If there was one aspect to her life as a pristine noblewoman that she
had confidence in, it was her artistic talents.
True, she
would never consider herself the most accomplished pianist in a room,
nor was her singing voice strong (at all), but she had great skill
with her needle or pen. She was so pleased with her talents in
sketching and needlework. And truly, the two blended so well. She
could sketch a design and use it in embroidery. Her secret pleasure
was creating lovely clothes to be used on adventures.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Prompt: Harshness
Seneca's hackles bristled at the human smirking at the bar. The old
charr wasn't all that thrilled to share one of her favorite haunts
with a race she considered to be an untrustworthy lot full of
avarice. She ignored him as best she could, staying on the far side
of the bar and not even looking in his direction. That is, until he
tried to draw her into conversation.
“I'm not in the mood, mouse.” Seneca said with a frostiness that was usually not present in her easy-going manner. “You drink your ale and leave me to mine.”
“I'm not in the mood, mouse.” Seneca said with a frostiness that was usually not present in her easy-going manner. “You drink your ale and leave me to mine.”
Prompt: Pet
Zaree looked at the man with confusion. “I don't have a pet.”
The man grunted and muttered, “Rangers...” under his breath. He gestured to Sunana, who was sitting quietly and staring at him with her large, amber eyes. “Fine then. That big cat ain't allowed in this here establishment.”
Zaree looked at Sunana, perplexed. “But Sunana is my friend, and she is very well behaved, you know.”
The store owner shook his head. “No animals!”
The man grunted and muttered, “Rangers...” under his breath. He gestured to Sunana, who was sitting quietly and staring at him with her large, amber eyes. “Fine then. That big cat ain't allowed in this here establishment.”
Zaree looked at Sunana, perplexed. “But Sunana is my friend, and she is very well behaved, you know.”
The store owner shook his head. “No animals!”
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Prompt: Puppet Strings
It is odd; the ideas people get about necromancy. Take her
minions.
There were some who assumed she stole souls from the Mists and imprisoned them, forever, to decaying forms. It made Deoir want to laugh at their foolishness.
No. But neither were the spells crafting her minions a crude manipulation over the lost companion souls yearning for purpose. It was a delicate art with the forces of decay. Like an elementalist played with water and earth with invisible strings, so did she bind bones and fungals to blend life and death to her desires.
It was a beautiful art.
There were some who assumed she stole souls from the Mists and imprisoned them, forever, to decaying forms. It made Deoir want to laugh at their foolishness.
No. But neither were the spells crafting her minions a crude manipulation over the lost companion souls yearning for purpose. It was a delicate art with the forces of decay. Like an elementalist played with water and earth with invisible strings, so did she bind bones and fungals to blend life and death to her desires.
It was a beautiful art.
Prompt: Extremely Loud
Teekla sighed as she looked up at the Norn. “Would you mind
reducing the volume of your vocalizations?”
The singing drunk eyed the scholar that was attempting to wearily eat her dinner. “Eh? What now?”
Teekla groaned another exasperated sigh. “You are extremely loud-”
The Norn cut her off with a roaring laugh and slapped her heartily on the back. Teekla was almost forced headlong into her soup. “Ack,” Caedyn said through her continued chuckles. “Já! 'Tis how moot songs is supposed to be, small 'un!”
Teekla pressed her face into her palm. Intolerable norn...
The singing drunk eyed the scholar that was attempting to wearily eat her dinner. “Eh? What now?”
Teekla groaned another exasperated sigh. “You are extremely loud-”
The Norn cut her off with a roaring laugh and slapped her heartily on the back. Teekla was almost forced headlong into her soup. “Ack,” Caedyn said through her continued chuckles. “Já! 'Tis how moot songs is supposed to be, small 'un!”
Teekla pressed her face into her palm. Intolerable norn...
Prompt: Frogs!
The scream and clatter of dishes brought Diana to the kitchen. She
halted at the door as the cook barreled out, shouting, “Get them
out! Out!”
Diana walked into the room to see her daughters looking guiltily at her. Her question died on her lips when she spotted half a dozen little green tree frogs sitting and jumping about on the table. She had never seen the like outside of picture books. “Where did these come from?”
“I brought them!” Zaree eagerly replied to her adopted mother's interest. “Aren't they ever so nice?!”
Diana walked into the room to see her daughters looking guiltily at her. Her question died on her lips when she spotted half a dozen little green tree frogs sitting and jumping about on the table. She had never seen the like outside of picture books. “Where did these come from?”
“I brought them!” Zaree eagerly replied to her adopted mother's interest. “Aren't they ever so nice?!”
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Prompt: They Made Me Do It!
Primus Shadowbolt looked grimly around the group of fidgeting
youngsters. His eyes passed down the row, meeting defiance in a few,
masks of bland innocence, and... ah, here... guilt. He towered over
the weak spot, fixing his sternest glare upon the unfortunate kit.
Medge squirmed under his glare and finally broke down. “They made
me do it!”
Murmurs of protest broke out all along the ranks. Seneca turned on her fahrar mate, pouncing on her with a snarl, “Traitor!”
And Shadowfist thinks the boys cause all the trouble, Shadowbolt thought scoffingly as he pulled the quarrelsome females apart.
Murmurs of protest broke out all along the ranks. Seneca turned on her fahrar mate, pouncing on her with a snarl, “Traitor!”
And Shadowfist thinks the boys cause all the trouble, Shadowbolt thought scoffingly as he pulled the quarrelsome females apart.
Prompt: Jabberjaw
“Ain't a jabberjaw, eh?” Caedyn grinned to the charr keeping
watch like a silent hawk. The charr's blue-gray eyes flicked to her,
solemn and grave as an aged shaman.
Caedyn didn't know much about this fellow Lantern member (and friend of Zaree's) besides that she was a Pact member. Well, and that she was as deadly as Bear in a fight and more silent than Leopard.
The Slayer had been talking for several hours during the watch, and, though the charr showed evidence of listening, she never showed much expression or offered reply. Until now.
“I prefer listening.”
Caedyn didn't know much about this fellow Lantern member (and friend of Zaree's) besides that she was a Pact member. Well, and that she was as deadly as Bear in a fight and more silent than Leopard.
The Slayer had been talking for several hours during the watch, and, though the charr showed evidence of listening, she never showed much expression or offered reply. Until now.
“I prefer listening.”
Prompt: Snoring
Seneca was leaned back in a chair, her head tossed back as she snored
loudly in her sleep. Until, with a particularly loud,
nasally-guttering snore, she startled herself awake. She looked
around, to meet the wide eyes of Callista. The little one had been
staying in her quarters a few days now, still sporting a few wraps
and bandages. “Err... what happened?”
“You were making noises.” Little Callista dutifully reported with her small, raspy voice. Seneca choked back a teasing denial in the face of the earnest, injured cub.
She grinned, self-deprecatingly. “It's called snoring, Lil' One.”
“You were making noises.” Little Callista dutifully reported with her small, raspy voice. Seneca choked back a teasing denial in the face of the earnest, injured cub.
She grinned, self-deprecatingly. “It's called snoring, Lil' One.”
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Prompt: Innovation!
The crew of Higglety Plump had no idea what their captain had been
pouring her money and time on until she unveiled her creation on the
ship.
A series of flying skiffs had been welded and made from the salvages of defeated Aetherblade ships. The crew had endured many close encounters and some great victories with the rival pirates. There was always the worry of how the air ships could easily get the upper hand. Now Mazu had given her crew a backup plan. Matching the Aetherblade tech with a small fleet of swift ships of her own.
A series of flying skiffs had been welded and made from the salvages of defeated Aetherblade ships. The crew had endured many close encounters and some great victories with the rival pirates. There was always the worry of how the air ships could easily get the upper hand. Now Mazu had given her crew a backup plan. Matching the Aetherblade tech with a small fleet of swift ships of her own.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
*Timeline for Zaree's Characters*
Since my Drabbles can be really scattered throughout my character's lives, I decided to at least have them somewhat more clear by putting the year they take place.
Occasionally, I have a Drabble that includes a flashback, and for most of those I will include the current year and the past year.
If you really want to sink into the Timeline of my characters, you can find my own spreadsheet timeline with all my characters here.
Couple things to note:
Deoir: March 15th (1326)
Lasaíriona: March 31st (1327)
Occasionally, I have a Drabble that includes a flashback, and for most of those I will include the current year and the past year.
If you really want to sink into the Timeline of my characters, you can find my own spreadsheet timeline with all my characters here.
Couple things to note:
- The timeline is based in the Mouvelian calendar for Guild Wars 2. More information on the GW2 Timeline here.
- You can find a link to seasons on the GW Wiki. While there isn't a direct conversion (AFAIK) to converting the Mouvelian calendar to our Earth calendar, I am going to go with the idea that roughly:
Zephyr = (Mar, Apr, May), Phoenix = (June, July, Aug),
Scion = (Sept, Oct, Nov), and Colossus = (Dec, Jan, Feb).
Not going to be a perfect fit, but I generally ballpark it anyway. I'm also bias to interpret it in the Northern Hemisphere seasons.
Of course, my dates may be subject to change if we get lore changes. - I also want to note my charr timelines are based on the idea that a charr develops very fast their first year. (Wiki notes that after a few days, cubs can follow their mothers over even the harshest terrain. They eat meat within a month of birth, and are fully independent several months later.)
So I tend to think they are closer to the development of a six year old human by a year old (just lagging in some of the language/mental areas, and they usually still have some more feral qualities to them. Callista got those feral traits stamped right out/forced to master some development skills faster to survive during her months/early years with her sire, but again, my timeline for her may be subject to change if lore clashes.
While I'm on the subject, I'll also note how most lore states fahrars are usually entered at a VERY young age (newborn/weened) to forge those brotherhood/loyalty binds. I like to think Callista's late arrival to the fahrar is part of the reason (especially young Callista) was so tied to Seneca. The two have a very uncommon mother/daughter bond for charr society.
Deoir: March 15th (1326)
Lasaíriona: March 31st (1327)
((Cordelia [Callista's fourth child]: April 6th -1333))
Naevia Truthspark: April 22nd (1309)
Jaida Nurmiri: April 22nd (1291)
Seneca Flintfire: May 14th (1276)
((Aelia and Robar [Callista's first/second children]: May 29th -1327))
Helen Eldmere: June 19th (1310)
Éadaoin: June 26th (1327)
((Kitty Nilerabanwen [Diana's daughter]: July 21th –1320))
Caedyn Köttrdóttir: July 28th (1298)
Zaree: Aug. 25th (1325)
Ayana Pyrgomache: Sept. 22nd (1299)
Phaedra Growlchirp: Sept. 25th (1307)
Mazu: Oct. 12th (1285)
Kanika Tanaka-Uba: Nov 1st (1294)
Freya: Nov. 17th (1307)
Callista Ironmaker: Dec. 3rd (1305)
Gaia: Dec. 31st (1320)
Diana Nilerabanwen: Jan. 10th (1297)
Ynghild Hranfdóttir: Jan. 20th (1304)
Teekla: Feb. 4th (1289)
Naevia Truthspark: April 22nd (1309)
Jaida Nurmiri: April 22nd (1291)
Seneca Flintfire: May 14th (1276)
((Aelia and Robar [Callista's first/second children]: May 29th -1327))
Helen Eldmere: June 19th (1310)
Éadaoin: June 26th (1327)
((Kitty Nilerabanwen [Diana's daughter]: July 21th –1320))
Caedyn Köttrdóttir: July 28th (1298)
Zaree: Aug. 25th (1325)
Ayana Pyrgomache: Sept. 22nd (1299)
Phaedra Growlchirp: Sept. 25th (1307)
Mazu: Oct. 12th (1285)
Kanika Tanaka-Uba: Nov 1st (1294)
Freya: Nov. 17th (1307)
Callista Ironmaker: Dec. 3rd (1305)
Gaia: Dec. 31st (1320)
Diana Nilerabanwen: Jan. 10th (1297)
Ynghild Hranfdóttir: Jan. 20th (1304)
Teekla: Feb. 4th (1289)
((Vyron [Callista's third child]: Feb. 23rd -1331))
Monday, October 21, 2013
Prompt: Slay It!
She seriously had not had any idea what she was getting into. All she
knew, was her little Asura friend was insistent on coming out to this
supposed vacation resort, and Seneca had given way to curiosity, and
perhaps a little motherly protectiveness, for the perky little
one.
So that was how she ended up here... Buried under a dog pile of karka who were stomping on her plated armor and getting sand... well, let's just say sand was managing to find its way in everywhere.
“That's enough!” Seneca roared, surging up and sending karkas scattering. “We're eating crab tonight!”
So that was how she ended up here... Buried under a dog pile of karka who were stomping on her plated armor and getting sand... well, let's just say sand was managing to find its way in everywhere.
“That's enough!” Seneca roared, surging up and sending karkas scattering. “We're eating crab tonight!”
Prompt: Broken Wheel
The traveling pair were forced to stop
by the roadside to replace a broken wheel on the wagon.
“If they turn me away, will I be a Gladium?” Callista stood stoic, with eyes fixed to the cart as she spoke.
Seneca stopped twisting loose a bolt to look at the worried cub. “They aren't going to label an orphaned cub a Gladium, Lil' One.” She grinned wryly as she continued, “And I wouldn't let that happen to you anyway.”
Callista glanced at her mentor and away with a nod, picking up a ratchet to help.
“If they turn me away, will I be a Gladium?” Callista stood stoic, with eyes fixed to the cart as she spoke.
Seneca stopped twisting loose a bolt to look at the worried cub. “They aren't going to label an orphaned cub a Gladium, Lil' One.” She grinned wryly as she continued, “And I wouldn't let that happen to you anyway.”
Callista glanced at her mentor and away with a nod, picking up a ratchet to help.
Prompt: Screaming at the Heavens
She had gotten forgetful and used her power to cool her drink. Her
mother noticed how she frosted her mug and her sharp reprimand stung
Helen's feelings. “Don't use magic like a cheap parlor trick,
Helen. You are a Lady, act respectable.”
She slipped out of her room that night and glared at the stars with teary eyes. She ran down to the Plaza of Melandru, climbing on the vacant towers cast in moonlight. “Why would you give me powers if I'm not supposed to use them?!” She shouted to the silent Gods. “It isn't fair!”
She slipped out of her room that night and glared at the stars with teary eyes. She ran down to the Plaza of Melandru, climbing on the vacant towers cast in moonlight. “Why would you give me powers if I'm not supposed to use them?!” She shouted to the silent Gods. “It isn't fair!”
Prompt: My Head Hurts!
Teekla sighed and leaned back in her chair. Her left hand rubbed her
temples as she slipped her pen into its holder. “Dory, willow bark
tea, please.”
The little robot made a chirping beep. “Willow- tea- unavailable” Teekla sighed with disappointment as her G.O.L.E.M continued. “Recommend- chamomile- tea- alternative.”
Teekla shook her head, getting up from her chair and slipping on her velvet coat. “Negative, Dory. That will not alleviate the headache coming on. A trip to the herbalist is in order.”
Dory chirped compliantly. “Understood.”
The little robot made a chirping beep. “Willow- tea- unavailable” Teekla sighed with disappointment as her G.O.L.E.M continued. “Recommend- chamomile- tea- alternative.”
Teekla shook her head, getting up from her chair and slipping on her velvet coat. “Negative, Dory. That will not alleviate the headache coming on. A trip to the herbalist is in order.”
Dory chirped compliantly. “Understood.”
Prompt: Fixed!
The click echoed around the rocks.
Slag!
Callista rolled away, pulling back the slide of her rifle. The bullet was lodged in the chamber with a dent on the butt of the casing. She heard the alert among the Renegade band below as her claws went to work removing the dead bullet. Precious seconds ticked by as she put her gun to rights. Normally, she would have blended back and waited for another opportunity, but time was of the essence. So she took the risk and lifted enough from the rocks to take her shot, faith in her gun.
BANG!
Slag!
Callista rolled away, pulling back the slide of her rifle. The bullet was lodged in the chamber with a dent on the butt of the casing. She heard the alert among the Renegade band below as her claws went to work removing the dead bullet. Precious seconds ticked by as she put her gun to rights. Normally, she would have blended back and waited for another opportunity, but time was of the essence. So she took the risk and lifted enough from the rocks to take her shot, faith in her gun.
BANG!
Prompt: Power Hour!
A rumbling noise shook the cabin house as Caedyn and her brothers
armed themselves and headed outside. The dredge had been challenging
the family frequently with their desire for the lands and mines of
the Sigurdarson clan. The dredge alliance with the Flame Legion made
them bold in their attacks across the north. Theirs was not the only
homestead under attack, but, by the Spirits, it would not be one to
fall. Caedyn and her brothers gripped their weapons as forces spewed
from a Legion portal. Blood ran hot as the family surged into battle.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Prompt: Kisses
After her first kiss with Grax, Zaree remembered the delighted looks
of her friends. She still liked hugs the best, though.
It had taken a minute to consider her approach. Charr had ever so many teeth, so a kiss on the lips wouldn't work. She decided on the nose, like the ones she gave Sunana. After asking Grax to lean forward and popping on her toes to match his height, it worked perfectly.
She was quite proud of herself. The evenings that followed, she practiced by giving Pyre a kiss before going to sleep.
It had taken a minute to consider her approach. Charr had ever so many teeth, so a kiss on the lips wouldn't work. She decided on the nose, like the ones she gave Sunana. After asking Grax to lean forward and popping on her toes to match his height, it worked perfectly.
She was quite proud of herself. The evenings that followed, she practiced by giving Pyre a kiss before going to sleep.
Prompt: Compromise Moves Us Along
“F**k
peace talks.” Markus snarled, knocking back a whiskey. “Think
I'll forget what those mice wanted to do with my mate after they
killed her?” He continued with a deep growl, referring to Kira's
death many Wintersday's ago.
Seneca nodded her agreement until the Legionnaire cut in with his well spoken argument on behalf of favoring the alliance against the bigger threat. Certainly those of the Flints who had seen the destructive Branding understood the menace of the dragons, he reasoned.
“Fine.” Seneca snappishly agreed, before Markus could grumble. “If the mice leave me alone, I'll do the same.”
((Some of the off-duty Flints were gathered outside the Blade listening to the reports and rumors flying around the Citadel with the return of the Claw of the Khan-Ur and the tentative start of peace talks between humans and charr.))
Seneca nodded her agreement until the Legionnaire cut in with his well spoken argument on behalf of favoring the alliance against the bigger threat. Certainly those of the Flints who had seen the destructive Branding understood the menace of the dragons, he reasoned.
“Fine.” Seneca snappishly agreed, before Markus could grumble. “If the mice leave me alone, I'll do the same.”
((Some of the off-duty Flints were gathered outside the Blade listening to the reports and rumors flying around the Citadel with the return of the Claw of the Khan-Ur and the tentative start of peace talks between humans and charr.))
Prompt: Forever
“Daddy loveded me?”
Diana brushed her daughter's curls with a sad smile on her face. “He loved you very, very much. He still loves you.” Diana placed a finger under her daughter's chin, tilting her head so their eyes met and she bent to touch her daughter's nose with her own. “Even though he is far away in the Mists, he will always love you. Forever.”
“Forever is a lot, right?” Kitty asked.
Diana nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Is it more than ten?”
Diana's smile brightened and she hugged Kitty close. “Yes, dear. Forever is a lot more than ten.”
Diana brushed her daughter's curls with a sad smile on her face. “He loved you very, very much. He still loves you.” Diana placed a finger under her daughter's chin, tilting her head so their eyes met and she bent to touch her daughter's nose with her own. “Even though he is far away in the Mists, he will always love you. Forever.”
“Forever is a lot, right?” Kitty asked.
Diana nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Is it more than ten?”
Diana's smile brightened and she hugged Kitty close. “Yes, dear. Forever is a lot more than ten.”
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Prompt: Frozen
A voice made its way into her consciousness. “Deoir. Deoir, dear,
you need to breathe.”
She snapped into awareness. The sound of the forest, the smell of the lake, the light shaking of her shoulders, and the burning need of her lungs all rushed into her senses. She gasped, opening her eyes to the world around her. It was the same, but also completely different.
“Goodness, you froze on me there.” Eona continued. Deoir could see the worry and friendliness in her face, but she couldn't feel it.
At last! She was Soundless.
For the first time, she smiled.
She snapped into awareness. The sound of the forest, the smell of the lake, the light shaking of her shoulders, and the burning need of her lungs all rushed into her senses. She gasped, opening her eyes to the world around her. It was the same, but also completely different.
“Goodness, you froze on me there.” Eona continued. Deoir could see the worry and friendliness in her face, but she couldn't feel it.
At last! She was Soundless.
For the first time, she smiled.
Prompt: Run
“It's gonna be close, Captain!” The watcher in the crow's nest
called, watching the Aetherblade ship bearing down from behind
them.
Mazu collapsed her spyglass, her eyes flicking in the direction of the enemy ship. “Keep the cannons ready! Steady on, Water-Whiskers!” She called to the gunners and helmsman in turn. The fleet and injured ship was making a run for the cliffs. The narrow passage would be tricky for an inexperienced crew, but Higglety Plump's fine crew would sail through like a nimble fish. Meanwhile, the airship would be forced to struggle with the forceful winds of the cliffs.
Mazu collapsed her spyglass, her eyes flicking in the direction of the enemy ship. “Keep the cannons ready! Steady on, Water-Whiskers!” She called to the gunners and helmsman in turn. The fleet and injured ship was making a run for the cliffs. The narrow passage would be tricky for an inexperienced crew, but Higglety Plump's fine crew would sail through like a nimble fish. Meanwhile, the airship would be forced to struggle with the forceful winds of the cliffs.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Prompt: Nightmares
As quietly as she could, Callista slipped from her sheets and padded
on silent feet to the door. She was risking punishment, she knew, but
she couldn't help herself. She was careful and stuck to the shadows
as she tried her mentor's quarters and then the forge upon finding
the first vacant. She huddled by the dark shadows of Seneca's
worktable. The remembered nightmares didn't make her heart race now.
The darkness seemed far less intimidating in the company of her
guardian, still unaware of her presence at the moment, and pounding
at her anvil in the firelight.
((This Drabble is a precursor to my Drabble for “Needy”.
When I first wrote it, I had two paragraphs and far too many words. To edit it down, I cut the first paragraph. If you would like to read the full, I included it below:))
Callista couldn't sleep. Twice she had tried since lights out to do so, but dreams of her sire's face looming before her would shake her from her rest and bring her back to the quiet barracks. Her pupils were wide as she looked around the dim room. Her fahrar mates slumbered away in the beds around her.
As quietly as she could, Callista slipped from her sheets and padded on silent feet to the door. She was risking punishment, she knew, but she couldn't help herself. She was careful and stuck to the shadows as she tried her mentor's quarters and then the forge upon finding the first vacant. She huddled by the dark shadows of Seneca's worktable. The remembered nightmares didn't make her heart race now. The darkness seemed far less intimidating in the company of her guardian, still unaware of her presence at the moment, and pounding at her anvil in the firelight.
((This Drabble is a precursor to my Drabble for “Needy”.
When I first wrote it, I had two paragraphs and far too many words. To edit it down, I cut the first paragraph. If you would like to read the full, I included it below:))
Callista couldn't sleep. Twice she had tried since lights out to do so, but dreams of her sire's face looming before her would shake her from her rest and bring her back to the quiet barracks. Her pupils were wide as she looked around the dim room. Her fahrar mates slumbered away in the beds around her.
As quietly as she could, Callista slipped from her sheets and padded on silent feet to the door. She was risking punishment, she knew, but she couldn't help herself. She was careful and stuck to the shadows as she tried her mentor's quarters and then the forge upon finding the first vacant. She huddled by the dark shadows of Seneca's worktable. The remembered nightmares didn't make her heart race now. The darkness seemed far less intimidating in the company of her guardian, still unaware of her presence at the moment, and pounding at her anvil in the firelight.
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