Timeskip Log

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Lancer) COURT Seelie (Neutral Leanings) TITLE Knight of the Golden Cadre Maskhunter/Hartslayer Shield of the Cothromach Champion of Redgate OCCUPATION Knight/Trainer ABLE TO FAST-TRAVEL Servant ability to travel at up to 100 times normal human speed. A ring given to him by Alyosha that allows him to teleport himself only pretty much anywhere. A ring given as a boon that will allow him to teleport to the side of any Seelie shardbearer if their life is in immediate danger. COMMUNICATION METHODS A magical compass from Rin. Messages sent by birds. A necklace enchanted by Rin to allow contact with Seelie/Unseelie. RESIDENCE IN 2,701 Cu Chulainn's castle, Dun Dealgan, south of Daonna, his rooms at Alyosha's villa, and occasionally his rooms at Caer Glaem when he is working on his personal training ground. RESIDENCE IN 2,702 His rooms at Alyosha's villa, and occasionally, his rooms at Caer Glaem when he is working on his personal training ground. As of May, he will be invited to move into Flora's villa in Leathann. MAJOR EVENTS MASTER/SERVANT BOND CREATED W/ALYOSHA. [ ✖ ] SETS UP HIS PERSONAL TRAINING GROUND AT CAER GLAEM. [ ✖ ] CSI: DAONNA. [ ✖ ] BECOMES A CAPTAIN IN THE RED HAND. [ ✖✖ ] MAJOR CHANGES POST BATTLE: His right arm is missing at the shoulder. There are several 'bleed over' effects from his Master/Servant bond with Alyosha because various factors. These include: When his emotions are high (especially when he is angry) he will grow fangs and the pupils of his eyes will slit like a snake's eyes. He will crave blood whenever his energy levels are low or whenever Alyosha is strongly craving it herself. This is partly because of her being a vampire, but also because on his world, blood is one of the things that carries magical energy and so he knows it is a source of gaining that energy should he need it. Because of Alyosha's shadow magic, when Diarmuid uses his fire ring, the fire summoned will be shadow tinted instead of normal. Unspecified bleed over from the sigil magic that is so tightly tied to her. POST TIMESKIP: No longer introduces himself as 'Lancer.' Instead, he uses his real name. Diarmuid's fighting style shifts to something reminiscent of Capoeira. His right leg is used as much as possible in place of his missing right arm, and as a result of that, his right leg now is lightly armored from knee to foot with armor that is much like that which was once on his left arm. His boot has also been modified with a hidden blade. The blade can be released with a certain tap of his foot giving him a second weapon should he need it.

SUMMARY OF KNOWN DETAILS If Diarmuid was confused going into the battle, he is even more so coming out of it. Both castles lie in ruins, untold numbers are dead on all sides, and who knows how many worlds went with them? What good came of all of it? None. None that Diarmuid can see. As a result, he is pushed even more toward favoring the neutral side. Deep down, he no longer fully considers himself Seelie. The golden cloak that marks him as a knight of the Golden Cadre is not a badge of honor, but a reminder that even knights can take the wrong path. After he recovers from losing his right arm and spends some time learning to fight again, he will focus on strengthening his bonds with his family and friends. It doesn't matter what side they are on for he does not see them as Seelie or Unseelie. They are family. They are friend. That is all that matters. When not helping Alyosha, his new Master, and fighting the Neutral fight, he will also spend time training others, building his personal training ground at Caer Glaem, and...breeding bandersnatches? Well, at least trying. Who knows if the bandersnatches will cooperate... Of course, all of that will be put to the side when it comes time to spoil babbins and mercenar-- Err, wait, that should be spoiling babbins and LEADING mercenaries. That's better... PLANS Recover from his injuries both physically and mentally. Adjust to his new Master/Servant bond with Alyosha and the bleed over. Learn to fight again. (Looking into a new arm will come later.) Work on getting the personal training ground he has been granted built to his specifications. Meet with Lancelot to discuss worries etc about Tarz's tactics. Keep in contact with his Unseelie friends. Find ways to meet with them despite the crack down on cross court interaction. Spend more time with Grainne. Teach fighting and shard training as requested. Tag team fighting with his new Master so they can learn to be badasses together. :-D Do whatever he can to help the Neutral side. Go hunting for new bandersnatch friends with Alice. TIMELINE OF EVENTS Things Occurring THROUGHOUT the Timeskip Working on his training grounds at Caer Glaem. Learning to fight again/Practicing with his shard.(Alyosha and Lancelot will help.) Training others to fight/use their shards. Becoming used to his bond with Alyosha and the overflow from it. SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May) MARCH - Ask Rin to enchant the necklace he got from Merida so he can contact all Seelie/Unseelie with it (Late Feb). Talk to Politezerker about his arm. (Late Feb) Recovery from losing his arm. (Both mental and physical.) Visits the new Barrel. Check in on Kayneth. Meet Gilgamesh. Visit Zuko at Azure to help unfreeze things and for fire training. More unfreezing and fire training with Merida. Finds a strange and very large egg... Begin work on his training ground in Caer Glaem after a handwaved talk with John and Lancelot(Flora will help with terrains). Long talk (and cry session) with Grainne about his arm, her losing the baby, and other things from her time back home (handwaved). Talking to Lancelot about Tarz. Check in with Saber now that she has had time to calm down. Go hunting for bandersnatches with Alice. APRIL - Travel to the Cothromach and renew his vows to it and Sansa. Talk about ferry system work. Meeting Aslan at Caer Glaem (Training Grounds). Teach Hikaru (Lucifer) to use her(his) shard @ the Station. Trip to the Barrel to celebrate his birthday. The strange egg hatches right around his birthday. Congratulations Diarmuid! It's a fluffy green bird?!? Well, at least it's not a dinosaur... MAY - Map out the waterways around the Cothromach for Sansa & the ferry project. Hunt golden swans with Thrall (get at least two--one for Caer and one for Aengus) Start training Oscar the bandersnatch to hunt. Work on the training grounds with Flora. Drop into the Art Gallery Opening in Parrais. SUMMER IN 2,701 (Jun, Jul, Aug) JUNE - Training for those who wish it: Gilgamesh-shard. Goes to the Treun tournament. Observes, but does not participate because of his arm. Bonds with Merida. Meets Javik at the tournament. Acts as Alyosha's witness at the duel between her and Hermione. JULY - CSI: Daonna (Quest)--Sent to Daonna after the hangings to investigate for Waver. Interview Alice, Merida, Faolan. Work with Sara & Politezerker. Lén accompanies Diarmuid to help. AUGUST - Fire training with Merida. Talk with her about battle/Master stuff. Meeting Remus Lupin. Golem hunting with Javik. Visit the Cothromach's Markets. FALL IN 2,701 (Sept, Oct, Nov) SEPTEMBER - Heartbreak: Grainne is sent home from the Drabwurld. Language kerfuffle! Just how close to Gaelic is Drabbish anyway? Help Alice with her orphanage. Training: Gilgamesh/Work on the Training Grounds OCTOBER - Samhain! Meet the Black Shuck Meets Sam. Anniversary of his arrival. NOVEMBER - Hunts inmates. Protects others from the inmates. Meets up with Lancelot to talk. Becomes co-parents to a bunch of mercs with John Grimm. WINTER IN 2,701/2,702 (Dec, Jan, Feb) DECEMBER - Yule! Silliness with Fox Merida. Hunt the White Hart. Slays him with Katsa. Reward: 200 gold pieces, a while cloak and the title of Hartslayer until the next hunt comes around. Anniversary of the Fox Hunt. JANUARY - Shard Training. Working on his Training Grounds. 'Learning' to relax a little with Kaldur. Meeting up with Gilgamesh at Caer Glaem. FEBRUARY - Runs into Grell at the Noa Woods for sparring. Goes to Parrais for the Ostara Feast. 1 year anniversary with Alyosha. SPRING IN 2,702 (Mar, Apr) MARCH - Fight zombies. Visits Lumina's Chocobo Ranch and does some undead removal. Gets a new friend for Aengus? Learning to fight again complete. APRIL - Shelters his fairy groupies to keep them safe. Work on his training grounds at Caer Glaem finishes.

( codes by whambam )

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SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May)

[oathshackledbird]

Artist: Josephine Wall

March

[oathshackledbird]

~Feb 16, Alyosha's Villa: Master/Servant Bond

[oathshackledbird]

Everything is wrong. That is what keeps going through Diarmuid's mind as he stands staring out the window at the darkness. Yes, he had been badly injured. Yes, he had drained himself to almost nothing and then some, but he still should be feeling some of his energy return. Instead, he feels just as tired as the day Alyosha had dragged him bleeding and barely conscious back here. Why isn't he recovering? Why did walking here take him almost an hour when it should have taken only minutes, and why does the though of sleeping in a nearby chair sound more welcoming than making the return trip so that he can lay down again?

Diarmuid leans forward resting his forehead against the cool glass. Had he pushed too hard? Damaged his shard or one of his magical cores without realizing it? Had one of Roa's spells hit home and injured him in a way even worse than his arm? Was he doomed to slowly bleed out energy until he had none left without even realizing it?

His eyes fall shut, a dangerous thing since it would be all too easy for him to fall asleep standing here. Still, he doesn't care. At least it is safe here. Safe and comforting in a way he appreciates more than anything. Deep down he feels guilty for savoring this feeling when he knows there are so many others out there who are fighting and far from being safe. He should be there to help and guide them. Instead, he is here. Resting. Feeling safe...

For a moment, he nods off and his left hand comes up in reaction to brace him against the window when he starts to topple. Diarmuid draws in a sharp breath as his wound is jolted, but then leans more heavily against the window. He should go back to lay down. But it's a long way.

Such a long way...

[fairyfoes]

"You look like a caged bird, Dia," she murmured, forked tongue flicking; there, at his side, where a moment before there had been only empty space. She hooked her metal arm around his waist, urging him to lean on her.

"I won't let you fall. I've got you."

[oathshackledbird]

A guilty look crosses Diarmuid's face when he hears her voice and feels her arm around his waist. It's almost the look of a child who has been caught with his hand in the honey pot more than once. Not that he had ever done that as a child...

Except he had, many times. He just really loves honey, okay?

Diarmuid doesn't fight her when she offers her assistance. Indeed, even if he had wanted to, he doesn't have the strength to.

"I know you won't..."

"They used to call me 'The Hawk of Ess Ruadh,' you know? Not that history really remembers that now. All they seem to remember is the name 'Diarmuid of the Love Spot.' I hate that name..." he sighs then, finally opening his eyes. "Sorry, I know I shouldn't have gone so far. It's just hard sitting still when you are so used to being in motion."

[fairyfoes]

She smiled, slowly, moving to embrace him more fully, and stand behind him. It was loose, relaxed, and with faint pressure and the trick of posture, she encouraged him to lean on her, breath stirring his hair just faintly.

"You know," she murmured, "When I was born, I wasn't given a proper name. Machine-made, had neither father nor mother. I was c9Rh-938384."

She hummed quietly, just a low, contented sound in her throat as she remembered. But her voice was soft, and she spoke haltingly enough to sound tentative. It wasn't a thing she spoke of casually, clearly. "I earned my right to a name when I was... in that awkward space between girl and woman. I'd wanted it so badly, a name. But once I had the license in my hand, the blanks all there... I was terrified. I couldn't choose. I had to ask someone else to name me."

"All of your names, even the ones meant to deride you, are a kind of treasure. They're markers of the moments you changed the world, that you changed people. There's nothing more valuable in the world than that."

She set her chin near his shoulder, likewise looking out the window. "Don't apologise, Dia. Just ask me to come with you, next time. I lean on you, you lean on me. We'll get farther, that way."

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[oathshackledbird]

Early March: Visiting the new Barrel
Early March: Meeting Gilgamesh
Early March: Checking in on Kayneth
Early March: Meeting Cullen and Defrosting
Early March: Visiting Zuko at Azure (Training & Unfreezing)
Mid-March: Adventures in Unfreezing and Fire
Mid-March: Visits and Chocobo Eggs
Mid-March: Talking to Lancelot about Tarz
Mid-March: Contacting Saber
Mid-March: Saber-Sigils
Late March: Hunting bandersnatches with Alice

~Feb 20, Alyosha's Villa: Breakdown

[oathshackledbird]

[As soon as Grainne ends their conversation, Diarmuid's arm swings out and knocks his locket off the bed hard enough to send it flying across the room. His fairies jump and make startled sounds at sudden violent action, but noises they make are lost in the long low cry that starts to come from Diarmuid. He draws his arm back and wraps it around his head as if somehow that might drive away the pain he is feeling. Another cry chokes its way out of his mouth once the first stops. The sounds are the sounds of a man who feels like he is dying and, perhaps, that is because deep down inside, he does feel like he is dying. After he could no longer be a knight, being a father had become the most important thing to him. To know...to know...]

No...no...

[He can't even hear the sounds he is making or feel the fact he has started to rock on the bed. Diarmuid's instincts fight to find some way to comfort him, but he is beyond that. The roar in his ears blocks out everything--everything but the pain and the words that repeat endlessly in his head...

I killed him. I killed him. I killed him...

For a man who has never known hate or rage, he is coming dangerously close to hating himself. He has lost so much control, in fact, that everything he is feeling and everything that flashes through his mind is transmitted through his bond to Alyosha without anything hindering it. Pain. Hate. Disgust. The feeling of falling. Images of the death of a faceless child and after a while...as if Diarmuid is trying to hurt himself as much as he can...the images of the faces of the rest of his children all dead because of him.

That never happened, but that doesn't matter right now. Not to a mind that is quickly losing the ability to hold onto anything resembling sanity...]

[fairyfoes]

[ There are suddenly hands at the small of his back. Fingers splayed, the touch very gentle. Slowly, slowly while he cried, they smoothed up his back. Gripped his shoulders. The one which wasn't metal trembled, shook.

A straight-nosed face pressed against his back, similarly seeking to hide from that grief, that rage, that aching hate. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[Her presence and her touch don't register for a frighteningly long amount of time because there is so much that they have to work through to make their way to his consciousness. Even then, they have to fight for his attention as he pulls away like a frightened child. He hurts so much and he doesn't want to risk causing someone else to hurt like he is hurting...

But he is. That is what finally gets through to him. The shaking grip, the pressure against his back...]

A-Aly...

April

[oathshackledbird]

Outside Links (Please don't respond to this!)

[oathshackledbird]

Early April: Renewing oaths & ferry talk

Birthdays at the Barrel! Bring your own food, drinks, & harp-driven emotions!

[oathshackledbird]

Who: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Open!
Where: The Barrel
When: Mid-April
What: It's time to celebrate a certain knight's upcoming birthday with a dash of wild emotion thanks to the harps!
Warnings: See individual threads. Because people's emotions are going to be high from the harps, unexpected things might end up happening...

Back when he had first lived, birthdays had always been important to Diarmuid. They were important to all of his people, really. When death was such a constant companion, it was foolish not to celebrate surviving another year and looking forward to what you might do in the year to come.

Things are different now. Maybe it is because Diarmuid has died once and age really doesn't matter to him, or maybe it is because he is just too busy recovering from losing his arm, training others, and the million other tasks he has set for himself, but even as the time moves forward into mid-April and closer to his birthday, the fact doesn't register in his mind. It is just another day with a lot to be done.

Fortunately, he is not the only one who has knowledge of the rough date of his birth. Legends might change over time, but Merida knows his birthday is coming up soon and if he has no plans, she is going to fix that.

Since he is suppose to be resting this month after wearing himself way too thin last month, it is surprisingly easy to get Diarmuid to go with her to the Barrel. He has no idea what is waiting for him...

...or just how much the weird emotions that seem to be plaguing everyone will combine to make this party just that much more interesting...

Party Mingling Here!

[oathshackledbird]

[athousandcurses]

[A party! And for Diarmuid. This surely is the best way to try and cheer him up after everything that has happened and maybe convince the man he needs more fun. Grainne is bouncing with unrepressed emotions, and has gone a long way to helping out to make the party a good one.

That means of course, she made sure there was good drink at the party and some of it might have been home made since every party required at least enough to get the guests drunk.

On the other hand when things pick up, she tucks herself into a corner and tries not to be noticed too much, watching everything.]

[notyetlegend]

[Not too shabby for her first time planning a birthday party, if she did say so herself. Merida's mood is upbeat for the first time in a couple of weeks now, and it shows in how exuberant she is. A voice fills the Barrel with singing in a language strange and wonderful, and its origins can be traced back to her as she attempts to get a dance going, dress flaring around her as she twirls and claps her hands, trying to get others to join in.

Later on, Merida's cheeks are tinged pink with drink, the harp strings plucking and making her giggle and light hearted even as she breaks away from the crowd, crossing her arms behind her back and humming to herself as she wanders around outside, getting fresh air.]

After the party! (For anyone who might want to talk to Diarmuid alone.)

[oathshackledbird]

[athousandcurses]

[It takes a while for Grainne to find the right moment to catch her husband alone, but when she does, she stands with her hands behind her back and a small smile on her face.]

As they say, happy birthday, Diarmuid. I have something for you, but I did not want to give it in front of everyone.

FOR DIA-SAMA...

[babbylon]

[What a day. What a celebration.

Gilgamesh hadn't really intended to join in on the party to begin with; he could get free food and drink whenever and wherever he pleased, but something had lured him out from his room. Or perhaps someone, a radiant yet humble man as the guest of honor, laughing and smiling and reminding the great King what it meant to enjoy oneself in the company of friends (only one, Gilgamesh, and never again).

So they sang and they danced and had all kinds of fun, and eventually he broke away from the crowd—quietly, for one otherwise so boisterous—to retire in private. He stands by the window, hands in his pockets, and considers how far he's come that such a situation was even possible.

That he could stay in the home of an enemy, that he could reminisce with a rival Servant, and that he could find himself wishing for just a bit more time. Just one more smile, just once more chance to hear his proper name again. Of course, King of Heroes. He seemed to know it the best of anyone.

The harp plucks strong within Gilgamesh's heart. Today, he is affectionate, and nostalgic, and longing for company.]

[fairyfoes]

[ When he's by himself and no one's looking, she'll sneak him the hardest bearhug he's had in his life. ]

I hope it was a good day, Dia.

May

[oathshackledbird]

[shamanism]

[Some people hunt for glory. Some people hunt to feed themselves. Thrall, this time, is hunting simply to help protect the lands he so recently helped heal. Haven't these people weathered enough tragedy in the past few months? This world is so torn by war, he's surprised it hasn't cracked in half.

Anyway. Thrall's somewhat modest today, having traded in his plate armor for leathers-- they're quieter-- and a decorated lance in his hands. He isn't expecting anyone else to be in this area, which is why he chose it. But he can smell... someone. Someone interesting passed through here recently, and it wasn't just the swans that mysteriously turn into gold figurines when slain.

He moves near-silently. With more agility than he should rightly have at his size, he hefts himself into a tree for cover, and he watches the clearing.]

[oathshackledbird]

[It takes a few moments, but Thrall's patient watching finally pays off. First, a spear flies through the air striking down a swan and then, on the spear's heels, a strange creature follows. He is about about three feet tall at the shoulder and moves in a very bear-like manner. However, his grey spotted fur and many jagged teeth mark him as something else entirely.

The creature picks up the now golden swan figure, almost carefully, in his mouth and turns back to carry it toward the person who had thrown the spear. Said person appears seemingly from thin air and smiles at the creature. The person should look vaguely familiar to Thrall, though the orc will notice that unlike last time he saw him, the man is now missing one arm.]

Good job, Oscar! You found it right away that time!

[shamanism]

[How interesting. Some kind of beast... he's sure he's seen one before, maybe while visiting the third spire or perhaps Ariadne's manor, but he can't place the name. His ears perk as he spots someone who is definitely known to him. A Seelie. He remembers the face more than the cloak. Thrall had nearly knocked him over because he'd been flitting around near the wounded. An honorable foe, despite his Seelie brethren who had attacked and killed non-combatants and servants. And now he was missing an arm? That's an awful way to pay someone back for kindness.

Well. It's not technically wartime, and Thrall holds no real allegiance to his own side. Not after what he's learned. He considers, then gently lets himself down. He doesn't approach just yet; he calls out instead, trying to be friendly.]

Greetings, stranger! I see you are here to hunt the pests as well.

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[oathshackledbird]

Late May-Art Gallery Opening