#Vaelsnipe

[vaelsnipe]

The Wind Knows Before We Do

Day 5 Restless/Faith @daily-writing-challenge and mention to @lukel-sunshadow @tycildawnwhisper and friends of the @theshieldedmind

The day had been quiet. Almost too quiet.

Tycil had held a few tired, crooked smiles as she leaned on the frame of her half-built doorway, wiping sawdust from her fingers. They’d replaced old beams, reinforced the second story. Vaelsnipe’s shoulders ached pleasantly from labor, but the ache couldn’t compete with the deeper thrum beneath his ribs. That old rhythm of watchfulness.

He left with the promise he’d be back before the week was out to help her some more. She nodded and turned back into the house that had finally begun to resemble more and more of a home.

The woods of Goldenbough Pass swallowed him whole as he walked on for the city. Birdsong filtered through the high boughs, and golden light traced slow arcs across the path. But to Vael, the peace felt paper-thin. A trick of surface tension.

Each step stirred memories. A scream in the snow. The burn of void in the air. The vile smell of undeath creeiping up behind. The moment the gates of Silvermoon cracked once before when no one believed they could fall.

This forest watched us die once, he thought grimly. It could do so again.

He paused beneath an old tree, one he remembered climbing as a boy. A companion he hadn't though about for thousands of years perched above, tail curled, watching him carve arrowheads with Tycil. Now it just stood silent. Ancient. Unmoved.

The problem wasn’t the silence. The problem was how much he trusted it less and less.

He couldn’t shake it, the gnawing edge in his chest, like an arrow held taut but never loosed. Every time he looked at Tycil, at Lukel, even at the doctors gossiping in the city's clinic there it was.

What if it happens again? What if the next wound takes them? What if peace is just a delay, not a gift?

Silvermoon came into view, its spires gleaming in the fading sun. But even the light here felt brittle.

He passed through the gates, nodding once to the guards. They knew him now by sight, by name, by the wary look in his eyes. The city had returned to its rhythms, laughter echoing from balconies, music spilling from taverns. But he saw too clearly the fragile seams. The overconfidence. The ease that let danger in the first time.

It’s all so breakable, he thought. All of it. And no one wants to admit that.

He stopped just before the main thoroughfare, where the cobblestones turned from forest-shadowed to gold-tinged. The scent of lilacs drifted faintly in the air, he didn’t know if it was the gardens or just Lukel again, lingering in memory.

His pulse caught. Because that was what made it worse.

He cared now.

Tycil. Lukel. The quiet bonds he’d formed with people who made him laugh again, curse again, feel again. He had roots now. And that made him vulnerable in ways he had almost forgotten how to live with.

He tilted his head toward the sky, just for a moment. The city’s light painted his skin warm.

But still, the air tasted like prophecy.

Something’s coming. He didn’t know when. Or how. But the wind always changed before blood was spilled. And Vaelsnipe had never stopped listening.

[grueviolette]

For Mei:

47. Is your character outgoing? Would they be the leader of the friend group, or the quiet one that gets dragged along?

"Extravert!" She answers without hesitation. "Would I be a good leader? I don't really know, I've only had to lead a few times. But on the rare occasions when I did, I was pretty good?

Mei is unsure about the last question. Maybe she doesn't want to admit that she doesn't like leading too much in general. Or being a follower, more of a support person.

( @vaelsnipe )

[tycildawnwhisper]

~~Basics~~

Name:  Tycil (Tie-ssil) Dawnwhisper

Nickname:  Tyc (Tie-ss)

Race: Quel'dorei

Gender: Female

Birthdate: July 17th

~~Physical Appearance~~

Hair: Long, straight, shiny black

Eye Color: Brilliant blue to void purple at the outside

Height: 5’1”

Build: Athletic, yet still with some curves

Distinguishing Marks: Freckles across her nose and cheeks. A large scar on her upper left thigh that looks like her skin was gouged down off her leg by a row of sharp teeth, like something bit her and tried to hold on as she was pulled free

Piercings: Both ears

Face Claim: Catherine Zeta-Jones

~~Personal Information~~

Profession: Void touched hunter

Hobbies: Cooking, alchemy, herbalist, gardening, construction, about anything that helps her be self-sufficient in the wilds

Residence: Eversong Woods

Fears: Shadows

~~Relationships~~

Spouse: Bacath (Deceased)

Son - Paranir (Deceased), Son - Wintheol (Deceased)

Siblings: Brother - Vaelsnipe (Link to his profile HERE)

Other Family: None, at least none that were closer than a couple generations removed cousins

~~Sex and Romance~~

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Preferred Emotional Role: Submissive

Preferred Sexual Role: Switch

Turn ons: Animal lover, open minded, nature lover, enjoys quiet, good sense of humor

Turn offs: Overbearing personalities, argumentative, judgemental people, pushy people

Love Language: Gifts, acts of service

Relationship Tendencies: It will take time before this is established again, she is not the same person she was the last time she was in a relationship

~~Traits~~ (Bold your character’s answer) Extroverted / In-between / Introverted Disorganized / In-between / Organized Close Minded / In-between / Open Minded Calm / In-Between / Anxious Disagreeable / In-between / Agreeable Cautious / In-between / Reckless Patient / In-between / Impatient Outspoken / In-between / Reserved Leader / In-between / Follower Empathetic / In-between / Apathetic Optimistic / In-between / Pessimistic Hard Working / In-between / Lazy Cultured / In-between / Uncultured Loyal / In-between / Disloyal Faithful / In-between / Unfaithful

~~Additional Information~~ Drinks socially Limited drug use Doesn't smoke

~~RP Hooks~~ Hunts in Eversong Woods often Building a home in Eversong Woods Looking for a tracker? She is for hire, does standard tracking but specializes in finding those with a trace of the void to them Just starting to venture back into Silvermoon City after keeping her self to the wilds for a handful of years

How to contact: Reach out in a message here or to Tycil-WyrmrestAccord in game. Not doing any other type of RP with her at this time.

[lukel-sunshadow]

May DWC 2025

Day 3: Gaze/Linger

Lukel had never been a man to make snap decisions unless it was a matter of life or death. He took years to form true friendships, he took months to determine the next suit he wanted to make, the line and cut of it - which color and fabric to choose. He took days to make simple decisions like what book to read next, what hobby to pursue, what he would carve from a piece of wood. He had nothing but time, so he never felt the need to rush. It would come or it would not and the indecision never unbalanced him, never threw him off.

He certainly hadn't been contemplating on or looking for a relationship. It wasn't something he wanted or felt he needed in his life. His last relationship had ended in catastrophic betrayal - and once, he thought, was quite enough for him. No thank you to another round of that. He was fine being alone, he was content in his bubble of solitude. He was happy to be near people and never feel the urge to move past a very firmly drawn line of acquaintance - or, rarely, friend. It was enough for him to exist near life and never actually step foot into it. 

He knew Vael hadn't been looking for him, either. The Hunter was far from ready to accept anything other than guilt and anger - mostly for and at himself. They didn't flirt with one another, they talked. There was not desire first, but hesitation and trepidation. Lukel knew when someone looked at him with something more than wariness, than curiosity - and Vael had not looked at him like that. 

He hadn't been ready for Lukel. Lukel absolutely hadn't been ready for him. 

Yet they lingered near one another, caught in an orbit neither had calculated or planned on. Perhaps it was simply one predator noting another. Perhaps it was two broken things recognizing the cracks that ran through the other and seeing something familiar reflected in the breakage. Whatever it was that drew them together, Lukel found he couldn't look away. Any time Vael came into sight, that was where his eyes locked and stayed. 

He couldn't look away. 

But he never would have asked for anything more. He would have been content to stare at him from a distance, to watch the way he moved through the world, to listen to the silence with him when words became unnecessary. That would have been enough for him. Even if Vael eventually healed and found love and drifted away - it would have been enough to have glimpsed the familiarity in his soul. To know that the world still held things in it he had not accounted for and could not see coming - even if he watched them flow by.

It would have been enough.

But things happened that Lukel hadn't planned on, choices had been made that were the easiest and yet most terrifying things he'd chosen for himself in ages. Like a flood. Like a forest fire. Inevitable and untimely and rapid. Life altering. Irrevocable. He knew that once he loved something - someone - it was forever. It was unforgettable. A memory he would live in whether it be a year or a decade or a millennia. He hadn't meant to fall in love, but he certainly had. And no matter how time twisted around them or where their paths led them in the future…

Somewhere in his mind, he'd always be standing there, gazing at Vael, knowing there was something worth looking at. Somewhere, he'd always be dreaming of Vael in colors that didn't exist yet. 

@daily-writing-challenge (mentions of @vaelsnipe )

[lilyofporcelain]

What was YOUR favorite story to write and why? And because I know you're a reader, what were some of your favorite stories others wrote?

I think my favourite one to write was the Punish / Infinite. When I had initially seen this list right before we were beginning, I had a list written down with the prompts and who I was assigning them to. I had an incredibly loose idea about what I could write. Punish / Infinity became something I wasn't expecting and it was a result of discord and in-game roleplay that made it happen. I love how time and conversation and presence can completely change the course that I thought I was on.

I also think that what I wrote for Punish / Infinite wasn't really just for Laeynna. It was also for me. I have been in a lot of need for something that could help me centre myself and I think dissecting that notion through Laeynna's thoughts left me feeling very at ease and very much tranquil, neither of which are things that I feel often. I found it a very enjoyable experience and something much-needed. It was incredibly rewarding.

Now, onto this second thing...

It would be very difficult for me to pick favourites, because in earnest, I enjoyed everything and none of these pieces that any of us wrote are comparable. So, instead, I will pick pieces that are most vivid to me this morning.

Restless / Faith - Tycil

Placate / Graceful - Jace

Beauty / Cruel - Zenith

Punish / Infinite - Mae'Thyn

Restless / Faith - Tinnaire

Punish / Infinite - Avalear

Linger / Gaze - Keranna

Restless / Faith - Lukel

Placate / Graceful - Eluvianna

Placate / Graceful - Vaelsnipe

Beauty / Cruel - Veilos

Mentions for @tycildawnwhisper, @jacelandon, @zenithnightbane, @tumbleeintonothing, @kharrisdawndancer, @dawn-blossom, @keranna-zerine, @lukel-sunshadow, @eluviannaa, @vaelsnipe, @veilosdaigoa

Thanks, @turning-through-the-never! ♥

[fio-renze]

A letter arrives addressed to Fiorenze Sunmote. It's a simple enough letter, nothing special about it. However there's a small wrapped package delivered with it. Upon opening the package, she'd find several chocolate macarons neatly packed so they arrived in tact with the T&R truffles emblem on it. Upon opening the letter it read: Fiorenze, We hope you'll enjoy your mack-a-roons, someone was -very- careful that they got you the right ones and I promised I'd send you them with my letter. Hopefully you can enjoy the sentiment. I'm looking for some Spider Lillies, a bouquet of them mostly red with a few yellow mixed within. You can send them to the return address on the letter and I'll receive them. Hopefully these are not too hard to come by for you. I'd like 2 spare yellow spider lillies as well separate from the bouquet if possible. Let me know what I owe you for your troubles. Hopefully we'll run into one another again sometime, we enjoyed our conversation with you and your friends. -Vaelsnipe

She had been expecting the letter, but not the macarons. Those had been a pleasant surprise and were carefully tucked away in her little bread-box for later. She penned back a reply, wanting to make sure she had all the details right before making the order.

Vaelsnipe (& by some extension your companion whose name I unfortunately did not get the evening we met), The macarons are quite lovely, thank you. I'm well acquainted with the quality of T&R chocolates and am always keen to indulge. Your bouquet should be no issue, I have a contact with a greenhouse magically enchanted to maintain autumnal conditions to keep them in fresh bloom all year. As to bouquet size, were you thinking small, which tend to be in the five to fourteen individual flower range; medium, usually fifteen to twenty five; or large, twenty six to forty? Extra large does exist, but this would be tricky to mail. The price will be contingent on size. Small will run five gold plus fifty silver for the separate two lilies, medium ten gold and fifty silver, and large fifteen gold and fifty silver. I appreciate your patronage and look forward to our continued conversations! Sincerely, Fiorenze S.

@vaelsnipe / @lukel-sunshadow

[maeskia]

Anon day: She's back in Silvermoon! Has she met anyone that intrigues her?

"Do you want my list? Not for sure if people really want to be on my list." "Dinthoqaf was one of the few first kind ones in this city that wants my head on a spike. His flock of wondrous, mysteries minds do beckon me. If I need a haven, I know all I have to do is just ponder the wish and the way will be found. I plan to dig my fingers into that crew and get to know them." "My sister's coworkers I thought I would avoid, but I find myself intrigued by a few of them. Velios and Lynesse shine brilliantly in a way beckons me towards them. I am enraptured by their beauty. For different reasons the have caught my attention." "Nahilvi, not many woman will sit beside me with ease. She is one I could love to spend an evening with and actually enjoy our time. I will be front stage, the first time she returns to it."

"Lukel, who are you? Will you be brave enough to show me?" "Vaelsnipe, a gentlemen in public. Is it wrong I want to see hidden version of you? One that might make me bare my own teeth" "The lady Laeynna, brief in passing. I will find time to speak more." @dinthoqaf (and crew) @gloamingdawn @veilosdaigoa @lukel-sunshadow @nahisummerhold @lilyofporcelain @vaelsnipe

[veilosdaigoa]

“You listen better than most people I’ve come to know recently. Not just the words other say but what’s underneath them. That’s rare, and I value that attention in others, maybe why I notice it. I’d like to know what’s under yours, too. But don't think I won’t forget the rainbow outfit betrayal. That left a scar etched in memory. Just know if you and Lukel ever get me in one, I’ll make you go rock climbing in stiff leather.”

"Honestly? It's a part of my job. To listen to what is not being said whether that be through inflection of tone or body language. Not everyone tells the truth to their Doctor, and sometimes it takes a bit of empathy and urging to get them to say what they really need to say. It was also a part of my Confessor training as well. Of course it carries over in real life too, hard not to once it's well learned.

As for the rainbow outfit, that sounds like a conversation to have with Lukel, no?" He smirks, "No one should be making someone do what they don't want to do, no matter who they are, or who is urging otherwise as a joke. But hey, if it's your choice to humor your partner, that's on you. I think you'd look swell in a rainbow suit!"

ty @vaelsnipe

[nahisummerhold]

“How does someone go from stealing the stage with a single look to stitching up broken people without missing a beat? Is there a secret thread that ties it all together or are you just built different?”

“I’m not so sure I’m all that different, really,” Nahi said with a careful smile. “I’ve spent a long time perfecting my stage presence, and I know I’ll keep learning as I go, for as long as I’m performing.”

She ran a hand through her curls as she continued, “There are parts of my life that shaped me into a caretaker. But it wasn’t until I really focused during my first time at the healing tent that I felt that part of me start to settle into place.”

With a small, one-shoulder shrug, she added, “Sometimes, something just feels right, or at least right enough to keep exploring.” (Thanks for the question @vaelsnipe )

[laceandhalos]

Send some to Vaelsnipe ! And can send to me too on Sylrissa or @maeskia

Get to know my character

Reblog this so your followers can spam your ask box. Have fun! ♥

01. What does your character’s name mean? Did you pick it for the symbolism, or did you just like the way it sounded? 02. What is one of your character’s biggest insecurities? Are they able to hide it easily or can others easily exploit this weakness? 03. What would be their favorite physical trait about themselves? 04. What are their favorite traits about their lover? (one psychological and one physical) 05. Are they sexually confident or more of the shy type? 06. Do they have any hobbies that their lover finds unusual, odd, or otherwise annoying? 07. Is there a catchphrase or sound that they tend to make a lot (likely without being aware of it)? 08. What is, perhaps, their biggest flaw? Are they aware of this or oblivious to it? 09. Do they have a favorite season? What about a favorite holiday? 10. Is your character more feminine or masculine? 11. What is something that would make your character fly into a rage? 12. Is there some particular talent, skill, or attribute that they simply could not give up? 13. What are your character’s sleeping habits? Heavy or light sleeper? Blanket stealer? One that always rolls onto the floor? Pushes their lover onto the floor? Sleep talker or walker? 14. Do they live alone or with family? How do they feel about their family/roommates? 15. Is there a certain person in this world that they cannot stand? The very mention of this person’s name makes them tremble with anger or fear. 16. Is your character the athletic type or more of a couch potato? What are some sports/games that they like? 17. Does your character have dreams of getting married and/or having children? 18. What kind of home would they want to live in? Where would they place this abode? 19. Would your character be the kind to get into fights? (physical or verbal) Would they be a good fighter or cave in rather easily? 20. Does your character like animals? What are some of their favorite animals? Would they want pets? What about mythological creatures? 21. What is one of your character’s biggest fears? How would they react when dealing with this fear? 22. What kind of tattoos, piercings, birthmarks, freckles, and other such unique physical features do they have? 23. What is your character like when it comes to school? What subjects are they good/bad at? Do they get in trouble a lot or are well behaved? 24. In their own words, how would your character describe what their lover is like? 25. Is there something traumatic from your character’s past that greatly affects them even to this day? 26. What is their lover like sexually? How do they feel about their lover’s quirks, needs, etc? 27. If your character was going to get arrested, what would be the most likely reason for it? 28. If your character became a celebrity, what would they be famous for? 29. What is one of the most courageous things your character has ever done for a loved one? 30. When it comes to the arts (music, film, theater, etc), what does your character like? 31. Would your character be the kind capable of killing? Would they enjoy killing or only use it when necessary or, perhaps, refuse to kill no matter what? 32. If your character’s lover offered to take them out on a dream date, what would they want to do? 33. If your character wanted to be alone, where would they go? 34. Does your character have favorite foods? (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, etc) 35. Is your character afraid of death? If they got to choose how to die, how would they want to go? 36. Does your character have any medical conditions? Are they serious or minor? Do they affect their day to day life? 37. What are some of your character’s pet peeves? What are some things that annoy them or disgust them? 38. What kind of weather does your character like? Cloudy skies, rainy days, sunshine, etc? 39. When people look at your character, is there some assumption they might make about them just by appearance? Is that assumption correct? 40. Does your OC have any guilty pleasures they enjoy? Hobbies, past times, music, etc that they wouldn’t want known by others? 41. Does your character’s family affect your character in any way? 42. Is there anything in your character’s past that they regret, haunts them, or they wish they could change? 43. Does your character have a switch that changes aspects of their personality whether they are around friends, family, etc. Is there someone who gets to see their true self? 44. Is there a particular event that would emotionally devastate your character? 45. Is your character the kind to hide their true emotions or do they wear their heart on their sleeve?

46. What is some random affectionate thing that your character always does to their lover? 47. Is your character outgoing? Would they be the leader of the friend group, or the quiet one that gets dragged along? 48. Is there anything in particular that would ignite your character’s jealousy? Or does your character not get envious? 49. What is something that your character has nightmares about? Are these frequent? Do they heavily affect your character’s mood? 50. If your character confessed love to their crush, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc, what would they say?

[vaelsnipe]

WoW Character Profile: Vaelsnipe Dawnwhisper

ARTWORK BY: Julia Chaus, kmrf0 on discord. the basics ––– –

NAME: Vaelsnipe Dawnwhisper

NICKNAME: Vael or Snipe

AGE: 2,498 Years

BIRTHDAY: October 30th

RACE: “Quel’dorei”

GENDER: Male

SEXUALITY: Bisexual

MARITAL STATUS: Single

RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES: Open to casual flings and is a rather open flirt though usually it's because he wants something. He is begrudgingly looking for friends and contacts back in his homeland but he is difficult to befriend with his masks.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Seeing someone much to his shock

physical appearance ––– –

HAIR: Short, Black turning more salt and peppered

EYES: Amber

HEIGHT: 6′

BUILD: Lean, athletic frame made for speed, balance and deadly efficiency. His body's agility, endurance and muscle tells of long treks through wilderness, precision shooting and years of survival under impossible odds. His sculpted legs are powerful with a tapering narrow waist and strong flexible core like every muscle lean and earned.

TATTOOS: See below for details, he has two full arm sleeves and tattoos across the top of his chest, his throat and both sides of his neck up to the back of each ear. They seem to follow a hunt etched in flesh theme as every animal is a memory, a kill, a bond, a narrow escape, a betrayal and each are inked with dark ebon or deep blues. Some have muted gold or silver arcane-infused inks around eyes or teeth as if enchanted. Vines, feathers, arcane runes and claw marks and storm clouds all flow to create this living mural across his skin.

PIERCINGS: None

SCARS: He has various scars all over from wounds he either didn't heal well or let heal naturally but they are all pretty minor and just age him more. The only real notable scar is covered by a tattoo on his right arm.

FACE CLAIM: David Beckham

personal ––– –

PROFESSION: Ballistic Alchemist, Wildbane Operative, Runesniper, Spellshot Tracker

HOBBIES: Ammo crafting more than just with gunpowder, fletching and bowcrafting even if he uses guns, gunsmithing, falconry and animal handling, mapping trails or lost ruins, stargazing, tattoo sketching and journaling

LANGUAGES: Thalassian, Common, Orcish, Darnassian, Shal'assian (somewhat), Zandali (loosely), Taur-ahe

SKILLS: Alchemical Ammunition he creates himself many different specialty bullets and arrows. Marksman's Precision no matter the weapon he's firing and often hired as a sniper due to his ability to calculate a shot. Hunter's Lore of hunting magical and mundane creatures gives advantage to identify and track magical beasts and understand them. Beastbond with companions he chooses via a deep soul-bond. Ghostwalking through any open terrain if shadows and wind favor him. Woundmender's basic field healing knowledge with natural remedies for animals and people though he uses this grudgingly.

GUILTY PLEASURES: Fine tea or wine, ballads and lullabies, collecting trinkets from contracts, flirting, storytelling, any excuse to dress in a suit.

FLAWS: Doesn't believe he deserves peace nor forgiveness nor rest nor love nor healing, reflected in the lack of getting his wounds healed properly - Explained more [Here] - He'll sabotage closeness, take the hardest road, mask pain with charm or cynicism and push through injuries or trauma without stopping.

PET PEEVES/ANNOYANCES: Sloppy weapon care, Mindless small talk, Flaunting honor, Bright and chipper optimism, Disorderly campsites, Being underestimated, Questions about his tattoos by someone he doesn't trust, overly clingy people and companions, people who mistake kindness for intimacy, Desecration of nature, traitors and manipulators, the undead and arcane recklessness.

FEARS: Loss of feeling anything, becoming hollow - Explained [Here], Letting someone in and losing them / not being able to protect someone he cares about - Explained [Here], Being seen as weak, forgetting his past.

relationships ––– -

SPOUSE: None

Children: None

PARENTS: Deceased

SIBLINGS: Sister - Tycil Dawnwhisper [ @tycildawnwhisper ]

OTHER RELATIVES: Deceased

ACQUAINTANCES/FRIENDS: Gaelen Suncinder He's starting to make a few more, though they are all still just acquaintances at the moment, time will tell if they ever become friends.

COMPANIONS: Virelith - 10 year old black panther, Wolfhawk - Un-named and Un-aged though he's been with him for around 12 years.

additional information ––– –

SMOKING HABIT: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

rp hooks --- -

Mercenary - he's assisted many different campaigns and military groups whenever and wherever his expertise and precision skills were necessary. He's even assisted the not so savory folk and taken contracts that were necessary though by no means legal.

Ballistic Alchemist and Runesniper - His ammo crafting and inventive mind aid in combining gunpowder, magic and calculation with deadly artistry. By now his unique rounds have been seen on the hunt or on the battlefield enough that word is spreading and people occasionally might inquire more about this skillset of his. He is not interested in selling as he custom builds everything for himself but rune-etched bullets are rare and memorable. Former Nobility - Despite the fact that Tycil and him decided to disband their house after the fall of Quel'thalas, the Dawnwhisper family was very widely known for their skills of the hunt and protecting the land and the people. Though the siblings seem to be more reclusive now, Vaelsnipe was usually the sibling who was present during balls, dinners, meetings and more over the years so his face is known albeit older and much more hardened now.

contact --- -

Feel free to approach on any platform though I admit I am better with in game interactions first and foremost

In-game name both WRA and MG: Vaelsnipe

Discord is a possibility but only once I get to know you in game first

Feel free to do asks/submits here on tumblr too if you wish to set something up later for in game interactions

tattoo dive --- -

VISUAL SKETCH LAYOUT FOR HIS CHEST, THROAT AND NECK Imagine Vael’s throat neck and upper chest as a stormy sky. The cloud serpent coils wide, thunder rippling into both arms. The Watcher Owl perches low, its wings folded protectively toward both sides of his neck, eyes resting right at the voice box . On the left neck up behind the ear, the dragonhawk flies upward toward the left ear. On the right neck near the ear, the baying crow and skull anchor downward. Shoulder to shoulder tattoo across the upper chest only (does not reach pecs) a weathering the storm Thundering Cloud Serpent within a storm cloud with body spread across shoulders and collarbones mid flight that ties both arm sleeves together. From above, the whole composition would feel like the storm has a heart (the owl), and two memories soaring in opposite directions (dragonhawk chasing forward, crow mourning behind).

VISUAL SKETCH LAYOUT FOR HIS LEFT ARM SLEEVE - THE KINSHIP PATH Top Shoulder Cap: Imagine Vael’s shoulder blade and biceps with Hippogryph Wings folded protectively over them feathery, grand wings curving like an old shield around the top of his arm. Shoulder / Upper Arm (toward front): a majestic bear head, calm eyes, mouth closed, fur etched like flowing water. The bear’s gaze turned slightly upward, as if watching the stars, grounded yet dreaming. Mid Arm (outer side): a sleek talbuk head, horns sweeping back, regal posture. The talbuk facing forward, horns framing the bear spirit above like a crown. Along his forearm, Along Forearm: a fierce ravasaur's half body coiled mid-stride, clever eyes glinting, claws careful, not reckless. The ravasaur’s tail curves around toward the back of his arm, like an unseen protector. Wrist: an elegant, elongated fen strider stepping through shallow water, its reflection abstracted into swirling ripples. Fading, dreamy lines as if the creature is both stepping out of the water and dissolving into it, flowing into his wrist.

VISUAL SKETCH LAYOUT FOR HIS RIGHT ARM SLEEVE - THE PREDATOR PATH Top Shoulder Cap: A Dire Worg centered heavily over the ball of the shoulder, snout snarling outward. Fur and frost-burned winds ripple backward along the shoulder blade and slightly down into the bicep. Shoulder / Upper Arm (toward front): A Fox Head peeking behind bushy tail nestled just slightly forward and under the Worg’s jawline, like it’s slyly peeking into view. The fox’s tail curls backward into some of the dire worg’s fur. Mid Arm (outer side): a Basilisk Eye large, cracked eye centered over the deltoid/bicep area. Cracks in the basilisk eye spider out into tiny veins across the skin, blending naturally with surrounding designs. Positioned so when Vael flexes or moves, it looks like the eye is trying to open Mid Arm (inner arm / bicep area): a Warp Stalker Claws. Three vicious claw rakes slash diagonally downward across the bicep, covering both muscle and part of the scar tissue underneath. Around the tears, faint ripples of shadow/magic ink distort the ink to give a half-real, half-nightmare feel. Outer Forearm (entire forearm): a Springpaw Lynx. The lynx is mid-pounce, stretched long across the outer forearm. Its paws nearly touch the wrist, giving motion as if forever in that silent, final leap before the kill. Wrist (wrapping around like a band): a Coiling Serpent twisting around the wrist, fangs aimed upward as if striking toward the elbow. Scales shimmer into the lynx's paws above, making the transition between the creatures feel seamless like the predator and poison are part of the same nature.

[vaelsnipe]

22. What kind of tattoos, piercings, birthmarks, freckles, and other such unique physical features do they have?

Been waiting for a while to answer this one as I was hopeful to show art here soon but it might be a while and good things come to those who wait yes? For those who went with him and the others on the spa day adventures, they'd have caught a rare glance of him entirely shirtless. At first glance, he's just an elf with heavy ink sleeve across shoulder, upper chest, neck and throat to the other sleeve.

To those who pay closer attention... His body tells his story quietly worn, marked, and built to endure. Despite his age he can run in full gear long distances and keep a constant pace and keeps his body well conditioned for such. No piercings, no birthmarks. But the tattoos are very complicated. Without revealing to much as it would be a VERY lengthy story... The left arm sleeve is his Kinship Path: His shoulder blade and bicepts have inked hippogryph wings folded protectively over them, feathery grand curving wings like an old shield around the top of his arm. Beneath that is a majestic bear head with calm eyes, mouth closed and fur etched like flowing water. The bear's head's gaze turned slightly upward as if watching the stars with a grounded yet dreaming look. Beneath that is a sleep talbuk head with horns sweeping back in a regal posture. It faces forward while its horns frame the bear spirit above like a crown. Below that is a fierce ravasaur coiled mid-stride with clever eyes glinting. The ravasaur is cut off at the feet but its tail slides around the back of his arm like an unseen protector. And finally, along his wrist and forearm is that of an elegant, elongated fen strider stepping through shallow water. Its reflection abstracted into swirling ripples like fading dreaming lines as if the creature is both stepping out of the water and dissolving into it flowing into his wrist. The right arm sleeve is his Predator Path: Starting with the right wrist is a coiling serpent, twisting around his wrist with fangs aimed upward as if to striking towards the elbow. Its skales shimmer into the lynx's paws above, makign the transition between the creatures feel seamless like the predator and posion are part of the same nature. Beatuiful but deadly. The lynx is seen on his forearm mid-pounce, stretched long across the outer forearm. Its paws nearly touch the wrist giving motion as if forever in that slilent final leap before a kill. Three vicious claws rake slashes diagonally downward across the bicept above the lynx, covering both muscle and old scar tissue underneath. Around the tears are faint ripples of magical ink giving it a half-freal, half-nightmare feel. At close inspection the claws ripping through his arm are that of a warp stalker's claws. Mid-arm on the outer side is a large basalisk eye, cracked and centered over the deltoid area. The cracks in the basilisk eye spider out into tiny veins across the skin, blending naturally with surrounding designs. When Vael flexes or moves it looks like the eye is trying to open. The front of his shoulder/upper arm is that of a fox head peeking behind a big bushy tail. Nestled just slightly forward of the tattoo above it like it's shyly peeking into view. The foxy's tail curls backward into some of the fur of the worg above it like tying the two together. The top of his shoulder cap is that of a snout snarling outward. A large gnarly dire worg with fur and frost-burned winds ripple backward along the shoulder blade and slightly down into the bicep.

Connecting the sleeves is a mural tied together shoulder to shoulder, across his collar bones, neck and throat. From above, the whole composition gives the feel of a storm that has a heart and memories soaring in oppsiite directions. Locked within that stormy sky a cloud serpent coils wide with thunder rippling into both arms. Shoulder to shoulder though it does not reach his pecs, a Stom Thundering Cloud Serpent is seen mid flight through a storm like a force to be reckoned with that ties both sleeves together. Just above it, a Watcher Owl perches low, its wings folded protectively towards both sides of his neck. With eyes resting right at the voice box guarding his words, silence and truths. On the left of his neck reaching up behind the ear, a dragonhawk flies upward getting smaller and further away till it disappeares mid flight behind the ear. On the right side of his neck, a baying crow standing atop an elven skull anchor downward but baying up into the ear. Together it seems the storm has a heart with two memories soaring in oppsite directions. Thank you for the ask Lily!

[vaelsnipe]

Shadows of the Dawnwhispers

If I could just let go, I'd be set free...

I should sleep. My body's exhausted, aching in all the familiar ways. Wounds earned and never quite healed, but my mind won't let me.

Every time I close my eyes, I see her face. Not just as she is now, standing in the doorway of that half-built house with the void still clinging to her like smoke, But as she was. Before. Before everything fell.

She was just a girl then. My sister. My shadow. Always a step behind with her bow too big for her hands and her questions too big for the world. And I was the one who swore I’d keep her safe. I did a damn fine job, didn’t I?

I can still hear her voice last night, quiet, shaking, like she didn’t know if she had the right to speak the pain aloud. How could I have missed it? Gods, how could I have walked away again and again, pretending distance would somehow protect her, protect me? How many times did she wait for me to come home? How many times did I pass through those woods and never look back? Every damn step of mine was a betrayal wearing the skin of mercy.

I tell myself it was to spare her, to spare myself, to not open old wounds. But truth is, I was a coward. The one thing I swore I'd never be. I faced demons, horrors, monsters that wore the skin of friends and none of them ever scared me like the thought of losing her again.

So I let her suffer alone. Even after she clawed her way back from whatever nightmare realm stole her, alone. And when she finally found me again, what did I do? I pushed her further into the dark.

She told me she thought about ending it. Ending herself. Because I left. Because I stayed gone.

Light help me, I held her, but it wasn’t enough. A hug can’t erase years of abandonment. It can’t burn away the void whispering in her mind or undo the weight of my silence. But maybe... maybe it's not too late to do right by her. Maybe it starts with showing up. Staying.

I don't know how to fix what I’ve broken. But I know I’m done running from it.

Tomorrow, we try again. Even if all I can do is sit beside her in that half-built house, listening to the wind in the ruins of our past. She deserves that much. And more.

Sleep will come when it wants. But for now, guilt is my blanket, and I’ll wear it, because I earned it. And because it’s time I stopped pretending I didn’t.

[lilyofporcelain]

It was not that Laeynna had been unaccustomed to kindness. It was, perhaps, more accurate to say that she hadn't allowed herself to accept it much and she understood very well that such continued to be a work-in-progress.

It had become somewhat common for her to, on occasion, drop by the Shielded Mind, if only to offer well-wishes, sometimes to simply drop off flowers and plants she'd gathered in travels close to the city, and sometimes for the sheer desire to converse. It seemed better to attempt breaking out of her shell than to fall into old habits of isolation. Plus, she had to admit that her heart felt just a bit lighter in the presence of the others.

That night she'd sat even in mere memory left her smiling. Bucket lists and dreams and desires. Her own ambitions in the world of botany. Fio's grand idea and just being in florist company where she felt their passions had the potential to bind them together. Seeing Tinnaire too, had been a delight.

Simple joys, perhaps. Much the way she felt herself minutely flustered to be the recipient of chocolate roses. Wearing a dotting of pink that spread along the edge of sylvan ears, she didn't know what to make of them at first. Laeynna had asked for nothing. Even more so, she'd been quick to politely decline, or as close to declination as it seemed she was going to get.

How thoughtful of him.

Perhaps she should have allowed Vaelsnipe and Lukel to escort her home afterwards. Old habits died hard, didn't they. Laeynna still fought a fight that didn't really exist, thinking she had to take on everything herself. She couldn't have friends if she didn't let people become friends. The same had applied to Andaeros. She couldn't love anyone if she couldn't let him love her.

After a thoughtful hum, she found herself returning to the apartment she shared with the disgraced spellbreaker and set to writing a missive that would later find itself in the hands of a courier to be delivered to the source of her up and coming much-deserved dessert. With it, she included pressed and preserved bluebell flowers.

Master Vaelsnipe— How kind and courteous of you to think of me, though I assure you such a thing was hardly necessary. After all, it is not as though you know me particularly well or much at all. Still, I am touched by your consideration. I pray that this finds you well and that you go with blessings of providence and prosperity. —Laeynna Emberflame

Appointment, Donation & Delivery

Upon the Shielded Mind's lobby area on the main desk sat a large wicker Noblegarden basket. Within it was an assortment of noblegarden themed chocolates, treats and even some coffee grounds and teas.

Vaelsnipe had earned a few looks when he brought it to the clinic for his appointment today, as this was not typically something he'd do for anyone. But it seemed yesterday's adventures had proved fruitful after their talk the night before on the stoop with the few gathered there. Lukel and the shop owner had more or less cornered Vaelsnipe with big eyes begging him to go along with this picking of items to give to others , he somehow caved in the end. It wouldn't kill him to do something nice for the clinic afterall, especially with how much he came there.

Within the basket were some chocolate roses for Laeynna specifically. A very well written note done in calligraphy was left with the roses to ensure only she ate them. Even if not staff from the clinic itself, it was hoped that they might return to its stoop one day to collect the gift as it wasn't like they knew where they lived.

There was also some Coffee freshly roasted, some coffee bites in the shape of beans and some chocolate expresso bars. When he'd met with Veilos, he'd made sure he knew those were in there just for him and which Lukel had been insistent that Veil tried as Vael's idea of just getting the elf coffee alone wasn't enough.

There was also several little chocolate turtles, chocolate mice and a few other animals. But there wasn't only chocolate. Some other candies were added too including extra chocolate mack-a-roons as Lukel called them. They'd mailed some to Fiorenze already along with the letter Vaelsnipe had sent her after they'd gone shopping. Lukel was adamant she receive those.

By the end of his healing session, Veilos discovered the void taint in his arm was no longer present, though the damage was still there, so at least today's appointment was less painful than the last but he had continued to show up for every therapy session every other day. Before he left after todays appointment, he gave him an envelope with a good amount of gold within it. A generous donation to the Children's event they were hosting this weekend as he sadly would be away for something personal. But he made certain the Dr. was given the heavy coin pouch. He warned him too that there may be a few chocolate coins in there he missed… courtesy of Lukel as well. Children needed chocolate too.

Direct Mentions: @veilosdaigoa @theshieldedmind @lilyofporcelain @lukel-sunshadow @fio-renze

Soft Mentions: @zenithnightbane @gloamingdawn @nahisummerhold @kharrisdawndancer

[vaelsnipe]

42. Is there anything in your character’s past that they regret, haunts them, or they wish they could change?

In a reoccuring nightmare, it always begins the same: silence, thick and oppressive, like the world has stopped breathing.

He finds himself in the middle of a blackened forest not one he recognizes, but one that feels like Quel’Thalas, stripped bare and hollowed out. The trees are skeletal, their branches reaching like claws toward a sky choked in unmoving clouds. The only sound is the faint crackle of void energy in the distance, like static soaked into the air.

Then he hears her. Tycil’s voice distant at first, then clearer calling his name in a way that shreds him from the inside. It’s not the calm, sharp sister he remembers. It’s a child’s scream. Desperate and terrified.

He runs. Through bramble and smoke, through a twisting nightmare of shifting paths and shadows that pull away just before he can grasp them. His breath comes ragged, heart pounding in that way it only does when he’s powerless. Then he sees her.

Just ahead, bathed in a pale, unnatural light. Tycil, on her knees, held by tendrils of shadow dragging her backward. Her eyes meet his, wide with terror and trust, and her hand shoots forward, reaching. He always grabs it. Every time. He feels the press of her fingers, the weight of her grip...

...and then it slips.

No matter how tight he holds, no matter how hard he pulls, she’s yanked into the dark with a scream that echoes like it was torn from his own throat. He falls forward into nothing, left only with blood under his nails and the ghost of her hand in his.

When he wakes, he’s still reaching. Hand clenched around air. Chest tight. The silence of the dream lingers, and sometimes… he can still hear her.

He doesn't tell anyone. But to this day when he visits her home or anywhere near Quel'thalas he sees her there, alive but distant, corrupted but still herself. It hurts in a different way. Because he saved her too late, he never saved her at all. And part of her is still trapped in that place. [ @tycildawnwhisper mentioned in his reoccuring nightmare of a moment that forever haunts him to this day. A moment, he deeply regrets. Thank you for the ask!]

[tycildawnwhisper]

DWC May 2025 Day 3 - Linger/Gaze

She crouched beside the bed, then lowered to her belly to peer into the dim gap beneath the frame. “Shadow,” she called softly, drawing out the name like a lullaby. “Come on. I can see you.” Her tone was coaxing, laced with amusement and just a touch of frustration.

The little creature had followed her from the nether. Not at first, but slowly, gradually. She began noticing the lingering shadows that danced just out of sight. Over time, those flickers coalesced into a shape, a fox-like thing, all big ears and impossible cuteness.

Black eyes with swirling voids gazed back at her from the darkness. The sleek shape shifted deeper under the bed, tail flicking with deliberate teasing. The void-being melted into the gloom like smoke into fog, a swirl of living darkness. 

“Oh, I see how it is,” she muttered. Her cheek pressed against the cool floor, hair fanning out in lazy waves. “You think this is a game. You know I won’t hurt you, I probably can’t hurt you.”

Shadow answered with a quiet chirp, playful and smug. Then it pounced, tapping her fingers with magically chilled paws and bounded back into the shadows, clearly delighted by this strange game of hide-and-seek. A laugh slipped out as she pulled her hand back, rubbing it. “You little trickster.”

With a sigh and a smile, she reached into her sweater pocket and retrieved the crinkly bag of solid arcane chips.The sound caught Shadow’s attention instantly. It inched forward, low to the ground, belly brushing the floor, eyes locked on the glowing treat. Tyce sat up and put one of the treats in front of her. “Just a little closer,” she whispered, breath held as it crept toward her. Her body sat relaxed, the hunter just wanted it to come out of the dark and sit with her, but Shadow batted the chip away with startling speed and vanished once again its tail a whisper of dusk.

Shaking her head, she broke into laughter. “Fine,” she groaned, “you win.” She had been trying to train her little watcher to stay longer in the light, hoping it might reveal more of itself. Why was it here? Was it merely a shard of void that recognized her? A watcher? A memory? Something else?

Shifting on the floor, she leaned her back against the bed and studied the corners of her home. It was brightly lit on purpose, the shadows were kept thin, their reach short. But sometimes, it still felt like the nether was reaching back for her. Sometimes she worried she was going mad.

Things flickered in her peripheral vision, shapes that vanished when she looked directly at them. Those... things had lived with her ever since she returned. Since her emergence. 

When her brother Vael came, she told him the truth. How she was still afraid. How she sometimes felt the nether still watched her from the corners. She welcomed him back not just out of love, but in hope that he might be her anchor, something to keep her tethered. Just like this house was.

Tyce had spent too long lost, in a place where nothing felt real, except, somehow, her. Even when her mind insisted it was just a dream, not her reality, down deep she knew she remained lost. There had been people she would meet off and on, like C, the man who helped her come home, but most of her time had been spent in solitude.

Still, there had always been a presence that lingered around her from the moment she awoke in that place: healed, but not whole. Something watched over her, an unseen companion that left little gifts for her to find in her travels. Something that never spoke, but was always there.

For the longest time, she thought Shadow was that presence. The same silent guardian, but now… she wasn’t sure.All she knew was that it was still with her.

And somehow, it always would be. (@daily-writing-challenge) (Mentions @vaelsnipe @theconstructsworld )