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- You did call him Qiongqi to his face, Your Highness," said Pong. - Now prepare to face the wrath of Bai Hu," finished Pang. - What is the worst he can do? Drown me in senseless bureaucracy?"

Calaf hoped his retort would be enough to shut his former ministers down. But deep down, a worm of fear had already awoken. Whatever the Three Excellencies were, normal human beings they were not. And Calaf's former Grand Chancellor had apparently returned from the dead - angry and vengeful. Calaf's hand found his sword. Its weight, unfortunately, was not enough to reassure him.

White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ) embodies attributes of strength, courage, and protection. Legend has it that the White Tiger guards the western quadrant of the universe, serving as a symbol of authority and defense. Qiongqi (窮奇; Qióngqí; 'distressingly strange', 'thoroughly odd') one of The Four Perils from chinese mythology, winged tiger covered in spikes. Often portrayed as a creature that instigates wars and enjoys the suffering of humans. Long story short, remove the human side of Ping and you get the worst creature imaginable to deal with.

Turandot's Handmaidens. Technically, it a companion piece to this one: https://www.tumblr.com/naihaan/789157179964948480/so-continuing-with-my-weird-changes-of Three of my OC's in the same picture: Fun-loving but rather young Jinhua (Golden Flower) Mature and experienced Meifeng (Plum Fragrance) And Xiaoli (Morning Jasmine) He was looking unwaveringly at the stone tiles lining the floors of the summer baths. Yet his hearing was more than enough to paint a vivid picture nonetheless. The Celestial Maiden's Handmaidens were frivolously enjoying themselves in the water, her double was dancing in twisting pirouettes, and the princess herself was tapping her bare foot in annoyance.

One unguarded glance could send the Princess into a fit of rage. So, the Chancellor kept his eyes glued to the floor. - What's with the uniform?

" Court etiquette demands that I wear it at all times."

His annoyance was firmly kept to his thoughts alone. Outwardly, he bowed even deeper. - I beg your forgiveness, O great Daughter of Heaven.

Simple apologies were never enough—he had learned that well. The Cruel One's favorite whip had been a great teacher in such matters. So his cap and jacket fell to the floor, and his tight braid loosened into its true shape of a lion's mane. Half-naked, Ping wondered if this order was a sign that the Princess required the service of an evil spirit, not a mere official. Or perhaps it was simply habitual human cruelty. Nudity was considered a mark of a slave, and the Three Excellencies were her slaves.

The Handmaidens were giggling, sighing, almost inaudibly whispering among themselves. He could feel their interested glances almost physically.

"Cruelty it is, then."

Some people would buy their servants' loyalty with money or gifts. The Princess preferred to amuse her handmaidens with displays like this. And naked or half-naked eunuchs, round and feminine, had probably become a rather boring sight. What fun was there in commanding them to undress, when the Cruel One could just as easily give the same order to the Grand Chancellor?

Aribeth de Tylmarande and Fenthic Moss I happen to actually like them as a couple. I love the way Fenthic with his timid nerdy boy image NEVER fails to jump at her defence. And i refuse to believe that Aribeth never loved him.

Keegan and sir Nevalle Well, here's a couple that doesn't exist in game, but i wish it did. My head canon, Nevalle's whole "servant to his lord, father to his soldiers" image is a facade for his actual character. And true Nevalle is a power behind the throne that keeps lord Nasher in charge. He is loyal to Neverwinter, sure, he' just isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, when it is necessary. And then, Keegan comes into picture, unapologethicaly refuses to see the illusion of a knight in shining armor and goes straight after the dark concillor underneath.

Artessia 'Tess' Virr of Clan Lok and Theron Shan I refuse to elaborate, just go and witness the marvel of a Bounty Hunter/Theron romance in SWTOR yourself. No, i don't care that you need to play the whole Class storyline before RoR just to get there. It's great too, you know.

Dame Evelyn Graham and Javen Tarmikos Another couple that doesn't exist in game and the only time i actually would have liked 'Enemies to lovers' trope. Infuriatingly stubborn Inquisitor slooowly realising that no, this woman isn't a demon worshipper or a succubus sent to test his patience, then even more sloooooowly realising that the rest of her adventuring group probably aren't under a sway of the Abyss as well. All the while, Evelyn is internally going through all stages of grief, because she somehow managed to understand his reasonings for destroying her guild. AND IT MAKES SENCE! Cue a slowburn of two people coming to a realisation that they're actually not that different and in another circumstances might have been... A year later after game events, they do come to a conclusion that they don't need different circumstances to make it work.

Xiaoli and Ping Office Romance between the secretary of the princess and the Grand chancellor of the state. Nevermind, that one of them isn't even human. And his main point of reference for 'what romance even is' is, well, mass execution of the princess' suitors through a complicated process of asking them riddles then beheading them for one wrong answer. And last but not least:

If there is one thing that continues to be a thing for my every MC in NWN and NWN2, it's they're always an evil warrior of some kind that worship Bane. Which becomes less strange once one realises that banites need people alive for corruption and tyranny to work. So, here's my Hero of Neverwinter and the Knight-Captain of the Crossroads Keep.

Ygrael ael Aytar. Half-celestial (like Kaelyn from MotB or Dame Aylin from BG3 ) born on Lunia the Silver Heaven of Mount Celestia. Formerly a paladin of Helm, now Bane's blackguard and enforcer. He was sent to Neverwinter to establish a proper shrine to Dark Lord and sink the Jewel of the North into the depth of corruption by converting prominent leaders of the city. Lady Aribeth seemed like the most promising candidate to start with. Then, perhaps, someone from the Nine. But the Waling Death happened, changing everything. So Ygrael adopted identity of Lyriel, paladin of Helm, and saved Neverwinter multiple times, all the while trying to do his best to turn Aribeth into a banite. In that he failed, because Morag got to her first. And Bane does not like failures. So, the last stretch of the Siege of Neverwinter was rage-filled curb stomp battle of him against entire Morag's forces and anyone who was stupid enough to stand in his way. The worst of it was a fight with Aribeth. Yeah, TWO fallen paladins/blackguards who feel like a complete failure, both ending with a bad case of Villainous Breakdown in front of each other. Forget the love story, have you ever bawled your eyes out because of complete and utter anguish on each other's shoulders? Of course, Ygrael eventually dragged dark!Aribeth from the Nine Hells back to the world of living, kicking Valsharess' and Mephistopheles' asses in the process. Bane's reaction (complete with a cup of coffee in his black hand and fur slippers on his armored boots)? "Errr... Whatever. Dissmised."