Shepherd of the Mountains

An Independent Elder Scrolls Original Character

[mountainmage]

Kinda wanna bring back my boys to roleplay but holy shit. It’s been years and I’m not sure if anyone is still alive out there.

[mountainmage]

dionsblood‌:

     Oskari supposed that would have to explain the man’s attire - it made sense, anyway, they were small in the south because the elves starved them. Good on him for escaping the slave-pits of the Ayleids - and he’d arrived in Skyrim at the right time for some real freedom.

The question (what a way to ask a question, maybe it was a Nede thing) stumping him a little bit. He rubbed his hands together,  and found himself looking around almost as if noticing where he was for the first time. Healing had not cleared his hazy memory at all, and it made him frown. “It must be magic - I was on Solstheim, the cult had come for us, but…”

Now, anxiety crept up in him. It could have been Vahlok, sending him away to leave Miraak exposed. Even now, they would still be battling, and without whatever spell had sent him away in the first place Oskari could not return in time to help. A chill ran down his spine - it was not just Vahlok, not just the dragons, that Miraak was up against - it was the Woodland Man as well, and this one MIraak had not yet realised was a foe. Some evil magic was about his eyes like a blindfold, but Oskari did not know how to banish it.

“What happened here?” he asked, suddenly, staring out of the doorway at the ruins, as if the sight of them had only just hit home to him “Did Alduin destroy it? They must have known he would burn it before he let them take it from him - the fools-”

This was starting to feel like a cycle of never-ending questions. It was obvious that this man, whoever he was, didn’t know jack from shit regarding current event. The fact that it sounded like he was from Solstheim, a shitty island in the north, reaffirmed that this fellow was out of his depths. 

“Listen, I don’t know anything about any cults on Solstheim or whatever the fuck is going on over there but... Alduin is dead. Or at least as dead as a force of the apocalypse can get. The Last Dragonborn killed him. Everyone and their uncle knows about it.” Of course, he conveniently omitted his own involvement in the World-Eater’s death but now wasn’t the time to mention it.

With the man’s earlier comment about his magic in mind (and his own frustration with the current conversation), he quickly stormed out of the stone hut into the vast empty ruins of the city. The wind whipped his face but he cared little since he held fireballs in each hand. For a moment, he juggled them before tossing them up into the air like a circus performer. An explosion echoed loudly in the ruins from them bursting into ash. Without blinking, he threw a set of magically formed ice into the air. They exploded after a second, covering him in tiny bits of harmless ice. Pierre, to complete the triad of elements, summoned lightning from his fingers -- a dangerous game of cat’s cradle. It crackled violently as he pushed and pulled to suit his whims. The energy almost looked like it was about to consume his body until it engulfed him like a cloak given to him by Kyne herself. 

Finally glancing over towards the stranger, he had a mad sort of gleam in his eyes but it quickly faded as he snapped his fingers. After such a display, the ruins of the once great city were eerily quiet once the theatrics died down. 

“See? No one cares.”

[deathwalksamongarchive]

god of war (2018) starters

❝  long way from home, aren’t you?  ❞ ❝  why do you even care? you could have just walked away.  ❞ ❝  i almost feel bad for you.  ❞ ❝  i can tell you a thing or two about family matters.  ❞      ❝  lucky for you, my schedule’s wide open.  ❞ ❝  they’re gonna be sorry they picked this fight.  ❞ ❝  i heard you. it’s not up for discussion.  ❞ ❝  i will rain down agony, every possible violation, upon you.  ❞ ❝  um, alright…that hurt a little.  ❞ ❝  you think you understand, but you don’t.  ❞ ❝  didn’t you hear that? voices. it felt…evil.  ❞ ❝  you do not want this fight.  ❞ ❝  truth is more important than kindness.  ❞ ❝  i know every corner of these lands, every language spoken, every war waged, every deal struck.  ❞ ❝  it should have been you. you hear me? you. not her.  ❞ ❝  only use this as a last resort.  ❞ ❝  deny it all you want, but you saved me.  ❞ ❝  you don’t want me and you never will.  ❞ ❝  they do not stop us, so they do not concern us.  ❞ ❝  only time you talk to me is when you need something.  ❞ ❝  that doesn’t mean you should lie to your friends or family.  ❞ ❝  will i see you again?  ❞ ❝  don’t leave me alone ever again.  ❞      ❝  you see in the eyes of a child.  ❞ ❝  i know you hate gods but you really can’t stay away from them, can you?  ❞ ❝  you are in your head. let it go.  ❞ ❝  it is wise to be discreet.  ❞ ❝  you are right…i do not believe you.  ❞ ❝  the power of any weapon comes from your heart…but only when tempered by your head.  ❞ ❝  wow, you’re so stupid. that your father’s doing? or your mother’s?  ❞ ❝  will we see people on the road? friendly? will they try to rob us?  ❞ ❝  smells like rotting eggs. is it still good?  ❞ ❝  you’ve only killed those deserving, right?  ❞ ❝  you’re sounding more like your father by the minute.  ❞ ❝  that thing was trying to kill us. it’s not like you don’t get angry in a fight.  ❞ ❝  leave. my. home.  ❞ ❝  you killed against my wishes.  ❞ ❝  it’s all you talk about, over and over. do something about it or shut up.  ❞ ❝  behind you, watch out!  ❞ ❝  don’t know, don’t care.  ❞ ❝  this used to be a challenge.  ❞ ❝  this place feels like a prison.  ❞ ❝  it feels like something is waiting for us down here.  ❞ ❝  don’t be sorry. be better.  ❞ ❝  kill for survival, not for indulgence.  ❞ ❝  can’t believe you’ve lasted this long.  ❞ ❝  in war, a soldier sees beauty in the blood of his enemy.  ❞ ❝  the winds of fate have given us a strange coincidence.  ❞ ❝  close your heart to their desperation. close your heart to their suffering.  ❞ ❝  you’ve had to kill people before, haven’t you? you’re used to it.  ❞ ❝  why do you say nothing?  ❞ ❝  you’ve seen it with your own eyes. you can’t hurt me. nothing can.  ❞ ❝  anger can be a weapon if you control it.  ❞ ❝  whatever it is you seek, i do not have it. you should move on.  ❞ ❝  when they find you - and they will - they’ll make things difficult.  ❞ ❝  there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape: you cannot change.  ❞ ❝  only time you talk to me is when you need something.  ❞ ❝  we do what me must to survive.  ❞ ❝  follow down this path and head for daylight.  ❞ ❝  heh. thought you’d be bigger.  ❞ ❝  you have a knack for ominous statemants.  ❞ ❝  just tell me what i want to know! no need for this to get bloody.  ❞ ❝  we all gotta take responsibility sometime, huh?  ❞ ❝  that was a waste of a perfectly good apple.  ❞ ❝  you think i’m weak, because i’m not like you.  ❞ ❝  but…you told me never to go down there.  ❞ ❝  you know, i really hoped i’d never see this place again.  ❞ ❝  until our journey is over, one of us must remain focused.   ❞ ❝  you must be better than me. understand?  ❞ ❝  did something change? the forest feels different now.  ❞ ❝  with power comes a big choice. you serve yourself or you serve others.  ❞ ❝  do not mistake my silence for lack of grief.  ❞ ❝  we are not men. we are more than that.  ❞ ❝  i know i was never what you wanted.  ❞ ❝  mourn how you wish. leave me to my own.  ❞ ❝  hurry! i’m slipping.  ❞ ❝  do not allow yourself to feel for them. they do not feel for you.  ❞ ❝  do not concern yourself with what might be. focus on what is.  ❞ ❝  we do as we please. no excuses.  ❞ ❝  your father can kill. are you going to be able to do that?  ❞ ❝  accuracy over speed.  ❞ ❝  you left me here. again. why don’t you care?  ❞ ❝  what, you want a hug?  ❞ ❝  finish what you started.  ❞ ❝  you know, for someone so strong, you worry a lot.  ❞ ❝  you are hunting deer - not chasing it.  ❞ ❝  i don’t know you and you don’t know me… don’t seem to want to.  ❞ ❝  killing animals i get. they’re food. but people… they’re just trying to survive too.  ❞ ❝  do you hear that? it sounds like someone screaming.  ❞ ❝  i’m going to cut off your head now.  ❞ ❝  it’s…it’s still alive.  ❞ ❝  we are here because of you. never forget that.  ❞ ❝  do not speak again.  ❞ ❝  your anger…you can get lost in it.  ❞ ❝  you don’t have to be the smartest man in the world to see that.  ❞ ❝  we’ve come so far. there has to be a way.  ❞ ❝  don’t you see? they never gave up hope. and neither should we.  ❞ ❝  you can change your path. it’s not too late.  ❞ ❝  i’ve been to many strange places… but this is a new one.  ❞ ❝  oh, cut it out, princess. you’re gonna get me all weepy.  ❞ ❝  you are too quick to temper. you a rash, insubordinate and out of control.  ❞ ❝  the path ahead is difficult and you are not ready.  ❞ ❝  you are not ready - stay back.  ❞ ❝  think i’m afraid of you?! you’re nothing to me.  ❞ ❝  stay by me. touch nothing.  ❞ ❝  you were gone for so long i thought that you…  ❞      ❝  you will always be a monster.  ❞ ❝  look at me! look at me!  ❞ ❝  you are going to have to kill me for that to happen.  ❞ ❝  can you kill something that big?  ❞ ❝  on our journey we will be attacked by all manner of creature.  ❞ ❝  so we’re gonna go toward the creepy singing?  ❞ ❝  why are there two beds in there?  ❞ ❝  slow down. your haste will cost us.  ❞ ❝  i warned you. you would not listen.  ❞ ❝  no, wait…i’m not giving up. i just…have to catch my breath.  ❞ ❝  well, this is it. it’s been an honor.  ❞ ❝  you left me alone to fight.  ❞ ❝  are you the last of your family too?  ❞ ❝  my mother made it for me.  ❞ ❝  fight until we stop or we are dead.  ❞ ❝  the last in his realm of all this kind and you shoot him.  ❞ ❝  come. no looking back now.  ❞ ❝  you’re more concerned with their safety than our goal.  ❞ ❝  i don’t think we’re supposed to be in here.  ❞    ❝  i’m…sorry for your loss.  ❞ ❝  i hoped that’d you, out of all the people i’ve faced, would make me feel something.  ❞ ❝  slow and old. you should never have come here.  ❞ ❝  that bow’s a little big for you, isn’t it?  ❞ ❝  earlier you said people might kill us. i’ll kill them if they try.  ❞ ❝  pain we endure. faulty weaponry we do not.  ❞ ❝  let me guess…you’re gonna be smug and say we shouldn’t have got involved.  ❞ ❝  no. you’ve been gone a long, long time!  ❞ ❝  if you try, i’ll try.  ❞ ❝  wow, uh…that was something, that fight.  ❞ ❝  you did not think it was important to tell me?  ❞ ❝  death suits you better.  ❞ ❝  is it dishonorable to grow old?  ❞ ❝  so unclean. so, so unclean.  ❞ ❝  you won’t stop me.  ❞ ❝  and i thought my family was fucked up.  ❞ ❝  i’m strong. i’m smart. i’m not what you think i am.  ❞ ❝  when i require your counsel, i will ask.  ❞ ❝  don’t you know when to give up?  ❞ ❝  listen to me. i can help.  ❞ ❝  you’ve taught me so much. let me teach you something.  ❞ ❝  okay. there are a few gaps in my knowledge.  ❞ ❝  the path you walk. vengeance. you will find no peace.  ❞ ❝  you know i love you. you just can be better. i know you can be.  ❞ ❝  let them go. take me instead.  ❞ ❝  i’ve never felt more alive.  ❞ ❝  no…you’re bleeding.  ❞ ❝  do you have any idea, any idea at all, what you have cost me?  ❞ ❝  i used to dream about getting eaten.  ❞ ❝  relax. do not think of it as an animal. it is simply a target.  ❞ ❝  try to find forgiveness, and we can start something new.  ❞ ❝  there is much about me i won’t have you know.  ❞ ❝  have you ever heard the term “tempting fate?”  ❞ ❝  your memory was a comfort in dark times.  ❞ ❝  she meant more to me than you anyway.  ❞ ❝  you are not yourself.  ❞ ❝  if seeing me dead will make things right, i won’t stop you.  ❞ ❝  i’d bow if i could, your majesty.  ❞ ❝  then we will go home. to give up this easily, so close to the start…  ❞ ❝  only fire when i tell you to fire.  ❞ ❝  not my blood.  ❞ ❝ nobody’s killed a dragon for hundreds of years.  ❞ ❝  are they dead…? oh! not dead! not dead!  ❞ ❝  a dangerous beast. we’ll take him down together.  ❞

[aurbis-imagery]

Hjaalmarch

[mountainmage]

@dionsblood

Sometimes even he forgot that he was the second-in-charge of this clan. Gran, a mighty elderly woman who held the fury of Kyne in her eyes, was usually the one to handle the day-to-day affairs of their sprawling ancestral home. Yet he was one who dealt with the worldly duties of their stations. After all, Pierre was the one who managed to keep their neutrality in the war and even convinced the empress to visit.

Thus it was his job to act as a mediator when discussions with less.. tactful members of the clan attempted to debate with her. Of course, most were intelligent and respectful but every clan had their outliers. Such outliers were the reason he drank like he did now after the fact. With her here, he opened up something a bit nicer than some old ale. 

“It’s not the finest vintage in the world...” he trailed off, setting down the glass next to her. “But I’d thought you’d appreciate some mulled wine.” It was entirely her choice whether or not she decided to drink with him and he was without judgement. In many ways, Pierre considered himself to be the wind to her mountain.  The hearth, crackling a while ago, was still until his fingers snapped. The flame brightened the darkening room as he then realized that it must have been getting late. The windows in his small personal ‘parlor’ were covered in thick curtains usually. 

“You know... I got you some gifts. Well, a treat and a gift.” Olympias is greeted by a rare shy smile before he briefly turns away towards a desk overflowing with diagrams and charts of the human body. A delicate page flutters towards his empress and flashes its contents to her. The page was littered with magical jargon yet square in the middle was a detailed drawing of a nude man who looked remarkable like Titus. Unfortunately he seemed to be suffered from what he described as a ‘micropenis’. 

“That’s the treat. I’ll get published alongside all the other research I’ve done.” Now his smile was a shit-eating one as he sat down in a chair nearby. “I’d give you my gift now yet... I’m not sure it’s worthy enough for the Empress. What is ivory compared to gold and the brilliance of your smile?” 

[mountainmage]

dionsblood‌:

     The magic surprised Oskari - he blinked at it, brows rising, and out of habit, glanced around. Miraak may have accustomed him to it, but he had spent more years under the real cult - he knew what happened to unaffiliated mages. He had carried out the punishments himself at times, just another part of his job. Bromjunaar may have been broken and empty around them, but the lessons he had learnt were buried so deep he could not have told them from instinct.

“Since you’ve offered,” he said cautiously, gaze still flitting from shadow to nook to corner “But put it away out here, anyone could be watching. Where you from?” he could not make head nor tail of the armour the man wore, but guessed he must be of a western strain by his stature. They were all small out that way. It was the mountain blood - tall people got blown off the sheer cliffs easier, so they were all built like goats 

He heaved himself to his feet, climbing back up the steps and gesturing to be followed into the nearest crumbling hut, where he could awkwardly remove his battered and bent corslet. There was frost on his skin around the puncture, which he brushed away with mild irritation. 

Anyone could be watching? In this broken abandoned city which people actively avoided? Pierre resisted the urge to roll his eyes and call him a shitty little idiot but there would be time later. Following the armored man into the ancient hut, he carefully examined the wound, tsking at the frost clinging to it. From what he could tell, a spear, crudely made of ice, must have ripped right through his armor. Whatever had created the ice shard must have quite powerful. 

With the wound now exposed to him, wisps of golden light spilled onto the skin from his hand. Luckily despite the damage, the ice that pierced him cut clean, making it that much easier to heal. “I’m currently living in Winterhold but I’m originally from Cyrodiil.” he explained, curious on why the other Nord would ask that. Yet he kept his mouth shut as he focused on healing him. Muscles and tendons were delicate work and even a minor mistake could cause great pain. Most folks would have preferred to be healed entirely; Pierre knew better however. Allowing it to heal naturally a little bit, perhaps in the form of a bruise, helped the body in the long run. 

“Well, you’re not bleeding out on the snow so... that’s good.” he commented as he eyed the bit of off-color skin. A foolishly kind part of him wanted to offer up his spare cloak at the sight of his brittle armor but he knew better than to trust a man outright. Or least not before asking a few questions. “So... care to explain who you are and why you're in this shithole?”

[dailyskyrim]

Word wall in Shroud Hearth Barrow

[mountainmage]

dionsblood‌:

@mountainmage

     Oskari came out into the world as if into a dream. He recognised the towering eagle-headed spires, the great twin doors of the mouth of Bromjunaar’s temple, the craggy, snow-covered mountain rising behind it. But the empty streets. The forest to the north, where there should have been city. Crumbling towers, rubble, empty braziers. What had become of this place? How had he gotten here? He had fallen, he had taken a spear of ice to his side, heard Miraak cry out his name and then… was that really the last thing he remembered, before waking in a musty, cobwebbed room, and staggering out into this?

He looked down at himself. His battered armour was rent at the side where the ice had pierced him, and when he put a hand inside, he felt warm, wet blood. Perhaps blood loss was confusing him, and he would remember what had happened when he staunched the bleeding. Yes, that might work. A little clumsily, he sat on a snow-covered step, and started hacking at the hide skirt of his tunic to make something akin to a bandage.

It was not until the shadow fell across his peripheral that he looked up sharply, blinking, and met gazes with a man. He paused, eyeing the newcomer up with curiosity. Despite everything, Oskari had never one for dramatics - so he simply hailed them with “Sky-Mother be with you, stranger - do you have anything for a bandage?”

At first glance, he assume that it was a ghost just sitting there. No one usually dared to pass through this ancient city in fear of trolls, traps, and undead abound. But rarely did ghosts appears to be so... solid as this one did despite the strange set of armor it wore. Pierre, being a historian and scholar, only saw sets of ancient brittle armor like that in museums or on the ancient dead themselves. To see it just wore openly was... jarring. Closing his journal and sliding off his perch, he crept closer towards the steps. 

He had thought his steps had been muffled by the gentle falling snow but his shadow must have given him away. As a healer, he grimaced at the sight of dirty hide being used to treat an obvious wound. Surely even the stupidest adventurer knew to pack bandages before heading out into the ruins of their people? 

“Ummm... hello?” he awkwardly replied back, confused by such a traditional way of greeting. Most folks after just called her ‘Kyne’ or ‘Shor’s Widow’. It was like the man was from the Merethic Era or possibly a warrior from some isolated tribe of Nords like the Skaal. “Yeah, I’ve got bandages... but wouldn’t you rather be healed with magic?” 

Although most Nord distrusted magic, they adored any form of restorative spell and thus he extended a hand filled with golden glow. Of course, he didn’t touch the man yet but the offer was still standing. 

[mountainmage]

Starter Call

[solitudeprompts]

❝ have you tried mercenary work? ❞ ❝ whatever you need,  just say the word. ❞ ❝ staying safe,  i hope? ❞ ❝ i ain’t done nothin’! ❞ ❝ divines bless your kind heart. ❞ ❝ you look tired,  friend. ❞ ❝ i enjoy this work well enough,  but i’m ready to retire. ❞ ❝ hungry,  tired,  or just plain thirsty? ❞ ❝ my favourite drinkin’ buddy! ❞ ❝ take a good look around,  i’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for. ❞ ❝ it’s a fine day with you around. ❞ ❝ i’d thank the gods,  but i’ll settle for thanking you. ❞ ❝ disrespect the law,  and you disrespect me. ❞ ❝ you’re that one from the college.  i’ve heard about you. ❞ ❝ i’d be a lot warmer and a lot happier with a belly full of mead. ❞ ❝ i used to be an adventurer like you. ❞ ❝ i took an arrow in the knee. ❞ ❝ may the gods watch over your battles,  friend. ❞ ❝ it’s not true what they say about you and ____,  is it? ❞ ❝ something has shifted in the moons,  sister/brother. ❞ ❝ they left me for dead.  i didn’t leave them. ❞ ❝ so,  you what?  fetch the mead? ❞ ❝ hands to yourself,  sneak thief! ❞ ❝ wait,  i know you! ❞ ❝ it’s so good to see you again. ❞ ❝ i hope this wind dies down a bit before tonight. ❞ ❝ every time i look at you my blood boils. ❞ ❝ i’d travel more,  but who wants to deal with all the soldiers these days? ❞ ❝ i need reliable people around. ❞ ❝ the gods gave you two hands,  and you use them both for your weapon. ❞

[mountainmage]

Headcanon: Incarnate 

Going off my other headcanon on the nature of Pierre’s soul, I have a little more to add. Since some folks might not be partial to it, I’m totally willing to be flexible with it. 

Pierre is the reincarnation of Vanus Galerion. 

Perhaps it’s too cringey but I just wanted to explore the effects of what could be considered an identity crisis. 

[sproutaesthetics]

skyrim | MAGIC

“ preferring to use their extensive knowledge of all things magical, they wield a might more powerful than the sharpest blade ”

[mountainmage]

Headcanon: Names

His legal name under the Empire is Pierre Bertillon. It’s the name was born with and most often used for official documents.

However, his traditional Nordic name is Arthan. It was given to him at the age of two by his grandmother as a way to ingratiate him into the clan. 

[wretchedgrasp-deactivated201905]

“ As Above, So Below. ”

[splattermemes-deactivated202007]

lazy roleplayer symbol meme

Send in a symbol and I’ll:

@ : reply to one of your open starters

?? : write you a starter

+ : go through the memes you’ve reblogged and send one in

!!! : write a headcanon about our muses

% : write a drabble about our muses

$$$ : go through your wishlist tag and write a starter based on one of the posts

♬ : write a starter based on your blog music

… : write a headcanon based on one of the aus in your verse page

^^ : go through your muse’s aesthetic tag and write a starter based on one of the posts

# : write a headcanon based on one of your side muses / npcs

[mountainmage]

necromancer fuckboys: works in a creepy cave, has nasty shit like gore and blood just painted on the walls like it’s fucking high-tier decor, godawful lighting

pierre, a man who semi-values cleaniness: well-lit rooms with a hearth, a decent cold storage with proper waste disposal for experiments

[mountainmage]

almsivivec:

he can see that look the man’s eyes, no matter how fleeting it is. a twinge of HATRED for the mer he sees before him, or half of him, at least. he understands the feeling; it wasn’t easy growing up as a son of a THALMOR JUSTICIAR ( albeit, one of the least radical ones ) in cyrodiil. 

amras raises an eyebrow, interest PIQUED at the mention of the houses. he thought everyone from redoran, telvanni, and hlaalu had ended up dead or on solstheim. perhaps vehk had been wrong.

“ah, not missing, my friend,” he corrects; calling him ‘friend’, as he can hear the remnants of a cyrodiilic accent somewhere in the man’s voice. “simply… DISAPPEARED. my name is amras camoran. i have been, for nearly my whole life, the champion of vivec——his eyes, ears, and hands in this world. i’m simply here to… BOOST HIS MORALE, per se. i wouldn’t expect a man to understand what i am here to do, but i do ask for your help, where it can be given. of course, i can pay you for the trouble.”

“You need to work on that spiel. You sound like a damn con-artist or cult leader when you talk like that.” he barked out, slightly insulted by the tone used. Yes, he was a Nord but he wasn’t an idiot child. Whoever this Amras Camoran was, he sure wasn’t convincing Pierre to help lend a hand. 

“Listen, I am not your friend and I doubt you’ll make friends around here if you go around talking to strangers like that. Frankly, it’s creepy and not convincing. By Kyne, I doubt that the Dunmer around here will take you serious. These are practical folk. You can’t just spout off shite about Vivec returning or whatever without proof...”

“If you want them to believe in living gods, they’ll want to see living gods...”