#Darrik

[dailyadventureprompts]

Villain: The Knights of St. Kazvarin

There's pious and selfless devotion, and then there's whatever these weirdos have going on

Riding forth from their brooding fortress-abbey to do the will of a long dead holy man, these inscrutable warriors have long been the subject of rumour and suspicion. It's not an undeserved reputation, as apart from looting tombs for ancient relics or ominously observing the goings on of the common folk these forboding knights are most often acting as the hired muscle for unscrupulous nobles who have no regard for the legality or virtue of the orders they enforce.

Far more than mercenaries with a patina of piousness, the Knights use these contracts to fund a secret and sinister endeavour that they have undertaken for centuries.

Adventure Hooks:

While delving through a dungeon the party follow a trail of slain monsters to a gravely injured knight and his thoroughly overwhelmed young squire. The boy will introduce them as Tilaen and Ser Darrik respectively and ask for their aid in tending to his master's injuries, before the dour Knight chides him for speaking on his behalf and tells the party to be about their way. Ser Darrik wants no help from "the faithless" and is willing to use the last of his strength to get violent about it. If cooler heads prevail, the party will learn that the two were after a rare manuscript hidden somewhere within the dungeon, and the offer of collaboration might be explored. If the party don't help, they'll find the squire waiting for them at the dungeon's entrance, requesting their help to bury his master and guide him back to their order's abbey. It's only after a few days of travelling together will realize that Squire Tilaen is muchabused by his sect, and that steering the boy away or outright adopting him might be the real kindness.

Acting as a stern and imposing shadow to whatever asshole noble or callous merchant the party have recently pissed off, the towering and always helmed Ser Gelceiras has "Bossfight" written all over him. However when the adventure's final confrontation looms the party find him cleaning off his massive axe, his employer's head in a bloodsoaked bag waiting to be delivered to them. "We got what we wanted from him" he rumbles as he exits, " you can have what's left. no hard feelings."

Just a new threat encroaches on the settlement, a mace wielding bruiser in burnished armour rides up and pledges to fight alongside the party in its defence. Ser Portia's skill as a fighter is sorely needed, perhaps enough to overlook whatever agenda it is that drew her to the settlement in the first place. Shortly after the final battle is fought and the dust clears, the party will realize Portia is nowhere to be seen... having escaped sometime during the aftermath after inexplicably kidnapping one of the locals.

Background: Before he was a sacred corpse, Saint Kazvarin was a necromancer of great talent, having dedicated his life to the study of thanatology and the many loopholes around death. This earned him great renown and wealth in his day, amazing the masses with seances while charging the powerful dearly for cut-rate resurrections. He amassed generous patrons and fanatical followers, only to have it all fall apart when the Raven Queen took an interest.

Kazvarin had and constructed his own bootleg afterlife, a place where his most loyal followers would rest forever in glory before being called back in time of greatest need. Atleast that was the sales pitch, in reality the "saint" had stopped just short of lichdom delving into the shadow to create a demiplane where his own soul would reside undeminished after death, sustained by the faith of his followers as the realm hollowed them out.

Such villainy inevitably created it's own downfall in the form of a young woman who's family were taken in and exploited by Kazvarin's cult. Though her name was not recorded by history, she was marked by the Duskmaven for greatness when she swore to tear down the saint who would conquer death, years later succeeding along with some allies in not only killing the necromancer but cursing him with a most ironic fate. Denying him the afterlife he had so meticulously constructed, the raven queen cursed Kazvarin with reincarnation, forcing his soul to live out a new life where it would forget all he knew and be remade.

It would have been a perfect punishment had the Saint's followers not been so fanatical. Though their organization had been shattered by their "benevolent" leader's apparent assassination, the most loyal of his inner circle poured through his research, finding the spells nessisary to seek out his soul in its new vessel. Thereafter they engaged in a grim hunt, crossing the realms to ritually sacrifice the youth their leader had grown into and pulling free his undigested soul. This is the cycle Kazvarin's followers have been following for generations, spending decades hunting for signs of their leader's return before using murder and necromancy to forcibly deincarnate him. Thereafter Kazvarin has a few months or years to act freely before he is swallowed back up by the tide of souls and the hunt begins again

Future Adventures:

Though they begin as a comparatively minor oddity, the knights become a true threat to the campaign as soon as they figure out who Kazvarin's current incarnation is and manage to wrest his soul out. Ideally this should be someone the party knows, to make it all the more tragic that they were sacrificed to bring about the villain's return.

Though it is much deminished, Kazvarin's demiplane (called the Howling Basilica) still traps the souls of those who have sworn their lives to him, acting as a vault from which he can pull rank upon rank of shadow-maddened spirits to his bidding. His most loyal retainers are allowed to keep their skills and individuality while being deprived of their will, meaning he has a backlog of highly skilled Knights just waiting for new bodies to possess no matter how many times the party defeat them on the field. What's worse is that the saint still remembers how to manipulate people with the offer of offbrand immortality, and will likely begin reaching out to powerful individuals shorty after his return.

Art 1

Art 2

[sarcasmprodigy]

question! how many fan trolls do u have? can we see them all :0

There's a lot:

My main twelve I don't do much with, other than Saedie.

Darrik and Breave, two yellow bloods with powerful psionics. Nanbis who was designed to be a muse of doom.

Salyne, a Vast Error OC. A band made up of trolls based on the -dere tropes.

Particularly violent jadeblood. (Jokingly named after one of my dad's WoW characters)

My fantroll who mimics her custodian by covering her eyes. She sees a room by filling it with her psionics and using that as a frame of reference. It makes rooms smell like static, but the point is it's subtle and hard to see, so you don't know what her eye colors are.

[lasmarginatvra]

Oath || Sandor Clegane × Original Female Character

Alerie Arryn Lore

After her mother dies giving birth to another stillborn child to Jon Arryn, she grows up under the care and affection of Horace Hightower, the sworn shield of the Lord of the Vale. Keeping the promise he made to his beloved, Horace raises his biological daughter almost in secret, taking her around the woods and teaching her the value of the sword and knowledge, far from the turmoil of the rebellion. When Jon Arryn is appointed Hand of the King, he decides to bring Alerie, who is now a young woman, with him to the warm capital, she will do everything to oppose him but will join him only two years later, when the lifeless body of her father Horace is found in the woods.

Born: 290 AC circa

Parents: Lara Florent and Jon Arryn (former) / The Fox Horace Hightower (real father)

Siblings: Robin Arryn (stepbrother) Darrik Arryn (stillborn) Alfered Arryn (stillborn) Bryce Arryn (stillborn) Annarel Arryn (stillborn)

Love interest: Sandor Clegane (husband)

From the beginning, the girl's indomitable nature clashes with the harsh reality that inhabits the Red Keep, for this reason she manages to attract the silent attention of a pair of dark and stern eyes. After the death of Jon Arryn, Alerie manages to obtain the protection of King Robert from the harassment of the lions of house Lannister. Comforted by the arrival of the Starks, she immediately forms a close friendship with Sansa and months after the execution of Ned Stark she dedicates herself entirely to the protection of the girl who she considers as her blood cousin, this will lead her into a forced marriage with Joffrey's dog Sandor Clegane. The Hound is known as the most ferocious and bloodthirsty being in all the seven kingdoms, the only man who according to that blonde cunt with the crown, will be able to break her and make her eat her tongue. In reality, it will be Alerie herself who will tame the restless and stone-cold heart of her gruff husband, managing to wrap him around her little finger.

Children: Katherine Clegane, Elynor Clegane, Laina Clegane and Horace Clegane

Titles: The Fierce Rose of the Vale, The Fox's cub, Little Dove, Lady of Clegane's Keep.

Weapon(s): Knives/blades, bow and arrow

btw It's a story I've been thinking about for weeks and I don't know how to cope.

I'm so sorry for my bad english lmao :)

[best-td2021-ship]

SEEKING PROPAGANDA!

THE RESULTS ARE IN: 2026's top 88 ships have been decided and matched 🤩 but they could use more propaganda!

Ships in bold have received ZERO or only emojis, but I'm still taking more for the others too! 🩶

SHIPS BELOW THE CUT

Round 1 matchups:

1) Jarlo (Jared x Milo) vs Vicaige (Vic x Paige)

2) Coled (Cole x Jared) vs Chadlie (Chad x Charlie)

3) #Joke (Jordan x Mike) vs Bamboe (Bambi x Chloe)

4) Drewstyna (Drew x Chrystyna) vs Meric (Matt x Beric)

5) Adios (Ada x Rio) vs Sethdan (Seth x Jordan)

6) Cordarren (Cordelia x Darren) vs Haybell (Hayden x Izzy)

7) Dannola (Dannie x Lola) vs Vicdan (Vic x Jordan)

8) Andred (Drew x Jared) vs Colie (Cole x Charlie)

9) Jordstyna (Jordan x Chrystyna) vs Paigike (Paige x Mike)

10) The Babes (Darren x Milo x Paige x Vic) vs Colestyna (Cole x Chrystyna)

11) Loss (Leaf x Moss) vs Bambola (Bambi x Lola)

12) Danole (Daniel x Cole) vs Mikrew (Mike x Drew)

13) Chlostyna (Chloe x Chrystyna) vs Mikecest (Mike x himself)

14) Darrestyna (Darren x Chrystyna) vs Charcola (Charlie x Cole x Lola)

15) Mosslie (Moss x Charlie) vs Lizola (Liza x Lola)

16) Chrysambie (Chrystyna x Bambi) vs ">6'0"" (Drew x Leaf x Vic x Darren)

17) Coledan (Cole x Jordan) vs Libdan (Libby x Jordan)

18) Jordola (Jordan x Lola) vs Chleaf (Chloe x Leaf)

19) Charlola (Charlie x Lola) vs Milke (Milo x Mike)

20) Lolaniel (Lola x Daniel) vs Jordarren (Jordan x Darren)

21) Lizaniel (Liza x Daniel) vs Mikribby (Mike x Drew x Libby)

22) Darrike (Darren x Mike) vs Cola (Cole x Lola)

23) Chadarren (Chad x Darren) vs Vichloestyna (Vic x Chloe x Chrystyna)

24) O'ković (Piper x Mads) vs Cordeliannisa (Cordelia x Annisa)

25) Annielric (Annisa x Daniel x Beric) vs Channisa (Charlie x Annisa)

26) Dannisa (Dannie x Annisa) vs Julison (Julian x Addison)

27) Rodrusso (Rio x Paige) vs Julidan (Julian x Jordan)

28) Haystyna (Hayden x Chrystyna) vs The Last Placers (Leaf x Manny x Mike x Jordan x Isaac)

29) Colennisambi (Cole x Annisa x Bambi) vs Paibbyden (Paige x Libby x Hayden)

30) Loleveryone (Lola x the rest of the cast) vs Riodan (Rio x Jordan)

31) Lizanison (Liza x Daniel x Addison) vs Piperio (Piper x Rio)

32) Cassilo (Cassie x Milo) vs Russanwallaghan (Paige x Annisa x Cordelia x Piper)

33) Roxaige (Roxy x Paige) vs Danison (Daniel x Addison)

34) Isaac² (Isaac x Izzy) vs Skaterclown (Hayden x Rio)

35) "<5'5"" (Annisa x Cassie x Jared x Jordan x Liv x Lola) vs Isaannie (Isaac x Dannie)

36) Emoskaterclown (Izzy x Hayden x Rio) vs Maddisola (Mads x Addison x Lola)

37) Pipdelia (Piper x Cordelia) vs Darrizzy (Darren x Izzy)

38) Dads (Dannie x Mads) vs Cordarrener (Cordelia x Darren x Piper)

39) Lolnat (Lola x Nat) vs Bedwic (Bedward x Vic)

40) Bearic (Bear x Beric) vs Jarent (Jared x Vent)

41) Jorsther (Jordan x Esther) vs Chlivesther (Chloe x Liv x Esther)

42) Jeren (Jeremy the intern x Ren) vs Berony (Beric x getting stranded on Boney Island)

43) Matt x Viewer vs Matt x Beric x Viewer

44) Beric x Viewer vs Chrystyna x Viewer

[kyledefoor]

KIA August 6, 2011

SGT Alexander J. Bennett

SPC Spencer Duncan

CWO Bryan J. Nichols

CWO David R. Carter

SSG Patrick D. Hamburger

TSgt John W. Brown

SSgt Andrew W. Harvell

TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe

PO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson

CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill

PO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell

PO1 Jared W. Day

PO1 John Douangdara & Navy SEAL Dog “Bart”

CPO (SEAL) John W. Faas

CPO (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall

MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais

CPO (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason

CPO (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills

CPO Nicholas H. Null

PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman

SCPO (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff

CPO (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves

CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson

PO2 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar

PO1 Michael J. Strange

PO1 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson

PO1 (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn

SCPO Kraig M. Vickers

PO1 (SEAL) Jason R. Workman

[regismortemhq]

𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 ! - welcome to king's landing, wren, i see you’ve brought 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐊 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐋𝐘𝐍 with you. make sure to get everyone settled in! you have 𝟐𝟒 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 to send in your account(s). ryan corr is now taken!

. ✧ . * . ⌜ ryan corr, thirty, cismale, he/him / thunder by imagine dragons + laughing as he is covered in blood, being surrounded by women and wine at a party, and staring into hell and smiling ⌟ high greetings to DARRIK DARKLYN, the LORD of DUSKENDALE, also known as DARRIK TWICE KILLED, DARRIK IRONSKIN, & THE CAT. though they can be a bit HEADSTRONG & WILD, those closest to them will tell you they’re CHARMING & COURAGEOUS. perhaps that’s why they’ve placed their loyalties with HOUSE DARKLYN. and are UNDECIDED ON the coronation of a high king. may the gods have mercy on their soul.

[hackernewsrobot]

XFS maintainer, Darrik Wong, steps down

https://lore.kernel.org/linux-xfs/169091989589.112530.11294854598557805230.stgit@frogsfrogsfrogs/T/#m6c9b740f7841a77e077a9fe9f96bb8818f2403bd

[444names]

african american forenames

Aasha Aasharen Adarr Aireveita Aizzalius Ajayon Akeishonta Alandrion Aleita Andravine Aneem Angellon Angelm Anquan Anteyah Antre Arphem Ashia Aumaraysha Beberalco Beuliff Bricarra Brikarcus Brius Calisha Camethee Carcus Carious Carita Carquia Carte Catevonne Catri Cedra Cedran Chajuwua Chamonye Chanya Chatandre Cheniya Cherne Chukwan Claneis Clasha Conna Conya Dabri DaJashana Dajuan Dajukwata Damad DaMard Damis DaMola Damonyan Dandez Dandra Danji Dantez Darcus Darevohna DaRhon Darisha Darnasha Darquez Darquitayk Darrelle Darrik Darry Davin Davionn Davisheka Davondaia DaVonte DaVontia Davorre Daysha DeAnell Deika DeJar Dellissa DeMal DeMalos Demalyn Demira Denaequis Deonn Deonyah Deorra Deovauna Dequa DequaYvez Deray Dermertay Derry Deshajuani DeShan DeShathere Deshawn Deshice Detishauna Devineque Devontez Devontoya Devorious Dious Donda Dontery Dontre Drayasia Drayquana Dvontree Dwone Dwontez Dyreem Dyren Dysius Dysta Dytoin Dywona Elicena Emandrey Emell Ethawndann Faari Faroberion Garius Gorevon Gwelle Hakee Harcoletta Harissia Hidarlo Ieshaun Imaun Iyente Jabrez Jachaya Jakeis Jaleaughn Jalekeis Jamarelo Jamarrius Jameene Jamika Jamil Jamimbe Jamimilley Jantre Jaqua Jareavina Jariuston Jarra Jarrika Jarshawna Jasha Jatez Jaule Javia Javio Javonta Jawaun Jazighna Jeffanelis Jenna Jeontrena Jerius Jesha Jihia Johna Jomaina Jovandra Jovaun Juandrika Juante Jubre Jyaacrenée Jyqwaurne Jyvon Jywua Kalari Kalica Kavisha Kavona Kazza Kazzan Kefia Keishalyn Keitrin Kemarkira Kenayquona Kenik Kenry Kente Kesha Keshawan Kevionna Kevontin Keymodnien Keyneth Keysha Kiann Kitan Kmahala Kwashanda LaChaughn LaDavon Laforgell Lakeemima Lakeya Lakira Lakitanne Lakitrice LaMarco LaMarcus Lamee Lameshida Lamiqua LaMonta Langel LaQua Laquana Laquanell Laquanta Laqueelne Laquere Laquian LaQun Larco Larel Laria Larius Lasha Lashan Lasharlos Lashonn Latal LaTamee Latayquine Latelon Lathawata Lathod Latichad Latopul Latrek Lavid Lavis Lavon Leenaia Leetc Leevious Lelon LeMarle LeQuane Lequasia LeQuaya Lequon Lesha Lesleani Lishan Lonteemar Loushadeka Maijah MaiWay Malarika Malius Mandashae Maray Mares Marielo Marin Marlee Marmarry Marra Marrius Marronna Marte Marus Meanic Miahmo Mondresha Monnayvem Monta Montita Mumisha Myala Myishosa Naija Najent Nakeel Nakirence Naquelon Nashawn Nashosha Nettey Nilne Nykee Nykeiga Octay Oluwa Oluwanda Oluwon Omadarius Onzan Onzelle Orlann Orlaun Orleta Oshananiti Patane Peringen Peron Peronnara Phale Phyne Quandai Quangellis Quany Quellijah Quirontez Qwsha Rande Rasianda Rayate Raynisha Raysha Rayssa Reensha Reeshan Rekwuavia Rhoniquell Rhontife Rosha Ruthawn Ryshon Rysia Salius Samaishawn Samika Saniquais Savida Seany Serius Shamber Shana Shanda Shanta Shaquance Shaquet Shata Shaundarza Shawn Shawnahj Shawnti Shays Shell Sheny Shida Shondy Shonta Shoshinda Soheria Sohnne Sojous Steem Sybria Tacre Tacrell Taelle Tainte Tairrik Taivana Tajukta Tajun Takeell Takiasond Talica Tamekeon Tamera Tamerione Tamishani Tanna Taqua Taquani Taquella Tarar Tariania Tarlon Tarnell Tasharrae Tasia Tavie Tavin Tavious Tavius Tavon Tavone Tayniqua Tenita Teraya Terius Terne Terraya Terryon Tertin Thamarez Thangisha Tianice Tiffon Tinauna Tinste Tiquane Toshawne Toyand Tramil Tranna Trell Tulisa Tyees Tyjuwonte Tykeis Tykeveona Tykwuayvon Tylan Tyqua Tyraesha Tyrelle Tyzha Ukille VaJon Vashaqua Vatishia Vauli Vonta Wakeema Wakeika Wilicquell Xavia Xaviontia Xhane Yousa Zanthan Zesha Zoyana

[falthiere]

:o i just found your account and your selfship stuff is rlly cool!! is there any mutuals whos selfships you like….. shout out time!!!!

ahhh thank you anon... :-)

i don't have a ton of mutuals who selfship its mostly just my close friends... but i stan @sarcasmprodigy and kaelyn... and @glycca with based tartaglimay. both of which are canon its tru my uncle works at mihoyo

but none of us happen to post it very much. actually prod does i think. i kinda wanna post abt it more bc i love oversharing but also i get self conscious

i have a lot more friends who ss or dabble in it but none of us rlly have a ton of public content centered around it and also im not sure how public i can be with some of them GHUYDGF i have a discord friend who likes akechi... u know who u are. and wil if ur reading this... FUCK i forgot his tumblr blog url... and mel @ crocker dot tumblr dot com with a variety of blorbos

[deimos-velaryon]

if you could pick husbands for your sisters (yes, all of them) without problems arising, who would you choose?

“It would make the most sense to arrange for betrothals to noble houses of the Stormlands,” the Hand of the Regents stated, as his focus continued to be on finding ways to truly unite his homeland with the realm once ruled by the Baratheons. Marriage continued to be the most peaceful of ways to do so. “If I wasn’t marrying Lady Elenda, her brothers would have made for acceptable suitors”. Marrying into the same family made no sense at all from a strategic standpoint, and from a personal one, it would simply be quite insufferable to have a set of siblings married to another. “But the options I would consider are Lord Caron and Lord Tarth,” he added. Nesaerys and Vhaenessa’s opinions mattered to him, of course, and he was hoping to reach a sort of middle ground regarding their future happiness and their duty to their family and their realm. “I couldn’t arrange a betrothal for Selene even if I wanted to. She’s not legitimized, has never allowed for it to happen regardless of how many times I’ve brought it up,” Deimos stated with a subtle scoff. He pitied the man who ever tried to dictate the way Selene’s life ought to go, he’d certainly stopped being that foolish a long time ago. “So I have no actual say in her life”.

( @ellievswann, @nvelaryon, @vhaenessavelaryon, @malcontentswanns, @tybaltswann, @wcrdsarewind, @darriktarth & @purpleeyedwaters )

[malcontentswanns]

who: @darriktarth​ where: the stormlands settlements, barrowtown

it wasn't his business, it wasn't his business were the words wylliam swann kept telling himself repeatedly as the man sat in the room opposite the heir to the island of tarth; the pair had known one another for some years, considering the amount of time his own sister had spent amongst the swann siblings of stonehelm. and yet, there was one burning question that remained within the mind of the second son of house swann as he listened to the words of darrik tarth, somewhat rambling in the far off background, the noise around him almost becoming fuzzy. 

it wasn't his business, that was direct truth considering what occurred within the private life of the dowager queen, with the name they once bowed their head to. was it not the name they continued to bow their heads to, or was that another name now?

the man took a slight drink of the warm spiced mead within his hand, before setting it down and looking upon the tarth lord with a look of almost amusement. still, considering all he had known of the man's past feelings for the woman, it was something he felt as though he needed to voice at least once. "do i want to know what you are doing with the dowager queen?" he asked, placing emphasis upon her title; should he choose to take up the position of master of laws for caerella targaryen, he would end up around the woman more than ever before. "or, you know..." he trailed off somewhat, clearing his throat, for this stuff was hardly his sort of conversation. "what you think you're doing?"

[sarcasmprodigy]

Does Darrik have a trickster mode? Asking for a friend

I'm answering this ask years later. Tis the season.

[best-td2021-ship]

18) Chadarren (Chad x Darren) vs Darrike (Darren x Mike)

Chadarren (Chad x Darren)

They’re literally so BRO goals. What’s better than one big strong man? Two. 😏😏😏

Darrike (Darren x Mike)

Call me cheese because that’s a sandwich i want to be caught in the middle of 🧀🥪😏

[drawthiere]

collab with @sarcasmprodigy... got to color her beautiful bastard (her lines my color)

here’s the other half

[limeade-arcade]

Some doodles.

Most of the ocs are @sarcasmprodigy‘s

Litore is @trickstercandy‘s OC.

[calemor]

Clues

The Heroes of Fannen-Dar, Chapter 4

Chester sat with his back against the massive stone wall, looking away from the town.  The view outside the walls of Fannen-Dar has inspired some mediocre poetry in the past.  A verse floated to the front of Chester's mind.

Though light doth break through cloudy sky, The shadows are set free. The forest dark, the mountains high, Make it really hard to see.

He was looking towards the Shadir Forest as he sat on the spot where they found the dead boy.  While artistic talent may not be one of Fannen-Dar's primary exports, the stanza certainly spoke true about the lighting.  Murky clouds drifted in from the Thundertop Hills to the northwest, where the peculiar terrain caused miniature storms to form almost constantly atop the jutting cliffs.  Even when the clouds cleared for one brief moment, the sun was usually either behind one of the mountains to the east or the Shadir Forest to the west seemingly absorbed all the light.  And yet it somehow managed to always be stiflingly hot during the summer.

Chester had ignored the captain's advice to rest.  He visited the barracks to put away his armor, but then returned to the scene of the latest crime.  He scoured the area, but found nothing except dirt, rocks, and a rough patch of grass where the body had been dumped.  There was no single footprint pointing the way toward a villain's hideout, nor a torn piece of fabric from a fleeing killer.  If there were a less obvious clue, Chester didn't have the expertise to find it.  Investigation was not something guards were taught, it was something they learned after decades of experience.  They weren't hired for their skills; they were signed on for the fact that they have bodies that can swing swords and block arrows.

Maybe there really wasn't a connection, Chester began to think.  After all, the similarities between the cases are already barely existent.  It could just be in his head.  There are too many differences, too.  The victims each coming from different parts of the town, being different ages, dying in different places.  This boy was even brutally bludgeoned, while the others only had stab wounds.  Why would a killer need to beat up one victim, but not the others?

The hairs on Chester's neck stood up, brushing against the stones of the wall.  He turned and looked up.  The top of the thick wall looked back down at him, and winked.

Chester scrambled to his feet.  Maybe the bruises weren't the result of a beating.  Maybe the kid obtained them after his death.

There was a tower nearby that connected two segments of the wall, and where a staircase could be found that led to the top.  The wall was six feet thick, with a traditional battlement lining the outside through which arrows could be fired at attackers.  Fannen-Dar hadn't seen a battle since the Savage War decades ago, so security along the top of the wall was thin.  The small number of sentries ordered to walk the perimeter of the wall meant that any particular area would be unguarded for fifteen minutes at a time.  Plenty of time for someone to sneak up and commit murder.

In the bards' stories, whenever the hero was faced with a mystery, all would seem hopeless until he stumbled across the one piece of evidence needed to solve the entire thing.  A lesson that Chester had learned the hard way was that life wasn't like those stories.  There weren't magic arrows that could point you the way, there wasn't always someone strong seeking justice, and you could never really be sure about, well, anything.  Most of all, he learned that you would never be able to solve all the world's problems.  But Chester wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he didn't try.

Maybe life just wasn't like that in Fannen-Dar.  In the other parts of the world, they had heroes whose adventures actually resulted in major changes.  In Fannen-Dar, you had people and their problems, but not a hero in sight.

Chester reached the top of the wall.  The stones stretched out in front of him like a snakeskin turning to dust.  He walked over to the edge and peered out through a crenel.  He looked down and could see the spot where the boy's body had been found.  The dirt around that spot perhaps looked a little darker, but it could also just have been a trick of the light.

He looked around, but this section of the wall looked the same as the rest.  He knew he was on the right path, but there was just not enough information, too few clues.

The gray clouds parted momentarily, and the sun shone through.

Chester looked down to avert his eyes from the glare.  There, scorched into the stone as if with fire, was the shape of a dagger.

Chester resisted the urge to shout in triumph.  Instead, he rushed down the stairs and sprinted back into the town.

He recalled that the merchant's wife had been killed not too far from there, only a few minutes' walk into an alley right on the edge of the marketplace.  It was all too true that most murders happen close to the victim's home.  This was because either the killer had been waiting for them to come out, or had been following them and then struck before they could get inside to safety.  Several more happenedinside the victim's house, if they lived alone.

Chester found the spot, which had been given a quick sweeping up since the body was taken away.  There was no blood to be found, but if Chester was right, there wouldn't have been any in the first place.  All he could see were puddles of mud, wooden crates, and a bucket placed strategically under a second-story window.  He heaved a pile of crates aside.

A mark identical to the one on top of the wall graced the side of the building.

Maybe there was more to the bards' stories after all.  Chester took off again, his mind set on only one thing.  He didn't need to find the place where the elderly noble was killed; there was no doubt in his mind of what he'd find there.  He needed to find Darrik.

***

"You can take your findings and shove them in the sewers," Darrik said.  Chester had found him on duty outside the Coopers Guild hall.  Every official guild in Fannen-Dar received protection from the town, except for the Fighters Guild, who claimed that it would be insulting to insinuate that they could not protect themselves.  In actuality, it was because they gambled on illegal fights during the day, and because nobody wanted to mess with the Fighters Guild.

"But this is proof!" Chester hissed.  The other guard, a stocky dwarf woman, was trying her best to tune out their conversation.  It wasn't her concern whether or not there was crime going on in the town until her superiors made it her concern.  Chester was trying to keep his voice to a whisper, but the excitement was proving too much for him to handle.

Chester continued, "I knew the deaths were connected.  The same weapon was used for each of them, a heated blade."  He had one hand on Darrik's shoulder, using his other to emphasize every other word with a jabbing finger towards Darrik's chest.  The loyal guard stood tall and only allowed his face to show his disdain.  "The thing is," Chester said, "there was no source of heat near the murder scenes, but they were clearly killed there without being moved."

Darrik bit his lower lip.  "And you can't figure out why?"

Chester shook his head.  "I know you've been doing this for longer than I have," he said, "and that your father was a guard before you.  You probably know tons about the way these things work, way more than I do!  I need your help."  He smiled, and added, "Buddy?"

Darrik sighed.  "Okay, I'll bite.  I've heard of something like that before.  A fire-branded weapon.  They could be using magic to make the dagger hot."

"Why didn't I think of that!"

"Because it's really hard to come by illegally," Darrik said.  "The Enchanters Guild has never had more than four members at a time, and those kinds of runes are pretty complicated."  Chester blinked at Darrik, who sighed again.  "My mother had some arcanist friends that she invited over for tea a lot.  I picked up a bunch of random, useless knowledge."

"Not useless," Chester pointed out.  He put his hand to his head.  "We need to figure out who would be able to get their hands on that sort of thing.  I'd say Dominaurus, everyone knows they own over half the town, but they'd never flub up like this..."

The other guard coughed.  "I, uh," she said.  "I might have an idea."

Chester and Darrik looked at her expectantly.

"Sorry," she said.  "I couldn't help overhearing..."

"No, it's fine," Chester said.

"I didn't mean to intrude..."

"Please.  Do go on."

She spun her warhammer around in her hand.  "Well, I just thought, it sounds like something the Firemen would do."  Chester and Darrik looked at each other, realized that neither knew what she was talking about, and looked back at her.  "They're a gang that got noticed for their tendency to, well, set things on fire."  She started scratching at a notch on the head of her weapon.  "They've been known to use magical fire, so they must have access to that kind of enchantment.  There's a rumor that their base is in North Hill, but there's apparently not enough proof for the captain to give the order for a raid."

Chester put his hands on Darrik's shoulders.  "We've got to check it out," he said.  His eyes had the sparkle that Darrik had only seen on children the night before gift-giving on the Winter Solstice.

"But...I'm on duty!" Darrik said.  "You've already distracted me enough."  The dwarf looked around at the empty street and shrugged.

"This is your duty!" Chester said.  "Your town is being threatened from within.  Yes, we have murders here all the time.  Yes, the gangs are far too powerful for two fellows like us to stop.  Yes, your orders are to stay here and be useless."  Darrik tried to interrupt, but Chester plowed forward.  It was something he was starting to like.  "But I say there's more to it!  The status quo is simply not okay.  Gangs, murders, uselessness...We signed up as guards because we wanted to make a difference."  Again, Darrik began to argue, and Chester cut him off.  "We vowed to protect the town.  Even if that vow was just a formality, that's what being a guard means.  And when people are dying, it's our duty to try to put a stop to it.  Now, the only way we can do that is by investigating these Firemen.  Are you going to fulfill your promise to Fannen-Dar?  Or are you going to just play it safe?"

Darrik shifted his weight onto a barrel outside the guild house door.  "Safe sounds really nice," he said.

"Then I'll go myself!"

"That's dumb," Darrik said, "and you know it."

"It's my job," Chester replied.

Darrik blinked.  "You're being honest."

"Honest to gods."  Chester puffed up his chest.  "Honest to Just, even."

"Glory to her," the dwarf added.

Darrik groaned.  "You'll die if you go alone."  Chester shrugged but nodded.  "We'll both probably die if I go with you."  Chester tossed his head back and forth, but nodded in the end.  Darrik sighed, sounding as though his lungs were getting worn out from constant overuse.  He put his head in his hand.  "All right.  I'll go."

Chester smiled.  "I know.  Come on, we're wasting time!"

The two humans scurried off.  The other guard stood wringing her hands on her warhammer before shifting to the other side of the Coopers Guild door.  She looked up and down the street, seeing burglars and thugs where before there had been commoners.

"They could have at least invited me along," she whimpered.

***

A part of the northern district of Fannen-Dar was built onto one of the low hills of the Thundertops.  It was short enough that it wasn't always stormy, but a dampness usually clung to the air.  Dwarves had dug tunnels throughout the hill before the town had been founded, to use as a fortress in a time when war raged across all of Calemor.  Now, the tunnels were mostly used for food and material storage for the town, but there were a few forges and armories scattered throughout as well.  It had been uncreatively renamed North Hill.

Gaining access to the tunnels was no problem for two guards.  Chester was off-duty, but he kept his copper badge in his pouch should he ever need to, say, heroically step into a fight and threaten the villains with his authority.  It wasn't as impressive as the silver badges of higher-ranking officers, but it made its point clear.

The tunnels certainly looked dwarf-made, with great blocky pillars holding up the roof, and plenty of extra space.  Dwarves weren't much shorter on average than humans, but for some reason they adored building massive rooms underground.  Being only a hill, North Hill's tunnels couldn't compare to the great halls of Bjergstning, but they were still fifteen feet from wall to wall, and at least as high.

They were also as confusing to navigate as a maze.

"We don't need to check everywhere," Chester said as they turned another square corner.  "We've passed the light armory, the dining hall, and the soldier's quarters.  A whole gang couldn't make their hideout in those places."

"Could we stop walking in circles, then?" Darrik grumbled.

"What do you mean?  We haven't been this way."

Darrik pointed to words carved into the wall.  The top sign had an arrow pointing in the direction they were walking.  It read Dining Hall.

Chester licked his lips.  "Maybe they have two," he suggested.  Darrik slowly shook his head, which was starting to glisten with sweat.  The torches that lit the tunnels also kept the temperature nice and comfortable, if you were a dwarf who was used to being next to a furnace the entire day.  For humans, even those used to the humid heat of Fannen-Dar, the dry air of the tunnels was like an armored knight to a stumpy mule.

"We can't search the whole place ourselves," Darrik said.

"Well we can't ask for help either, can we?" Chester snapped back.  He wiped his face and took a deep breath.  "Maybe we can just peek in a few more rooms."  He glanced down the long list of arrows.  Training Hall, Buttery, Dungeon Cells...

"And what about the rooms behind those rooms?" Darrik said.  "This place is organized like a cobweb.  It made sense long ago, but it's a tangled mess now!"

...Washroom, Undercroft, Temple, Infirmary...

"Not to mention how ridiculous the idea that a gang would set up here is in the first place.  We had to show our badges to enter, for Hope's sake!"

...Infirmary?

"Why would they need an infirmary?" Chester muttered.

"For treating the injured," Darrik said.  "As they are usually intended."

"Exactly."  Chester knelt down next to the wall.  The sign pointing towards the Infirmary was low to the ground, faded from age.  "Back when this was a dwarven fortress, sure, but now anyone sick or injured goes to Holy Row.  And look."  He pointed up to a sign at eye level.  It had been carved into a separate stone and slotted into the wall, whereas the low signs were etched directly into the tunnel.  This one read Hospice.

"In case there's an emergency, they go there," Chester said.  "The old infirmary would be up for grabs to anyone who finds another way in."

Darrik wrinkled his nose.  "It's a long shot."

"I'm a terrible archer, but I think that means we should check, just in case."

The two followed the signs towards the Infirmary for a half an hour, winding their way through the passages. They passed fewer and fewer of the other soldiers, until all they could hear were their own footsteps and the flickering of the torchlight. Dust was collecting in the cracks of the stone. The heat was becoming less oppressive as fewer bodies were around to radiate it. “I feel like a fly in a Spiders Guild,” Darrik whispered. His voice barely rose above his footsteps.

Chester raised a hand to Darrik's chest to stop him. “Wait,” he said. He tilted his head back and forth. They were at a turn in the tunnel, their vision cut to no more than ten feet in any direction before all they could see was a stone wall. “Do you hear that?”

Darrik held his breath for a few seconds, then let it out slowly through his nose. “It's completely silent, goblin breath.”

Chester nodded. “Right. What's missing?”

“Our footsteps. Anybody else's footsteps. And...”

They looked at the walls. In the sconces were cold-torches, lighting the hallway with their signature heat-less, yellow energy.

“If nobody uses these tunnels,” Chester whispered. “Why use expensive cold-torches?”

Darrik thought for a moment. He was sweating despite the cooler air. “They're used by arcanists all the time,” he said. “To light their libraries. So that nothing flammable gets set on...fire.”

Chester broke out in a joyless grin just as a door slammed and heavy footsteps started moving towards them.

Chester scrambled forwards, hopping down the hallway on his toes. The footsteps were clattering quickly towards them from the direction they arrived, meaning the only escape was deeper into the Infirmary. Darrik fell behind him, moving slower, for he still wore his armor. Any quick movement would be heard throughout the whole area. Like the tremblings of a trapped insect in a silky web.

Chester pressed his ear against the first door he found. Hearing nothing on the other side, he opened it. A long room stretched out before him. Where once dwarf-sized beds for the injured warriors after whatever battle they had waged that week would have been, now wooden crates were piled high and haphazardly. A table and chairs were set up in the center of the room, lit by more cold-torches. Chester waved back at Darrik to hurry up. Darrik waved back, with his fingers in a slightly more rude gesture.

Chester grabbed the front of Darrik's armor as soon as he got close and pulled him in. Just as he saw a boot coming around the corner, he shut the door without letting it bang against the frame.

Darrik was breathing heavily, but managed to maintain a whisper. “This is not how I imagined my day.”

“They must not guard that entrance, since nobody ever uses it,” Chester said. “We just wandered into their turf without noticing.”

“As long as they also went without noticing,” Darrik gasped, “I'm happy.”

Voices sounded through the door, coming closer. Chester nodded his head and the two guards moved behind a pile of boxes, where they were out of view from the door and the center of the room. The door opened.

“You see, we can work something out, as we always do,” a man said. The footsteps moved to the table, there was the sound of chairs scraping against the stone floor, and a sheet of parchment being laid out flat.

“This is our plan, see?” the same voice said. He spoke through his nose, but with such vim and verve that Chester could only imagine his nostrils were the size of cats. “The Firemen have had a hard time lately with our work, and we need this to get our name recognized again. I'm telling you out of trust that you'll hold together with our agreement.”

Someone else laughed a humorless laugh, one bristling with sharp edges that were sheathed but clearly displayed. The laugh turned into a voice. “Trust is not something typically associated with success in your line of work...is it, Kelvin?”

Chester felt the blood drain from his face and rush back to his brain, where it had some serious work to do. He leaned ever so slightly out from behind the box, so that just one eye could see the center of the long room. He saw the back of the head of the man who had just spoken, but there was no mistaking who he saw.

Captain Ignatius of the town watch was making a deal with the Firemen.

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