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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 15, 2017 18:51:54 GMT -6
 Hello Starborn, and welcome to WF Plot 410: Into the Unknown
Participants: Froya, Kathra, Hjordis Plot Journal | Chapter 4 Journal | Plot Music | Chapter Chat 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 one post 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    Location: Somewhere on the open ocean in the Southern Gulf Time of Day: Late Afternoon Current Weather: Sunny, but cloudy Opening Prompt:
It did not escape the Stone Circle’s notice that communications from their Ambassador to Talori ceased abruptly, at around the same time as vague and disturbing reports of political and social unrest within the secretive tropical nation. The sudden, ominous silence from Ambassador Fijalahr could not have come at a worse time, with burgeoning war between Aodh and Serora… and the Forged’s agreement to support Aodh. Defenses stretched thin, there were few warriors to spare, and in an effort to avoid overtly antagonizing the Talori, the War Lord and Circle decided to send a small, stealthy group to the tropics, to gather intelligence as to what had happened to the herd and their Ambassador. A small contingent of Valkyries led by senior members Froya, Hjordis and Kathra, set sail over two weeks ago. The journey thus far has been relatively uneventful, and they hope to be making landfall within the next several days. Notes: There are numerous NPC crew and other Valkyries on the ship that you may include in your posts for extra fluff or drama <3 You do not need to wait on a leader to post! |
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Post by Silverfallingstar on Aug 17, 2017 12:15:02 GMT -6
 The clouds overhead blotted out the sun just enough for a temperature drop. For most aquorians that wasn't a welcome feeling.
But Kathra wasn't a lowlander.
For her, and for the others on board, lower temperatures were welcomed with open hooves. They were war-forged, built for mountains and frozen seas. This land had neither, hell, she probably was willing to hazard that aside from sea-dwelling Rogues, the average talorian would never see a flake of snow in their lifetimes.
A warm breeze stirred the valkyrie from her thoughts as she stepped onto the deck of the ship, armor clinking together gently as cloven hooves trod on wood slabs. Her beard rustled with the gusts, and the tips of her roached mane might quiver, but otherwise she was still aside from intentional strides of well muscled legs.
Two weeks back wouldn't have seen her with such confident strides upon the deck. Despite calling herself a proud Onean, she never spent long times at sea, at most maybe a few days on a mission, but never weeks. As such, she had only recently gained her sea-legs, as the sailors called them. Offering a gruff greeting to the other sailors and shield-sisters she passed, Kathra came to rest at the prow of the boat, looking out at the vast expanse of Cascade's ocean.
Too flat, it was too flat for her liking. While maybe during a storm the ocean mimicked Kaia's mountains, on days like today, her vision was just miles and miles of water, to the straight line of the horizon. Frankly, Kathra missed the mountains, she missed the cold air, the mighty trees, and the frozen waters of the north they'd left behind. However, if anything her training had taught her perseverance, and she knew that the faster they could get to Aquore, the faster they could figure out what was going on and the faster they could get home.
Taking a deep breath of sea air, Kathra thought about why Hira had sent them this way in the first place. It had been three months with no word from their ambassador to Talori. Either his letters weren't getting through, or something happened. She gripped the handle of her war-axe with her purple teke at the thought.
She wondered if there would be some skull bashing before all this was over.
Post #1 | Word Count: 390 |
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Post by Wolf-mask on Aug 17, 2017 19:10:23 GMT -6
Hjordis
Hjordis, proud Valkyrie, one of War-Lord Hira’s finest warriors, one that younger Valkyries looked over. All these descriptors made her feel pride at how far she had come. From a herder’s daughter to one of Hira’s personal warriors, she’d made so much progress in her life. Here she was, on her way to parts unknown to most of the world thanks to the isolationist attitude of Aquore. It filled her with excitement at being able to visit a new country entirely. Hjordis was a sponge when it came to taking in her surroundings, having a near-photographic memory. However, all that excitement and pride went into the ocean, along with everything she’d eaten at breakfast that morning. What a shock for Hjordis to learn that she was prone to seasickness. It made her disappointed in herself, that she was brought low by the simple rocking of the sea. Whenever the boat tilted it felt like her feet were going to slide right out from under her. The moment they had gotten deep into their trip Hjordis was throwing off her helmet and throwing her forelegs over the railing of the boat, throwing up what her stomach held. As the boat rocked again, the stubborn mare attempted to keep down any vomit threatening to escape her stomach. Concentrating on the waves the ocean beneath them did seem to help a tiny bit, until the next wave rocked the boat. Hjordis was happy that she’d stowed Signy and Sindri down below deck in her bunk, she feared that they’d slip out of their sheaths and be lost to the depths of the ocean. Sure, if they were boarded by any of these rumored pirates, she’d have to run down to her bunk to grab them, but that was better than losing them entirely. A few passing equines gave her a pitiful look as Hjordis dry heaved over the ocean once more. Now that her stomach was empty and dry heaving only made her feel like her guts were about to come out of her mouth, Hjordis laid her head on the railing of the ship, panting with exhaustion. “Dear Kaia save me.” She muttered under her breath as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Post: 1 | WC: 378
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Post by Quorkbirb on Aug 20, 2017 23:44:43 GMT -6
Froya | Valkyrie
In the weeks that had elapsed since leaving Onea's frostbitten coasts, Froya found herself with little else to do than become better acquainted with the sea. It was a domineering expanse, commanding her due respect as dark, curling, blue waters sloshed at the hull of the ship with impish tenacity. Brilliant displays of color shimmered in her domain, especially when Ignacio’s sun was setting. It made you feel as though the colors you had seen before were only pale imitations, but always looming overhead was the constant thought (no, fact) that in the span of a thunder clap, those spilled colors could twist and break you in unfathomable ways.
The sensation of hooves clunking upon planks had been jarring when Froya first stepped aboard the vessel, and almost immediately she had felt a strange tickle of discomfort that had begun to lap persistently at her stomach and behind her ears. The earth was trustworthy and steadfast, usually. Occasionally there would be a ripple, a rumble to which Kaia's people payed no mind. Rarer still were the times when great waves ravaged through the ground, as if the earth god herself was quaking with emotion. It felt unnatural, nearly sin, to have only boards beneath one's feet, where Kaia should have been.
They felt just like how they should have felt, hollow. Hoof-strikes and voices subtlety reverberated throughout it's framework and the spaces in between, like a sad impersonation of touch. It felt different to a floor through which you could reliably sense miles and miles of solid earth holding it up. Here there were only empty echoes of Cascade, amplified through the wooden drum they called a boat. Even the subtlest swell through her waters was reflected tenfold unto the passengers and Froya, being normally so naturally sure-footed, found herself privately embarrassed by her struggle to keep her footing.
Unlike Hjordis however, she was able to keep her stomach contents under control. Frequently, when the uncertainty of being a guest to such a deadly and capricious host became too overwhelming, Froya would transform and take to the skies. There was more familiarity to be found on the air currents than stranded on the wooden float, but even these were different here. Like the boat that was slipping through the waves towards Aquore, the winds felt barren. They had not rustled through grasses or canyons, lifeless compared to the winds Froya knew.
Still, it was better than the rolling boat.
Leaning against the mast with ears pinned, Froya kept out of the way of the sailors as they untied and retied ropes at the captain's command. All in all, the Valkyrie had decided that she wasn't suited to the sea, and honestly couldn't understand how any child of Kaia could be. Her own War Lord was among those who comfortably sailed over Cascade's seas and scaled Kaia's mountains, but all Froya knew was that she was ready to feel solid ground beneath her feet again, even if it was upon foreign soil.
Post: 1
Word Count: 501
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Post by Wolf-mask on Aug 24, 2017 17:17:29 GMT -6
Hjordis
Out of the corner of her eye, Hjordis saw Froya leaning against the mast of the ship. How in the name of the great Earth Mother Froya managed to keep herself stable in this environment of constant and quick back-and-forth, Hjordis didn’t know. In all honesty, the mare was slightly jealous of her friend’s good grip on her emotions. The stoic mare was always more levelheaded than her. Hjordis respected that, she was glad Froya was chosen along with her and Kathra for the journey. She could probably keep all of them and the younger Valkyries in formation. Slowly Hjordis’s mind drifted from her seasickness to the thoughts of home, her mission, and where they were going. It was a good distraction from the roiling sensation of her stomach attempting to rebel against her. It even managed to make the feeling less sever, thankfully. Hjordis had never met the ambassador to Talori before. Perhaps she had seen him once or twice before, when she made her rounds around the War-Lord’s fortress. A giant blue roan stallion wearing the pelt of either a wolf or a polar bear, she’d never really cared enough to play close attention. To her he’d just been another equine to guard in the war-lord’s palace. Now here she was, going to save him personally, on the orders of Hira. There were rumors of unrest in Talori, of a revolt of some sort. Hjordis gave a soft snort. She could understand a revolt. Hira herself had led a revolt, in a way. A revolt against the sexist traditions of the War-Forged, of which Hjordis took part in whole-heartedly. She wondered briefly why there would be a revolt in such an isolated country. Soon after however she squashed the curiosity, she wouldn’t be able to and see for herself after all. They were just going to go and nab Fijalahr from his captors and run like hell back to Onea. Hjordis pouted a little at the thought. She’d like to bust some heads, test the might of these new guards of Aquore, before heading back home. Speaking of fighting, Hjordis glanced back at the cabin, where her weapons were. The mare sighed, thankful her stomach was starting to slowly settle down. She moved from her position of leaning her whole body against the bow of the boat, head tossed over the side, to get on her feet and stand. “I’m… heading down to my cabin.” she muttered to Kathra, making her way to the stairs as she shoved her helmet back on, dodging around the busy crew and a few relaxing Valkyries.
Post: 2 | WC: 444
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 24, 2017 23:30:30 GMT -6
And eerie almost whale like call sounds off from somewhere unseen.
As you look out over the water, you notice a strange rippling,
almost as it the surface of the water is vibrating amidst the waves.
Dark, almost sludge like bubbles start to surface as your
ship tries to press on, moving slower than before. The calls are getting
louder as your ship slows to a halt.....
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Post by Silverfallingstar on Aug 25, 2017 0:45:42 GMT -6
Kathra flicked her head over to see her two other senior shield-sisters on deck with her. Though one was faring slightly better than the other. Chalk it up to her still young body, ability to shapeshift, or whatever you could think of, Kathra was still stumped as to how she wasn't in the same boat as the others health wise. Not that she wished to be loosing her meals to the ocean, but it still stumped her.
Still, she offered a sympathetic nod to her friend as she spoke of going below decks. "Get some water while you're down there sister, you should at least attempt to keep some water in your body even if it protests." She said, smiling slightly to help show her words were good natured.
She had just seen the last of Hjordis's tail disappear down the steps when things got weird. A loud, whale like call echoed around the boat. The mare froze, looking around at the others who had also, stopped what they were doing. So she wasn't going crazy, thank Kaia for that at least. She whipped her head back around to look out to sea, and what she saw made her heart almost skip a beat. Ripples, very unnatural ripples broke the surface tension of the water, almost making the liquid around the boat seem to vibrate as sludge like bubbles oozed on the surface. The captain of the ship wasted no time in whipping the crew out of their stupor and attempting to get the ship out of harms way, but it seemed to only move slower the harder they worked... until the ship stood still. The calls grew louder... louder, louder still.
It was enough to break Kathra from her stupefied state as she immediately began shouting to the younger valkyries. "VALKYRIES, ON DECK, BATTLE STANCES."
Kathra may not have any idea of what they were about to get themselves into, but like hell was she about to let her sisters be ambushed. She unsheathed her grandfathers axe, the steel glinting in the sunlight as she stood ready to jump at the slightest provocation. So caught up in the impending threat was she that she hadn't noticed the ships on the horizon...
Post #2 | Word Count: 372 |
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Post by Wolf-mask on Aug 27, 2017 16:09:34 GMT -6
Hjordis
Being under deck, Hjordis had no idea what was being seen above deck. All she could see was the wooden planks that made by the flanks of the ship. Her room wasn’t that far from the stairs, almost directly beside it. The dun mare quickly grabbed Signy and Sindri. She slid the bronze dagger into the sheath attached to her foreleg and put the steel short sword back into its sheath on her flank. After she had sheathed Signy, Hjordis noticed something was wrong. She couldn’t quite put her hoof but something felt off about the boat. It hit her when she heard Kathra bellow out a command to form battle ranks: the boat had stopped swaying. Her stomach was no longer feeling like it was about to drop out of her throat. Both something good and something bad. That meant something was seriously wrong, as evidence by the fact that they were now forming to take places in a battle. On the bright side, Hjordis thought, grinning as she charged up the ship’s stairs, was that she was going to be in tip top fighting condition to take down whatever was in their way of bringing back the Ambassador. Hjordis quickly charged to the side of her more experienced sisters-in-arms, drawing out Signy and slipping into a fighting stance. “What are we up against?” she asked the chimera mare. The dun Valkyrie wasn’t well versed in the sea beasts that swam in the depths, but fixing her gaze on the horizon she saw the same ships that her sister had. Whoever was on those ships were going to rue the day they messed with Hira’s Valkyries. Hjordis bared her teeth in a feral-looking grin, ready to fight.
Post: 3 | WC: 293
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 27, 2017 20:48:34 GMT -6
From the depths, a massive maw appears breaking through your
ship as if it were made of paper. You hear a terrifying crunch as it snaps
the ships mast between it's massive jaws. There's no saving your ship, but
you manage to leap from the deck just in time to escape being the creature's
lunch. makes quick work The other ship is closer than you remember now,
maybe due to the creature's involvement... You quickly your way towards the
strange ship. Enemy or not, it's your only chance at survival now. Please move to Talori Plot 406: Mythadventures to continue your story....
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