In this darkness I find peace

Knoll sits around a campfire with a few of the others from the Academy, reclining back on a log. His hood still up, the dark shadows of the pyre dance around on his cloaked face. The only person he truly knows that’s here with him looks to be Prince Innes. He smiles softly, Innes will be a good leader some day, he can tell. Frelia is in good hands between him and Tana.

The dark mage is abruptly brought out of his stupor by a shriek from one of the younger students with them here, he looks around and sees nothing. Ah, the children must have just been scared by the noise of some wolf or bear after all the scary stories. He shakes his head, ghost stories have never particularly bothered him, especially now after having faced down actual undead monsters. Still, as someone whose spent most of his life buried in books he has some passing appreciation for storytelling. Knoll takes this opportunity to glance sidelong at Innes, a rare wry smirk on the normally peaceful mage’s face. These children haven’t heard anything yet.

“You know Innes, this almost reminds me of the woods back home. Truly, it’s tragic what’s been happening to the people who go camping or travel through them at night. Rumor has it, some terrible Entombed or revenant still stalks the countryside forest.”

He can feel the eyes of the other students upon him and sends up a prayer, though to what god he should pray to Knoll isn’t entirely certain, hoping that Innes plays along. One of them asks him what a revenant or entombed is, and Knoll cocks his head.

“They’re bloated, rotten corpses that exist only to slaughter the living. Do you truly not have them here, I could have sworn I saw one while we were traveling.” His face betrays no emotion as he speaks, a useful skill one picks up in the royal courts he supposes. “It’s horrible, their gnarled fingers twisted in razor sharp claws that slice through flesh as though it were paper. Still, I imagine you have no interest in hearing about such things. It’s already so late, and as a staff member I should probably get you all to sleep.”

Several of the children protest, and he has to bite back a grin. Knoll may be a scholar, but he’s always had something of a flair for the dramatic, even if he blames it on the nobles he grew up around.

“Well, recently a young woman and her family back where I’m from went up North to the wooded mountains to stay in their cabin. Apparently the girl started to hear terrible sound like nails on a chalkboard coming from outside her window that first night, but was too paralyzed by fear to get up and look.. The next morning when her and her parents went to look they found deep scratches marring the glass, but chalked it up to some animal trying to get in because it could smell food inside the house. That night she heard the sounds again, and still couldn’t bring herself to get up to look, but in the morning she saw that her window was almost sliced clean through in a way she had never seen from an animal. The third night when the scratching came again she thought she was ready for it, but all of a sudden that night the noise stopped after just a few minutes. She swallowed down her fear and went to look out her window, that was when she noticed the glass had been completely removed. Her window stood wide open, a breeze blowing in from the outside, but she saw nothing. What she didn’t realize at the time was just what that meant. The entombed had climbed into the house with her, and the last thing she ever felt was it’s fever warm, bloated hand wrapped around her throat, the jagged, twisted claw pressed tight enough to her neck it drew blood if she struggled. I won’t get into too much detail, but when we found what was left of the family it was like nothing I had ever seen, screams and moans and fetid smells filled the air.”

Knoll strides across the cobblestone floor of the monastery, his long dark robes sweeping across the ground while he makes his way towards the infirmary. He hasn’t used any staves since the end of the war, hell, he isn’t certain staves even exist in Fodlan. The school sent out the call for anyone with medical experience though, and as a staff member it is his duty to respond. 

He can surely at least help with things like changing bandages. Things that don’t require magic like that. He thinks back to the war with Grado, of all the times someone had been injured in battle. All the times he had been injured. It makes his stomach turn to imagine the children here going through anything similar. Knoll’s spent most of his time here in the first month locked in the library, busy reorganizing manuscripts and getting the books ready for the students, so he hasn’t got to interact with them much, but that doesn’t mean them getting hurt is any less horrifying.

(So like, I kind of had an idea for this that was more angsty like an actual battle, but let me know if you want it to be a sparring session instead.)

Battle Theme: Glacial Solitude

Battle Intro: “Go home to darkling wood Myrrh. As much as I’d rather not, I won’t hesitate to strike you if you stand in my way.”

Victory: "Be still...”

Defeat: “It looks like this is the end, I will say hello to Morva for you my friend...”

Taunt: “I’ve read of the legendary power of the manaketes, surely this isn’t all you’re capable of.”

Reacting to Taunt: “Nothing you say can make me slip up here, the stakes are too high.”

Tie: “I’ve made some mistake, you’re stronger than I foresaw.”

Perfect Victory:  “God, Prince Lyon, what have I done?”

Final Finisher: “I hope you find peace Myrrh, I really do.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: “Let me help with that.”

Your Muse Down During Assist: “I’ll take care of you.”

Using Item on Your Muse:  “Alright Myrrh, let’s patch you up.”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse: "This is the least I can do.”

(So like, I kind of had an idea for this that was more angsty like an actual battle, but let me know if you want it to be a sparring session instead.)

Battle Theme: Chill and Rigor

Battle Intro: “Stand down Ewan, I don’t want to, but I’ll fight you if I must.”

Victory: “I’m sorry it came to this, but I do what I must.”

Defeat: “You’ve well and truly surpassed me as a mage... you should be proud...”

Taunt: “I’m sorry to tell you this Ewan, but I’ve been studying magic since almost before you were born, there’s no way for you to win this fight.”

Reacting to Taunt: “Hush now Ewan, I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t have time to waste on playground insults.”

Tie: “Perhaps youthful enthusiasm truly is a match for my experience... or maybe I’ve just lost my touch...”

Perfect Victory: “This was inevitable. Try as I might to subvert fate it barrels onwards and only I am left to deal with it’s consequences.”

Final Finisher: “You’ve learned so much since we last met, but it’s still not enough.This ends now.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!”

Ewan Down During Assist: “Stay there and I’ll hold them off.”

Using Item on Your Muse: ‘Here, use this. I can tell you’re hurt.”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse: “Feeling better?”

(So like, I kind of had an idea for this that was more angsty like an actual battle, but let me know if you want it to be a sparring session instead.)

Send ⚔ for Battle Quotes VS. Your Muse

Battle Theme: Comrades

Battle Intro: “As sad as it may be, neither us can walk away from this. We both have people we need to protect.”

Victory: “Forgive me, but I must live.”

Defeat: “You’re stronger than I remembered... I wasn’t fated to fall here, and yet...”

Taunt: “You look tired Tethys, I’d tell you to give up now, but I know you’d never listen.”

Reacting to Taunt: “Hah, I’m not nearly as easily riled up as most men in the army.”

Tie: “It seems we’re evenly matched, for now I’ll have to retreat.”

Perfect Victory: “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him for you if he’ll let me. You can rest easy old friend.”

Final Finisher:  “Be still, this is over.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: "I’ve got you covered.”

Tethys Down During Assist:  “I won’t allow it!”

Using Item on Your Muse:  “Stay with me Tethys, you can’t die here.”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse: “Just a little longer until we’re finished here.”

(So like, I kind of had an idea for this that was more angsty like an actual battle, but let me know if you want it to be a sparring session instead.)

Battle Theme: Shaman In the Dark

Battle Intro: ‘I’m sorry Tana. I bear you no ill will, but for Grado’s sake I must live.”

Victory: “Rest now.”

Defeat: “Thank you...”

Taunt: “If Frelia is to survive then their royals must be strong enough to lead them, we’ll see if you’re up to the task.”

Reacting to Taunt: “Taunting me is pointless, you will fall here no matter what you say.”

Tie: “It seems we both live another day.”

Perfect Victory: “The crushing weight of dark magic obliterates all in its path, don’t feel bad.”

Final Finisher:  “I pray that some day Frelia will forgive me for what I have done... and for what I’m about to do.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: “Allow me.”

Tana Down During Assist: “Stay close, I won’t let them reach you.”

Using Item on Your Muse: “Here, you need this more than me.”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse:  “You won’t fall here!”

» reunions in the sand

“You’re not mad, Knoll. Don’t say such things!” She’d scold him further if not for the sadness in that small smile of his. Sadness was infectious, that’s why she tries to spend the opposite instead. She understands his woes, however. If not for what she’s experienced, she would have thought all of this was a dream as well. That voice spoke of how they needed time to return to their bodies, so perhaps this truly wasn’t reality. Even so, she was not a ghost meant to haunt the mage, and she had no intention of letting him continue think that.

“You may not believe me, and my own memory betrays me at times–” If she thinks too hard about the whys, the whos, and the hows, her head starts to hurt. A few parts of it remain clear in her head– the devastation, the pain, and the helplessness she felt… all of those was real. “– but i’m no spectre. You can doubt everything, even this place. You’re right, it may not be real… What I can assure you of is my thoughts are my own, not that voice’s, or your imagination.”

Grado… she might not fully comprehend the inner workings of the country that spiraled downward due to dark magic, but she can try to empathize. She’s not the type to do great things in the world, even so, she admired those that did. All she can offer is to ease their burdens so they may continue in the path they chose to take, and she’ll start by letting him know she was real, “I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I was to see not just you– The Frelian Prince is here, and my sweet Ewan… we were together in the monastery, and for what felt like the longest time I… was sent elsewhere, to a time not of our own. I cannot begin to describe what I’ve seen, just know seeing all of you in these foreign sands was all I could wish for after what I experienced.”

Her hands are cold from the holding on to the chilled drink, but she puts it over Knoll’s anyway, smile almost as small as his. Instead of sadness, there’s hope. “It’s confusing, I know. Your journey might have been interrupted… but trust that what kept us here will bring us back to where we should be.”

He seems taken aback by how passionate Tethys was about that. Whether or not this was a dream, either way he would never expect her to react like she did to the possibility of him going mad. The two of them weren’t that close, at least he doesn’t think they ever were. It’s at least comforting he supposes that she cares enough to scold him at all. He gives her a slight smile, and takes another sip from his coconut.

APHRODITE (2) . laughter-loving, sweet smiles, dressed in silk and satin, flower in their hair, thrives on attention, sees the world as a runway, unapologetically sexual, the sea washing their ankles, in love with love, stirrer of passion, cunning concealed by painted lips, secret daggers, doves, revolution in their kiss, delighting in the waves, flirtatious winks, strolling along the beach, staring wistfully from a balcony, this is how to be a heartbreaker, your girlfriend thinks they’re attractive, wants to be adored, turned on by danger.

APOLLO (4) . glitz and glamour, art galleries, turning the volume up, being made of gold, neatly-organized music sheets, notebooks filled with poetry, bathing in the sunlight, the powerful urge to create, collecting vinyl records, beautiful cover of wonderwall, playing multiple instruments, tasting like sunshine, healing touch, speaking in prophecies, smile mingled wrath, shunning lies, sporting shades, hanging out at music festivals with their friends, sleeping naked, arrow to the heart, paint brushes.

ARES (3). armed for battle, wants to raise a dog with their significant other, soft spot for children, gives piggyback rides, scarred body, blood on their hands and face, willing to fight the world for the ones they love, fights against injustice, warm hugs, well-worn combat boots, boxing gloves, bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles, fist raised in protest, ignites revolutions, fear is a prison, more sensitive than what their tough shell will make you think, exhausted, damaged goods, force to be reckoned with, red roses, curses under their breath.

ARTEMIS (2) . keen sense of a hunter, freckles like constellations on their skin, piercing eyes, disheveled braid, moonlight peeking through the shadows, the calm of the forest at night, lying on the grass and staring at the stars, mother doe and her fawn, protecting their kin, the moon shimmering on a still lake, quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree, running with wolves, bonding while circled around a campfire, not being much of a people person, arrow hitting a target, popping egos, patience on 3%, touches heaven and returns howling.

ATHENA (4) .  discerning gaze, unreadable face, the patience of a lifelong teacher, quiet museums, owl perched on their finger, armor that intimidates, eye for architecture, studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid, big fan of logic, loves brain teasers, go-getter, balls of wool displayed on shelves, ancient buildings, sweaters in neutrals and cool colors, hair done up, can kill you with their brain, heads to the library often to research, sharpened pencils, abs that can cut steel, stoic statues, pottery classes.

DEMETER (2) . soil-covered hands, smile that can bloom flowers, skin loved by the sun, being the mom-friend, flowers kept in the pockets of overalls, takes pride in their beautiful garden, speaks to their plants (elementals), leaves rustling in the wind, stalks of wheat, picking fruit, greenhouses, heart as strong as a mountain, values simplicity, daisies dotted across a collarbone, curls crowned with flowers, folded pile of sweaters in warm hues, pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air.

DIONYSUS (1). drunk shitposter, on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second, seductive smirks, untamed curls, rich fabrics on dark skin, sleek-furred panthers, theater masks, stage productions, receiving a standing ovation, rose caught between their teeth, being the baby of the bunch, wild parties that last from sundown to sunup, creeping vines, inspiring loyalty, grand opera houses, masquerade balls, rolls of film, shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the floor, pouring champagne into flutes, lives for the applause

HEPHAESTUS (0) . the calloused hands of someone who knows labor, sweaty brow, flame burning in their eyes, inventive mind, broad shoulders, steampunk goggles, nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes, ashes, striking a match, blueprints for future projects, fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades, wrestles with bitterness, work boots have seen better years, wrinkled plaid shirts, iron melted in blazing fire, huge jackets, crafting masterpieces, greased-stained overalls, fascination with robotics, pain is fuel, stack of weaponry.

HERA (1) . resting bitch face, dressed to the nines, cows grazing on a pasture, cool rain, loving and hating fiercely, hand clutching a string of pearls, large chandelier with glittering crystals, plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims, romance to realism, pictures of the sky while flying on a plane, downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath, like their selfie or you’re grounded, knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man, dark eyes that penetrate your soul, marble and gold.

HERMES (1) .  devil-may-care smile, ink-stained hands, always up-to-date on the latest technology, does it for the vine, shitposter, puts googly eyes on everything, meme hoarder, long drives on the highway, ma and pop diners, spontaneous road trips, folded maps, fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop, shooting hoops on the basketball court, chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations, goes jogging in the morning, mixes redbull with coffee, menace on april fool’s, hoodies and sneakers.

POSEIDON (3) . storm with skin, colorful coral reefs, waves crashing against the shore, the sea casting its spell, stroking the soft fur of a cat, their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop, tousled locks, clothes smeared with paint, owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns for more, leather jackets, fondness for diy projects, handwriting that flows across the page, nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin, velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams, mood as ever-changing as the sea, the roar of a motorcycle, compass with a spinning arrow.

Knoll turns to look backwards from where he stands on a rocky outcropping overlooking the sea, confused by the sudden appearance of a familiar voice. He wishes for a split second that they had met again in some other place. His robes really aren’t made for places like this, all the water makes the wet sand stick to his clothes where they brush the ground, and that has him feeling more than a little embarrassed to be seen by an old comrade in such a state. Then he remembers, he couldn’t be on a beach, certainly not with Tethys. He’s left for Garreg Mach, his allies from Magvel are probably all back home. This must be a dream, he’s just exhausted from the travel and imagining an old acquaintance. Still, there’s no harm in indulging the fantasy of being with a familiar face again.