* s a l t / B U R N

deep  red  eye  hidden  behind  an  intricate  silver  helm  scanned  runes  briefly  then  moved  on ,  focus  shifting  to  partially  rolled  scrolls  littered  across  stone  slabs  serving  an  altar  to  the  wall’s  side .    oftentimes  olesya  sent  the  inquisitor  off  with  some  degree  of  information  about  what  was  to  come ,  but  he  supposed  she  was  still  weary  from  dragging  him  through  eras  again  and  thus  he  had  ventured  this  time  into  the  unknown .    draugr  had  given  him  little  issue  --  even  those  that  threatened  to  freeze  him  in  place ,  a  once - living  monument  to  the  dangers  of  skyrim’s  tombs .    traps  were  nothing  to  a  trained  eye .    it  was  only  the  mysterious  carved  script  that  proved  an  obstacle  (  and  quite  the  obstacle  indeed  ) .   

he  had  cleaved  his  way  through  risen  corpse  after  risen  corpse ,  leaving  the  halls  silent  behind  himself  on  his  journey  --  he  had  made  sure  of  it .    so ,  when  something  stirred  towards  the  doorway  behind ,  saltzpyre’s  jaw  tightened .    slowly  he  turned ,  only  slightly ,  to  gaze  over  a  shoulder  .    be  the  intruder  skeever ,  bandit ,  or  other ,  he  was  prepared  to  strike  first .

APHRODITE  :         laughter loving. sweet smiles. dressed in silk and satin. flower in their hair. sees the world as a runway.  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. wants to be adored.

APOLLO   :       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. healing touch. speaking in prophecies. smile mingled with wrath. shunning lies. sporting shades. hanging out at music festivals with their friends. sleeps naked. arrow to the heart. paint brushes.

ARES  :          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 would have you think. exhausted. damaged goods. force to be reckoned with. red roses. curses under their breath.

ARTEMIS  :         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  :         discerning gaze. unreadable face. quiet museums. owl perched on their finger. armor that intimidates. eye for architecture. plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses. studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid. big fan of logic. loves brain teasers. 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  :          soil covered hands. smile that can bloom flowers. skin loved by the sun. being the mom friend. can lift you and your friends. flowers kept in the pockets of overalls. takes pride in their beautiful garden. speaks to their plants. 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  :         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. theatre 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 wine spilled floor. pouring champagne into flutes. lives for the applause.

HEPHAESTUS  :          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. even their muscles have muscles.

HERA  :         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. files that are labeled under fuck it. downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix. 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  :          devil may care smile. always up─to─date on the latest technology. will steal your french fries. 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   :        storm with skin. colorful coral reefs. waves crashing against the shore. 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 to own 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.

ZEUS  :         thunder in their heart. running on coffee. flash of lightning. unnatural charisma. eloquence. badass in a nice suit. aficionado of history. force of nature.  nightmare filled nights. proud arm around their lover’s waist. high rise buildings. planes soaring through a cloudless sky. technician on the piano. maintains order. strong handshake. juggling multiple events on their busy schedule with ease. expensive watch.

           the  order  of  INQUISITION  seeks  out       &&  actively  suppresses  heresy       among  temple  priests  &&  dark       elf  citizens  alike .    serving  as  an      investigative  body  &&  judge  &&  executor      members  of  this  order  place  heretics      on  trial  &&  then  deal  out  whatever      punishment  is  deemed  appropriate      for  the  crime  against  the  T R I B U N A L .

   ❝  i  would  gladly  retire  from  the  world  ,  were such  a  day to  dawn.  ❞

     elven  footsteps  –  quiet  as  they  were  –  came  a  familiarity  to  the  hunter  and ,  though  he  did  not  trust  the  one  who  crept  about  the  keep  like  a  gutter  runner ,  he  took  brief  solace  in  the  knowledge  that  he  did  not  need  to  allow  the  vermin  ahead  from  his  sight .    as  light  steps  often  heralded  the  arrival  of  the  five’s  wood  elf ,  they  too  heralded  a  cockiness  and  snark  that  made  saltzpyre’s  skin  crawl .    mayflies  this ,  mayflies  that .    he  braced  himself  for  what  kerillian  surely  thought  clever .

     quiet  brought  a  relief  he  had  not  felt  since  the  battle  wizard  had  refrained  from  singing  his  coat  as  a  JOKE  a  month  prior .    in  seconds  however ,  that  relief  became  a  dread  that  dug  claws  deep  within  his  gut .    surely  if  an  attempt  at  wit  had  yet  to  be  slung  his  way ,  the  one  mere  steps  away  could  not  be  kerillian .    and  yet … no  LUMBERFOOT  could  have  tread  so  silently .    gutter  runners  were  out  of  the  question  as  well  –  no  stench  of  piss ,  musk ,  or  gore  gripped  him …

     he  shifted ,  good  eye  peering  back  to  the  woman  over  his  left  shoulder .    elf  indeed .    the  hunter  gave  her  a  once - over  before  attention  returned  forwards .    the  two  had  not  been  introduced  but  still  he  trusted  the  child  of  the  forests  more  than  the  FILTH  parading  in  patrols  through  crumbling  streets .   

    her  words  rang  out  alongside  a  flash  of  green  erupting  across  broken  cobblestones  and  over  already  charred  remains .    head  swung  to  the  right  (  compensating  for  blindness  )  so  victor  could  get  a  visual  on  what  the  sputtering  of  bastardized  machinery  alerted  him  to .    stormfiend .   

    pleasantries  –  if  there  were  any  to  be  exchanged  with  unfamiliar  elves  –  would  have  to  wait .    skaven  elites  were  trouble  enough ,  but  a  monstrosity  such  as  this ?    if  it  left  helmgart  it  meant  nothing  short  of  a  nightmare  for  wherever  it  chose  to  wander .    victor  simply  gave  a  sharp  nod ,  armored  hand  hovering  by  the  grip  of  his  rapier .   

    “ flank  the  beast  if  you  must  get  near ,  ”  he  warned ,  “  lest  you  fall  to  unholy  inferno .  ”