Chapter VII: Revelations

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Cloudy, bright, and cold, with occasional gusts of colder wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Parrot

• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  Master Renhart appeared glad to be of further service. He motioned for the group to seat themselves as they liked, then set about fetching the promised drinks and snacks while at the same time answering Auri's questions.
  
  "Oh, that man had seen his fair share of harm," he began as he disappeared into the other room. Suddenly, his head reappeared behind the door frame for a moment to add: "Not that his life was ever truly in danger! Not since the moment Carn brought him to my door. He saved his life, but for the life of me I could not assure him of that. I was honestly quite surprised when he finally left him in my care. Of course, by then his condition had truly stabilized, though he remained unconscious."
  
  The snacks were first to be taken care of. Renhart produced a large bowl of roasted nuts and sliced apples, as well as some cheese and bread on a tray, all neatly assembled. "I asked him myself, you know," he continued as he set the food before them, "About the details of the attack and what exactly happened. To help assess his condition, but also out of curiosity. I understood that Carn got knocked out of the fight early, over and down a steep hill - fortunately not too high, and well cushioned by recent snowfall. The dragon used fire at first, then its tail; the way Aron described it, the beast came for you with somewhat of a vengeance almost. Aron himself earned severe burns and was badly beaten while defending another member of the party... A woman, I think? What saved him in the end was getting swept aside and half buried under the snow. The beast must have thought him dead."
  
  The healer returned to the back room again to tend to the tea, but kept talking.
  
  "It all sounded fairly typical of a dragon attack, though I can't explain the beast's aggressiveness, or the suddenness of the attack. Or why it was even there, come to think of it! It must have arrived to the Frostbacks recently, for there is no way that a beast like that could have a lair here for long without someone from Haven noticing!"
  

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

"I would like a cup of tea," Maggie admitted in response to Carn's question. There didn't seem a good way to remind him that they were also supposed to be gathering information if they could, not without acknowledging aloud that they had a mission other than what they'd already stated, so she let it go for now. With Auri also wanting to stop for a bite (how like him!), the reminder hopefully wouldn't be necessary. She settled herself on one of the comfy-looking chairs and happily accepted a handful of nuts and a few slices of apple, which she perched on a piece of bread in lieu of a plate (she does this even if there are plates present). "We were wondering about that too," she told the healer, raising her voice so he could hear her in the other room. "Is it perhaps migrating? The dragonhunters left only this morning, you said. Did they have something to guide them or are they returning to the site of the attack to start tracking from there, do you know?" While she waited for the tea, and the answer, she popped a couple of the nuts into her mouth, trying not to chew too loudly.

 

[Rekai Leon]

Faron Firestorm

- The Fiery Brawler -
​

Faron chuckled a bit when Varys was complaining about the fire. At that moment, he was thinking about some mischievous acts. He knew he could impress, or even frighten those around him by igniting that fire. However, Faron’s maturity had held him off from doing so. He clearly knew that his energy was not supposed to be wasted on something like that, especially when he was venturing in a freezing terrain where his fire-based energy would be depleted much quicker than usual. What would Faron do if he did not have enough power the moment he needed it most? He certainly did not want to put his life at unnecessary risk and be a burden to his teammates. Besides, who among those brave warriors would be impressed and frightened anyway?

The Drakkar could then feel the cold from Ingvar’s hand when he was clapping his arm. “My story, huh? Let me see...” Faron said, thinking for a bit, “well, I once escorted a pet owner through the Wilderness. She carried about twenty baby wolves with her and certainly wanted all of them to be safe. The most annoying part? They kept surrounding me as if I was their father!” He grumbled a bit, “I have no idea why they did that to me, but I guess they did so to everyone who has escorted them. It was so difficult to pay attention to the surroundings when a group of baby wolves kept jumping on my shoulders, one by one, not to mention that they never stopped barking. They were so energetic that they seemed to never stop, even when I was trying to have a quick nap. Right now, I can still feel their fur rubbing against my skin. Sometimes I wonder, were they wolves at all? Fortunately, I was conscious enough to not be caught off guard, and the pet owner and their wolves were safe.”

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Carn sat down quietly, if not sheepishly due to his early suggestion. Though the prospect of food and drink was always appealing, his appetite disappeared after Auri brought up the question of the attack. At least the punching feeling from that memory was lessened greatly. When Horn recalled the chaos of when Carn barged in, Carn strangely felt at peace despite feeling morose.

"I asked him myself, you know,"

When Horn dropped those words, Carn, rather than looking at the food, looked at Horn. Getting Aron’s perspective was far more engrossing than snacks. As Horn began describing Aron's account, a picture of the event formed in Carn’s head, and when Horn finished, Carn reclined against the back of his seat. The account did not change the fact his team was dead, but at the very least, it dispelled some ambiguity surrounding the attack. It was a small comfort to know that Aron protected Cara as much as he could. Carn just wished that he could have been there to protect Cara as well, then maybe… Carn took a deep breath before his eyes settled on the bread and cheese. After carefully picking up the human-sized portion, an oddly familiar blip that said “who” streaked his mind, but he paid little attention to it, opting for the conversation as he munched on his snack.

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

"It all sounded fairly typical of a dragon attack, though I can't explain the beast's aggressiveness, or the suddenness of the attack. Or why it was even there, come to think of it! It must have arrived to the Frostbacks recently, for there is no way that a beast like that could have a lair here for long without someone from Haven noticing!"

"Agreed," Auri replied as he dug into the snacks. "My guess is that the dragon was desperate, perhaps kicked out of their own lair. Bad enough we reptiles are cold-blooded creatures here up in the frosty regions, but to be a fire-breather too and come here instead of where it is warmer? I think something strange indeed took place with this particular dragon."

"We were wondering about that too," she told the healer, raising her voice so he could hear her in the other room. "Is it perhaps migrating? The dragonhunters left only this morning, you said. Did they have something to guide them or are they returning to the site of the attack to start tracking from there, do you know?" While she waited for the tea, and the answer, she popped a couple of the nuts into her mouth, trying not to chew too loudly.

"Aye, and would you provide more details about them, if you please? Delicious snacks, by the way!" But in Auri's mind, what snacks weren't?

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Cloudy, bright, and cold, with occasional gusts of colder wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  Master Renhart returned to the main room before long, carrying another tray; this one with a large teapot and four mugs. Heat rose from the pot, and the scent of green herbs quickly filled the air.
  
  "One question at a time, hm?" he said as he set everything down and straightened out his back. "I couldn't tell you much else about the dragon, for I know little about them in general. I have treated wounds inflicted by dragons before, fortunately, and probably heard most of the same stories you all have. As for the hunters... The... What were they called again?" Renhart paused and frowned, seeming to give this serious thought and looking displeased at his inability to recall. "Ah. Silver... Silverhawks? Silver-something. They did indeed have a plan for finding the dragon, apparently. Aron said as much, in an attempt to lessen my concern. All in all, they seemed like a hardy fellowship. They did not rub me off as amateurs. I'm sure they know what they're doing better than any of us, hm? If your friend had to go, at least he's in reliable company."
  
  Renhart actually gently patted Carn on the shoulder, trying to encourage him. Then he began pouring the tea into the mugs, offering them to the party one by one. It was hot, but drinkable. Finally he sat down himself, grabbing a hold of his mug with both hands.
  
  "Anyway, from a layman's perspective... I don't see how they would go about tracking a winged beast, even if they started from the scene of a recent attack. So it's reassuring that they had another plan. Of course, that's probably the best thing that you could do, if you are certain about going after them. The path up the mountain leads past the place where the dragon attacked you," he said, looking at Carn. "So they would have had to go that way anyhow. Which reminds me. You don't have to worry about your fallen friends. I've had men from the village look for their remains and bring them back; they are buried now in our graveyard. T'were already a sad fate that befell them. Would have been sadder still to just leave them lying there in the snow."
  
  The healer began to sip his tea.
  
• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  

  ‘Hm, not to detract from the gravity of the task at hand, of course,’ Ingvar continued, ‘but let us acknowledge the rarity of this moment. We are a rare assembly, and I am certain the stories and conversations will be equally rare. Take yourself, for example - a hunter of much skill to be sure, considering your age and your prey. Surely you have a tale or two to share over the fire. And Faron’ -he turned to the drakkar beside him and gently clapped him on the arm- ‘has yet to share with me what he has been up to in his travels of late, which I have no doubt will be quite thrilling.’

  The man called Varys first chuckled at the dwarf's words, then laughed out loud. This drew the attention of the other hunters, but by then Varys was simply grinning quietly. He poked a stick into the fire and seemed as if he would speak, when the drakkar began to share his story. Varys listened, frowning at first, then letting his mouth hang open in addition, and finally making a weird expression that could have meant that he didn't really believe Faron's story. He laughed anyhow, keeping his judgment to himself.
  
  "I'd rather not talk of my encounters with wolves. Suffice it to say, not nearly as pleasant." He chuckled, turning the cinders over in the fire. "But then the Wilderness is unpleasant, eh Gorski?" He called out to a man who sat at a nearby fire, beckoning him over. "The real Wilderness, the heart and lungs and liver of it all! Not that cozy bit surrounding the Wilderness Road. That's tame in comparison, wouldn't you say?"
  
  "The shite of it all," the man addressed as Gorski spat into the fire as he approached. He was one of the tallest men Ingvar and Faron had ever seen, broad-shouldered and long-haired, with sharp green eyes; a true mountain man. Yet he sat himself down with an odd kind of grace, hinting that he was no mere roughneck swinging a heavy piece of metal. They had both taken notice of him before, of course - it would have been impossible not to. Gorski wasn't the talkative type. In fact, he could rightly be labeled as a taciturn and unforthcoming person, yet he drank like a fish - something else that they learned about him on the way to Haven. The other hunters all paid him their highest respects, however, meaning he had long earned his place among them.
  
  Varys dropped the stick in the fire, letting it burn. "Now, Gorski here. He could tell you a... How did you put it, Ingvar? A tale or two. A tale or two, haha! About the Wilderness. About wolves. And possibly dragons as well!" Varys seemed to enjoy some kind of special relationship with Gorski. Their personalities completely clashed, yet Gorski was noticeably more amiable towards him in comparison to everyone else.
  
  "Fuck the wolves," Gorski grunted with a heavy sigh. "Have we got nothing better to do? Your blade sharp, boy?"
  
  Varys could hardly be called a boy anymore, not even by Gorski who was both much bigger and much older than him. It seemed to be a nickname that stuck from a long time ago, and one that Varys took no issue with. He seemed quite happy all of a sudden, rubbing his palms together and talking confidently back at the mountain man. "As sharp as a... Something very sharp! We were just passing the time, and these two seemed like they had more morale than they knew what to do with, heh. So I thought about telling them a story, something dark and horrible and frightening to set them straight, eh? And I thought, why not regale them with one of your tales from the Wilderness?" Varys then turned his attention back to Ingvar and Faron. "As you can probably tell, Gorski's been with the Silverthorns far longer than I have. From the very beginning, in fact."
  
  "From before you drew your first breath of that sweet southern air, boy," Gorski reminded him. His voice was deep and rough, edged with that hard northern accent. "And the Wilderness. Hah." It was almost a chuckle. Almost, but it came from his nose. "You want dark and horrible, you needn't look past here. Plenty of things that should frighten you right here in the North. As you might know, dwarf. You," he pointed rudely at Faron, "I'm not sure about. I can never tell with you drakkar, for how long you've been around, but when you see the things that truly change you; the real shit, it stays with you forever. And you don't look out of your eyes the same again."
  
  He shifted his gaze, suddenly uncomfortably heavy and ominous, back to Ingvar. "You're from the northern colonies. I can hear it when you speak. You might know what I mean, if your kind delved as deep beneath the Khaers as it did beneath the Fangírs. Hopefully they weren't stupid enough to repeat that mistake. Or if you've ventured away from the road, and into the wilds - but even that's not the North. None of that. Here? Here is where it begins. The shit. The real shit that will freeze the blood in your veins. There's things out here that would give a dragon pause. And beyond these nameless peaks? Beyond the Frigid Plains and its one safe harbor? The north of the north? That's where you'll find dark and horrible. That's where you'll get your eyes. And the Wilderness? The parts of it that Varys mentioned? That's a whole different league."
  
  Only when Gorski stopped talking did they realize that the conversations around the other campfires had died out. The other hunters had all been listening in silence as Gorski somehow told a tale without telling one. And his words somehow had the weight of one, and the hidden promise of the horror and fright that such a tale might contain. The man himself just stared into the fire now, and even Varys didn't know what to say for several long, quiet moments. Then the wind picked up, howling twice over the crackle of the fire before dying down again.
  
  "Right. Well," Varys finally spoke, looking apologetically at the dwarf and the drakkar, but critically at Gorski. "You get what you asked for, I guess."
  

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

When the aroma had reached Carn’s snout, the fragrance tickled his nostrils as memories of home flooded into his mind. Horn began speaking again, snapping Carn’s attention back to Horn. Nothing caused Carn to stir, but Horn’s encouragement did make Carn less tense in his body and less antsy to leave.

After Horn poured the tea, Carn received the mug, holding the human-sized mug with both hands. A nice amber liquid glistened in the mug as brown flecks danced around in the cup. The tea certainly looked as good as it smelled. While keeping his attention on Horn, Carn sipped the brew. It was bitter, but in a soft and gentle way, and had a forest-like note, the combination reminding him of his mother’s tea. Carn couldn’t help but nod at the mug as he took sips and listened to Horn. Mid-sip, Horn gave mention of his friends, interrupting Carn’s drink. Upon learning his friends were buried, Carn lowered the mug and stared into it.

There was a momentary silence before Carn uttered, “Thank you.” All this time, a horrid image lurked in Carn’s mind like a dark specter. The picture of his friend’s corpses lying in the frost and buried by the snow lingered in the dark crevices of his thoughts. Now it was gone, leaving a cathartic hollowness. Carn looked up at Horn and said, “Thank you. They can now rest with the Maker.” After saying that, Carn looked back down at the mug, emptied of thoughts and emotion.

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

Maggie watched Carn, subtly she hoped, as Master Renhart told him of the fate of his friends' bodies. Though they'd known each other only a short time, it was her calling to help those hurting and in need, and she thought she saw the signs of the former, at least. "Would you like to stop by the graveyard to say goodbye?" she asked him. "I'm sure those who buried your friends have prayed over them, but I will too." She cupped her tea between her hands, keeping them warm as she waited for his answer. Some people needed to say goodbye in person; some just needed to know that all had been properly taken care of. She didn't know which would be better for Carn, but whatever he needed, she would be happy to do.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

It took a few moments for Maggie’s words to register before Carn answered, "That would be good." He was content to quickly move forward with the mission, but when the offer arose, the need to fare his goodbyes welled up inside like a lake. After a moment of looking into his tea, Carn cut in and asked Horn, “Could you lead us to their gravestones?"

 

[Andei]

Ingvar Sindram
- Seeker of the Maker -​

At Faron’s account of his encounter with the pet owner and her wolves, Ingvar furrowed his brow. A pet owner travelling through the Wilderness, and a woman at that? Varys’ odd expression gave away that he wasn’t alone in noticing that unusual detail.

The picture that first flickered across his mind was that of a somewhat privileged, woefully misinformed dog lover (except the dogs in this case happened to be wolves). And the baby wolves themselves were unusual - though he could claim to be no veterinarian expert, by his knowledge a litter consisted of around six pups on average, though female wolves were known to occasionally birth more than ten pups at a time. Twenty, however, were unheard of. They would have had to have come from different parents, meaning this pet owner could have had as many as six adult wolves from which the cubs came.

Perhaps less a pet owner but a professional breeder, then? he thought. Hm… that would make more sense of Faron’s tale if she were a businesswoman who dealt in dangerous beasts. Wealth is a more than frequent reason given by those who wish to cross the Wilderness.

Ingvar wanted to inquire more (after all, if it was uncommon, it was usually interesting) but Varys shouted out to another man in their company, and that man in question was of greater interest to the dwarf than pups and breeders.

While the group they travelled with were in no shortage of veteran hunters and hardened warriors, there were a few individuals that stood out even among this select group. Being a dwarf, encountering someone who was of greater physical stature than the old priest was nothing to write home about, but Gorski was particularly noteworthy for his size. He was one of the older human participants on the hunt, but his age certainly didn’t come across as a detriment as far as his raw physique was concerned. He spoke little, so Ingvar didn’t have much to go by, but judging from his familiarity with the terrain and the biting, rolled edge in his speech, he guessed that he was from among the northern peoples.

And judging from the choice words used to describe his own wolf experience, he guessed that the aforementioned experience didn’t go well.

This didn’t seem to faze Varys, who seemed to smell a good story and pushed the older man for details.

"...why not regale them with one of your tales from the Wilderness?" Varys then turned his attention back to Ingvar and Faron. "As you can probably tell, Gorski's been with the Silverthorns far longer than I have. From the very beginning, in fact."

Ingvar did not speak, also curious as to what the northerner had to say, but not wishing to push the matter. Gorski gave a gruff retort with an unconcealed implication that being from the south meant being soft.

"...There's things out here that would give a dragon pause. And beyond these nameless peaks? Beyond the Frigid Plains and its one safe harbor? The north of the north? That's where you'll find dark and horrible. That's where you'll get your eyes. And the Wilderness? The parts of it that Varys mentioned? That's a whole different league."

Over the course of his tale-that-was-not-a-tale, the other campfires had sunk into a sombre silence. The frozen lands had evidently not been kind to the grizzled hunter (a standard admittedly difficult to determine in the northern wilds, where a ‘kind’ day usually meant any day where you didn’t die), and it showed in the way he growled out the gruesome narrative of the North as he had seen it. Ingvar found himself musing as to what pushed Gorski to continue his profession in the lands he hated so - he didn’t want to be presumptuous, but his embittered speech made him wonder if those same eyes that he had found out there looked to the Creator for guidance in times of peril.

‘You make for a winsome storyteller, friend,’ Ingvar remarked gently. ‘I am sorry that you have suffered. I won’t presume to have found the same eyes as you, but perhaps you might forgive a rusty old dwarf in permitting him to venture a thought. The world is… an unkind place, filled with distortion, distrust and destruction. There are a myriad ways in which our plans and decisions turn out terribly wrong, often in realms beyond our control. And yet, somehow, in the perceived chaos of our lives, we find ourselves sat around the same fire, sharing those lives.'

The campfire flared briefly as the wood shifted, and the dwarf watched a spark spiralled monetarily into the air before being swallowed by the smoke. 'Our tales yet go on,' he continued. 'Who knows, the Creator may lead you to finding new eyes in climbing the same mountain a second time. Eyes that perhaps see the dawn break a little brighter across the snow.’

He gave a low chuckle, as if embarrassed to have spoken out of turn. ‘But that’s less likely to happen if there’s a dragon getting in the way of the view, hm?’

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Cloudy, bright, and cold, with occasional gusts of colder wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  "I can show you to where they are buried, yes. It is but a few minutes' walk from here," Master Renhart replied. "But you should finish your tea, at least. Its warmth will stay with you for a good while. Have you any other questions? Are you bent on following in Aron's footsteps?" he asked and then took another sip from his mug.
  
• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  It was hard to tell what Gorski was thinking about, for he barely lifted his gaze from the campfire. Varys, on the other hand, seemed taken by Ingvar's words. He nodded positively, starting to say something in response when his voice went silent and his eyes focused on something else. He looked on behind Ingvar and Faron, towards the top of the snowy slope. He tilted his head not unlike a wolf. Nearby, some of the other hunters could be seen behaving in a similar manner.
  
  "Listen," he said, and at about the same time the whole camp went silent; not a sound to be heard. Even the wind was dead quiet. And there it was - a faint rumbling sound, like a tremor coming from the earth. Seconds later, it grew louder and louder, and then they could tell what it was: The noise of a herd of some animal, stampeding. All eyes were pointed at the top of the slope, where soon enough they could confirm what their ears were suggesting. Big, brown, and horned - it was a herd of elk starting to barrel down the slope, straight towards the camp.
  
  Warnings were being shouted this way and that. The men who stood near the cliff's edge remained there, while the others appeared to be bracing themselves. It did not look like the animals were going straight for the camp, on second inspection, but they rolled down in a fast and somewhat unpredictable manner, as if the whole mountain was coming undone behind them.
  
  "Something's got them riled up. Stay close to the fire!" Varys advised.
  
  "Could be those wolves of yours," Gorski suggested as he sprang to his feet, but his voice somehow lacked conviction.
  

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

At the final question, Carn replied, saying, “I at least want to find him,” before sipping his tea again. Carn trusted Aron, but as much as Carn tried to reassure himself, Aron tagging along with dragon hunters proved to be a bit much for Carn. Had they been there a earlier…

Carn sighed before saying, “But I’ll stay until we finish tea,” before reaching over for a sliced fruit and cheese and popping both into his mouth.

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

Maggie smiled at Carn. "Maker grant that our little group is headed in their direction, then, at least long enough for us to meet up so that you can see him." She finished off the nuts and apple slices she'd piled onto her "plate" of bread, then replaced them with a pair of cheese slices, folded the bread in half, and ate it like a sandwich. Then she drank her tea, not rushing exactly but not wasting time, either. "Thank you very much for the refreshments and for showing us the way, Master Renhart," she said when she was done, and offered him a warm smile. "It's very kind of you."

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

Auri leaned over to Carn and grinned warmly. "I am of Maggie's mind; I welcome the idea of you running into your friend. I imagine he wants to see you - such are the bonds of friendship."

After having finished a great deal of snacks all by his lonesome, he nodded his thanks to the master healer. "My good man," he addresed Master Renhart. "Are there any herbs, plants, or other vegetation along our trail that I might pick and return to you? It is the least I can do for your hospitality."

Then, speaking of the bonds of friendship, Auri peered with interest at Maggie's sandwich and glared at her in a half-teasing fashion.

"Are you going to finish that?" he chuckled.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

"Ours is a small but hospitable settlement," Renhart told Maggie. "Being the local healer, I am used to giving more than others. That's why I am always prepared. Think nothing of it." He then turned to Auri and shook his head. "A kind offer, but I would not burden you with such trifles when you've more important things to worry about."

He then seemed to briefly reconsider.

"Unless... Hm, well. If you happened to come across some Degenia flowers, I could certainly use some. They're a natural source of Quinta, which itself isn't too rare of an ingredient... Sadly, around these parts, I can only get it from the mountain or by trading. I'm sure you know them - they're those short, yellow flowers that grow in clumps, with narrow, spear-tip silver leaves. They grow on mountains across Asura, though given the recent snowfall you're not likely to spot many. Certainly don't go out of your way!" the healer added, quickly. "But if you happen to see some. Could always use those. Quinta is one of the most versatile ingredients."

 

[Rekai Leon]

Faron Firestorm

- The Fiery Brawler -​

Faron quietly listened when Varys was telling his story. That did sound terrifying, but he anticipated that as he had not had much good experience with fully-grown wolves himself. He then realized that it would be beneficial if he could have a strong and brave one on his side. "One more ally means one less enemy. If I have the opportunity, I will certainly try to get a baby one, then raise it. I have never had any pet before, but it would be fun, I guess. Also it is safer to not be alone," the Drakkar thought.

He then startled a bit when Gorski pointed his finger at him, but he did not really mind. Maybe it's rude to others, but not to him as a Drakkar. Faron just focused on the stories as he found them fascinating. "Thanks for sharing your stories with us," he said politely to Gorski before turning to Varys, "by the way, whenever your blade is not sharp enough, feel free to let me know. I have been dealing with weapons since I was born."

Faron then took a sip of his tea and tried to relax, before startling again at the alarm. He quickly noticed the wild animals - possibly intruders. The Drakkar stood up and kicked his backpack, causing a pair of silver gauntlets with multiple sharp edges to be tossed into the air. Faron then swiftly wore them before they even started to fall. Afterwards, it took the brawler only a few more seconds to enter a battle stance while being highly alerted to his surroundings.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

It was nice that both Maggie and Auri were in agreement to find Aron, leading the ends of Carn’s jaws to slightly lift. However, when Auri offered their assistance to Horn, Carn’s weak smile dissipated. As kind and unusual it was of Auri, a drakkar, to give such an offer, Carn was slightly miffed that on top of finding Aron, they could also be picking herbs. Had the recipient been anyone else, Carn would have objected, but since it was Horn, Carn reluctantly brushed off his annoyance as he took another sip of his tea.

When Horn had finished making the request, Carn nodded as he took another sip of his tea. Mid-way, the sip gave a sputter, the sound echoing into his cup, a clear indication his tea was done. Gently, he placed the mug on the table.

“I’m about done,” Carn said as he looked at the others, “Shall we get going?”

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Cloudy, bright, and cold, with occasional gusts of colder wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  
  Spoiler: Mood Music
  
  
  Once the group was done with their refreshments, and with everyone's leave, old Master Renhart led them outside and down the path further away from Haven. It hadn't gotten any warmer in the meantime. In fact, the overcast skies held the promise of snowfall - something that Renhart noted out loud, and he probably knew what he was talking about. The south face of the Frostbacks loomed above them in an almost daring manner.
  
  Haven's graveyard was what you'd expect in terms of size. But the network of paths that ran through it was surprisingly clean; the excess snow was deposited neatly along the side, making up a miniature, uniform levee of sorts. The headstones themselves were equally clean. It was clear that someone took good care of this place. Near the entrance they passed by a temple - one of those small, modest countryside temples, big enough to accommodate a few dozen people at best. The gates, adorned with nothing but the Sun and the Eye in their center, were shut.
  
  The healer led them straight down the main path, eventually turning left where, at the very end, stood four identical headstones. You could tell that unlike most, the stone of these was brand new; unmarked by the passage of time. Aron must have told them the names of the fallen, for they were inscribed, alongside the standard Creationist farewell:
  
  
  Dead, but not gone.
  Lost, but not forgotten.
  In His memory now you dwell.​
• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  
  Spoiler: Mood Music
  
  
  As expected, even in their reckless stampeding state, the elk avoided the campfires and the men huddled around them, though not without a few close calls. It was a frightening thing to have something so large and fast pass you so closely by, knowing what could happen if it hit you. The air was a blur of brown-furred bodies and the noise of hooves, but the herd was gone almost as fast as it appeared, and then it was over. The hunters still looked suspiciously after them as they continued barreling down the slope, frowning, when someone called out:
  
  "There! Top of the hill!"
  
  A host of smaller, more slender shapes than the elk emerged, coming to an abrupt stop along the top of the slope. They were undoubtedly wolves - not the dreaded direwolf kind, but big, mountain wolves still. Six... no, eight of them. And there was something undoubtedly off about them, something that each man could sense for himself, without anyone having to point it out. And it was more than just the fact that they seemed willing to attack a group this size head on, in the middle of the day. It was something in the way they moved as they, too, came barreling down the slope towards the campsite. And perhaps something else, though at this distance it was hard to make out.
  
  A call to arms rang out.
  
  "They're actually attacking us," Varys said in disbelief as he drew his sword. "Are they all rabid?"
  
  "Or there was some truth to the tavern talk in the village," another hunter said, who had already begun to aim his bow.
  
  One thing was certain. They were attacking, and the hunters had seconds to prepare.
  

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

It was cold, but Carn didn’t feel it. He was actually quite warm, unusual for one standing in front of the graves of old friends. He knelt down in front of the graves and placed his hand on the stone inscribed “Cara.” A moment of silence passed before Carn closed his eyes, dipped his head, and uttered a few short verse before whispering, “I vow to complete our work. I'll come back to report when I'm done.” With that Carn stood up, keeping his eyes closed. At that moment, a gentle breeze blew through the group.

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Wizard and Ambassador to Asgard -​

Auri had prayed at more graves in his long lifetime that he could not possibly remember them all, but he did remember how to pray in a manner that meant something to him, and hopefully, for the soul or souls he was praying for. Having no other blessing of peace in his mind, he spoke with his heart quietly and thought that it was not such a bad thing that his body too one day would rest beneath the earth as so many before him. This was a good life to have lived and he was lucky to have reached his age. But to stand before the stones of those taken early, while it was nothing new, still gave him an aching pang somewhere in his big heart. Life was to be lived. Appreciated. Challenged. Learned from. And best of all - shared. Understanding this only motivated Auri to enjoy it all the more.

He quietly looked to young Carn. This was his friend, his memory, his joy and grief to know. And so Auri sat there as long as Carn wished, full well believing Maggie was so very likely willing to do the same.

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

Maggie waited respectfully while Carn said his farewells, wondering absently if Cara had been a special friend or just the nearest to his hand. When he seemed finished, she too knelt before the graves, heedless of the snow, and bowed her head. "Maker of all things, here and hereafter," the priestess prayed, "we praise You for the lives of those near and dear to us, whom we name in our hearts before You now. Particularly this day we praise You for the lives of Cara," and she named the others, reading off the headstones, "who are gone now from this world, but not from the memory of those who loved them, nor from Your regard. May Your light shine ever on them, and keep their memory in our hearts; and may it shine on us, that we may follow their example of steadfastness and faithfulness." She raised her head so that the morning sun fell full on her face, feeling its warmth as she let her prayer end in solemn, peaceful silence. Then she stood and smiled, first at Carn, and then the others, brushing off the snow that had stuck to her knees and shins.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

When a bit of time had passed, Carn opened his eyes and said, “Let’s get going,” and with that, Carn stepped back, unhurried, before turning around and walking. It was time to finish what was started, a step to make peace for the land and for the dead.

 

[Rekai Leon]

Faron Firestorm

- The Fiery Brawler -​

“We just talked about wolves a moment ago, and here they are… What a coincidence…” Faron said, grunting a bit while keeping his eyes on the wild animals. He might be a bad archer, but he was certainly more than capable of giving his hunters cover. The Drakkar then tried to form a circle with the other melee fighters in front of the archers, to make sure that his back-rows were well-guarded. “So you wild animals decide to choose us for your next meal? As long as I am still alive, dream on!” He thought, as the gaps between his scales started to glow yellow, red and brown like a blade at the forging heat, “if they come any closer, I will just slit their throats, one by one. Let’s finish this quickly… However, if one of those wolves could speak Common and bark at the end of each sentence, I will consider giving it a bit of mercy by petting its head and booping its snoot before dealing with it.”

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Cloudy, bright, and cold, with occasional gusts of colder wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  Master Renhart remained solemn and silent as the Chosen paid their respects to the fallen members of Carn's team. Once they made it clear that they were done, he stepped forward.
  
  "Very well," he nodded. "If your minds are truly made, then I suppose I'd better wish you luck. Oh, and..." The healer began to rummage through his satchel, murmuring quietly to himself, and eventually produced several vials that he presented to the Chosen. "Here, I've grabbed these before we left. Fire resistance and healing; you'd best take them. Having a priestess with you is better than having potions, of course, but it can only help. Even if you don't have any more run-ins with the dragon, there are plenty of other dangers in the Frostbacks to worry about. Be careful out there," he told them as they bid their farewells.
  
  
  *** *** ***​
  
  Around 11:00 h
  Master Renhart's Residence, Village of Haven
  
  
  As agreed earlier, Auri, Maggie, and Carn made their way back to the village center to rendezvous with the rest of the Chosen. Dina, Violet, and Asher were already there waiting for them. A little impatiently, as it seemed.
  
  "That took longer than I expected," Violet said with a slight frown. Her expression then changed to a more compassionate and worried one. "Is everything alright? Aron?"
  
  Haven's one main street was moderately busy, but no one seemed to really pay much attention to them. Well, apart from the glances that Auri was still getting, most notably from the children - who were unafraid to accompany their stares with pointed fingers and open mouths.
  
  
• 
  Around 10:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  
  Spoiler: Mood Music
  
  
  Spoiler: Battle Map

  
  The mountain wolves continued their rapid descent straight toward the dragonhunters' camp, confirming that they were indeed going for them, and not after the elk herd that just thundered past. A strange and illogical choice, as any experienced hunter would know. As they came closer, their hides suddenly began to cast an odd glint in places; as if specked with metal or glass that could reflect the rays of the sun that was just now starting to peak through an opening in the otherwise gray sky. The wind died down, in favor of the archers who were taking aim to fire.
  
  Most of the hunters were still in formation around the campfires, apart from the three that remained alongside the edge of the cliff. They had their weapons out as well and seemed to be bracing themselves, probably for having realized that they couldn't make it to the rest of the group in time before the wolves were upon them.
  
  At the speed that they were going, the wolves would reach the party in seconds. The hunters' range advantage wouldn't last, and they knew it.
  
  Arrows flew.
  
  

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

Auri bowed in gratitude to Master Renhart. "These must have taken a fine time to brew! I will keep a lookout for the vegetation you described. Your hospitality has been most kind! Thank you, Master Renhart!"

Auri hammed it up, pointing back, gawking wide-eyed and making faces back at the children. Tapping Maggie and Carn, he looked back and murmured in mock wonder the same things the children seemed to wonder about him. "Ooh look at that, Carn! Human children!" Auri spoke as if he had never seen their like before. "How small they are! How do they survive in this weather? They must be tough! I bet they help each other!" Tugging earnestly on Maggie's sleeve, Auri asked, "Will they grow up to be pretty and stronghearted like you? Oooh! It makes me want to do this! Wheee!"

Walking steadily forward, the Insatiable One then turned into one great ball of scales and mirth and rolled alongside Carn and Maggie like some draconic boulder come alive. There, he rolled along until they came upon the rest of the Chosen. Once in their company, he reverted back and distanced himself from the group, then mightily shook off a cloud of snow before rejoining them.

"Hello there!" he greeted them. But at the mention of Aron, Auri simply turned to Carn. Aron after all was Carn's friend and in Auri's mind, it was his tale to tell.