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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 24, 2014 3:54:04 GMT
*Coming from battle, having left the city with a strange feeling of urgency*
Fianna wandered among the trees, touching the bark of the trunks in an effort to comfort herself. The battle had been fierce. Blood had been shed. Maybe she should even be back at the castle now, caring for the few she had not been able to attend when the call for retreat had been aounded.
A girl had been taken from their land. Fianna Dragonfly shuddered, remembering how she had traded insults and taunted the crude Beastmen trying to draw them into a dangerous battle mistake so she could help drive them away. Instead the war party had been almost overwhelmed. The taunts of "look at the pretties" rang in her ears as Fianna dropped to her knees below a tree, hand trailing the bark. She hadn't been scared. But what of the girl?
Being responsible for others was not what she had imagined. Finanna couldn't imagine what Ainvar or Rathalos, being reaponsible for the fighting, felt about the attacks.
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Post by santoro on Feb 24, 2014 20:52:40 GMT
"Fianna." Halt whispered as he came near the sacred grove. Seeing a figure lying in near the overwhelming trees, Halt ran to see what the problem was with this despondant person. As she looked up into his eyes he could tell that sadness ran through this young woman. Lowering himself to the ground, Halt looked her in the eyes once more and shook his head. "My dear Dragonfly. Why the sadness?" seeing the cloth that ran through her fingers he knew the problem at once. "I know times are tough right now and things may never go your way, but can i tell you of a story?" he sighed as the cold wet grass became this storytellers throne. "When I was just a small boy my home was attacked. They came in the dead of night. Now this was many seasons ago, but the pain feels like yesterday." Halt grabbed his shirt and lifted the cloth up his back and showed her the scars. "I live with the memory of my loss and pain through these scars. They boarded our house in with our hand cart and put the flame to our house. I remember being woken up by my da with smoke filling our room. He looked at my with fear in his eyes. I had never seen him with such sadness. He grabbed me and my mother and hurried us to the other side of the home. Taking his great axe, he opened a small hole for us to slide through. They sent me through first. As soon as I pulled myself out I was looked around the land that I was raised on. Our crops had been put to the flame also. Livestock was dead all around me. I turned to help my parents through the small hole. My mother was halfway through the hole when the house collapsed. I hurried to her side to pull her through, but I wasn't fast enough. As I got closer to her, some of the burning wood landed on my back setting it on fire. I threw my blazing shirt from my body. I felt nothing. As I turned again to my mother I saw her face. She looked at me with such sadness and told me too run. 'Halt!' she screamed through the smoke and flames. 'Run Halt! Get yourself to town Halt! RUN!' she screamed. I ran to the woods with tears running down my ashen face. The men just watched me go as they laughed at my misfortune." Halt looked at her in the eyes. Evil ran through his eyes like the burning flame ran through his house. "Remember this story. For I have told no one of this tale." He lifted himself off of the ground and turned away from her. "I hid myself in the woods and watched my life burn away. With only my knife and the pants on my body, I watched. I waited in the woods for what seemed like days. After the men had finished their fun, they went back to their camp. I counted four men. I followed them to their camp and waited for them too pass into the dream land. I snuck into their camp and slit their throats one by one and watched them die in their beds." Halt's hand clenched around his scabbard where his sword normally was. Turning towards the great healer, he spoke with a calm and assured vioce. "These creatures have entered our land. The fight will come agian. You will pray near these trees for all of the fallen in this time. But know this, even though the bad may overshadow the good. Life will move on. We will continue to prosper. But for now we must stay strong. Remember those that have fallen or been lost, but dont forget those we have saved. The men that killed my parents had been raiding homes for months on end. Because I killed them with my blade, many of the people I called friends and family were saved." He put is hand out for hers. "Look to the future. It does no good to dwell on the past."
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Post by Lord Ainvar Hrothgarsson on Feb 25, 2014 2:41:30 GMT
Deep in the forest, Ainvar approaches the Grove on his brown mare. Stopping at a nearby sapling, he dismounts and removes his sword belt, stuffing it into his saddle. He touches an oak on the perimeter of the Grove, muttering a prayer to himself before crossing the natural threshold. Soing Halt and Fianna, Ainvar makes his way towards them, removing the hood of his cloak. 'I greet my kinsmen as free people, Halt, have we any word on the missing girl?'. Ainvar looks to Fianna, realizing her sadness and the question he just asked.
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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 25, 2014 3:22:19 GMT
Fianna stood from where she knelt and offered a small smile to Halt in thanks for his story. It had helped to uplift her spirits.
"As a free person, I return your greetings. May you run strong with the spirits of our ancestors beside you, Ainvar." Fianna Dragonfly greeted the newcomer. To Halt she said, "yes, is there news? It would do better if I prepared to heal a rescued girl than mourn her loss before her loss is confirmed. And if she is lost, we will fight even harder to be sure it does not happen again."
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Post by santoro on Feb 25, 2014 5:33:18 GMT
"Ainvar! a pleasure as always. I have been hearing rumors of a band of creatures gathering together deep in the forest. I have already talked to Rathalos about our stock on armor and weapons sheriff. It seems that if we are to finish off or even hold back these bloodthirsty creatures then help we shall need." While helping Fianna up off the dey covered ground, Halt grunted in pain. Covering his bleeding arm, Halt looked towards the now standing Dragonfly and held his arm out in sadness. "Any way my story could move you to heal my my fair lady?"
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Post by Lord Ainvar Hrothgarsson on Feb 25, 2014 13:23:59 GMT
Ainvar nods to Fianna, turning to Halt, 'I have sent word west to Helstrom, Adoven is traveling to Rhye. We may only hope word reaches in time for any help to arrive. Something has stirred the Gor from the forests, we must ascertain the reasoning for this, else there will be no end until they, or us, are annihilated'.
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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 25, 2014 19:23:38 GMT
Rolling her eyes at Halt, Fianna grabbed his arm a bit more roughly than she strictly needed to while laughing softly. "You should have said something before now, you numb-skull" She softly chanted the injury away, a white light surrounding the wound while it closed seamlessly.
That done she turned to Ainvar. "What is our standing with Helstrom? I do not think I have ever been to their lands. I may just follow your messenger and see what I can do about convincing them to send some extra support our way in the coming weeks against these Gor."
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Post by Limvordîr on Feb 25, 2014 20:12:38 GMT
Limvordîr appeared behind a nearby tree, his footsteps silent as he passed over leaves and twigs. "Mê dh'ovannen." He hailed the gathering. "You are... leaving?" He asked Fianna, almost sadly.
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Post by Lord Ainvar Hrothgarsson on Feb 25, 2014 21:54:51 GMT
'We have little relations with them, save for trading'. Ainvar looks over, noticing the elf, sucking his teeth in disdain of such a creature being in this sacred place of Man. 'But sending an ambassador behind my letter would not only add weight to my words, but mayhaps help cradle a friendship between our lands. And if you would do a personal favor, seek out any leading members of the Heathenhoove tribe. Rathalos and I wish to seek friendship between them and Midgard'.
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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 26, 2014 0:40:07 GMT
Fianna looked at the elf she called Red Lightning having to decipher his strange accent as she often did. "Yeah, it seems like I am leaving. Things are moving quickly it seems."
She turned back to Ainvar, "who are the leaders of the Heathenhooves? And for that matter, who leads Helstrom? If I am to go, I should address myself to them when I arrive. It would be good to make a friendly impression. I will extend all the courtesies that I can. I look forward to meeting new people and traveling. And drinking in new bars." She said this last with a silly grin. Fianna's gaze shifted slightly to Red Lightning and back as she spoke. She would speak with him when she was done with Halt and Ainvar.
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Post by Limvordîr on Feb 26, 2014 1:54:56 GMT
Noticing Ainvar's disdain, Red Lightning bowed his head slightly. "No meaning of offense. Would not have... trespassed otherwise. Travelling back to city when trees whisper of friends nearby. Will... How you say? Depart at earliest opportunity."
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Post by santoro on Feb 26, 2014 4:47:31 GMT
The elf was standing mere feet from Halt. The trees seemed to cry trespasser. Looking around at his kinsmen he turned away with a sigh. "Good day to you all. Fianna I thank you again for your help and your time." looking towards the elf, Halt smiled with a nod "Greetings to you my friend Red Lightning. Sorry I cannot stay much longer, my arm is healed and my throat is dry. My time here is done." "I hope my days of finishing a pint will never end. Sheriff, perhaps when you are done with your words to the gods I could buy you a pint to celebrate our fallen to the gods in a different way." Bowing to all, Halt took his leave towards the town with a head held high.
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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 26, 2014 14:17:52 GMT
"Drink well and deep, Halt." Fianna farewelled her friend. "May you be found under a table with a woman in your arms!"
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Post by Lord Ainvar Hrothgarsson on Feb 26, 2014 17:24:43 GMT
Ainvar nods to the Elf, and turns to Fianna, 'Seek out Savien, or Freya in Helstrom. As for the Heathenhooves, Cacklash will be the man you seek. Tell him in these troubling times, a friendship between the confederated tribes of Midgard and the tribe of the Heathenhooves would be beneficial to us both'.
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Post by Fianna Dragonfly on Feb 26, 2014 18:31:12 GMT
"Thank you for the information. With things in motion I have high hopes that the plague of beastmen on our land will not be a long one." She bowed slightly to Ainvar, "may your days fare well until we meet again."
Turning to Red Lightning, Fianna spoke again, this time her tone a bit wary but not unwelcoming. "I know that you do not like going into towns, but I must prepare for my journey. Follow me if you must."
With that Fianna Dragonfly left the Sacred Grove. Her heart was still weighted, but now with a sense of purpose rather than of sadness. Her heavy heart had been uplifted.
*Travling to office of the regent - thread: preparing for a journey*
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