I’m Intya - editor, historian and TES brainrot patient. When I am not busy explaining to yet another 70yo author why we do need that image in 300 dpi at least if they want us to print it, I can mostly be found somewhere around here, yapping about the blorbos.
Other than that, my favorite pastimes include:
writing and drawing
getting ESO bard songs stuck in my head and singing them all day
making up conspiracy theories about Darien Gautier
A few other notes:
I am European, and so is my time zone.
Please note that I am notoriously bad at talking to people first! Chances are I do want to talk to you, I’m just scared to do so.
I am also an adult, and there will be nsfw content on this blog. Minors, you have been told. I would kindly ask you to not interact with me.
behold my creations
OC directory
eso housing tag
writing tag
ao3 [Please be aware that my fics are only available to registered users to prevent AI scraping as much as possible.]
Back with the Welkynar today! I'm sooo close to finally finishing this piece.
cw: there is a reference to past rape in here. There is nothing graphic and it is only mentioned briefly, but it still deserves a warning.
It all sounds very simple, in theory. It should be in reality, as well: find Kel in his room, tell him the news, pack up their belongings. But it never is. It's just Yalie's luck.
Later, she'll wonder how on Nirn they didn't notice her stomping down the corridor. Right now, as she rounds a corner and stops dead in her tracks, the thought does not even occur to her.
All she can think is too late, too late, too late.
Maybe fifteen, twenty paces down the corridor, where there's a side passage leading to one of the empty rooms, Stormcloak has Keldarin pressed against the wall. His back is turned towards her, and with his broader frame, she cannot see much of her friend. But she can see enough. His head is hidden against the Jarl's shoulder, strands of red spilling across fur, and he clings to the man with both hands, one clutching at the fabric of his coat, the other tangled in his hair.
With only a flickering torch to light the corridor, shadows dancing across the walls, Yalie could, perhaps, convince herself that this isn't what she thinks it is. That they are just embracing, as friends could.
But she is not unobservant enough to miss the rhythmic movement of Stormcloak's arm, the angle indicative of what his hand is doing, nor has her hearing abandoned her to the point she could not make out the bitten-off moans and heavy breathing echoing off the walls.
Her stomach almost turns, bile rising in her throat, and she wants to flee and intervene at the same time, the urge to protect her friend raging inside her, because – does Kel even want, after what Niruvon did to him? He's not even spoken of it to any of them, she has no way of knowing –
But then Kel lets out a stuttering, low, happy sigh. It's not one of his pained moans; Yalie is too familiar with those not to recognize them, and then he lifts his head from Stormcloak's shoulder and moves the hand from the back of his head to his cheek. Guides him into a kiss.
All of it happens without him noticing Yalie standing just a few paces away, so lost is he to … whatever it is that he is feeling. Yalie may never know, nor does she particularly want to. She's not supposed to be witnessing any of this, and finally, finally, the instinct to flee wins out, and she turns and runs.
She does not get far before she nearly crashes into Galmar. He, too, lives up here, and does not seem too pleased at her nearly knocking him off his feet. She pushes past him with a choked-off apology, and that, apparenty, is enough to give him pause, making him whirl around to grab her arm.
"Looking a bit green around the nose, elf," he states, frowning at her. He looks concerned, though not for her. "What's gotten into you?"
Yalie cannot imagine he'll be any more delighted than her by what is happening around the corner, but she cannot bring herself to say it outright. Still, she has to say something, and so she swallows the bile.
"For your own sanity, do not go around that corner," she forces out, and then watches him as he does just that. Of course he does. He probably thinks she's done what she's wanted to do for weeks now and stabbed the Jarl. If only.
The past week has been... very migraine inducing. But we soldier on.
I feel I've been stuck with all my WIPs lately, coming up with some unlikely scenarios on how to continue, but so far it hasn't helped me through my block. (Brainstorming, save me. Save me, brainstorming.) I've felt the sweet siren call of a new WIP....
Here's a little snippet from the next chapter of Rogue Waves (278 words).
CW: None
Talisse had spent the recent months of her life surviving specifically by refusing to let fear alter her decisions. Fear got people cornered. Fear made you hesitate. Fear made you predictable. The moment you started behaving like prey, the world responded accordingly.
But yesterday had not felt like ordinary danger.
The guards had not been trying to arrest her.
She knew the difference by now.
Guards roughing someone up over suspicion or bribery was common enough in Markarth, she had noticed. Half the city practically ran on corruption and intimidation. Not so different from Riften, really. But what happened yesterday had carried something uglier underneath it… The sort of violence people used when they wanted someone frightened into silence or dragged somewhere they would not return from at all.
And Ondolemar had intervened.
Talisse frowned faintly into the dim light.
That part still made no sense.
Because she knew Thalmor. Or at least she knew the type. Dominion officials did not involve themselves in random acts of street violence unless politics, leverage, or self-interest demanded it. They certainly did not step between city guards and a criminal nobody who had, very recently, released a Thalmor prisoner and assaulted one of their justiciars and told them to go fuck themselves.
Yet… He had.
Her brow furrowed deeper.
Which meant either:
One, Ondolemar was lying extraordinarily well—
Or two, whoever had sent those guards genuinely had nothing to do with the Thalmor at all.
Talisse stared down at her satchel in silence.
The second possibility unsettled her more. Because if it was not the Thalmor, then she still had absolutely no idea who was after her.
And that was dangerous.
Got tagged by @saltymaplesyrup
No pressure tagging, with a soft kiss on the forehead @cresu @theoneandonlysemla @luciolafantastic @tobianidiot @pocket-vvardvark @sanzas-reverie @captain-of-silvenar @tigerlily340 @red-mountain-flower @kuurankaiho @oblivions-dawn @caz-the-yarncromancer @dark-brotherhoe @silly-little-diary @artaeums @friend-of-giants @intyaliel @honeybeebunny111 @blue-dartwing @hircines-hunter @sulphuricgrin @dirty-bosmer @anilliscarts @heavy-metal-dick @umbracirrus and YOU!!
The Last Dragonborn, a member of the Thieves Guild (and later the unwilling leader of the Thieves Guild, a Nightingale, a student in the College of Winterhold, and an Imperial Legionnaire)
Art by @sanzas-reverie and @alexologyart !!
Background:
Born in the uneasy peace after the Great War, as an illegitimate daughter of a high-ranking Thalmor official and a bard whose paths crossed during the war’s closing celebrations. Born in Alinor, raised largely in Valenwood, and by her teens was traveling across Tamriel with her mother. Trained from childhood as an entertainer and bard, she made her living through song, performance, and witty conversation long before arriving in Skyrim. Beneath the charm, however, she is a practiced stealth archer and a thief. Relies on her skill with a bow and her ability to remain unseen. The destruction of Helgen left a lasting mark, shaping many of her choices. Once learning of her status as Dragonborn, she avoided the call of the Greybeards, instead traveling to Riften, where she was drawn into the Thieves Guild.
Notable relationships:
Ondolemar
Two people who should absolutely never fall in love somehow manage to do exactly that. Enemies to friends to lovers, except they're both too stubborn to admit when they're wrong. They spend half the story arguing, insulting each other, and accidentally becoming the most important person in the other's life. It's messy, forbidden, emotionally constipated, and somehow incredibly romantic.
Vex
Adopted Talisse against her own will and now spends every waking moment pretending she regrets it. Her love language is calling Talisse an idiot before teaching her how not to die, and every conversation boils down to "if you do that again I'll kill you myself" immediately followed by making sure Talisse has enough lockpicks and doesn't bleed to death. She has the thankless job of being the only person in the Guild who remembers actions have consequences.
Brynjolf
These two could flirt their way out of prison and somehow still end up back in jail because they got distracted trying to out-flirt each other. Zero romantic tension. Every conversation is a competition to see who can outsmart or out-innuendo the other. They're platonic soulmates with absolutely no self-control when it comes to enabling each other's bad ideas.
Niruin
Started as friends with benefits. Accidentally became "one of us caught feelings and it's definitely not Talisse." Niruin keeps insisting he's cool with keeping things casual while quietly being the least casual mer alive. Talisse is just vibing while he is having an entire character arc in the background. Also he introduced her to skooma, which in hindsight was maybe not his greatest contribution to society.
Inigo
Golden retriever meets feral cat. Inigo's entire existence is gently asking Talisse not to do something catastrophically stupid, then sighing, grabbing his bow, and following her anyway because someone has to keep her alive. They're family long before either of them thinks to say it out loud. Inigo is living proof that patience is a renewable resource. Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, they bring out the best in each other.
Ralof
The one that got away—but in the healthiest way possible. Ralof really looked at this traumatized Altmer disaster woman and said "you can stay with me." She looked back, said "thanks," and immediately chose the most emotionally self-destructive route available. Incredible commitment to the bit. They survived Helgen together, caught feelings at the worst possible time, and then took completely different roads through Skyrim. He offered her a home. She chose the unknown instead. Neither of them really stopped wondering what would've happened if she hadn't.
Strengths:
Intelligent
Charismatic
Manipulative
Observant and adaptable
Resilient and enduring
Weaknesses:
Reckless
Impulsive
Overconfident
Hotheaded
Spiteful and vindictive
No interest in:
Politics
Fame
No concept of:
Conformity or "knowing her place"
In battle:
Talisse is a stealth archer who avoids fair fights whenever possible. She relies on patience, preparation, and careful positioning, striking from concealment before disappearing and relocating to avoid retaliation. Her preferred targets are isolated or high-value enemies, and she excels at controlling the battlefield through distance, terrain, and surprise.
When forced into close combat, her effectiveness drops sharply. Armed only with a dagger and lacking formal martial training, she fights reactively—dodging, improvising, and creating opportunities to escape rather than overpowering her opponent. More hunter than soldier, Talisse is at her deadliest when her enemies never realize she was there until it's too late.
Distinguishing marks:
Freckles across her nose and cheeks
Has dimples when smiling
Is on the shorter side for an Altmer
Strawberry blonde hair and amber eyes
Trivia:
Bisexual disaster
A follower of Dibella
Has a small dot on her hip that looks like a freckle, but it's actually a beginning of a tattoo that never got finished
Has a fear of heights
An ouster
Addicted to skooma
Her voice claim is Vanessa Paradis
Got tagged by @cresu @artaeums @sulphuricgrin @sanzas-reverie @honeybeebunny111
Tagging (no obligation, and sorry if you've already done this) @tobianidiot @skyrim-forever @friend-of-giants @theoneandonlysemla @pocket-vvardvark @heavy-metal-dick and YOU!!
tagging: @pinessydr @illumiera @knifecalledlust @constantfyre – I'm pretty sure I've seen everyone else do this already, but if not, consider yourselves tagged!
I wanted to do this with Arri at first, but then realized I couldn't without massive spoilers for my fic. The same is true for Miseanyas, and Keldarin's (the other one I'm currently obsessed with) story would require more trigger warnings than I want to put in a tag game. Therefore you're getting my girl Izani, who I don't talk about nearly enough despite her being not only my Vestige, but also fairly involved in my other OCs' arcs!
Name: Izani of House Ravenwatch
Age: 20 at the time of the Planemeld
Born: 20th of Midyear, 2E 562
Occupation: Adventurer, occasional spy, researcher and vampire hunter, and Nirn's favorite problem solver
Background: Izani was born in a small village in southern Bangkorai. Growing up in what was mainly a farming community, she quickly grew bored with a life dictated by routine and the needs of the livestock her parents kept. She had an inquisitive mind and always wanted to see and learn about new things, and wanted her world to be bigger than just the village, the goats, and perhaps the market at Hallin's Stand. As there were very few people around her who thought like her, most either never having felt the desire to go or even think beyond the village or having settled there precisely to escape the world at large, life at home felt quite alienating to her even at a young age. The other children outgrew their fantasies of travels and adventure while Izani did not, and so at 15 she had already made up her mind to leave as soon as she could. She tagged along with a band of mercenaries when she was 19, being something of a servant to them in exchange for basic combat training and a chance to travel. About a year later, their group went to Daggerfall looking for work, and while wandering around the city, Izani was lured into the Worm Cult's trap and killed by Mannimarco. Considered dead by her family after this – a Vestige being beyond their ability to understand and accept –, she threw herself into fighting the Worm Cult.
Formative relationships:
Darien Gautier: Without a doubt the best friend she has ever had; her ride-or-die. He was the one person she relied on most during the Planemeld, his jokes and always cheerful attitude sometimes making her forget she didn't have her soul. He made her feel human again. Losing him in the battle against Molag Bal, and then getting her soul back so soon after that nearly broke her: While soulless, her emotions were muted and harder to decipher in a way, and it all rushed back in all at once when her soul was returned to her. Not having the slightest idea what happened to him, Izani tried to move on and threw herself into whatever the Daggerfall Covenant needed help with, and that was how she ended up in Wrothgar, where she eventually found Darien's letter. From then on, she and Gabrielle began searching. Summerset confirmed Gabrielle's suspicions as to where Darien had been, and while Izani was heartbroken at losing him again, she refused to believe he was truly gone, and kept searching for a way to reach him, which she did not find until it was too late. After Solstice, she keeps Darien close – she is not losing him a third time, not after what it cost them to bring him back at all. Her focus after the events of Solstice is to help him find out who or what he truly is, and what the hell it is that seems to live inside his head.
Gabrielle Benele: Gabrielle is Izani's other best friend. While they already got along like a house on fire – two sharp, endlessly curious minds – during the Planemeld, their shared grief and determination to get Darien back brought them even closer together and they kept in close contact even while their respective research led them all over Tamriel in search of clues. Gabrielle would also often send Izani letters with advice on whatever mess she had landed herself in at any given time, because Izani does have a tendency to stumble from one conspiracy into the next daedric invasion into the return of some undead menace. Izani is still grieving Gabrielle, and will probably never stop, simply due to the unfairness of it all: Getting one of her best friends back only at the loss of the other, and Gabrielle never getting to be with Darien again. In all honesty, one of Izani's biggest dreams had been to see her two friends build a life together, and the fact that it's never going to happen is weighing heavily on her.
Verandis Ravenwatch: Verandis was the one who taught a soulless Izani, who was disconnected from her own emotions and who ignored her physical health as well, knowing she'd just get back up after "dying", that she still deserved to rest and needed to take care of herself, something not even Darien managed, because he tends to run himself ragged the same way Izani does. Verandis always offered Izani a place to rest, some time to just sit and process, and guidance whenever she asked for it. Very early into their acquaintance, Izani returned from one of her tasks with her hair a complete and utter mess from getting her falling into some thorny bushes. Verandis took the time to untangle and cut her hair while they talked her mission over – Izani has never changed her hairstyle since. Losing Verandis at the Doomcrag set her back significantly where her ability to take care of herself was concerned. Still, she kept in touch with the rest of the Ravenwatch. After Verandis' return during the events of the Dark Heart storyline, Izani grew closer to him still, and began to view him as her father figure rather than just a mentor, especially since she was spending a lot of time around Adusa, Gwendis and Fennorian, who did the same, and also because Izani's birth family wanted nothing to do with her. To this day, Izani is a member of House Ravenwatch and visits Verandis in Blackreach whenever she is able. He – and his connection to the Dark Heart – is also the source of Izani's ability to use Void magic.
Meridia: Meridia is Izani's nemesis, mostly on account of her stealing her best friend twice, and continuously trying to take him away again, treating Darien as something she owns. Making sure Darien retains his free will is Izani's priority, and keeping his mind stable and helping him stay away from anything Meridian as well as the Aurorans she keeps sending after him is something she is fully committed to. On top of that, Izani has had enough of Meridia keeping things from her followers and those she deems her allies: Not telling her after the first time that she had taken Darien, only revealing information she is forced to give it, abandoning her followers when she can't be bothered to care …
Other relationships:
Skordo the Knife and Alinon: The rest of her Covenant friend group, and very dear to her.
Khamira: A good friend and someone Izani visits whenever she can.
Calo: Her one attempt at a romantic relationship. However, with Izani prioritizing her travels for research purposes over permanently settling in Elsweyr, Calo's commitment to his unit and Queen Khamira, and Izani's general lack of depth to her romantic feelings, if they are there at all, they agreed it was best to just stay friends.
Abnur Tharn: Her sparring partner for biting remarks, and the man who taught her her first spells and laid the groundwork for her understanding of magic.
Gwendis, Adusa-daro, Fennorian and later Serana: Her brother and sisters, and one of the reasons she can bear being immortal when most of her friends from the second era are gone.
Rada al-Saran: One of the toughest opponents she was ever up against, because he frightened her to no end. He is what she knows she will become if she ever has to make the choice between doing the right thing and saving her friends. She would see the world burn before losing anyone else, and would make whatever sacrifice necessary to bring back those already lost.
Strengths:
the most loyal friend you will ever have
she does not give up while there is even the smallest bit of hope
is very patient when it comes to research and gathering information, despite being not very patient otherwise
Weaknesses:
does not know how to say no and therefore gets dragged into everyone else's problems
tends to jump to conclusions
overworks herself past her breaking point
no patience for fools
No interest in:
sex and, for the most part, romance
No concept of:
appearing normal (though this is mostly a phenomenon of the third and fourth era)
just sitting down and letting others handle a problem
Character/personality: Izani is generally a nice person, always willing to lend a helping hand. She's fairly straightforward and prefers a hands-on approach, often opting to jump straight into action (or research, if it is required first) without talking about it endlessly beforehand. She always needs something to do with her mind; not having anything to think on will leave her bored to death in no time. This is also part of why she is bad at sitting still and/or leaving well enough alone: She simply cannot resist finding solutions to any given problem. She is good-natured, if not very polite, but quick to judge a person, and once on her bad side, it is very difficult to regain her trust. She is loyal to a fault, but at the same time will hold a grudge forever – and if she doesn't like you, you'll know it. It's easy to know where you stand with her: She wears her heart on her sleeve.
In battle: Izani relies on speed and agility rather than strength. Her primary weapons are daggers, but she is quite capable with a hand crossbow as well, a skill she picked up after she was given her first grappling bow and decided she might as well modify it to have a ranged weapon at hand. She can use destruction magic in a pinch, though her abilities are still somewhat limited during the second era and she can only work with some flame spells. However, she primarily uses magic not to fight, but as a tool for repositioning or escaping. She has the ability to tap into the magic of the Dark Heart to create small void portals that only last for a few seconds at best, essentially allowing her to blink around the battlefield. During her early years of learning, she can only manage very few portals, and on more than one occasion "kills" herself by teleporting off of a cliff, but later masters the ability.
Distinguishing marks/traits:
no extremely noticeable physical traits that are usually visible; she does have the scar from where Mannimarco stabbed her, but this is on her chest
owns a blue scarf given to her by Darien that she wears almost constantly
Trivia:
Izani seems like something between a cryptid and a complete weirdo to the Hero of Kvatch and the Last Dragonborn. To them, she just seems genuinely strange: Arri first met her inside an Oblivion gate, where she found Izani essentially yelling increasingly creative insults at the sky and telling Dagon to just let it go already – it didn't work the first two times either; meanwhile Rienn's first run-in with her was in Blackreach – she had wandered a little too close to where the Dark Heart is hidden away, and Izani was attempting some spooky bit to scare her off. It did not exactly work out.
Izani owns a silver hairpin in the shape of a raven with several green stones set into it. At first glance, they may look like emeralds, but they are really tiny repositories for void energy. In her early years of accessing that energy, she always needed a source close at hand, hence the hairpin.
Izani likes to dance, her favorite being traditional Khajiiti dances.
She also likes to read; her favorite is a good mystery. However, she can't really enjoy the Investigator Vale series anymore since she found out who the author is and does not get along with her at all.
A long time ago I was messing around with thu'um(and other things) on Ancano. At one fine moment he flew out the window and disappeared somewhere below. When I went down to check, that unkillable Altmer had already recovered and was calmly walking back toward the College. And he greeted me with his favorite line: 'I have many important things on my mind. Your concerns are not among them.'
Magnificent little bastard.
I shamelessly added OC:Ntalym (@blue-dartwing) because a lonely Ancano felt boring to me. And here's a little drama.
tagged by: @sulphuricgrin, @sanzas-reverie, and @pocket-vvardvark <3
tagging: @lambasi, @intyaliel, @tanlorin, and @runathequiet if you feel like doing it!
figured since I've kind of returned to him after a long while I may as well do this for him! He's got a lot of lore I haven't talked about in ages, and some new additions :)
(as often is the caveat with him, cw for discussions of alcoholism, drug use, and suicidal ideation)
Name: Auredil of Lillandril; usually just goes by Auredil, but has used several pseudonyms over the years. His sister calls him Red.
Age: ~65 as of Solstice
Born: 10th Evening Star (The Thief)
Occupation: Former Captain of the Grace of the Queen, 9th Squadron of the Royal Armada, First Auridon Marines - Vestige - Current Pickpocket, Graverobber, and General Ne'er-do-well
Background: Auredil and his twin sister, Lilanwe, were born in Lillandril to a seafaring family. Their parents both served King Hidellith's Navy, and they were often left with their uncle, a minor merchant lord who didn't particularly appreciate the fact that he was now their babysitter, for long periods of time. Their upbringing was strict and traditional when their parents were around, and they were often left to their own devices when under the care of their uncle. When they were around 14, their parents were aboard a ship sunk by Maormer pirates. In the following years, Auredil enlisted in the Navy while Lilanwe pursued studies with the Sapiarchs. He took quickly to sailing and combat, and over the next few decades, steadily rose in the ranks.
After the death of High Kinlady Estre caused a rift between him and Prince Naemon, he, in a compromised mental state, made a pact with Meridia. She promised him the power to keep those he loved safe, granting him his Templar abilities in exchange for service to her.
He was accompanying Queen Ayrenn and Prince Naemon to the Orrery in Elden Root when Naemon betrayed them, and Auredil was forced to kill him with his own hands. Destroyed by grief, drunk, and suicidal, he cursed Meridia, and she temporarily revoked his power. It was then that he was captured by the Worm Cult and killed by Mannimarco.
Formative Relationships:
Lilanwe: his twin sister. Growing up, Lily - who lived as a boy until after their parents died - was always the ambitious one who had big dreams, but above all she always had her brother's back. Frequently seen throwing at rocks at other kids who were mean to Auredil. Similarly, Auredil always looked out for her, though he was a more soft-spoken and gentle (if a bit neurotic) kid. The two of them became extremely tight-knit after losing their parents. Auredil enlisted in the King's navy to support them, affording Lily the ability to pursue her love of magic at the Sapiarch's College.
The two were comfortable for several decades, until the start of the war, where Auredil, recently promoted to a Captain among the First Auridon Marines, became more and more entwined in the conflict. It was around this time that Lily fell in with the Worm Cult, and after Auredil was killed by Mannimarco (though all she knew was he was MIA), she became a very different person, basically shutting down and leaning into the more fucked up workings of the Cult.
The two of them met again when Lily was sent to assassinate a "warrior of Meridia" only to discover that's her fucking brother. So Auredil convinced her to leave the Cult and help him set things right. After defeating Molag Bal, he disappeared a second time, leaving most everyone to believe he was dead. But she was having none of that, oh no, she won't let him go so easily again. She went on a decade-long crusade against the Cult, killing any remnants she could track down and searching for any hint as to his whereabouts, knowing he was still out there somewhere.
The two eventually find each other again on Solstice, and though it will take a while to repair their relationship, one day they will be able to reconcile. Though she does give him a black eye for letting her think he was dead, again.
Prince Naemon: Auredil was brought in to mentor Naemon, then about 17, in swordplay. He had exhausted their usual teachers and demanded to learn from someone who had seen more live combat, and Captain Auredil happened to be in port. At first, Auredil found him tiresome but promising, and Naemon seemed to love nothing more than to test his patience. Over the next couple years, they became friends, along with Estre, who Naemon had just married. At some point during this time Auredil realised that Naemon's feelings for him were romantic. It was only when Ayrenn returned to take the crown that either of them acted on it.
Coralantar: Auredil met Coralantar during a Maormer incursion on Mistral, where Coralantar saved his life while fighting off pirates. Coralantar themself is Maormer, who was then grappling with the realisation that the crew they had joined were committing atrocities on the island and that they needed to defect. Coralantar was mysterious and intriguing to Auredil, and the two of them formed a mutual respect and admiration for each other. They met by chance many more times over the course of their respective journeys. On Auredil's recommendation, Coralantar eventually became an Eye of the Queen, and later joined him in the fight in Coldharbour. The two of them challenge each other, coming from very different cultures, and find common ground in unlearning their respective biases.
King Laloriaran Dynar: During the events of Coldharbour, he quickly became close with Laloriaran. He saw him as a worthy leader, someone dashing and charismatic and Auredil truly admired him. Their time together was brief, and Laloriaran saw a carefully-constructed version of Auredil with all of his ghosts and sharp edges out of sight. He quickly fell in love with that version of Auredil; he knew there was more beneath the surface, but the two of them unfortunately never got the chance to truly know each other. Laloriaran's death was perhaps the final straw for Auredil.
Meridia: His relationship with Meridia is a complicated one. She manipulated him into her service, and he knows this, but even still he feels some obligation to her after all these years. When she revoked his power and he was killed as a result, he believed it to be his punishment for scorning her. He pleaded with her to come back to him, and of course she came back, now that he had seen that he needed her. After the events of Coldharbour, she withdraws from speaking to him, but allows him to keep her light - and he knows this to mean that his service is not yet done, and so he waits.
Sharp-as-Night: His best friend and adventuring partner, and someone he trusts with his life. Sharp meets Auredil at his worst - sleep-deprived, drunk, dirty, and stumbling into an outlaw's refuge to buy moonsugar. But Auredil helps him when he needs it, and Sharp sticks around. They find common ground in their past trauma and the abuses they've endured and it doesn't take long for them to become ride or die for each other during their adventures. They care deeply for each other, but their relationship is not romantic in any way. If anything, it's closer to friends-with-benefits, but maybe like 30% weirder about each other.
Other Relationships:
Razum-dar: worked alongside for a time.
Lyris Titanborn & Sai Sahan: has a deep respect and appreciation for.
Galen Marcus: a close friend and someone he trusts wholeheartedly.
Strengths:
Tactically-minded, functions well under pressure
Some read his readiness to throw himself into danger as heroism
A good leader, even though he doesn't want to be
Weaknesses:
Gets frustrated with puzzles and the like fairly quickly
Poor emotional regulation, can be a little off-putting
Low opinion of himself, assumes people won't stick around
No Interest In: Commitment - whether it's staying in one place, or being in a romantic relationship.
No Concept of: Moderation. He goes from 0 to 100 very quickly, whether it's drinking or relationships.
Character/Personality: On the surface, Auredil can seem a little absent and melancholic, and to some extent that's true. He doesn't like to talk about himself and often dodges questions or lies when asked. His morality has become a little warped over the years; he has a strong sense of justice and doing the right thing, however he sees himself as being exempt from that and deserving of whatever bad things have happened to him, and has no problem being a little dishonest to survive.
He does open up a bit once he gets to know someone. He's kind and empathetic at heart, and cares deeply about those around him. However, he's prone to emotional extremes, feeling very strongly one way or the other about people, and can sometimes oscillate wildly between depression and mania.
His depression and addiction are an important part of his character. He experiences withdrawal symptoms, including shaking and irritability, and can lash out at people and say cruel things if it goes on too long. He has a tendency to self-sabotage, act on impulse, and put himself in unnecessary danger.
In Battle: He's always been very self-sacrificing and quick to leap into danger. He was trained to use a wide variety of weapons and is pretty versatile, but does favour polearms. Though he was never really one for magic, he's become used to wielding the power of Meridia's light, which he's integrated into his usual melee fighting style. He keeps himself lightly armoured - after all, he can't be killed in a way that matters.
Distinguishing Marks/Traits: He's very tall (6'8") and built like a baby deer. His right leg was amputated at the knee during the Planemeld, and he's gone through many different prosthetics over the years. Currently, he has a skeletal prosthetic enchanted with necromancy. He also carries a quarterstaff that he often uses as a walking staff.
Trivia:
He always knew that he and Lilanwe were a little queer, and figured out he was gay pretty young. Lilanwe coming out as trans didn't surprise him, and he was very supportive of her.
The loss of his leg has altered the way he carries himself, even with the magical prosthetic. He deals with phantom pains, and soreness/stiffness in that leg.
He's always had a bit of a drinking habit, but it wasn't until Naemon died that his alcoholism really began to take hold. It started as a way to cope with PTSD and night terrors, but after losing his leg it got worse and he got into drugs like moonsugar as a way to deal with constant pain and stress.
He mostly drinks hard liquor out of convenience, but has a fondness for sweeter things like wines and ciders.
The amulet he wears is Meridia's symbol.
Though he wouldn't want to be in the position of Captain again, he did love to sail. Many of the places he finds himself wandering to are port towns.
He's actually far-sighted and struggles to read things up close; something he blames on repeated exposure to blinding bright lights right in his face, whether or not that's the case. (someone get him some reading glasses!)
Hi everyone! Now that the fest has been going for 6 weeks or so, I wanted to gauge interest/opinions on a change: that being including WIPs.
I’ve really enjoyed seeing everything this blog gets tagged in for WIP Wednesdays and the like. Restricting reblogs to completed works is starting to feel actively restrictive to me, but this is The Peoples’ fest now (lol) so I’d like your feedback.
Should the completed work criteria be dropped for fest participation?
Yes!
Yes, but I have additional opinions (drop in comments)
No, but I have additional opinions (drop in comments)
