#villages of people you can’t speak to. horrifying creatures that chase you at night

[pyr0cue]

I genuinely believe the Minecraft movie should have horror elements in it. In my heart the Minecraft movie is an isolation horror movie. Or at least not a comedy action movie.

[lamiaward]

Devour me

I do not own OUAT

I think the only warnings are a mention of sex (nothing graphic) and an allusion to torture ( but nothing specific)  but honestly I am so tired my brain isn’t working so..  

I hope you enjoy : )

After Mal had hatched, she quickly learned that you had to be tough. You had to be tougher than a mountain, tougher than dragon scales even. You had to be so tough that no human could hurt you, and no dragon could beat your fire. Dragons are not meant to be soft, or pliable or even have the slightest affection for humans.

Before, there used to be human-dragon settlements. But by the time Maleficent hatched, there had been a horrendous betrayal and one of her first lessons was to never trust a human. To never even allow them to get close, physically or emotionally. In fact, it was better to immediately kill them or fly away. All the other hatchlings were told the same: humans are slippery, awful creatures. They are prey, but be careful. Because they have odd things that could kill you, and strange power that could trap you.

Every night, there were stories to enforce the rule. With the cold of the cave’s stone wall almost enough to chill her, she can almost imagine she is at the nest again, listening to the familiar voice. She would lay in the fire’s embers and hear all these stories. About dragons who saw human villages being attacked and helped- only to be chased and killed by the people they saved. About dragons that listened to humans dressed in steel, and agreed to help them in their battle – only to be betrayed.

Sometimes, there were dragons who formed friendships. Who fell in love. Who were nothing but loyal and passionate the way dragons are, and whose stories all ended in the most gruesome ways.

So Maleficent knows better than to trust humans. She has lived stories like the ones she used to fall asleep to. So why does she look at her princess, and forgets all of that? Her species’ history is filled with tragedies caused by humans, and yet she doesn’t see something despicable when she looks at Regina.

Regina is sweat-soaked, her hair matted to her face. She sounds pathetic whenever she whimpers, which is often. Sometimes, she still cannot sit up without help, and falls asleep after even the easiest of tasks such as sipping the drinks Maleficent gets for her. Any dragon would think off her as weak prey, and either leave her to die in dignity and peace, or eat her if they were hungry.

Maleficent has tried. She has tried to abandon the princess, but her wings always returned her to this cave, the hoarded objects and the smart, hot-headed yet sweet woman that freed her.

Perhaps I feel indebted to her, because she liberated me. Perhaps that is what is causing my unwillingness to leave her.

Maleficent is not stupid though, nor is she oblivious. She knows it is probably far more than that. Especially because she cannot stop thinking about the way her princess bites her lip whenever she gets a spell right. Because she can’t stop her own smile at the reminder of what sleeping with Regina in her arms feels like. She knows she is deep trouble, and she should leave because of more than just dragon rules.

“Mal?”

Maleficent slowly lifts her head, and then looks in Regina’s direction. She is struggling to sit up, eyes still a little bleary. They quickly clear however, and Maleficent knows that if she had her wings right now, they would be moving and her tail would be sweeping the floor, like it does whenever Regina looks at her like this.

Perhaps she actually can read minds, or sense emotions. That could even be a human thing, although I have found no evidence that the ancient stories are true.

“ I still despise that nickname” she grumbles.

Regina stretches, and yawns. “ Well, you still have not told me your full name so the nickname will have to stay”.

Maleficent slowly stands, and prowls towards Regina. “Mal is an insult to my ancestors, who granted me my name after I had proved myself worthy of one. Names are sacred and should be chosen after great consideration and never abbreviated” she growls, climbing on the bed and looming over Regina.

“ I like it” Audacious girl. Regina’s smile just grows, and Maleficent thinks about all the ways she would teach Regina that she is playing with fire. “ Mal”.

Maleficent is actually so stunned that she leans back, and forgets to be intimidating. “ You have never spoken it that way before” she says. Regina’s smile turns a bit shy. Maleficent eyes the blush and feels her cheeks stretch by her own pleased smile. “ Do it again” she commands.

Regina rolls her eyes. “ You are not in charge of – “ her voice trails off when Mal wraps a strand of dark hair around her finger, and leans in even more. “ Do it again” she whispers, and smirks when Regina flushes and stammers for a moment.

“Um -  Mal?”

“ Not like that. Like before. I enjoy it so much more when you speak it like that”.

“ Mal “.

“ Something like that, yes. But- “.

Maleficent glares when Regina pushes her away. “ Stop it.

“ I was enjoying that”.

“ What did they make you do?”.

Maleficent blinks in confusion at the sudden change in subject. It isn’t unfamiliar, as her princess often quickly changes the subject when Maleficent has managed to fluster her quite deliciously, but it doesn’t mean she has gotten any better at understanding what is meant.

“ You were upset because you only received your name after you had proven yourself worthy. What does that entail?”.

Ah. “ You are very interested in dragon customs, are you not?”.

Maleficent almost smiles as Regina nods eagerly. Then her old training kicks in, and her lips stop twitching.  Regina doesn’t shy away when Maleficent presses against her, and grabs her chin to yank her head forward.   “ Why? So that monster Cora can trap and destroy the last of my kind, as soon as you have told her how?”  

“No, of course not “ Regina protests.

Maleficent slowly lets go.  “Why then?”.

“ Your kind – it is fascinating. You always have been” Regina frowns. “ I do not know why. You just always were” She licks her lips. “Mother has never approved of my fascination with your species”.

“ Perhaps she wished you to be as weak as possible”.

“ I am not weak” Regina snaps.

Just when it seems like Regina’s anger is about to explode, Maleficent speaks again.  “ No. You are not” she simply states.

“ So will you tell me? Please? “

“ My kind only receive their names after they have proved themselves. They have to prove themselves strong, courageous and unbreakable”.

“ How?” Regina questions, settling against the things Maleficent got from a cottage somewhere. She took them because they looked very comfortable, and soft. The farmer was very willing to give her anything she desired. Regina doesn’t know this.  Maleficent leans against them as well, pleased that she got them even if she would likely have an argument with the princess if Regina ever found out.

“ They have a day to find a prey, and kill it. They have another day to return with something taken from humans in a fight. And they have a last day to fight each other” Maleficent waits a beat, then adds “ to the Death”.

As she expected, Regina is horrified. “ What”.

“As you may have noticed, this world is not exactly kind to my species. Only the strongest and most capable survive. It is necessary that only the strongest survive- lest someone traps a weaker dragon, and somehow manages to extract our secrets from them”.

“But you are already captured” Regina says, voice soft and eyes even softer.

“ Yes. But I assure you that the humans have yet to discover torture methods that will convince any dragon to give up our secrets”

“ So you force your children through beastly iniation rituals, only so that maybe they will not tell humans anything? “.

“ Do not judge our ways, princess, or do I need to remind you what your kind has done?”.

“ Not every human would hurt a dragon, many would never - “.

“ Look at yourself princess. Is it not custom for humans to lock their kin away, to trap them and treat them as pretty things to be traded?”.

“I am not- “.

“ They stuck you into a tower, and decided your fate without ever asking you what you wanted. They had no regard for who you are, and who you can become. And you are not alone. There are so many like you, and I know it because the skies are no longer filled with dragons. They are all rotting in the ground, or in what you humans have named ‘dungeons’. Waiting to guard a treasure so much more valuable than your kind seems to know, and murdered by someone who only wishes fame and beauty”.

“ I thought you didn’t care about humans “ Regina says, turning her face away. Her voice is hoarse, and Maleficent has already seen the tears.

“ What makes you think I do? “.

“ You sound angry about how we are treated”.

“Your species infatuation with towers and princes means my kind has to suffer”.

Regina swallows. “ Mother and her allies would have made you suffer anyways  “ she whispers

“ Quite likely. But we could have stopped them. Their numbers would have been small enough for them to be no real threat. But now, there are humans with meaningless titles and jewels on their head that wish their daughters to have a dragon guard- and so we are no longer free”.

“ The books say there are still great numbers of you”.

Maleficent laughs, and sees Regina flinch subtly.  “ We were great, once. But now- so many of us have left, and the ones that are left are fighting a losing battle”.

“ But you are dragons. You can fly for hours and miles- and if legend is true, you can even reach other realms. You breathe fire, fire that is even hotter than mundane fire and burns through our strongest armour. You are nearly immune to magic, and have your own magic. You are gargantuan and strong and terrifying – “.

“ And you have great numbers. Even if you are usually divided by greed and intolerance , you still manage to form huge groups with weapons that can fatally wound us.  You never surrender, and you remain standing even when you are so small, and so weak. Your kind has no honour, and plenty of cruelty”

“ You have a grim view of humankind”.

“ My little fireball, you forget I have met humans. And you are the first one to show any sign of honour and dignity. You are the first human with dragon qualities”.

At first, Maleficent thinks her words have angered Regina or perhaps made her feel some other emotion. They have had conversations like this before, after all, and they often end with Regina yelling or receding back into herself “ How many have you met?”.

“ Too many”.

“ I thought you only had met mother- that she captured you, and- “.

“ I am ancient, mi cielo. I have lived for a long time, and I have met many humans during my lifetime”.

“ They can’t all have been bad”.

“ Perhaps some were not bad in the beginning. But they soon changed. Which is how I learned how changeable your species are”.

Regina scoffs. “ And dragons are not?”.

“ No. As soon as we have matured, we stay true to ourselves. But humans- you seem so uncertain of who you are, and then spend your entire lives changing “.

“ But if you have lived a really long time, then surely you have developed as a person and experienced new things and adjusted your beliefs?”.

“ Not really. Dragons do not have the complicated and odd rules humans seem to have in many cases.  I have always just observed and formed my own opinion. Humans come with pre-formed, forced opinions”.

“ What do you mean?”

“ Your kind has rules for every tiny thing. You have thoughts about what each person should be like, what they are and how they ought to behave. This means that as you grow, and become your own person, you change a lot of those ‘beliefs’. Dragons are not like that, we are free creatures. The only rules are to be strong, and to survive”.

“ Rules are necessary- they protect you”.

“ Perhaps- but your kind overdoes it. I admit I do not fully understand humans, or their customs. But what I have noticed during my travels into human territory, is that some of your rules make no sense. They are not just or there to protect, they take and the majority receives nothing in return “.

“ I know that” Regina says, a thousand thoughts and memories flitting through her mind. Her own mother has installed many rules to ‘protect’ her people, which in reality only increased her own power.

“ Do you?”.

“ Of course I do! I am not oblivious and- “ I have observed mother and her allies for a long time. Even if she did not wish me to

“ Her “

Regina closes her eyes. “ Please don’t”.

“ I was not doing anything”.

“ You despise my mother, do you not? “ Regina has to swallow twice ( it hurts, like that time her mother’s magical constraints were around her throat, and she only let go when Regina nodded and promised her total obeisance ) and her voice is still only a hoarse whisper.

“ There is nothing in that woman- there is just this great hole filled with sickly greed and ambition”

“ She is my mother. And she has her flaws, but she- “.

“ Do you believe her capable of love?”.

“ Mal- “.

“ Dragons may be harder than the material your people use to kill my kind, and will force their kin through hardships so to strengthen them, but they would never hurt someone the way your mother hurt you. Love is sacred to us. Those we love are sacred to us “.

“ Mal- “.

“ I know you humans are quicker to spit on those you love, but the way your mother treats you is extreme. Even by human standards, I believe- “.

Maleficent arches her eyebrow when Regina jumps ( actually, it is more like she is falling. The princess is still weak) off the bed and turns to her with the most furious expression Maleficent has ever seen. “ She is my mother. She raised me, and cared for me my entire life. She just thought her way was the best, and believed that in time, I would agree with her. Just because she was utterly wrong and believes it is more important that I never go hungry and face none of the uncertainties the peasants do , does not mean she doesn’t love m-me”

Regina furiously wipes at the few tears that have managed to escape.  Maleficent cannot help but admire how she is obviously breaking inside, but she is still poised and has her chin raised. If she did not suspect that that horrid creature had something to do with it, she would be proud with her princess for being able to hold it together like this. But all she can think about is the weeks – or months, time was not really a concept that existed in the dreary, empty room she was kept in- before she was sent off with the princess, and what that thing has done to Regina to make her able to collect herself in two seconds. To make her terrified of showing pain, or love or sadness.

“ Regi- “

She was lost in thoughts for too long. Regina is already gone.

She wants to stay in the cave at first, suspecting that Regina just wishes to be alone right now. But she is only waiting for two minutes when she realizes how much like prey Regina still is. She might be able to sit up again, and even walk, but she is still recovering. She is in the air before she has even really thought it through, and her wings quickly bring her to where Regina is.

She is sitting on a large rock, arms around her knees and body shaking furiously. She doesn’t spot Maleficent approaching- probably because her face is hidden, pressed against her own arms. Maleficent flies back a little , placing enough distance between them to respect Regina’s desires but not enough to be too late if something would happen.

It is only when Regina stands up, and starts to scream and yell and stump that Maleficent gets closer again. She hovers, carefully watching the princess as she screams and paces on the rock. It is a struggle, but she keeps the distance between them-

Right until the moment Regina’s foot slips

Maleficent has caught her princess before her scream has even finished, flies to the shore and carefully drops her. She transforms back, and she steps forward carefully. When Regina doesn’t show any sign of being upset at her proximity, she takes another step.

“T-thank you”

Maleficent just nods, and gets even closer. Regina barely flinches, and she pauses. As soon as Regina relaxes again, she gently places her hands on the princess’ shoulders and slips them down.

“What a-are you doing?”.

“ Checking for injuries”  she mutters, carefully watching Regina for any signs of discomfort or pain when she slides her hands over Regina’s arms, and presses down. She stops with her hands on the princess ‘ hips when Regina quietly protests.

“What is it?”.

“ Do you remember our various conversations about what is appropriate and what is decidedly not? This is very inappropriate”.

“ I have to know whether you are all right”.

“ I just told you I am”.

Maleficent looks up. “ Can you be certain?”.

Regina huffs. “ Is this another dragon thing?”.

“ Yes”.

Maleficent hides her smirk when Regina’s eyes light up. “ Oh?” she inquires.

“ Yes”.

“ So it is a custom?”.

“Yes” Maleficent gently takes Regina’s chin and bends it this way and then that way to inspect it for anything that could mean Regina is hurting. “ We dragons are very careful with those that have managed to make a good impression on us. And naturally we are instinctual creatures so if there has been any kind of threat to them- “ .

Regina gasps when Maleficent lets go of her face only to squeeze her legs for a second. “ Do you feel any pain?”.

“ No”.

“ Are you certain?”.

“ Yes”.  

Maleficent is just starting to kneel when Regina speaks again. “ So dragons are very protective?”.

“ We are more than protective. If anything we care for gets threatened, we can be consumed by the need to heal and then protect it. I know stories of dragons whose lovers got hurt, and they whisked them away to some faraway land and would not even let kin get close”.

“ But I thought you were solitary creatures- “.

“ Yes, but we can still love”.

“ No, I meant- you speak off your family as though you form close bonds with them. But you do not actually live together, do you?”.

“ No. But from the hatching onward, we share a strong bond. And we do not fight with each other, or even compete”.

“Huh. But how does that- “  Regina trails off, eyes widening when Maleficent’s fingers gentle brush her ankle and press against it. “ You slipped with this foot. Is it okay?”.

“ Y-yes, it is fine”.

“ Good. And here?”.

“ F-fine. So are you close with your p-parents?”.

“ Bold question, my little fireball”.

“ Not as bold as your touches” Regina mutters

Maleficent chuckles. “ Fair enough” she slowly stands up again, and stares at Regina. She almost expect the princess to look away- she used to do that a lot, ages ago- but Regina raises her chin and stares right back.

“ I would not say I am close to my parent”.

Regina frowns. “ Parent? But what about- “.

“ Dragons have several ways to reproduce. One way is – “ Maleficent interrupts herself, and enjoys the way Regina blushes and swallows as she gets a smirk sent her way. “ You do know about sex, do you not?”.

Regina glares at her. “ Y-yes – I mean yes, of course I do”.

“Are you- “.

“ C-can you just explain ? I know all about- “ she vaguely gestures and Maleficent chuckles. “ Poor dear. I doubt you know much at all”.

“ I was promised to a prince, remember? I was groomed for marriage, including that”

Maleficent takes this moment to come closer, and Regina takes a step back for the first time in months. She calmly grabs Regina’s collar, and gently pulls her closer. “ I doubt they told you much about it” she leans in even more, chuckling when Regina’s eyes widen comically.  “ Especially the enjoyable aspects. Do you- “.

“ Stop it”

Maleficent slowly lets go. “ You are no fun” she sighs

Regina crosses her arms, and looks the other way. “ I do not enjoy you toying with me. It is offensive”.

“ All right, princess” Maleficent might not understand why, but she can see the princess is upset so she stops teasing. Her tone is a lot more business-like this time. “ There are two ways for my species to reproduce. One requires a male, the other does not”.

“ Wait, really?” Regina’s mouth actually drops, and all the tension leaves her body.

“ Yes. We are predominantly female, and most of us can reproduce without males”.

“ How?”.

Maleficent chuckles. “ We do not completely understand it ourselves mi cielo, and it is not like we have studied it. We just do”.

“ But surely there must be a progress. Is it magic?”.

“Not everything is magic”.

“ But how does this work” Regina gasps, and Maleficent pauses just to look at her. Her eyes are shining, her mouth is slightly open and she just looks so endearing. Maleficent kind of wants to take her far away from civilization, and keep her forever.

“ It is rather simple. We lay eggs, do you know that?”.

Regina nods.  “ The books said so. They say you mate in dragon form- “.

“ And then lay eggs. This is all true”.

“ What does that have to do with it though?”.  

“We still lay eggs even if we do not have sex with a male”.

“ Oh. But don’t you need-“

“Instead one of the other females approaches you - “ Maleficent gently grabs Regina’s hips and pulls the princess against herself. “ And has sex with you, or simulates it- “

“T-that is fascinating” Regina says absent-mindedly.

“ Yes.  So afterwards, we lay eggs and they become dragons if they are fortunate”.

“ If they are fortunate? “ Regina’s eyes flit away from Maleficent’s hands on her hips, only to return perhaps two seconds later.

“ Not all eggs hatch”.

“ That is awful. I am so sorry”  

Maleficent shrugs “ It is quite all right” she gently tugs on a lock of Regina’s hair. “ Have I satisfied your curiosity now? “.

“ Uhm. It is not completely clear, but mostly yes. Although I will probably continue to have many questions” when she sees Maleficent’s arched eyebrows, she quickly adds “ Not about that, but about your species in general”.

“ You are fascinated, are you not?”

“ Of course I am. You are beautiful and magical and we know so little about you”.

“ I daresay you know more about us now than all the other humans know combined”.

“ I hope so. Although I still feel like I do not understand your species”.

“I am not sure our species will ever understand each other. Much of your human customs remain a mystery to me as well”.

“ Like wha-  “ Maleficent nearly cries out when Regina suddenly stumbles and she only barely catches her. When she automatically places her hand against Regina’s forehead, she realizes the woman is burning up. Without thinking about it , she scoops Regina in her arms and transforms again.

She flies faster than she ever has, crashing into the cave and transforming mid-air. Regina has started to groan softly, and she is really radiating heat by now. As soon as Maleficent’s feet touch the stone floor, she runs to the bed and lays Regina on it. She has a bucket with cold water next to the bed for this purpose, so she immediately grabs the piece of cloth( Regina really did not enjoy having a bucket full of cold water thrown on her, so she ripped of a part of her sleeve and gave it to Maleficent) next to it, dips it in the water and lays it on Regina’s forehead.

Regina seem to sink quickly into a deep slumber, one that seems to have no nightmares for once, so Maleficent relaxes slightly. She leaves her post next to the bed to change into her dragon form and curl around the bed as much as she is able to. She slowly closes one eye, the other one focused on the gaping mouth of their cave.

Soon, my little fireball, you will be strong again. And until then, I will protect you.

I got the idea of dragon reproduction from :

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/11/basic-instincts-whiptail-lizard-asexual-reproduction/

http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/07/11/how-these-all-female-lizards-are-able-to-reproduce-and-thrive-without-the-help-of-any-males/

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/science/strange-tale-of-new-species-of-lizard.html?_r=0

[netherwar-rpg-blog]

Welcome to the Wardens, Mandi! Your application for THE POISONER has been accepted with a Tabrett Bethell FC.

I was so so pleased when I read this app for the Poisoner! You really captured the deadly and cunning side of this dangerous assassin, and their personality is absolutely perfect for creating interesting tensions and plots in the Wardens! The background of Valtyra is such a sad and heartbreaking one but you can see how and why she became such a determined, ruthless Rogue of the Dark Union. You’ve really thought about her connections with her family’s artefact ring and how it helped her rise through the ranks of the most frightening Shadow faction in Eldris. I cannot wait to see how Valtyra fits in the Wardens and what her motives will be as they grow more powerful in the world! Will she ever achieve her dream and become the Master’s apprentice? Let’s see!

The application can be found under the cut. You have 48 hours to create a roleplay account (cannot be a sideblog) for your character and we will be updating our opening date soon!

O O C - I N F O

Name: Mandi

Age: 19

Timezone: GMT-5

Activity Level: I aim for daily, which doesn’t always happen, and weekends are harder. I certainly can maintain a reasomable activity level, however.

Extra: I’d like for self-harm to be tagged.

S K E L E T O N - I N F O

T H E - B A S I C S

Skeleton Title: The Poisoner

Name: Valtyra Vaanhanen

Gender: Female

Age: 26

Class: Rogue

Faceclaim: Tabrett Bethell

C H A R A C T E R - D E T A I L S

Nationality: Norvik

Appearance:

Valtyra stands with confidence and rarely slouches, always alert. Her hazel eyes bear a note of intensity that frightens all who might oppose her, but also a hint of amusement. Her medium- length blonde hair is usually kept down in a simple style, as she doesn’t bother with excessive primping. Valtyra prefers to wear tighter clothing, not so much to show off her body, but for ease of movement. Her favorite colors are red, black, and brown, and as such, her wardrobe matches appropriately. On her right shoulder, Valtyra has a jagged scar from a fight that almost took off her arm, and her left pinky finger is permanently bent after being slammed in a closet door.

Personality:

+Analytical: Valtyra thrives off of assessing a situation and determining just how she is going to make a kill. Of course, it always ends in poison, but that hardly strips the plan of its fun. +Straightforward: The life of an assassin leaves no room for beating around the bush. She is decisive and speaks her mind without hesitation. +Innovative: A plan hardly goes as intended. Valtyra is able to determine what she has to deal with and react appropriately with hardly a second thought. +Observant: Visually, at least. The oblivious assassions have long since died at the hands of the superior. Not a single movement escapes her watchful eyes.

-Secretive: Relationships have never been Valtyra’s forte, since questions beyond ��what’s your name?” generally are met with a disapproving snarl. She’s seen what happened to loose-lipped assassins. And besides, why even bother sharing when it’s easier to stay silent? -Envious: Valtyra despises the many assassins who can outdo her, as well as mages with their godlike abilities. This envy is often expressed in silent rage. -Insensitive: Feelings are for the weak, and Valtyra is far from weak. Really, what’s the point of sugarcoating the truth? -Condescending: If she believes she is better than you, she will say so. If the listener can’t handle this valuable piece of information, it’s hardly her fault.

C H A R A C T E R - B A C K G R O U N D

History:

Valtyra was no ordinary child, but then again, what truly is a so-called “ordinary child?” All Valtyra knew was that most children knew what their parents looked like. The mother stayed at home and cooked while the father hunted in the snowy forest. All that Valtyra knew was the man she called her father, dressed in the black fur of a giant wolf he had slain. He never showed his face to his daughter. All that Valtyra knew of the man was his voice that sounded like cart wheels on gravel and the touch of his strong hands showing her how to use a sword. The man answered no questions, so it was uncertain if he was truly her father or just a man who had taken her in. Valtyra had always known her father was an assassin, or as he put it, a man who cleansed the world. Their home was a cave behind a waterfall, where every morning Valtyra would wake to find her face covered with the spray of the icy river. Her father gave her no name, so she chose the name “Valtyra” for herself, a Norvik people’s word for “waterfall.” Her surname came from the nickname her village granted her when she would secretly wander from home. “Vanhaa,” they would call her. “Storm cloud.”

The little “Vanhaa” soon grew older and was forced to train for hours by her paranoid father. “They will come for us,” he would whisper, “you must be ready.” It wasn’t long until Valtyra wondered just who “they” were and why they were coming. Years passed, with Valtyra growing lonely and speaking little, focusing on becoming a living weapon for the nameless man she called her father. And then she snapped. Valtyra was hardly older than eleven when she broke down screaming, questioning her father, demanding to know why she needed to train. Her father beat her into submission, only to sob uncontrollably afterwards, saying that he killed her parents and had to take her in as his own, seeing she had “the gift of the Shadow.” Valtyra had her doubts, knowing her father was paranoid and insane, until he handed her a ring that belonged to her mother. A poison ring, she was told. Only those of her mother’s bloodline would be immune from its power. The man used the ring on Valtyra, demonstrating that she was immune. In disbelief, Valtyra kept the ring for herself and, later that night, tried to kill the man with it. His stiff corpse proved that he had been speaking the truth.

Horrified, Valtyra fled from the life she had known for so long, living as a creature in the woods with nothing more then a set of daggers and the ring to protect her. She traveled south until she reached the sea with the infamous Carn on the other side. The home of the Dark Union, the group of assassins that her father, or rather, her unstable caretaker, had warned her about. That warning was what prompted her to rebel against everything she had known and join the ranks of the Union. After all, if the man was right, all she needed was the Shadow element to join. It had been her cloak of security throughout her life.

The Master of the Dark Union scoffed at the thirteen-year-old girl who demanded entry. After a lengthy trial process Valtyra was granted entry, and thus her life began. Carn was the perfect playground and she adored the taste of the sea. She could thank her father for providing her with hours of valuable training that allowed her to quickly climb the ranks in spite of her young age. There was many a watchful eye on her and she aimed to impress, but always focused on her more personal goal: to discover what her ring could do. Her past was irrelevant, but the artefact on her finger meant everything. Valtyra watched the Master with awe, hoping to one day become his or her apprentice.

It wasn’t long until she discovered a man whose envy grew into rage. Their lighthearted rivalry became a battle which would likely end in death, and Valtyra had a scar on her shoulder to prove it. Though she attempted to end his life once and for all, the ring failed her when she needed it most. The only option she saw was joining the Wardens, and she did so with an anxious eye on the Dark Union. After all, it is forbidden to leave.

Reason for joining the Wardens: To be honest, Valtyra never really felt one way or the other about the frightening creatures entering her world. That was for the heroes to take care of, and even she knew she wasn’t any sort of hero. She killed. She didn’t defend. But after being forced to leave the Dark Union, the only life she knew, Valtyra sought protection. It wasn’t in her nature to seek help, but even she knew when she was in danger. Her rival would be outright stupid to attack while she was in the company of heroes. And besides, delving into dungeons and having contact with other worlds could very well lead to her finding a stronger artifact. That, or contact with a mage who could help her end her rival’s life once and for all.

R O L E P L A Y - S A M P L E

Screams and shouts rouse your character from an afternoon nap in the busy town. A rough looking thief is dashing through the crowds, huddling a bag of jewels to his chest, and the soldiers are too far to act. What does your character do?

Another day, another thief. Such was life in Carn. Valtyra rubbed her eyes and pulled herself off of the bed inside the inn, peering out the window. Cries of “stop, thief!” managed to break through the glass, which was disappointly not soundproof. With a long sigh, Valtyra pulled out a knife and threw open the window, slipping down into the streets below. With ease she found a shadow cast by the inn that she melted into, darting alongside the thief.

An arrow struck the thief’s shoulder and he shouted in pain, turning the corner to avoid the small army of soldiers chasing after him. Townspeople flocked to safety. It was wonderfully chaotic. Valtyra leaped ahead and waited for the thief to catch up.

As the thief passed her, Valtyra snatched the bag of jewels out of his hands, vaulting up onto the second-story windowsill of the inn to watch the scene unfold. She snickered, watching the thief’s face. He turned around, glancing down from his hands and back up again, only to find himself surrounded by soldiers.

“Hand over the jewels, filth. Where are they?” one soldier delivered a hearty slap to the thief’s face.

“I…I don’t know! They’re gone, I-”

“Damn right they’re gone, you think we’d be askin’ if they weren’t? Lock him up until he remembers where they are. Daeron, control the townspeople, they’re worse than decapitated chickens.”

“Sir, sir, the jewels, I just had them!”

Valtyra climbed up the side of the inn, jewels in hand. Still cloaked in shadow, she jumped to the top of the roof to survey her findings. Hardly anything. She wasn’t much of a thief anyway. After tucking three rubies into her pocket, she moved to the edge of the roof and dumped the jewels out into the streets. The townspeople fled to the pile of jewels that had seemingly fallen from the sky, scooping up whatever they could while the soldiers pushed people aside, all order now vanquished from the town square.

“The greed of those people,” Valtyra muttered, tossing a shining ruby into the air. “Unbelievable.” With her good and bad deeds of the day simultaneously completed, she stretched out on the roof, let the shadows fall around her, and she closed her eyes to resume her nap.