blessedwithlove: (Default)
[personal profile] blessedwithlove posting in [community profile] spiderparlour
Its omnipresence was still daunting.

Even as its grip slackened, the Greater Will still dominated the land. The golden light of the Erdtree illuminated Limgrave day and night. Turn your back to it, and you would see its children, mere seedlings that towered over all but their progenitor. Cast your eyes down, and you would see a Tree Sentinel patrolling astride his horse. Twice the size of a lowborn knight, clad all in gilt finery.

There was scarcely a tree in the Lands Between without a golden cast to its leaves. Blessed with Grace-given life, said the Golden Order. Autumnal, said others. The end of a millennial season.

It was little wonder that the Tarnished were still captivated. Without a more intimate knowledge of the Lands Between, they saw only the Erdtree's radiance, not the bare and dying branches. They flocked toward it like moths.

What fools they were. Intelligent, some of them, but fools all the same. Generations of hatred and scorn upheld by the Two Fingers, and now they answered the call to service? How could one be so delusional as to think the Golden Order would truly welcome them home with love?

No. They were being used, and he felt no shame in doing the same. Those who stayed loyal were fitting sacrifice, providing the materials he needed to guide the doubting toward truth.

And then there were the particularly hapless. That last girl and her companions, good heavens. He'd almost wanted to follow them, just to spectate. But he had his calling to attend to. Tarnished sailing from the west found the beaches of Limgrave the only place to row ashore, and they all passed by the statue-topped monument of the Fringefolk Hero's Grave. He had his pick of them all here, and sent them off toward the brooding walls of Stormveil Castle. Lords, vassals, rich and wretched alike. They came to take the measure of the hills beyond, and to rest at its Site of Grace.

The pallid little thing swirled and danced, leaving uncomfortably moving afterimages on the eyes if one stared too long. But it was warm enough at night to almost render a fire superfluous, and it warded off the beasts that stalked and soared over the lowlands to the south. Even the Tree Guardian kept a respectful distance, the brainlessly devout pillock.

After years of bloody toil in war, sleeping in the dirt beside a symbol of everything he rejected wasn't that much of a hardship. Though on nights when rain blew up from the Weeping Lands or the sea air took on a particular chill, he was forced to retreat into the entrance to the grave itself. There were the occasional noises deep below, the senile mutterings of deathless nobility trapped in the subterranean graveyard. None of them had yet figured out how to operate the lift, and he doubted any of them would.

He couldn't decide if they were the unlucky ones, or if that honor went to the desiccated starveling pinned to a martyr's bough outside on the hill. It barely ever lifted its head, and fortunately, it hadn't voiced an opinion about anything in days. He was no longer a merciful and compassionate war surgeon, but if that thing interrupted his speech to a Tarnished again, he'd find that old mercy within himself and tear it to pieces. Perhaps he'd do it anyway, save him the trouble later.

Ah, no. That would have to wait. He could hear something coming.

Date: 2023-01-09 03:45 am (UTC)
orokid: (Default)
From: [personal profile] orokid
It was really interesting listening to how he spoke of his lord and she had no idea how her eyes lit up a bit more or how she had the faintest of smiles. Even better was how the Golden Order, which only put a sour taste in her mouth so far, despised him. And that was a definite appeal. That and the promise of love, of rebuilding the world.

"I won't, don't worry." He would have learned about her skills, or figured it out, eventually. Better she had told him, gave him her trust, than to risk anything.

Fingers tapped at her leg for a moment, thoughtful, gazing at the carnage they'd left around them. None of these people seemed in their right minds, it was a kindness they had done them and themselves.

"I don't think I've ever willingly pledged myself to a cause but... I think I would with this."

Date: 2023-01-09 05:25 am (UTC)
orokid: ([028])
From: [personal profile] orokid
Varré caught her by surprise when his hand touched her arm and even more when his arms wrapped around her. For a moment, all she could do was freeze as her mind slowly connected the dots of what was happening.

And then her muscles went lax and she leaned against him, arms wrapping around him in turn. It was warm and she'd forgotten what it felt like to really be held by anyone. How could she not savor it now after so long? She hadn't realized how much she needed that or how much it meant to him. And she was, admittedly, happy for both.

"You don't have to worry about me saying anything. And I'll do anything to help." And she wouldn't let anyone hurt him.

Date: 2023-01-15 06:14 pm (UTC)
orokid: ([061])
From: [personal profile] orokid
That wouldn’t be hard, she thought. Her skills had been carefully trained and she was getting used to using this particular skillset now. Back home, she could usually just plow through enemies with the armoury she had on her Orbiter.

“Do you know a good training ground I could use?” If she would be a knight, if there were trials, she wanted to be ready, didn’t want to disappoint Varré. Or the mysterious Luminary Mohg.

Date: 2023-01-16 05:22 am (UTC)
orokid: ([060])
From: [personal profile] orokid
Safe from the Greater Will, that was an interesting thought. What extents did others go to in order to escape their influence if they didn't have Varré's confidence in them? Which only made her more appreciative of him and grateful. Especially with his belief of how prepared she already was.

"I understand that. Sometimes you have to deal with a few distasteful things for your end goal, right?"

And the relief Grace had given her before, when she was still suffering most of Ballas' stab, sounded nice. Even if Varré had helped with most of it. She really did want to be at her best for these trials. Which meant healing and some actual sleep, if she could make herself relax enough.

"Could you tell me more on the way? Or would that give away too much?"

Date: 2023-01-24 04:37 pm (UTC)
orokid: ([045])
From: [personal profile] orokid
Tarnished with no love for others, violent, and... hidden by the Two Fingers? Protected rather than scorned? Why? Because it served them and their Greater Will somehow?

"So the Two Fingers and Greater Will just hide Tarnished who kill others. Favoritism?" She looked thoughtful for a moment, following along and making sure her own bag was closed tightly.

"I'm not sure there's much you could say to make me dislike them more." Hate, more like. She was definitely leaning towards hate when it came to the Greater Will and Two Fingers.

Date: 2023-01-26 08:24 pm (UTC)
orokid: ([056])
From: [personal profile] orokid
Acid matched for acid, she already didn't mind the idea of getting rid of the Greater Will's pets. It was almost frightening, how easily she could slip back into this habit but it was easy to justify. She was still protecting people, protecting Varré and his lord. Their lord?

Soon.

She'd prove herself.

"If they revive so easily, can we make sure that the Greater Wills 'pets' will stay dead after the trials? Or no?"

Date: 2023-01-27 12:03 am (UTC)
orokid: ([032])
From: [personal profile] orokid
"Nobles are easy. Cocky." The words came without a thought. Noble Orokin praising Tenno, unaware that they were poised to slaughter. She knew these wouldn't be so simple as the Orokin though. It seemed anyone, everyone really, could fight here. It would be more like fighting the Dax.

"Done enough, it would break their spirit." And their trust in the Greater Will, one would hope. It would break anyones spirit, really, to die repeatedly with no end in sight.

And their favorites were a good mark for that.

"That's enough, I won't fail."

Date: 2023-01-27 05:15 am (UTC)
orokid: ([060])
From: [personal profile] orokid
It, honestly, chafed to think she wasn't quite strong enough yet but she was still just a teenager physically. While the Void had enhanced her, what if that could go further?

"The Golden Order and their Finger Maidens can't use that to brainwash Tarnished, can they?"

It was a thought that struck her suddenly, with how they all seemed to go hand-in-hand so far. How else could they keep every Tarnished who came here in line? At least, those who had Maidens, but how often did someone end up Maidenless like her?

How deep did it all go? How long had Varré and Luminary Mohg been working to save this broken world?

Date: 2023-01-28 05:16 am (UTC)
orokid: ([029])
From: [personal profile] orokid
She couldn't help but consider all the possibilities. The Orokin had once managed to leash the Tenno good and tight, especially with the threat of the Myrmidon. It was a relief to know they couldn't pull that kind of nonsense though.

"It's good he did. If he hadn't, I wonder if there would be many others who would even consider going against them otherwise." It didn't seem like it. There was a lot to consider but, so far, she hadn't found reason to regret her choices.

"I think I see a sign of Grace?" It was faint but her eyes caught the glimmer of it and she let out a soft sigh. A bit of rest would be nice before any trials or training.

Date: 2023-02-28 07:00 am (UTC)
orokid: ([028])
From: [personal profile] orokid
If there was one thing she'd ever thank the Orokin for, it would be the skills they forced on the Tenno for the sake of war and 'protection' of them. And it was almost poetic now, the Golden Lords skills used to turn on this Golden Order. Not that they'd done anything to secure her loyalty.

Not like Varré and his lord, mysterious as the latter still was. In a world where so many people were almost out of their minds and a higher power that didn't give a damn, Varré showed a good example of what the world needed. And if he was symbolic of the rest of the dynasty-

She wanted to help, wanted to see this world improve. It had promise, not everyone was lost. And... it already felt like she'd found a family. Something she hadn't had in a millenia.

"I'm sure that they will. We can show them." Even if it was perhaps too early to consider herself part of it all, Ayatan couldn't help her words or the hope of it.
Edited Date: 2023-02-28 04:25 pm (UTC)

Date: 2023-03-19 02:45 am (UTC)
orokid: ([004])
From: [personal profile] orokid
Luckily, she'd managed this excursion with only a few cuts and bruises. Though the chance to just sit and properly rest this time, now that she was actually feeling how much energy she'd exerted. It was worth it though, helping Varré, finding some purpose.

What wounds she has were dealt with quickly and easily before she settled, setting her dagger and amp off to the side in the of chance they have time to get any sleep. Varré clearly had ideas in mind and, for now, she was content to go along with the flow of things.

"How do we start?"

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