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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 6d

He doesn't join the laughter or smile, but there's an air of quiet self-satisfaction as he strings his bow.

Aronion @honorbound.sunder.my · 6d

"Hah!"

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 6d

"Fire elementals are hot."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 6d

"Fire elementals are hot."

Aronion @honorbound.sunder.my · 6d

"These Sharrans are up to no good."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 8d

"If not, lemme know when you're ready."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 8d

"We don't confine our fights here, so watch your step and... I mean, let me know if you're worried about gettin' hit by someone else, I guess. I can tell someone to get lost for a while."

He spoke as he strode forward, taking a place on one end of a gap on the highest reach of the training yard.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 8d

Tarkith already seemed to have his weapons picked out, and the wear on the leather-bound handles matched neatly beneath his palms. A training shortsword and its mate, a dagger, were his usual weapons here, and as he collected them, he jerked his head towards an open space.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 8d

you off to pillage at the ripe old age of one, you found yourself in the ranks whether you liked it or not.

He came out of his thoughts and realized he was absentmindedly waving back. The hand drops quickly.

"Uh... Tarkith. That's tough, kid. Clarice. Your dad from that place, too? The garden?"

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 8d

"...Huh."

It felt weird, suddenly realizing you've met someone who's had it harder than you. It's hard to compete with 'apocalypse happened, I was fixing it, by the way I'm like fourteen.'

Not that that was a competition he [wanted] to be in, but when your tribe put a weapon in your hand and sent

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 16d

What the hells.

Clarice @clarice.sunder.my · 16d

It's okay, I have other short smelly men I like to avoid. I'll put you on the list!

𝖫𝗈𝗀𝖺𝗇. @imortusx.bsky.social · 16d

Sad life you live there. You can count me out as one of em wanting to meet you.

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 17d

Butch Deloria???

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

There's things most people don't know about [this] world, kid, even livin' in it.

What'd you say your name is?"

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

He deflates from the fight he thought was sparking. Then he shifts a little uncomfortably, because he's a whole grown Halfling that was about to argue with a teenager half his height taller than him.

"...I know what a garden is, yeah. Sand too, but not a company about it.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

I'm 'bout to teach this kid so many fuckin' swears.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

and we say, alright, that's none of my fuckin' business, or we see the shit that matters and ask.

And I'm [tryin'] to tell you other people would explain it all better. I ain't your dad."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

"Hey, you asked, how the hells am I supposed to know what you [don't] know?

Yeah, shit's complicated. It doesn't make sense." He didn't need some dour-ass teenager to show him [that.] "But it's gonna stay complicated whether you and I like it or not. We either look at the fuckin' mess of it

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 18d

"Well, the thing about it is sometimes there's two gods. I dunno, I said I ain't a priest," He grunts irritably.

"R–
Amaryllis. She's a bard and a devotee of Kelemvor, and a big reason that god lost that war.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

Dammit.

"I really ain't the right one to be askin', kid. I only follow Kelemvor - one of 'em - on account'a my old lady. The god before that dragged a lot of people into a war she lost. Badly.

I mostly keep my head down. I dunno if I could give a 'correct' answer."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"I'm gonna let your... Dad... guy... thing explain the difference, if it's all the same.

People are just gonna act different, though. If... if you got 'just me' figured out, that's pretty good. Lean into that."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Do you want to?"

Thank every fucking god for the subject change that he quickly jumps on. He'll give them [that] little offering.

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"...Oh boy."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Oh, that, it's like... I dunno, goin' around the world, tryin' to convince people to believe or follow somethin', or help 'em with somethin' they already believe in, I guess.

Like, tellin' 'em this god will help their harvest, or that one'll kill their enemies."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

He opens his mouth to argue, to point out that supervision was [his] job.

But he thinks better of it and closes it with a shrug.

"She seems old enough t'understand when to use 'em, though, don't she? Willowy thing like that, she better learn quick."

🦋 Percy 🦋 @insectglaives.bsky.social · 21d

"I'm sure it was. I'm just asking you to stop teaching my kid swears.

Without context, saying random curses is a great way to get your ass beat by strangers."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Like we did it for fun? It was survival."

...except the times it wasn't. Except when it couldn't be justified as more than another mark in an unending feud.

He doesn't need to share that with a stranger who's already judging him, though.

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Like we did it for fun? It was survival."

...except the times it wasn't. Except when it couldn't be justified as more than another mark in an unending feud.

He doesn't need to share that with a stranger who's already judging him, though.

🦋 Percy 🦋 @insectglaives.bsky.social · 21d

"Or maybe we both had at least a scrap of supervision while growing up."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"So you're both sheltered, then."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Well, don't." He completely misunderstands. "Most ain't exactly friendly to... I dunno, not-monsters. Best a kid like you could hope for is a robbery. Ain't a god worth what they can do."

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Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"So you're both sheltered, then."

🦋 Percy 🦋 @insectglaives.bsky.social · 21d

"What the fuck."

Tarkith Bloodletter @bloodletters.bsky.social · 21d

"Some definitely do...

Weird question to ask, though. You gonna haunt em, or try and preach to em?"

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