Sand and Steel @ethalarian - Tumblr Blog

Chozo 'steed' concept. After their species lost their wings, some Chozo explorers discovered great winged beasts that they were able to tame and domesticate.

dawnmender

The Second blade- No name

The final product was the result of days of labor. I don’t know if Aestus feels the same was I do when a Lightforged weapon is done. Normally it felt invigorating, pleasant, leaving a lingering sense of happiness and peace. But a Lightforged weapon is different. It drains me and through me the Light. Channeled for hours, prayers and hymnals, blessings, and whispered pleas sung to it. It was an art, a labor of love. Elven blades get stronger with each remaking. But Lightforged blades made by elven hands are truly unique.

Ethalarian Dawnstalker, also known in easier times as Shahin was to be the recipient of this blade. Unlike Thanidiel Highdawn’s blade the Light did not fill me with the same presence I needed to fit the blade perfectly to him. One might wonder if Lightwielders are truly so different that I would need another. The short and simple answer is yes. With any magical weapon that’s made for someone in mind you need to know them. How they fight, how they are, what sort of magic do they normally wield? The more you know the better you can craft the weapon to become an extension of the man.

Ethalarian Dawnstalker is a man who prides himself on his skill with a broadsword. He moves fast so he can strike first, get past their defenses before they can attempt to attack. Precision and swift moves chained together with fluid and dexterous strokes speak of someone who has fought giants and won. He does not have to be faster or stronger, but rather more clever. Like many Blood knights he seems to be full of anger and rage and his magic is an example of that.

It makes me wonder what they have gone through to constantly carry that anger inside of them. Glowing coals ready to become searing flames. But I digress.

The metals I use to make the blades I will keep to myself and those of my forges who have earned the knowledge. The blade is going to be slightly heavier than what he is used to but thanks to Aestus the Lightforged blade came out beautifully.

The blade was made for Shahin and since ‘Phoenix’ suits him so well we made certain it resembled it. The pommel is gold and with Catriah’s adept hands resembles feathers. The grip is black and yellow dyed leather, enchanted to resist heat. The guard required more work on my part but again, with Catriah’s aide I was able to capture the details that we had sketched out. Four outstretched wings with a red Saber’s eye. Saber’s Eyes are used by enchanters when they make creations to enhance strength.

The Phoenix’s head rests on the blood red blade. It took Catriah considerable time to do the etching. Those lines glow with the magic held by the blade serve both decoration and purpose. It is modified from the sword of Sophy Adelis. It was rumored that the elven cleric was able to channel so much of the Light she often would break her weapons for they were unable to handle the fury and power of the Light. To solve this problem she locked herself away for a year and a day until she came out and proudly declared she had a solution. Fortunately for us her blade still exists and remains on display at her memorial on Sunstrider isle. It prevents more Light than the blade can handle from staying in the blade.

Fortunately Ethalarian is already fast and will hopefully not singe his brows.

And finally while I thought of removing the point to make it an executioner’s weapon, it did not fit the design. It’s full tang and a proper elven blade.

I find myself more grateful for Aestus and Catriah everyday. I might have managed something like this on my own if the Light filled me with such purpose but I struggled this time. Aestus channeled the Light for everything and helped as my striker, Catriah took over the design once the blade and hilt were finished and transformed from a work of art into something elegant and refined in three days and nights all on her own.

We give it to him on the soon. I hope he appreciates this. These blades have only gone up in quality since Aestus and Catriah have added their skills to my forges.

-Tyleril Silversword’s notes on the second Lightforged blade to come from his shop.

((Tagging @emberfallen for the AMAZING ART. @shampoocommercialelves and @teamdoodledork for their hard labour and @thanidiel and @trained-trainwreck for mentions. @sparklepriest))

triforce-princess

shizukku

From the bottom of my heart...

toney-starks

Me @ Everyone

tlirsgender

I'm really not a very angry person there's just a lot of rage inside me

tlirsgender

There's something terrible boiling bubbling under my skin ready to burst out of my chest but I'm a chill guy

the-upper-shelf

Commission for my friend Radiant! (not on tumblr) ^^

dailyflicks

GLADIATOR (2000) dir. Ridley Scott

hesychiae-deactivated20250128

“You don’t ask people with knives in their stomachs what would make them happy; happiness is no longer the point. It’s all about survival; it’s all about whether you pull the knife out and bleed to death or keep it in…”

— Nick Hornby

prayerdelvna

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016)

Don’t fool yourself, Nyx Ulric. Whatever strength you have is on loan from the king. You are nothing without him.

perfectfeelings

theoptia

Euripides, from Grief Lessons: Four Plays; translated by Anne Carson

Text ID: Gods are stubborn. So am I.

thepilgrimofwar

Finale 2 - Edited Roll20 Log

News of Ethalarian’s death spread through the ranks as they began their final assault on the inner walls of the fortress. Instead of disheartening the men, it seemed to enrage them instead. With Vissehn’s infiltration of the gatehouse, the army made their way into the courtyard under the artillery fire from Beathyn’s guns. Inside, the battle raged on as the trapped soldiers of Westheath had little choice but to fight to the death.

But as their soldiers pinned the remaining forces to the corners of the courtyard, clearing a space for our heroes to enter the Lord Arenias’ hall, Krissen Dawnhollow and a half-company of troops marched out to meet them.

Krissen Dawnhollow makes a resigned laugh. “Here’s our end men, this is it.” Whatever remnants of her forces from the siege had concentrated here. This is where they would make their last stand. “So, you’ve come to take the Old Man’s head? We’d step out of your way but I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to live with ourselves after. Might as well die here. Defending our Lord. That ought to make him proud.”

She makes no mention of the battle that took place on their eastern flank earlier. Nor the death of Ethalarian Dawnstalker by her hand. There was no glory in killing for her, only glory in death.

Krissen Dawnhollow looks at Lirelle, recognizing her from her service in the Deathseekers. “It ought to make Sederis proud don’t you think? Not the Sederis who came back to rule. The Real Sederis. The one we knew.” A crazed look twists itself onto her features. “Sederis the Deathseeker, -The Pilgrim of War- Not this half-Lord of the Emberglades that he preoccupied himself later. The man I followed to the ends of the world to die for!”

Lirelle cocks her head at the crazed woman. “If you think that’s who Sederis was, then it’s clear you never really knew him.” She did not recognize her. She did not care.

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thepilgrimofwar

Finale 1 - Edited Roll20 Log

Outside the walls of Arenias’ fortress was a celebration. Banners of all colours fluttered in the wind as Beathyn’s cannons continued their relentless shelling. All of the Emberglades were represented. Wintergale volunteers and Men of the Blackbanner led by Zarannis. Militia from the Heartlands and Shalemarch under Judereth. Even Westheath prisoners-turned-soldiers, promised amnesty, aiming to fight twice as hard to prove their loyalty to Relriah who had stepped forward to lead them. They knew of her, most of them growing up in Westheath together.

It wasn’t difficult to convince them to follow The Daughter of Illithia who was Arenias’ last remaining heir. After being explained the state of things by Relriah, they were more than happy to fight for someone who was just as ruthless- but not at their expense. They promised to deliver her father’s head as a coronation present for the true ruler of Westheath.

But despite the celebratory mood, there was still a dread that hung low in the air. Victory was close at hand, but it made the idea of dying -now- so much worse. A pointless last stand by Arenias. The last gesture by a Lordling that was already dead. The same outcome would be reached if he just surrendered- only with less bloodshed on both sides. But Stenden had been clear.

A prolonged siege to starve them out and forcing a surrender was not an acceptable option. They needed to snuff Lord Illithia and his loyalists out once and for all. The war had gone on long enough, and with the help of the heroes who had come to aid him, they were going to end this- Here. Now.

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