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Post by Jennycallie on Jul 3, 2019 15:25:04 GMT -6
War-Forged Open Faction Thread Please keep the following in mind!- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's.- No god-moding or reading characters' minds (unless your pony is a literal telepath, anyway)
- Always get consent before harming another character!- Your team is precious. Try to interact with everyone. <3- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'D
Prompt: With the war effort largely concluded, many equines deployed to Eithne and Sedo have returned home to try and resume the paces of their normal lives. Not all who left returned, however, and many families and communities continue to suffer the loss of those who provided for them. The summer harvest was worryingly small, and the autumn crops are struggling as well. Kaia's land has never been an easy one, but with the poor crop yields, strange forest activity and the grim aftermath of war, the winter ahead is looking bleak indeed, and many are worried. Though the War Lord is still grieving the loss of her kirin son to Vagabonds, she has traveled to the town of Elderdenn in order to hold an open council. All citizens are welcomed and encouraged to come and speak their concerns and ideas, and will be listened to. Modest refreshments have been provided from the Fortress' own stores, and with her Hira has brought Medics to see to illnesses and injuries, and Scouts that can assist with updating maps. It is a largely informal gathering, so if you have something to say to the War Lord and her attendants, do not be shy! Location: Elderdenn, a town and primary trading hub on the northern edges of the farmlands Time of Day: Mid-morning Current Weather: Cool and windy This thread is open to all characters in the WF Faction! If you are a Bloody Flank, you may also join and it will be assumed that you are using some sort of "disguise" and are not immediately recognizable.
You don't have to register to join in!
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Post by Jennycallie on Jul 6, 2019 14:28:29 GMT -6
 Hira
War Lord
How long could a mortal body sustain the raging fires of grief? Not indefinitely, certainly. A constant storm of grief beating in time to each heartbeat, each breath drawn, each expanding moment of awareness, one after another after another... it was not possible, not forever. And less so when one had a nation to govern.
But though life went on (painful, cruel in its indifferent march ever onward, no care given to the lives left to flounder in its wake) that did not mean that the grief went away. It simply evolved, as all living things must do. Adapt, or perish.
Hira let her gaze wander the subdued town gathering, and knew that her eyes were flat, absent of all but the tiniest flicker of life. The grief and rage and pain had condensed, at some point, settling in her bones like so many cold, heavy stones. Not gone, never gone, but buried deep. Latent. Waiting.
Fire flared and died, but the earth... the earth held.
Hira blinked, plumes of vapor steaming from her nostrils in the cold morning air. She was here not for herself, but for her people. She did not need Lark's anxious eyes on her to remind her of that, of the importance of this day. She was Hira of the Stone Hooves, and she would not be buried.
With an effort known only to her (and, perhaps, those anxious eyes at her side) the War Lord lifted her head higher, focused her eyes so that she saw those around her, and didn't just look.
"You know why I am here," she said to the gathering at large, and if her voice was not warm and welcoming, at least it did not gouge the earth with pain, did not shatter the air with as it dropped from her mouth. A victory, then. "I would hear you now."
Post 1 | 312 words
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Post by notfromthisgalaxy on Jul 7, 2019 18:22:02 GMT -6
Jorunn
Raider | Bloody Flank
"Winter wakes the wolf."
With her impulse control gone--for a lack of a better word--Jorunn had, stupidly, decided to go and hear what the War-Lord had to say. Not like they would really listen. But maybe they could retort some smart comment back. Oh how they would love to spit their words in the War-Lord's face.
That would be a way to go, they suppose.
Snatching up a small refreshment, Jorunn downs it in a less lady like manner, liquid seeping from the corners of her mouth as she chugs it down in a few quick gulps. Letting out a pleased hum, Jorunn decides they might yank up another if they were to get the chance.
Jorunn finds themselves a place in the back, determined to watch everything around them with a keen gaze. Well, as long as they could manage without someone recognizing them. As Hira speaks, they manage to keep their impulses under control, teeth digging deep into their tongue to keep any sudden remarks from flying forwards.
Instead, the young Hippocampus opts to lie in wait, listening and watching the main herd interact with an unknown intent to their gaze.
Perhaps they will learn something.
Or perhaps they will stick their nose where it doesn't quite belong.
Both seem like very likely outcomes.
WC: 216 | Post #1 |
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 10, 2019 6:16:23 GMT -6
FAELAN
Elderdenn. Faelan couldn’t say he had ever payed attention to such a town, much less visited it. If someone had asked him to point where it was on the map, he wouldn’t have had the faintest idea.
Still, here he was, as a part of Hira’s guard entourage. Not that the War Lord really seemed like she needed guarding – Faelan was pretty convinced that it was the other way around most of the time, as despite her small size, Hira was quite fierce and the only thing likely to be mightier than her sword was her scowl.
Faelan still felt important being here, even if the most of his duties so far had involved hauling the supplies they brought along from the capital and cursing at the constantly changing landscape while they waited for the scouts to figure out where their supposed road had gone.
Now, standing to the side from where Hira was, eyes intent on the crowd and his weapon hanging comfortably from a strap to his side. He both hoped that nothing would happen, and that it would – he hadn’t exactly left an impression on the War Lord during their last meeting, and he would have loved to remedy that in a proper fight, but wishing for a fight to occur seemed terribly selfish.
Word count: 217
Post #1
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jul 10, 2019 19:16:33 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
The lack of voices unnerved Sera as she stood among the crowd, her blind eyes staring up in the direction of the War Lord with slight annoyance, though it wasn't entirely directed towards Hira. The mare could feel something was off in the earth, but didn't dare state the fact for fear of causing trouble.
Admittedly, she wasn't even a member of this small town. Elderdenn wasn't near her home of Warwick nor was it Skeldr Town, where she had spent most of her teenage years. She huffed lightly, finally unable to take the silence much longer. Quietly, she moved forward.
"It seems, that maybe not everyone knows why you are here." She rose her voice slightly as she continued on, feeling others turn towards her but not seeing. "Or maybe the others have no way to explain how they feel." She took in a short breath and let it out, thinking about her next words. She didn't really dislike Hira, but she did have her complaints to be voiced.
When had she managed her way towards the front and stood, strong but not resolute. "I have but one concern to voice... Why is information so hard to come across when it comes to what is decided for our herd, and how do you think we can work towards building a better system of communication? We are a spread out people, and while those of us close to Skeldr get information relatively easily... it seems that some of the other towns are left in the dust unintentionally." There was a moment's pause as she considered her next words carefully. "Rangers and birds aside... I think it may be wise for us to think about how far apart we are as a whole..."
Post 1 – 295 Words
(idk man I just winged it)
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Post by Waterdrup on Jul 11, 2019 13:24:30 GMT -6
Gwen | Farmer
Gwen pulled her simple cloak tighter to her body as the wind picked up, dancing through the strings of hair that had come loose from her thick braid. She did not like this, she did not like this at all. It had been a relatively short walk from their farm to Elderdenn, but all the while her father had been grumbling. Gwen could not read Gerallt’s lips when he didn’t articulate, but she knew what he was complaining about. Their farm had always produced a great amount and variety of crops, but this year… things seemed to be different.
Gwen glanced at her brother, Meuric, who’d been the only one to take a refreshment. He was stoic as always, silently letting his eyes roam the crowd. The white mare felt nervous, she wasn’t sure why her father had brought her as well. She was doing her best on the farmlands, training her blessing and learning how to manipulate the crops in a way that would help. She watched her father as he met up with a fellow farmer, quietly exchanging words she could read. Mostly rude remarks on how well a mare was running things as War Lord.
Someone must’ve spoken up for Gwen noticed the horses around her turning their attention to a central point. She quickly turned her eyes back to her father and he surprised her by speaking up as well. “On the topic of information, we would like to know what’s being done with this year’s harvest.” The dark stallion started. “Several crops are struggling and Winter is coming. We cannot send any of it to Aodh or the other herds. We have to look after our own first.” Gerallt had straightened himself up, glancing at familiar faces to find support, but not afraid to meet Hira’s gaze as well.
Gwen bit her lip, remembering her father’s voice from when she was a filly. A deep rumble, calm and yet claiming attention, like the warning rumble of a landslide. She could easily tell he was angry, everyone around them could see that. But what most did not notice where the little signs that gave away his worry, the worry for his herd and his family.
Wordcount 369 | Post #1 |
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Post by Warped-Desire on Jul 12, 2019 4:46:09 GMT -6
With the growing scarcity of food young Calleigh hadn't intended on heading off to the meeting in town. With her herd struggling to stay alive and the mouths to feed growing ever hungrier she found herself pushed towards the meeting. With a plume of breath visible from her nose she shouldered her way through the gathered equines, muddied hooves and feathers stepping carefully and almost daintily dispite her size. With each fuzzy cow to think of Calleigh pinned hear ears back, pausing as the bovine loves of her life crossed her mind... at the same time something else pushed against her mind, this was thoughts of her cows however just words, hollow words from her herd mates that didn't matter untill they did She pushed her way to the front so she could stare down their tiny War Lord, fo a moment she seemed bemused but then the topic of crops came up and she had to voice her own concerns. "What about pur livestock? Those animals are our lives and they are struggling enough as is. The field barely have enough grass and there is little to know grain... without food I'll loose half the herd to winter and that's something neither of us can afford. She frowned now as she glanced around, searching for those who had spoken up before her and given her the will to do so of her own, "Without the milk and fur from my cows you wouldn't have your cloak nore the cheese and butter on your tables... You lead us... tell us what you are going to do ti help us survive"
post: #1 WC: #272 |
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jul 14, 2019 9:34:10 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
It's funny how courage works. As soon as Serafine spoke up, more voices followed her, though it wasn't a downpour of dissent, it seemed that more horses were worried about the coming harvests and how the current activities of the herd at large were going to impact them. With a slight nod, the mare moved, though her ears were pricked for any potential response she could receive from the War Lord.
She would have stayed put, but her enhanced senses made it difficult to focus when more equines were moving to make their words known. She'd be better off away from the crowd and pressing bodies, though at the time of her... speech... she hadn't thought much about those around her. Now that the effects of her words had worn off... she wanted nothing more than to get a good vantage point where she could hear the horses assembled at the front of the town without feeling the crowd on her flanks.
With a light huff, she worked her way back towards her cart, which was why she had initially come out this way. As a herder, she had recently made new blankets from the excess apanna pelts in preparation for the winter months...
And by she had made new blankets, she meant that she had requested the blankets to be made from the pelts and had agreed to split the profits when she returned to Skeldr. So far it had been a good day... even with the sudden appearance of the War Lord.
She just hoped she wasn't forced back home early because of everything going on in the town.
Post 2 – 275 Words
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Post by Dream-Lark on Jul 14, 2019 16:47:59 GMT -6
Wintera;War Forged|Outcast
Wintera stood near the back of the crowd, doing her best to blend in, though she’d been in the War Lord’s presence once before. The mare tugged her light pelt a little closer as the wind picked up again, sheltering her hide from the worst of it’s sting, but also covering most of her scales from sight. It was getting colder, and while she was a little more used to it now she still didn’t like it. She wanted to leave to a warmer clime even less, though.
Pale gaze flitted over the equines around her, ears swiveling as she took in the words of those who spoke up. The kirin had come here to gather information and see what was going to be said, so she could let Taend know. She’d also been learning all she could about farming from those who’d needed an extra set of hooves with so many gone south for the war.
And at Hira’s inquiry, the only thing upon Wintera’s mind actually was ‘Could I become an actual farmer?’ To feel like she was actually a herdmember and not just...an outcast, doing her work to pull her own weight but still constantly looked at askance. She couldn’t speak up though, she didn’t have the courage just then with so many equines present.
So instead she stood there and listened intently, taking everything in.
She could always seek an audience with Hira later, maybe.
WC:240 | Post #1 |
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Post by notfromthisgalaxy on Jul 14, 2019 20:34:49 GMT -6
Jorunn
Raider | Bloody Flank
"Winter wakes the wolf."
Well, this was fun!
Albeit rather stupid fun--a horrible idea really.
They were quite shocked to see that so many were ready to openly speak to the War-Lord. And that was exciting to say the least. It was quite fun to watch if you were to ask them. Descent was always a marvelous thing indeed. And her 'family' had told them they should be worried about being here. Jorunn was more worried for the Forged at this point. And maybe the War-Lord.
Okay, maybe not. She couldn't care any less about her.
Their tail swishes and swats at the air behind them, fully debating on spitting out some smartass remark, perhaps something to send everyone into a teezy. But Kai and Hestia would never forgive her if something happened to them while they were here. So, with a loud huff, they move to find someone else to harass...
You know... Other than the War-Lord.
They pass behind a white mare, keeping their head low as they do so. For a split moment, they debate on choosing her as their target, she looked easy enough to mess with. But the stallion next to her gave them so form of pause. Keep moving, their brain told them. There's another Hippocampus among the crowd, one with bright red hair that does catch their attention for long enough that they do pause. They stare for a few moments, letting out a loud huff as they press onward.
"Bloody hell." They snort, coming to a stop next to the Kirin, not really thinking much as they speak. "This is boring--" their gaze quickly snaps over to who their standing next to, a wide grin pulling up the corners of their lips. "Oi, scales, what do you think about all of this?"
Perhaps they didn't need to call them scales. Perhaps they didn't really care about Kirins and what they were doing here. They were looking for someone to pester and they might have just found them.
WC: 335 | Post #2
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Post by Jennycallie on Jul 16, 2019 18:53:51 GMT -6
Hira
War Lord
Citizens began to speak, and Hira began to wish, fervently, for a Teleportation Blessing. She resisted the urge to shoot Lark and her other attending Shields a dirty look, and for that she felt she ought to be commended. No, Hira remained steady, implacable, and with little sign of the violence churning within her. Just like the mountains. Her jade gaze slid solemnly from one speaker to the next as she waited for a lull and an opportunity to address the concerns... though common sense would do for many of them.
At last there was a pause. Hira looked to the last person to speak, a younger mare, and she tilted her head slightly, forelock shifting as she then looked at Gerallt, as if drawing a connection between the two. Or waiting for them to draw one.
"Our crops go to support Forged citizens first and foremost," she said, struggling to keep impatience out of her voice. It wasn't that she did not care for her people's worries, but when they wasted her time on questions that they already knew the answers to... her nostrils flared, and she looked back at Calleigh.
"Less butter and milk is preferable to no dish with which to add them to," she observed. "Your livestock are hardy Onean creatures; they know what it is to survive. We must have enough food for ourselves, and yes," and her eyes cut back to Gerallt and his family, "for our trade partners. Eithene has been informed of our situation, and we are negotiating terms, not that we export as much food to them as they import to us." Hira paused, then something of her old self flashed in her eyes. "But I am as War-Forged as any of you. I promise you, I will not feed Aodh at the expense of my country." Her words rang out with conviction, almost angrily. Not angry at the crowd, or at Aodh, just... a reflection of the violence within.
She looked to the first who had spoken, Serafine, and raised her brows. It was a valid question... though perhaps less pertinent as Hira stood there before her, doing exactly what she was accused of not doing. Again, Hira made a heroic effort to stifle a dirty look, and again she was successful. What a day for diplomacy!
"I am always open to accepting new Stone Circle members, who act as the voice for their communities and Onea as a whole," Hira reminded her as patiently as was possible. "And as for the matter of distance... the aforementioned trade with Eithne makes travel easier and safer for the average Forged." She glanced at Gerallt and Calleigh as she spoke. Do you see now? Her gaze cut back to Serafine, then swept the crowd. Waiting for more.
Post 2 | 463 words
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Post by tarriedsea on Jul 17, 2019 19:12:21 GMT -6
 Steeled against the emotions of the masses, Lark sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. In many ways, Lark still saw Hira as her childhood self, and he caught doubt flashing across his conscience every time she had to steer things like this. He was ashamed of his own reservations- his honor required him to die for her at any opportunity, and he would gladly do so- but he couldn't deny them. Time passed too quickly; just yesterday they were children.
He grunted and cast another look in her direction, trying to gauge her thoughts. They'd grown distant over the months- grief sliced Hira off from her peers, it seemed. He toed around her, unsure how to engage. Her having the children was unsettling enough for him; to have one lost catapulted him out of common empathy altogether. He didn't know how to talk to her beyond formalities. He didn't know how to look Anika in the eye and tell her they'd been unsuccessful in recovering her brother.
Every voice that spoke here pricked his nerves. He knew this was the expectation- people were here, after all, to air grievances. Didn't mean it had to sit right with him.
"Safer is correct," he added to Hira's last point. "Please understand we are all on high alert. Our Raiders and Shields have returned from Eithne, and ready to defend Onea once more. The Flanks have been quiet lately, and we suspect they're disbanded. We will snuff the rest of them out- if the winter doesn't do it for us." |
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Post by Waterdrup on Jul 18, 2019 11:26:06 GMT -6
Gwen | Farmer
Gwen watched Hira with cautious glances. She’d seen the War Lord before, but didn’t really know her. By now though, Gwen had seen enough body language to decide that Hira frightened her. The small unicorn was somehow similar to a volcano, a sturdy looking rock with a dangerously hot core. Gwen did not want to be present if that pony ever exploded.
As Hira shifted her stern gaze onto Gerallt, Gwen had to brace herself. She wanted to know the War Lord’s answer, so she forced herself to watch the calm face and read every word. She could almost feel her father’s tension lessen when Hira told them the crops were to support their own first. Though an obvious fact to some, having the certainty of a confirmation was still a great comfort. Sometimes the obvious just has to be said out loud. Gwen offered her father a smile, but watched him bristle.
Snapping her gaze back towards Hira she knew she had missed part of the speech and she soundlessly cursed her deaf ears. It was something about Aodh, she gave her promise. As skilled as Gwen was in using context and body language to piece sentences together, she wasn’t quite certain what Hira had said. Instead her brown eyes went back to her father, who seemed very displeased, but not as angry as he had been.
The stallion traded words with his son and a few fellow farmers and Gwen felt herself being utterly useless once again. The white mare kept herself small and looked at the ground. She thought of mentioning other questions to her father, maybe there was someone here that knew why their great chestnut had blossomed out of season. Gwen bit her lip and moved her gaze back to her father. Gerallt was still speaking with another.
“-lost one of her children. Which would not have happened had she been a proper mare, looking after her spouse around the hearth.” After Gwen read the words she couldn’t help it, her eyes once again shooting up to see Hira. She felt sorry for the mother and her brow knitted with pity.
Wordcount 356 | Post #2 |
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 19, 2019 9:26:37 GMT -6
FAELAN
Faelan looked admiringly at Lark, especially as he spoke. The Shield was so wise. Faelan wished he could put idea together so forcefully and convincingly.
Realizing he was staring, and how stupid that must have made him look, Faelan coughed slightly to himself, adjusted his weight, and turned his gaze back to surveying the crowd. Their concerns seemed legitimate, but their tone left much to be desired. It reminded of his father, and how he had always spoken of the War Lord.
Faelan had never known a life different from having a War Lord, and had no issue respecting Hira – she has always been a War Lord as far as he was concerned, so what others options for leadership were there even?
With ears and eyes towards the crowd, he too picked up the tail end of what Gwen’s father said, and he snorted, shooting them a sharp glance before leaving his post. Faelan wasn’t the tallest Raider out there, but he was still plenty broad enough to push his way through the crowd to come face to face with the offender.
“The War Lord is not just any mare. She is your leader, and she could kick your turnip-smelling ass”, Faelan said loudly, his teeth grit and eyes sharp. Here was all the fury of a teenager who took himself and his leader quite seriously.
Word count: 226
Post #2
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Post by Dream-Lark on Jul 24, 2019 13:51:44 GMT -6
 Wintera;War Forged|Outcast
Pale gaze flickered to the side as an equine let out an explitive. The scaled equine was considering shifting further away from the irritated personality when the next words froze her in place for a few heartbeats.
Scales? She repeated mentally, shifting her weight under the word and fighting the urge to pull her furs closer about her.
“I think I’d be mighty irritated if I were Hira, answering all these questions up there,” Wintera replied, sounding a little prim as she fought to cover the insecurity of her scales. She thought they were gorgeous, but she also knew what they signified to everyone else, and she just….desperately wanted to fit in.
“I can tell what you think of it all, though. Boring, eh?” the kirin added, attempting to shift this conversation away from her species and onto something...safer.
Ears swiveled as she took in Hira’s responses to everything so far, then as a stallion who she assumed must be a shield clarified things even further. It was actually all very good reassurances, and something she imagined the public did need to be reminded of...Wintera did herself, though she hadn’t dared to speak up about it.
Of course, then something must have happened, for a young raider from the looks of him, shoved through the crowd to stand up to another stallion, speaking angrily and protectively.
“Oh, my,” the mare murmured quietly, eyes a little wider with curiousity and surprise at the new drama playing out.
WC:249 | Post #2 |
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Post by Warped-Desire on Jul 25, 2019 3:29:26 GMT -6
No!. That's not what Calleigh wanted to hear. The heavy mate stomped a hoof and snorted hard, a plume of breath visible before her. Their Warlord was being unfair. She was down right wrong, how could she think her cows would survive. The pastures were already thin as it was, they couldn't stand a hard winter without extra grain and barley. "Your head is in the clouds!" she started, eyebrows knotted together in annoyance and worry. Without the livestock she had nothing and all the old warlord wanted to do was preach food for their own mouths. "I'd give the fins and hair off my back to keep my hard fed. Some of the forged could do with a little less feeding don't you think?... feed the livestock and you feed the herd. You can't starve my cattle to feed fat hungry mouths". Her words came out slot harsher then was meant But their leader needed to hear the truth. She flicked her tail and passed at the ground as other members of the community spoke up with similar concerns to her. Damn right! They were right to worry about their animals. She would take food of anyones tables to make sure her herd saw the next winter
post: #2 WC: #210 |
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jul 25, 2019 20:19:09 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
The mare could almost feel the eyes of her warlord on her, though she wasn't exactly able to see them or confirm the feeling. For a moment, hear long ears flicked back nervously before she stood tall, trying her best to find the words to convey that her concern was less involved in these small sessions and more involved with the herd as a whole. She sighed, ignoring the throng of visitors for a moment, trying her best to discern what to really... do.
She felt a little hopeless with how the Warlord had treated some of the issues, but it was... understandable, even if she hated it. The rolling sense of doom that fluttered in her gut was quickly quenched when she picked up the sounds of the crowd, her sightless eyes flicking about for a few moments before she decided to wander closer to the front once more. However, she was done talking for the time being, as she didn't think her words would fall upon more than death ears.
Maybe she'd feel better by listening to other others. Maybe.
Post 3 – 190 Words
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Post by Waterdrup on Jul 27, 2019 7:02:59 GMT -6
Gwen | Farmer
Gwen noticed the Raider approach her father and she shifted even further back. He seemed young, but strong and full of spirit. Gwen’s eyes grew wide though as Faelan spoke on the War Lord’s behalf, nervously glancing at her father and brother. Meuric took a step forward to flank his father, staring daggers at the Raider. Gerallt’s eyes narrowed in annoyance as he slowly straightened to his full height, standing his ground. “No need for name calling, boy.” His voice was a calm rumble, though his dark eyes were burning. The farmer had raised two sons, he did not care for such disrespect towards elders. Especially when it was pointed towards his profession, the very thing that put food on the table of this foolish Raider. Gerallt wasn’t there to pick a fight though and he nudged his son, quietly telling him to back down. Then he caught his daughter’s scared gaze and his eyes softened. “Gwen, go have a look at what the merchants have to offer.” He said softly, unheard but clearly read by the deaf mare. Gwen glanced at Faelan before giving a single nod. “Yes, sir.” She answered slowly before turning. She was glad to walk away from the obvious tension, though she still worried for her father. She didn’t see Gerallt returning his gaze to Hira, completely ignoring Faelan now. He had just realized that Gwen wasn’t a proper mare either by the standards he’d just mentioned. The stallion let out a deep sigh. “Mare or not, losing a child might influence the War Lord’s ability to make wise decisions right now.” Gerallt tried to convey a certain kind of worry towards the unicorn he addressed. Not just that of a herd member, but also that of a parent. Truly he was not there to fight, but the stoic farmer was not very good at being considerate or subtle and his words could definitely be taken the wrong way. He spared a glance towards Calleigh as the redhead called out as well. Gwen missed all of those conversations as she made her way to the back of the crowd, keeping her eyes downcast and working her bottom lip in worry. She was so distracted that she almost bumped into another horse, pausing only just in time. Gwen started to mumble an apology when she looked up and saw a set of beautiful pale antlers. “I’m so sorry.” She managed finally, insecurity plain in her brown eyes.
Wordcount 412 | Post #3 |
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Post by Jennycallie on Jul 29, 2019 16:28:39 GMT -6
Hira
War Lord
"Faelan!" Hira snapped, but it was too late. "Oh, for stone's sake," she muttered, the words likely only audible to Lark, and perhaps any of the lip-readers in the crowd.
Hira was unable to suppress her eye-roll as Faelan fanned the flames of resentment, but before she could move to call the young Raider back, the young herder mare was yelling and Hira's eyes cut back to her. She managed to avoid rolling them again, but only just. What a hot-headed fool. The words were borderline treasonous, but so stupid as to not be worth pursuing. Faelan, however, would likely feel differently, and Hira did not welcome to outcome of further escalation. She turned to the nearest Shield in an attempt to get ahead of the situation.
"Lark, can you-"
But her words were lost as a tremor ran through the earth, large enough to wobble Hira's legs. It felt... wrong. Not like a 'normal' earthquake. Hira frowned, ignoring the crowd as she turned her attention inwards, focusing with her Earth Manipulation, questing deeper. "That's odd," she muttered, and tapped the earth with a cloven hoof. It felt almost like... Holmsa. Hira's eyes widened.
And then a strangled bellow split the air. Hira whirled to see a wooly mammoth emerging from the treeline. Or... was it a mammoth? Something about it was very, very wrong, and again Hira felt the odd tremor run through the earth, like a discordant note. The mammoth trumpeted again, and is it came into the light Hira suddenly realized two things: it was picking up speed, and it wasn't entirely alive. Flesh hung off the creature in desiccated strips, revealing flashes of bone.
Its tusks were very much still intact, however, and they swung menacingly through the air as the mammoth charged the gathering.
"Raiders! Shields!" Hira shouted, leaping forward, towards the creature, horn and eyes flashing. Here, finally, was something she could do, something she could fight.
Hopefully.
Post 3 | 330 words
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 29, 2019 16:49:38 GMT -6
FAELAN
Faelan’s nostrils flared as he was called a boy, and he looked very prepared to pick a fight, no matter how bad it might have looked. Faelan had never been much for discussion, and honestly in a talk most people could do circles around him with little effort.
Fighting, that he was good at.
Luckily the farmers backed down, but soon enough another piped up, and Faelan, already worked up, was about ready to storm over to her to pick another fight. He might have been raised right, but training with the Valkyries had removed any reservations he might once have held about punching a girl.
Luckily, it didn’t come to that, as the earth shook beneath them. Faelan, spooked but careful not to show it, stumbled his way back through the crowd to Hira, pulling out his weapon as he glanced around for the source of the quake.
A mammoth.
A very dead mammoth, charging at the crowd.
“To your right!” he responded eagerly, swinging himself around the face the opponent. He was standing wide to Hira’s right flank, ready to move together with her.
A real battle!
How exciting.
And what a chance to prove himself.
Word count: 198
Post #3
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Post by Dream-Lark on Jul 30, 2019 10:30:37 GMT -6
Wintera;War Forged|Outcast
Pale eyes flickered to the child of Cascade who spoke out, angry and demanding more for her animals. The kirin shook her head gently, understanding the younger mare’s desire to take care of her animals, but also thinking the other wasn’t old enough to truly understand how the world worked. This realm of the War Forged was much different than her past life in Valore. It was much harsher, colder, and everyone was more prone to being hungry...but it was still a good life, and the equines themselves were proving to be surprisingly fiery themselves.
Attention flickered between the various notes of drama unfolding before her, when she was startled by the sudden proximity of another equine. “Oh, it’s okay dear. There’s a lot going on right now,” Wintera replied, a smile curving her lips in a motherly manner. This all white common horse looked familiar, though the outcast wasn’t sure she could place from quite where. She was sure she’d seen her before though….
It was while she was trying to track down this familiarity that she felt a tremor run up through cloven hooves. The mare frowned, gaze shifted downward. An earthquake? Wintera wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. Weight shifted uneasily, gaze snapping up to the War Lord.
It was then that the bellow rang through the air, sending a sliver of fear down scaled spine. Pale purple eyes went wide as they fixated upon the sight of a charging mammoth--coming right at them. “Oh, Fire Father,” the kirin breathed in terror, finally noticing that the creature wasn’t right, it had flesh hanging and was that…bone?
“We’ve got to move,” the mare ordered, pushing her shoulder into Gwen’s to turn her away from the charging behemoth, to turn them toward some semblance of safety while the fighters assembled into some sort of protective arc to begin battle.
WC:314 | Post #3 |
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Jul 31, 2019 15:07:33 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
Death came down in the wind. Serafine noticed it before she heard the crashing of the mammoth charging through. She would have considered it a fine way to break such tension, but in reality, it was nothing short of panic inducing for the mare. She couldn't see, and her only guess was that the heavy shakes of the earth belonged to the creature she now heard in the distance.
It was one of those times where Serafine wished she could actually see, as she wasn't quite sure how the stench had come on so quickly. Was it the mammoth? (That was what she assumed it was, anyway, as it was hard to ascertain when you couldn't see the creature... though she didn't know of many creatures in Onea that could make the ground shake like this with four legs.) Or had some necromancer decided to raid the nearby cemetery? Serafine didn't try to think on it, as she knew something was off by the way Hira shouted.
In an instant, she was on the move, trying to escape the crowds to get somewhere safer. She wanted direction, and suddenly wished desperately that she had brought somebody to come along with her. As much as she hated admitting her disability, there was little for her to do when she couldn't see and react accordingly. Yet she bit her tongue and started moving, hoping to find her way out of the creature's path before destruction set in.
She wasn't going to ask a stranger for help.
Post 4 – 262 Words
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Post by tarriedsea on Aug 1, 2019 10:11:39 GMT -6
relevant info: ya boy has level 3 Density Control
Every voice that had spoken knocked Lark's rage up by a peg, and he was more than happy to step forward when Hira said his name, but she stopped short. He stared at her, waiting for the command. The rumble that reached his sixth sense was delayed compared to his War Lord, but at the first shift he leapt forward on instinct, pulling his sword from its sheath. The beast that erupted from the trees wasn't immediately recognizable until Lark saw the tusks wildly swinging. He ignored the sheer fear of its strange appearance and switched to autopilot. "Faelan! Beside me!" he roared, charging toward the terror. Out the corner of his eye, Hira leapt into action. It unnerved him to see her enter a battle without weapons or armor, but he had no time to worry. He darted in front of the crowd with the cry "Move back!"Planting his hind end with the weight of iron, he reared and slashed his sword at the creature's legs. The metal bounced off the exposed bone and jarred his teke. His brow furrowed and he move to its ribs, stabbing between the slots indiscriminately. The beast swiped at him with a massive tusk, but he sprang out of the way with the lithe of a deer. His spirit began to panic. How were they supposed to kill something already dead? |
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Post by Waterdrup on Aug 5, 2019 15:26:31 GMT -6
Gwen | Farmer
Gwen was relieved to read Wintera’s words and see her soft smile. She also noticed the purple eyes searching for something, had they met before? Gwen tilted her head and frowned slightly as she wondered, taking in the scent of berries and smoke. The Kirin didn’t appear much older than she was herself, tucked beneath a snow leopard pelt. Her seemingly dyed hair was neatly crafted into little loops. Surely she would remember seeing her? Gwen was already forming an apology in case she had forgotten, when suddenly the earth moved.
The farmer’s first instinct was to look down at the earth, but she quickly looked up again as she noticed the shifting of bodies, the growing tension in the crowd. Gwen watched as people turned their heads in a collective motion, straightening their ears and craning their necks, all looking in one direction. The white mare followed their gaze as her heartbeat sped up, she could smell fear.
Her eyes widened at the horrible sight of an undead mammoth, its white tusks rounded, swinging as the beast charged right at the gathering. Gwen gasped and stepped back as one name echoed loudly in her head “KAIA”. She felt a second tremor beneath her hooves and noticed the Raiders and Shields jumping into action, moving forward while the rest of the horses started to back away from the confusing and terrible looking threat. For just a moment, Gwen considered if her Blessing could help, but ice cold fear made her shiver and the thought was gone.
Wintera started to push against Gwen’s shoulder and as the white mare turned around she looked back, desperately searching for her family. She caught sight of her father as he and Meuric had turned to flee as well. Gerallt locked eyes with his daughter and mouthed a few words she would not have been able to hear otherwise. “Go. Move to safety. GO.”
Gwen gave a firm nod, sticking close to Wintera as they started to pick up pace, getting as far away from the mammoth as they needed to be safe. The white horse kept her eyes open though, looking into the crowd for any familiar faces, bumping into some bodies as people started to rush and panic. Gwen did not look back to see the fight start.
Wordcount 385 | Post #4 |
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Aug 7, 2019 17:40:21 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
Serafine listened to the words of the horses around her, slowly moving back to try to get further from the mammoth and closer to safety. Already feeling hindered by her inability to see, the mare felt a sudden sense of helplessness overcome her, and when she accidentally bumped into someone she felt a sudden fear wash over her that she had not experienced before.
Thankfully, it wasn't the mammoth. Instead, (though she did not know it was Lark) she could tell it was the hardened presence of a stronger equine. She could only guess that she somehow had managed to move closer to where Hira once stood, though her heart was now heavily pounding in her chest.
"Where is the mammoth?" She asked, her voice shaking. "I am sorry... I cannot see and I do not know where to avoid." She should have asked somebody to come with her when she had decided to travel this way, but what had been done was done. She let out a short sigh, feeling suddenly very useless.
Kaia forgive me for wanting to appear so strong.
Post 5 – 190 Words
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Post by Warped-Desire on Aug 9, 2019 16:35:57 GMT -6
The heavy mare snorted distastefully as he brows furrowed together. She had never felt so disrespected in all her life! The warlord was supposed to be here for her the people not stand against them. She wasn't sure if she was overreacting or not but she didn't really get the chance. Everyone was calling out and panicking, fleeing in every which direction... except one. She spun on her heel and planted her feet. Her ears shot forward as the shields leapt into action. A mammoth!? Here!?. Something seemed off when it swung it's massive tusks, chunks of flesh where flying off and bones protruded from it's sides. "by the gods!" she prance backwards as a mare shoved past her, making her face contort in surprise. As Hira and the shields leapt into action the mammoth was spared and somehow kept coming!? What was this thing even made of?. She made note of who was in the battle, keeping her eyes on the many who had also fled in case they needed help. The Mammoth lifted it's trunk and bellowed into the air, swinging it's tusks in a full assault on the 'front line'. That giant rotting beast was heading straight for the Warlord! Calleigh scanned between the Shields and her stomach dropped. None of them were close enough to- she tossed her head and charged forward, slamming her entire weight into the left side of that mammoths swinging head. "Come on turn! Turn!". She matched it's lumbering charge and pushed with all her might, barely getting it to turn before it hit front on with their warlord. She jumped out of the way as it swung it's tusks, chest heaving as she slid to a stop near the warlords side
post: #3 WC: #292 |
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Post by Jennycallie on Aug 9, 2019 18:52:28 GMT -6
Hira
War Lord
"Steer it away from the crowd," Hira shouted as Lark and Faelan fell into place. Not instructions they needed, of course. But even seemingly necessary orders were paramount in a battle. It was so terribly easy to slip into disorganized chaos and terror.
Hira watched as Lark's blows, no doubt enhanced by his Blessing, did next to nothing to deter the creature. If it wasn't alive... could they stop it? It seemed to have already escaped death once.
"Look for a-" Hira broke off, dancing away from the mammoth as its tusks scyhed over her head, "Look for a necromancer in the crowd!" It was the only explanation that made immediate sense to her. Necromancy of course was a Blessing from Kaia, but something about this creature still resonated off-key to Hira's senses. It might have just been the fact that it was trying to kill her, of course. That could do it.
Hira fell back a stride, tossing her heavy forelock from her eyes, teeth bared. A voice registered over the din, thin and shaking with fright. "Where is the mammoth? I am sorry... I cannot see and I do not know where to avoid." Hira whirled around, eyes finding Serafine, looking lost and alone and entirely too close to the rampaging beast.
Hira reared and slammed her hooves into the earth, cloven hoof-tips burying themselves. The earth responded. The earth fractured, lifting up and forming a ridge that ran away from the beast and towards the safety of others. "Keep the earth to your left," Hira barked, already turning away.
She almost lost her life in that moment. Had it not been for the combined forces of her turn and Calleigh's shove, the mammoth would likely have crushed her. Hira laughed, though the sound was far from humorous.
"Perhaps we can trap it," Hira shouted, sending a spike of earth at the creature and causing it to stumble. It bellowed again, and smashed through a wooden cart.
Post 4 | 329 words
Badge by Chipo-H0P3
Feel free to join the fight or run for ur life it's all good
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 11, 2019 4:16:02 GMT -6
FAELAN
Faelan trailed through the battlefield to keep close to Hira and Lark, but the situation was altogether chaotic. He got close enough to the mammoth at one point to strike it in passing with his war hammer, but all it did was bring them off balance for mere moments, before the rampage continued.
There had to be a necromancer, but he couldn’t make out anyone in the crowd that looked innately suspicious, even as the crowd broke away in a panic to leave the scene of the fight. Faelan himself got pushed around by panicking bodies as he tried his best to reunite with Lark and the War Lord and made his way out of the chaos just in time to see Hira almost crushed by the mammoth.
“I will do my best to lead it somewhere!” he shouted over the crowd in response and looked franticly for an area where the beast would be easiest to trap – a place where something natural already provided some walls.
While the mammoth was off balance, he hit it again with his hammer, causing no real damage, but making the animal chase after him angrily, bellowing and smashing through things as it went.
Word count: 200
Post #4
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Post by Dream-Lark on Aug 11, 2019 16:37:11 GMT -6
Wintera;War Forged|Outcast
The scaled mare slowed slightly as they achieved a bit of open ground, a breath of space amongst panicked equines. Head was held as high as possible, trying to see around them, to figure out what was going on, where the mammoth was headed now, what would be the best path to take.
The white mare was still close to her side, which was a relief to Wintera. A sense of maternal protection had taken hold of her, and she would have seriously started to worry over the younger female’s fate had she fled, for it hadn’t seemed safe for her to return to that loud mouthed stallion she’d been standing beside earlier in the meeting.
So she was able to pay some attention when Hira started shouting about a necromancer, saw a mare throw herself at the mammoth bodily, and saw the War Lord erect some sort of earthen wall, that another mare was trying to...follow? Her instincts told her that something wasn’t right there, even as she saw a pair of stallions wailing away at the undead creature with what looked like less than desired effect.
The kirin sucked in a breath, wide eyes darting to Gwen beside her. “I’ve got to go to that mare, get her away. Something’s not right,” Wintera told her, voice raised over the tumult. She wasn’t a fighter, but she was more armored than the equine following that earthen ridge, and while her antlers weren’t sharp, she did have distasteful and haunting memories of wielding them in battle.
So with those words, she leaped forward again, galloping torward Serafine. If all the painted mare did was follow that ridge and the undead beast turned… A shiver of ice ran down her spine as she closed the distance, sparing a glance to see if the white mare she’d taken out of the crowds still followed.
“Hey, you need to get away from that thing!” Wintera shouted, flinching as she heard wood splintering -- the beast had just destroyed a cart.
WC:337 | Post #4 |
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Post by InTheDappledRain on Aug 12, 2019 15:29:22 GMT -6
Serafine - War Forged - Herder
The ground shifted suddenly as the thundering of the mammoth came closer, forcing the mare to cower back, feeling suddenly even smaller than she had before. There was a moment when nothing made sense, as the ground suddenly rose up every so slightly.
Then she heard the warlord's voice, clear as day above the crowd. "Keep the earth to your left." It had to be directed at her and the sudden shift in the ground. Relief flooded through the mare as she moved forward, stopping just in time as the mammoth whisked past her. She could only guess that it was heading toward the war lord herself, as she heard a harsh laugh in the same direction she had originally called in.
Quickly, she galloped towards safety, being mindful of the ground under her and the feeling of the earth that Hira had so helpfully raised up for her. She was still cursing at herself, angry at her poor choice of visitation days, though she did want to do something to stop the rampage.
The mammoth wasn't a normal mammoth, or else she'd use her abilities with beasts to help calm it... The behavior was nothing she had recognized, as even when a mammoth was angry it normally didn't smell of death. She frowned. This was one of those instances where a blessing would've come in handy. Alas, she hadn't gained the favor of her gods just yet.
I'll have to find a way to thank Hira, later. She decided, knowing full well that shoving herself into the combat would be a foolhardy task. She'd likely end up dead, and she knew how much trouble that would cause.
"Hey! You need to get away from that thing!"
Oh, thank Kaia. Quickly, she moved away, feeling as if the mammoth was about to come charging at her again. She moved in the direction of the voice, the sound of a cart shattering behind her giving the mare reason to quicken her pace again. Worry still riddled her pelt, but as she came up to the voice, she couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Hira had lead her in the right direction, now she could only hope that there was a way to deal with the mammoth.
"Thanks for calling out." She said, voice shaking. "I could've gotten hit by that cart... at least that's what I think shattered..." She had a sinking feeling it was her cart.
Post 6 – 410 Words
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