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Post by Queerly on Jan 16, 2016 23:44:17 GMT -6
As night falls and the storm rages, the Shields gather with some members of the Stone Circle inside of the War Lord’s home to discuss whether to send out a search party or not for the still missing War Lord and her Valkyries.
Event Journal// Located Here
Premise Journal// Located Here
Hello Starborn, and welcome to Plot 002: A Palace Cracked! We have so much planned for your little barbarians, and we hope you enjoy the Chapter as much as we enjoyed making it for you! Please keep the following in mind!
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Post by Queerly on Jan 17, 2016 19:13:21 GMT -6
"This," Alistair said aloud, his tone wry to cover up the anxiety riddling his aging bones, "Is a perfect example of why she should not simply march off into the wilds without a Shield."
He was alone, for the moment at least, body and near-tangible fret trapped behind the walls of the War Lord's Fortress. The behemoth dwelling was a structural treasure, born of stone and grafted into the mountain itself. It loomed over Skeldr Town like a protective beast, witnessing their fleeting, harsh lives with a mountain's indifference. Hira was not the first War Lord to inhabit it, and she would not be the last. The Fortress would stand the test of time when their bodies were dust, the last to fall, a long-lived testament to all they had achieved as a unified herd and all they would go on to conquer.
It was within her great hall, pregnant with space and bathed in torchlight, that the great horse had set himself to pacing. The temporary solitude afforded the luxury of worrying, and worry he did, for Hira - his War Lord, his Rock, and most importantly his sister in all but blood - was late.
Hira was also prudent. She would not be late on purpose or frivolously, not when her every move was subject to intense scrutiny. Scrutiny he would put a hoof or horn in, yes, but scrutiny nonetheless, and it was better for all involved when she simply performed her duties to the letter.
Thus, something had happened, and the storm raging against the fortress walls screamed its guilty verdict. The unexpected, one-day-early storm. (He was going to have to have a word with the weather witches in the morning.)
Alistair slid to a halt, and the irate snort he let loose echoed in the great hall. He could not, would not leave, much as he wished to. If the storm hadn't taken them, the Seroran delegates would be arriving soon, and they certainly couldn't be greeted by an empty fortress. The Stone Circle was coming as well, if indeed they had any desire to brave the weather for an absent War Lord.
No, he could not leave. The certainty of that fact settled a weight in the pit of his stomach, but there was no time to continue his pacing.
Behind him, the front door was opening.
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Post by FaunaFawn on Jan 17, 2016 19:50:06 GMT -6
Evokar || Stone Circle || War Forge
A small sigh escaped his pink lips, his breath turning into a cool mist before him and vanished all to quickly, just like his own thoughts. He couldn't get a handle on his wondering thoughts, there was to be a meeting fo selected few, a decision had to be made on what to do about their leader missing. Evokar was baffled at such a thing and worried for the safety of the herd. Without a leader, chaos seems to creep in, panic spread like wildfire. It would be hard to control if worry and panic slipped and leaked within the herd. It would cause a dilemma, not only would they have a missing leader on their hooves, but a shattering herd. He sighed once more trying to get a hold of his thoughts once more, he knew better then to let such things run rampant.
Eyes looked to the War Lord's fortress and without a moment to spare he entered in and seemed to spot only Allister alone, alone with his thoughts it seemed. That could be just as dangerous as well, as Evokar was all to familiar with that. "Alistair" he called out to him and dipped his head respectfully. He moved like grace within the room, his eyes capturing the beauty within this room, he could never get enough of it. How much have these walls have hear and seen over the years. Surely if walls could speak, what tales they would speak of. Attention turned back to Alistair, the last thing he needed to do was get caught day dreaming, he needed to recapture his own thought and not let them run wild as they always do. "Hopefully we can resolve all of this quickly and smoothly." he spoke with sincerity in his voice, he was never the type to enjoy bickering and bantering, how did he survive in War Forge? He was more like Ferdinand the bull. While others battled it out with words and strength, he was captivated by the way each snowflake differed from another, or how the ice glimmered like diamonds in the light of sun. Maybe this odd quality helped him rise to where he was. New eyes to maybe see things over may have looked over.
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Post by hypnocampus on Jan 18, 2016 12:46:25 GMT -6
 RUARIDH | WARFORGED | SHIELD White-out. That was the only way to describe what was happening outside. Alya's fury resulting in the torrent of ice and wind that sent everything it touched into disarray. Though the news had remained somewhat contained, whispers had started to spread a mild panic through Skeldr town and surrounding areas. Hira had not returned as planned, and the potential loss of their figure head was something that could have potential to ignite the fear within everyone. If the storm wasn't enough already, the thought of a missing War Lord would surely be too much to bear.
Ice and razor edged winds brutally hammered against sheer rock faces, blurring the vision and all but freezing blood that surged under the influence of adrenaline. The misty peaks of the mountains were swallowed by the storm. Ru was, honestly, finding it difficult to see any further than the end of his muzzle. He found himself bracing against the oncoming breeze, and narrowing his gaze in the hopes of better focusing on items that may lay in the distance. Several times he'd slammed into an unsuspecting merchant, or petrified foal, and through no fault of his own.
There was, quite literally, no way of navigating in this environment, and even at the best of times the mountain passes were extremely treacherous. It was, perhaps, as unsurprising as it was concerning that a group had lost their way in the blizzard. Ruaridh had been on his way to the War Lord's fortress on other business, so when the messenger had intercepted him, he'd picked up the pace substantially. The dappled grey unicorn who had found him was close friends with his daughter, and as such, Ru knew that her level and yet somewhat panicked tone was entirely relevant.
"Ruaridh, Sir? Alistair requests your presence..." She gusted, sucking in great lungfuls of air as she fought to satiate tired muscles. Her breath spiraling from her nostrils as fragile silver smoke that hung in the air for mere seconds before dissipating.
'Requests?' There was one thing those in the Stone Circle did not do, it was make... Requests. So, this was the first thing that jarred Ruaridh back to reality.
Ru's brow had furrowed, the thick line of tailored brows clashed together, casting a dark shadow over his expression. If Alistair was summoning him, there was a degree of urgency to the situation that Ru had, thus far, glossed over. He nodded solemnly, and followed in silence as his mind trip-fell over itself to make sense of the situation.
Certainly, the news had spread with a certain degree of malignancy as the day drew on. If the situation was not contained, before too long, everything would crumble. If any harm befell their leader, there would be hell to pay, even if Alya's wrath had played a part. An entity entirely out of their control would still reap the blame from 'Joe Public'. He left the Valkyrie in the entrance hall, beside one of the roaring log fires to warm her bones, whilst he made off at a clipped pace towards the great hall. His hooves clacked against the stone floor, and every ice shard and snow flake trapped between the golden hairs of his coat, melted to nothing with every step. What had started as snow-prints, slowly became puddles the deeper he ventured into the fortress.
He shouldered up against the large door, and stepped through the gap he'd created to be confronted by Alistair pacing, and Evokar, admiring the manner in which a candle flame flickered which was, thankfully, entirely in character.
"Alistair..." He inclined his features, and allowed his ears to flop lazily down with respect, as he positioned himself before one of the crackling fires to dry off. He shot a warm smile to Evokar as he relaxed into a neutral stance, three feet planted, and one hind toe-tipped.
"I only regret that our meeting is not under better circumstances..." Ruaridh uttered in earnest, flicking his tail and sending droplets of water in a glittering spray.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2016 6:59:07 GMT -6
bahar the sound of iron shocks is stuck in my head As if the storm had been holding its breath until then, there was a heaving sigh through the hall that rattled frames on the walls. One of the great double doors that had been holding off the weather shuddered ajar, allowed cold to swirl down the corridor and through the chamber entrance that Ruaridh had left open.
Frigid air tangled around their legs. Not even the heart of the fortress was safe from the arterial rush of polar wind.
It was an appropriate note to enter on, Bahar thought.
She dragged half a drift of snow over the threshold with her, broad hooves slick and clapping on the stone. The shields could hear the gigantic door heaved shut and barred; only then did the insistent moan of the wind subside. When she entered the inner chamber --her belly knocking the door aside as she squeezed through-- frozen teardrops of frost dangled from her whiskers, and a thick crumbling pelt of snow coated her from ear to tail. She didn't try to shake the ice from her back. The long journey from the foothills had fossilized it to her coat. She doubted she would be done thawing by the time she settled matters here.
"An awful lot of talking," she croaked as she entered the room, the crest of her neck drooping from the weight of her matted, frozen mane. "And not much being said."
Her dark eyes, creased and clear, found a moment to size up the gathering. A scowl puckered her scar. This must be what passed for shields anymore. "Let's get to it." Assuming an air of authority, she ignored the simpering scrap of a Stone Circle stallion to regard Alistair and Ruaridh. She knew the pair of shields by reputation only, but had had the displeasure of enduring Evokar at every meeting of the Circle. He would contribute nothing.
"Arrange a reception for the Serorans," she said, as if it were decided so easily. "and the Circle will meet them when we gather. Keep the watch fires burning in case Hira decides to come do her job."
She licked the roof of her mouth, tongue visible through the gruesome window of her facial scar. "We present situation normal, make the welcome as big as possible. ... Oh, and make sure there's a pegasus or two there. They love that nonsense." The last bit was for Evokar. Give him something to do.
As for Alistair: "I'd post Shields at every watchtower. Hira and the sand-eaters probably aren't the only ones stumbling around in that wind." |
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Post by elkcreek on Jan 24, 2016 10:37:15 GMT -6
| | ᴍᴀʀɪᴜs
He had been watching the War Lord's house from the distance, the brewing storm intensifying around him. He kept his gaze steady as he watched several other Shields enter the house, no doubt discussing what to make of the storm. Marius shivered and cast his head aside at a strong gust of wind, causing the stallion to sidestep against the pressure. He never spoke much with those of his rank, even if they were considered his brothers. Marius enjoyed spending his time in the silence. The wind carried several voices, making the stallion shrug and keep his watch from the distance. He watched as a large spotted mare, one of his rank, entered the house. She carried large amounts of snow with her, the amount doubling as the wind raged on. He began to walk forward, secretly wishing he would not be the last one to attend, being tardy was never something to pride in. As he approached he could hear the mare's voice sound out, and quietly stepped over the threshold of the door to join the other shields. His gaze lowered, his ears turned forward attentively.
"What about a search party, we can't just wait and hope the lost group ... shows up?" He muttered quietly, lifting his eyes only to glance around the group for their reaction to his words.
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Post by hypnocampus on Jan 24, 2016 16:02:05 GMT -6
RUARIDH | WARFORGED | SHIELD The fire crackled and popped at his rear and he shifted his weight patiently as those present made muttered exchanges that included grievances and concerns. The warmth soaked through the dampness of his coat, and the remaining sheet ice that clung to his dorsal plane, slid slowly down his flanks, and dissolved into rivulets that snaked around the pillars of his legs. The puddles that gathered around plate-like hooves engorged and slowly disappeared between the flag-stones that made up the flooring of the great hall. As he pulled his gaze from the cracks between stones, he noted the lengthening shadows that played against the walls, and the blur of snowflakes that slammed themselves against the window panes. The wind was picking up. The dark, was setting in.
Through the windows, and in the distance, the watch towers burned tirelessly. A flickering beacon in an otherwise sheet white existence.
The doors swung open, tugging Ruaridh's attention with nothing but gentle interest rendering itself through his line of sight.
Bahar.
Like she needed to make an entrance. Her brusque words, and surly manner were just two out of hundreds of qualities that made Bahar stick in one's mind. The behemoth and himself had exchanged few words over the years, and yet he could see her for exactly what she was, an individual who commanded respect from any she encountered. Despite working side by side, it had become easy to detach ones self, and only be present when required. He inclined his features in wordless, greeting. Polite in countenance.
As she delivered her words, Marius slipped into the belly of the great hall. Quite why he was skulking towards the back row, as it were, was beyond him, but he sidestepped to make space nonetheless. Offering a sideways glance, and preoccupied half smile- Ruaridh squared his posture, rolled his shoulders and nodded in appreciation of the suggestion delivered. Words that rolled forth, soaked liberally in that somewhat commanding tone that was so characteristic. A silent battle was waged between heart and mind, and despite this, Ru remained entirely neutral in both posture and expression. The dark points of his ears pressed in the spotted mare's direction, they flickered thoughtfully as she finished.
Situation normal, was sensible. At least showing that outright to the general populous. Business as usual. The fewer that knew of the disappearance, the better-
"Sit and wait?" Ru latched onto Marius' words, and he quirked a brow quizzically as he looked up from the glistening puddle that crept over stone. It hadn't occurred to him that there may be individuals who would prefer to do exactly that. Their leader was awol. She had disappeared into the ether. As his mind racked through every conceivable detail, his ears slowly flattened, and his blood ran momentarily cold.
"...They aren't the only ones stumbling around out there." Ru affirmed in a thoughtful mutter, his negative demeanor suddenly shifting back to neutral, he flicked the two toned length of his tail absently.
If there was one thing that didn't deter a blood letting, it was a tiny, insignificant blizzard. This thought alone, set Ru's teeth on edge, and his jaw set-
"No, you're right, Bahar. Business as usual..." He nodded graciously, grinding his teeth together in thought- "... Though, first snow brings The Night of Blood Letting. A storm will hardly stand in the way of Cultist tradition."
Gruff, and to the point. As usual. He paused. Arching his neck, and nipping at his pastern transiently before straightening up once more.
"Whatever move we make to whatever end, should be made sooner rather than later..."
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POST -- no.2
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Post by FaunaFawn on Jan 24, 2016 18:57:27 GMT -6
Evokar || Stone Circle || Status: Alive for now?
Attention turned as a cold rush of wind knocked him back to reality, though nothing prepared him for who was there. He remained in his spot arching a brow as the one and only Bahar walked in. The cold icy wind, matching her demeanor perfectly. Her words could give one frost bite and if not her words, her sheer force was like that of an avalanche, she would bury one in seconds. She was something not to be messed with and Evokar was thankful he knew her in her older age, surely in her prime of life, she was something that even stallions quaked to mess with. He looked to Bahar and couldn't help, but notice that way she walked past him. As if he was nothing to her, merely a small pebble in her path and one does not stop and look at such things. Eyes followed her movement and noticed how quick she was to speak, yet late to arrive. Though he remained silent as he watched and listened to her speak.
Something caught his attention and then he spotted Marius and gave him a polite nod in greeting. He went back to listening to Bahar speak and rose a brow as she intended to for him to get pegasi as if that would make things duable for those of Seroran. Surely she wasn't as daft as that? They surely care little of what kind of equine was there, they were coming for matters of their own herd in aid for help. Yet they wanted to make a grand welcome? Was that really normal? He shook his head and looked to Bahar. "So quick to plan, yet the last thing the Serorans are wanting is some grand welcome. They came to talk buisness, as much as you have now. Yet there is no grand welcome now is there?" he arched a brow curiously to her. He remained where he was, his voice smooth and gentle like fresh snow of a new day. Though he would not be ignored by her once more, he was here as equals, nothing less and nothing more. In the end they were all they had, and that had to be enough.
"Our first issue the main reason we have all gathered is that Hira is not here, the snow has delayed everyone, the Seronans, our War Lord. We can discuss everything else once the main issue is resolved." he looked to them all, being sure he made eye contact with each one. "So we must decided on ways to get our War Lord back home, whether if be from sending out a search party to large fires to help guide them home. Something must be done and quickly. Yet of course there is no right or wrong way about this." he mused a bit gently. "To search for a War Lord, could be a sense of lack of trust in her, to see her as being weak unable to believe in her, yet to not send out one could mean we did not care or mocked her pride. Each way we have to decide what are you willing to live with?" he eyed them all, surely he was not alone in these thoughts, but if so, oh well. He had a voice, he had a say in this meeting, like all here. Evokar dipped his head faintly allowing another to speak up and voice their opinions.
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Post by Queerly on Jan 25, 2016 0:42:14 GMT -6
Bahar. The indomitable mountain, the last to fall. Few among the population could so aptly embody their unified clan's motto, and yet within their nation, the grizzled bear was nothing short of atypical. A War-Forged mare was meant to be hardy and resourceful, but so too were they suited for child-rearing, their instincts matronly and their voices passive against the stronger force that was their husband. Certainly a mare could be strong, and Alistair appreciated that some were more akin to stallions. But the typical mare, one who did not earn the respect of a male with her might and her wit, was a demure creature meant to raise the next generation - not play at politics. So it was that Bahar went against the grain, and yet, she was War-Forged down to the marrow of her bones.
He accepted that, of course, for had he not been the first to bend a knee to Hira? Did he not fight alongside Khala and count her a comrade, blood of his blood? Exceptions were permissible, so long as they were rare and did not threaten the structure of their herd, held together by strings as it was.
But her disdain...
As the behemoth spoke, the stallion exhaled a nettled snort, frosty plumes rising from his nostrils to fade into oblivion. "How do you propose to present normal without the War Lord present? Even low-landers have the sense to notice a leader's absence. Moreover, there are Vagabonds active in the region, and Hira's party is compromised entirely of females- half of them young. It is clear to me that they must be searched for, found, and brought home." He accented his self-made decision with a sharp clip of his hoof to the stone. "The needs of our own outweigh whatever business these foreigners have with us." His gaze slid to the others, one by one. "Foreigners who can offer little of value."
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Post by hypnocampus on Jan 27, 2016 13:34:51 GMT -6
RUARIDH | WARFORGED | SHIELD This was rapidly turning into a 'too many cooks' situation, and though it seemed that everyone present was showing concern for various reasons, it felt as if a decision on a forward going plan would take a considerable amount of time to reach. The turbulence of the atmosphere, though well concealed, was as tangible as the biting cold beyond the warm belly of the fortress. Ru's ears wavered between flattened and alert, as each voice touched his consciousness. The soft and level tone of Evokar, the gravel edge of Bahar... The acrid tone that Alistair offered. Of course, Ru could understand the situation from all angles, but this meeting? He could only liken it to attempting to cram the wrong puzzle piece into the incorrect space.
Different personalities. Different ideals, and motivations. Sometimes, those mixed as well as oil and water.
"There is always value in alliance, no matter how tenuous it might be, Alistair." He uttered respectfully, offering a small half smile. He frowned, glancing between the group present, and taking in every opinion quietly.
"...I can see merit in not raising alarm. At least in the short term." He uttered gently, the dark lines of his brows knitted together in thought.
"Panic spreads like wildfire, especially when ravaged by the winds of a storm." Shifting ever so slightly, he tensed his jaw and lifted his head, releasing a light huff of a snort through the dark caverns of his nostrils. The fact that inclement weather had settled in was exacerbating an already difficult situation.
"Hira's absence has been felt, certainly. From mountain, to lowlands, but it is not the first, nor is it the last time that a party will be sent out into the wilds. Are we to react in this way every time she departs?" He paused- "Fuss like worried parents over a wayward daughter?"
"Hira has our respect, and our trust, no? She is a leader. In her absence, it is up to those she trusts to come together, as we have, to make decisions." He uttered warmly, somewhat earnestly if one could put an emotion behind it. An imploring edge, in the hope that they would pull together rather than clashing against each other as cymbals in a drum kit.
"Let us not doubt her. She is more than capable- but with several young Valkyries in her charge and no chaperons on which to rely, they are at risk. Undoubtedly so. I share in Alistair's concern. Whilst the Seroran party will surely be accompanied by guards, our young Valkyries are a mere delicacy for Vagabonds. No matter how hard they fight, or how quick they are." Quite why he chose the wording he did was beyond him, and was his throat becoming parched? Goodness, it was like he'd swallowed a cactus. He cleared his throat transiently.
"Without raising the suspicion of the populous, two parties perhaps? One to remain behind to keep watch, and to welcome the desert dwellers should they come home prior to the return of Hira. Another... To scout the mountain passes, and retrieve the wayward group?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 11:26:48 GMT -6
bahar from the dawn of time to the end of days As far as these boys knew, Bahar was as old as the mountain they stood on. The ice clinging to her hoary face, melting to gather in the craters age had left her, was as natural a feature as the spots on her hide. She was born in this frost. She'd been withstanding the winds for eons, and their dissention was as easily ignored as the icicles on her jaw.
The gust of cold that came with the room's suddenly plummeting morale went unacknowledged by Bahar. She watched them speak with vague interest, her tongue working the roof of her mouth. Snow melted off her wide back.
"You're not a warrior," she said first to Evokar, her voice close to gentle. "And you're clearly no politician. What are you, exactly?" Before he could answer, she moved on: "The Serorans endure the same storm you fear to have the War Lord in. The sun is down already. I am sure they'll appreciate a fire and a night's rest before talks in the morning. It will give Hira the night to arrive."
To Marius, whose entrance she'd barely noticed, she shook her heavy mane, her crest flopping. Her words were to him, but her eyes were on Alistair. "Do you know why Hira is the War Lord?" in the expectant, irritated silence that followed, she scanned the grim faces gathered around her. "Because she's the best."
"The best warrior we have, the best leader. The best tracker. The best the War-Forged have to offer." Her eyes snapped back to Hira's brother, dark and conspicuously lacking the fog of senility. "It isn't my place to say she's unable to handle the circumstances she knowingly marched into, anymore than it's yours to question her decision to welcome the convoy."
It may have seemed unusual to hear Bahar defending Hira to any crowd, but if there was anything she held sacred, it was hierarchy. Without it, she knew, the War-Forged would crumble. Hira was a threat to the system even when she wasn't present, it seemed, but the might of her station had to be upheld.
"There are a thousand ways up that pass. Anyone we send in is as likely to meet the vagabonds or a frozen death as they are to find Hira. The War Lord could return while a search party vanishes into the blizzard, and then who will you send? If it's so dangerous, how many parties will you march into peril before you're satisfied?"
"No. We protect those we can from the storm, prepare to receive the ambassadors, and trust the War Lord. If necessary, we can send a party when the blizzard subsides and their safety can be assured." Her closing words came with a lingering look at Alistair: "I'd hate to see the pain Hira had waiting for someone who wasted War-Forged lives and resources when winter has barely begun."
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Post by FaunaFawn on Jan 29, 2016 21:36:00 GMT -6
 Evokar || Stone Circle
" We are the voice of the equines as always Bahar, have you forgotten that as well, or just remembered the voice part?" he remarked as she was all to quick to snap remarks back without ever thinking. No, he was indeed no warrior, he had no desire for that life, unlike many here, it was not always the strongest that survives here in the bitter cold. A stream can shape even the the hardest of stones over time. A fine reminder being strong and fierce was not the only way to change things. He listened to everyone as they spoke taking in each view with bright eyes. He was young to be amongst such equine, but he had earned his place much as everyone else. Each point was true and he could feel their belief in each statement as if their cause was the only true cause to have. That anything else was futile to say the least. But with each firm belief there was of course a room for doubt, a reason that things wouldn't go to plan. Evokar remained thinking for a moment as each horse started, or rather pushed their voice through the others. The wind and stormed ragged onwards and let out a soft sigh and looked to them all." We must protect those that are here now, what is the cause to loose a few lives for the safety of the whole herd. The more we send out the less likely we are to receive back. I never doubt the strength of our herd, but even the weather witches couldn't foresee this savage storm. If it can delay our war lord, think of what it can do to anyone else in this storm. We should keep hold and carry on with what we can do to protect all those that remain. May Kaia send our War Lord home." he finished with a nod. He watched them all, he stood firm on his vote to them all. They must be the voice of the herd and who are they to sacrifice move lives in attempts to brave the storm. No it wasn't worth the risk, it wasn't worth the lives. They could send out horses to watch over their borders where they laid at rest, light fires to guide them home, but no, they shouldn't allow others to leave. WC|| 396 Post 3 |
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Post by Queerly on Feb 4, 2016 1:01:41 GMT -6
She was right. Damn her, but the insufferable mountain of a mare was right. It wasn't his place to question Hira, and it was unworthy of him to question her prowess. Had he not seen her hold her own against the Bloody Flanks, a silver arrow hurtling through their ranks with a horn that never once missed its mark?
You were at her side then, his memory reminded, and some part of him screamed the he should be now. He was her Shield, and what good was he if not beside her, safeguarding her from harm? A War Lord was still just one horse. A War Lord still needed her brothers-in-arms, the blood of her blood, those that would fight and rise and fall for her.
Bahar is right, said the other part of him, and Alistair could feel himself cleave into two. This, he privately admitted with a great toss of his head, the motion betraying his internal agitation, was why I never had a taste for politics.
He did not talk, did not debate with boorish behemoths and daydreaming colts. He followed, he served, and he safeguarded.
A memory swam to the forefront of his mind, and suddenly it did not matter what spilled out of the politician's mouth. "War Lords can die." He ground out. Had they forgotten what he remembered? Garok's skull cracked, blood and brain matter spilled across the Fortress floor, his hooves slick with it. The noise Hetta had made hadn't been a scream, or a yelp, or a shriek. It had been something entirely different, something never heard before or again, a pure note of agony that had ripped across the void and even the gods had turned their heads to witness it.
Alistair turned pale eyes to his fellow Shields, Bahar and Evokar all but irrelevant. "And it is our duty to ensure that does not happen. Begone with ideas of search parties; is it not our place to seek her out ourselves?"
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Post by hypnocampus on Feb 7, 2016 13:06:42 GMT -6
RUARIDH | WARFORGED | SHIELD "... I do not fear the mountains, nor do I fear the storm's fury." Ru uttered softly, at length.
The watery glaze to his eyes, and the manner in which he held himself suggested that he had been lost in thought for some time.
His attention fixed against the steadily creeping waterline that crept silently away from his hooves. He knew that his words may not reach the ears of those present, but that the sentiment ran deeper than any could imagine. Any who knew him, knew of his great loss. They would know the collapse of the mountain passes all those years ago, and the event that robbed him of his heart, and left him to rear a young daughter on his own.
Whilst his utterance may have seemed selfish, taking Rona into consideration, it was merely a show of his inner strength and selflessness. Rona, to his mind, could stand on her own four hooves, and could fend for herself- he had given her the tools to do so, over the years. She would understand her father's actions, should it come to it. He was born into the snow and ice, the unforgiving rock faces, snow capped peaks and deep crevasses of Kaia's mountains.
Ru's gaze snapped, with a shake of his head to bring himself back to reality. He blinked slowly, and heaved a sigh that expanded his chest to its fullest extent before the breath was languidly exhaled.
"Yes." He conceded, lifting his head a fraction to better view Alistair from across the room. Whilst he wanted to throw himself hoof first into pursuing their War Lord, and stand by her brother, he found himself mulling Bahar's words with great deliberation. Tensing his jaw, and grinding the uneven edges of molars together, he frowned in thought-
"It is our duty to ensure Hira's safety, but it is too, our duty, to protect our people in her absence." He tutted, as means of punctuation. "...If we left with our most able shields, who would be left to ensure the safety of those left behind? We leave them at risk."
"Hira would not entertain it as an option. I think we all know it in our hearts."
WORDS -- 365
POST -- no.4
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:33:43 GMT -6
bahar from the dawn of time to the end of days The ice was melting from her matted coat. She felt a clump of slush drift down her side like a continent, joining the half-solid puddle beneath her on the floor. The frigid water permeated her skin more than the snow had. Despite the fire at the center of the hall, Bahar began to feel cold.
She shook her mane once more, loosening even more melting snow, slapping her hears against her skull. "The voice of the herd," she said, sounding far away. When she was still again, her eyes were on the fire. "We are." Whether she was speaking to Evokar or herself was unclear; her mind worked quickly, visibly, and she snapped to the gathering with sudden intensity. "Which is why a civilian posse is out of the question."
"The shields serve at your command, Alistair," She reminded him, not gently. "In your sister's stead. If they're equipped to brave the storm, then they do so at your word, not the Circle's." She looked at the gathered shields, who were suddenly quiet. Like any members of the herd, she knew their faces, their names, but that was all. The Shields had been her constant company, once. The predecessors of this crop had been her family, when they were alive. She saw now in Marius and Alistair the same grit and bravado her husband and his Shield brothers had had-- the stuff shields were made of. The stuff that, too often, got them turned into corpses.
Her sincere words of caution came across more angrily than she intended: "You're alone in this. You have to decide."
Ruaridh's words brought a solemn lift to her chin. She saw a different angle of him now. "But perhaps," she continued to Hira's brother, "You should listen to your man. Whose shield are you? The herd's or the War Lord's?"
To Evokar, suddenly more asset than annoyance in the moment of need, she spoke more quietly. "We have much to do." Bahar moved away from the deliberating Shields, turning her broad side to the warming fire. The chill in her marrow was an unwelcome symptom of the age she was suddenly feeling.
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Post by FaunaFawn on Feb 8, 2016 21:46:29 GMT -6
 Evokar || Stone Circle
Eyes followed the words, listening to those that spilled them so effortlessly. He say their points their desire to do something. Evokar found that all to be such folly, to risk more lives in the storm. Did they not know not every action deserves a reaction? They were so busy worrying for their leader and their companions, but they all knew the risk of being in this herd. Every day could be a battle, either against each other or the elements. Ears flickered up as Bahar spoke of the Shields having the final say, that the Stone Circle had made their claim. They would not be moved. Like the mountains, they stand firm in their belief that they have made the right choice. Evokar nodded as she spoke. Every choice came with a consequence, surely this weight heavily in the hearts of the Shields. Eyes looked to Alistair, Ruaridh and Marius, they did not have an easy choice, but it was again their choice. Head lifted a bit as Bahar spoke to him, they did of course have such work to do. So much has been said and spoken, how much time have passed. Though Marius has been a bit quiet only speaking once, Evokar had to wonder what the stallion was pondering. Wondering if those thoughts and words locked within his mind, could be something that could change others views? It was something that made him arch a faint brow at Marcus, almost yearning for him to speak. Yet duty called and he looked to Bahar. "Of course." he remarked dipping his head to her, letting her take the lead, as he no desire to hold charge. WC || 282 Post 4 |
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Post by elkcreek on Feb 13, 2016 11:24:18 GMT -6
| | ᴍᴀʀɪᴜs
The stallion listened to his fellow herd members toss ideas back and forth, while he stood without muttering a word. Marius had once questioned Bahar's words, though listening to her speak once more, he began to nod his head in agreement. A search party could do more harm than good, more lives lost than saved. Yet would he be able to live knowing that Hira’s life had been lost at their hooves?
He could not find his own voice to speak, instead his ears flicked back and forth. “Has it been decided then? Have we weighed the safety of the herd with the life of our Hira?” He questioned, stepping forward and turning his eyes towards Bahar and then back to Ruaridh. “None of us should fear the storm or the fury of it’s wrath, that is all beneath us. None of us should question dying for our War Lord. Yet we should all ask about our legacy and just how many lives rest at our hooves."
“We are shield’s for the herd, for Hira, for our own selves. Do we need to choose sides to debate our loyalty to something we all hold dear?”
It was time wasted this discussion, if he had spoken sooner would it be any different? Would his words even be heard?
WC. 219
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Post by Jennycallie on Feb 17, 2016 4:36:03 GMT -6
 Checkpoint 1: As you’ve discussed options, the storm has only grown worse, rattling the glass windowpanes and sending chills through the hall. Tension runs thickly through the air, and the wisdom of the War Lord’s mission is broached aloud. Tempers begin to flare and one of you (volunteer) even grows angry enough to shout at the others, trading angry words. Which side do you take? There’s no staying out of the conversation in a group this small... especially if it looks like the situation might come to blows.
FORGIVE ME GUYS THIS CHECKPOINT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED WAY EARLIER I AM SO SORRY |
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Post by Jennycallie on Feb 25, 2016 4:14:57 GMT -6
Alistair | Shield
Marius need not have worried; he was heard indeed. For a moment, a barest sliver of time, Alistair's icy eyes slid closed.
All War Forged knew that Spring, more so than any other season, was a dangerous time upon the mountain's slopes. Certainly the deep of winter was dangerous (and in truth, no season afforded total safety) but it was when the great piles of snow began to melt and shift that the mountain was at its most treacherous. It was as if the mountain had been pondering a decision all winter long, and then made its decision in veritable avalanches of snow and ice. It was pure, beautiful violence.
As cerulean eyes flicked open a heartbeat later, Alistair felt the avalanche of his own decision shudder through his soul. No more politics. No more prancing around half-opinions, cautious thrusts.
"We do not need to choose sides." The words fell from his lips like so many rocks, decisive and percussive against the brittle silence. "We the Shields have a duty to our War Lord; she is the herd. She is our duty. She is our life. We do not guess her heart," and his gaze swung to Ruaridh, briefly. "We do not presume to know what is in our War Lord's heart, or blindly follow our own." He did not let the reprimand sit, but was already sizing up Bahar and the passive Evokar. "She is the herd," he repeated, an aftershock of snowfall, an uneasy settling, teetering on the precipice of Alistair's fear and anger.
"Have you forgotten what night this is?" Alistair demanded of the group, the rocks in his voice strident as they struck the silence. "This is the Night of Bloodletting, and you all stand around and speak of guessing our hearts, of weighing our own comfort, our own loyalty?" the last words were spat at Evokar and Bahar, stress and fear and this thrice-damned storm thinning Alistair's already precarious veneer of tact.
War Lords can die, whispered through his mind again, and the snow slid, the rocks shook.
"There is no debate," Alistair said finally, and one of his lips curled as he took in these... these.. politicians.
Not for the first time, the golden stallion considered simply plunging in to the storm and finding his thrice-damned War Lord, the Circle and Shields be damned. She was everything. Without her...
Posting for Julie bc she's a busy little bee and obviously I love my WF babies better than she does right? 8'D Whoever wants to disagree with Alistair (or at least take the bait and shout back at the prickly pincushion) can be the volunteer! GO GO GO
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Post by FaunaFawn on Feb 27, 2016 15:48:53 GMT -6
Evokar || Stone Circle
They seemed to be somewhat at an agreement. They would leave it up to the shields to decide what needed to be done. The Stone Circle was mainly here to listen and speak opinions they had. As for what they did, well they were the voice of the heard. To make even the smallest voice be heard. Though Marius spoke and he nodded faintly, though he had to disagree. The winds fury did not belong to Kaia's but Alya. Her four wings carried each wind from north to south and east to west. Only a fool would not be afraid. Fear was not something to jest about, to make it be a mockery in the herd, this was something he truly wish he could change here. Fear was powerful, it can make a horse turn tail, or could make a horse find their courage. Eyes narrowed faintly at Marius, why the question of loyalty? Who would doubt any of their loyalty to the herd or to their war lord. Would they all have their ranks if they differed? Evokar never understood everyone passion to bring up loyalty, it was clear to him it was a manipulation technique and it was not something he fancied. To question loyalty it made the other have to try and rise to the occasion, to prove their loyalty, though what has anyone here done to show they are unloyal?
Evokar was about to speak, yet another voice called out before his own could leave his lips. Eyes looked as he spotted Alistair quick to remark. Brows furrowed, the one simple and elegant minded horse was looking as if he was ready to snap. Fury clearly shown in his eyes. The Shields and their words, they protect the War Lord of course. Of course they all wanted to rush into the storm, at least a few seemed to like the idea. His tail flickered as Alistair remarked on something that was clearly for Bahar and himself. Anger began to bellow within him, like the storm outside. Did they Stone Circle not say the decision was but for the shields alone? Eyes narrowed as he lifted his head, eyes fixated on the shields. Steady with words, he thought for once spoken they could never be returned.
"This has all been said before Alistair, just because it has not been spoken in the last minute or so, does not mean us daft enough to forget everything? You think we do not know what this night is? Who the storm cries out like the mare being hunted?" Nostrils flared. "You think we all just want to sit it out the storm, hold hooves and just wait?" He shook his head frowning all the more. "As the Stone Circle has said, I guess we must repeat it once more. The decision of what is to come next comes to the hooves of the Shield. So let me ask you this then Alistair. If you are so fixated on bringing back the War Lord. What are you still doing here with your Shields telling us things we already know?" he looked at him locking eyes. As the mountains he would not bow. He had no reason to defend where his loyalties stands as it has and always will be for the good of the herd.
WC||557
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