astenvale monastery

Nightmares of nightmares. In the shelter of darkness, horrors aplenty be conjured and remembered. A battlefield, omens of impending loss, an eldritch monster come forth from sepulcher or woodland. A red glow. Terror, imposed, so vivid the impression that there was no mistaking it for mere...

Roki was busy packing his things. His brow knit with frustration as he shoved what little knick-knacks and garments he could into his ruck. "It'll be alright, Roki, you... I mean, it's just a month!" Lemock tried to console his bunkmate. Roki but grumbled, going on with his furious packing...

art by Kris Kukko Winter of 373 Astenvale Monastery, Within the Valen Wilds In the Sanctum of Operations "I understand your misgivings, Syr Damir, but Lord Dunstable would have been left in the wind had we sent none to support," Helena's eyes were trained on the map of the Valen before them...

Clack. Clack. Clack. Fragment by fragment, In little puffs of dust, stone gave way from before the chisel. Slowly, a yet another block would have its facing, ready for when the weather permitted building again in the Spring. With the first snow having arrived only a couple weeks ago, it’d be...

A storm blustered, inside and out. But the cool drops of rain that soaked clothes, and clung to curled tresses and warm skin did help damp the fire in her belly. A thing that twisted and turned with doubts, even as the sound of all the cold shower about her filled her ears. What a fool she...

A glance left, a glance right. A long ear bobbed, a shortened ear twitched. No one in sight. No one he could hear. He blinked, felt his cheeks full with blood. Felt his head hot and abuzz. Stomach tight and giddy with the tension of a nervous laugh. Suppressed it to a pleased little smile...

“ Shit! “ A hiss, immediately followed by a wooden clatter, something heavy playing the yet exposed roof slats like a xylophone. The noise ended into a thunk and shift of dry grass, but neither was loud enough to announce a person having fallen. Aarno merely glanced past his shoulder, getting...

The Knoll was quiet this time of night. A place where knights and squires went to unwind and share tall tales, the Knoll was one of Astenvale's busiest locales. During breakfast, lunchtime and dinner, at least. Now, though, the hour of the owl was upon them. How lonely it felt. It ain't all...

Osuin had just finished his lunch at the mess hall, consisting of simple meat and potato stew. It was a simple meal composed of the leftovers of yesterday’s dinner – and was just as bland, to boot. Osuin was prepared as ever for that, with an addition of spices that helped with the taste of the...

THE BLIGHT DRINKER. A SWORD MADE TO CUT THE ROOTS OF GODS. LONG HAVE YOU SUPPED ON THE CORRUPTION OF THIS LAND, AND WAITED FOR ME. Astenvale Monastery was quiet, the night air flat, Dusk knights making their rounds on patrol as the Dawn rested. Below the dewy earth, within the guarded...

The trees were shaking in the sturdy wind, the pattern of sunlight on the narrow path tossing and turning, disrupted. Above, great old branches whipped against one another in a loud crackle and pop, drowning out voices and footsteps. They’d taken this way, straying from the paved paths of the...

It was a fine day at the Astenvale Monastery and Tulgan had whiled away the morning busying himself with his studies in the Pursuit of Life. Although he had only taken his oath to become a knight sworn no more than two years ago, he was determined to become a Knight Pursuant before too many more...

Five Years Ago Parchment piled ever higher as the sun reached its apex and there was no end in sight. The old knight allowed himself a stretch and a sigh. He was beginning to think that taking on the mantle of Interim Captain of Dawn was a mistake. Granted, it hadn't exactly been his choice in...

He was about halfway through the strawberry patch, squat down and combing the undersides of the bushes with a small rake. Next to the row, was an ever-growing pile of dead leaves and the occasional weed, the wheelbarrow some steps away made into a graveyard for whatever hadn’t survived the...

Twirling some strands of messy dark hair between her fingers, Mara stared intently out of the pane of glass separating her from the courtyard below. Other squires and knights were going practicing outside, but she wasn't watching them. In fact, she didn't notice them at all. Humming a tune she...

It was a warm day at Astenvale Monastery. The sun was out, the birds were singing, and the squires, those most unruly creatures, were training. Syr Faramund, known simply as "the Mund" by many, oversaw the day's training. 'Watch your left!' He bellowed, channelling his inner sergeant to make his...

The Valen Wilds were in spring's first full bloom, and the outskirts of Astenvale were no exception. The gentle humming of insects mingled with the calling of birds and the rustling of small creatures passing through the underbrush, the sounds and song of a forest come alive echoing off the...

"Alright squires, crack on! Master Murk will need those pillars ready as soon as able! Hurry now, imbue your magicks, and make ready for the show!" Helena called out with emberic joy in her voice that came easy and true. Easier still in hopes of merriment and cheer. All around helpful hands...

Night had long fallen. Not that time came easy to telling within the tall stacks of the monastery's archives. Most light beneath their vaulted ceilings were sparked by magick-light. Their ethereal glows cast in warm yellows that mocked fire's light. Too rare and ancient were the texts stored...

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