Children of the Snow [PF] IC

[Prehysterical]

Spoiler: Yarl

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Yarl didn't want to believe what the kobold was saying, but the story that it told was too incredible to be anything but the truth. He sheathes his sword, but keeps a firm grip on his shield.

"What did the chief promise you? Why does Tyros care about this?"

[BramsesII]

Alec's expression relaxes somewhat, and as there are plenty of people grilling the kobold for information she takes the time to pick up the spear she just dropped. She lazily leans on her weapon as she stares up at the ceiling, thinking about the upcoming fight and leather gloves lined with seal fur for reasons unknown.

[Quakes]

Mirka reads the parchment over Alexis' shoulder, trying to determine from its contents whether the kobold is legitimate.

[RandomWombat]

Spoiler: @Thordis

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The small nook they are in is set between two houses, with one of the homes extending into the alley halfway down, thinning it further. Chief Solomon had been leaning on the wall in the corner of the extension and appeared to be waiting for someone. The streets are empty and quiet, and the rain has slowed to a gentle drizzle. It takes little time for the chief to begin to sir, and Marcivelle backs up nervously. Quickly the large man sits up and reaches for his sword, looking up at the two figures in the dark. "Who is it? Robbers? Wait - Marcivelle? And you? What are you two doing?" Solomon's gaze shifts between the Ring Member and the stone spirit medium.

"We mistook you for a -" Marcivelle chokes on her speech and coughs, glancing at Thordis. "A spy. I've seen you meeting here in secret. I thought it was your brother, but it seems I was mistaken."

"A spy? Why would I be a spy? I am the clan chief!" the chief attempts to stand, unless Thordis decides to stop him.

Spoiler: @Everyone Else

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"Your chief expects Volsagi to attack before Himmiskan and Drovos can recover from their feud. Feared Clan Ring would reject working with one of Tyros and hired me personally," taking out a handful of gold and silver coins, the kobold indicates them. "Times are not good. I needed work so I agreed."

Spoiler: @Mirka

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The documents detail Volsagi increasing their military training. Able-bodied men of the fyrd are being given increased training and better equipment, and younger males are being recruited.

[BramsesII]

Alexis snaps out of her daydream for a moment. She looks at her father, then at the kobold, and finally at Mirka, who is looking at the parchment from over her shoulder. "So... wait. Let me get this straight. Volsagi are building an army? I thought we were fighting the Drovos tomorrow..." She trails off, shaking her head. Then, suddenly, she turns her attention to the kobold again. "Uh... do you know who they're planning to attack first? And when are they planning to attack?"

[Quakes]

We should get this to your chief immediately.

[RandomWombat]

Spoiler: @Alexis,Mirka,Barr,Yarl

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The kobold shakes his head. "No. Just that they are preparing to attack someone. Very soon, they are working fast."

"The contest tomorrow will have the entirety of Drovos' and Himmiskan's leadership in one place. I am reluctant to accept this snake's words, but if the Volsagi are preparing to attack it would be an ideal time to cut off the heads of both clans," the elder warrior lowers his hammer hesitantly and furrows his brow in worry. He rests the head of the hammer on the floor and holds it in place with one hand, then rubs his shoulder with the other. Alexis can tell his bones are aching - an unfortunate side effect of old age. "A decisive opening move. You said you were hired by the chief, so you must have been delivering these reports. I think we need to make that delivery and have words with him."

"I could take you there. It is not far."

Alec's gaze turns to the street outside, where neighbors awoken by the commotion are starting to wander over. He sighs heavily, "There will be panic and outrage if word of this gets out. I will go assure our clanmates that the commotion here is settled." He places a hand on Alexis' shoulder. "I trust you and your companions to do what is right." Lifting the hammer with both hands again he makes his way outside and begins sending the half-asleep wanderers back to their homes.

[BramsesII]

Alec nods as her father speaks, a serious expression on her face. "We'll go speak to the chief, I think. And tomorrow we'll win that fight. That's what's right, right?" She looks at her fellow warriors to gauge their reactions.

[raspberrybadger]

Spoiler: Thordis

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Thordis lets the man rise. It's not like she's going to kill him, so if there's no one else around there's nothing to do but to let this conversation go where it will.

[Prehysterical]

Spoiler: Yarl

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Yarl nods at Alec's words.

"Aye, we'll speak to the chief. But if what he says is true, the contest tomorrow may be the least of our problems. You will accompany us, Tyros. Keep yourself civil, and no harm will come to you."

[RandomWombat]

Spoiler: @Thordis

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Chief Solomon stands and brushes some of the mud off of himself with an irate expression. "I am here meeting someone, but I am not a spy."

"My apologies, chief, I - the idea there may be a traitor about just before the contest, I felt it called for action," stepping back and lowering her gaze, Marcivelle tries not to offend the chief. He just shakes his head and sighs.

"I suppose I was asking for it. The spirit of your actions were in the right place," the man's irate expression fades somewhat as he scans the area again. "Though I fear something may have befallen the one I came here to meet. Did either of you see any kobolds on the way here?" Marcivelle indicates to the negative and looks to Thordis inquiringly.

Spoiler: @Others

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With positive replies, the kobold peeks outside to make sure Alec has cleared out the curious neighbors and gestures for the group to follow. "Is a walk yet. This way." To its credit, the tiny lizardman does not bolt at the first chance given and waits for the others to follow.

The path everyone is led on takes them to the other side of the central hall. The rain outside has become softer and mud still covers the ground.

Spoiler: @Everyone

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Shortly, Thordis can see a large group moving through the street towards where she is.

Everyone else sees a few figures ahead.

[raspberrybadger]

Spoiler: Thordis

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"I have not seen one."

[BramsesII]

As they make their way to their destination, young Alec is preoccupied, looking up at the stars. Her mind is racing with possibilities. So. The Volsagi are planning to attack. On the day of the battle with Drovos, no less. Daring. I wonder how they'll accomplish that. No way they're going to attack both us and Drovos straight on. They'll have some sort of diversionare tactic. Seals on horses. That'd be... Alec nearly trips over an awkwardly jutting rock on the ground, momentarily interrupting her train of thought. She drops her spear again, which lands in the mud with a soft thud.

After picking it up, her mind picking up where it left off. Seals on horses. That has to be it. And while our warriors are investigating where these weird seals come from, the Volsagi will strike! Not on horseback, of course. The seals are on their horses. They'll probably be riding sheep into battle. Cows are too docile. I don't think they've tamed wolves yet, and pigs... the stench would give them away... Perhaps... She bumps into the back of Mirka, the group having stopped momentarily as they have spotted a few figures ahead.

The young woman picks up her spear - again - and apologizes to the yeti. "Sorry. Didn't mean to do that." A short pause. "Hey, do you think the Volsagi sheep will be armored?"

[RandomWombat]

It does not take long for the two groups to get in range to see each other clearly. Solomon steps forward and examines everyone, nodding to himself. "And there he is. It figures you all would have had a hand in stalling our meeting. Has Ragsk explained what's going on?"

The kobold, whose name is apparently Ragsk, nods. "I brought update on Volsagi military. They are ready for a big fight."

"This is whom I have been meeting. We are not spying on Himmiskan, we are... scouting the Volsagi readiness level. Their aggressive military preparation as of late has been worrying me," Solomon turns to face Thordis and Marcivelle to explain, the latter of which is quiet. The chief turns to face the other champions, "May I see the reports?" Ragsk gestures to Alexis, the one he'd handed them to. Solomon's face becomes a tad more worried. "Ah, Alexis, was it? You do still have the reports yes?"

[BramsesII]

Alec, still standing at the back of the group, suddenly hears her name being called out. She steps forward. "Just Alec will do, sir." She pauses for a while, as if expecting the chief to say something. The documents are in her left hand, and suddenly she seems to remember something.

"Oh! The documents. Where did I... Oh. Heh... Right here." She holds up the documents triumphantly before handing them over. "Interesting read, I think."

[raspberrybadger]

Thordis stands where she is, saying nothing until Solomon has a chance to read the documents, but in her heart she tells herself We shall see if any good thing can come of this - mixing a duel and a greater enemy, a serious matter of ambush and the inexperience of Alec. Still - luck tomorrow in a duel, and perhaps the Volsagi fear us.

[Quakes]

Mirka thinks to himself, We still have a job to do, we'll just have to trust the chief to watch out for any surprises. Forewarned is forearmed.

[RandomWombat]

"Thank you," Solomon retrieves the reports and begins looking them over. He frowns at the results, "The Volsagi are converting the fyrd into an active standing military force, in addition to their weaponthanes. I'd seen hints in previous reports, but this confirms it. The Volsagi are planning to invade someone." Flipping to the next page of parchment he narrates further, "They've been sending scouts to the southeast - and to the northwest? What would they be scouting for there?"

Ragsk makes an unsubtle noise to catch the chief's attention. Solomon reaches into his heavy cloak and takes out a sack of gold coins, handing it to the kobold. "Here you are, the rest of your payment. If Volsagi plans to attack at the contest tomorrow they will already be on the move, but I want to know what they're planning in the north."

"Yes. I will follow the scouts and see what they see," Ragsk scampers off into the night.

"We need to be ready to defend against this attack. Our forces must be ready by morning, and Drovos must be warned, there's no time to waste," Solomon turns to face the group. "You should all rest. We will need you come dawn."

[Prehysterical]

Before the chief can walk away, Yarl steps forward and asks,

"Why didn't you tell anyone about this? As a huskarl, I can't protect the village if I don't know which way to point my shield. Is the competition off tomorrow?" He sounds upset about being left out of the loop.

[RandomWombat]

"You know the tradition of Orlanth and Humakt, shieldthane. Spies and trickery are frowned upon as the methods of Eurmal, a joke with no place in 'real war'. When used and kept in secret these things protect the clan, but if revealed they would cause public distrust. I will have need to come up with an excuse for how the information of a coming attack was obtained," before he leaves, Solomon addresses Yarl. His voice sounds tired. "I grow weary of war. My family's legacy is bringing suffering and pain with their raiding parties and invasions. So forgive me if 'real war' no longer appeals to me. I'm trying to find a path to stopping that endless cycle, but I can't do that if I lose the peoples' trust."

"The Volsagi chief, Iralosa, wouldn't hesitate to use far worse methods. She's ambitious and determined," Marcivelle comments as she speaks up finally. "I never liked her."

[BramsesII]

Alec looks at the others. "I suppose that answers all our questions. I hope you guys don't mind if I return home? I think we shall all need our rest. Badly."

With that, she turns around and starts to head home, unless someone else has something to say to her.

[raspberrybadger]

Thordis has no problem herself with spying, but also understands the value of staying silent. Oddly enough, she finds herself in agreement with Alec. If she must fight both a duel and a battle tomorrow, it is best to get sleep now. If there is not a battle, this talk is even more useless. So she speaks up, saying "So we expect treachery tomorrow. Tonight we sleep, for fatigue is hardly lucky." With that she signals her readiness to head to bed as well.

[Prehysterical]

Yarl shakes his head sadly.

"I didn't mean everyone. I meant at least my family. We have faithfully served for generations, and yet there is no real trust placed in us. I tire of all this pointless war as well, chief, but keeping secrets from your thanes is no way to inspire confidence. What else have you been hiding?" The last question is meant to be rhetorical.

Turning to walk back to his family's hall, Yarl says, "I suppose I'll try to get some sleep, now. Hopefully, I can overcome the itching feeling of an imminent knife in my back." He walks off without another word.

[RandomWombat]

Thordis is escorted back to her host's home, Marcivelle silent and contemplative. Everyone else is left to their own homes and their own devices for the night, the threat of imminent danger to come with the dawn. A dawn that arrives with no punctuating horn of alarm or sound of clashing arms - the world has not fallen apart while the champions of Himmiskan slept.

Any trace of rain is gone. Last night's muddy dirt is beginning to dry and the sky is clear and blue, the sun peeking over the horizon. The Clan Ring would await with a small guard at the southwestern wall, to enter the no-man's land between their tula and that of Drovos, where the contest was to be held. Of course given recent news the day's scheduled events may be up in the air. All that remained was to get equipped, say any goodbyes, and head out hoping for the best.

Spoiler: @Thordis

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After Thordis has completed any preparations and made her way out to the main room, she finds Marcivelle waiting there. She looks as though she's barely slept and a few pieces of bread are set out on the table, one of them partially eaten and resting in Marcivelle's hand.

Spoiler: @Alec

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This time, in the morning, it is Alec's mother that greets her. "Awake are we? Your father went out to meet up with the watch on the wall. He insisted it was important that he be there." The huntress is currently preparing some venison from a successful hunt the day before.

Spoiler: @Mirka

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The yeti longhouse near the western barracks is alive with activity in the morning. The yeti warriors and shaman are preparing for the worst in the event the contest does not go according to plan.

Spoiler: @Yarl

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Yarl's aging father is still asleep when the shieldthane wakes in the morning. Only the sound of clanking armor causes the old man to stir, and Baldur hobbles sleepily out of his bedroom using a walking stick. He speaks after a moment, pausing to stretch his back with a grunt, "You - ugh - are to depart soon then?" Baldur makes his way to a chair and sits down. "Fitting that our family will see an end to this conflict."

Spoiler: @Barr

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Early in the morning comes a knocking at Barr's front door. A voice calls from the other side, "Barr, son of Brand, this is your wake-up call!" The voice belongs to Solomon's brother Aldric.

[BramsesII]

Alec has little trouble getting up in the morning, anxious as she is to anticipate in the contest. She has almost forgotten about the events of last night, even though there is still something gnawing at her. She greets her mother with a friendly smile. "Good morning! Sleep well, mother?"

"Is there something unusual about father meeting up with the watch today?" she asks as she takes a bit of breakfast.

[Prehysterical]

Yarl looks up. "Aye, father. One way or another, our feud with Drovos ends today." He wishes to say more, but he fears what his father might do if he learned the rest of the truth.

[raspberrybadger]

Thordis begins the day by tending to her Stone hawk, and then wordlessly nodding to her hostess before heading outside to propitiate the spirits by wringing the neck of one of the thrushes she brought with, in the hope that the spirits of the earth will accept this blood and show favor, and that any malevolent spirits will be appeased. She then dons her mail, carefully checks her pouches, cases, and vials on her belt, takes her spear, and heads out.

[Quakes]

Mirka takes this day much as any day, preparing for the hunt, arm and armoring himself against the wilds. The men they would be facing would be as dangerous as any wild beast of the mountains, and he would give them the same respect. He takes his morning meal with the elders, thanks them for their support, and heads to the meeting area for the contest.

[RandomWombat]

Spoiler: @Alec

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Friedhelm takes a break from her butchering and turns to face Alec, smiling despite nervousness on her face. "I know this contest is not intended to go to the death, but it's still hard to sleep with this sort of anticipation brewing." She walks over to a basin of water and washes her hands of the deer's blood, then goes over to Alec to brush some stray hair out of her face. Friedhelm's butchering gown is still covered in blood and bits of raw meat, so she doesn't pull Alec into a greasy dead-deer hug. "Your father sometimes forgets that age is catching up to him. He likes to be around the clan's warriors, but he doesn't usually take to the wall this early. I think he's just worried about you." Alec's mother is getting on in the years as well, but has managed to evade arthritis and loss of visual acuity, allowing her to remain a hunter for now.

Spoiler: @Yarl

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Baldur leans forward on the table, resting his cane on the tabletop. "I wonder if it will truly be so easy. Even if the war ends, old hatreds do not die so easily. This plan to merge the clans will not go unopposed."

Spoiler: @Thordis

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Marcivelle follows once Thordis is ready to leave, watching the strange stone bird with interest. In hopes of turning her thoughts from darker subjects, she asks, "How does something so heavy manage to fly?"

Spoiler: @Mirka

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The three eldest yeti sit at a semicircular table at one end of the longhouse, where they receive gifts, questions, and those in need of advice. Today Mirka is an honored champion and so he dines with the trio - Iaar, Polf, and Eda. The towering white-furred Iaar sits in between the smaller Polf (whose fur is of a grey-brown mix) and the female Eda (whose fur is dim and dark grey). The meal of fire-roasted bear meat was a symbolic gesture, meant to grant strength and endurance in the coming trials. When the time came for Mirka to depart, Iaar spoke a few words of Erastil's blessing in the tongue of the yeti, "The Hunter ever hide your path from chaos and ruin, child of the snow." Accompanying the short prayer is a nod of the head from each of the elders, after which Mirka departs.

The wall and its watchmen are near enough to the longhouse that the yeti can see they are already active. Several figures gathered in the cold morning air near the southwest gate he recognizes as the members of the Clan Ring (though a few have not arrived yet) and Chief Solomon. One of the men watching apprehensively from the wall above he also recognizes as the older man with the hammer from the night before.

[Prehysterical]

Spoiler: Yarl

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"You are sadly right, father. Still, perhaps we can set aside our old differences and work together against the local raiders or something. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend', after all."

I'm sure we will be fighting alongside each other all too soon, come today.