I'm Happy To Have Drawn Him For You!

I'm happy to have drawn him for you! 🫀

I absolutely adore you work, both the stories you've shared of Ezra and the stop motion, and your recent Vampentine's work as well!

Seeing your creative process and the works you've made has been incredibly inspiring, I hope they always brings you joy (: 🫀

Hi, I adore Ezra, and I wish you only the best of luck in Barovia 🫀

Please let me know if you want a version without the paper texture or background, or one that tumblr hasn't destroyed, I'd be happy to share it with you (:

I don't know how to tell you what this means to me.

You drew my boy because you wanted to. It is so big.

It feels very "dramatic" to say so, but: This has never happened before, to me, like this. Where I've put my work out into the world, my ideas, little pieces of myself... and someone felt inspired enough to mirror my efforts back to me with their own beautiful craft. To affirm for me in such a relatable and meaningful way that what I have made, that what I myself am made of, is not only valid and good but actively cherished.

And that's... that's Ezra, too. That's who he is, too. That's the rickety foundation he was built on, and has been pushing and growing against, throughout our whole campaign, and let me tell you I am so proud and so moved.

The fact that you have done this... I am in awe.

Truly and honestly, thank you. From both of us.

I want you to know that I appreciate every moment and brush stroke that went into this. You held Ezra in your hands and then gave him gently back to me. And I didn't even have to ask. It wasn't some kind of charity. This is literally a gift.

Well, fuck.

I keep making quizzes, so....

This time it's about pairings from our Curse of Strahd DnD campaign. It includes pairings between NPCs, between PCs and between PCs and NPCs. A couple of them are.... Not good. Problematic. And not really canon??? Depends on what you count as "pairing" and as "canon"

It took me much more time than it should have to write the results' descriptions.....

Also tagging Tumblr people whose characters are in there: @kagoa @the-pale-chancellor

To CoS DMs,

What sort of stuff do you make a point of including when changing Strahd's diary?

I've never been fond of 5e's handout, it feels far more like a lore drop than a personal diary, and while using I, Strahd would be nice, I've made too many changes to the lore to use it as is. (not to mention that my players and I are all busy, and won't have the time to read a full novel)

I've outlined the key elements that need to be included, I just need to pad it out a bit.

Thank you for any help (:

My current outline is under the cut (:

cw for canon typical depression and violence

Taking Castle Ravenloft:

Summary of the arrival at the castle, naming it after his mother, in her honor

With the death of their parents, Sergei will be coming to the keep

Introduction to Alek and Rahadin, the two working and training together

Meeting Tatyana:

Introducing our sexy lamp

Passing mention of Sergei giving up his place in the clergy for her

Focus on Tatyana's physical traits, her hair in particular. As much as the lamp thing is a joke, she isn't important to Strahd as a person, only a prize. As Strahd is really the only source of information on Tatyana for the party, she doesn't really get much in terms of development.

Alek has raised concerns once again about the assassin

Tatyana & Sergei, Wedding Prep:

Strahd moping while Sergei and Tatyana have a good time.

Mention of Alek going to the Amber Temple for research purposes, to find something that might help the situation.

Night Before the Wedding:

Strahd is starting to hear whispers

Alek and Rahadin have been patroling the castle, questioning the guards, etc.

Wedding Night Aftermath:

Quiet castle, only him and Rahadin alive.

Some sacrifices had to be made, but Alek is still alive, gifted to Rahadin, so that the two can remain brothers.

Alek died as he does in I, Strahd, but is the first Strahd brings back from the dead. He botches it though, and Alek returns as a Nosferatu, rather than a spawn. Strahd is denying the problem, shrugging off the issue as best as he can. He's good at it.

Meeting Marina:

The only section I've fully written out so far, but still up for revisions.

I returned to Castle Ravenloft late yesterday evening with no issue. Rahadin was right, the girl looks exactly like my dearest Tatyana did, with the same red hair and bright eyes. I do not think I know the entirety of what happened to her in the years since her death in the Mists, but she did not remember who she, or perhaps more importantly, Sergei or I, was.

Now, she goes by Marina, and is the adopted daughter of the burgomaster in Berez, Lazlo Berezovich, who plans to marry her in just a few years. Of course, i cannot have such things happen to Tatyana, no matter what name or face she wears now, and I have already begun to teach her of her old life. She seemed invested, though that might simply be due to the prospect of minor nobility taking romantic interest in her. Still, even with having only spent a night with her, the results seem promising. My brother will not have any influence this time, and at long last, Tatyana will finally be mine.

Rahadin also brought news of the Abbot, the “angel” having taken up residence in the old monastery in Krezk, where I had found Leo Dilisnya. While Tatyana is of the highest priority, I will have to visit Krezk soon, to finally welcome our newest guest. Even if his healing magic has been greatly exaggerated, his presence should provide at least some degree of entertainment for myself, and perhaps some assistance for Barovia’s people.

Death of Marina:

Most recent event in journal, so that it works out when Strahd leaves the diary buried under the monument to Marina. A good segment of unmarked pages are left at the end of the journal.

Cursing the men who killed Marina, description of their bodies after their deaths.

You and your party get invited to a ball at Castle Ravenloft.

You and your party go to Castle Ravenloft.

You step into the ballroom.

There’s a band, food, people dancing. You don’t see Strahd Von Zarovich.

The event goes on, you and your party start to settle in. The food isn’t poisoned, the dancing guests aren’t armed, the band is pretty good. Strahd isn’t even here. Maybe this is, truly, just a party.

Then suddenly, you hear a voice shout “Alexa play Ballroom Blitz”

So Dev's D&D campaign is going well(?). We have a conspiracy board now at least.

There's bits of context under the cut, at least that what I can provide for now.

The Web (:

Shiv: One of the four party members, a human rogue/grave robber. They joined the campaign after failing to break into a tomb in the mountains, brought to the group by an old man with horse and magic sword. They have no memory of what was inside the tomb.

Zird (spelling varies): Goblin artificer, looking to find magical items and create his own.

Menna Alloy: Our human fighter, not mentioned on here yet. The most functional member of the group.

Old Man: Author of the diary entries on a parchment texture. Gave the party a magic sword that may have used to belong to a saint. He's dead now (killed by the Black Knight mentioned on the other side of the web), but we have his horse still, and it may be magical. The guy might have been immortal?

Jester: Evil necromancer raising an army from the dead. Stole some of Dev's hair at one point. OOC, I think we're being scried on. The Black Knight seems to serve him.

Seleck-Mor (spelling varies): God of undeath, among other things. Gave necromancers their power. Worship of him is not looked upon kindly, to say the least.

Devleik might have been raised from the dead intentionally? Or his original soul died angry. The party doesn't have enough information on undead yet.

And a list of questions to ask the local librarian NPC when we next play, for my own notes:

Can Revenants return from the dead without a necromancer's influence?

What kind of punishment (if that's the correct term) did Seleck-Mor and the other gods face, post-Calamaties?

Did St. Gerriand's sword go by any other names? Oathguard, perhaps?

Is immortality possible? Has it ever been possible?

Who was Emperor Malachor? Pretend I've been living under a rock.