#aloth is the local wizard

[justashamwithwastedpotential]

Stardew Valley x Pillars of Eternity

[orokin-made]

It’s Wednesday time for some proper introductions chummers

Name: Elehal

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gayyyy literally a flaming homosexual whoops

Race: Fire Godlike (aumaua body type)

Class: Chanter

Culture: Deadfire Huana

Background: Explorer, sailor, amateur ethnomusicologist

Highest Attributes: Intellect, Resolve

Highest Dispositions: Benevolent, Diplomatic

Preferred Weapons: Poleaxes, Quarterstaffs, and Pikes

Notable Physical Traits:

·        7 ft. tall

·        Skin has the texture and appearance of hammered bronze

·        Carries a lute slung across his back

·        Wears primarily warm colors

·        Most of his clothing has at least one scorch mark or tiny hole burned into it somewhere, because fire.

 Favored Gods:  Abydon, Wael - tentatively, Berath, Magran but in a complicated sort of way

Family: An only child, his parents were kuaru craftspeople for a small northern tribe

Fears: unintentionally hurting people while trying to do the right thing, disappointing his friends, also wizards, ironically

Hobbies: Singing, sailing, ruin diving, interviewing people about their local traditional folk songs/ballads, camping, reconstructing ancient Engwithian musical notation, getting chatty with random people in taverns, general music nerd shit

Alignment: Neutral Good with significant Lawful tendencies.

Sins: …Pride? Ambition? Plain old bull-headed stubbornness? Being physically unable to chill the fuck out.

Virtues: Charity, kindness, loyalty and dependability

S/O: Aloth groundbreaking, I know

BFFs: Kana, Tekēhu, Durance in some ways but again it’s complicated

  Pre-Game History: Godlike are generally well received among the Huana and the larger Deadfire, and while Elehal did experience his share of –mostly unconscious and unintentional—exclusion for Being Different, he was never feared or reviled by those around him. His village mostly just didn’t know what to actually do with one of Magran’s children, particularly one as disinclined to sit still or stay in one place as Elehal. After wandering off to go “exploring” and getting hurt one too many times, his parents approached the village stormspeaker about taking him on as an apprentice, in the hopes that ballads and legends would satisfy some of his curiosity and sate his wanderlust.  It did, to an extent, and it kept him busy and supervised if nothing else. Elehal turned out to have both a good ear and a good memory for music, as well as a nearly obsessive interest in the world beyond the island. He often spent entire days with his teacher, practicing vocal techniques, proper breathing, memorizing phrases, or simply listening to her tell stories, and the two of them developed a very close relationship.

When he came of age and finished his apprenticeship Elehal signed on with the first ship that would take him, eventually working his way from local trading and fishing vessels to larger foreign ships making longer, more exciting voyages. While he had no particular talent for wind or weather shaping, he was a capable and reliable sailor, and his singing boosted morale considerably. His ultimate ambition was to study at the Lore College of Rauatai, but he would need money first, and wanted to have something to show for himself when he arrived. He continued to work as a sailor, but also began to branch out into more land-based adventures and exploration, collecting as much information as he could on the musical traditions of the places he visited as he went. It was during one of these expeditions that he joined up with a particularly ill-fated caravan headed for Gilded Vale, throwing the world’s largest wrench into his plans for the future.

Personality/Demeanor: Elehal is an extremely gregarious and outgoing person, and a lifetime of living and working with a truly astounding variety of people during his sailing years has made him an expert at ingratiating himself with virtually everyone. He is, fundamentally, someone who likes people: talking to them, being around them, listening to them. Also, while he can hold his own in a fight simply by virtue of being Big and On Fire, he’s much better with words than with blades, so he tries to talk his way out of conflicts as much as possible. Many of the Huana cultural values he grew up with have stayed with him as well, a keen sense of civil responsibility and strong belief in cooperation chief among them. People should take responsibility for the well-being of their community and help those around them, dammit. (He would be a huge proponent of housing co-ops and mutual aid programs in a modern AU. Probably belongs to like six volunteer groups.)

He’s also very aware of the fact that he’s very large compared to most kith and also very on fire all the time. He feels things intensely, likes to get up in other people’s business, has a voice that’s loud and carries very well, and can be an overwhelming person to be around, in general. As a result he’s become hypervigilant of both his internal emotional state and how he presents himself to the world, leading to him often coming off as more stoic and reserved than he actually is. He’s particularly cautious in romantic relationships, being near constantly concerned about moving too quickly or coming on too strong.

Partly because of the influence of Magran’s chime and partially because he’s just… Like That, Elehal is loath to ask for help or admit to struggling with anything. He can take care of himself and solve his own problems his own way! Handling things very well thank you! He’s definitely not coming apart under the incredible weight of his own standards and expectations! Sleeping just fine thank you let’s move on!

His fear of wizards stems from the fact that he’s used to being able to easily navigate and steer the course of conversations, except with like, archmages, because he never knows what the fuck they’re thinking or if they’re going to suddenly get tired of talking and decide to turn him into a pig or open a gaping hole full of tentacles under his feet or WHAT. They’re constantly one step ahead of or in a completely different conversation than the one he thinks they’re in and he hates it. Also, they just… always getting up to some whack shit. Don’t trust like that.

[chilled-soul-speaker]

In-Character Interview!

Rules:

1. Choose an OC.

2. Answer them as that OC.

3. Tag 5 people to do the same. (Tag as many as you wish)

I was tagged by: @ariela-of-aedyr (thanks!!)

1. What is your name?

Snærún Dökkvatn. Technically, Dökkvatn was the name of my clan, not my last name. Many documents here in the Dyrwood were very insistent that I have a last name.

2. Do you know why are you named that?

From what I have been told, I was given my name by my parents as a way to wish for success in life. I was slated to become the next Runecaster, what is considered to be a Wizard in the rest of Eora, and so the name I was given roughly translates to “Snowy Rune”.

3. Are you single or taken?

Single.

4. Have any abilities or powers?

I have trained in metaphysics and have a decent understanding of how to manipulate arcane energy with spells, and about a year ago I gained the powers of a Watcher.

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

…What is a ‘Mary Sue’?

6. What’s your eye color?

It’s brown, but recently I’ve been observing that they sometimes appear purple. This could be caused by liberal use of my Watcher abilities…*leans elbows on table with a serious expression* It might be worthwhile for me to contact Adaryc and compare…*trails off*

7. How about your hair color?

*snaps back into focus and sits up straight* Ah…it’s white, like most of my clan members.

8. Have any family members?

…Technically, no. The other three children that survived my clan’s destruction were adopted by other clans and are no longer considered my family. I do consider my friends that I traveled with this past year my family now.

9. Oh? How about pets?

It seems I have many. *sighs* Edér seems to have snuck in many dogs and cats into the keep over the past year, but after some training, most of the dogs have turned into fine guard dogs, and the cats do well with managing the local rodent population. I don’t consider my wurm, Nils, a pet though. He is also one of my companions and is beginning to learn Aderyan.

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now, tell me something you don’t like?

Well, that’s a broad question. I’m not fond of the weather here in the Dyrwood, it’s too warm for my liking. But, if I’m being honest, I haven’t been satisfied with anywhere I’ve lived temperature wise, with the only exception being my visit to the White March.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

I like to keep my hands busy, so I have quite a few that I focus on. When I’m not studying, I work on leatherwork, enchanting, alchemy, and herbalism.

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before?

It is my belief that you cannot live without harming someone. It is kith’s nature to harm one another, even if it is unintentional.

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

*sighs irritably* Yes, but only if I was forced to and the assailant threatened me or my companions. I do not take pleasure in killing, but I do not shy away from it either.

14. What kind of animal are you?

*sly smile* I’ve been told by my new acquaintances in the nobility that my adversaries assume that I am a lamb; naïve and innocent, unknowing of the world due to my beginnings in the Wend. They soon learn that I use that façade to make them underestimate me. I have heard whispers that I am called the ‘White Wolf’ by those that survive my attacks.

15. Name your worst habits?

*thoughtful look* Edér has told me that I have a habit of expecting people to understand me without me explaining anything. This has caused some problems between me and my friends a bit. I’m working on improving this. I also tend to make quick judgements on kith and situations without taking much consideration into the larger picture.

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

I look up to my friends for different reasons. They all have something different that I admire about them (excluding Durance) and I strive to emulate those aspects in everything that I do.

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

…I suppose bisexual. I have had relationships with both men and women.

18. Did you attend school?

*long sigh* I was supposed to attend Bragganhyl with support from a patron but…things happened, and I burnt down that patron’s ship. So, I am mostly self-taught, with some tutelage from past employers as well as help from Aloth.

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day?

Marriage…possibly. I’m not against it, but I think my partner would have to be the one to bring it up. I don’t believe the need of some sort of binding ceremony for partners to prove their loyalty to each other. And…kids? *sharp exhale* Never. I don’t deal well with being around children.

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

If I understand what the Steward reports to me, I am well respected by my employees and some of my fellow acquaintances in the nobility if that is what you mean by ‘fan’?

21. What are you most afraid of?

Heights is the easiest thing to say. I absolutely abhor having to climb up and down with a sheer drop nearby. But, to be completely honest…*long pause* Gods, it sounds ridiculous saying this out loud…children. It is nothing against them, but seeing children brings back horrible memories from my childhood.

22. What do you usually wear?

If I am training, usually just my trousers and breast band. If I am expecting guests or otherwise working on the upkeep of the keep, I have a loose dress. When I travel outside of the keep, I have the same leather armor that I had when I first left the Wend, modified for the hotter weather, of course.

23. What’s one food that tempts you?

I haven’t had it in many years, but I do miss the flavor of Ysae. It is a fish from the waters near the Wend with a very sweet taste. I prefer it pickled like many Glamfellan along the coast make it. The closest to Ysae I’ve had in the Dyrwood have been the speckleback fish that we caught in the March.

24. Am I annoying you?

…This interview has gone on for quite some time. I’m beginning to tire.

25. Well, it’s still not over!

*slow exhale* Well, continue then.

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

Due to my travels, I have lived in the low and middle classes. I suppose that currently with my ownership of Caed Nua and its surrounding lands, that I would be considered high class now.

27. How many friends do you have?

A few close ones.

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

*wrinkles nose* It’s either too sweet or too bland. I can eat the savory pie from Guilded Vale, but that is never my first choice for a meal.

29. Favorite drink?

I make my own blends of tea from the herbs I grow here at Caed Nua. *quiet laugh* I have been told by my friends that they are too bitter for them to drink without anything to sweeten the drink.

30. What’s your favorite place?

…That’s a difficult question for me to answer. At the moment I would consider Stalwart my favorite place. It reminds me of my homeland.

31. Are you interested in anyone?

*long pause and looks away* Yes…but I believe that we need to find who we are outside of a countrywide crisis before I consider pursuing him. We were, and are, dealing with our own personal problems. Plus, he had a mission that he took on, and I could never be selfish and keep him from that call.

32. That was a stupid question…

*looks back and narrows eyes* Maybe you should have considered your questions more carefully before coming here.

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?

The lake. The ocean’s saltiness irritates me, and I hate washing off dried salt.

34. What’s your type?

I assume you mean in romantic relationships. I prefer people who understand that I am flighty and not likely to stay in one place for too long. Loyalty, bravery, and a clear head have always attracted me. Someone who can sit with me to spend time with me quietly, or someone that I can talk to for hours on end about an assortment of topics would be ideal, I think. I could go on, but I would not bore you with that.

35. Any fetishes?

That is an inappropriate question.

36. Camping or outdoors?

…Both? This is not a very clear question. Do you not camp outdoors? Or are you asking if I prefer to sleep in a tent or under the stars? If that, I prefer a tent. There are a number of unsavory bugs in these northern countries that I will not stand being near me as I sleep.

[queen-scribbles]

Top of the List

@pillarspromptsweekly fill #85: Spring. Adi gets this one, along with her best buds, because it’s been too long since I wrote them together.

There were many things Adela loved about spring. Better weather, birds singing, baby animals. It was also the time of year a lot of academics emerged from fours months ensconced in their toasty warm studies with new papers and treatises on a plethora of topics(not that she’d had time to track any of them down this year). But more than anything, she loved the flowers.

And this year--like last--she was getting to see a whole array of new ones. The Deadfire Archipelago had an even greater variety than the Dyrwood, given the wildly different climates on the various islands. There were some on Tikawara almost as big as Adela herself, and then ones not much bigger than a fingernail. All of them were fascinating, and beautiful in their own way, and after a little trial and error, Adela and Xoti had mostly figured out how to determine which ones were safe to touch.

“Adi, look at these!” Xoti crowed as she returned from scouting with a handful of pale pink blossoms. They looked like peonies, except fewer petals. “Ain’t they pretty?”

“Very,” she agreed with an enthusiastic grin. “Where’d you find them?”

“Over that way.” Xoti waved her free hand toward a hill that sat to the west of their campsite. “There’s a whole... I guess you’d call it a glen, with all kinds’a flowers I ain’t seen before. It’s beautiful, and it looked pretty safe.”

“Maybe we can go back after dinner,” Adela said, at the same moment Aloth asked, “How certain are you it’s safe?”

“Adi, that’s what I was thinkin’--stew smells really good, by the way--an’ Aloth, whaddya mean?” Xoti planted her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow at the wizard.

“This is an uninhabited, uncharted island,” Aloth said, fiddling with the pages of his grimoire. “I’m simply concerned that a single, cursory scouting trip is insufficient to deem the entire place safe.”

“He’s got a point.” Adela gave the stew one last stirring to make sure none was sticking to the bottom and swung it away from the firepit. “I want to go enjoy flowers as much as you do, Xo, but we haven’t seen nearly enough of this island to be sure it’s completely safe.”

“We’re gonna be together, ain’t we?” Xoti countered. “We ain’t exactly helpless.” She nudged the hilt of her sickle, setting it rocking against her leg. “Hel, if you’re really worried, I bet Rekke would come with us.”

The redhead started at his name, looking up from the patterns he’d been tracing in the dirt. “I... go with you?”

“Only if you want to,” Adela assured him hastily. “We’re gonna explore after dinner, go see a place Xoti found with lots of plants and flowers.”

“Ta, I will come,” Rekke nodded, brushing his hair back from his face.

“Great! See, we’ll be fine,” Xoti grinned at Aloth. “You an’ Pallegina can hold down the camp, right? ‘Less you’d rather come with us, too.”

“Oh, no.” Aloth shook his head, smile tugging at his lips as he darted a look toward Adela. “I know what she’s like when you give her access to large quantities of flowers.”

And to Xoti’s immense frustration, neither he nor Adela would elaborate the entire time they were eating dinner. Pallegina pled ignorance when the priest tried to ask her. “I wasn’t present for this... incident, whatever it may be.”

Adela finally took pity on her as the two of them, plus Rekke, headed for the glen Xoti had found. “Flower crowns.”

“Huh?” Xoti looked at her, confused by the lack of context.

“On the way to Defiance Bay the first time, back in the Dyrwood. It was spring, and I was excited there were flowers, so I made flower crowns. First one for me, then Kana, then just decided to do one for everyone.” She shrugged.  “They’re fun to make, and we’d set camp early, so I had a lot of time to kill. To Aloth’s credit, he did wear the one I made him for a good hour before it ‘mysteriously’ disappeared. Kana and Sagani, on the other hand, loved theirs so much they were still wearing them when we reached the city the next day, even though they were starting to fall apart.”

“Yeah, I gotta say, Aloth don’t really strike me as the flower crown type,” Xoti commented, leading the way through a patch of trees.

“He’s not,” Adela confirmed. “But we didn’t know each other well yet, and he didn’t want to rock the boat, and I was too caught up having fun to notice he wasn’t terribly thrilled. If I made him one now he’d prob’ly wear it to humor me ‘cause we’re friends. But I won’t do that to him.” She grinned. “Not when I have you two.”

Xoti laughed. “We’ll definitely be more enthusiastic about ‘em, won’t we?” She elbowed Rekke playfully in the ribs.

“Hm? Oh, ta,” he nodded, attention seeming more drawn by their surroundings than the conversation. All the same, he offered a smile. “I would be happy to wear a crown of flowers for you.”

“Are you alright?” Adela checked. “You seem distracted.”

“Oh, y-yes.” Seeing she wasn’t convinced by the stuttered reassurance, Rekke raked one hand through his hair and tried again. “These trees, there are ones like them near Lipasalis, ta? I am just a little homesick.”

She glanced at the trees, short, scrubby things with gnarled and twisted branches and a peeling layer of bark. “That’s what your trees look like?”

“Some of them. Others are tall, and big around. But the ones closest to the city look like this.” He reached out and trailed his fingers along the bark as they passed. It flaked like parchment under his touch.

“Well, c’mon, we can swap stories and distract ya,” Xoti said with a wink, tugging on his arm. “We’re almost there.” And she promptly launched in to what Adela figured was a greatly embellished version of the Dawnstars’ first few days in the Deadfire. Embellished or no, the story had both her and Rekke laughing no more than three minutes in, and filled the rest of their walk to the glen Xoti had found.

Adela could see why her friend had been so excited; it looked like something out of a fairy tale. Edged in scraggly(if slightly taller) trees, the small glen held at least five different kinds of flowers that she could see. One even sprouted from a hanging vine, trailing from tree to tree in a brilliant yellow boundary line.

“Wow,” was all she could say at first, followed a few moments later by, “I sort of want to live here now.”

Xoti giggled. “Knew you’d like it. D’you recognize any of these flowers? “Cause I sure don’t.”

“A couple look almost familiar,” Adela said, locating the patch of pink blooms Xoti had brought back to camp. “Maybe they’re local offshoots?”

Xoti almost reverently trailed her fingers across small orange blossoms, similar to marigolds. The stems were different, and the middle tiers of petals darkened to red, but otherwise they matched the cheerful yellow flowers Adela knew from Ixamitl. “Think they’re safe to pick?”

“Probably,” Adela said slowly. The ones she almost-recognized all looked like harmless plants from either back home or in the Dyrwood. “Only one way to know for sure, though, which you’ve already tested.”

Xoti rolled her eyes at the teasing. “So we know the pink ones are safe. Should we find out about a couple more?”

Adela grinned. “I’m always ready to take a few risks when flowers are involved.” She studied the orange ones Xoti had touched. “Bet these would make a really pretty flower crown.” And there were certainly enough of them to pick a couple dozen without feeling bad. “This color would look good against your hair, Xo.”

Xoti smiled and pushed back her hood. “Aw, thanks, Adi. If you’re gonna do that, I’m makin’ you one, too.”

Adela giggled. “Deal. We should prob’ly find something to talk about that Rekke will like, too.” She flashed him a smile. “So you don’t get bored listening to us.”

He chuckled, idly gathering his hair to tie it back from his face. “I know this was a... risk, ta? I do not mind, it helps me practice my Aedyran.”

“Still...” she curled the tail of her braid around her thumb. “Being left out’s not a fun feeling.”

Rekke nodded. “True.”

“So, Adi,” Xoti began as she walked further into the flowery glen. “I guess it’s safe to assume your favorite part of spring’s the flowers?”

“You got me,” Adela conceded, kneeling to pick the orange marigolds. The sturdier stems must help with drawing more water in the dry months, she guessed. And maybe it got windy here? “Spring’s my favorite, and there’s a lot I like, but the flowers are definitely top of the list. How ‘bout you?”

For all their sturdy stalks, the flowers came up easily, and she’d picked half a dozen before Xoti answered. “Aw, that’s easy,” she laughed. “I grew up on a farm, Adi. Baby animals galore. Whaddya think my favorite part is?”

“Hmm, I’m going to guess planting vegetables?” Adela deadpanned, then laughed when Xoti chucked a pebble at her. “Oh, so it is the baby animals. See, I figured that was too obvious.”

“I’m not a master of skulduggery and secrecy like some people,” Xoti retorted sweetly. “How ‘bout you, Rekke? What do you like best about spring?”

He mulled it over for a minute while Xoti and Adela finished collecting flowers and got themselves comfortably seated to start braiding. “Here I would say the weather. There is rain, but not so much. And it is.... softer? than in winter, when it comes.”

“Mm, that’s a good one. Summer can be bad, too, to hear Tuliak tell it,” Adela commented, biting her lip in concentration as she wove the flower stems together.

Rekke wrinkled his nose and muttered something in Seki she didn’t catch. “Back home, there is a nut, very sweet, that can only be picked the first couple weeks of spring. It tastes very good, by itself or...” he frowned and rubbed his thumbs across his fingers as the word escaped him. “...broken small?”

“Crushed?” Adela supplied, and he nodded.

“Ta. Crushed on food. We cannot buy later in the year, because of the cost, so we only have it in spring in my house.”

“Do ya ever put it on chocolate things?” Xoti asked, looking at Rekke rather than the crown she was braiding.

“Oh yes. It is very good with chocolate,” he grinned.

“What isn’t?” Adela laughed.

Their conversation shifted to food from there, talking about favorite dishes, bemoaning less enjoyed ones. Xoti and Adela finished the crowns they were making each other. The orange and red blossoms looked as pretty against Xoti’s dark hair as Adela had predicted, and the crinkly blue cornflowers she’d chosen were equally complementary to Adela’s blonde waves. Once the two of them had gleefully exchanged their own circlet, they set to work together making Rekke one of small, deep purple flowers. They reminded Adela of yarrow, aside from being  the wrong color.

Rekke was very appreciative, smiling wide as he ducked his head so Xoti could put the crown on him. The three of them sat and talked for another hour or so, enjoying the scenery(and the break from being shipbound), before heading back to camp.

Aloth and Pallegina were both sitting out near the campfire as they approached. The wizard was engrossed in his book, but Pallegina looked up from sharpening her estoc at the sound of their footsteps. She raised an eyebrow at their new accessories, golden eyes flickering with amusement.

“I take it you enjoyed yourselves,” she commented.

“Immensely,” Adela said with a cheerful smile.

Aloth looked up at the sound of her voice and a wry grin pulled at his lips. “I knew it.”

“You do have experience with my foibles and passions,” she laughed as she plunked down next to him and peeked at his book. It was something about Deadfire wildlife, the more mundane varieties. “I was tempted to make you one, but refrained.”

“How shall I ever survive?” he deadpanned, still smirking slightly.

“I can share mine if you like,” Adela offered with a mock innocent smile.

“No, no, I’ll manage.” Aloth reached over and straightened the circlet as it slipped toward her eye. “It’s even cornflowers.”

“Hey, Xoti made it, that actually isn’t my choice.”

“I picked that ‘cause I know you like ‘em,” Xoti chipped in.

“So it was sort of my choice, then,” Adela corrected herself with a laugh. “They are my favorite.” For several reasons. She tugged one of the extras she’d picked from her pocket and tucked it in the tie holding back Aloth’s hair.

He shot her a flat look but left it. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said sweetly. She reached for her pack and dug for a book of her own. The light was hanging around longer than before--another great thing about spring--and she wanted to take advantage of that.

The five of them settled in for the evening all absorbed in their own doings, but every so often Adela and Xoti would catch each other adjusting their flower crowns and they’d share a grin.

Yes, there were many things to like about spring.

[dragonologist-phd]

If The Creeks Don’t Rise- Ch 1. Reach My Soul

It began as a relationship of convenience.

(Read Below or on AO3)

It began as a relationship of convenience.

Aloth was regretting coming to the Dyrwood. His contact with The Leaden Key had vanished, leaving him stranded in a land that did not look on foreigners with much kindness. Between the exhaustion of travel and the rain that soaked him to his bones, his control was not at its best that night in Gilded Vale. And that was before the drunks began harassing him. There was no patience or fortitude left within him to deal with these lavvy-heided wankstains-

Iselmyr only surfaced for a moment, but it was enough, and Aloth suddenly found himself the focus of three quite incensed, quite intoxicated Dyrwoodans.

The Watcher’s timing was impeccable. He didn’t know her as a Watcher at first, of course. Even she didn’t know of her abilities at the time. She simply introduced herself as Desta, a traveler whose caravan had been attacked and who apparently made a habit of rescuing strangers.

“You’ve heard of the Wayfarers?” she asked as she neatly sidestepped the unconscious bodies on the ground. Her smile was bright and her tone cheerful, completely unfazed by the attack or the heavy rain. “Guides, protectors, helpers to travelers in need? There’s a whole speech I could give, but I think you get the idea.”

“Indeed. The demonstration was impressive.” Aloth studied the woman in front of him. She was a newcomer as well, of that he was certain; her accent and travel-worn clothes indicated a long journey.

More obviously, she was a godlike, and from the looks she was garnering from the townsfolk she was the first one they had ever seen. Aloth himself had met godlike in his travels before, but none quite like her. At first glance, Desta was as much plant as she was kith. Her skin was a dark, mossy green, and was covered in vines and trails of fungus that twisted down her neck and arms. This, combined with the long horns atop her head and the strange luminescent yellow of her eyes, gave her an eerie bearing that was not completely offset by her friendliness.

“So I take it you’re not a local,” she observed, her glowing eyes sweeping over Aloth. “Are you a settler?”

Aloth scrambled for an explanation as to why an Aedyran wizard was wandering through a place like Gilded Vale, doing his best to hold back additional comments from Iselmyr. Luckily, Desta seemed too distracted to be suspicious. Her concerned gaze drifted back, over and over, to the center of town, where the hanging tree loomed in the shadows.

“Well, good luck in your travels,” she finally said, moving towards the promised warmth of the only inn in town, and he realized he was about to lose track of the first person who’d held a civil conversation with him in weeks.

“Wait,” he called.

Aloth was, at his core, a cautious person. He didn’t know how much he could trust this woman, and he didn’t often offer to involve himself with strangers.

Still, it was a reasonable assumption that traveling with an armed do-gooder would be safer than staying in this town. He also knew for a fact that if he spent much longer on his own with only Iselmyr to converse with, he would be severely risking his sanity.

And so, not knowing what he was getting himself into, he asked Desta if they could travel together.

At first it was a temporary arrangement.

Desta knew from the beginning that Aloth was weird. Not that she was judging- even without the strange visions and voices in her head, she was plenty weird herself. Her horns and vines alone were enough to earn her stares wherever she went, and she’d always had a habit of ending up in messy situations without meaning to.

So it didn’t really bother her that Aloth was clearly out of place in the rural village, with his fine Aedyran features and accent, and his formal magic training, and the mannerisms that spoke of time spent around nobility. She was curious about the odd mood swings and the second accent he refused to acknowledge, but she didn’t have the energy to pursue those topics at the moment.

For now, Desta was grateful for someone that wasn’t attacking her or hanging people from trees. After the disastrous end to her job with the caravan and the hostile greeting she’d received from the villagers, that was enough.

“A biawac?” he asked after she relayed her story. His brows knitted together in concern. “I’ve heard tales of such things. It’s not common to survive an encounter with one.”

“And that wasn’t even the weirdest thing that happened,” Desta said. “I don’t even know what happened, to be honest. There was a ritual, and people in robes, and-” a large yawn cut off her words, and she gave Aloth an apologetic glance. “Sorry. It’s been a long couple of days, and I haven’t had much chance to rest.”

“Of course,” Aloth said quickly. “We should get some sleep. There will be time to talk tomorrow.”

Even with their combined funds, Desta and Aloth barely had enough money to secure a single room. It was cramped, but there was a bed and a fireplace and that was enough for Desta to nearly collapse in relief.

Aloth insisted she take the bed- “You came to my rescue, after all,”- and by then Desta couldn’t muster up more than a mild protest. She’d slept in much worse conditions, but she’d never been this exhausted before. So she relented, and as Aloth situated himself in the armchair next to the fire, she sank into the bed and waited for sleep to come.

But sleep refused. Desta was warm and safe and on a real bed for the first time in weeks, but none of that was the problem. The problem was the dreams. The whispers, quiet but relentless, that kept her just on the edge of true rest.

Desta fought against the whispers for much of the night. A new wave of guilt hit her every time she glanced at Aloth asleep in the chair, a spare quilt tucked around his angular form and long dark hair covering his face. She should have made him take the bed- it was obvious now she wasn’t going to get much use out of it. Next time, she would be more insistent.

If there was a next time. It wasn’t clear how long Aloth was planning on sticking around. But he didn’t seem to have anywhere else to go, and Desta found herself oddly glad. If she was going to spend the night tossing and turning, at least she would some have decent company in the morning.

Desta half-expected Aloth to disappear after their first day traveling together, but he had a way of surprising her.

Even after they reached Defiance Bay, Aloth stuck around. Others had joined her quest as well, and she regarded them all as good friends (with the exception of Durance, whom she couldn’t get to leave.) But there was something different about Aloth, something she couldn’t put her finger on.

After one particularly fitful night of sleep, he approached her with a cup of tea and some hesitant questions about her abilities. They talked until the sun finally crept above the horizon, until he finally asked, “It’s hard, isn’t it? Not being given a choice on what life you remember?”

Desta laughed, softly and without humor. “Yeah. It is.”

“If you had been given the choice… would you have chosen this?”

Desta considered the question. At the moment, her immediate response was no. She missed sleeping through the night and living without headaches.

But on the other hand, she’d helped so many people already with these powers. Being a Watcher meant she could do things she never could have otherwise, and so far the world seemed better for it.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly, and the words were sour in her mouth. Before all this Watcher business, she’d known exactly who she was. She was a paladin, a Kind Wayfarer, somebody with a clear purpose to follow.

(You are an Inquisitor, she remembered, and she didn’t know if the voice in her head was her own. You have a purpose.)

Desta felt as if her once solid foundation was beginning to crack.

Aloth watched her expression and nodded. “I know how it feels to be lost,” he remarked. “At least I know I’m not alone in uncertainty.”

Somehow, that made Desta feel a little bit better.

What began as a simple partnership shifted, a little at a time.

Aloth meant to keep some distance between himself and the Watcher. It wasn’t necessarily that he didn’t trust her; he just didn’t think it was a good idea to tell the unpredictable, passionate woman with a mace that he was a member of the organization that was trying to kill her.

At least not until he figured out what was going on. He didn’t like the idea of the Leaden Key attempting to assassinate Desta. Despite the trouble that followed at her heels, she was a good person. Every fight she threw herself into, every new obstacle she tackled, was for the sake of someone who had turned to her for help.

If The Leaden Key were truly the ones after her, there had to have been some severe misunderstanding, something that could be explained. Aloth would bide his time until he was back in contact with his superiors, and once he had sorted this out… then he might tell her. Once this was fixed, she might understand. Until then, she didn’t have to know anything about Aloth that she didn’t already know.

But Desta had a habit of getting involved in other people’s problems, and Aloth’s carefully-laid plans had a habit of falling apart.

They were investigating the Leaden Key hideout, so close to the answers Aloth was seeking, when Iselmyr came bursting out to complicate things. As usual.

And like she always did, Desta helped. She listened and understood and never once betrayed a hint of the fear Aloth had learned to expect back in Aedyr.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise,” she declared to him as they entered the sanitarium, on the search for an Awakening expert.

“I’m here. You’re safe,” she murmured as they sat with the animancer, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I think you’re going to be okay,” she said thoughtfully after, as if she didn’t consider Iselmyr’s rantings distressing. “I think she’s trying to help, in her own way.”

“Whatever her intentions, ‘her way’ only ever causes more problems than it solves,” Aloth grumbled.

“I donnae know why I bother! The lad needs some spine, but he won’ admit to it.” 

Aloth wrestled back control of his voice. The session, although informative, had stirred Iselmyr up. He shot Desta a look saying See what I mean?

Desta sighed. “I admit, she’s rather reckless. And violence should be kept as a last resort. But sometimes it is necessary. Especially,” she paused, and Aloth had the impression she was choosing her words carefully. “Especially if you’re stopping someone from hurting someone else. Whatever her faults, I’m glad Iselmyr was around to protect you.”

Aloth softened at her words. It was possible, however slightly, that she had a point. Iselmyr was still a thorn in his side, but knowing what had brought her forth made the thorn sting a little less.

“Thank you, by the way,” he said to Desta. He rubbed his thumb across his palm, remembering the steady weight of her hand in his. “For everything.”

Once Desta met Iselmyr, it all made sense. Of course Aloth understood her better than the others. He was the one who could relate to feeling of someone else’s voice in his head. It also explained why he was so anxiously secretive. It couldn’t be easy, hiding something like that from everyone you met.

It only made Desta all the more grateful that he was still here.

“Now that you have your answers, what are your plans?” she asked a few days after the session at the sanitarium.

Aloth looked startled by the question. “Answers?”

“Well, you don’t how to control her, but you found out why Iselmyr is here. What now?”

“Oh.” Aloth still didn’t seem to completely understand the question. “I’m traveling with you until we find Thaos. What else?”

“Really?”

He studied her for a moment, eyes full of concern. “Did you think I would leave so quickly?”

Desta shrugged, suddenly embarrassed by her assumption. She fumbled for the words to explain. “That’s the job, you know? I meet people, we travel together, and then they get where they’re going and I… just keep moving.”

“But the job’s not done yet,” Aloth said, and Desta gave him a questioning look. He elaborated, “You still need help. I want to make sure you don’t killed by the Leaden Key, or driven mad by your Watcher abilities. Of course I’m not leaving.”

“Oh.” The pleasant surprise brought a smile to her face. “Thank you. It’s good to have… friends.”

Aloth smiled fondly. “I agree.”

This- having somebody looking out for her, not just the other way around- was new. It wasn’t necessary, Desta told herself. She was more than capable of handling whatever came her way. But it was a blessing to know that she could stop and take a breath and trust someone else, just for a little while.

Friends.

The word left Aloth with a gnawing guilt that refused to subside. Of course they were friends, no matter how Aloth had initially intended to keep his distance. Desta had helped him, had trusted him, and she deserved honesty in return.

He would tell her about the Leaden Key. He just worried that once he did, her view of him would be permanently changed.

[risualto]

Fool Me Never

In response to @pillarspromptsweekly prompt #0011.

Title: Fool Me Never Summary: After three years of trying to familiarize himself with working from the shadows, Aloth had a pretty good idea that he should always expect infiltrations to go wrong.  In this case, he wasn’t entirely against the idea, though everything still told him he should be. Warnings: minor spoilers for the end of Aloth’s story in the first game. Notes: Well, it finally happened-- I wrote romance.  Or tried to.  It’s not very overt romance since this takes place between the games, but there’s some pretty obvious pining involved even if no one wants to acknowledge it yet.  Iselmyr is there and she ships it.  Also, hooray!  My prompt fills are finally of manageable length again.

Caed Nua was alive.  Thankfully, this time, no dragons or animancy-adjacent curses were involved; it was simply the hypnotic flickers of torchlight beating like a heart and the rising and falling hum of slightly-inebriated chatter, which might have passed for breath, that made the keep seem like a living entity.  

At least, Aloth thought as he checked the ties on his mask, as far as he knew.

The approach to the keep reminded the wizard of approaching a mark.  His breath was measured, his face concealed, his pulse raced hard in his throat… but the warmth that hummed under his skin had little to do with fear for his life.  It was a strange, naïve sort of nervousness that was almost pleasant.  Aloth felt quite alive as he drew near to the gates.

He carried no weapons and no grimoire, as he heard the Roadwarden required, and wore a mask that concealed his face from the nose upwards, and as such was allowed to pass with a simple nod from the guards.  “Enjoy the party,” one of them said with a smile.

Aloth inclined his head and walked on, ignoring Iselmyr as she whispered, Th’ lad ought ta be welcomin’ ye back, nay?

“It’s a good sign he did not,” Aloth breathed, thankful when the festival chatter swept his words away like wind.

Time had not changed much about the grounds of Caed Nua, but the festival itself did bring a certain touch.  There were garlands of flowers strewn across the adra pillars and the windows of the chapel; the forum hosted a play of some kind rather than a debate; and food stands lifted the scents of celebration into the air all across the keep.  Aloth caught the eyes of a few passersby as he explored the place he had once called home, but no one of particular note made themselves known.  It seemed the guests of the Watcher’s Dawn festival (or so Aloth heard it had been named by the locals) were as much strangers to him as they were to each other. The casual way people joined for conversation and then parted in the same breath was almost intimidating.

Still, as Iselmyr made a game of inventing life stories for everyone who offered him a drink or a dance, Aloth kept as much to himself as he could without drawing attention.  While the food was tempting, and the ale given almost freely, he was waiting for one person only.  He would prefer to meet the esteemed Roadwarden sober and alert.

Yer lyke to embarrass yerself either way, lad, Iselmyr trilled helpfully.  Ah’ve never seen ye this eager ta see a lady. Oor anouther lad.

“Thank you for the support,” Aloth hissed, crossing his arms and taking a sip of the water he’d been nursing like a spirit.

Ah dun’t understan’! Iselmyr continued, and Aloth suddenly was struck with the mental image of her throwing her hands up and walking away before circling back to face him.  Three years, an’ th’ best ye can give th’ Watcher is a look from b’hynd yer mask?

Aloth’s breath caught in his throat, thick with regret for something he had yet to do.  Iselmyr wasn’t wrong.  The fabric of his deep blue tunic scrunched almost painfully under his grip as he fought to keep his posture and expression stable.  It wasn’t likely anyone would notice, especially with the mask, and yet…  He exhaled slowly and raised the goblet back to his lips.  “I don’t want this to be connected to her,” he said, words vibrating from his lips to the tin cup.  “Me.  Any of it.”

Iselmyr rolled her eyes in such a way that Aloth could very nearly hear, but had no time to retort.  Both souls in his body seemed to breathe collectively as they caught sight of a figure making her way through the small bazaar outside Brighthollow.

It was evident that everyone knew her to be the Roadwarden—Glamfellen people were simply too uncommon and she was too well-dressed—given the way several people applauded or immediately stepped aside to let her pass.  And yet she seemed to spare a smile or nod for everyone who came near enough.  The dress she wore was deep blue, nearly black, with beads near the neck and wrists, and fluid in a way that reminded Aloth of the night ocean.  The mask she wore was a wire piece resembling wings that covered her eyes and cradled an ice-silver gem above her brow like a crown.  Being made of wire, however, most of her features were still visible through it, including her slightly freckled, pale skin and faintly blue eyes.  It was as though the mask itself detailed her aversion to trickery.  A proclamation to the world that she had and would always hate lying, even in jest.

She was lovely.  Aloth wondered if she was comfortable in the elegant skin.  Her eyes skimmed across him once, and he almost forgot to nod respectfully in acknowledgement.  

Act as one of the crowd, he reminded himself.  Treat her as the Roadwarden, the Lady of Caed Nua…not as Tai Lon, his comrade and idol and closest friend.

The bustling crowd seemed to swallow her, and time moved on.  Aloth found himself leaning heavily against the wall at his back.  Even Iselmyr was quiet for a few moments as they both tried to process those few seconds.

Was she well?  Was she happy?  Were Caed Nua’s lands and people content?  Were the neighbors?  Had the Key realized what she—what they—had done?  Did she have people around to support her in a fight if they appeared?

Did she have people around at all?  Aloth had heard Edér became the mayor of Dyrford, but was anyone else still close?

He bit his lip and set his attention back on the festival.  And over the course of the next hour, each glimpse he caught of her only solidified the cold feeling in his stomach.  The Watcher drifted between guests and conversations with almost the same fluidity she avoided enemies in battle, never getting too deeply entangled with anyone at all.  Her smiles cycled through the same degrees of polite interest, and the few times she was close enough for Aloth to hear, her conversations were shallow enough that they may as well have not flowed at all.

Tai Lon’s patience for diplomacy had always been short—she deployed it out of necessity rather than joy—but never had Aloth seen her mask set so tight against her skin that he wasn’t sure it could be removed.  

Ah dinnae see any tyes, Iselmyr said as though brushing the remark from a shelf.  Looks ta be pens houldin’ that mask.

“That’s not what I meant,” Aloth sighed.

“Then I’m curious,” said a mild voice, and Aloth was grateful for the wall behind him, as it kept him from jumping away.  “What did you mean?  And whoever are you talking to?”

“I—” Aloth froze, fingers going rigid around his now-empty glass as he stared through glittering black wires into the blue eyes of the Watcher herself. Her bare shoulder nearly brushed the wall as she shifted her weight, arms crossing casually across her chest in a way Aloth knew was not casual at all.  Around the first finger of her right hand rested a familiar, imperfect silver ring, though he tried not to let his gaze linger.  She was smiling up at him, but only barely, and her posture was wound with suspicion.  Aloth shook his head and then averted his eyes respectfully.  “Milady,” he said, settling his voice as far back in his throat as it would go.  “I didn’t notice you approach.”

She tilted her head just slightly, and Aloth noticed a braid tucked behind one ear, no bigger than the width of a finger.  That was new. But he didn’t have time to wonder on it any further when she continued, “Really?  Because I have noticed you several times.  Watching me, specifically.  And I can’t help but wonder what kind of man comes to a party only to watch its host.”

“I see nothing gets past you, Roadwarden,” Aloth said, thankful for Iselmyr’s strength to keep his voice from wavering.  A part of him was also relieved to know she was still alert, still the same cautious, shadowy force of nature, never letting details escape her attention.  “Please, let me assure you I meant no harm.  I’ll be on my way.”

“You…”  Eyes suddenly wide and alert, she drew back quickly as though struck by a static charge, and Aloth nodded again before attempting to brush past her and leave.  He had seen enough; she was alive and well-protected and Caed Nua still stood as a beacon to all around it.  She had seen too much.  But he was stopped by a sudden tug on his arm.  She had snatched it just before he could leave her reach, and she quickly took a step forward to relieve the awkward angle.

But she didn’t let go.  Her fingers were warm, even in the spring air, but her grip wasn’t tight like she wanted to restrict or restrain him.  It was the same way she used to grip his arm when steadying him after a fight or jostling him as a joke.  Strong, but not threatening.  Aloth knew he should have pulled away the instant she made contact, but he just set his jaw and looked into her eyes instead.  They were clear in the sense that she no longer carried the horrors of soul visions and unfulfilled lives, but questions clouded her whole face.

“Are you…?” she began slowly.  

Iselmyr yelled vaguely from the back of his consciousness as Aloth felt something warm in his chest at the thought that she somehow still knew him—that she hadn’t forgotten, even with so many years between their last meeting and masks between them now.  But this encounter had still drawn out too long, gone further than he meant for it to, and as usual, he was closer to the situation than he wanted to be.  “I’m sorry,” he said coldly.  

She did not answer.  Her focus had shifted a thousand miles (or possibly years) away; it was the look that only came over her face when she was Watching someone.  He was sure that she couldn’t see his face now, not in the usual sense, but she could see him. And there was no mask in the world one could use to hide their very soul.

So he pulled away.  He gathered strength and wrenched his arm free, ducking into a crowd that was making their way towards the hedge maze.  He knew well the pathway that would lead him out, exiting safely north of the keep.

Covered by the excitement and jubilance of the other guests, Aloth found the escape simple and painless for once.  It was only once the festival was little more than a flicker in the distance that he allowed himself to recall that Tai Lon had whispered something as he turned his back, a question of only one word and so much surprise and hope that it hurt to hear.

“Aloth?”

He sighed like it could push the memory away and went to untie his mask. For the Watcher to have been so happy that he might have been there only confirmed what he suspected—the past three years had been lonely for them both. He wished they hadn’t been.  Tai Lon had become his best friend, and yet they had spent more time apart than together since they met.  

He wanted to see her again.  Properly. But, he thought ruefully as he walked away from Caed Nua, he wasn’t looking forward to being yelled at when he did. Tai Lon had little patience for dramatics.  Aye, ye’ll deserve it, ye dunderheid! Iselmyr said. But th’ lass’ll be mecht pleased ta see ye, no matter whit, an’ ye know it.

“I do,” Aloth agreed, tucking his mask away.  She had said as much the day he left.  If it had been anyone else, Aloth might have feared she said it only out of courtesy.  But he knew her, and he believed it.  She had always hated lies.

[nanawatzin]

Through the Leaden Keyhole

He smiled.

It wasn't something new or unfamiliar, but Semarg could count on his fingers how many times this wizard decided to smile. It wasn't often, and when it happened people around him were always in some kind of awe. Aloth was hard to read in that particular matter. Semarg tried to get to know him better for some time now, and even after defeating Thaos, he couldn't guess around what his thoughts were focused on. And it was a bit frustrating for him because at some point he found out that this elf was in some way attractive to him, so to speak.

He smiled and Semarg was already in a better mood. He looked into Aloth's eyes and stared into them for a few seconds.

"Are you looking for something out there, captain?" The elf was a bit confused but tried not to show it.

Nature godlike, captain of the Defiant smiled a bit and moved his gaze to other things around them.

"I think that I found what I was looking for." He answered, turning his face towards the wizard.

"Is that right?" Aloth replied, trying to hide the blush on his pale face.

They were looking at each other for a short time before one of the crewmates started to knock on Semarg's door.

"Captain?" He asked.

"Yes?"

"We need you on a deck." Short reply followed by salutation.

"Sure thing." Semarg turned his head towards Aloth once again and smiled a bit, trying to cheer him up. "I'll be back soon. I prepared something for you."

"I know, I know. I will try to catch up with Iselmyr..." And after the words left his mouth he figured out how dumb this sentence was. Catch up with someone who was sharing a body with him? Dumb Aloth, dumb.

A few seconds after that Semarg left the room and disappeared from Aloth's sight.

***

Time was passing and Semarg still was talking to his crewmates. He probably had to give them new orders or just tell them where to go next. It was always a bit frustrating for the elf. He never imagined how hard it must be for the Watcher from Caed Nua to become the captain of the ship, on the sea which was unknown for them both. Gods, it was even harder for him to keep up with everything that occurred after they arrived. Between his own crusade against the Leaden Key and the fact of trying to be a support for the Watcher, he never thought too much about the future. And now? Now he had plenty of time to spend on that.

Neketaka city was behind and Aloth felt like they have done everything in their power to help queen Onekaza marking this point. Now they were trying to reach a mysterious tribe which was somehow connected to the Leaden Key. Or at least Aloth thought so. Maybe even hoped. His crusade wasn't going well, despite all the success he already achieved. Those were the things he wanted to share with his friend but probably the time wasn't right. At least not now.

Waiting for Semarg didn't bring much effect, and the day was slowly coming to an end. Aloth knew that if he stayed a moment without something to distract him, he would probably fall asleep and all his friend would see after his return would be the unconscious body of the elf. Also, he kept thinking about this surprise Semarg mentioned earlier. What could it be?

But even that wasn't enough to keep him distracted.

Yawning was slowly bringing the inevitable, and at the same time, the moons climbed more and more into the sky. Aloth looked through the window of the captain's cabin and watched as the water moved gently, not being disturbed by any winds that could bring a storm. His eyes flickered from one sea creature to the other emerging above the surface of the water every now and then.

He smiled once again, probably only to his thoughts.

At one point he caught himself smiling once more, imagining his first meeting with Semarg. It was like they had fallen on each other in the Gilded Vale, he and the rogue who was unfamiliar to him. He couldn't be more happy at the time. It was like divine salvation from his troubles. Then the same mysterious Watcher rescued him from the trouble Iselmyr had brought on him by saying too many words about local people. And even though at this point he did not want to admit to the specificity of the problem he was struggling with through his life, he knew that in time he would trust the man who had stood up for the stranger. And he would tell him everything he wanted to know. It also worked. As their adventure proceeded, Aloth told Semarg almost everything about his personal life. He told him about his parents and the academy. He even told him about his awakening and how Iselmyr influenced his personal life.

His eyelids grew heavier and the strength of will holding him conscious lost its value with every passing minute. A few seconds later he was already asleep.

***

Talking to the crew was always tiring. Semarg knew that he has to do this even though it wasn't his fan favourite. He wasn't a fan of the socializing at all, but he knew that it was crucial to his cause. Of course, he would prefer to lay down and chill, but he also knew that there is so much to do. And also he was running out of time.

Everyone on the Deadfire Archipelago needed him to do something for them. Kill this, do that, go there and check this place. People were using him as a personal mercenary who would do anything to help his own cause. And they were not mistaken. At least not at all. He needed some alliances and people here, on Deadfire, were suitable for that role. Not all of them, but most. He just had to realize with whom join forces and chase after the long lost and forgotten island of Ukaizo.

Rubbing his forehead, he descended below the deck. He opened his quarters and sighed.

Aloth was already sleeping, cuddled to his pillow. He smiled. Mostly because not every day he was able to watch this elf sleeping. Especially in his own bed.

Trying to make the least noise possible, he tiptoed to the bed and sat at the edge of it. He looked and Aloth's face and sighed gently. Oh boy, he was so ready to just lay down and fall asleep next to him. Unfortunately, he had so much work to do. He was the captain, and he had to keep all the things tight. As tight as it was possible.

Using his left hand, he moved some hair from Aloth's face and kept looking at him. He looked so peaceful and innocent. His pale skin was reflecting moonlight from behind the window, and his slow breaths kept his body moving slightly. Semarg felt so fortunate and blissful. He never would assume that he and Aloth would end up like that. Not in the nearest future, not now.  He brushed his face with the back of his hand and smiled.

"Sleep tight, my prince." He whispered into his ear and placed a small kiss on his forehead. "Tomorrow awaits you."

After that, he placed a small leaden key with a letter on the locker next to the bed. It was addressed to Aloth, and he hoped that in the morning he would be able to read it.

He sat next to him for a few more minutes, and after that returned to his work as a captain of the Defiant.

New adventures awaited them in the future, and gods only knew what will those bring into their lives.

Okay, so I promised my friend @vicdin to write a fanfic about her Pillars of Eternity's OC and Aloth. I was supposed to write it during the Pride Month, but boy oh boy. I had so much on my head during that time, and I wasn’t able to finish it. Right now it’s done and I hope that she will like it. Also, as always, English is not my mother tongue so it’s not perfect, but I felt joy writing it.

[willwritesablog]

Pillars of Eternity - Definitive Edition: Impressions, Criticisms and Review

Published by Obsidian Entertainment. Original release date: March 26th, 2015. Definitive Edition release date: November 15th, 2015.

Price: $29.99 MSRP. Current Steam Sale: $7.49. Current Epic Games Sale: $9.99 (with coupon.)

This article has also been published on Blogger.com (Mirror Link)

12/23/20

Over the past week or so, as a part of the Epic Games Free Game of the Week promotion, I’ve picked up Pillars of Eternity - Definitive Edition for free and have been playing it on its Normal difficulty almost nonstop ever since. This being the second video game by Obsidian I have played (the first one being Outer Worlds--releasing four years after Pillars had its original release), I felt it appropriate to share some of my thoughts over the quality and experience of this game, comparisons I have made, and some other miscellaneous observations. It’s worth prefacing this with that I have not fully completed a run through this game and haven’t actually completed the game’s second act as of yet (more on this later)--however, I’ve put close to 70 hours into this, and while others have spent thousands of hours on this video game I feel I can write on this with some authority.

Starting with its strengths, Pillars of Eternity is engaging. There is a lot of content to delve into. Much of its characterization is convincing, and the voice acting that it does have is well-performed. Another YouTube channel that I watch, “Should You Play It,” estimated in their review that “25%-30% of the game is voiced,” which seems like an accurate assessment to me. Regarding its story writing, its overall plot and characters themselves are very reminiscent of a decent or good Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Some tropes can be expected, but overall the plot runs smoothly enough, and the characters themselves are generally rather fun to interact with, even in cases where they're not very original.

The game does suffer from a variety of flaws, many of which aren’t immediately apparent to the player and that bear mentioning. The talent pool that Obsidian recruited to do their voices is incredibly small. Half of my party, as it turns out, was voiced by Matthew Mercer--possibly the most distinguished voice actor of the bunch--with my main character (using the “sinister” voice effects), the story character Aloth, and the story character Eder all being voiced by him. Kana, a character that comes later on, is voiced by Patrick Seitz (famous for many different television, video game and anime roles) and also does a character at the beginning of the game (Sparfel), the voice for the commander of the Crucible Knights, and multiple other additional voices. To my own ears, Richard Epcar had to be the most frequently-appearing voice actor in the game, voicing the Caravan Master at the beginning, Raedric’s voice, the spirit of Od Nua (whom I haven’t encountered yet) and the forge master Dunstan in Defiance Bay, along with other additional voices.

Sadly, Pillars of Eternity’s Credits page as well as the Full Cast and Crew IMDB Page only provide incomplete insight on who voiced which character within this game, and while some message boards exist on the subject I’ve not found a comprehensive resource over this topic (maybe I’ll attempt a full list for myself later on.) It’s a massive rabbit hole to go down nonetheless. The Outer Worlds handles this limitation as well, although that game’s execution of this I’d be inclined to say was a little more successful. Only 1% of Outer Worlds's entire production team were actually voice actors, which strikes me as interesting; the NoClip documentary series discusses details about this as well as how the writers had to plan questlines ahead of time to prevent characters with the same voice actor from interacting with each other, when possible. No definable moments of this happening in Outer Worlds come to mind off memory, although there were a couple of occurrences in Pillars (e.g. Kana and the Crucible Knight commander) where it wasn't avoided.

One of Pillars of Eternity’s major problems is interestingly a feature of its design--its Kickstarter rewards implementation. When you visit the first town, you are effectively bombarded with a number of uniquely-named NPC’s--and when you approach them, you get the opportunity to “look into their soul” or walk away. As a new player I was pretty befuddled by this, thinking that these were details I needed to memorize for some upcoming puzzle, when in actuality it wasn’t anything more than crowdsourced product-placement. 

Some games can pull this off with success--LISA The Painful, for example, had a majority of its character names sponsored and selected by Kickstarter backers. As an RPG, this worked; you had a name on-screen detailing who it was that you were going to attack (on a black border above your characters), you kill them, and you move on. Other donor rewards involved creating a party member or a boss battle character, but these were done cautiously, and at least in my own experience, they didn’t hinder the game enough for me to discover that these were Kickstarter-donor characters on my own.

It’s the opposite case for Pillars. In many cases it’s special snowflake-ish. You’ll enter a bar and encounter 5 people named “commoner” and Archduke Franz “Quickfeet” Elfenhein, with a two-paragraph set of memories that mean frick-all to the actual experience. If you read all of these, you *might* encounter one or two funny ones, but what’s the point? You can expect that these were written before a finished product was released. It’s a dilapidated experience. Later in the game you’ll visit a house, with one of these pointless O.C.s effectively “standing guard” for no other purpose than to nick you town reputation points for trying to steal something.

Outer Worlds includes a stealing mechanic as well but it was implemented more fairly. Your character didn’t have to dump a bunch of points into a nearly-useless Stealth skill--instead, it was dictated by NPC line-of-sight. Stealing in Outer Worlds, for the most part, is actually *fun*, in Pillars, it was worth me avoiding entirely.

This may as well serve as a segway into the leveling system--on which I don’t have much to say about it, other than (maybe not relative to other ISO-RPGs, or in comparison to, say, Dungeon and Dragons) that it’s a headache. The story characters that the game gives you access to all have unoptimized and relatively-mediocre starting-stats, so to use all of them (exclusively, without hiring an unvoiced “mercenary” NPC) some creative planning is needed. You’ll also effectively want to min-max your own character’s build to help compensate for inevitable party weaknesses--the game (similar to Outer Worlds) offers a releveling system should you level up the wrong stats, but anything set at character creation is basically unchangeable--which is when the greatest number of character traits needs to be decided. Wizards are good, a priest or two is required (otherwise your party is without a healer), Chanters are bad--but you wouldn’t know this unless you looked it up ahead of time, or unless you’ve played the game before.

And this description leads me to my strongest point--Pillars of Eternity has a habit of setting up unclear rules, punishing players for breaking them, and calling that “replayability.” To be clear, if these “unclear rules” were drawn across moral lines then it wouldn’t be an issue. Fallout: New Vegas has a few main factions that the player could side with and give control of the main world to; all but maybe one of these choices could be argued as potentially being the “best outcome.” Pillars of Eternity (and Outer Worlds to a similar extent) is lacking in a lot of this--*and* game mechanic-wise, the game punishes you for doing normal, explorative stuff and so often sets up inconceivably unwinnable scenarios where you have to be so deliberate about your actions and game mechanic options to actually achieve a (clear-cut) best outcome. Outer Worlds is better with this.

A small example; in the beginning of Pillars, your character encounters some rioting townspeople accosting the owner of a grain mill. If you go inside, the mill owner notes that he is fair in his dealings, although he prioritizes the best of his grain stores to townspeople who need it the most (like pregnant women)--this quest being strikingly similar to one in Outer Worlds’s beginning. If you pass a resolve check of 14, the mill owner will allow for his grain stores to be seized by the rioters. Only if you pass a intelligence check of 12 does he actually lower the prices--and you can postpone solving this quest for an absurd amount of time, waiting until you have the right items and buffs to pass that speech check.

Another example; when exploring the docks at Defiance Bay, your character can notice a shining purple light. If he/she interacts with the light, your character will encounter the memories of a dead child. Should you trigger this innocuous interaction, you will have locked yourself out of being able to talk with townspeople on the disappearance of this boy, which includes the boy’s father, who has since become an alcoholic at the local bar. If you had spoken with the mother first, and then him, and passed a speech check, the man would go back home--otherwise, he’s stuck at the bar forever.

The worst example, *by far* of unfair, “gotcha!” game mechanics has to come from the quests within the game’s DLCs, The White March 1 and 2. Moderate spoilers ahead (warning to anyone concerned with those): you either have to outlaw the study of animancy, make certain dialog choices that lead to a companion becoming an evil crime boss, or lose out on a speech check at the end of DLC 2 when trying to teach mercy and compassion to a “god,” instead getting railroaded into one of two lesser outcomes, *OR* deliberately not finish the game’s second act, do all of the DLC stuff, and then come back if you want all three good endings.

Surely, however, it’s for “replayability.”

It’s punishing in the stupidest ways. Outer Worlds had a few negatives similar to this; you have two major factions that you can ally with, one being cartoonishly evil, and one quest exists where if you neglect to open up some unsuspecting dialog on a computer terminal (and instead delete it straight away) you permanently lock yourself out of a speech check and are then forced to genocide one (or both) of the other factions (or ignore it and get an even worse outcome.) Outer Worlds is metagameable in the sense that you can discover which decisions affect the ending slides ahead of time, and it encourages you to take advantage of its game mechanics a couple of times (particularly with how you can cheese an ending for a certain quest and with how you can cheese stealing a certain poster on Monarch that, by all accounts, an NPC should see you stealing) but certainly nothing to Pillars of Eternity’s scale--and it isn’t as demanding on the player’s time investment, either.

Another criticism--the amount of text present in both games fringes on ridiculous. To quote Philip J. Reed’s review on The Outer Worlds, “ Obsidian’s [writing] tends to be long, meandering, and packed with characters who will never use six words where a twelve-page monologue would suffice.” Pillars of Eternity is no exception to this claim; your character will frequently encounter lore books that most players will pick up and forget where they received them from (their placement usually being an inconvenience to immersion) and I as a player quickly had to learn to tune some things out--especially considering that I was already “metagaming”/looking up other quest analyses beforehand and had more-direct information about the characters on-hand.

A quirk in the dialog that’s consistent in both games is its style of integrating companions into your interactions; both games follow a formula of having an NPC talk to your character, followed up by a companion making some side remark that is hardly ever acknowledged by the NPC--as if your companion is whispering it to you (although the voice acting negates this), or as if it’s a theatrical aside, the companion characters doing a fourth-wall break to react to the events with you--and only you.

One aspect that Pillars of Eternity is stronger than Outer Worlds in, I would say, is in its combat scenarios. Early on in Pillars, the player is encouraged to storm a local leader (Lord Raedric)’s fort. The player has three options on doing this; climb up the side of the tower (using the grapling hook and some small skill checks) and fight through a small number of guards, go in through the main gates and fight most of the guards head-on, or sneak in through the sewer grates and fight monsters after using a strength check. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, as this is early on enough that the loot you would acquire from fighting actually matters and each route can be fun in its own right. 

Compare this with The Outer Worlds, where you have a similar fortress assault involving a sewer, a temporary disguise, or direct assault option, where the sewer entrance leads you straight to your objective, the combatants are innocent, non-soldier people (or robots), the disguise you would have falls off after every ten steps you take, and it’s late-game enough that attacking enemies won’t give you any worthwhile loot. Or compare it to the quest “The City and the Stars,” in which you can either stealth through a whole building, or kill the building’s guards and lose town reputation points... or pass a simple skill check where your character can acquire a permanent disguise and not set off any of the enemies whatsoever, allowing you free travel to loot and make it to your objective. Or again, compare it with the quest “Passage to Anywhere” where you as a player are either tricked into spending all of your money on opening up a shortcut, fighting and beating two overpowered enemies (which I did), or blitzing through an alternative route, outrunning all of the enemy characters and potentially bypassing a third of the game in the process (the easiest, by far, to do.)

Maybe these deficiencies are easier to see in hindsight, after a finished product exists, but these are negative aspects of game design.

The combat mechanics themselves are pretty fun. Sometimes the pathfinding glitches out (or A.I. will inhibit your characters from automatically attacking a new enemy), and the lack of a single button to change your entire party’s weapons is a small inconvenience, but for the most part it works well. The design choice of having this be a game where you repeatedly “pause” the game to issue new combat instructions (rather than feature a turn-based system) can be fatiguing over long play sessions, and Pillars being that style of game might be a dealbreaker to some players, but I generally enjoyed that feature.

A final point on the writing--Obsidian is a little “woke.” There’s really no getting around this one. I’d like to revisit the idea of certain (reasonable) dialog choices not being included in Obsidian’s games, either out of laziness (e.g., in Pillars of Eternity, my character, a priest of Berath, encountered a small chapel to Berath... and all of the dialog choices amounted to “Who is Berath,” “I’ve never heard that title of Berath’s be used before,” even though other dialog checks take your background into account) or from lack of playtesting and feedback (e.g. in Outer Worlds, not having the option to transport a certain character to a different planet on this early quest’s third outcome) but certain decisions and design choices by the studio don’t have that excuse.

In Pillars, for example, the only way to get a good outcome on one quest and thus significantly raise your reputation in the town, is to lower the price of black market birth control. No moral qualms are raised and no ways for your character to roleplay against this are made available. Prostitutes also exist in Pillars of Eternity (although that feature remains partially broken), and the only way to get a (stackable, temporary) +2 enhancement on your resolve is for your player to solicit a male prostitute in the game. Outer Worlds also features a major quest, where you’re expected to assist one of your companions in getting into a lesbian relationship; again, no way to repel or address any disagreements or differences through your player character’s roleplaying are present. The mentality is like the equivalent of the show Arthur’s episode on gay marriage; “if we don’t address or allow representation for our opposition, it doesn’t exist.” It’s ironically closed-minded and annoying when the game that frames the weight of your moral decisions is so detectably and consistently biased.

Minor spoiler alert, but both games also feature a priest support-character that (at some point in the game) hates their god, and the character leading the not-evil main faction in Outer Worlds was directly inspired by Rick from Rick & Morty--if that speaks anything as to the mentality of this studio. Other choices, such as (in Pillars) winning reputation points by buying and freeing slaves as opposed to killing the slaver and freeing slaves, and winning reputation points for forgiving someone of manslaughter and allowing the person to keep his secret, also speak a little on Obsidian’s morality and inhibit player freedom in additional annoying ways.

ALL that complaining aside... there is a lot to enjoy. It’s a big world to tap into, and it does have a sequel where you can import data from this game into that and have some of your major decisions be reflected in that game as well. It also features a stronghold (a Kickstarter stretch goal) that the player can manage--some meta knowledge of the game’s upcoming events and mechanics helps a lot in this, but it’s certainly a unique addition to this type of RPG and is genuinely a fun thing to work with. The combat mechanics are fun, although in many situations, it felt far easier to cheese the opponents’ pathing A.I. by luring a single enemy away, murdering him, and saving the game (note: both Pillars and Outer Worlds will likely leave you with a mess of save files after one playthrough), rinsing and repeating, and it would have been a welcomed feature had there been a button to change all party members’ weapons at once (which is helpful in that strategy, where you shoot a character, run away, and then beat on him/her/it as a group with swords) but the combat was still overall fun (albeit perhaps tiring and a monotonous after long hours of play.) The player economy is relatively punishing, with found items typically holding around an eighth of their sale value when you resell them, but this too is manageable (especially if you exploit a money glitch like the one from the first town.)

Obsidian can make a good game. It’s just disheartening to see that many of its flaws are systematic.

Ratings: 

Pillars of Eternity - Definitive Edition: 7/10

The Outer Worlds: 8/10

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[haledamage]

Cafe Nua

(AO3)

for @pillarspromptsweekly 0007, a bit of modern au PoE

"Hey, Kana?" Aloth kept his voice down even though they were the only ones left in the library.

"Yes, my friend?" Kana made no attempt to be quiet. He didn't look up from his notes.

Aloth closed the book in front of him, not bothering to pretend he was still studying. "You're usually pretty good with people, right? With talking to them, I mean."

"I suppose. I enjoy being around people, at least. I find that helps." He closed his book, too, and finally looked up at Aloth. "Is something bothering you?"

Aloth tugged at his sleeve. "No, nothing. I… there's a new person at my support group, and she seems nice, but I have no idea how to start a conversation with a stranger."

"She seems nice, or nice?" Kana asked, grinning widely.

Aloth blushed and kept his eyes on his textbook, picking at a frayed corner of the binding. "A little of both, maybe."

Kana laughed. "You could start by saying 'hi' and see where that gets you. Or maybe Iselmyr has some advice?"

Aloth scowled. "I'd rather not repeat what Iselmyr suggested."

"Oh come now, she can't be wrong all the time!"

"You'd be surprised."

Whatever else Kana had intended to say was cut off as his phone beeped merrily. "Ah, that's my cue. I promised Maia I'd be home for dinner tonight. She's trying some new recipe and wants me to taste test. You're welcome to come too." Kana packed his things away haphazardly in his bag.

Aloth put his books away more slowly, stacking everything meticulously. "Tempting, but I'll pass. Your family can be… very intimidating."

"Yes, I suppose they can." Kana waited patiently for Aloth to finish packing up. "I told my boss I'd come in to the cafe early tomorrow to help with prep. Why don't you stop by after your classes? You can meet my boss, practice talking to a girl in a controlled environment." Aloth scowled more and Kana laughed again. "There's free coffee in it for you, too!"

"Maybe you should have led with that," Aloth muttered, then added "I'll try, if my schedule permits. What did you say the place is called?"

"Cafe Nua. It's on the east side of town, I'll text you the address." Kana picked up his bag and fell into step with Aloth as they left the building.

-------

The bell over the front door rang and Kai knew who it was without stepping into the front room to check. "Good morning, Kana!"

"Good morning!" His voice carried easily into the kitchen and its owner followed shortly after it. "What're you making? It smells delicious!"

"I thought it'd be fun to use some of that Rauatan dark chocolate to make brownies, since the cookies have been so popular. And this," she said as she leaned all her weight on the ball of dough in front of her on the table," is going to be cinnamon rolls whether it likes it or not."

"You need me to remind it who's boss?" He held his fists up in an attempt to threaten the poor dough ball. 'Threatening' was the last word Kai would use to describe Kana, even though he towered over her.

She laughed. "No need, my dear. If it keeps giving me trouble I'm sure Concelhaut's Crushing Doom will convince it to cooperate. Can you please bring in the flour and coffee beans that were delivered this morning? The bags are almost as big as I am."

Kana went out the back door and came back with two huge bags of coffee slung over one shoulder. "You don't know any spells that make you super strong? And you call yourself a wizard!"

"Not all of us can just sing a song and conjure an extra pair of hands out of thin air."

Kana ended up doing just that and summoning a drake. He loaded the delivered ingredients on its back and took them to the pantry in one quick trip. He thanked it for its help and it snorted and disappeared.

"So I finally went to that Awakening support group you suggested," Kai said after she finally got the cinnamon rolls in the oven.

"Good!" Kana looked up from slicing strawberries and grinned at her. "How was it?"

"Awkward. I never know what to say in a situation like that. Maybe I should have brought you or Edér with me." She considered briefly her roommate and his habit of diffusing awkward situations with bad humor and shook her head. "Hmm, maybe not Edér. Everyone was really nice, though."

"I'm glad! I know you haven't been in the Dyrwood long. I hope this'll help you meet more people." Kana picked up the strawberries and folded them into a nearby bowl of whipped cream.

A timer beeped and Kai turned it off, then pulled a shortcake out of one of the ovens. She turned it out onto a plate, set it in the freezer to cool, then returned to Kana and said "I have you and Edér. I don't have time for new friends."

"There's always time for new friends."

-------

After the breakfast rush, it got pretty quiet at Cafe Nua until what Kai called the post-lunch dessert rush. The quiet period was also when her regulars were most likely to come in.

On some days, Pallegina would come in for a latte with extra sugar and ask Kai to listen while she ranted angrily about her bosses or her clients or whatever other things bothered her that day. Other days, Grieving Mother would arrive right before the next rush to have a pot of tea and sit at a corner table to kith watch. Once a week, Hiravias came in with a vase of flowers to brighten the place up and a sample of whatever herb was thriving in his hot house that week. He'd sit around and chat while Kai tried new recipes with the herbs he brought and then take the leftovers home with him.

Sometimes, Sagani and Itumaak would claim a table and spread out the papers of whatever case she's working on, hoping a new location would give her new perspective. Occasionally, Kai would offer to help, but Sagani very rarely wanted a Watcher's assistance, not since Kai helped her find Persoc--"you keep butting your nose into police business, we'll have to start paying you," she would say, but never cruelly-- so Kai just made sure her coffee stayed full and snuck treats to Itumaak.

None of them came in today, though, and except for a couple students from the local college taking advantage of Cafe Nua's "Bring a Cup I'll Fill It Up" special, it was pretty empty. Kai told Kana to go on break so he could study for whatever assignment or project he was working on. She wasn't one hundred percent sure how homework worked in literature degrees, so she assumed he had to read something.

Then she turned the music up and got to work cleaning.

She was standing on a chair with a feather duster, attempting to clean off the top of the curtains, when she heard the door chime. "Be right with you, darling!" she called over her shoulder. Her new customer didn't answer, but after a moment she felt the presence of someone standing next to her. She kept talking, leaning up on tip-toes to reach the top sill of the window. "You'd think with all the years I spent in school, I'd have some practical knowledge to show for it. I don't suppose you know any spells that remove cobwebs, do you, dear?"

"I know a few spells to add webs," said the man next to Kai, and she startled and almost lost her balance with the realization that she knew his voice, "but none to remove them, I'm afraid."

Kai climbed down off her chair and turned to her guest. She'd met him a few nights prior at the Awakening support meeting; he had been very quiet, with occasional snide aside remarks that she's fairly certain she wasn't supposed to hear. He was very handsome and meticulously groomed and Kai was acutely aware of the dust in her hair and the flour on her apron.

Still, intimidated as she was it was no reason to be rude, so she smiled and said, "Hi! It's good to see you again. Aloth, right?" He nodded and she smiled wider. "I'm Kai. But you… already know that." She offered a hand to shake, then hesitated, realizing how dirty her hands must be; before she could pull away, he reached out and shook her hand firmly. She blushed and resisted the urge to fix her hair. "Welcome to Cafe Nua."

"Is this your bakery?" Aloth looked around at the mismatched wooden tables and the colorful lanterns and art on the walls. "It's charming." His eyes widened and he turned back to her. "I don't mean that in the Aedyran veiled-insult way. I mean it as a compliment. Truly."

Kai laughed. "Thank you. The previous owner left her a mess, I've spent a lot of time getting her up to 'charming.' Would you… would you like some coffee? Or tea?"

"I… yes. Coffee would be lovely."

Kai led the way back to the counter, but once she got there she stopped and studied Aloth for a moment. He really was a lovely specimen, long silky hair and pale eyes and high cheekbones and a rare but potent smile. Aedyre, which meant he probably liked sweets, and she remembered hearing he was a student, so he'd want something strong. Hmm…

He fidgeted under her stare, face reddening. "Is there something the matter?"

Kai shook herself. "No. No, I'm sorry. I like to study people and see if I can guess what they want. I always tell them it's a Watcher thing, but it's really just a Me thing."

He smirked, plucking at a button on the sleeve of his jacket, and said "And what do I want?"

Oh no. Kai bit back several things she could have said to that and instead turned to her beloved espresso machine. After thinking about it a moment longer, she decided on a latte with half the milk, an extra shot of espresso, and a dash of vanilla syrup. She then grabbed one of the darkest Rauatai brownies and presented it and the coffee to her new friend.

She tried not to fidget as she watched Aloth try the drink. He had a frustratingly good poker face, and the longer he was quiet the more obvious it was that he was toying with her. Kai wanted so badly to ask what he thought, but she bit her lip against the urge. She watched him and he watched her as he finished the brownie and half his coffee in silence before finally smiling and saying "You have a gift, Kai."

Kai grinned, ridiculously proud of herself. "Thank you. I… if anyone had told me when I was in university that I'd end up running a coffee shop, I'd have laughed them out of Aedyr, but now that I'm here…"

Aloth chuckled. "I know what you mean. Circumstances can find you in the strangest of places." He took another long drink of his latte. Kai could see on his face that he had a lot of questions, but the one he finally asked wasn't what she expected. "What did you study? You mentioned college."

Kai couldn't fully curb the excitement in her voice as she said "History and linguistics, with special interest in dead languages. Well, and the wizardry. I'd been planning to get a degree in anthropology as well, but I Awakened in my second year and things got… complicated." That felt like a gross understatement, but she knew he'd understand. "What about you?"

"What makes you think I went to college?" Aloth asked, but he was smiling.

"There's a peculiar kind of sleeplessness that can only be found in Watchers and postgraduate students, and I know you're not a Watcher."

He laughed aloud then, dropping his guard for a moment, and Kai found herself blushing again for some reason. His eyes were still lit with humor when he finally answered, "History as well, and I'm postgrad in literature. And 'the wizardry'."

"Literature? Do you know Kana Rua?" Kai had a feeling she already knew the answer.

Aloth nodded. "He's the one who told me about this place."

"He's the one who told me about the support group," Kai said. She pointed vaguely over her shoulder and added, "He's in the back right now studying. I actually need to pop back there for a moment, so I'll send him out."

Kai stepped into the back room and as soon as Aloth was out of sight she stomped to the office where Kana sat with his books and hissed, "Why didn't you tell me you had a friend coming to visit?"

"Oh, is Aloth here?" Kana said, in the smuggest voice possible.

"Yes, Aloth is here, and I didn't know he was here to see you, so I've been flirting with him like an idiot." She was horribly embarrassed. She should have been more suspicious. Handsome, charming, intelligent, and she wouldn't have to worry about her condition scaring him off? She should have figured he wasn't there to see her. Even if it did seem like he was flirting back.

Kai was so far into her pity spiral it took her a second to get back on subject when Kana said, "Good. I've been trying to get the two of you to meet for months now. You have a lot in common, Kai."

"I--what--" Kai took a deep breath and restarted. "I am not one of your sisters, Kana. I don't need you playing matchmaker."

"Clearly you do, or I wouldn't be."

She wagged an ineffectual finger at him and he laughed. "I ought to tell Maia. I ought to tell Lena."

"You wouldn't." He put his hand over his heart, feigning horror.

Kai couldn't stop from smiling. She shoved him toward the front room. "Go talk to your friend. I'm going to get the next tray of cream puffs out of the walk-in before the next rush."

-------

After taking a few minutes in the cold of the walk-in freezer to calm her nerves and another minute to shake the cobwebs from her hair, Kai stepped back out front with a tray of assorted snacks to restock. Kana and Aloth sat at one of the tables chatting, fresh cups of coffee in front of them.

"She makes almost everything herself," Kana was saying, "even the flavored syrups for the coffees! How is it you phrased it, Kai?"

Well, at least he was making her look good. Out loud, she said, "I do everything except the farming. Only the best for my girl." She pat the counter affectionately and started restocking the display case.

"Why is Cafe Nua a 'she'?" asked Aloth. He seemed to be relaxing a little now. His fine navy wool jacket was off, draped neatly across the back of his chair, and his crisp black button-up was well-tailored, sleeves rolled up his forearms and long-fingered hands wrapped around his coffee mug. It was a very good look.

Kai almost forgot to answer his question. "That would be because of Steward."

Kai touched the shoulder of a carved stone statue that stood next to the espresso machine. The statue was of a woman about Kai's height but of much fuller figure, draped in a flowing dress. Her head was adorned with an antlered circlet, and her hands were poised as if she were dancing. She had a crown of autumn flowers on her head, courtesy of Kai. "Steward is the soul of Cafe Nua. She built this place and had her consciousness transferred to the statue a long time ago. She keeps quiet mostly so she doesn't scare people away."

"Makes it easier to eavesdrop as well," Steward said slyly. Even with the warning, Aloth jumped a little when the statue started talking.

A group of orlans in business suits came through the door in a flurry of sound and motion and Kai put on her best smile. They talked over each other to place their orders and left with four mochas, the last of the brownies, and half of the cream puffs Kai had just put out.

As they left, Kana and Aloth approached the counter. Kana took Aloth's empty mug and went to the back room to clock back in before the crowds arrived. Aloth smiled at Kai and said, "I'll go and let you work. What do I owe you for the coffee?"

Kai waved a hand. "It's on the house, darling." She hadn't expected him to look so uncomfortable with that idea. Before she could think better of it, she added "Buy me a drink sometime and we'll call it even."

Aloth blushed all the way to the tips of his ears, pausing in the act of putting his jacket on to stare at Kai in… horror? Intrigue? She couldn't tell. He schooled his expression again to a sort of bland interest that she was starting to recognize as his preferred default expression, and he said "How about dinner instead? Folcsdag night?"

Of all the things Kai expected him to say, that wasn't one of them. She suddenly felt shy, a sensation she hadn't experienced much before today, but finally said, "Yes. That sounds lovely. We close at 18:00."

"Then I'll pick you up here, 18:30?"

Kai nodded, and they both fell quiet. Aloth tugged at a button on his sleeve again, Kai toyed with the cord of the necklace she wore, and they stared at each other. It was terribly awkward, but not in an altogether unpleasant way.

Aloth moved abruptly as if shaking himself from sleep and his face reddened again. "Yes. Right. I should get going then. I'll see you on Folcsdag. Have a good day. Bye, Kana."

"Bye!" Kana said from right behind Kai, who just barely managed to not jump. Aloth waved and left.

As soon as he was out of sight, Kai leaned over and pressed her face into the cool wood of the counter. "Usher take me, what was I thinking? If this goes poorly, it's your fault," she said and pointed in Kana's vague direction.

Kana laughed and pat her on the shoulder. "You're such a pessimist, my friend! What if it goes great?"

What if it goes great? First time for everything, Kai thought. Then the crowds showed up and she didn't have time to think for a while.

-------

"If this goes poorly, it's your fault," Aloth told Kana the next day before class.

Kana laughed, heedless of the other students who looked their way. "I think you'll be fine. Just be yourself."

Easy for Kana to say. Aloth had spent more than half his life trying to be someone other than himself.

She looks lik a lass that likes bonny hings, Iselmyr's voice slithered through his mind, mibbie git her some flowers.

Isn't that a little… cliche? Aloth replied, biting his lip to make sure he didn't voice it aloud.

It was a peculiar sensation to have the voice in his head roll her eyes, but one Aloth was all too familiar with. She's a nerd, ye'r a nerd, ye'll fin' a wey tae mak' it nerdy.

He thought about it all through class, barely even aware of the professor's lecture. When it was over Aloth decided that maybe, just this once, Iselmyr had a good idea, and he made his way to Autumn Druid Floral.

The interior reminded Aloth of the jungles of the Cythwood. Every manner and color of flower covered the walls and most of the floor. Some of it was cut in vases, but some grew in pots and others still seemed to be planted right in the floor, and flowering vines climbed up a central pillar.

Someone's peepin' us, Iselmyr warned, and once she pointed it out, he noticed the prickly feeling of eyes on the back of his head.

Or eye, it turned out, as Aloth turned around and came face to face with the shop's owner, a short orlan with a shock of orange hair who seemed to be missing most of the right side of his face. "Hello," he said, after it was obvious the orlan expected him to talk first, "I would like to buy some flowers."

The orlan barked a laugh. "I hope so. Otherwise you're in the wrong place." He scratched at the stump of his missing ear and studied Aloth the same way one might study an intriguing insect. "First date?"

"I beg your pardon?" Aloth wasn't sure why he was so intimidated by a man almost half his height, but there was an intensity to him that he hadn't expected from a florist.

"The reason you're buying flowers. First date?" He spoke slowly, as if he wasn't sure Aloth was fluent in Aedyran.

"Oh. Yes."

He walked off then, headed into the carefully cultivated wilderness. "I'm Hiravias, by the by."

"Aloth," said Aloth, following uncomfortably behind Hiravias.

Hiravias nodded as if Aloth had just told him the secrets of the universe. "Bookish girl, right? Red hair, freckles? Maybe owns a coffee shop?"

"Either you know her or you're in the wrong line of work," Aloth said drolly.

Hiravias laughed sharply. Aloth had never met anyone who could make a laugh sound both friendly and angry before. "Cafe Nua's one of my regular stops. Kiki's good people. And Kana Rua loves to gossip. I figured it was only a matter of time before you ended up in my neck of the woods. Here." He lifted a vase filled with a riot of colorful flowers.

"Why this one?" Aloth stared at the arrangement, but couldn't recognize any of the flowers involved.

Hiravias pointed at each flower in turn as he said, "Amethyst for admiration, coreopsis arkansa for love at first sight, pink rose for friendship, primrose for young love, jasmine just because she likes them."

"I wasn't aware flowers could be quite so… nuanced," Aloth said. It's not the word he was looking for, but it would serve well enough.

Hiravias's eye lit up. "Glanfathans have a whole language built around them. Used to use 'em to send coded messages, but now it's mostly just for fun. You got a minute? Bet I could teach you a thing or two."

The sun had set by the time Aloth left with a completely different bouquet in tow.

-------

Kai had run out of ways to keep busy and it was still only 18:20. The cafe was more spotless than it had ever been, the books were balanced, prep work for tomorrow was finished. She was wearing something weather appropriate that would fit in anywhere except black tie and her hair was… not neat, that would be too much to ask, but it was manageable and didn't have any flour or cobwebs in it.

She had chased Kana out ten minutes ago, making it very clear what she thought of his offer to chaperone. Now she was trying to ignore the buzzing of her phone as Edér sent her pictures of every animal currently living with them with captions like "Cosmo hopes you have fun <3" and "Lady says we won't wait up for you ;)". She'd go through them when she was less nervous and find it endearing, but at the moment it just made her more anxious.

When Aloth finally walked in at 18:30 on the dot, Kai hoped her relief didn't show on her face. She leaned against the counter, trying to look like she hadn't been counting the seconds until he arrived. She waved and said, "Hi. Um, good evening." Smooth, Kiki. Real smooth.

"Good evening. These are for you," he said and held a beautiful bouquet of flowers out to her. She recognized a couple, but the rest were unfamiliar breeds, purple and yellow and pink and white together in a cheerful mix.

She took it and turned to find a vase as an excuse to hide the reddening of her cheeks. "Thank you. They're lovely." She noticed the staelgar paw print on the ribbon binding the arrangement together. "Did Hiravias give you his 'language of flowers' lecture?"

Aloth chuckled and some of the tension drained from his shoulders. "Yes, he mentioned you were acquainted."

"That would explain the jasmine then," Kai said as she found a vase and filled it with water and a spoonful of sugar. "What do the rest of them mean?"

"You're a linguist, aren't you?" Aloth asked slyly. "You tell me."

Kai snapped her mouth shut audibly on whatever reply she had. What an intriguing man. Just when Kai thought she had him figured out, he threw her off-balance again. Two could play at that game. "Are you sending me secret messages, darling?" She said with a grin. "How forward of you."

"Too forward?"

"No," Kai said, then quickly changed the subject. "Shall we go then?"

They stopped to grab a bite to eat from a food truck that claimed to serve authentic Aedyran cuisine. It was good, but they agreed there was something distinctly Dyrwoodan in its seasoning. Aloth then took Kai on a walk through the park and along the canals of Copperlane. It was mid-autumn and pleasantly cool outside, warm enough still that Kai's sweater was enough to keep out the chill, but cold enough that if she walked a little closer to Aloth than necessary she could blame it on the weather.

They talked about nothing in particular, about his classes and job at the library, about the cafe and her roommate, about Kana and Iselmyr and being a Watcher. They had very different taste in music, but similar taste in books, and had both come to the Dyrwood in recent months through surprisingly parallel paths.

It was a new sensation for Kai to be on a date without feeling pressured or like she was being interrogated, and she felt acutely aware of herself and the space she filled in the world and how that space related to his. Every time they walked too close and their fingers or shoulders brushed it made her skin tingle.

It was late when they arrived at her townhouse on the east side of Heritage Hill, later than either of them should have stayed out. They stood at her doorstep a couple feet apart, charged silence stretching between them, until Kai blurted out "Would you like to come up for coffee?"

As soon as the words were out, Kai's brain caught up and reminded her all the implications behind such a simple phrase. She also realized she wasn't averse if Aloth chose to take it that way. That was new, too.

Aloth just smiled, though, and said, "Not tonight. I'm already likely to need a nap at work tomorrow, coffee certainly wouldn't help matters. Maybe next time." The emphasis on 'coffee' made her think maybe he wasn't averse either. Interesting.

"Hmm, you're probably right, I should be at the bakery in--" Kai checked her phone and cringed. Sixteen messages from Edér, two from Kana, and a clock cheerfully displaying a much smaller number than she had expected, "--four hours."

"I suppose we lost track of time a little," Aloth said, fidgeting with that button on his jacket again. Kai wondered briefly how often he had to reattach the poor thing before he added, "I'd like to see you again."

"We have open mic night on Godandag," she answered almost immediately. "It's mostly just an excuse for Kana to bring his guitar to work, but it's a lot of fun." Was two days too soon? Kai had never had a second date before.

"Then I'll see you then."

They exchanged phone numbers and, after another moment of hesitation, Kai pressed a quick peck to his cheek and went inside the house before he could see how red her face was.

In the living room, Kai found Kana and Edér asleep on the couch covered in an assortment of animals. Kai snapped a quick picture and texted it to Aloth with the caption "Eora's Okayest Chaperones" then headed to bed to get a couple hours sleep while she could.

-------

Kai had never considered her Watcher-induced sleeplessness a blessing before, but at least she already knew how to function on only two hours sleep. She was up, bathed, dressed, and out the door before the sun was fully in the sky.

Since she would be working alone that day, she set out the bed for her service dog, a big black hound named Lady, who laid down with a huff and dozed a little while Kai filled the ovens with today's pastries.

The first thing she noticed when she walked into the front room was the vase of flowers from the night before. She smiled, thinking back on last night. The giddy, fluttery feeling still hadn't faded; Kai wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.

After she finished stocking the display case, she took a few close-up shots of the different flowers and decided to see what she could find about them online. The search took most of the day, hunting in between customers, but she finally had a list she was fairly certain of scrawled messily on a spare piece of paper:

Jasmine - you are cheerful and graceful Lavender rose - enchantment Clematis - mental beauty Meadow lychnis - wit Mimosa – bashful

Kai wasn't completely sure on the last one, but couldn't find any others that matched. Before she could talk herself out of it, she snapped a picture of the list and sent it to Aloth, then followed with "this is the most complicated way i've had anyone compliment my wit and intelligence and tbh i've never been more flattered".

He replied back almost immediately with "Well, it's early yet. I'm sure I'll find other ways to flatter you in the future."

Kai couldn't keep the smile off her face the rest of the day.

-------

When the next evening rolled around, Aloth arrived with Kana right before the crowds, carrying one of Kana's guitars in one hand and a potted flower in the other. Kai grinned as he handed it to her and she said, "So is this a tradition now?"

"Probably not," he chuckled, "I feel that would give Hiravias entirely too much knowledge about our affairs."

Aloth helped Kana and Edér set up the little corner stage while Kai rapidly filled coffee and snack orders for the people that came to see Kana sing. The turnout was a little bigger every month; before long he'd be too popular for her little cafe. She encouraged him to record videos and put them online, but he was a purist. He said music was best when enjoyed live. Kai considered, not for the first time, recording it for him.

During a brief break in the crowd, Kai took a moment to study the new flower and was happy to see that she recognized it. She got as far as typing it into the search engine before getting busy again.

Once the music started, Kai put up her 'Back in a minute!' sign on the counter by the register and stepped away to watch her friend sing. She checked her phone first, curiosity still gnawing at her, and froze as the search results stared back at her: "purple pansy - you occupy my thoughts."

Oh, by Wael's hundred visions, but that made her heart do a funny flip in her chest. Maybe it was the way it was phrased, but the simple fact that Aloth had been thinking about her enough that he felt the need to buy her flowers declaring such made Kai feel like the room was too warm.

"Something on your mind?" said a voice far too close to her ear. Kai yelped and turned to see Aloth looming over her, barely contained laughter dancing in his eyes.

She met those mirthful eyes like a challenge and told him the truth. "You," she said. His face turned bright red, and she added, "You're setting a really high precedent for future dates, darling. No one can possibly be this charming all the time."

Aloth smiled in a way that made Kai feel warm all the way down to her toes and said, "I suppose you'll have to stay and find out."

"I suppose I will," Kai said, and then to stop herself from saying anything else, she grabbed Aloth's hand and pulled him toward the crowd.

[chilled-soul-speaker]

Paper Stars: Chapter 1

Find this on AO3 Here!

Aloth’s job was supposed to be easy: find the Watcher of the Wastes, figure out her weaknesses, then report back to the Leaden Key. Instead, he finds himself caught up in the Watcher’s mission to find the cause of the Hollowborn in the Dyrwood and uncover a plot hidden for thousands of years.

The clock is ticking for both of them though, and if Aloth can’t find a way break both of their curses in time, all of Eora will suffer the consequences.

However, they say that the best blaze brightest when circumstances are at their worst.

(Howl’s Moving Castle AU)

Rating: T Pairings: Eventual Watcher/Aloth Warnings: To be added as needed

Chapter 1: In Which Aloth Is Offered A Deal

“Blasted…insufferable…swamp!!” Aloth fumed as his leg sunk almost knee deep in the sludge once again.

It took a few long moments before he was able to wedge his boot out of the mud with a slunk! He didn’t stick around long enough to watch the hole fill back up, instead preferring to find more solid ground only a few feet away. He found refuge under a twisted tree from the pounding rain that had started an hour before and made this trek absolutely miserable. Honestly, the locals in the town of Gilded Vale nearby made the Wastes past Esternwood sound like a lovely forest trek. This dark and gloomy Helscape was the complete opposite and he was sure that he had only traveled a few miles in the five or so hours he had been out here.

The elf was now regretting his decision to leave Gilded Vale today. He should have stayed in that dingy in with watered wine and uncomfortable beds. Compared to what he was expecting to sleep in tonight, The Black Hound was practically paradise.

He sighed. Even so, he couldn’t turn back now. An Acolyte had given Aloth a mission: to find and investigate the Watcher of the Wastes. Figure out their source of power and any weaknesses she may have, then report back for further instructions.

Easier said than done. While he was glad that he was trusted now with more high-profile work, the trouble it had caused him these past few weeks gave him headaches. Aloth’s irritability transferred to Iselmyr and she became petulant, starting fights with anyone who gave Aloth any trouble, adding to Aloth’s stress levels.

Then he heard wind of a strange keep moving down from the mountains to the north of Gilded Vale a few years back. A strange alchemist visited the town and after, the women of Gilded Vale began giving birth to Hollowborn children. The Acolyte had told him that the Hollowborn epidemic had spread through the Dyrwood from that point, and that this Watcher had to have used a yet unseen form of Animancy to achieve this, breaking the cycle of souls in this country. The thought of those poor children, unblinking and barely alive, sickened him. They should be experiencing the life they had been born into, be able to experience joy, sorrow, and anger…

What kind of kith stole souls? And for what nefarious reason?

So here he was. Out here in the wilderness, splattered in mud and grass, and soaked to the bone. The locals had said that the castle had moved out directly east, into the fog that drifted from the mountains.

Aloth leaned out from his shelter to see if the rain had cleared up any of the fog. But it was useless, he could still only see a couple hundred feet ahead of him before the landscape dissipated in the mist.

“I might as well stop for the night,” he sighed out loud, “At least here I have some shelter from the rain.”

Chin-chirring! Chirr-SNAPSNAP SNAAAAAAAP!

The sudden cacophony of sound him made him spin back towards the tree, one hand on his scepter and the other on his grimoire.

It was just a broken scarecrow. It seemed as though it had been high in the branches before, and the rain must have soaked it until it was heavy enough to break from its perch and fall.

‘Look at ye! Scared o’ a wee tattie-bogle!’ Iselmyr mocked from the back of his mind. Rolling his eyes and pushing her influence back, Aloth relaxed and moved to throw the scarecrow away from his new resting spot.

Only he never got to. Before he had taken a single step, it began to shake and shift, the bells tied to the ‘arms’ of the scarecrow making a racket. As Aloth took a step backwards from it, the scarecrow bent its arms and pushed itself up onto its singular leg. Now fully erect, Aloth could see the entirety of it.

The miserable scarecrow wore a tattered black sack like it was some sort of dress, while small immaculate silver bells were lashed on its cross bar and chimed as they swayed. The most horrible thing by far though, was the head. It was made out some sort of root vegetable, but it was too long rotten to know what kind in this lighting, and it seemed as though dried grass had been tied onto it to act as some sort of long hair.

Aloth now held his scepter, ready to launch a bolt of energy as soon as it moved towards him.

But it didn’t. It just stood there, rain dripping off steadily. Even so, Aloth didn’t let his guard down. It was enchanted, that was certain. He had heard of some wizards animating objects with their magic, but the lack of a caster nearby made him doubt that was the case. Perhaps this was a feat of animancy. The normal case would have been a soul bound to armor so that it could fight in the stead of its master.  He started to circle the scarecrow slowly, scepter pointing at it. As he expected, the scarecrow turned with him to keep facing in his direction. He took a few steps backwards and the scarecrow hopped towards him. It was aware of him, but it was confusing that it did nothing but keep the same amount of distance between them.

At a loss, Aloth made a shooing gesture with his scepter, “Go away now! This is my resting spot!”

There was a long, eerie moment, with only the sound of the rain, as Aloth stared down the scarecrow, feeling rather stupid for trying to scare it off like some sort of animal.

Surprisingly though, the scarecrow made a sharp turn, and hopped off into the distance. Aloth watched and waited for the sound of the bells to disappear before he clipped his scepter back onto his belt. The whole situation only convinced him further that the Dyrwood was a strange country run amok with unchecked Animantic corruption.

After a few seconds, Aloth blinked in confusion. What had caused him to have that thought suddenly? Shaking his head, he decided that the exhaustion from such difficult travel had muddled his mind and he settled close to the tree. It was going to be a long, uncomfortable night camping out in the rain.

Not but a few hours later, he woke to the sound of bells again, and he remembered the strange construct that had run off. Looking up, the scarecrow now towered over him, this time with an oiled cloth stretched behind it, better sheltering him from the rain.

Thoroughly put off now, Aloth stood up to face the scarecrow, “You! Where did you get that from?”

Unsurprisingly, the scarecrow did not answer.

“W-Well!” the elf was at a loss of what to do now. Although his first reaction was to just destroy it, the thought that there was some sort of soul attached to it made him uncomfortable to do so. After all, it hadn’t done anything to harm him.

Then a thought struck him suddenly, “Why don’t you go find a place for me to stay? Surely it would be better for me to find some place dry to sleep rather than underneath a tree!”

As expected, the scarecrow stood there before turning again and hopping off at a rapid pace, the cloth tied onto it flapping wildly.

For the first time in a long while, Aloth was proud of his cleverness. The nearest place to stay was The Black Hound Inn back in Gilded Vale, surely the scarecrow would get stuck in the mud somewhere along the line, or someone else would decide what to do with it. It was off his hands now.

Settling back into what was sure to be an uncomfortable night, Aloth forgot about the scarecrow and fell into a fitful doze.

The second time he woke up that night was more alarming. The earth shook slightly under him at a slow, rhythmic pace. Dead leaves and twigs fell on top of him at the next pulse. Aloth stood, keeping a hand on the trunk of the tree to balance himself and as he looked out, the sight that met him made his jaw drop.

Peeking out from behind the fog, he saw towers of stone, as well as adra moving closer at a halting pace, timed with the shaking of the ground. After a few moments, a keep phased into view, the entire building being held aloft by huge legs made of shining adra.

There was no doubt about it, this was the moving keep of the Watcher of the Wastes. And it was right. In. Front. Of. Him.

The sound of bells knocked him from his shocked trance, and he spotted the scarecrow in the distance in front of the keep heading towards him.

‘Th’ lad asks ye tae find ‘im a place tae stay, an ye brin a whole castle?!’ Iselmyr exclaimed, ‘Yer aff yer heid!’

For once, Aloth agreed with her, and watched as the keep moved closer and closer. The scarecrow arrived first and bounced, shaking its bells as though using it to direct the keep.

“What have you done?! Is the Watcher your master?!” Aloth whispered as loudly as he dared. The keep was now only about a hundred feet away, and he could see the copper veins that traced artfully up the legs of the keep.

The keep stopped and the legs bent underneath it, settling into a kneeled sitting position. The scarecrow stopped hopping in place and moved forward for a bit before turning back to Aloth and bouncing.

Catching its meaning, Aloth asked, “Do you mean for me to get closer?!”

Bouncing a few more times, the scarecrow hopped forward another few feet and turned again.

Rubbing his forehead, Aloth reasoned that he would’ve come across the keep eventually, so he might as well take this opportunity to get back on track with his mission. He let the scarecrow lead him to a small door near the back of the keep.

“I suppose that’s the way in,” Aloth commented half to himself and half to the construct as he took a closer look at the structure, “This place is actually quite a wreck isn’t it? You would think that a moving keep covered in adra would look better than this.”

As if insulted by his comments, the keep started to shift and move up.

“Are you really insulted by something like that?!” he asked incredulously as he ran up the stairs and flung open the door.

After he rushed in, the door slammed shut behind him and he heard a small ping! as it did so. Aloth turned around and found that the small window set into the door was dark and he couldn’t see the outside anymore. Not even the sound of the rain could be heard. Deciding that was the least of his worries, now that he was in the moving keep of the Watcher of the Wastes, he unclipped his scepter and walked up the winding staircase that was the only feature of this small foyer area.

It took a few minutes, and as he was beginning to wonder if the stairs ever stopped, he spotted firelight flickering from above.

What he expected to enter was an area that matched the ruined exterior of the keep but was surprised to see a spacious room with a large hearth. A long table was at the opposite wall and had stacks of books, bottles, and containers on top of it. Near the back of the room was a staircase that lead up, as well as a cabinet and wash basin. The hearth was crackling merrily in its large stone dais, a hook hung off the side with a large pot, and a strange stone bust of an elderly woman. The room was completely silent, and there was no sign that anyone was around. Strangely, nothing shook either, it was as if this place was not moving in the first place.

Sensing no immediate danger, Aloth walked towards the table to investigate, but kept an ear out for any sudden movements. The books generally seemed to be stacked by topic, herbology, alchemy, metaphysics, and interestingly a few tomes of chants. Most of the bottles were empty, but a few had been labeled with their use and names of people. A sheet of paper had the same names listed along with dates and costs, perhaps acting as some sort of ledger?

“If you would like, there’s a hook on the wall where you can hang your cloak,” a grandmotherly voice offered, “And sit near the fire, you have to be freezing!”

Aloth whirled around, dropping the paper he had been reading. Scepter at the ready, he couldn’t spot that anything had changed, but there was no doubt that someone had spoken.

“Over here, dear,” the voice spoke once more, a slight echo to her words. This time he felt as though a gentle hand turned his face so that he was looking directly at the stone bust, “There we go. I apologize, it has been a while since we’ve had a newcomer in these halls.”

He narrowed his eyes at the statue, “What, or rather, who are you?”

A small chuckle preceded her response, “You may call me ‘Steward’. I am the caretaker of this keep when its master is away. You can rest easy here, you are safe from all while you are in Caed Nua.”

“Begging your pardon, but this is the keep of the Watcher is it not?” Aloth pointed out. Despite this kind voice, he was of no mind to let his guard down. Something wasn’t right about this place.

The Steward sighed, “I suppose you have heard the rumors as well then? I do wish she wouldn’t let them run rampant as she has.”

“Rumors?”

“Of the Hollowborn. My Lady is trying to solve this epidemic, she did not cause it.” The Steward said this with such conviction that he almost believed her. Almost.

This was a well-timed opportunity, one that he couldn’t afford to give up. It would be advantageous to stay here in the keep to survey the Watcher’s actions. It wouldn’t be long at all before he could leave and report back to the Acolyte with his findings.

Choosing his words carefully, Aloth proceeded, “Well, I am glad that it seems the rumors are false. Would it be possible for me to speak with her in the morning about it?”

A wave of gratitude and warmth flowed from the statue, “The lady left with a companion of hers earlier in the day, they should be returning in the early afternoon tomorrow if they are able to keep with their schedule.”

A companion? That was certainly intriguing, he had only heard that the Watcher operated alone before this.

“Wonderful!” he exclaimed, wincing a little at the over-enthused tone he had injected into his voice, “I look forward to meeting her!”

“I’ll let her know that she has a guest waiting for her, that normally hurries her up,” the Steward commented, and he felt that if she could, the bust would have nodded slowly. “Until then, there’s a free room on the second floor, last door on the left. You’re welcome to stay there and down here in the common area while you wait.”

The door up the stairs creaked open, and he felt the presence of the Steward dim, as though she had left the area. A peculiar feeling, but not one unlike the one he experienced when he pushed Iselmyr past the mental wall he had built between them. Silence, but knowing that he was being watched.

He ignored the hooks that had been pointed out to him earlier but took note of the three or four capes hanging on them. It seemed that it was possible that the Watcher had more of these companions. That or she had a tendency to collect cloaks. Moving past them and up the stairs, he stopped on the second floor and saw fire light spilling from an open door at the end of the hall.

Despite his wariness of the place, he couldn’t help but admit how remarkable the keep was. It must have taken more than just one lifetime to have enchanted a place such as this and keep it running for years on end. He had no doubt that at least some animancy had been involved with the creation of this place, the existence of the Steward confirmed that much at least, but he could still appreciate the work that went into this keep’s creation.

The room he entered was rather simple. The walls made of smooth stone were bare except for the single slit of a window. from which he could see the marsh he had come in from. A bed, side table, and chest took up most of the room’s space, while a small hearth reminiscent of the one downstairs took up the far corner.

A single sheet of paper with neatly scrawled handwriting on the bed sheets informed him not to put out the hearth himself, instead requesting him to command the fire to dim or extinguish itself as needed. It seemed to Aloth that there was no part of this keep that was run without magic and he wondered why that magic hadn’t been extended to the exterior of the keep to fix its appearance.

Aloth warmed himself by the hearth for a while, taking care to dry off his outer clothing and gear as he did so. He fell into a daze, watching the flames crackle without any wood to sustain them. They seemed to have a strangely relaxing rhythm to the way they wavered. The weight of the entire day seemed to fall onto his shoulders at once as he remembered how little sleep he had gotten. He felt his eyes drift closed slowly…

“That’s quite the blood curse you have, child,” a voice curled out slyly from the fire, jolting him awake, “Did you come here thinking you could break it?”

Aloth blinked once, twice, thrice, unable to come to terms with what he was staring at.

The fire had changed from a comforting orange glow into a sickeningly blue-green hue. The flames themselves were twisted into a vaguely reptilian shape, with eyes made of golden sparks staring straight at him.

“B-blood curse?” he sputtered, unable to say much else. This had to be a dream, there was no way that there was a small wurm in his fire, and it was absolutely impossible for some outsider to know about th-

“Yes…very ancient magic as well,” the voice sounded feminine, but was overlaid with a strange other-worldly tone, as though someone else spoke with them, “If I’m correct, it hasn’t been passed through your bloodline for too long has it? But it keeps you from speaking about it to keep it intact?”

Aloth gritted his teeth, very much wanted to say exactly what he thought about this creature’s tone and their meddling in his business but found it impossible to do so. The familiar twinge of pain in his jaw and temple regarding this topic grounded him.

The creature’s chuckling sounded like rocks tumbling over each other and sent yellowish sparks from what could be considered their mouth. He could feel the waves of smug victory from this creature and he abhorred it, “Why don’t we make a deal then”

“What deal?” he managed to spit out.

“I’ll break your curse,” they began, “If you manage to break my contract with the Watcher girl.”

“What makes you think that I’d be able to do that?”

“I watched from the fire downstairs as you poked around, wizard,” they spat the last word, causing sparks to fly, “You are the only one who has entered this keep who has the ability to navigate an ancient arcane contract and break it.”

“That may be the case; however, I do not need help with-” his jaw tightened unnaturally, preventing him from speaking further.

At this, the eyes of the creature widened slightly, and their head stretched closer to his face, passing the boundary of the hearth. Strangely, there was no burning heat from the creature as it approached, instead, he felt as though a cool wind was flickering in its place.

“Oh? So, someone has offered to break the curse for you then?” they asked. Taking Aloth’s steely gaze as an affirmative, they laughed, “Oh child, they lied to you. Maybe they said they could, but unless they’ve lived as long as I have, I doubt they have any idea of where to even begin with it.”

“Why don’t you do it now then? Prove it to me?” It had been a long time since he had discussed his curse aloud with others and finding a way to make his point while avoiding the effects was proving more of a challenge than he remembered.

The creature drew back and gave a long, dramatic sigh, playing up their suffering, “Oh, I would if I could, child. Unfortunately, this contract prevents me from doing such a benevolent act!”

Aloth rolled his eyes at the ploy, “How convenient.”

The creature stopped in its antics and looked back at the elf, “It is the truth, but it seems as if I can’t convince you. The offer still stands, as long as you reside in this keep,” They paused for a moment, and there was a knowing glint in their eyes, “I think that you’ll become interested in this once you meet the Watcher.”

He gave the creature an incredulous look, “I don’t think it will come to that.”

“Oh, I think eventually you and I will become good friends,” the rough chuckle rumbled out of the creature once again, “I am called Sefyra, and you need only to call on me when you wish to accept my offer.”

At that declaration, the fire went out, sending green sparks into the air and darkness descended in the room.

It was at this point, that Aloth knew he had finally gotten into something that was way over his head.

[queen-scribbles]

Adi: Strawberry, Apricot, Sky, Periwinkle, Lavender? Tavi: Peach, Lime, Fuschia, Bubblegum? Charity: Strawberry, Starlight, Fuschia, Rose? Khellin: Scarlet, Mint, Cyan, Lavender?

ADI

Strawberry: What does your oc look for in a close friend?

Similar interests, fun to spend time with, good person, usually outgoing but that one’s not a requirement(she and Aloth get along really well)… Really, she could be friends with just about anyone who isn’t, like, a vile heartless monster. She’s really outgoing and open-minded.Apricot: How does your oc feel about stuffed animals? 

She may still have several from her childhood sitting on her bed back in Ixamitl that she still loves very much. Maybe. It’s just possible.Sky: What’s the best dream your oc’s ever had? Did they tell anyone about it?  

She was in an unending library and had literally forever to read as much as she wanted. There were several thought-lost/destroyed historical texts in there, along with whole volumes on languages and cultures that had died out before her grandparents were born. Also, a teapot that was always full of her favorite apple spice tea. I’m pretty sure that’s one she would have told Lottie about, since Lottie’s one of the few who would appreciate it as much as she did ;)

Periwinkle: What’s your oc’s dream job? Do they have any chance of achieving it? 

Dream job would be researcher or historian who travels around investigating various ‘local legend’ type phenomena, to see how real they are and what the story is behind them(probably with Kana as her assistant. For reaching tall stuff.) To an extent she does that during the game events? So I guess her odds are decent. And that’s pretty much what she would do in a world where she didn’t always stick around to play Roadwarden.

Lavender: What outfit is your oc least likely to wear? How many layers do they need to feel comfortable? 

Something ugly. She likes cute clothes and won’t apologize for that. xD BLame her father being a tailor or whatever you want, she much prefers things in complementary colors that look good over “”””functional”””. Other people can do as they wish, but cute is a high priority for her. And one layer is usually good, unless it’s really cold.

TAVI

Peach: What’s your oc’s comfort outfit? 

Bare feet, comfy pants, shirt with the sleeves hacked cut offLime: What’s your oc’s comfort zone with physical affection? 

She needs a good bit of space at first as she warms up to you, but once she gets there, pretty much anything goes. Holding hands, snuggling,standing close enough to touch, cuddling while you sleep etc etc

Fuschia: What does it take to make your oc really blush? 

Oh, it takes alot(h) *cough* A lot. (sorry, I made the typo and couldn’t resist bc it’s mostly true :P) Tavi’s usually pretty open and upfront about what she wants and has almost too much self-confidence, so she’s really, really, REALLY hard to embarrass(a fact which frustrates Khellin to no end when they’re kids) She does get a little shy and blushy with a certain wizard during the mutual pining stage, but she’s not ashamed of or embarrassed by hardly anything regarding her love/sex life(or really lack thereof on the latter–she and Aloth are romantically involved but they don’t Sleep Together until Deadfire)

Bubblegum: Describe your oc’s ideal aesthetic bedroom setup in as much detail as you want. 

OOH. Big, comfy bed with the quilt her grandmother made for her(one of the only possessions she lost in the fire that she genuinely misses; it was really soft and comfortable), a spot to keep her weapons and armor, worktable along one wall for the whittling(yes, she wants that in her bedroom. Fight her). Two windows for sunlight, but they have to creak so if anyone tries sneaking in that way she’ll hear them. Ditto for the door; it has to be creaky. At least half a wall of bookshelves + a good-sized desk for Aloth(bc her dream bedroom is theirs, not hers. join me in having emotions). The walls are probably either teal or sunflower yellow, depending on how big the room is and how much light it gets. Fireplace with a couple chairs and a loveseat. She would probably only have one medium-sized armoire for her clothes; she doesn’t have a lot.

CHARITY

Strawberry: What does your oc look for in a close friend?

Good heart, animal lover, easy-going, enjoys spending time together but not clingyStarlight: Would your oc decorate with fairy lights or tiki torches? Why? 

Probably fairy lights. She’s more into the natural aesthetic of them looking like stars while also feeling sort of magical.Fuschia: What does it take to make your oc really blush? 

Now? Getting caught in a really blatant, passionate PDA with her very-nearly-almost husband(i need to write their wedding, I really do). Previously, Edér vague-flirting with her would do it, as would anyone hinting at there being more to their relationship than Fake Courtship.Rose: What’s something your oc wishes they could forget? Is it a bad memory dulled by time, or a happy memory tainted by it? 

Her sister dying. She doesn’t want to forget her sister, but the circumstances of her death were very painful for Charity(her sister caught that vorlas farmer illness that went through Readceras, Charity was… fourteenish at the time and still only an apprentice healer, but she was the best they had and she tried everything but her sister still died), and if she could lose the memory of that utter helplessness that would be nice.

KHELLIN

Scarlet: What’s your ocs’s love life like? 

Bold of you to assume he has one. :P I kid. He’s a very quiet, insular person, so he definitely has to have a good rapport with someone before he even starts thinking about them romantically. He’s maybe danced around the edges of something with a couple girls in the Living Lands, but he’s like the definition of that quote about prospective partners having to compete with his solitude rather than another person, so nothing every came of those(And real talk, with my love of the Uptight Loves Wild trope, I’m seriously tempted to change my plans and have him fall for Xoti instead of Maia *cough* ). He doesn’t actually have any love life to speak of prior to Deadfire.Mint: Would your oc ever plant a garden? If so, flowers or veggies? Would the garden flourish or die? 

He… might? It’s not outside the realm of possibility. He is an outdoorsy type, but it’s more the hunting/exploring outdoorsy type. If he did it would be veggies, bc he’s a very practical person. It would probably do alright, assuming the weather didn’t get too crazy and animals stayed away.Cyan: Has your oc ever traveled? Do they like to relax or plan out their vacation days down to the hour? 

Sort of? The move from Old Vailia to the Living Lands wasn’t exactly by choice, but I doubt he would have stayed, with all the memories and someone clearly out for his family’s blood. In Tavi’s canon, he’s pretty content to stay in tLL and just go on forays into the wilderness there; there’s definitely plenty to do and see. In his own canon, he does get a bit of wanderlust, hence traveling with Odema’s caravan. He doesn’t really plan it out, though. He’s figuring he’ll see what things are like in this Gilded Vale place, but probably move on rather than hang aroiund.Lavender: What outfit is your oc least likely to wear? How many layers do they need to feel comfortable? 

Ostentatious formal clothes. He’s much more comfortable in a simple shirt and trousers, or the hide and fur armor he wears to hunt. There’s no appeal in clothes that feel like you can’t move for fear of getting them dirty.

[queen-scribbles]

Trope mashups: 14/100 for Taviloth; 52/99 for Ederity

14. Taviloth- Bodyguard AU/100. Accidentally Saving the Day

My gut reaction was to say obviously, nmw, Tavi’s the bodyguard. But then I started thinking about it, and the other way around is great, too. Either way would involved the guard-ee’s family being affluent/powerful enough to afford/need a bodyguard in the first place(so status boost for each of them in turn), so with that established, we have two versions.

VERSION A: Bodyguard!Tavi 

In this option, Aloth’s family hires a relatively ethical mercenary to keep an eye on him/protect him while he’s off studying to be a wizard. (Should mention, this version, since his parents are better off, his father’s… slightly less nasty. Maybe still verbally and/or emotionally abusive, but not physically, so no Iselmyr) 

The two of them butt heads a little on the way to Hogwarts *cough* wizard school, due to differences in personality and outlook; Tavi’s loud, blunt, brash, outspoken, swears worse than a sailor, and is guarded but usually more optimistic than the opposite, while Aloth is diplomatic, quiet, non-confronttational to a literal fault, has sworn maybe three times in his entire life…. you get the picture, BUT there’s less friction than one might anticipate putting two people who are so different together. Pretty soon, annoyance turns to admiration; Aloth admires Tavi’s forthrightness while she has to admit he really has a way with words. They start getting along better, feelings start to develop, but neither will admit it bc they think there’s no way the feelings are reciprocated. One of them finally caves just before they reach their destination, both are surprised by the realization “Oh, really? You like me too?!” (Tavi maybe jokingly questions his tastes in women :P) and they agree it’s probably best not to broadcast this development. It might make her job harder.

So they act just the right level of detached in public and sneak romantic moments in private. One of said private moments winds up with them hiding in a closet, where they overhear a plot to assassinate a local noble so his kid can claim the title. Given that the plotters are highly trusted members of the noble’s cabinet or advisors(bc aren’t they always? :P), Tavi and Aloth then have to sneak around finding proof before they say anything or they’ll A) get laughed at and not taken seriously or B) be in very big trouble for leveling such an accusation against people who are trusted by one of the school’s biggest supporters. Oh, and all the while they’re still trying to keep their relationship under wraps. Fun times all around :D

VERSION B: Bodyguard!Aloth

In this option, Aloth’s backstory is relatively the same; abusive dad, Iselmyr, wizard school etc etc except school goes smoothly(ish) and he does become an arcane knight. The thayn he winds up serving is friends with Tavi’s parents(yes, she gets to keep her family in this AU), who are still merchants, but significantly more successful/better off this time around. They’re still based in Old Vailia, but they spend a lot of time in Aedyr bc they do a lot of business there.  Tavi is still, well, Tavi. She just has to fight harder for the pants vs dresses argument and gets in bigger trouble if her parents catch her swearing. (Yes, they’re aware she’s an adult. She’s “reflecting badly on the family” by not being ladylike) Her parents frequently lament her habits of staying out to all hours, “Slumming it”, and spending large chunks of time in either taverns or the woods.

One day they voice these troubles to their thayn friend, who suggests they simply hire a bodyguard to accompany her on her (mis)adventures and help keep her both safe and in line. They’ve thought about it, but they do have enemies, you know, and aren’t sure who they can trust. He promptly offers the use of an arcane knight who recently came into his service; talented wizard, glowing recommendations yada yada yada. Given their long friendship, they do trust him, so they accept.

Tavi and Aloth’s first meeting is something neither is looking forward to; he’s heard she’s wild, she’s heard he’s stuffy. It goes better than expected; mostly just “So, are you s’pposed to stop me from doin’ crazy shit?” “Only the worst of it, the rest of the time I’m simply to accompany you.” “*grin* Oh, then this is gonna be fun.” She precedes to drag him to every tavern she can think of in hopes of scaring him off.

Not only does this plan not succeed(she gets lots of eye-rolling and does give him a headache or two, but he sticks like glue), he drinks her under the table at one of the taverns and she has to admit she’s actually impressed. (Shit. She didn’t want to like him)

A week or two into this arrangement–which both tolerate but don’t love–Tavi’s parents have to rush back to Old Vailia to deal with some sort of crisis involving a supplier. As they’re leaving, they ask Tavi to ensure a specific set of shipping manifests make it into their vault, bc they may need them for evidence if this crisis goes even more sour. Given that she doesn’t much pay attention to the business(the twins are going to inherit that, so why should she care), she’s not sure which of the documents piled on her father’s desk are the right ones, so she just grabs everything that looks vaguely manifest-ish and locks it in the vault.

The next day, she and Aloth return from whatever she dragged him into to find the house ransacked and the servants all locked in the cellar. From various clues, they piece together that the ransackers were looking for the deeds to the business, which Tavi’s father had brought to Aedyr to ratify adding Malachi and Casius as partial owners. Why they wanted them isn’t clear, but it can’t be anything good. Tavi realizes the deeds must’ve been in with the papers she stowed in the vault, so she and Aloth go to look for them. 

Just as Aloth finds the deeds, they hear angry voices upstairs. The ransackers are back, and more serious this time about finding what they’re after. Tavi wants to fight them, both to protect her people and bc to teach them a lesson. Aloth manages to talk her out of it by pointing out they don’t know how many there are, they didn’t hurt the servants last time, and if they’re after the deeds, isn’t it better to get the deeds as far away as possible? She reluctantly agrees and they sneak out instead, then decide the best plan is to try and catch up with her parents, see if they know what’s going on. Of course, since her parents were in a hurry, their ship has already departed for Old Vailia, forcing Tavi and Aloth to book passage of their own.

The rest would involve a couple near-misses with pirates, finding out this is an attempt from an old rival to steal her parents’ business, kidnapped brothers(sorry Cas and Mal), and a really slow burn Taviloth romance that wouldn’t be admitted or acted on until like the last couple chapters and would drive both readers and author to OMG JUST KISS ALREADY YOU F**KIN IDIOTS levels of insanity.

52. Ederity- Marriage of Convenience/99. Magical Accidents

Still would involve Edér holding a position of some authority, Charity’s a friend of his, they get married because He Need a Wife™ and he’s tired of random women throwing themselves at him. Charity’s the one to suggest it, after helping him escape yet another mob of fangirls gold diggers swooning ladies. There are no feelings involved at first; just getting him “off the market”. They act couple-y in public, but in private are just friends. And then, right as they both feel the first flutterings of Actual Feeling™, one of them accidentally drinks a love potion. (Normally a plot device I don’t like, but an exception is being made here) As for which one, I’d probably flip a coin, bc either way would be MARVELOUS. Either way, they figure it out pretty quickly and tell the other one what happened. “So if I start acting lovey and affectionate, it’s ‘cause of that. Totally not that I’m really falling for you. Nope.” And then begins the struggle of either A) waiting it out or B) looking for an antidote while not doing/saying anything one of them will regret once this is over. While, naturally, the one who drank the potion is doubting themself and feeling muddled if their attraction is really real or just from the potion, and what about [X] from before I drank, but that could be nothing…. In the process, of course, someone says something that invites further discussion once the potion mess is over, they talk once both are in full possession of their senses, realize there’s mutual stirrings of affection, and set out on the tricky path of courting while they’re already married.

(These were both great, and now I want to write them, lil bit xD)

From this meme