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[astrabluestar]

Wards and Charms

Astra moved about the grove and the crystals lightly, dancing almost. She stopped here and there at different crystal formations to hang some of the warding charms she had painstakingly carved the nights before. As she stopped again she ran her thumb over the piece of wood in her hand. The crisp edges of the carving pressing into her skin slightly as she ran her thumb over the old rune for protection. She started to turn the piece of wood over in her hands, looking it over closely. The frost like pattern of the bark and the pale color of the wood. She traced a finger across the grain of the wood, the bends and twists of the lines telling the story of how the tree grew. She closed her eyes, remembering the stories of the tree. Of how it bloomed for new queens and new heirs. The stories of it being the heart of the city.

As she pressed the piece of wood between her hands she lowered her head. “Please...please let this work. Let this keep them safe” She sighs softly as she moves to hang it from the crystal before her. She stops to think of more memories to share with the crystals. Her father crouched over his desk, plans for ships scattered around him as he happily called out that he finally figured out what the flaw was in the design. Her sister skipping along the street and singing pretty off key but with such enthusiasm you just had to smile. She remembers her mother, hobbling around her little garden. A smile on her face as she just went through normal, everyday things. As she reached into the bag hanging from her belt she felt around and it slowly dawned on her that it was empty.

“That is it. First batch all set out.” She looks around, rubbing at the back of her head for a moment before just kicking her shoes off. She starts to walk around the grove. Under the trees and between the crystals. At first it started as humming. Soon after the words of a song began to drift from her lips.

“♪The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.♪” She begins to move around the grove again. Her eyes closed as she just listens to her voice and the sounds of the wood.

“♪Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea; Over snow by winter sown, And through the merry flowers of June, Over grass and over stone, And under mountains in the moon.♪” She began to run a finger across the crystals of the largest stand of them as she begins to sing louder.

“♪Roads go ever ever on Under cloud and under star, Yet feet that wandering have gone Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen And horror in the halls of stone Look at last on meadows green And trees and hills they long have known.♪” Astra’s steps bring her to a large tree in the grove and she finds herself sliding down its side to rest against it.

“♪The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, Let others follow it who can! Let them a journey new begin, But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.♪” Astra let her head lean back to lie against the tree. The comforting, warm feeling of the grove chasing away the shadows and nightmares that had been plaguing her and pushing her to work rather than take the time to rest and relax. A moment later and she was snoring softly, her chest rising and falling slowly. And the first hints of crystal began to grow into the carvings of her charms.

((little bit of story for the plot with @the-faceless-ffxiv and @neheon-kha ))

((And the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B6dsfGazyI ))

[astrabluestar]

Finding the right cards

((This would be happening shortly after Astra and Company retrieved the mirror from the Invisible City.))

The sounds and scents of the ocean filled the air around Astra as she strode up to the door to a house in Shirogane. The home’s windows were dark and it seemed quiet and empty. The door had a sign nailed to it with Hingan script on the top and Eorzean at the bottom. The notice was warning that the building was now condemned due to extreme damage. With a frown and a sigh Astra walked up to the door and gave it a push. It opened in about a half fulm before stopping. The hyuran woman put her shoulder up against it and pushed as hard as she could. From the other side was the sound of a scrape and something crunching before the door opened another fulm and stopped again.

Taking a deep breath Astra managed to squeeze through the opening and into the building. The outside had been pristine. Well cared for and clean. The inside of the house though was a scene of devastation. Holes were torn into the ceiling and floor. The walls torn up. Furniture crushed to pieces and tossed about. She made her way around the outside of the room, avoiding a rather large hole near the door to the stairs. Suddenly a loud crack echoed through the room though as the boards beneath her feet snapped off and fell. She dropped with a shriek and ended up bouncing off of some sort of shattered machine on the floor below. She slammed into the ground and rolled onto her back with a soft groan before taking a breath and checking herself for any real injuries.

She sat up with a groan after patting herself down. She pushed herself up to her face. “Gods damn it….alright….floor is broken.” She looks around a bit and rubs her hip where she slammed into the strange machine. The rest of the room was filled with the remains of broken machines and other magitek devices. Towards the back though was a divided off space. She weaved between broken machines and the remains of the floor above.

Brushing aside the hanging cloth and coming into the back of the room she looks around at a  much different space. Torn hangings of colored cloth and the remains of paintings and other art were scattered around. As she began to walk around she glanced down next to a broken table and saw the edge of something poking out. She bends down and shifts the table aside and finds several tarot cards sitting in a scattered pile. After picking the first one up and looking it over closely a small smile spreads across her face and she begins turning over scattered furniture and broken furnishings.

A bell later found Astra panting for breath, covered in dust and sweat from moving everything around two or three times during her hunt. One hand was covered in blue paint from the not so intact pot of it she had found the hard way. She smiles as she picks up the last card of the deck and turns it over a few times. Carefully packing them up and wrapping them in a spare bandage she turns to head out of the house. “I hope I did not just trap myself in here…”

[astrabluestar]

Twelve Prayers. #6 Thaliak, The Scholar

Astra’s boots tapped out a soft march as she walked across the crystalized ground. The tree ahead shown brightly against the post dusk sky. The branches of the crystal tree sparking now and then as a wisp passed beside it. She stopped before the large stone and let her eyes gaze across the etching of Thaliak’s scroll. Bowing her head slightly and bringing a hand to her chin she let her mind turn over what she meant to say before finally speaking.

“Thaliak. Thank you for the gift of knowledge and wisdom. Of old tales and new ideas. I hope that I have acted wisely in these last suns. With knowledge we may find our way through these troubled times. With wisdom we will know how to best use what we learn.”

With a soft sigh Astra looked over the tree and beyond it to Silvertear Lake. A slight smile finds its way to her lips as she turns and starts to head back down the path towards Revenent’s Toll.

[astrabluestar]

Twelve Prayers. #5 Oschon, the Wanderer

The sound of crickets and peep frogs filled the air as Astra climbed to the top of the stone steps. She’d passed this place many times. The old ruins on the shore of Bronze Lake. Finally though her curiosity about the odd glow at the top had gotten the better of her and she went to see what it was. Finally getting to the top she looked down into the shallow pool of water to see the symbol of Oschon at the bottom. As she moved to sit on a fallen stone she glanced around at the lake and the old ruin of the palace.

“Oschon. Thank you for watching over me as I walked the hills and trails of this world. Thank you for being with me when the path was lonely. Thank you for warning me when the way ahead was dangerous. I will treasure the places I have seen in my travels. I will do all I can to help others who I meet along the paths of my life. Though I may wander, I am not lost. Thank you.”

[astrabluestar]

12 Prayers. #4 Nophica. The Matron

As Astra walked towards the entrance to the Stillglade Fane her eyes lift to the large stone sitting atop the old tree stump. She paused as she looked over the symbol of Nophica carved into its surface. Her footsteps slowed as she found herself just thinking. The sounds of birds and other small animals in the woods around her seemed to come out more clearly as she stood there. She bowed her head after a moment and softly began to speak to herself.

“Nophica. I thank you for the bounty you bring. I ask that you continue to bless those that work to provide for all of us. Let their fields grow tall. Let their animals flourish. I thank you for the life and beauty you have allowed to grow in in our world. I will do everything I can to help safeguard it. Thank you.”

((kinda got a bit hectic lately so gonna try and do 3 prayers today))

[zenpencils]

KEVIN SMITH: It costs nothing to encourage an artist

[lil-perverted-princess-deactiva]

IMPORTANT

[jaxblade]

great message

[writing-in-the-grave]

Writers need to encourage artists, and visa versa. Our passions are linked.

[astrabluestar]

Twelve Prayers. #3 Nymeia, The Spinner

The sound of the wind and the surf filled Astra’s ears as she moved down the winding seaside trail. The smell of saltwater was in the air. She moved slowly down the trail, her eyes drawn to the glittering waves spreading off into the distance. As she came to the small plateau she spotted her destination. The large stone jutted up from the ground, moss and lichen growing across its surface. She came close and sat down, her eyes roaming over the stone and finally settling on the symbol carved there.

“Nymeia. I thank you for the fate you have spun for me. Thank you for all the people who’s threads have woven together with mine to for this lovely picture. I hope that mine lends strength to others as they see their own fates unfold before them. I will keep walking this path set before me with thanks in my heart at the joys. I will take strength at the knowledge that I am meant for something and I will see it through. Thank you.”

[astrabluestar]

Twelve Prayers. #2 Nald’thal, The Trader

The shrine was a quiet, solemn place. Not the large church in the heart of Ul’dah. It was a cave off the side of the road near Highbridge. Aside from the old priest in the house outside Astra hadn’t seen a single person. Her boot steps echoed in the high roofed chamber. Gazing around she noted the small lanterns and oil lights spread around the pool of water bordering the chamber. Finally she found herself before the statue of Thal. Her eyes travel the height of the statue before settling on his hooded face. She dropped to a knee and looked at the ground then. At first the words wouldn’t come. Slowly though she began to whisper.

“Nald’thal...the twins that look over us in life and death. I thank you for the opportunities that have crossed my path. I thank you for the wealth I have attained both in this world and for the next. May my deeds in life bring me to the table with those of my blood that have gone before. Please wa...” She stopped to reach up and rub her eyes and take a deep breath. “Please watch over those that I love that have passed before me. Tell them not to worry. When it is my time I will have many stories to share with them.”

[astrabluestar]

Twelve Prayers. #1 Halone, The Fury

Astra’s gaze traveled around the cold, frozen cave. All around here crystal and ice caught the light of the sun so far behind her at the entrance to the cave. It reflected off every facet and divot in the walls, from the tips of the spikes hanging from the ceiling and growing up towards the roof. Eventually her eyes stopped roaming and fixed on the stone at the center. The three spear symbol of Halone carved into the rock.

A tap on the hilt of her sword and she closed her eyes. Her words are spoken softly as befits this quiet place. “Halone, Lady of battles and war. I thank you for the strength in my arms and the courage in my heart. I thank you for your favor in my battles thus far. My heart will sing your song as I protect those nearest to me. I will honor you in song and deed with each battle. And if I should fall...let me come to rest amongst those honored and revered souls that dwell in your halls forever more.”

((Just the first bit of a writing challenge I’ve set for myself. A prayer a day until I have gotten through all twelve gods))

[astrabluestar]

Frustration and Resolution

The crash of wood on wood echoed through the small training hall. Off to the side Astra stood before one of the more complex training dummies, a wooden practice sword in her hands. The dummy in front of her stood freely on a pivot and had several longer wooden dowls protruding from it to simulate blades. Every hit rang out in the small stone room. Each blow caused the whole contraption to spin faster, to hit harder. Astra was down to a small shirt and her pants and boots, sweat dripping down her back as she’d been at this for a few bells now. Each strike was accompanied by a sound. A grunt, a soft hiss. More often then not a loud yell as she tried to work out all her stress and anger on this unfeeling pile of wood.

"End me. If I come for those I love without me behind my eyes... you do not hesitate to defend them, for I'll already be lost."

Those words, playing over in her mind again and again. One of the worst fears she had for everything that was happening. A loud scream of frustration tore itself from her as she brought the wooden sword in her hands down on the dummy. With a loud crack the blade went spinning away, the handle a useless stub in her hands. She moved to sweep the blade around for her next parry. The blows coming so close together at this point that she barely had time to realize her problem before the arm on the dummy slammed into her side and threw her to the ground gasping for air that was no longer in her lungs.

 Eventually she ceased gasping for breath and just lay there. Eyes on the slowly stilling training implement. With a grimace she began to softly run fingers over the forming bruise, sighing with relief when it appears nothing was broken. She let out a groan as she pushes herself up onto her knees and sits there looking up at the dummy with a scowl. With a shake of her head she let her mind wander through the events of the last few suns.

She could remember Haname, her face and eyes easily showing her fear and panic after her friend Pheli had been taken. “How are you so calm?”  She’d nearly laughed when asked that. Calm....if they knew how twisted around and nervous she was over this would they have trusted her to lead them in the search? With a frustrated snarl the blonde woman punched the floor in front of her and then shook her hand out a little.

“Come on girl. Back on your feet.” She could almost hear Auda at her shoulder, the old memory surprising her. “Only one you should be on a knee for is the Queen or the Princess. So back on your feet and try again”  With a grimace Astra pushed herself back to her feet, a hand pressed to her side as she straightened out. She closed her eyes and tried to just hold onto the memory. Recalling the sound and smell of the ocean crashing into the cliff nearby. The smell of wood smoke as Auda’s friend Runa tended a fire nearby.  The cold bite of the wind and it blew fresh fallen snow around beneath a clear sky. The sting from where she had missed one of the parries in the form she was learning that day. A small, almost sad smile crossing her face as she remembered her hair being in messy pigtails because she let her sister put it like that before leaving for her lesson that morning.

With a shuddering breath she repeated her words from that day, almost fifteen years ago. “I can not do this Auda.” She began walking to the side of the room, towards the racks of practice swords. As she lifted another wooden blade from its place she remembered her dear teacher’s response. “You can do this Astra. You wouldn’t be here if you couldn’t handle it. Trust in yourself and in the fate thats before you. Don’t ever back down from a challenge. Its just one more thing to prepare you for the next.”

Her steps were slow and measured as she walked back towards the dummy. Her side stung a little still but that was just a reminder of her mistake and not to do it again. Soon she was swinging at the dummy again. This time calm, measured swings replacing her frantic and frenzied pace. She slowly began to build up her speed and force. Playing over the lessons and forms Auda had taught her.

Her thoughts turn to the whispered voice that started all of this “I do not know if you can still hear us. But I promise you this. We will find you. We will drag you out of the pit you are hiding in. And then you will pay for all the pain you have caused.”

(( @the-faceless-ffxiv  @synne-tove ))

[astrabluestar]

Down time sucks

The worst part wasn’t how her stomach felt like it was balled into a knot and then kicked around the room with every movement. It wasn’t the fever which made her wonder if her brain was starting to boil. It wasn’t the black spots that had slowly grown in her vision or the sounds of whispering in her ears. The loud, blood chilling screams were a close second. The worst part of her being sick though was being idle. She lay in the bed in the quarantine room, an arm draped across her eyes and her other hand pressed to her stomach.

She could hear people talking in the pearl. Had even made an attempt at a joke herself. In the room beds were starting to open up. Thank gods because of the cure and not the other reason. Astra shifts upon hers, looking down at the floor for a moment before squeezing her eyes shut. 

The words that tumble from her are quiet, barely over a whisper. “It is not there. It is not real. Gods it is not real.” She rolled onto her back, trying desperately to ignore the screams she had been hearing since the night before last. They had drawn steadily closer. Each one clearer then the last.

She began to shiver and pulled the blankets up tightly around her. A soft noise at the door caused her to open her eyes again and roll to get take a look. Her breath catches and she swears her heart stopped for the briefest of moments. Over by the door was a figure. All the colors were muted down to greys and whites. It was a woman. Her clothing...her armor was tattered and broken. Her long hair blew around her in a non existent wind. The ghost starts to drift towards Astra, the muffled, mumbled sounds of a sob filled song beginning to echo in her ears. The apparition comes up beside her and like a child in a nightmare Astra pulls the blankets up in an attempt to cover herself up. Her eyes wide and staring at the figure as her mouth works to make sound. A yell....a scream...anything!

The ghostly woman reaches down. Astra feels a shock of cold as it touches her. It sinks into her, grasping for her heart and all the woman can do is shudder and cry out weakly. A squeeze, a feeling like her heart is being crushed. Like her lungs are being squeezed empty. Her eyes stayed wide, the dots flashing in her vision and beginning to fill her sight. She finally heard the scream. The loud, terror filled noise filling her ears in the moment before everything went black.

((thanks for the lovely gift @the-faceless-ffxiv ))

[astrabluestar]

In dreams

The hour was late, most sensible people had buggered off to sleep by now. Outside her apartment the only ones awake were guards, the people trying to do anything possible to avoid the guards, and a few crazy adventurers who tended to be night owls.

Astra though was sitting on the edge of her bed. The bottle of sleeping potion so thoughtfully provided by Neheon in her hands. With a sigh she set it aside and turned to the nightstand next to her bed. Across it was various pieces of paper and a quill set next to an ink pot.

“Gods...why did I think this was a good idea.” Astra just let herself fall back into the bed and lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment. With a growl she rolled onto her side and watched her pet puk amble around the room for a while. The little scalekin stopping to chitter at her. “I will feed you in the morning. You still have to loose some weight.” Eventually she finds herself on her stomach, looking at the wall of her little room. The sound of the puk, the wind outside her windows sounded strangely loud as she felt her eyes drifting closed. A half murmured complaint the last thing she hears as her eyes close and sleep takes her.

Of course, with recent events its not pleasant sleep. She tosses and turns, mumbles and whimpers. The whispers surround her. Punctuated by the sounds of mad, broken laughter and the sound of someone crying.

“ We have seen what keeps you up at night - We know their faces well.“

The whispers creep through her mind, twisting into her dreams. Memories swimming into view as she tosses in her bed, tears slipping down her face as she sees her sister.

The girl, she was only thirteen, pushing her pendant into Astra’s hands as the boom of a cannon sounds off in the distance. The broken buildings and streets of her home around her. The smell of sea air and smoke mixing together. “Take it Astra. You gotta come back and give it back to me. Promise me.” Astra stares at the silver feather in her hand and then up at her sister. “I promise. I’ll see you soon.” As her sister turns to go down the street the image begins to fade. It was a promise she was never able to keep.

Her dreams turn towards tear filled goodbyes. Her teacher, almost a second mother, lying on her back in a boat that was nearly foundering. Her stomach a mess of blood where a garlean bullet had torn through plate and mail. The woman had a hand on the back of Astra’s head to hold her close as her life drained from her. Her voice, one that could clearly carry above a battle or a barroom brawl, barely a whisper now. “Remember what I taught you. Remember all of us. You have to  carry our story ahead now.” The light faded from her eyes and her hand dropped to the deck of the boat and the waves finally calmed. Open ocean where once was an island.

“We wonder if you are disgusted by the underlying thrill it delivers or if you embrace it gladly.”

The glow of fire and and the smell of copper and smoke fill her dreams. She is among soldiers, running down a street. Ahead is another block of soldiers. The group leveling spears at her and the others behind her. With a thrilled shout she is among them. Her shield deflecting a spear up high. Everything seems to move so slowly. Her lunge forwards, her sword finding the man in front of her. Details stand out that she never noticed before. How young the man was. How ill-fit his armor was. The awkward grasp on his weapon. She felt the splash of blood as her thrust found his heart. The bright red standing out strikingly against her pale skin. With another cheer her and those around her rushed forwards again, the poorly trained militia left behind them. “Would you come nearer Us if We told you We would spare them?” Images of her friends pass by her. The group of them all gathered around a roaring fire. The sea behind them and the stars reflecting off the waves. The sounds of laughter and good cheer all around her. Sure, they may die the next day but in this moment they were all happy. Comrades and a family. In the next moment the beach was empty, the fire cold. The thought of them all gone making Astra’s blood go cold as tears pour down her cheeks. The laughter returned. Broken and disjointed, like an echo coming back from far too deep below. The sound of someone sobbing filling the breaks in the laughter. Softly, beneath it all, the scattered notes of a song played in the back of her mind. She came to on her knees beside the bed. The last scratches of her quill on paper echoing in the room before she felt something scaley bump into a bare leg. She blinked and groaned as her eyes burned as if she’d been crying for bells. Her mouth tasted of copper. She felt another bump and then a soft chittering noise. Looking down at her puk as he headbutted into her again. “Mmm....in a moment Alduin. I will feed you in a moment.” She stood up and looked down at her nightstand. At the random scroll of words in Eorzean and Ilithi that covered the formally blank page. ‘Laughing, always. Crying, shes crying. Goodbye Auda. That boy...gods.’ And a collection of dots and dashes....playing out in rythem. With a shake of her head Astra stands and starts to head towards the front room of the apartment. “I’ll have to show this to Enambris.” She groans a little as her tired body stumbles through the dividing door. She looks around and starts to get ready for another day. Her voice humming the broken notes of a song.

[astrabluestar]

What a patchwork heart you have, stitched together so loosely. We have seen what keeps you up at night - We know their faces well. We wonder if you are disgusted by the underlying thrill it delivers or if you embrace it gladly. Would you come nearer Us if We told you We would spare them? If we promised sweeter dreams? Come closer, little lamb. Let Us see what can be done.

The blonde hyur was sitting in her tent. Outside the sun was setting over the hills of Dravania, the wind howling between the craggy peaks. Inside though she was relaxing after another day of searching. She lay on the small cot wrapped in blankets with a book in her hands just humming idly. The occasional sung word passing her lips as her as dark blue eyes trail along the pages in front of her.

“What a patchwork heart you have, stitched together so loosely.” The whisper was sudden, unexpected in the empty tent. The soft voice causing her to jump and drop her book. She looks around warily as her hand finds its way to the sword propped up against her bed. “Who is there?”

“We have seen what keeps you up at night - We know their faces well. We wonder if you are disgusted by the underlying thrill it delivers or if you embrace it gladly. “

The hiss of Astra’s blade leaving its scabbard accomponied her throwing her blankets aside and standing. “Who is there? What are you talking about?” She looks around the small tent, slowly circling the cramped area.

“Would you come nearer Us if We told you We would spare them? If we promised sweeter dreams? Come closer, little lamb. Let Us see what can be done.”

An angry snarl leaves her throat. “I do not know who you are but you will cease this at once. Begone from this place.” She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will the whispers to stop. A heartbeat passes, then a moment. After another her eyes open and she looks around. Everything is quiet. Everything is where she left it. She lets out a shuddering breath and lets her sword’s tip rest on the ground. “What in the hells was that...”

[astrabluestar]

Here we go?

Here we go, trying to make a start of this