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The Long, Cold Road

Started by visualspice, February 11, 2014, 09:49:53 AM

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visualspice

Activities were becoming increasingly hostile in the North, and rumors began to spread some of the duchies were showing signs of unrest, even if the nobles were being loyal to the cause. Though some questions were stirring around the duchy of Turgall, he would address Duke Harmond's actions on his return. For now, he was heading North, into Hellvion.

The Duke of Hellvion was normally amicable, but his wife- something no man could tame. Duchess Melora was famous for this, and now it was time for him to save face before them. The Duchess was writhing mad when she found out mages were destroying her roads in attempts at a boycott so that goods from her land could not get in or out. Letters, she claimed, were not enough action from the Grand Duke so he sent one last letter informing her he would arrive personally to deal with his manner and help assess the situation on her own home front. Allar, the Grand Duke's home duchy, was not much different than Hellvion in terrain, though coastal trade was near impossible for Hellvion, due to the wicked mountains that separated Hellvion from the sea.

Things seemed to quiet down after that as Grand Duke Allarrick began his preparations for the long journey North. Winter was on it's way, the temperature dropping near freezing by the time his caravan began to leave the capital, and already there was about two feet of snow on the ground once he passed the duchy of Turgall and was making his way westwardly through Wulfbauer. But the winds were picking up, and the snow was unrelenting.

It was a blinding force, but Calent was adamant they stick to course. Even through the rocky and uneven, cliff-side roads of Hellvion as they iced over.
"You are well aware of the famous temper of Duchess Melora. We should do our best not to trifle with her. I would hate to see any favor of the duchies bend because they fear my actions are inadequate." And his men left it at that. But as the carriage lurched forward, and the horses, slipping on the road, his men called for a break.

Even an hour break cast nearly another foot of snow on his trail, and the temperature was growing colder by the minute. It seemed a bit early for such weather, though summer ended early, and most assumed to be ready for a longer, colder winter this year.


They were not wrong.

As snow flooded the trail, they made camp against the hillside, and a fire was made to keep everyone warm. Though the Grand Duke was used to much more cozy accommodations, it could not be said for certain how close they were to the next town. But this break was limited, or so he thought, but as they snow's continued, it seemed even the horses were becoming buried.

"We can not stay here or we'll freeze. We could move along on foot," Calent had suggested, but Zannrick, ever his right hand man, gave a scoff.

"And risk your life? You know these mage rebels could be tailing us and waiting for a weak moment."

"Then let them try to fight in the snow." Calent challenged, and Zannrick immediately quieted. Keeping his hand to the pummel of his sword, the mordecai bowed his head before the Grand Duke.

"If my liege wishes to press onward, we could break up the party and continue on foot. It would be another five days travel north, perhaps six, with the incoming weather, but we could push onward much more successfully that way to get to the castle."
Though as Calent agreed, Zannrick had to wonder why he'd risk the trek. They could all freeze to death if the weather became more violent. And Connlaoth needed it's ruler. He was a firm believer in what his duke preached, so he would not question his game of politics, but it seemed preposterous to risk ones life to appease the silly wife of a Duke.

But Calent knew better. Hellvion was very important in this political game. Fall out of favor with her, and most duchies of the west would join. There were already accounts on their being some doubt, and he wished to stomp that out. There would be unity in his reign, this much he'd make for certain.

So the party continued on foot- those with the horses turning back and more rations and supplies were given to the remaining men. Snow shoes were now worn in order to make the travel all the lighter, but two days of snow soon turned into two more days of ice.

Travel was impossible, and Calent found himself and his men needing to make more frequent stops to make camp, and now with another mountainous road set before them- they were making camp yet again.


It was maddening and the snow mixed with the ice made the terrain all the more uncertain and treacherous. And as he sat up late that night, the winds howling all around him, the Grand Duke found himself unable to sleep- though he rarely did, and when he did sleep.... the nightmares would always come.

This night was nothing any different, as the shadows of his mind danced across his vision in vivacious details. Curved and dark and dangerous- and full of blood. And the murder was replayed in his mind- and each time it felt far more real than the last.

He awoke in a sweat, though the fire had long gone out. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, and his breath came out in a puff of white. Pushing his tent side open he stumbled to a halt as he was pelted with both win, snow and uncomfortable icy rain.

But he had to piss, and he had to get out of that tent, lest his own mind consume him, and fervently he rushed through the quiet snow towards a hill side to relieve himself though he did not stop there. No, to quell his mind he began a long trek from camp- finding himself desiring the solitude- no, needing it. Though as he came to the edge of a path he found himself foolishly lost for as he turned around- he had no idea which way he had gone. The path had become more dangerous and the snow falling so fast his tracks were well covered up. Had he not been so distracted with that dream...
but that was neither here nor there, for he was already lost on this long cold road, and the temperature was dropping fast.

Considering the path followed along the cliff side, he figured there was only one way left to go- but one wrong stepped proved him wrong, and his journey back soon ended there as the ice beneath him gave out and he fell through a ditch unseen- for the snow had covered it well and he had offered just the right amount of weight to break it-
and down the hillside he wet, crashing through rough ice and snow and rocks in a painful tumble until somewhere, near the endless bottom- he settled into an unmoving heap.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

The wind was a howling beast, ripping and tearing at the mercenaries flesh with fangs of ice; the sky, a leviathan of whirling snow, seeking to bury her with its all-engulfing bulk.

Thick snowdrifts had caked her boots with snow. The mahogany fur of her cloak was heavy with snow and the shoulders were white with the skies frozen fury. Eyes, pools of deep blue, stared out from under a snow-caked hood of bear fur. Her back was piled with supplies, and leather saddlebags hung on each end a spear she had laid across her shoulders.

Two pine shields, a recurve bow of composite bone and wood, three quivers of arrows, food, bedding and miscellaneous supplies bowed her back and slowed her feet, but she struggled on. Minutes turned into hours. Hours turned into a morning, then an evening, then a night. To stop without a fire was to court a frigid death. The mercenary ignored the fatigue creeping through her powerful legs and shoulders. She tuned out the icy pain that shot through her toes and the burning in her lower back. Julia had no choice. March or die.

The ferocity of the storm had been unexpected. Perhaps a decade of exile had dulled her memory. Perhaps this was simply a storm of unusual power. The veteran swordswoman was unsure of why, but she silently cursed herself for being caught so unprepared. Her horse had died in the first few hours, having too little protection against the frigid winds. An hour later Julia was lost, left with no other choice but to trek along the base of a cliff, using it for partial shelter against the winds and as a landmark.

Had it not been for his colorful garb the warrior for hire would have tripped over his snow covered, prone form. Her heavy boots crunched to a halt, buried past the ankle in snow. A grunt escaped her as she leaned to the left, allowing one-half of the load on her spear to slide to the ground, before dropping the other half as well. A fur-covered gauntlet grasps the spear by the steel socket and she prods the most powerful man in Connlaoth with the iron buttcap of her boar-spear. She shouts, driving her soprano voice through the howling winds. "Still alive down there?"

visualspice

All the woman would find was the near frozen stiff shape of his cloak, that jutted out from the ground like a flag. It bore a crest, though it was hard to distinguish just exactly what was embroidered into the fabric becuase it as so encased in ice and snow dust. The rest o fhis body faired the same, and at the poke, he didn't even move. It seemed no matter how fancy his clothing was, or now matter his title- the ice still took on victims, big and small.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

As the iron thumped into his frozen, stiff form Julia assumed he was dead. Another victim of the vicious weather. Some frilly noble out for an ill-advised hunt, caught in the storm. Or perhaps a wealthy young man, too wild to heed the words of his elders and avoid the frozen tundra.

No matter, she thought. If he was dead he would not miss any food he carried. Or his valuables. The cloak alone looked expensive. Driving her spear into the frozen dirt she approached the man, frozen knees creaking as she knelt beside him. Ice cracked as she pulled her langseax from her belt. The heavy blade hacked away at the ice around him and her mailed fist tossed chunks of it aside; re-energized by the thought of fresh supplies.. or gold.

A few minutes later she had dug his frost covered form from the ice. Having already assumed the well dressed man had passed through the veil unto the afterlife Julia wasted no time patting him down for anything she could eat or sell.

visualspice

As the woman patted him down, the man stirred, barely making a noise, but his life force was evident int he way he breathed. Soft puffs of white breath began to escape from his slightly parted lips and nose.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

"Well. Curse me to Hel." The veteran warrior leaned back, kneeling on one knee with her seax-wielding hand resting upon her lead knee. Snow whirled around her fur cloaked form as she pondered her options.

The first, and easiest option was to stick him a few times, let him bleed out, and take what she needed from his corpse. She did not feel any twinge of guilt or remorse for considering such a course of action, although she preferred to avoid slaying the defenseless.

The other, and far more difficult course of action was to try and help them man. He would use up some of her valuable supplies of course, and by his condition he would slow her passage through this storm. She feared that in a blizzard of this magnitude delay would equal death.

For a long moment she set, snow piling upon her fur cloak as she pondered. Then she stuffed her langseax back into its leather scabbard and reached under her cloak, drawing forth a skin of watery wine, kept warm by its proximity to her flesh. "Rise and shine, sunshine." She shook him by the shoulder and pressed the wineskin to his lips. "Drink. You need something to get your blood flowing."

visualspice

When the wine began to pour into his lips, initially, the man choked on it. Sputtering, he eventually found the need and desire to lap at it, much like a dog. By now, the wine was dribbling down his face from his lips, even as he swallowed it fervently in a thirsted rush and the wine trickling down was now moistening the fur outlines of his cloak-a nd after a moment, he groaned and finally looked up at some strange woman above him.

"Who.. who are you?" he asked in a croak.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

Julia tucked the wineskin back under her cloak and pulled it tight around her before looking back to the frozen Calent and answering his question. "My name is Julia."

"But..." She struggled back to her feet, feeling the chill creeping through her legs. Constant movement, hour after hour, had spared her from freezing thus far but she knew it was time to move again. "That's not important right now." The veteran mercenary extended a fur and maile covered glove. "We need to move before we freeze to death. Take my hand and I'll get you to your feet. You can lean on me, but we need to move."

visualspice

At the reality of their situation, Calent groaned, expelling a hot wisps of white breath as he did. The cold had already crept through him- he could barely feel his body, even as he tried to grope onto Julia for support. Staying warm.. moving.. they both equaled survival, and though it pained him, he forced himself to stand with a grunt.

Unwittingly, he leaned into her, for he could barely feel his legs as he shivered within his cloak. He wore quite alot of layers, but frost was already collecting on his dark lashes and his nose, turning red and his lips, seeming blue.

His teeth were chattering before he gave a  nod of his head.
"Then let's walk before the cold takes us."
He could ignore the pain for now, for he had little choice as he lifted his head, trying to keep his chin as high as he could.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

A grunt escaped her lips as she she supported his weight, slipping her right arm under his shoulders. Julia was tough, hardened by a decade of force marches, travel and training across the four corners of the earth but she had been exposed to the cold for hours now, and heavily burdened besides. Tendrils of fatigue were crawling through her limbs.

"Short detour." She said, and turned them around, plodding through the snow until she could return to her spear and saddle bags. Crouching she fished them from the snow and hooked the leather bags on the lug wings of the boar spear. Her frame wobbled as she shoved herself back to her feet, propping the heavy spear over her free shoulder.

"Alright. Lean on me when you need to." Turning them around once more she begin plodding through the snow. Before long each step sent fire through her legs and back, burdened as she was by the weight of a full grown man and the stores of supplies her stallion usually carried. "If you need a drink, or something to eat there are rations and wine on my belt. But we can't stop until we reach shelter."

visualspice

Calent's teeth were chattering. No, he couldn't think of eating at a time like this, but simply nodded in reply, or at least he thought he did. Even his face felt numb as his eyes took in the white lands all around them. It was nearly blinding and forcing his eyes to tear up as they walked when winds would sweep through the trees.

He understood plainly what she meant. They could not stop or rest or anything until they got out of this storm, but something caught his eyes, off in the foggy distance as he raised his head, but found his mouth too frozen to speak up. Was that a cabin? He could only bloody hope it was, but the figure was shrouded in foggy, falling snow.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

Through the whirling snow Julia's eyes caught the glimmer of something. Squinting she slowly turned their pace toward it; whatever it was could hardly worsen their situation now. Step after step they plodded through the snow until at long last their goal was reveled; a cabin.

Fair sized, sturdily built, snug and secure it was the kind of place one could hunker down in and endure mighty storms. A flicker of relief shot through the mercenaries mind. She didn't know how much longer they would have lasted.

Struggling up the short hill to the cabin she tried the door. Locked. No lights glowed under the shingles, and they were nailed shut. She slipped her arm out from under Calent's shoulders and dropped her spear and saddlebags into the snow. Planting one boot in the frozen ground she drew up the other and kicked the door. Hard. The entire door frame groaned but the oak held.

"Sturdy." She grunted through wind chapped lips. Whoever had built this had pride in their work; good craftsmanship, good materials. Julia didn't give a damn. It was just something else that was in her way. Her boot slammed into it again, and again and again, rage flickering in her eyes as she tapped into a preternatural burst of strength and energy.

A loud 'pop' rang out, loud enough to be heard over the roaring winds. The door opened about six inches, the splintered bolt of oak viable through the crack. Her armored shoulder smashed into the door one final time and sent the broken oak spinning as the sturdy door flew open.

Warmed by the exertion and proximity of rest she was re-energized. After helping Calent inside, should he require it she gather her own equipment and brought it inside, tossing it all into the corner and abandoning the supplies that had weighed upon her back for hours.

Grabbing one of her pine shields she pinned on edge against the floor and stomped it. It snapped and she stomped the two pieces, repeating the process three times until she had a number of broken pine planks. These she tossed into the fireplace. Kneeling beside it she tossed in a few pieces of dried branches that had been stored inside the cabin as tinder. Then she worked her flint-stone and steel until she had a roaring fire.

Only then did she wedge the door shut with her spear shaft and fall into one of the sturdy wooden chairs near the fire. Looking over at Calent she arched a brow, dry amusement filling her voice. "Whew."

visualspice

Calent felt like a useless lump from where he had been discarded in a corner of solitude. But it was hard for him to feel his body, and as many times as he tried to rise- he could not. He hadn't realized he has been injured- a broken leg, perhaps, or just a bad sprain, it was hard to tell, and a gash on his forehead where the blood had frozen to his skin.

So as the woman worked, he could only observe, and at her 'Whew', he frowned.

He wasn't much one with words outside of politics, and despite his position as the Grand Duke; he'd much rather not talk to other people at all. He shifted about uneasily and managed to crawl his way over to the fire and sat there, feeling barely any relief coming from the growing flames of the fire. But as the fire grew, so did the warmth, which began to thaw out his skin in painful, needle like sensations that were crawling all over his skin.

Though despite all that happened, he kept his green eyes listlessly on the fire, and he did not realize how numb his stare looked, nor how much he was shivering. But who knew how long the man had been out there in the snow- it might even be too late for him- his clothing soaked well with snow and ice- which worked doubly against retaining any sort of heat when the patches of ice would begin to melt and sink deeper into the fur trimmed clothing decorated in leathera nd silk.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Kratesis

As Julia set, feeling the warmth of the flames flicker across her face she realized that her labor was not yet completed. Her companion appeared frozen to the bone. "How long were you out there?" She stood, the stiffness returning as the adrenaline faded. "Your cloths are soaked."

Removing her own fur cloak she tossed it over a dusty table in the center of the room. The iron rings in her waist length black braid clattered against her maile armored back as she looked through the room until she found a couple of large, smooth river stones. She tossed them into the blazing fire and waited for them to heat before dragging them out with the iron poker. "Take these and tuck them under your armpits. They will heat your blood."

visualspice

Silently, he obeyed, taking the warm stones and resting them there. At first it seemed to do little help, but he started to feel the burn again- but at this point, just about everything in his body burned.

"These clothes.." he began to say, teeth chattering. "I.. I have to be rid of them. They're soaked. And keeping them on could harbor death."

Wincing, the man attempted to stand, but it was evident his legs just wouldn't let him as he remained half bent over, keeping on hand over his thigh as he grimaced.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Ivory

It was some time later, as the shadows lengthened into evening and the storm blustered heavily outside that a single figure made his way across the landscape.  The wind pushed and pulled at him, and it drove the snow hard against the thick fur coat he wore...but if he stayed outside much longer, even that thick coat would not be enough.

It was hard to say whether it was the man's strength alone or if the wind helped him to burst into the small house.  The door, already splintered on its frame from the beating it had received earlier, was thrown inwards, and the man hurriedly pressed it shut again in his wake.  Only once he was sure it was secure did he turn to regard the residents of this strange, out of the way house in the middle of nowhere.

Kerr looked more like an abominable snowman than a human.  The snow had matted in the very threads of his coat and turned to ice.  A muffler had been wound around his head to protect his face, revealing only the pale blue eyes set in a reddened, wind-burned face.

visualspice

The strange woman who had been tending to the Grand Duke during this time had all but vanished that morning, but the length of time she was gone was hard to say- for some time between when she had left and this new man arrived, the Grand Duke had fallen asleep. And nearly, though not as thoroughly so, he appeared as quite the disheveled mess. A heavy beard had graced his face, his skin, red with fever, and glistening over with the evidence of sweat. Though even as he slept, something roused him, drew him from the depths of the shadows as he cried out in alarm.

His green eyes shot open and he to his knees suddenly, hand to the hilt of his blade-
but what caught him off guard more than the creepy, unsettled violence of his own dreams- was the fact a new person had appeared and it was enough to cause the green eyed man to blink. The new comer looked like quite a monster.

"State your business here," Calent spoke through his teeth- and though he was weak, he still held some bite in his breath.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Ivory

Kerr's eyes took in the pallor of the man's skin, the weapon not so far away, the fine clothing strewn about the small shack to dry...  His eyebrows rose slightly -- rather comically, given they, too, were decorated in frozen snow -- and beneath the muffler, he smiled.  Well, it seemed not all of his luck had abandoned him today...

He held out both hands before him, then carefully began to reveal parts of his face.  Speaking now would only come out muffled and difficult to understand -- and he meant to take shelter here from the storm, no matter what the cost.

Pulling down the hood revealed yellow hair that reflected the firelight like gold, and unwinding his face from the protective cloth unveiled a handsome face, the age of which was difficult, precisely, to pin-point.  It contained youth, but there was hardness there that spoke of many trials survived.

"Shelter.  The same as you.  If this was your hut, there would have been no need to kick in the door."  Kerr eyed the man, daring him to refute the statement, then began to pull off the heavy, wet layers that had kept him from the cold winter winds.  He wore simple, unadorned clothes beneath...as well as a mace on his belt that looked well-used.

visualspice

Though Calent's face hardened, he gave a rigid nod of his head.
"Yes, it seems the predicted weather has come true. And we've got a long ways to go before this is all over." He peered at the man for a time as he revealed his face, and not having recognized it, he gestured towards the fire. "Come closer to warm yourself. There is plenty of space near the fire."
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

Ivory

Kerr nodded ever-so-slightly.  He stepped closer, already feeling the warmth of the fire even though he had barely entered the circle of light.  As he crouched down before the flame with his hands outstretched, his eyes moved over the shadowy confines of the room before moving back to the small shack's other occupant.

"Where are the owners?"

There was something poised about the way he sat, hunkered down on the balls of his feet, coiled, and ready to spring should the need arise.  It made him seem dangerous, somehow, like a snake about to strike even as he ventured to ask about the fates of the original owners...

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