#four keys buwe

[indigos-stardust]

Four Keys: Buwe (Blue)

(reblogs appreciated)

This is Buwe! (pronounced similarly to Dew), he's this au's Blue! Buwe's people, Selkie Folk, live in different communities on arctic Islands that rely on fishing seasons to survive.

Unfortunately, a horrible sea ice witch threatened them. She threatened to freeze all the sea, the sea that gave them their fish and their life, unless they paid. With wealth or manpower. Their tribes are like brother and sisters.

Paying her, it would have debilitated them until there was nothing left. It would kill them. Going against the other tribes would kill their souls. It was a trap to let her get more power. With the walls of ice surrounding them, and air so frigid no messenger bird could be sent, there would be no help to free them.

Buwe decided, that if she wanted a warrior, he would give her one. One that would take the breath from her lungs as he strangled her. No sick child of his home, his tribe of Kunae, would die again, because of her. Coughing blood and becoming brittle.

He found a weak spot in her ice walls and after nights of hard work in secret, he left. Filled with rage, knowing he'd never survive making it to the other tribes, he decided to go straight to the mouth of the beast. Her little hideout, hidden in the ice, under the freezing water.

He's never seen a place so beautifully sculpted, yet so revolting. Patterns of swirling ice with windows to the wide ocean outside, columns fashioned with utmost care. Icy statues of figures posed beautifully appear along the walls. The bones of children as adornments. Red stained fabrics, draping down the entrances.

It's nothing like the castles he's learned about from books, its far too small and the design itself is far too close to home. But he knows that's just now, she wants to expand this. She wants more. She'll build it out of pearly white bones if she has to.

He catches her by surprise, while she's tinkering with some sort of map. Planning for the attacks she'll lead them in, when they all crack and serve her in their grief. When they let her take control of their very minds with a binding oath made of pure dark magic.

She's amused at first. She knew how great of a warrior, and determined a man he was. She reminds him of her offer. To be hers. Only the finest would be hers, after all. He's sick. This monster, the way she talks, the way she watches him. It's nothing but a freaking game.

"No? Pity, Kunae man, but I don't want to kill you ,you know... Such a wasteful thing, yes?"

He stands in silent fury. He's ready to fight, to end this.

"Fine then, you can be, another one of my... perfect sculptures. My favorite one, in fact. That way, you could stay by my side forever, hm?"

She steps to him, closer and closer. He will not be afraid.

"Even back then... So brash and brave, when I came, I just adore you..." her hand caresses his face, he's tense, " That's the face I want to keep for myself forever."

His dagger lurches into her gut, but not before a thin blast of ice blasts off forcing them apart. Buwe moves, the end is near. The end of suffering, or the end of any chance of hope. The end of her, or the end of him.

Buwe nearly dies in that fight. He was fighting, on her terf, already weakened, with his own ability already diminished from the hunger. But the rage fuels him on, and he knows he will End Her even if it only happens during his last dying breath.

She gives a final attack of defense, he got too close, his grand tactical mistake made out of desperation. Her eyes say the words he can't hear. It's the blessing of a curse. He can feel his legs freezing over, the ice in his bones spreading and paralyzing reaching itself tendrils outward. The sound of her cracking neck is nearly mute in the water, an endless abyss of the dark. It's the most beautiful thing he's ever heard. The light leaves her eyes.

He tries, Buwe really does, to transform again into a selkie, to let him swim to the surface, and maybe reverse her curse just long enough to see his home again. Just the walls and the glistening shining snow, that the children would soon play on again. He manages to transform, but it's too late. Every thought slows, muffled and pained. He will be lost, but he won, for them. That's all that matters. The world is deafening, as he sees the blackening ocean turn icy white. The world is dark again.

@slaingelo @vamqiredove @shadylink enjoy lol, it gets worse probably

[undertheopensky]

im really glad you like skhadu! it does have a tag, "four keys". im gonna be real I have a lot of drafts for the au for other characters like green and vio, and a lot of plot and character arcs figured out, I just 0-0

im gonna be honest im not used to posting stuff so maybe if I got more pressure I'd post more? (this is ur sign to bully me into sharing more lore)

so far I've got buwe and flicker out tho (blue and red)

^v^ hope this helps!

indigos-stardust <3

*vibrating excitedly*

You have NO idea how delighted this makes me, now I get to track down the other pieces when I have a spare moment!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaa I can't wait!!

[indigos-stardust]

WIP

@undertheopensky

>:)

Fun fact! did you know that the children of draconic folk, when picked up by the tail, react similarly to the behaviours of a kitten being carried by the scruff of it's neck? The longer spent held, the more calm, blissed out, sleepy, and even occasionally giggly they become! Most grow out of this around age 10!

Skhadu never has. And well- Lets just say Buwe has found a VERY effective way to rangle skhadu when he's being a troublemaker (almost getting taken to jail (again) for stealing.) Once I finish the artwork I'll probably talk more about their dynamic lol. also I am still making vio's introduction, I'm just like in the writing part.

Oh btw buwe is wearing thinner clothes to handle the heat

[indigos-stardust]

Four Keys: Skhadu (Shadow)

Other Characters: Buwe - Flicker

So I'm gonna be real guys I am filled with guilt that I have not posted their lore and stories, I'm just too much of a perfectionist so I'm just gonna ramble like I'm talking to a friend so I can get all of this out

Tw for child abuse, but its not descriptive its just part of his story

So Skhadu is an illegitimate prince of the draconic people in this fantasy world. He hates his father (Ganondorf <3) and his fathers Advisor/Mage (Vaati <3) even more!

He hates not having real power but still being forced into doing crap for everyone and then not even having the freedom to make his own choices.

Hes kinda been forced into this enforcer role, where he kinda has to terrorize anyone trying to plan some rebellion or coup or whatever. There's a lot of issues especially with the Kings great hibernation coming and the rumor of their only valid heir, Skhadu's half sister, being extremely ill. Like "Oh hey I might die" ill.

She would be the one with the crown and guardianship of their fathers Realm (kingdom wise and centuries nap wise). So if she's out for the picture, or at least weak, then that leaves alot of room for plenty of others to take a chance at power.

Point is though, Skhadu still has to attend stffy formal events, be constantly controlled so he doesnt "Embarrass the crown even more", and train to just do whatever everyone else orders him to do. The training is very brutal, and with Vaati being the one teaching him his magics? No very fun...

Not to mention he's constantly disrespected and humiliated, he has no choice, no freedom... just occasionally pity. It's what his father said preventing him from being killed.

So Skhadu runs away. He's still a prince. Just a Prince of Theives now. Or that's what he proclaims anyways.

He wants to make as much money as possible with as much chaos and fun as he wants thank you very much! Get real power on his own! Cause as much chaos and destruction however HE wants to! Not worry about responsibilities or appearances! Or Vaati threatening to lock him in a cage for two weeks without any food again! Adventure! maybe a girlfriend! Freedom! Money!! That he can actually use!!!

He even has the skills for it too- All his years stealing, sneaking, and fighting Vaati has payed off! And he's not only read about plenty of techniques, he's even learnt from other thieves<3 he's definitely found his place

SURPRISE: The heir, his half sister, really is ill. Fatally. He is the next best thing to an heir they have. The closet thing to keeping power in the family. They'll offer him whatever he wants if he comes back.

Skhadu does not want to come back. He finally got real freedom. Real happiness. He understands how much the "power" he'd get is just a lie. He's not interested. Responsibilities are gross. He'll live in secret and have an AWESOME time doing that thank you very much. The colorfully worded letter containing his own scales proves that.

So the manhunt ensues. He'll never be caught- Hes too smart, too clever-The crumbling Kingdom can suck it and figure out their own issues! Not force him to! Hed rather end up in a jailhouse again than being publically executioned whenever a new coup shows up.

Or just live in hell being nothing but Vaati's puppet. He knows he can't run away forever though.

Buuuuuuut, something does catch his eyes...

There's some little haggle of misfit adventurers looking for some "triforce" artifact or whatever. Something about "finding the sacred keys" or some crap. It sounds like a bunch of guys high of fairy dust believing in some folk tale, but Skhadu knows better. Because he knows that's what his father was searching for. To restore the power of their kingdom, and become a god. Skhadu had just thought he was a madman. But with the evidence he's seeing... Maybe Ganondorf is not.

It's supposed to take the energy of one's soul and mix it with their greatest desire. Fueled by the raw magic of the elements, their wildest dreams can come true... Even defeating death.

Its.. probably an exaggeration, but based on the actual viable magical documents, it does seem entirely possible he could use it to save his sister. He's NOT doing it because he "cares" about her or whatever. Shes stuck up and overly perfect! Skhadu is just doing it for his own interest, its a dog eat dog world afterall. If she can be the heir then they'll stop hunting him, and he'll be free!

Besides, those adventurers or whatever? They're a bunch of saps, it'' be super easy to trick them! He'll just let them do all the hard work and steal it from them at the very end! Yes, yes, he IS a genius, and a very handsome one at that.

Sure he'd be a traitor to the throne and his new "friends", but really, what's one more lie to the pile?

[indigos-stardust]

Four Keys: Character intro, Vix (Vio link)

<Click for higher quality, thank you!!>

Redesigned: (I adjusted his weapon choice and clothing.. I forgot his hoodie, its supposed to be connected to his tunic <:< )

The next two drawings are some older designs, he doesn't use a spear anymore: Not to mention his color scheme is different.

Context: In this world elves aren't their own separate species. They're a result of two biologically different species having their own offspring. The more fantastical elements of both parents are unable of being carried onto the child so it essentially nuetralizes those features entirely. (Such as a winged species and a non winged species having a non winged child. Things like limbs and special abilities can't be carried on.) Although certain traits, such as feathers or other small traits can still be found.

Over time, through generations of elves there have sprouted different elf centered towns, often being trading hubs, on the boarders of different kingdoms. Elves born of several generations of elves are considered Thorough elves, while elves the product of species crossover are called First Generation elves.

Vix is a mysterious monster hunter, making his wealth from valuable monster parts. A materialistic and opportunist loner, he spends his days drifting from different towns and through the wilderness with the soul purpose of making that coin like the king he is. After all, with no home and no family, there's nothing he has to worry about leaving behind.

Then he runs into some idiots in the woods. A selkie folk man that looks like he's about to combust from the heat and... whatever the fluffy four-armed heeto cheeto-lookin' one was. They were just, helplessly struggling to make their way through the muddy mosquito filled swamp. Honestly, it's like they never even learned any basic survival skills. If the swamblins didn't eat them, then the bugs would first. An absolutely miserable, pathetic, and sad sight. They were probably getting so desperate by now. Not to mention the selfie man has such a luxurious looking for shawl... Perfect.

They're grateful for his service<3 And of course, he'll guide these poor sucke- souls to the nearest town! Once arrived, he's already planning on how he was going to negotiate, when they start thanking him for his "act of kindness." Weird, but its payment time.

They are broke. Vix wasted all of that time, while he could've been monster hunting, for nothing. Not a single rupee. So what does his genius mind do? He passive aggressively follows them and begrudingly lets them stay with him at the inn. He adds it to their charge though.

Apparently, these broke b--ches, are on some quest following this magical sorceress lady who's promising them safety? They also mentioned the magical lady disappearing and talked a weird amount about being on a "magical quest" ... Yeah, those guys were definitely on fairy dust. But still, if "Flicker" and "Buwe" were really going to go treasure hunting for some magical artifacts, they'd definitely run into some rarer monsters... And well, once they realize he was listening in instead of sleeping, instead of getting offending.. they ask for his service and help since he knows the monsters here so well.

The coin he makes from these guys better be worth it, because they're only burying themselves deeper into his debt by the minute. Whatever, hopefully they'd be a good investment. He was considering cutting his losses and telling this fire moth to buzz off with the wings he doesn't have but... nevermind. Flicker's pleading eyes didn't change his mind, they just reminded him of the shine of rupees, that's all. Strange cases always were riskier, but had the possibility of an even better reward.

----

Okay, so these guys can absolutely shred into monsters. Very good to know. They could probably shred into him too- Buwe's selfie form was ferocious with an even thicker hide and a fearsome jaw and claws to match. The Nari'shi could create flames by simply moving around the enemy? He didn't even know that they existed before, much less could create flames?!! The loot from the monsters though... It's... It's definitely not enough to pay for their debt from his knowledge and expertise! So, he's simply going to have to stay with them for a little bit longer!!

They rescue, or "assist a great hero in the making" as the avian put it, some chick facing off with a whole lynel. The poor thing's wing is messed up though. Honestly, the guy lost horribly, probably just some wannabe treasure hunter... "Gren" with his baby feathers and holy s--t that's a really expensive set of gear and is that a family insignia?

Oh. Oh this guy is loaded. Alright, alright, maybe he will stay with these weirdo's alot longer. He's an official member now! And as an official member that means Gren would need to share the benefits from that insignia including all the discounts and-

Okay, sure Flicker keeps acting like he has personal beef with this obvlivious air head, but honestly! M o n e y. And sure, flicker may have attempted to strangle Gren with all four of his arms but Buwe handled it! Like Buwe said, family is family! And family shares everything from blood from sibling fights and money!

Nothing could possibly go wrong, and the weird woman who apparently isn't a hallucination keeps yapping about some "ancient curse that will suck the life out of the very earth" but honestly it can't possibly be a real thing. Vix is gonna make some much money from these dolts. And his abandoned orphan sympathy card is really only gonna help.

Gren (or green) is next! Then we can get into the shenanigans and *shudders* plot