#OC: Flame Mercar

[pathfinderslog]

🔸 Morning Ritual

Inner Demons (7/?)

Full chapter on AO3

She picked up the small box containing her morning ritual kit, with lyrium-infused paints, and sat cross-legged in front of the room's large aquarium. She could not leave without reinforcing the seals, so she took all the time she needed to go over the lines on her body one by one.

She grasped the brush firmly in her right hand and began to trace the patterns on the left side of her body, starting at the ankle, moving gently up the leg, lingering on the thigh and torso, then tracing the lines on the arm as well. As she concentrated she began to intone a litany in ancient Tevinter, adjusting her breathing, one breath after another, falling in a sort of trance.

𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚, 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑎 𝑎𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎,

𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒, 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑜.

𝐻𝑖𝑐 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑜.

No one had ever explained the meaning of those words to her, she had simply learnt them by heart since she was a child, assimilating the sound, intoning the dirge in an absorbed voice, just as she had been taught. Her movements were fluid and precise, never detaching the bristles from her skin except to dip in another colour.

𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑚 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑚, 𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑚 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖.

𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑢𝑚 𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑢𝑢𝑠 𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑢𝑠

In the end she went on to trace the marks on her face. This last step was always the most painful. She felt a jolt run through her whole body, through those freshly drawn lines, which when they reached her face seemed almost to tighten into a vice, as if her whole body were being chained by burning coils.

𝑁𝑢𝑛𝑐 𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑖, 𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠, 𝑖𝑟𝑎 𝑡𝑢𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑡.

𝐷𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑜. 𝑈𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑒.

When the last syllable was uttered, the lines she had just traced lit up with a soft orange glow, sizzling along their length. She gritted his teeth. They burned terribly, but it was a sensation to which she was accustomed.

[invinciblerodent]

Before release, I always kind of thought of Ver's usual haunts in Minrathous being part of an industrial-ish area (factories, docks, the surrounding blue collar residentials, etc.), but I've been thinking, and with Dock Town being what it is in-game (and with what it is to Neve), I think I prefer her being more tied to one of the (no doubt many) entertainment- and nightlife districts of the city.

I'm thinking of one of those moderately seedy parts of town that have pubs/taverns/hookah lounges/drag bars/"specialty shops"/etc. and little mom-and-pop eateries that are definitely not fronts for something all lining the streets on the bottom floors of workers' apartment complexes, and at least three larger nightlife establishments (like a casino [gambling den], a circus [it's a cointoss whether you'll see the best burlesque act or a cagefight], and something they only affectionately call a "dancehall") are all sharing view of the same street.

As of right now, I'm tentatively calling it Redbrick Ridge in my mind, because Minrathous seems to use primarily light-colored stones and red and teal magelights (and I think poorer, mainly Soporati-owned places using red accent-bricks to imitate the red of magic would be a cool touch), but I also like the idea that colloquially, it'd more be known as the Catsbane Quarter, or just Catsbane (after the codex entry for the Sun-Blonde Vint in DAI)- in part because of the way a certain Tevene alcohol is typically served, and in part because, like Dock Town, it's also home to a large colony of feral/stray cats.

(Maybe one of the ways you could easily spot an outsider is that they'd be the ones who say that something is "on the Ridge" or "in Redbrick", but the people who actually live there would say that they're from Catsbane, or refer to the people there as "cats". Like, "where in the city are you from?" "oh, I'm a cat.")

(Lots of fun cat-wordplay for a more "low-class" area, too... "A cat may look at a king" being a bit of a slogan for non-mage and slave rights, or an expression of commiserating over injustice? "All cats are grey in the dark", both as a "we're all equal here", and as a way to say "no officer, I didn't see anything"? Someone suspected to be an informant is someone who "wears a bell"? So many opportunities, and they all work really nicely for a place with pronounced Shadow Dragon presence!)

Since Ver was a (military-trained) Soporati guard/rent-a-cop before joining up with Varric, I originally figured that having her mainly guard (and spy on-) slave-keeping construction sites was a fitting thing, but I think now, knowing both her character and the game as I do, I prefer her as a security guard during the week, and a bouncer during the weekends.

Like I like her not as a go-to problem-solver like Neve, but more like... some sort of a neighborhood Red Jenny, someone who somehow (at least tangentially) knows everyone in her bubble.

And like... she lives in one of the dingy little apartments above a moderately run-down lunch-place (at first I thought it would be run by her uncle, now I'm more picturing an older person who emphatically calls her things like "columba mea" and acts like a doting grandmother, but isn't actually related to her). Her friends are all line cooks, busboys, dancers, dishwashers and all kinds of entertainers, as well as bar owners, bartenders and barflies, not a small percentage of them Liberati- which, with her reputation as a useful person to know and the open secret of her being a Shadow, would be something that probably would have drawn someone like Varric to her very easily. (I mean, he primarily seems to network by just... going to bars and asking the drunkest people still capable of speech about who's worth knowing, lol.)

Plus, I also really like the idea that if the owners/workers at a place know that someone is about to cause trouble, they'd see if she's around, ask her to step in for the night, and maybe crack some heads together.

Like imagine being a big, hotshot wannabe-Venatori swinging their metaphorical dick around over a game of Archon, and in comes this quite pretty, but overall unremarkable woman who is kissing 5'7" from the bottom and is not particularly intimidating, but she still lays you the absolute fuck out to dry without breaking a sweat. Probably one of the top ten most embarrassing ways for that night to end, lol.

[caughtnyact]

🥀 Your OC as a Flower 🥀

Thank you for the tag @pinkberrytea <33 This was fun to think about!

Rook Mercar

Gladiolus

At the heart of the gladiolus flower meaning is the concept of strength. Standing upright with a tall, spear-shaped stem, the flower projects an undeniable aura of bravery and self-confidence. Its historical association with Roman gladiators contributes to this image. Flowers were tossed into the arena after victorious battles, commemorating the gladiator’s courageous feats. As a result, the plant took on the symbolic weight of honor and valor. If you think about a gladiolus stem, it rarely bends or wilts under normal circumstances. It stays steadfast, supporting a cascade of blossoms. This unwavering quality has made the gladiolus a cherished emblem of resilience. When life’s challenges threaten to knock us down, the gladiolus can serve as a gentle reminder to stand tall and remain true to one’s inner convictions. x

Tagging a few lovelies but anyone that would like to do this, please tag me so I can see!!

@the-bear-and-his-sunbird @theyearningghoul @mercars-musings @guacamolleee @thequeenofthewinter @draco-illius-noctis @holdingontojupiter @notyourmamasdeerbat @virenasalin @anew-flame

[fenrelmercar]

OC Face Cards

Thank you for the tag, @rooks-dagger & @introvertedfangrl!

Rules: Use this Picrew to make your OCs/ships, then link their fics and/or their tags.

Tagging: @nananarc, @wickedviago, @idunnaldwir, @rook-de-rivas, @in-the-drowning-deep

Fenrel Mercar

Tag: Fenrel Mercar Vibes, her and Solas tag - Dreadcar . Fenrel x Solas Fics: The Dread and The Flame, Where The Delicate Ends

Roux Laidir

My hot mess of a they/them and a certified Felassan smoocher (though they have blonde and not white hair, options were limited)

Tag: Roux Laidir (I really need to start posting them more) Roux x Felassan x Solas fic: Deliriously Lustful

[purplekonn]

OC KISS WEEK '25 (Belated)

I haven't written anything in literal years, and I've never posted any of it. So I've decided to dip my toe back in. Here's Neve/Kaspian Mercar(not Rook)/Beata de Riva (Rook) for my first and last OC Kiss week submission lol

Bea belongs to @hightowerqueen!

Rating: Mature, mild suggestive themes.

It had been an exceedingly rough year for the inhabitants of the lighthouse. The world had been saved, the day won, and the costs - oh, the costs - neatly packed away in tame little memorials. There had been the honoring ceremonies, a tour of nations awarding whatever prestigious title or honor was appropriate to each of the remaining members of the Veilguard. Then the remembrance, an awkwardly cheerful service dedicated to “those that had fallen.” Put on by the remnants of a Trevisan government, the words were shallow, and undeserving of the grand decorations and banquet set out. 

And then it had quieted. 

The tours stopped, the lights dimmed, the chorus was silent. What remained were the exhausted, poorly placated, and underfunded Veilguard. Though even they were incomplete. Oh, the costs. 

~~~~~

“Did you hear that?” Neve, clad in what Kaspian had come to call her “couldn’t care less” clothes, still dazzled the eye with a teal camisole and slightly oversized grey sweatpants that seemed to swallow her feet. 

“The screaming? I thought it was a little hard to miss.” Kaspian, shirtless as ever and sporting sweats that match the color of Neve’s cami, raised an eyebrow at his partner and tilted his head as if to listen harder. “Sounded like Bea.” He slid off the queen size mattress they had managed to squeeze into the detective's office and padded over barefoot to the door that would lead him out to the lighthouse courtyard. “From the kitchen.” Neve added with a small frown. 

“Lets go.” A simple nod followed her words, to which Kaspian responded with a mock salute and began searching for something a bit more appropriate to wear. 

The two exited Neves office moments later, Kaspian in a quarter zip sweater he liked to wear under his armor, and neve with her sceptre - just in case. Hurried steps took them the length of the courtyard and through the heavy wooden door to the dining room and kitchens. Upon first glance nothing seemed immediately out of the ordinary, a dimming fire crackled in the fireplace, the lights in the dining room, magically one would assume, matching the soft glow. Seconds after entry, though, the pair could make out a soft and muffled sobbing echoing from the cracked door to the storage room. The warm light that spilled into the dining room through the crack let the two know where Beata would be. 

The two exchanged concerned glances, the same thought seemingly working its way through each of their minds, and Neve let out a low sigh as she leaned her sceptre by the door and made her way towards the storage room. Kaspian followed behind after closing the door to the courtyard and asking a wisp to keep people away from the building until they leave. 

Neve nudges the door open with her foot, the light spilling over the couples form as they both shuffled into the room. 

There at the far end of the long rectangular room was Beata “Rook” De Riva, crumpled in a pile of Hazelnuts and a bag each of sugar and baking powder. “Bea? Beata, darling, did you slip? What happened its hours from sun up.” Neve knelt next to her. Their history was deep and the bond they shared was unique - more similar to Kaspians bond with her than Bellara’s. Bea was the leader of the Veilguard, but beyond that she was one of Neve’s closest friends, and her former flame. ‘A decision needed to be made, I appreciate that. I just wish it had been a different one.’ Neve hadn’t been able to get over it as quickly as she thought, and decided she needed time before she could even consider what they could be. 

That hadn’t stopped Neve from loving Bea fiercely. When she met Kaspian, when Bea fell for Lucanis, they had shared nothing but love. When Bea had lost Lucanis, the months spent searching and waiting for Kaspian after he sacrificed himself to the fade prison in Bea’s stead, they had leaned on each other in ways they couldn’t do with any of the others. 

“It’s my fault.” Bea mumbled, tear streaks marking her flushed cheeks as slowly they ceased. She was covered in powder, hazelnuts adorned her hair. “Hey, everyone slips sometimes.” Kaspian told her gently. Bea glanced at Kaspian, his words and expression of genuine confusion and kindness seeming to fip some switch in her. Her once dull and tired eyes filled with the smallest amount of humor, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards despite themselves. “No, the torte.” Bea spoke with a subtle giggle, almost imperceptible, as she began wiping her eyes and drying her face. “He never got to make the Hazelnut Torte.” she finished as she brought her hands back to her lap. The light dimmed again, as she remembered why she had been crying to begin with. 

Neve threw a playful scowl at Kaspian who, to his credit, had the sense to look embarrassed. “Thats why youre in here covered in baking powder and hazelnuts.” Neve placed a hand atop Beas head and smoothed her hair down, knocking shells off of her as she did. Bea sniffed, “I was going to make it for him.” Her gorgeous brown eyes filled with tears again, threatening to spill over as she made eye contact with Neve. 

Crack.

The two look over to where the sound of an eggshell breaking came from. In the doorway Kaspian stood, shirtless, with a mixing bowl in one hand, and a split eggshell in the other. “Let’s get cooking, then.” His smile, warm and affectionate, dried the encroaching tears and set Bea to almost giggling again. “You just had to take your shirt off.” Neve drawled, hiding a laugh as she aided Bea to her feet. 

“How else will people know I’m ripped?” Kaspian called from the kitchen where he had already made his way back and had begun whisking the eggs. 

Bea and Neve glanced at each other and shared an eye roll and a heartfelt hand squeeze before linking arms and joining Kaspian. 

~~~~~

Hours later, after a moderately burned hazelnut torte had been shared with crew, after moderately too many glasses had been poured, the three sat, puddled on the long couch in the central room of the lighthouse. Long since left by their colleagues and companions, they teased, and laughed, and in general made merry. As the night wound down, and the yawning began, they began their goodbyes. 

“Thank you.” Bea said softly. She was unused to the kindness, even after so long. She didn't quite have the words to express what it had meant when the two of them had found her. Spiraling is easy. Imagining the what ifs, the why nots, the why hims. Far too easy. The pulling yourself out? The mending and the healing? She found it almost impossible. Gravity only works one way. 

“You are welcome, sweetness.” Neve and Kaspian stood, Kaspian stretching and yawning loudly before leaning down and placing a light kiss on Bea’s forehead. “Anytime, Trouble.” He slurred, still coherent, but certainly inebriated. Neve did much the same, though with less drama, and leaned in to brush her lips over Bea’s cheek. She held the other side of her face in her hand as she said, “If you ever find yourself looking for a different kind of pick me up, Kaspian is very eager to please, and you know I would take care of you.” 

Neve’s nose crinkled in that funny way of hers, a smirk plastered to her face as she pulled away from a blushing and flustered Bea. Bea watched the two circle their arms around each others waists, Kaspian throwing a wink over his shoulder, and begin the walk back to Neve’s office.

As the massive double doors swung shut and Bea was left to her thoughts, the heat in her cheeks only increased. She covered her mouth with her hand, looked all around her to ensure there were no late night wandering witnesses, and dashed off of the couch to follow the two. 

[herah-mercar]

𔓘Character Writing Masterlist𔓘

"Before Herah"

1. "The Birth of a Firefly"

"RRAU"

1. "Welcome Home Firefly" 2. Herah Background Lore 3. "Firefly Lost Her Flame" PART ONE 4. "Firefly Lost Her Flame" PART TWO

"Character Prompts"

1. Scar History 2. Love and Flowers 3. Headcanon Prompts [1/?] 4. Romance Asks 5. Herah in Relationships 6. Herahs Statement Prompts 7. Three Negative Traits 8. Ugly Asks about Herah 9. Weisshaupt Ask List 10. Which Evanuris Are You? 11. OC in a Ballroom 12. Red Emoji Asks 13. Flower-Based Asks 14. Herah Tarot Asks 15. Herah's Song

𔓘Character Art and Edit Masterlist𔓘

Character Inspiration

1. Aesthetic 3x3 2. Characters that inspired Herah 3. 10 Things in Herah's Room 4. Veilcard 5. Herahs Playlist 6. Herah's Pinterest Aesthetic 7. Songs that Describe Herah 8. Essence of Herah Mercar 9. Herah in Love 10. Herah as a Companion 11. What Fictional Character? 12. Herah Tarot Card 13. Herah as a Forgotten God 14. Who would play Herah?

[caughtnyact]

Shouting out some of my favorite Rooks that I adore because everyone's creativity and love for their OCs inspires me to continue creating!! Tagging as many as I can, but if I miss your Rook know that I still love them endlessly

Thana (@guacamolleee), Siobhan (@the-bear-and-his-sunbird), Iris (@thequeenofthewinter), Az (@mercars-musings), Rahim (@galluslonging), Rhaella (@anew-flame), Liselath (@antivan-sprig), Magdalena (@theyearningghoul), Celeste (@woundedsoul12), Rowan (@redheadsramblings), Veryl (@hedwigoprah), Persephone (@nevarrantorte), Francesca (@trashwithvariety), Nyx (@nyx-de-riva), Evie (@starfleetteddybear)

and all the other wonderful Rooks that cross my dash 💖💖

HEY, YOU 🫵

Your Rook is really beautiful/handsome/cute and you did an awesome job creating them!

[supermarine-silvally]

Writing Masterlist

Links to all my OC content, drabbles here on tumblr, and long-form fics on ao3.

OC Tags & Pinterest Boards:

Note: Names with an asterisk after them are written in Lastname Firstname format consistent with how names are presented in the canon of that universe.

Johanna "Joey" Armansky (Death Note):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Iryna Oleksandrivna Kovalenko (Boku no Hero Academia):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Next Class 1-A OCs masterpost

Lilletz Lucilfer (Hunter x Hunter):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Circe Mackinnon (Soul Eater):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Miyazaki Hikari* (Naruto):

tumblr tag (to be added)

Pinterest board

Haganezuka Minako* (Demon Slayer):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Bravada Yara* (One Piece):

tumblr tag

Pinterest board

Ask Yara (Yara takes your questions and answers them honestly)

Live action version faceclaim: Marina Moschen

DRAGON AGE OCs:

Theodosia Cousland (Origins)

Aubrey Hawke (DAII)

Qirru Lavellan (Inquisition)

Minyrva Mercar (Veilguard) [Pinterest]

Viri Laidir (Veilguard) [Pinterest]

-o-o-o-o-o-

Short Drabbles:

Bakugou: The number two hero (reader insert)

The Portada Collection:

aka every oneshot I've written for Ace and Yara, mostly based on prompts/ask games

drunken kiss/tipsy

slow kiss/gentle kiss/inevitable/soft

rough kiss/hot and heavy/making out

rough kiss/hot and heavy/making out (ALT. ENDING; NSFW)

Part 1: mutual pining/dared to kiss; Part 2: first kiss/realisation

surprise/impulsive kiss

"nope, puppy dog eyes aren't going to work this time!"

"how about a kiss before I go?"

Ace's hat headcanons

Why Yara hates Mihawk (!!MAJOR SPOILERS FOR MARINEFORD!!)

"you're not alone. you'll never be alone. not as long as I'm here."

-o-o-o-o-o-

Multi-Chapter Fics:

A Shot in the Dark (Death Note)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: T

Pairing: Mihael "Mello" Keehl/OC (Johanna "Joey" Armansky)

Summary: Thanks to a timely intervention from an old friend, Mello survives the Kira case. After settling his debts, he finds himself broke and alone, with no choice but to approach his rival for his half of the remainder of L’s inheritance. Begrudgingly, he moves into the basement suite of the house that Near shares with his loyal bodyguard, an estranged friend from Mello’s childhood at Wammy’s House who happens to be the very same person that saved his life months ago. As Mello adjusts to his new reality, healing from the trauma of losing his best friend as well as allowing himself to reconnect with an old one, a series of ritualized murders that feel strangely familiar comes to Near’s attention. Suddenly, all three ex-Wammy’s kids are swept up in a dangerous web of secrets and lies where murderers hide in plain sight and politicians spur on a deadly populist rage. Can L’s successors put aside their differences long enough to bring an insidious new enemy to justice, or will Kira’s shadowy legacy finally destroy the World’s Greatest Detective(s) once and for all?

Ground Zero (Boku no Hero Academia)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: T

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki/OC (Iryna Oleksandrivna "Kova" Kovalenko)

Summary: Invading villains. Kidnapping plots. Ancient evils hellbent on destroying the world. By the time Bakugou Katsuki is about to receive his first big assignment as a second-year student at Japan’s prestigious hero academy UA, he can more than handle whatever challenge comes his way.

Or so he thinks.

Enter Iryna Oleksandrivna Kovalenko. The first Eastern European student ever admitted to UA, she’s ambitious, independent, headstrong… and the most difficult, annoying, smart-mouthed little brat Bakugou has ever had the displeasure of dealing with. When the two are paired together for UA’s brand new (and strictly mandatory) mentorship program, will the clashing of their explosive quirks and incendiary personalities send their aspirations of winning this year’s Sports Festival up in flames?

The Ghosts Within Us (Hunter x Hunter)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: M (violence)

Pairing: Kurapika Kurta/OC (Lilletz Lucilfer)

Summary: In the year-and-a-half since she left her brother’s side, Lilletz Lucilfer is finally content with her new life. She passed the Hunter Exam with ease, landed a cushy job working for the Nostrade family, and hasn’t been plagued by her recurring nightmares in months. But just when it seems that she’s put her past behind her, a pair of Scarlet Eyes emerges as a prized item at the upcoming Yorknew City auction, bringing with it the memories that Lilletz has been so desperate to forget-- though when fate crosses her path with that of the last surviving member of the Kurta Clan, she finds herself presented with something she never thought she could have: the chance to put things right. Now caught between her enduring loyalty to the brother who raised her and the friend whose righteous cause gives her the opportunity to avenge a terrible misdeed, she must reckon with whether she can truly betray her own flesh and blood-- and if her shot at putting her own demons to rest will only fuel Kurapika’s fury and lead them both to their ultimate destruction.

Second Chances (Death Note)

Co-written with @/my-one-true-l (Asraella on ao3)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: T

Pairing(s): L Lawliet/OC (Kathryn MacKeddie) & Mihael "Mello" Keehl/OC (Johanna "Joey" Armansky)

Summary: L and Mello want one thing: To catch Kira, but after years of bad decisions and hard feelings, can the two find a way to make amends, not only with each other but the people they love, finally bringing Light's reign as God of the New World to an end?

Darkest Before Dawn (Boku no Hero Academia)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: M (violence, references to drug use/overdoses, mild sexual content)

Pairing: Pro Hero!Bakugou Katsuki/OC (vigilante!Iryna Oleksandrivna "Kova" Kovalenko)

Summary: Life as an up-and-coming Pro Hero is never easy, and Bakugou Katsuki knows that as well as anyone. When a deadly new drug begins to ravage the streets of Tokyo, he’s determined to find the source, put a quick end to it, and launch himself into the Top Ten of the Japanese Hero Billboard Chart. Simple enough, or so he’s certain.

And then he meets the vigilante. 

And then his entire world turns upside down.

And I'll Surrender (Myself to You) (One Piece)

Status: Ongoing

Rating: M (blood and violence)

Pairing: Portgas D. Ace/OC (Bravada Yara)

Summary: A new ship, a new crew, a new captain. It’s not precisely how Portgas D. Ace pictured his pirate career going, but after losing a fight to the world’s strongest man, the Emperor of the Sea known as Whitebeard, he finds himself with no choice but to surrender. 

Another day, another battle, another easy victory. Bringing aboard some hotheaded idiot who picked a fight with Pops for no good reason was the last thing Bravada Yara wanted, but her protests fall on deaf ears when Whitebeard offers said hotheaded idiot (and his former crew) a place on the Moby Dick. 

Now sailing together under Whitebeard’s banner, Ace and Yara find themselves inexorably drawn into each other’s orbits, where they will soon learn that they have more in common than they thought-- leading them to surrender to one another in ways that will change their lives forever.

[pathfinderslog]

🔥 𝑭𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒂𝒓

- Hᴜᴍᴀɴ

- Sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ Dʀᴀɢᴏɴs

- Mᴀɢᴇ

Her real name is Favilla Arteius, only daughter of an important noble family of Minrathous.

Since she was a child, she has always cared deeply about the fate of the slaves. She was the only one in her palace who treated them like human beings, and many times she tried to help them secretly, drawing the ire of her parents upon herself.

One day her mother tried to kill her nanny in front of her eyes, as punishment because she dared to give her, a slave, a piece of strawberry cake. She reacted instinctively to protect her beloved friend and her powers exploded, setting fire to her home and any family ties she may have had to it.

The slaves managed to escape, not all of them, but the few survivors brought her to safety, giving her a new life, under a new name. The Mercar family welcomed her under their roof, raised her like a daughter and helped her to control her powers.

The intense shock of that moment and the fact of being only a child, contributed to erasing those memories from her mind, which every now and then reappear, like bad nightmares from which it's difficult to wake up.

This didn't stop her from continuing to fight for what she believed in. Freeing slaves from the yoke of the Empire became her reason for living and this did not go unnoticed. The Shadow Dragons had long had their eyes on her and when she grew up they recruited her into their ranks.

About the rest of the story... I'll leave the task to Varric. He's much better than me in this things.

Echoes from the past

Lucid Nightmare - part one

Lucid Nightmare - part two

The story continues on my WordPress site.

[pathfinderslog]

▫️𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙙 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚 - 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩. 2

As she went deeper into the shadows of the Fade, the landscape around her began to change, to take on ever clearer and brighter contours, and without realizing it she found herself walking through the streets of Minrathous.

But the images around her were constantly switching, causing her to see only brief frames at a time.

An open window in a luxurious dining room, a man and a woman at opposite ends of a long table, prepared for the meal just in front of them, each surrounded by three servants. They were silent, austere, concentrated solely on the plate, without exchanging a glance or a word. They seemed more concerned about the servants' slightest oversights than about the little girl sitting at the center of the table with them, lonely, while unseen she passed morsels of meat to the servants around her who lovingly looked after her.

The same little girl, she must have been 6 or 7 years old, passed by her as she ran smiling through the streets, she had thick fiery red hair and eyes as golden as the morning sun. A young elf dressed in poor clothes was chasing her, playfully, while trying not to drop the apples she had just bought at the market.

A sudden flash tore through the black sky in the Fade, illuminating a much darker scene.

The same elf who had previously played with her was now being dragged away by her hair by pitch-black guards. The little girl, her eyes filled with tears, clung to the dress of the woman next to her, the same one she had also seen in the previous memory. She was begging, praying, but what she got in return was only a whiplash that permanently lacerated her delicate face.

Flame froze, caressing the scar that marked her face, where that little girl was now bleeding. She looked up at the woman, as she felt the tears sliding down her cheeks. It was her. It really was her. That Venatori witch they were chasing.

"Mother, stop it! She's my friend! You can't take her away from me too!" - it was the little girl who spoke, but with her voice in chorus.

"𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵!!" the stern woman spoke, with a rumbling voice that rose above the thunder, "It was not easy to bind that Rage in you, I've been patient with you but you can't keep playing with rats and humiliate our family! You're an Arteius, Favilla, our name will echo in the halls of the Archon's palace, you stupid child. Make yourself useful for once! Burn this guinea pig to ashes!"

She felt an uncontrollable rage burning inside her, the fire began to surround her, crackling, while her golden eyes lit up with the intense light of the flames.

"Shut up, you filthy witch!!" Her voice overlapped the child's, but there was a third note to the chorus, heavy, angry, deeper. "I'm not your puppet, I'm not yours. I will stop you, here and now, you will never hurt anyone again, and I will finally be free, they will be free, we will be free."

The anger she felt grew more and more, uncontrollable, the flames began to lick the walls, the floor, the guards, her mother's face, and in a flash of light everything around her exploded, swallowing up the house, the city, the people, and that little corner of Fade seemed swallowed up in flames.

Everything went dark. And silent. And then there was peace. At last.

Echoes from the past

Lucid Nightmare - part one

[pathfinderslog]

▫️ 𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗨𝗣!

She jolted awake, drenched in sweat, with shaking shivers of cold. Delicate snowflakes slid from her shoulders, wetting her cheeks.

“Shh, easy now Rook, you’re safe.” Neve stood beside her, panting from exertion. Her hands were bruised and icy from the abuse of her powers. Flame did not know what to say, she shook her head, still dazed, but before she could utter a word Harding threw a blanket over her shoulders, crouching next to her on the sofa. “Hey! Are you still with us?” she smiled reassuringly, nodding to Neve, who stepped away from them to sit on a chair nearby.

Flame looked around. She was back. She was in her room, the blue glow of the aquarium illuminating the room with a soft comforting light. “What happened?” she asked in a low voice.

“Well, actually we were hoping you could tell us…” Behind her, Lucanis emerged from the shadows, carrying two cups of steaming coffee, one for her and one for the other mage’s cold hands. Although he had tried to hide them under his shirt lapel and sleeves, Flame still noticed the bandages wrapping his body. She widened her eyes, but before she could say anything Neve spoke first: “When Lucanis told us you had caught fire we didn’t quite know what he meant until we saw him leap across the Eluvian with your burning body in his arms. Despite my ice spells it was difficult to move you to a safe place. Sorry Rook, but for at least an hour you were lying on the bare floor.” She smiled, trying to play it down, but Flame did not notice that.

She stared blankly at her reflection in the cup. She did not know what to say, she had a lump in her throat, she felt guilty, about everything, and she knew she had to give them an explanation, but she did not know where to begin. “I…” she began in a broken voice, but before she could continue Lucanis laid a hand on her shoulder. “I was… – we were afraid, that we had lost you.” He smiled bitterly, trying to hide his concern, in an awkward attempt to reassure her, and she, in response, threw her arms around his neck, breaking into a liberating cry.

“Oh, hey, Rook, easy… Did I say something wrong?!” the imperturbable Crow looked around embarrassed, stiffened by the pain of his wounds, but unable to react to that surprise attack.

Neve looked at him with a dejected face, shaking her head with a sigh, while Harding, who had miraculously managed to save Flame’s coffee cup before it spilled, was laughing it off under her moustache. Neve gave her an eloquent look as she walked away toward the exit “Well, I guess we’ll talk another time. Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to get some rest. Lace? Will you accompany me?” – The dwarf looked at the two, then at the mage, and with a leap she caught up with her “Right, right, I have to…. Um… Water the plants!”

“No, hey, where are you going?” Lucanis looked at them pleadingly, with a distraught Rook still hanging around his neck, but the two women had now wandered off toward the library, leaving them alone.

(Special thanks to Assan for playing Lucanis in the hug 💙 - Want to read more? Continue below...)

▫️𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀

She seemed to have calmed down, at least partially, but she continued to cling to him as if he were her anchor in a stormy sea. Lucanis did not know how to react; he was torn between returning that embrace and holding her close, or trying to overcome his own instincts to stop Spite from doing something stupid. Too late. Her sweet scent had already attracted the attention of his inner demon.

“𝗚𝘪𝘕𝗀𝗲𝗿 𝘢𝘯𝖽 𝗿𝗼𝘴𝘌. 𝗦𝙝𝖺𝗋𝗉, 𝖣𝘦𝗹𝗶𝖼𝖠𝗍𝖾. 𝗧𝗮𝖲𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝗴𝘰𝘰𝖣 𝘢𝘯𝙙 𝗗𝘼𝘯𝘨𝖾𝗋𝖮𝘂𝘀. 𝗦𝘮𝖮𝘬𝘦 𝖠𝘯𝙙 𝗮𝘀𝘩𝘦𝖲. 𝘚𝘩𝗲 𝗂𝙨 𝘓𝘪𝗸𝖾 𝖴𝘀. 𝘉𝗎𝘵 𝙙𝙞𝖿𝖿𝘦𝘳𝗘𝗻𝘵. 𝗜𝙩 𝘮𝘢𝗄𝖾𝙨 𝗠𝘦 𝘸𝙖𝙣𝗍 𝗍𝘰 𝙀𝘢𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝙧. 𝙇𝖾𝘵 𝗠𝗲 𝘵𝘢𝗄𝖤 𝖺 𝙗𝘪𝘵𝗲. 𝗘𝗔𝘛 𝖧𝙀𝗥!!”

Flame could not hear the inner dialogue between the two, but as if she sensed something, she stepped away from him and at the same time Lucanis pushed her away gently. Their eyes crossed, embarrassed, then they both lowered their gazes. It was Rook who broke the silence first, rubbing her face to wipe away her tears “Sorry, sorry. I don’t… I shouldn’t have done it…”

He smiled softly – “It’s okay. It’s normal. You needed to vent, you…”

“No. Don’t…” She inhaled deeply, smiling bitterly “You don’t have to justify me all the time. I have no excuse for what I did to you. I just… I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“Your revenge, Lucanis. You were so close to Zara, and I…” She lowered her gaze, starting to intertwine her fingers nervously “I screwed up, I…” She felt her eyes fill with tears again, but tried to push them back. "And I hurt you, Lucanis. I will never forgive myself. I never wanted to..."

Lucanis stood staring at her in silence, then he caressed her cheek and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes again. – Flame felt her heart miss a beat. – “Hey, I'm fine. You think that a little sunburn might bother me? Besides, you don’t owe me anything, Rook. It wasn’t your fault. The important thing is that you’re safe.” He smiled softly at her and she felt another heartbeat missing.

She slowly shook his hand away, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Anyway… I made you a promise and I intend to keep it.” she concluded, firmly.

Lucanis retracted his hand and moved away from her, walking toward the door. “And you will. In due time. Now you need to rest. See you later, Rook.”

She nodded silently, turning to look at him as he walked away; then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she called him back “Lucanis!” she waited for him to turn back “Thank you.” She smiled sweetly and he smiled back, with a brief bow of the head.

[pathfinderslog]

Inner Demons

The story of a Rook and a Crow

(now available on AO3)

[pathfinderslog]

▫️𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑢𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒? 𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑒��𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚.

Taash's words came to mind and she let go of all caution, beginning to melt at his touch. She smiled back at him, caressing his chest, following invisible lines on his skin "Do you like playing with fire, Lucanis?"

"Sometimes. Especially when it looks at me with golden eyes."

Flame felt her heart throb in her temples, her head grew lighter. For a brief instant the world disappeared. What were they talking about? - They were close. Terribly close. - "𝗟𝘶𝘤𝘈𝘯𝗂𝗂𝗂𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝖺𝗍 𝖠𝙧𝖾 𝖸𝘰𝙪 𝙬𝘢𝗂𝗍𝙄𝘯𝗀 𝖿𝘖𝙧?! 𝙅𝘶𝗌𝗍 𝙖 𝘴𝘵𝖤𝗽. 𝗜 𝘸𝖺𝖭𝙩 𝘵𝙤 𝘦𝖠𝙩 𝙝𝘦𝖱." - He recoiled suddenly, staggering backwards.

Flame's eyes widened, completely bewildered. Had she misunderstood? Too soon? No. There was something else going on. She noticed a faint purple glow in the man's eyes. - "Spite..." - She whispered.

Full chapter on AO3

🎶 𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘴 (𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯)

This girl

She's a real star child

Never wanted anyone so bad

It's making me go wild

This guy

Feels like a Jaguar

And all I want is just to drive him

But I don't know where to start

'Cause I'm low-key

Low-key in love with her

I keep biting my tongue

So I don't say it in front of her

Yeah, I'm low-key

Low-key in love

I'll keep on doing what I'm doing

And just hope it's enough.

[pathfinderslog]

▫️ 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙙 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚 - 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩. 1

She felt her body burning inside and out, she tried to scream, but her voice died in her throat. She was aware of Lucanis trying to drag her away, fighting the flames. She wanted to tell him to escape, she tried to raise her arms to push him away, but nothing responded to her commands anymore. It was like looking at everything outside of her body.

It wasn't supposed to happen, it wasn't supposed to happen again. The first time it happened, hundreds of innocent people died, and the fact that she was just a child didn't make her guilt any less heavy. It was such a traumatic event, that when the Mercars adopted her she had no memory of that or of what came before.

They themselves understood how dangerous that power could have been in the hands of a child and did everything they could to help her learn to control it. All that anger, that unstoppable flames, now it was natural for her to suppress this strange magic.

But then why? Why now?

What had that woman called her?

Favilla. Of course, that was her name.

How could she have forgotten it?

And why did she look familiar to her?

A family reunion. A daughter.

"Mother..." she whispered with a shiver of terror, waking up in the Fade, not the cozy corner of the Lighthouse she had come to know, but the deep, dark one where the demons dwell.

She must have lost consciousness, but the only good thing was that she now had full control of her body again, which was no longer on fire.

She rubbed her moist eyes and patted herself on the face, trying to compose herself. Brooding would do no good, she had to get out there and regain her faculties. It was better for her to delve into the depths of that nightmare and try to solve that mess.

Echoes from the past

Lucid Nightmare - part two

[pathfinderslog]

▫️𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩

As they went deeper into the church, she began to feel more and more uncomfortable, with a heavy heart, captured by an unpleasant feeling as if her entire essence didn't want to be in that place.

She slowed her pace and Lucanis noticed her uncertainty, so he turned to her with a determined look: "Rook, are you with me?"

Flame held his gaze, determined to go through. She had given him her full support, he deserved his revenge, and if that meant taking down one more Venatori witch, it was all earned. "Yes, sorry, let's go and pay homage to the Lady."

He nodded and entered into the large room behind the altar. The woman was waiting for them, but was particularly surprised to see the Shadow Dragon at his side. Lucanis noticed a subtle change in the witch's eyes, her composure was betrayed by a flash of pure hatred and disgust.

"Favilla, are you now playing with Crows too?"

Flame froze, her jaw dropped, and was speechless for a moment. "W-wait... What did you call me?"

"I was expecting the visit of the Demon of Vyrantium, but not a family reunion."

"A... What? Who are you?" - she was more and more confused, and her head began to twist. She staggered, bringing a hand to her head.

Lucanis noticed her distress and in a flash of purple wings he was beside her to keep her from falling, while he continued to stare at the witch in front of them. "Hey! You and I have a score to settle, stop wasting time! It's time to pay!"

The Venatori witch started laughing "And you want to stop me from saying hello to my daughter?"

"Your... What?" Flame's golden eyes began to glow as she twisted her fingers through her hair, assailed by long-erased memories. "Stop. Stop it. You're... You're not real. I burned you to ashes!!" The veins on her body began to throb, her skin began to heat up, and her fingers began to crackle. Lucanis tried to hug her, but he had to step back to avoid being burned. Rook didn't seem to be able to reason, she didn't even seem to be herself.

He had to choose between taking her away from there or carrying out his revenge. - "Mierda!" he hissed, dragging her to safety, away from the witch's pleased laughter.

Lucid Nightmare - part one

Lucid Nightmare - part two

[pathfinderslog]

Just her.