RALOF REILIFSON

RALOF REILIFSON

Thirty | he/him | 182 cm | Human | Nord

The self is not so weightless, nor whole and unbroken Remember the pact of our youth Where you go, I'm going, so jump and I'm jumping Since there is no me without you — Gang of Youths

[ 1 ] [ 2 ]

Prompt from:@oc-tober2023 [ I am not following the same order ]

~ Found Family

Chirp, chirp.

Ralof was awake even before the birds had sung their first tune. The floorboards creaked as he quickly reached the end of his small room, throwing a simple shirt and trousers on. The bed groaned as he sat back down to squeeze his feet into his way too small shoes. It was a simple life, but he did not mind, because looking up, hanging on the loose nail opposite of him, was his leather armour.

Reaching for it, he drew a tentative hand over the fabric, it too wasn't much, worn and a little too small for his broad frame, but it was his and he is going to wear it with pride.

Running down the stairs, he was now fully dressed, passing by the kitchen, he already saw his father prepare some breakfast.

"Morning, dad. You're early." He noticed, as he pressed himself next to his father to steal a stale slice of bread, biting into it.

"You won't leave the house without a proper breakfast." His father chastises, making Ralof halt in his quick escape, "And you need to take something with you for lunch."

He held out a small package, the breakfast he had been preparing all wrapped up in a clean cotton cloth.

"You got up this early to make me these?" Ralof was touched, usually his dad was more than grumpy about his sleep.

"I was awake anyway. Couldn't sleep. So I made use of my time." He deflects and it draws a smile on Ralofs lips.

"I couldn't sleep either, so I thought I will get there early." He gently takes the package from his fathers outstretched hand.

"Thank you." He leans forward to give his father a kiss on the cheek. "I'll tell you everything tonight."

"May Fate favour you today."

Ralof was out of the door with a light skip to his step. The air was stuffy and it had recently rained, making the path muddy and dirty but he did not mind. It was his home and he liked it here very much.

"Good morning, Ralof." He looked up, seeing his elderly neighbour throw the night pot out the window, "You're early today."

"It's the first day at my new job!" He shouted back so she would hear him.

"A new job? I thought you would take over your father's smithy. How strange."

"As of today, I am a recruit guarding the outer Walls, so if you have any concerns regarding your safety, I can be of help." He pushes his chest forward, presenting his new leather armour.

"Oh, my door has been giving me troubles lately. I fear it will fall off its hinges soon. You father had crafted them for me when he was learning under your grandfather. If you could take a look before it falls open? I am afraid of having to life without a door in these dark times."

He could surely spare the time.

"I can take a look, no problem."

She smiles brightly. "You are a darling. Thank you, Ralof."

It turned out, the hinges were just slightly loose and he walked back home to get the right tool to fix it. Then she invited him for a small cup of tea, when she took out the baked loaves, he declined and instead took them with him as she insisted on repaying him.

Now, no longer as early as he was, he resumed his walk towards the outer walls of the fortress, his little lunch package, a little fuller.

His path had him walk straight through the daily market. He liked the market very much, so many different foods and items to look at and people that came from all around Aestricca just to sell their things here. The stories he had heard them tell, always captivated him, but at the end of the day, he was still glad to be where he was.

"Ooh, look at you all dressed up." He stopped at the sound of the familiar voice. Turning around he saw a young woman with a headband wrapped around her head, standing behind a small stall selling vegetables. She was the daughter of one of the farmers living outside the walls.

He instantly stood a little taller, showing off his new armour. "I am on my way to my very first day."

"Never thought you would be the one joining the other side. Be careful not to forget us little folk here when it gets to your head." She quips, pushing her chin out.

"It's only a trial today, but I'm sure I will be taken in as a recruit. I do it because I want to help us here afterall. If there are any concerns for your safety, you can let me know. It's my job now."

She chuckles. "Careful not to say that too loud while wearing that armour. Someme might take it you feel the fortress is not a safe place to be."

He frowns. "But thats why we have the guards, to make it safe."

"All I'm saying is, that this armour gives you authority. All kinds of people will turn to you just because of ehat you wear. Use that power wisely. Saying the wrong thing to the wrong person can get you easily killed and not all take kindly to the guards."

Ralof was quiet for a moment, stunned she would think so. He had never been very good at reading situations, at least that's what he'd been told. His father always said, he better stay away from jobs that require smarts. Politics make too much troubles, and do something with his hands. He was no longer a blacksmith apprentice but is being a guard so different?

"I didn't mean to scare you. Just wanted to give you a proper warning, in case no one did. I'm sure you do fine though, you've always been enganging with the community anyway, if anyone, you will give the position a better name. You're one of the good ones, Ralof."

"I dont think there are bad guards." He shakes his head, "They follow a code, you know. I had to learn it too, the preservation of the community comes first. We need to act for the greater good. That's what I intend to do. Help people."

She gave him a weak smile. "Sure you will do great."

He nods, no doubt he will, he wasnt sure why she was so worried. Why everyone seems to want to warn him. First his dad, now her too. Then he gets it. They were afraid he'd be too busy for them. "I will still be able to help you out with setting up the stall. Don't fret, I might be more busy than usual, but I will be here if you have to carry a prized pumpkin again."

She laughs at that, "You almost dropped it last year insisting on carrying it all on your own. I'm not sure I will entrust my prized pumpkin to you again." She winks at him.

"But I will be training harder than ever now. So give me the biggest pumpkin you have and you'll see I will carry it for you with ease." He grins and she matches it easily.

"I will hold you up to that. Now I think you should be on your way. The sun is already rising above the walls." She points into the distance, where the high stone walls of the fortress loom over them all. "Dont think you want to be late to your first day."

"By the gods! I forgot the time. Let me know about the pumpkin!" He shouted the last words, already jogging down the street, dodging shoppers and merchants alike as he easily navigates through the masses of people.

A few more greet him, call him by name, but he excused himself, not having the time to stop and chat this time. He liked this city. Many speak bad about the lower district of Skaeld but he wouldn't be anywhere else. It's where he grew up, it's where everyone knew him, everyone was family to him, if blood or not. Here he would always stay and being a guard won't change that.

He had found his home, his family and choose to keep and support it as one should.

[ ~ 1.387 words ]

SAEL

unknown | he/him | 195 cm | Saelethir | from the Stars

Visions of you Make the vision of me seem So in touch only to see Call from the mountaintop What you desire from me You never need, you never needed anyone

— Temples

[ 1 ] [ 2 ]

Prompt from: @oc-tober2023 [ I am not following the same order ]

~ Home

It is strange.

To walk this earth, when it no longer resembles his memory. The brightness of his surroundings has stolen his sight, along with the absence of the moon and stars. He feels lost in a world that once was his home.

Those were the most drastic changes he noticed and felt everyday. The smaller ones only occurred to him with time. For one, they seem to favour community. The more people, the better. They prefer being around others and even crave their attention and approval. This concept of needing others has never occurred to him before.

Furthermore, they can see and yet they are blind to the many things that he saw as essential. That one took him a lot of studying and listening in and it was the most difficult to understand. He still wasn’t quite sure, he completely gets it.

They don't touch him to understand him emotionally or mentally, because whenever he reaches for them, there's no response. It seems that talking is their preferred method of communication. And they do talk. A lot.

“Sael!” He heard one of them shout the name they had given him, “What are you doing moping around in the corner on your own. You can help us.”

Sael only knew who the one speaking was, because while his surroundings remained invisible to him, he could see their essence. Each one had a different colour, a different light within them. It was alive, it told Sael of their feelings too, but some shone brighter than others and the one speaking, had a weak one. He was almost certain, he called himself Ralof and his essence was a mix of red and orange.

“Come on. There is a lot to do.” The one called Ralof said and as he moved closer, Sael could see him a little better. They liked to give people names, Sael had noticed them call each other by it to get another's attention. As they now did with him too. Which is why he needed a name, they said.

It took him some getting used to. He had never been called before, there had never been a need for it. When this place was still his home, there had been only him and the lost souls of the dead. They searched him out on purpose, for the moon and the stars were connected with Sael and he was able to guide them back to them. They needed him and thus came to him willingly. He never needed to get their attention and they didn’t need to get his.

Sometimes he wonders if that is the reason why these people killed the moon and stars. They didn’t want him to guide them back – they wanted to stay down here at all cost. Sael wasn’t sure he approved of their method though and why they kept him around if there is nothing he can do for them.

When he looked for the one called Ralof, he was already gone and off to somewhere else. Sael did not see where he went, his essence too small to track. They were all moving around a lot, Sael had listened them for a moment. Sometimes they speak to each other, other times they argue. They seemed busy and at the same time, he did not know with what exactly.

Sael’s attention was grabbed when one of the brighter ones passed him by, a shining blue, it sometimes reminded him of the light of the stars. As the only clearly visible thing to him, he followed him instead. When he stopped, Sael attempted to reach out, until he remembered, that as usual, it would be a one sided conversation on his part. So instead, he put to use his many hours of observation.

“Aegon.” He called him by his name. A shout for attention, something that should work. It was strange, hearing the sound of his own voice, foreign and clumsy to his ears.

“Ah, sorry, didn’t see you there.” Aegon’s essence flickered for a moment – he was happy to see him.

“You’re just in time to witness how marvelously I can tie a net.” Sael heard him struggle with something, then a tiny snap, “Ah, never mind, it snapped. I guess we will never know. To be honest, I don’t know why Elora has us set up decorations this early. It’s still a few weeks away and she always puts me on the most boring of tasks.

Why don’t we try something else. Something more fun. Let me see.” Aegon seems to be thinking, looking at something Sael couldn’t see.

Then suddenly, he grabbed his wrist and Sael instinctively read his feelings - there was excitement, mixed with a certain focus. He was thinking about thousands of different things at once, but all were bright and warm like his hands. At first Sael thought he liked sharing his positive emotions with others, because he was very tactile and seldom in a sour mood, but since they don’t do it to communicate with him, he wasn’t so certain why he did it at all.

Yet it wasn’t entirely unwanted, since it gave Sael a short glimpse of what they try to tell him with their many words and with Aegon, it was always a pleasant experience. Like now, he knew whatever Aegon had spotted, he was excited to share with him.

“We can choose the hanging decorations. Usually that’s what Elora does, she has a set plan for what goes where, but she always needs a ladder.” He chuckles as he pulls Sael after him, “Don’t tell her I said that.”

Aegon was also the most talkative, which was helpful, because Sael hadn't figured out how the rules of talking to each other worked yet. He was told however, that there are very strict rules to follow. Yet no one had explained to him those rules, but he doesn’t blame them. Afterall, he hadn’t told them that he mostly communicates through touch either.

“I think I will take this one, I always wanted to hang it up." He snickers as Sael hears something shuffling about in front of them, "Elora never hangs it up because it reflects the light and 'it could distract someone', but I like it."

"I like bright things."

He sees Aegon’s essence swell, glowing even brighter. "You get me." He's happy.

Not knowing what was lying there in front of him, Sael used his hands to feel about. It was a strange act in itself. Inanimate objects don’t have feelings or thoughts and yet he is touching them.

“Take the one that speaks to you the most. Whichever it is, we hang it up.” Aegon explains, “If you want me to describe them to you, let me know.”

Some were with sharp edges others were of a more fragile material, it crumbled when he touched them. Then he found one that was solid and smooth. It was thin and boney. It felt familiar. It felt like home.

He still remembers the lost souls that came to him with sorrow and grief. Anger and desperation. Their lives had ended, but their struggles followed them regardless and tied them to the ground. Touching them, it felt like the decoration in front of him. Even if the item had no feelings to get rid of, no need for him to guide it to the stars. It was familiar enough that he liked it.

“Ah, yes, that’s a classic. Good choice.” Aegon praises and with a bit more confidence, Sael draws it closer to him, “Now let’s see where we can hang it up…”

Sael took the object with him as he followed Aegon, blessed to have found a piece of home, despite it no longer resembling his memories. It seems that home was never really gone and he wonders then, where else he could find similarities. 

It made the drastic changes to this world, a little less overwhelming. [ 1.447 words ]

Next Part ➜

RALOF REILIFSON

Prompt from @oc-tober2023

[ I am not following the same order ]

[ 1 ] [ 2 ]

~ Fun

"They seem important. Are they our trainer?"

Merko, the young recruit next to him, shook his head, "That's the new Sovereign. You remember the tournament held in the city? No one expected it, but they were the one competitor that won the throne. People call them the foreign scholar."

"Don't they live in the castle?" Ralof asks, confused.

Merko laughs: "That doesn't mean they can't leave. Despite, if we become guards, we'll be under their command. I guess they just want to inspect the new recruits. Get a better picture to decide who is worth coming back."

"Oh, so they will decide who can come back?" Ralof stands straighter, trying to catch the Sovereign's attention with a wave of his hand, "I could ask them, tell them of our ambitions and maybe get a good word in for the three of us."

"Are you mad!" Merko pulls him back, making him stumble. "You don't just go and approach someone like them!"

"Why not?" Ralof frowns.

"You have to be careful with whose attention you grab. I heard they are a real snob, just look at all the jewelry. They think themselves better than us and I don't want to know what they'd do with your enthusiasm. Better to stay down, friend."

"Merko's right." It was Salek that joined them, a close friend of Merkos, all three seemingly the only ones here today coming from the lower districts, "I heard they even yelled at the merchant's guild for making their floor dirty. Made them run back out with their tails between their legs. The scholar is daring and cunning and they don't understand no fun."

Ralof frowns. "That sounds stressful."

Merko laughs, clapping Ralof on the back. "Don't break your head over it. Trust me, they don't care one bit about us either."

Ralof couldn't quite believe that. After all, they were training to become their guards, they must care about that. Otherwise, why would they be here?

He takes another look up to the walls, the Sovereign stands tall, hands clasped behind their back, speaking with the older man, their Commander, beside them. They did not smile once and maybe Salek was right. They hadn't had any fun in awhile, hadn't smiled in a long time. Ralof wondered how anyone could want to live like that. He's certain that it can't be by choice.

"Hurry, Ralof." Merko shouted, snapping Ralof out of it only to realise that everyone was gathering to line up. Damn, he was late again.

"Coming!" He ran as fast as he could, seeing Merko and Salek have saved him a spot next to them.

[ ~ 400 words ]

As a blacksmith he was used to only working with his dad and at times alone too, but he had to admit, training together was already alot of fun. If working together would be the same, he might have just found his callig. If he makes it into the recruitment that is.

He looks up one last time and noticed the Sovereign was watching them now. As if they were feeling his gaze on them, their eyes meet and with a kind smile and a little wave of his hand, Ralof greeted them. No smile from the Sovereign however. Then the Commander roared for their attention and Ralof had to look away.

S C O T L A N D for Mountain Day

by filopay

LORNA TINKLEWALD

twenty-three | she/her | 146 cm | Dwarf | Brandurag

I cannot be bothered to be friendly And why'd you keep on calling me your baby? You ain't doing nothing to impress me So now is not the time for you to test me — Cher Loyd

[ 1 ] [ 2 ]

Prompt from: @oc-tober2023 ' [ I am not following the same order ]

~ Foreigner

"The Queen has lost!"

All conversation instantly stopped the moment the young dwarf had stormed into the Bulky Mule. Then murmurs arose and there was uncertainty in their gazes. It had been a change that they had wanted, but was it a good change?

Lorna placed the mug down she was currently drying and raised her voice above the whispers. 

"Who took her place?"

It was not difficult for her to be heard, she always had a certain confidence. With her words, the murmurs stopped around the filled tavern, everyone wanted to hear the answer.

The young dwarf by then had walked towards a table and taken one of the filled mugs to drown it in one go.

He dried his mouth with a swipe of his sleeve, before looking into the round. "Some foreigner. From the east, I believe."

"Is that a good omen?" "What if it's a dwarf!" "More likely a dragon."

"There is nothing to worry about." Lorna quiets the many questions going around, "It is a change, that's more of a chance for us than we ever hoped. We will find out more about this foreigner and see if we can get our voices heard. We need to start early however, the sooner the better, before once more it becomes common to ignore us. Show this new ruler that we are not easily silenced and don't even give the chance for us to be forgotten."

There were nods and some 'hear, hear!' The overall worries seemed to be eased and that is when Lorna waved the young dwarf that had spoken over.

One of the barmaids addressed him and escorted the confused dwarf inconspicuous through the tavern and into the back room. Lorna was already uncovering the map that was hidden beneath a simple tablecloth. It showed the whole of northern Aestricca, the north with the fortress they reside in right now, below that the harbour city, their neighbour and far in the west divided by water, lay on another land. Their once home.

Lorna however, only uncovered the eastern part, beyond pointy mountains and the vast forest of Rania, lie Bullmar. On the map, indicated by an empty region. 

Not much was known of the east that even the map was incomplete. It was always described as harsh and unwelcoming, but then again, that's what they said about the north as well. She didn't give much about rumours.

"You said this foreigner comes from the east." She points to the empty spots on the map, "We need to find out what their aim is. Why leave the east to become a ruler of the north."

Her hand drew back over to the west. "So we can finally reclaim our home and no longer be foreigners ourselves." [ words ~461 ]

ELORA ESKILDOTTIR

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

Prompt from @oc-tober2023

[ I am not following the same order ]

~ Promise

"My Lady?"

Elora groaned, the voice an unpleasant disturbance. She kept her eyes closed, not willing to wake just yet.

"My Lady, Herald? The All-Seeing wants to speak to you."

That snapped her awake in an instant. Blue eyes now wide awake as she sat up from the floor. Why was she lying on the floor?

The Library Assistant flinched back, looking at Elora with hesitant eyes. She was one of the lower devotees. Granted a glimpse at a few pages of Iesis grand library, when she did her duties well. Elora barely ever talks to the others living and working in the tower. Iesis does not tolerate distractions. Thus she never learned their names.

It was clear that the Assistant wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Elora pressed her fingers against her temples, a thick headache starting to take root. "I will be there, you are dismissed."

The Assistant bowed once, before departing with hasty steps.

It didn't take long and the all familiar voice echoed through Eloras mind.

"You are slacking." It chided, "I have been calling you for awhile now. You did not react. Come to the secret library. I am waiting there for you."

She seems dissapointed.

Elora got up right away, albeit slower as her mind started spinning. The memories still fresh in her mind, as she pulled up her sleeve, the black veins running down her arm were still visible. What did it all mean?

She hasted up the steps of the winding tower towards the secret library of her goddess. It was locked behind a magical door, only those who were granted the key by the goddess herself, could enter. As Elora stood before the golden gates, they opened upon her approach.

The room was bright. The curved roof was built of glass, expensive and skillfull work. A craft lost with the last elves. The All-Seeing goddess created it out of memories that Elora had provided and whenever she entered the secret library it overwhelned her with a longing for a time long lost.

"Don't make me wait again, Herald. When I call you, you are to answer immedietly." 

Elora's attention was quickly on the figure standing at the end of the library, her back turned towards her reealed her owl wings sticking out of her back. If not for the wings, her height was a good indication for her not being human. Her tall body wrapped in scriptures, pages stuck to her body, with scribbled texts and sigils that only herself can decipher. Where the pages end, the text continues on her skin.

Pages were floating around her freely while she read in a thick and dusty book, long elegant fingers turning the pages.

Elora bend one knee, averting her gaze.

"I am at your service All-Seeing." She greets, hearing the goddess smack her tongue.

"You are one of the last of your kind. Are you not?"

"Yes." Elora saw no need to lie, it was a known fact.

"You promised me knowledge long lost and forgotten, valuable insight into your peoples culture. It had entertained me for awhile, but it seems others are eager to take your place."

Elora frowns, she knew for a fact that she was the only elven follower Iesis has, most of the elves preferred hiding, blending in. She had never been good at sitting idle.

She flinched, as the heavy book fell to the ground in front of her. The heavy cover breaking in half.

There were drawings of architecture and furniture. Elven furniture. Her interest piped Elora scooted closer turning the pages, these were things long forgotten. Memorial places, the crafts of building them. Where has this come from?

"Lando or should I say Tin'avel used to be a craftsmen of your people. He has been most forthcoming that I am considering him as my Herald."

Elora swallows. He could have the means to replace her.

Suddenly the pages dissapear in front of her, they start to dissipate and looking up she saw the goddess towering over her, her one eye all that her face posessed inhaling the contents of the book.

It then snapped towards her, unblinking, attentive and all seeing. It was not an easy gaze to hold.

"I have watched your progress on your new topic of interest. I like your dedication, your thirst for answers."

Elora averts her gaze again, nodding. "I am on the right path, I can feel it. There is more to the dark creatures that attacked my home. I just need a bit more time."

"No." The goddess voice was harsh, almost making Elora look up again, "Time will not get you what you need. The knowledge you seek is not hidden in my library, if so, I wouldn't need you looking through it. I have read each book you find on these shelves, I know every content inside of it. What you seek lies elsewhere."

"Where?"

"The northern Kingdom of En-Ar."

En-Ar. The land of Kings. Once her homeland.

"Travel to the fortress Skaeld in my dear brother's domain, the god of mountains. Be wary of him, all he knows is the mindless instincts of an animal. There will be no reasoning with him. He will prevent you from entering the city, should you be discovered as my Herald."

The last standing fortress of En-Ar. "Win'av El. The never falling refuge." Now occupied by humans, who rebuild the ruins of her people. She always wantesld to see it. If she could spot the changes done to it - find familiarities. Answers.

"It is time for you to return to your roots and fulfill your promise to me. There you will find out more on the creatures of the night, how they came to be and how to defeat them."

"Defeat?" She thought she was there for knowledge alone.

"Ulgrim's followers are Warriors. They prefer raw violance over reason. Don't expect a warm welcome there. My brother can be quite unreasonable, but I know he hides valuable knowledge from me. You are to bring it to me without raising his suspicion. Can I count on you, Herald?"

"Always." Elora nods, dipping her head lower in respect.

She thought to hear her goddess smile.

"You will leave at the break of dawn, I will bless you with the swift wings of my owls. And remember that I will be watching you, Herald. I know the sight of a new city can be tempting, but you shall not fall for its allure. Don't break your promise to me or you will regret it." 

[ ~ 1083 words ]