[Asterope] A Handshake over Healing

Asterope and Tarn meet by the Temple of the Unknown

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A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

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[Asterope] A Handshake over Healing

Postby Tarn Alrenson on February 16th, 2019, 11:39 pm

38th of Winter, 518 AV

A soft breeze ruffled Tarn’s hair as he gazed at the dilapidated structure of the Temple of the Unknown. He came here sometimes to think and clear his head. He had used to make a habit of it, but had stopped for a while and only recently taken it up again. Maybe it was something about the building’s age, or perhaps some echo of the influence of whatever deity the temple had been built to honor, but Tarn always felt calmer here.

Tarn raised a hand to his temple and his fingers came away wet with blood. He grimaced. He had been training in the proving grounds earlier that day when he’d taken a blow to the head. Wooden swords were less dangerous than the real thing, but a well (or poorly) timed blow could still do some damage. The strike had split the skin just above his eyebrow. Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as it looked, but it had been bleeding pretty profusely at first. It had gotten a bit better since, but the crimson stained tips of his fingers proved it was still oozing blood.

Many of the passersby gave Tarn a healthy distance, edging around him without drawing much attention to it. Most people wanted little to do with a bloody-faced man if they could help it, and the wisdom was sound. If somebody was bloody, they’d probably gotten into a fight, and if they were still standing at the end of it, they were probably tough enough to win. The Sun’s Birth brand on his hand didn’t help much either. People who saw that usually averted their eyes and avoided him completely. Suffice it to say, when outside of the Sun’s Refuge Tarn had little trouble finding solitary time for reflection.
Boxcode credit goes to Antipodes


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Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. --CS Lewis
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Tarn Alrenson
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[Asterope] A Handshake over Healing

Postby Asterope on February 23rd, 2019, 10:23 pm

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Aster had accompanied Alard out that morning, ready to watch him train, but on their way out of the barracks, several other members of the Sun's Birth had stopped him. Whatever they had told him in their hushed, urgent conversation, it must have been important; he had sworn, cast a glance at Aster, and ordered her back inside gruffly before marching off with the other gang members.

Of course, that left Asterope with two options. She could have gone back and sat in the room obediently, waiting for Alard to return...or she could take the rare opportunity to explore the city on her own. She hesitated, torn between the two options for a long moment; she knew she would be punished if she wasn't back before Alard, but the chance to have some time to herself, to stretch her legs...perhaps she could go back to the library.

With a deep breath in, Asterope took off at a run away from the barracks, cradling her right hand close to her chest as she ran; it was sore from where Alard had re-branded her the night before. He'd been particularly displeased to notice that the brand had healed and vanished in her divine form, and had promised her he'd refresh it as often as he needed. It was the second time since the original brand that he'd had to redo it, and while in her divine form it was no issue, the scar in her mortal form was only becoming more and more prominent and sore.

The boat ride across the river was quick, and Aster walked hurriedly, her steps having purpose; she found it was the best way to deter people from sizing her up as a potential target. However, she paused as she passed a collection of buildings, her gaze drawn by a large, dilapidated structure rising from the center of the cluster. The city, it seemed, was full of surprises; the last one she had stumbled upon, and the destination she'd had in mind, had been the library.

Acutely aware that her curiosity was dangerous, particularly in a city such as Sunberth, Aster inhaled deeply before making her way down an alleyway towards the large structure. Anxiety crept up her spine, her mind yelling at her to return, to go to the library, or do the really smart thing and return to the barracks before Alard did; but she pressed her lips into a thin line and pushed forward.

Some sort of temple or castle or mix between the two towered over her as she approached; Aster slowed, staring in awe. The place was clearly abandoned, and she wondered why. Surely someone would want to take over such a beautiful and expansive building. As she approached, the anxiety in the back of her mind slowly died away, leaving her feeling more calm.

As she stared up at the building, Asterope suddenly became aware of another presence; footsteps reached her ears, and she spun on her heels with wide, uncertain eyes. She'd been lucky with many of the encounters she'd had in the city thus far, but she could never be certain. A man was approaching the building as well, seeming to not take notice of her, at least not yet.

Aster took a hesitant step back, wondering if she should just leave; but as she watched, the man reached up to touch the side of his head, grimacing. Upon peering more closely, Asterope saw the telltale darkness of blood plastered on his skin and in his hair.

She stood for a moment, perhaps long enough to be noticed, but in either case announced her presence as she took a few hesitant steps closer, still keeping herself past arms length from the stranger, so she could turn and flee if she had to. "Excuse me. Are you alright? You're bleeding," Aster pointed out, then felt silly, because clearly he knew.

"I might be able to help," She offered, perhaps against her better judgement. The offer rolled off her tongue naturally; it always did, no matter where she was. She couldn't help it; it was the only thing she could still cling to, that she knew she could do, that made her who she was. Helping people. The light reflected off her collar as she reached up to touch it on instinct.

As she did so, her eyes caught a glimpse of the hand the man had raised dropping to his side, and she went very still; an identical brand to the one on her own hand was burned into the man's skin. Nothing about him suggested he was a slave; perhaps an ex-slave? But Aster had seen plenty of members of the gang in the barracks with the mark branded on their hands, and she suddenly felt sick. Was he a member of the Sun's Birth? He had to be.

Aster stared at the man, conflicting emotions running through her; anger and hatred, an automatic response to anyone a part of the gang. Fear, for what if he attacked her, or told Alard what she'd been up to? But then beneath it all, still the desire to help.

The Ethaefal was silent, her hands curled into fists as she continued to stare, unsure of what to do next, waiting for the man to react so that she could act appropriately.
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The sun will rise, and we will try again
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Asterope
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[Asterope] A Handshake over Healing

Postby Asterope on April 13th, 2021, 3:28 pm

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Here are your bright, shiny grades...
Enjoy!


Asterope

Skills

☀Running +1
☀Observation +1


Lores

☀Alard: Rebrands Aster when her scar heals
☀Sunberth: Curiosity is dangerous
☀Location: The Temple of the Unknown
☀Aster: Still wants to help people that might want to hurt her
☀Injured man: Affiliated with the Sun's Birth
☀The Sun's Birth: Sometimes brands their members


Tarn Alrenson

Comments

PM me for your grades if you return!


Thank you for your patience! As always, please don't forget to delete or edit your grading request in the queue. Otherwise, if you have any questions or concerns about your grades, then just PM me and let me know!
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The sun will rise, and we will try again
User avatar
Asterope
A light that never goes out
 
Posts: 651
Words: 661387
Joined roleplay: August 16th, 2017, 11:11 pm
Location: The Outpost (Sunberth)
Race: Ethaefal
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 5
Featured Thread (1) Mizahar Grader (1)
Overlored (1) Alvadas Seasonal Challenge (1)
Power Fork (1)


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