#tomepact

[saintsdawn-archive]

writing down florence's new strategy for if/when she ends up in a difficult situation is to use plane shift and hide in the feywild behind an archfey.

[magelearncd]

@tomepact says: " good sire, i bring a gift from the queen of that which is dark and secret. "

the inspector bows low, in his almost-eladrin shape in the polite gesture of not intruding upon the space in his true shape. there is a basket tucked under his arm, full of goodies: rare flowers that bloomed only in the night, a twisted bough of black leaves that shine in bright colors of pink and blue when disturbed, a bangle of carved crystal from the castle of the queen.

" may i stay and spend a meal with you, lord? "

Angondren leans forward in his throne, almost imperceptibly, so as to not show too much interest. If he showed too much interest he may be caught like a fish on a hook and reeled somewhere he did not want to go. So his only sign of intrigue was a slight raise of a brow and the glimmer in his remaining good eye. (an illusion could only copy so much after all)

"It is rare thing indeed to recieve a gift from the Queen of Air and Darkness," he remarks idly. "I wonder as to the occasion."

Perhaps that's a bit to forward, he waves a hand lazily through the air as if dismissing the question. "But of course, I would be honored to share a meal with you, preperations will begin at once."

He nods to a servant at the door and they turn, presumably heading towards the kitchen. "What would you like me to call you, gift-bringer?"

[celestialdetected-moved]

Time passed ahead in skips and stutters. Sometimes Arawn was aware of it; crumbling pillars or wayward adventurers who stumbled in for a bit of shelter. He'd come to himself for a moment and pass his hands over the adventurers injuries, healing where he could, helping where he could.

Most of the time it blurred around him, or he blurred around it; Earth and time buried the temple, just as it had the Age of Arcanum, just as it had the Calamity. And Arawn was there, in spirit if not in body. A ghost guarding a temple long ravaged and an Age long gone.

He wasn't sure why he came back to himself on this particular day, until he saw him. Another ghost. Tall, with skin like cracked marble, strangely bare without the armor he'd always worn. He stumbled through what used to be the threshold of the Sancutary, nearly tripping over the uneven ground.

If Arawn's heart was still beating it would've stopped at the sight of him. A Champion a thousand years dead and yet....here.

"Hymnal," he whispered, his voice raspy, as brittle as paper. Oh, please Everlight. If you have any regard for me left, please let him see me.

@tomepact because I've been thinking about ghost Arawn all day.

[divinatiions]

This was not the forest that he knew. Or maybe it was. Maybe he was wandering past what he'd explored as a child. Yes, he'd spent many hours here, and yet there were still secrets tucked away. There always were, it seemed, no matter where he went.

As the trees grow darker, as the fog sticks to his frame and fills his lungs, Lukas thinks of his 18th birthday. He thinks of finding the witch in woods like these, except they weren't woods like these. He didn't know if he'd found anything like this -- or heard of anything like this, for that matter.

" It's okay, " he murmurs to himself, unaware of the presence of @tomepact , as the Inspector. " Not the first time you've gotten lost in the woods. You can get out of this, you always have. "

But there were no guards nor huntsmen to find him this time, he thinks but does not say. If he is to be trapped here, then who would care enough to find him? He doesn't answer that question, and instead takes another step forward.

[dracograce]

starter for @tomepact​!

❛ a paladin of the everlight, you say? ❜  she echoes eagerly, her curiosity showing in the white of her eyes.  despite all of her journeys, liuven never had the chance to meet someone with gifts similar to his.  the everlight is an entity she never heard about—but judging from his radiance and the soothing grace he exudes, she supposes the everlight holds true to their name.  her palm cradles her chin as many questions demand to be answered inside of her inquisitive mind.  hymnal must have many stories to tell...  

❛ there is only a single paladin order where i hail from, though they each serve different gods.  there are nine paladins in total, and they are beloved by the people, ❜  she pauses, still staring at his golden gaze.  how odd.  it almost feels like staring in a mirror.  ❛ would you please indulge me and tell me more about the everlight? ❜

[alcriti]

❝ Hm... The only redeeming quality about this lot is that despite their imminent death, they’re still willing to fight. How pitifully admirable... ❞ 

Astarion speaks his thoughts aloud, doing little to hide the grimace visibly pulling at his mouth. He had voiced his other thoughts about the disadvantages of remaining in this veritable death trap; however, the decision, overall, was not his to make. Safety in numbers was the only thing keeping him there, and admittedly, he was not quite ready to abandon the safety of their little partnership.

His keen awareness draws his attention, and the vampire reacts with frightening quickness, whipping around, prepared. ❝ Oh! Not many can sneak up on me, you know... ❞ Voice lowers, sitting in his throat, and disdain turns to silent acknowledgement, impressed, and the hand that currently grips the hilt of his blade, relaxes, ❝ You must feel some sort of kindship with these people, Oriax... It seems to me, they’re dying to be in your position: The freedom to go as you please, to not be responsible for anyone. Be careful. Envy makes people do silly things. ❞ And he grins, wide, and chillingly cold. 

@tomepact​ / ♥

[traavelers]

   On days like this, it’s hard for her to believe otherwise.  The rain is merciless on the roof of the tavern and Yasha shivers, curls into herself more despite the warmth of the fire in the hearth.  She knew He was calling for her now -- that same calling had taken her away from the others once again -- yet she wants nothing more to sit here just for a while more.

For once she wants things to stay still.

The conversation between her and Hymnal -- a stranger she’d met on the road who hadn’t stayed like that for long -- is not without its pauses as Yasha loses herself in thought.  Meeting his gaze her brow relaxes.  Offers him a smile, a quiet apology as she returns to the present.

“ It can be, “ she says, voice soft.  “ Sometimes.  But, I’m not a stranger to heavy things.  I can handle it.  Someone told me, a while ago, that we need burdens like that.  They keep us human. “  She tilts her head.  “ I think you two would’ve gotten along. “

@tomepact​ said: “A heart’s a heavy burden.”

[saintsdawn-archive]

volucia isn't expecting to see a familiar face. truly, she isn't. seeing florence is like seeing a ghost, complete with the white cloak that she remembers so well. her feet carry her before she can stop herself, breaking from lualyrr's side (the barbarian shouts at volucia to wait, come back but the demand falls flat) to rush to florence and clutch onto her armor.

" it's -- you! it's you! you live! " she breathes in a gasp. despite her grip, it feels like florence could pull her along like she weighed nothing, like there was no force that kept her fee to the ground.

" from. . .from the city. are there others? is. . .is uh. . .is he--"

“ I – ”

The words catch in the back of Florence’s throat. Is it her imagination, or do they taste like smoke? The cleric ( no longer a knight, no longer a protector ) swallows and reaches for Volucia’s hands, intending to pry them off of her armor.

Are there others? Yes. Is he one of them? No. They’re strangers, and it sickens her to look at them.

Florence’s expression is all Volucia would need. Guilt. Shame. Grief. Before speaking, she sucks in a painful breath. “ There are others, but I. . . I couldn’t save them all. And we tried ! We tried, but we couldn’t find him – ”

Florence’s voice falters. “ I. . . I’m sorry, Volucia. ”