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Divining Destiny: Flight of Freedom
Mar. 5th, 2026 08:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senmutAO3 Link | Divining Destiny: Flight for Freedom (1050 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Ensemble
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Typical Violence, Fratricide, Murder, flashfic, Cross-Posted from Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Time Travel
Summary:
Vierna came alert from the dream with a chill on her spine. Things had been going so well ever since she had managed to give Drizzt a chance to live elsewhere.
Her Lord was the only reason she dreamed at all, which meant the dream was a portent that she had to divine the meaning of quickly. With a flicker of her will, she sent her current messenger spider, one of the line from her father's gift to her so long ago, to fetch him to her. While she did that, she cleared her mind to take up the spells of hiding that she had lived under, ever since the Masked God chose her as His priestess.
Zaknafein was waiting when she came up from the prayers, sitting calmly opposite her — and a barrier to anything else that would have dared enter the Matron's chambers.
"Something has shifted, and we are now in danger," Vierna signed to him. "Invite your lover to take those of our people he wishes. You and I, any you trust explicitly, will use the gathering paths to leave this city."
"You are certain?"
Vierna's mouth set in a grim line for a long moment. "Only that the hiding spell is known to me from childhood allowed me to take it, I think. She is seeking His influence in the city now."
"Be at the portal by the time for evening meal; I will have all things in motion," Zak told her firmly.
For better or worse, House Do'Urden in Menzoberranzan would be abandoned to the Spider Queen, but personal survival was prized above all else, for most drow, and Vierna was typical in that regard.
Dinin sat in the safe house of Bregan D'Aerthe with his head in his hands, still mulling over everything. He was grateful to the Weapon Master for making this opportunity appear, but he was at a loss for what would be expected now that he was without a House.
Jarlaxle, leader of the mercenary company, sat beside him, uncovered eye surveying those few men he had chosen to bring into the band. He wasn't very pleased; Vierna Do'Urden had been opening avenues to the cunning man for years now.
"It is done."
"She — they did make it out, yes?" Dinin asked, looking over.
"That actually matters to you," Jarlaxle said, and he looked pleased with that awareness. "Yes, they did. And to spare the rest, their meal was laced with poison, courtesy of my sense of mercy."
Dinin pondered that. When the Matrons of the ruling council moved to end the heresy, they would have tortured the commoners to learn all they could. The loyalty of the fighters would have pushed them to fight even without knowing where their matron was. The changes that Vierna had brought about in the House had made them all stronger, but…
… it was the kind of strength that was not allowed.
"Send me to one of your outposts, with some of my people and any of yours you trust to keep me under your eye." Dinin drew in all of his own cunning, ambition, and pride. "I live, and serving you is damn sure better than being dead or in the clutches of a different House."
"I have just the place for you," Jarlaxle said, smiling. "And I think you will thrive in our network."
Zaknafein inspected the house that had been procured in Rilauven, checking it over for any and all possible traps. When he at last came to Vierna, who was just settling back from prayer, she looked fatigued but content.
"With only ten to support us, it's not the most defensible place, but we can make it work," Zak told her.
"We will have more in time," Vierna promised him. "We still have enough gems to set ourselves on the path of growth."
"Once I am satisfied one of the fighters is able enough to defend in my absence, I will take up the offered contract at their school."
"Mother's manner of salves are unknown here, from all I can learn. That is another avenue of income." Vierna reached for his hands, and he gave them. "Thank you, for having faith in me."
"Nothing else to do when my own daughter proved she was not lost," he said quietly. "Will you be able to scry Drizzt now?"
Vierna sighed, shaking her head. "I had no luck, but then the prayers are still shrouded."
Zak frowned, but if the gods wanted to war on each other, he didn't care; he'd rather they left drow alone. "At least you being so high in favor, even with Him weakened, means you shouldn't be tested too soon."
"So I think, yes."
Vhaeraun sighed melodramatically as Eilistraee finally managed to pull the poisoned chelicerae out of His abdomen.
"You should have made it clear You wished aid long before now," Eilistraee scolded, putting the large pincers into the waiting darkflame to destroy them. "What happened?"
He considered how to answer as Her hands moved back to the wound, bringing healing and soothing the unending agony He had been inflicted with since the attack.
"One of the junior clerics My priestess had sent to learn in Her temple betrayed My priestess by thought. I managed to warn her, just before My realm was swarmed by Her abyssal spiders.
"I believe She'd already glimpsed My influence building." He grimaced with distaste for losing the first real foothold He'd made in that city.
"She will be on guard for reprisals," Eilistraee mused. "You must be careful, My Twin."
"When am I not, My dear Sister?" he asked in mocking tones, before lying back to let Her finish the healing He needed. She let Him rest, considering all of this, and how it might backlash upon Her own people.
"My priestess is safe, with her father, in one of the cities I hold more strongly," He said. "I chose well with her, even if this did not work the way I wished."
"Just don't go becoming enamored of her, Brother. My Nephew is enough trouble."
Vhaeraun laughed, bitterly, but nodded at the warning. He did enjoy such pleasures, but this priestess was too important, in His limited foresight, to risk that with.
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Ensemble
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Typical Violence, Fratricide, Murder, flashfic, Cross-Posted from Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Time Travel
Summary:
Vierna is Betrayed
Divining Destiny: Flight for Freedom
Vierna came alert from the dream with a chill on her spine. Things had been going so well ever since she had managed to give Drizzt a chance to live elsewhere.
Her Lord was the only reason she dreamed at all, which meant the dream was a portent that she had to divine the meaning of quickly. With a flicker of her will, she sent her current messenger spider, one of the line from her father's gift to her so long ago, to fetch him to her. While she did that, she cleared her mind to take up the spells of hiding that she had lived under, ever since the Masked God chose her as His priestess.
Zaknafein was waiting when she came up from the prayers, sitting calmly opposite her — and a barrier to anything else that would have dared enter the Matron's chambers.
"Something has shifted, and we are now in danger," Vierna signed to him. "Invite your lover to take those of our people he wishes. You and I, any you trust explicitly, will use the gathering paths to leave this city."
"You are certain?"
Vierna's mouth set in a grim line for a long moment. "Only that the hiding spell is known to me from childhood allowed me to take it, I think. She is seeking His influence in the city now."
"Be at the portal by the time for evening meal; I will have all things in motion," Zak told her firmly.
For better or worse, House Do'Urden in Menzoberranzan would be abandoned to the Spider Queen, but personal survival was prized above all else, for most drow, and Vierna was typical in that regard.
Dinin sat in the safe house of Bregan D'Aerthe with his head in his hands, still mulling over everything. He was grateful to the Weapon Master for making this opportunity appear, but he was at a loss for what would be expected now that he was without a House.
Jarlaxle, leader of the mercenary company, sat beside him, uncovered eye surveying those few men he had chosen to bring into the band. He wasn't very pleased; Vierna Do'Urden had been opening avenues to the cunning man for years now.
"It is done."
"She — they did make it out, yes?" Dinin asked, looking over.
"That actually matters to you," Jarlaxle said, and he looked pleased with that awareness. "Yes, they did. And to spare the rest, their meal was laced with poison, courtesy of my sense of mercy."
Dinin pondered that. When the Matrons of the ruling council moved to end the heresy, they would have tortured the commoners to learn all they could. The loyalty of the fighters would have pushed them to fight even without knowing where their matron was. The changes that Vierna had brought about in the House had made them all stronger, but…
… it was the kind of strength that was not allowed.
"Send me to one of your outposts, with some of my people and any of yours you trust to keep me under your eye." Dinin drew in all of his own cunning, ambition, and pride. "I live, and serving you is damn sure better than being dead or in the clutches of a different House."
"I have just the place for you," Jarlaxle said, smiling. "And I think you will thrive in our network."
Zaknafein inspected the house that had been procured in Rilauven, checking it over for any and all possible traps. When he at last came to Vierna, who was just settling back from prayer, she looked fatigued but content.
"With only ten to support us, it's not the most defensible place, but we can make it work," Zak told her.
"We will have more in time," Vierna promised him. "We still have enough gems to set ourselves on the path of growth."
"Once I am satisfied one of the fighters is able enough to defend in my absence, I will take up the offered contract at their school."
"Mother's manner of salves are unknown here, from all I can learn. That is another avenue of income." Vierna reached for his hands, and he gave them. "Thank you, for having faith in me."
"Nothing else to do when my own daughter proved she was not lost," he said quietly. "Will you be able to scry Drizzt now?"
Vierna sighed, shaking her head. "I had no luck, but then the prayers are still shrouded."
Zak frowned, but if the gods wanted to war on each other, he didn't care; he'd rather they left drow alone. "At least you being so high in favor, even with Him weakened, means you shouldn't be tested too soon."
"So I think, yes."
Vhaeraun sighed melodramatically as Eilistraee finally managed to pull the poisoned chelicerae out of His abdomen.
"You should have made it clear You wished aid long before now," Eilistraee scolded, putting the large pincers into the waiting darkflame to destroy them. "What happened?"
He considered how to answer as Her hands moved back to the wound, bringing healing and soothing the unending agony He had been inflicted with since the attack.
"One of the junior clerics My priestess had sent to learn in Her temple betrayed My priestess by thought. I managed to warn her, just before My realm was swarmed by Her abyssal spiders.
"I believe She'd already glimpsed My influence building." He grimaced with distaste for losing the first real foothold He'd made in that city.
"She will be on guard for reprisals," Eilistraee mused. "You must be careful, My Twin."
"When am I not, My dear Sister?" he asked in mocking tones, before lying back to let Her finish the healing He needed. She let Him rest, considering all of this, and how it might backlash upon Her own people.
"My priestess is safe, with her father, in one of the cities I hold more strongly," He said. "I chose well with her, even if this did not work the way I wished."
"Just don't go becoming enamored of her, Brother. My Nephew is enough trouble."
Vhaeraun laughed, bitterly, but nodded at the warning. He did enjoy such pleasures, but this priestess was too important, in His limited foresight, to risk that with.
Fannish 50 2026 #13: Ncuti Gatwa
Mar. 5th, 2026 08:27 amelaynaI thought Ncuti Gatwa was excellent in Sex Education, was pleased when he was cast as The Doctor, and was fabulous as him. (The stories were a little dicey, but he was good.)
He starred on the stage in The Importance of Being Earnest, which was recorded, and will be available on YouTube from March 12 to March 18. Next week! Starting Thursday! I've seen several pictures from the production, his outfits are dazzling and he looks like he's having a great time.
I'm not even sure if I've seen this play or not. I think I have, but only once several decades ago. I am determined to watch it and not find my reminder two days too late.
https://www.theatermania.com/news/the-importance-of-being-earnest-starring-ncuti-gatwa-will-stream-for-free-on-youtube_1824690/
Anyway, fyi for fans of Ncuti or good theater.
He starred on the stage in The Importance of Being Earnest, which was recorded, and will be available on YouTube from March 12 to March 18. Next week! Starting Thursday! I've seen several pictures from the production, his outfits are dazzling and he looks like he's having a great time.
I'm not even sure if I've seen this play or not. I think I have, but only once several decades ago. I am determined to watch it and not find my reminder two days too late.
https://www.theatermania.com/news/the-importance-of-being-earnest-starring-ncuti-gatwa-will-stream-for-free-on-youtube_1824690/
Anyway, fyi for fans of Ncuti or good theater.
well
Mar. 3rd, 2026 06:12 pmsenmutminoanmiss -- I'm still processing.May I suggest we remember her life as a artist, a creative force to be reckoned with, and one of the main reasons I personally re-evaluated my racism because of SO MANY insightful thoughts.
PSA
Mar. 3rd, 2026 09:16 amsenmutI am likely going to finish all current projects, and then my writing I share with the public will only be what I sign up for in charity drives and exchanges.
I just don't have enough energy to warrant putting the effort into sharing/promoting fic when it is a source of stress, given comment dearth and spammer content.
I will not be removing any of my archives. I'm just going to stop trying to engage with others.
I just don't have enough energy to warrant putting the effort into sharing/promoting fic when it is a source of stress, given comment dearth and spammer content.
I will not be removing any of my archives. I'm just going to stop trying to engage with others.
don't mind me grumping
Mar. 2nd, 2026 06:16 pmsenmutI really don't know why I bother uploading fic anymore.
I managed to get a 10k fic loaded between all of AO3's ups and downs. In the not quite 24 hours since, WITH MORE OUTAGES, I've had two comments which were BOTH ART SPAM.
Like. Fuck you spammers. Comments are the icing on the cake, but I swear to fuck getting one of you makes me want to never ever post fic again. Especially when that is the BULK OF THE COMMENTS I GET NOW.
I managed to get a 10k fic loaded between all of AO3's ups and downs. In the not quite 24 hours since, WITH MORE OUTAGES, I've had two comments which were BOTH ART SPAM.
Like. Fuck you spammers. Comments are the icing on the cake, but I swear to fuck getting one of you makes me want to never ever post fic again. Especially when that is the BULK OF THE COMMENTS I GET NOW.
Fannish 50 2026 #12: two mystery recs
Mar. 2nd, 2026 09:55 amelaynaI don't anticipate getting fannish about either of these shows, but I enjoyed both. They are similar, in that both are mysteries, with a complicated plot that lasts the entire 6-8 episode season, tying together seemingly disparate threads. Tonally so so different.
Dark Winds: I've only watched the first two seasons, taking a little break before seasons 3 and 4. Set on a reservation in the 1970s, Dark Winds focuses on the local police force, led by Joe Leaphorn, and his two deputies, Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee. The clothes, furnishings, etc. were amusing to revisit, as I'm old enough to remember those styles, and the Native American culture interesting. Overall very serious, both because of the hard life on the reservation and the personal trauma suffered by Leaphorn.
Currently on Netflix/AMC. I don't usually binge shows, but I do like coming late to this show so that I can watch an episode a day. I'd have trouble keeping everything straight if I had to wait a week between each episode. Dark Winds is based on a book series by Tony Hillerman. I haven't read any of them, so can't speak to the faithfulness to the source material.
Deadloch: I've only watched the first season, as the second doesn't stream until March 20. Set in Australia in current days, Deadloch also focuses on the local police force, led by the lesbian Dulcie Collins, whose partner is the local veterinarian. A man is found murdered on the local beach, and Collins clashes with the detective sent to investigate, another woman. So many women in this series, almost all of the main characters, it's just delightful. The mayor, the rich matriarch, one of the deputies, the two young native women who find the first body, etc. Also, the victims are all male, which is a pleasing change.
Deadloch has lots of humor, which I admit I struggled with a bit, especially from the visiting detective, whose personality is really broad and makes lots of extravagant complaints. I had to consciously accept that she was supposed to be funny, and then she was hysterical. Occasionally I was a little confused by the cultural differences and a few of the accents were difficult for me, but overall well worth the adjustment.
On Prime, though hopefully will circulate to other channels for those who don't have it.
Dark Winds: I've only watched the first two seasons, taking a little break before seasons 3 and 4. Set on a reservation in the 1970s, Dark Winds focuses on the local police force, led by Joe Leaphorn, and his two deputies, Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee. The clothes, furnishings, etc. were amusing to revisit, as I'm old enough to remember those styles, and the Native American culture interesting. Overall very serious, both because of the hard life on the reservation and the personal trauma suffered by Leaphorn.
Currently on Netflix/AMC. I don't usually binge shows, but I do like coming late to this show so that I can watch an episode a day. I'd have trouble keeping everything straight if I had to wait a week between each episode. Dark Winds is based on a book series by Tony Hillerman. I haven't read any of them, so can't speak to the faithfulness to the source material.
Deadloch: I've only watched the first season, as the second doesn't stream until March 20. Set in Australia in current days, Deadloch also focuses on the local police force, led by the lesbian Dulcie Collins, whose partner is the local veterinarian. A man is found murdered on the local beach, and Collins clashes with the detective sent to investigate, another woman. So many women in this series, almost all of the main characters, it's just delightful. The mayor, the rich matriarch, one of the deputies, the two young native women who find the first body, etc. Also, the victims are all male, which is a pleasing change.
Deadloch has lots of humor, which I admit I struggled with a bit, especially from the visiting detective, whose personality is really broad and makes lots of extravagant complaints. I had to consciously accept that she was supposed to be funny, and then she was hysterical. Occasionally I was a little confused by the cultural differences and a few of the accents were difficult for me, but overall well worth the adjustment.
On Prime, though hopefully will circulate to other channels for those who don't have it.
Projects and Bunnies
Feb. 28th, 2026 10:16 pmsenmut~ ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
10trueloves - 5/10 posted
~ Fulcrum and Rex time travel to before Anakin runs to Mace. - NEEDS CANON REVIEW
~ Sequel to Retrieval - 93 WORDS
~ Rachel and Joe meet with BOTH finally aware in Closing Up Shop
~ Drizzt's fallout/Vierna's reactions in the Divining Destiny universe
~ An Atin universe that is more like The Second Clone War or Mine, All of Them - 10 chapters, 1k each - READY TO POST
10trueloves - 5/10 postedRandom Plot Bunnies in Progress
~ Fulcrum and Rex time travel to before Anakin runs to Mace. - NEEDS CANON REVIEW
~ Sequel to Retrieval - 93 WORDS
Potential Bunnies Pending Further Bouncing
~ Rachel and Joe meet with BOTH finally aware in Closing Up Shop
~ Drizzt's fallout/Vierna's reactions in the Divining Destiny universe
Finished
~ An Atin universe that is more like The Second Clone War or Mine, All of Them - 10 chapters, 1k each - READY TO POST
It is TIME!
Mar. 1st, 2026 10:38 pmsenmutfth2026offerings is open for browsing!My first auction has:
Doctor Who: Classic Doctor Who (1963-1996)
New Doctor Who (2005-present)
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Wars: Original Trilogy / Prequel Trilogy / The Clone Wars, EU Legends / Rogue One
My second auction has:
Any fandom I've created for before
DC: Birds of Prey / Justice League / Justice League International / Teen Titans / Young Justice
Legend of Drizzt - R.A. Salvatore
Offering 5-10k words, minimum bid $5
Fannish 50 2026 #11: The X-Files
Feb. 25th, 2026 10:15 pmelaynaI watched The X-Files from the beginning, just on the basis that the trailer looked interesting, and enjoyed it very much the first 4-5 seasons. I was reasonably fannish, attending several conventions, but didn't get much into fanfic or interacting on whatever kind of internet forum it would have been then.
Seeing Chris Carter at a convention was one of the things that started burning me out. Because people were asking about the 'conspiracy' episodes and how they tied together, and looking at him, I thought: you don't have an overall plan and you're really entertained that fans are spending so much time believing you do and trying to figure it out.
I could have been completely maligning him, of course, but the more episodes that seemed to tie together but left viewers dangling, the more I burned out. I think I watched an episode of two after David Duchovny left but I didn't warm to the new characters and dropped it.
I watched the first season of the reboot and hated it, though I don't remember much now.
So I'm not looking for more X-Files but I've read that Ryan Coogler is producing the reboot, and okay. For him, I will give it a try. I thought Black Panther was an excellent movie and I trust that Coogler will have an interesting take. Supernatural stories can be fun.
Seeing Chris Carter at a convention was one of the things that started burning me out. Because people were asking about the 'conspiracy' episodes and how they tied together, and looking at him, I thought: you don't have an overall plan and you're really entertained that fans are spending so much time believing you do and trying to figure it out.
I could have been completely maligning him, of course, but the more episodes that seemed to tie together but left viewers dangling, the more I burned out. I think I watched an episode of two after David Duchovny left but I didn't warm to the new characters and dropped it.
I watched the first season of the reboot and hated it, though I don't remember much now.
So I'm not looking for more X-Files but I've read that Ryan Coogler is producing the reboot, and okay. For him, I will give it a try. I thought Black Panther was an excellent movie and I trust that Coogler will have an interesting take. Supernatural stories can be fun.
