#poe iselmyr

[warammy]

"Last time he laid a hand on us, i break it in three places" - Iselmyr

[glamfellens]

oh i see. so aloth’s father has to die

[phynsmutstravaganza]

Ongoing fic- Waelite

Chapter two up!!

The shock of such complete darkness sent a thrill of primal energy through Aloth's body, and he had to consciously resist casting a spell once again. He waited, feeling exposed and vulnerable, instinct telling him to flee back to the light while he still could. No matter how many mysterious tunnels and caverns he’d traveled through, nothing softened the first panic of being sightless in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous place.

cw/for some violence, xaurip killing, and blood

[yelly-ink]

AAAHGGHGHHHHHHHHH I LOVE THISSSS THANK YOUU SM!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'VE PORTRAYED THEM SO WELL MWAHH 😭😭😭😭🙏🙏 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK UYO

A Waelite Indeed (Secret St. Waidwen exchange 2024 gift for @yelly-ink)

Happy New Year!!!

AO3

For the next hour or two, Aloth has the room all to himself.

The others have gone shopping, and then probably drinking. He claimed to be unwell, still recovering from the blow he'd taken down in Defiance Bay's catacombs — half true; his head does hurt, still, and not just from the usual foreign presence within — and stayed behind, winning himself... some peace and quiet? Not quite.

But, at the very least, a chance to have a conversation in private.

Iselmyr surfaces, as always, with pressure within his skull; it's a familiar and expected discomfort, but even fifty years later, he remembers how badly it scared him the first time this had happened. Part of him thought that his head was going to burst.

Now he knows better, and so he grinds his teeth and lets it come, trying to anchor himself in his own body even as Iselmyr takes some of the space.

It feels like being locked together in a small, narrow closet, with not nearly enough room for two.

Took ye long enough, she says, a teasing edge to her voice.

That annoys him. What he was supposed to do, converse with himself in broad daylight and be whisked away to the sanitarium?

On a better day he might have had more patience for Iselmyr's antics, but today… Today has been strange enough as it is.

"Well, excuse me for having other matters to attend to — such as handling the aftermath of your outbursts!"

Ye mean jawin' with the Watcher? Mayhap it's better she knows about us.

"Telling her… was a relief, yes," he admits begrudgingly — and immediately adds, "It still doesn't excuse you!"

Iselmyr chuckles in his head, her amusement like a taste of too-strong liquor on the back of his tongue.

Come tae, lad. What's done 's done.

That's just like her. Doing as she pleases and never taking responsibility — no, that always falls to him. And what if the Watcher wasn't as understanding as she was? What if she scorned them, turned them away? What would they do then?

He can argue his point until his voice gives out, but Aloth has done that enough to know that it's useless. Some ideas, it seems, Iselmyr just can't comprehend.

He forces himself to take a deep breath, master his own irritation. Anger is an unpleasant emotion; when it takes over, finding the line between himself and her becomes too difficult for his liking.

Finally, he says:

"I will admit, I didn't expect such… instant acceptance from her."

He can still see Izel's face in his mind's eye, her big eyes stark yellow against her dark fur, like two moons in a night sky. Staring a hole through him, excited, as she questioned him about his condition.

He had counter-arguments prepared, dozens of talking points to convince her that he was not dangerous; that he could manage Iselmyr enough for her to be a minor nuisance, rather than a large problem.

There was no need for that. Izel simply accepted his story at face value, and when he gathered the courage to ask her for help, agreed to his request within a heartbeat. If anything, the prospect of delving into the details of his condition seemed to excite her.

She's a fine lass, Iselmyr says.

She's a Waelite indeed, Aloth thinks; fascinated by the unusual and mysterious, ever curious.

He's still not sure how he feels about finding himself in the sights of that curiosity.

"You were trying to tell me something, back on the street," Aloth says. "What was it?"

Shortly after they'd emerged from the catacombs. He was still answering Izel's questions, and whatever Iselmyr was trying to say was lost at the edges of his awareness, settling between his eyes as a dull headache; one that would worsen and worsen until he found a safe space to hear her out.

Aye, she says, her voice suddenly more grave. About the Watcher. Fine she may be, but ye should keep an eye on her, lad.

That takes him by complete surprise.

Iselmyr, of all people, urging caution? A short, nervous laugh escapes him before he can fully compose himself.

"You're… worried? About Izel? Just what has gotten into you? Didn't you just say you approve of her?"

Certainly, Izel has been… forceful, somewhat, in her questioning, and it's not hard to imagine it becoming troublesome if she keeps at it.

But, above all else, she's an ally. They've never had a true ally before; even his Leaden Key supervisors have always remained distant by necessity, allowing him to do his own research as long as it didn't interfere with the Key's goals, but never stepping in to lend a hand themselves. Never promising anything.

And, now that they have Izel's alliance, the help of a true Watcher who is Awakened herself, Iselmyr has doubts?

Stop fretting, lad! I dinnae say she was wickt. But ye saw her down there with the Key. She liked what she was seeing.

Oh, there's the reason. Of course Iselmyr doesn't like her attitude towards the Key. Or, rather, to be more precise, she doesn't like that Izel's perspective doesn't align with her own.

"You're just upset that your ravings fell on deaf ears," Aloth counters. "So, unlike you, she's a woman who can appreciate order and discipline. What of it?"

Fye and coxfither to that!

"Now you're just being juvenile."

I was out in the world 'fore your auld man was a twinkle in HIS auld man's eye. An' I know sure as you do those fiends care nye for order - they just dig up what's rotten an' bury it even deeper.

Aloth presses his lips together, stifling the urge to respond with a more biting remark. In the end, all he says is:

"That is your opinion."

They've been over this countless times before. Whatever he says, Iselmyr will never accept it and simply keep at her own line of reasoning. He wouldn't have bothered with this discussion at all, had she not brought the Watcher — currently, their only hope — into the equation.

All I'm sayin' is, if she dinnae see they're foul, she's blind. An' if she saw it and liked it, mayhap we're better off finding a different Watcher.

"There won't be a different Watcher."

He can still barely believe they've stumbled upon this one.

Better nye Watcher at all than a wickt one.

"Izel's not wicked," Aloth says. "She's just… eccentric."

He doesn't want it to sound like a plea, but it does.

To his surprise, Iselmyr hesitates. He can feel the pressure behind his eyes ebb just for a moment, as if… as if her resolve had faltered.

Mayhap you're right, lad, she says finally. She was kind to us, an' mayhap I wirry for nothing. But if she tries somethin' with us, I'll brek those furry little arms.

"Please don't," Aloth says flatly.

Even if Izel did turn out to be evil incarnate, assaulting a woman half his height and half his weight is not the kind of blow his reputation can take.

Just keep an eye on 'er.

He sighs.

"…I will."

[dayntee]

[Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire] For the Best

Oh hey, I did a writing. It's over on AO3 if you prefer, or below under the break.

If you're into Pillars of Eternity, Aloth Corfiser/F!Watcher angst (or just disaster wizards in general, I hear they're all the rage), or somehow followed my PoE 1 & 2 streams from over FIVE years ago, this is for you!

(But honestly it's mostly for me. And to have something I felt confident writing while I wrap up my Veilguard run.)

This has spoilers for pretty much ALL THE THINGS (companion quests, final game events, Aloth's romance conclusion, etc), but seeing as how Deadfire is several years old, I don't think anyone looking for this type of fiction will care. Still, you've been warned!

PG-13ish for mild sexual references.

In any event... thanks for reading and joining me at the end of this particular journey. Other works in Idralia's journey can be found here:

Part 1 - What Might Have Been | AO3 Link

Part 2 - Frigid Nightmares | AO3 Link

Part 3 - Worst Kept Secrets | AO3 Link

Part 4 - Consequences | AO3 Link

I've seen the distance in your eyes over these past few days. I know someday soon, you'll find this note on your journeys, long after you've departed, and understand why I never asked you to stay. Truth be told, I knew it was futile. You'll say goodbye in your own way. Consider this mine.

I'll never truly know the reason why you left, of course. I've pondered the possibilities. You were always about the now, and that was fine. At least for a time, you were mine, and that's all I could have asked.

Were I a narcissistic individual, I would guess it is because you wish no harm would ever come of me, and your journey ahead will undoubtedly be perilous. The more pragmatic part of me says it's because it's something you simply have a need to do on your own. Regardless, know you'll have my heart on all your travels. You'll always be in my thoughts.

I write these words for me more than you. I know you'll never give me the closure I wished for, so… this is what I'll get. I just want to be clear about what my intentions would have been.

By your side, I'd have traveled to the ends of Eora. By your side, you would have had my bow, my companionship, and my love. By your side, I'd have slain gods, no matter the frauds they may have been. I'd have hunted every last member  of the Leaden Key at your request.

I never needed a cottage to settle in. I'd have never needed a marriage, or children to follow. All I'd have ever needed was you. Your worried brow, your sardonic commentary, and the rare, soft affection you only ever showed me behind closed doors. All of that was enough.

That is what I find most tragic, Aloth. I don't believe you find yourself to be enough. You feel you still have things to prove. Just… know you never needed to prove them to me. You were always more than whatever "enough" means. And should you ever wish to be found, leave me a sign. I'll be off on my own adventures through Eora - I'm not built to stay put, and I've had quite enough of the Deadfire than I ever cared for. You're the smartest I've ever known. You'll figure out what to leave for me, wherever you are.

All my love,

Idralia

----

He hadn't realized the tears were falling until they hit the page. It was the right decision, he had told himself. Leaving her behind was the only option.

'But ye dinnae even ask!' he heard Iselmyr's voice chiding him, fully furious with his dropped guard in this emotional state. 'Ye did what ye though' was best for ye, nae fer ye both.'

'I don't need your critique-' he started to mentally respond, but she didn't let him continue.

'Well, ye're ginna git it! The lass 'as been pinin' fer ya since afore Caed Nua was ere on the horizon, or were ye so dafty ye ne're knew?' If the disassociated voice of his past psyche could huff and glare him down, then it was certainly doing it now.

And Iselmyr was right. He never gave Idralia a chance to tell him what she wanted. He'd made his boundaries, and she assumed there was no further discussion to be had. She respected his wishes, and she let things just be. Aloth hadn't even considered what lay for her after the encounter with Eothas.

'Ye though she wonnit survive,' Iselmyr practically screeched, and he felt a breath shudder in his chest, his hand coming up to his mouth to choke back the unexpected sob.

That sat with him for moments too long. There had never been a time he'd doubted the capabilities of the Watcher, his Watcher, and he had now done so subconsciously. He'd been selfish. It was easier to leave because he'd always assumed that after everything… she just wouldn't be there anymore.

And now, it was likely too late. It was months later—he'd left the ship as soon as it had docked after their final encounter, slipping out in the early morn when he knew she would be sleeping the deepest. And certainly ('OBVIOUSLY' Iselmyr sneered again) she had known he would leave, given that this note had fluttered out from between a few pages of one of his grimoires.

In fact, he was certain she had outplayed him, for it had been tucked a few dozen pages in front of where he had dog-eared his progress that night, resulting in having missed its presence for weeks. Not until it had tumbled to the floor as he packed up from his latest multi-day operation had he noticed it. He wasn't sure whether she meant it as a cruel jest or a legitimate punishment.

'Ye'd be in fer so much more if I-'

"ENOUGH," he shouted, before stifling himself immediately. He was in the small inn room he'd procured, and the walls were thin. While his work here was done, he didn't need to draw the additional attention.

"Enough…" he muttered, eyes skimming over the contents of the letter once more. Quietly, for perhaps the first time in their long entanglement together, Iselmyr was gentle with him. 'She said yer enough. Tha should be enough.' After that thought trickled through, she fell silent, clearly intending to leave him to stew in his mistakes, quite unhelpfully.

----

Several weeks earlier…

When Idralia awoke in her cabin, she wasn't surprised that her bed was notably colder than anticipated. She wasn't surprised to find a lack of weight against her side, or the absence of parchment and leather that made up the scent she recognized as her wizard. A slow, sad smile came to her lips, and she felt the tears gathering already.

No amount of anticipation of his departure was ever going to prepare her for it.

They had done this song and dance years before at Caed Nua, though this round was always going to be far more bittersweet. Despite the fact they'd never been more than just friends at the time, he had to have known back then how much she yearned for him. She was, after all, absolute garbage when it came to verbal subtlety.

She sat up in bed, her sheets twisting around her undressed form, a cold breeze trickling in from an open port where Cantelope was enjoying the fresh air. She laughed mirthlessly, the tears gently rolling down her cheeks, and her antelope companion turned to her with a head tilt. As he trotted over, she welcomed his gentle bunts, petting his head and side in return. She leaned down to press her forehead into his muzzle.

"He thought it a kindness," she whispered to him, and Cantelope bleated quietly in return. She closed her eyes, thinking back over the previous night—their final night, she now realized—and how present, passionate, and yet careful he had been in their lovemaking. Their patterns had always been varied; there were days where she had pulled him urgently from his studies with need, taking command as the captain she was. And yet, there were others where he had interrupted her training or a debrief with a longing and purposeful touch or glance, only to display the same power and control he might show on the battlefield once they were behind closed doors.

Last night, though, had been different. She had expected a normal night's rest, where upon they'd wake in the morning in each other's arms before exploring the port and perhaps a little shopping. Instead, he had entered her cabin with no words and a sweet kiss, escorted her slowly to her bunk, and lavished affection in his every touch, stroke, and embrace. He had taken his time, and she had relished the welcome surprise without realizing what he'd been doing.

"That was his goodbye," she choked out with a sob, and her companion cuddled in closer. Her morning routine was replaced with tears she knew had to come and, in a way, were an all too welcome catharsis to the hollowness in her heart.

It was at least an hour later than she normally would present on deck as captain when she finally emerged from her cabin. Eder was waiting for her, the look on his face rapidly twisting from a goofy grin to a knitted brow of worry in the span of seconds it took him to register the sorrow in her eyes. She'd eschewed her eyepatch, for one, which usually meant she had something important to say and wanted to make eye contact. The more worrisome detail was the angry, red puff around her eyes and the two fingers pressed against her temple, suppressing a headache.

Eder wanted to ask but didn't know where to start, so he simply strode forward and put a hand on her shoulder. Despite the efforts she made attempting to steel herself, this broke her once more. Tears welled up and Idralia threw her arms around her dearest friend, knowing that he, too, would soon leave.

He caught her awkwardly, but settled into giving her a big, stabilizing hug. He knew the only thing that could break the Watcher's heart this thoroughly. If he was being honest, the truth of it simply pissed him off. But being angry was not going to comfort his friend, so he instead held her for as long as she needed, letting her tears and snot and spit soak into his jerkin. It certainly wasn't the grossest thing he'd ever had to clear out of his clothes, and it wasn't half as distressing as the pain he heard in her voice as she sobbed.

A curious crewmate or two passed by the scene, and he would shake his head the moment he saw concern raise. Now was not a good time. The captain just needed a good cry. Or two. Maybe three.

And most certainly, after this, despite the fact it was barely past the eighth bell of the day, they were likely to head straight to the closest tavern once she was ready.

-----

The events that followed were a whirlwind, made more rapid by the disorienting heaviness of her broken heart. Everyone that remained began to take their leave, given that their mission was complete.

Tekehu, Maia, and Pallegina hadn't remained after the turbulent last-minute decisions Idralia had made, all having taken their leave shortly after the disaster in Neketaka. The Captain's staunch determination in avoiding compromise of her beliefs conflicted against her frustrations with the political bickering of the Deadfire's factions had ultimately resulted in chaos. Neketaka was steeped in civil war due to her actions, and Idralia's reluctant agreement to allow the Vailian Trading Company to exert their power came too late to salvage her friendship with Pallegina. The Principi had long since been left in ill terms. Despite having never spoken a lie, it was impressive to have broken so much trust with so few words.

It… was supposed to be for the best.

Of the onboard companions, Xoti was the first to leave, though no one had initially realized it. Given the haunted looks and grim smiles she cast in the flickering light of the ship's hull, the realization had dawned on most once they felt her dark presence absent. She disappeared in the night, and while Idralia couldn't say she was indifferent, she knew that the burdens Xoti carried were ones she was never going to be able to help reconcile.

Vatnir, quite suspiciously, disappeared shortly afterward. Whether drawn by the aura of death that now hung around Xoti or his own spiritual calling, Idralia wasn't sure—nor was she inclined to find out.

That is… probably for the best.

Konstanten and Fassina were the next to depart, eager to return to Neketaka and recoup losses within their connections there… or at the very least, take advantage of the upheaval for their own benefit. Still, they left hand-in-hand, and despite herself, Idralia genuinely wished them well on their journey together, sending them off with a hefty sum of gold as deserved dues for their lives ahead.

That is definitely for the best.

Rekke and Ydwin departed sometime after that, a few weeks of listless sailing to their benefit. Ydwin eventually took her quiet leave, intent on continuing her animancy research. With the Wheel broken, she claimed there was much new territory to explore, and she'd quite run the well dry in what she could learn aboard The Defiant. The gift she left behind, though - a perfectly tailored Aedyrn coat, cut and trimmed to match Aloth's usual robes - was bittersweet.

'Apologies, Captain. But it seemed a shame to not leave you with this despite…' the cypher let the thought trail in Idralia's mind, and the Watcher responded with a sad smile.

"It's beautiful. Reminders of fond times are a wonderful gift, even when they're painful. Thank you,"

She swore she saw the ghost of a smile on Ydwin's face as she disembarked the ship.

As for Rekke, he stayed on as long as he could, attempting to hone his Aedyran more thoroughly before preparing to explore the rest of Eora. There was, after all, much for a distant Storm folk to explore in a world that was largely unaware of his peoples' existence.

"The kindness you have given unto me will never be forgotten. This will be known," he assured, setting a strong hand on the Captain's shoulder with a broad smile, mimicking an affection Eder often used with her.

"Neither will the stories and friendship you've given me," she returned the gesture, and they nodded to one another in a final goodbye.

I wish the best for them both.

As the crew dwindled down, only Serafen and Eder remained among her closest companions. Serafin was perfectly happy to be aboard a ship he knew and under a captain he trusted, and Eder…

"When are you getting off my ship?" she asked partially in jest of him one night, leaning over the same railing where he rested, pipe lit and in hand.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't wanna go until you didn't need me no more," he muttered, and Idralia smiled sadly at him, brow knit somewhere between appreciation and a little bit of annoyance.

"I'll always need my dearest friends, Eder. But that doesn't mean you have to be stuck here with me. You've got family," she thought about how he'd leapt into action upon discovering Bearn's existence, and how hard he'd fought to ensure his safety. "He's still waiting for you in Hasongo, right? And I'm sure you two could do a lot of good. Together,"

Eder sighed, and knitted his brows together with his own sad smile.

"It kills me to leave ya without him here," he admitted, and she reached out to put a hand reassuringly on his arm.

"It… was his choice. And I have to press on," she shrugged. "And hey, it's not like it's the first time, right?"

He shook his head at her poor attempt at a joke and took a few puffs of his whiteleaf. "He's an ass who don't know what he lost," he murmured bitterly, the pipe rocking back and forth between his lips. He exhaled deeply, blowing a ring or two in the crisp night air.

"Live well, ya hear? Live well to spite 'im," he turned a serious face to her and she smiled helplessly at him again.

"You know me, friend. I'll try, and probably piss off two or three nations while I do it,"

At that, he finally let loose a hearty guffaw and clapped her on the back.

"Ye've always been a good one, Watcher,"

She smiled and sat quietly with him for a while longer, enjoying the night. They'd set course for Hasongo in the morning.

It is, truly, for the best—for him.

----

After the course of several weeks and a fond, boisterous farewell to her favorite Dyrwoodan bumpkin, she boarded The Defiant for what she quietly knew would be her final journey aboard.

"Where to, Cap'n?" Serafen asked as her foot step aboard, and she closed her one visible eye to take a deep breath.

"Set sale for Aedyr, Serafen," the orlan sputtered in surprise at the command, the journey being almost impossibly long from their current location.

"Are… are you sure, Cap'n? That's… quite a ways from the Archipelago. We're gonna need to refresh crew and rations a few times-"

"I know you can handle it," she smiled down at him gently before, without a further word, removed her hat and placed it upon his head. "Captain,"

He pushed the slightly-too-big tricorn up to look at her from under it. "What are you on about?"

She strode over to the stairs leading up to the stern and sat on them, resting an all-too-heavy head in her hands, elbows propped against her knees.

"I've spent a good bit of my life before all my adventures in the Deadfire, and I'll be honest if I'm not sick of it now," she laughed mirthlessly. "I've done enough damage to last a lifetime. Technically every lifetime. I need to go home."

Serafen waved a hand at a crewmate to get them casting off before he walked over to sit next to her. As the rest of the crew got to work departing, he scrunched his eyebrows together as he tried to recall his Captain's history. It wasn't his strongest suit.

"I thought you were from the Deadfire," he settled, mostly certain.

"You're right. I am," she reached up and pulled the eyepatch off, blinking several times while her vision equalized. "But… my home's not a place," she shrugged helplessly and a warm, understanding smile passed over her friend's face.

"You think he went back to Aedyr?" she shrugged at the question. She had no idea, really—at the end of the day, if Aloth didn't want to be found…

"It's as good a place as any to start looking,"

"Then I'll get you to Aedyr,"

The Defiant is in the best hands it can be.

----

A couple more weeks passed on the trip from the Archipelago to Aedyr. She'd given Serafen the biggest hug, lifting him off his feet and causing his cheeks to flush in front of the crew.

"I'm not sorry," she whispered to him before planting a warm kiss on his cheek and setting him back on deck.

"Great, they're not gonna let that one go for weeks,"

"A good thing you'll have weeks to let them get it out of their systems," she winked, hoisting her modest bag over her shoulder. She took little with her beyond her gear, leaving behind the majority of their treasure to the crew, ample funds to Serafen for the journey back to the Deadfire and more, and anything that would ultimately just weigh her down. She'd kept enough to keep her traveling for some time, knowing she'd have to work, track, hunt, or do an odd job or two eventually.

Nothing I'm not used to.

"You… take care of yourself, Ca-" he caught himself. "Take care, Idralia,"

"Don't sink my ship, Serafen," he shook his head and rolled his eyes as she turned her back, walking down the gangplank and into the small town dock she'd requested they moor. She didn't want to start in a big city—she knew there was little point in doing so. Cantelope, her steadfast antelope companion, leaned in and nuzzled Serafen before giving him a lick on his other cheek and cantering after his master.

"Ugh, ya damn beast…" he wiped the saliva from his fur before the stink sank in. "Give him a kick in the pants for me when you find him!" he shouted after, and she raised a hand in acknowledgement before disappearing into the crowd.

"And good luck," he murmured, trying not to get choked up about all his Captain had given him.

----

Several more weeks passed as she tried to grow accustomed to Aedyr. It was a nation with which she was unfamiliar, despite her wood elf lineage. She wasn't even terribly good at blending in visually, as she walked, talked, and presented like the pirate she once was.

She was used to ruffling feathers.

She had traveled through much of the countryside, trying to listen in on her own leads on the Leaden Key, knowing that where she found them… she would eventually find him. Eventually, that brought her to a moderately-sized city, filled with judgmental eyes she ignored and hushed whispers about a Deadfire stranger brazenly walking the streets.

Thankfully, her tales of being the Herald of Berath hadn't seemed to reach these shores, though the news of the tumultuous turn of events in Deadfire politics, the increased presence of the Vailian Empire brought through its grasp for power, and the rapid expansion of breakthroughs in animancy, engineering, and all forms of wizardly research were hot topics. It was just as well to her—she hadn't liked being the fabled Watcher, and had liked even less being seen as a messenger of the gods.

As it grew late, she found the first inn she could that offered stabling for Cantelope, ensuring her companion would be well-treated and spoiled for the evening. A bit of gold to grease the stablehand's palm and a reassurance that treating her friend unkindly would not end well was often more than enough to secure such accommodations.

A room and a meal were next on her list, and a weathered elf woman looked up to address her over the bar. "Greetings, ma'am," she gave a nod, "Have you got a room for one available?"

The woman looked at her curiously, as if studying her features for a moment, before pulling a sheet of paper out of her pocket and squinting at it. "Dear, did you check in an antelope to our stable?" she asked, and Idralia cocked an eyebrow at the question. That was only moments ago, how did-

"Aye, just a few moments prior. Is… that an issue here?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

"No! No, not at all. I was just instructed to give you this when you checked in. And the room's paid for," the woman leaned down under the counter and pulled up a single bottle of Aedyrn mead, along with a wax sealed envelope. She laid a key atop the missive, indicating she was in the room labeled… A.

Her heart leapt to her throat. That cheeky- "O-oh. Thanks much," she managed out, taking the items, bowing her head, and quickly making her way through to her accommodations.

She fumbled with the items, particularly the key, as she approached the properly labeled compartment door, her hands shaking and heart racing. Finally, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, steadying herself to properly fit key to keyhole, and did not exhale until after she swung the door open.

The room was unoccupied, but not empty. A pack here, a stack of parchment there, and a pile of excess grimoires towered on a side table. He wasn't here in this moment, but the signs of his presence… Even without him here, she could feel it.

She dropped her pack inside the door, closing it quietly behind her. After the soft click, she closed her eyes again and simply inhaled. The smell of parchment and leather was unmistakable. It was simply his.

She set the bottle of mead down next to the stack of grimoires, smirking sideways at it, and opened the sealed letter.

I am an idiot. The least I owe you is a drink. The most I owe you is everything else. Be back soon.

It wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. The hurt and pain and hollowness in her heart slowly began to fill. Of course, a part of her was still angry with him for leaving the way he did, but it paled in comparison to the yearning for his voice, his touch, his kiss-

She sat on the bed, his note held to her heart, and as patiently as ever—she waited.

----

He returned far later than he had planned, realizing he'd been caught up in his research at the library for more than several hours. The advances in animancy had caught his attention as much as they had any other scholars, and he sighed in spite of himself. His eyes were tired, and he only realized how hungry he was now that he wasn't deeply engrossed in texts.

However tired he may have been, the warm smile of the tavern keeper behind the counter and knowing look she gave him snapped him awake as readily as a splash of cold water. He gave a quick nod to the proprietor before quickly making his way to his room, waving his hand to unlock the door via the arcane as he'd left the sole key behind. As he registered the click, he took a steadying breath—in all truthfulness, he didn't know whether she'd want to kiss him or kill him, and she was quite in her right to do either.

He nudged the door open slowly, the hour late, and breathed out quietly in a form of relief as he realized she had dozed off on the bed in the time he'd been gone.

She was nearly as he remembered, except her hair had begun to grow out again. Perhaps not being on the seas anymore had encouraged her to let her locks run rampant. Her once shortly cropped hair was growing haphazardly, and it was clear she hadn't had a trim in some time as it was wildly uneven. He smiled as he moved into the room, reaching out to brush a few stray strands from her sleeping face, but pausing mid motion as he noticed a note lying beside her. It was the one he had left for her, but with an addendum.

You _are_ an idiot, and I am tired. I'll yell at you tomorrow.

He smiled, probably more than one should knowing he was bound to get an earful. He settled in for the evening, darkening the room and moving quietly and deliberately as to not disturb her sleep. He tried to close his eyes, but he couldn't help himself. Rolling to one side, he pulled her close. She slept as deeply as she ever did when they were safely aboard The Defiant together, and though she did not wake in that moment, he felt her settle in against his chest.

He breathed her in—sweat and sun and something green he could never quite put his finger on. She was here. She was real. She was more than enough. She was… home. And whatever he was for her, he silently vowed he'd continue to be, for as long as she'd have him.

As he drifted to sleep himself, he looked forward to the fury she owed him.

[elluvians]

Rhenna, my moon Godlike PoE Watcher is a pretty serious lady, can be blunt at times but in the end she tries to do the right thing, with the emphasis on tries. Before the events of the game she was always alone, traveling and trying to save up some coin to settle somewhere eventually. I'm still trying to figure out her relationship with the companions in the game (haven't met all of them yet) but so far:

- Edér has become her best friend, much to her surprise. It took a while but she warmed up to him eventually and even laughs at some of his jokes. He's also the only person who knows how to calm her down when she's anxious (which is often).

- Kana is basically her son, she adores him and finds him endearing and always finds time to listen to him talk. She also shares his love for books, which the rest of the party dreads sometimes when Rhenna and Kana spend too much time browsing books.

- Aloth - at first she didn't think much of him until he confessed to her about Iselmyr. During the Two-Sided quest she had a "Oh no..." moment where she realised she started developing feelings for him

And that's all I have for now woo! I don't know how far in the game I am but based on how much I've been playing and what I know of the story it's probably not very far djdjsbsksj. But I want to do something with the characters I create in games so might as well start here.

[mavistuff]

somewhat of a study of that Sandra Oh photo but as Iselmyr bc u know she would wear that and honestly what else do i even draw anymore...

[c4ntrip]

actually everyone should see my iselmyr

[arnaerr]

I wanted to sketch some companions from Pillars of Eternity ages ago. Here they are, finally

[pokikfek]

Iselmyr is going to crack some skulls >:D Art by Warammyliko  Instagram: @warammyliko Twitch: Warammy  

[kaseyno]

iselmyr and devil of caroc are so funny thank you white march for the girls!

[arlathen]

wanting to tell aloth to suppress iselmyr bc i feel like that's better for him vs wanting to hear matt mercer do the funny accent

[frankensteined]

making iselmyr laugh has been the most important thing i've done in this game so far :')

[felassanis]

Watcher taking off their clothes: So is Iselmyr an unwilling participant in this threesome?

Aloth: please dont call it that....

[herearedragons]

6, 11, and 15 for the end of the year writing asks!

6. did you make any new writeblr friends? give a shout-out! if not, it's time to praise one of your old besties <3

@curiouslavellan I know I've tagged you in like 3 of these at this point but (gestures wildly to the question)

anyway everyone please go read Elly's fics I'm very fond of her Bulavellan one-shot and of her cured Tranquil Trevelyan longfic (Aurelia I care you) and also shoutout to the Hawke/Anders/Justice soulmate AU that's putting some really fun twists on the "your soulmate's first words to you are written on your body" trope from a Thedosian perspective and in general. also if you like Pillars Of Eternity and Pacific Rim go read Where There's Water RIGHT NOW

also @solas-backpack-mug @apeirotilio I've interacted with you guys as readers more than as fellow writers but I do want to shout you out for being a constant presence in the comment section. if no one else got me I know Tilio and Backpack Mug got me. thank you for being excited and observant and really funny in the comments of my stories

11. which scene was harder/easier to write than anticipated? why?

writing my Secret St. Waidwen gift was A RIDE.

there is NO comprehensive guide that I know of for writing the Hylspeak dialect of Iselmyr from POE. it seems to borrow from Scots and from Old English but there is NOT a comprehensive dictionary and she doesn't have THAT many lines ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRANCHISE so even after literally scouring the game files and compiling all of her dialogue into a doc I was still scared of writing her.

making her have a simple conversation in a 1000-ish words long fic and not completely fumbling it felt like defeating a videogame boss

15. time for shameless self-promotion! answer with a piece of writing you want others to see/read! (if you have nothing posted/published this year, any other year is fine too ^^)

I haven't shut up about The Hanged Man ever since I started writing it and I will not shut up about it in the coming year either.

Pillars Of Eternity people please read my Edér x Watcher murder mystery. or if you've already read it please tell me what you think. I love that fic dearly and I would LOVE to hear people's thoughts. in fact hearing people's thoughts directly fuels the pace of production of new chapters. like I'll keep writing this anyway because it's For Me but also it's a piece of media I love (made by me) and as with any other media I love I Want To Discuss It

Dragon Age people check out my fake party banter series. it's pretty fun

[trans-asari]

Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. So I think Avowed is set in the faaar past to the PoE timeline. And if so. If its set really far back

What if

We have Iselmyr as a companion/sidekick/ character