Under Nordlyset

Eiríkr Sleitu Skógr (Trick-forest) ¦ Race: Tiefling ¦ Class: Wizard ¦ Age: 28 ¦ Alignment: Chaotic Neutral ¦ RP blog for DnDTalia

[midnight4ever]

Ceremonial Tool used to Conduct Psychic Energy

[sighttothesunrise-blog]

Open Group Starter: Sweat

[nordenslys]

sighttothesunrise:

      [ How shameful of him to be caught in a position such as this. At the very least the other had the decency not to laugh, even if he claimed to he would. Kiku’s head turned, even collapsed in the heap he was, to the blue hand. His brow raised at the tiefling that had stopped to help him, weighing in his intentions at the moment. His small hand reached out, calloused against the other’s skin as he slowly pulled up, grimacing as he placed a hand on his back. He could only hold suspicion for someone attempting to move around behind the Guild Hall. ]

      [ The moment they could balance on their own two feet, the half-orc headed over to his belongings, squatting down and taking them onto his shoulder before again standing, turning to the tiefling. Dark eyes narrowed in thought but a small, careful bow was offered to the other. ]

      “ Thank you for your assistance. I should be lea-”

      [ A light groan escaped from them. Ok, maybe a healer was in order. ]

Eiríkr helped the other man to his feet, giving him a quick glance over to ensure he wasn’t going to suddenly pull a dagger on him and rob him. However, no sudden movements came and Eiríkr managed to relax a little. He noticed the groan and the slight wince - clearly this man needed help. On the other hand, Eiríkr wasn’t quite certain he was willing to help this  stranger unconditionally any more than he had already.  Then again - he reasoned with himself. This wasn’t a human man - and Eiríkr briefly wondered if there was some sort of kindred spirit in this man.

“I’m afraid I can’t do any healing magic. I can only mend minor things, but if you don’t know where to go I can at least point you to the nearest temple where you can find a cleric...” he scratched the back of his head and stood up to his full height, removing his hood in the process to reveal his horns.      “Some temples are a little kinder to us who do not... look completely human than others may be,” he smiled briefly.

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

Mogens rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, “didn’t you know? there are all kinds of celestials that travel this road. It’s a big deal,” with a huff, he backtracked, “No. You don’t look uneducated, but again– I try not to make assumptions. If I did, I’d lose out on a lot of business. Most people speak common in the area, but a lot of the lower-class tiers don’t write in common well. They might know dwarven, honestly. I can’t speak or write it, so I have no idea, but I’m trying to convince a friend to teach me.”

He shrugged, feeling free to speak of himself once Eirikr divulged his own information, “I can speak common and elven. I can write in common better than elven, but I manage. I was kidding about the celestial thing. I have no idea what they’re saying.”

“I know the feeling of always getting into trouble.” Mogens rose from the table with Eirikr and glanced around the room, watching eyes return to their meals. “I always gather information, I just only pass it on for coin or trade.” With a nod, he began to pack up his map-making supplies. “Safe travels.”

“Celestials?” he gave Mogens a worried glance. “Great. Thanks for the warning.”

He sighed and waved his hand lazily around. “Whatever. I’m used to assumptions. Yours aren’t the first ones I’ve encountered anyway,” he shrugged a little before he slowly began to twin his silver ring around his finger. ”Dwarven? Hm, useful for trade that,” Eiríkr nodded. “It’s a difficult language to learn, or so I’ve heard....” Eiríkr snorted.  He was a little glad Mogens didn’t speak infernal. It was rather useful to know a language not spoken by many. “You’d get further in life learning Celestial, Infernal might get you in, well, more trouble than what it’s worth,” he winked at Mogens and began making sure his hood properly covered his horns and white hair.  . “Well, safe travels to you too. And hopefully you’ll find much less trouble than I do,” Eiríkr gave a court little nod before gathering his belongings and the newly acquired map. “Thanks for the map. I’ll look after it,” he added with a small wave of the curled up piece of paper. 

[sighttothesunrise-blog]

Open Group Starter: Sweat

       [ He attributed his foul mood to his body’s current state of being. His stomach was full, his hygiene was fine, yes, but Kiku had never had the chance to train in such a long time. After all, with no safe place to leave his belongings, he had to keep them on his being at all times. However, if he allowed his body to lose all physical ability, he would never be able to reach his former state. Therefore, after tirelessly wandering the streets, he settled behind the alley way of a guild hall and began to stretch, preparing himself for a tedious- ]

       [ A gasp escaped him as he fell over, clutching his back. Right. He forgot that. Ok, Kiku, no bending over. ]

[nordenslys]

Eiríkr had opted for using the back alley-ways of the town to get to his next destination. The less people the better. Of course, it meant he risked bumping into some more unsavoury people perhaps, but crowds didn’t sit too well with him and he still had some freshly healed wounds from a fight not too long ago. He turned a corner, hood drawn as far over his face as he could, and immediately froze. He hadn’t expected to find someone behind the Guild Hall - let alone someone who appeared to have just fallen over by their own accord.  “I’d laugh; because that was a little comical,” he commented a little flatly. “But that actually looked a little painful...” Eiríkr approached him carefully, extending an un-gloved blue hand towards the man. “Do you need help? Are you injured?”  He tried to study the man without being too obvious. He wasn’t human - nor a tiefling, but Eiríkr had yet to meet a half-orc of such (relative) small size compared to other half-orcs he had encountered - and truthfully it made him rather happy to know that not all half-breeds would result in giants.  “If you’re looking for healers, back alleys really aren’t your best bet. Try one of the temples perhaps?” 

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

“Reading and speaking are separate things. Just because you speak common doesn’t mean you can read it. I try not to make assumptions.” Mogens said flatly, ignoring the others’ bitter tone. “And yeah, I know bits of elven. Understand the insults in most languages, too, I suppose.”

Mogens shrugged, “Trouble is likely to find you sooner rather than later up here, regardless of my questions, but at least now you have a map to guide you towards the least-dangerous paths.” He added, “Simply gathering information. What kind of Ranger would I be if I didn’t do my fair share of information gathering?”

“Do I look that uneducated?” Eiríkr resisted the urge to stick his tongue out. “Or are there that many travellers in these parts who don’t read or write common?” It would be an issue if he started encountering people who didn’t speak or write common.  “I speak and write three different languages,” he added, biting his lip for a brief moment before continuing - as if a little uncertain is he should be divulging such information about himself. “Common certainly gets me the furthermost, but the others have heir uses too...”  “Trouble always find me,” Eiríkr sighed and closed his eyes. “But thanks. I’ll try to not get myself into any fights if I can help it,” his smile was tinged with sadness for a brief second before his expression regained it’s rather hard composure.  “Well, some Rangers just gather information... not all share or pass it on,” he shrugged. “I should probably get going,” Eiríkr glanced at the map. “I feel a little too many eyes are on me for me to stick around for long here.” 

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

“You shouldn’t trust the map at all without a legend to understand what the symbols mean. I just didn’t draw it on there before payment.” He took the map back for a moment to write briefly what each of the locations was named and its level of safety, “ah, I should have asked. Can you read common? I don’t know how to write in most other languages. I can just say it aloud if you’d prefer.”

Mogens paused, “you’re the one who brought it up before. I guess I just assumed that’s where you’re from.”

He watched silently as the map disparaged from his grasp. A few hand-motions later and the map appeared to now be much more useful - good.

“Of course I can read common. I’m speaking to you in common right now, aren’t I?” he replied somewhat bitterly. “Perhaps I should be asking if you speak other languages?” he added in infernal - with a hint of a wicked smirk; just wide enough to show off his sharp fangs.

Eiríkr rolled his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “Been there. Lived there. Not where I’m from...” he licked his lips and glanced briefly around the bar. “And I would appreciate it if you were a little more careful about your questions towards me. Few surface people take too kindly to people from the under-dark. My skin gets me into enough trouble. I don’t care to add more problems...”

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

Mogens pulled out a map that was already prepared and marked a few locations, though not too many, that would be safe to stop at if necessary. He handed over the map without explaining what any of the marks meant - expecting payment before giving Eirikr a drawing of the map’s legend.

He huffed a little at the assumed insult over his clothing, but didn’t say anything. He was used to insults, though usually, they didn’t come from people who were blue. “basic repairs I handle myself. Gotta know it if you travel as much as I do. Tailors are nice to have around, though.”

“Elves do stick together like tree-sap.” Mogens agreed with a snort, “every once in a while they convince humans to join them, too. Half-elves, not so much. Don’t stick to anyone or anyplace. Don’t usually see many other half-elves either, so it’s hard for me to explain how my ‘society’ works. Is it a community of people if we don’t like to interact with one another?”

Mogens shrugged, “I guess I have the benefits of elves, better hearing than humans. Pretty good with a bow. Also have the benefit of not being tied down to a clan or whatever. Got stuck with human craftiness, too. Elves live a long time so they wait problems out - no need to be crafty or sneaky. Humans on the other hand, they don’t play by the rules. Not that I’m a lawbreaker by any means. I just… well, you’ve already seen… I’m no merchant, but I got you to take a map.”

“What about you? How’s the life and society of the Underdark treating you?”

He glared momentarily at the map, studying the various routes and details before sliding over the money without another word.  “Thanks,” he muttered shortly. Eiríkr appeared to not notice the huff, although it might just be that he completely ignored it for his own amusement.  “Everyone should know how to do basic repairs, although it pains me to see that not everyone can,” Eiríkr rolled his eyes slightly at some distant memory.  “Interesting...” Eiríkr tapped his fingers against his chin and hummed. “I doubt there’s a society of hermits, kind of defeats the whole ‘lone ranger’ thing, doesn’t it?”  He smiled a little before his expression once more went back to hard to read stoicism.  “Humans play by every rule and no rule all at once. It’s very annoying...” he resisted the urge to sneer, choosing instead to cast his glance back at the map on the table. “See... you say that, and now I suddenly don’t quite trust your map anymore...” “Underdark?” Eiríkr remained expressionless as he repeated the word. “Why would you assume I’ve been there?” 

[jxckiekills]

[omnificent-orion]

Something relatively quick just to see how fast I can work. I trashed the transparent idea since nothing was working so you get an ugly white square, yay. I forced myself to not be so nit-picky so there are a lot of things that bug me but I just need to get it done and over with and move on.

[fantasysystem]

[dontkillthefaeries]

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

“We’re about halfway between two right now. The map through the woods to the north will cost you about 5 gold, depending on what you need on it. Just a path through the woods is pretty cheap. Stops along the way is more expensive. The map to the south is 10 gold. Lots of raiders down that way right now, so it costs more to avoid ‘em. The trail isn’t too rough, but it’ll probably take you longer if you’re not looking for a fight.”

Mogens shrugged, “I don’t pretend to know your business, though, maybe you think you can defend yourself and want to take a straight shot through the raiders. That city is actually closer. They both have clothing shops, though… Personally, I don’t pretend to know what’s ‘nice’ clothing, but last time I was in the northern city they had clothes actually made for tall people which was great. A tailor, too.”

Turning back to the conversation about his name, he added, “They didn’t take much care in making me - nobody who makes a half-elf does, usually - so it sort of follows that they wouldn’t put much care into my name.” His voice was a little bitter, but not hot with fresh anger towards his parents. His feelings towards the situation had calmed after time on his own, though he still resented them. “Maybe they put a lot of thought into it, maybe not. I’m not about to go ask ‘em.”

He listened intensely, nodding along as Mogens spoke - Eiríkr had to weight his options carefully. South would be the death of him either way - he had no use for warmer climates either. “North will do. And no need for many stops. The fewer the better. I’ll travel by dusk or dark mostly,” he shrugged. He gave him a quick look over and then chuckled. “I wouldn’t call your clothes ‘nice’ either, but you’re dressed for your work,” he said with a slight smile. “And dressing for a job can’t always incorporate silk,” Eiríkr chuckled lightly.  “Yes, you’re quite tall...” he put his chin in his hand and leaned heavily on the table, getting every so slightly closer to Mogens. “I can see how you’d need a good tailor.” 

Eiríkr suppressed a laugh. “How unfortunate. I always thought elves stuck together like tree-sap and bark,” he hummed, slightly amused at the other man’s misfortune. However, it wasn’t wise to argue too much with the guy who was going to sell him a map... “How’s outcast society for your kind then? Half-elf has to have some perks, right?”

[nordenslys]

Wounds

[nordenslys]

biddenvooreenbiertje:

“Still alive,” Anika smiled, taking the moment to grab a nearby stool and shuffle it over to the tiefling’s bedside.

“You’re welcome,” she added, cheerful, but taking the time to give him a closer one-over. His eyes seemed brighter than before, less dazed now, the healing appeared to have gone without any trouble, good. “I couldn’t very well leave someone bleeding to death right outside the temple, now could I?” She joked, trying to lighten the mood, but wondering if the man really considered himself too much trouble. “… No trouble, at all, honestly.” She emphasized once more.

She couldn’t help but be curious however.

“… What happened out there?”

If it was an attack, she might have to report it to the sheriff. If the other was still being chased or wanted, that’d be something she’d need to be aware of as well, even if it was to provide further sanctuary. She started to consider the latter unlikely however, he did seem awfully polite for a criminal.

Eiríkr felt a little unsettled having her so close, and he tried to lean a little bit further away from her - his tail twitching underneath the thin sheet ever so slightly from nervous energy. “Ah, that’s kind of you,” he attempted a half bow, not quite succeeding due to sitting in bed and still having a slightly tender abdomen - Eiríkr couldn’t stop himself from making a slight grimace as he tried to uphold a polite appearance. “I believe I owe you a lot,” he mustered a faint but polite smile. 

“Oh,” he paused and turned his head, staring at the stone wall for a brief moment. “A disagreement,” he muttered, gritting his teeth.  “Some idiot thought he’d purchased elven silk, made himself a hideous robe out of it too, I merely tried to inform him it was merely a cheap human imitation. They didn’t like my input,” Eiríkr scoffed. 

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

Mogens shrugged along with Eirikr, “I have maps of this area up here, too. I’m not as familiar with the Underdark, honestly. I know my way around most places enough not to get killed, but that’s about it.” As they were speaking, a strange-looking human walked up and tossed Mogens some coin, which he caught. Mogens handed over some kind of scroll - whether it was a map or just information was hard to say; Mogens had both - and then he went back to his conversation.

“Ah, no, not raised by dwarves at all. I’m not fully human or dwarf. Half-elf. I guess it’s my parents’ form of a joke to give me a dwarf-sounding name when I’m already an outcast from elves and humans. Why not dwarves, too?”

He let out a bitter chuckle, “You’re not the first person to ask. I’m told it’s an elven name too, though.”

Strange man this guy - but Eiríkr didn’t feel there was any malicious intent at play. “How much for a map to the nearest big city then?” he asked, not wishing to give too much away of his travel plans. “Preferably one with a good fabric shop if you know such details,” he added, glancing down at his cloak and lamenting for a moment the torn edges. “That’s... unfortunate I suppose,” Eiríkr grimaced slightly. “Names tell other who we are, where we come from and perhaps... also what we aim to be,” he paused and licked his lips before continuing. “So it sound to me like your parents didn’t put much thought into your name... very unfortunate indeed,” he sighed on behalf of Mogen’s misfortune - or at least what he perceived as being so. Eiríkr snorted. “Elvish? Oh no I highly doubt that. Your name may mean “great”, but Elves are usually much more subtle with their meanings. But perhaps for a half-elf it is fitting you hold a name that is neither human nor elvish in origin... Our parents set a path for us after all... but if we follow it or not, well,” Eiríkr chuckled. “Well that is a whole other story now, isn’t it?”

[te5seract]

A Christmas Fairytale & Early Winter’s Magnificence by Maxime Courty

[omnificent-orion]

I swear I’ve seen something about that AU before, but I cannot remember where. I definitely suggest viewing this on a dark background.

[nordenslys]

mogensdreyer:

“I don’t mind. Leaving your hood down won’t bother me, but it might bother everyone else staring.” He gave a slight glare past the man towards the others in the room and they all went back to their own conversations in a hurry.

“I’m Mogens, Ranger… guessing you’re new here or just passing through. Do you need a map? Or have plans to roam a dungeon? That’s what I’m good at. Usually they’re staring at me, so it’s a nice change of pace… perhaps not so much for you…”

Eiríkr asses the situation and then covered up his horns and white hair with his hood - better safe than sorry.  “They’ll stare no matter what, but this way I don’t have to feel their gaze on me so intensely,” he said as he gave a small shrug. “Oh, I’m Eiríkr, nice to meet you Mogens,” he nodded politely at the man, trying to asses the man’s lineage. He was too tall to be human, but he didn’t look like a typical elf either. “I’m quite acquainted with the Underdark myself, but I’d rather not go down into the darkness yet, got other things to do up here in the sunlight first,” he tapped his fingers against the table lightly, pondering how much he should tell this stranger. A map might not be the wort idea - but he’d have to assess if this man was trustworthy enough before handing over any coin. A question was nagging at the back of Eiríkr’s mind, and curiously got the better off him. “Mogens... Odd name for a human isn’t it? I’ve met many Dwarves named Mogens, but not humans. Were you raised by dwarves by any chance?”