hellishhin - Tumblr blog

[hellishhin]

I'm going to take a very strong stance on something for my fellow writers.

Don't ever. start. a. project. for. anyone. other. than. yourself.

Ever.

I've been reflecting on my writing and I realized I have not written anything solely for my own enjoyment probably since I was in elementary school several decades ago and boy does it show.

If you start a project and delude yourself into thinking you're doing it for you as well as other people, be careful. My projects are only for the benefit of others and that's why I've stopped them for now. It doesn't bring me joy. It is a chore and a guilt trap for letting things fall behind.

I know I am one person and one person's experience but it sucks so much I had to take a stance and throw some advice out there. Write what you think is fun. Sharing should be 100% secondary.

Love ya'll

[hellishhin]

I kind of need to rant and get some life events off my chest below the cut. This is long and there are drug mentions.

TL;DR nothing is going right and I'm running on emergency brain systems right now trying not to totally shut down.

So all of this has happened in the last week and maybe *maybe* I can come up for a breath soon.

My brother was in the hospital for an infection (he's homeless), then a day later we found out he's doing heroin. A few days after that he's in jail. He's out now but has to make his court dates or he's really in jail. He will probably miss his court dates.

I've been extremely proud of my grades in my program. Got word this week that a certification course that we assumed would be pass fail like one of our other classes this semester is not pass fail. They average all of your grades from the modules you took and give you a letter grade despite us getting the certification as long as we pass. The program doesn't allow you to retake the quizzes if you get 80% or better. I had finished the course before I was told this was the case so my grade is locked in and I've lost my 4.0 because of this. I know it shouldn't be that upsetting but I didn't even know my 4.0 was on the line and I lost it. They didn't post a syllabus until 3 weeks into the semester and say we should have known because this info was in our course handbook (a paragraph among 40 pages of text). I think these assholes should have put up a fucking syllabus like they do with the rest of the courses but no. All my hardwork is ruined by this one fucking thing.

Then. These assholes in my program gave me one week notice that I had to move apartments. Not different buildings. Different units within the same building. Not so bad except there were 2 of us in apartment A and 1 person in apartment B. Each apartment can hold 4 people. Meaning there are a total of 5 free beds between the two apartments. What do they do? Tell the two of us in apartment A need to move into apartment B so that 4 people can move into apartment A........... That's it. 5 goddamn free beds and 2 of us had to move so 4 people could all move into the same apartment. I had to get off of a 9 hour day at the hospital (not including the 3 total hour commute through DC) and then promptly move all my stuff last night into a new apartment so the other people could move in today. What's even better is in 4 weeks the 2 people who are in this apartment with me will be leaving for different rotations and I'm staying. I have a weird feeling I'll be moving to a different unit in a month and it makes me want to scream.

On top of all this, last week my preceptor at the hospital was out unexpectedly. I had been in a real clinical setting for 9 days total then was basically thrown out on my own dealing with real patient situations. Luckily the residents (basically students as well) were fairly knowledgeable but they also had just arrived a week ago and didn't know the procedures. So I was thrown to the wolves and trying not to kill someone all while dealing with the aforementioned issues.

Oh and we have an exam on wednesday of next week. I have to get home from the hospital and take an exam between 6 and 10pm. I wish someone could explain why the exams are not given on the fucking weekend where we can prepare/study but whatever I can't even spare the effort to try to explain it.

I can't wait to not be a student in this program anymore so I can be treated like a human being again. I feel like I'm screaming into deaf ears while they sneer and label me as nothing more than an inconvenience despite me paying them tens of thousands of dollars.

[hellishhin]

Tag a quality blog, You’re it! Quality doesn’t mean that you have a lot of followers, or a lot of messages. It means that you’re nice to other people, and you deserve to be happy. If you get this message, someone is telling you that they love you as you are, and they don’t care how many followers you have. Send this to 15 blogs who deserve it. If you break the chain, nothing will happen. But it’s just good to let someone know that you love them ❤❤❤

You too?! Gah I can't handle the sweetness! Thank you thank you thank you. Always know I'm here and at the very least, lurking. I feel so warm and fuzzy and this is right back at you and everyone else who sees this because everyone is lovely!

[hellishhin]

Tag a quality blog, You’re it! Quality doesn’t mean that you have a lot of followers, or a lot of messages. It means that you’re nice to other people, and you deserve to be happy. If you get this message, someone is telling you that they love you as you are, and they don’t care how many followers you have. Send this to 15 blogs who deserve it. If you break the chain, nothing will happen. But it’s just good to let someone know that you love them ❤❤❤

You are so lovely and sweet and this goes right back at you. This is such a lovely community, one that is always there whenever you need it.

Truly, I haven't met a single person in this community that doesn't deserve this. I think I want to start sending some personal appreciation asks out at some point so I'm going to let this one float across dashes <3

Again, thank you! I can't wait to be back!

[hellishhin]

When you get this, please respond with five things that make you happy~! Then, send to the last ten people in your notifications anonymously. You never know who might benefit from spreading positivity~!

Thank you anon! I did it but heckin heck I'll do it again with five more things!

The view of the forest from my 9th floor bedroom window and the sound of the bugs at night makes me sooooo happy.

Spending quality time with myself has been very nice this weekend.

Having a great roommate and someone who forces me to socialize is a great thing.

I can't even describe how happy it makes me to have a washer and dryer in the unit to do laundry whenever I want. I can afford to wash my sheets more than once a month!

Crocheting makes me happy and will make me even more happy when I decide to get yarn that doesn't unravel when I touch it :)

Anyone who wants to join, can! I know this probably went around already <3

[hellishhin]

Pass the happy! 🌻When you receive this, list five things that make you happy and send this to 10 of the last people in your notifications. 💛💛💛

Thank you so much for this! Here are the 5 main things keeping me happy right now:

Messenger RP with my friends

Finally starting to work in a job where being there isn't really a job

Answering questions correctly and remembering things I learned that help patients get the correct diagnosis and care that they need.

Knowing I have a lovely community of friends here always ready to support me no matter how long of a break I need.

Cooking delicious meals with an affordable meal kit delivery service.

Since I'm behind the times, please take this as an invitation to talk about good things going on in your life right now! It's surprising how good it feels to sit back and focus on the good things going on.

[hellishhin]

Some background: Vyxen is a vampire living in the Shadowrun world around the year 2075. She works for the powerful ancient Harlequin aka Joker who has been living since Arthurian times. They have a team of elite Shadowrunners and they tackle world-ending threats. The biggest threat they watch are the horrors. Titan/cthulhu monsters that have the power to end the world. They are starting to stir again and Vyxen is in the thick of trying to figure out who this man Yvain is who can perform all these impossible feats and yet is the most incompetent man alive and claims to be from the future.

This is all roleplay between me and one other person over messenger and we don't pay too much attention to prose so it's mildly rough and I don't feel like changing it so you can have it as is!

"And you want everything?" Morgan Le Fay sighs. "Ok. He comes from the future where the horrors have returned. He is sent back by your boss, three of the other ancients, and the only two surviving dragons. But he is not the Yvain that was sent back. In fact, that is not even his real name, but he doesn't remember his real name and I cannot find it in my ball or in the bones." She glances at a pile of chicken bones. "Are you sure you want to know more about him? You wouldn't rather know about your husband?"

Vyxen barely resists baring her teeth. "I'm not sure that title is applicable anymore."

She raises her hands. "Sorry. Shall I just stick with the man not in his own skin then?"

"Yes. If Joker sent him back he should know and maybe... we can fix it... when the horrors return. Send him back properly. Or... someone else entirely sounds like a better bet."

"He was... is... will be. He will be the best choice sadly. Horrors feed on magic so by the time that they are able to send someone back, they can't send someone as powerful as an ancient or even a semi accomplished runner. So, they chose someone who is close to a runner. I think he was an athlete of some sort. He has some magic in him too, so maybe he was an Olympian. But things did not go well. That's why he lost his memory and his form. Part of him was intercepted and taken from him. That's why he has these magical issues."

"Well how do we stop part of him from being intercepted?"

"There is no way. People have been sent forward in time to try to fix it, but things always are lost when they travel. Do you know the people who stand outside with signs that say the end is near? They are almost all from the past, sent forward to fix the ritual that sends him back. They just need to do it a year earlier and he would be fine."

"Ok then I'll make sure it happens a year earlier. I just need to know when the... world ends and I can make sure it happens sooner rather than later." She is starting to get really unsettled knowing that the thing they always work to prevent, happens.

"You don't make it." She shrugs. "You won't make it within five years of the point where they send him back."

It's like a wave crashes over her "w-what? What do you mean..." she asks quietly, going pale.

"When the horrors start to spread, you are one of the first to die. They emerge and start to infiltrate the world. You are lost in one of the fights to stop them gaining too much ground. In his future, you succeed but it's a losing battle. You die keeping them at bay for another month." She shrugs. "At least you aren't killed by the fruit of your own loins. My own child kills me."

"When... how long... I don't want the day I want... months? Years?" Her breathing is becoming more shallow. "Do I make a difference. Does me dying make a difference. Does it help."

"You have at least two years. And you make a big difference. You keep the world spinning normally for another few months before it begins to unravel." She sighs. "But... I should say this is all blurry to me. These are things that can change. If some things change, this can all be avoided. You can live. Yvain can do what he was meant to do. Flame Wing can survive her breakdown. Harlequin can learn to shut up and die."

"But as of right now, that's where the timeline is heading." She swallows hard

"It is. Though, the more that you and Ehran learn the more blurry this gets." She shrugs and goes to get her chicken bones. She picks them up, breathes into them, and drops them on the floor. "Yes... these things are changing slowly. Your future is in flux. Mine..." She does the same again and frowns. "Is not." But as she says this the nail file drops from the rafters and hits Morgan on the head. It falls on the bones and knocks two of them that were an X into a =. Morgan looks up at the dragonling who is trying to hide from her. "You stupid little..." Then she looks down and cocks her head. "Huh..." She picks up the file and puts it with her things. "Your potion is ready. One last question while I pour this."

"What about the others. I know I'm the first... but please tell me I'm the last. At least in the timeline where we succeed."

"You only succeed in delaying them. You do not stop them. Nothing stops them. If Yvain fails in his world then within 2 years everyone is dead." She frowns at the three bottles she has made. "Need a small change to these. Forgot about flavor." She puts them in a small ritual circle and starts casts. "You have gained another question if you want it."

[hellishhin]

A Vyxen Snippet

Some background: Vyxen is a vampire living in the Shadowrun world around the year 2075. She works for the powerful ancient Harlequin aka Joker who has been living since Arthurian times. They have a team of elite Shadowrunners and they tackle world-ending threats. The biggest threat they watch are the horrors. Titan/cthulhu monsters that have the power to end the world. They are starting to stir again and Vyxen is in the thick of trying to figure out who this man Yvain is who can perform all these impossible feats and yet is the most incompetent man alive and claims to be from the future.

This is all roleplay between me and one other person over messenger and we don't pay too much attention to prose so it's mildly rough and I don't feel like changing it so you can have it as is!

"And you want everything?" Morgan Le Fay sighs. "Ok. He comes from the future where the horrors have returned. He is sent back by your boss, three of the other ancients, and the only two surviving dragons. But he is not the Yvain that was sent back. In fact, that is not even his real name, but he doesn't remember his real name and I cannot find it in my ball or in the bones." She glances at a pile of chicken bones. "Are you sure you want to know more about him? You wouldn't rather know about your husband?"

Vyxen barely resists baring her teeth. "I'm not sure that title is applicable anymore."

She raises her hands. "Sorry. Shall I just stick with the man not in his own skin then?"

"Yes. If Joker sent him back he should know and maybe... we can fix it... when the horrors return. Send him back properly. Or... someone else entirely sounds like a better bet."

"He was... is... will be. He will be the best choice sadly. Horrors feed on magic so by the time that they are able to send someone back, they can't send someone as powerful as an ancient or even a semi accomplished runner. So, they chose someone who is close to a runner. I think he was an athlete of some sort. He has some magic in him too, so maybe he was an Olympian. But things did not go well. That's why he lost his memory and his form. Part of him was intercepted and taken from him. That's why he has these magical issues."

"Well how do we stop part of him from being intercepted?"

"There is no way. People have been sent forward in time to try to fix it, but things always are lost when they travel. Do you know the people who stand outside with signs that say the end is near? They are almost all from the past, sent forward to fix the ritual that sends him back. They just need to do it a year earlier and he would be fine."

"Ok then I'll make sure it happens a year earlier. I just need to know when the... world ends and I can make sure it happens sooner rather than later." She is starting to get really unsettled knowing that the thing they always work to prevent, happens.

"You don't make it." She shrugs. "You won't make it within five years of the point where they send him back."

It's like a wave crashes over her "w-what? What do you mean..." she asks quietly, going pale.

"When the horrors start to spread, you are one of the first to die. They emerge and start to infiltrate the world. You are lost in one of the fights to stop them gaining too much ground. In his future, you succeed but it's a losing battle. You die keeping them at bay for another month." She shrugs. "At least you aren't killed by the fruit of your own loins. My own child kills me."

"When... how long... I don't want the day I want... months? Years?" Her breathing is becoming more shallow. "Do I make a difference. Does me dying make a difference. Does it help."

"You have at least two years. And you make a big difference. You keep the world spinning normally for another few months before it begins to unravel." She sighs. "But... I should say this is all blurry to me. These are things that can change. If some things change, this can all be avoided. You can live. Yvain can do what he was meant to do. Flame Wing can survive her breakdown. Harlequin can learn to shut up and die."

"But as of right now, that's where the timeline is heading." She swallows hard

"It is. Though, the more that you and Ehran learn the more blurry this gets." She shrugs and goes to get her chicken bones. She picks them up, breathes into them, and drops them on the floor. "Yes... these things are changing slowly. Your future is in flux. Mine..." She does the same again and frowns. "Is not." But as she says this the nail file drops from the rafters and hits Morgan on the head. It falls on the bones and knocks two of them that were an X into a =. Morgan looks up at the dragonling who is trying to hide from her. "You stupid little..." Then she looks down and cocks her head. "Huh..." She picks up the file and puts it with her things. "Your potion is ready. One last question while I pour this."

"What about the others. I know I'm the first... but please tell me I'm the last. At least in the timeline where we succeed."

"You only succeed in delaying them. You do not stop them. Nothing stops them. If Yvain fails in his world then within 2 years everyone is dead." She frowns at the three bottles she has made. "Need a small change to these. Forgot about flavor." She puts them in a small ritual circle and starts casts. "You have gained another question if you want it."

[hellishhin]

A Crazy Two Weeks

After an entire week at home because I wasn't given the paperwork soon enough, I finally had my first full week last week. It was both extremely eventful and boring at the same time but everyone at the hospital is amazing and friendly and I feel really welcomed there.

It's been a huge struggle for me to find a routine. I'm not used to being somewhere for 8 hours a day and getting home at 6pm only to have to get up at 6am and do it all over again. I know this is how most people function but being in school all last year was different so I'm still adjusting. Kind of been getting home and being mindless but I hope next week I can start getting into a routine that includes tumblr and writing again!

I've been struggling with the guilt of being silent on here besides the Stag but I know to do what is best for me and I think I'm coming back around to be able to write again. Thank you all so so so much for the amazing notes in my inbox I will be responding to them. Tonight got away from me and I kind of hit a guilt zone again but I think I'll wake up and smash some tumblr stuff tomorrow so I'll be getting back to ya'll <3

But in the meantime, I will be posting a snippet of a messenger RP I have with my shadowrun vampire character named Vyxen. I've mentioned her on here a few times but she just had a gut wrenching angsty scene that I think you all will like and it's an easy thing for me to copy and paste (permission from my cowriter was given!) I hope you all are having a lovely time!

XOXO

[hellishhin]

Sorry I'm radio-silent again. I can't even get my computer set up in my new place so everything is in limbo. Not to mention I should have been at my clinical rotations the last two days but haven't been able to go because nobody will look at and sign off on my paperwork. I was really excited for clinicals and I turned everything in almost two weeks ago (the day after they gave it to me) I don't know why they can't look at my stuff and approve it, they have everything they asked for.

Needless to say I'm upset and anxious and not really in the place to do much writing or creating. They could approve me at any time and I would have to go in so I'm stuck waiting on the edge of my seat every day for an email.

Thank you to everyone who has tagged me in stuff, I'm still here lurking, I just don't really have much to say 😔❤️

[hellishhin]

Sweet Stray Feline

A/N: a TDRC tale for @thelaughingstag’s prompt ‘Discovery’. I hope this fits because the main character featured discovered someone new.^^ 

Word Count: 1550

TW: brief description of injury and mentions of mistreatment of animals (not done by the MC, to be clear)

WIP Intro - WIP Masterlist

***

The fragrance drifts across the room, caused by the different types of flowers set in each counter. The wind of the breeze of the slightly open window sways the petals of the flowers. He keeps the packet of flower seeds in the cabinet, organizing it by letter. From bluebells to violets, there’s lots of flowers to plant on soil.

Keep reading

[hellishhin]

Just wanted to put it out there that I'm going to be slowing down a little for the next week or so. I move out to a temporary hotel tomorrow and then to my next apartment the weekend after. I'm taking a little vacation for the next week so we'll see if vacationing includes writing or not. Whatever happens happens :)

[hellishhin]

How in the heck do you pick a plot idea. I'm not talking plotting a book I just mean like, choosing the one sentence plot summary.

"Bad guy steals item that is bad for the world, heroes must retrieve"

"Bad guy wants to take over, heroes must defend their land"

Like, there's so many options?! I'm trying to figure out what might go wrong for a plot having to do with my other world with the tribes and I'm like..... what *can't* go wrong?! Ya know?

[hellishhin]

And They Fell

Length: ~1,500

Content warnings: Violence, blood, injury, magical attacks, electrocution, unconsciousness

Post themes: combat

Summary: This post is a little different because it's just the subsequent combat scene following up from the last post. This is my first real combat scene ever and I got a lot of great advice for it. If you want to, I would really love some solid critique on how this went. A few questions I'm wondering about most: is this confusing? Does it pace correctly for a fight scene? Did I jump around too much? You can reblog/reply with as much or as little critique as you want. You also can just read for fun and you don't have to critique anything if you don't want to! I also may repost this as a rewrite depending on advice I get, we will see :)

Intro with links to all previous posts

[next post]—-[previous post]

Taglist: (adds/removes always open!) @betwixtofficial @taerandcalentavar @talesfromaurea @faelanvance @definitelyquestionit @drippingmoon @dontcrywrite @a-wild-bloog

One time fight scene tag: @author-a-holmes thanks for being willing to look it over!

Kireen’s blade sang from its sheath and her warrior’s mind kicked into action. This was enough evidence to start an investigation so it was clear they wouldn’t be allowed to escape. Two strides, sword in motion, but it came to a jarring halt against two elvish scimitars belonging to the crossbow man’s comrade. Kireen was able to stave off the biting steel but she couldn’t match the speed of two swords forever.

-

Another bolt was being loaded but Kireen was too preoccupied to notice so K’lai’a’la, throwing knives at the ready, sent them hurtling in his direction. One caught the wood of the crossbow which did no more than mar its polished surface. The second struck his upper arm. She saw the crossbow shudder in his hands and his lips tighten but he slammed the bolt fully into place. K’lai’a’la knew it was coming. With her reflexes, it was nothing to sidestep the bolt and hear it clatter against the stone. Before he could load another, her attention was drawn to a battle cry from Brimir who had drawn his own sword and plunged into contest with the two remaining elves. Sadie seemed to be safely keeping behind the lines so K’lai’a’la drew her own scimitar and stepped to Brimir’s side.

-

It was vital to keep to one’s strengths so as her friends stepped up to engage the elves, Sadie stayed back. As another bolt was prepared, she knew she must target him to keep his attention off her friends.

“Hey!” she called and he turned his attention to her “if arrogance and stupidity had a baby, you would be the afterbirth.” Each word was wrapped tightly into the weave and entered his mind like a dozen shards of glass. She watched him recoil but regain his composure quickly and loose a bolt just for her. It breezed through her hair as she flinched away, unharmed. He was quickly placing another bolt and she shouted at him once more. “If you don’t start using your head for more than a hat rack, I’ll start using it to store my swords!” His shot went wide and lacking the patience to reload, he tossed the crossbow away and yelled something in elvish. Sadie grinned, knowing in her soul that she was just insulted, but his carried no magic.

A man twice her height barreled down on her but she drew her rapier and held her ground. One misdirection and his blade went wide. She went in for the groin but he backhanded her blade away. She could hear his blade whistling toward her again but she didn’t move in time, giving her a stinging bite across the jaw; her vision blurred. She thrust blindly and felt it give into something soft. She heard a grunt, steel flashed, her rapier lifted in defense to take a moment and make sense of the blur in front of her.

-

The elf who had intercepted Kireen was not prepared for her draconic strength. He was parrying her blows but losing ground and Kireen saw it. She pushed harder, increasing the force of each swing but she faltered when the man with the crossbow discarded his weapon and charged past her to where she knew Sadie was standing. Her opponent took his opportunity to step into her guard and thrust his sword into her underarm. Sensing his move she twisted so the armor took most of the blow only leaving her with a sharp ache. With him inside her guard, a quick pommel strike to his head crumpled him. Kireen spun and saw Sadie with blood dripping off her chin, barely holding her own against the onslaught. With a roar, Kireen charged.

-

Sweat beaded, muscles burned, breath rasped sharply but K’lai’a’la and Brimir kept pace with their two opponents. They all bled from several minor cuts but the pain heightened their instincts. One slip was all it took and when K’lai’a’la over-rotated her wrist, the enemy sword broke her guard and cut deeply into her arm. With a feral snarl she lashed out with pure instinct and landed a similar blow across his shoulder. Brimir’s peripheral caught the break in motion. He flipped his sword out, sinking the point into the other elf’s thigh but the one he had engaged swung for the opening. Brimir brought his arm up, catching the sword on his bracer and he winced at the force.

Seeing her opponent stumble to Brimir’s sword, like a predator to the weakest prey, K’lai’a’la redoubled her efforts. As her sword whistled through the air, she watched the elf’s lips move. The air around him rippled and he sidestepped, disappearing entirely. Her sword continued through the air with such force that the tip struck the ground. Brimir’s opponent balked, realizing it was now two on one. He retreated toward the open door just as an older elf with vicious blue eyes stepped through it. Lightning arced through his fingers and K’lai’a’la could hear the arcane language on his lips.

-

The draconic roar behind him made the elf turn his attention away from Sadie to see a blur of red scales and teeth grab him by the front of his armor. Kireen made to bite his face but he pulled away in terror and she only grabbed the side of his neck. Her mind was set on protecting Sadie so the elf’s dagger plunging into her side surprised her and she pulled away. This left her open for two more dagger thrusts to her gut almost bringing her to her knees. A third was incoming but was pulled up at the last second when Sadie’s rapier plunged into the back of the man’s thigh. Kireen was about to rally when a second set of swords appeared seemingly out of nowhere and began pressing her back.

-

There was a carnal satisfaction that flashed through Sadie when she saw the elf’s features contort with pain while her rapier embedded itself further into his thigh. All Kireen needed to do was take advantage of his distraction. Then the second elf from across the room stepped out of a ripple in the air.

The enemies were aware that the dragonborn was the bigger threat. With Kireen already weakened, Sadie knew it was now or never. With a deathgrip on the weave she twisted the strands around the mind of the elf who just appeared before them. His strangled mind succumbed to her power. He began to laugh, a horrible cackling laughter that rang above the clash of swords and scuff of boots. Sadie’s laughter rose with his but the elf laughed so hard he dropped to his knees. Presented with the opportunity, Kireen took it, her sword sprouting from his back in a wash of blood. He died with a twisted smile on his face.

-

Kireen’s entire body burned but whether from wounds or exertion she didn’t know. There was now a second elf or she was seeing double. Either way she was swinging frantically at both until one of them began to laugh. Once on his knees she thrust and found that it was no illusion. She wrenched her sword free of his corpse but her strength flagged, she was backed against the wall, her breath came in ragged gasps. Then she couldn’t see. Everything was white, her muscles contracted all at once and fire seared through her. She couldn’t even scream. It stopped as fast as it started and she welcomed the coolness of the floor on her cheek.

-

The arc of lightning ripped through his body and he staggered but managed to stay on his feet. Beside him, K’lai’a’la was not so lucky. She succumbed without a cry of pain, collapsing into a heap. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kireen fall as well but to his relief, Sadie remained standing. He had one chance to save his friends. One well-placed sword thrust and this mage would be done. Brimir made it one step before there was a silent concussive force around him and the man spoke a word. “Kneel”. The word echoed around in his thoughts erasing all others. He dropped to his knees.

-

When she could finally breathe again, Sadie let out a sob. She looked to Kireen for reassurance but saw her friend lifeless on the ground. Her thoughts were sluggish, looking to call K’lai’a’la for help but she too was on the ground and Brimir was kneeling before the man in the doorway. She was the only one left. It was up to her to get them out of this. Emotions hit her like rolling thunder and a scream of rage pealed out of her. She released her grip on the magic she handled with such care and brought her hands together. A shattering crack echoed around the room loud enough she thought the roof might collapse.

When the dust settled, all the elves were still standing. She had failed. Her last hope was to heal them, she had the magic, she could help her friends. Sadie took one step but a hand in her hair halted her. Pain blossomed across her cheek from a sadistic backhand and that was all it took for the world to go dark. Silence fell along with Sadie. Pure chaos, over in seconds that stretched out into a lifetime but not even the chaos stirred the unconscious people still laying in the corner.

[hellishhin]

"Oh look! Hin gets like, 20+ notes on her story posts!"

Me: *replies to everyone and literally doubles the note count* 🤣

I make sure ya'll know that I appreciate every little word you write with my entire soul 💗💖❤️💘💝

[hellishhin]

And They Fell

Length: ~1,500

Content warnings: Violence, blood, injury, magical attacks, electrocution, unconsciousness

Post themes: combat

Summary: This post is a little different because it's just the subsequent combat scene following up from the last post. This is my first real combat scene ever and I got a lot of great advice for it. If you want to, I would really love some solid critique on how this went. A few questions I'm wondering about most: is this confusing? Does it pace correctly for a fight scene? Did I jump around too much? You can reblog/reply with as much or as little critique as you want. You also can just read for fun and you don't have to critique anything if you don't want to! I also may repost this as a rewrite depending on advice I get, we will see :)

Intro with links to all previous posts

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One time fight scene tag: @author-a-holmes thanks for being willing to look it over!

Kireen’s blade sang from its sheath and her warrior’s mind kicked into action. This was enough evidence to start an investigation so it was clear they wouldn’t be allowed to escape. Two strides, sword in motion, but it came to a jarring halt against two elvish scimitars belonging to the crossbow man’s comrade. Kireen was able to stave off the biting steel but she couldn’t match the speed of two swords forever.

-

Another bolt was being loaded but Kireen was too preoccupied to notice so K’lai’a’la, throwing knives at the ready, sent them hurtling in his direction. One caught the wood of the crossbow which did no more than mar its polished surface. The second struck his upper arm. She saw the crossbow shudder in his hands and his lips tighten but he slammed the bolt fully into place. K’lai’a’la knew it was coming. With her reflexes, it was nothing to sidestep the bolt and hear it clatter against the stone. Before he could load another, her attention was drawn to a battle cry from Brimir who had drawn his own sword and plunged into contest with the two remaining elves. Sadie seemed to be safely keeping behind the lines so K’lai’a’la drew her own scimitar and stepped to Brimir’s side.

-

It was vital to keep to one’s strengths so as her friends stepped up to engage the elves, Sadie stayed back. As another bolt was prepared, she knew she must target him to keep his attention off her friends.

“Hey!” she called and he turned his attention to her “if arrogance and stupidity had a baby, you would be the afterbirth.” Each word was wrapped tightly into the weave and entered his mind like a dozen shards of glass. She watched him recoil but regain his composure quickly and loose a bolt just for her. It breezed through her hair as she flinched away, unharmed. He was quickly placing another bolt and she shouted at him once more. “If you don’t start using your head for more than a hat rack, I’ll start using it to store my swords!” His shot went wide and lacking the patience to reload, he tossed the crossbow away and yelled something in elvish. Sadie grinned, knowing in her soul that she was just insulted, but his carried no magic.

A man twice her height barreled down on her but she drew her rapier and held her ground. One misdirection and his blade went wide. She went in for the groin but he backhanded her blade away. She could hear his blade whistling toward her again but she didn’t move in time, giving her a stinging bite across the jaw; her vision blurred. She thrust blindly and felt it give into something soft. She heard a grunt, steel flashed, her rapier lifted in defense to take a moment and make sense of the blur in front of her.

-

The elf who had intercepted Kireen was not prepared for her draconic strength. He was parrying her blows but losing ground and Kireen saw it. She pushed harder, increasing the force of each swing but she faltered when the man with the crossbow discarded his weapon and charged past her to where she knew Sadie was standing. Her opponent took his opportunity to step into her guard and thrust his sword into her underarm. Sensing his move she twisted so the armor took most of the blow only leaving her with a sharp ache. With him inside her guard, a quick pommel strike to his head crumpled him. Kireen spun and saw Sadie with blood dripping off her chin, barely holding her own against the onslaught. With a roar, Kireen charged.

-

Sweat beaded, muscles burned, breath rasped sharply but K’lai’a’la and Brimir kept pace with their two opponents. They all bled from several minor cuts but the pain heightened their instincts. One slip was all it took and when K’lai’a’la over-rotated her wrist, the enemy sword broke her guard and cut deeply into her arm. With a feral snarl she lashed out with pure instinct and landed a similar blow across his shoulder. Brimir’s peripheral caught the break in motion. He flipped his sword out, sinking the point into the other elf’s thigh but the one he had engaged swung for the opening. Brimir brought his arm up, catching the sword on his bracer and he winced at the force.

Seeing her opponent stumble to Brimir’s sword, like a predator to the weakest prey, K’lai’a’la redoubled her efforts. As her sword whistled through the air, she watched the elf’s lips move. The air around him rippled and he sidestepped, disappearing entirely. Her sword continued through the air with such force that the tip struck the ground. Brimir’s opponent balked, realizing it was now two on one. He retreated toward the open door just as an older elf with vicious blue eyes stepped through it. Lightning arced through his fingers and K’lai’a’la could hear the arcane language on his lips.

-

The draconic roar behind him made the elf turn his attention away from Sadie to see a blur of red scales and teeth grab him by the front of his armor. Kireen made to bite his face but he pulled away in terror and she only grabbed the side of his neck. Her mind was set on protecting Sadie so the elf’s dagger plunging into her side surprised her and she pulled away. This left her open for two more dagger thrusts to her gut almost bringing her to her knees. A third was incoming but was pulled up at the last second when Sadie’s rapier plunged into the back of the man’s thigh. Kireen was about to rally when a second set of swords appeared seemingly out of nowhere and began pressing her back.

-

There was a carnal satisfaction that flashed through Sadie when she saw the elf’s features contort with pain while her rapier embedded itself further into his thigh. All Kireen needed to do was take advantage of his distraction. Then the second elf from across the room stepped out of a ripple in the air.

The enemies were aware that the dragonborn was the bigger threat. With Kireen already weakened, Sadie knew it was now or never. With a deathgrip on the weave she twisted the strands around the mind of the elf who just appeared before them. His strangled mind succumbed to her power. He began to laugh, a horrible cackling laughter that rang above the clash of swords and scuff of boots. Sadie’s laughter rose with his but the elf laughed so hard he dropped to his knees. Presented with the opportunity, Kireen took it, her sword sprouting from his back in a wash of blood. He died with a twisted smile on his face.

-

Kireen’s entire body burned but whether from wounds or exertion she didn’t know. There was now a second elf or she was seeing double. Either way she was swinging frantically at both until one of them began to laugh. Once on his knees she thrust and found that it was no illusion. She wrenched her sword free of his corpse but her strength flagged, she was backed against the wall, her breath came in ragged gasps. Then she couldn’t see. Everything was white, her muscles contracted all at once and fire seared through her. She couldn’t even scream. It stopped as fast as it started and she welcomed the coolness of the floor on her cheek.

-

The arc of lightning ripped through his body and he staggered but managed to stay on his feet. Beside him, K’lai’a’la was not so lucky. She succumbed without a cry of pain, collapsing into a heap. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kireen fall as well but to his relief, Sadie remained standing. He had one chance to save his friends. One well-placed sword thrust and this mage would be done. Brimir made it one step before there was a silent concussive force around him and the man spoke a word. “Kneel”. The word echoed around in his thoughts erasing all others. He dropped to his knees.

-

When she could finally breathe again, Sadie let out a sob. She looked to Kireen for reassurance but saw her friend lifeless on the ground. Her thoughts were sluggish, looking to call K’lai’a’la for help but she too was on the ground and Brimir was kneeling before the man in the doorway. She was the only one left. It was up to her to get them out of this. Emotions hit her like rolling thunder and a scream of rage pealed out of her. She released her grip on the magic she handled with such care and brought her hands together. A shattering crack echoed around the room loud enough she thought the roof might collapse.

When the dust settled, all the elves were still standing. She had failed. Her last hope was to heal them, she had the magic, she could help her friends. Sadie took one step but a hand in her hair halted her. Pain blossomed across her cheek from a sadistic backhand and that was all it took for the world to go dark. Silence fell along with Sadie. Pure chaos, over in seconds that stretched out into a lifetime but not even the chaos stirred the unconscious people still laying in the corner.

[hellishhin]

before and after tag game

thanks so much for tagging me @ambsthom <3 this was so fun!!

rules: using this picrew, create your wip’s main character at the beginning and end of the story. The idea is to see them before and after their journey, to know what it did to them!

Helen

Cory

Moss

Tabby

tagging (with no pressure!): @dontjudgemeimawriter @notwritinganyflufftoday @nikkywrites @drippingmoon @charlesjosephwrites and anyone else who'd like to do this!! :D