Guild Wars 2

escape from lion’s arch: a teardrop flame

Amidst the chaos, Korra could hear a faint cough. She had ears like a fox.
There was an aetherblade in her way. She struck it across the face with her pearl quarterstaff. This particular minion was ready to strike back with ferocity, but it was simply too late. Korra struck again, while her earthen blast launched the foe to the ground. The path was clear now. She looked behind her to make sure no one would follow. Not too far off, she could see Rox and Braham pretty much taking names.

It was an asuran, hidden in wreckage. Korra snuck into the space and lifted the debris. She must have looked frightening with her golden eyes and red hair. She used gust to open a definitive path to the nearest lionguards. Without so much as a word or a boon of swiftness, the asura took off as if it knew what to do the entire time..

Shards of wood and flaming wreckage grazed her body and armor, but this didn’t bother her. The putrid miasma was getting thicker. Korra slowly walked off to what used to be a bridge. Her staff was already holstered, it had seen enough damage. Lion’s arch was brutalized; was this its last day? The sounds of war grew numb as her pace dwindled. She fell to her knees there, at the edge of it. She didn’t even care that an aetherblade was sneaking up behind her. and as the axe moved through her neck, she became mist. The fiend kept stance, expecting her to reappear, but she didn’t. It returned to the battlefold, laughing.
 
 

korra was in the mists, it was a place she knew rather well. not always the same, there was literally mist around her. this was a soothing mist, placid and white. high above korra’s shallow breathing, there were lit celestial bodies. they would dim and sparkle like the rhythm of a song.. she could smell snow cherry blossom, but where was the tree? there was no land and time could not be kept here.. some of the mist condensed into water.. upon these subtle waves, korra had a notion that this was not a dream and she could feel the petals.. so many of them began to bleed.. such a satiated red, until there was darkness only

it was night in gendarran.. korra was at the vigil keep, standing on an architectural turret. she looked out over the refugee camp with its torches lit and knew with each passing hour more lives would be lost.. bodies displaced into numerous graves and even in the light of day there was darkness.. frost was gathering on the battlement in front of her; anger and disgust filled her heart.. korra clenched her fists enough for her nails to leave marks on her palms.. she took another deep breath and raised her arms into position.. somehow she calmly grasped the frost bow as it materialized there and already having the arrow set, she let it sail off into the night air.. each arrow burst into a soft flare before vanishing like a shooting star..
korra did this for several minutes..
Someone walked in behind her and asked ‘how do you make it do that?’
Korra smiled to herself and looked over “do you know there’s a particle for everything?”
’ in blacksmithing, even the seemingly insignificant details are important’
Korra melted the frost bow right there on the ledge  “someone taught me that a long time ago”  and before the person could respond  “they died,  a dragon killed them.”
Korra was turning to head back inside when she noticed a saddened asuran standing there. The asuran looked down at the kettle she was holding ‘i.. i made some tea’ she smiled softly and went back inside.. Korra thought out loud  “doesn’t anyone sleep around here.” The person asked her ‘do you?’
They went inside after that..

thanks hahnchen for the pic
and 
thanks grom for his commission.. he did a wonderful job on this painting which i touched up the face, eyes, and staff with color simply out of personal preference

after receiving a letter from trahearne, korra was stopping in her home instance before heading to stonewright’s steading.. she caught it from the corner of her eyes, glancing for only a moment.. there it was, always..

There are many emotions one can encounter when going into a dark cave, but korra simply sighed as this was something that had to be done.. besides, this was the far shiverpeaks.. she felt right at home here.. When she got far enough into it, Korra glanced back at the cave entrance before proceeding.. The farther she progressed the more apparent it became this was an uncomplicated cave system.. inviting almost..

She eventually came across a set of discarded armor.. was it discarded? Korra had been to enough forges over the years to know just by looking that it was particularly risiliant.. it was quite large yet lacked bulkiness.. very well adorned with carvings and trophy pieces.. She knew it wasn’t cosmetic… she left it there and continued through the cave system.. she used a small fire spell to illuminate the path ahead

Delving into a cave seemingly devoid of life for the sake of life.. was that irony? No spiders, imps.. nothing; Korra didn’t come to this place for nothing.. She could be pretty mission driven sometimes, but that was only sometimes.. she hadn’t been complacent for a long time, certainly not since the breachmaker.. Feeling lost while taking due coarse, that’s just. . . . .

She finally came to a larger cavern.. illuminated by a firepit, someone lived there and was aware of Korra’s presence.. It was a Jotun.. standing there, no taller than six feet.. it looked back at her, and spoke..

on the dreariest of days, korra returned to the decimated lions arch.. there, on the makeshift placard, her name was prominently written.. it was a travesty, and as she
turned away without a slight of spell.. it was dispatched with fire

Planning on burning my cave down? ..Elementalist, hmmphh ..the jotun said with a grumble
as peculiar as this was, Korra was only slightly thrown off.. she stepped forward and turned out her light spell..
“my name is korra f..
‘I know who you are…
come help me with this,’ the jotun motioned to a couldron of the firepit
so very peculiar.. korra kept her eyes focused on the small jotun as she walked over..
she then noticed there was nothing in it, no ingredients or anything to speak of..
the jotun just sat there, not even looking.. and let out an impatient breath
korra filled the pot with water, and instead of pressing a conversation.. she decided to quicken the kindling too..
‘eeaahh’ the jotun immediately griped at her to ‘let the flame do what it was meant to’
. . .after a bit of waiting
“i had no trouble getting in here.. if these are your caverns, then you know what’s keeping the icebrood away from this area..”
the jotun let out the longest, most irritated sigh.. she had ever heard
and readily scoffed at her
is that what you’ve come here for? a deterent..
korra was immediately frustrated
“icebrood decimated this territory, Nothing grows out there.. animals are scarce, and..
the jotun interrupted once more.. ‘and your army is starving…’
korra looked off to the side, “they aren’t my army”
the jotun grumbled, hmmmph
of all things, it is jormaag that seeks resolution,
..it’s not going to be pretty
the jotun was up now and walking past her..
korra became quiet with an unsettled feeling.. she looked over and there was no boiling water, there was Nothing in the kettle…
the jotun told her “it’s time to stop playing games”
#puff#
darkness ensued

happy halloween *,..,*

My Ears, what a grim expression. . .
(korra was wearing her mask, she hardly took it off in public anymore)
and she recognized the voice
it was a golden haired asuran
Korra did take her mask off though.
“Traffa. . .”
‘I acquired some oolong tea. it’s got cactus in it, everything does around here.’
“i thought you w..”
‘i was.. and i did.. except, when i wasn’t reading books i began writing them.. and i eventually developed some advanced blast radius technology.. it’s what the air ships are using to bombard clusters of mordrem..’
“so, you’re working with the pact. . .”
‘not exactly commander.’ korra made an off face ‘heh, i wouldn’t want the title either. plenty of those around who helped kill zhaitan anyway.’ Traffa took a deep breath. ‘anyway, i’m actually here to make sure my cousin’s alright. she’s a quartermaster holed up in one of the godforsaken forts out here.’
“if she’s anything like her cousin..”
they both smirked and went about their tea
’y’know, back when we stormed that Beetletun mansion.. you were quite exceptional.’
korra didn’t say anything, she hadn’t really thought about it in awhile.
‘i hope she’s alright.. fighting isn’t really in her equation.’
korra softly responded " that i can understand.."