#dirth path

[historypaintings]

Belisarius

Artist: François-Gérard (French, 1770-1837)

Date: 1787

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Getty Museum Collection, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Description

Along a winding dirt path, the blind Belisarius carries his young guide. The boy has been bitten by a snake, which remains coiled around his bleeding leg. With his right arm wrapped limply around Belisarius's neck and his eyes closed, the youth balances precariously between life and death. Belisarius's eyes are also closed, but guided by his stick he moves forward with determination and purpose. He rises heroically against the spectacular sunset, a monumental figure creating a powerful outline against the sky. But the flaring sunset also signals a chill night and the uncertainty of the path ahead.

Belisarius was a popular Byzantine general of the Roman Empire whose promising career was sabotaged by the jealous Emperor Justinian I. In 1767, a novel by Jean-François Marmontel revived interest in Belisarius. In Marmontel's novel, the emperor has the heroic general blinded, reducing Belisarius to begging. He is eventually rediscovered and aided by former officers and his family. This dramatic tale of patriotism, injustice, and redemption was widely embraced in revolutionary and post-revolutionary France and was a popular subject for artists--including Jacques-Louis David (François Gérard's teacher), Jean-Antoine Houdon, and Jean-Baptiste Stouf (whose sculpture Belisarius is also in the Museum's collection).

For this painting, Gérard both drew and departed from Marmontel's retelling of Belisarius's life. The general's young companion is present in Marmontel's novel. But to stress the bravery and pathos of the subject, Gérard introduced the incapacitating snakebite. While Belisarius was typically depicted in the act of begging, Gérard shows him standing and erect, his muscular form in sharp contrast to his guide's weakening body. The prominent helmet hanging from Belisarius's belt emphasizes the general's heroic past and underscores the injustice of his fall from favor.

[seeker-ophelia]

[EDIT: I WAS RIGHT he edited the video to take out the spoiler part!!!!!]

Holy spoilers Batman Use EXTREME CAUTION

Im not joking big spoilers.

Urhm what why do I feel like this video is breaking the NDA?

(real spoilers start at 10:24)

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ELGAR AND GHILLY ARE THE ONLY ONES LEFT YOU GUYS I AM SCREEEAAAMMMING

WHAT

IS THIS PROOF THAT THE OLD GODS = EVANURIS?

ANDRUIL, SYLAISE, JUNE, FALON, DIRTH, THEYRE ALL DEAD?

[EDIT]

[Spoiler content in text]:

(Its a Varric Voiceover some images):

The fade had opened, and the gods were free. Thanks to Solas they’d woken up to find their empire, their subjects, even their fellow gods, all gone. But they still had the power of the blight, and corrupting a village was just the start. They made plans to tap more of the blight, all of it, to rebuild their empire. As a path to power, it had its costs... And everyone would pay for it.  

[The Screenshot above is from the removed voiceover part.]

I have more screenshots from the voiceover, because I thought it might be breaking the NDA and could be taken down. If anyone is really interested you can message me and I'll share them.

BUT ESSENTIALLY

I take the Varric voiceover to mean that the only old gods left in the prison were Elgar and Ghilly. Somehow, through the blight/archdemons they were removed (from Solas' prison), turned into archdemons, and then killed when the blight ended.

Or were they?

See my #Longpost for my Lore Theoriessss... My People/Old Gods

[gandalfsalt]

Solas and Numbers 23:23

This is another old "essay" I wrote last year after completing Inquisition and Trespasser for the first time.

The Well of Sorrows quest is called “What Pride had Wrought,” and this title is a direct reference to a biblical passage that serves as foreshadowing for Trespasser, and possibly Dreadwolf. We’re told at least once in the game that Solas means “Pride.” The Nightmare demon in the raw fade says, "Dirth ma, harellan. Ma banal enasalin. Mar solas ena mar din." (I know you, trickster. That was no victory. Your pride will be your death.) 

The phrase “what pride had wrought” means “what pride had done/caused.” What has Solas done regarding the Temple of Mythal, Mythal herself, or the Well of Sorrows? This could foreshadow Solas revealing himself as Fen'Harel later on in the game. It won't be the first time the devs hid meaning in a quest title - famously, Solas's personal quest, "All New Faded for Her" is an anagram of "Dread Wolf Fen'Harel." Not a stretch to say something similar is happening with this title.

The quest title got even more interesting when I realized that the phrase “What Pride had Wrought” originates from a biblical passage, Numbers 23:23 -  

"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"

Matthew Henry, a 17th century British minister famous for his commentary and exposition of the bible, says that this passage means:

“Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way.” 

God in this context is sounding a little like someone else we know, right? If we substitute Solas (Pride) for God, as the writers have done with the quest title, Henry’s interpretation still rings true. Solas refuses to change his mind or break the promise he made to himself to restore the world to the state before the fall of Arlathan. This could be seen as foreshadowing for Solas revealing himself as Fen'harel and committing to tear down the veil in Trespasser.

The second part, “when… he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind, it is only a change of his way” is very interesting to me. If we’re buying my argument that you can sub Solas for God here, it could imply an allyship with Solas in Dreadwolf - that he can repent without changing his mind about what needs to be done, but he’ll change his actions in a way that could help the protagonist? Idk. 

The second part also has implications about his relationship with Lavellan. He has not changed his mind about Lavellan, but he has changed his way - instead of continuing the path of a relationship with her, he changes back to the solitary path of Din'Anshiral. 

Solas’ fatal flaw, Pride, causes him to behave like God, namely that Solas makes sweeping, unilateral decisions about the fate of the world. He has no right to do that, because as he says many times, he is no god. Ironically, Solas despises the fact that the other elven mages pretend to be gods, or endeavor to behave like God. However, in single-handedly making decisions on behalf of basically all living beings, Solas is acting as a god, as much as he says he believes he is not one. And those actions result in destroying his world and everything he loves. And he’s ready to do the same damn thing all over again in an attempt to “fix” how badly he messed up the first time!

So is the quest title, “What Pride had Wrought” merely foreshadowing (foreshadowing our discovery of everything Solas has done, and what he decides to do) or does it mean that even though Solas has committed to this path, he may repent later? Or that he still holds the torch for a romanced Lavellan? I can't wait to find out!

[karnesada]

Dirthamen Lore

Codex pdf download: DAO DA2 DAI DAV

Dalish myths

dirthamen, keeper of secrets - the tale of the two brothers who were separated walking the shifting paths of the Fade. Spirits of Fear and Deceit attempted to sow both in Dirthamen, but he bound and bade them take him to find Falon'din, where the twins were reunited.

world of thedas, v. 1 - Dirthamen is said to have given the elves the gift of knowledge and the value of loyalty and faith in family.

falon'din, friend of the dead - Falon'din and Dirthamen walked the Fade with those of the People who had entered uthenara. After elves became mortal, some remained with Falon'din in the Fade and never returned. Though they took counsel with Dirthamen, his wisdom was lost since they did not return to the waking world. Elves bury their dead with cedar branches to scatter Dirthamen's ravens from the corpse.

on bears - Dirthamen gave one secret to each creature when the world was new. The foxes, birds, and hares traded their secrets to Andruil for new gifts. Dirthamen tore Andruil's gifts from the foxes, birds, and hares, but honored bears for steadfastly keeping Dirthamen's gift to them.

varterral - "before Arlathan", Dirthamen had a flourishing city in the mountains. A high dragon made its nest there, and his people prayed for four days that Dirthamen would help them. He at last formed a beast from the mountains and fallen trees, the varterral, which became the guardian of his city. After Fen'harel's betrayal, the varterral remained even as the city crumbled. It remains to this day.

World tales

twins in shadow - an academic treatise that examines whether or not there was a familial relationship between Dirthamen and Falon'din. Tevinter-translated texts refer to them as "twin souls". The oldest stories never name them directly, referring to Falon'din as "Dirthamen's shadow" and Dirthamen as "Falon'din's reflection." The scholar does not believe it was a romantic relationship, but posits it may have been an allegory for complex ancient relationships.

the mysterious, hooded figure iconography - a sculpture of a hooded figure in Citadel du Corbeau casts a shadow in the shape of a raven over the keep. Human scholars of elven history theorize such sculptures were made as representations of Dirthamen.

constellation tenebrium - scholars believed it was originally associated with Falon'din since the shape is an owl.

Dirthamen does not have a constellation attributable to him.

constellation silentir - historically attributed to Dumat, the old god of Silence. Interestingly, scholars believe it was earlier attributed to Mythal.

Ancient legends

ancient elven writing (dirthamen's sinner) - a sinner belonging to Dirthamen took wings, which was treason as it was considered a divine shape. Dirthamen claimed Ghilan'nain bade the sinner take that shape, and begged Mythal for protection. She spurned him, and let Elgar'nan judge him.

this forms the substance of the theory that there’s a connection between Dirth and Ghil. much of this post is disproven by veilguard, although the mosaic pairings are interesting. this is a better read on this story imo, that Ghil's "urging" of the sinner was a manipulation to weaken Dirthamen's position with Elgar'nan (and by extension, Falon'din, who waged a civil war against Elgar'nan). this lines up with the constant Evanuris infighting Solas and the Veil Jumpers talk about so much. but in sum, aside from the mention of her in this codex (the mention itself is hearsay), there is no lore connection between Dirth and Ghil beyond the title of 'Evanuris'.

the lost temple of dirthamen - a prayer by the priests who dwelt in the temple in what is now northeastern Orlais, uttered after Dirthamen disappeared with the other gods. The high priest sought to sacrifice the others to keep them imprisoned and seal the temple from outsiders. The priests rebelled, dismembered the high priest, and used his mind, tongue, hands, ears, eyes, and heart to protect the secrets he had.

pantomime theater mask of dirthamen - "In narrative, he is the secret behind what beckons, whose reveal answers questions first denied, then demanded."

Solas' dialogue

To Elgar'nan: "Our deepest mysteries [came] from Dirthamen."

Primary sources (letters, dialogue (not from Solas), etc.)

mythal's memories as relayed by morrigan - a fragment is "one small piece of many formed when something greater is broken...when a spirit is broken, it may shatter into pieces. each holding part of the original. among the ancient elves who became known as gods, Dirthamen and his "brother" Falon'din are but one example." Fragments of spirits can get along with each other.

Modern studies (Veilguard analysis)

elven gods and tevinter gods - We're still arguing about: Dirthamen (secrets) = Dumat, Dragon of Silence (secrets, silence... makes sense?)...If it helps, Dumat liked toads. Did Dirthamen?

Disputed sources (theories, datelined language, etc.) since there's so little on Dirthamen, delving into the secrets is appropriate. Most of them predate Veilguard, and some theories reference things we now know are not connected to Dirthamen (the Crossroads and the eluvians, for one).

the voices in the well - the first voice beckons 'go to him, dirth'. Some have speculated that this refers to Dirthamen. But it's more likely to be part of any of the Elvhen words that begin with 'dirth', the word "for knowledge or secrets." It could simply have been, "go to him, [and] learn".

the repeat of raven imagery in the elven ruins we cross in Trespasser and in Vir Dirthara.

a large post compiling theories on Dirthamen from the position that he helped "Mythal and Solas free their people." - much of this is discredited and can now be attributed to Solas, particularly Dirthamen's connection to the eluvians. Other theories have more value. This poster also took the position that Razikale was associated with Dirthamen, which we know is not accurate.

Modern studies (Veilguard analysis)

elven gods and tevinter gods - We're still arguing about -Dirthamen (secrets) = Dumat, Dragon of Silence (secrets, silence... makes sense?)

[dreadfutures]

and a final stealth prompt for dirth: “technically you won’t kill me, because i gave it to you. do it properly, then.”

thank you friend

for @dadrunkwriting

Dirthamen committed the first sin of the Evanuris, setting his lordly family down a path of slavery and megalomania when he first shared with them the secrets of the vallaslin. He learned well thereafter to keep his secrets to himself, but his regret remained for what became of the People under his invention.

When the Rebel Wolf gave him a chance to atone, Dirth knew how it would end.

He just hopes that this secret will die with him.

Image: statue found above Flemeth and Kieran's ritual in the raw Fade, identical to "The Watcher" and "The Raven" in the Emerald Graves/Exalted Plains, associated with Dirthamen.

-:-:-

Dirthamen flies, and his shadow follows.

Through the furthest reaches of the Fade, Dirthamen leads his twin; he is a streak of starlight, and Falon'Din is the hungry darkness that lurks behind. They are inextricable, and that is why Falon'Din was tasked with chasing him down when his treason was discovered. Yet that bond is also why Dirthamen can stay one step ahead.

Dirthamen knows what Falon'Din doesn't, but Falon'Din knows his brother.

The God of Secrets will not outstrip his pursuer, but that is not his goal--not that the God of Death knows *that.* All Dirthamen can hope to do here is keep his family's attention as best he can, while the Pride of Elvhenan orchestrates its fall.

He's fairly certain that even Solas doesn't understand that that, truly, is what he will enact. And Dirthamen, poisoned by his sister's arrow, feathers scorched by his adopted father's mighty rays, pursued by his brother's bloody maw, and forsaken by all the rest, has neither time nor desire to open Solas' eyes.

Time is running out for them all. Mythal's death is unraveling him, and Falon'Din, for though they took on bodies at her instruction, they were born of her spirit. Andruil and Sylaise alone out of their family had been bodied first, then awakened as Spirits, and this they were the only ones with the ability to destroy their maker without destroying themselves. But while Mythal's death did not threaten Andruil's existence, the Huntress was already well on her way to ruin already thanks to the Void magic that tainted her existence. Even Sylaise could not heal what was broken and breaking inside her sister. She had tried--and it had cost her her sanity, and probably her life, though Dirthamen was not witness to it.

Everything in existence was on its way to join he if Solas did not act, and Dirthamen could not have risked Pride staying his hand. Foolish, brash, despairing Pride--he would be at once the doom of Elvhenan, and the savior of the world.

Time would tell how he would be remembered.

Dirthamen hoped they would all be forgotten.

He would do his best to drag them with him, into oblivion. His own plans had been laid long ago, and he believed that his family was still ignorant of his trap.

It was his greatest secret. He had worked hard to keep it, until now.

Through the Fade he fled, leading his brother along a path only he knew. Falon'Din would think him simply desperate prey, hopeless and afraid, but Dirthamen planned every step, every warp, every twist, every portal, with care. Their path ventured, then returned, and once again they careened through the glittering domes of Arlathan.

Andruil, maddened and with a thirst that had not been slaked with Mythal's blood, joined the chase, and Ghilan'nain followed--now, little more than one of the monsters she had sired. Elgar'nan's wrath turned toward them, focusing on the traitor to his own treasonous plot, and gave pursuit with all his might.

Dirthamen was fleet, slippery, a shade. But his strength was not without limit, and he could not hope to stand against them all.

He felt Pride's song begin, far away at the court of Justice where Mythal had once appointed her his steward. It was far enough that the Evanuris would not be able to reach him, having gone so far astray in their pursuit of traitorous Dirthamen. They knew--as much as the lucid ones could know--that they had been caught in a trap.

The only thing left to do was to tear apart the bait.

In the central square of the city, Dirthamen crashed to the ground. Feathers and blood rained down around him, and the serpentine monstrosities of his kin followed with landings that shook the island to its root. Civilians and soldiers alike fled in terror, and watched, horrified, from afar as the Evanuris gathered for a final time.

Dirthamen staggered to his feet, his cloak of shadows and secrets all that remained of his regalia. His armor was scorched and tattered, metal hanging from his body like ripped fabric.

But still--the First of the People were not easy to kill, and of them all, Dirthamen was the Eldest.

"HE'S MINE," Falon'Din bellowed to their maddened kin, and Dirthamen smiled a bloody smile in the shadow of his hood.

"You won't kill me," he chided. "I gave you that body, my brother, and you gave me mine."

"I shall," Falon'Din said. "I will have no brother, no reflection--I shall stand alone in glory, purchased with your blood!"

"Then do it properly!" Dirthamen roared in reply. His eyes darted to his other kin, circling him. "Let me be your final sacrifice, O Death, and seal your fate!"

"Hold him still," Falon'Din barked. "Do not let him escape!"

Dirthamen could not brace himself in time for the blow. He rocked forward with it, staggered, and fell to one knee in a hail of blood. Elgar'nan's sword jutted from his chest, streaked with red, and as Dirthamen gasps, more blood pours from his wound and from his mouth.

He will not, cannot die from this--but the agony is beyond anything he has ever known.

He bows his head, gagging, face shadowed beneath his hood.

Falon'Din stands before him.

Kneels.

This was never going to be the victory the vain god wanted. This was never going to be the peaceful venture Dirthamen has dreamed of.

Falon'Din looks into his brother's eyes, hatred and a vicious love reflected back at him.

"No more secrets," Dirthamen whispers.

"No more journeys," Falon'Din agrees.

Falon'Din slits his own throat, and Dirthamen dies.

And dies.

And dies.

Time unwinds from the world, but Arlathan remains frozen, and Dirthamen's blood anchors the spell--the moment held like an extended note in an aching melody, a life preserved in Solas's song.

[wid0wd-archived]

If Nat could set up an ideal safehouse, with money and location being wholly irrelevant, where would she like to stay?

that would be her cabin / lake house in sæbø, norway. it's hidden in between mountains and forests, a lake extending over her "backyard". natalia's house in little ukraine, new york is mostly empty and void of color as many of her webs around the world ... meanwhile this one is colorful, furniture has a touch of personality and the sort of modernity you wouldn't really expect from someone like her.

back then when she bought it, the place was in need of huge renovations. she worked on it in her free time as a mean of therapy - after all she knows all about being torn apart and built together again. every now and then she would get help by friends swinging by to make sure she was alright. in its final renovation, there's a room turned into dance studio, a room for liho full of cat toys, an home office / secret armory, two guest rooms just in case. the living room has floor to ceiling libraries full of books she's read over and over and others that she still hasn't had the time to go through.

outside there's a dirth road like path among the woods she likes to walk with liho. it's a nice place, feels like home more than anywhere else ironically, and it's a few hours from new asgard too! here's a few appearances of the safe house:

[thedasjourney]

Codex Entry: Mina Lavellan, Inquistor

"My touch carries ash. Yet my eyes see the world as endless open door, full of color and variety. Falon'Din, I finally understand. Dirthara ma nuvenin—na dirth (Death is not an end—it is a path). And the death of my gods, of my belief… is not oblivion. It is an awakening. A rebirth conjured from the very ashes meant to consume me."

Here is a women who defied Chantry and Elven beliefs. A woman, and elf, but no mage, that took down an immortal ancient magister from ancient Tvienter. I had the pleasure of knowing her, and watching others know her. She impressed, surprised, and survived. Whether touched by Andraste herself, Mina Lavellan showed defiance in powers against her.

Yet, with such resolve and strength, she was a tender-hearted women. She moved in life the way a mortal would. Which is why she inspired the hearts of so many. People saw themselves in her, especially some of her closest companions. Or they wished to see themselves in her.

It is rare to find a Dalish elf who is willing to believe in gods other than the Evanuris. But Inquisitor Lavellan is one who has kept and open mind as well as an open heart.

Many things have been said about the Inquisitor. Elf, Dalish, Herald, Rebel, Assassin, Heretic...and perhaps there is truth to many of these.

— Morrigan

Mina Lavellan was always a gentle soul, though never weak. She bore no gift for magic, yet held a reverence for it deeper than many mages I’ve known. She devoured stories—elven and shemlen alike—always listening, always wondering. It’s why I chose her to observe the Chantry.

Not just for her curiosity. She was our quiet blade, the shadow at the edge of the firelight. No one moved through the forest like her. No one watched the world as closely. And she understood humans—perhaps too well. If any among us could walk unnoticed through their world, it was her.

And she went willingly. Eager, even. For understanding.

That hunger for truth...perhaps it was her greatest strength. Perhaps also her wound.

Mina was shaped early by loss, and soon after by death. She learned to kill not with hatred, but with precision. It left marks. Not on her skin, but deeper.

It is a difficult thing, to be soft-hearted and bloodstained. Perhaps that is why she chose Falon’Din. Or why she believed she was chosen by Him.

Then again, perhaps it was we who chose for her. We saw how death followed her. Or how she followed it. Even now, with the chantry explosion, I wonder if it is Andraste's hand or one of our elven gods who put her there.

But this I know: if the burden of the Inquisition had to fall on any shoulders, there were none steadier than hers.

— From the personal journal of Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel Lavellan Recovered among the remnants of Clan Lavellan, following their disappearance

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

Dear Solas,

You once told me that all would be made clear after our final battle with Corypheus. But I’ve only been left with more questions.

I respected your choice to end things between us. I believed you meant well. I believed in...you. Who I thought I knew.

But now… I don’t know who you are. And some days, I can’t even remember who I thought you were.

I’ve even tried to wander the Fade in my dreams in search of us—of what we had. But all I find is grief. Pain. Loss.

Was this what you intended, when you held me? Did you always mean to leave?

I’m not sure what kind of answers would bring comfort. And I don’t know if closure would feel like peace.

But even now, after everything, I know my love for you was real. I only wish I knew who I loved.

I suppose that is the question that truly matters. And the one I fear I will never get.

— A letter unsent from Mina Lavellan's personal chest

[ch3rubd0lls]

my visionboard consists of nothing but fat plates of food and grim rural broken down dirth paths. priorities ho

[theharellan]

He laughs, though it is a lesser sound. Most laughs were of late. There is little in the way of humour in the path before them, only blight and death; and the slightest sliver of hope that Ian's eyes are keen enough to see.

"Would you care to tell Elgar'nan that?" he asks. "Or shall I?"

A spirit borne of the need to own, to dominate- without understanding or respect. He can think of nothing further from his old enemy's nature than the one who holds him now. Ian's hands do not covet or possess, but curl loosely into the belt of his armour; it tethers them, as a rope thrown to a castaway in a storm.

He tries to stir the meaning of Ian's hope, drinking them in silence as he reacquaints himself with touch long denied.

The scar fades into smooth skin, thumb meeting with the corner of Ian's mouth. He trails over it, remembering with an unwilling heart the things their likeness had said while he lay within the heart of his prison. It had spoke of change, and the slow-working venom of his influence, turning Ian against his very nature. The new scars that line Ian's body spoke to that wicked truth, to the notion that he had taken a healer and fashioned him into a warrior-- and yet.

Like two heavenly bodies, they are drawn together; the world between them collapses as he draws Ian against his chest.

"Dirth ma mala vir'elgara (Tell me your hopes)"

The air between them is cold when Solas pulls away, and Ian aches in the emptiness of it. Having Solas returned to him has been a comfort, though pressing concerns temper the joy he might have expected to feel. The sorrow and grief of their parting lingers, despite their reunion, and it swells in the space Solas puts between them.

Ian's hands slide to Solas's hips, resisting the urge to deny him the ability to pull them apart. Allowing the distance he wants so badly to overcome, to refuse.

Solas trails his thumb along a scar that Ian has already forgotten, that Solas has only recently discovered, the dying defiance of a fallen Archdemon leaving marks that linger past its failure.

"I--" He shakes his head, careful of the fingers that trail his skin. "It isn't. It--Nothing is due. Nothing is owed. Solas..."

Beneath his hands, Solas's armor is thick, rough leathers marred with the fights of ages. It's different than the soft fabrics he favors when they might rest, when they might exist as only themselves and not two people striving for their cause. It protects him, and Ian needs him protected, but it also prevents him from feeling the way Ian's thumbs might slide over the bones of his hips, the way his touch is meant to soothe. "I see with hope, ma lath. We--we will find our way."

[acnh-paths]

Hi! Do you know of anyone who's created a custom pattern that mimics the basic brown dirt path you get once you get the island planner app? I won't get the app for a few weeks but I am desperate for just a simple brown path like that one. Thanks for you help!

I haven’t found anything that exactly mimics it but here are some great dirth paths! I couldn’t post all the images so to get the matching designs in some photos you’ll have to type in their creator code.

1) By @elysiumbydesign on Tumblr

2) By @fishcakey on Tumblr

3) By Pixelkabinett on Twitter

4) By _shunao on Twitter

5) By Andrea Lundgren on Facebook

[lesdreams-author]

Pregnant Lisa mini fic part 31 (the start of Klee big adventure and mommie nightmare)

The chicken breast is smelling amazing, the paprika and mint doing wonders to highlight of he meat flavor.

She stir the pot and after take a last taste, turn off the stove. Dinner is ready and she cleans the dishes on the skin. The clock on too the counter says it's already 18:00 and she should be arranging the table.

Lisa dries her hands on her apron and frows. It's been a while since she heard Klee upstairs. Klee in silence is always something to be attentive, her daughter active imagination always turns things chaotics and when she is left to her own devices, well...Lisa can remember several incidents.

But she is upset, her brain supplies. Klee is upset and sad, so maybe she isn't doing anything besides sulking or sleeping her sadness away.

Lisa sighs and shakes her head. She will check on Klee after arrange the dinner table.

She is sure her daughter is fine. As fine as she can be with the news.

(ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)(ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)(;ŏ﹏ŏ)

Klee is pretty sure she knows how reach her grandma's house. She has gone there several times with her mama or with her mommie. She even goes there with baba and auntie Amber!

She knows grandma's house is outside Mondstadt walls, after the gates. It's big and has a lot of trees and animals. Klee loves grandma's animals. She got to name the little chickens last month!

Klee smiles to herself, grandma said when the little horse is born Klee will pick the name and it can be hers when it gets older.

Klee is so excited about it. Grandma is the bestest and although she some times is strict, grandma has the warmest hugs and her food is always sooo good!

She jumps a little, eyes sparkling and tummy growling.

Klee is sure she is near grandma's house because she just got out the gates and she can see lots trees around, even the big lake that runs under the bridge.

The sun is low in the sky and Klee lives how orange and little pink the skies is turning. She wished she had a camera but mama said she was too small to get one. Klee pouts remembering it.

Klee is a big girl! Klee can take care a camera!

She slows her steps and frows. It's not good, she thinks. Klee should be a better girl so she can ask mama to forgive her.

Klee sucks in a breath and starts to walk again.

Klee going to be a good girl and don't ask again for the camera. Maybe this way mama will like Klee more.

With a nod she runs through the dirth path, strap bag shaking against her little hip, Dodoko held in between her arms.

⊙﹏⊙⊙﹏⊙༼⁰o⁰；༽

Table ready, Lisa survey the scene at ahead and nods to herself, heart aching again.

It is how it is

Only two plates on the table, only two sets of silverware. Well, one and half because Klee still eats with the plastic fork, her daughter a little too clumsy to handle a silver fork, pointed enough to hurt herself.

With a sigh she head to the stairs. Outside of Klee's closed bedroom door, she knocks on the wood and calls softly

L: " Klee, dinner is ready."

She waits for an answer and the seconds ticks by in silence.

Her heart, heavy and hurt wrenches inside her chest.

L: " Klee, c'mon baby. I did your favorite chicken breast."

She is meet with silence again and she sighs, forehead resting on the cold wood, eyes closed and stinging.

L: " Klee, my love...Please talk with mommie..." Silence again. " I'm so sorry,sweetheart. I know I promised but mama is so busy today. Tomorrow morning, first thing we will do will be go to grandma's house, I promise you." More silence. " You can spend the whole day there and if you want even the weekend!"

She tries to interject some enthusiasm but she fears she is falling miserable. To think of spend her weekend in this house, alone, lefts her cold.

When more silence meets her she shakes her head against the door and takes a little step back, eyes on the wood.

L: " Klee, if you don't answer mommie, mommie will have to open the door."

She waits a few more seconds, hoping against hope her little daughter will hear her, will hop out the bed and open her door with a pout on her pink lips.

But there's nothing besides the ever present silence, the lack of noises heavy and suffocating.

Lisa puts her hands on the door handle and slowly turns it. She waited her daughter would protest but she doesn't get any answer, so she opens the door all the way.

The room is empty. The bed sheets messed, her daughter school uniform on the floor, instead the hamper near her desk.

Lisa frows and shakes her head, taking few steps and collecting the clothes on her hand.

She folds them and put them in the hamper. She calls klee again, but there's no answer so she checks the closet, the suit bathroom and find the same, they are empty.

With an even more furrowed brow she looks in her bedroom, in the living room, in the downstairs bathroom, in Jean's studio and even in the garden.

There's no signal of Klee.

With shaking hands and a thudding heart she runs the stairs, goes to her daughter room and looks around for something she doesn't even know what.

She finds later though, after looks around several times in panic.

Klee's favorite bunny plush is missing, Klee's strap bag isn't in the room either.

Lisa swallows heavily, breathing stuttering in her too shallow lungs.

Klee isn't home

She shakes all over, trembling like leaf against a strong wind.

She takes a step forward and then another.

She needs to find Klee, she needs to find her daughter.

She runs through the house, hair getting messy with the way her shaking hands brush against it.

Tears are blurring her vision and she yanks her front door open, barely remembering of get the keys from the bowl next to the door.

She looks to each side of the street but can't see any blonde head.

She can't be far, she is a kid! She can't be far.

The street is pretty much empty, they live in a calm neighborhood and if during the day there's already few people walking on the streets, at almost night it's even fewer.

She trembles on her porch.

Where are you, Klee?

To be continued....

[guigz1-coldwar]

'One bullet' : New chapter for "Redemption in a Spirit in a Cold War" is out !

'One bullet'

"Sometimes, I just want to be in an peaceful place with only you and no more work to stress us for good !"

Chapter Summary : After having an talk with Lazar's vision, Yirina is finally feeling determined to avenge her fallen friend and face Naga.....

To read it on AO3, click here !

Words : +3600

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Lazar...He is far more different than Adler and when I saw him even if it was only an vision, I know that I could have an better talk with him, knowing that his words towards me will bring me some kind of hope I'm trying to find in myself since the crash, something that's giving an chance to give Garrett the retribution to kill every man serving under Naga's cartel and every Perseus soldier also protecting him. Our discussion couldn't last too many time and it was in an bit of sadness to see Lazar vanish in front of my eyes before I could reconcentrate myself.

Before actually leaving the place to get myself deeper in the jungle, I have to check the map to see where the house was and what direction I needed to take to get to Naga's HQ without trying to make too much noises along the way as we were close to Naga and I was alone without any means to contact the others. With that in mind and after finishing to check the map, I was in my way to get to Naga's HQ, ready to find Adler & avenge Garrett above all, it has to be done.

During my walk through the jungle on an little dirt path that was indicated on the map, I was wondering if the radio I stoled from the first patrol that wanted to check the crash, was going to emit at one moment, been shut down since I taunted Naga himself over it in an moment of rage. I have maybe blow out an chance to know more about what are Naga's moves in the area but I will now know as I was arriving next to his HQ.

"Shit, an sniper's nest." I whispered to myself as I was arriving at the end of the dirt path, marked on the map that was actually leading to an little place guarded by an sniper. "Gotta use my knife." I took out my knife of my boot, slowly advancing to get behind the guy and then, I moved to stab right in the neck side, getting my left hand on his mouth.

"Mmfff..." His voice was hopefully muffled by my hand, avoiding him to scream and to reveal to his friends that someone was getting killed. When his body went limp, I quickly get on the ground before getting to cover.

This little nest based on an little hill for that guy was in fact, overlooking the entrance of Naga's HQ and finally able to discover more about who was awaiting me & the others. Now, it was mostly Perseus soldiers that we were going to face, meaning that it was this place Adler was to be. But with those new pieces of informations, I couldn't risk to make an solo attack on that place. Even filled with rage, it's suicide to do this. I have to wait the others but when they will be here ?

"Patrol, it's been an hour that your radio went off." An voice said through the stolen radio I had with me, breaking the long silence from it and this voice...it was Naga. "Patrol, did you check if any survivors was there at the crash ?" He demanded again, apparently forgetting that someone else did respond to him an hour earlier.

"No one survived." I started, speaking at the dead guys place, making my voice clear to him while I was staying out of sight of the entrance. "Your guys are dead, Naga." I added.

"Who is this ?" He asked, sounding confused to hear an stranger's voice, he must have forgetten my taunt.

"Someone that you pissed off too much." I replied, my eyes focused on the dirth path I arrived in.

"Ah, you must be one of the survivors of that crash." He said, sounding like he had an revelation in his head. "How was that little fall ? We didn't see too much from my camp." He scoffed and I wasn't laughing at all, nothing came out of my mouth.

"I lost an friend." I breathed, blinking with my eyes, seeing that scene again. "Do you think it's funny ?" I questioned in an serious voice.

"In fact, it's not everyday that you brought down an Huey." He told me as I quickly look towards the base entrance, trying to find if the others were there.

"You always has been like that, Naga ?" I asked him rhetorically, remembering the memory I had when I met the guy. "Without an heart ? Merciless ? Brutal ?"

"Been an warlord isn't an line of work to have emotions." He decided to give me an answer anyway. "You know, I think you're all coming from your CIA friend....Russell Adler, I believe." He continued, almost sounding funny in his voice. "I'm afraid that...you are too late."

"Meaning ?" I whispered.

"Well, you have to come to my base to see." He replied, his voice clearly saying that my attempt to know more was useless "There's something that is maybe interesting you here....an little smell from the past." He joked at the end, hearing an laugh through the radio. Why is he telling me all of this ? Do he know that I was alone ?

"You're out of your mind." I said, giving my thoughts on that man, honestly.

"Wait !" He called me an bit loud, sounding to have something in his mind. "Your voice, it's sounding...familiar." He added before hearing him sort of getting up from an chair. "Ah...so, you're our Yirina Grigoriev but I think that people around you is calling you 'Bell', is that correct ?" He demanded, knowing that he was talking to 'Bell'

"That is correct." I responded, 'Bell' is the one talking right now. "Naga, you're going to release my friend or I will personally make sure that you and all your men will suffer." I threatened him in an dark voice, also giving me pain to still call Adler an friend.

"You aren't believing those words but it seems that Adler did really messed you up." He exclaimed, an noise of surprise in his voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I expressed, fainting to not know anything.

"Well, you will soon find out." He affirmed in an serious tone. "To make you know, you're the first person I will not personally have my hands around their necks." He admitted to me, making some noises through his radio. "You're our Queen of Hearts alongside the MI6 agent, Helen Park." I wasn't seeing him from my position but his words meaned that he was looking to the playing cards representing me & Park.

"To be captured alive." I whispered. "Yes, I saw them too." I continued, thinking that he was maybe looking surprised on his side.

"So, you learned that Perseus has ordered everyone to put their hands on you and that MI6 agent but instead, you decided to be on the field." He wondered to me

"Why we were going to hide ?" I demanded rhetorically. "I'm not intending to hide, Naga...I will find you and I will kill you." I confessed, putting all my fear in that threat to him.

"We'll see about this, you're probably still trying to find your way in here alone, it's going to be long." He said, not thinking at one second that I was having my eyes on his camp. "We'll be the firsts to capture you and before that, your friends will suffer another fate." He added. "Stitch will...."

"Sir !" Another voice came through his radio, cutting him and surprising me in place. "We spot the CIA strike team, they're almost at 200 m from the entrance." Those words caused me to quickly check the nest, finding some binoculars near the dead sniper before looking away from the entrance. They were all here : Park, Woods, Song, Sims, Wolf, Rivas along with others survivors from the latter team.

"Shit !" I muttered at their sight, mixed between been happy to see them after all these times but also because they were going into an trap.

"I'm sorry but I will be busy to cut the skins of your friends and hang them on the trees." Naga taunted me again. "Bye bye !" He added before the radio went off completely.

I couldn't stay useless here, only watching the others getting trapped by Naga's men at the entrance. Just after the radio went off, I could see that they were preparing to ambush the others, getting in cover and opening widely the gates that are leading inside the camp. I needed to do something and since I was in an sniper nest, I should prevent the others that they were walking straight into Naga's trap.

I quickly moved to grab the SVD Dragunov the dead sniper was using before getting in position, switching between looking at where Park and the team were walking and the entrance, trying to find if anyone was going to make an move and everyone was basically in their nerves about what will happen...including me. Everything can happen at the moment this ambush will occur but, it doesn't need to have an ambush....

With an thought crossing through my mind, I couldn't let the occasion for Perseus soldiers to attack first, meaning that I will attack first. I took an deep breath, staying steady to stabilize the Dragunov and then, I pulled the trigger. The first bullet I shot flied to hit an Perseus soldier that was hiding behind an wall with his friends and seeing him getting hit send an moment of panick in the soldiers. I took an few seconds to check Park and the team, seeing them running towards the entrance.

Once I was done, I resumed to fire with the Dragunov towards the numerous enemies that was keeping the entrance before the real gunfight began, starting the fight to get Naga for real. At my position, I was providing cover to the team below me but after an few moments, I saw through the scope of the sniper rifle that an RPG was aiming at my position and when I tried to shoot him, the sniper rifle ran out of bullets....shit !

It took me an second to react and the only thing I could do was to jump off from the sniper nest, not forgetting to grab my AK-47 to get down before the rocket hit my former position. I found myself to slide on the cliff, trying to not hurt myself before I was finally at the same level about the others, quickly moving to get to them in cover.

"Hey, Yirina !" Woods exclaimed, surprised to see me as I was now in cover with him, Park & Song while Sims, Wolf & Rivas were in another cover at a few meters from us with some of Rivas's men. "Shit, you've been through hell, it seems." He stated, looking at my clothes.

"I know." I whispered, after getting myself fully in cover next to him.

"Yiri, I'm been worried." Park said, going back into cover, her eyes true to her words.

"We've been trying to contact you but you weren't responding at all." Song expressed before firying some bullets from her XM4, killing some guys in the process. "What happened ?" She asked suddenly worried, returning in cover.

"Shit...I don't know but it seems that Naga was able to see through that our helicopter was something belonging to us." I replied, focused on also blasting with my gun to provide some cover to allow Sims, Wolf & Rivas to advance an little to another protection. "We've been hit by an RPG and we crashed....an hour ago." I added, closing my eyes after getting to cover again.

"And...and where's Garrett ?" Park questioned me and it caused me to look down, my eyes still closed.

"He...he's dead, Park." I responded, feeling the pain of telling them where's Garrett now and in an instant, I could see the pain on their faces, their eyes going wide and Song at the urge of crying while Park was speechless and in the same state as Song.

"It's...no....it can't be possible." Song breathed loudly after hearing me, getting her hands off her gun, dropping it on the ground.

"I'm sorry..." I told both in an very low voice.

"Damnit." Woods chuckled, mixed between shooting with his XM4 and listening to us, he was also feeling bad.

"He...." I stopped myself, starting to hear his voice again, telling me to kill Naga with the bullet I did make before leaving to get here and it was not by staying in that cover that I was going to do it. So, I reloaded my AK-47 and then, I suddenly jump out of cover, having spot during my suppressing fire an way to maybe get to Naga rapidly.

"Yirina !" I heard Park shout as I was running to get to the way I saw before : an entrance inside an house at the left of where Sims, Wolf & Rivas were located.

I passed in front of them before arriving into safety inside the house that was more looking an armory but I wasn't really in safety as there were an Perseus soldier in it, firying through an window. We both met eyes and I made the first move, literally throwing my own AK-47 to his face before starting to run over him to try to stab him but he managed to block my attempt with his right hand but since I wasn't able to stab, I took out my M1911 to shot at him in the chest two times before finishing him off with an bullet in the head.

At this moment, another door from the house at a few meters from me was force opened by an Perseus soldier, I tried to quickly shoot him but in fact, my M1911 was out of bullets, not having reload it after that attack that killed this 'Swift'. I was then going to throw an knife at him before someone fire multiples bullets in his direction, killing him and discovering Sims with his M60 in hands.

"For fuck sake, Yirina..." He said, putting himself in cover as I was moving to get to the broken door. "You almost got yourself killed."

"And ?" I asked him, grabbing back my AK-47 in hand that I threw to the first guy. "You're striking them from the front, I'm taking Naga." I explained to him.

"It's too risky, we need to...."

"Maybe but isn't our line of work ?" I cut him straight like that, blinded by my rage to finish off Naga. "He killed Garrett but I will be the one to kill."

"Yirina, I can't let you do this." He exclaimed, sounding sure of his words.

"He got Adler and you want me to let him live ?" I questioned him, finally moving to get in cover next to the broken door in case there were someone. "Don't follow me and don't try anything, Sims." I ordered before he resign himself to let me walk away as he was reloading his M60 before going out.

"Give me back Adler !" He screamed, along with his M60 as he was going out of his cover from the house, leaving me alone.

Surprisely, the little yard that was separing me from an sort of old temple was empty of enemies, maybe all focused to battle with the others, leaving me alone to get myself prepared to face Naga himself, maybe awaiting for his men to do the job for him but knowing Park and the others, he will wait very long and it's sure that he isn't going to wait long until I put the engraved bullet into his mad brain....for Garrett.

Despite facing no resistance from Perseus soldiers, I quickly move towards the yard to enter that old temple but it wasn't the main entrance of it and of course, I continued my advance inside of it, discovering an lot of gold bars stored here....like that. What all of these things are doing here ? I didn't let myself distracted until I arrived in an sort of main room with an sort of fountain in the middle but then....

"AAAAH !" A sort of war cry came inside the room, discovering Naga charging me with an knife, dressed in the same clothes that he was wearing in my memory. "Die !" He shouted again before I could avoid that strike from him.

"You're first !" I exclaimed towards him, taking out of my knife from my boot.

"Oh, here's our 'Winter Soldier'." Naga said, discovering me in person again, saying that stupid nickname linked to me. "I'm sorry to dissappoint you but your friend Adler...isn't here ! I can say that you & me, we're the same." He added as we both started to turn around each other, pointing to each other with our knife.

"So, it was an trap ?" I snorted.

"And of course, you all fall in it." He scoffed, sounding happy of having us in here. "You know what ? Enough of the talk and...fuck Perseus's orders." He looked at his knife before having his eyes hidden by his sunglasses looking at me. "I'm going to enjoy killing you slowly." He then start to attack first with his knife.

He directly tried to make an swing with his knife but I step back, avoiding the blade of it to touch me, not even making an cut through my clothes. However, he took the advantage that I wasn't attacking to charge me again, throwing himself against me and smashing my back against the stoned wall of the temple. He continued by kicking me in the chest with his knee before throwing me next to the fountain, still making sure that I wasn't going to make an move.

"Let's see how much time you will hold your breath." He taunted me before he grabbed my head to put it in the fountain, trying to drow me. I couldn't do an thing while he was having his left hand on my neck and the other controlling my hands, making me impossible to move before he removed my head from the fountain. "You know what ? Before killing you and after killing your friends, I will surely have an big taste on what's inside those clothes."

"Go fuck yourself !" I shouted, catching back my breath.

"Shut up, little slut !" He cursed, making my head going back inside that fountain but when he put my head inside, I could hear Garrett's voice again....'Kill him'....'Kill him'....and it did gave me more strenght as he pull me out of the water. "So, you're going be my favorite whore and all my men will certainely have an chance to see how much you'll begging before you plead me to end you." He scoffed, sounding certain to have win.

"In your fucking dreams !" I exclaimed, moving my legs to kick him in the waist, breaking his control over me and allowing me to grab back my knife that I dropped after he smashed me against the wall.

At this moment, I took the occasion that he was still trying to get up from my kicks that I approached him rapidly, making an single swing towards his left hand and I managed to cut off his left hand, making it drop in the ground before I start to punch Naga in the face multiples times as he was on the ground, breaking off his sunglasses, removing his green hood to discover his face and it didn't stop me to continue my moves.

I finally stopped to punch him, letting him to bleed, leaned against the fountain on the ground, breathing anormally after my numerous punches against him. Me, I was taking out the empty mag of my M1911 to insert the engraved bullet in it.

"You & I, we're not the same." I told him, inserting the bullet in the mag while looking at him, it was the words he used before our fight. "I'm not like you." I affirmed, loading the mag back into my M1911. "His name was Garrett Donovan." I added, aiming my gun towards Naga's badly hitten head.

"Yirina !" An male voice came in and I saw Woods with Park, Song & Sims. I wasn't paying attention at outside that the fighting was done. "Don't do it !" He ordered, making me look at him with an deadly glare.

"And why that ?" I demanded from him, my voice cracking. "He killed Garrett, why I would let him live ?" I said, looking at Park & Song that was still sad about that news, they were looking to be with me, wanting me to shoot that piece of shit on the ground.

"We got orders, Yirina." Sims called me out but I wasn't looking at him, focused on seeing Naga. "He might be useful for us to have intels of where's Adler ?" He added, trying to convince me of that.

"And you really think that his fucking shithead will help us ?" I shouted, angry.

"Yirina, if you shoot, we will have no chances." Woods joined Sims in his argument as Park & Song were staying silent, feeling that they wanted to shoot Naga too, hoping to have me do it. "Please, lower the gun." He suggested again, slowly approaching me to grab my gun away from me.

"I...I..." I started, getting confused inside of me about shooting him or not but I had to shoot him...for Garrett. "AAAH....Fuck !" I screamed, angrily lowering my gun, realizing that I wasn't going to shot Naga like when I wasn't able to shot Adler's vision. I couldn't look anyone in the eyes as I was having some tears coming from mine, starting to walk towards the path I came in here.....

"Leave me....I just need to be alone....I fucked up, Garrett !"

[crowlore]

"ma banal'evanuris. ma salin ar ghilana?" to me, reads literally as "you are no leader. are you wanting for my guidance?" solas here in attempting to anger elgar'nan into refocusing his attention is dismissing his self appointed godhood, and implying elgar'nan is struggling to succeed without the mind for strategy the dread wolf possesses.

people more knowledgeable about linguistics are absolutely welcome to correct me if i've overlooked something; i'm just going off what i can recall of elven in dragon age + the languages i can speak.

thought process on how i chose to translate both sentences under the cut:

"ma banal'evanuris."

"evanuris" is, obviously, the term used to refer to the ancient elven gods, but it also literally means "leader" if i recall correctly. or, at least, "evanura" means leader. i don't point this out to rule out one meaning or the other; in fact i think solas here is deliberately employing both definitions simultaneously. he wants to both dismiss the idea that the evanuris are gods *and* take a jab at elgar'nan's ability to rule. "ma" appears to be used somewhat flexibly as a pronoun. see: ma serannas (thank you), ma vhenan (my heart), ma halani (help me), ma harel (you lie). given solas is trying to get elgar'nan's attention here, it makes the most sense that his statement is one of a targeted "you". "banal" literally translates to "never", and is used to denote a negative or the absence of something (see: "dirth ma banal", "you know/have learned nothing"). while you could try to say then that solas is saying elgar'nan will literally never be a god, it being connected to "evanuris" as "banal'evanuris" would have me thinking that this is a communicating a more direct and immediate negative. hence: "you are [presently] no leader."

"ma salin ar ghilana?"

i won't lie. i went back and forth with this one for hours, but i'm pretty confident in where i ended up. "ar" is a first person pronoun and "ghilana" means "to guide". "ar ghilana" could therefore be "i am guiding" or "my guidance". "ma salin" tripped me up at first. i was certain that "salin" here was taken from "enasalin", meaning "victory". and while i think "is my guidance your victory?" is one artful way to interpret the entire sentence, i think i was on the wrong path to the correct conclusion. if i'm being honest the only reason i remembered the meaning of enasalin was actually an exchange between isabela and an elf rook in the hall of valor. she exclaims "emma salin! that's elven for victory, right?" and an elf rook will reply "you may want to try enasalin. emma salin means...i want you within me." okay, haha, sex joke right? but! this was helpful. with how emma has been used in the past i'm inclined to believe it means "within", leaving salin as "want" here. once that clicked into place the rest pretty easily came together as solas asking elgar'nan if he'd like some tips. "do you want my guidance?"

"ma banal'evanuris. ma salin ar ghilana?" gagged him a bit i'm afraid...

[dreadfutures]

'a ring of gold hanging from a chain of iron, untouched by weather, unmarred by time, a warning, a monument, a curse' for dirthamen and solas, maybe??? 👀

It's been months!!!!!! since i did a prompt let alone wrote Dirth. For you, just for you, the start of a mystery in elvhenan.

for @dadrunkwriting

Dirthamen & Solas (#elvhenan au) (this Solas is Inquisition Solas, gone back in time to stop Andruil from spreading red lyrium)

-:-

Dirthamen is accustomed to the dark; since his inception, he has only felt curiosity for what a shadow might disguise. He knows well there is sometimes danger there—after all, his brother is Falon’Din—but he is assured of himself and his power and rarely has he ever feared what he might discover lurking in the dark. Any such risk is worth it for the occasional golden secret.

This golden secret, he is not so certain of.

The chain that keeps it elevated groans softly in the cavern, though if it moves, he cannot detect it. There is no breeze to stir the device, as far as he can tell, and they are so deep below the earth only the moving Stone should have been able to disturb it. Perhaps he is mistaken and the groan is not due to this monument’s movement. Perhaps it is alive, and in pain.

The chain would imply some need to tether it.

But it appears to be just a ring: the cut-out eclipse, the golden disc missing its heart. It is made, like all the others, of stone and gold and dreamstuff, a halo of mosaic pieces for the All-Mother. At its empty center, green and gold magic spins and dances in a locus, but it seems to be disconnected from any larger mechanisms. A power source with no application.

Dirthamen’s mind spins, too, as he considers why his sister might have need of such a thing in a place as strange as this. They are miles below the forest, and there are no major cities nearby—not a single sign of civilization, as far as he has estimated, at least. And why would Andruil chain the thing?

He eyes it from the safety of the shadowed archway, wary of stepping into the wide-open chamber. It is bare of all else but this ominous pendulum, chained in four places to keep it still.

A wolf’s feet pad quietly behind him as Solas returns.

“We were not followed,” says he. “Nor were there any wards upon the entrance…even in the past. Is the Huntress so convinced of her illusions that she would not take a single other precaution?”

Dirthamen frowns, never taking his eyes off of the power source. “It is just as likely that the illusion was meant to entice,” he murmurs. “We have come so far off the path, it could only be in search of her secrets—why not dangle them before us, bait for her prey?”

He sees Solas’s face in the corner of his vision, twisted into a lupine snarl despite having returned to his elven form.

“Careful, old friend,” Dirthamen says softly. “Do not let your pride blind you. She has caught you in her traps once before.”

Solas sweeps into the room in a way that might seem brazen and careless, were it not for the thick cloak of wards he had drawn around him in the same motion. “I cannot say I recommend the experience,” he drawls over his shoulder to Dirthamen, who nevertheless can see through his mask of calm. Few know how deep Andruil had sunk her claws into Fen’Harel. Even fewer know the deeper truth: even countless ages later, even after the death of the world, those old wounds still haunted Solas.

Dirthamen’s concern deepens.

He does not know if this mystery is meant to entice the Dread Wolf’s nose for trouble—or if, perhaps, Dirthamen’s sister has marked him as her prey at last.

[acnhcustomdesigns]

dirth path designed by vivie of honeypaw found here on twitter

[dirthara-an]

Does your muse want to have kids? If so, how many and what’s the reasoning behind the number? for dirth too

[Soft Sunday Meme] accepting

--------

He already has a child. @damnshems is his adopted daughter and while I always joke, that he has a compulsive adoption habit, rivaling that of Bruce Wayne, he doesn't really want any more kids. He willingly takes students and protégés and he has a habit of becoming the elder/older sibling of every troubled elf, that crosses his path. But in his world, his daughter is the only child he ever truly wants or needs.