Thread: The Twin Blights (Defiant.Anjeru and Phunkentein)

Sahlin, the First, second only to the Keeper, Enariun the elven woman was almost an enigma. Despite being the First, she much preferred the company of herself she loved her clan and would not wish to be away from them for anything, if she could. Parents, she barely remembered, orphaned like many in the wars that took the land's prosperity. The Keeper had raised her, sensing her magic far before she truly understood what she had inside of her. The kossith had been among them for as long as she could remember, training in the ways of being a Dalish Ranger despite both being in close commadre with the Keeper, they'd very rarely exchanged words, much less feelings of friendship. He was wary of magic, something she was made to inherit and wield from the day she was born among her people. She kept her expression neutral, though her heart went out to the kossith, the Qunari that she had essentially grown up with, a few years younger than the mammoth creature whom had become a part of her, of her family, her clan. The Qunari's invasion of Thedas had left the land scarred and the people overly cautious, despite that, her clan and her Keeper had been generous and caring, taking in the orphans made such by the cruel hands of monstrous, power hungry beasts, and the numbers that rose, trying to fight back. In the end, the world had changed there was no doubt in that. Sahlin had grown, attuned to her magic like no other before her, save the Keeper. She had great elemental magics, feeling attuned to the Earth like her feet should have been made of tree roots, to slide into the rich soil and make home. It was because of this attuned sensibility, she had faith that Valerik would come through the Graduation ceremony there was always a chance he could fail, and return to the Earth as some had before him. She watched from her preferred distance, with an almost stoic expression, her tanned, elegant, but sharp face remaining still as she folded her hands in front of her and took in the proceedings. A tall woman, for an elf, at five foot nine, her lithe form clothed almost in Chasind robes her long legs were bare save for the meager sandals she chose to wear. Where her clothing may be looked down upon outside, her clan knew no modesty to be naked in the forests would be bliss. His eyes found her now and then, the most subtle of nods to send encouragement. The ceremony continued, infusing him with his blade, and giving him the nectar of their forests even such a beast as he, the kossith, stood no match for their potent mixture. Her golden eyes scrutinized, seeing every effect, and as the soothing, musical voices raised around them like a beautiful, opening embrace, urging him to join with them. Her own voice, beautiful and soft, joined in her brethren, with her brothers and her sisters her arms rose to the darkened forest, inviting the natures into her, into the kossith, to allow him to live. To have him rise before them, reborn. The Fates seemed in agreement, Enariun stepping up to the dazed, over stimulated kossith. What do you hear? Everything almost seemed to halt, as if the stream of time had frozen, her breath catching as she awaited his answer to the Keeper. I hear...The Wolf. Fen'harel calls my Name. So it is. Rise, Direhowl, Ranger of the Dalish. The joy she felt in her breast was paramount, spreading through her like the magic she had been so blessed with. He was now before them, reborn. She allowed a gentle smile to cross her lips, her golden eyes glinting with pride, knowing now that her faith in him had been correct from the start. She stepped on surprisingly stealthy feet to join the Keeper beside Direhowl, offering them a soft smile of understanding. The Trance will pass soon, Direhowl welcome. Ma serannas, my friend. You have done well, said the First.