Knight of Aedirn

Indie RP Blog for Torben, a Hedge Knight of Aedirn in the Witcher Universe. OC, Slightly Selective, OC and Canon character friendly. Rules Bio and Verses Written by Shaun.

[knightofaedirn]

knightofaedirn​:

"Leaders come and go, but the people remain. Only the people are immortal."

Torben, Knight of Aedirn- Independent The Witcher OC - Semi-Selective - Mutuals Only - Written by Shaun

[knightofaedirn]

I'm still around! Anatomy is just eating up all of my time 😭

At least the semester is almost over! I'll be getting replies up soon though

[knightofaedirn]

I had so much fun making this! All credit goes to Gwentcard.github.io

Best of all it is NOT AI lol.

[knightofaedirn]

Confusion flashed in Torben’s eyes as she spoke, the pieces coming together in a way that was utterly unexpected for the Knight. She was the exiled Princess? The one who survived such mistreatment and still found the kindness to share words with a stranger…no, not just a stranger. A stranger who was the very thing that had done her so much wrong.

Torben waited for a twitch of her lips, mischief in the eyes, anything that might give away that this was some sort of jape. Something other than the cold, hard truth that the one he shared words with was, indeed, who she said she was. Not out of fear, for this alleged cursed woman, carrying the ‘taint’ of the Black Sun. But because for a man who so loved his words, what words could possibly be said to someone who had endured so much?

It was why, for one of those impeccably rare times, words simply failed Torben. Lips parted as he searched for something to say, but whatever ones sought to form on the tip of his tongue may as well have been blown away like leaves caught in the breeze in the autumn. So it was that he kept that hand on her shoulder, and let the silence hang, until words finally flew forth. “I do not believe it, no. I don’t believe such stories either. What I do believe…is you.” Torben always had been one swift to trust, to his own peril. But this time it simply felt right. For he also, despite when he was wrong, believed himself to be a good judge of character. “Are you safe here?” Torben made as subtle of a gesture to the greater area around them, but especially towards the palace. “Do you need an escort out of here?”

[starwrittenfates]

The noblewoman had not expected him to respond like that. Then again, she was usually not used to others reacting so...sympathetic or caring towards her after knowing she was one of the girls born under a Black Sun. It all felt rather...strange and foreign, not something Syanna would get accustomed to anytime soon.

"I-I should probably stay clear of the palace." Although a part of her was curious, knowing her sister was the Duchess now. A role that should have been hers, passed down from birth as the eldest heir. The fist tightens behind her back at another thing taken from her. "Everyone believes I perished. I was just out running a job for the people I'm with. I could use an escort."

And the last thing she wanted was for them to realize the monster still walked among them. This made her think to the vampire she had met recently. He'd worry if she was gone for too much longer and probably get the wrong idea.

"I'm surprised...you're handling this better than I thought you would have. Are you sure you don't want to turn me around to the Knights of Toussaint, take the money or something?" She paused, realizing how what she had just said could come off sounding. "Sorry, I'm just...not used to this sort of thing from others. They usually treat me like a monster that needs to be hunted by a witcher or sorcerer."

[knightofaedirn]

“Staying clear of palaces is the best thing in most cases, I find.” Torben remarked, falling into step alongside Syanna as they set back off. “The air simply tastes fresher, there is less insufferability threatening to choke your every breath.”

When the question regarding ‘turning her in for the potential reward was raised, Torben barked out an unexpected laugh. He’d not been anticipating that idea to have been floated from the fugitive Princess. “Come now, next you’ll suggest I get my steel gilded with gold and butcher some poor peacock to wear its plume upon my helmet. You’re funny.”

Humor was the deflection for the both of them when it came to the deeper concerns at such a statement. It told a tale all unto itself for Torben, that for Syanna, trust and safety were a currency that she had not been free to use in a long, long time. It was another heartbreaking realization in what was a long, growing list of them.

“My time on the road as a Knight has taught me something rather interesting,” He began, their path taking them further from the palace behind them, further and further to the outskirts of the city, as best Torben could tell. “That monsters tend to live in tall buildings with curtain walls, dressed in silks and jewels from their lofty perches.” He made a casual glance back off towards the palace of Beauclair, a wry smile settling onto his lips. "No small wonder that I'd choose to keep to the company of those such a monster threatens instead." It was then that his attention returned to Syanna. “You are brave to live in the shadow of such a monster’s roost. I can’t help but wonder…why, if you don’t mind the inquiry?”

[knightofaedirn]

“A Witcher?” Torben repeated, wide eyed with his shield raised and sword drawn against the second of the creatures. Now that was wonderful news, given just what they were facing. Torben had been anticipating something less…leathal that whatever these winged, scaled monsters were. A single blow from one of them looked hazardous enough to spell the end for him. So it was, his strategy adapted… To be a distraction. Which, for Torben’s part, seemed to be working for the most part so far. The second of the wyverns had turned away from the Witcheress, its bright, hungry eyes focused solely on him now. It stalked forward with a snarl, teeth bared, ready to make a meal out of him. Torben merely saw the blur that the Witcheress became as she moved, a white shadow amidst the trees, and all he heard was the roar of the other creature. Now that was an encouraging sound, Torben thought, a grimace passing across his lips. It would have been a reason to holler in triumph, if not for the fact that he was being pressed by the wyvern. Having given enough ground, Torben raised his sword over his shield in a short, swift thrust. A warning, if that, to give the creature pause in its advance. Which served to keep the wyvern from claiming any more ground, at the very least. It snarled, swiping at his shield with its claws. A swift step back spared Torben, and his shield, from potential peril.

So their dance would continue, it would seem. Until the Witcheress had dispatched the other monster.

[starwrittenfates]

Ciri turned to where Torben was, seeing he was still trying to fight off his wyvern. Disappearing in a flash, she followed suit as she had with the other creature, appearing here and there in the blink of an eye, trying to get it's attention and lure it into a trap in order to take it down.

After successfully managing to do so, she sliced off the head of it, knowing to keep it as a trophy of proof for a contract being completed. She went to Kelpie, her horse, and tied it to the side of her saddle.

The witcheress glanced at the knight with a smile. "Yes, I'm a Witcher. Just like my father. My name is Ciri. Are you doing okay? The wyvern didn't get you, did it?"

[knightofaedirn]

Now that was something that Torben had never seen before. The way this Witcher disappeared in a brilliant flash, fading into the air as if she were made of the wind itself, only to re-emerge here, then there. It was no wonder that she found the opportune position to cleave straight through the back of the gryphon’s neck, the beast collapsing onto the forest floor with a primal shriek and a spurt of fluid that Torben could only assume was the creature’s blood.

Just like that, the contest was over. The beasts had been bested and all Torben could do was stand there, heart hammering away in his chest, and marvel at just what he’d witnessed. “Now that, that was something.” He said, sheathing his unbloodied sword. The freed hand went to his brow, wiping the gathering sweat from it. A winded grin flashed across his face, a hand raising to wave away any concern there was for his person. “I’m fine, I’m fine. There was a close call, though.” He remarked, a nod made towards the deep scratches dug into the pine of his shield. The field of black with its red and yellow chevrons, the color of Aedirn, would certainly need to be repainted. 

“Pleased to meet you, Ciri of…” Torben left the question of where she called home to be answered, if she so chose. “Not everyday you meet a Witcher on the Path. I’d call it a lucky day, especially if I’d come upon one of those gryphons on my own.”

[knightofaedirn]

Torben read just how tense Rhena was becoming from their conversation, and immediately felt regret for having broached the topic at hand altogether. Here they were, trying to go about their business as best they could, and suddenly deep, painful wounds were being spoken of. “I’m sorry, Rhena. We can talk of other things, if you prefer…I didn’t intend for us to speak about the horrors of the past.” Concern was etched on Torben’s face as she continued on. He raised a hand, intending to place it gently upon her shoulder and gave it as reassuring of a squeeze as could be mustered.“It’s a strange world we live in where the cruel are exalted and the decent are a rarity. I suppose it just makes the decent all the more valuable. Like you.” A smile flashed across his lips then, mood lightening.  “You are showing a stranger from the North around and giving him the gift of your time, and are by far the kindest person I’ve met since being here for that.” It was then that he reflected upon her words, about an exiled Princess. “It’s not a tale that I know…” Torben said carefully, the threads of her previous words being bound together in his mind with this story. “Is this the same one who was abused and starved?” 

A frown settled on his lips as the tale circulated in his mind, the discontent only building with each and every pass it made. “And it was the ‘Golden Knights’ that carried out these crimes.” This was a statement, one that tasted bitter as Torben spoke it. Bitter, but unsurprising. Such was the norm in these times, it would seem. The powerful abused the weak and escaped justice, for they were the justice in the land.

“How do you know of this?” Torben inquired. “What happened to that Princess? Is she alright?” Something clicked, and Torben carried on his questions further, but his tone dropped to a near whisper. “Are you her courier?”

[starwrittenfates]

Syanna supposed this was her cue to tell him. It was obvious and clear that she could trust him with this, but yet, it was also best she remain cautious just in case. Taking in a deep breath, she answered. "I am not her courier. I know this because...I'm her, Sir Torben. My name isn't Rhena. It's a name I gave myself after I was exiled in order to protect myself from the Knights who might try to track me down and finish the job."

She placed a hand behind her back in that typical military pose anytime she was nervous or angry. Anxiety was coursing through her veins, but she wanted to believe she could trust him -- trust someone out here besides just Dettlaff.

"My name is Sylvia Anna, but you can call me Syanna. I was just a young girl when I was exiled from my home in Toussaint. My parents and the court would have given the reason for it being I was evil and cursed because I was born under the black sun, but...that's not true. You don't believe those stories, do you?"

To hear someone refer to her as being a kind person was a bit surprising. She was not used to such kindness or compliments. Everyone around her had always expected her to be a monster...so who was she to fail expectations?

[knightofaedirn]

Confusion flashed in Torben’s eyes as she spoke, the pieces coming together in a way that was utterly unexpected for the Knight. She was the exiled Princess? The one who survived such mistreatment and still found the kindness to share words with a stranger…no, not just a stranger. A stranger who was the very thing that had done her so much wrong.

Torben waited for a twitch of her lips, mischief in the eyes, anything that might give away that this was some sort of jape. Something other than the cold, hard truth that the one he shared words with was, indeed, who she said she was. Not out of fear, for this alleged cursed woman, carrying the ‘taint’ of the Black Sun. But because for a man who so loved his words, what words could possibly be said to someone who had endured so much?

It was why, for one of those impeccably rare times, words simply failed Torben. Lips parted as he searched for something to say, but whatever ones sought to form on the tip of his tongue may as well have been blown away like leaves caught in the breeze in the autumn. So it was that he kept that hand on her shoulder, and let the silence hang, until words finally flew forth. “I do not believe it, no. I don’t believe such stories either. What I do believe…is you.” Torben always had been one swift to trust, to his own peril. But this time it simply felt right. For he also, despite when he was wrong, believed himself to be a good judge of character. “Are you safe here?” Torben made as subtle of a gesture to the greater area around them, but especially towards the palace. “Do you need an escort out of here?”

[knightofaedirn]

Rules Page Update

No major changes, but give it a gander if the mood strikes ya!

[knightofaedirn]

Starter for @starwrittenfates

There was nothing quite like the autumns in the Northern Kingdoms, Torben thought. The color of the changing leaves in the thick of the southern forests of Velen told the tale of the seasons change in plumes of brilliant yellows, oranges and reds that made it seem like the forests were ablaze. Given the war that the Nilfgaardians brought with them to Temeria, that fate may still befall these forests. Torben had seen the scorched remains of villages on the ride up from the south, following in the wake of Nilfgaard’s latest attempt at imperial conquest. In terms of the destruction it brought this was certainly their most successful excursion. Such thoughts threatened to sour Torben’s mood, and it was too beautiful of a morning for such a thing. Not when the scent of the decomposing leaves beneath the hooves of his horse brought an earthy scent to the air, the morning sun was peaking through the canopy of the trees and the sound of… The sound of battle? Torben halted his horse, whose slow canter had been taking him along what must’ve been a hunting trail used by the locals, and strained to listen. He knew he had heard…there. The sound of some creature snarling, the grunts of exertion, the sound was coming from the thick of the woods. Too deep and with ground too rugged to go charging atop horseback. Dismounting, and tying his horse to a nearby tree, Torben set off into the thick of it, nearby branches trying their hardest to become tangled in the plates of his steel and in the flaps of his cloak. Yet still he pressed forward, the sounds growing louder, and clearer, with each and every footstep. Until he was upon a sight that was like something out of a tall tale at a roadside inn from a man in their cups. A woman with a sword, bringing the fight to a creature that Torben could only describe as monstrous. With fangs, claws and shrieks that sounded otherworldly to a man accustomed to the most dangerous thing was meeting bandits. What was worse, there were two of them. One was being pressed back by the sword wielding stranger, the other, similarly looking fiend, sought to creep upon their would-be prey from the rear while she was facing down the first of them. “Watch out!” Torben bellowed before the good sense to do anything but shout came to mind as he drew his sword, fought to free his shield from behind him, and charged the second of the creatures without plan nor strategy beyond seeking to spare this stranger from being gutted from behind.

[starwrittenfates]

The witcheress had found herself up against a pair of Wyverns. It had been a long time since she last saw one, but just like before, she believed she could easily deal with this. Even if there were two of them. All she had to do was stay focused on them, avoid any venom they tried to spit her way, watch the tails and don't get snatch up as food for their nest. Oh...and don't forget the talons or teeth.

Picking up her sword and holding it, Ciri knew the only way to go about this was to dodge their attacks and then do a series of fast attacks. Maybe throw some grapeshot in between for good measure too.

However, she didn't expect someone new to show up. A knight of all people. He appeared to be wearing colors for Aedrin from what she could quickly pick up and glance. Her eyes had to remain on the Wyverns or else!

"I know what I'm doing! I'm a Witcher!" Ciri shouted before dodging a swipe from the talons. "Be careful. They can spit venom and may try to carry you off. Keep an eye on that one and dodge as much as you can. Quick attacks too. I'll try to take down this one!"

Just like before, she would try to surprise it and take it down. That was the only way to do it. Using her abilities, Ciri disappeared in a series of flashes, trying to direct the Wyvern, before she managed to get a good slice in on the one she was focused with. The creature roared, staggering back, before she managed to take the final blow.

[knightofaedirn]

“A Witcher?” Torben repeated, wide eyed with his shield raised and sword drawn against the second of the creatures. Now that was wonderful news, given just what they were facing. Torben had been anticipating something less…leathal that whatever these winged, scaled monsters were. A single blow from one of them looked hazardous enough to spell the end for him. So it was, his strategy adapted… To be a distraction. Which, for Torben’s part, seemed to be working for the most part so far. The second of the wyverns had turned away from the Witcheress, its bright, hungry eyes focused solely on him now. It stalked forward with a snarl, teeth bared, ready to make a meal out of him. Torben merely saw the blur that the Witcheress became as she moved, a white shadow amidst the trees, and all he heard was the roar of the other creature. Now that was an encouraging sound, Torben thought, a grimace passing across his lips. It would have been a reason to holler in triumph, if not for the fact that he was being pressed by the wyvern. Having given enough ground, Torben raised his sword over his shield in a short, swift thrust. A warning, if that, to give the creature pause in its advance. Which served to keep the wyvern from claiming any more ground, at the very least. It snarled, swiping at his shield with its claws. A swift step back spared Torben, and his shield, from potential peril.

So their dance would continue, it would seem. Until the Witcheress had dispatched the other monster.

[knightofaedirn]

Reply for @starwrittenfates from here (Thank you again for picking this one up with me, it was a blast to make this my first reply back!)

They had strayed farther from the tournament grounds than Torben had realized, only now Torben had realized that. The sound of mallet upon wood that was the scaffolding and the stands being erected found itself but a murmur in the high heat of the summer air, and for that he found himself truly thankful. For he’d have cursed the engineers and workmen for their commotion if Rhena’s words had been missed. Especially not this conversation.

Torben’s stride lessened as she spoke, just as the smile that had previously roosted upon his lips had migrated into a frown. Until he stopped entirely. His frown only solidified as Rhena’s experience with these golden knights and their tarnished…deeds. No, their crimes. That any who dared to call themselves a protector of the innocent, a defender of the weak would befoul themselves with such horrid deeds stood in mockery of everything that they ought to be.

‘Or…were they?’ Gnawed that voice of doubt in the back of Torben’s mind. That voice that had bore witness to all the terrible things he had seen upon the road done by the hands of his fellow ‘defenders of the people’. The butchery of farm boys who held a pitchfork in their trembling hands against castle forged steel. The heartless enforcing of an edict from some landed lord, throwing some poor family and their meager possessions into the muddy ditch alongside a village road for whatever slight they made against the liege of the land. Dishonors…so vile that the memory of them served to chill Torben’s blood even in the sweltering depths of a Toussaint summer. At what point did the bad wash out the good? How could it be that the Knights here were as sullied as those in the North? At what point would faith in something finally buckle?

“Your opinion is worth more than their gold, Rhena. Thank you for it. Truly.” Torben began, eyes studying the downturned head of this courier as he sought to riddle it all out. The truth of her words were never in doubt to him, that was for certain. For what reason would she have to lie? Beyond that, the weight of them was heavy for her. They carried the weight of personal experience to them, not the airy flow of gossip of a tale spread around the local inn. No…these words she spoke were smelted in the fires of trauma, and for that his heart ached.

The only part that gave him pause was the remarks about this young, victimized girl being royalty. When the woman who gifted him with the honesty pf her tale was…a courier. Obviously. Even Torben, as thick as a castle wall as he was, knew that. That was what she’d told him, after all. 

But, there the inquiry found itself forgotten before it even sprung forth from his lips. Such a thing mattered little in the shade of what was known. The cold, horrible truth that this good, innocent person had been the victim of such horrible treatment. At the hands of one who ought to have stood against such injustice at that.

“I am sorry, for what happened to you. They were no true Knights.”

[starwrittenfates]

His words touched Syanna, making her freeze at hearing them. She never thought she would hear a Knight apologizing for what had been done to her, or much less mean it too. It all felt so foreign and strange. But then again...she didn't think it would be possible since it was Knight's who were responsible for the torture and trauma she had endured by their hands.

"I..." she struggled to speak the words, still rendered speechless. "I...uh...thank you? I'm sorry, it's all still fresh for me. Even if it was years ago, the nightmare is still there clear as day, always haunting me. It is good to know that there is a Knight out here though that still holds true to their promise of virtues. It is a rarity it seems."

Could she trust in letting him know her secret? That her name wasn't Rhena, but she was in fact one of the exiled princesses born under a Black Sun. It was a risk -- a big one -- but perhaps he had earned her trust. And yet...she had her reasons for being as cautious as she was. Normally people didn't react positively if you revealed yourself to be "cursed", or whatever superstitious lies others were spreading.

"Sir Torben...have you heard about the forgotten and exiled princess from Toussaint?" She would be surprised if he had. At some point after her exile, her parents had wiped Syanna and her existence from the records as easy as that. But maybe he was someone who would remember the truth? "Not many know Her Enlightened Ladyship, Anna Henreitta, the duchess of Toussaint, had a sister. Or they were probably at least ordered to not speak of her."

[knightofaedirn]

Torben read just how tense Rhena was becoming from their conversation, and immediately felt regret for having broached the topic at hand altogether. Here they were, trying to go about their business as best they could, and suddenly deep, painful wounds were being spoken of. “I’m sorry, Rhena. We can talk of other things, if you prefer…I didn’t intend for us to speak about the horrors of the past.” Concern was etched on Torben’s face as she continued on. He raised a hand, intending to place it gently upon her shoulder and gave it as reassuring of a squeeze as could be mustered.“It’s a strange world we live in where the cruel are exalted and the decent are a rarity. I suppose it just makes the decent all the more valuable. Like you.” A smile flashed across his lips then, mood lightening.  “You are showing a stranger from the North around and giving him the gift of your time, and are by far the kindest person I’ve met since being here for that.” It was then that he reflected upon her words, about an exiled Princess. “It’s not a tale that I know…” Torben said carefully, the threads of her previous words being bound together in his mind with this story. “Is this the same one who was abused and starved?” 

A frown settled on his lips as the tale circulated in his mind, the discontent only building with each and every pass it made. “And it was the ‘Golden Knights’ that carried out these crimes.” This was a statement, one that tasted bitter as Torben spoke it. Bitter, but unsurprising. Such was the norm in these times, it would seem. The powerful abused the weak and escaped justice, for they were the justice in the land.

“How do you know of this?” Torben inquired. “What happened to that Princess? Is she alright?” Something clicked, and Torben carried on his questions further, but his tone dropped to a near whisper. “Are you her courier?”

[starwrittenfates]

"No one works harder than a girl who realized there's no one coming to save her and she has to be the one who's going to build her dream life."

#𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 is an indie, selective & mutuals only MULTIMUSE roleplay blog featuring 𝐌𝐎𝐈𝐑𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍, an Original Character based in FX’s ALIEN: EARTH & the ALIEN FRANCHISE. Fated by Serenity (21+.) ↳ Crossover & OC friendly with multiple verses coming soon. Open to interactions with other sci-fi fandoms!

[knightofaedirn]

Starter for @starwrittenfates

There was nothing quite like the autumns in the Northern Kingdoms, Torben thought. The color of the changing leaves in the thick of the southern forests of Velen told the tale of the seasons change in plumes of brilliant yellows, oranges and reds that made it seem like the forests were ablaze. Given the war that the Nilfgaardians brought with them to Temeria, that fate may still befall these forests. Torben had seen the scorched remains of villages on the ride up from the south, following in the wake of Nilfgaard’s latest attempt at imperial conquest. In terms of the destruction it brought this was certainly their most successful excursion. Such thoughts threatened to sour Torben’s mood, and it was too beautiful of a morning for such a thing. Not when the scent of the decomposing leaves beneath the hooves of his horse brought an earthy scent to the air, the morning sun was peaking through the canopy of the trees and the sound of… The sound of battle? Torben halted his horse, whose slow canter had been taking him along what must’ve been a hunting trail used by the locals, and strained to listen. He knew he had heard…there. The sound of some creature snarling, the grunts of exertion, the sound was coming from the thick of the woods. Too deep and with ground too rugged to go charging atop horseback. Dismounting, and tying his horse to a nearby tree, Torben set off into the thick of it, nearby branches trying their hardest to become tangled in the plates of his steel and in the flaps of his cloak. Yet still he pressed forward, the sounds growing louder, and clearer, with each and every footstep. Until he was upon a sight that was like something out of a tall tale at a roadside inn from a man in their cups. A woman with a sword, bringing the fight to a creature that Torben could only describe as monstrous. With fangs, claws and shrieks that sounded otherworldly to a man accustomed to the most dangerous thing was meeting bandits. What was worse, there were two of them. One was being pressed back by the sword wielding stranger, the other, similarly looking fiend, sought to creep upon their would-be prey from the rear while she was facing down the first of them. “Watch out!” Torben bellowed before the good sense to do anything but shout came to mind as he drew his sword, fought to free his shield from behind him, and charged the second of the creatures without plan nor strategy beyond seeking to spare this stranger from being gutted from behind.

[knightofaedirn]

“Nobody could ever claim you are a coward, at least.” Torben remarked, a baffled smile claiming his lips as the finality of their victory was confirmed in the fact that their opponents had fled. From their own ambush at that. A roadside ambush was as common as spring rains in times such as these with war having engulphed the Northern Realms once again. Deserters, broken men, opportunists, cutthroats and muggers. Vagabonds all. That much was obvious from their weapons. Steel, but poorly kept at that. Here and there Torben spotted the royal blues of Temeria on the dirty surcoats of the fallen. Having given up on pursuing the war for banditry. There were no more dangerous men in the whole of the Continent, Torben knew. For these bandits knew their lives were forfeit if they were caught by either side. Which was what surprised Torben to his unexpected compatriot’s fearlessness when she had come upon Torben doing his best to fend off the ambush he’d stumbled into. He’d not seen someone fight with so little self preservation in all his days. It was…unnerving. Concern laced his expression as he surveyed his rescuer once more.

Torben sat upon a stone on the side of the road and fished out a cloth from on his person and set to the task of cleaning the blood from his blade with practiced hands, but his attention was squarely on the stranger. “The harm would be in the world without you in it, friend. Surely that would be a loss. Are you wounded?"

Reply for @dcvium

[dcvium]

A soft, almost purr-like rumble formed in the little elf's throat. It was a thinking sound, nothing more. A strange thinking sound, but a thinking sound. She surveyed the less than satisfactory scene around them. They should have died better. Slower. Gagging and gurgling and dripping and--- Nimue pulled herself from those thoughts, the thoughts she was sure weren't really her own. Normal. Be normal, Nim. There was a person here who wasn't a foe. Be normal.

"I don't think it's bravery. Bravery would be giving me too much credit." Wouldn't it? It didn't feel like something so kind should be applied to someone with such dark thoughts. But... he didn't know, so he was just a kind person, then. Would it really be a loss if the world lost a monster?

An ear twitched, head tilting as he asked if she was injured. There was blood at her mouth--- was it hers? Had she bitten an attacker in the heat of combat? Her tongue flicked out to clean the blood away, a cut to her lip becoming clear. So, that was it.

"Nothing that won't heal, I don't think? I'm a quick healer." She peered over at him. "Are you all right? It wasn't me they were targeting."

[knightofaedirn]

The noise produced by the Elf gave Torben just a moment of pause, an inquisitive look creasing the corners of his eyes. It was certainly nothing like anything he had heard throughout his adventures across the Continent, and he’d been from the wilderness of Kaedwen to the banks of the Yaruga and beyond. Yet, just like that, his attention returned to the task at hand, cleaning the blood from the blade.

“Call it whatever you choose then, friend. It saved my life. Thank you.  I’m in your debt.” The notion of that brought an amused grin to Torben’s lips. He was a Knight. If the stories were anything to go off of, he was the one that was supposed to be riding in and saving the day. Not the other way around.

The cut to his savior’s lip was noticed now, and there came that look of concern all over again. Rising from the stone on which he sat, Torben sheathed his sword and offered up a white cloth. “Fast healer or not, you are still bleeding. Do you want me to take a look at it?”

The question at hand turned to his own well being, which Torben grinned at as his other hand thumped across the steel of his breastplate. “Thankfully my steel held true. They weren’t used to ambushing more than a farmer and their family I’d reckon. Today it was a Knight and…” Only then did the realization dawn upon him. “I’ve not asked your name! My apologies. I’m Torben. What do they call you? Are you from Dol Blathanna?”

Reply for @dcvium

[dcvium]

@knightofaedirn asked:

"Is it worth dying for?"

What a terrible question to ask someone who put absolutely no value on their own life. "I'm okay with dying." No one would have to suffer her anymore. Her violence would die with her. "If I need to die, then I will. Better just me than anyone else, right?" Innocents would live, even a Witcher's life was better saved than a cursed one such as herself. "If I kill it, it's dead. If I fail, no harm done." Except her being dead, of course.

[knightofaedirn]

“Nobody could ever claim you are a coward, at least.” Torben remarked, a baffled smile claiming his lips as the finality of their victory was confirmed in the fact that their opponents had fled. From their own ambush at that. A roadside ambush was as common as spring rains in times such as these with war having engulphed the Northern Realms once again. Deserters, broken men, opportunists, cutthroats and muggers. Vagabonds all. That much was obvious from their weapons. Steel, but poorly kept at that. Here and there Torben spotted the royal blues of Temeria on the dirty surcoats of the fallen. Having given up on pursuing the war for banditry. There were no more dangerous men in the whole of the Continent, Torben knew. For these bandits knew their lives were forfeit if they were caught by either side. Which was what surprised Torben to his unexpected compatriot’s fearlessness when she had come upon Torben doing his best to fend off the ambush he’d stumbled into. He’d not seen someone fight with so little self preservation in all his days. It was…unnerving. Concern laced his expression as he surveyed his rescuer once more.

Torben sat upon a stone on the side of the road and fished out a cloth from on his person and set to the task of cleaning the blood from his blade with practiced hands, but his attention was squarely on the stranger. “The harm would be in the world without you in it, friend. Surely that would be a loss. Are you wounded?"

Reply for @dcvium

[knightofaedirn]

Aedirnian armor from Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

*Chef kiss* I can't help but love it lol

When Torben is truly wearing armor, and not just chain mail beneath boiled leather THIS is what I'm imagining ^.^

[knightofaedirn]

Demavend the Third about to lose his mind at seeing how swol Letho is, 2025, Colorized.

[ohisms]

↪ 𝑽𝑨𝑵 𝑯𝑬𝑳𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑮 . ( a collection of sentence starters from the 2004 film . adjust phrasing as necessary . mature themes present . )

oh , [ name ] . it's just you .

where are you going to run , [ name ] ?

what are you saying ?

why do you think i brought you here ?

you said you believed in my work .

i would kill myself before helping in such a task .

you've been so kind to me , [ name ] .

you can't kill me , [ name ] .

so , you're the great [ name ] .

we all have our little problems .

let's make it your decision , shall we ?

i wish you a week in hell .

why don't you do something about it ?

this is all a test of faith .

i can curse all i want , dammit .

you . turn around .

strangers don't last long here .

the laws of men mean little to me .

i don't need your help .

you stay here . they're trying to kill me .

nice to see you too , [ name ] .

did i do something to you in a past life ?

i hope you do have a heart , [ name ] . because someday i'd like to drive a stake through it .

your reputation precedes you .

i am hollow ! and i will live ... forever .

please , say you will not try again .

do not fear me ... everybody else fears me .

i was unprepared . it won't happen again .

do you understand forgiveness ?

i would rather die than help you .

don't be boring , everyone who says that always dies .

may he rest in peace .

how long has it been , 300 , 400 years ?

you don't remember , do you ?

what exactly is it i am to be remembering ?

it's no surprise you would know all about me .

we have such history , you and i .

have you ever wondered why you have such horrific nightmares ?

[ name ] , it's alright , i'm taking you home .

what , did you think we haven't tried everything before ?

no one knows how to kill [ name ] .

i could have used that information earlier .

would you like me to refresh your memory a little ?

allow me to ... reintroduce myself .

i think we've overstayed our welcome .

don't give me that look .

you were right . i'm sorry .

monster ? who's the monster here ? i have done nothing wrong !

look , there's still time .

you were right . i'm sorry .

do you have any family , [ name ] ?

if you value your lives , and the lives of your kin , you will kill me .

evil may have created it , may have left its mark on it , but evil does not rule it .

now you know why they call me a murderer .

oh my god ... you've been bitten .

so much trouble ... so much trouble .

now you will become that which you hunted so passionately . may others be as passionate in their hunting of you .

don't worry , god will forgive us .

how many commandments can we break in one day ?

oh my god , you should be terrified .

how does it feel to be a puppet on my string ?

neither of us has ever settled for half .

you make my skin crawl .

i'm not gonna like this , am i ?

one brief moment of pain , and we can be together forever .

you have no heartbeat .

you are nothing but damned bones , and damned souls .

well , that doesn't sound like a good thing .

we don't have a choice . just don't get killed .

you don't understand , it doesn't matter what happens to me .

god is not the only one that can create life .

you can't go until i say you can go , and i say you can go when you're dead !

you're supposed to die .

we are both part of the same great game , [ name ] , we just find ourselves on opposite sides of the board .

you are being used , [ name ] , as was i . but i escaped , so can you .

if you're going to kill someone , kill them . don't stand there talking about it .

all i want is life . the continuation of my kind .

some things are better left forgotten .

[kuzcosources]

Ouija ask meme!

Spell out a word and the mun will answer according to each letter. (Individual letters are fine, too!)

A - Does your muse believe everything is absolute? Or do they believe that anything could be changed if they tried hard enough?

B - If your muse had to write a book, what would it be about?

C - What are the most severe consequences to their actions your muse has suffered?

D - What are your muses deepest desires?

E - Does your muse consider themselves an empathetic person?

F - Does your muse believe in fate or fortune? Why or why not?

G - What are some things your muse is grateful for?

H - Where does your muse consider home? Physical or metaphorical?

I - Is your muse intuitive? Do they rely on their instincts or luck?

J - What would your muse go to jail for? What are they willing to put themselves on the line for?

K - What does your muse consider themselves knowledgeable in?

L - What lie is at the center of your muse’s world view?

M - What would your muse do if they were a millionaire? If they are already wealthy, what would they be doing if they didn’t have money?

N - Is your muse a positive or negative person?

O - What does your muse do if they’re overwhelmed?

P - Does your muse have powers? Do they abuse said powers or do they use them for good?

Q - What is a quirk that makes your muse stand out?

R - Is your muse religious? Do they believe in a higher power? How do they feel about religion in general?

S - What scares your muse? What terrifies them to their core?

T - What is a truth about your muse personally that they refuse to acknowledge?

U - What is your muse hiding under their bed?

V - Does your muse have paralyzing vulnerabilities? If so, what are they?

W - What’s wrong with your muse?

X - Does your muse rely on drugs such as Xanax or any OTC (over the counter) medication?

Y -What was your muse’s youth like?

Z - Is there a specific time where your muse is at their zenith (their most powerful)?

YES - Would your muse be considered a yes man? If so, why?

NO - What is one thing your muse will say no to, every time asked, no matter what?

HELLO - What’s your muse’s way of greeting people? How do they say hello?

GOODBYE - Is your muse prepared to say goodbye when they die? Are they ready?