#medieval fantasy

&. / .

(  various  dialogue  prompts  for  all  your  medieval  /  fantasy  /  d&d  inspired  threads  and  aus!  )

• ❛ i hope this raven finds you well… ❜
• ❛ you carry a sword, yet you are not a knight. ❜
• ❛ the gods must be angry. i sense a storm brewing. ❜ 
• ❛ there’s no place i’d rather be than by your side. ❜ 
• ❛ nobility is defined by what you do, not who you are. ❜
• ❛ i know how to keep my life and my crown. and i will. ❜ 
• ❛ well, i’m not a knight. not yet. ❜
• ❛ at least we’ll die with honor. ❜
• ❛ i’ve never seen a dragon before, what are they like? ❜
• ❛ this knife is laced with venom, any sudden movements and you’re dead. ❜ 
• ❛ of all the idiots in the realm, i’m trapped with you. ❜ 
• ❛ shed no tears for me. i will be back before you know it. ❜ 
• ❛ i’m sorry, but i’m to be married to someone else. ❜ 
• ❛ here’s a copper for your thoughts. and a silver not to tell them. ❜ 
• ❛ you humans are most amusing. ❜ 
• ❛ may i have this dance? ❜ 
• ❛ you were made to be ruled. ❜ 
• ❛ i will protect you. it is my duty, knight or not. ❜
• ❛ my kingdom is in danger. i’ve come to ask for your aid. ❜ 
• ❛ i’ve got a date with destiny, and it won’t end in a kiss. unfortunately. ❜ 
• ❛ keep your sword up and your back straight. ❜
• ❛ you’re asking me to commit treason. ❜
• ❛ you will make a fine ruler one day. ❜ 
• ❛ no curse of mine shall befall you from my dying breath. ❜
• ❛ you should see me in a crown. ❜ 
• ❛ bury me shallow, i will be back. ❜
• ❛ bard! play something a little more upbeat. ❜ 
• ❛ i warn you, i’ve been trained to kill since birth. ❜
• ❛ my magic is useless against them. i’ve never felt so powerless. ❜ 
• ❛ how can it be my destiny to protect someone who hates me? ❜ 
• ❛ i am at your mercy, your grace. ❜ 
• ❛ do not be afraid, little one. i will not hurt you. ❜ 
• ❛ any man who must say ‘i am the king’ is no true king. ❜
• ❛ knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone. ❜
• ❛ impudent of you to assume i will meet a mortal end. ❜
• ❛ spare me the ‘i’ve come to slay you’ speech and let’s get on with it. ❜ 
• ❛ it is my duty to protect the last of the dragons. ❜
• ❛ do i look like the kind of person who dies? ❜
• ❛ we are king and queen, chained together like prisoners in a dungeon. ❜ 
• ❛ for every great ruler, there is an equally great assassin poised to kill. ❜
• ❛ my bloodline was wiped out before my eyes. i’m the last heir. ❜ 
• ❛ you look better in your wanted posters. ❜ 
• ❛ you don’t need a king. a knight can make another knight. ❜
• ❛ violence for violence is the rule for beasts. ❜
• ❛ fear cuts deeper than swords. ❜
• ❛ pick a god and pray to it. ❜
• ❛ i’d rather die than marry you. ❜ 
• ❛ my duty is to my people. ❜ 
• ❛ glad to see you haven’t become food for the vultures. ❜ 
• ❛ i will paint the throne red with your blood. ❜ 
• ❛ what’s a life threatening quest without a bit of music? ❜ 
• ❛ some of us may not survive, but the ones that do will get the ultimate reward… paid. ❜

I read “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” (a medieval poem) last year and was inspired by its beautiful verses and how visually descriptive the language was. I’m using Marie Boroff’s translation to paint a series of illustrations in the style of medieval tapestries! Will share some sketches soon!

Ikemen Sengoku Meets Medieval Fantasy

The following story is a bit of fanfiction, involving the characters of Cybird’s Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time.

Catch up with Part 1 Here | Part 2 Here | Part 3 Here

Part 3 continues with the adventures of:

Erathelyn Aeratanas (my half-elf OC) ~ The Clever Dual-Dagger Rogue

Mitsunari Ishida “Nari” ~ The Cheerful Bard

Ieyasu Tokugawa “Yasu” ~ The Snarky Archer & Medicine Man

Mitsuhide Akechi “Hide” ~ The Mysterious Shapeshifter

Masamune Date “Masa” ~ The Secretive (and cocky) Knight

He only thought that was a great escape plan. But tumbling through a window is not as simple as one might think. 

“Ugh! Oof! Damn it!” He sputtered as his body hit the muddy ground and his cloak snagged on the windowsill. He managed to free himself and turned, wiping away the grime…only to be met with the tip of cold steel. 

“Well, well, well…look what we’ve found boys. Our deserter making a break for it. You wouldn’t be thinking of running from your bill would you now?" 

"Shit.” A curse slipped out as he recognized the guy from their little altercation in the alley not more than a few minutes earlier. He raised his hands in surrender and smirked, “Now now…no hard feelings huh? I mean, can you really blame a guy for being a little defensive when another man sneaks up on him while he’s taking a leak?”

Chuckles erupt from the four men behind the scowling one. He shot them glares and each buttoned up. 

“You’re coming with us, deserter. There’s quite a bounty on your head. One I think we’d all like a piece of.”

//Really?…

“What’s it up to? 250 coins? 300?”

“225.” one of the other men chimed in, immediately receiving another silencing stare. 

“That’s all? Hmm…that’s a shame.”

“Enough. Now are you going to come willingly or do we need to do this the hard way?” A smirk formed on the man’s face.

Masa internally rolled his eye and dropped his hands, “I’m sorry…”

“What?”

“I said, I’m sorry.” Masa’s smirk vanished and so did the man’s. 

“For what?" 

"For this.” It didn’t take much skill to incapacitate the five of them, but to do it with such ferocity and swiftness definitely was something extraordinary.

His face was known far and wide for being a deserter of the Royal Guard—a despicable, cowardly man who ran from his duties. None knew the truth. None knew how truly capable and masterful he really was. And he liked it that way. 

Mounting his horse, he thought for a moment about catching up to those he’d fled from. But the sounds of alarm bells and shouts deterred any notion of actually doing so. He’d meet them…but not yet. First, he needed to get the hell out of Dern and round back for them. They’d been seen with him and word would spread. He wouldn’t leave them to the uncouth interrogation tactics of the village guards.

***

He’d lost them. At least for the time being. And in doing so, took to the shadows of the forest. It wasn’t long before he caught up to the four he’d been hired to work with. He watched as the men rode steadily by an ever-slowing half-elf that refused to take the offered hands of her travel companions, even though several were offered multiple times. 

He liked her. She had spunk. Her fiery spirit belied her heritage and that set her apart in his eyes. Too many elves and humans born of high status chose to behave in such ways that made his blood boil. She may not have been nobility, but her elvish bloodline was enough to turn him off initially.

But her attitude towards Hide and her constant eye rolling and amused smirks directed at the elf made him see her differently.

As much as he wanted to see how far her agile feet would carry her, he could see the days of walking finally catching up to her—even from a distance. He spurred his horse forward and out of the shadows of the forest lining their southward trek.

He pulled the reins, stopping the horse just in front of her, and reached out a hand, “Climb on up. I promise to keep my hands to myself.” The charming smirk of his reappeared, only illuminated by the glow of the moon hanging high above.

Waiting for an acceptance—or refusal—was out of the question. His large hand curled around hers before anything could be said and he hoisted her effortlessly into the saddle before him. Both arms circled around her, one holding her close to his chest, and the other grabbing tight to the reins. His voice held a playful lilt to it as he whispered in her ear, “You’d better hold on. We have to move with haste.”

With a quick kick of his heels, his horse took off. He called over his shoulder with a chuckle, “Keep up gentlemen, unless you wish to spend your night in the cells of Dern.”

All three men looked at one another. Nari was the one to look back and see the glint of armor heading towards them.

TO BE CONTINUED…