bladewarde

[bladewarde]

@linament 🩵

TOKYO VICE (2022-2024) I 1.06 "What happened? Did they hurt you? It's okay. You don't have to explain."

[bladewarde]

HIS WORDS ARE RELIEF. Gentle and sincere – the comfort of Màel’s touch, tone – cresting over her like a wave on the shores of Westgate’s Great Port. Unlike the cruel, harsh churning of sea waves, it unfolds over her with a tenderness, like that of a midday calm, softly ebbing at her fears to drown them. 

She closes her eyes to the sound of his heart beating; the rush of his blood beneath her palms, the whisper of his breath to her ears. Màel is a sanctuary she's reluctant to abandon, so carefully tucked into him. A shelter; what she herself should be. A blind watcher, a broken shield – the sanctity of their camp awash in the cold terror left in the wake of Gale’s capture.

❝ Thank you, ❞ Laera lifts her gaze to Màel, her gratitude whispered into the night air with a quiet sigh. She retreats one pace from their shared embrace, reaching behind her back to tenderly catch Màel’s hands in her own, leading him toward their refuge for the night. His hands are meant to pray; locked together in reverence for The True God. Laera traces the arch of his hands in hers, thumbing over the knuckles of his fingertips. Barely a grip, but a light touch, linked only by the curl of her fingers under his.

The inner tent casts purple shadows upon them; the light of the fires around camp easily penetrates the thinning fabric, held up by sturdy posts and housing all things Laera cherishes. A short stack of books carefully organised; her rucksack stuffed with old clothes, and propped in a corner sitting atop her shield; Màel bedded down mere inches away. 

To her ears, her own breathing sounds impossibly loud. She cradles her head on her arm while she winds a strand of her hair around and around her finger. Unwinding, repeating. ❝ She warned us. She said what she would do, Màel, and it ‘appened… When did she do that? ‘Ow did I not know? ❞ Voice buried deep in her chest, it passes between her lips in quiet whispers. A confession; her conscious burdened, her soul heavy. ❝ I should ‘ave known, and I failed ‘im. Even if we get ‘im back, ‘ow could ‘e – anyone – trust me with their safety? ❞ Laera falls into prolonged silence, her thoughts beginning to tread dark corners. Orin often talked a great deal about her knife-play; smiling as she would relay in bloody detail what her knives would do to any one of them… In truth, it terrifies Laera to think – to think… ❝ I’m scared… of making a decision after this, and ‘e ends up getting ‘urt. What am I supposed to do, Màel? ❞

LAERA IS A VISION OF AUTUMN UNFOLDING BEFORE HIS VERY EYES. she draws him against her. into her. holds them together as though they were fashioned from a single cloth. màel stiffens instinctively, unwillingly, his hands hovering at her back. a finger twitches its yearning to touch; he stills it, staring into the night with a pinched expression. somewhere from within the camp sounds the whirring of a summer-winged insect, its song too faint, too distant, to drown out the beating of his heart.

' i— ' he opens his mouth. closes it again. selflessly, he reminds himself of laera’s grief; selfishly, he thinks of his own. gale gone, peace broken, and orin the red lurking in the shadows. ( people live one day and die the next, no matter how cherished. ) would it be so wrong, to yield now to the same base comforts that he has spent a lifetime avoiding — running from, even?

it isn’t proper, a reminder spoken in his mother's words. his father's tone. you’re a good lad, and a prince. well, he isn’t hardly either one now. 

the body cedes to what the mind struggles to accept. the tension loosens from his muscles — slowly, as gradual as a thaw in spring, until his arms come to rest around her in a tentative embrace. hardly a brittle bird, this stalwart shield. still, he holds her as though her very bones might splinter beneath his touch.

' —aye. of course i will. ' his lover has always been his church and his god. he, perhaps more than anyone, understands the desperate search for consolation that comes from despair. understands the gravity of confessions whispered in the hours before dawn. again he asks himself: who is he to deny laera her grief? anew he asks himself: who is he to deny laera her comfort? beneath the seashell moon, his expression softens and pains in tandem. he angles his head as he speaks, burying his words in the soft crown of her hair. ' come. to bed with us. the night is dark, but not half so long as it ought to be. '

[bladewarde]

She’s in bed. My bed.

[bladewarde]

Rise and collapse of a wave. Details of paintings by Michael Zeno Diemer (1867-1939)

[bladewarde]

scuba deep / a pipe dream - shakka feat. tiana major9

[bladewarde]

𝐁𝐆𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

a selection of lines from the various companions' banter quotes (not cut scene dialogues!) from baldur's gate 3. these are generally spoiler free and non context specific so they can apply to different settings and dynamics! feel free to change names and the like to customize the prompts.

“Death can't have me. Not yet…”

“Calm yourself. There is plenty of me to go around.”

“Realmspace is vast. Countless worlds to be mapped, kingdoms to be conquered.”

“I have missed this. The adventure. The danger. The kicking of butts!

“Let me guess - you need something.”

“Such attention.. I never realised I was so popular.”

“Let's cook with fire, baby.”

“Do you intend to vocalise every thought?. Or just the most obvious ones?”

“Wherever we go, ye gods let there be something green.”

“Careful, or I will take your toy away from you.”

“Watch your elders and learn.”

“Perhaps try attacking the enemy?”

“So much we don't know, lingering in the furthest reaches of existence.”

“All the world's my stage and you're just a player in it.”

“The shadows are my friend.”

“Yes, yes, have your fun. It isn't you they're trying to kill.”

“Feet planted firmly on Faerûn, please.”

“Admirable stamina, yet terrible priorities.”

“Well you certainly have the 'omnipresent' part down, don't you?”

“I am ready, whatever may come.”

“My faith protects me.”

“Need a throat slitting?”

“Death greets us all - but not today.”

“You need my expertise?”

“Can you feel death's cold grip?”

“So many stars, so many mysteries yet to be discovered.”

“Death comes quietly.”

“And I thought we were going to be friends.”

“Locked tight, but there must be some way to open it.”

“No, you can't die. Get up, damn you!

“You had my attention, now you have my fury.”

“From silence to suffering.”

“So many worlds out there. You'd need a thousand lifetimes to see them all - more.”

“I hope this is important. For your sake.”

“Let them gaze deep into their own abyss, and wonder just what it is they are trying to achieve.”

“I ought to just burn this whole thing down.”

“We have slightly more pressing matters to attend to.”

“You have still have time to surrender.”

“Every kicked buttock, another step on the path.”

“Weave save me. I can't take much more…

“You are right to fear me.”

“Let me look around. Might be something that'll help me crack this thing.”

“Incredible, to think how many worlds exist beyond this tiny speck within a speck I call home.”

“I really wish I could cast a Hold spell on you.”

“I can fawn over my face later.”

“Ready for another round?”

“Keep your blade close.”

“I can't unlock it from here, but there must be a switch or a button somewhere…”

“No, that's not moving. There must be a way to open it somewhere.”

“Battle favours the fearless.”

“Sleep with one eye open, evil. Maybe both.”

“Gotta be something around here to unlock this thing.”

“Why do beautiful people taste better?. It hardly seems fair on the ugly - they have such wonderful personalities.”

“Oh, calm down. I'm happy to see you too.”

“Just go for the Magic Missile and fire away. Never fails.”

“Still standing, no matter what you heard.”

“Enough waiting. I crave blood.”

“Hang on - I won't allow this. You aren't dead, go it?”

“GODS, it's HOT in here!”

“No rest for the wicked, I see.”

“Better to hide than fight, sometimes.”

“Would that I could hide from you, too.”

“Are you feeling lonely, perhaps?”

“There is no right or wrong, only truth.”

“Battle is afoot - you can poke me once we are safe.”

“What good all this ethereal eladrin blood if I can still get pimples?”

“I should've been a drow. They have such stylish armour.”

“I am armed! Armoured! And entirely sick of your foolishness.”

“Let's have some fun.”

“War is an old woman's game.”

“No rest, be you wicked or wise.”

“I'm getting too old for this nonsense.”

“I would poke you back, but I fear that's what you want.”

“You have my attention - now do something with it.”

“You are insistent, are you not?”

“Do what must be done.”

“Your suffering will be spectacular.”

“Lest I sit down for a rest and not rise again.”

“Better to look evil in the eye. Even if it be very small.”

“I'm not built to crouch.”

“I think I could go another round.”

“Always the same old song.”

“Is perfection too much to ask?”

“Eyes on victory, tummy on dinner.”

“So many places to be.. and I chose Baldur's Gate.”

“I'm not opening that. Not from here, at any rate.”

“What is the point, if not victory?”

“Won't last much longer like this.”

“Let's hope the locals are friendly.”

“Let us show them how it's done.”

“Weapons high. Standards higher.”

“Must everyone be so exhausting?”

“What I would not give for a chunk of fresh honeycomb…”

“Which way to the nearest library?”

“Now this is my happy place.”

“Who shall I silence?”

“Stop, or die.”

“Wear your scars proudly.”

[bladewarde]

obligatory ' it's time to post laera's spell list! ' as an aside, laera is not bound by in game/table rules of EK's spellcasting. it doesn't make sense to me narratively given how much she loves spellcasting and eagerly wants to learn about it/magic. so, here we go!

laera started off having a very complicated relationship with magic. divine magic was forced on her to learn while she grew up in the abbey of blinding truth, and she grew to resent it. naturally, once she was free from the shackles of tyr's doctrine, as a sign of protest and reclaimation over herself, she dove into learning arcane magic. for reasons she can't explain, all of her spells take on a blue hue.

— you focus your study on magic that creates powerful elemental effects such as bitter cold, searing flame, rolling thunder, crackling lightning, and burning acid.

of the elements, fire is a preferred favourite. laera herself is as uncontrollable as flame; burning hot with hatred, passion, resolve… for close quarter casting, green blue flame blade and immolation; for the times laera needs to thin out enemies or create an opening, fire bolt, scorching ray, the much beloved fireball, and chromatic orb ( when she's wanting some elemental variety ) are staples in her spell casting. while practical for combat purposes, laera also uses them for utility as well when not facing down foes. lastly, a notable mention and straying from the comfort of fire: laera's personal favourite is the well used thunderwave.

the fires of her magic burn blue, and as such, are very damaging and extremely hot.

— the school of abjuration emphasises magic that blocks, banishes, or protects.

laera is fiercely protective of what she values: her life, her ideals, her friends. abjuration fulfills her desire to protect. blade ward was the first ever spell she learned and it allowed a foundation for the rest to follow. shield, warding glyph, and warding bond are meant to mitigate and redirect damage, whether it be intended for herself or a companion. other aburation spells like counterspell and dispel magic are meant to completely neutralise enemy magic, while private sanctum offers a secure resting place in dangerous situations.

overall, laera has worked exceptionally hard to teach herself arcane magic. years worth of self-study went into honing her skill, but she is still, of course, a forever-learner! additionally, partnering spell casting with her fighting style has been a rewarding challenge. she is a sword + shield fighter, her hands are full. however, because of her weapon bond, laera is able to summon her sword to her hand at will — whether that be from its sheathe or the pocket dimension it might be held in — she is able to cast, swing a sword and block with expert fluidity.

evocation and abjuration are her preferred schools of magic, but she knows additional spells from other schools, picking and choosing ones she finds useful, such as the ground covering misty step… ironically enough, for all the damage laera absorbs, she knows zero healing spells!

[bladewarde]

with phb 2024 adding some spells............. is it finally time for laera to learn a healing spell a la arcane vigour? 🤔

[bladewarde]

laera and her relationship with money is an odd one.

in game, she will never do anything for anyone for free. if there's a bribe or monetary compensation to be had, she's choosing that over any kind of thanks received.

even so, she doesn't really covet money. she's not materialistic; her lifestyle is pretty simple and basic, but in her 5 or so years of working as hired help — a "mercenary" ( even tho she hates being called one ) and paid guild agent — hoarding money is less about living in extravagance and more about using it as a tool to manipulate people.

some people can't be bought with money... but there are plenty who can. she knows the type; works with them and sees them on the daily. merchant or beggar; thief or priest; need and greed start to lack clear distinction when tempted by the sparkle of gold.

[bladewarde]

“ We have been shunned in our time, Vanessa. The world turns away in horror - why? Because we're different. Ugly. Exceptional. We are the lonely night creatures, are we not? ”

Christian Camargo and Eva Green as Dracula and Vanessa Ives in Penny Dreadful - Ebb Tide (3x07).

[bladewarde]

❛ CREATURE OF 𝑬𝑿𝑸𝑼𝑰𝑺𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹 ; & 𝑃𝑂𝐼𝐺𝑁𝐴𝑁𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑅𝑆𝑇―

♦ 𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈 - an independent, mutuals only and very private writing blog for 𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐮𝐫'𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈. influenced by personal headcanons and through relationships forged in words. as told by killi. this blog contains mature and dark themes; use discretion when following.

an 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 in: freedom no matter the cost ; power is power ; a deepening hunger ; becoming more than what made you.

[bladewarde]

do you have a character who wears plate armor... are you making sure to take advantage of the opportunities, necessity even, for human intimacy that come with how deeply impractical and difficult it is to equip without help. who's dressing your warriors??🎤🫵

[bladewarde]

😡😡

[bladewarde]

love my female ocs... love my friend's female ocs 💙💙

[bladewarde]

hungry for the bg three muses...................... gib

[bladewarde]

............ laera hasn't been able to cast magic since she was brought to camp. her ability to draw on the weave was disrupted and when she attempts to casts, no matter how focused she is, it feels like she always comes up short; that it's just out of reach.

the turning point of this stoppage on her magic is revisiting the goblin stronghold and confronting the ones who personally played a role in her imprisonment. it's only afterwards that laera begins to feel whole, and her finding some measure of peace opens her up to the weave again.

[bladewarde]