#valdyss

[mercurial-muses]

Queen's Museum Gala: Mood Board

[tyra-greydawn]

Arcwine is stupid. But tasty.

I saw Valdyss and Safere and Anna last night. And I met Faye. Faye is large.

Val told me without telling me why Grayce was exploding. Arcwine. Maybe. And she said I should take it away by any means necessary. And I said no and she looked surprised and I said I wouldn't disintegrate Grayce's hand. Val was surprised I thought that way.

I hope Grayce doesn't explode and if she does I hope it's somewhere safe. If she has arcwine I'll guess I'll have to be an arm bear monster thing and take it from her even if she doesn't want me to.

[mercurial-muses]

Meeting of the Minds

Valdyss has nearly completed her first phase of research into ley lines and places of magical power in Drustvar. I realized last night that, since a lot of that has been happening in one-on-one RP or 'off screen' completely, there's no way my Autumnhearth guildies and those who RP with us would know that. I'm posting this scene with my writing partner's permission to catch everyone up a little. As a bonus, y'all get to meet Faye's younger sister, Asta.

- - - - -

Valdyss may have met one of the Ladies of Frostfall, but the second remained apparently rather elusive.

Where Faye spent a good deal of time in her workshop, Asta was across the hall in the keep’s study. The other Lady Callahan slowly opened the door and took a step outside. Not out of caution, but because she was distracted. Another book sat open in her hand as she gradually walked out from the study. ‘Rumination on the Elements and Nature,’ read the title. Yet another way to feed her curiosity about the ways of nature based magic.

Asta frowned slightly as she went over one particular passage, moving down the hall with the sort of practiced, subconscious ease one might expect from a regular resident. She was headed towards the kitchen apparently, with the unconscious desire for food.

At least she was going to try and eat unlike someone else in the keep.

The portal behind Valdyss blinked from existence with a quiet whoosh, plunging the spacious guest room into darkness. A snap of the mage’s fingers conjured a tiny flame that hovered between them for a few seconds before it grew into a fiery ball the size of a marble and moved to levitate over her palm. The illumination it provided did little more than push back the shadows immediately in front of her, but it was enough light to allow her to get to the door without taking a header over anything that might be in her path.

Val opened the door with her free hand and, standing in a rectangle of light cast into the room from the hallway, she shook her other hand to extinguish the fire it held. She waved away a wisp of smoke as she stepped into the hallway… and very nearly right into a woman passing by the room. “Oh!” she yelped, unconsciously bringing a hand up to cover her galloping heart. “Light, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you coming.”

Asta subconsciously moved away from the sudden figure, but the yelp drew her eyes away from her text towards the mage. They were a much darker blue than Faye’s and currently filled with both alarm and confusion.

She shut the book in her hand sharply, giving Valdyss a once over. “That’s…fine. Who are you?” With the small number of servants they had, it wasn’t hard to recognize this was not one of their friends. And she couldn’t recognize her from the village either.

Nerd that she was, Val’s attention was almost immediately drawn to the book in the woman’s hand. That, combined with a beauty that was so familiar by now, made all the pieces click. “Asta?” she said, brow raised.

“Valdyss Duskbane, but Val’s fine.” The mage made a critical study of the other woman and, noting the alarm in her eyes, remained alert for sudden movements or any other signs of a fight. “I come in peace, I swear just don’t…” The fingers of her left hand wiggled in the general direction of the floor as she held her right one out in a defensive position. “Don’t root me, or whatever.”

Valdyss would have to look up to meet the woman's gaze, as Asta stood easily over 6' tall. The recognition was confusing up until Val introduced herself.

The alarm dropped from faintly familiar features. Asta's entire posture relaxed with a small huff. "You're Valdyss?" The younger Callahan asked, looking the mage over in a new light. She pursed her lips for a moment before humming with a shrug. "Mmm, I think I get it."

Nonetheless she offered a hand out towards Val. "I am Asta, yes. My apologies for the suspicion. I didn't recognize you, nor did I know you'd be visiting us today. Usually Faye warns me so I don't barge in and make a fool of her. Well, more than she already is anyhow."

Val grinned up at Asta as she took the younger Callahan’s hand in a firm grip. “I am indeed Valdyss.” She withdrew her hand and instead gripped the strap of her pack and pulled it a little higher on her shoulder. “And I am also at fault for you not being warned of my arrival. Faye’s not expecting me yet.”

A faint blush began to rise in the mage’s cheeks as she continued on. “I finished up earlier than expected in Dalaran and, um...” She paused, cleared her throat.

“Well, I was wandering around to kill time and came across a vendor selling a spiced liquor that I thought would add a nice kick to the Crackle n’ Apple.” Val’s hands moved as she spoke and her expression grew animated in her explanation. “And then I found this roasted pork tenderloin and thought that along with some brie would pair really well with the apple and-” Her words tapered off into a chuckle. Val shrugged. “And I didn’t want to wait any longer to see her, okay?”

An amused expression very similar to the one her sister often got grew across Asta's face. She just waved the fluster off with an easy gesture before turning.

"Then by all means: I was headed towards the kitchen anyways. I can help you make the drink and you'll get to kick in Faye's workshop door to make her eat this time. Stag knows you'll probably be a lot more appealing than me getting to lecture her again." Asta snorts, starting to walk off.

"Do you honestly think Faye takes issue with you interrupting her?" Val called to Asta's back as sped to catch up to the retreating woman. She fell into pace at her side and looked up at her. "Asta, your sister adores you."

Asta lets out a soft scoff. "Oh no, I don't really. Well. Most of the time." She corrects with a pause. "The one time she spilled Shroom Bloom on herself was a... very interesting incident." Despite that, there's a hint of fiendish delight that crosses Asta's expressions for a moment. But then it's gone, and she's looking to Valdyss.

"But I adore my sister as well. And if you do too, you'll know I essentially have to intrude or she'd be in there for hours without a drop of water."

“I do,” Val replied without missing a beat. She hefted the pack hanging off her shoulders to emphasize her point. “It’s exactly why I ran around half of Dalaran putting together a meal before finally caving to my haste to get here. "Brought plenty for three, by the way,” she added with a smile.

Asta shot Valdyss a look when that little addition was made. “Trying to curry favor with food?” she quipped with a faint smirk. “My my, you may be as smart as Faye claims.”

“Not looking to curry favor as much as to take advantage of an opportunity to get to know you better.” Val had to jog for a few steps to catch up to Asta’s side again. These tall Callahan women and their long strides. “If it isn’t already, I believe it will become important to your sister that we meet and spend some time together. Light, at least I hope my read on things is correct in that regard.”

Asta finally made it to the kitchen with Val: a large space with a stone oven, some door inlaid with runes, a healthy fireplace, and many more stonework "appliances." Magic hung thick in the room as Asta went to open another door and begin pulling out what must have been supplies to make the Crack N' Apple.

"If she's as fond of you as I suspect, and this continues as it does, I suspect the same." Asta commented. "But that extends both ways, you know. I'd like to understand just who my sister is seeing."

Blue eyes shifted aside to look at Valdyss pointedly, framed by the shorter blonde hair on her head. There was no maliciousness to the statement: no threat. But she was observing the woman.

Valdyss had no control over the grin that transformed her previously tense features, and wouldn’t have tried to compose herself even if it was possible. Of all the emotions she could wear outwardly like a badge of honor, those she felt growing for Faye were among the most important.

“Well, to use a cliche I suspect you’ll appreciate, I am an open book.” As she spoke, Val unpacked the food and then bustled around the kitchen, gathering what she’d need to warm the tenderloin and then plate it up along with the cheese. "I don’t have a thing to hide, so ask away.”

"Well first- Oh here." Asta moved aside and got a large metal pan. She walked over to the fireplace and slid the pan into a niche made partway up the stony alcove. Reaching below, with a murmur, Asta ignited the rune carved there and a hearty fire sprung to life.

"There you are: and the plates are right over there." Asta pointed to a cabinet in question before returning to making her drink. "First: why were you in Dalaran? I was told you are doing some studies there? Something about ley lines I believe."

Valdyss muttered a quiet thanks as she crossed to the cabinet Asta had gestured to. She grabbed three plates and brought them back to the counter closest to where Asta was working. “I’ve been trying to locate areas of concentrated arcane energy here in Drustvar. My hope is to use those as pinpoints that can then be connected together to accurately map the network of main ley lines in this region.”

The mage peeked into the stone recess to check on the roast, smiling as she inhaled the pleasant scent of rosemary. “This trip wasn’t to research as much as it was to log my findings so far.” She shook her head. “The Kirin Tor doesn’t have nearly as much data about Drustvar as I imagined they would, and I intend to remedy that.” Val sighed. “The dark history of your homeland and the potential for that history to repeat itself is just too important to go unnoted.”

Asta, meanwhile, was busying herself with mixing their drinks. She was listening of course, judging from the eventual hum that left her as Valdyss finished speaking.

"Interesting. And what have you found so far? I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of the arcane points of power would likely also be tied towards important places for natural magic."

Val nodded. “What I'm seeing here in Drustvar is consistent with the relationship between ley lines and places of power all over the world. Sites that hold a concentration of arcane magic are either over a main ley line- a trunk, if you will -or where two or more smaller branches intersect.” Talking with her hands as always, the mage crossed her index fingers to illustrate that last point.

“As for natural energy being tied to sites of power in the same way arcane is, that makes complete sense to me.” She leaned one hip against the counter and watched Asta work for a moment before adding, “I can give you copies of the final map and my findings once I have it all pulled together, if you’d like.”

Asta glanced over to the mage as she spoke, and there was clear interest in her expression. Even more so when the offer of a map came into the picture.

"I would absolutely love a copy, if that were possible." She agreed, putting the whipped creme into each of the three glasses. "My knowledge of ley lines is not quite as advanced, but they are rather intriguing. It feels as though the notion of arcane magic isn't quite as talked about around here, despite the Lord Admiral's daughter being a particularly potent mage herself. Or perhaps even more so because of that, actually."

“Ah. We mainlanders with our strange Light and magic, eh?” Val replied, adding a wink for Asta.

The mage looked in on the roast again and, seeing it would likely be perfectly browned in a few minutes, she turned to the counter and unwrapped the round of brie she'd brought. “I’d be interested in visiting a few of the mapped sites with you.” Val centered the cheese on a plate and held her open hand a couple of inches over it, palm down.

“My theory is that you may feel a stronger pull of nature magic there, just as I will with the arcane.” As she spoke, a flickering red glow illuminated the space between her palm and the plate. The brie began to bubble and melt.

“Not to say they’re the same magic. I mean, they’re channeled in different ways, as far as I know,” Val continued. “But I believe that- in the most elemental sense -nature and arcane magic come from the same energy, so I think we’d prove that there are more similarities in the way that our people actually conjure and wield magic than there are differences.”

Asta was in the middle of sprinkling the cinnamon across the drinks when Val made her second offer.

Her hands paused in their work, hovering there for a moment in thought. She continued shortly after, but seemed ever so slightly distracted. It might be subtle enough for Valdyss to miss initially.

"It would be something, certainly, depending on the days you'd choose. I have not gotten the chance to read much into the interplay between the Arcane and Natural magics: most of mine have to do with the latter. Aren't you the Steward of Autumnhearth as well, yes?"

Val nodded. “I am...well, I will be.” She lifted her hand away from the now perfectly gooey round of brie. “I'm currently the Court Secretary and, as honored as I am to have the role, I’m not sure I would have accepted it if I had the impression that all of my time would have to be dedicated to that alone.”

As she spoke, the mage moved to the oven to remove the tenderloin. Once she’d set that down to cool, Valdyss swiped a hand across the rune carved low on the fireplace, cutting off the flame. “As it is, I’ll have the flexibility to choose days that are convenient for you.” She leveled a gaze at Asta, softened by a warm and genuine smile. “We both know your sister won’t need any convincing to cut you loose from here for a little while.”

And here, Asta stopped. She stared down at the three prepared drinks with an intensity they didn't deserve. It was a few seconds before she turned her attention towards Valdyss and smiled politely.

"Well," She finally said, picking up the drinks, "I suppose I'll just have to speak with her on the matter." And that was that. "Now, what can you tell me about your work in Autumnhearth? It seems to be quite the up and coming barony in Drustvar, which is good given everything that's happened."

Valdyss was tempted to push because she knew how much Faye adored Asta and desired more for her and- unexpectedly -because she already liked the younger Callahan enough herself to want to help. It wasn’t the mage’s place though, and Asta’s curt response and quick change of subject only drove that fact further home. ‘What do you know about family matters anyway?’ the mage silently mused to herself.

Taking the hint, Val found a cutting board and set to work slicing the meat as she spoke. “It’s my duty to represent and speak for Autumnhearth, in person or by correspondence, when the Hallewells aren’t available or have had to recuse themselves.” She shrugged. “I haven’t had to do much of anything yet, but I’m ready and honored to… and a bit nervous to, if I’m being honest.”

Valdyss grew quiet then, clearly lost in her own thoughts. The silence between her and Asta didn’t feel uncomfortable, not to her anyway, and she briefly wondered if it was the same for the other woman. She slid the precisely sliced tenderloin onto a plate and tilted it so there was a little space between each slice, allowing one to see beyond the golden seared surface to the pale meat in the center. Grabbing up the pan, she poured the juices- dotted with rosemary, pepper, and garlic -over the roast.

“Promise I’ll help clean up later,” Val said, eyes on the plates of meat and cheese as she picked them up. “But, for now, I think we’re ready to eat.”

tagging @merelliahallewell and @alexandriawilliams for brief mention of the Hallewells

[mercurial-muses]

Aaaand the other sketch just came in, this one of Valdyss and Faye.

Kiyoshuki is amazing, y'all!

[mercurial-muses]

Day 8 - 31 Day Writing Challenge

8. What is your character’s biggest secret? Why do they keep it?

The mage had no idea how frequently her attention had been drawn away from her work before she became consciously aware of her eyes returning once again to the open book on the table in front of her. Val’s gaze settled on the same paragraph she’d already skimmed over an indeterminable number of times without retaining any of it, and she sighed in frustration. She gave up on getting any work done for the moment and closed the tome, this time deliberately looking back to the woman leaning against the end of the bar.

‘She could be so pretty,’ Valdyss thought to herself, and then nearly winced at the idea of being one to make such an observation.

The woman she studied had hair the color of sun kissed wheat and, though her smile didn’t appear to reflect in her eyes, it still lit up her face- features that would be beautiful if not for dark sunken eyes and cheekbones that stood out just a little too prominently. Her slim build hinted at sickness over fitness, and a stance that had at first looked like a casual lean against the bar now revealed itself to be an effort to remain steady on her feet.

The barkeep strode over and switched out an empty glass for one full of clear liquid, merely shaking his head and walking away when the woman hurled a curse at him followed by a slurred comment about ordering whiskey, not water. She reached for the glass anyway and the movement made the rolled sleeve of her shirt slide up a little higher up her arm. Val didn’t know why she felt a jolt of surprise when she caught a glimpse of the track marks. Maybe it was more of an unpleasant shock of recognition instead.

Returning her attention to the still-closed book, the mage caught herself rubbing idly at the crook of her left elbow. Though not often, she could still feel the bite of the needle sometimes, the warmth of the drugs entering her veins. On especially rare dark days she still craved both. Those sensations were some of the very few things she remembered clearly from that horrible time nearly a decade ago. With days and even weeks completely missing from her mind, memories of shooting up seemed to be seared in permanently. Repetition had caused that, she supposed… Light knew she’d done it enough for the recollection to stick.

A desire to help the woman at the bar was reluctantly dismissed almost as soon as it came to Val. She knew firsthand that such an offer could do more harm than good depending on the blonde’s current mindset. Besides, it wasn’t the mage’s place to meddle, no matter how well she understood or how much she yearned to show the woman that things could get better. Still, Valdyss knew she’d try anyway if she stayed.

With a deep breath and a shaky exhale, Val stood and shoved her book into her backpack. She brushed locks of hair from her face and adjusted her glasses, pulled on her left sleeve to make sure it covered skin left red by her nervous rubbing. She pulled herself together the best she could- outwardly, anyway -and slung her bag onto her shoulder as she strode past the phantom of her past and out into the sunlight.

[mercurial-muses]

Day 10 - 31 Day Writing Challenge

This is another one of those prompts that brings several scenes to mind, but they’re all kind of heartbreaking and I don’t want to write Val into any of that today.

Valdyss is at a point in her life when she has more to lose than she ever has before. She has found a home in Autumnhearth, in an emotional sense. She loves the land, sees the potential for it, and is committed to fighting the dark forces that are holding it back from the kind of place she believes it’s destined to be. Val is having a home built in Crowsfield, so Autumnhearth will soon be her home- her very first real home -in a physical sense as well.

The stewards, protectors, and allies of Autumnhearth are growing increasingly important to Val. She considers many of them to be friends, some of them on the verge of becoming close friends, and she never imagined she’d have relationships like that. Her new duty as Secretary allows her to occasionally speak for a land and people who mean the world to her, and the mage is taking it very seriously. She truly is honored to be offered such a role and to know that people she has great respect for trust her to do it well.

Then there’s the matter of Faye, who is bringing light to feelings Valdyss hasn't experiencedpreviously. She and the huntress work well together and have been good for each other. There’s an amazing partnership building between them. These growing feelings are scary and wonderful at the same time, and she has no idea what to call this relationship, but Val is certain she wants more of it.

To lose any one of these things would rock Valdyss back on her heels. To lose all of it would see her crumble. I think she’d eventually pick herself up again, as she has before, but she wouldn’t be the same. There’d be no full recovery from losing her entire world.

[mercurial-muses]

Day 6 - 31 Day Writing Challenge

6. Write a scene in which your character’s past affects their current actions.

- - - - - - - - - -

Valdyss had learned early on to never count on magic alone in battle. The melee training she’d received upon her arrival in Northrend years ago had been brief and, frighteningly, had been replaced far too quickly with real fights against the scourge. The lessons she learned had been repetitive and held high stakes, cementing knowledge in her mind. It made tactics and techniques easy enough to recall even years later, but the mage was currently receiving a brutal reminder that there was no substitute for practice.

The wooden buckler felt heavy in her grasp and its leather straps were rubbing her skin raw, even through her padded cloth armor. The heft of the wood training sword was similar to her own blade, at least, though the motions she made with it lacked the smooth flow she’d once mastered. How had she let herself get so rusty?

Val’s current discomfort and aggravation with herself were overshadowed only by her gratitude to Wes for suggesting a test of her melee skills. It was something she’d be sure to thank her friend for another time, when the other woman wasn’t kicking her ass. Better for this mess to be occurring in a practice ring than in the woods.

The Marshal advanced yet again and the loud crack of wood on wood jolted Val’s buckler, the impact zinging up her arm and then reverberating down her left side. The shock of it led to only a second of hesitation on the mage’s part, but it was plenty long enough for Wes to get past her guard and jab the end of her quarterstaff into her gut. Pulled strike or not, that was gonna bruise. Dammit!

Valdyss’ angry gaze met the taller woman’s over the edge of her shield and she shouted out in wordless frustration as she ducked beneath Wes' reach, put her weight behind the buckler, and shoved the Marshal back. A sweep of the staff took the mage’s feet out from under her before she even saw the move coming, and the air exploded from her lungs as she hit the ground. Wes towered over her, staff raised to strike again, and Val froze when she should have defended or moved.

The screams of men and horses echoed from her past, punctuated with the harsh ringing of steel and frantic calls to hold the line. While the taste of blood in Val’s mouth was only imagined, the seizing of her lungs was not. Her breaths entered in quick gasps and exited as a wheeze. Lips tingled with the lack of air and the world took a dizzying whirl to her left. She wasn’t aware of the sword that slipped from her grasp or the shield hanging by its straps from her arm. Val saw only the face of a woman she trusted and cared for, weapon raised to end her. Again.

cameo by @weslynnegoldmeadow

[mercurial-muses]

🦂 an example of something cruel my muse has done (For val)

Valdyss is rarely cruel, as it’s not in her nature to intentionally cause harm to others. Her hateful behavior towards Sam- as discussed in a previous post -was a one time deal, because Sam didn’t take the hint and stay away after the proverbial first shot over the bow from Val. The only other person she’s ever been cruel to is herself, in the way that almost everyone is their own worst critic. The mage’s critique of herself is particularly vicious.

Val is a self-made woman and has a number of accomplishments to be proud of. She makes positive contributions to the places she visits and to those few she has built relationships with. She quietly performs some generous and time-consuming acts of charity for the orphans of Stormwind. She has put a mind boggling amount of time and effort into becoming a scholar and mage. None of those things stand out in her mind even half as much as the mistakes she’s made, opportunities she’s missed, and harm she’s done.

With Val now surrounded by people who know the good parts of her and are getting a glimpse of who she truly is, my hope for the mage is that she learns to see herself as her friends do, at least a little bit.

@wiedaashcroft Thanks Weeds!!