The Engineer

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sakkarathekeeper

Sakkara lets out a small laugh, genuine and joyful. "A dragon isn't like a human kin, elvhen or vampiric child," she said with a wide smile. "They're not so needy or fragile. You have the curious mind of a scholar and a compassionate heart of a heroine." The druid looks down at the little one and her smile becomes smaller and gentler. 'You must listen to your mother, I see in her eyes that she loves and cares for you very much,' Sakkara told him in draconic. Then she cleared her throat and put a hand to it. Such a rough and guttural tongue was draconic - she was rusty and needed practice too.

Zuleima was worried and vulnerable enough to search for help here: a tell-tale sign that she was worthy to care for any living being. The arrogant and those who believed they knew best all the time we would make poor parents, even to a prideful dragon who would probably respond easily to confidence. "I think he is in perfect hands," she now proclaimed in Common to Zuleima. "Perhaps the first step is to learn draconic. Or... second step. After the necessities like shelter an food, of course. What is his name?" She put a hand on Zuleima's arm gently and smiled, gesturing to the tent with her chin. "Come, both of you." There would be a pep in the Keeper's step, a rare and youthful feature of her excitement when it came to creatures or new, interesting knowledge. Zuleima often saw her like this, as she tended to provide Sakkara with both.

#sakkara.02 #sakkarathekeeper #location.triviascove #we can probably wrap it up and headcanon the rest? this is superrr old #and do something fresher instead?

“A child is a child, no matter the shape it takes. It can see the mistakes of those around them as well as anyone else,” she sighs out, her fear of becoming a rather poor example bleeding into her voice. Motherless, fatherless, parentless, orphan. Her mentor had never treated her as family, just as someone to build up so he could build up his own legacy. The trend continued into her adulthood and strigoi lifetime, leaving her bereft from most human bonds due to her withdrawn nature. Cloudy had grown well, perhaps, but even then, the fear of doing her wrong had haunted her every action. Her time is limited as it is, how is she meant to raise a dragon into adulthood?

“I have not thought about it,” she admits with a wince. “I assumed Queen Damodred’s insistence that I refrain from naming my own creations meant that it was best to leave the choice to you, frankly.”

Perhaps she would need to examine why she wanted Sakkara to name the child left in her care, but there are other worries that sit at the forefront for her right now, so she will refrain. Instead, she follows Sakkara quietly, frowning down at the young dragon as she considers whether she should make something to keep him warm, as her body temperature is rather low, by virtue of being. Well, dead.

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Sisi Stringer and Daniela Nieves photographed at the IMDboat at San Diego Comic-Con (2022)

DANIELA NIEVES on INSTAGRAM

DANIELA NIEVES on INSTAGRAM

sakkarathekeeper

Sakkara is very rarely left speechless, or stammering. But in the moment she is somehow both, her mouth trying to form words and no sound coming out as she stares at the dragon. Then she sets her gaze back on Zuleima. "Well, you'll need to excuse me. Even as old as my soul is, I have never heard of a dragon willingly giving up their offspring to a stranger." And if Zuleima had made friends with the parent dragon, Sakkara surely would have been told.

Upon letting her explanation sink in, the Keeper puts a hand to her heart and seems to soften in understanding. "You are a miracle," she said, looking at the dragon hatchling. But she gazes back up at Zuleima a moment after. "The little one is too." She seems to be finally at ease, believing the strigoi without question, and coming forward to greet the child. "Hello, little one..." She speaks in draconic, "I'm sorry I was so startled... You are welcomed here." She notes the clear bond between the two. "He is male, yes? It is clear he is imprinted. You are his mother now, Zuleima." She gives her a heavy look, hoping she understands the gravity of that.

"You may very well be the biggest influence in the powerful, immortal creature he will grow into."

#sakkarathekeeper #sakkara.02 #location.triviascove

Zuleima takes a moment to press her lips together, to consider a possible retort, but then she sighs. Druids do not lie, so the situation truly must be as much of a surprise to Sakkara as it is for her. It’s not reassuring, considering why she wanted Sakkara’s advice in the first place, but— Even now, she feels a great deal more confident about the little creature’s future than she would have felt if she wasn’t basking in Sakkara's presence.

“I—.” The words stick to her throat as Sakkara looks at her, and she gives a quick cough to clear her throat before continuing on as if nothing had happened. As if the compliment hadn’t sent her unbeating heart fluttering. “I believe so, yes. Although I am not fluent in draconic, so I haven’t been able to check.”

Subconsciously, she had been aware that she is now an essential figure for the little dragon, but to have it confirmed has her blinking in surprise and glancing down.

“That might be an issue,” she says slowly. “Considering I am not particularly maternal, or a good influence.”

ruyaceres

Rüya’s boots carved a trail into the packed earth, her fists opening and closing at her sides. After ten years stitching lives back together on the front lines, the command tent felt like a canvas prison.

Its entrance flapped open, smoke and debris swirling through the confined space. Rüya paused, her attention snapping to Zuleima, then to the map. “The wounded can't evacuate,” she whispered, pointing a finger at the land between Aventia and Feronia. "Secured or not, Lysarans are dying. What good am I here?"

Rüya turned away, her shoulders tense as she wrestled with the confines of her duty. She had joined the Queen’s Court to enact change, but amid the chaos, her purpose felt frustratingly unclear. "By daybreak, hopefully," Rüya sighed, leaning against the table. "Where are you going next?"

#ruyaceres #rüya.01 #location.aventia #tqh troupe 2 #tqh troupe 2: siege of aventia

“They will have to.” There is no choice for patience when they are running against the clock. The wounded will be afraid, they will be hurt and in pain, but if they can secure enough carts, they will be alive. That is what matters most, for now. Later? Well, later they will need to focus on how to ensure the patients can outlive their wounds. But they can’t worry about that now, not when they need to worry about their survival first.

“Healers need direction, they need a leader. You are here because you know how to heal in the battlefield and how to keep calm against even these odds.” Her eyes remain narrow as she stares dagger at the map, trying to manifest a solution to all their problems with a flicker of her fingers. It won’t happen, but in moments like this, Zuleima wishes she had enough faith in her body to pray. “Don’t begin questioning yourself now. You were chosen for a reason. Hesitation will only lead to a worse outcome.”

Zuleima herself is keeping most of her emotions at bay, attempting to look for the logic in the situation to get the optimal outcome. It’s not her brightest idea, but at this point it’s all she can do to stop herself from the anger.

“I want to check the perimeter of the camp,” she admits. Mostly, she wants to reassure herself everything remains as it should but—. “Unless you have another suggestion?”

akanisxingrid

The tent was one of the safest places for her and also meant she could look like she was contributing in a way. She didn’t want to be out there with the darkspwan, no way! A chance to contract the blight just to buy a doom city more time, counter her to be in the safest place. She couldn’t control Akanis but she would guilt trip him later for this.

“Good, that they were able to accomplish that.” Ingrid wasn’t heartless like she wanted some to believe, when it came down to it she would always relent and do the right thing it just took her time. “I disagree, we should leave while we have a change. So we can be prepared next time. The bodies he we can set a blaze from a distance to reduce the numbers joining the horde.” She really just wanted out and she was going to support any plan that meant they left in a timely fashion.

#akanisxingrid #ingrid.01 #location.aventia #tqh troupe 2: siege of aventia #tqh troupe 2

“You are not wrong.” Zuleima’s words are slow and deliberate as she struggles with the anger the slow admission brings. Ingrid is entirely wrong, if ruthless with the decision, and Zuleima is well aware that she will end up following along with such a plan once it has been decided. It’s the logic move, and it will safeguard the nation as a whole. The logic of the plan doesn’t stop the dissatisfaction that follows, as she thinks of all that could not afford to leave the city even under siege. If she were a betting woman, she would bet that the majority of those who would die are the poor and the struggling. They are always the first to die.

“Regardless, I do not like that plan and I will continue shepherding refugees to safety until I am told it’s time for more extreme measures.” It said with a touch more force than necessary, but with the smell of smoke on her hair and the sounds of screams echoing in her ears? She can’t quite care.

ars-gratia-auden

“Death awaits us all, at least temporarily,” Auden returned, recounting the Elvhen belief in reincarnation and the cycling of souls. However, they were not sure it worked that way with the likes of dhampir, vuldaks, and others whose names were marked down on the great ledger of the Dark One. For Zuleima’s sake, Auden hoped another opportunity for an unattached life awaited her. “And lucky for you, you have time,” Auden agreed. “If you see any advancements or want to throw ideas at the wall, you could arrange an appointment with me. I know we have our individual specialities and my assistance might be limited, but stranger pairings have found success working together.”

A thin smile crossed Auden’s features considering the spell, but they had never been in a situation to witness its casting. “I can’t imagine anything more grating than the thought of being reanimated to answer the droll line of questioning from some idiot who didn’t know better than to allow the dead to rest,” Auden laughed–they had to imagine their attitude in death would be significantly less warm than their stern countenance in life.

“The offer stands,” Auden said with a shrug of acceptance. They glanced at what remained of the pour in Zuleima’s crystal glass. “Or if you think of another opportunity to put our heads together. But I suspect in the meantime, the both of us ought to take our opportunities for rest where we can find them. We’re realists–we know what’s coming.” There was a grimness to Auden’s voice, even if they craved the opportunity to test their mettle in the forging ground of true conflict.

#arsgratiaauden #auden.01 #location.eterna #i think we can end it here yeah!

“And I will make sure that time is worth it.” The reassurance is more to herself than to anyone else, even Auden. For all that she works for the Crown, Zuleima has never done so in a misguided attempt to craft a legacy or anything of the kind. She understands, logically, that her role as Master of Artillery has secured her place in the annals of time, but she cares less about that and more about how she can use her role to ensure the safety of Eterna. She needs to make her time worthwhile, ensure that she builds a better Lysara, so that less children grow up as she did. “I will make sure to keep you in mind as I continue my work, because I agree that a partnership between us both would be a sight to see.”

Another easy laugh follows and she raises her glass as if to toast Auden.

“I suppose that despite its usefulness, being on the other end of the spell would be quite bothersome indeed.” And now she is wondering if Speak with the Dead works with dhampir and strigoi corpses, too, since their soul has long since departed that body. She wonders if she wants to ask a Student of Proserpina about the matter or not.

All amusement leaves her as Auden continues, and she sighs. Raising the glass to her lips, she downs the last bit of her drink, eyeing the glass thoughtfully. Slowly, she places it on one of the open spots in the desk.

“I suppose you are right,” Zuleima sighs in agreement and moves to stand, already considering if she should go visit Sakkara or take some time to rest . “Thank you for hosting, Auden. I will see you around.”

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DANIELA NIEVES by Mike Ruiz for Photobook Magazine (September 2022)

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akanisxingrid

In all honesty Ingrid didn’t want to be here to begin with. This wasn’t her responsibility as a Queensgaurd, she should be back doing what her job title says, guarding the Queen. But no here she was and unfortunately she didn’t have any magic to teleport herself back. She had to much pride to be seen walking back while everyone else remained.

“Another line secured? That fantastic news to hear.” Any slight improvement was good news to hear this point. Anyone could see by this point that they weren’t going to win this battle. “I don’t think fully evacuated is possible. We will have to leave some behind.” That was the reality Ingrid had subscribed to anyway. It would cost more lives to get everyone out safely. If given the choice she knows what she would make.

#akanisxingrid #ingrid.01 #location.aventia #tqh troupe 2 #tqh troupe 2: siege of aventia

Admittedly, Ingrid’s appearance within the tent is a surprise, but only for as long as it takes Zuleima to remember that she had seen Akanis upon the battlefield. More than once, in fact. And with him actively participating, there is nothing his counterpart could do otherwise.

“Yes, there were some issues in the process, but luckily they were smoothed out rather quickly with the aid of some of the volunteers and the legion.” It had been curious to see the way the Blight brought people together in the unlikeliest of circumstances, but she supposes that avoiding death was a rather powerful motivator for most. “I am well aware, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try to get as many out as possible. For every corpse left behind, we have another enemy in our future.”

sakkarathekeeper

Sakkara blinked at the sudden question and the relieved look on Zuleima's face. Was she in trouble? The druid frowned, her brows now furrowing as she nodded. "Yes... At least, a bit more than the average person." She wasn't particularly acquainted with draconic creature, as they were rare and faraway, but she'd seen them throughout her lives and learned. It was an odd question though. Sakkara never would have expected Zuleima to bring up dragons, despite the wyvern that she loved.

"Why do-" It was at that moment that the Keeper noticed movement within the sling that Zuleima was wearing. Her eyes settled on a small, scaly head peaking out and draconic eyes. Sakkara's own widened and she took a step back. "Tell me you did not steal a dragon's hatchling-" She couldn't imagine that the strigoi wouldn't have had a valid reason but it was still insane. How did she even manage to find it? Even if Zuleima hadn't taken the child, which was more likely that she didn't, then someone insane had to have passed it to her, right? "Who gave that to you?"

#sakkara.02 #sakkarathekeeper #location.triviascove

The relief sweeps through her frame as Sakkara admits to a degree of knowledge higher than hers. Reading about dragons and learning their language is all well and good, but first hand experience would likely help a great deal when it comes to raising a dragon from infancy. Of course, that relief gets thrown out the window when it becomes clear that Sakkara had seen the hatchling and immediately decided that she had stolen it. Zuleima stares at Sakkara with a deadpan and raised brow. The message is clear. A simple ‘Really, Sakkara?’ hanging between them as she lets the silence drag for a long moment before sighing.

“I did not steal a dragon’s hatchling, Sakkara really,” she sighs as she reaches down to run a finger over the head of the bronze dragon to soothe him now that he has begun fussing a little bit. “A dragon god gave him to me after we formed part of a ritual to purify them.” She pauses, considering. “Which sounds unrealistic, I am aware, but Fharzai can attest to the whole thing.”

ars-gratia-auden

There might have been a difference, but even if there was, Auden would maintain their stance that cold, hard realism won the day until their bitter end. They didn’t feel like arguing over this with Zuleima, especially given it took all sorts of outlooks to make the world turn. If the dhampir wanted to cling to optimism as a motivator, so be it. Auden simply didn’t want to hear her, or anyone else for that matter’s, prattling about the unwavering strength of the human spirit. “Like I said, dies screaming, and so apparently would you,” Auden stated simply. “Though I should hate to see it come to that.”

Auden quietly listened to Zuleima speak of the concrete component, and while the artillerist sounded somewhat exhausted by the development process Auden felt this hardly qualified as a defeat. “You recall the great dam system that diverted and now holds back the Elderwake River?” Auden responded. It was a feat of engineering that garnered onlookers for decades, centuries even–the great wall that held back enough water to clear a floodplain for civilization while housing a great reservoir to support the cityscape around it–a marvel by virtue of the impossibility it accomplished. “They say the concrete used in that project will be curing for the better part of the next seven decades. Curing or not, it still meets its mark to serve its purpose and has for over a hundred years.” It was meant to be encouraging, though this was not particularly obvious by their steady tone.

“Well, if you’re lucky and you ask very kindly, I’m sure one of the necromancers would love to reanimate a corpse and you can ask it all the questions you please,” Auden responded with no shortage of amusement.

The elvhen watched as Zuleima studied the blueprint and didn’t much care to dig out the several scrolls with notes and updates to the design. The past creations had been something of prototypes–Auden knew they wouldn’t last, but if they worked and how long they worked brought them closer to a worthwhile design. “I have a lead on one potential material, though I would be lying if I said I had much faith in it as a viable solution. I haven’t re-fabricated this particular device in a few decades. My interest in it waxes and wanes,” Auden admitted. It seemed Zuleima had more than a few ideas that would help move the needle forward on the weapon. “You’re free to take that, if you wish. Have your own go at it.”