We're All We Have

This blog is officially retired. Thanks for being here! Hisca Aiheap, Imperial Knight of Zaphias, at your service! If you need a message delivered, I'm your girl. If you came to bring me paperwork, just leave it on the desk, there. All open threads available here for easy access. Please be sure to read my About Writer page. Feel free to contact me via ask box, in character or out. Independent Hisca Aiheap blog from Tales of Vesperia.

[thesmallertwin]

.    

[thesmallertwin]

Overhauled Hisca's info and character bio! I also redid her music playlist, if you're interested in this sort of thing.

[thesmallertwin]

New Horizons

The moon still hung in the sky when Hisca woke from light sleep. Curled under an outcropping of rock, Hisca blinked and rolled to her side. Heavy darkness made her eyes useless; it was her ears that aided her most. Human voices, low and steely, ratted her spine with shivers and trigged a release of adrenaline into her veins before she could properly lift her head. 

Clenching her jaw and taking a sharp breath through her nose, Hisca wrenched herself to sitting. Riffling a hand through her bag, she gave her eyes time to adjust to the darkness while she ensured she had everything she needed. Her hand closed around the most important thing she carried: a teardrop-shaped ruby pendant on a silver chain. This Hisca fastened around her neck and tucked into her collar for safe-keeping.

Hisca stood, re-buckled her sword around her waist, and scampered in the opposite direction of the noise. Twigs and leaves crunched beneath her boots, but it was unavoidable in a forest.

She broke from the tree line ten minutes later, but trouble waited for her on the plains. Three nondescript figures stood in an arc around her, and the leftmost one spoke. 

"An Imperial Knight?" said the distinctly male voice. "Just one?"

"Just one now," said the rightmost one. Female, bored. "We took out the others; they didn’t have the artifact."

Hisca’s mouth went dry. She and three of her subordinates had left Aspio two days ago, each taking a different path and a different relic discovered in the ruins. Hisca’s was the only real relic—the others had been copies, designed exactly for this scenario.

Except three of Hisca’s Knights were dead, and she was next in line if she didn’t move.

Hisca backpedaled, darting back into the woods. An arrow whistled past her ear, thunking into a a tree; Hisca ducked and kept sprinting. When a wall of aer not unlike the kind she used for her own Force Field arte sprang up, she redirected—

"Nowhere to run, little knight," said the female voice from before. She held a bow and nocked arrow, the two others flanking her. Hisca counted two swords. Hisca was cornered like her (former) brigade members must have been.

"I don’t have to shoot you," the woman continued, "if you hand it over now."

Hisca’s hand closed around the hilt of her sword. “You wanna dig through my stuff, you’re gonna have to go through me first.” Her sword flicked into the open with a soft scrape out of the scabbard. 

No sooner had she raised her weapon did the two swordsmen dart forward to meet her. Hisca threw herself sideways to avoid the arrow whistling towards her. Her speed was barely enough; the arrow skimmed across her arm, opening a line of pain. 

Gripping her sword with both hands, Hisca took a wild swing, still reeling backwards, stepping blindly and sharply as she tried to avoid arrows and keep the bite of blades away from her skin. The onslaught would swallow her whole if she didn’t do something—

“O brilliant light,” Hisca said, pulling on the threads of aer she needed and forcing them to form into something she could use, “be as a wall to allay arms! Force Field!”

Green aer rose from the ground around her, blocking out the assailants and giving Hisca precious seconds to think. Another arte was on her lips, autopilot taking her because there were four of them and one of her and they’d killed her subordinates!

“Enduring hurricane, stir the air in a relentless frenzy!” Hisca’s words rushed out as the Force Field faded. “Tempest!”

Vicious wind rose and slammed the swordsmen to the ground and well out of the way some six feet sideways. They made feeble noises of pain, but Hisca darted past, making a beeline for the archer. It took longer than it should have, Hisca rolling and ducking out of the path of arrows. 

Hisca’s speed won out in the end, and she took a desperate swing with her sword. It hit something solid—the bow. Hisca wrenched the weapon from its wielder and swung once more.

This blow struck home, and the woman fell at Hisca’s feet. Hisca’s feet flew out from under her a split second later, because her opponent was decidedly not dead. Hisca crashed to the ground, tried to roll back to her feet, but the woman lunged like a wolf and knocked her straight back down.

Hands closed around Hisca’s shoulders and shoved backwards. Hisca hit the ground hard, the wind rushing out of her and her head slamming into the dirt. A strangled cry escaped Hisca’s lips; the cut on her arm throbbed, but her fingers were still closed around her sword. It did her little good unless she could free her arm.

Blood dripped onto Hisca’s cheek and neck; the other woman’s shoulder bled terribly, her leather armor already stained and slick. The woman straddled Hisca’s abdomen, her weight making breathing nearly impossibly. “Where?” the woman snarled. “Where is it?”

Hisca’s chest heaved, but she forced a breath in. “Get off!" Her head already going foggy, Hisca slammed her forehead forward, catching the woman’s jaw. The woman’s reeled with a yelp, and Hisca threw her weight sideways, rolling and swapping their positions, and switched her grip on the sword. She plunged it downward into the woman’s chest with a ragged cry.

Dizzy and breathless, Hisca had no time to absorb her victory. There was more movement to the side. Hisca wrenched her sword free, stood, and turned to face the last shadow before the dawn.

[thesmallertwin]

I needed a change of pace, so I thought I'd breathe some life into this blog. I really don't know the long-term fate of it, but for now, I'll be trying to write here a bit. 

I would also like to start here with a clean slate. I do, however, plan to keep established relationships between characters. If we had a thread together and you want to continue it, please send me a message. I haven't checked this blog in an age and a half, and I'm clearing out the drafts for the sake of saving myself some stress.

[thesmallertwin]

New Horizons

The moon still hung in the sky when Hisca woke from light sleep. Curled under an outcropping of rock, Hisca blinked and rolled to her side. Heavy darkness made her eyes useless; it was her ears that aided her most. Human voices, low and steely, ratted her spine with shivers and trigged a release of adrenaline into her veins before she could properly lift her head. 

Clenching her jaw and taking a sharp breath through her nose, Hisca wrenched herself to sitting. Riffling a hand through her bag, she gave her eyes time to adjust to the darkness while she ensured she had everything she needed. Her hand closed around the most important thing she carried: a teardrop-shaped ruby pendant on a silver chain. This Hisca fastened around her neck and tucked into her collar for safe-keeping.

Hisca stood, re-buckled her sword around her waist, and scampered in the opposite direction of the noise. Twigs and leaves crunched beneath her boots, but it was unavoidable in a forest.

She broke from the tree line ten minutes later, but trouble waited for her on the plains. Three nondescript figures stood in an arc around her, and the leftmost one spoke. 

"An Imperial Knight?" said the distinctly male voice. "Just one?"

"Just one now," said the rightmost one. Female, bored. "We took out the others; they didn't have the artifact."

Hisca's mouth went dry. She and three of her subordinates had left Aspio two days ago, each taking a different path and a different relic discovered in the ruins. Hisca's was the only real relic--the others had been copies, designed exactly for this scenario.

Except three of Hisca's Knights were dead, and she was next in line if she didn't move.

Hisca backpedaled, darting back into the woods. An arrow whistled past her ear, thunking into a a tree; Hisca ducked and kept sprinting. When a wall of aer not unlike the kind she used for her own Force Field arte sprang up, she redirected--

"Nowhere to run, little knight," said the female voice from before. She held a bow and nocked arrow, the two others flanking her. Hisca counted two swords. Hisca was cornered like her (former) brigade members must have been.

"I don't have to shoot you," the woman continued, "if you hand it over now."

Hisca's hand closed around the hilt of her sword. "You wanna dig through my stuff, you're gonna have to go through me first." Her sword flicked into the open with a soft scrape out of the scabbard. 

No sooner had she raised her weapon did the two swordsmen dart forward to meet her. Hisca threw herself sideways to avoid the arrow whistling towards her. Her speed was barely enough; the arrow skimmed across her arm, opening a line of pain. 

Gripping her sword with both hands, Hisca took a wild swing, still reeling backwards, stepping blindly and sharply as she tried to avoid arrows and keep the bite of blades away from her skin. The onslaught would swallow her whole if she didn't do something--

“O brilliant light," Hisca said, pulling on the threads of aer she needed and forcing them to form into something she could use, "be as a wall to allay arms! Force Field!”

Green aer rose from the ground around her, blocking out the assailants and giving Hisca precious seconds to think. Another arte was on her lips, autopilot taking her because there were four of them and one of her and they'd killed her subordinates!

“Enduring hurricane, stir the air in a relentless frenzy!" Hisca's words rushed out as the Force Field faded. "Tempest!”

Vicious wind rose and slammed the swordsmen to the ground and well out of the way some six feet sideways. They made feeble noises of pain, but Hisca darted past, making a beeline for the archer. It took longer than it should have, Hisca rolling and ducking out of the path of arrows. 

Hisca's speed won out in the end, and she took a desperate swing with her sword. It hit something solid--the bow. Hisca wrenched the weapon from its wielder and swung once more.

This blow struck home, and the woman fell at Hisca's feet. Hisca's feet flew out from under her a split second later, because her opponent was decidedly not dead. Hisca crashed to the ground, tried to roll back to her feet, but the woman lunged like a wolf and knocked her straight back down.

Hands closed around Hisca's shoulders and shoved backwards. Hisca hit the ground hard, the wind rushing out of her and her head slamming into the dirt. A strangled cry escaped Hisca's lips; the cut on her arm throbbed, but her fingers were still closed around her sword. It did her little good unless she could free her arm.

Blood dripped onto Hisca's cheek and neck; the other woman's shoulder bled terribly, her leather armor already stained and slick. The woman straddled Hisca's abdomen, her weight making breathing nearly impossibly. "Where?" the woman snarled. "Where is it?"

Hisca's chest heaved, but she forced a breath in. "Get off!" Her head already going foggy, Hisca slammed her forehead forward, catching the woman's jaw. The woman's reeled with a yelp, and Hisca threw her weight sideways, rolling and swapping their positions, and switched her grip on the sword. She plunged it downward into the woman's chest with a ragged cry.

Dizzy and breathless, Hisca had no time to absorb her victory. There was more movement to the side. Hisca wrenched her sword free, stood, and turned to face the last shadow before the dawn.

[brave-vesperias-yuri]

Open Rp

[brave-vesperias-yuri]

"I hate it, and youshould know that.”  He started at her with a half grin as he continued to work his way through the crowd to make it to the marketplace.  Attention divided, he noted the way the knight was dressed, and assumed they’d finally given her some sense of leave. He knew Flynn was a work-a-holic but that didn’t mean he needed to be a slave driver to everyone else under his employ. 

"I see your master is finally letting you take the collar off for a while."  He joked back, refocusing his attention the path in front of him.  He wanted nothing more than to get the supplies he needed so he could escape this weather for another few months. 

Why was this season even necessary anyways? 

"So what excited plans do you have in store for your newly found freedom?" he continued to tease her as he pulled the loosely wrapped scarf over his nose.  

[thesmallertwin]

Hisca grinned and made a mental note to pick up a snowball in the near future. She hadn't had a chance to properly goof off in a while (though now was still not quite the time). She'd wait. 

"I see your master is finally letting you take the collar off for a while." 

An offhand laugh rattled through Hisca's chest. "You don't know the half of it. I thought I'd never get out of that meeting." They might promote her. She had decided she wanted them to. 

But she was off duty and she was leaving work at work. That meant not bringing up work. Or thinking about it.

Fourteen hours made for a long shift.

"First," Hisca said slowly, as if considering many options. "First, I might want to drop this armor off somewhere. It's heavy."

Hisca pursed her lips. "Second...I dunno. My planning ahead didn't get me that far. Bothering you seems to be a good second option." She smiled again, and this one had an edge, because sometime today she was pelting Yuri Lowell with a snowball whether he knew/liked it or not.

"I gotta ask, though, Mr I-Hate-Snow: what're you doing out today?" Whatever it was had to be important enough to spur him from the cozy confines of his home, and that was a feat indeed in the wintertime. 

[brave-vesperias-yuri]

Open Rp

The warmth of his breath caressing against the bare skin of his palms was the only comfort he could find in the blistering cold that now blanketed Terca Lumireis. 

It was back again. 

That blissful time of year, when nature’s white tears settled upon the ground and took up permanent residence in places other than the Blade Drifts of Zopheir. It was the time of year where everyone around him seemed to forget their senses and become transformed into bumbling fools filled with unnecessary amounts of happiness. 

The cold would plague him for the next few months, and the only thing the vigilante could think to do to avoid it  was hide away in his one room home. However much to his dismay not even that could save him from winter’s back lash, as his small home didn’t prove to provide much else but protection from the biting winds that were hell bent on giving more than just a nasal irritation.  

Thus, his current situation. Zaphais was littered in lights once again, much to his own dismay - and despite seeing everyone everyone else around him filled with so much joy, the vigilante wolf couldn’t seem to find his own. 

It was a time of year for family, and that was the one thing that Yuri Lowell couldn’t even begin to understand. The only family he’d ever known wasn’t even his own. Nothing would ever change the feelings of gratitude he felt towards the Scifos for taking him in, as they did when he was young - but it was this time of year that always brought his family back to his mind. 

He couldn’t remember them. He couldn’t remember anything, no matter how hard he tried. 

He let out another breath into the cupped hands that covered his mouth, as white continued to float down, dancing in patterns as it made it’s way to the ground. 

A small whine and a nudge against his side brought him back into the land of the living. Repede looked up at his packmate with a whine and began towards the public quarter. That’s right. 

He was in the middle of fetching supplies to help in his attempts of avoiding society.  

This time of year was the only time that was exceptionally good at leaving him absent minded. 

[thesmallertwin]

Hisca was in civvies, and no one was going to tell her to change out of them. She was in comfortable clothing for the first time in over twelve hours; at her side, she carried her Knight's armor.

Her shift had gone overtime, and in the early afternoon, she was just staggering from Zaphias's castle. She'd stuck out the meeting with aplomb, because soon the higher ups would be sifting through files and determining who would get promoted to captain. It had taken nearly a year of running messages back and forth to Dahngrest for Hisca to realize the political situation was still shaky at best. That didn't suit her.

Puffing out her cheeks, Hisca tried to steer her mind away from work for the moment. She had the rest of today and tomorrow off, and she was going to make the best of it. 

But, holy cow, it was cold.

There was fallen snow and fresh snow alike in the public quarter of Zaphias, but still people hurried through, taking care of their errands. Hisca nestled further into her heavy coat, her steps brisk as she began weaving through the crowd. She'd spent the last four hours at a desk, and brought with her stiff, chilled muscles. 

She found she didn't look quite as stiff and chilled as a certain familiar man with a dog, walking just yards in front of her. A slow smile crept onto Hisca's features; she hadn't seen Yuri in months. 

That may be due to the fact she'd been throwing herself into her work, but regardless, no time like the present to reconnect.

Hisca scurried forward, picked the side of Yuri that Repede wasn't, and gave him a grandiose nudge in the ribs with her elbow.

"Hey, stranger," Hisca said, hefting her armor. "How're you liking the weather?"

She knew he didn't, not particularly, but it was better than sorry I haven't seen you in months because I've been playing my cards with the Imperial Knights.

[thesmallertwin]

((WHOOPS kind of inactive over here, at the moment. My apologies. College happened. That, and I've been frolicking about on my Alvin blog, if that interests you at all X)

[dirtylittlesylverant]

I want to give a shout out to some of the amazing writers in the Tales community: promisemaker, stutteringsoul, steadfastxvigilante, iniqutiousideals, healingangel, thesmallertwin, scarletsalvo, commandantofjustice, thedarkenforcer, wittyresponsecoming, prettysailormithos, holysong, materialblades, azuredge, themaidenofflowers.. There are so many more I just ran out of room. You are all amazing and I admire every one of you. Reading your threads always makes my day so much better. Thank you all!

Anonymous

[thesmallertwin]

wh-

thank you lots for including me in that list with all the other wonderful writers, anon, athytjukjshtg that was really sweet of you.

[thesmallertwin]

the-dark-enforcer replied to your post: the-dark-enforcer replied to your post: I got...

LET ME LOVE YOU. YOU’RE FROM COLORADO AND HAVE GREAT TASTE IN BOOKS. ASHDFKAJFKDSAFKL.

DUDE YES COME INTO MY ARMS OHMYGOODNESS ASDHJKLEASFH

[thesmallertwin]

the-dark-enforcer replied to your post: I got excited about reading aloud and decided 7/10...

OMFG I LOVE THIS SERIES, TOO. ASJDKFSMGEAGO. KVOTHE. WHY DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE SUCH GREAT BOOK CHOICES? AHHH.

OHMYGOSH WHAT YES YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON I KNOW WHO'S HEARD OF IT AAAAAAH! THAT'S MARVELOUS

[heartofephinea]

Heart of the World | Open Starter

[heartofephinea]

Lambda was unsure what to make of this unusual traveller. His narrowed eyes continued their assessment of her, but learning nothing that he’d not gathered already. She did not carry with her any air of violence, did not strike him as seeking power or driven by desire. After submersing himself in those things for so many years, he held some degree of confidence that he could recognize them. No, this girl held none of those things… she had something far more dangerous. 

Curiosity.

She carried with her a hidden fascination of the place in which she found herself. He could place it now after hearing her words, the odd light in her eyes when she stood on the dock was an eagerness to explore, to discover what may lay hidden on the island. Ultimately when it came to the planet’s heart it mattered not what their intentions were, he would not allow the events of the past to repeat themselves. Such was the purpose he had allotted to himself, recompense to the one who had granted him the peace that allowed him a purpose beyond simply survival. He would do what was in his power to protect the world that Asbel had wanted him to see. 

"You may not proceed because there are both creatures and powers here that are not to be toiled with," Lambda stated plainly. When she stepped forward he shifted over, placing himself between she and the now-sealed crater. He highly doubted she possessed power similar to Protos Heis, that she could somehow break the barrier that sealed off the Lastalia shaft, but he would not take any chances. 

"What this place is, is not for you to know, nor is it for you to disturb because of some passing whim," his retort was perhaps sharper than he had intended it. Lambda had no intention of explaining the importance or the purpose of this place. It mattered not what her intentions were; Lambda had quickly learned that humans had a horrid inability to keep their mouths shut. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a torrent of humans from the curious to the ambitious all seeking what they could gain from World’s Eye. 

"No, I am not entirely alone here," Lambda answered, and as if on cue one of the monsters nesting in the ruins let out a mixed roar. The ancient being silently ordered the monster’s complacency, having neither the desire nor the will to do battle with a dispater whose nest was disturbed by their presence. Bound to obey him by Lambda’s cells that had given rise to it in the first place, it turned over its eggs and returned to a wary observation of the pair. "Why is that relevant to you?" Lambda asked no small amount of suspicion in his tone. "That could not possibly be of any importance to you." Unless you truly do intend to lay siege to this place.

He paused when she introduced herself, a curious gesture for one who had met naught but resistance from him. If noting else he never ceased to be surprised by humanity. 

"Lambda," he answered plainly. "However, offering your name will not persuade me to allow you any further." 

[thesmallertwin]

Even if she hadn't stated it outright, Lambda had deduced her reasons for coming to this place easily enough. A small frown carved itself into her features at the reproof, but her expression didn't have time to settle.

The cacophonous roar of monsters sent a chill climbing up Hisca's spine. This, too, was a familiar thing. But foreign monsters from hidden places were twice as intimidating as regular ones. The noise died down abruptly, and that did nothing for her mounting nerves. Still caught between the thrill of her new discovery and the unnerve of what she'd found thus far, Hisca worked on putting together an answer for Lambda's question.

"It just seems a little odd to me," Hisca said. The distrust in his voice was thick in the air, mingling with the fog and encompassing his very being. "Most people don't live this alone." As she spoke, a theory clicked in her head. Her gaze left Lambda to gaze over his shoulder at the crater he'd vacated moments ago. 

"Is there some sort of city further in?" Perhaps he was a particularly irate gatekeeper. Hisca would be grumpy too if she had to spend hours keeping watch over a deserted island.

"It's not important I guess," she continued. "I just wondered."

While she'd established Lambda as a bit of an odd bird, when he gave his name properly Hisca couldn't help but let her brows raise. "I...it's just my name. Trying to be polite. Introducing myself, you know?"

Hisca had as much desire as Lambda to give up ground. She didn't want to push forcibly past him when he already held her in high distrust, but her curiosity was dug into her ribs with relentless claws.

"If you really don't want to show me around, sounds like we're gonna be here a while," Hisca said matter-of-factly, as if they were killing time in a park before dinner as opposed to perching on the edge of potential disaster. She puffed out her cheeks in a long sigh and weighed the pros and cons of sitting crisscross apple sauce and inviting Lambda to join her.

In the end, she decided against that. She leaned her weight into one hip and rested her hands on her lower back.

"The ship captain who took me here," Hisca gestured vaguely out to the ocean, inciting conversation via plunging headfirst into it, "he seemed pretty spooked by this place. You've got quite the reputation on this little island." She quirked a little smile. "Might have something to do with the monster problem."

Though most places had monsters, if she was honest. The island had no barrier blastia, and if nothing else...she supposed Lambda made a decent deterrent in his own right. So long as he wasn't going to attack her outright, though, Hisca was content to give small talk a shot. In a way, she was still exploring the intricacies of the island via her new acquaintance. He was his own human obstacle, and Hisca was nothing if not driven by curiosity.

[thesmallertwin]

✄

[thesmallertwin]

✄ !

[thesmallertwin]

✄

[lizzisaltzman]

Send me a ✄ and I'll write your URL in my handwriting.

[lunaearcana-deactivated20220802]

:D MY HANDWRITING IS TERRIBLE.

[anatoleguild]

From the Guild's Wanted Board: Anatole, Seeking Members!

Hello, Tales of Roleplayers!

AnatoleGuild is a Tales-centric roleplaying group centered around the the fledgling guild Anatole. Being a new guild, Anatole is trying its hardest to get its feet off the ground – that’s where you come in. Your character has decided to join Anatole. Why? It’s up to you.

Canon and original characters may read the rules and apply here, if interested. Don’t forget to check our member list to see if the character you want to play is available! If you’ve got a question, please check our FAQ, or send it to our ask box if you can’t find your answer.

Anatole is not an open group. It is, however, a group that invites anyone willing to apply for membership. We are a safe-for-work roleplay group looking to enjoy and improve our writing through collaboration. And we’re a friendly bunch to boot.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, ask them at the guild main page and the mods will get back to you as quickly as possible. You can check the guild main page for more in-depth information.

We look forward to seeing your applications!

— The Mods