-Roll for Initiative-

Wood Elf Monk (Way of Mercy) -> Cleric of Twilight (later)

(Ages are in human terms. Obviously he is an elf, I’m just too lazy to try and figure out all of the correct ages lol. You know what I mean tho)

In a small, long forgotten town, Ehlark and Itylara Meliamne welcomed their fourth child into their family, along with a twin brother. The Meliamne’s were a large family in the depths of poverty with barely enough food for the parents, let alone their (now five) children. Ehlark and Itylara were not heavily involved in the lives of their children, and often left the children to fend for themselves despite their young ages. The parents cared more about their drug habit than their children, and were often too high to take care of their children, even if they cared. When their children were too fussy or cried too loud, Itylara would inject small amounts of sedatives into the child, just to get them to stop making a fuss without regard for the child’s well-being. As the eldest of the children, Syvis took it upon himself to take care of his siblings once he was old enough to know how. He was often caught stealing in the town, and the surrounding villages. He rarely stole valuables; he mainly stole food and clothing for his siblings and himself.

Maescia, the second eldest and first daughter, died shortly after Khiiral was born. She was an extremely fussy baby and child, which drove her parents almost to the point of madness. They were convinced that their daughter’s cries were that of a demon’s, sent from hell to corrupt them. Itylara killed Maescia, giving her child more drugs than her body could handle.

Khiiral and Maiele, the twins of the family, were very opposite babies. Khiiral was loud, and full of rage from the moment he was born. Maiele on the other hand, was calm, composed and rarely cried. Maiele was often forgotten about by his parents, which honestly wasn’t exactly a bad thing. Khiiral, on the other hand, was often the subject of his parents' rage and abuse. Money was already running low for the Meliamne’s, the drugs his parents relied so heavily on becoming too expensive. Instead of keeping Khiiral quiet with the sedatives, they would instead remove him from the run-down home they lived in, often leaving him outside to face the elements. Khiiral was a very smart child, however, and learned how to survive almost entirely on his own, with help from his older brother Syvis when it was needed. In a way, Khiiral held a bit of a grudge against his twin, though he didn’t see the neglect that Maiele went through in his own way.

When Khiiral was four years old, he began to accompany his brother when he went to neighbouring towns and villages to steal food and other necessities. He learned how to sneak virtually unseen through a crowd, blending in with the masses; a face among the crowd. Khiiral was determined to become self-sufficient, having learned from a young age that he could only rely on himself. Seven months after he began to join Syvis on his outings, Khiiral was caught by one of the vendors he had stolen from. In a mix of fear and rage, Khiiral attacked the vendor and mortally wounded him. Bystanders watched in horror as Khiiral beat the man to death with his own wares, alerting the town guard to his presence. As the guard descended upon Khiiral, Syvis managed to intervene, attacking guards and bystanders alike in order to give Khiiral time to flee. Syvis was detained by police as Khiiral escaped, fleeing back to the shack where his family lived a few miles away from this town. Syvis was later sentenced to death, and a warrant was put out for Khiiral, though none could fully remember what he looked like. Syvis was hanged at the age of nine.

Due to the warrant, Khiiral was forced to lay low and not venture into neighbouring towns. In this time, his parents gave birth to his last two siblings, Elora and Wistari. Elora was promptly sold off to an underground slave trader and was not heard from again. About two years after Syvis’ death, Khiiral finally was brave enough to continue to steal food and other necessities again. He refused to return to the town that had killed his brother, the guilt from the event fueling his rage at the world, and hatred for himself. He also did not see his parents during these two years, nor did he see the siblings he had left behind. Khiiral had made a small den in the forest near the shack, crude and at the mercy of the elements. As well as being malnourished, Khiiral was also often ill due to the constant cold he had to endure.

On the cusp of his seventh birthday, Itylara and Ehlark finally went searching for their oldest son. They found his den and the few items he had managed to collect over his time in partial seclusion. They decided to take these items to try and sell, and ruined his den for good measure. When Khiiral returned to find his den destroyed, he flew into an inconsolable rage. He stormed to his parent’s house, finding the rotting and decaying body of Wistari discarded in the corner like he was mere trash, chunks of flesh missing, while Mailele was nowhere to be seen. He could not find his father either, but his mother was sitting on the rundown mattress in the opposite corner of the room, sorting through the items she had helped steal from Khiiral’s den. Khiiral attacked his mother, stabbing her repeatedly with a sharpened stake he had managed to crudely craft to help him hunt. He stabbed his mother seventy seven times, each strike filled with a growing rage. Even as her body stopped moving, and her blood soaked across the floor, he continued to stab her lifeless body, channeling all of his hatred and rage into the act. Finally, Khiiral dropped the blood-covered stake beside his mother’s body, nothing but hatred in his eyes. With a sense of calm and serenity he hadn’t felt before, he walked out of the shack and back into the woods, deeper than he had been before. He walked until he felt he was a safe enough distance away, collapsing against a tree. For the first time in a long time, Khiiral began to softly cry.

He laid there for what felt like days, but in reality was more like mere hours. He stared at the sky, watching the bright colours fade into the soft tones of night, until the stars began to twinkle in the sky and contemplated his actions. In truth, he hated being alone. More than anything, he missed Syvis. While the two weren’t overly friendly with each other, Khiiral had a deep respect for Syvis and how hard he worked to take care of not only himself, but his siblings as well. He briefly wondered how Maiele was faring, but the thought was quickly pushed aside. He thought about how his life could have been different, if only one or two actions had been different. If he made other choices than the ones he did. He felt the familiar feeling of his rage rising again as his mind wandered to his parents, of the hell that they selfishly put him through. If his parents hated children so much, why did they have so many? Why did they have to continue to make them all suffer?

Khiiral let out a small breath. Why couldn’t they just care about us? Did they even notice Syvis’ disappearance? Why did Syvis have to die? Why..Why couldn’t it have been me..?

Those thoughts were interrupted by the snapping of branches not far away. Khiiral thought briefly about the wildlife in the area, about what could be causing the heavy footfalls. A bear? Maybe a wildcat? The answer was neither, as the clambering form of Ehlark Meliamne broke through the trees not far away from where Khiiral sat. In his hands was the bloody stake that Khiiral had used to murder his mother, a deep rage and hatred that looked eerily familiar glimmering in his father’s eyes. “You little, fucking brat.” His father spat in slurred Elvish. “You murderer. You’ll pay for what you’ve done, you know that? You’ll get what you fucking deserve!”

The rage in Khiiral began to bloom again, rising like a butterfly taking flight. “You put me here!” He shouted, his voice hoarse from lack of use. “I never asked to be here! I wanted to be dead a long time ago! Maybe then someone might take pity on me and stop my suffering!!”

Ehlark ran at his son, though Khiiral was able to evade his father’s attacks. The time he spent learning from Syvis paid off here more than ever. He wasn’t fast enough, however, due to fatigue and hunger. His father managed to land a harsh blow directly in his chest, narrowly avoiding Khiiral’s heart. Khiiral dropped, gasping and scrabbling at the stake, but he was unable to grasp it properly. His father, sure that he landed the lethal blow, stared down at Khiiral in disgust. He turned to walk away after spitting on his dying son, a last ‘fuck you’ to Khiiral.

Khiiral laid among the dirt and grime, his own blood pooling around him as he feebly tried to pull out the stake. He wanted to sob and cry, but he found no tears would come. He had cried enough in this lifetime. Maybe the next time he came back, he would be forgiven for the crimes in this life. He took solace in the fact that he might see Syvis again, and stopped struggling against his fate. This is what he deserved, after all. His eyes closed as he embraced death.

The figure that stood before Khiiral was hard to see; the more his blurry vision tried to focus on him, the more his visage seemed to swim. His presence had a frightening aura around him, but Khiiral wasn’t entirely afraid. He saw the figure more as a savior rather than someone to be feared.

“You are dying, young one. You must come with me. It is your time.”

Khiiral felt the pain in his chest start to dissipate. He slowly sat up, trying to focus on the figure again. “You came to save me. Why?” The small wood elf rose to his feet, coughing slightly.

“I am not saving you. You are on the brink of death. I’m here to collect your soul to bring it to the underworld to be judged by Lord Hades.”

“You’re taking me from this life. That’s saving me.” Khiiral stood beside the figure now, staring forward. “I’m ready. Anything to get out of here.”

Thanatos was surprised by his words. An elf, not even of mature age, murdered by his own father with the weapon he used to kill his mother, treating death as a sweet release. “Tell me of your life as we go.” He instructed, which Khiiral slowly started to oblige to. While Khiiral didn’t go into complete detail, the details he did mention were enough to bother Thanatos. “Death seems to run rampant in your family. I have helped a few of your kin cross into the realm of the dead.” He glanced over at Khiiral, who walked quietly beside him now, with a calmness Khiiral hadn’t felt before. “Syvis, your kin, spoke very well of you. He had hoped that he wouldn’t be seeing you in the afterlife any time soon.”

“He was always a lot kinder than I was.” Khiiral said, feeling that familiar twinge of guilt in his chest. “I should’ve been the one to die that day, not him. I wish he was still here.” Khiiral scratched his cheek, but Thanatos could swear there was a hint of a tear on the boy’s face.

“He cared for you very deeply.” Thanatos agreed. “Your life was very sad. Such a waste.” Thanatos glanced down at Khiiral again, noting the look of annoyance etched on the boy’s features. “...Sorry.”

“It’s fine. You’re not wrong, I guess.” Khiiral looked away a little bit. “All I wanted to do was live. To have the chance to redeem myself. I.. I thought that maybe I could become a good person.” He let out a breath. “Maybe in my next life.”

The two walked into the realm of the dead in silence. Thanatos stopped at the edge of the River Styx, turning to face Khiiral. “A group has found your body. They are attempting to resuscitate you.”

“Why would they do that?” Khiiral frowned, looking up at him now.

“It is their way.” Thanatos stared down hard at Khiiral, the pure white eyes the only thing Khiiral could fully make out. “You mentioned you wanted to redeem yourself in your next life. Do you truly want that? And there is no point in lying to me; I will know if you do.”

Khiiral paused, nodding hesitantly. “I.. I know I can be good. If.. If I’m given the chance.”

Thanatos was quiet for a long moment, staring hard into the young Wood Elf’s eyes. Finally, Thanatos spoke. “I believe you can. Promise me that you will do your best to become the person you want to be.”

Khiiral stared up at Thanatos again, a confused expression on his face. “What do you mean?”

“Do you promise? Yes or no? Do you swear it on the River Styx?”

“Y-yes. I promise. I will do my best to become the person I want to be.”

“Good. Go, listen to your elders. Keep your heart pure, Khiiral Meliamne. Rebrand yourself if that is what helps you heal. We will see each other soon.”

Khiiral let out a cry of pain, pushing his palms against his eyes as they burned with pain. He collapsed to the ground on the surprisingly dry banks of the River Styx.

When Khiiral finally awoke, he was...warm. The pain in his chest was all but gone, reduced to only a dull ache. He could hear voices around him, but he couldn’t understand what was being said, as if they were speaking a foreign language. When Khiiral opened his eyes, the sight of a large dragon jarred him out the feeling of comfort he had been starting to enjoy. He let out a bit of a loud yelp, startling the others in the room as well. “Calm, child. You’re safe now.” A soft, feminine voice spoke, placing a scaled hand on his chest to carefully hold him still on the bed. “You suffered some life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, we were able to bring you from the brink of death. I thank whatever deity had hold on you, for they let you come back to us.”

Khiiral tried to steady his breathing, now staring up at a large white-blue Dragonborn with sympathy-filled green eyes. “W-Who are you. Where am I? How did I get here?”

The Dragonborn laughed, stroking a clawed hand over his head, but retracted it quickly when he flinched. “You are safe. My name is Mijira Coldclaw. You may just call me Mijira. As for how you got here, you are the only one who can answer that. But it can wait for now; you must be starving. Would you like a meal? You do look like you’ve skipped a couple.” She smiled again, but Khiiral felt his annoyance rising again. At the mention of a meal, however, his belly rumbled.

“....I would appreciate the food.” He said before looking away. “...Thank you.” Mijira nodded, and led him to the dining hall. The monastery was a very pretty place; modest, for the most part, but very clean and well kept.

They served him a hot meal, something he hadn’t eaten in a long time. He devoured the food with little manners, desperate to have a full belly for the first time in his very short life. Mijira and the other monks stared at the scrappy boy and his animal-like eating habits with sadness, understanding that he had not been taught how to properly behave at a table.. And how to use cutlery. After the meal, Mijira asked Khiiral a little bit about himself and the life he had lived such far. He was vague for the most part, but the monks were able to get a sense of how tough this little boy’s life had been so far.

Finally, Mijira came to sit beside Khiiral. “I’m sorry you’ve lived such a harsh life so far, young one.” She wrapped her arm around his shoulders to hold him against her side, a gesture he hadn’t felt before. “I am thankful that Thanatos didn’t take you all the way, and that he let you come back to the world of the living.”

“Thanatos? Is that the figure that I met?” Khiiral asked, looking up at her and subconsciously leaning into her touch. “He didn’t tell me his name. But he said that he met my brother and they talked about me.”

“We can’t know for sure, but your eyes are white, just like his are when he’s appeared to us. As healers, we are familiar with both life and death. We try to honour both sides, so we often leave him offerings, especially after someone we were trying to help passes over.” Mijira gave Khiiral a soft smile. “I will be sure to leave him another offering tonight, as thanks for letting you come to us.”

Khiiral sat quietly against the Dragonborn, thinking over her words. “You said.. You helped people?” He looked up at her a bit slowly. “He.. Thanatos.. Let me come back as long as I promised to become the person I wanted to be. And I.. I want to be a person that my older brother could be proud of. A person that helps people.” Mijira nodded as he spoke, watching as Khiiral started to fidget with his fingers. “Do you think.. I could do that?”

“I know you could do anything you set your mind to, young one. If you want to help people, you’ve come to the perfect place. I am willing to take responsibility for you, and to help you learn our ways, if that is what you wish.”

“I don’t know if I can become a good person. I.. I did a lot of bad things. But I regret it all, I promise. I just.. I did what I thought I needed to do..”

Mijira carefully pulled Khiiral into her lap, holding his frail body against hers. “People will do what they can to survive. If you truly regret your actions, then I fully believe that you are not beyond redemption. Anyone can be saved, in that sense, if they really want to be.” She stroked some matted hair from his face. “I can see that life has not treated you kindly thus far, and for that I am truly sorry. A child like you deserves to learn that the world is not a cruel place, but i fear you’ve learned the opposite, haven’t you?” Realizing she had not asked his name yet, she carefully turned Khiiral to face her.

“I introduced myself, but did not ask your name. I apologize. What is your name, little butterfly?”

Khiiral opened his mouth to answer, but paused as Thanatos’ words echoed in his head. Rebrand yourself if that is what helps you heal. “Can.. I pick a new name?”

Mijira looked surprised, but she smiled softly once again, an action that Khiiral found he quite liked. “Of course. You want to change who you are, after all, right? Go ahead. Choose your name.”

Khiiral thought for a long moment, before finally looking up at her again. “My name is Mercy. After the compassion that I was shown.”

Mijira let out a soft laugh. “I think it is a wonderful name, Mercy. It is a pleasure to officially meet you. As of this day, you are under the protection and care of Mijira Coldclaw, as well as the others that reside in this monastery. I expect you to show them the same respect and kindness you will show me. We are a part of your family now. Welcome, Mercy.”

Mercy swallowed hard, biting his tongue to stop the tears from filling his eyes. “...Thank you.”

For the next sixteen years, Mijira kept Mercy under her wing, teaching him the ways of being a monk. She helped him keep his temper in check, and gave him ways to cope with the intense feelings that often threatened to consume him. He found meditation and reading were the things that were able to calm his mind most, once he learned how to read and write. She was able to teach him to read, write and speak Common and Draconic, and taught him to read and write in Elvish. The Dwarves in the monastery are also teaching him to speak, read and write dwarvish as well, but he isn’t quite there yet. When it was time for him to choose his Monk Tradition, he chose to follow in the same footsteps as Mijira, following the Way of Mercy just like she did. As a symbol of respect for Thanatos as well, he chose his mask to be a butterfly. During the sixteen years that he was studying at the monastery as well, he often participated in rituals and in giving offerings to Thanatos, and prayed to him every day at dusk.

On a particularly calm day, Mijira finally approached Mercy while he was meditating. She sat beside him slowly, her age finally catching up to her even though her body didn’t show it. “I believe you have learned all you can in the monastery, Mercy.” She said softly, taking his hand in hers. “You’ve grown so much. What a fine boy you’ve become.” He could see the gleam in her eyes as she forced the tears to recede. “I think it’s time that you ventured out into the world, beyond our monastery and the towns surrounding it. There are many that are in need of help, and there is much more of the world for you to see.”

Mercy let out a small breath, turning to face his mentor. “I understand.” He knew there was no point in fighting her; she won every argument they ever had, even when he wasn’t in the wrong. He bowed his head low. “ I will go. But I will return when I think that I’m ready and that I’ve learned what I needed to learn.”

Mijira smiled, stroking her hand over his head like she had done since the very first day that he arrived. “I will look forward to that day, Mercy. I know leaving here will be hard for you, but I have faith that you’ll see the beauty in the world and that you’ll help save a lot of people.” She pulled him against her for a hug, no longer having to be cautious. His body had become much stronger, much more capable of taking a hit or a particularly strong hug. “You haven’t been skipping meals, have you?” She chided gently, though she knew that he would never skip her cooking. He smiled softly as she spoke, wrapping his arms around her to return the hug. “You’re still so thin. Make sure you eat properly. I’ll know if you don’t.”

“You know that I love food and that I would constantly be eating if I could.” His lips quirked into another small smile as he watched her. “I will be okay. I promise.” He leaned back, sitting on his legs. “I am grateful for everything you’ve taught me, Mijira. From the bottom of my heart; Thank you.”

Mijira’s lip wobbled, this time unable to reign in her tears. “I’m so proud of you already, Mercy. I will be forever. I’ll arrange a boat to come grab you from the nearby port town, okay? I want you to go experience a new land. Go wherever the ship plans to dock. I will send you with enough reading material to keep you busy on the journey, and then some. As will the others. I know you’ve been doing well in your cleric studies, as well as your Dwarvish lessons. Maybe you’ll even make friends with someone who can keep teaching you in that aspect, hm?” She stroked a claw down the side of his face. “You’ll leave in two moons time, so make sure you’re fully prepared. Don’t forget your mask. And a spare change of clothes!” She began to ramble, earning another small smile from Mercy. He gently placed a hand on hers.

“I will make sure all of my bags are packed, and that you approve of everything in them. Will that make you fret less?”

Mijira sniffled slightly. “Probably not.”

“I didn’t think so.” Mercy said with a small laugh himself. “I will do everything in my power to be safe. I promise.”

Mijira sighed, wiping her eyes. “I know you will. I know I don’t really have anything to worry about, but that won’t stop me from worrying.”

“I know.” He agreed.

“Just.. Try to make some friends, okay dear?”

“I will.”

“Whenever you see a butterfly, know that it’s me watching over you. I love you, Mercy.”

Mercy was quiet for a long moment, picking at his nails slightly. Finally, when he was sure his voice wouldn’t shake, he spoke. “I love you too, Mijira.”

Two moons later, early in the morning, Mercy bid farewell to the people who had taken him in and helped change his life. While he did his best to follow their teachings, and to keep his temper under control, he could tell that there was still that anger and hatred inside him, quelled for the moment. What the triggers were for his anger, however, were still to be discovered.

For a lot of different reasons! I was actually playing her in a campaign (the campaign I originally created her for dissolved/I was kicked out of and Meili was a PC of another player who no longer wants to speak with me) so her backstory no longer made sense for the new campaign since she relied heavily on Meili.

Mist was born to a sea elf father and a human mother. Her father abandoned her shortly after she was conceived, leaving her young, human mother to raise the water genasi by herself. Unable to provide care for her young daughter, Mist was abandoned shortly after her first birthday. Her mother prayed that her daughter would have a better life with someone else.

Mist was found and taken to a small orphanage in a nearby town where she received minimal education, as did the other children. She was often ridiculed for her appearance; the greenish blue skin and unnatural blue eyes, her water-like hair that seemed to float all over the place. The other children would often bully and attack Mist, often leaving her with black eyes or other cuts and bruises. Mist became very angry and violent as she grew, often seriously injuring other children who picked on her. Mist often got reprimanded by the headmother of the orphanage, being put by herself and being denied the few things she was allowed. She was often put alone in a dark room with nothing but a cold hard floor and her thoughts. She was told that these isolation periods would help her control her temper, but instead they did the exact opposite. Mist became much more violent and angry, and often would attack the workers at the orphanage, especially when they tried to touch her. Mist also often threatened the workers, saying that she would one day torture and kill them all.

When Mist was ten, she was woken by the screams of the other children. She quickly got up and saw that the orphanage was on fire, many of the other children dead already. She managed to flee the building, being one of the few to survive the experience. The headmother accused Mist of the act, telling the authorities that the Genasi was always violent and uncooperative, and that Mist had vowed to some day kill them all. Mist tried to defend herself, but was arrested and thrown in jail at the young age of ten.

Over the course of five years, Mist was ‘questioned’ about the events that happened at the orphanage. She always told them what a vile place it was, and that while she didn’t burn it down, she wasn’t sorry it happened. They tortured her to get her to confess; she was often electrocuted, as well as starved, whipped and beaten. The prison would often send Mist “visitors”to try and convince her to confess. They would often choke her, almost to the point where she couldn’t breathe. Her visitors loved to watch the fire in Mist’s eyes turn to fear. Mist always tried to keep her nails sharp so she could claw at her visitor’s eyes and hands. 

 Despite the injuries and constant punishments, Mist did not break and confess to the crime she did not commit.  Mist became terrified of electricity, and though she did not show it, would panic whenever any sort of electricity was brought near her.

At fifteen, Mist managed to finally escape the prison, retreating deep into the woods to escape her captors. She lived by herself until almost her 16th birthday, scavenging for food and barely able to stay alive. When she was almost sixteen, she was found by a small group of elves. They approached and offered sanctuary, but were swiftly attacked by Mist. Sensing the rage and pain that Mist held in her heart, the group was barely able to subdue her, taking her back to the temple on the outskirts of the forest that they called home, bordering an ocean. They fed and clothed Mist when she awoke, careful to stay out of her range of fire. Mist, too tired and weak, did not fight the group. Mist was not receptive to the group, only accepting the food she was offered. After two long weeks of staying at the temple, Mist finally began to respond to their questions. They asked why she was hiding in the forest all alone, and what her name was.

Mist gave a small recap of her life, not providing many details of what she had been through. Only that she had been raised in an orphanage, thrown in jail for a crime she didn’t commit, and then trying to live without being caught again by the authorities.

After listening to her tale, the head Elf of the temple offered to teach her to become a Cleric of Deep Sashelas, promising that he would watch over her and protect her from further harm. Mist instantly denied this request, claiming that she didn’t want to dedicate her life helping people. 

The Elf offered Mist another path, offering to put her in touch with a Druid friend that he knew. He assured Mist that his friend was a very kind person and would be able to help her quell her temper and grow stronger to protect herself. Mist assured him that nothing would be able to help her anger issues, and that she didn’t exactly want to get rid of the grudges she held against the headmother and against the prison. After another week of contemplation, Mist finally agreed to TRY to walk the path of a druid. 

Mist met with the Wood Elf druid. She was a rather kind woman, and worked with Mist on her temper. Mist found that she rather enjoyed learning to be a druid, enjoying the solitude and comfort the animals brought her. Her temper slowly was able to be a bit better controlled, though she still had her flare ups. Human’s often reminded her of the workers at the orphanage, as did certain Half-Elves. Mist did not  follow Deep Sashelas, instead finding solace in a different Goddess; Mist became a follower of Artemis, just like the Wood Elf who taught her the druidic ways. Despite Mist’s fear of trusting others, she placed a lot of trust into her Goddess, who in return helped guide Mist during her studies. As a symbol of devotion to Artemis, as well as a permanent sign of trust, the Genasi tattooed her Goddess’ symbol on her back, between her shoulder blades. When she received the tattoo, Mist actually gave a small half smile, and said that the tattoo showed Artemis’ promise to always have her back.  

A message to myself,  by Kallista 

I’ve been thinking a lot on my travels so far. The last few months since the ball have not been easy by any means, and healing from it has been a long and difficult road. I’ve come to a lot of realizations lately. My mom Goddess has helped me tremendously, but so have my new companions. 

Kallista glanced over at the auburn haired man laying next to her, his hair splayed out on his pillow. One hand was placed on her knee, even as he slept. 

I never thought I would care for Lucien so much. It turns out that Carlo had a lot of influence on Lucien, and not in a good way. It makes me really sad how little Carlo cared for Lucien and how selfish he was. The look in Lucien’s eyes as he talked about his relationship with Carlo is a look I won’t forget, and one I hope to replace soon. 

 Lucien deserves so much better than Carlo ever was. 

Kallista absentmindedly stroked over Lucien’s head, earning a small mumble from the Elf. Kallista couldn’t stop the warm smile that he brought to her lips. He was a good man; she just wished that she could have realized that sooner. 

As for Freyja, she has helped me come to terms with a lot of my relationships, and how toxic they were. The hardest to accept was Rilyrr. I.. I loved her so much. We had our issues, sure, but surely they were something that we could work around. And maybe, in a way, we could have. But.. Rilyrr never loved me the way I loved her. Every thought, every action, everything I did, she was always on my mind. But our love was pretty one-sided, even if she seemed to love me. Maybe she did, but the more I think about our relationship, the more I find that hard to believe. Whatever I would have tried to be for her would not have been enough, and that hurts to think about. I sacrificed my wings for her and her brother. I sacrificed the thing that was the most important to me; the trait of myself that connected me to my past, and to my family. I didn’t regret my decision. Not even when my mother ripped out my wing with her bare hand, her fingernails ripping and severing the tendons and nerves that fused my wing with the rest of my body. I didn’t regret it even as she snapped the bone off. I had accepted that I might die in that moment, that it would be too much to bear. But I was okay with that, because it meant that Rilyrr and Kyo would be safe from her, even for just a little bit longer. 

But  mom Freyja said that in order to be at peace with what happened, I need to understand and accept the relationships that were left behind, despite the pain and suffering they put me through. That it’s okay to grieve them.

Kallista scrubbed a hand over her face, careful not to wake her sleeping partner. 

As for Orfi and Sorrow.. I honestly don’t even know how to express my feelings about them. Orfi was a vindictive child who only cared about herself and the animals she “protected.”  We had our good moments; I’ll never forget when she taught me how to use Druidcraft and Primal Savagery. She really did love to bite. But Freyja also told me about her temper tantrums. When I went for a fly to cool off and she… she created a giant whirlpool in the air that sucked me into the water. The feeling of the water forcing itself beneath the feathers of my wings, the pure terror I felt as I lost control of my wings and plummeted into the ocean.. The overwhelming terror as I gasped for air, only for my lungs to be filled with water.. It was so scary. I didn’t know what was happening until I was already in the water. I was just.. So scared. In a way, I didn’t understand how someone who was supposedly so “in tune with nature”  had so much anger and hate in her heart. 

As for Sorrow, the two of us never really bonded. He never saw me as anything more than a drunken slut who only cared about herself. And in a way, yeah, I guess that’s what I was. What I am. All we ever did was fight. Our group was so dysfunctional. We should have known that working together was a bad idea. 

Kallista took a shuddering breath, carefully wiping a few stray tears off the worn pages. 

I hated it when he called me a drunken slut. It stung so bad that all I wanted to do was drink to forget everything that was happening. I don’t know why he even agreed to go with us. He clearly didn’t like any of us, except maybe for Rilyrr. He always tried to flaunt his relationship with Helion. I was so angry when he made me feel bad for sleeping with Helion. They weren’t together at the time, so why did it fucking matter??

Kallista took another breath, closing her eyes to try and get her feelings back under control. 

But in the end, none of it mattered. The “relationships”  I had with them didn’t matter. They’re all gone now. And maybe that’s for the better. I mean, in some way, I wish they were still alive, but in another way I’m glad they’ve passed on. I feel for their families, and those that were left behind. I know Helion is still grieving Sorrow, but I know that he will move on someday. 

As for me, Lucien and I are going to collect the relics together. Did you know that he wants children?  The inn we’re staying at is run by a small family. The mother and father are very nice, and the little girl is very sweet. I saw Lucien braiding her hair and telling her stories last night just after dinner. Did you know Lucien loves muffins? There’s an older lady near the harbour that has been selling me sweets. Lucien always takes his time with them, though. I hope one day he knows that I won’t ever let him go hungry. Once we’re done with the relics, he’s going to settle in Callaway with Hope, Kairon and my nieces and nephews and I. Maybe one day some of my own little redhead children will be running around after him. I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t fully believe I deserve a man like Lucien. But we could be happy together, if we make it out. 

I hope we make it out alive, Kallista. 

Hah, this felt kind of weird to write. But.. mom was right. It was actually really helpful. Maybe one day I’ll do it again, but this time I’ll be in an even better place than I am now. 

I wish I could give my past self some advice. I can’t, but I’ll write it down anyway. 

It’s okay to let go of the people who hurt you

Sometimes you can’t see the way a relationship affects you until it’s gone

If you’re putting more effort into a relationship than the other person, let that relationship go. They don’t appreciate your effort, and they never will.

You’re amazing and worth so much more than you realize

You’re not the bad guy, no matter how much you try to paint yourself as one

Alright, I probably have more to say but I’m running out of ink. The point is, I’m doing okay now. Honestly, without the others, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I still catch myself thinking about them every once in a while, but it’s a lot easier to manage with my friends and family by my side.

  Anyway. Enough of my rambling. 

      I love you, Kallista. That’s something I never told myself enough. You’re going to be okay without them. 

Friendly reminder that @alexiela73 is cruel and hurts me. (Jk love you babe you’ve just hurt my heart beyond repair).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Kallista ran out of the ballroom, kicking off her elegant shoes before taking off into the sky. Her vision was blinded by tears. She had done the right thing. Rilyrr could be happy now, happy with someone she actually deserves. Rilyrr was free to be with a Queen, not a dumb little bard who liked to drink to repress her emotions.

Finding a relatively quiet spot, Kallista fell to her knees and sobbed for what seemed like hours. Knowing that she had a duty to fulfill, she slowly began to compose herself. She wiped away the smudged makeup, and smoothed her hands down her dress. Her shoes were a lost cause, though she didn't really care too much about that. At least her and Orfi could match.

Kallista spread her wings and began flying back to the castle. She frowned slightly as she noticed people leaving the ballroom, many running, pure terror etched upon their faces. From the centre of the castle, Kallista could see twining pillars of fire and water shooting up into the air. Her mind immediately went to her sister and her children, and then to her party.

Kallista shot forward towards the large doors, scanning the crowd for her Hope, Jeb or Nettle. Seeing no sign of them, Kallista quickly made her way towards the ballroom, an overwhelming sense of fear filling her being.  

She landed a few feet from the doorway, her eyes locked on the tall, redheaded Elven man who was engulfed by fire.  Time seemed to slow down as she stared around the room, utter shock and horror pushing aside the fear.

On the ground in front of the man, who Kallista knew as King Beron, was Rilyrr. Her body was in a crumpled heap before him, a pool of blood quickly seeping out from around her. An elegant red and gold sword straight through her chest.

Kallista began to shake.

Nearby was Orfi, face down, her dress soaked a bloody red, unmoving.

This couldn't be happening.

Behind King Helion's throne was Sorrow, with three matching daggers sunk into his body. Kallista saw the same sheen of the gold blade and red handle; a matching set to the sword in Rilyrr.

Freyja, what has happened?

King Helion's body was wrapped around Beron's, Helion's body engulfed by water. It was as if Helion was trying to douse Beron's flames.

“It seems you've overstayed your welcome.”

Kallista slowly looked over her shoulder. Hope stood tall, her gaze locked on the Autumn King. “Don't, Kallista.” Kallista heard Hope's voice in her head. “This is a battle you will not win.”

As if ignoring the Tiefling, the Autumn King's gaze settled on Kallista.

“Who's kingdom are you from?” He drawled. He sounded.. Bored.

Kallista felt her lip curl, her whole body shaking from anger. “I bow to no king.” Kallista felt herself start to glow, the power gifted to her by Freyja threatening to sear Kallista from the inside. She fell back, quickly getting up. Beron simply looked bored. Her anger starting to consume her, Kallista began stalking forward towards the Autumn King.

Helion quickly blocked her path, staring down at her. “I know you are angry.” He whispered. “But if you attack him now, war will break out between the four kingdoms. Please. I need to keep my people safe.”

Staring up at his face, Kallista slowly unclenched her fists. She took a step back, forcing herself to not look at the massacre of bodies, friend and stranger alike. More than once her gaze flickered to Rilyrr, each time causing a pang of pure grief and anger in her chest.

“No,” Kallista heard a sob. “I won't do it.”

Kallista turned to see King Beron stroking his wife's face, before his hand fisted in her hair. “You will do as I say.”

Stifling her sobs, the Queen rose to her feet. Fearing their intentions, Kallista immediately darted around Helion, taking to the air.

Don't touch her. Don't you dare fucking touch her.

Kallista begged her wings to go faster, before a searing pain exploded through her wing, down her spine, into her legs. She just barely managed not to scream in pain.

Kallista was brutally pulled back, away from Rilyrr, away from the one she loved. What felt like fire torched every nerve, every muscle, every tendon in her wing. Tethered against the wall by an arrow of blinding light, Kallista was able to make out the bored face of another Elven man. She assumed this man to be the fourth king, the King of the Spring Kingdom.

Her body spasmed against the wall. This pain was unlike any Kallista had ever felt. The only pain that came even remotely close to this pain was when her mother ripped the wings from her back with her bare hands.

No, no no no.

Kallista began screaming weak prayers in her head to her Goddess. She begged for Freyja's aid, begging for some way to get to Rilyrr.

@kimotea, here is the other half of your commission! It’s short, but I hope it’s okay! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kallista took a deep breath, staring at herself in the mirror. “What do you think, Dad?” She whispered, smoothing her hands over the silky white and black dress. “Do you think she'll like it?”

She turned, her long red curls flowing over her shoulders. Beautiful flowers were woven through her hair, hand-picked by Orfi. Her father smiled, wrapping her in a gentle embrace.

“You look beautiful, Kallista. I'm sure she will love it.”

Kallista began to hear soft music being played from nearby. “It's time. Are you ready?” Kallista's father asked softly, taking one of Kallista's gloved hands. She nodded, swallowing a little bit. She was full of anticipation; Kallista tried to focus on walking at her father's pace, resisting the urge to sprint full force into the grove that had been set up for them.

Slowly the two made their way to the entrance of the grove. Among the seats were friends and family; Orfi, Sorrow, Bo and Nico. Kairon and Hope, as well as their children also sat in the crowd.  Rilyrr's brother Kyo stood next to her at the altar, while her mother sat next to Kallista's father, when he sat.

Kallista locked eyes with Rilyrr, and she felt her heart stop beating for a moment. “She's fucking beautiful.” Kallista whispered under her breath as she took in Rilyrr. Kallista took in Rilyrr, standing under the altar, a few flower petals landing on her crisp black suit. The white ruffled undershirt, the silver accents lining the suit, the way Rilyrr shuffled slightly next to her brother all set Kallista's heart on fire. Carefully, Kallista gave Rilyrr a tiny smile. She got one in return.

Kallista's eyes didn't leave Rilyrr, except when she glanced at the small purple Tiefling who was playing the guitar, as well as the tall Goliath man standing nearby. After what seemed like an eternity, Kallista finally reached the altar, standing in front of Rilyrr and Kyo.

Kallista's father stepped forward, taking Kallista's hand and placing it into Rilyrr's. Rilyrr gave her hand a gentle squeeze, which Kallista returned.

Standing behind the altar was a human looking man that Kallista didn't fully recognize, who seemed to be the one leading the ceremony. “You look beautiful, Kallista.” Rilyrr whispered, giving her a bit of a wider smile now.

“You look absolutely stunning.” Kallista replied. “You take my breath away every time I get the pleasure of looking at you.”

The two giggled slightly before turning their attention back to the man under the altar. He began to speak, but Kallista barely payed him any attention. All she could focus on was the beautiful woman standing next to her. She stared at Rilyrr, memorizing her face. The face she was blessed to be with for the rest of their lives.

“Do you, Kallista, agree to be bonded to Rilyrr for the rest of your lives?”

Kallista couldn't hold back a beaming smile, as well as her tears. “It would be my honour.”

“Do you, Rilyrr, agree to be bonded to Kallista for the rest of your lives?” The man repeated, now turning to Rilyrr.

“I do.” Rilyrr agreed, tears in her eyes.

Kallista slipped on the beautiful red and silver ring onto Rilyrr's finger, placing a gentle kiss over top of it. Rilyrr did the same.

“Okay. You're married!” The man pronounced.

Rilyrr quickly pulled Kallista against her, cupping her face and kissing her deeply. Kallista happily returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around her wife.

The crowd cheered, and the pair couldn't help but giggle again as Orfi tossed a handful of flowers over the two of them.

“I love you, Rilyrr.” Kallista whispered.

“I love you, Kallista.” Rilyrr responded.

“Ready for our dance, my lovely wife?” Kallista teased, taking Rilyrr's hand.

“I am, my darling wife.”

Kallista and Rilyrr made their way to the “dance floor”, and began to dance.

“I have died every day waiting for you.” Kallista sung to Rilyrr softly as they danced. “Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years.”

Kallista carefully ran her hand through Rilyrr's hair, willing her hand not to shake. The events of the day had shaken her to her core, though she tried not to show it. Kallista closed her eyes, trying not to give in to her fears. The image of Shavari's mangled body, the searing anger she felt when Orfi revealed that she was the cause of Shavari's death, the overwhelming fear as she began to be pulled towards the ocean.  

Kallista couldn't stop her body from shaking. She slowly untangled herself from Rilyrr and sat up, covering her mouth with her hands to muffle the sobs that would inevitably come. She closed her eyes again, trying to focus on the steady sounds of Rilyrr's breaths. She tried to count the moments between each of her breaths, but her mind instead focused on the moment she was enveloped by the whirlpool.

Kallista wrapped her wings around herself as she slid to the floor and began to sob.

“Kallista?” Kallista was barely able to hear the soft and sleepy sounding voice. She flinched as Rilyrr gently placed her hand on Kallista's back. “Are you okay?”

“I-I'm fine.” Kallista responded, wiping the tears off her face.

“What's wrong?” Rilyrr murmured, wrapping her arms around the Angel. “Do you want to talk about it?”

At first, Kallista shakes her head. The two stay quiet for another moment before Kallista speaks. “Rilyrr. I don't want to do this anymore.”

“I know, Kallista.”

“But I have to keep going. No matter what. I made a promise that I need to keep.” Rilyrr strokes Kallista's hair, letting her speak. “But I'm so scared. I almost died again.” Rilyrr's grip on Kallista tightens slightly. “I couldn't escape the whirlpool. All I could do was struggle against it as it pulled me down towards the ocean. I couldn't swim, I couldn't fly, I couldn't even reach you to ask for help. I just needed to cool off.” Tears fell once again. “And I feel bad for how I treated Orfi; I shouldn't have attacked her like that. But she can't just.. She can't just leave us to die every time one of us does something she doesn't agree with. What if she does that to you?” Kallista leans her head into Rilyrr's shoulder. “I don't want to lose you.. You're all I have, Rilyrr.”

The two sit in relative silence, the only noise the lapping of the waves against the boat and the occasional sniffle from Kallista. After a few moments, Rilyrr speaks again. “I know things are hard right now, Kallista. I'm here for you. I can only hope that soon they get better.” She murmurs, gently placing a kiss on Kallista's tear stained cheek.

“Do you wanna go sit up top for a little bit?”

“Sure.”

Kallista got up, offering Rilyrr a hand. With a gentle smile Rilyrr took her hand. The two quickly put on a robe to protect themselves from the cold. They quietly ascended the stairs and made their way across the deck of the ship towards front. The two nodded in acknowledgement to the few crew members on deck before settling at the tip of the boat, leaning against the side.

Kallista stared out at the dark water, swallowing hard as the taste of salt water filled her mouth. “Did I ever tell you what happened with my mother?”

“No, I don't believe so.”

Kallista turned her head towards Rilyrr, studying her face. “I fucked up.” She said, looking fowards once again. “And she made me pay for it. I can't tell you exactly what it was, but it was worth it.” Kallista seemed lost in thought. “And she promised to give me back my father too. I couldn't refuse. I offered whatever she wanted in return for my father, and for keeping a secret.” Rilyrr gave Kallista a slightly puzzled look, but let her continue speaking. “I offered one of the most important things an angel has.”

“Your wings.” Rilyrr breathed.

“Yeah.” Kallista stretched the tips of her wings, wincing slightly. As if the mere memory was hurting her. “She's probably going to use them in some type of experiment like she did on Kairon. But that doesn't matter.” She gave Rilyrr's hand a gentle squeeze. “Because the two most important people I have in my life are safe.”

Rilyrr couldn't help but smile. “What.. happened?” She asked, glancing at Kallista's white-tipped wings.

“She took them off me.” Kallista murmured, her voice barely audible over the roaring wind. “At first, she used a knife or a sword. I don't remember exactly what it was. I tried not to look.” Kallista carefully extended her wings as she pulled Rilyrr against her side. She wrapped her wings around the two of them, providing more shelter from the cold air. “It.. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. But.. Then she took my other wing.” Kallista shuddered slightly. “She got overexcited, I think. She ripped it out with her bare hands. No tools. Just her nails.”

Rilyrr's face was a mixture of horror and anger.

“I could... I could feel it. Every nerve being ripped from my back, the pain as she gripped them and held them still. It.. It was too much for me. I passed out from the pain. I thought.. Honestly, I thought I was dead.”

Rilyrr wrapped her arms tight around Kallista, managing to keep her tears at bay. “So.. How did you get your wings back?”

“Freyja came to me, actually. She gave me an option to help my father, which I took. He's in her realm once again, restored as an Angel of Freyja.” Kallista couldn't help but give a melancholy smile. “And Freyja.. She made me her Champion. In return for everything I've done, everything I've sacrificed, she promised that when I died and stayed dead, I would be reuinted with my father in her afterlife. She placed the mark on my head and restored my wings.”

“I'm glad you're back, Kallista. I don't want to lose you either. You're so important to me.” Rilyrr cupped Kallista's face and leaned up, placing a tender kiss on her lips. “I love you, Kallista.”

Kallista stared back at Rilyrr, before cupping her face and returning the kiss.

“I love you too, Rilyrr. Please don't ever leave me.”

Every person she has reconnected with from her past has sent her into a downwards spiral.

Mist could feel it; the tension in every muscle, the growing anxiety in the pit of her stomach, the constant need to look over her shoulder.

When the Orcs attacked Whitestone, Mist finally felt excited. This way she was able to get out her anger, tension and bloodlust on those who deserved it. While she didn't overly have any objections to killing random people, she would much prefer to not upset her sister and to kill someone who actually deserved it.

She ran and lept at the Orcs, feeling immense satisfaction as she felt her teeth sink into their flesh; their blood had an unpleasant taste, but Mist enjoyed it nonetheless.

After the battle, Mist's teammate's began to loot the bodies of the invaders. While they stole the clothes, weapons and any items, Mist set to work on removing the flesh and muscle away from the skull of the Orc Chief. She hadn't done it before, nor did she have the proper tools. Still she managed to partially clean the skull and sever it from the spine. With some blood still oozing down the skull and onto her face, Mist turned to Gilmore as she heard him speak. “Why am I so aroused right now?” He whispered to himself, earning a smirk from Mist.

She sauntered over to him, backing him towards the wall. She placed her hands beside his head on either side, trapping him there. “Do you.. Get off on violence, Gilmore?” Mist purred, staring at him through the eye holes of the skull.

“N-No..” He bluffed, earning a wider smirk from Mist. She slid the skull up just enough to free her mouth. With Orc blood still covering her lips, she passionately kissed Gilmore. He returned the favour, his arousal evident. Mist grabbed his hand, ignoring whatever words her teammates spoke in her direction, and lead Gilmore outside of town.

Mist once again kissed him, her hand sliding down his body. “What are you doing?” Gilmore asked when they separated, causing Mist to stop and look at him.

“What does it look like?” She asked, a bit of a harsh bite to her tone. “Did you not want this? Or did you want to go somewhere more private?”

“More private for what?” Gilmore stared at her with a blank look on his face.

The two stared at each other for a moment before Mist finally pulled away. “Forget it.” She said and began heading back into town.

“Wait.” Gilmore said after another moment. “I have a room at the inn if that's something you'd prefer.” Mist saw the light sheen of a blush on his face.

“I have no preference.”

“Here is fine.” Gilmore responded, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Mist smiled, proceeding to undress the handsome man in front of her. She didn't care if they were spotted, nor did she care about any dangers that could arise from being so vulnerable in such a public place. Her mind had only one thought, and that one thought was Gilmore.

- - -

Her breaths were quiet, her hair creating a waterfall around their faces as she leaned in and pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes. She felt a pair of rough hands on her waist, a pair that she knew was not Gilmore's. She shook her head, as if the action could erase the memories that were starting to flood her mind. “It's fine.” She thought to herself, now kissing down Gilmore's chest and across his shoulders. “It's not the same.” Before Mist could stop herself, she felt her teeth sink into Gilmore's shoulder. He let out a small groan, one more of pleasure than pain.

Mist carefully let go, feeling the familiar tension starting in her muscles once again. She straightened up, gently placing her hands on his chest. Gilmore's hands slid up her back, one hand gently knotting in her hair. She leaned her head back, eyes closing once again as she tried to focus on the sound of his breathing. “Be a little more gentle.” Gilmore murmured, and Mist held back a hiss as she saw her fingers, now long claws, digging into his chest.

“Sorry.” She whispered, her head twitching slightly. “Fucking relax!” Mist thought to herself, carefully moving her body around Gilmore's as he layed her on her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, listening to the sound of his moans for a moment before she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Mist tried to focus on him, on the sound of his breathing, the sound of his moans, the soothing scent of him.

A hand slid around her throat, pinning her to the ground. Her body ached as her legs were forcefully spread apart, the other rough hand caressing her body. Every inch of her was exposed, leaving herself completely vulnerable to him. She frantically clawed at the hand around her throat, her vision starting to go blurry. She let out a soft sob as tears began to flow freely. “Shh. Be a good girl.” He said, loosening his grip after a moment, when her struggles finally ceased. He leaned over her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his every movement, his every touch. Finally, when he was too caught up in her body, she sunk her teeth deep into his neck.

Mist's eyes snapped open as she felt the warm feeling of blood on her face and in her mouth. She let go almost instantly, staring at Gilmore's twitching body. For a moment all she could do was stare in horror, her head twitching slightly. She reached towards him, her hands shaking. She saw the life practically drain out of him, earning a choked sound from Mist. She picked him up, quickly attempting to cover him up, but ultimately not bothering with clothes. She began making her way through the town, through the festival, searching for someone who could help. She could hear her teammates yelling at her as she walked, though she could not hear what they were saying. She was vaguely aware of Meili's voice, though she could not focus on her. A few of her party members followed Mist, who brought Gilmore to the temple of her God, Deep Sashelas.

Mist carefully layed Gilmore's body in front of her as Naerys asked for the priestess' help. The priestess told Naerys that she did not have the supplies to perform a reincarnation, as Mist expected. She begged her God to bring Gilmore back, as it was her fault he died and that he was an amazing man who didn't deserve to die. She offered anything in return for Gilmore's life to be restored.

Deep Sashelas agreed to bring Gilmore back, considering the circumstances of his death. He gently told Mist not to let this happening sway her, and that a relationship may be good for her. Although Mist did not agree, her god hadn't been wrong about important things in the past.

The moment the bite mark on Gilmore's neck began to close, Mist got up and tried to walk out of the temple. Meili stopped her twin, who turned back around towards Gilmore.

Naerys carefully helped him up, and he immediately made his way over to Mist. “Are you alright?” He asked, cupping her face.

“You're the one who died, are you okay?” Mist could barely look at him.

“I'm fine.”

“I'm sorry.” Mist said quietly, her hands still shaking. “I'm.. I'm really sorry.”

“You don't need to apologize.” He said gently. “As long as you're okay.”

Walking around the town of Whitestone, Mist tried to allow the feeling of the cool sea breeze calm her nerves. After the encounter with Emily, memories of her childhood began to race through her mind once again, as if she were reliving the days at the orphanage all over again. The fear she felt as Meili got ripped from her grasp, the fear from her periods of isolation, the fear when she had “visitors” when she was alone all washed over her, threatening to drown her.

Mist finally stopped in front of the large statue in the town. She gazed over the faces of the heroes, her eyes settling on the Druid of the group for a moment. She wondered what hardships the group had gone through, and how they had managed to overcome them. Absentmindedly, Mist ran one of her hands over the needle marks on her arms. She had died again. She wondered vaguely what sort of sick God kept bringing her back.

She glanced around, noting the purple-clad man standing nearby. He seemed to be looking at the statue with a sort of fondness, as if he were lost in some distant memories.

“You know them?” Mist asked finally, hoping the a conversation with a random stranger would help ease her nerves.

“Oh, yes.” The man replied with a slight grin. “They were close friends and good people.”

“Why not just go and visit them instead of staring at their statue?” Mist retorted, her usual bite having returned to her voice.

“They live very far away. On different continents.” The man replied smoothly, not seeming to be bothered by her rude attitude.

“Oh.”

“What's your name?”

Mist paused. She did not give out her name, especially not to someone she just met. It didn't matter how handsome they were or how inviting they seemed-

“Mist.”

Goddammit Mist.

“Mist.” He seemed to consider her name for a moment. “It's wonderful to meet you, Mist. I'm Shaun.”

“It's.. Nice to meet you too.”

“Are you from Whitestone? You don't seem familiar.”

“No, I'm not.” Why are you being so open with this dude? What makes him so special?

“I'm not either. I'm from Emon, actually.”  Shaun replied, brushing a strand of his soft- looking hair over his shoulder. He pulled out a sleek looking black business card with a unicorn design on it. In elegant writing, the card read 'Gilmore's Glorious Goods.' “Stop by some time if you're in the area. I'm sure I'll remember you.”

“I doubt that.” Mist muttered.

“I have a knack for remembering interesting people.” Shaun held out his hand, which Mist hesitantly took. He raised her hand to his lips and gently brushed a kiss over the back of it, earning a bright blush from the Genasi.

“I hope to see you again, Mist.” Shaun said with an almost mischievous smile. Mist muttered out an almost incoherent reply, pulling her hand away. With another smile, Shaun set off walking again.

Sunny took a deep breath, the wounds she endured cause her body to ache, but she needed to continue on. She was on a mission; a mission that meant more to her than almost anything else.

She practically ran downstairs to see Gilmore, sliding to a halt in front of him. “Hi.” She says breathlessly, looking happy despite her wounds.

“Hello.” Gilmore says with a smile, looking the Tiefling up and down. “What can I help you with?”

“I need a ring.”

Gilmore smiles brightly again. “I have plenty of those.” After some thought and debate, the two settle on a ring. He does not charge Sunny for it, knowing her plans. She gives Gilmore a big hug before he teleports her back to the Brotherhood of the Spectrum.

The moment Sunny is back at the brotherhood, she sets off to search for Sebastian. Finding him quickly, she hides the ring behind her back. “Hewwo.”

Sebastian turns and looks at her, noting her bloodied appearance. “Are you okay?”

Sunny nods enthusiastically, before biting her lip. “I need to ask you something.”

“What is it?” Sebastian responds, watching her.

“I wanted to thank you. You've always been there for me, even when you barely knew me. I know I'm scatterbrained and not very smart, but you always put up with me. You make me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to. You never shoot me down or tell me I'm stupid.” Sunny blinks the tears out of her eyes. “You support me all the time, and Marik told me that's what people who are in love do. And when people are in love, they get married.” Sunny pulls out the ring and offers it to him as she finishes her sentence. “I don't know if I'm going to make it through the final fight. All I can do is try.” Sunny takes a deep breath again. “If I don't, there may not be a world to come back to. And even if there is, we don't know how much time we have left. And I want as long as I can with you, Sebastian.”

Sunny takes his hand and gives him a teary smile. “So.. Will you marry me?”

Sebastian takes Sunny's hands, tears rolling down his face. “Are you sure?”

Sunny giggles a little and nods, the two a teary mess. 

“Yeah, but wasn't I supposed to do this?” Sunny pauses, the smile slowly dropping from her face. "Doesn't matter." Sebastian decides. Sunny slips the ring onto his finger, and Sebastian slips it off and puts it on the right finger. “I love you.”

Meili and Mist were born to a Sea Elf father and a human mother. Their father left the twins shortly after they were conceived, leaving their mother to raise the two Genasi's by herself. Their mother, unable to care for her children, abandoned the two when they were just over one year old, praying that they would have a better life with someone else.

The two were found and taken to a small orphanage in a nearby town. They received minimum education, as did the other children. They were often ridiculed for their appearance; their greenish blue skin and unnatural blue eyes, their water-like hair that seemed to float all over the place. They would often bully and attack the twins, often leaving them with black eyes or other cuts and bruises. Mist became very angry and violent as she grew, often seriously injuring other children who picked on her twin. Meili became more the soft and timid type, often hiding behind her sister and trying not to draw attention to herself. Mist often got reprimanded by the headmother of the orphanage, being put by herself and being denied the few things she was allowed. She would often be separated from Meili, alone in a dark room with nothing but a cold hard floor and her thoughts. She was told that these isolation periods would help her control her temper, but instead they did the exact opposite. Mist became much more violent and angry, and often would attack the workers at the orphanage, especially when they tried to touch Meili. Mist also often threatened the workers, saying that she would one day torture and kill them all.

While Mist was in isolation, Meili would often cry and beg for her sister back. Annoyed with Meili's crybaby ways, they tried to beat it out of her, but ultimately were unsuccessful.

When the twins were ten, they were woken by the screams of the other children. The quickly got up and saw that their orphanage was on fire, many of the other children dead already. The two managed to flee the building, being one of the few to survive the experience. The headmother accused the twins of the act, telling the authorities that the two were always violent and uncooperative, and that Mist had vowed to some day kill them all. Mist and Meili tried to defend themselves, but were arrested and thrown in jail.

Over the course of five years, the twins were 'questioned' about the events that happened at the orphanage. Mist always told them what a vile place it was, and that while they didn't burn it down, she wasn't sorry it happened. They tortured the twins to get them to confess, Mist often trying to take the brunt of it to spare her sister. The twins were often electrocuted, as well as starved, whipped and beaten. Despite their injuries and constant punishments, the twins did not break and confess to the crime they did not commit.  The two became rather frightened of electricity.

At fiteen, the twins managed to finally escape the prison, retreating deep into the woods to escape their captors. They lived by themselves until almost their 16th birthday, scavenging for food and barely able to stay alive. When they were almost sixteen, they were found by a small group of elves. They approached the twins and offered them sanctuary, but were swiftly attacked by Mist. Meili, able to calm her sister down, accepted the help of the group, even apologizing for her sister. They took the twins to a temple on the outskirts of the forest, bordering an ocean. They fed, and clothed the twins, asking them their names and why they were hiding in the forest by themselves. The two recounted their lives, not giving many details of what they had been through. That they had been raised in an orphanage, thrown in jail for a crime they didn't commit, and then trying to live without being caught again by the authorities.

After listening to their tale, the head Elf of the temple offered to teach them to become Clerics of Deep Sashelas, promising that he would watch over the two and protect them from further harm. Mist instantly denied this request, claiming that she didn't want to dedicate her life helping people. Meili considered this request, and eventually agreed. When confronted by Mist, Meili told her sister that she wanted to protect her in any way that she could, and this would be the perfect way to do it.

The Elf offered Mist another path, offering to put her in touch with a Druid friend that he knew. He assured Mist that his friend was a very kind person and would be able to help her quell her temper and grow stronger to protect her sister. Mist assured him that nothing would be able to help her anger issues, and that she didn't exactly want to get rid of the grudges she held against the headmother and against the prison. After some prodding from her sister, Mist begrudgingly agreed to at least try the path of a druid.

Meili studied under the Head Elf to become a Tempest Cleric. Meili took to the studies very well, and was much loved throughout the church. She was often given extra sweets and other gifts, many of which  she shared with her sister. She was able to harness the fear she felt for electricity and used it to further her studies. Mist was not able to overcome this fear.

Mist met with the Wood Elf druid. She was a rather kind woman, and worked with Mist on her temper. She quickly realized that Meili was Mist's sweet spot, and the two often worked together to help Mist. Mist found that she rather enjoyed learning to be a druid, enjoying the solitude and comfort the animals brought her. Her temper slowly was able to be a bit better controlled, though she still had her flare ups. Human's often reminded her of the workers at the orphanage, as did certain Half-Elves. Mist did follow Deep Sashelas, just like her sister. She also got their God's symbol tattooed on her back, between her shoulder blades. Meili also got the same tattoo, only on her arm instead of her back.

“Just be glad it wasn't Aryx who was hit.”

Invernus' words repeated in her head. Everyone stared at the black mass of shadows in the corner, and Sunny felt fear blossom in her chest once again when she watched as Glenda, Mags, Gilbert and Marik rushed forward into it. She grabbed onto Aryx's arm as she noticed him trying to walk forward into it as well. “No, Aryx, please don't go!” She hissed, willing her tears to stay away. “Please, just listen to me and leave.”

“I'm not leaving my party.” He said as he tried to maneuver out of the small Tiefling's grasp. Sunny managed to hold the tall Draconic Angel back, thankful that his arms were full because of Invernus and Sir Reginald.  Unable to see inside the darkness, Sunny focused on keeping Aryx at bay until her teammates returned. Again she tried to plead with Aryx to flee, but ultimately she was ignored.

“We're just wasting time with him. Let's just go.” Aryx turned towards the staircase, walking over. Before he could take the first step down, the darkness dissipated, and Syff appeared in front of Aryx. Sunny watched in horror as he skillfully swung his sword, carving a large chunk into Aryx's side. Immediately the wound seeped the same black essence that came from Invernus' wound, and Sunny just barely managed to hold back a scream as Aryx crumpled to the ground, dropping Invernus and Sir Reginald.

As her group focused their attacks onto Syff, Sunny pulled out her health potion and shoved it into Aryx's mouth, carefully helping him swallow it. His wounds started healing, but the same black essence still snaked its way up his skin. Aryx got up a bit painfully, patting Sunny's head before returning to the fight.

Sunny took a breath, focusing on Syff. She watched as Necrotic energy washed over him, though he seemed to shake it off pretty easily.  He glanced at Aryx, who was now standing once again. Taking the hits from Sunny's team, Syff forced his way past Aryx and towards Sunny, who instantly tried to back up. Managing to stay on her feet, Sunny yelped slightly as Syff grabbed her throat and lifted her off the ground, slamming her into the wall she was about to back into. With another fluid motion, his sword dug into her chest, her body beginning to shake as she stared into his eyes.  “You're nothing.” He hissed, letting go of Sunny and pulling the sword from her chest. She slumped to the floor for a brief moment before shakily standing once again.

Each breath Sunny took felt like searing fire in her lungs, and she held one burned hand to her chest to help staunch the blood flow. It was sticky and warm on her fingers, not a sensation she was used to; nor one that she liked.  She waved her hand at Aryx, who turned around to see if she was okay. With a small frown and a glance to her wound, he took a step towards her, but was forced to stop when Sunny created a wall of thorns between the two. “I'll be okay,” She thought as she stepped forwards, dropping the wall of thorns. “This is nothing. It's fine.” She winced slightly as she recalled the feeling of the sword piercing her bones. “I can do this.” She fell to a knee. “I need to help them.” She gasped for breath, unable to lift her head. “I need to protect him.” She placed a hand onto the ground to keep herself upright. “I can't die here.” She forced herself to lift her head, watching as a giant T-Rex now had Syff in its mouth. “Not after everything we've done.” She looked at the faces of her party. “Not after I finally have a family again.”

Sunny slumped to the ground, a pool of blood seeping across the ground now. Her vision was hazy,and she was strongly aware of each heartbeat.

“I'm not ready for this.”

She couldn't hear what was being said.

“Why can't I hear you?”

She coughed slightly as someone shook her shoulder, feeling her broken bones shift against each other painfully.

“Aryx..” She mumbled. “Don't go..”

She closed her eyes as exhaustion overtook her. Before fully falling asleep, she was just barely able to hear the loud bellow of pure rage and sorrow that was ripped from Aryx.

Aryx clutched Sunny's lifeless body close to his chest, turning to the rest of the party.

“I warned you.” The tall Drow man walked slowly around the slumped over figure, the dragon scales of his coat glittering in the dim light. “You went against me anyway. Do you remember what I told you?”

Sunny cowered in the corner, battered and bloody. She was silent, which got her a swift kick to the side of her head, earning a small whimper from her.

“I told you,” He growled. “That if you broke your word and told anyone about anything, that I would personally see to the torture of your party.” He leaned in, grabbing one of her horns. “And that you would be alone again. Did I not?”

Silent tears ran down Sunny's face. “Please don't hurt him.” Her voice was crackly and pathetic.

Syff pushed Sunny's head down harshly, earning another small whimper from the druid. Syff walked back over to the slumped over figure on the chair, running a finger over one of the black horns that protruded from the Draconic Angel's head. “You care about this one. More than the others.” He looked to Sunny, a wicked smile on his face. “Don't you?”

“I don't.” She lied. “I don't care about any of my party.”

“You don't?” He feigned surprise, seeing through her obvious lie. “If you didn't care about them, why did it take you so long to tell this one what I had done?” Sunny watched as his hand curled around one of Aryx's horns. “Weren't you trying to protect them?”

“Let him go!” Sunny shouted weakly, coming out more like a cough. “He didn't do anything. Just let him go home.”

“Sunny..” Aryx groaned from his spot. “I'm gonna.. Kill this bastard..”

Syff gave another wicked smile. “How sweet.” His voice dripped venom. “I think I'll make a pair of matching gloves out of you.” He mused. “Watch closely. Watch the consequences of your actions.” Sunny stared in horror as Syff pulled hard on Aryx's horn, earning a loud yell of pain from him. Despite Aryx's cries of pain. Syff did not loosen his grasp on Aryx's horn. Sunny was able to see small cracks forming near the base of his horn, the sickening sound of it snapping off resounding in her ears. Syff tilted his head slightly as he inspected the horn. He dropped the horn, and Sunny watched as it rolled across the floor.

“Please, leave him alone.” She whispered, crawling across the floor towards Aryx who was moaning in pain. “I'll do anything, please just let him go.”

Syff watched the pathetic Tiefling crawl on the floor towards him. “You'll do anything?”

Pausing, Sunny nodded.

Syff grinned a wicked grin, and set to work pulling off another of Aryx's horns. He seemed to snap it off almost instantly, earning more groans of pain from Aryx. He held it out to Sunny with an eyebrow raised.

She swallowed hard and stood up, despite the ringing in her head. She walked over and grasped the horn, her heart pounding. Syff moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her head lightly. “Kill him.” He whispered in her ear.

“No.” She replied in a whisper. “I want him to go free.”

“He will be free. He'll be free of all the pain and suffering you put him through.” His grip tightened around her head and neck. “Do it.”

With tears running down her face, she lifted the horn. “I'm sorry Aryx.”

Aryx lifted his head, managing a small smile through his pain. “I love you Sunny.”

With a strangled cry she plunged the horn into his chest.

Sunny gasped, bolting upright. Her body shook and she was covered in a cold sweat. She stared around at her surroundings, her racing heart slowing slightly as she realized she was back in the garden, surrounded by the flowers that her and Aryx had planted just hours earlier. She stared at Aryx's sleeping form, the rise and fall of his chest brought stinging tears to her eyes. Quietly she crawled over to him, her eyes focused on the double sets of horns on his head. Kneeling beside him, she carefully ran one of her fingers over each horn on his head, searching for any cracks or damage. All four horns looked fine, nothing out of the ordinary that she could see. Relief filled her chest as she realized it was only a nightmare and not reality. Sunny carefully tucked herself against Aryx's chest, begging her body to stop shaking.

“Sunny..?” Aryx mumbled groggily, his grip instinctively tightening around her. “Are you alright?” When she didn't respond, Aryx rubbed his eyes and stared down at the frightened Tiefling, who covered her face and quietly cried. “Hey.” He said softly, sitting up with her in his lap. “What's wrong Sunny? It's okay.” He rubbed her arm gently.

“I'm scared, Aryx.” Sunny cried. “I'm so scared. I want to go home. I don't want to be here, and I don't want to help him.” Aryx opened his mouth to respond, but Sunny continued on. “ I want to tell you everything. You're the only person I feel like I can trust fully, Aryx. I know that you won't think anything different and that you'll want to help me. But you can't, and I'm scared of what he'll do to you.”

Aryx listened to her quietly, planting a soft kiss on the side of her head. “Did he threaten you?” When Sunny didn't respond, Aryx held her tighter, rocking her slightly. “Did he hurt you?” Again, Sunny didn't respond. “I need you to tell me, Sunny, so I can help you. Okay?”

“I can't tell you what he did.” She whispered, and Aryx felt a familiar twinge of anger in his chest when he heard how hollow her voice was. “Or what he said. I don't want him to hurt you.”

“He can't hurt me.”

“Yes he can.” She stared up at Aryx now, sniffling once again. “He's a bad man. A bad man who has a lot of power. He can hurt you, and he will if he gets the chance.”

“I won't let that happen, okay? I'll always protect you.” He stroked her hair gently. “I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened.” His tone was gentle, trying not to push Sunny into revealing anything she didn't want to.

“I can't tell you.” She shook her head before leaning in carefully to whisper in his ear. “Not here. He might have people listening.”

The pair glanced around the garden. “Okay.” Aryx nodded. “Later then.”

For the first time since meeting Syff again, Sunny felt a wave of relief engulf her. She slumped in Aryx's arms as she finally let herself relax a little more.

“Let's get some sleep, okay?” Aryx murmured, carefully laying down again with her tucked tight to his chest. “I'll keep you safe, Sunny. I promise.”

Sunny hugged him tight. “I'll protect you, Aryx.” Already she sounded half asleep. “You don't need to worry..”

“Okay.” He murmured back, stroking her hair once again. “I'm glad that I have you to protect me.”

Sunny found out about Noir’s role in her past tonight, so I wanted to write a little exchange between the two. This probably won’t be what actually happens in the actual campaign. It’s something I’ve wanted to write for a while, and tonight’s session definitely helped with inspiration for this piece. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The party trudged towards the docks, weary after weeks of travelling on the Mainland. Sunny held tight onto Aryx's hand, her gaze locked on the large ship waiting for them by the dock. Aryx glanced down at her, and upon noticing her expression gave her hand a small and reassuring squeeze. Sunny bit the inside of her cheek as her eyes settled on the Captain. He was leaning over the edge of the ship waiting for them. He gave the group a grin when he spotted them approaching. The party let Sunny board first, hanging back slightly.

Noir held his arms out for her, stumbling back slightly in surprised as she gave him a hard shove. “S-Sunny?”

“How could you?” She hissed, tears starting to run down her face. “How could you?” She repeated, slightly louder this time.

“W-What?” Noir stared at her, letting her shove him once again.

“I know what you did, Noir.”

Instantly Noir's heart sunk. Opening his mouth to speak, Sunny's hands connected with his chest once again, though this time he did not move. “Sunny, please, let me explain-”

“Explain?” She shouted at him. “Please. Go ahead and explain. I know what happened, Noir. You may think I'm an idiot but I'm not!” The salty air whipped at her hair, as if she were creating a hurricane to engulf him. The rest of Sunny's party slipped below deck, not wanting to get dragged into the hurricane.

“I didn't say you were, did I?” He retorted. “Please, Sunny, calm down and listen.”

Sunny fell quiet now, the only sounds coming from her were the occasional sniffle.

“Sunny. I'm.. I'm sorry.” He began. Immediately Sunny's expression twisted to one of anger, but before she could interject he continued. “I didn't know when he approached me that there was anyone living there. I thought it was just a forest. Nothing more, nothing less. I needed money. I was desperate. He offered me enough to buy my ship and then some, Sunny. I couldn't just turn that down. He didn't.. He didn't tell me that anyone was living there. If I had known, I wouldn't have done it.” Noir shook his head. “When I found out after that you were living there, I couldn't forgive myself for what I had done. I didn't know if you made it out alive or not, until that night on the beach.”

“You killed my Papa.” Sunny whispered, her voice almost lost to the harsh wind. “You ruined my home.”

“I know, Sunny, I know. I can't even begin to express how sorry I am.”

“That's not what I'm upset about, Noir.” Sunny responded with a small shake of her head. “You knew from almost the moment we met that I was the one from the forest.” She looked down at her charred hands. “You comforted me. You made me feel better about what had happened to my Papa. But you didn't tell me.”

Noir opened his mouth, but Sunny held up a hand to stop him. “You had plenty of time to tell me. Or were you worried I wouldn't sleep with you if I knew?” She stared at him hard now. “Was I just something for you to collect? Since clearly, you had a 'type'.” She spat the last words bitterly, remembering the light blue Queen that had captured the pirate.  “I could have forgiven you, Noir. You know that I have a soft spot for people and that I find it hard to stay mad.”

Noir was quiet. “You could have forgiven me.” He repeated. “Meaning you won't now.”

“I can't.” She shook her head slowly once again. “I understand why you did what you did. I understand that you didn't know you would affect people so badly. But you could have told me. You could have told me at any point. But instead, I learned it from the one person I hate most in the world. The person who walks in my worst nightmares. Do you want to know how I learned, Noir? How I learned what you did?”  When he didn't respond, Sunny continued anyway. “I learned through a play the same day that I met the man who was responsible for the bandits who raped me. I had to sit and watch that day all over again, surrounded by my friends- no, my family, who had no idea what I was seeing.”

Sunny shook like a leaf in the wind as she spoke. “And I couldn't tell them, Noir. The people who I trust more than anybody in the world couldn't know how this man affected me.” Sunny coughed slightly, hiccuping at the same time. “And the thought of coming back to somebody, to not be alone anymore, was one of my only comforts. He ripped that away from me too, just like everything else.” Sunny wrapped her arms around herself now, as if to stabilize her shaking. “If it were anyone else, Noir, I still might have been able to forgive you. But I can't.”

She took a deep breath, leaning on the edge of the ship for support.

“I'm sorry, Sunny. I truly am. That day has haunted me every moment of my life. I can never take back what I did, or the fact that I didn't tell you.” He reached towards her, but let his hand fall to his side when she flinched. “You're absolutely right; I should have told you sooner.”

Sunny nodded. “After this journey, I.. I don't want to see you ever again.” Her voice was soft once again. “If I'm ready at some point, I will come find you. But until then...” She trailed off, rubbing her hands together.

Noir swallowed hard. “I understand.”