#~fellow soldier~

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

@shishitoren-vc liked this post

"Hey- HEY!" Karlach dropped her weapon to the floor, hurrying over to her companion. She heaved her arms under his and quite literally picked him up and dragged him away. "Togame, that's enough!" She called out as she did so, trying to keep a grip on him should he resist but also not containing him too tightly - not wanting to hurt him.

"You keep going like that, you're gonna kill them!" She warned. "I like a fight like the best of them, but not everyone needs to die."

[chiangyorange]

dear fellow soldier, i feel as though i betrayed you (because i have betrayed myself)

>

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

The spell was waning fast, and her memories and realisations came to her just as fast. Karlach tried to sit up but a firm hand on her shoulder kept her bed ridden a little longer - Dammon instructing that she needed to take it slowly and gently. There was still a chance of failure after all.

As much as she wanted this to be a different experience, laying here felt so familiar. This ache, the weight on her chest, the exhaustion in her bones... It was like every time she had been under the butcher knife. Her whole body felt like lead and the pain was almost unbearable - yet it was different to the scorching agony she usually had to deal with. It was just post-surgery irritations...

Her eyes focused properly as she was able to turn her head, seeing Amalica jump up and tend to her bedside. Karlach smiled warmly... Amalica was here. Just as she promised... Just as they all had promised. Some of the others began to stir now, everything seemed to feel so tense.

"Fucking sore..." Karlach tried to laugh a little, but it ended in a wince. Even just breathing stretched at the cut skin - which now wasn't being melted and fused back together like it used to... It was raw. "But...pretty good. It doesn't burn anymore..."

Karlach, shaking, brought up her hands up where she could see them from her current position; looking for any signs that it worked. Her flames were gone... She just looked like a severely scarred tiefling now. "S-So... did it work?" Her wide eyes looked around between Dammon and the Gnomes, to see who had an answer. Dammon spoke up that it was too early to tell, but it went very well and they're hopeful of the result.

"Huh..." Karlach's eyes began to well up once again, a shuddering exhale whispered from her lips as she tried to suppress something between a laugh and a sob. "Shit, do you guys have to put up with this cold? It's bloody freezing." She grinned as she turned to Amalica while she spoke. She no longer was the walking furnace - and without all that internal body heat, she found herself sensitive to the cold.

There seemed to be a chuckle of relief throughout the party - Karlach's personality certainly hadn't changed.

Amalica had waited the entire time while Karlach was being operated on. Refused to leave. Watched with bated breath and multiple prayers to the Dark Maiden to protect her fiery friend. Asking that she please make it off that table in one piece. With a beating heart -- or as close as she could get.

And maybe Eilistraee was listening. Or maybe Dammon and the Gondians were just that good that they succeeded anyway.

But Karlach awoke, finally. After many long hours, and a fitful night of rest for the Drow ( on the floor, mind. She hadn't bothered to move. Gods, she couldn't wait to wash her clothes -- ).

When she heard the Tiefling begin to stir, Amalica jolted awake -- her name. Or, part of it, anyway.

"Karlach-" The name came out of her breathlessly, barely restrained excitement twinging every word, "Are you alright? How do you-"

A hand motion from Zanner caught her attention briefly -- slow down.

"Sorry--" She whispered to the Gondian Gnome, before returning her attention to Karlach, speaking more slowly this time, "...How do you feel?"

[hyacinthsdiamonds]

I'm sorry but the irony of Nico calling Max unprofessional is sending me so bad like sir there's an entire garage full of people, who were literally in the trenches trying to survive the Brocedes fallout while just doing their jobs, who might have a few things to say about your (& Lewis') level of professionalism at that time 😭✋️

[a-scary-lack-of-common-sense]

He asked for no pickles, but with a twist

[cheeseydogwoop]

caption

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

It felt like the night had only improved since this little 'interview'. She was smiling, feeling warm in many ways. Despite the curse prevailing, she felt comforted. Content.

At the mention of her being the hottest girl in Baldurs Gate, her cheeks had flushed into a shade of purple - though it was near impossible for her to tell she was warm in the face. Though possibly he meant it quite literally, rather than about her appearance. Still, she took the compliment for what it was.

"Either way, it's a date." She winks once more before.

Damn...it really was a nice night.

- END -

Tav appreciated the gesture– enjoyed the contact, even if she were still too hot to linger nearby. He'd felt like an outsider among the group, and that touch, brief as it was, felt... comforting.

"That's a relief," he said with a laugh. "Maybe if th' others get tired 'f me you can change their minds." He watched as her gaze turned from him; her eyes were— well, embers on a dark night was a little on the nose, but it was the best thing he could think of.

He matched her grin at her question, and he leaned in a bit, a glint in his eye. (His cheeks burned a bit, but he hoped Karlach didn't notice it.) "Fancy a date with th' hottest girl in Baldur's Gate? You bet I would. Maybe I'll find some fire-proof flowers. Or a new axe... or maybe both!"

[krowbby]

i was scrolling thru my procreate and realized i never posted this! i think i was embarrassed bc i traced the line art from screenshots of the movie, but ah well. i think it was a fun idea so i’m posting it with that disclaimer!

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

@silvertiefling liked this post for a starter

Karlach propped herself up where she laid by the campfire. Not that she needed the warmth, moreso she needed the company. She watched Katya for a moment taking deep swigs from the bottle in her hand.

"I like my liquor as much as the next person - believe me! - but shouldn't you slow down at least a little? Can't have you hungover when we're trying to fight our way through those little shits." Karlach questioned, referring to the upcoming battle against the Goblins.

[chiangyorange]

dear fellow soldier, we are unified by little things that mean everything. not all is forgiven, but it's a start

<< <

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

Karlach was no mage - far from it. But living on the outskirts of Baldurs Gate, and certainly visiting it near-daily, one learns a thing or two. Especially around such places as Sorcerous Sundries. Naturally, she had never been in such a shop - it served no interest to her. But it didn't mean she didn't hear the chatter of those who did. The drunken gossip spilling from magic-users lips when drunk.

Perhaps it was utter nonsense. But perhaps it wasn't. She wasn't ever in a position before to care enough to look into it.

"Yeah. I mean, Gale would be the better one to ask about it obviously. But then again, you'd better make sure you have your evening free." Karlach rolled her eyes slightly. She liked talking to Gale, of course, but he often did get away from himself. She could understand if he was far too much for someone like Kytes.

"From what I heard about it, Wish is this seriously powerful spell that can do anything. My Mum used to read me stories about great wizards who used that spell to save the world or even just one person. Could be a fairy tale...or it could be your chance to live."

Karlach shrugged again. She could have kept this to herself. After all, she was closer to Gale than Kytes. She could have kept the friendship going purely to get in his good graces, to get that Wish... But, with Dammons diagnosis, she knew she wasn't going to make it that far to the point Gale was well enough to try. Even if she was able to be patient, she would have a difficult time being that selfish.

He could almost laugh, if he had enough nerve to do so, instead of subdue most of his signals in this foreign territory of finding something to connect to someone else for once. Not everything was absent though, with the subtle, doubtful way that his eyes slid off to the side for a moment.

Him? Good people? He doubted most people would agree. He was a thief. He'd killed people. He'd certainly done a lot more killing now than before, even if it was mostly nasty little goblins and weird toady Gith. To say nothing for the fact of how easy it had been for him to slip through the ranks of Moonrise and avoid suspicion by even the most critical among them. He very much doubted 'good people' could walk around the heart of the Absolute's forces so unnoticed, but he supposed he'd rather be alive than 'good', for however much that mattered.

His eyes drew back almost as quickly as they'd left, listening to her speak, his brows furrowing in question.

He wasn't so sure about befriending wizards, or anyone really. A day ago, he didn't even care to consider her someone who could be a friend (despite the insistence of someone in his head that he really should make more allies)... really, even now he was uncertain, but she was someone that might understand instead of just pretend to. It was a start.

Either way, he had heard all his life there wasn't anything to be done for his illness, so he had his doubts... but people were also liars, he knew that all too well and often, so maybe they had been wrong, or simply didn't care to put that sort of effort towards someone like him.

"Wish?"

[lotus-pear]

i think you guys are onto smth..

i unironically got invested in this HELP

[aufi-creative-mind]

Hyrule Warriors - 10th Anniversay!

Here is my wallpaper piece for @hyrulewarriorszine

This is by far, my largest and most ambitious illustration that I was able to fully rendered and completed. And super happy with how it turned!

Please go check out the Hyrule Warriors 10th Anniversary zine: Denouement of War. It's a free digital zine filled with incredible fanworks by super awesome group of artists and writers.

[paninicupcakke]

Spy shitpost dump 🔪

Emesis blu but if it was toxic yaoi <3

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

Karlach stood there still, unmoved by this conversation at hand. But more was happening than it may appear. She may have looked around disinterestedly, yet she was marking where her party was. Some were gathering information. Others trying to sabotage where they could. Karlach almost missed it, but a faint glimmer by the alcohol keg of a liquid being poured in made her lip twitch slightly into a smile. But it was quickly altered.

The would-be smirk turned into more of a wince. She could feel something pressuring on her mind. Like someone leaning against a locked door. A sideways glance, and a narrowing of eyes in the hobgoblins direction - before the let that door open.

Handy little shits, these tadpoles...

'This shithole isn't exactly massive. We'd be fine finding them on our own. No one gives anything away for free, so whats the game plan here? What do you want from us?' She spoke back telepathically.

Rakatak looks at her out of the corner of her eye again, but this time? There's a smile on her face. Faint, slightly grim, but very present and no small amount of anticipatory. Rather than keep talking in a way that could easily be overheard by just anyone wandering around, the paladin lifts a hand, rubbing at the side of her neck. Her eyes narrow, and suddenly her voice is in Karlach's brain.

Not quite as simple as emptying out this fetid hovel, no. There are three leaders - a goblin, a drow and... regrettably, another hobgoblin. I will show you the layout of the building to enable you to make your preparations.

A pause. Something tugs at her lip, but she's able to tamp it down - even mentally - and keep going. Should such a thing actually be necessary. I would advise some discretion, if you don't wish to fight your way in and out, but whatever course of action you take, I will lend my assistance. These heretics must be burnt out.

[sweetlullabyebye]

Oswald is the original dream girl wdym he showed up in at least FOUR PEOPLE'S dreams. Like that's so wild imagine you're falling asleep and Mr. Mayor Mob Boss is just hanging out in there