he forgot one thing: That as part of the nobility, her father has the right to exercise a noble’s writ. By issuing a written order demanding a retrial, Louthes Eliaden effectively rigged the outcome. False witnesses rose up against the accused, a convicted murderer ended up begging for mercy as he was dragged towards the gallows. Her father’s conduct shocked her unto the very core, for how could someone with a high reputation of honour stoop so low? It was then when Alestrial realised how much a man like him could love a woman who never loved him back in the first place.

“Have you ever loved somebody else?”

Again, the tombstone never give a reply.

“Never would I be surprised if your mother did.”

The speaker’s voice is all too familiar, Alestrial turning around sharply in shock. There before her wide-eyed stare is the man whom she calls father, his towering frame marred by the sight of a cane in hand. His sapphire blue eyes remind the Cinha of Gael, but this is the look of a hardened man, not one of a fiery youth. Dressed in finery and sombre colours, Louthes Gaius Eliaden had his hair slicked backwards. Its length reaches the nape of his neck, its raven black lustre blemished by spots of grey.

Walking towards the block of lifeless marble stone marking the final resting place of Eirlanna Ulst-Eliaden, Louthes kneels down with support from his cane made from ivory. Here rests Eirlanna Ulst. Here rests a woman who never loved him back. Here rests a woman who chose the image of a love unattainable. Here rests the only woman he loved throughout his lifetime. Memories assail Louthes like a relentless beast out to rend its prey, like that bare-handed knave who broke his leg.

“I don’t know who you are and I don’t care about this Eirlanna you’re talking about. There’s only one woman I’ve ever loved. So begone, fool. Before I teach you a lesson.”

“Alas, m’lady Eirlanna. The fracture is unable to heal properly. I fear m’lord Louthes has to cut short an illustrious military career.”

“Why did you face him? Why were you so foolish to challenge a Vánagandr?”

“Because I love you, Eirlanna,” whispers a wounded Louthes, his face mere inches from the tombstone, “Even though you chose to love another man countless times more powerful than me.”

)0(

“Mother, here I am. Standing on the ground which has given you many a sorrow.”

Despite the manner of words uttered, nary an anguish was heard from Ineis' peach pink lips. It was not for the lack of love from a daughter to her mother. Claudea von Stormhearth had taken her own fair share of paramours, but none of them was equal to the two prideful men who broke her heart. The Homm’Nua believed in love, but not marriage. Yet, love was meant to be cherished sincerely, not something obtainable by force. This was why Claudea chose to let go. And by letting go, she allowed herself to be pierced by sorrow and loss. Not once, but twice. Ineis tried convincing herself that it’s because those two didn’t deserve her mother’s love. But her father told her a different story. Desche de Lancebarb recounted the tears his beloved shed, his words eroding the image of an infallible goddess worshipped by an impressionable little girl.

“Your mother cried for two prideful men of lowly status, men who never bent the knee unlike so many others above them. One was a ranger. The other was a traitor’s son. Yet, she never regretted pursuing an unattainable dream even after all things came to an end.”

Only three days passed since the full mourning period for the Crown ended, Ineis' curiosity towards an outside world giving the previous monarch of the Homm’Nua so much hurt finally sated. Despite insistence from both sides of the Sidhe, the daughter of Claudea von Stormhearth and Desche de Lancebarb decided to set foot on the soil which unwittingly shaped the history of her people. From what was previously known as Eastoria to the once unified Causacea, she saw plenty with very little impressing her. The Cinhas amused her with their petty morality, but it was worth nothing more than a play lasting mere moments. The Kalarans fared nowhere better, their self-righteousness a farcical sham. The Slarvs were the only ones worth remembering, their love for freedom a thing in common with her. Then there were those prudish Teutonians.

What a way to end my journey, mused Ineis with a yawn. If only she could visit the south and the mountains separating it from the rest of the world. Then again, Lauranc de Hallstone was there with her, his presence both a source of assurance and hindrance. This was a trustworthy person, one who has never behaved selfishly. The same could not be said about the rest of the Sidhe, be they the Seelie or his fellow Unseelie. Alas for his sense of duty, a stumbling stone to her desire for exploration.

“At least we’re at the most interesting part. This better be good,” huffed the newly crowned queen, her frown revealing undisguised a visitor bored, “No places worth my time apart from Slarvea. And even then…”

“It’s a place of too much grass and too little fun,” smirked Lauranc as he adjusted his monocle, “Even though the Slarvs did brighten your mood considerably, it seems to me that Your Majesty will always judge a place by both the people and buildings.”

“Of course,” answered Ineis with a toss of her brunette hair.

“Welcome to the fief of Gastony. That is had it not been renamed as Ván.”

Before the speaker, Lauranc de Hallstone gave a wry grin. Years have passed since their last meeting. There has always been a streak of wanderlust in him despite his political status, the occasional thirst demanding to be slaked every now and then. He would travel for days in a specific place, for many were the things and people attracting his observant mind. Then he would report back for duty. Claudea von Stormhearth knew a talent when she saw one, mayhap ‘tis the reason why his actions were tolerated, if not accepted.

“Hail, Salandra of Gastony. That is had it not been renamed as Ván,” greeted Lauranc with a bow, his tone of jest not lost on the female Vánagandr.

She was dressed in a simple garb of grey and brown, the end of her tunic reaching the ankles. Her hair of wintry white was cut short, its length reaching just above the shoulders with the fringe covering her eyebrows. Despite the manner of her words, sadness was in her eyes of azure blue. Lauranc knew why such a sorrow existed in the first place, for this was a grieving mother’s visage.

“You better quit giving others that look. That boy is never your responsibility, Sally.”

“It seems you’re no different from the rest, Lauranc. I’m so disappointed,” chuckled Salandra with a shrug, “No one understands me. Not even you.”

“Firstly, I’m not your man. Secondly, that kid belongs to another woman. Thirdly…”

“It’s all Ostiel’s fault for reneging on the vow he gave to Roshamahat. Great way to tell me why I shouldn’t look after a kid who doesn’t belong to me, Lauranc.”

“Wait… who is this kid you two are talking about?”

Her curiosity piqued, Ineis' question was much more than a mere interruption. Lauranc was at a loss for words, for he knew what kind of person his liege was. As for Salandra, she saw something in the brunette elven girl. It was a power which all the Vánagandr were familiar with. Like the dwarves and elves who retained their memories relating to the Age of Renown, they never lost the ability to sense any dormant form of magic. For magic, be it thaumaturgy or metallurgy, was the reason why the Age of Renown existed, prospered, and ultimately ended.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” asked Ineis, her displeasure directed towards Salandra, “I’ve heard about your kind. All sorts of unkind compliments. You’re making me uncomfortable, do you know that?”

“And who may you be?”

Salandra’s stoic reply stung Ineis badly, her anger bursting forth like a conflagration.

“How dare you speak to me in this manner? If not for my mother, you and your brethren would have never existed!”

“So I see,” smiled Salandra, a thumb placed over her lips, “The daughter of Claudea von Stormhearth. Pardon my impudence, Your Royal Highness.”

Ineis could only try reining in her anger. She knew a mocker when one was present before her eyes. This impudent woman happened to be one of them. How dare she? How dare she? How dare she addressed her mother in this tone?

“Stop it, the two of you,” standing between Ineis and Salandra, Lauranc stared at the Vánagandr while shaking his head, “Do not get me into trouble. You know not the politics played by the Sidhe.”

“So those two bickering factions are still at it, huh? Good. Let them fight each other until the world is gone. Either that or until everyone is dead.”

Before Salandra’s answer to Lauranc’s rebuke, Ineis laughed out loud, her peals of mirth amusing Salandra. While she never saw first-hand the ins and outs of elven politics, Claudea von Stormhearth would always mention it to a random Vánagandr during Gandr de Morte’s death anniversary every season. There’s something in her. Like mother like daughter, mused the Vánagandr. And so much more than that, for standing in front of her wasn’t just a queen. She was a witch, but no ordinary witch. She was a Norn, one of the three going by the name of Verðandi.

Then tremors shook the very ground they were standing on as Ineis fell on her buttocks. For a brief moment, Salandra found the sight of a queen in such a position amusing. Then the humour was gone from her eyes. Aeravor was at it again, his boredom acting up in yet another show of whimsical idiocy. Vulgarities spewed under her breath, this was one of those times when Salandra felt like strangling Roshamahat’s brat. Miraculously, such a thought has yet to translate itself into deed.

“So much for dragging me into Tamuria and getting Rosha pregnant, Ostiel.”

As for Ineis, she was sharp enough to detect the very instant of mockery from that impudent jaeger. After all, there was no love lost between the Homm’Nua and those they showered contempt upon even before Gandr de Morte did the unthinkable. At the end of the day, once a half-blood, forever one. With nary a heed given to what might lie ahead, the angry ruler of a people gave pursuit.

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“How could I have forgotten it?” Ineis chuckles aloud as a familiar figure reveals a smirk, “But never did I imagine female jaegers to be so powerful.”

Countless years have passed since Aeravor left Airgetlám, yet another one of his own remained behind. Despite insults and feuds, the Vánagandr recognise the need to maintain a decent semblance of professional relationship when it comes to dealing with demons. An enemy of the enemy, after all, is a friend. Salandra was chosen as the ambassador, she ended up as Lauranc’s paramour. Even up till today, a fact which she still finds ever so refreshing. Nothing changed since their first meeting where Salandra is concerned. Ever the same look, even the same manner of clothes. Detractors be damned, let their words burn to ashes. Such has been her way of dealing with others, for reality is a cruel man’s game and ceding an inch of ground would invite acres lost.

“The males hunt, but the females protect. Behind an army, a fortress must stand. Gleipnir isn’t just something restraining what is otherwise uncontrollable. It is also harnessed to protect the entire Ván, be it through illusions or preventing any of our own destroying it from inside.”

To an outsider, Salandra’s words would have invoked scorn and disbelief. After all, who would believe any one of them to be unrestrainable by their own kind? Yet, there is a reason why there are those in the pack who must be culled before things spiral beyond control. Gleipnir is a self-restraining power akin to part of the body, hence it can also be used freely like how blood comes out from the heart. Magic done through chaos is thaumaturgy, every usage requiring two mental images: The desired outcome and two runes making the said result possible. By receiving one tenth of every Vánagandr’s Gleipnir, the fief of Ván became a place rife with ever-changing illusions and chains of raw power binding any wayward member within its borders should that individual’s power threaten its stability. Gjöll is both the source of power and downfall for the Vánagandr. For it is commonly said that absolute power corrupts absolutely and no power can be as absolute as Gjöll.

Aeravor was different from the rest since the day he was born. He was meant to be dead before birth, his mother’s womb was to be his tomb instead. But little did anyone know Roshamahat al-Akkhad was a witch, a woman bound to any one of the Nine Circles. And with this very power, Aeravor became a homunculus instead of a normal living being. Hence, what fetters the latter may not be that which binds the former. The Vánagandr pride themselves in steel and magic. The former depends on ruthless technique, the latter a case of controlling and using raw power. Aeravor was unable to excel in the former. Yet, he displayed a startling level of command for the latter. This invited brutal taunts and cruel blows from his peers, for this was an anomaly. No one stood up for him, for sympathy apart from those related by blood was frowned upon. Everyone was against him, for retaliation from one brethren against another was forbidden. Harsh competition was what made any pack of wolves a destructive force against demons, outnumbered or otherwise.

Then it happened. That obnoxious boy was an idiot to push him beyond the edge. A single remark likening him to pus flowing from between his mother’s legs was all it took for Aeravor to perform a reprehensible act called kinslaying. Salandra remembered the scene too well, for she was there. Fast enough to register trouble was near, but not swift enough to prevent it from happening.

His eye turned crimson red for a moment, an iron grip strangling the fool who dared to corner him. It was also the moment where fire ascended from the ground. The flames consumed the screaming victim, the conflagration forming a fiery wall. Aeravor’s laughter was both maniacal and chilling. It resembled the howling of a wolf, his head thrown back laughing in malicious mirth. He dropped a set of charred remains on the ground, a foot crushing the blackened skull with callous force.

As for Ineis, the image of a boy around her age chained and surrounded by standing stones remains ever so haunting. His azure eyes showed no regard to his predicament, his grin mocked whatever awaiting him. This was a look which brought out the envy in her. This was the kind of look she always desired, yet can never hope to have. Many are those desiring freedom, but very few are the ones truly obtaining it. And he’s one of them. This was why she chose to let him go. There can be no place in the world able to tie him down, no person capable of being his real Gleipnir. Alas, how can she forget the words Aeravor daringly spoke? How can she throw aside memories involving a deal uttered in the name of temerity and insanity?

“You interest me with those daring eyes of yours, Norn. Let’s make a deal, shall we? Come back after a hundred years. If I’m still here by then, I’ll be yours. But only for seventy years.”

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Glossary

Noble's writ: The power to lodge an appeal after the verdict of any settled case. It is an exclusive right for the nobility both minor and greater, for the smallborne do not have such a privilege.

Jaeger: The actual definition refers to either a hunter or a type of bird species. Here in this work, it's a racial insult for Vánagandr. Ironically, this is also an accurate indication of how good they are at hunting demons. Maybe the elves are jealous, who knows?

Additional notes:

1. Ostiel is originally named Rowein. But that's because I wasn't creative enough to think up of other names. Neverwinter Online, however, changed the situation due to the various giants' names in Storm King's Thunder.

2. Roshamahat as a name is inspired by Shamhat from Epic of Gilgamesh. Al means "daughter of" while the masculine variation would be El. Hence, Akkhad was the name of Roshamahat's father. Although it came from the name Akkad, the capital city of the Akkadian Empire.

3. Verðandi is a real name in mythology. More specifically, Norse mythology.

4. I did a brief check on the Norns to double confirm whether there's only three of them. Apparently, there were more than just the three most famous ones. Either way, Norns in this work would stop at three. 

5. Gleipnir and Gjöll are real mythological terms related to Fenrir. Gleipnir was the cord restraining the wolf while Gjöll was the Norse version of the river Styx.

6. Gebrud Grimm is a nod to Die Gebrüder Grimm. In case you don't understand German (actually, I don't as well), it's them.

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