#r'tan

[rowscara]

Another older character sponsored for a Halloween reboot! Thanks to my wonderful patron who's made this a fun halloween com two years running now <3

[marcusmettalus]

Distant Legacy and Future Promises (Part 1)

(Continued from Here)

(Featuring the OCs from @rowscara / @rowreblogs )

"Surely I can wear something a little less,, formal? I don't want to be seen like some haughty Imperial,, right? "

Ostia tugged a little at her furlined cloak, the dress and jewelry rustling from the motions. She felt even more out of place now, first with just being on Midgård as an Outlander, but now also wearing her formal ceremonial attire that Neomie had smuggled along their trip. Whilst on Haldia within her ancestral keep it wouldn't be too out of the ordinary, even if she didn't enjoy it,, to wear it now on such foreign soil?

"Pas de tout ma cherie! I recognize that you would prefer your more,, weathered clothes, I realize this now. Sadly there is a dress code when visiting the Kungliga Palatset. Especially when His Majesty is home. Not his choice mind you, he has similar preferences as yourself, but the Riksdag had set this in stone for quite some time."

Noemi was being assisted by some of her handmaidens, making sure the various layers of the Grande Dame Durand regalia sat where they should be.

The duo was in one of the waiting chambers near the main halls within the palace. Compared the the various Nobilis keeps that Ostia had briefly visited over the years,, it wasn't gaudy. Sure there was some gold decorations and scattering of murals and paintings, but it wasn't an assault on the senses compared the the Imperial Nobles taste. Thick rugs of both fur and woven textiles, making Ostia careful everytime time she adjusted her posture, or when one of Noemie's attendants tried to help with Ostia's dress. Old wrought iron chandeliers crowned with old gas lights or even tallow candles, casting a more warm comforting haze throughout the chamber.

"Lord Surtr isn't a fan either of pomp and regalia?"

"Non non, he isn't. He is a soldier, a warrior, he stands with his people at the front lines, he doesn't wish to lord over the Kingdom from the comfort of his keep. Somewhere in his mind,, he still doesn't see himself as a King. Even after all this time."

Ostia furrows her brow a little when hearing more of this enigmatic Surtr. Crowned king by his people, but does not wish for it. Clad in regalia befitting his station, yet wishes to be clad in his armour of war. To be seen as a Symbol of Unity,, but is not unified with their people. It sounds,, familiar.

"Grande Dame Durand, Lady Haldus."

Ostia snaps out of her reverie to look for the source of the new voice. Near the now opened chamber doors stood a neatly dressed officer, hair tucked back tightly into a thick braid of raven black while holding her officer's cap against her chest.

"His Majesty and his Council are now awaiting the last of their guests. Honored Brother Esatar is by the Main Hall entrance. This way, please."

Ostia and Neomie looked upon one another before silently agreeing to follow. Neomie allowed her attendants to return to their previous duties or head back to the lodge, while Ostia carefully trod over the rugs, being mindful once again of her talons so they didn't trip on the way. The Officer gave a little wry smile when both women were soon out of the chambers and guided them away through the stone wrought corridors.

The rhythmic click of metal claws and scuffs of well worn boots fill the silence of the women being led to the main hall. The thick carved stone walls were draped in tapestries, depicting old wars or scenes of nature from across the realms. A few palace attendants were helping fix up a vast tapestry that had seen better days,, one that Ostia stopped to gaze over.

It was vast, it stretched for another dozen meters from where Ostia paused, something about this piece of work made her stop. The time to paint this piece, let alone to weave and keep it whole once it was hung up here. She couldn't help but reach out to run her fingers across the fabric, the thin threads soft from age but still held strong despite it.

Above her was a titan of a man, clad in some manner of leather and chain mail with a heavy fur cloak across his shoulders, one of which had the skull of whatever wolf-like beast was slain to make it. A thick beard was tied up in a simple braided affair, while the almost forest of hair on the top of the man's head flowed down freely, both the shade of dried blood flecked with gold. One hand was held out and open towards a horde of people, the other rested on the hilt of a battered and worn greatsword,, bearing the crest of an eagle clasping lightning bolts within its talons.

"Lady Haldus. Does something bother you?"

Ostia blinks back to the present, turning to look at the Officer who had spotted the lagging Imperial guest.

"No well,, I,,. Who was he? This man? He must have been important for your people to have such a big piece of art. I'm still learning about your people's history."

Ostia could see Neomie giving a firm look from over the officer's shoulder, making her adjust her manner and using her Lady Haldus voice when speaking to the Officer.

"This, Lady Haldus, was the day our forebearers came upon this world some ten millennia ago, during the later parts of what the imperials called The Great Crusade. The fleet of the Drekk-Tra with all their serfs and families, and the native colonists from a bygone era. And Him. Our High King. Surtr. His Såga is still being written, and this one is one of the oldest chapters to his Såga. Many of our halls bear his Såga, as well as the Ancients. Sigurd, Valkia, Ulfberth, Æslein, and a thousand thousand others. Their Legacy is what gave us our Future."

The Officer spoke softly, a gloved hand delicately running across the tapestry with an almost revering touch, as if to grasp it would cut her to the bone. Ostia gazed over the great work

"A Warrior King, who walked in the Light of the Champion of the Æsir, the blood and ashes of countless worlds stained his hands,, yet offered an opened palm to our ancestors, bearing his heart and soul so not to divide us, but to unite and prosper, even if it was not in his own blood to do so. That, Lady Ostia,,"

The Officer turned to look deep into Ostia eyes, her amber hues bearing no chill or harshness,

", That is our High King. A primal force that has slain, a warrior with God-Blood, bearing the mantle of conquest, but has chosen to build and defend. It is why He decreed that we call ourselves not slayers or butchers or tyrants,,"

", but Guardians of Asgård."

[vezimira]

R’tan and Ostia for @rowscara in exchange for an Ahriman/Khayon fic which you should go read because it’s cute and hot and awesome

[lightlysketched]

blessed yule/merry christmas for @rowscara

r’tan is beloved and hes wonderful

[marcusmettalus]

The Warden and The Dominion.

(Featuring Warden, R'tan, Ostia and Lucelle Haldus from @rowscara)

R'tan could not but help keeping his hammer at the ready, thumb hovering near the activation rune in the haft. This familiar feeling of dread gnawing st the back of his mind as he watches from the sidelines, but his body was still tensed to close the distance at the sign of any trouble.

Why did this dread feeling always return when he was around Knights? Something about the ancient machine spirits maybe? Or was it that Ostia stood upon one of the Knight's shoulder? He knew not.

Warden stood at ease, it's blade and gauntlet hung idle but the low thrum of its reactor exhausts still could be heard and felt in the air. Across from it was Dominion, the Monarche type Knight under the command of Lady Durand. This one seemed,, restless, twitchy even if such a machine could be described as such. It's exhaust rumbled at a higher frequency, as if ready to accelerate it's motive engines for combat.

/We./

The Hanger reverberated from the vox-hailers mounted in Dominion's frame as it finally spoke. Synthetic, Soulless, and not with one voice, sounding more as if dozens of people spoke in perfect unison. Echoes of former Scions along with Lady Neomie's likeness, but hollow, distant, just fragments of the true selves.

/We. Are. Dominion. Who? Indentured Ally? Opposition? Who? Who?/

R'tan felt his body tense further as he watches the elder machine spoke more at Ostia? Warden? He was unsure who the Knight was trying to adress in it's questioning. He could see Ostia brace herself a little ontop of Warden's shoulder, covering one ear from being in the direct path of the vox-hailers. Once the noise ceased, Ostia rubbing her ear before giving her answer, directed at the ancient Knight.

"We are,, Warden, Ostia, and Lucelle. We hail from House Haldus, from the world of Haldia. Do you know our House? We hold fealty to the God-Emperor of Mankind. We are not your enemy."

There was a short pause as Dominion listened, it's crimson lenses gazing over Ostia and Warden, R'tan almost felt like the machine was thinking of how to respond or something of that order. These Knights were an unknown technology to most Astartes, even the Iron Hands who pride themselves as masters of the Machine Spirits were not privy to this technology.

/House Haldus. Blood Haldia. Known to Dominion. Blood of Lord Gerrard Haldia. Indentured Ally./

R'tan watches as the elder knight seems to relax for a moment, letting his held breath release slowly through his nose. His grasp upon his hammer releases slighty but keeps wary, remembering how volatile Dominion has been upon the battlefield, how protective it was of Lady Durand and her people, it's wroth was unmatched.

Ostia though had a surprised look upon her face, quizzical even as Dominion mentioned Gerrard. Giving a glance down at Warden for a moment before asking the obvious question that came to their mind.

"Gerrard Haldia? He was the founder of our entire family, how do you know him?"

Dominion titled its helm slowly as it processed the query posed to it, the crimson lenses flickering while it dug through its archives.

/Gerrard Haldia. Aide. Witness the Writ and Crown. Vanquished upon Acadia, Darkend Beasts. Old Ally. Blood Haldia are allies. Blood Durand, Blood DeGalle, Brothers of Blood Haldia. Indentured Ally./

R'tan looked between the two war machines then back up to Ostia. Haldia was an ancient world, centuries of history and even more having been lost. The confusion was apparent in Ostia's expression, even Lucelle reacted, this time she was the one to respond to this revelation, the vox-hailers on Warden crackling to life so the elder sister could ask.

"That's,, that's well over a millennia ago. You witnessed our House being granted the Writ?"

The elder Knight's helm slowly nodded,

/Dominion witness. Yes. Blood Durand witness. Blood DeGalle witness./

"DeGalle? You've mentioned them now a few times, who are they?"

/Blood Durand, Blood DeGalle. First Sangreal of Karseilles. /

"San,, what now?"

/Sangreal. Blood-Writ. The First of the House. Gerrard poured Heart Blood onto The Writ of Terra. Durand. DeGalle. Haldus. Sangreal. Not many left./

/Rólan Durand. First of First. Proclaim./

The vox-hailers crackle once more but now there was only one voice, unwavering and genuine. No distortion or echoes, pure and unfiltered, captured in a time long gone.

\\I bear the name Rólan Durand, sworn to the House of Charlemagne, Blood of Carolygn. So long as My Blood remains true to the Cradle, my blade will never dull, my flame will never fade. House Durand will always claim Dominion as our Blade and Fire. With my Heart-Blood I do sign this Writ from Terra, and swear upon said Heart-Blood that we will never yield.\\

The voice of an ancient long gone scion, of a man who founded the House Durand that still held true to its vows after these millenia, and was the first pilot to ride Dominion onto the fields of kingdom and war.

/We, are Dominion. Blade and Fire of Durand. Sangreal upon Our Throne. We, will never fall. House Chevallier, Priority One. Karseille, Priority Two. Blood Durand,, Priority One. We Proclaim./

The Knight's arm slowly moves now, letting Noemie hop from the gauntlet onto the weathered back before said gauntlet turns and slowly plants one digit against the closed access hatch on Warden's chassis.

/Proclaim. You are Sangreal. Your Oath. Proclaim. Heart-Blood upon your Throne. Proclaim. Truth of Imperial Terra. No God of Man. Proclaim. Proclaim./

"I already made my oath to the Imperium of Mankind, I -"

/False. Oath of Deity. Oath False. Sangreal have no Gods. Blade. Shield. Tannerite. Brother. Sister. Blood. Honor. Blood Haldus Proclaim. Of Terra and Throne. Of Blood and Blade. Of Truth and Tannerite. Of Honor and Home. Proclaim./

Lucelle reacts to the firm rapping of Dominion's digit against her Hull, tempted to swat away the inistant jabbing but decides against it at the last moment. She does move the chassis back slightly so that Ostia doesn't stumble off from her.

"Easy elder, we heard you clearly. But,, how do we Proclaim this oath? We know not the words of the Sangreal Oath."

Ostia grumbles a little from the sudden motion both from that prodding and Lucelle shifting her weight about. Glancing down at R'tan who had moved closer when he noted the renewed agitation from Dominion but had halted when Ostia waved him back a little. She and Lucelle was still out of harms way for now.

/Oath of Sangreal. Proclaim./

Dominion's engines rumble louder for a few moments, as the ancient atomatic reactors shifted to a different gear. Noemie covered her ears quickly which Ostia hastily mimicked as she recalled how loud Dominion could get. The Hanger resounded deep from the vox hailers, R'tan could feel this one deep within his gut and lungs, his Lyman implant adjusting to the sudden volume increase so he was not impaired.

/We, Blade and Blood of Terra../

"We, Blade and Blood of Terra.."

/With Our Heart-Blood upon the Throne, Proclaim../

/Our Strength and Sovereign Honor will not Falter. Our Truth and Tannerite will not Fail. Our Oath to Emperor and Empire will Endure. Proclaim./

/Sisters And Brothers, by the Sword and by the Fire in our Heart. Our Vigil of His Empire will not End, Our Oath Unbreaking. Proclaim./

/We, Sangreal Haldia, Honored Scion Ostia Haldus, First of Her Name, and Honored Knight Lucelle, Warden of Blade and Thunder. Proclaim. Heart-Blood upon the Throne. No Tyrants stand before Us. Proclaim. No Darkened Beasts gird the field. Proclaim. The Heathens and Tainted burn before our Flames. Proclaim! We. Will. Never. Fall. Proclaim!/

/Stand Tall, Never Kneel, Strike True, Never Falter. We, Are The Knights of Terra. No Indentured Ally. No Gods, No Masters, Proclaim!/

Dominion spoke aloud and true, reciting the ancient oath that the First Knights within the Imperium took millennia ago. The various serfs and House Gaurd that were in the hanger had repeated those same words, hand over their hearts, even R'tan felt something within him as he heard these words, reminding him a little of the Oaths he took when taken in as an aspirant when welcomed into the Salamander chapter. To bear the Hammer and Anvil of Vulkan, the drakescale tabard, and their oath to Nocturne, Terra and the people of the Imperium.

Dominion raised his gauntlet again, gently this time placing it ontop on Warden's pauldron, those gleaming red lights under his helm looking right into Ostia's eyes.

/We, are Sangreal. Oaths Spoken. Blades and Blood are one./

/You, no longer Indentured Ally. Sisters of Terra. Oaths Spoken. Few Left. Priority One:,, /

"Priority One. Haldia."

/Yes. Yes./

"Priority Two. House Haldus."

/Yes. Yes./

"Priority Three. Blood Haldia."

Dominion's helm nodded curtly as Ostia and Lucelle responded to the last questions, before giving the last test if the duo truly understood his words.

/We./

"We. Are. Warden."

[rowscara]

And that's it! that's a wrap! 2023 is coming to a close and I've finally had the brainpower to put together a nice little something something for the holidays. Thank you, quite genuinely, to every one of you sticking around and enjoying my posts. It feels like just yesterday I was sharing Ostia with you for the first time while working a job that really sucked the soul from my body, to now getting to live my best struggling artist life. I am so, so grateful for the community here. Necessity has me posting on other socials but Tumblr is and will always be my home. While I might still be sporadically posting, I'm intending on taking some time for me from now until the new year. Sharing a few of my faves from this past year, maybe the odd doddle or two. But I'll likely be pretty quiet until the 1st. I hope everyone has the holidays season they need, no matter if that's boisterous or restful. Take care <3

| Kofi | Patreon | Etsy | Ask me Anything | Commissions | Gumroad | All my Links |

[rowscara]

R'tan having a great time now that Ostia is back on the mind

Damn, Ostia really likes cucumbers huh?

Credit where credit is do, @psi-scribe gifted me both a very delicious fic and the inspo

@symbiotebadger provided the meme

| Kofi | Patreon | Who are your characters? | Ask me Anything | Commissions | Redbubble | Etsy | All my Links |

[rowscara]

Sat down and did something for me! and WOWOWOWOW I'm so happy with how this turned out. They all look so good :) I did realize I think right around the time this was at flat colors that it looks like a dating sim loading screen, and now I'm brainstorming some sort of event for the discord server because I think it would be hilarious to do in simi-real-time. We'll see, I'd need to book a day for it and write a few things in advance, but I kind of want to try it. | Patreon | Who the heck are your characters? | Ask me Anything | Commission Info | Redbubble | Ao3 |