Probably Not What The Ask Was Inquiring About But The Book, Dark Lord Of Derkholm By Diamna Wynne Jones

Imagine with me...

Orcs discovering makeup.

Orcs finding the boldest red to coat on their lips because, "It's supposed to make it look like they're flush with blood."

Orcs circling their eyes furiously with eyeliner to bring out the PURE FIREY FURY within and terrify their opponents.

Orcs of all sexes and ages doing their daily things, talking, fighting, all with their faces done up and not one of them finding it unusual.

Orcs being touchy on the subject with outsiders because, "How did the humans find this before us? This is so much better than warpaint."

Orcs swarming high society shops whenever they raid or trade with a city and terrifying the noble customers as they march out with arms full of the highest fashions.

Orcs complimenting each other on a particular style or color as screaming people run by and surroundings burn.

Orcs pitching a fit when they can't find their favorite brands.

ORCS

After the absolute fiasco that the Mass Effect books culminated in, I had no interest in remembering anything from the otherwise wonderful and illuminating literature.

the lack of attention the comics and novels get from not only the fans but bioware themselves makes me really sad cause everyone assumes nyreen was the first female turian ever but that’s not entirely true

nyreen was first in-game, yes, but the first visually depicted turian in the whole franchise was lieutenant abrudas, from the comic mass effect: evolution:

and even before abrudas, ambassador orinia [link] has the distinction of being the first female turian in the franchise anywhere, from the novel mass effect: retribution, in which she’s actually a major character.

like idk man i love nyreen but she’s not the first female turian, and it makes me sad that other awesome characters fall by the wayside just because bioware cares so little about its supplementary material it doesn’t even bother letting people know it exists after it’s published

Ballad of the Fall

Long ago, in the times of old. Before the blight and the age of gold. A bright silver star did fall from on high. And brought warmth and light to the dark and the cold. This star was mighty, its power so grand. It taught mankind to leave their cold land. And visit the nine old gods in the sky. And so the nine gods became marked by man’s brand. Men became proud in their golden age. For they could not see that their star was a sage. Foretelling their fall, though not by its hand. Mankind would find itself in a cage. And so came the blight, which began the great battle. Where so much of man would be slaughtered like cattle. The achievements of man became naught but dull sand. And mankind did sound what would seem its death rattle. Mankind was dying but still would not yield. And so our grand star became our brave shield. Our first brave Guardian paid with its life. And gave us a power only we could wield. With our new powers humanity grew. With weapons of old, and kinsmen true. We will bring about the end of this strife. And revive the destiny of mankind anew.

Scarlet Briar

Kneel demands the dragon witch, Eyes burning like coal. Her long rifle doth seek the heart, Her eyes doth seek the soul. No, sayeth the heroes bold, We will not act for naught. Our hearts are ours as are our souls, 'Twas your black heart we sought.

It's probably got some syntax or other that we haven't clarified, my bet is that it's a way of referring to themselves as children of the moons. (Having their form determined by the lunar lattice could have that effect) Similarly, it is said that the desert was made by Y'ffer in to harm Khajiit. But their philosophies and even the Riddle'Thar seem to demand that they accept the hardship. Odds are they take pride in their ability to survive in the harsh environments.

I rly wonder about the ethymology of Ja'Kha'jay too? Literally, it would mean “baby moon”, “mooncub” but that’s weird? Also, is the semblance between khaj (desert) and kha'jay (moon) something intentional, despite them being two different things and the apostrophe in kha'jay indicating a potential root from two separate words?

Requiem for a Love

Twas years ago your soul flew free As I lay you beneath our tree What gods may be Will answer me When we at last, each other, see

Posted with permission from the artist @ByTwistwood. Story by Matthew Wisner.

It was only when Shona, in sheer fury, turned the carnivorous sheep among them that they moved. They ran, some of them with charming little white sheep attached to their legs or backsides and the rest shouting about monsters.

Diana Wynne Jones, The Dark Lord of Derkholm (via inlittlestars)

I’ve considered this at some length before. The Minotaurs were a proud people that were reduced to little more than beasts on the edge of society by a fanatical religion. There’s certainly a regal nature to them that is sadly lost in the games.

As the whole ‘dragon blood’ thing goes, it’s hard to say because Alessia’s bloodline were the original Emperors. They were eliminated only to be replaced by the Septim line. Both were able to wear the amulet, both may have consisted of Dragonborn.

So then is Dragonborn an inherited trait at all?

Okay weird lore observation. Heirs of the dragon blood are capable of wearing the amulet of Kings. Traditionally that refers to the heirs of the imperial throne. It's been inferred by some that all of the heirs of dragon blood are technically dragon born and could absorb dragon souls. One of the first (if not the first) MINOTAURS was an emperor and the son of Alessia no less. Thus it would stand to reason that not only could a minotaur wear the Amulet of Kings, but could also absorb dova souls?

it hasn’t been clarified whether the dragonborn who can wear the amulet of kings are the same as the dragonborn who can absorb dragonsouls. nonetheless the idea of minotaurs being able to wear the amulet of kings is… very interesting ngl 

I, the Dark

Do not fear, my child of light You might not understand

Why the world grants you no right Rewards you naught but sand

Haughty is the greatest might Claiming itself grand

I, the dark, will aid your fight If you’ll but take my hand