Stonebreaker975

Baldric sat within the study of his home in Portoregne, having borrowed Wernher's spectacles to study a series of drafted bills. He scratched at his beard before his arm traveled up to brush aside black hair from his eyes. Whether it might have been grim coincidence or otherwise, he paused. He remembered his brothers of the black forest, namely the first brother he had ever made. The thought of Stein raced its way into his mind, almost as if awaiting for the opportunity at the gates of his cerebrum.

He remembered so very much about his dear friend. Together, they learned and drank and laughed within the Host of St. Johann. Forever, it would be that they would hold a connection. Similar beginnings, similar hearts, yet different minds. He remembered being the first Blooded in the new city of Kretzen and standing proudly at the side of Stein. He remembered the invitation to meet the Princess and the ceaseless questions and rants of Baldric that Stein endured as a friend, complaining about things that no longer mattered and asking questions he no longer knew the answers to. If there was one thing that Stein knew how to do, it was endure. He remembered the spar between him and Anselm, it was there that he had bestowed his good friend the moniker of a Stone Fortress for his ability to keep battling. And he had the vivid memory of racing across various cities with his good friend in search of a woman who had been kidnapped. Yes, it was quite true, Stein did not buckle under the weight of the world. He never let himself be told no, even when it might cost him.

There were times in that tavern where the two would talk forever. Well wishes, motivations, and plans. He desired to become a hunter of darkspawn, to protect people. He wanted to better the lives of outlanders. They spoke of glory, of heart, of love. They spoke about him wanting a family.

"Retired on a farm." Baldric spoke out loud, the words crashing into the atmosphere of the empty room. Stein's wishes released a sense of unease upon himself. He looked out towards the window, a storm blowing. He remembered the betrayal, the catalyst for so many things. To see him again in Kaethul, to be the one to burn him upon a pyre before his old home. Then to face him again on a bridge, the first time they had stood near each other in the north once more. Baldric felt a tear roll down his face, possibly at the same time it had happened to Stein.

"I want my brother back." Baldric said to himself, his voice narrowly avoiding being caught in his throat. But he knew his brother was gone. There was not Stein any longer. But the love remained. The brotherhood, the camaraderie, the memories. The Stone Fortress, for all of the mistakes Baldric thought he had made, had been a cornerstone of his life. Without it, there would have never been a Baldric and there wouldn't have been Vourkehardts.

"Wes thu hal, Stein."

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OOC:
Stein was an incredible character that I'll miss dearly. I'm glad that I was able to share in his story and be a part of it. As long as Baldric exists, I'll try to keep the memory of the character maintained. Thank you for everything Stone, I hope we continue to cross paths on other characters!

It was not news Ivona had thought she would ever recieve.

The very man who allowed her entry into Reinmar so many moons ago, back when she bore the name Isabeth Helaigyr, struck down. A traitor to her people, a bitter thought of relief brewed within. Dead, at last, she knew that Justice was brought to her people. 

Dead.

She shook her head, a twisted smile on her face, yet a tear slipping down her typically motionless face. Reaching into her jewelry box, an amethyst bracelet, in poor condition, which she had made out of the amethyst he had gifted her. Kept as a reminder; even those you held dear will betray you.

"I shan't grieve you, traitor.. You stand as a lesson. Trust nobody."

       Within the Mage capital. A place filled with voidal energies, with people with twisted beliefs and motives of all shapes and sizes. 

      But another thing it held was a dingy little tavern. Which on the top floor housed the small home of the bar's owner. 

    A house that was filled with sorrow... and regret... lit with nothing but a dim latern in the black almost star less night as the tavernkeeper herself looked out her window. 

    Latern beside her as she leaned atop her workbench, scattered pieces of metal... mage gold... and enchanted material all around. Books spread around on the floor, some torn... chests and storage littered the room with the only sort of comfort being the rolled up sleeping bag within the corner. 

    Stifled crys stemming from the girl.. tears flowing down just the left side of her face. The right... the golden atronach eye was incapable of emotion or at least of showing it. But deep down... even if one eye did not present it she felt a great despair. 

    The echos of Sarah, the vizer of the chamber of fire, word's playing over and over within her mind. She sat in pained silence for a few moments before finally breaking the clicks and screeches of the crickets outside. 

    "H-He's.." The girl was shaking... her white and golden dress moving alongside her... her breath was shallow and quick. Though all she could do was breathe in the stale air of her home. 

    She did not finish the next sentence... instead a deeper... a raspier... voice.. one belonging to a male spoke instead. "<He is gone... Gloria... he is gone...>" the void uttered. A keen ear being able to pick up on the fact the voice stemmed from the leather bound book hanging at the girl's belt. The singular illustrated golden eye looking up her.. a look of almost concern. Despite how unpleasant the book's voice was it carried a unfamiliar and uncharistic tenderness.

    Gloria threw her down to the desk... shielding it from the outside world was her tears and cries were no longer able to be held back. "I... I k-Know..." The young artificer finally said with strained breath. 

   Her mind flashing to when she had first met the man.. how he had comforted her as she looked at the severed elf heads in horror... how he had complimented her eyes. How she invited him home and cooked for him. 

   At first it was awful... but she had spent hours reading cook books just to learn for him. She had gained a skill just for him. 

    She cooked him more often, invited him in whenever she could. The memory now was almost painful for her to remember. How one of the darkest parts of her life started with such a happy moment. 

    The girl's eyes tightly shut as the flash of memories entered her weary brain. 

    She had invited him over for dinner again, they talked for hours and hours... and eventually she saw his scarring, remnants of past battles. He had slowly grown comfortable enough to show her something personal. And she vowed to keep him away from anymore damages... finally she confessed her feelings to him. Trying to be as subtle as possible. 

    "Playing... it off... distracting him with the weather... In a windowless room.." The girl muttered to herself. The joy of the memory having turned to sickly sour feeling. 

    She had vowed to protect him... to stand by his side as he did when she had first connected to the void. Yet... she could not. 

   He had died... because she failed him oh so many times... once in front of her... beheaded and then directly because of her... he had changed his face... his name... went into hiding yet he was still the same man. Or was he? 

    Gloria winced as she remembered her last few moments with him. He attacked her family, her sisters. Held one hostage in an attempt to escape and had brutalized the other. Yet... when he was dealt with and he woke back up he showed both... remorse and regret.

    The girl didn't truly know why... she thought her love had died once he turned undead but had he really...? Could he have still be redeemed...? 

    "It does not matter now.." The girl muttered pushing down her own thoughts. She did not want to think about the alternatives to what she did. But one thing she did about was the last things she wanted to say... a final goodbye. 

   She looked to the window and spotted a singular star floating within the sky as if enchanted with alter position. 

    Both organic and inorganic eyes focused upon it as she gave her last words.

    "Stein... you went by many names... but by far my favorite was Stein. The one I knew you by, the man I fell in love with. While your different faces all looked charming... to me the original you, the true you had always been my favorite. Reinmar... and the events that I couldn't have stopped drove you mad... you did actions you did not wish to. And so I choose not to remember those. Those were done by Almer... my first enemy and heartbreak. Almer was the monster, the demon who nearly took my sisters. 

    He is not a proper representation of what you should and shall be remembered as. I shall remember you as the man I cooked for... the one who purposed to me.. the one who stayed by me and helped me during my first connection during struggling with my voidal sickness. 

    Stein was a man whom I loved dearly... but he has not been with me for quite some time. I realize that now... Stein died long before Almer was laid to rest. That the moment I watched you beheaded was the true moment Stein was gone and Almer was born.

     Almer shall always be remembered as the monster... but Stein... the true Stein... your heart ... your pure human heart... I shall forever remember and cherish. The loving man whom I wished to marry and who..  I knew would not last long but perished before I even knew it. But despite that... the time I spent with you has no cost.. it can not be bought nor sold. It is priceless in every way.

    So now... I say bye my first love... for I shall... I shall always miss you" and with that the girl walked away with a tear in her left eye.