lyrium ghost

Am I meant to forgive them, no matter how many times they hunt me down? Am I meant to forget all the things they've done to me? // isola-affiliated fenris from dragon age, as penned by eden. read rules and about before interacting.

[laesocorde-blog]

rexerrat‌:

@laesocorde oo1. // s.c.

{ 👑 } A SQUELCH OF BLOOD AND VISCERA underfoot, the violence of an event from many hours ago. He was lucky to see the city in his sights return to NORMAL, but at what cost? Surely the signals would ring loudly in his ears once more Tongue slips betwixt thin lips, ARTFUL thoughts becoming him, as RARE they may be.

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE SO MADNESS inducing as a shifting city.

HE HAS BEEN HANDLING THIS REPRIEVE worse than he should. No ability willed into being to cause a restful sleep, he’s wandering the streets, as he ALWAYS seems to. A grimace locking upon his sharp features, canines a snarl as he seems to put forth all of his efforts into keeping his body moving. What if I fall asleep and I open up my eyes to one of those THINGS?

DESPITE KNOWING THE HORRIFYINGLY UNIQUE PROPERTIES of the city in this situation, he swears he’s hallucinating the sight before him. A lack of sleep INDEED! What garnet hues behold defy physics, a figure walking on AIR! Of course, the snow haired individual would see a city different from the one he was in, but even so, the sight was rather silly. He’s seen flying and floating in the air, but not walking.

❝HAVE I GONE MADDER THAN I usually am? Please tell me you’re seeing floor beneath your feet. UNLESS I’ve met the first elf who can walk on air …❞

this city has a way of performing some great disturbance right as one becomes settled, and he could almost curse himself for relaying the thought to his housemate. mere hours later, he finds himself a victim of the terrible ringing, and fragments of minrathous and seheron slot themselves over the island architecture every time he looks away.

fenris’s immediate disgust is lessened by the fact that the city’s new skin is not teeming with the dead and the oppressors. the warrior has yet to draw against any monster, but has heard their wailing and scrounging about in the dark.

new pathways to higher ground have revealed themselves, and fenris takes them.

unless any assailants can fly or attack from range, it’s as safe a vantage point as any — at least until there is a break in the signal.

a voice from below draws him from his watch. he has to resist the urge to make a joke at the man’s expense.

❝ there is something beneath me, though it is less a floor than stone columns joined by arches. can you not see them? ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

exaliant‌:

“I’m sure whatever you have to offer is helpful; Any experience different than mine is helpful in these situations, I gather.”

Still, though he was eager to talk to the few people from other worlds that he did meet…it still was only for information; he needed understanding, and for that he needed intel. This was…at the very least a different situation, as these two were sharing board.

(And for that matter, he had to wonder exactly what he meant by ‘if he was he’d know’)

“So with that in mind, you’re welcome to share or as much or as little as you please.”

he really is no expert, but for the unassuming captive even his scattered recollection of experiences could be perceived as worth some sort of benefit.

❝ i am sure you will be able to find your way about the mundane on your own, but you must know that there are... battles, occasionally. against any manner of creature. both times that i’ve arrived here, it has been in the midst of some conflict. ❞

from what fenris has gathered, there is no way to predict when violence will occur, and thus no way to prepare. 

❝ that’s the only information i have of any importance. i have not the mind to do as much exploring as others. ❞

he would never admit that it was due to his want to avoid being overwhelmed, but alas.

[wrathofthelvhen-blog]

🌼 culture shock!

[laesocorde-blog]

wrathofthelvhen‌:

    Admittedly, when the door swung open and she was met with Fenris’ less than pleased visage, her shoulders tensed. Last she’d seen him was on a battle field with chaos booming around them, which was, shockingly, very different from sitting in a painfully quiet hallway. Here, she had no reason to duck away or try and escape the conversation. No distractions, just her stuck staring at him like a Halla caught in a hunter’s crosshairs. How pathetic.

    Merrill braced herself for a talking to that never came, and when she was instead met with concern, she shakily let out the breath she’d been holding much too long.

    ❝ How could you guess? ❞ She asked, the absolute faintest smile twitching onto her lips, ❝ Creators willing, i’d love to be out of your hair and not bother you at such an awful time, but… ❞

    She took to awkwardly shifting on her feet. If she was being honest, she was surprised he didn’t slam the door in her face before talking to her. Half of her didn’t think she’d even get this far… Fenris wasn’t exactly on her side in most things.

   ❝ Um― If you wouldn’t mind, I would very much so like to come inside. I―I promise it’s only for a short while! ❞ Her grip on her satchel’s strap was tight as a vice. Poor thing was definitely desperate, just short of begging the man. And Merrill begging for anything is never a fun sight.

fenris has never been the kindest to merrill. he knows that his old wounds make him this way, but they do not make merrill any less deserving of the consideration he would afford to someone else. he puts his reservations aside for now, lest they both remain alone in an unfamiliar world.

❝ just a hunch, ❞ he says, poking fun at the obviosity of her stress. he doesn’t quite smile back, but his face isn’t so downturned. fenris moves aside so that he is not taking up the doorway, leaving merrill room to come in.

❝ it’s alright. i had no plans, ❞ he explains, interrupting her rambling before she can start up again. he cannot imagine how she has survived her day-to-day this long. fenris knows that he is contributing in no small part to merrill’s worries in this current moment by virtue of his past behavior, and hopes his cognizance of the fact and resulting attempt to be kinder will not be taken as some sort of trick.

he resists the urge to tell her not to worry so much.

❝ come on. ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

lordspeaker‌:

it bothered him that he could not place the source of the familiarity he felt. as much as he would like to respond in kind, he had fallen somewhat out of practice with the delicate dance of manners required to fake a memory to that effect. in ishgard it had been well-practiced; such was the fate of a person of any substantive office.

but such preoccupations served no purpose.

“i am aymeric. a pleasure.” his eyes moved from the fruit in fenris’s hand to his face once more. “as well as one can be in a place such as this, knowing that their work goes unfinished while they are held captive here.” a thought struck him. “tell me; how much has changed to your eyes since last you saw this city?” perhaps the answer might tell him of their past acquaintanceship.

❝ when last i arrived, it was not long before there was a battle against monsters. i remember your assistance then, ❞ fenris answers. he cannot pull forward the clearest of memories, but he has no doubt that it was aymeric. ❝ i am captured a second time, and lo and behold — there is another battle. it must seem an inconvenience by now. ❞

when its residents are not being forced to repel and recover from disaster, they are left to wallow in the worries that followed them from their own worlds. aymeric’s frustration is well-founded.

❝ i imagine you’ve been here for a long while — apologies. it looks much the same as it did before. some new additions here and there, i suppose. ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

exaliant‌:

“Well, its a pleasure to meet you, I hope I’m not too much of a bother,” He gave a slight dip, not quite feeling the full gentleman’s bow but still feeling the need to be courteous. “It’d seem there’s plenty here from my world and…I have many contacts.”

Though he was leaving, Fenris’ words were all too worrying. Twice?? If he were to truly leave here, did that mean he had no true peace of mind back home…? “If the occasion bringing you out isn’t too pressing I’d like to ask you more about this place…”

He wanted to ask more, to say more….but he had to remember that here he was just another person, helpless, this one knew nothing of his plights beyond simply well..being here. It’d do him no good to have enemies living in the same space as he did– the topic of assassination still a heavy one. 

❝ no bother at all. you would know if you were. ❞

fenris makes no move to return his roommate’s awkward gesture. dimitri seems about as uncomfortable speaking to new people as he is. though not normally one to sit through pleasantries, he holds at the door.

❝ i will tell you what i can, but i have to warn you — it isn’t much. ❞

if he had to guess, he doubts that any soul taken from another world knows anything about the island beyond what it takes to survive and to form a daily routine. the actual workings are an unknown.

[wrathofthelvhen-blog]

🌼 culture shock!

[laesocorde-blog]

wrathofthelvhen‌:

✧ Starter for @laesocorde

    What if he wasn’t home? What if this wasn’t even the right place and whoever gave her directions was just trying to make a fool of herself? Merrill had been pacing around the floor of some Cotes brownstone for about 10 minutes now, worriedly wringing her hands and going over the possible ways she could humiliate herself by knocking on this door.

    It was no secret at this point that she was lost and confused, anyone could see that. Disoriented from all the new assaults on her senses, she could hardly even tell which way was up sometimes! She needed help, and who better to get it from than someone who didn’t like her. Seeking out Fenris and bothering him was certainly less scary than putting her trust in humans she didn’t know.

    ❝ The worst he’ll do is give you an earful. He’s done it before, you can handle that! Come on, Merrill, stone up! ❞  She said aloud to herself, face scrunched up with determination.

    Clutching her satchel tight, she finally put her foot down (literally) and turned on her heel to face the door. She could do this! She had to do this, or else she’d―

    As her hand was about to make contact, the door to the apartment she’d been stomping around outside of swung open with quite the force. Well, so much for knocking!

it’s a rare day when all of the people he shares a residence with are out going about their activities at the same time, but his peace and quiet is soon cut into by the sound of someone walking about the floor outside, back and forth, lingering.

fenris is ready to tell the offending individual to leave, but he opens the door to merrill instead of a stranger. anger is quick to dissipate into mild irritation, and he sighs.

❝ you would have worn holes in the floor, had you kept pacing, ❞ he says, but he is not harsh with her. he hasn’t seen merrill since the battle some months back. the look on her face alone is enough to tell fenris that she has yet to adjust. it’s understandable; he hasn’t either, and merrill has an exacting talent for getting lost.

even mired in his tendency to avoid spending time with her in kirkwall, fenris knows that she errs on the side of absentminded and anxious from time to time.

❝ i won’t ask how you found out where i live. am i correct in my assumption that you need help? ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

exaliant‌:

Though he hadn’t seen much of his roomates, Dimitri was honestly certain it may have been for the best. His nights here were restless, enough that he often had to have the comfort of his compatriots….he was mortified at how his roomates would even think of it. It would only grow worse, with how many from his world were showing up here (or were they just phantoms? He still wasn’t sure)

He finally caught sight of one of them today, finally.

“Hello, I’m sharing this space with you now, it seems–I hope you haven’t had much trouble with me already, I’m afraid I have some contacts from back home that regardless will want to keep in touch,” He gave a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. “I am Dimitri of house Blaiddyd but, I may be referred to as Alex on some occasions due to Reasons, don’t think much into it. Have you been here long?”

@laesocorde

fenris has slowly grown used to the idea of rooming with others again. after living both on the run and alone in a neglected mansion, it has taken him some time to sleep with his back away from the wall. he has not been the most social of roommates, so it takes him by surprise when one comes to him first. unfortunate. he’d just about made it to the door.

❝ there is no trouble. ❞ this is the first time he’s seen this one; aside from hearing the odd late-night conversation now and again, fenris might not have even known the man was there. ❝ my name is fenris. i have been here twice, now — but my memory of the first time has been muddled a bit. it has been several months altogether, i believe. perhaps more. ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

blazinghell‌:

Ann decided to head to the festivities in the Cotes Ward last, seeing as how she was close in proximity whenever she returned back to her housing. Save the best for last, as they always say, right? 

Since she came back a second time, Ann hasn’t had time to see everyone she once knew. Hopefully… this boat will help out anyone she hasn’t gotten the change to see yet. Maybe they’ve gotten out. Returned to their home.

She crouches by the lake, watching the floating lights recede further, her voice a somber murmur. 

❛ I hope they’re doing alright. Good fortune, huh? … Do you really think it’ll work? ❜

❝ i... do not know. one can only hope. ❞

merrill is here, so fenris needn’t worry himself over her. his other companions, however, are a different matter entirely. the warrior can only imagine the kind of dangers they may be walking into; hawke attracts trouble in quite the spectacular manner.

he looks to the girl. she’s young, and he cannot help but feel a twinge of pity for her. people should be able to enjoy their childhood and adolescence without experiencing loss.

❝ i don’t consider myself a spiritual man, but well-wishes must be better than nothing at all. ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

lordspeaker‌:

while he is not one to pass up the opportunity for fare from his homeland, aymeric finds himself rather less attentive to this festival’s booths compared to the last. whether it is some deep-seated fatigue or something else he cannot say, but a thoughtful frown haunts his features as he considers the thought at some length.

consequently he is not fully aware that he is the other party the not-stranger’s words are directed toward, and he looks up from his noncommittal perusal a few moments later, his lips parted as if to offer a cursory denial –

but the sight of the other man gives him pause. he is right; they have encountered one another, he is sure of it, but he cannot remember when or why.

the last statement earns itself a wry smile bordering on a grimace. “you are definitely not the first to be so jostled about,” he says, setting down an apple, the color of which he had been closely observing to note its similarity to a coerthan mirror apple. “and you most certainly will not be the last.”

❝ i see. ❞

it is rather frustrating to know that the island’s mysterious seat of power often tosses its captives about like toys, but it is something fenris is more or less resigned to. that feeling may change in time, but for now... so long as he and merrill are not harmed, the situation is tolerable.

the man in blue appears to have something weighing on his mind, but the warrior is not one to prod. he begins his own idle perusal of the stall as he continues speaking.

❝ i do not believe we exchanged names when last we met. i am fenris. have you been well? ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

@azureax // starter call.

though hawke had taken it upon themself to initially teach him to read and write, it hasn’t stopped fenris from practicing on his own. being on a foreign island is no reason to give his studies pause. he’s gotten quite good at it over the years.

perhaps when he’s mastered the common tongue, he will take it upon himself to learn qunlat. 

there are numerous bookstores dotting the cityscape, but fenris ignores them in favor of a public library nestled in archimedes ward. that such huge quantities of literature are made readily available to anyone at no cost is a source of wonderment. he skims the aisles of bookshelves for anything that piques his interest, only to spot out of the corner of his eye a man with his arms wrapped around a huge stack of books.

❝ are you... borrowing all of those at once? ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

➻ @lordspeaker

fenris has come to the temporary culinary stalls set along the star trail in search of simpler pleasures. food from the free marches isn’t particularly memorable, and so the possibility of a stall from home doesn’t quite pique his interest. instead, he is on the hunt for any one carrying fruit among their offerings. 

he thinks that it may be a bit indulgent of him, but he hasn’t had fresh fruit in a while. apples are his long-standing favorite.

attendees are sparse, so one individual stands out as familiar. it’s hazy, but the warrior recalls the old conflict, and the aid of an elvhen stranger.

❝ forgive me if i am wrong, ❞ he starts, ❝ but i believe we’ve met once before. it appears that whoever takes people from beyond is not finished with me yet. ❞

[laesocorde-blog]

@blazinghell // starter call.

citywide celebrations are dying down, and fenris finally finds within himself the willingness to see what all the fuss was about now that crowds are smaller. cotes ward has the calmest air about it, some soft tune traveling on the wind from the music festival. it reminds him of tavern songs.

it carries to the shores of the lake. one side offers fishing — something he has no interest in whatsoever — and the other offers a medium for expressing well-wishes. he buys a candle boat.

[laesocorde-blog]

trying to get something of a ball rolling here, so here’s a tiny starter call! capping at 3, friends and castmates can disregard the cap! they’ll be of varying length, and may or may not be spiralefes related!

[laesocorde-blog]

wrathofthelvhen‌:

     ❝ Understood! ❞

      Victory over this demon now at least felt plausible to her. She’d spent her own fair share of time dwelling on how she wished their relationship was smoother, but right now, she couldn’t be happier to see him. He was a force to be reckoned with, and really, it just felt nice seeing someone she knew.

      Taking a deep breath, she spun her staff into a proper stance. The focus crackled green with life, and once she was sure Fenris was safely out of the way, she slammed it down onto the ground. From the spot, ancient roots sprung forward to ensnare the beast’s ankles, tightening and tugging to make it easier to topple.

      Faltering, the beast threw it’s horned head back and let out an ear splitting roar, making Merrill wince and partially lose her focus. The roots snapped off one foot in response, sending splinters flying and letting it gain some mobility back. The other foot was still tethered, however. They’d have to act fast.

the warrior’s movement is fluid, and he is quick to give merrill’s magic a wide berth as she strikes the ground.

fenris hits his combat rhythm soon after merrill ensnares the demon, and it becomes so intent on freeing itself from the remaining roots that it leaves itself vulnerable. he dashes to take advantage of the opportunity, using all of his might to plunge his greatsword into the tendons of the monster’s knee. the force is enough that the tip of the blade pierces through the other side.

with a howl, the pride demon falls into a crackling huddle on the ground; while immobilized and injured, it is still alive — and it is very angry. its horns spark again as it attempts to charge, and it takes large swipes at fenris when he tries to close in once more, forcing him to back off.

[laesocorde-blog]

wrathofthelvhen‌:

    At this point in her life, Merrill was sick of apocalypse scenarios. Sick of the sky falling, and sick of innocent lives being put at risk. She never thought she’d experience something that had a more grim looking outcome than what happened at the Chantry, but the Creators loved to surprise her.     She’d been running back and fourth over the battlefield, doing what she could to help when and where it was needed. It was chaos every which way, and she could feel herself starting to get overwhelmed with the situation. And that was without the Pride Demon suddenly dropping from one of the sky portals mere yards from her. The sound of it hitting the ground was familiar in the worst way, sending a spike of dread into her heart.     Merrill fights the urge to linger in her spot, instead opting to pull Vir Tasallan from it’s place on her back and let her magic run through it. She breaks for the creature, sliding and stumbling slightly down a small hill, fully intending to take it on by herself before she notices the other. Based on the look on his face, he caught sight of her before she did.     There wasn’t time for a happy reunion, she knew that, but she couldn’t fight the look of shocked, yet pleased, bewilderment on her face.      ❝ I prayed to the Creators for a miracle, but this certainly wasn’t the one I was expecting! ❞

he and merrill have never been on the best of terms, but fenris is not so daft as to not be reassured by her presence regardless. 

❝ i’ve only just arrived — perhaps that is miraculous. we will have plenty of time to talk when this is over. ❞

the pride demon begins channeling its lightning, and fenris responds accordingly. his markings flare to life as he enters his ghost-like state, intent on drawing the monster’s attention away from merrill so that she can cast from relative safety. he can only hope it won’t round on her once she starts.

when the demon discharges, the lyrium causes the bolts to glance, and he is able to absorb some of the energy for a later pulse. fenris directs his blows toward the gaps in chitin on its legs, with intent to bring it to the ground.

[laesocorde-blog]

➻ @wrathofthelvhen​ // fantasia war raid battle.

of course, his return to the strange island city would be punctuated by another cataclysm. the memory is a bit faded, but he can recall clear enough how monsters ran amok last time. now, however, they make their approach from the sky rather than from beneath the earth.

fenris is quick to take up the arms he is provided; there are bound to be those who cannot defend themselves against this new onslaught. he doesn’t need his critical eye to know that these people are fighting for their lives.

the smaller creatures are dispatched with little difficulty, and openings for other warriors are created in fenris’s wake. what finally draws his attention from smaller distractions is a resounding impact some distance away, something larger hitting the ground with a roar. he turns toward it, and catches the distinct silhouette of a pride demon. 

a beast of its caliber should not be allowed to run rampant on the battlefield.

its focus is elsewhere, so fenris takes the opportunity to close the gap. what he doesn’t expect is to see someone from home, and it causes him to stop in his tracks.

[laesocorde-blog]

➻ @gunheaded

fenris, upon the realization that he would perhaps not be returning home so soon, has made an effort to grow more familiar with the commercial areas surrounding his living space. though not dependent on alcohol by any means, he finds loitering in a small corner bar to be somewhat cathartic, especially after hawke’s departure.

the place itself is much better kept than the hanged man, but not so spotless that it lacks character; fenris can already picture varric tripping over himself to obtain some stake in the ownership.

he occupies a stool at the bar, pleasantly surprised to find that the ale he orders does not taste distinctly of piss or water-down. the elf minds his own and people-watches while nursing his drink.

one game of cards is unfolding in the back, but there’s not much activity otherwise. he assumes that most of the clientele is like him — just looking for a quiet moment away.