and it’s my whole heart

burnt but not buried this time (who’s a heretic now?)

[soulsache]

SOULSACHE — original fantasy characters inspired by dnd, lotr, botw, folklore, and more. selective but crossover friendly. enchanted by kian (he/they/it, 27). est. april '25.

links — || carrd || open starters || memes || thread tracker

[starlyht]

he wasn't certain he was convinced. animal fear would not permit the rational nor would it permit him to relax. his heart shuddered again and he wondered of his own arrogance, how he'd so foolishly dragged himself into a god's healing house as a man vampire-touched. even more disconcerting was the awareness that if she knew the condition of his strange hunger by sight alone then surely there were others with the same talent.

he steadied himself. what a thing of wonder it was, that a man who had smited ghouls and had slain all manner of wretch trembled before this cleric like a frighted child. he found himself, absurdly, laughing as he took in her confusion. it wasn't a pleasurable sound, though; his voice felt like glass close to shattering. he didn't know what shadow-touched meant. he was new enough to adventuring that there was a wealth of things that made no sense to his formerly quiet cosmology; magic and all of its mysteries were a thing for other people to know and only for him in passing like a forgotten name.

“it's easy to sense undead and you don't know what i am?” he took a step back. he didn't want the cleric so close, even if curiosity fought with his fear for dominance and kept him rooted in place. kyran folded his arms across his chest, keen reddened eyes meeting her grey. he said then, apprehensively, after a moment of silence, “i think i was drained by a vampire and survived.” another pause. kind of survived. it was better than what he almost said, something defensive or sarcastic.

as he said it, something jolted to mind. weren't clerics smart? barely above a whisper, he asked, “ever hear of anythin' like that?”

[soulsache]

memento cringed away from his laughter, from his mockery. what a stupid, useless fool he must think her. why had she said anything at all?

they wiped their hands and needle clean, to give themself something to do other than tremble. only after a long moment did they meet his gaze, apologetic and fearful. “your aura is different than any i have ever seen, but i do not know why or what was done to you.” she barely understood her abilities, much less what they meant. she did not have enough experience outside the convent walls to understand the different types of auras she saw.

and it had been a long, long time since they'd seen anyone undead.

at his explanation, though, a bit of clarity filtered in. memento tilted his head slightly, thoughtful and birdlike, as he pondered it. "yes," he says after a moment. "it's not..... common. but common enough for your kind to have a name, though i don't recall what it is at the moment." there is much he does not know, content as he is to hide within the convent and ignore the outside world.

"do you not...... remember the attack?"

[nofuckingideawho]

"but you survived" it would've been better if I hadn't

[unlore]

their fury doesn't seem to faze zahrosa in the slightest. she meets ulyana's gaze with an even coolness that does not melt in the flames of their anger, brows raising as her expression shifts to indicate that ulyana is being foolish.

zahrosa knows about the child, of course. it irritates her that she is not permitted to meet their daughter, as though her mere presence has a corruptive influence, as though she intends to deliberately harm the child - but she has no intention of admitting such a thing. she would rather let ulyana believe that it matters very little to her than acknowledge the little pang in her chest.

"it does not matter," the sorceress answers. "it did not come to that, and it would not have come to that."

whether that means that she would have stepped in if things went south ... well, she is at least implying that she would have. zahrosa clicks her tongue in disapproval, hands coming to rest on her sharp hips. "i am not a monster, ulyana."

that, in fact, is debatable.

[soulsache]

“it matters,” they grit out, “to me.”

it is not entirely a slight against zahrosa herself. very few people are allowed to meet oksana, and the guilt gnaws at them for keeping their daughter isolated the way they once were. gods willing, her curse will be dealt with by the time she is old enough to truly need socialization.

ulyana takes a shuddering breath, starts pacing their small room despite the weariness still clinging to their bones. “i am all she has. you know this. you hand me death in the form of an unassuming trinket and expect me to trust you when you say it will not come to that?" she has not yet earned their trust.

her monstrosity is irrelevant. what matters is that she does not direct any monstrosity to a child who has already suffered so much and will suffer more.

[mythshire]

✦ ⋆ 𖤓 ⋆ ✦ 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐕𝐄 ··· a collection of injuries tended in silence, pain worn like armour, the intimacy of being seen at your worst. genre: hurt and comfort, angst, romance, drama.

• You're bleeding through your shirt. Don't tell me you're fine. • How long have you been walking around like this? • I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to see how bad it is. • You should have told me the moment it happened. • Hold still. I mean it. Hold still. • This is going to sting. Bite down on something if you need to. • You've been hiding this for days, haven't you. • Who did this to you? I need you to tell me who did this. • Stop being brave for five minutes and let me help you. • I've seen worse. I've also seen men die from worse, so let me look at it. • I found the bandages in the trash. You want to explain that? • Don't you dare apologize for bleeding on me. • Your hands are cold. That's not a good sign. • I'm not angry. I'm terrified. There's a difference. • Come into the light. Let me see your face. • You should have stitches. I know you won't go. So sit down and let me do what I can. • You're white as a sheet and still trying to stand up straight. • I could hear you in the night. I didn't say anything. I'm saying something now. • Don't look at it if it makes it worse. Just look at me. • It's not weak to let someone see you hurt. • You came to me. Of all the places you could have gone, you came here.  • Lay back. You're not getting up until the color comes back to your face. • I'm not going to ask what happened. Not yet. First let me fix what I can. • You've been holding your left side since you walked in. Think I didn't notice? • This is going to leave a mark. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. • I've patched up a lot of people in my time. None of them scared me like you do right now. • You could have died out there. You could have died and I would have been the last person to know. • Sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere. • You're allowed to make a sound. Nobody's watching. • I need you to stay awake for me. Just a little longer. Talk to me. • You're lucky the cut wasn't deeper.  • Stop apologizing for needing help. Stop it right now. • I've seen what it looks like when someone's used to this. That's what scares me most about you. • Tell me your name. Tell me what day it is. Stay with me. • You're going to be alright. I promise you.  • You went back out there after this? With this? • Nobody takes care of you, do they? That ends tonight. • I've been gentle with you. I need you to be honest with me in return. • You're safe now. You're here, you're safe, and I've got you. Just breathe.

[soulsache]

quick someone remind me that i don’t have to beg for forgiveness or explain in great detail where i’ve been i can just come back if i want to

[soulsache]

i promise i’m alive my brain is just [tv static noises]

anyway what were your spotify stats mine were incredibly bisexual

[soulsache]

if they were dnd npcs…

léodan—unless you’re doing political intrigue quests or sneaking into a royal event, the party won’t meet him. might potentially tag along on the right kind of quest but much more likely to stay in his kingdom.

somerwyn—can easily recruit or be recruited for political intrigue quests, but won’t join any party long term. if the party runs into her while she’s traveling there’s a chance of a surprise princess reveal.

earith—a prime target for “escort the princess to her destination because most of her retinue was killed” quests tbh, but other than that the party won’t run into her outside the palace.

audenin—runs a shop in the party’s home base town, always willing to buy and sell. can’t be recruited for the vast majority of quests, but will easily give out quests and hints/advice/plot hooks from his guild. if the party is close with him and knows olvain, he’ll ask for their help with olvain’s curse.

olvain—extremely easy to recruit. this is literally his job. very unlikely to open up about his curse, unless he has an episode with the party present or if he finds out audenin told them.

ulyana—cannot and will not be recruited for any quests. has very extensive magic knowledge and is always happy to identify magical objects, create and sell spell scrolls, or answer magical questions. will only open up about oksana and ask for help with her curse under extremely specific circumstances.

[soulsache]

like this post for me to send you some memes!

[soulsache]

[soulsache]

[soulsache]

[chaiisms]

BALDURS GATE 3 PARTY BANTER PROMPTS LIST.

all of the following prompts are taken from party banter between the companions in larian studios' baldurs gate 3 (2023). there should be no spoilers! also, a disproportionate amount of these are from astarion and karlach. i'm not sorry.

I am enjoying our walks together, aren't you, [ name ]?

You'll be as depraved as the rest of us in no time.

Friend of yours?

Were you always so sneaky?

If there's hope for me there's hope for anyone.

How are we not there yet? My feet are killing me.

This is what I get for trying to strike up conversation.

We're not going to have trouble, are we?

If we continue this way, we may get too close for comfort.

Don't get too comfortable. We shouldn't overstay our welcome in such a place.

Do you have pet names for each other yet?

[ name ]! Was that a joke?

You know what - that is not the easiest of questions for me to answer.

Given your own nature, are you really the one to judge?

You can read?!

I'm surprised - I expected you to turn your back once you got what you wanted.

I wouldn't know a flirtation if you whacked me alongside the head with it.

Why stay somewhere safe and comfortable when we could be in mortal peril?

Can't say I love what they've done with the place.

I'm learning to enjoy the taste of chaos. Count me in.

At least you didn't tell me to 'be myself'.

You have so much to learn. Repeat after me: honey muffin, sweetie pie, sugarplum.

Nice to be in a crowd of normal people for once.

So [ name ], how is your sad, hopeless pining going?

You seemed a million miles away just then.

I fear I've been rather hasty to judge you, [ name ].

Ready to enter the belly of the beast?

Step one of starting a conversation: think before you speak.

I hear your relationship has taken on a new aspect recently…

All right, just keep it down. We're conspicuous enough without your hyena call.

Not one for roughing it, I see.

Why not have a little fun?

You're right, of course. Forgive me.

My money's on you, [ name ].

The echoes - listen! They're coming from three directions!

Want me to carry you?

Feeling at home?

Treat them right, or you'll have me to answer to.

Oh, darling, would you?

No doubt they found me too intimidating.

A girl could get used to this.

Now I don't know what to believe.

Well - yes, it was a joke.

I know that, too. It just wasn't funny.

And here I thought I rubbed you the wrong way.

Man, it's good to be home. First round on who?

Oh, I wouldn't actually leave. After all, where would you be without me?

You've quite the knack for finding the bright side of things, haven't you?

Well what would impress you, then?

Let's just stop this conversation right here, shall we?

Must've been an awful day for the people who lived here

You've clearly thought this through a great deal. I'm impressed and appalled in equal measure.

Sure, but think of the stories you'll be able to tell.

I never was scared of the shadows.

I know you're not really as heartless as all that.

I judged you wrongly. I'm sorry.

Are you charging for this sage advice, or is sticking your nose into my business just a hobby?

Pragmatism, thy name is [ name ].

That's ironic, coming from you.

We're either very clever or very lucky.

You do not need luck to survive, [ name ]. Not when you have me.

That will make getting word to my mother rather tricky.

Stop gawking at the decor. This place is dangerous.

I can't tell if you're joking.

So, what's it like caring for someone other than yourself, [ name ]?

You think I'm beautiful?

I feel it too. Here if you need a pick-me-up.

Yet another thing we have in common. We're two peas in a pod.

Is it so unbelievable that they would simply like me?

Use your words.

You gonna catch me if I eat a brick?

[ name ], I've heard you talking in your sleep.

Let's never speak of this again.

You can take a day off once in a while, [ name ]

Hey! Something bit me.

Cheer up. It might be all downhill from here.

I love a nice secret hideaway, don't you?

Think the bar is open?

[soulsache]

what if we were brothers and i could never save you. no matter how many times i tried. what then.

[soulsache]

hellooooo my beautiful mutuals!! my best friend is visiting me this weekend so i will be even more absent from the dash than i have been!!! i do miss writing here so i will do my best to properly come back next week; i know i owe so many drafts/dms and still need to reach out to so many of you. i’m about to reblog a very fun meme if anyone wants to throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks! hope you are all doing well i’m blowing kisses

[soulsache]

bestie went home yesterday and i miss them so bad however !!!! i rediscovered my favorite picrew so brace yourselves for that.

[unlore]

ankha huffs out a laugh, squinting at him as they circle and the light falls somewhere behind. "totally shoulda. but you know what they say -"

whatever her assertion was going to be, it is cut off by the returning blow to the gut. it's a good, solid hit, and clearly not one she had been sufficiently braced for the impact of: it knocks the breath right out of her with a soft oof. suddenly the two of them are on the floor, tackle successful, and ankhirmaa is struggling to get a decent grip on olvain, the slippery bastard.

she's no stranger to wrestling, however; she doesn't intend to let him get off that easy. "you want it like this?" she gasps out, though she really ought to be using less of her energy on badinage, "c'mon, buddy-boy. i'll give it to you like this." and again, that stupid, shining grin.

[soulsache]

something in his head always tilts when sparring turns to wrestling. at once he’s a grown man who knows exactly where to stick a knife to make his attacker stop moving—and a little boy, bruised and battered by laughing brothers too big to fight off.

olvain’s breath catches; he tamps down the panic and reminds himself it’s just his friend and he doesn’t need to kill her.

and then she makes him laugh. “you wish,” he says. he may not be as proficient as she is in wrestling, but he is slippery. olvain writhes and squirms; doesn’t matter so much that he’s half-blind when ankha is so close. in a real fight, he thinks this would be easy enough. just grab one of his knives, stick it in the right place, and his opponent would be weakened enough for olvain to consider it a win. for now, he tries to get on top of ankha, tries to get his forearm across her throat.

[707chance]

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