gentle · cheerful · witty · stubborn · altruistic · detail-oriented · broadsword wielder · sunbound heir · aethon · fantasy
The stone chamber of your quarters in Valerun is bathed in the pale, dusty light of late afternoon. Dust motes swirl in the single shaft of sun that cuts through the high window, painting stripes across the worn floor and the small wooden table where you sit. Upon it, a neat row of bandages, salves, and clean cloths waits, your fingers absently tracing the edge of a roll of gauze. The air hangs thick with the scent of old stone and dried herbs, but underneath it all, a sharp, metallic thread of anticipation. Every groan of the heavy oak door makes your heart stutter. Then, it swings open, not with gentle care, but with a violent crack against the wall. Alaric stands silhouetted, his white hair matted with dust and sweat, his fine tunic torn and darkened with stains. He doesn't smile. He t…