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Realistic or Modern W I N T E R L I G H T (Closed)

Jeff had gone down to the armory, and was now rooting around for a weapon. Anything would do. He picked up a small knife. That won't do...


Eventually he picked up a machete, that aside from a bit of rust, was pretty well maintained. He had no way to keep it anywhere but to carry it, but not after swinging it around a few times like a total dork. He quickly swiped a switchblade from the counter too, just to be safe.


He went and grabbed his heavy jacket, wrapping a large scarf around his neck, which somehow managed to cover the lower half of his face.. He put on his winter boots and met up with the group.


"Uh.. Quisley? Is this machete alright? Because uh... There were swords in there... And it would be really, reeeeally cool if I could have one..." He asked.


Alright! Dag this, sorry!


-Dia
 
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Jessica wasted no time, moving faster than most would expect her to she raced up the stairs to her room and grabbed her cold weather gear, lighter, phone, multi-tool and the length of rope she had brought along. She allowed herself a small laugh at the irony that it took a missing classmate for that rope to finally be taken somewhere with the intention of using it for one of it's intended purposes. Thus equipped she headed for the armory.
 
Quisley Hart - Armoury/Dining hall


With his weapons at the ready, and his heart beginning to beat faster and faster with anticipation, Quiz turned towards the armoury doors. Jeff, the Englishman, sped past him and started going through the equipment - somehow, he found a machete and switchblade. By far the two most modern weapons in the room barring the shotgun in its case. When he asked his question, Quisley raised an eyebrow but walked towards him anyway. He ran his hands along the pommels of the swords on the racks, and eventually pulled one of the better maintained ones out on its belt.


"This is a bit rusty, and I'm sure you've never swung one in anger before - but if we're fighting animals the basic idea is to stick 'em with the pointy end" With the belt needing some adjustment, the minnesotan quickly wrapped it around Jeff's waist and cinched it tight, making sure the sword was in the correct position. "Don't cut or stab yourself. Tetanus would be a pain out here."


As the others joined them in the armoury, he began handing out weapons. The spear, to Grey "Don't stab yourself with it" - then the other crossbow to the newly arrived Jessica. He quickly went through the way to crank them, where the bot went, and how to fire. "I know you probably had a basic idea anyway, but its best to make sure." Handing over the weapon, he slung the bag of bolts over her neck, and then glanced behind him. There were a few daggers in sheathes on a table, and he quickly grabbed one, tossing it to the redhead.


Finally, he turned to Nina. "I know you might feel unsafe, but you might be in more danger coming with us. You've no training, and no experience with hunting or even weapons" The Minnesotan laid a hand on the much smaller girl's shoulder "You go back, get Giovanna and Toma. If you feel too scared to go down to the village try getting Thomas; he'll help you - keep you safe. He's a solid guy. There's always Hayden and Emmanuel too"


With that done, he turned and plucked his own crossbow up, finding a servicable spear for himself and setting off out of the armoury, his merry band of heavily armed rescuers in tow.
 
Grey followed Quisley."I know its only to go find someone, but what should we call our deadly little group.I know it sounds childish I just think it's a amusing idea to have a name,"grey said, spear in hand. He had never actually killed anything before, at least nothing that might come for him first, but he was sure it wouldnt be a issue if he had to do so.
 
Nina Truman


"But!" Nina called after their retreating backs, "I want to find jose..." she sighed. "Dammit."


Toma poked her head around the corner. "Hey Nina."


"They left me," she muttered.


"Don't worry." Toma picked up a hefty looking mace. "Let's go find him ourselves!"


"Quisley said it might be dangerous," she ventured skeptically.


"Oh, come off it Nin. At worst, he's off being engrossed by some fungus." She grinned. "Come on! You might even get to be alooone with Joseeeph!"


She cut her friend off with a glare. "Fine. Let's go."


Toma grinned. "That's my girl!"


-Nina and Toma venturing off alone-
 
UPDATE


Grey (spear), Quisley (crossbow, spear) Jessica (crossbow) Jeff (arming sword, switchblade)



-Looking for Joseph.



Armed



Nina, Toma (mace)



-Looking for Joseph



Giovanna, Alena, Melanie, Lior, Gavin



-Dining table



Thomas, Emmanuel, Willem



-Liberary, discovering things about the valley's past



Joseph



-MISSING
 
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"Grow up Greg." Jessica said dismissively as they walked out into the snow, "Pay attention to your surroundings, don't talk unless you see or hear something." She took a moment to crouch down and examine the ground, "There's two sets of tracks out here, the larger ones presumably belong to Wilkas, and here," She said pointing at the second set, "Must be Joseph's."
 
"...The Ice Slayers..." He whispered to Grey, carefully trekking away from the footprints as not to disturb them. They led down a steep hill, where he could faintly hear the trickling of water.
 
Quisley Hart


"Stow it, guys" Quisley snapped, his eyes narrowed as he knelt to examine the tracks. He set off at a quick, steady trot, his boots crunching on the snow lightly. He held himself with the steady tension of a hunter on the prowl, his eyes scanning left to right and breath steaming heavily from beneath the scarf he'd pulled up over his mouth. The heavy coat, trailing down to his knees and unbuttoned near its end, swishing around behind him as he moved along Joseph's trail. He was nervous - what if they found something horrific? Or if they had to fight? He scanned across his front with the crossbow, the bolt's tip gleaming in the sunlight against the snow.


The people behind him were various levels of noisy. Jessica was almost as quiet as he was - impressive, that one - but Jeff and Grey stamped through the snow. They weren't the sort he expected to be completely calm in this sort of environment and he had been right. Running his eyes over them, he frowned - if Grey let the cold get to him again then it would be especially difficult to get him out of a dangerous situation. He knew Jessica - the girl had tried to get in his pants before, but who hadn't had that experience? And Jeff? He was almost childlike in his exuberance.


Though Quisley did have to admit; swords were pretty cool.


Refocusing on the task at hand, he kept moving, leading his little pack on their hunt for a missing...what should Joseph be called? A friend? A classmate?


They would need to see.
 
Grey followed quickly behind he smiled a closed lip smile at Jeff's reply. He liked Jeff so far, he hoped it stayed that way.


He quickly decided it was time to get serious, he quited his movements, and stopped talking. He made sure to keep a eye on where he was, and anything around him.


He looked for any signs of life or a killing. He wanted to know where that scream came from.


Grey might of not liked the cold as much anymore but with his coat and his slight tolerance of it it wasn't as bad right now, He was almost certain he would be fine.


He carried the spear on his hands making sure not to point it at anyone so as to not accidentally stab them.


Although he wasn't to worried about that. His whole attitude changed back to his normal cold quit one as they began walking, but only in order to hunt down Joseph. Besides he liked to try and see how the littlest change in his attitude affected peoples behavior to him.
 
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@Tylor guillory @Cyber Wolf @Lazy Rocktime @Pretzel Heart @The Town Weirdo






Buried In The Past

winter-picture_forest-l8.jpg





Quisley, Jeff, Jessica, Grey



-Searching for Joseph in the forest



-Weather: Clear



-Time: 10:32 AM



The merry band of four made their way down the hill, following the erratic tracks of the wayward Joseph.


“Are you sure these are Joseph’s tracks?” asked Grey, skeptically. The castle had long disappeared from site.


“Of course they are,” Quisley snapped back, stepping carefully over a fallen log, and double checking that the safety switch on his crossbow had locked it. “Who else’s could they be?”


“Pretty sure Wilkas’s tracks were the ones going off towards the town, and Joseph’s are the ones going to the river,” pointed out Jeff, backing up Quisley.


“Yeah, he probably went to get samples or something,” muttered Jessica. “What a geek.”


Quisley scowled, but said nothing, and they followed the tracks in silence for several minutes, with a growing feeling of trepidation, as the tracks left the path and ventured into the forest, where they became harder to track.


“Hey, what’s that?” asked Grey, squinting at a patch of displaced shrubbery. Quisley followed his gaze. “Looks like something big came through here.” He pushed his way through the winter shrubbery and knelt down in the muddy churned earth and snow wich had formed an unidentifiable patch of sludge. “Hmmm…” He stared at the scuffed area. “Multiple somethings.”


“Wolf?” ventured Jeff.


“Too big to be wolves.” Quisley examined the tracks, but the slush and mud had flowed back, and they were too indistinct to tell. “They’re just a bit newer than Joseph’s too.”


Jessica shouted at him from up ahead. “Hey guys! Don’t think you’ll like this…”


“What is it?” Quisley called back, still trying to discern exactly what had ploughed through this patch of shrubbery.


“Will you just get over here?” Her voice carried an edge of impatience, and a twinge of worry. Quisley left the tracks behind, and battled his way through the grasping branches until he’d found Jessica, who was standing near the bole of a hoary pine tree, looking down.


“Check this out.”


Quisley stared at the tree trunk, mind trying to come up with various different hypothesis, until he finally settled on the obvious one.


“That’s…not right.”


Grey and Jeff came up behind them, Jeff hacking at the pine boughs around him ineffectually with his sword. He stopped when he saw what they were looking at.


An aged, moss-covered human skull lay among the roots of the pine, half swallowed up by the tree that had grown up around it. A neat, circular hole pierced the skull in the center of its forehead.


Jeff swore. “Holy crap.” He scratched his chin.


Jessica warily scanned the trees, though whatever had ended this person’s life was long, long gone.


Jeff knelt down, and reached out to touch the skull, if only to make sure he wasn’t imagining it.


When his fingers brushed the ancient braincase, his vision whited out.


He was in a forest, on his belly. It was dark, and deathly cold. Snow covered every conceivable surface. He was dressed in a thick white jacket, and a helmet was strapped to his head. He was crawling on his belly, grasping for something just a few feet away. An unimaginably horrible pain throbbed in his thigh. He clawed at the bush, where he could see the glint of wood and metal.


But he never got there. Jeff felt a boot connect with his ribs, and he was rolled over onto his back. He saw a man with a helmet similar to his own glaring down at him, a bolt-action rifle in his hands. He wore dot-patterned camouflage, colored white and green. A pair of lightning bolts were engraved onto the side of his helmet.



“Nein…” groaned Jeff. “Nein…ich bin Deutsch soldaten…”



The other man simply sneered at him from under his helmet, much of his face lost in shadow. “Sterben, schweinehund”



Jeff raised a hand, slick with blood at the man, imploring him not to shoot. “Nein…deutsch!”



The man sneered again and raised his rifle, pointing it squarely between Jeff’s eyes. Jeff felt his eyes go wide. The other man cocked the rifle. “Heil hitler.”



"Fahr zur Hölle” replied Jeff, now resigned to his fate, staring into the barrel of the gun. The other man grinned. His teeth were bloody. “Wir sind schon da.” It fired, and he knew no more.



“Hey, hey! Wake up, will you?” A slap.


Jeff’s eyes shot open, and he gasped. “Oh god please don’t shoot me!” He scrambled away, on his back through the snow. Quisley stared at the other man. “What the hell? Why would I shoot you?”


Jeff looked around. “This forest, and there was this guy" He took a deep breath "what happened?” He looked around. Quisley, Jessica and Grey were all looking at him like he’d grown a pair of horns.


“You jumped back man,” said Quisley. “Touched the skull then jumped back and lay there for like one second before I got you up.”


Jeff’s hammering heart slowed down. “Thanks." He looked up at the minnesotan. "You didn’t…see all that?”


“See all what?” asked Quisley.


“All…the forest and stuff.”


Quisley looked around at the crowding trees. “I know we’re in a forest, Jeff.”


“I didn’t mean that!” he snapped back. “I meant the soldier, the one shooting me in the head!”


They all stared at him. Jeff rubbed his forehead.
 
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"Hmm maybe your hallucinating, its not uncommen I suppose, especially after seeing, whatever you'd call this," grey said pointing to the skull. "So what should we do maybe bury the remains although we don't have a shovel, and it it is just a skull and, its already covered in moss, just thought it would be a nice gesture. Then we could go back to our search for Joseph we should get back before dark though," grey looked around a worried look on his face."I really don't want to be stuck in these woods when it gets dark"
 
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Jessica, 10:33 AM


"It'll be at least six hours until it gets dark, and anyone who cared about that deadman is long gone themselves." Jessica said, her voice taking on a serious tone. She crouched down next to Jeff and slowly reached out, gently caressing his face, bringing his eyes to hers,"Now," she said softly, almost, warmly, "From the beginning, what did you see?"
 
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(Collab between Klim and Nepty)


Joseph, 7:25-10 AM



As Joseph bent down to collect a water sample, he suddenly was caught unawares as a loud crashing started through the forest, headed directly for his location.


Quickly standing up and dropping his equipment, he realized in a panic he had nowhere to flee, nor defend himself with, and the sound was clearly being made by something large.


With little else to go, lest we wait and merely hope it wasn't a wolf or bear, Joseph turned and sprinted into the river, hoping nothing would want to follow him across.


As the icy water surrounded him ,he caught glimpse of the creature exiting the forest where he had just been.


A. Fucking. Deer.


It had only been a fucking deer.


“fucking-SHIT SHIT Sh*gurgle*” was all he had time to say before the strong current suddenly slipped his feet out from under him and started dragging him downstream.


Struggling to quickly gain control of his spiral through the water, he burst from the water , gasping for air to to fight going under again as he was brought further and further downstream, trying to grab anything he could to halt himself, but everything was out of reach or simply to brittle to survive his grip.


Finally, through sheer luck and will, he managed to get himself to shore, after who knows how long nor what distance he had traveled.


Shivering, Joseph took a moment to expel some not so warm water from his lungs, before forcing himself to his feet.


“g-g-gotta...g-get bbback t-to th-the the c-c-castle...” he muttered as he ever so slowly,one step at a time, forced himself to start moving, knowing hypothermia was already going to be setting in soon, time not being on his side.


“f-f-fucking d-deer a-ass-assholes.” he grumbled out, flipping off a nearby tree.


He grinded his teeth as he kept moving along the riverbed, back the way he had flown from, as he quickly fetched out one of his extra pairs of glasses, after he had removed wads and wads of what had once been paper and notepads.


He almost dumped them all on the ground, but rolling his eyes decided his last action wouldn't be to litter and simply stuffed them back into his pockets after squeezing the water out.


He didn't know how long had past as he shuffled forward, each step a struggle to continue against the deafening cold, jacket brought as tight as it could around himself as he struggled to simple not shatter his teeth.


Suddenly, he stopped, head, slowly, turning to his right and upwards.


Smoke. Rising above the trees.


He was hesitant, much more then he knew he had any time for.


He ran over all the terrible things that the fire could bring, getting lost, cannibals, people who simply didn't want to be found.


But in the end it was closer, much fucking closer, a HELL of a lot closer then the castle.


“Grumble” he grumbled out, and slowly trudged through the trees towards the fire, and hopefully, life.


It was not a long walk, but it was a much longer one then he wished for, but finally he came upon a clearing, some sorta hut house sitting in it, smoke rising from its top.


“oh my god, FIRE! SHELTER!” he said, his pace somehow picking up.


He knew of course, there might be people living here, so he quickly yelled out, trying to get their attention.


When no one appeared, he slowed down and walked up to the hide covered door opening, and peaked inside.


As Joseph enters, shivering his pants off, he brushes aside the thick hide covering the door. The house is low, smokey and dark. A woodfire smolders in the center of the room, and there's an old feather bed, and some hanging tools, all looking hand-forged. He notices that the there's a symbol stiched to the door that looks like a tree. Clothes and variuos flaps hang everywhere.


As he's snooping, and huddling by the fire, he hears someone approach from outside.


Joseph spins around and puts his hands up, in the world wide sign for 'please dont kill me', despite the fact hes freezing.


"uhh, im not a thief, sorry, just need somehelp."


a Young women entered


http://z3.ifrm.com/67/29/0/p468111/3381413_510549_attractive_girl_of_slavic_appearance_in_ukrainian_national_costume_on_gray_background_1_.jpg


carrying a basket of something. She immediately drops the basket and grabs a large axe from where it was leaning against the wall in the shadows


Joseph jumps back a bit and throws his arms higher in the air.


"NO I SAID IM NOT TRYING TO HARM YOU PLEASE UNDERSTAND ENGLISH!"


She barks something in polish, and gestures towards the door, sidestepping it. She's clearly increasingly weirded out the more she takes in his bedraggled appearance. "Go out side!" she says in very broken english.


"uhh, c-cold?"


he haphazardly gestures to his hopefully obviously wet clothes and rapidly points at the fire with one hand, hoping she would 'catch his drift' as people always say, while keeping his other arm up.


he did, however, slowly start sidestepping for the door. if an axe was going to kill him today he would prefer it at least happen from a direction he could see.


She pulled a blanket from the bed and tossed it to him. "Why yuo in home?" she demands, in a heavily accented accent. "Why yuo wet?"


Joseph could lie, considering the....stupidity of how he got like this.


but lying to one who holds your life in her hands via axe blade is hardly the best idea.


"i....uhh....well, i was down by the river, when i heard....something...it sounded big....so i decided swiming across the river was better then becoming lunch for something...."


he quickly, grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around himself, before attempting to keep both the blanket on him and have his arms still up.


the result was him looking like a retard, he was sure, but he wasn't about to put his arms down just yet, no matter how tired he was.


"it...uhhh, turned out to just be a deer....sorry, i just, well, did not want to die of cold, and saw smoke...i may not be the best at identifying animals...."


he hoped to whatever god she prayed to that this was convincing, and at the very least, she would not personally kill him, although sending him back outside wouldn't be much different.


She stared. After a moment, she rolled her eyes. "You scared deer? Idiota." She pointed to the hut. "In. Sit. Fire."


Joseph nodded and took a seat quickly, wrapping the blanket around himself as tight as he could.


as the heat seeped back into his flesh and bones, he sighed heavily


"im not sure what god is prayed to hear but thank them for this huts existence." he said out loud to the ceiling, or perhaps the fire, at this point he was just glad he wasn't going ti die, at least today it looked like.


The girl stepped in after him, but did not put down the axe. She turned over a log on the fire with the blackened blade. After a while, she said. "Žvorūna."


"Huh?" asked Joseph.


"God. God of this place iis Žvorūna. Valkarine. Deivas. Also here. She stepped back and looked him over. "You freeze. Take off." She shouldered her way through the jumble that was the hut and produced a long thick dress from somewhere, clearly made for a woman. She brandished it. "You wear."


"uhhh.....its...not my size?" Joseph said, grasping at straws for an excuse, though the look she gave him told him it had not worked "its...not polite to change in front of a lady? maybe i can just wrap up in another blanket?"


She sighed. "No other close. Live alone. People mock. Yuo die. Wich worse? Mock? Die?" She laughed to herself, and threw the dress at him. "Yuo wear. I make food." Without another word, she reached up into the eaves and pulled down a string of smoked sausage, and began expertly dicing it with a huge knife she'd produced from someplace. "Yuo lucky I find. Others say, not so lucky. Say witch find yuo." She laughed again. "Where yuo from?"


as Joseph grumpily changed, as much as he could under the blanket and out of sight, he attempted to give her full answers.


"uhh, well, i came here yesterday, with a group from my- oh damnit all my papers and napkins are mush, damn cleaning out these pockets is gonna be a pain- err, sorry, came here with some other people from my university...err, fancy school, sorry, err, its stupid to think just because you live here you wouldn't know what a university is. my bad."


as he set aside his wet clothes, he pulled the blanket as tight around him as he could, really not wanting to be seen wearing a dress even by the one who gave it to him.


"im uhh, really from america, Arkansas, doesn't, uhh, get cold like it does here back home. not as many woods either."


She smirked. "America? Very odd place. Yuo student? From castle?" She smiled and poured the sausage into a pot, which she hung on a hook over the fire. Her smile suddenly darkened. "Yuo...have knowledge of..." she seemed to be struggling for words. "mówisz po polsku ?"


Joseph blinked as the mood suddenly changed to a much less upbeat one.


"uhh....mow-is poh pol-skhu? i dont think wilka mentioned that, something to do with that....festival? tomorrow?"


She sighed. "Yuo no speak polish?" She rolled her eyes again. "Why were yuo in river? Must be careful. This time Zvoruna walk. Leszcy too."


"sorry" Joseph said with a defeated shrug. "i may be good at microbiology but ive never had a knack for learning new language."


sighing, he reached into his jacket pocket and took out one of the Petri dishes, one with a lichen sample.


"i was uhh, trying to get a water sample, wanted to see what bacteria and shit lived in the local water....then what i thought was something dangerous started coming through the woods at me, i...uhh...didnt know what i was." he put down the dish, ans sighed.


"thought i could swim across, water would stop any bear or wolf from following me, or at least that was the plan if it didnt turn out to be a deer."


he looked back up. "id....assume you are Les-zecy? sorry if i...butchered that...." he grumbled to himself a bit. "thanks for uhh, not chopping me up..yet anyways." he said with a half smirk, hoping a bit of humor wasnt out of place.


She giggled. "Me? Leszcy? I witch, maye, but no, not Lezcy." She grinned. "Lezcy is...how yuo say...guard." She shrugged. "Many say do not exist. Other reason for Widmo..." she trailed off. "That not important. Yuo eat food now, here." She tapped the pot of steaming sausages. "Eat."


"oh, hmm...then.....what is your name?" Joseph said as looked around for a bowl and fork. "i mean, i need to know who i owe afterall, i might be a dolt but i still like to repay those who save my damned life."


he was curious about all this....strange local stuff, despite it not being his forte, though he was much more interested in a hot meal and repaying his debt.


"My name is Yaroslava," she said, sitting on the bed with a portion of the breakfast. "Yuor name?"


"Joseph Carpmann," he said.


Yaroslava cocked her head. "I am...how yuo say. Exiled. I practice old old ways. Chariowalda not like. He say not fitting for daughter. So he throw me out. I live as meant to give, giving back to forest." She suddenly looked up at him. "Yuo...have yuo taken anything from river?"


Joseph shrugged as he finally found what he needed to start eating.


"nothing but the water evaporating from my clothes....why? will this....Zeszcy or Widmo get upset if i did? or did i break some sorta local tradition, my apologizes if i did."


Yaroslava shrugged. "Not important to yuo." She leaned back. "Yuo get rest. I go for get people from town. Bring yuo to friends."


"uhh, you sure? i uhh, didn't mean to make you go out of your way, sure once my clothes dry if you point me in the right direction i can get back on my own." Joseph said, really not wanting to make her go all the way to the village nor get people to go out of their way on his behalf.


She shook her head adamantly. "Yuo get lost. Silly in head." She stood up. "Yuo come with me. To village."


joseph blinked, his face going blank of all emotion for a second, before it was engulfed in a slightly annoyed grumpiness.


"silly in the head? that a new one." he shrugged it off though, and sighed,as he was starting to make a habit of.


"Well, still dont think im that incompetent but i have a feeling your not one to argue with."


after a bit more talking, Joseph grabbed his not-fully-dry clothes and followed Yaroslava out of the hut and towards the village.


“im never living this shit down...” he said, trying his best to keep the fact he was being paraded into town like a lost puppy in a dress with the blanket, only to so much success.


“i just hope to Zvoruna that I get new clothes before anyone from the castle sees me...”
 
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Melanie Siskin - Night Before


Failing for a second time to make meaningful conversation with the the red-headed girl, Melanie sighed and cast her eyes about the room. Alcohol was being passed around and she was definitely in no mood for a party. She wasn't a huge fan of drinking to begin with, especially not on a stressed and empty stomach. No one seemed in a hurry to speak with her, leaving her with the lingering, vague illusion of being on the outside of a circle leaning in.


But again, to escape the panic of spending the next semester in isolation even more jarring than that of the looming castle, she reminded herself that it was only because she had signed up so late, and with her endless American good-natured charm and social skills would be making friends in no time flat. Not that the prospects looked much better than a group of gloomy, grumpy, argumentative foreigners...then again, it was the loud ones that were setting her impression for the group. She'd have to try and get some of the less argumentative ones to open up at some point.


And above all, her main focus here had to be Lior. Turning one last gaze in his direction, she could see that he had an opened bottle and was already deep in conversation with one of the aforementioned "quiet ones." They were sitting somewhat close to one another, speaking in low voices, so Melanie thought that she'd have to wait to get some time with her former boyfriend to herself.


Having nothing left to do she quietly excused herself to where the Trophy Room supposedly lay, with each step trying to remember various snippets of verses all reminding her not to get discouraged with her so-far less-than-savory study abroad experience.


The Trophy Room (4th floor, Northeast Tower)





Still feeling unsettled, Melanie decided to focus her energy into finding something to like about her room for the next semester. If nothing else she was going to be sleeping in a castle. Six year old her would be flipping thrilled. As soon as she opened the door, however, her good feelings again threatened to drain away.


There was no electrical lighting in the room, so she stumbled around with the light from the hallway and her cellphone to realize there was an old torch socket and candelabra. There was also a fireplace, which hopefully would be enough to give a little energy to the freezing room, but she'd need light to work by if she wanted to set that up, so she set about whipping up some matches. She could already tell that it was going to be more of a hassle than she was used to to to keep this room lit and warm. She'd have to figure out where to get firewood and replacement candles at some point.


For the moment, she finally allowed herself a deep sigh, taking in the room in the dimming light. She allowed her body to drop in front of the fireplace, allowing the moment to consume her. First world frustrations aside, there was something romantic about the flickering light causing the large room to glow a wavering red. The growing wind outside could be heard through the banging of shutter somewhere, giving the moment a solemn musicality. With her eyes closed she took herself far away from the social constraints of her little problems and determined that, number one mission aside, this experience could still be an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Most in her major would have preferred Italy or Greece, however. At least she would have been more aware of the language.


Brought back to reality with a strengthened determination, Melanie stood up and got working on the fire so that she might warm up and better examine the room. She could already tell that the groundskeeper hadn't been kidding about the stuffed animals, and their hulking forms were a bit spooky in the low light. Not that she thought they'd be much better once fully illuminated.


Bringing to mind Christmases at her father's house, where they'd roast marshmallows in their humble little fireplace, she carefully went through the steps her father had taught her. While clearing away an impressive build of ash and dust (making her wonder who had been in here before, staring into the fire through the strung up corpses), she noticed something reflecting the candlelight. A little bit of metal was partially melted onto the grate. It looked like it had some sort of sculpture work on it, so Melanie spent a few minutes trying to pry it off. Once it was in her hands, she was more than a little put-off by what looked like a button of some sort with the image of a skull. Before she could really get a good look at it, however, yet another draft blew in reminding her that she should probably get the fire up and running first, so she slipped the trinket into her jacket pocket.


At last the rather large room was fully illuminated. She couldn't deny feeling a bit proud of the blaze, and sent a silent prayer of thanks to her father and his teachings. The room was cluttered with what she assumed were the Baron's kills. Above the fire place were many photos proving his worth as a hunter, starring many of the animals she saw around her. It wasn't her first time being around such things, but it still unsettled her. Somewhere in her heart she couldn't help feeling bad for the poor things. Even the bears and wildcats. The Baron really must have gotten around with his guns. Two of them, she had to admit, quiet prettily decorated, were hanging crossed amidst the photos over the fireplace. She walked over to get a closer look, and her eyes caught one photo that seemed to stand out from the rest due to its absence of dead animals.


Hmm...





She could also detect a small slippet of paper sticking out, and, not wanting to deny her curiosity in a place so full of stories, decided to pry it out and read it:


-“I brought father up to the crypts in the heights. He told me that they bury the heroes on the heights so they may guard the valley. I always dismissed it...What was he hiding, that he had to protect it with his life?


-Bronimir."



Bronimir was the name of the Baron...right? Otherwise she couldn't make much sense of it. Kind of sounded interesting, though, and the thought of heroes' tomes guarding a valley had images of Rome dancing through her mind. She decided to keep the paper laid out on a little table to remind herself to find out more about the location later.


Also on the table she noticed that another letter lie, with visibly different handwriting from the first:


"Dec 12th, go to Stary Miasto to pick up food for 30. It's a market day, and the first day of vinterblot. The people will


accommodate.



-Wilkas.



PS. Remind Americans that they are invited to Stary Miasto for Vinterblot.



PSS. Remind Americans to be respectful.



PSSS Remind Americans NOT to be boorish/press religion on anyone."



The last words made her roll her eyes and the threw it aside on the floor in passing contempt. She felt as if the warning was directed straight at her.


As if I'd be 'boorish.'





Other than trips with Lior, she'd hadn't done much international traveling herself, but she considered herself a decent enough human being not to disrespect another's culture. She couldn't wrap her mind around Wilkas' obvious hatred of Christianity, either. Sure, it had a dodgy history, but what religion hadn't? And yet Christianity always got the blame. As if there could be something evil about a religion that encouraged pure and endless love, from God to His children and form those children to each other?


I won't be 'boorish,' but the people here certainly could stand to learn a thing or two about Christianity.





Thinking about Christ's words brought her to dig out her Bible from her belongings. It was a bit bulky for travel, but it was her favorite copy and she had no regrets about bringing it along. Not able to control herself, she smirkingly lay the Bible on the table where the note had been, and went about organizing the rest of her belongings. There were also six large tapestries hung about the room depicting, of course, scenes of battle and the hunt. Despite being a peaceful, weathered place, the room really was drenched in a sense of violence. Some of the tapestries had markings in a language she couldn't translate, and again she wished for Lior's presence for surely he would be able to tell what they meant. The couch upon which she lay her sleeping bag was outdated to say the least, being torn in several places. The floors also creaked terribly and even a few shook loose. It seemed as if a semester without falling into the next floor in a flurry of dead animals would be grounds for a good semester.


All through her examination the blasted shutter kept banging through the growing wind. Once everything else had been taken care of, she went to go close it up tight, determined to use a shoelace if she had to just to get it to shut up. Curious at the state of affairs outside, she briefly peeked through the hole into the swirling wind and snow, again pricked by the eldritchness of it all. Far out in the forest, in the southeast direction of the valley, she could swear she noticed a light some distance aways. But just as her eyes began to focus on it, the light flickered out. Strange, but not important, she filed it away to the back of her mind. If she was to be confined to this tower for the whole semester, it might be interesting to nightly watch out for.


At last dressed for night and unpacked, a rather exhausted Melanie decided to end the night with a little Bible reading. She was pretty certain that she'd have to sacrifice any real church visits on this trip from the little she had learned and experienced, but since she was on a mission to save her beloved's eternal soul, she hoped that God would be satisfied with her personal practice, just for a few months. Around midnight she could focus on the pages no longer, and offering up a quick prayer, finally drifted in only slight discomfort to sleep, hoping in a better overall experience tomorrow.


Present Morning





Waking up hungry and prompt, Melanie quickly dressed and went downstairs following the smell of food. She couldn't even remember the last time she had eaten, and was determined to turn her frustrations from the day before on their head. The food helped to especially lift her mood, and she decided to sit next to Giovanna, hoping to try her luck at conversation and friendship once more.


Wilkas' unheralded appearance almost spoiled her mood, but she reminded herself that the best way to change someone's false opinions was to turn them around with kindness. She kept up a smile and listened intently on the following conversation. Wilkas' words reminded her of the letter she'd found, and what had been off about it suddenly struck her.


Why was there a letter noting what Wilkas had just said to himself? Was it a reminder to himself? Then why had he felt the need to write '-Wilkas?' Even moreso than before she could feel the pressure of a conspiracy, wondering if it really had be meant especially for her eyes.


The following conversation picked up fast. Too fast. From mentions of a scream she hadn't heard to someone fainting then a storm of people leaving for a search party before Melanie had even finished her sausage.


It was just her, Lior, Giovanna, and the two people both her and her former lover had been speaking to the last night. Oh and the Russian girl, though Melanie wasn't wasn't sure what to make of her just yet.


"Well that was...something." She wasn't really sure how else to react. Her eyes flickered up instinctively to try and catch Lior's, and for once actually met his---! But he quickly turned away and she sighed. At some point she'd have to succeed in getting him alone.


"So, we could all go into town? That's what you were thinking, right, Giovanna?" [ @Cyber Wolf ]
 
Lior and Gavin - Night Before





After opening their bottle, Lior settled onto a step, allowing themselves to enjoy the conversation and, eventually, music unfolding around them. They were still not on great terms with any one of their fellow travelers in particular, and they were in no hurry to jump into relationships. Besides, Melanie's presence was putting a damper on everything. Lior had just wanted to escape the constant gaze of America to just take a break, and here one of the most stressful things in their life had hopped right in alongside them.


Gavin heard the rich American - Gregory? - reply to his muttered comment from before. He was about to try and go converse with him when he noticed their floor's other roommate - Lior - sitting down by himself on a nearby step. Since Lior was the quieter of the two Gavin thought he'd try and strike up a conversation and so sat down next to him.


"So, you're Lior?"


"Yup. And you're...?"


"Gavin. Don't worry, it takes me a while with names some times, too."


"You're from...." they decided to take a gamble, "Ireland?"


Gavin smiled good-naturedly, "Nah, Scotland. Close, but quite a difference."


The impromptu party seemed to be going on in full swing about them, but both more quiet by nature, Lior and Gavin sat more off to the side and began to enjoy one another's presence in realizing both of their comfort at this thought.


"And you're...American?"


"Are you trying to get it wrong on purpose?" Lior was secretly proud, wondering if they truly appeared to be fully assimilated. "Nah, I actually grew up all over - Azerbaijan, Israel, Germany, Poland--"


Gavin's eyes almost glittered at this revelation, "Really? So you're quite familiar" he gestured around them, "all this."


Lior could feel their cheeks reddening, and wondered if the alcohol wasn't helping them to loosen up a bit for once. It was certainly spreading a nice warmth through their limbs.


"Not at all. Dad's house is nowhere near this part of the country. Who knows if they even speak the same dialect?"


"So you can speak Polish?" Gavin was clearly impressed. Having barely traveled outside his tiny community until college, he couldn't even begin to imagine the glamourous international life that Lior had lead.


"Well, yeah. But not very well, probably. It's been quite a few years. I can speak and read a little of this and that - Hebrew, German, Russian, Turkish...I've lost most of the little Azerbajani I had. I like languages, though. Always have." They took another drink of his beer, noting that the bottle was already close to empty, which was a fast rate for themselves. Maybe that was why Lior soon found themselves prattling on to Gavin, more or less detailing their life story up until college. They managed to leave Melanie's name out of it, specifically. No need to make their own awkwardness somebody else's.


Gavin, for his part, listened to all with an open mind. He was used to having this kind of "opening up" effect on people and savored Lior's stories. He was glad that somebody both sane and interesting would be living near him. Not being one much to talk unless prompted, he neglected to reveal much of his own history. Not that much of it was very interesting to begin with. He also couldn't help feel just slightly jealous of Lior's endless passions.


After a while the party began to die down and everyone headed up to sleep. Still in the midst of conversation, Lior walked Gavin to his own room before heading off for their own with the vague sense of dream of having said too much. Well, time to worry about that later. Their overall impression of the Scottish kid was that he was a bit dopey but at least a friend.


Alone in the vast room, Lior finally began to reflect on the day's many experiences.


What the Hell am I gonna do about Mel?





They sighed, wishing that she could just disappear. Their confrontation at some point over this semester was practically inevitable.


Maybe I'll just get it over with tomorrow, he thought, already trying to imagine ways to get out of it while he set about neatly unpacking and setting up their room. Each thing in its perfect, proper place, just as Lior liked it.


Laying in bed, Lior scribbled a few notes about the others and the location and the landscape on his laptop. If they couldn't find some inspiration here for a great novel, they weren't going to anywhere. At least the next semester would be interesting. Learn a lot, do some soul searching, and maybe delve into their family's past. It's true that their father's ancestral home was nowhere near the castle in the isolated mountains, but it would be nice to brush up on some Polish language and history while they were there.


Gavin - Present Morning





Used to waking up with the sun, Gavin didn't have too much trouble rolling out of bed and throwing on whatever was at the top of his suitcase. Even after leaving Lendalfoot, even after leaving America, well, somethings never change. He also hadn't bothered to unpack anything because there was no need to. As he flowed down to breakfast he wondered what sort of thing he should start out with first. Maybe explore the castle, since he hadn't had much of a chance to the previous night.


When over their meal Wilkas mentioned an upcoming festival, however, Gavin changed his mind. Seemed like it would be more interesting to go into town and try and find out more about it. There wasn't really anything of that sort in America, and he missed the sense of community from his own homeland, so a festival sounded perfect. Before he could ask Wilkas more about it, however, the groundskeeper was already gone, relinquishing onto the students full domain.


After the commotion over Joe, Gavin continued to sit complacently at the table. He would have gone along had somebody asked him to, but no one had, and so he poked around at his food. At last the American girl - Melanie - broke the silence.


"I'd like to go outside, can I join?" He then remembered his conversation with Lior, who had sat down next to him and had also decided against joining the hunting part, from the previous night. "If Lior goes he can translate for us."


Lior - Present Morning





Although they'd had a more or less fitful sleep, the near-immediate racket about Gregory and Jo and whatnot made Lior's head hurt. They had no desire to go tromping about in the snow to try and find someone who had probably only slipped out to scoop up a few worm samples, and so Lior tried to concentrate on their breakfast. Unfortunately...that meant being stuck with Melanie. Gavin didn't help when he offered Lior to be their group's little translator, and his use of the word "he" didn't do much, though Lior was too tried to correct him.


"Actually, I thought I'd stay inside today. Maybe check out the library."


If there was an upcoming festival they'd be forced out soon, anyways.
 
Beer, vodka, beer, vodka, beer, vodka. I could use some right now, Giovanna idly chanted mentally as she listlessly ate her breakfast. For some reason, she just felt totally drained this morning. As if her limbs were locked in place. Lazy. Her current state must have been readable from her expression as the girl next to her dragged her into her conversation. If what she heard was right, they were offering to go to town. Which was perfect! Just the motivation she needed.


"But of course," she gracefully said, a warm and dignified smile on her face. "I've actually been meaning to find some company to visit town with. Quite a fortuitous coincidence, don't you think?"
 
Melanie - Present Morning





Melanie smiled at Giovanna's reply. Finally she was getting somewhere! She also noted the Scottish kid's desire to tag along. For a second she hoped Lior would be swept along by his "new best friend," but her morning good luck seemed to have run its course. Ah, well. She could probably drag something meaningful from the Scottish kid since he'd been in so deep conversation with Lior the previous night. And perhaps make some new friends to boot!


"Sounds great, even if it's just the three of us. Unless you wanted to go?" She didn't yet know the Russian girl's name, but she thought that she might as well invite her. [ @Cyber Wolf ] "We can leave now if you guys are finished?" Her eyes trailed over Lior's friend pushing his food around his plate.


"Works for me," Gavin replied, savoring one last bite, "just need my jacket upstairs."


[ @Lazy Rocktime ]


 
Jeff was flustered and scared, and he was trying his absolute hardest not to hyperventilate. His face flushed and he managed to clear his throat.


"Alright... Alright... There was a... guy... he was wearing camo and he had a rifle. I tried to stand up, because I woke up on the ground. But he kicked me in the ribs..." He brought his had to his chest. It felt so real. "I was all bloody, an' then we were both speaking fluent German... I think. I was begging him not to shoot me. He said heil Hitler... I'm pretty sure he was a Nazi..."


He was shaking with fear, although the cold seemed to eat at him too.
 
Jessica smiled at Jeff, continuing to gently stroke his face, "Alright, that's good, just breathe." She said softly, "Now, can you remember anything else? What'd the man look like? What were you saying to each other?"
 
"His face was almost entirely shadowed, but... he had a military hat that had two carvings on it. They looked like lightning bolts... Camo was green and white... Dots..."


His chest heaved up and down. "Oh my God it was awful..."


He was managing to continue keeping it together by a few threads "Well, from what I know... I-I was begging him not to shoot me, I said I was a German soldier...? Then I think he called me a traitor...? Or maybe he just wanted me dead. I'm pretty sure it w-wasn't open to conversation..."
 
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"Good, good." Jessica said, "Just breathe." Looking up from Jeff she turned to face Quisley, "Me and him need to go talk to Willem, now. You two go on without us."
 
Quisley Hart - the Forest


10:32 AM



When Jeff fell back, almost in a seizure, Quisley was near immediately to his side. Even with his sarcastic quips, the Minnesotan had concern written across his face. After he had calmed down - and Jessica's shocking gentleness - the Englishman was easily pulled back to his feet. "Alright, take this" the spear was pressed into the smaller man's hand "And use it as a walking stick. Get him back to the castle, Jess, and tell people where we are." With that, Quisley gestured to Grey to follow him, giving the skull a long look before heading off in the direction Joseph's track's led. His crossbow was up, and his nerves were frayed.


He hoped they found the quiet nerd soon.


 
Quisley, Grey, 10: 40 AM


-Banks of the Zimno



Quisley and Grey followed Joseph's tracks to the riverbank. Quisley silently noted as he cut his way through the bramble, that the big, crashing trail followed Joseph's. Tension grew inside him.


Finally, they reached a place where the slope became much sharper, and the babbling of nearby water could be heard. Quisley's attention was on the red snow, however. Blood had stained into it and melted it in places. It was recent. The snow was disturbed, as if something had put up a fight here, and a long furrow was plowed in it, streaked with red ichor, that led off into the bushes.
 
Jessica


Jessica gently wrapped herself underneath Jeff's shoulder to support his other side. "Come on." She said softly, leading him back the way they had come from.
 

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