#ninehclls

[miidnighters]

@ninehclls | continued from ☾

More than anyone else in camp, Billie thought the two of them should stick together - both tieflings who had been thrown into this situation.

She hums when she settles next to Tav and he stiffly turns to look at her.

"You'll be better company than the rest of them, surely." She'd received her own lot of scrutiny, compared (unfavourably, in her opinion) to Volo by those who'd had a bad day and questioned her motives. As if they weren't the same as everyone elses.

A sigh. "This is terrible, huh? I thought things might have calmed down the more we learnt about each other."

[chaoticbard]

i saved you some space, by the way.

Space saved? Just for her? Alaara offered the tiefling a polite and genuine smile as she sat down next to him.

"That was thoughtful of you," she replied, settling in. "Not that I have room to complain if you'd decided to be rude. I am alive. Right now, that counts for a lot."

She nodded at Tav's hands. "What's your preferred instrument? It looks to me like you know how to play more than one. I'm partial to the lyre myself. And the kazoo."

[infernalapparatus]

"they won't come after you, and if they do? they'll have to go through me."

【 PROMPTS FROM FEELING SAFE AND EXPRESSING COMFORT 】 - @ninehclls

KARLACH DIDN ' T REALIZE SHE NEEDED REASSURANCE . It was so silly, wasn't it? That she had so much fear for being dragged back down into the Hells. She had only just escaped, and with the help of her new companions, they slaughtered the devils posing as Paladins of Tyr. She felt their blood steam on her flesh - and she burned that fucking tollhouse to the ground. Her heavy boots led her out of the room as her engine sizzled and burst with gouts of intense flame, thick, black clouds of smoke leaving blackened vents.

Blackened with soot, and rage - AND SO MUCH FUCKING GRIEF .

It was later, days later, that Tavis had approached Karlach, as they traveled on their merry way through the countless rundown towns and decrepit sites that once bolstered thriving communities. Karlach was in her own head, she knows she was - because one moment, she's walking, thinking, dancing - and the next she's being looked at strangely by their companions. Did she say something, do something bizarre? She couldn't recall. Maybe she didn't. She probably did. Her worry must have been written all over her face, after that encounter with Raphael. Bring plucked into the Hells again like that - she damn near flew into a panic attack. Rapid breathing, swelling rage - AND A NEED TO ESCAPE . But they were back, just as quickly, and Tav was comforting Karlach with soft words.

She didn't realize she needed reassurance. But she was so thankful that he did. She offers a weak grin, a little more genuine than the last few had been, and she chuckles wryly. " You've got a big heart, Tav, y'know that? I dunno if you've ever fought devils - but the nasty little bastards are tough to fend off. MAYBE WE ' LL GRAB YOU A PITCHFORK OR SOME SHITE . "

[chaoticbard]

"Experience with mind flayers or not, I only faced a singular one before. Now we face dozens, potentially hundreds... I am stupid and stubborn enough to believe we can defy the odds and come out of this in tact. All of us. But I am also smart enough to know that the odds are ever against us."

Alaara snorted and shook her head. She would cling fast to her delusions of grandeur. If they all died, then it would be as the fates had designed from the get-go. No amount of will would change that. They would all die honorably if this was the case, and would find comfort in the afterlife for having done something good for the world. And if she was right, if they could defy the odds, then her ego was going to take a massive hit of dopamine. She knew she would feel unstoppable.

"Mind flayers are not simple foes to fight. We have advantage, surprisingly enough, by being tadpoled. If we were without, we would be far more susceptible to being mind controlled and felled. With tadpoles, we can exert our own will and be the stronger mind."

"As to the bard I spoke of: an acquaintance met. She was flighty and couldn't sit still for more than a few tenday. She came to Waterdeep and left within a month. She had a wonderful personality and a warm presence. I hope she's kept well in her travels, and now I hope she hasn't ended up hurt or turned..."

Again she shook her head. Worrying would get her nowhere. She pushed it away from herself. "I would be happy to continue sharing my knowledge with you, Tav. All you ever need do is ask."

Briefly, it stunned him to hear she'd already been through so much. This was a storied adventurer, and an accomplished one at that. Hells, she'd seen it all already, hadn't she? Now here she was, infected with a mind flayer parasite traveling with what was the most inexperienced person possible stuck at the helm. What she must think of him... He felt his cheeks flood with the heat of embarrassment.

Lockpicking was one thing to offer that may be helpful, but battle? She'd seen more of it than him. Clearly.

"With you here, I should feel more confident that we'll be getting through this mess." Tav mumbled, shifting in his seat to put his lute to the side once more. "So you have experience with mind flayers then? What was that like? I'm sure it's quite the tale."

A soft laugh left him. "I think you could teach me a thing or two more than just music, hearing all of that."

Blades in a performance? That actually sounded interesting. How had he not thought of that himself? What a brilliant idea. "Was this bard one of your companions then, or just someone you met along the way? With all the colorful characters we've met so far, I'm sure it could be either."

[nightfaith]

at the moment i don't have much muse for kurt unfortunately. i will be back here at some point but for now i can be found at @ninehclls!

[miidnighters]

@ninehclls | continued from ☾

The smell, in all honesty, was making Bella's gums ache. The way it permeated every second of their day, seeped into the crevices of their armour. Briefly, she spares a thought to how Astarion's faring. At least she's used to feeding on humanoid blood.

More importantly, she shouldn't be so glib - Bella appreciates anyone who actually puts a weapon to a creature. Though she has a mace strapped to her hip, she tends to support from the back with the other casters (and she hasn't quite gotten past her reservations in using her fangs).

"I found some soap you can have, and the river's not far. It's not much, but it might help?"

[chaoticbard]

Which flower represents you?

Daisy, Innocence.

you are so pure, so trusting. you see the world for what it could be, not what it is, and you hold such hope for it becoming better. be careful these thoughts do not prevent you from seeing the dangers. there are plenty who would seek to twist your innocence...

Stole it from: @weaveofwaterdeep

Tagging: @iron-hearts-ablaze @bloodedstars @ninehclls @astcrion @dicethrow and you~!

[infernalapparatus]

♨ . DOSSIER

LEGAL NAME | Karlach Cliffgate

MOST KNOWN AS | The Fury of Avernus

NICKNAMES | Demonsbane, One-Horned Fiend, Advocatus Diaboli, Mama K

DATE OF BIRTH | 1462 DR

SEX | Intersex

GENDER | Female, She/Her

RACE | Zariel Tiefling

CURRENTLY LIVING | Baldur's Gate, Sword Coast

OCCUPATION | Mercenary/Bodyguard

SPOKEN LANGUAGES | Common, Infernal

EDUCATION | None

PROFICIENCY | Light armor, Medium Armor, shields, Martial weapons, Simple weapons, Gambling Set, Land Vehicles

HAIR COLOR | Black with red highlights

EYE COLOR | Golden, sometimes blue

SCARS | too many so ref this

HEIGHT | 7'2" , 220 cm

WEIGHT | 240 lbs , 109 kg

RELATIONSHIPS | Caerlach Cliffgate ( Mother, deceased ) ; Pluck Cliffgate ( Father, deceased ) ; Enver Gortash ( Ex-Boss ) ; Zariel ( Owner )

SEXUAL ORIENTATION | Pansexual

RELATIONSHIP STATUS | Single

Tagged by : @harpershigh

Tagging : @theundeadgospel , @dvilsdesire , @ninehclls , @wolfvirago , and YOU , SOLDIER !

[infernalapparatus]

WHAT TRAGIC DEATH DO YOU SUFFER ?

THE BETRAYAL

you die at the hands of the person you love most. maybe there are tears in their eyes as they drive the sword into your chest, maybe there is none. there are certainly tears in yours. your mouth will open to ask 'why' only to spit blood instead. you will die never knowing if they loved you at all, wondering if you could've done something to prevent this, or if it was always going to end this way.

stolen : @theundeadgospel

tagging : @harpershigh , @bloodedstars , @ninehclls , @menzoberranzanprincess , and YOU , SOLDIER !

[ninehclls]

If I paid for 20 idiots and all I got was you, I’d still have gotten my money’s worth.

#ninehclls -> indie. selective. mutuals only. tavis TAV vodan, oc protagonist of larian's baldur's gate 3.

rules | tba. | aff. with @astcrion

[chaoticbard]

"I have a habit of picking up new acquaintances at the worst of times," Alaara replied with a chuckle. "My last grand adventure landed me three friends. We were conscripted into what was only supposed to be a simple 'find this person' mission and ended up acquiring a haunted inn and befriending the ghost inside, getting accused of blowing up a portion of Trollskull Alley and going to jail for it, chasing one of Jarlaxle's nimblewrights, fighting Zhentarim, a mind flayer, and Xanathar himself, and getting mixed up in Waterdhavian politics..."

"All was well that ended well; we renovated the inn and renamed it The Jolly Goose. We also got to meet a gold dragon who handsomely rewarded us for everything we'd been through."

Alaara waved her hand dismissively.

"All of that is beside the point. I would be glad to teach you whenever you ask it of me. As for teaching me to lockpick in return, I will accept the offer with fervor. Astarion can't stop laughing at my current attempts. And the blade? I can always learn something new there as well." A pause. "Speaking of, I know a bard that used blades in her acts. She made them dance all around her and always ended her show by snaring some lucky patron by the shirt. Nearly every one of them swooned at the feat."

Any insecurity Tav had been feeling was quickly shunted down river and flowed with a relieving grace out to sea. To think that for a moment he'd feared being judged as lesser, and there was Alaara. Blessedly sweet and also making one of the most true and honest points he'd ever heard.

He may have been kicked from every tavern he'd ever asked for work, but that didn't mean he had no skill. No talent. That there weren't people who connected to his music. Hells, there had been times when he'd made coin honestly through it after many years practicing. No, he didn't read sheet music. But he played by ear. With perfect pitch he could match any series of notes - even better it.

And there he was not using that skill. Squandering it. Leaning only into his daggers and not into the magic of his instrument or voice.

A warm smile broke over Tav's face like the first light of morning over rolling hills. "You're really nice, you know? I'm glad we crossed paths, even if the circumstances are... less than optimal."

Shifting in his spot, tail swaying with ease and comfort back and forth, Tav reached down to where his lute sat by his feet. Pulling it into his lap and positioning his hands, he strummed a quick few notes and hummed. "Filling the camp with music instead of all of the bickering that's been going on these past few days sounds good to me. I'd appreciate learning more from you."

This was the first time someone had offered him something like this. Gratitude swelled in his chest like the tide. "Thank you. Really. If you ever need help with lockpicking or blades, I'm happy to return the favor."

[chaoticbard]

"Find not shame in being penniless and without further education," Alaara said, waving a dismissive hand. "I learned all of my most important lessons on the road with my parents and sister, not from hallowed, scholarly halls. What I gained from New Olamn was merely frosting atop an already well-crafted cake."

She offered up a soft smile then, hoping that it eased Tav's mind as much as it assured him of his place in life. In his own words, he had admitted to being a raw talent, yet to be molded and set in stone. That, perhaps, was the greatest sort of bard of all. To be so flexible was a boon.

"Why wait? I am no professor, but I can impart my lessons and wisdom to you to the best of my ability. We will surely share many a long night in camp, fretting over our futures. Better to spend it doing something productive instead of ruminating, don't you think?"

"There is advantage to not having gone to college, you know. By living in the real world, away from books and scrolls, you gain experience most would envy. All the more envy toward you if your talent is as raw as you claim."

Ah, that stung him with shame faster than he might have expected. Discomfort settled heavy and unpleasant in Tav's stomach, his gaze flicking away. Looking for anything else but Alaara's face to focus on. Of course he hadn't been to college, he'd been... well.

Homeless. Poor. Starving. Without family or even friends to support him. Grimacing, Tav's tail curled protectively around his waist. At least the song was fun. Funny enough that he could catch his breath before he answered, and not sound quite so dismal.

"I didn't have the coin for that, really." He admitted, plucking at a loose thread along his pants leg. "I didn't really have means for much of anything in the Gate. This has all been new for me, actually."

Best to change the subject, really. "That was lovely, by the way." A wobbly grin overtook his face, and he raised his head to look at Alaara again. A little bit amused, but definitely still the slightest bit wounded. "I always played from the heart. Sang from it too, or just songs I already knew. I think I would really like to hone it, if we survive all of this. Comedy is better with tragedy, right? We're likely to have lots of it to pull from for material."

[miidnighters]

"Hm? I have no idea. I usually do titles last." It's said with a snort of laughter, but it's not untrue. As far as Billie was concerned, titles were the hardest part - and something like this would need something truly magnificent.

It is, however, swiftly followed by a roll of her eyes. "No dragons. I'm not a half-bit writer looking to sensationalise." How Volo had gotten so popular was beyond her. Probably because most people only wanted to read drivel, and dragons were exciting. "Don't compare me to-"

Her words are cut off by Astarion's sharp reprimand, and Billie's eyes flick up in curiosity. She thought he'd been out in the forest, but clearly he'd come back while her attention was on Tav. She's not so fast so as not to notice that Tav doesn't look at the vampire - though he's very clearly interested in the sound of his voice.

Interesting.

Billie grins along with Tav's laughter, her own mirth subduing somewhat as he speaks.

"Maybe a little," Billie admits, scooting a little closer to wrap an arm around his shoulders. "But things being better now is good. I'm sure we'll figure out this tadpole dilemma, and you can keep your friends. And maybe even...crush?"

Tav chuckled at the thought of a book being written about this mess. What a story that'd be. This adventure had already had some chaotic beats in it, and some nigh unbelievable moments to boot. Tadpoled without ceremorphosis? Crashing a nautiloid and surviving the wreckage only to tear across the countryside toward Baldur's Gate? If they made it, Hells, he'd pay hard earned coin to read about it.

"What would you even title that, do you think?" He thought of Volo embellishing the story of their stopping the goblins at the gate to the Emerald Grove and held up a hand. "Just, please. No dragons in places they weren't. I think the real story would deserve to be told if we make it out of this."

A sudden voice cut through the bickering behind them that had Tav perking up, head tilting to listen - not to look. A clear attempt at trying not to seem too interested.

"Could you two shut the Hells up? Really, I'm trying to read here. Gods."

It was clear the commotion had drawn Astarion from his tent, and by the sound of his heavy footfalls, he was abandoning camp to find somewhere quieter to haunt. His swift exit was followed by silence. Blessed silence. The girls finally separated.

Tav broke that silence by bursting into boisterous, belly-shaking laughter. "Remind me to thank him later."

A steadying breath in, then two more and he was back on the level. Meeting Billie's eye, he considered her last question carefully. What would he have been doing if not this? Wandering the streets of the Gate. Busking. Eating a little better than he used to, but not by much. Considering whether he should abandon the city for the quiet of the countryside and finding himself still too afraid to make that change alone. Breaking into patriar coffers. One wrong move away from the gallows. Maybe even caught in the wrong alley in the daed of night on the wrong end of the wrong set of pointy teeth.

"Is it fucked up to say this is better than what I would've been doing?" He winced, tail flicking to rest by his hip. "I have some friends now, at least."

[chaoticbard]

"Have you gone to college yet?" Alaara asked. "I can easily recommend studying at New Olamn if you wish to perfect your improvisational skill."

She continued observing the wizard, letting the visual information seep into her brain. A lopsided, wonky sort of musical accompaniment sprang to her mind, one that meandered with whatever the cook pot did to counter Gale's deft fingers. She was quick to spring to her lyre, pulling in from her back and plucking at the strings with fervor.

"In campgrounds calm with cookbook held,

A wizard's dread, t'was not dispelled,

For when he cooked he dread the worst,

The pot was cursed with grand outburst!

O' wizard danced with parsley, spice,

The makeshift kitchen chaos twice,

The thyme and carrots, sage and bay,

Were hard'ly kept from raucous spray!"

"Something like that, perhaps?" she asked. She plucked a few more notes and let her lyre go silent. "Being a serious musician has its place, but unlike my sister, I find comedy can open the hearts, minds, and wallets of those seeking entertainment. In short: it pays the bills fairly well when you don't offend the audience."

People watching had always been amusing, but there was something especially pleasant about watching their companions. Bicker though they might, they were all... interesting people. There was a lot to learn simply from watching them at a distance.

Shadowheart spent much of her time praying. Her expression was nearly always contemplative, though there were brief moments when she looked pained by something.

Wyll spent quite a bit of his down time swinging a sword, though not the heavy-handed way Lae'zel did. It was something fancy and far more graceful. Fencing, he'd called it.

Astarion often seemed to be either brooding or preening. It was a toss-up by the hour to see what the elf was doing just outside the entrance of his tent.

It was oddly nice getting to share a moment of simply watching with someone. A quieter type of observation than what he'd found living in Baldur's Gate. A quiet laugh burst past his lips at the sight of Gale tripping over his robes in his efforts to get ingredients put together for his cooking pot. "I wonder what a song about Gale's current predicament would sound like. I'm not quite practiced enough to put together the lyrics, but I can imagine."

Tav grinned, glancing over at Alaara in relief that he hadn't offended her. He knew some dragonborns were... proud. And Hells, he'd hate to cause offense. Especially this early. There were enough grudges to go around. He hummed thoughtfully. "Do you like getting laughs from your watchers then? I wonder if comedy would've been handy for my busking before all of this."

[miidnighters]

Billie giggles at his phrasing - one that she'd not heard before - but the sound was tired, even for her (having been told by several of the others that she was often too energetic).

"Frog on a log might be quieter," She offers - head turning towards the yelling pair at a particularly sharp accusation.

At his question, Billie lets out a long sigh and sits back on her hands, her own tail wrapped around her thigh to keep it out of the way.

"I'm doing okay, all things considered. This'll make a great book, if we live long enough for me to write it."

Maybe she shouldn't have said that out loud - isn't it better for morale or whatever to keep believing that everything would be fine? Besides, in truth - aside from having a tadpole in her head, and suddenly now being here instead of where she'd gone to sleep that night, not much in her life had changed. She was on the road a lot. There wasn't really anyone to miss her.

"What about you? Not exactly what you pictured you'd be doing, huh?"

A soft chuckle rumbled in his throat, eyes darting across camp at the sound of breaking glass and raised voices. Lae'zel and Shadowheart again, by the sound of it. Their voices were followed by the sound of irritated cursing from Astarion, who exited his tent and picked his way around toward the edge of camp to disappear into the woods. At least he wasn't instigating for a free show this time.

"Yeah, I think I would be better company than..." Tav gestured toward the two flushed-face and shouting women in the distance, "That, at the moment. Hells, a frog on a log in a hag's bog would be better company, and we both know those don't always tend to be actual frogs."

The exhaustion in his body felt more present than ever, leaving his tail drooping over the nearest thing behind him and heaving a heavy sigh from his lungs. He wasn't going to intervene this time. They needed to sort out their differences. Really. At least he cold be grateful for the company of another tiefling in this godsforsaken place. "Terrible is one word for it, but I'm starting to believe ridiculous is more accurate. How are you holding up with all of this?"

[miidnighters]

"Oh-"

Bella looks down at her own leathers. She'd hardly noticed how much of the blood was on her, given the way the smell permeated, but he was right. She was similarly covered in the stuff - and if her cheeks could pink in embarrassment, they would.

"I can go after. If you'd prefer."

Shame wasn't something they could afford much of, but shyness still played on her mind. Bella had spent the better part of three hundred and fifty years with very little company, and now had been thrown into the complete other end of that. Still, he had a point - Bella starts pulling at the laces at her sides, intending on getting the leathers off and at the very least waiting in her tunic.

Admittedly he wanted free of his armor and leathers, and soon. He felt sticky. Itchy. It was bloody fucking disgusting, really, and that was all it really took for his fingers to twitch to the clasps of his armor. No, of course he wasn't going to get naked right here, but he could at least drop the weight of some of the mess for now.

Tav paused mid shrugging-off of his light curiass to blink in mild surprise at the kin offer. These new friends were really something, weren't they? Not everyone in the world was rough and sharp around the edges, perhaps.

He smiled and nodded. "I'd appreciate that. I have a feeling I'm not the only one who needs to go for a swim tonight."

Truthfully she wasn't faring much better. Shame wasn't something they could afford much of these days. "Shared soap, then?"