steel-forged - Tumblr blog

steel-forged · 5 days

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Some writers: *meticulously plan out every plot point and the tone and meanings before they start writing*

Me:

#hey look #it's me as a DM

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steel-forged · 19 days

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With a lazy thumb over her shoulder, she indicated the still-open ragged rip in space that led back outside. A few seconds later it silently snapped shut, the light she had been blocking out gone. The grin that spread over her features made it clear she found his surprise amusing, even as he brandished claws at her.

Taking a seat on whatever was nearby and of suitable height, Sentine placed her hands upon her thighs and watched the Tabaxi for a moment, glancing around the room for anything else of note and finding herself a bit disappointed that there was nothing to note. Had she really been robbed by such a destitute thief? Or was he just better at hiding his spoils than one might expect?

"I must say, I wasn't expecting a lair so... austere. Perhaps I should reconsider who needs my gil more, though you don't look to be malnourished." Her words had a clear air of levity, aiming to ease his tension after so clearly spooking him. However, there was a better way to do so, one that would hopefully foster a greater sense of ease.

"My name is Sentine. I come from a faraway land, seeking adventure and knowledge. Wisdom tells me that those with the most reason to hide often know most of the city they hide from. You made yourself known to me and spared me the effort of finding someone else. How would you like to earn some of that coin instead of stealing it, hm?"

Canines and Felines

Closed starter for @redemptioninchaos

For the first time in what felt like years, she had managed to slip the eyes and ears of her friends and compatriots. Not that she was running away, or shirking responsibility, of course. They had encouraged her to take a break from the endless grind of threats that had faced them recently. While Sentine had some concerns initially, eventually she set out for some new land to relax in and explore.

And what a strange land she found. So different to her home, so new, so fresh that for once, she had no idea where to begin. No lay of the land, no one to point her in any direction. It was refreshing, if a little odd after so long. But fate has a way of fixing little issues like this, as she noted when a... Cat person walked off with her coin purse.

Rather than call out or immediately retaliate, Sentine followed him, quickly, quietly. A pickpocket always had a finger to the pulse of a place, and since he had come to her, well... What better person to meet? Plus, she kind of needed that gil. Hopefully the sticky fingered feline wouldn't mind her popping out of the gloom in his hide away, waving at him with her claws and sharp toothed grin.

#redemptioninchaos #moonlight reaper

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steel-forged · 19 days

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Well, this was a strange turn of events. Of course, it was foolish to expect every rumor and tale to be true, even if that meant that the oni wasn't willing to fight. If she wasn't up to it, then Sentine wasn't going to attack her. Especially not with her back turned. There was a wild difference between combat practicality and dishonorably attacking another warrior when her back was turned. The reaper wasn't willing to give up, not yet, but she wasn't so brash as to assume things would go her way.

As she moved to follow, the tendril of water did its work. As it pulled her, Sentine tucked in against herself so she wouldn't hit the ground before being lifted. Hanging upside down, she chuckled a bit. "Clever. One would dismiss the sound of water moving through a forest with streams nearby." Reaching out with her magic, she created a rift before herself, the twin before the oni. Swinging through, she collapsed them to sever the water that had hold of her and climbed back to her feet. "If you do not wish to do battle with me, then I will make my way home. But tell me first, is it simply me, or are the tales of your thirst for battle not true?"

It was as she began making plans to scavenge materials for a trip back to civilization that the storm began to roll in. At first it seemed fairly natural. This was a small island, it wouldn't take too long for bad weather to overtake it. But the energy was wrong. It wasn't just a storm, there was intent behind it, and as she realized that, the world ripped open and the oni stepped through.

Finally.

As her grin grew toothier, the smaller woman started walking forward, no weapon drawn as of yet. No, this wasn't a mindless beast she had been seeking, even if people called her one. She would at least offer an introduction and declaration of intent first, though it occured to her that negatively appealing to the oni's ego may not create the most amicable situation to do so. Oh well.

"Beast of the seas and the storms, we meet at last! I've come a long way to find you. I am Sentine, a warrior from Eorzea. Tales paint you as a fearsome fighter, and I want to see just how true those tales are!"

#ira sturm #moonlight reaper

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steel-forged · 19 days

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In such a place as a kami shrine, the warrior felt no reason to keep her guard up. There shouldn't have been any reason to be worried. Anyone breaking the peace here would be a fool, and surely punished heavily. So the sudden voice of the canine woman behind her managed to startle her, hand instantly reaching for a weapon that had been stowed away at the entrance. When she looked around and saw Chiasa properly, the tension slowly began draining from her.

"Ah, kami of the shrine. Forgive me, I... am not used to the spirits of the shrines appearing before me so casually. There is usually much more hostility from 'gods' toward myself." Closing her hand, ending the flow of aether. Brushing the front of her robes, Sentine stood up, turned to face Chiasa, and bowed deeply to her. "Greetings. I am Sentine Palechaser, Scion of the Seventh Dawn, a traveler seeking new experiences and journeys."

Standing straight once more, she offered a toothy smile, both colors of eyes shining with delight. "My homeland has many shrines like this. I came to offer my respects and enjoy a little piece of familiarity while I could. I hope that my gifts are to your liking."

Tea for Two to Tango

Closed starter for @risingshine (Chiasa)

There was always something new to be surprised by and excited for. So far from home, in such a strange land, the last thing Sentine ever expected to find was a shrine that would have looked right at home in Doma. The huge gate had caught her attention and left her gaping for a long moment before she made up her mind to venture in and pay respects to the kami here, provided it was a good kami.

Before passing through the gateway, she stopped to remove most of her adventuring gear. Scythe, armor, potions, traveling tools, even setting her shoes aside. Only then did she slowly walk through, taking in all the sights around her.

Once at the shrine proper, she stood outside, head bowed. This seemed like a calm, friendly, and oddly warm place. Although, the multitude of strange little puffball creatures roaming around didn't seem to mind the heat. They kept wiggling their paws and chittering at her in an admittedly cute way. Going inside, she knelt before the altar, placing a small satchel of gil as an offering before turning up one of her palms. "O kami of this strange land, I offer you this thanks of coin and aether, that it may appease you and nourish you." Energy flowed from her, a mixture of elemental aspects that seemed heaviest of light and shadow.

#risingshine #moonlight reaper

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steel-forged · 19 days

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It would take a lot of time to get used to the kami's form as well, should they fail to sort the situation out. Luckily, Chiasa had a few hundred years worth of wisdom and experience to try and sort this out. For now, it was time to simply do as instructed. Making her way through the shrine grounds to the great gate at the entrance. "Is there any incantation I need to be aware of, or just... Visualize and let the magic do its thing?"

Hopefully, it was the latter. Previous attempts at speaking Chaisa's native tongue had never gone very well for her. For the moment, standing just before the big wooden structure, August closed her eyes, holding the phone with one hand and holding the other against a beam of the gate. Hopefully that made a path for the magic to flow and helped guide her intentions.

"Okay, I'm... I'm going to start doing... whatever I'm about to do here. Here goes nothing." Taking a deep breath, she began to imagine the front door of her shop as instructed. The scratches, the knob, the way her key stuck in the lock unless it was inserted just right. The worn spot at the top from where the bell hit every time it was open. A little smile crept onto her face at these thoughts, realizing how much it meant home to her.

The more awake she became, the harder it was to remain calm. She felt that anyone would feel the same, but it was difficult to say. How often did one wake up in someone else's body, let alone a divine body twice their normal size, at least? Still, hearing Chiasa's words, if not her voice, helped. "Okay. Okay. Kami magic, big red gate."

It took a moment to get her feet beneath her. The kami's balance was very different to her own, and she could feel so much energy burning inside that she kept taking a slow, deep breath to keep where it was. As she started walking, she spoke to keep focus off the situation. "Okay, I'm going. So, two things, the world looks... So different up this high. It's kind of incredible. The other is, uh... If you feel a... Presence around you, I promise it's okay. It's supposed to be there. It's friendly. I just can't explain it over the phone..."

#risingshine

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steel-forged · 19 days

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@incubabe

😳

#incubabe

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steel-forged · 19 days

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@redemptioninchaos

And said hand is taken, given a little kiss, and held. "Hello, brave knight! Welcome home, Ser Ajax."

#redemptioninchaos

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steel-forged · 19 days

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@songofsilentechoes

"Yeah, it's been a little while. If you're in the mood, then yeah, I'd love to go a round or two! But... maybe we should pick someplace not so public so we;re not causing a disturbance."

#songofsilentechoes

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steel-forged · 19 days

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