Current
I've gone back to school, so responses are going to be slower than normal for the forseeable future.
4
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17 days ago
"Show them I'm the judgement call, the one who makes a kingdom fall."
4
likes
2 mos ago
"But! I should have known better. Nothing ever stays dead..."
1
like
5 mos ago
"There is no one in this room that can stand against me! The Hand of God be my witness, I am the Voice from the Outer World!"
9 mos ago
Took me 10 years to realize antagonists are way more fun to write.
8
likes
Bio
Your Local Antagonist
°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
Showcase:
"A million times I have done this charade. The moment people figure it out, I get the boot." she thought.
"But don't you want to see the fear in their eyes when they see who you really are...? Don't you want dominion of this place, just like how you were unchallenged in Vaal Kastrix?" said the Voice.
Ciara scoffed, immediately thinking of Gulliver and Valen. "I'd love to wipe the smirk off their faces."
"It starts by building a rumor. A rumor of power. This could be the place to start."
She took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes resolutely at the Undermage. "Head Advisor, with all due respect, you have no right to ask me about my intentions. If you want answers..."
She stood from her seat, rising to her full height.
Her breath caught when she felt the cold metal of a pistol against her temple.
"Put the heart down, and back the hell up if you want your friend to live," the guard said to Ellie in a rumbling baritone, digging the gun into Dream's head.
Dream squinted at Ellie, vision blurred as she tried to breathe. The heart, glinting in Ellie's hands.
The doctor, his face turning white every time she asked what would happen if they failed. Above all else, he said, they had to keep the heart safe. They had to, even if it meant...
She snarled, her boot stamping down on the guard's foot, a burst of light bruising the bone. He yelped, losing his grip. That's all she needed, and she tore away. But in her haste, she saw his free arm reaching for her, and she slipped on panicked feet as he pushed her off the railing.
She held back a scream, staring straight down into the boiling pit below. The guard wrapped a tight hand around her ankle, and Ellie could see Dream's other foot flailing; she restrained herself poorly from kicking the guard, desperately hoping she wouldn't die.
As her captor supported himself against the railing, his pistol pointed at Ellie.
Deep, golden orbs stared back at her from within the cave.
God, she couldn't breathe.
He was monstrous. The ground trembled under her feet as his rippling, massive body exited the cave. Thunderous footsteps left cracks in the dirt, his breath sent waves of heat creeping over her skin. The transformation was slow, but it looked like something from a nightmare with the way his long teeth were bared.
A great and terrible roar sounded from his gaping maw.
New post is up! Everyone has unlocked their second abilities, and there is more strength in their body. Everyone can now easily run a marathon, and lift a 40-pound weight.
Please add your new ability to your CS when you have some time!
The scientist's lips pulled into a sneer, staring at D with morbid curiosity. “This happened the first time we did surgeries with you as well.”
He leaned forward. “Would you like me to tell you what we did to you..?”
A small laugh. “Both guards here attempted to drag you away. You resisted. So they threw you to the ground. And they began beating you. With steel-toed combat boots, butts of their guns, their fists. Then one of the doctors sedated you, and you were dragged away helplessly…”
The scientist looked at D with evil curiosity. “Would you like to reenact that scene, or will you come along willingly?”
Pia was eager for good news. But alas, the cellmate only stood there, trembling, and hung his head.
"You've given us a chance to fight back against these people. We won't forget that."
The cellmates licked his dry lips, nodding feverishly. “Be safe… Be safe.”
Before two guards appeared in the doorway of cell 2.4. The cellmate immediately shrunk back, a terrified yelp leaving his throat.
“Time for your surgeries. Come with us.” One of the guards said dispassionately.
If Pia or A resisted, the guards would simply restrain them while a scientist would inject them with a sedative. It would make them go limp, and they would be dragged helplessly from the room.
Pia, A, D and VV were escorted from the D-class Wing, guards at the front and back of their group, and led by the scientist who had spoken with them before. Any resistance was met with a sedative, making saying no a tragic impossibilty.
They were marched down the hallway, where they saw a marked-off section ringed with guards at the intersection. VV’s eyes widened, recognizing it. Beyond the barrier, she recognized the hallway they had been originally captured in.
It meant not all of the facility was secured.
They turned the corner, and walked up to a sliding door marked ‘Hospital Wing’. Walking past rows of gurneys and blue curtains, some hosting moaning cellmates while others remained empty, they eventually reached the door at the end of the room. It was marked ‘Surgery Room,’ and opening it revealed a row of uncomfortable stainless steel operating tables. The guards shoved each of them onto their own separate operating table, immediately retraining them with metal cuffs attached to the side.
Under the blinding light of the operating lamp, more scientists moved forward, throwing on blue gloves above them. And, one by one, VV, Pia, A and D were given anesthesia and a drip, and the world melted into darkness.
In the darkness, each saw a vision from their past, unearthed by the activation of their abyssal connection.
The screech of tires and the shattering of glass echoed in her ears, a cacophony of terror that seemed to stretch on forever. The world spun around her in a dizzying blur of colours and sounds. She was a teenager, full of life and laughter, sitting in the passenger seat of her best friend’s car. They had been singing along to their favourite song, the wind whipping through their hair before everything changed in an instant. The car swerved violently, tires screeching against the asphalt. Her heart pounded in her chest as she gripped the seat, her knuckles white with fear. Then, the car flipped, the force of the impact throwing them around like rag dolls. Glass shattered, spraying them with tiny, glistening shards. The world outside the windows became a whirlwind of sky and ground, indistinguishable from one another. The car landed with a sickening crunch, the sound of metal bending and breaking filling the air.
And then silence.
She could hear her own ragged breathing, feel the sting of cuts on her skin, and the dull ache of bruises forming. A bolt of raw adrenaline shot through her veins, propelling her into action. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, and with every ounce of strength she had left, she crawled out of the wreckage, her body protesting with every movement.
As she emerged from the twisted metal, her eyes widened in horror. Her best friend lay motionless on the asphalt, blood pooling around her, dark and ominous, seeping into the cracks of the road. The sight sent a wave of panic through her, her heart pounding in her chest. She stumbled towards the body, her legs feeling like they could give out at any moment. “Please, wake up,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She reached out with shaking hands, desperate to find a pulse, a sign of life. The world around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in that moment of fear and uncertainty.
But there was no response, only faint, laboured breaths that grew weaker with each passing second.
As she knelt there, a strange sensation washed over her. She could feel the blood flow in her friend’s body, weak and erratic as if she had developed an almost supernatural awareness of the life force slipping away. It was a chilling realization, one that made her heart ache with a profound sense of helplessness.
Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her friend’s chest, trying to will her back to consciousness. “Stay with me,” she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. The world around them seemed to blur, the sounds of distant sirens and the murmur of onlookers fading into the background.
All that mattered was the fragile thread of life she was desperately trying to hold onto. The fragile thread that was being cut right before her eyes and within her body.
She could feel it slipping away, like blood through her fingers.
"It isn't looking good; the bleeding is internal."
The voices were muffled.
His head was faded; he'd been slipping in and out of consciousness for an hour. The machines by his hospital bed, none of which he could name or understand, hummed, chimed, and alarmed in such jarring sound that he had blocked out the cacophony to a dull roar to hear the conversation outside the closed door.
A sharp, searing pain coursed through his stomach. He held against the worst of it, pressed his eight-year-old hands firmly to the spot where it hurt... the nurses had said something about keeping pressure on the wound.
"But HOW the HELL did this happen?"A third voice, male, and angrier than the first two, interjected.
"We're still looking into that."The doctor spoke calmly, attempting to ease the third person's anger.
"Will you be able to help him?"The female voice asked, holding back a stream of tears.
"We're... we're not sure... it's... it's in God's hands right now.
The boy in the hospital bed shuddered.Mom... Dad...The sounds around him faded to silence; the world went dark.
She looked up to see the mathematics teacher, and her good friend, staring down at her disapprovingly. How'd she get in her house? 'Oh right,' she thought. 'I gave her a key.' She turned away from her friend and sighed.
Her friend gritted her teeth and began to raise her voice.
"Johann's death wasn't your fault! I can't believe you'd resort to some story about ghosts or physic powers just to justify rationally blaming yourself! I can't keep watching you destroy yourself like this!"
She finally stood up and confronted her friend.
"Shut up! I am so sick of nobody believing me! Everybody telling me that it'll all be okay and move on, and pretend that everything's fine! I can't put this behind me!" She began to get more hysterical as she grasped the sides of her head. "How am I supposed to go back to work with a smile on my face?! How am I supposed to deal with this?!"
Furniture began to wobble and levitate around her. Her friend looked surprised, and her mouth was moving, but she couldn't hear what her friend was saying anymore. But the fear in her friend's eyes told her everything she needed to know. It was only strenthening her own swirling chasm of negative emotions. It was getting hard to breathe. She collapsed to her knees as her friend, with blood streaming down her face from a blurry shape hitting her, fled the room. Everything was a tornado of furniture whizzing around her. She was blacking out. That's when she could feel something for the first time. Something else in her head.
She stood there, shaking with the gun in her hand. It wasn’t hers, it was theirs, these mafia thugs that kept harassing her.
“First you want me to be a front, and now you want me to kill for you? You’re crazy.” She said, putting up token resistance. She could see the poor man on the floor in front of her, trembling on his knees. He had entered the store at the wrong time, and overheard the mafia thugs talking to her. It was enough that they had to kill him.
One of the thugs pulled her up by the collar, baring his teeth. “You either kill him, or we will, and we’ll make it agonizingly painful.”
He smirked. “Trust me, you’ll be doing him a favour.”
She stood there, staring at him, tears pricking her eyes as he stared into her. Satisfied with the fear in her eyes, he roughly let her go, and gestured to the man on his knees.
“Stop making us wait. Finish him now.”
Heavy, quick breathing. She started to hyperventilate, finger tightening on the trigger, staring at the man on the ground.
And, a tear rolling down her cheek, she pulled the trigger.
And, after the visions stopped, a presence was felt in Pia, A, D and VV. Dark, suffocating.
“Give me your pain. Give me your suffering. Suffer and grieve. And I will give you power…”
To describe the presence was like a thousand voices screaming in the head, earth-shattering, disorienting, and complete. The darkness took shape, and a presence seventy times higher than the tallest skyscraper was felt. The closer the presence got, the more a sense of dread swallowed them up. So close, the breath of death was upon them.
And in the next instant, it stopped, and the presence disappeared.
Pia, A, VV, and D awoke in the gurneys, side by side and across from one another, curtains back so they could see one another. Each shared stitch marks sealing the cut found in the center of their chest just below the rib cage, near the heart. Each had a metal cuff chaining their hand to the side fo the gurney.
VV raised her head a bit, feeling disorientated but not in pain. In fact, she was feeling pretty strong. Like there was extra life in her bones.
“You guys alright?” She whispered, seeing the others beginning to stir.
“Ah, you’re finally awake.” Said a voice.
VV watched a slender woman in a business dress clack her heels down the hall, stopping in front of their beds. She pushed up the glasses on her face, looking at them with sharp eyes.
“Good. I have a task for you. You’re finally ready...”
VV narrowed her eyes from where she laid. “Ready for what?”
She had a smirk on her face. “Oh, going outside. You’re going to destroy the leader of the Wilds for us.”
“Who?”
“Big guy, wears a hoodie, can’t see his face. He’s got those biting wisps swirling around him. I believe you saw him when you woke up, yes?”
VV’s mind reeled. That guy? “No way, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m afraid I couldn’t be more serious. You’re leaving in ten minutes.”
Ey Est, there's a whole buncha stuff that I want to get done during the timeskipped phase; may take a week or so, if things are lucky. Straight off the top of my head...
Collab with Click serving as a post-mortem after the Skybound twins leave.
Collab with Donut explaining the whole situation with the Skybounds as well as learning about what happened afterwards.
Definitely gonna yap with Irradiant because one would imagine that a Duke's family getting wiped off the map and then some randoms suddenly occupying a new fief around Hathforth could bring forth funny stories. And who better to scope things out than the legendary Valkyrie, who certainly wouldn't get no-diffed by a selection of merc thugs?
Maybe chatter with Lunar to start properly hitting things off between the Court Mage and the Duke.
And, ofc, gonna start proceeding with the jail collab you started with me, Est.
And the chess pieces begin to move...
Sure! That's definitely going to take some time, I'll wait to post again until your collabs are completed.
Soooo... we'll wait on proceeding with the 'main timeline' until these collabs are done, right? Otherwise, there'll be a risk of disjointed interactions and narratives.
But just tell me if I'm not making sense.
I think we'll be alright to proceed with the first round while we wait for the collabs to be completed. The only disjointing I can see easily is for Duke Willowsteel, but that can be easily fixed with Duke Rhinecliff leaving and coming back again.
Everyone can post, I will just wait for the collabs to be completed before posting again.
Hey, sorry hate doing this but shit hit the fan, haven't even really had time to do anything, so post is taking a bit longer than I had hoped
No worries! Sorry to hear things aren't going great. Make sure to read through the latest IC post as I left a lot of things for Roderic. :)
Those who wish to see the King of Ravenfell, he will teleport you back to the Hathforth pier by evening so you don't miss the Wizard Queen's departure.
The Hathforth Dungeon is open for visits to anyone who wants to say hi to Sev before he dies... If you want to try busting him out, that's an option too.
@Donut Look Now If you would like to slip onto the ship by taking on the form of one of the Skybound twins, and try out that sleeper agent @ERode has concocted, be my guest.
@Psyker Landshark The Wizard Queen is hopeful Lady Haliel is on her way to Odonfield to take care of some business...
@LunarParadox, @Izurich I assumed the grafted seed was completed in the week, we will need it for our voyage!
If there's any questions, or ideas, please let me know!
"Alas, I am but a mere apprentice, barely made official only hours ago in fact, so even if I suffer from delusions of grandeur, the fact remains that I am a complete stranger as far as Her Majesty is concerned, unlike..."
Valor watched with impeccable perception. Yes, it was true that the young Tearmoon wasn’t showing up as a living human being at that moment, but still had the sharp wit that the Lilim and her covenmates were known for. Facinating. She rathered to give lead to her master instead of taking a stance on Valor’s proposal.
Well. Valor couldn’t fault her for that. The Wizard Queen was known to have her spies everywhere. One could never be too careful, especially since the increased demand for seeds had everyone with coin begging for the goods that the Wizard Queen was so stingy with.
With a slight tilt of her head, Valor instead moved her focus to Lord Blackthorne.
"Even if it were true, I'm sure you understand how...dangerous this could turn out to be, should the Queen catch wind, no? And 'tis not as if I am lacking gold. As such, I think it is only fair this sponsor speak to me directly. No offense to current company, of course, but surely you can understand my wariness."
Valor stared for a moment, before lowering her sword, and sheathing it cleanly. She pointed north, at the castle wall and the canopy of stars over it.
“Then you will want to make quick haste to His Majesty, the King of Ravenfell. His capital, Arthroyeaux, is seven days north by carriage, six by horseback. If you leave now, you will make it in time before your Wizard Queen departs for Athius.”
She turned back to them, hand on her hip, a short sigh leaving her. “I thought you might ask something like this. But it’s no trouble. Once you meet with him, your eyes will be opened. You will become one of his Enlightened, and will have your seat assured in his new society.”
Her mask didn’t give away any of her feelings as she turned away, “I hope to see you there at His Majesty’s side… Lord Blackthorne, Lady Tearmoon…”
Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, The Hearthfire Gala
"Her Majesty affords me a soldier here or there when there are small tasks that require accomplishing outside of her other servants' purview."
Nephinae placed a dainty hand over her mouth, hiding the smile curling behind. She had a mischievous look in her eyes, one that gleamed with the knowledge that someone wasn’t being entirely truthful.
Alas, she didn’t push it, instead taking a sip of her Gold-touch Wine. The duel had concluded, and the Wizard Queen had given Duke Willowsteel his sentence. She watched with dispassionate eyes, knowing this was the cost for those who were unruly.
Safina spoke beside her.
"Tis an unfortunate turn of events to have the gala be so...marred by these proceedings. Fortunate how I doubt you'll miss him, considering his beliefs, yes?"
Nephinae nodded her head solomnly, “Although I loathe bloodshed, we are nothing without bending the knee. Only one can rule us. Duke Willowsteel, unfortunately, was too proud to see reason.”
She held her goblet stiffly as she stood there, before putting on a smile towards Lady Haliel. “Forgive my disturbance. I will be retiring for the night.”
As she moved away, she briefly looked over her shoulder. “Do take care of yourself, Lady Haliel.”
“Though it is perhaps comical for a Duke to speak of this to a Viscount, I ask that you consider carefully who you ought to be loyal to. If I were as hotheaded or callous as some of my peers, you would be leaving your sister alone in the world, if at that, and all for the chance at a mere display of loyalty.”
Mene watched the knife with its wet juices, swallowing nervously as a hand ran over his throat.
Leaving her alone?
Had the Duke just casually threatened his life?
His eyes shot to his sister, and she shared the same shocked gaze as his, before her eyes narrowed, and she silently seethed at him. It may as well been a mental slap, and Mene flushed with shame, head lowering.
“Forgive me, Your Grace. You’re right. You’re… right about everything. But on top of it, she wishes to weaken you…”
The conversation turned to a lighter note as the Skybound viscounts filled their own plates with venison, bread, and other foods on the table. After peeling off their teacups and filling their stomachs, the viscounts bowed deeply to Duke Rhinecliff and Duchess Agustria, before making their way to their carriage.
Shortly after settling themselves, and only making it a short ways down the road, both viscounts fell into a deep sleep. The Duke’s designs of creating his sleeper agent in the Wizard Queen’s court was successful…
Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, Hearthfire Gala
[@everyone attending the gala]
After the whole ordeal with Duke Willowsteel subsided, and the sorry excuse for nobility was dragged from the room, the gala continued as normal. Court Jester Britesong seemed a bit on edge, but was putting on a brave face. Thus was the way of politics and the court; smile even if you're breaking inside.
After some time, the Wizard Queen stood from her throne, raising a hand. ”My dear guests, this has been a most delightful evening. I must leave you, but please continue your revelries. My guest rooms are open to you, of course.
“I will be seeing some of you very, very soon.”
And on that cryptic note, the Wizard Queen walked regally from her throne, down the red carpet, to the right, and out of the room.
The party continued for some time, until all nobles eventually withdrew to their separate bed chambers. And thus concluded the Hearthfire Gala.
The Wizard Queen had taken the liberty to dress down after an eventful gala. Instead of the heavily embroidered garb she wore earlier, she instead was dressed in silken evening robes, layers light and airy with elven spider-thin threads.
She sat in front of the fireplace in her study, a cozy room with furs and carpets adoring the stone, and wooden hues of bookcases adding touches of warmth. The air had the pleasant aroma of paper and parchment, the bookshelves lined with all manner of tomes and scrolls.
There was a desk and a chair in the study, but the Wizard Queen had instead opted for one of the three chairs in front of the fire, an empty circular table beside her.
Security was no issue. There were two guards just outside her door and more down the hall. They would only let pass the servants and those she was expecting: namely, Lord Blackthorne and Lady Tearmoon.
Her gaze was on the flames, her expression masked, as she awaited her Court Mage and his new apprentice.
Eirwen, likewise, had dressed himself in something more comfortable following the gala, though still elegant and professional. His hair was let down now and removed of its silver and pearls, and his softer, flat-heeled shoes no longer clicked against the floor with every step.
He nodded politely to the guards as he passed them by, as he did with all other servants he encountered on a daily basis. He was popular amongst the staff for this reason: though he never said much, he always treated them with respect, perhaps remembering his own days as little more than a slave to the whims of the elite. Now, as a member of the elite himself, he had not forgotten where he came from.
Now in sight of the Queen, he bowed before her as was traditional. “Your Majesty. I join you as requested. I do hope you found the gala enjoyable?”
The Wizard Queen allowed herself a small smile upon seeing her court mage. She nodded. “The gala was a true delight, I dare say.”
She gestured to one of the seats adjacent to her. “Please, have a seat.”
Her eyes glanced to the study doors once, before returning to Eirwen. “While we wait for your apprentice to join us…” A slight upcurl of her lip. “What can you tell me about the science of seed grafting?”
Due to being called to depart for the castle as soon as possible, Melisande didn't manage to dress up, which meant she didn't need to dress down either. The silver-haired Lilim was pretty much still clad in her academy uniform, except for the hooded cloak.
Soon enough, the youngest of the trio entered the royal study, joining the Wizard Queen and her Advisor. "Forgive me for my tardiness, Your Majesty, Master Blackthorne." She bowed, then sensing that the Queen and the Court Mage were in the middle of a conversation, she decided to simply take one of the vacant seats and let the two socialize, besides it'd be quite uncouth of her to interrupt them.
Besides, even if she's that desperate for company, she'd always have an internal conversation partner.
The Wizard Queen glanced towards Mèlisande and nodded her head, before her attention returned to Eirwen.
Eirwen inclined his head to acknowledge Mèlisande’s entrance, but he must answer the Queen before greeting his to-be apprentice in full. “It is a delicate process, your Majesty, though not impossible. Current theory suggests that the nature of a seed’s power is based, at least in part, upon intricacies within the internal structure. Grafting or manipulation of any sort must be conducted with great care, lest one risks the destruction of the seed.”
The Wizard Queen nodded her head at that. “You've got it right, Lord Blackthorne. A delicate process indeed.”
It was at that moment that the Wizard Queen rung a bell on her table, and after a few moment, servants rolled in a small trolley with a pot of tea, cakes, and other sweets. Cups were poured and offered to Her Majesty, Lord Blackthorne and Lady Tearmoon. The Wizard Queen took hers, blew on it gently, and nodded to the servants, who soon retreated.
In the quiet of the study, the Wizard Queen glanced at the fire, a peculiar expression overtaking her face. One of curiosity, excitement, and… calculated patience.
“There is a task I have for the both of you. Your first of many. I hope it will foster an embracing learning environment for you, Lady Tearmoon, and be a rewarding experience for you, Lord Blackthorne.”
The Wizard Queen glanced up at them, her white irises burning, tingling. “You both will be on the forefront of seed science. Where a careful blend of the arcane can truly unlock their potential.”
She rang the bell once more, and a servant quietly entered. “Fetch me the locked box, Freya.” She said.
The servant nodded, and went around to the desk of the study, opening one of the drawers to withdraw a small wood and metal chest, a large lock on the front. She set it gently on the table closest to the Wizard Queen.
“Very good,” The Wizard Queen nodded, “You may leave us now, Freya.”
The servant bowed, and departed. The Wizard Queen waited for but a moment, before she slipped a key from her robes, and unlocked the box. Pulling the lid back revealed large gems, some shaped like rubies, others like emeralds, and some with multitudes of colors running through them - seeds. It would be rare, indeed, to see so many seeds in one place.
The Wizard Queen allowed herself a smile, gesturing to the seeds. “As you can see, these seeds here have yet to be shaped. They've each been hand-picked based on their effect. ‘Water’, ‘wind’, ‘bubbles’, to name a few.”
She took a sip of her tea, the floral aroma soft and sweet on the tongue. The cup gently clicked with the saucer as her eyes became half-lidded, glancing at the fire.
“You see, the task is simple. You will be grafting these seeds to create the ultimate combination, one I'm absolutely sure is possible with the seeds selected for you.”
She glanced up at them, the fire dancing in her eyes. “You will be creating a way to breathe and move underwater for me.”
Eirwen’s eyes sparked in genuine interest at the Queen’s command. “May I?” If granted permission, he would carefully examine the seeds with all the care and precision of an expert. The Queen, of course, nodded her head. In his enthusiasm, he rambled a bit, something the Queen was surely used to if she’d ever witnessed him in the depths of experimentation before. “Bubbles to create an air pocket, bind the wind and water for swift movement beneath the waves…it will take time, but I am confident we will produce satisfactory results, your Majesty.”
He glanced then to Mèlisande, seeking her opinion. Having a teacher who was willing to listen and encourage his thoughts had been a great boon in his own education, and he hoped to provide the same for his new apprentice. “What think you, Lady Tearmoon?”
In return, the newly-appointed royal apprentice nodded as her mentor turned at her. "The aerial swiftness of Sylphs with the aquatic grace of Undines, convenient indeed, Master, Your Majesty." She mused, "Yes, I too believe Seeds are malleable, befitting the gems they emulate, they must be polished to reveal their true potential."
Her dainty hand reached out to procure one of the seeds then held up the glittering gem before her eyes, "The mystical touch of the Feywilds run strong in the blood of my kin, including myself, I'm certain I'll be able to mold these reagents just as a blacksmith molds metal." A barely perceptible proud smirk curled at the corner of her lips, "And with my chronomancy, we'll be able to accelerate the process. We can - almost quite literally - save time."
The Wizard Queen listened to both Lord Blackthorne and Lady Tearmoon with veiled interest, the spark never leaving her eyes.
A log on the fire cracked, sending up a puff of embers, before resuming its crackling. The Wizard Queen glanced with her eyes for but a moment, before she took the key to the lock box and pressed it into Lord Blackthorne's hands.
“You both have given me high hopes. Lord Blackthorne, Lady Tearmoon,” She glanced at them each in turn. “I eagerly await your results with this. And…”
Her eyes glinted with veiled warning. “I, of course, trust word of your endeavors will not reach the rest of the nobles while it's still a work in progress?”
Eirwen’s expression did not change. If the warning affected him in any way it did not show; he was, as always, the perfect picture of a dedicated court mage. “Of course. All information regarding this venture shall remain between the three of us.”
She nodded, then gestured to the lockbox and its seeds. “With a momentous task such as this, I won't keep you. Take rest, and finish your tea at your leisure. You have my leave when you're ready.”
After finishing a cup of tea and one of his favorite pastries, the court mage delicately gathered up the lockbox in preparation for transport. ”A restful evening to you, your Majesty. I hope to send you good news soon.”
Dadreak had mentioned in passing, quietly, taking Duchess Bastille aside, that he needed to speak with her. The game was afoot, politics and pawns at play. He could see it all under the guise of a gala, and all he could think of was his people.
So after the Gala, he waited in his bed chambers, still fully dressed from the gala, sitting in front of his fireplace. A strong hand stroked his beard, and he hummed to himself in thought, as he self-consciously kept checking his door, anxiously awaiting the duchess, and his closest friend.
No sooner did the duchess come knocking, her fingers tapping a soft but steady rhythm on the wooden frame. She straightened her dress, smoothing over the folds and creases, before clearing her throat to speak. "It is I, Altina, Duke Dadreak. May I enter?"
He moved to open the door swiftly, smiling. “My, my. Yes, of course. Please, Duchess Bastille, please come in.”
He peeked into the hallway behind her, ensuring no one had followed her and no obvious eavesdroppers were nearby. He then shut the door, moving to sit by the other chair at the fireplace.
“I hate to trouble you at an hour like this, especially with such a busy evening. But, it's important.”
He pulled out a long pipe, filling it with tobacco, catching an ember from the fire, and lighting the end. He took a puff, eyes glanced from the fire to the duchess.
“Her Majesty the Queen has something big planned. I don't know how big, but it could herald the end of any sort of rebellion the Duke of Rhinecliff has rumours of leading. All I know, is it has something to do with Athius.”
He took another long puff, smoke curling around him as his brows knitted. “Now, Duchess Bastille, you know I consider you like my own daughter; our trade agreements and our people are close.”
He sighed. “I just don't want to see anything bad happen to ya, ya hear?”
Altina noted the urgency in Duke Dadreak's voice. Uncertainty breeds anxiety, and the duke was right to be anxious. After all, despite the galas and the fancy balls, these castle walls have not yet forgotten the color of the blood that was spilled by the Wizard Queen.
Altina pursed her lips. "That is alarming news indeed..."
She perked up at the mention of Athius, that mysterious stretch of sea that lay beyond Agrovia's forests. "What could she hope to gain there?" Altina would ask, albeit rhetorically. Even the allure of discovery would not be enough to tempt most adventurers to explore that cursed body of water. Altina would arrive at a singular conclusion. "Has she found out something that could tip the scales in her favor?"
The Duke hummed. “Aye, that I wish I knew.”
Still, Altina was puzzled. In the first place, it would be hard for any city to overcome the tyrant in an open confrontation. And even if a rebelling city were to miraculously push the Wizard Queen back, one would be remiss to discount the Wizard Queen's vast resources. It did not escape Altina's notice how the wench had been slowly crippling each city through taxation and other financial mandates. She plays a slow, methodical game. Thus, the longer a battle with her drags out, the greater her chances of victory.
Altina would be snapped out of her reverie by Duke Dadreak's affectionate words. The duchess could feel her expression soften a bit. 'Daughter,' huh? Her mind would flash back to her own father, the late Duke of Agrovia. She would remember that suffocating feeling from her youth. Seeing herself now, it was a wonder how such a man managed to exert his will over her. But he was gone, and so were the old-fashioned edicts that he kept alive with him.
A smile free of duplicity crept up Altina's face, virtually tugging at the ends of her lips. There are little who could get Altina to lower her guard, and the Rockhold duke numbered among them. She put a reassuring hand on the duke's shoulders. "Ah, Duke Dadreak! Always the worrywart."
Her smile drooped playfully. "Do not forget that you've crossed blades with me before, good sir. Or, have you no faith in my ability to defend myself?"
The Duke smiled, patting her hand and laughing heartily. “Aye, how could I forget. You're stronger than an orc with your blade, dear duchess.”
It was all in jest, of course, and she would shift her posture to a more serious one. With crossed arms, she would ask another question: "What do you make of the Wizard Queen, Duke Dadreak?"
Before the good duke would be able to respond, Altina would offer her perspective first. "I believe she is another Ludwig. A more dangerous Ludwig." She recalled her interactions with the late monarch. "I was willing to kowtow to the peace-lover because he did not impose much. But it is different this time." She narrowed her gaze. "That Evelyn Koeve is purposely undermining the other cities — monopolizing the Glasic Fields, siphoning funds through the guise of 'paying fealty,' systematically strengthening her empire while eroding others."
She would lock eyes with the duke. "I do not know how long I can continue to stand idle."
The Duke shook his head, ”Aye, I'm with you, I'm with you. That Zainuzûr Khuzdun (bloodthirsty child) doesn't know when to quit. She runs a ruthless monarchy, takes, and gives little back.”
He took another puff of his pipe, an aroma of spices and wood suffusing the air.
”That's no way to run a province. She's setting up for failure at this rate. I just wish I knew what her end goal was, dear duchess. It may give us insight into what her grand design is…”
He paused, before leveling a serious stare at her. ”Are you close with any of the attendants near the Wizard Queen? Her court mage? Perhaps the Duchess Agustria?”
He leaned back in his seat, eyes sliding towards the fireplace. “She has business with her mage, and is planning on meeting Duchess Agustria. If we could glean information from either of those meetings… it’d give us a better understand of what she's planning…”
Before he looked at Altina, and waved a hand dismissively. ”Not that I want either of us in trouble, dear duchess. To be privy to such details, and then to be discovered, could very well lead to a premature death…”
He sighed. ”Something just ain't sitting right with me, though…”
Altina cycled through all her interactions with the queen's entourage. Remembering her little slip-up with Sir Vulluin not too long ago, she would let out a slight laugh. "Close? Hardly. I doubt that that stuck-up attendant of the queen’s has forgiven me for my discourtesy."
Her mind traveled to the Grand Bank's duchess. "As for her, I... cannot say where we stand for certain." This unknown gnawed at her to no end. But with further introspection, she would finally relax her brows, which furrowed at her hesitation. "That said, considering her connections to Duke Rhinecliff, I do not believe the two of us to be outright enemies."
"And speaking of enemies..." She stared wordlessly at Duke Dadreak's revelation of a secret meeting. And between the Wizard Queen and the Caelin Duchess, no less. "Do you think that that elf seeks to curry favor with Duchess Agustria? To further stuff her coffers?"
More troubling than this secret meeting to Altina was Duke Dadreak's unease. The duke's intuition was rarely wrong when it came to sensing storms. And if he sensed a storm was brewing, Altina was more than likely to believe him. "Pray tell, Duke Dadreak, what do you believe to be the most sensible course of action for us?"
"For our futures, for the futures of our cities?" She would add, underscoring the gravity of their situation.
“Alas, I'm unsure what the Wizard Queen hopes to gain by negotiating with the Duchess of Caelin. Or what it bodes for the rest of the province…”
The duke leaned in close, seriousness etched in his face.
“I believe the best course of action, the safest, and the most duly needed, is for you to speak with Duchess Agustria, later this week, after she has had her meeting with the Queen. See if she will share any details of it, anything that might she'd light on what the Wizard Queen is planning… Anything that might safeguard us.”
He looked at her with a sorrowful gaze. “I'm abhorrent to ask this of you, Duchess Bastille, but I believe Duchess Agustria will listen to you, and favour you.”
Resolutely, Altina would respond, "I see. You have never led me astray before, Duke Dadreak. So I will place my trust in you. I will speak with Duchess Agustria."
Altina always had her doubts as to how the Duchess of the Grand Bank viewed her. Haughty? Arrogant? Perhaps a touch deranged? It is undeniable that a nugget of truth could be found in those words. But all of them are masks that Altina chooses to wear, and upon them lay a coating of calculated emotions.
"A ruler must never be caught unaware."
"A ruler must be able to adapt to any situation."
These tenets have stuck with Altina since she first took ownership of her title. From the various attempts at her life, to the various rebellions that arose when she announced her claim to the Agrovian duchy, those lessons would only continue to be reinforced by her life experiences, and she, as a result, would continue to be wary of her conduct in public. Which is why her private persona stands in stark contrast to her public one.
But perhaps unadulterated honesty is what she would need to come to an understanding with the Caelin duchess. Wherever the winds would take her, Altina would abide by Duke Dadreak's pleading.
Duke Grimhand gave a soft smile, staring at the duchess with care, like a father would look at their child.
“You’ll do us proud, Duchess. I know ya will.”
He gave a nod, before turning to the door. “Now, I won't keep you. Better to get some rest. The Duchess needs her beauty sleep, after all.” He said, laughter in his voice.
Hathforth Castle, Royal Bed Chambers
Dressed in silken robes fit for a royal's pajamas, the Wizard Queen sat at her desk, scribbling by candlelight and the low-burning hearth in her bed chambers. There were visible traces of venom in her face, obviously distraught. She had received most troubling news, and now more than ever, she needed to discuss with her right-hand, Safina.
The guards were shuffling uncomfortably outside, privy to the erratic movements within the chambers. Their eyes were open, allowing only one person to pass by - Lady Haliel herself.
The door never opened. The window wasn’t even cracked open. But Safina revealed herself stepping out from the shadows all the same, clearing her throat before kneeling briefly.
”Highness. Reporting.” She’d long since abandoned her finery, switching to her preferred combination of leathers and light chain, various implements of death adorning her person.
Safina rose, patiently waiting for Evelyn to start speaking.
Evelyn turned slightly in her chair, distant amusement in her eyes. ”Your skills will never cease to amaze me, Lady Haliel.”
Before her amusement disappeared, and she swiftly stood from her seat, glancing at the moonlight streaming through the window.
“...They failed.” She said with disgust, frustration evident in her tone. “I wanted to give you an advantage, but alas, you'll be going into this blind.”
The Wizard Queen turned to Lady Haliel, seriousness alight in her white eyes. “I need you to locate Duke Rhinecliff's treasury, and empty it entirely.”
To her credit, Safina barely reacted visibly to the command outside of a single raised eyebrow.
”An entire treasury? A heist of that scale’s a tall order.” She’d done it before, but that was when she had the entire thieves’ guild at her call. Despite their individual refinement, the Concord didn’t have the numbers Safina would have preferred to approach this sort of thing with. ”I’ll tell you right now, I can’t do this with just the Odonfield cell if I want to maintain their cover with the Duke afterward. I’ll need to pull in the veterans from the old days for this sort of job, and they’re scattered across each unit.”
She paused, folding her arms as she cooly observed Evelyn, leaning against the adjacent wall.
”What’s the overarching objective here? Taking a pound of flesh for his unpaid taxes?”
The Wizard Queen clasped her hands behind her back, shifting weight on her heels. “Gathering the right ones for the job is no issue; I can offer my Gateway to speed up the process.”
What many didn't know was how Evelyn’s seed could open a gateway into the Shade, and then open a second portal to wherever she wished in the mortal plane. It was unsafe to travel through the Shade unless you were accompanied by the Wizard Queen, but worked in a pinch to traverse the expanse that was Arrowfell.
Regarding the overarching objective, the Wizard Queen was quiet for a moment, glancing at the floor, before she spoke. “You've heard the rumours. The people are getting restless. They look to the Duke for guidance. If I were to kill him outright, I fear it would only spark the flames of revolution. So I wish to weaken him in as many places as possible, to cripple him so he's in no position to lead these ripples of rebellion.”
Safina nodded at Evelyn’s offer of her Gateway, noting that possibility in her mind before returning to the business at hand. ”All very well and good to preemptively cripple your threats, but I still think you should change your public approach. The commonfolk won’t follow the nobility if you show there’s little to be worried about. Outside of the elves, you’ll outlive everyone else. Patience brings nothing but advantages. Rhinecliff will be in his dotage in twenty years, Bastille in forty. By then, you’ll be in your prime.”
She followed Evelyn’s gaze out the window, her expression turning briefly melancholy. ”We terrified the people by destroying Ludwig so completely. The more time we can buy with a soft touch, the more that fades away. Our opposition is relying on fear of what we can do to galvanize support.” The wistful look faded, Safina returning to her usual all-business deadpan stare.
”If there’s naught else on your end, one last bit of input from myself?”
“Remaining as placid as possible in the public's eye is always at the forefront of my mind, Lady Haliel. You're right, they are no doubt terrified by our power. But…” She sighed. “I need the cities’ loyalty if I want my next plan to bloom into fruition. And I need it sooner than later. If I have to use a third-party, Concord, other mercenary groups, to exact loyalty, then so be it. That way there are no ties to the throne, public-wise. The people won't know.”
She turned to Lady Haliel, her expression soft. “I always seek your advice, Lady Haliel. Please, whatever is on your mind, say it.”
Safina nodded. Her tone turned less business-like, more…lecturing. One would almost detect a hint of wryness.
”Elvish is a poor cipher to use to conceal our activities, you know. Too many people know it, not just elves. And even then, they’re the least trustworthy.”
Evelyn matched Safina's tone, a hint of wryness in her own. “My, my, and here I thought you'd enjoy a ‘secret’ message from my jester.”
She nodded, a finger brushing her chin. “Very well. I'll come up with a new way to speak in court.”
Evelyn's white eyes passed over Safina, head tilting. “I've given you quite the task, Lady Haliel. I won't keep you, if there's anything else you'd like to add…?”
A shake of the elf’s head. ”I’ll begin preparations immediately. You’ll be notified when I’ve need of the gateway. By your leave, Highness.”
The Wizard Queen nodded, raising a hand in a dismissive manner. “All-force guide you, Lady Haliel. You may leave.”
Rumors on the Wind
[@everyone]
Rumors spread faster than the tide through the coming days of the province of Arrowfell. Soon it was known in each city a terrible, grievous news.
Nathan, Gwyneth, Roland Corrin and the household of the Corrin Estate were all found dead in their chambers, stabbed to death. The killer left no magical or physical trace.
Some believe this is a ploy by the Queen to exact her will in the rebellious Tarin city and surrounding territory. Others believe this is an unknown force meant to disturb the chaotic balance of power in the province.
Only one thing is for sure, though. There is a city in need of a duke or duchess, and many lesser nobles are vying for favour with the Wizard Queen to be chosen to rule the city.
Letters of Destiny
Throughout the week, wherever certain ‘selected’ nobles were located, certain letters would reach them. Rolled parchment, sealed with a respective seal of their bearers. Some had the seal of the Wizard Queen in red wax, while others had the seal of the King of Ravenfell in black wax.
The letters sent by courier or raven are documented below.
Finally, the day had come. The Wizard Queen walked down the pier, surrounded on all sides by royal guardsmen. She was dressed in a regal black dress, her hair braided back with flowers, and her crown atop her head.
In front of her was her third-largest ship, the Battle-Blood Minstrel. A ship she was proud of, layered with three decks of cannons on either side, and a 150-man crew. Usually reserved for warfare, she had requested her naval fleet prepare it for her excursion to Athius. Better to be safe than sorry, these days.
She boarded the ship, making her way to the raised quarter deck, standing beside the captain and helmsman. Her eyes drifted over the busy deck, where sailors were moving supplies to their designated places and preparing the ship for departure later that day.
Her eyes moved further down the pier, where nine other ships, about half the size of her flagship, hosted about fifty men each, and made silar preparations for their voyage.
Lastly, her gaze returned to the pier, where fishermen and citizens moved about their daily business. She was waiting, expectant. She had informed Lord Blackthorne she wished for his presence, seeing as the request she’d given had been completed. As well as his new apprentice. She had heard they were getting along swimmingly, and daren’t separate them.
It would be all hands on deck this time around, she anticipated, and would need her strongest allies with her for these next coming days.
Lady Haliel, she was loathe to part with, but the Wizard Queen knew not to disturb her loyal companion for the task she had given her. Stealing the treasury from under Duke Rhinecliff’s nose was no easy feat, after all.
The Wizard Queen smiled at the thought, eyes turning to take in the sky, feeling on top of the world.
There was a large plaza with market stalls selling fresh catches of the day, produce, and the like. It bustled with people, the smell of the sea in the air, One could see, at the back of the plaza, the raised platform with a chopping block, covered in old blood. However, this detail was pointedly ignored.
One could almost miss the carriage that made its way down the main ‘street’ of the plaza, with its end reaching the pier.
The door opened, and two small nobles got out. Of course, the wide-eyed Skybound siblings, coming at the request of their Queen. They had a feeling the Queen would have a few choice words for them, and one could easily see the trepidation in their faces.
The viscounts and their single guard made way for the pier, eyes on the magnificent Battle-Blood Minstrel.
Hathforth Castle Dungeons
Below the throne room, below the guard barracks, there lay a sprawling complex of cells in the damp darkness. Down a long, narrow corridor lit by torchlight, was a cell filled with a new occupant.
Duke Willowsteel sat against the stone, hands chained to the wall. He had been stripped down to his tunic undershirt and trousers, evidence of whip lashes cutting through the cloth to marr the skin below. He sat there limply, a blank, distant look on his face.
From the small hole behind and above him, sunlight shone through. He had counted the days. And he knew… today was the last. At evening, he would be executed at the public chopping block, in front of the plaza and the pier. In front of the commonfolk of Hathforth, and any nobles who cared enough to watch.
Sev grumbled, dry spitting on the floor to the side of him. Damn them. Damn them all.
There he waited, expecting nothing but his death in naught but a few hours.
The Province of Ravenfell, Capital-City of Arthroyeaux, Athroyeaux Castle, Throne Room
[@everyone invited]
The mountainous city of Arthroyeaux, seated near the coast and covered in a thin layer of snow. Snow didn't really stick here due to the presence of warm winds from the sea, but it did provide a cool atmosphere against the rocks.
The city would appear like a ghost town if one wasn't careful with how they looked. Of course, it was difficult to see the spectral beings moving here and there at a languid pace. Not a physical being resided in the kingdom, not even the urban fauna were exempt from the King's magic.
The dark castle loomed over the city, fitted and etched into the mountains surrounding the city. It was a lonely, winding carriage ride all the way to the top, across the bridges, to make it into the courtyards.
King Lamont DuFairre sat in the center of an impressive throne room, dark colors casting a shade of intimidation over his haunting, ethereal form. He was clothed in a draped hood, cloak, and armour, red light gleaming off his gauntlets as he sat on his throne.
As he reclined, his hooded visage stared at the entrance to his throne room, expectant. But as still as the dead. He had all the time in the world to wait for those he invited, after all.
Spectral attendants hovered around him, wearing similar dark robes. Besides them, the castle appeared as if it were a ghost town. Haunted, and cold.
You've dropped your child off at a new daycare, not thinking much about it. However, when it came to picking your child up, things took a dark turn. Hearing the screams of your child, you ran through the daycare, only to end up horribly lost. Before you knew it, the daycare had given way to a more sinister presence: the backrooms.
Now you are on a mission to find your child while surviving the horrors of the backrooms. Remember, nothing is as it seems, and the walls seem to breath. Keep your wits about you, and you might survive.
Welcome to the Backrooms: The Thing that Breathes. This is a survival horror that focuses on phobias and exploration. Each player will be in their own parallel dimension, adding to the isolation and paranoia that the backrooms bring.
Interested in a rewarding survival horror with discoveries waiting to happen? We'd love to have you. Sign up below!
[center][h1][color=gold][b]Your Local Antagonist[/b][/color][/h1][hr][color=gray]°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°[/color][hr]
[youtube]https://youtu.be/RxkjPdtIO2I?si=OZv9_MolIsbNjNyc[/youtube][/center]
[h1][color=gold][b]Showcase:[/b][/color][/h1]
[hr]
[i]"A million times I have done this charade. The moment people figure it out, I get the boot." she thought.
"But don't you want to see the fear in their eyes when they see who you really are...? Don't you want dominion of this place, just like how you were unchallenged in Vaal Kastrix?" said the Voice.
Ciara scoffed, immediately thinking of Gulliver and Valen. "I'd love to wipe the smirk off their faces."
"It starts by building a rumor. A rumor of power. This could be the place to start."
She took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes resolutely at the Undermage. [b]"Head Advisor, with all due respect, you have no right to ask me about my intentions. If you want answers..."[/b]
She stood from her seat, rising to her full height.
[b]"You'll have to duel me for them."[/b][/i]
~*~
[Url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/191189-iris-ascendis/ic][b]Iris Ascendis Roleplay[/b][/url] (2023) | [url=https://www.tiktok.com/@the.valencia.king/video/7300030820545531141?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7246981308223161862][b]TikTok Tribute[/b][/url]
[hr]
[i]Her breath caught when she felt the cold metal of a pistol against her temple.
"Put the heart down, and back the hell up if you want your friend to live," the guard said to Ellie in a rumbling baritone, digging the gun into Dream's head.
Dream squinted at Ellie, vision blurred as she tried to breathe. The heart, glinting in Ellie's hands.
The doctor, his face turning white every time she asked what would happen if they failed. Above all else, he said, they had to keep the heart safe. They had to, even if it meant...
She snarled, her boot stamping down on the guard's foot, a burst of light bruising the bone. He yelped, losing his grip. That's all she needed, and she tore away. But in her haste, she saw his free arm reaching for her, and she slipped on panicked feet as he pushed her off the railing.
She held back a scream, staring straight down into the boiling pit below. The guard wrapped a tight hand around her ankle, and Ellie could see Dream's other foot flailing; she restrained herself poorly from kicking the guard, desperately hoping she wouldn't die.
As her captor supported himself against the railing, his pistol pointed at Ellie.
"I'll drop her, I swear I'll drop her!"[/i]
~*~
[Url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/185324-tenebrae-the-rebellion-of-shadows-ladies-only/ic][b]TENEBRAE: The Rebellion of Shadows Roleplay[/b][/url] (2021)
[hr]
We have a RPer Appreciation thread?
[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/85654-rper-appreciation-thread/ooc?page=8#bottom][b]This is beautiful, I'll bookmark it.[/b][/url] (2016)
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5533862][b]Another kind comment.[/b][/url] (2024)
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5546326][b]This is what makes it worth it.[/b][/url] (2024)
[hr]
[i]Deep, golden orbs stared back at her from within the cave.
God, she couldn't breathe.
He was monstrous. The ground trembled under her feet as his rippling, massive body exited the cave. Thunderous footsteps left cracks in the dirt, his breath sent waves of heat creeping over her skin. The transformation was slow, but it looked like something from a nightmare with the way his long teeth were bared.
A great and terrible roar sounded from his gaping maw.
She needed to run. Now.[/I]
~*~
[Url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/58110-academy-218-superhuman-school-always-open/ic?page=13#post-2018233][b]Academy 218 Roleplay[/b][/url] (2014)
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-center"><div class="bb-h1"><font color="gold"><span class="bb-b">Your Local Antagonist</span></font></div><hr class="bb-hr"><font color="gray">°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°</font><hr class="bb-hr"><br><iframe src="//youtube.com/embed/RxkjPdtIO2I?theme=dark" frameborder="0" width="496" height="279" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br><br><div class="bb-h1"><font color="gold"><span class="bb-b">Showcase:</span></font></div><br><hr class="bb-hr"><br><br><span class="bb-i">"A million times I have done this charade. The moment people figure it out, I get the boot." she thought.<br><br>"But don't you want to see the fear in their eyes when they see who you really are...? Don't you want dominion of this place, just like how you were unchallenged in Vaal Kastrix?" said the Voice.<br><br>Ciara scoffed, immediately thinking of Gulliver and Valen. "I'd love to wipe the smirk off their faces."<br><br>"It starts by building a rumor. A rumor of power. This could be the place to start."<br><br>She took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes resolutely at the Undermage. <span class="bb-b">"Head Advisor, with all due respect, you have no right to ask me about my intentions. If you want answers..."</span><br><br>She stood from her seat, rising to her full height. <br><br><span class="bb-b">"You'll have to duel me for them."</span></span><br><br>~*~<br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/191189-iris-ascendis/ic"><span class="bb-b">Iris Ascendis Roleplay</span></a> (2023) | <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.valencia.king/video/7300030820545531141?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7246981308223161862"><span class="bb-b">TikTok Tribute</span></a><br><br><hr class="bb-hr"><br><br><span class="bb-i">Her breath caught when she felt the cold metal of a pistol against her temple.<br><br>"Put the heart down, and back the hell up if you want your friend to live," the guard said to Ellie in a rumbling baritone, digging the gun into Dream's head. <br><br>Dream squinted at Ellie, vision blurred as she tried to breathe. The heart, glinting in Ellie's hands.<br><br>The doctor, his face turning white every time she asked what would happen if they failed. Above all else, he said, they had to keep the heart safe. They had to, even if it meant...<br><br>She snarled, her boot stamping down on the guard's foot, a burst of light bruising the bone. He yelped, losing his grip. That's all she needed, and she tore away. But in her haste, she saw his free arm reaching for her, and she slipped on panicked feet as he pushed her off the railing.<br><br>She held back a scream, staring straight down into the boiling pit below. The guard wrapped a tight hand around her ankle, and Ellie could see Dream's other foot flailing; she restrained herself poorly from kicking the guard, desperately hoping she wouldn't die.<br><br>As her captor supported himself against the railing, his pistol pointed at Ellie.<br><br>"I'll drop her, I swear I'll drop her!"</span><br><br>~*~<br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/185324-tenebrae-the-rebellion-of-shadows-ladies-only/ic"><span class="bb-b">TENEBRAE: The Rebellion of Shadows Roleplay</span></a> (2021)<br><br><hr class="bb-hr"><br><br>We have a RPer Appreciation thread?<br><a href="http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/85654-rper-appreciation-thread/ooc?page=8#bottom"><span class="bb-b">This is beautiful, I'll bookmark it.</span></a> (2016)<br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5533862"><span class="bb-b">Another kind comment.</span></a> (2024)<br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5546326"><span class="bb-b">This is what makes it worth it.</span></a> (2024)<br><br><hr class="bb-hr"><br><br><span class="bb-i">Deep, golden orbs stared back at her from within the cave.<br><br>God, she couldn't breathe. <br><br>He was monstrous. The ground trembled under her feet as his rippling, massive body exited the cave. Thunderous footsteps left cracks in the dirt, his breath sent waves of heat creeping over her skin. The transformation was slow, but it looked like something from a nightmare with the way his long teeth were bared. <br><br>A great and terrible roar sounded from his gaping maw.<br><br>She needed to run. Now.</span><br><br>~*~<br><a href="http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/58110-academy-218-superhuman-school-always-open/ic?page=13#post-2018233"><span class="bb-b">Academy 218 Roleplay</span></a> (2014)<br><br></div>
The Otter,
Chronic,
thedarkness,
Days,
Izurich,
Stiles2,
Abstract Proxy,
Squirrel98,
AtomicEmperor,
NegroSlayer
