monster @enduredmagics - Tumblr Blog

CORDELIA ASPAREL -- intro / EVALDI SUBEDI -- intro / NAERYA LENRALIS -- intro /

#tw death #tw murder #nornsintro #biography; evaldi #biography; cordelia #biography; naerya

WHO: @vengncfm (Leila) WHERE: kvalheim infirmary

Wings carried her easily through the foreign land. A scene that felt all too familiar; the reminder of a life she did not wish to relive. Naerya had been hunted for longer than she'd cared to admit -- not that she ever would. It was second nature to leave behind the threads of a former identity, to let the people she'd known rot in whatever graves they'd dug for themselves. Especially those that dared to trifle with anyone she cared for.

She'd spent her days at Queen of the Night and most of her evenings there as well. Save for the precious hours before dawn. Those were reserved for Leila and Leila alone -- not that the woman was ever supposed to know. Big mouth. Now, she knew, there would be no more secret visits, no more whispered words of love and affection that could not truly be heard or understood. No. Now she'd have to face the woman she'd been too afraid to see.

"Move," the word was far from a friendly suggestion as she moved through the entrance of the tent. She'd barely landed from her owl form, talons giving way to immaculately maintained boots. Whether the person standing guard was from Cordelia, Leila, or the panicked medics she did not care. She gave them a moment to process before she called on the wind, forcing the other from their feet and swiftly to their ass. "Do not return until you see me leave." She did not give them a second glance, nor did she particularly care to see if they were injured.

"A fool am I?" If Leila had wanted to get a word in, she would have to wait her damned turn. "I am the fool? You are the one that moved from medic to medic, on the brink of death for days. You and your precious lodge act too brashly, too stupidly, and you do not stop to think. To think about the repercussions. To think about what would happen to the rest of us without you. What would happen to me without you!" Naerya would not deny she was brash, not deny there was faults to her own loyalty, but where Leila was concerned... well.. Lodge be damned. Leila was all she cared for. "Do not call me a fool for rightly placed anger. Do not call me a fool for watching over you while you healed. For ensuring those that would dare bring you harm meet the ends they deserve. I love you, damn it, and I will not live another day of this forsaken life without you, Leila Solak. You do not get to leave me behind."

#starters; naerya lenralis #; naerya lenralis #naerya & leila. 001

sanguineos

The wilderness was a friend to Ludvid. There were no constraints on him, societally or otherwise, to behave in a certain way or to keep the intensity that seared within him from bubbling over. If he were to shift, he was safe to do so in the wilderness. Though it had been some time since he had needed to banish himself to the wilds until he had gained control again, sometimes the stillness of the night and crisp air was enough to bring him a little glimpse of peace.

But that night was fated to be far from peaceful. The earth felt like it was thrumming under his feet and a scream tore through the trees as if it had erupted from the core of the Continent itself. Were Ludvid anyone else he may have ran away, but his feet carried him swiftly instead towards the noise and its source. While he was not a being of Chaos himself, he knew the shriek of someone at their very wit's end all too well. Not to mention that the immense power of the Chaos that followed was nothing like he had seen before; the way the ground quaked and split, shifting below him as if it would swallow him whole. He would be a fool not to investigate, even if threat lay therein it.

At the centre of the damage done there was a woman who, due to her ragged appearance, Ludo would have assumed was helpless if it wasn't for the raw power she had just exhibited. He stood atop one of the now jagged rocks and looked down to her with a fierce curiosity. Just who was this woman? And what in the Continent was she doing? "Are you injured?" Ludvid called down to her as he crouched to offer her a hand to pull her up from the carnage. "I am not here to harm you, you have my word."

enduredmagics

Are you injured?

The voice was jarring, pulling her from her stupor. There was such a hope that it would've been some creature set on tearing her apart she hadn't considered it might be someone intent on helping. They still might, she thought to herself as she turned to the voice declaring they'd meant no harm. Too many people had offered kindness and turned their backs, spewing the rhetoric of the Fire. "I suffer from many an ailment" she answered after a moment. A cautious hand lifted, landing gently against the one offered. "None that can be seen from the outside."

Although, she looked around at the damage to the ground. Perhaps that was a lie.

The wind stung against her cheeks, tears she hadn't known she'd shed biting into the soft skin they'd all but frozen to, but she did her best to pretend they weren't there as she used this strangers assistance to pull herself up.

"Thank you," everything became apparent all at once. This stranger was standing in the aftermath of her magic. Magic that had gotten too many of her sisters killed. There was little to be denied as she surveyed the scene before glancing back at the man. "Would you believe I tripped?"

#; cordelia asparel #convo; cordelia #cordelia & ludvid. 001

vengncfm-deactivated20240512

a nicer person would've refused cordelia, because they would probably be selfless, making sure that their fearless leader kept her strength for a future fight but leila wasn't that type of person; she was selfish and her image was important to her. "i do, i don't wish to look like longer than i need to." she only needed to be strong enough to use magic again, then she could appear perfect via illusion.

meeting with the clans, that peeked her interest. they weren't royalty and their power were limited to skellige but maybe, with the right cards— bloody hell. they needed a plan, not a fantasy. "bury them here? this isn't their—" she sighed heavily, their room was probably ransacked. she remembered sigrid, she was buried in the sea by her brother; because going to belhaven wasn't a possibility. "what dignity do we have left, darling? to be buried in a strange land?"

leila froze and then slowly turned to look at cordelia. "then the owl is a fool." she raised her voice just enough to hope that naerya could hear her. leila sighed, not knowing if she was happy or distressed that naerya saw her like this. "she isn't going to be the death of you, darling, our numbers are low as it is." she was tired, truth to be told and missed the old and easy days of stature and fame. running and hiding was exhausting. "im tired, cordelia, we need to put an end to this."

enduredmagics

Cordelia held back a sigh, knowing the answer Leila would give before she could even finish the question. Without wasting another breath, she led Leila to the nearest cot and all but shoved the woman to sit. "Bury them here, at sea... I do not know but certainly not in Novigrad. That place would tarnish their deaths as well as their lives," she spoke softly, pushing the hair from Leila's face.

Healing was second nature to the sorceress, the one thing that made her feel at peace in their former home. She yearned for her hospital, for the patients she'd doubted survived the nights in the mages departures. Her attention focused the injuries the other believed marred their face. It was silly, to Cordelia, that Leila would even begin to doubt her beauty but she would not let the woman suffer more than she already had. She'd barely spoken the command, words in a language many would not understand, when a cold breeze shot up her spine, strong enough to lift the hair from her shoulders for a few seconds.

A warning.

She did not have to turn to know just who the warning was from, despite not having seen the owl on her approach. And though she was always cautious when it came to healing, Cordelia took her time. Each scar, a memory that would remain only within Leila, erased. "What is the end, Leila? I'm open to suggestions."

#; cordelia asparel #convo; cordelia #cordelia & leila. 001

vengncfm-deactivated20240512

"do not lie to me, cordelia. it's unbecoming of you." leila moved her head away from her face and tried to organize her hair and face the best she could. she tried ever so slightly to use her magic but it's just wasn't there, she was too weak to do anything. "not fast enough but it's alright, the people here are quite nice."

leila looked around, making sure that nobody else was near them. "i know it's too soon to ask you this but do we have a plan? i do not wish to stay here, darling, it's freezing. i'm not built for the cold!" leila hissed, they had no other choice, yes, but leila would've picked a place with a little more sun.

"also," leila cleared her throat, sitting up a bit. it was awkward to ask cordelia about naerya but at this point she didn't have a choice and if anybody would want to know the status of mages— lodge members or not, it would be her wonderful leader. "you haven't by any chance seen an owl around, have you, darling?" because if naerya isn't going to show her face soon, leila will have a few choice words to say on the matter.

enduredmagics

"Leila, you could walk around headless and still be the most beautiful of us all," Cordelia said, closing the distance between them. She lifted her hand, gently brushing the back of her fingers over Leila's cheek. It wasn't a magic Cordelia was used to -- her healing had been by natural means while in Novigrad -- but she let a small fraction of her power loose. A faint blush appeared on the other's face, as if she'd perfectly rouged them herself. "But I could try my hand at healing once more if you so wished."

Though, if Naerya didn't stop haunting this damned tent she might well be the only choice left. "Our feet have barely landed on this frigid soil, so no I do not have a plan yet. I will meet with the clans as soon as they are able and will see that our lost are put to rest properly." They had bodies for some but not all of them had made it free from the city, so it would be more spiritually than physically. And there would be no flames. No fires, she'd told the lovely woman who'd come to check on Cordelia, only to find the sorceress half-frozen in her fear of the flickering.

Arms folding across her chest, she couldn't help but chuckle at the question. As if it was answer enough she dropped her gaze to the floor, an unnatural amount of feathers having collected near Leila's bed. None of the healer's had dared remove them. "I'm afraid the owl will not be seen in my presence. It was quite... hostile the last time we interacted," she said after a moment, lifting her gaze to meet Leila's. "She does not wander far, Leila. And while her loyalty is something to admire, she may well be the death of me," a pause followed her words, sadness moving across her features. "I fear she, rightfully, blames me for what happened."

#; cordelia asparel #convo; cordelia #cordelia & leila. 001

caldrithens

location: warrior's hall tavern

open to: anyone

time: late night/early morning

it had been an hour or two since the last customer stumbled out of warrior's hall, singing a drunken tale about lands far far away. davina was eager to go home, her eyes nearly closing on their own. she busied herself with cleaning tables and mopping up spilled ale and nuts. however, there was a sound behind her that frightened her. she remained calm for a moment, before grabbing a nearby pitcher and holding it up above her head, ready to attack whoever it was. once she realized the person posed no outright harm, she calmed but kept the pot up. "it's after hours. we're closed. state your business."

enduredmagics

Eva had been to Skellige a few times, though she'd rarely stayed for long. Contracts here were almost too easy, the creatures that lurked around each and every tree took the thrill and novelty right out of it. Not to mention, her speciality was people. However, once those mages started fleeing Novigrad, there was no way in Hells she would've missed any of this. Information seemed to flow easily and freely, amateurs and fearful people so blissfully unaware of the spies that lurked in every corner. Not including herself, she'd counted at least five.

It was why the witcher lingered in the tavern, moving easily within the flickering shadows and avoiding notice. Had she half a mind to, she could've picked every pocket clean but that hardly seemed worth it. By the time the last patron had left, she dropped from a carefully chosen perch only to come face to face with a woman wielding a... pitcher? Her daggers had been drawn the second she landed but were quick to relax at her side.

"Have you no better weapon to threaten with?"

#; evaldi subedi #convos; evaldi #evaldi & davina. 001

WHO: Anyone WHERE: the wilderness

The walls were closing in, this time she was sure of it. Her boots smashed into the chilled stone of their new refuge as she moved with purpose. Not too fast, she'd told herself. As not to attract anyone unwanted attention, but the world was becoming smaller and smaller with each second she lingered in this city. Village? Kingdom? Whatever they called it, it was sapping the very air from her lungs.

Or perhaps that was the never-ending fear.

"Breathe, Cordy," she reminded herself, forcing as much air into her lungs as she could. It took far longer than she wanted it too but soon the wood and stone gave way to lush forests. Creatures, large and smaller, hurried from her path -- as if they too could sense the magic just waiting to explode within her veins. There were monsters here, she knew, but rational thought had left her.

Maybe that was why her cloak had been shed as she walked. Even in the open air, free from the bustle of people, she felt like her skin was on fire. Throwing whatever caution she had left to the wind, the next to go were her boots, bare feet pressing into the cold and wet earth. It both calmed her nerves and sparked that magic within her. It was coming, she realized, and there was nothing she could do to stop it but there still wasn't enough space between her a civilization.

Her pace increased naturally and, almost as if watching her life from somewhere outside of her body, she could feel the chaos take hold. She wasn't sure how far she'd made it after that, but her feet were raw and red, blood trailing behind her as the soles of her feet collided with the earth below her. The ground came at her quickly, balance lost in her haste. Her palms connected with the earth around her, the last shred of control she had disappearing. Chaos flowed from her, power unspent and caged, escaped into the ground around her. Her ears rang with a scream she hadn't even realized was her own, rock and snow flying to create a perfect circle as she hit the ground. She could feel it shift, feel herself sink as bottled rage forced the ground to heed her command.

By the time she came to she was several feet lower, stones and fallen branches jutting from the edges of her powers reach. It had to have been ten feet from any angle she looked and her screaming abruptly turned to defeat. To tears as she knelt in the aftermath of her own chaos. She could hear something approach. Man. Monster. It didn't matter, they could take her.

#; cordelia asparel #starters; cordelia asparel #nornsstarter #//she's a mess i'm so sorry

vengncfm-deactivated20240512

who: @enduredmagics ( cordy ) where: kvalheim infirmary

she was too weak to use her magic and so she refused any type of mirror near her, the thought of seeing herself injured, the imperfection, was too much. she thought about her portal to the place that was paradise for her or basically her very fancy bathroom. she could use a bath now, leila felt like death.

who would've thought they would ever flee novigrad? that they had courage to run while people were still in danger? what if leila had more time on her hands, maybe she could've contacted a king or— but she was captured and blamed entirely herself on the matter for helping the foolish humans that probably told on her.

skellige, she hasn't been here, ever. the cold wasn't for someone like her. but they were free, now they just needed to figure out a way for the carnage to stop for god. and where in the hells were naerya? or maybe it was better this way, leila didn't want her to see her like this.

but as the curtains move on her tent, her heart skipped a beat only for it to be cordelia. "oh darling what are you doing here?" leila covered her face. "im in no shape to be seen." even though they were on the same boat together so cordelia already seen her injures.

enduredmagics

Cordelia Asparel had been many things over life, and no doubt many more before it ended, but calm was never one of them. Sure, she could fake it on the outside but fire brewed beneath her skin with every moment that passed on a decent day. Never mind the chaos of Novigrad and fleeing with her sisters.

She'd heard of Leila's capture but there was little Cordelia could do, much to Naerya's great displeasure. Cordelia knew Leila was capable and had all the faith in the world the woman would pull through before they'd even set a foot within Skellige's refuge. Had she not... well then the head of the lodge might have done something but there were many young mages that needed her protection and with Naerya in an absolute hellish state, there was little she could do except for damage control. Damage control and wasted prayers.

"You're as beautiful as ever, Leila," she said after a moment. The words were genuine but deep in her heart she knew there was no convincing the other of that fact.

"I," she paused, much too long for it to have been comfortable for either of them. "I am happy to see you're recovering well."