[OPEN] standing tall in the dark

[coerthantorment]

WHO: Estinien Wyrmblood and YOU
WHAT: Estinien recovers from the brutal asskicking he received during the Dimming and awkwardly stumbles through life in Solvunn.
WHERE: Solvunn & the Horizon
WHEN: Late December through January

I➔ The Long Dark

Estinien spends the weeks after the Dimming in something akin to hibernation - not completely dead to the world, but largely hidden away from it, sleeping off the fairly severe injuries he obtained during the their attempted claiming of the caskets. He returned to Solvunn as a bloody mess, torn and broken, hauled to the local apothecary in a cart to see to the most critical of his injuries. It'd be a lie to say that the humiliation of it all hasn't affected his willingness to visit the outside world, even if the exhaustion accompanying his wounds wasn't unnatural in of itself.

It's a dragon thing, he eventually realizes, to sleep deep after receiving injuries like this. Of course, a dragons may actually sleep for years if wounded badly enough, and he can only pray that isn't going to be the case here. Himeka's healing has already accomplished a lot - the rest of it is simply a matter of waiting it out.

And so, he spends those early days rarely leaving his room on the Gardsbruk sheep farm, his sutured wings and lacerated tail spilling out across the floor and blackened scales still surrounding his most severe wounds. His face, though, has mostly returned to normal, his long hair a mess after days spent in bed. He can be roused for visitors if they are inclined to visit, but the sleep never quite leaves him, leading him to be downright incoherent at times.

He also really needs to be hauled out for a proper bath at some point.

II➔ Awaiting Spring

By the end of December, he'll have started making brief journeys out into town, under some nebulous pretense of continuing his work - only for his terrible physical condition to stymy most of his attempts. Bundled up for winter weather, and with an additional shawl wrapped around head and shoulders for warmth, he can be found around the Primary Settlement, failing at performing errands in various ways:

1) Even while simply walking further into town from the Gardsbruk homestead, he finds himself wondering if he needs to sit down - just for a moment, of course. On the edge of the settlement, he can be found slumped against a building or fence, dozing in the snow... which is probably not the best strategy, if he's trying to avoid becoming more unwell.

2) When he's feeling a little bit more put together, he'll even try to do some shopping for Maeve, the lady of the farm he works at. Of course, by the time he actually gets to the markets, he's already half asleep while walking. While trying to pick up some simple items, he ends up handing over the wrong sort of coin - a gold alongside the coppers - and it isn't until he's already started trudging away that the shopkeeper realizes. They shout after him, but he apparently doesn't notice. If they spot you watching, they might even ask you to bring the excess money to him before he slips away.

III➔ In the Horizon

In the Horizon, he can avoid a lot of these troubles, because he has far more control over his body and mind. Of course, he also hasn't been particularly interested in venturing outside of the safety of his domain as of late, meaning that most of his activities are focused inward. He can be spotted caring for his flock for an hour or two each evening, so in that way he's fairly easy to track down if one has the mind to.

From a distance, those wandering the Horizon may also see the form of dragons flying above his domain, their scales shining in white and green. Occasionally, those dragons will even leave the confines of his valley, soaring over the rest of the Horizon, as if looking for something.

IV➔ Wild Card!

If you want to meet with Estinien in a way that isn't described here, feel free to hit me up in the discord or at quixocalypse and we can discuss options. Alternatively, surprise me!

Comments

Horizon

[fourarmedandangerous]

It's as he's stepping through the stone doors that mark the edge of his Domain, preparing to leave the Horizon, that the flutter of leather wings overhead catches Goro's ear, and turns his attention upwards. He squints in curiosity; strange, to see a dragon flying overhead. It brings to mind two of his opponents back during the Dimming, and a matter left unresolved that still pricks at him like a splinter he cannot rid himself of.

So, deciding not to return just yet, he follows the dragon, easily keeping pace with it from the ground, until it disappears over the rock wall that marks another domain. While there is a tunnel nearby, the thought of entering caverns unknown to him while the master of this domain is obfuscated, Goro elects to go up rather than through. A few well placed leaps, using the jutting crystals and whatever footholds he can find or make in the rock sees Goro reach the top of the mountain wall, and gives him a view of the valley below. Crouching down, he watches the valley below...before spying a figure in one of its meadows, tending to a flock of animals...and a familiar shock of white hair. Goro smiles in grim satisfaction, before rising, and leaping again, taking him off the rock wall and into the valley below.

His landing cracks the ground, and causes the nearby herd of horses to scatter, running for the trees. The reverberation of Goro's landing can likely be heard throughout the domain, especially where Estinien is currently tending his flock, assuming he did not see the Shokan coming down.

For his part, Goro stands by the banks of the river that winds its way through the domain, and waits.

[coerthantorment]

Tiamat's massive form is just settling back into her mountain home as Goro arrives, proclaiming to Estinien in a soft roar that she saw nothing in particular of note. Estinien acknowledges her, but not much more - there's no point in discussing when he is well aware that this is but a shadow of the true dragon, incapable of having opinions separate from his own will. She's an extra set of eyes and a familiar face, but not much more. Trying to make her more than that would be insulting, he thinks.

Goro landing, of course, is the more compelling evidence that something is awry - it's been a while since he had a visitor, especially one that was so crass. He can already feel the back of his neck prickling, even before he finds visual confirmation of who it is.

Estinien rises on wing, landing a short distance from the interloper, a snarl on his lips. Behind him, his flock seems to instinctually shrink away.

"Get out," he rumbles, his body taut, as if prepared to attack.

[fourarmedandangerous]

Goro folds his upper arms over his chest, feeling Estinien's arrival before the Elezen speaks, keeping his back to him. "So this is your domain. The monster who plays at being a shepherd. How farcical." It's then that he turns to regard Estinien, his body language as relaxed as his enemy's is taut.

"And I think not. We have unfinished business to attend to. Where is the sorceress?" After all, this matter concerns her too.

[coerthantorment]

The irony is not lost on Estinien in that regard, and it's something he's thought about plenty of times - but that's not something he's going to get into with Goro. If anything, he thinks it's odd that Goro would accuse someone else of being a monster.

"She's not here."

A flutter of worry goes through his gut as he worries about her domain - she tends to leave it in random places across the Horizon. Yet, at least this once, he knows where it is and that he can protect it. All the more reason to stand his ground.

"There is nothing for you to accomplish in this realm."

awaiting spring, 1

[baltimores]

Neutral and reclusive had been the Solvunn sales pitch, so Amos had gone there without much thought. Found the most reclusive part of it, holed himself up there. It's been working out alright. Nothing to complain about, really.

But word of what had gone on at the Singularity during the Dimming had reached all corners, including him, and brought him pause. Sending people out there sounds neither neutral nor reclusive, and after mulling it over for a bit — wondering what certain friends from back home would do if they were here, which they decidedly are not — Amos figured he could head to the Primary Settlement, see what's going on there.

Not like he has the faintest idea of what he'll actually do when he gets there, but he's spared of that for the moment when he sees a rather large figure slumped against a building towards the settlement's edge. Blinks, and realizes he recognizes him, from a night at a tavern months ago. Guy who said he liked it here. And Himeka's friend.

Except things are kinda weird with Himeka now, but that's not relevant here. Amos takes another moment to watch Estinien, see if he's going to wake up, do something, before approaching him.

"Hey," he says. Doesn't touch him, in case it turns out he has a violent reaction to suddenly being woken up, but he figures he's loud enough to be heard. "That more comfortable than it looks?"

[coerthantorment]

It takes Estinien a moment, but he gets there. It probably doesn't help that this is, in fact, not particularly comfortable - even though he finds it relatively easy to deal with the cold, it's still a testament to his exhaustion that he ended up sleeping here in the first place.

He blinks groggily, a puff of foggy air escaping his mouth as he shifts. That void sound... familiar? For a moment he wonders if it's Declan, with the sort of delusion that follows one briefly into waking, until he slowly realizes that doesn't fit at all. He squints up into the winter light.

Oh, it's Himeka's friend. Amos. Isn't he usually in the Tertiary Settlement?

"Hm?" he murmurs, initially unsure how to answer his question, as he can't even remember what he was doing before sleeping. Why is he here again? His ass is cold. Slowly, he pieces things together. "I'm going into town."

If that sounds disconnected from Amos's question, it's because it is.

[baltimores]

The hm is a good sign that Estinien is still alive. Conscious, even. The rest of it, less so.

Amos cocks his head, looking Estinien over. At least he's dressed for the weather, so whatever it is going on with him, it isn't too bad. Like, he's not about to keel over and expire or anything. Still, it's clear the guy isn't entirely present in the moment, and who knows how long he's been out of it.

"Right," Amos says, skepticism clear in his tone. "Probably easier ways to do that than by sleeping up against a building in the snow. You doing alright?"

[coerthantorment]

Estinien starts to haul himself up, seemingly at Amos's suggestion - only to jolt and stagger as he gets onto his feet, clutching as his ribs as his still-healing bones cry out in protest. He gasps, bracing against the fence post - it's not as bad as it was, but the herbal remedies he was taking for the pain seem to be running thin.

Slowly, unsteadily, he pulls himself together, trying to get the rest of the way up. The pain, at least, has a way of waking him up a little.

"Wounds from the Dimming," he manages, his breath shallow. "'Tis... no matter."

Awaiting Spring - 2

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya has half a mind to chase after Estinien anyway, finally seeing him out since the conflict around the Singularity. So when the shopkeeper tries to pawn the money off on him he takes it with a hurried assurance to return it, and then turns on his heels in brisk pursuit.

"Estinien. Estinien!" He calls out, one hand cupped by his mouth, to try and draw his attention before Syrlya reaches his side.

[coerthantorment]

Estinien is trundling through the market crowd, trying to remember what he was supposed to be getting. He got the herbs, and the bread, but... he squints at his handful of coins, and there doesn't seem to be enough. When did he spend the rest of it? He was certain there was at least a gold in there...

He's stopped moving entirely then, lost in his confusion, when Syrlya hustles up behind him, calling his name. He doesn't stop staring at his coinage, desperately trying to make sense of what he's looking at. His gaze only flickers up when Syrlya is right beside him, at which point he remembers: it's the plant man from before.

Shouldn't he be wilting? Do sylphs do that?

"What are you doing out?" he murmurs at him. Up close, the dark circles beneath his eyes are even more radically pronounced than they were the last time they met, his posture uneven and ginger with somewhat concealed pain.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya slow to a stop. Is he... not supposed to be out?

He squints his eyes, staring at Estinien as if that'll make things any more enlightening--until he shakes his head and holds the money out to him. "Returning your coin, apparently. You overpaid the shopkeep back there."

[coerthantorment]

"Shite..." he murmurs, fumbling to take the coin from Syrlya's hand. That's the money he couldn't account for. Had he really just handed that over along with the rest. His hand wavers as he tries to stuff it back into his bag, trying to shake his head enough to jostle some sense back into himself.

He's fortunate that, at least, the people here in Solvunn are generally honest in their commerce. He squints into his pack, trying to count what he's actually purchased.

"My thanks," he adds, after a moment.

Long Dark

[stealsthetruth]

Of course Kay has to stop by for a visit. They live in the same house now, which means there'd be basically no avoiding her, even if he were to try.

Alas, the first few days he's back, she's been bedridden... Down for the count with some kind of local illness. That's really the only reason Estinien hasn't seen an appearance from her sooner than this; if she'd been lucid and healthy enough to register her housemates informing her that something had happened to him, she would've been in here on day one. In that regard, it might actually be a blessing in disguise that she's been sick... It at least gives him a few days of peace.

Well, she's awake now... Though she still has very little notion of what he *specifically* has been through, and even less of a clue of how anything involving the Dimming played out. All that concerns her at the moment is that her friend and mentor has been injured, apparently quite severely.

She marks her arrival with her usual chaotic flair, by barging through the door without knocking, albeit with only about 30% of her usual vigor behind the action. "Master Esti!" she calls out, leaning on the door frame for support. She looks Frazzled. Harried. Displaying all the signs of someone who heard the news 'Estinien was injured,' and then rushed off without waiting to hear about the part where he's already been recovering for a few days.

At least her throat is still kind of raspy, so she can't really shout very effectively at all.

[coerthantorment]

Estinien is stretched out on his side, pointedly avoiding putting any weight on broken ribs. His breaths rise and fall shakily, matching her raspiness on a more guttural level. His wings are out, one curled around him and the other stretches back across the bed, the leathery scales of them clearly torn back in places and neatly stitched back together. They are already well on their way to healing, but like the rest of his body, the lingering signs of abuse are clear.

His lips are dry when he wakes, his gaze unsteady as he slowly turns his attention to the doorway. Apparently, Kay is up. He's wondered about her and if she knew what happened - and her reaction is giving him some foggy idea that this may be a surprise.

When he responds it takes a moment, like he has to collect his breath before attempting to speak.

"Out of bed, are you?"

There's the flicker of a smile at the corner of his lips, despite him looking absolutely awful in all other regards. At least he isn't the only one.

[stealsthetruth]

The extent of his injuries really is chilling. She has looked pretty rough herself in times past (minus the dragon parts of course)... But you really can't even compare her being wrapped in several layers of precautionary bandages to... This.

"Of course I'm out of bed," Kay harumphs, putting on a tough face and inviting herself further into the room. "Himeka and Relena both said you nearly died, so I had to check up on you right away!"

It's entirely possible neither Himeka nor Relena ever said anything even close to that, but, it's what Kay heard, so that's how she's choosing to remember it. Accuracy can go to hell, hyperbole is her best friend now.

[coerthantorment]

Even though Kay is possibly making it up, Estinien's expression falters somewhat at it being phrased that way. Did he almost die? Maybe. Without Himeka's healing, it would have certainly been worse than it is now. Had this whole thing really been worth his life? He's not sure, but he's so accustomed to always giving his all, he's not sure of the alternative.

He feels foolish about it, regardless. Both because he failed so miserable, and because Solvunn has given him so little to hold onto justification-wise. His tail coils around him.

"Thorne made a move on the Singularity," he says. "We were asked to divert the Summoned they sent from their paths."

iii

[cryptsleeper]

[The goal was not to stumble into anyone's domain. Or if he was to stumble, only into people Alucard suspects would not blink at his presence.

And yet here he is, having expanded a tendril of thick, black, thorny roots into the only domain he's high tailed it out of in the past. In simply looking around, the dhampir recognizes the cave walls, the crystals against the rock face gleaming in the light. (They are, in fact, quite lovely. This is not the time to appreciate geology.)

There's a soft noise that leaves the dhampir that translates as ah. Shit. Then he places one hand atop the rooty, thorny mass he's accidentally brought into this place to turn it all back. Like leading a pet on a leash.]

This way, this is too far out.

[coerthantorment]

[Generally, when Estinien is in his domain, it's for the sake of caring for the things he's created. Even if he'd made them in a fit of amnesia-born madness, they were his responsibility now. Even the ones that would never accept his coddling if they were truly the creatures they were based on.

Among the crystalline caverns, Alucard will stumble upon Estinien in the middle of some creative work - shaping one cavern in particular. He seems to be seeding some manners of plant life within it, encouraging it to grow despite the lack of direct sunlight - yet when he hears the sound of footsteps, he pauses long enough to look towards it.

The figure he spots is familiar, he thinks - was he one of the people he saw in the Horizon all those months ago? Estinien pauses and then calls out.]

Lost, are you?

[cryptsleeper]

Stepped too far in one direction.

[Not being chased an automatic positive in this situation, and Alucard is not likely to mention a past encounter if the Domain's owner is not. What he can do instead is turn his eyes towards the plant life beyond Estinien, careful and considering.]

Yours don't have a tendency to sprawl, it seems.

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien may or may not, depending on how this goes, though he does feel that there is a level of understanding all around that their initial introduction into the Horizon was a mess and not to be considered too severely. He crosses his arm.]

Aye. Mountains tend to stay where they are.

[Though his own domain is more compact now than it was at that point. It only seemed polite to be space conscious when he was in his right mind. He nods at the thorny looking growth Alucard seems to be palling around with.]

Is that... thing part of yours?

1

[aquaveiled]

The knock on the door to Estinien's room is really only for show as Himeka lets herself in just a moment later. She's made it a point to check in on his progress a few times a day, though through much of it she has found him sleeping. Given how night has already fallen and the stars are out she expects to see much of the same, but for once she catches Estinien in a wakeful state.

Himeka smiles and shuts the door behind her, two mugs of something hot and pipping in her hand.

"And he's awake."

[coerthantorment]

He'd woken to a sky full of stars sometime before, watching them in a haze as he slowly tuned into the waking world. His muscles still ache and his chest feels heavy, but there is a semblance of clarity there that has been missing in recent days. Here he is, the thought strikes with a particular violence. Here he is, suffering the consequences of his first decisive action for Solvunn.

He wonders what Alphinaud and the others are doing - if they're doing anything at all, by now.

It probably wouldn't have been long before he fell into another stupor, had Himeka not fortuitously arrived. He looks away from the window, moonlight cast across him, his wings curled around him as he lays propped up against his pillows. As usual, he seems out of breath, having to take a moment to respond to her properly, though there is the trace of a smile on his lips.

"For now."

He sounds congested, and his words are shortly followed by a small cough. Even such a small thing sends a stab of pain down his side, though he suffers through it admirably.

II-1

[shadowthief]

With the business of the caskets put behind her, Inej finds herself at a loss again, what is she supposed to do here? She still isn't sure of her purpose. It leaves her unsteady, and wandering most days.

The streets of Solvunn's primary settlement are already becoming well-engrained in The Wraith's mind, so she lets her feet take her down newly-familiar paths. It's down one such street that she finds a familiar face, slumped haphazardly against the outer wall of one of the shops.

"Estinien?" She kneels beside him and reaches a hand out to rest on his shoulder, a look of concern on her face when he does not immediately rise. "Ser Estinien?" Maybe the use of formalities will catch his attention more.

[coerthantorment]

He's sworn he wasn't going to do this again. Yet, here he is.

He cracks open his eyes, his muscles and bones grating as he shifts with gradual wakefulness. His eyes take a moment to actually settle on her, which is unusual for him - usually he's quite good at snapping awake when circumstances call for it. Right now, though, it's the best he can do to keep his eyes open.

He feels chilled upon waking, perhaps having been out here resting for longer than he intended. It makes him feel uncomfortably vulnerable, being found like this... but at least its the face of someone he remembers being pleasant.

"Oh," he says, sounding confused. "My... mine apologies..."

It's only when he starts trying to get up that he realizes how cold he truly is. He shivers.

[shadowthief]

"Not necessary," she waves the apology away, instead shifting her weight into her heels as she loops one arm around him. "Come on, let's get you inside somewhere." It'll go better if he helps, if only because he is much taller than she, but Inej is perfectly capable of getting the man to his feet on her own if necessary.

She moves with him to be sure he is steady on his feet, leading him into a nearby tavern, where they can at least sit down somewhere while she assesses... whatever is going on with him, to make him pass out in the snow. It's concerning. She doesn't like it.