#hexblood

(A short story about how painful it would be if my DnD got dragged back into the assassin organization he is working to destroy)

Roisin woke slowly, head feeling filled with cotton and his mouth dry, ginger curls sat in his vision as he tried to reach up to push it aside but felt himself restrained as he grunted in frustration. He flung his hair to the side, a wave of dizziness hitting him that had his stomach rolling a moment as a whimper escaped him. It was his wrists and ankles that were bound to a hard table, not an unfamiliar situation but he couldn’t remember how he got there. His entire mind felt so…blank. He was leaving Zahon to board a ship to a new home with the Shadows. Then he escaped-he actually did it-but…there was only worse suffering out there between the stars. People who hurt him whenever they could. 

Roisin looked around, antlers scratching on the table a bit as he took in the room. It seemed to be some sort of med bay but was much nicer than the one the Shadows had in their hidden base yet also had the impression he wasn’t on the ship they were promised to have a home on. Everything was light grey with golden accents-gold was believed to have healing properties among the drow-as the walls had painted murals of Lolth and great healers.

Just then the door opened as Roisin looked over, seeing Mister Barnum enter as he stilled, not wanting to earn his ire if the table made a sound from his movements. Celeste entered as well, his hair kept short and a few scars he didn’t recognize on his face, his dark red eyes were cold and gave nothing away as he stayed off to Mister Barnum’s side. 

“Fawn.” Mister Barnum spoke, voice worse than the metal table he was restrained to. “You have not been with us for many years now. This is quite the reunion.” he said, looking down at Roisin as his pulse quickened slightly. Were the Shadows going to throw him away now too? Mister Barnum looked at a screen to the side that seemed to be giving some sort of report or readings to him though Roisin couldn’t read it from his angle. He wanted to speak, beg forgiveness, but he had not been asked a question so he stayed silent. 

“Lucky for you, however, things have changed.” Mister Barnum said, sighing as he looked back to Roisin. “Lolth, in her wisdom, has dictated the Crown move to new blood and has selected Her Majesty Grey to serve as Queen of the Zahon drow. However, few have chosen to return to us here on Zahon.” he said, closing his eyes a moment as he took a breath. “However, more will return in time. And we are to be ready for them.” he stated, eyes opening, his eyes locked on Roisin’s. “You will be a great asset to us, Roisin. You will not be further punished for your transgressions, however, let me enlighten you on this: You were insane when we found you and brought you back in. Surrounded by those who only pushed your madness farther. No one accepted you out there. Your place is here. Among the Shadows.” he said as Roisin nodded, throat tight. No one…no one in the whole universe…Even from what he remembered there wasn’t ever a kind face. 

Mister Barnum cleared his throat, commanding Roisin’s attention again. “Your re-education program has already begun, as you can tell, and it was the method used to give you back your sanity. You will undergo these daily procedures until you are evaluated and cleared for full time duty again.” he told him as Roisin nodded. “Your other bionics and attributes have also been given a tune up and you should expect upgrades to be scheduled very soon. While not cleared for duty, you are expected to be resting and reading past missions and files to catch up on what has been going on here since your sudden departure. Am I clear?” he asked. 

“Yes sir.” Roisin answered, no emotion in his voice as Mister Barnum released him as Celeste was finally able to go to his side. As he moved, Roisin only realized then what agony his body was in, barely able to put any weight on his right side at all as Celeste put an arm around him. 

“Wolf, take him to the barracks to rest.” he ordered as Celeste nodded, leading him off carefully. 

The hallway he was lead to was ornate with subdued colors and beautiful stonework as he looked about. 

“We’re in the castle.” Celeste explained without hearing the question. “Since our numbers are small and we need to be ready to protect the Queen, we are living here while we begin to rebuild.” he said as Roisin nodded, a whimper escaping him as he blinked back tears. 

“It hurts-Wolf it really hurts…” he said, voice barely a whisper as tears ran down his cheeks. 

“Hey, okay, lets stop here. I’ll carry you once you get your breath back.” Celeste said, leaning Roisin against a wall as tears kept coming, a soft hiccuping noise escaping him. 

“N-no one…no one was able to love me-accept me.” Roisin said, lip shaking as he looked into Celeste’s dark eyes. “I thought…I thought it’d be easier but look at me…” he cried as Celeste pulled him near in a gentle embrace. 

“I know…I know, I’m sorry. My innocent Fawn…” he murmured as he kept crying. 

“You were right…I’m so sorry, Wolf. I never should have left. I don’t want to be alone again.” he said as Celeste rubbed his back. 

“I know. I know, I’m not going anywhere. Lets get you to bed now. The others are itching to see you before you rest more, okay?” he said, looking as Roisin as he nodded, face still wet. Celeste wiped his tears away gently before carefully picking him up and carrying him the rest of the way to the barracks. 

The ‘barracks’ as they were called were much nicer than Roisin thought. It was a section of repurposed rooms, all unnecessary furniture removed while everyone got their own room nearly with a few shared bathrooms and even a common living space. It was honestly the best thing Roisin could have hoped for as he felt more pain in his chest for abandoning people who still saw him worthy enough to treat so well. Celeste took him to a room with a large bed with files piled high on a desk as well as a tablet and television in the room. 

“The television is restricted currently but there is some video footage you can cast to it.” he said as Roisin nodded as he was helped into bed carefully. “If you need anything, you just call and one of us will be there for you.” Celeste said as he put a hand to Roisin’s cheek as he nodded, eyes still bright with tears. 

“C-can I see the others? Please, I…I just need them.” he murmured softly as Celeste nodded. 

“Of course, stay here.” he said as he got up and headed out the door to go get them, giving Roisin a chance to look over the room. It must just be Celeste’s room-they had shared a room since they had been allowed to partner together. 

Just then, the door opened as Roisin barely laid eyes on them all as they rushed in before gingerly surrounding him, no one saying anything as tears poured down Roisin’s face. 

“I-I’m…I’m sorry…” he sobbed, gripping the blanket around him. “I missed you-I won’t do it again.” he promised as they rushed forward. Vasidil hugged him as others offered comforting words or jokes to lift his spirits. It felt so normal so quickly. As if he never left them as he drank in their presence as long as he could. 

“Alright, everyone.” Celeste announced, all eyes on him immediately. “Back to your duties. Fawn needs to rest.” he said as they grumbled but left one by one, Celeste giving Roisin a kiss on the head. “Sleep right now.” he told him. “I will see about getting something to ease the pain and will have food and water ready when you wake up.” he assured as Roisin nodded, laying back carefully as sleep took him without pause. 

Roisin had murky dreams of disconnected moments of faces he couldn’t recall anymore and yet they brought a ghostly comfort he couldn’t quite place. Eventually, the hag called his dreams into a different direction as he awoke with a start, looking about in the empty room as he carefully sat up and looked around. It was empty though looking at the end table there was some food and water there as he took it and began to drink and pick at the food a bit. He felt…strange still. Disconnected from what was happening though with the intensity of the re-education he went through, that was to be expected. Once he healed more, he was sure it would fade a bit. Roisin’s gaze fell to a window that overlooked the city below, still and dark as he thought back to when the streets were alive with soft lights and drow in the streets doing their various tasks. It would be hard to get back to that. Reclaim that honorable world he remembered. Yet, it was still possible. 

A pressure started in Roisin’s skull then, starting small as he just sipped more water, but soon it proved excruciating as he ended up gripping his head, clumsily pulling blankets away as he tried to stand. He needed help, this wasn’t normal. 

Roisin…Help…Stay Calm a voice called to his mind though it was weak, the voice fading away as it was speaking before returning. He stood as the pain reached its peak, his legs buckling as he collapsed on the floor, on the edge of consciousness a moment before it ended as quickly as it started. The door flew open then as Celeste was there in an instant, carefully murmuring comfort as he helped him up. 

“Fawn, what happened? I told you to call for help if you needed it.” he told him, sounding frustrated as Roisin nodded. 

“I’m sorry…” he managed, beating back the swimming feeling he still had and focusing on Celeste there. “There…there was a voice in my head.” he said, looking up at him as he felt cold at the expression he saw there. Celeste’s lip was twisted and brow furrowed, angered and disgusted. Panic began to rise in Roisin’s chest before the expression was gone, replaced with concern as Celeste helped him into bed again. 

“I will look into that. Don’t worry, dear.” he assured, kissing his head. 

“Are…are you angry at me?” he asked, looking at him as he smiled, putting a hand on his cheek. 

“No. Just worried.” he assured as he stood up. “Don’t tell anyone about this. I am handling it.” he ordered as Roisin simply nodded, watching him go. 

—

Hours ticked by slowly as Roisin paged through files in his room silently. Missions had not slowed down even as the drow left for The Nest. However, it seemed this ‘Nest’ was not habitable for them-it tried to strip them of the honor and rights they deserved as a noble people. It made it hard to understand why people would stay there. Did they suffer from the same madness that afflicted him before the Shadows took him back? It must be that… He pushed his hair back, letting out a sigh as he set the file to the side. Carefully, he moved and managed to stand through the pain as he winced and took a breath. He would not be a burden. He would not be a burden. He was determined to prove his use once again. Stepping lightly, he made his way to the door as he opened it, gripping the door frame as he looked down the hall but didn’t see anyone. 

“Hello? Anyone here?” he called, not wanting to disobey orders to call for help. In a moment, Alton-an average drow with long silky hair and bright eyes-popped around the corner and rushed to him, putting an arm around him. 

“Fawn! You shouldn’t even be moving on your own-I told them you should be in a wheelchair.” she tutted. “I assume you need a bathroom break?” she asked as he nodded. 

“Yeah…I also have a favor to ask, Snake.” he mentioned as she nodded. 

“Well, lets take care of business first.” she said, helping him to the bathroom as he took care of himself from there, Alton coming to help once he had washed up. 

Snake took him back to his room as she sat him on the bed, sitting with him. 

“So that favor…” Roisin began as she sighed. 

“Magical healing can only do so much. You know that. And speeding up natural processes can cause more harm than good.” Alton said sternly as he nodded. 

“I know, I know…” he said, swallowing hard as he looked into his lap. “But I…I really fucked up.” he whispered, pausing a moment to control his voice. “I can’t be laid up like this. I need to do something.” he told her as she sighed, taking his hand. 

“It’s okay, Fawn. We’ll protect you from now on.” she promised as he looked at her, unsure. “And healing you right now could cause a permanent limp on your right side-might even leave you with pain. You weren’t okay at all when we got you back. I was surprised you weren’t dead.” she said gently as he shook his head. 

“I need to be able to do something…” he insisted as she pushed his hair back gently. 

“You will…” she said, looking around a moment before back at him. “One of the teachers were supposed to tell you this once you settled back in but I think it’ll help if you hear it now.” she told him as he paused, looking at her. “You and Wolf are going to be trusted to help in a procreation program.” she said with a smile as Roisin’s eyes widened. “Science and magic has come a long way and you know better than anyone that children can be made regardless of the sex of the parents.” she said as he nodded, shocked. 

“Yes, but…But I’m a monster.” he murmured. “I’m not a drow…” he said. 

“Your body has been heavily affected by magic and it has altered your structure greatly.” Alton confirmed. “But your DNA? Your blood? Its still the blood of a drow-and not only any drow but a noble bloodline. You’re going to be taken off of active duty to be a parent. Just what you always wanted.” she said as she squeezed his hand, Roisin smiling. “And before you get dirty thoughts, there’s really no, uh, contact needed in this particular process. However, once you recover, I doubt that you and Wolf won’t celebrate a little.” she said with a wink as he reddened. 

“Stop it, your still an ass.” he said, looking away as she laughed and hugged him gently. 

“Your more important here than you know, altered or not, your a drow like the rest of us.” she said as he smiled a little to himself, hugging her back. 

“I…I can’t wait to have my own children…” he told her as she nodded, rubbing his back. 

“I know. You’ve earned this.” she told him. “Keep resting. I will get some more food brought in for you.” Roisin agreed as Alton helped him get back into bed before leaving to head to the kitchens. 

Outside the barracks, Celeste leaned against a wall as Alton emerged, seeing him as she moved to walk by, pausing as she was near him. 

“He knows.” she told him softly as he smirked. 

“Good.” he said simply. “His reaction?” 

“Shocked but positive. He wants a family still.” she reported back. 

“Very good.” Celeste said. “He won’t be leaving again anytime soon then. Keep up the good work.” Celeste told her as he walked off, Alton pausing there a moment longer before walking again. 

Fawn should have known better than to fall for a Wolf. 

—

Another fitful round of sleep had Roisin staring at the ceiling, ears straining to hear the others return from their duties for dinner. All he wanted was to sit with his family as they ate and chatted. He just wanted them back. 

Instead of the sound of a door opening and feet in the hallway outside his door, however, there was a deep, bass filled crash instead. It violently shook Roisin’s room and knocked things over as he blinked, sitting up as he did so. What on earth was that? An attack? An experiment? 

He got an answer in the form of Alton all but breaking down his door as she moved to his side, raising a hand as grey light began to wash over him.
“Snake?!” Roisin called, shocked. 

“Situation has changed. While still having a limp, we need to move faster than your injuries in this state will allow.” she said, voice all business. 

“What is the situation?” he asked. 

“Those who drove you insane are here. They want you back. The others are holding them back while I get you in hiding before rejoining them.” 

“I can-” 

“No.” Alton said, leaving no room for argument. “You are their target. Putting you in combat will only make it more difficult.” she said, pulling him up. The pain was gone but it was true that he had a limp and just this strange feeling of something clicking inside him almost. Alton dragged him out of the barracks and down the hallway, navigating a confusing maze of hallways for anyone who had not studied them like they had. 

However, luck can always turn the tides in battle. As Alton dragged Roisin around a corner, a giant tiefling man was there, looking over at them as his eyes lit up as he saw Roisin there. 

“ROSIE!” he called in a loud voice as Alton cursed, digging in a pocket as she threw down pellets that exploded into smoke. She then dragged Roisin down a different hallway as there was coughing and running behind them, Alton cating a minor illusion to look like Roisin as she pulled him down a different hallway abruptly. 

“Get out of the castle and hide in the city. Wait for an all clear signal before returning.” she ordered as he nodded, running off as she took off in another direction. The tiefling went after Alton as Roisin ran as fast as he could as he came to a window that overlooked another part of the building, allowing him to climb on the roofs if he was careful. 

“Roisin!” a voice called as he looked over, an orcish woman there as he felt a pressure in his head begin again while looking at her. Quickly, he looked away and headed out the window. “ROISIN!” she yelled again as he moved carefully among the stone rooftops, the woman heading out after him. 

Roisin was carefully hurrying around the stonework, needing to hug the walls and ledges. 

“Roisin!” the woman called as he looked back, heart sinking at seeing that the woman was closer than he thought, partial tusks sticking out of her lip, pink eyes…pleading? She looked hopeful as Roisin paused a moment. 

“Roisin, I know this is all a lot, but we’re here to help you.” she said in a gentle voice. “I only ever want to protect you.” 

“I…I don’t know you. I belong here. With the Shadows.” Roisin said, something making him uncertain as he slid farther away along the ledge he was on. 

“If that’s your choice then I will respect that. However, I have reason to believe you are being manipulated.” she said, slowly creeping closer as Roisin looked away, getting to the other side of the ledge. 

“You don’t know anything about me. This is the only place for me.” he said, moving to continue running when there was that sudden pressure in his mind, more painful than before. He grabbed his head and stumbled. The orcish woman rushed forward as he felt gravity pull him over the edge, everything going dark as his eyes rolled back. 

Dysa barely got there in time to grab Roisin’s arm before he fell to the ground as she pulled him up, pulling his body into her arms as she held him tight a moment. Her chest felt tight as she swallowed and stood, holding him up as as looked at his face, noticing he had a bloody nose. Damn it. Something was wrong, she had to get him back to the ship. Pulling out her phone, she sent out a message to the others before running across the rooftops, Roisin held in her arms. 

—

Roisin woke, head feeling better as he blinked a moment before wincing as he groaned. Why was it so bright? There was a whisper as the lights were quickly dimmed as Roisin blinked as his eyes adjusted. He was in a white room in a med bay as he looked over, seeing several people standing by the lone door in the room as he sat up quickly. It was the tiefling and woman from before as well as a few people he couldn’t quite place. 

“What’re you doing?!” Roisin demanded as he sat up, trying to get up quickly as Dysa quickly ushered the others out before turning over to him. 

“Everything is going to be okay-” she began 

“The hells it is! Where are the Shadows? Where am I?!” he demanded, trying to get up as she went over to him, trying to call him, various cords and cables attached to him and beeping loudly. 

“Deep breath. You aren’t getting out of here without a conversation.” she said sternly as he paused but, knowing he couldn’t escape without information, calmed down a bit. “Thank you.” she said as he paused at that. “Please sit down, you may have ripped some sensors off.” she said as he paused but obeyed as she made sure everything was working. After that, she looked at the monitors and such, making sure it was reading properly and he was fine as she looked back at him. “Let me go over what we’ve observed medically and what I know. Then you can ask questions.” she said as he paused but nodded as she turned several monitors around so he could see it. 

“While on the roof, you fell unconscious. I picked you up and took you here as quickly as I could. It appeared that stress mixed with whatever process used to adjust your mind cause some side affects. However, those seem to have passed for the moment.” she explained. “Your injuries are still extensive however and seemed to have been rushed in the healing process-”

“And I have a limp now, I am aware.” Roisin told her. “If no one had attacked the castle, I would have been fine.” 

“You should have been in a wheelchair or-better yet-left to rest with a plan for physical therapy.” the woman told him, concern on her face as he looked away. “You’ve been left with one life altering change to your body at least.” 

“I am aware. And I can handle it.” he said as the woman paused but nodded. 

“I see. Then let me start from the beginning.” She said, straightening a bit. She then described how they had met and how he had met the rest of the people he had been traveling with as of late. There were tales of fighting gods while befriending others as she described Terra and the Nest. She described him making deals for power and using charm to get his way. Yet, in all of it, she seemed to describe him in a very positive light despite it all…

“I see…” he said after she finished, silent a moment as she watched him. “I don’t know who you met, but I am no hero. I would not give up so much time and energy without cause.” He said, looking at her. She looked…sad it seemed. A look that pulled at something in his chest. “I can’t imagine changing so much in the ways you describe. If I were to leave the Shadows, it would be to grow greater than they could offer. To become a monster that strikes fear with a name alone. Not be hailed a hero. However, all I remember finding after I left was suffering. Suffering for decades. And I am grateful that the Shadows took me back after I have done this.” He told her as she kept her face even but he noted a flash in her eye. 

“I see…” she said quietly. “Are you alright if I show you some things then?” She asked as he eyed her but nodded. 

Dysa stepped out of the room a few long moments as he sat there silently, looking at his hands with the eye like markings, thinking to himself. Why were these people so attached to him? Did he offer something to these people that caused him to be that necessary to them? 

The door opened again as the woman stepped in with a book, papers, and…a cat? He raised a brow at that but the creature all but leapt from Dysa’s arms and onto the bed, purring like a motor. 

“Uh…What is this?” he asked, holding his hands to stop it from climbing up his chest, the cat rubbing against his fingers. 

“That’s Mote. He’s your cat.” the woman explained as he blinked at that, surprised as he looked at the creature, seeing scales on his face. Something small flashed in his mind at that a bit, the cat using the moment to curl in his lap. Roisin just sat there a moment, trying to grasp onto whatever danced right at the edge of his awareness. 

“Roisin…?” Dysa asked as he looked over at her. 

“Oh…sorry Dysa.” he said, reaching for the book and papers. 

“No worries.” she said, examining him as he took the papers and book. He started with the book, paging through page after page of his innermost thoughts addressed to a ‘Lorn’el’. His emotions-good and bad-written out as he blinked at it. It was so very familiar, his atrocious handwriting barely legible to him. Roisin set the book aside, not looking at Dysa as he began to go through the loose papers. They were…death letters? A few marked with blood even as he read each one. It was so very…vulnerable. The headache returned, the pressure pounding in time with his quickening heart as Dysa’s eyes flicked over. 

“Roisin-” she began but he cut her off. 

“I need to go.” he said flatly, pushing the letters away. “Nothing makes sense-I should be in the barracks resting. I need to attend my re-education sessions.” he said, pushing everything away as he tried to get up, Dysa stopping him as he tried to uselessly push her away. 

“Roisin, its going to be okay.” she assured awkwardly as he shook his head. 

“No, no-this is wrong. I serve Lolth and the Crown. I am a Shadow-a servant chosen because I can survive to the end of the mission.” he babbled, head hurting more. “This makes sense. This is all I can have.” he insisted as Dysa pulled him close as he realized he was shaking like a leaf. 

“Its going to be okay.” Dysa said again. “We will get your memories back.” she promised. 

Roisin felt a strange mix of terror and relief at the words. He wasn’t sure if remembering would help at all anymore.

New DnD oneshot

DM: Okay, pick your characters, no weird stuff, okay?

Me: Hexblood Circle of Spores Druid pls? 

Commission!

By woah10spac - 4/2/22

I had such a good time working again with my friend @elesssar on her OC Tamarinde! Tamarinde is a hexblood and a student at Strixhaven University. She loves cheerleading, snowboarding, and woodworking which is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever heard, but she’s also a soul sorcerer so she’s pretty bad a** too!

Thanks again for commissioning me @elesssar ! You’ve been so fun to work with!

First campaign going well - the vibes in the murderfuck deathhouse are absolutely RANCID.

Pazuzu (Owlin Artificer) ignores good sense and goes right in for raccoon points poking around a chest with a dead guy sticking out of it (and finds a very salty letter), The moist twink (Mortimer, Water Genasi Cleric) and horned himbo (Milan, Hexblood Sorcerer) observe with differing levels of curiosity and suspicion. Izel (Vedalkin Druid) worries about the undead kids they left outside, while Osry (Changling Bard) raids the library for precious bard-related info. Vol (Simic Hybrid Barbarian) comforts Maverick (Tiefling Druid) about the bad mojo around here.

quick sketch of my swamp hag in training, Mildew!

More Mildew Here! (along with her sister)

Morgana “Wil” Wilhelm, Fathomless Warlock, Pact of The Blade

Wil is my new PC for a Runeterra game!!! It’s sooo much fun, and I can’t wait to play, and…. romance?

Commissions: Open