October Elora - Tumblr Posts
ELORA ESKILDOTTIR
thirty looking | she/her | 153 cm | Elf | Nord
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Many times you were spared, oh, I did my best Every night you would call for me with your steps I was trying to sleep I was trying to sleep for you Under perfection I woke As you protected your home Oh, I just kept getting stronger I did my best to control The growing unrest in my soul — Wolfie's Just Fine
Prompt from:@oc-tober2023 [ I am not following the same order ]
CW: Drug use
~ Flashback
In a dusty corner, the sparse light barely makes the woman visible, buried beneath scrolls and books.
She slams another book closed, frustration eating at her every bone, while dark circles beneath her eyes seem to grow by the hour.
"Another dead end." She lets herself fall back into the chair, eying the scattered information in front of her. Nothing of value was found.
If only she would find an answer to her many questions, find a good lead to know how to continue. When frustration makes its way through, she starts to doubt her own decision. She chose this very topic of research, but perhaps it was never meant to be brought into the light. An answer never to be found.
She lifts her hand, pushing her sleeve up to reveal blackened veins running down towards her hand. It had been there ever since she was a child, she had read in the many books, that it was supposed to grow until it covers the whole of her body, but it had never changed. Not for her.
If only she could remember that day she got the black veins - but it was so long gone and she had been but a child.
Then by chance, her eyes landed on a detailed illustration in a book to her right. A mushroom, dried, used to clear one's mind. If she couldn't remember, perhaps that could force her memories.
"I need something very specific." Elora interrupted the cook. Her red flaming hair as passionate as her request.
"Don't you always." The cook didn't even look up from her work,"Found something interesting in your books?"
"It's research. Everything has the potential to be interesting, but only worth the goddesses' time, until I tested and studied it."
"What you need?"
"Dried mushrooms."
The cook lifted a skeptical eyebrow. "Just any mushroom or a specific one?"
"The one that will give me answers about my own mind." The woman explains, dark circles beneath her eyes.
"By the gods, you better be careful with stuff like that. It can smoke your brains out, I tell you." Then the cook sighed, "There is no stopping you, however. I know what you need. Follow my instructions and you might be fine."
"I'll take the risk."
"You Heralds are crazy."
The smoke made her face heat up, cold sweat trickling down her neck as slowly her mind started to swim.
She didn't notice it kicking in, or so she thought, but as she started to stand up, everything was spinning and she was smiling.
"How could you do this to us!"
She knew that voice.
"You only ever think about yourself, so selfish and unruly. Is it my fault you turned out to be such an ungrateful daughter?!"
She remembers that memory. It was the fifth pursuer her mother had send after her and Elora had refused his advances bluntly so. Again.
"I will miss you, Élie'rel."
Her sister. She could never forget her voice.
"Don't ever change, no matter what anyone says. You will find your answers and surprise everyone. I am proud of you."
It was the last time she had seen her, had it already been too long to remember?
She shook her head. Focus. She was here for answers, not to feel guilty.
Back then Eyrier Lay, the white Valley, was prosperous and lively. The grand elven city En'ayn Mun stood proud and beautiful, the eye piece of the whole area. Lush forests and fields covered the valley. It were merry times.
She remembers the smell of the baked goods sold in the streets, the softness of her bedsheets, the warm sun on her skin when she drank her favourite tea atop the balconies.
She could feel it now. Her mother was smiling at her, her face younger, carefree. Elora can't remember a time her mother had ever smiled in her life. It was a foreign sight.
Everything around her was bright, she couldn't make out the details, but she felt her mother take her hand, they started walking down a copple stone street. Then suddenly, the light vanished, it was suddenly utter cold, the sky was black and she thought that black snowflakes were falling from the sky. Ash?
Then screams, her mother grabbed her small frame, hefted her up into her arms. Elora didn't see them coming, but she knew they were there.
Her mother only stopped when they reached their home. She locked the door, before asking Elora questions, she couldn't make out anymore. Perhaps even back then, she didn't understand them.
Then suddenly her mother was ripped from her view, she looked around, but her house was foggy, she couldn't clearly see. It was like a dream, no a nightmare.
"Mother!" She shouted, her small heart beating wildly in her chest. Then something gripped her wrist, tightly, she cried out by the pain, it was painfully cold, it was freezing her arm solid.
Then it let go and everything went dark, as she sunk to the ground of the library.
ELORA ESKILDOTTIR
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Prompt from @oc-tober2023
[ I am not following the same order ]
~ Promise
"My Lady?"
Elora groaned, the voice an unpleasant disturbance. She kept her eyes closed, not willing to wake just yet.
"My Lady, Herald? The All-Seeing wants to speak to you."
That snapped her awake in an instant. Blue eyes now wide awake as she sat up from the floor. Why was she lying on the floor?
The Library Assistant flinched back, looking at Elora with hesitant eyes. She was one of the lower devotees. Granted a glimpse at a few pages of Iesis grand library, when she did her duties well. Elora barely ever talks to the others living and working in the tower. Iesis does not tolerate distractions. Thus she never learned their names.
It was clear that the Assistant wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Elora pressed her fingers against her temples, a thick headache starting to take root. "I will be there, you are dismissed."
The Assistant bowed once, before departing with hasty steps.
It didn't take long and the all familiar voice echoed through Eloras mind.
"You are slacking." It chided, "I have been calling you for awhile now. You did not react. Come to the secret library. I am waiting there for you."
She seems dissapointed.
Elora got up right away, albeit slower as her mind started spinning. The memories still fresh in her mind, as she pulled up her sleeve, the black veins running down her arm were still visible. What did it all mean?
She hasted up the steps of the winding tower towards the secret library of her goddess. It was locked behind a magical door, only those who were granted the key by the goddess herself, could enter. As Elora stood before the golden gates, they opened upon her approach.
The room was bright. The curved roof was built of glass, expensive and skillfull work. A craft lost with the last elves. The All-Seeing goddess created it out of memories that Elora had provided and whenever she entered the secret library it overwhelned her with a longing for a time long lost.
"Don't make me wait again, Herald. When I call you, you are to answer immedietly."
Elora's attention was quickly on the figure standing at the end of the library, her back turned towards her reealed her owl wings sticking out of her back. If not for the wings, her height was a good indication for her not being human. Her tall body wrapped in scriptures, pages stuck to her body, with scribbled texts and sigils that only herself can decipher. Where the pages end, the text continues on her skin.
Pages were floating around her freely while she read in a thick and dusty book, long elegant fingers turning the pages.
Elora bend one knee, averting her gaze.
"I am at your service All-Seeing." She greets, hearing the goddess smack her tongue.
"You are one of the last of your kind. Are you not?"
"Yes." Elora saw no need to lie, it was a known fact.
"You promised me knowledge long lost and forgotten, valuable insight into your peoples culture. It had entertained me for awhile, but it seems others are eager to take your place."
Elora frowns, she knew for a fact that she was the only elven follower Iesis has, most of the elves preferred hiding, blending in. She had never been good at sitting idle.
She flinched, as the heavy book fell to the ground in front of her. The heavy cover breaking in half.
There were drawings of architecture and furniture. Elven furniture. Her interest piped Elora scooted closer turning the pages, these were things long forgotten. Memorial places, the crafts of building them. Where has this come from?
"Lando or should I say Tin'avel used to be a craftsmen of your people. He has been most forthcoming that I am considering him as my Herald."
Elora swallows. He could have the means to replace her.
Suddenly the pages dissapear in front of her, they start to dissipate and looking up she saw the goddess towering over her, her one eye all that her face posessed inhaling the contents of the book.
It then snapped towards her, unblinking, attentive and all seeing. It was not an easy gaze to hold.
"I have watched your progress on your new topic of interest. I like your dedication, your thirst for answers."
Elora averts her gaze again, nodding. "I am on the right path, I can feel it. There is more to the dark creatures that attacked my home. I just need a bit more time."
"No." The goddess voice was harsh, almost making Elora look up again, "Time will not get you what you need. The knowledge you seek is not hidden in my library, if so, I wouldn't need you looking through it. I have read each book you find on these shelves, I know every content inside of it. What you seek lies elsewhere."
"Where?"
"The northern Kingdom of En-Ar."
En-Ar. The land of Kings. Once her homeland.
"Travel to the fortress Skaeld in my dear brother's domain, the god of mountains. Be wary of him, all he knows is the mindless instincts of an animal. There will be no reasoning with him. He will prevent you from entering the city, should you be discovered as my Herald."
The last standing fortress of En-Ar. "Win'av El. The never falling refuge." Now occupied by humans, who rebuild the ruins of her people. She always wantesld to see it. If she could spot the changes done to it - find familiarities. Answers.
"It is time for you to return to your roots and fulfill your promise to me. There you will find out more on the creatures of the night, how they came to be and how to defeat them."
"Defeat?" She thought she was there for knowledge alone.
"Ulgrim's followers are Warriors. They prefer raw violance over reason. Don't expect a warm welcome there. My brother can be quite unreasonable, but I know he hides valuable knowledge from me. You are to bring it to me without raising his suspicion. Can I count on you, Herald?"
"Always." Elora nods, dipping her head lower in respect.
She thought to hear her goddess smile.
"You will leave at the break of dawn, I will bless you with the swift wings of my owls. And remember that I will be watching you, Herald. I know the sight of a new city can be tempting, but you shall not fall for its allure. Don't break your promise to me or you will regret it."
[ ~ 1083 words ]
Prompt from:@oc-tober2023
[ I am not following the same order ]
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~ Mask
"Can I count on you, Herald?"
"Always." Elora nods, dipping her head lower in respect.
She thought to hear her goddess smile.
Iesis or Uwila | the goddess of wisdom, knowledge and healing | Animal: The Owl | Symbol: Open Eye
Sometimes she appears as a fair maiden, with long white hair and owl wings on her back. On her forehead a giant eye. Othertimes she is dark skinned, wrapped entirely in scrolls scribbled texts on body and paper. Owl wings and one giant eye for a face. Its usually her I- can't- be- bothered- to- dress- up look. She changes her look fairly often, based on whatever new powerful knowledge she consumes. The eye and the owl wings the only prominent feature that stay. Thus they became what people associate with her.