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Welcome, traveler. You must have come far to arrive here. Please, allow me to escort you to that which you seek... my name is Origin, and this is my humble space within the confines of the Sanctum. As my guest, you will of course be given the courtesy deserved by one of your status, as you peruse the archives for a bit of inspiration. Come now; you are safe here, as you unravel the very desires of your heart...
(Last updated 9/3/2025)
Now that you're comfortable, let me tell you a bit about myself before we continue. I'm an experienced writer and role-player, seeking those who are somewhat serious about writing and are looking to create long-term, respectful writing relationships. I am a patient, understanding individual who will always understand if you need a break, and if you can communicate such things to me when they happen, our thread can last many years, as they have for so many others I have gotten the chance to write with in this place.
In case it wasn't clear from the artwork, I have a preference for historical or medieval fantasy stories. Lords and Ladies are my bread and butter, knights and princesses my salt and pepper. I enjoy other less popular historical settings as well, including classical antiquity as well as the Renaissance and even the Old West. I would say generally I'm picky about contemporary settings unless there is some unique twist to them I can latch on to, such as a tale I once started where an unsuspecting college student ended up marrying the daughter of an Elder God...
As for characters, I tend to prefer writing male characters who are funny, witty, protective, brave, chivalrous, intelligent, or any combination of those. These characters are often knights, mercenaries, nobles, but also those from the lower echelons of society such as thieves, merchants, bards, and more. From female leads, I tend to prefer those who are bitingly clever, knowingly demure, strong-willed, or utterly broken and in need of a knight in shining armor. I will also write with a host of female leads I think are often unpopular on these sites, including widows, single mothers, trauma victims, and other downtrodden characters. Nonhuman females such as succubi, dragons, and more are also appealing to write opposite of due to the social context that often comes with their very existence.
As for what I dislike, I am generally avoidant of playing macho men and writing opposite bratty females, among other stereotypes which I find unpleasant to both read and write, although as with most of my preferences, circumstances are everything and I can be persuaded into at least trying just about any plot if it's compelling enough. I also dislike female characters which only exist to be chased, and do not chase in return; I find this makes for a one-sided story which isn't enjoyable for me to write.
I feel I needn't say much regarding my kinks or about smut; I lean towards plot-heavy threads and only write smut when the narrative calls for it. I am not averse to it, however, quite the opposite in fact, but if a story-first approach is what you seek, then know you are in good company here and needn't fear any strange requests or uncomfortable interactions both in-character and out. If I ever cross a line, however, please inform me and I will be happy to remove the issue to whatever degree would set you most at-ease.
I hope that information has satisfied you. I will now lead you to my library of plots and pairings to peruse at your leisure. Should any of it be of interest, you need only send a private correspondence to me so that we may hopefully begin preparations for our new plot.
Plots & Pairings
First, you may browse my selection of pairings; these are what I am most interested in writing and will be most likely to accept a request for.
Below is a collection of plot hooks, sorted by genre, to get a story started. I am open to new suggestions as well. Feel free to take elements from multiple plots and combine them together if the combination thereof would be of interest to you. If you liked one of my pairings and there's no plot attached to it, feel free to throw an idea at me!
Thank you for stopping by, fair traveler. I hope you found your stay to be pleasant. Here, let me lend you my coat before you leave; these are cold and treacherous times, and you may find need of such a gift. If you found something which suited you, I do hope you'll send a message and inform me forthwith, as I much look forward to writing with you. I will know by the contents whether we should embark upon this journey together or part ways. And if not, then I hope we may cherish this brief interaction in the days that are yet to come. Until then, godspeed, and may your road lead you to ever better fortunes...
(Last updated 9/3/2025)
Now that you're comfortable, let me tell you a bit about myself before we continue. I'm an experienced writer and role-player, seeking those who are somewhat serious about writing and are looking to create long-term, respectful writing relationships. I am a patient, understanding individual who will always understand if you need a break, and if you can communicate such things to me when they happen, our thread can last many years, as they have for so many others I have gotten the chance to write with in this place.
In case it wasn't clear from the artwork, I have a preference for historical or medieval fantasy stories. Lords and Ladies are my bread and butter, knights and princesses my salt and pepper. I enjoy other less popular historical settings as well, including classical antiquity as well as the Renaissance and even the Old West. I would say generally I'm picky about contemporary settings unless there is some unique twist to them I can latch on to, such as a tale I once started where an unsuspecting college student ended up marrying the daughter of an Elder God...
As for characters, I tend to prefer writing male characters who are funny, witty, protective, brave, chivalrous, intelligent, or any combination of those. These characters are often knights, mercenaries, nobles, but also those from the lower echelons of society such as thieves, merchants, bards, and more. From female leads, I tend to prefer those who are bitingly clever, knowingly demure, strong-willed, or utterly broken and in need of a knight in shining armor. I will also write with a host of female leads I think are often unpopular on these sites, including widows, single mothers, trauma victims, and other downtrodden characters. Nonhuman females such as succubi, dragons, and more are also appealing to write opposite of due to the social context that often comes with their very existence.
As for what I dislike, I am generally avoidant of playing macho men and writing opposite bratty females, among other stereotypes which I find unpleasant to both read and write, although as with most of my preferences, circumstances are everything and I can be persuaded into at least trying just about any plot if it's compelling enough. I also dislike female characters which only exist to be chased, and do not chase in return; I find this makes for a one-sided story which isn't enjoyable for me to write.
I feel I needn't say much regarding my kinks or about smut; I lean towards plot-heavy threads and only write smut when the narrative calls for it. I am not averse to it, however, quite the opposite in fact, but if a story-first approach is what you seek, then know you are in good company here and needn't fear any strange requests or uncomfortable interactions both in-character and out. If I ever cross a line, however, please inform me and I will be happy to remove the issue to whatever degree would set you most at-ease.
I hope that information has satisfied you. I will now lead you to my library of plots and pairings to peruse at your leisure. Should any of it be of interest, you need only send a private correspondence to me so that we may hopefully begin preparations for our new plot.
Plots & Pairings
First, you may browse my selection of pairings; these are what I am most interested in writing and will be most likely to accept a request for.
The pairings I'm interested in, without a specific plot
-Greek Hero x Monster
-Knight x Nymph/Dryad/Fae
-Knight* x Captured/Rescued Elf
-Mage* x Elven Bodyguard
-Supervillain* x Corruptible Superhero (OCs)
-Superhero x Superhero (OCs)
-Demon* x Summoner* (and vice versa)
-Knight/Mage* x Dragon
-Noble* x Arranged Wife
-Survivor x Survivor (apocalypse)
-Demon Lord* x Maiden
-Witch Hunter/Knight/Noble* x Witch
-Sailor* x Siren
-Greek Hero x Monster
-Knight x Nymph/Dryad/Fae
-Knight* x Captured/Rescued Elf
-Mage* x Elven Bodyguard
-Supervillain* x Corruptible Superhero (OCs)
-Superhero x Superhero (OCs)
-Demon* x Summoner* (and vice versa)
-Knight/Mage* x Dragon
-Noble* x Arranged Wife
-Survivor x Survivor (apocalypse)
-Demon Lord* x Maiden
-Witch Hunter/Knight/Noble* x Witch
-Sailor* x Siren
Below is a collection of plot hooks, sorted by genre, to get a story started. I am open to new suggestions as well. Feel free to take elements from multiple plots and combine them together if the combination thereof would be of interest to you. If you liked one of my pairings and there's no plot attached to it, feel free to throw an idea at me!
Situations where two characters are forced together, and whether or not they love each other, they need to make it work.
-"The Accidental Prince": MC meets YC at a festival. Unknowingly, he does something that causes him to be forced to marry YC, the daughter of a deity, monster, or something else, based on YC's divine traditions. Now, he must make the relationship work, or else the end to his story is looking fairly grim.
-"A Not-So-Guardian Angel": MC prays every night to a shrine to help him overcome his financial/other problems and loneliness. One night, his prayers are answered and YC descends from above, having been sent by her master to serve MC until his life is put together again. However, YC is a fallen angel, and resents this role, yet she cannot harm MC or she will never be able to get back to where she came from, and so the two must reluctantly work together, and end up falling for one another in the process..."
-"The Accidental Prince": MC meets YC at a festival. Unknowingly, he does something that causes him to be forced to marry YC, the daughter of a deity, monster, or something else, based on YC's divine traditions. Now, he must make the relationship work, or else the end to his story is looking fairly grim.
-"A Not-So-Guardian Angel": MC prays every night to a shrine to help him overcome his financial/other problems and loneliness. One night, his prayers are answered and YC descends from above, having been sent by her master to serve MC until his life is put together again. However, YC is a fallen angel, and resents this role, yet she cannot harm MC or she will never be able to get back to where she came from, and so the two must reluctantly work together, and end up falling for one another in the process..."
(Note: Slightly NSFW Images) I couldn't come up with something more clever for this category's title, but these are plots where MC is a human of some kind, who meets YC, who is not human, in one way or another, and the story goes from there.
-"Stay The Blade": MC is a knight sent to slay YC, the last known of her kind. Yet instead of a vicious monster, YC appears instead as a woman, and offers herself as a prize to MC in exchange for her life. Touched, MC offers to listen to her tale of woe instead, and the two fall for each other as MC decides to protect YC instead, despite all the potential consequences - after perhaps a long chase, or other circumstances.
-"My Wife, the Monster": MC is a lord of a kingdom who stumbles upon the deal of a lifetime: a marriage to a great family far above his own, access to great riches, power, and a beautiful bride. The catch? YC, his bride to be, is a monster, and by the time he finds out, it's too late to turn back. And she might even be in love, too.
-"The Summoner's Gift": MC unwittingly opens a grimoire of immense power one day full of magic rituals from ages long past. He stumbles upon a page with illustrations of a summoning ritual that he thinks will summon a companion of some kind, for both dubious purposes and not. To his surprise, the ritual works, and he summons YC, a powerful demoness/otherworldly being who is forced to follow his commands... well, some of them, anyway. However, summoning YC has unintentionally opened a gateway between planes of existence, as demons begin to flood MC's world, some with foul intentions, others with more complicated designs. YC knows how to close the gate, and return everything to normal, but the two of them must work together now that YC's power is bound to MC's strength of will, as they battle demons and magic to return the world to the way it was.
-"Eventide": Overnight, the world of men and fantasy has merged into one. MC, a human, meets YC in the ensuing chaos, and has to teach YC how to, well... human. Like getting a job. Using appliances. Or using crosswalks. On the other hand, MC might need YC's protection, now that the roads are patrolled by monsters, bandits, and more, and YC might have brought a greater danger with her to this strange, fantastic new world.
-"I Opened The Box You Were Trapped Inside": MC is a thief who sneaks into an ancient ruin and finds a treasure chest at the bottom with a puzzle lock. Beyond curious, he opens it to find his prize: YC, a once-powerful being who has lost most of her power, and now is much closer to mortals in terms of status. MC explains he is a thief, but one with a goal: to steal the Ruby of Radorn, the crown jewel of the Kingdom of Radorn. As it happens, YC knows that this same Ruby is what could reinvigorate her powers again, or, at least that's what the legends say. With a shared goal, the two of them plan the biggest heist the world has ever seen.
-"Dying to Meet You": MC is a man who murdered his brother and wife because he found them having an affair. On the run, he is found by the local lord's men, who shoot him dead and leave him to die in a ditch. As he fades from life, YC, a divine being or angel of some kind, offers him a second chance at life, but only if he goes on a quest to atone for his sins. However, YC has an ulterior motive, as she is not-so-perfect herself, and looking to redeem herself as well for her own transgressions against the higher power she serves...
-"Stay The Blade": MC is a knight sent to slay YC, the last known of her kind. Yet instead of a vicious monster, YC appears instead as a woman, and offers herself as a prize to MC in exchange for her life. Touched, MC offers to listen to her tale of woe instead, and the two fall for each other as MC decides to protect YC instead, despite all the potential consequences - after perhaps a long chase, or other circumstances.
-"My Wife, the Monster": MC is a lord of a kingdom who stumbles upon the deal of a lifetime: a marriage to a great family far above his own, access to great riches, power, and a beautiful bride. The catch? YC, his bride to be, is a monster, and by the time he finds out, it's too late to turn back. And she might even be in love, too.
-"The Summoner's Gift": MC unwittingly opens a grimoire of immense power one day full of magic rituals from ages long past. He stumbles upon a page with illustrations of a summoning ritual that he thinks will summon a companion of some kind, for both dubious purposes and not. To his surprise, the ritual works, and he summons YC, a powerful demoness/otherworldly being who is forced to follow his commands... well, some of them, anyway. However, summoning YC has unintentionally opened a gateway between planes of existence, as demons begin to flood MC's world, some with foul intentions, others with more complicated designs. YC knows how to close the gate, and return everything to normal, but the two of them must work together now that YC's power is bound to MC's strength of will, as they battle demons and magic to return the world to the way it was.
-"Eventide": Overnight, the world of men and fantasy has merged into one. MC, a human, meets YC in the ensuing chaos, and has to teach YC how to, well... human. Like getting a job. Using appliances. Or using crosswalks. On the other hand, MC might need YC's protection, now that the roads are patrolled by monsters, bandits, and more, and YC might have brought a greater danger with her to this strange, fantastic new world.
-"I Opened The Box You Were Trapped Inside": MC is a thief who sneaks into an ancient ruin and finds a treasure chest at the bottom with a puzzle lock. Beyond curious, he opens it to find his prize: YC, a once-powerful being who has lost most of her power, and now is much closer to mortals in terms of status. MC explains he is a thief, but one with a goal: to steal the Ruby of Radorn, the crown jewel of the Kingdom of Radorn. As it happens, YC knows that this same Ruby is what could reinvigorate her powers again, or, at least that's what the legends say. With a shared goal, the two of them plan the biggest heist the world has ever seen.
-"Dying to Meet You": MC is a man who murdered his brother and wife because he found them having an affair. On the run, he is found by the local lord's men, who shoot him dead and leave him to die in a ditch. As he fades from life, YC, a divine being or angel of some kind, offers him a second chance at life, but only if he goes on a quest to atone for his sins. However, YC has an ulterior motive, as she is not-so-perfect herself, and looking to redeem herself as well for her own transgressions against the higher power she serves...
Plots that heavily revolve around MC being a Knight or some other kind of noble.
-"The Forgotten Knight": MC is a knight taken prisoner by YC's kingdom. He is to be put to the sword for his allegiance rather than ransomed, but when YC finds him in the dungeon the day before, she makes him an offer he can't refuse: to become her bodyguard in exchange for his life...
-"My Liege, My Lover": MC is a knight in service of YC, a noblewoman, princess, or queen. When the time comes to defend YC's honor, MC volunteers every time with an almost fanatical zeal. Slowly, their relationship will bloom, but MC is hiding a terrible secret: he is the one who slew MC's former husband or betrothed in a duel, and perhaps not for honorable reasons...
-"The Red Knight": All along the land, word has been spreading of a knight clad in crimson armor, terrorizing people and winning countless duels, evading capture. MC, a knight loyal to a treacherous duke, seeks this Red Knight to bring honor to his house. However, upon battling and perhaps defeating the Red Knight, he discovers that this character is none other than YC, a noblewoman or perhaps even princess whose capture at MC's hands would change much...
-"The Forgotten Knight": MC is a knight taken prisoner by YC's kingdom. He is to be put to the sword for his allegiance rather than ransomed, but when YC finds him in the dungeon the day before, she makes him an offer he can't refuse: to become her bodyguard in exchange for his life...
-"My Liege, My Lover": MC is a knight in service of YC, a noblewoman, princess, or queen. When the time comes to defend YC's honor, MC volunteers every time with an almost fanatical zeal. Slowly, their relationship will bloom, but MC is hiding a terrible secret: he is the one who slew MC's former husband or betrothed in a duel, and perhaps not for honorable reasons...
-"The Red Knight": All along the land, word has been spreading of a knight clad in crimson armor, terrorizing people and winning countless duels, evading capture. MC, a knight loyal to a treacherous duke, seeks this Red Knight to bring honor to his house. However, upon battling and perhaps defeating the Red Knight, he discovers that this character is none other than YC, a noblewoman or perhaps even princess whose capture at MC's hands would change much...
Stories involving an unlikely pairing between the hunter and hunted (witch).
-"Darkest Darkness": MC, a mage, is in search of clues to unravel a growing evil in the land. As he continues to fail to find what he seeks, he enlists the aid of an unlikely ally: YC, a witch, outcast from society yet rumored to be skilled in the dark arts.
-"Eagle and Hare": In the midst of a new inquisition, MC is an inquisitor sent to a small town to kill YC, a suspected witch. With her very existence threatened, YC makes MC an offer he can't refuse: sex, power, or something else...
-"The White Witch": In a land where witches and nobles clash, a prominent church devises a solution to end the bloodshed: witches are to be integrated into society, those doing so becoming White Witches. However, MC, a young noble, takes this a step further when he selects one such white witch to be his bride as a display of power, a move which even the church will struggle to condone...
-"Darkest Darkness": MC, a mage, is in search of clues to unravel a growing evil in the land. As he continues to fail to find what he seeks, he enlists the aid of an unlikely ally: YC, a witch, outcast from society yet rumored to be skilled in the dark arts.
-"Eagle and Hare": In the midst of a new inquisition, MC is an inquisitor sent to a small town to kill YC, a suspected witch. With her very existence threatened, YC makes MC an offer he can't refuse: sex, power, or something else...
-"The White Witch": In a land where witches and nobles clash, a prominent church devises a solution to end the bloodshed: witches are to be integrated into society, those doing so becoming White Witches. However, MC, a young noble, takes this a step further when he selects one such white witch to be his bride as a display of power, a move which even the church will struggle to condone...
Stories about legendary warriors and sagas of the north.
-"The Mountain": When a woman in his village falls ill, MC volunteers to take YC on a journey to the top of a sacred mountain where legend states there is a spring that can cure any illness. But the way there is fraught with many dangers...
"The Offering": MC arrives on the shores of a foreign land, ready to raid the first village he comes across. Yet he is stopped by the village's elder, who offers his granddaughter as a bride if they will preserve the village. Amused, MC accepts, curious to learn more about YC's culture through his new captive.
"The New Kingdom": Driven out of their homes by an invading force, MC and his band of warriors sail to a new land, where they begin to invade. YC is a woman caught up in this invasion, whom MC shows mercy to after she pleads with MC not to kill her family—whether noble or otherwise. But the invasion must continue, for MC has no home, and must make this new land his own.
-"The Mountain": When a woman in his village falls ill, MC volunteers to take YC on a journey to the top of a sacred mountain where legend states there is a spring that can cure any illness. But the way there is fraught with many dangers...
"The Offering": MC arrives on the shores of a foreign land, ready to raid the first village he comes across. Yet he is stopped by the village's elder, who offers his granddaughter as a bride if they will preserve the village. Amused, MC accepts, curious to learn more about YC's culture through his new captive.
"The New Kingdom": Driven out of their homes by an invading force, MC and his band of warriors sail to a new land, where they begin to invade. YC is a woman caught up in this invasion, whom MC shows mercy to after she pleads with MC not to kill her family—whether noble or otherwise. But the invasion must continue, for MC has no home, and must make this new land his own.
Ideas for plots revolving around nomadic cultures and lifestyles. Highly interested in trying one of these!
-"My Home on the Steppes": YC, a Roman woman on the edge of the empire, is displaced when her village is attacked. She flees into the steppes, where she finds she is unable to survive. Starving and dying of dehydration, a group of nomad warriors find her, but to her surprise they accept her into their tribe, where she must quickly learn the way of life of a steppe nomad, which includes choosing a man to marry...
-"The Promised Land": When their way of life becomes threatened by new kingdoms, following a great loss at a battle, MC and YC's nomadic tribe decide to embark upon a quest to find a place called "Paradise," where they can finally find safety.
-"My Home on the Steppes": YC, a Roman woman on the edge of the empire, is displaced when her village is attacked. She flees into the steppes, where she finds she is unable to survive. Starving and dying of dehydration, a group of nomad warriors find her, but to her surprise they accept her into their tribe, where she must quickly learn the way of life of a steppe nomad, which includes choosing a man to marry...
-"The Promised Land": When their way of life becomes threatened by new kingdoms, following a great loss at a battle, MC and YC's nomadic tribe decide to embark upon a quest to find a place called "Paradise," where they can finally find safety.
Stories with fantastical elements and satisfying plots, and perhaps a bit of romance, too.
-"The Gilded Cage": MC finds YC trapped in another world: a game, a fantasy realm, or something else, and makes it his mission to save her to get away from his own miserable life.
-"The Break of Dawn": MC is an ordinary man who falls into YC's world, a fantasy or sci-fi world where his fresh perspective ends up being surprisingly useful, even as he is desperate to find his way home again.
-"Swan Song": In the land of Dannedarch, the elves are a dying race on the verge of being snuffed out entirely by war, decadence, and corruption. MC and YC are two characters in this world—perhaps noble, perhaps common, or perhaps warriors—who meet, and try to find happiness together in their dying world, or perhaps an answer that will save the Elven people from annihilation.
-"The Gilded Cage": MC finds YC trapped in another world: a game, a fantasy realm, or something else, and makes it his mission to save her to get away from his own miserable life.
-"The Break of Dawn": MC is an ordinary man who falls into YC's world, a fantasy or sci-fi world where his fresh perspective ends up being surprisingly useful, even as he is desperate to find his way home again.
-"Swan Song": In the land of Dannedarch, the elves are a dying race on the verge of being snuffed out entirely by war, decadence, and corruption. MC and YC are two characters in this world—perhaps noble, perhaps common, or perhaps warriors—who meet, and try to find happiness together in their dying world, or perhaps an answer that will save the Elven people from annihilation.
Generally lighthearted, lightweight stories that are meant to be good for the soul. Wholesome as can be.
-"Kiss Me, Already": YC is cursed to be forever unhappy unless she can be kissed by the son of the witch who cursed her (MC). This is arranged, but at the last second, MC changes his mind, claiming that he wants to save himself for the one he truly loves. Not wanting to be entirely cruel, MC gives YC a chance, but YC is in a bit of a hurry, and may use... underhanded... tactics to try to get the kiss, as chaos ensues.
-"Kiss Me, Already": YC is cursed to be forever unhappy unless she can be kissed by the son of the witch who cursed her (MC). This is arranged, but at the last second, MC changes his mind, claiming that he wants to save himself for the one he truly loves. Not wanting to be entirely cruel, MC gives YC a chance, but YC is in a bit of a hurry, and may use... underhanded... tactics to try to get the kiss, as chaos ensues.
Note: Sample is from F perspective, but this thread is for MxF specifically from the M perspective.
When Elizabeth awoke, the world was dark. It took her a few moments to realize she was presently face-first in freshly-trampled soil, at which she slowly raised her head, rolling onto her back and wiping some of the dirt and blood off her face with her gloved hand before really opening her eyes. When she did, the world seemed to be spinning around her, blurry and unclear, yet though her vision was failing her, her sense of smell was not, and she was reminded at once that she was in a battlefield, surrounded by the stench of blood and steel. At last, she sat up, revealing the world around her to be filled with nothing but the corpses of mostly her former fellow soldiers, most of whom had been sent to their grave by the spear of an horseman's spear.
The memories started to flood back into her mind, causing her to clench her face as her head swelled with a sudden pain. A neighboring kingdom had invaded them, and here, on the eastern edge of the Hanir River, Caladale had made their stand, offering open battle with them. But they hadn't anticipated the sudden flank of the mercenaries their enemies had hired, which had collapsed their line almost immediately. What happened after that, she didn't know, because she had found herself beneath the galloping horses, her thick armor only just enough to prevent herself from being completely crushed, but one hoof had caught her in the head before everything had gone dark. This much she remembered.
Among the line would have been Caladale's sergeants and the entirety of their infantry forces. Their knights had been trying to secure a flank as well, and among them would have been King Peter, both their commander, and the man she loved. Elizabeth's heart grew hopeful at the thought that perhaps while the infantry had faltered, Caladale's knights might have prevailed. However, without the support of the infantry, and the archers in particular, she didn't know what they could have done against their Griffin Knights, as well as the cavalry that likely would have returned... and that also meant...
No, she thought. Peter would have had a plan for this. We spent weeks strategizing for how to defeat the griffins...
She shook her head, which was painful but necessary to clear her head of that darker thought. Then, she stood, her armor shifting and clinking as she did so. She had lost her halberd, and her sword had somehow slipped from her belt in the chaos. There was little she could do if the forces of their enemy returned, but she would die on her feet, sword in hand if they did, that much she knew. She did not take lightly the oaths of her station as one of the King's royal guard, and she would gladly die for him in battle against the enemy. Only, the enemy was gone from the field now, any chance of honor for her stolen when she was incapacitated without fighting.
There was only one thing to do now, really; she needed to scout the area, and see what had transpired in the rest of the battle. She began walking towards where she last knew the Knights of Caladale would have been, though on foot she suspected it would take quite some time to arrive. As she marched on though, the number of bodies around her began to weigh increasingly on her mind, as she knew almost all of the bodies were the men of Caladale, with hardly a downed horse in sight. It was more than just a loss--it was a rout. Their entire line had collapsed and been run down by the horsemen. Where they had gone was a mystery, too.
She passed through the remains of the infantry, whereupon she reached an open space that was without death, at least for some time. These were the fields she had grown to love, the ground fertile and lush from the natural irrigation provided by the nearby Hanir River, a massive body of water that turned much of Caladale both into fertile farmland as well as marsh in many places, especially in the north, closer to the sea. If defeated, then the enemy's forces would have turned north to cross the Farenst Bridge to reach Stonebrook itself, and begun to lay siege. While normally a long, arduous process, their enemy had their griffin knights, who could likely overwhelm the castle's defenders too quickly for any kind of relief to arrive. However, with the destruction of their forces here, only Peter's knights could bring salvation to the Keep...
...And yet there was little sign of the knights. Onward Elizabeth marched through the knee-deep grass, her heart beginning to weary as much as her mind, as the fatigue was starting to outweigh her hope. As she was about to give in, however, she saw the glint of armor at the end of the field, just near a tree line; as she ventured closer, more bodies were revealed, hidden at distance by the tall grass. In time, she would reach the bodies, the outcome of the engagement still uncertain as the bodies of man, griffin, and horse were all intermingled, stacked high enough in some places that Elizabeth had to walk around some of the larger mounds.
So many dead, she thought. But it's still unclear who was the victor... Perhaps if I--
Her thoughts were cut off as a glint of gold reflected in her vision. Her eyes widened and she stopped moving, startled and wondering if she were simply imagining the sight. She took tentative steps forward, feeling that if her eyes weren't deceiving her, then she would be unable to bear the truth. Finally, she forced herself to take those last few painful steps, before realizing that the corpse before her, clad in gold-leafed plate and a crowned steel helm, was the unmistakable body of King Peter. Wordlessly, she kneeled next to the face-down body, which was contorted and displaced, clearly untouched since the moment of his death and left in an unpleasant state. After a moment of hesitation, as tears welled in her eyes, she rolled Peter's body over, revealed the bloodstained plate on the other side as well as the face of her former King and paramour, whose face was now marred by a large scar directly down the middle, likely the work of a griffin's talon.
No... she thought. This... This is all wrong... this couldn't have happened... Shouldn't have...
Tears streaked down her cheeks now, her teeth grit as she made sure his limbs were proper before lifting his upper torso and head in her hands. There, alone in the field, she began to weep, her eyes tightly shut as she gave in to the crushing despair the scene instigated. Long had she loved Peter, and long had she accepted that the two of them could never be together, but it was enough that he was alive and they could see each other regularly, and speak the conversations she had grown to love so many years ago. Now, it was gone, and with the death of the knights, her kingdom likely was, too.
For many moments she wept, unable to bear the horrid truth which had unfurled like some dread tapestry before her. What now was left for her? Stonebrook would fall in weeks, maybe sooner. The army had been destroyed, and likely all of Caladale would soon be under enemy control. If she were found, she would be executed as one so loyal to the crown. What resistance could she offer, if any? It was hopeless now--the light of her kingdom had been snuffed out, trampled beneath talon and hoof alike.
Perhaps some may have heard of the conflict, but if they had, then it would be too late now. Scavengers might soon be picking at the corpses, too. Reinforcements may have been coming, mercenaries or otherwise, but they would arrive too late to help, now. Elizabeth knew she needed to get moving, but she couldn't bring herself to do anything but hold on to the fallen King for just a few moments longer, no matter what may have come to interrupt her...
When Elizabeth awoke, the world was dark. It took her a few moments to realize she was presently face-first in freshly-trampled soil, at which she slowly raised her head, rolling onto her back and wiping some of the dirt and blood off her face with her gloved hand before really opening her eyes. When she did, the world seemed to be spinning around her, blurry and unclear, yet though her vision was failing her, her sense of smell was not, and she was reminded at once that she was in a battlefield, surrounded by the stench of blood and steel. At last, she sat up, revealing the world around her to be filled with nothing but the corpses of mostly her former fellow soldiers, most of whom had been sent to their grave by the spear of an horseman's spear.
The memories started to flood back into her mind, causing her to clench her face as her head swelled with a sudden pain. A neighboring kingdom had invaded them, and here, on the eastern edge of the Hanir River, Caladale had made their stand, offering open battle with them. But they hadn't anticipated the sudden flank of the mercenaries their enemies had hired, which had collapsed their line almost immediately. What happened after that, she didn't know, because she had found herself beneath the galloping horses, her thick armor only just enough to prevent herself from being completely crushed, but one hoof had caught her in the head before everything had gone dark. This much she remembered.
Among the line would have been Caladale's sergeants and the entirety of their infantry forces. Their knights had been trying to secure a flank as well, and among them would have been King Peter, both their commander, and the man she loved. Elizabeth's heart grew hopeful at the thought that perhaps while the infantry had faltered, Caladale's knights might have prevailed. However, without the support of the infantry, and the archers in particular, she didn't know what they could have done against their Griffin Knights, as well as the cavalry that likely would have returned... and that also meant...
No, she thought. Peter would have had a plan for this. We spent weeks strategizing for how to defeat the griffins...
She shook her head, which was painful but necessary to clear her head of that darker thought. Then, she stood, her armor shifting and clinking as she did so. She had lost her halberd, and her sword had somehow slipped from her belt in the chaos. There was little she could do if the forces of their enemy returned, but she would die on her feet, sword in hand if they did, that much she knew. She did not take lightly the oaths of her station as one of the King's royal guard, and she would gladly die for him in battle against the enemy. Only, the enemy was gone from the field now, any chance of honor for her stolen when she was incapacitated without fighting.
There was only one thing to do now, really; she needed to scout the area, and see what had transpired in the rest of the battle. She began walking towards where she last knew the Knights of Caladale would have been, though on foot she suspected it would take quite some time to arrive. As she marched on though, the number of bodies around her began to weigh increasingly on her mind, as she knew almost all of the bodies were the men of Caladale, with hardly a downed horse in sight. It was more than just a loss--it was a rout. Their entire line had collapsed and been run down by the horsemen. Where they had gone was a mystery, too.
She passed through the remains of the infantry, whereupon she reached an open space that was without death, at least for some time. These were the fields she had grown to love, the ground fertile and lush from the natural irrigation provided by the nearby Hanir River, a massive body of water that turned much of Caladale both into fertile farmland as well as marsh in many places, especially in the north, closer to the sea. If defeated, then the enemy's forces would have turned north to cross the Farenst Bridge to reach Stonebrook itself, and begun to lay siege. While normally a long, arduous process, their enemy had their griffin knights, who could likely overwhelm the castle's defenders too quickly for any kind of relief to arrive. However, with the destruction of their forces here, only Peter's knights could bring salvation to the Keep...
...And yet there was little sign of the knights. Onward Elizabeth marched through the knee-deep grass, her heart beginning to weary as much as her mind, as the fatigue was starting to outweigh her hope. As she was about to give in, however, she saw the glint of armor at the end of the field, just near a tree line; as she ventured closer, more bodies were revealed, hidden at distance by the tall grass. In time, she would reach the bodies, the outcome of the engagement still uncertain as the bodies of man, griffin, and horse were all intermingled, stacked high enough in some places that Elizabeth had to walk around some of the larger mounds.
So many dead, she thought. But it's still unclear who was the victor... Perhaps if I--
Her thoughts were cut off as a glint of gold reflected in her vision. Her eyes widened and she stopped moving, startled and wondering if she were simply imagining the sight. She took tentative steps forward, feeling that if her eyes weren't deceiving her, then she would be unable to bear the truth. Finally, she forced herself to take those last few painful steps, before realizing that the corpse before her, clad in gold-leafed plate and a crowned steel helm, was the unmistakable body of King Peter. Wordlessly, she kneeled next to the face-down body, which was contorted and displaced, clearly untouched since the moment of his death and left in an unpleasant state. After a moment of hesitation, as tears welled in her eyes, she rolled Peter's body over, revealed the bloodstained plate on the other side as well as the face of her former King and paramour, whose face was now marred by a large scar directly down the middle, likely the work of a griffin's talon.
No... she thought. This... This is all wrong... this couldn't have happened... Shouldn't have...
Tears streaked down her cheeks now, her teeth grit as she made sure his limbs were proper before lifting his upper torso and head in her hands. There, alone in the field, she began to weep, her eyes tightly shut as she gave in to the crushing despair the scene instigated. Long had she loved Peter, and long had she accepted that the two of them could never be together, but it was enough that he was alive and they could see each other regularly, and speak the conversations she had grown to love so many years ago. Now, it was gone, and with the death of the knights, her kingdom likely was, too.
For many moments she wept, unable to bear the horrid truth which had unfurled like some dread tapestry before her. What now was left for her? Stonebrook would fall in weeks, maybe sooner. The army had been destroyed, and likely all of Caladale would soon be under enemy control. If she were found, she would be executed as one so loyal to the crown. What resistance could she offer, if any? It was hopeless now--the light of her kingdom had been snuffed out, trampled beneath talon and hoof alike.
Perhaps some may have heard of the conflict, but if they had, then it would be too late now. Scavengers might soon be picking at the corpses, too. Reinforcements may have been coming, mercenaries or otherwise, but they would arrive too late to help, now. Elizabeth knew she needed to get moving, but she couldn't bring herself to do anything but hold on to the fallen King for just a few moments longer, no matter what may have come to interrupt her...
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If I sound bare bones here, I promise my writing hat is on when I start roleplaying.