|
|
Post by Jennycallie on Jul 1, 2018 1:56:26 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and welcome to War-Forged Plot 607: Repeat Team Leader: Ansgar Participants: Synn, Ulrich, Signe, Cerys, Lorian, Iskalder, Tobias, Lark, Veresk, Argyle 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'DPrompt: Even as member of the Forged are tasked with rebuilding Holmsa, the town destroyed with powerful Reality Manipulation, so have Ansgar and his crew of Flanks caught rumors. Curious as well as in need of supply, the Flanks draw nearer to the site of devastation, unsure of what they'll find. Location: Holmsa Time of Day: Morning Current Weather: Cool and drizzling You do not have to wait for your leader to post!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 20:55:04 GMT -6
ansgar CRAWL ON MY BELLY TIL THE SUN GOES DOWN
I’LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN
Ansgar was not one to be lulled into a false sense of security. Even as his children bounded ahead - their laughter echoing and eyes gleaming in delight - he would not allow himself a moment to believe they were ever truly safe. Still, the presence of the twins’ guardian weaving between them - keeping in stride and herding them back if they strayed too far - comforted his frayed nerves. An extra pair of eyes protecting his children was an asset he did not take for granted, especially considering what they were doing. Supplies running low meant unconventional measures had to be taken, and that included following the ghastly tales of a town that had been ravaged by Godlike power - Holmsa. He did not know what to make of it, genuinely intrigued by the destruction that was spoken of, but also wary of what they would possibly find. It was not an easy decision - venturing into the unknown never was - but with so few options, what choice did they have? “What do you make of these rumors, Ulrich?” The inquiry was genuine, and Ansgar turned to look at the younger stallion by his side. He had grown into someone increasingly admirable, and the older raider valued his word immensely. _________________
1 | 213 |
|
|
|
Post by mariahwhy on Jul 1, 2018 22:35:54 GMT -6
Tobias | Raider
Toby wasn't a builder. He was a raider. Weren't those basically opposites? Wasn't he supposed to be, oh, I don't know, destroying things? He looked around at what was left of the destroyed town. It had been many months, now, since the earth had swallowed the buildings and their inhabitants. A few months since reports from Hira herself had come of the god-touched earth, covered in flowers amidst the snow. The bodies were gone and the land had lost any sense of horror or awe, in Toby's mind, that it might have once held. The spring had taken its own hold on the town, and if you ignored the obviously wrong state that some things were sank into the earth you could maybe just pretend it was a long abandoned town being reclaimed by Kaia. Either way, this wasn't where the young stallion wanted to be. His mind was with the other raiders now in Serora, headed off to war. They had said he was still too inexperienced and unpredictable to come. It was a load of shit. And now he was stuck up here, pretending he was some sort of clean-up crew. He grasped a frayed rope with his teke and pulled. It came up out of the ground with a rip of shallow roots and dirt, and he tossed it to the side. He looked at the others that had been sent, more raiders, scouts, and even a shield. He look up at Lark. If anyone had gotten a worse end of the stick it was him. This was certainly way beneath him. Then again, some horses settled for less. He rolled his eyes, as if the grey stallion had said it himself, and turned. "What happened to the bodies?" he asked. His tone was apathetic, as if just asking where a stack of laundry had disappeared to. "Were they left to decompose, or did some equines come and collect them?" And if so, what did they then do with him? Burn them? Bury them? Maybe some sort of beast came and ate them? He amused himself with the possibilities, ducking into a shed. Half of one, anyway. It was slanted, and he assumed half of it was underground, but some bottles still lay against the wall of a shelf. He picked one up, and uncorked it. It wasn't alcohol. With a sigh he dumped out the mystery liquid.
(Post 1: 401)
|
|
|
|
Post by akitapup on Jul 2, 2018 11:34:42 GMT -6
ULRICH
BLOODY FLANKS
The soft speckles of rain that fell through the chilled air was far more preferable than the icy wasteland they traversed across months ago, and it reminded him of home, of Ghosthold. Ulrich could certainly tell the children preferred it as well, darting to and fro as their caretaker struggled to follow suit, rounding them up like a farmer with their sheep. Too bad their children were a hell of a lot more clever than some wooly livestock. His lips twitched into something like a smile, but not quite, as he watched them while walking by his Ansgar’s side. His mind was far more occupied though, by the idea of walking into a land unknown and riddled with rumors.
He would never question Ansgar’s judgment, hell, he’d give the man his life. Didn’t make the tales of Holmsa any less anxiety inducing, in fact, it made him more alert and ready to draw out his hammer if needed. Not to mention, he was not blind to the fact that lowlanders roamed around these parts, but he knew he’d be ready to fight anything that came his way.
“What do you make of these rumors, Ulrich?”
The stallion glanced in his mentor’s direction, an eyebrow quirked in surprise. Ansgar was not really one for conversation, and he hid the grin that threatened to creep onto his face. He liked the attention from it, valued it very much in fact. Made him feel important when he was spoken to.
“Of Holmsa?” He looked out into the distance, shrugging as he stared into the drizzle and mist that obscured the distance. “It seems unreal to me, to be honest. Yet, do we really have the privilege to question it?” Towns swallowed by the earth, bodies disappearing… what was Hireath coming to?
Word Count: 298 Post #1 |
|
|
|
Post by sweet-like-the-storm on Jul 2, 2018 18:05:01 GMT -6
Veresk - Scout
Veresk really wasn't keen on this whole Holsma thing. He wasn't keen on it ever since he had his shift changed, especially when he was notified that he'd be working with raiders. He had nothing against them in the long run - his father was rumored to be a raider after all, but the fact that he was working with raiders, a shield and no other scouts perplexed him a lot more than he would've liked to admit. Sure, they seemed mild-mannered, at least some of them did - Veresk made sure to eye the youngest of them all who looked especially discontent with pulling a few weeds - but he still had a hard time trusting them. He stayed as far away from them as possible, eager to avoid any unnecessary conversation with... well, with any of them to be honest.
He felt kind of bad pulling out most of these flowers - they were all quite pretty and some of them even quite rare, at least rare enough that Veresk had only encountered them once or twice throughout all of his scouting days. He made sure to dig out a few with roots intact in hopes of bringing them home with him and add to his assortment. Thinking about flowers put his mind at ease, at least slightly, given the situation. It didn't help that he encountered a rabbit just days prior that died from what he could only assume was possession, and now an entire town just... vanishes? Veresk muttered a small prayer to Kaia under his breath in hopes of easing the troubling state that this shell of a town was in. He took a deep breath and continued to pull at some of the more hardy plants that didn't want to let go of its spot between two foundation stones - the "rebuilding" part of this town was yet to come. And then suddenly somewhere out of left-field he overheard a question - "What happened to the bodies?"
Veresk felt slightly shaken. He didn't think about that before - he had his mind on just doing his job, on pulling flowers, and avoiding eye-contact with everyone that was taller than him. Now the question milled in his mind nonstop. His teke almost seemed to malfunction as he lost his focus. The town was in ruins - some buildings stuck half-way into the ground, others decimated, others gone, so what happened to the people that lived here? He was about to say something when he heard the rhythm of hooves upon wood - the younger raider, Tobias, had decided to waltz on into one of the buildings. Veresk grit his teeth as he heard rummaging, uncorking of something, and something getting poured on the ground. "Hey, could you maybe not rummage through houses that could collapse on top of you?" Veresk called, raising his voice more than he was used to. He didn't really care if the house collapsed on top of the young stallion, but that would be one more thing he'd have to worry about. "I kind of don't want to go back to Hira and explain why we're one raider short."
WC: 520
POST #1
|
|
|
|
Post by tarriedsea on Jul 2, 2018 19:50:32 GMT -6
 Lark War Forged | Shield
This was pointless.
Their group numbered about 20, but this was still dismal populace to recruit for clearing away the ruins of Holmsa, much less attempting to start the reconstruction process. He rarely questioned Hira's judgement these days, but couldn't this wait until after the war? Did they not have other port towns to use in the meantime? Would take a century for anyone to feel safe enough here to conduct business anyway. Holmsa real estate would be dirt cheap for awhile.
He stood on the perimeter of the town, panting from dragging a load of timber from its heap into a scrap pile they'd begun to make in the woods. They'd burn it, probably. On the last night here they'd have a bonfire, get incredibly drunk, and then head home hungover and exhausted. At least he dreamed it.
Though it was a cool morning, his braids stuck to his neck with hot sweat. The drizzle of rain was a welcome relief when it peppered his flanks. He walked back into town dragging his jerryrigged sled in the dirt behind him. He had taken the saddlebags off his harness in order to tie ropes to his collar and drag a large swath of wood (probably was a roof in its past life) around, not unlike a plow, except in this case he was carrying logs and rocks and debris and timber and splintered wood. It was boring work, and it was frustrating, but he couldn't complain lest spirits be dampened all around. He chose to remain quiet.
He could tell the Raiders were frustrated too. Most of their comrades were sent south to fight, and the pickings left in Onea were... not Hira's most feared warriors. They knew it. Everyone knew it. And though he wasn't formally put in charge of this group, he assumed that any issues would put him ultimately at fault, and so he hefted the burden of leadership with a sigh.
"What happened to the bodies?"
Toby's voice lilted into his ears and it took a second to realize the Raider was addressing him. "Were they left to decompose, or did some equines come and collect them?"
Lark grunted and looked him straight in the eye. "Necromancer got 'em."
After a few beats of intense staring, the corner of his lip cracked a grin. "Nah, truthfully, I can't tell you. They weren't here when I visited a few months ago. Just vanished."
Hira had said she felt strange magic here. Magic responsible for dissipating bodies? He wouldn't try to guess. All he knew was that their job was made a hundredfold easier without having to work around skeletons and decomposition.
Post #1
WC: 453
chibi by the fantastic fynli |
|
|
|
Post by hey-stardust on Jul 4, 2018 1:03:30 GMT -6
 CERYS | BLOODY FLANKS | MERCHANT
We’ll never get it back, but we’ll try
some things are best left behind.
“Signe…” Cerys had lost count of how many times she had called after her daughter today, her anxiety spiking every time the rambunctious filly disappeared from view. “please stay close.”
With a splint still strapped to her back leg and a limp that hindered her progress at every step, Cerys was still thoroughly incapacitated from her fall; often struggling to keep pace with the group and - although she did not show it - was all the more bitter for it.
Their journey from Ghosthold had been a harrowing experience, but with dwindling supplies and poor infrastructure forcing their hand, they were already on the move again; seeking out either salvation or a phantom, she wasn't sure.
The rain was a welcome distraction, and Cerys inhaled deeply as she walked, taking in the flora that surrounded them. Kaia had finally answered her prayers, granting her the ability to harbour and nurture plant life after years of holding onto a faith she had begun to believe was nothing more than a farce...
But, the god's acknowledgment had only left her with more questions, ones that kept her deep in thought and thoroughly afraid of the answer.
" … despite all of this, you are not content. You survive, but do not thrive."
|
|
|
|
Post by mariahwhy on Jul 10, 2018 23:54:35 GMT -6
Tobias | Raider
Though standing inside the shed, Toby gave another eye roll for good measure at Veresk's words. Still, what did he really need in the rickety, old shed anyway, if there wasn't any booze. He ducked out, looking back to make sure his dorsal fin did not clip the door frame, and quickly drew up short when he suddenly looked around to see he was about to bump into Lark. He stood stock-still, neck coiled back and eyes, though briefly startled, matching the shield's stare. He only relaxed, squinting after the other, when Lark turned away. Though Toby did not match his grin, he did quite like the idea of necromancers. He looked out among the wreckage, imagining corpses rising from the earth like puppets. Wouldn't that be something? A voice called him to come help pull up a tree that had fallen into a house, and his face fell from one of boredom to a frown. Instead of dancing skeletons he just got yard work. "Couldn't they just have farmers doing this stuff?" he complained, as he tied ropes to the harness he had been assigned for the job. It was slightly too big, and rubbed his fin just enough to be constantly irritating. "This is the kind of shit they like to do, right?" With both of them tied to the tree, they strained forward. He pressed hard against his harness, the leather pressing back into his chest as it was held backwards with the opposing force of the tree. Their hooves dug into the earth trying to find a good purchase, and their teeth gritted loudly with the effort. Slowly the tree began to creak upwards. "Fallen into" had not been the right words, Toby mused as he tugged. It was simply as if it had grown next to the house, and the earth had suddenly decided to wrap itself sideways and impale the house. The roots had still been perfectly attached below the ground, and the tree, with all of its needles looking healthy and undisturbed at residing in what had been someone's kitchen, had to be cut before it could be removed. The young stallion wondered if it wouldn't have been easier to level the small house and move that. Slowly the tree began to shift, and as they gained momentum it dislodged from the house, though not without bringing some of the lodgings all caught up in its leaves.
Once the tree had been cleared of (what was left of) the house, Toby and the other raider stopped. They both stood panting for a moment as another horse began to sift through the new wreckage.
"What was here..." he breathed, untying the ropes from the tree and the harness. He hated this harness. Had he not been wearing it he could have changed into a bigger, stronger horse and made easier work of that tree. "...when you visited? Just those flowers?" That certainly wasn't exciting. What would be exciting was seeing how this had happened. "Nothing else?" No one else?
(Post 2: 505 words)
|
|
|
|
Post by Sargeant-Knoxx on Jul 11, 2018 1:32:55 GMT -6
|S Y N N|
| Bloody-Flank Scout |
"Humanity is not Honor-"
The trees around her were quiet save for the distant caw of a lone crow, and the over-lapping chatter that rose up from below her place on the ridge. The lone scout leaned a pelted shoulder against the large evergreen she stood next to, her tattered ears swiveling forward and back again. Although the ashen mare couldn't pick out individual voices, she'd seen at least a dozen different bodies milling about the rubble- or rather... Well, the more Synn looked on, the harder it became to put a word to what she was observing.
Buildings had been skewed from their foundations, carts and roads presumably swallowed by earth in a way that left the soil undisturbed... as if it had been that way all along. Whatever equid-made structures had resided there, were now ghostly silent and twisted shells of what had once been. It was unsettling. That amount of power was godly, and there was a familiar tingle within the earth here that made Synn's conscience itch. She'd dreamed of the Earth Goddess recently, and had felt something similar in that space of her consciousness. Yet.. this was different. This was profoundly unnatural.
The Bloody Flank turned her back from the ridge and retreated a ways into the trees. The rest of her party would be along soon- and she felt that Ansgar would need to know the state of things before they went any further. Her hooves passed briskly over the damp soil, her steps scarcely making sound as she sought the softest ground and made way to the game trail they'd been traveling before. By the time she reached the point the sound of more voices had grown distinct- although these were voices she knew.
"- unreal to me, to be honest. Yet, do we really have the privilege to question it?"
As if materializing from the moss and stone and trees, Synn appeared from the thicket before the group. Her dappled hide was slick with water, pelt and harness dappled with dew, and there was a concern in her eyes... However, her face was stoic as steam frothed from her nostrils.
"The rumors very well may be true- depending on what you've heard." Her eyes passed over those gathered, until they fell heavily on Ansgar. She'd been able to look him in the eye again- some of the tension having been relieved when Signe and Keldan had made their way abruptly into the world. Although, the pressure to survive was now more important than ever. "Little more than a dozen horses are already in Holmsa- they're likely Forged. Looks like they may be trying to salvage." Synn looked to Cerys and her children for a moment before continuing.
"Ansgar, the town is in ruin- as if everything sunk through the earth.. It may not even be worth it with those low-landers scurrying about." The mare inhaled deeply, knowing how badly they needed supplies. But also knowing how badly things could go should they play the wrong hand.
Post | 1 WC | 483 |
|
|
|
Post by Callousal on Jul 11, 2018 19:02:59 GMT -6
It felt as if they had been walking for a lifetime, and Signe’s bones ached with notable detest at the fact, the strikingly green view of woods she was prohibited from exploring only augmented the intense restlessness within her.
A thought came to her at the sight of a pair of birds, who weaved between branches in a wild chase after another, and her head instinctively turned to eye Keldan. The familiar craving for entertainment replaced her mild abhorrence for walking and her eyes lit up in devious glee, the fire in her belly beginning to gnaw at her patience as she approached her twin with the intent to play.
She bit at the inside of her cheek for a moment, weighing her options of either interrupting the conversation, or disturbing the calm Keldan so meekly resided in. After brief contemplation, she decided the latter seemed much more thrilling, and the group would simply have to make due without her crucial input, as she had more pressing matters to attend to.
A grin spread across her face as she leaned over to tug at her brother’s mane, though he remained patient, pushing closer to their mother’s side before she finally goaded him into a chase with a few, choice words; whispered under her breath in fear of her mother hearing. She flailed her legs in a half-rear before bounding out of reach, bucking and taunting as Keldan raced to catch up with her.
It wasn’t until Culainn effortlessly appeared at her side that Keldan slowed his pace, though Signe decided she was not going to lose this game of tag. The filly snorted before allowing a smirk to cross her face, the gytrash’s gentle attempts to reroute her back to her parents only increasing her determination to wander even further.
As her small hooves beat wildly at the muddied ground, the environment around her began to shift, and soon found herself eyeing tall silhouettes through the morning mist. Cautiously, she slowed to a walk, head tilting as she attempted to interpret the figures through the fog. Yet, try as she might, she could not confidently decipher a horse from a building, so she obliviously advanced towards the shadows at the sudden sight of Culainn.
Surely it had been standing still for far too long to be another horse.
Suddenly, her shoulder collided with a heaving mass of grey, and a surge of fear ran up her spine, the growling from her companion only increasing the unease that swelled at the back of her throat. However, she repressed her fright and readjusted her spindly legs in a more assuming stance, chest out as an over exaggerated scowl pulled at her features.
She opened her mouth to speak, yet she found no words, soon discovering that the countless other silhouettes that approached were indeed, yet more horses. Her heart began to drum erratically in her chest, eyebrows twitching at the internal conflict she was experiencing before deciding to yank at the ring in the grey’s beard, then bolting in the other direction.
Surely that was enough to intimidate him and the others, they’d think twice before messing with her. Signe huffed to herself as she darted behind a half-sunken shed, just tall enough to hide her tiny frame. In the off chance that they did decide to follow her, they wouldn’t be able to find her here… Right?
Mentions:
Vaguely everyone
Directly yanked Argyle's beard
566 WC
GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!
|
made by eden @ gs and thq |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 21:35:02 GMT -6
ansgar Ansgar listened with perked ears, nodding along silently as his protegee spoke. It was unreal - alarmingly so - but of course (as it always was), their circumstances allowed them little room to make their own decisions that weren’t questionable at best and downright dangerous at worst. They had to go after every opportunity presented to them, follow every whisper on the winds and pray it did not leave them dead…
For a moment his eyes flickered to Cerys, brows furrowing as he pressed a light touch to her side. His instinctual, primal desire to lead meant he was always at the head of his parties, but his wife’s… condition pulled him to the back of the group - specifically, to her side. His now constant presence was a stark difference to their past, and he didn’t doubt she found him insufferable at times (if not always). Still, she never spoke out about it.
She was far too gracious to him.
Before he could speak to her, a welcome voice cut through the faint drizzle.
Synn.
His attention turned to her, nodding slowly as she reported her findings. He hadn’t been anticipating the Forged being there, and their numbers only aggravated him moreso. They were in no position to fight, but of course - with their brilliant luck - even a mundane scavenging trip would be a hassle.
“I understand the concerns with them there, but we can’t afford to not look. We’re far too low on supplies as it already is…” He responded, gaze straying ahead and landing on a suddenly very alone Keldan. Immediately he stiffened, head swinging to scan the surrounding foliage before briskly moving past the group and towards his son. The mist had thickened, and Ansgar swallowed hard as alarm swelled in his chest. Where was she?
Tiny prints in the ground indicated she had continued forward, and at once the fear quickly turned to anger - anger at himself for even allowing her the chance to escape his sight. Keldan brushed against him as he ran to his mother’s side, murmuring apologies that she attempted to soothe.
“Signe!” He called, ears flattening against his head as he turned to glance at the rest of the group. “Find my daughter.” His gaze went to Cerys and then to Ulrich, eyes burning. “Don’t leave her side, and protect your brother.” Finally his eyes went to his son, and his voice softened considerably. “It’s not your fault, Keldan. We’ll find her, and she’ll be fine.”
Ansgar didn’t say another word as he swiftly turned and followed Signe’s tracks, hooves turning up the mud below as he raced through the brush. It didn’t take long before he cleared the trees and saw exactly what Synn had described - sunken land, riddled with shadows in the mist.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
“Signe!”
He continued forward, squinting as he searched for her shape in the haze. A low growl echoed throughout the town, and the sudden appearance of fog lulled him to follow its call. 2 | 504 |
|
|
|
Post by tarriedsea on Jul 16, 2018 9:59:02 GMT -6
Lark War Forged | Shield
He let Toby's questions sit for a minute before answering them. The Raider was so curious and eager to get answers.
Answers that might not exist.
"No one else. Our War Lord claimed to feel some strange magic in the earth. Kaia & ... something else she didn't recognize." Could have been the same force that brought Holmsa to its knees, paying its debts by covering the place in flowers. That would be kind of poetic.
Lark unstrapped his harness and pulled his canteen out of his bag. The salt air was more dehydrating than he was used to. Water flowed over his lips, droplets catching on his whiskers & beard.
Something flickered across his peripheral.
It scuttled behind a shed, too small to be one of his team members, and instantly on alert he drew his sword from where it lay in the dirt. "Tobias," he hissed at the Raider. "Come with me."
It was probably a deer, but the way it ran into Holmsa was uncharacteristic of a wild animal who feared civilization, and that fact alone was suspicious enough to check it out. He was also aware that looters & thieves had probably visited Holmsa in the months since its destruction and ripped most of the accessible buildings of wares, but as long as the Forged were here, no thieves would enter the town they were trying to rebuild.
His sword collecting drizzle & flashing gray sky back at him, Lark didn't have a chance to find the culprit before another- larger, painted- body flew past the alley in front of him.
"Signe!"
Unfamiliar voice. His mind switched gears.
He leapt from the alley, sword flashing, and bellowed.
"Stop! Identify yourself!"
Post #2
WC: 287
chibi by the fantastic fynli |
|
|
|
Post by Sargeant-Knoxx on Jul 16, 2018 12:57:47 GMT -6
|S Y N N|
| Bloody-Flank Scout |
"Humanity is not Honor-"
Synn watched as worry lines creased Ansgar's face in a look of contempt. It was fair, War-forged weren't gonna make their already hazardous task any easier. The children bumbled by but the ashen mare didn't look after where they went, well aware that the gytrash in their company must've been a fucking collie in a past life to keep up with the likes of the Captain's children. Synn nodded gravely eyes going to Cerys once more, although she didn't ask, she wondered what the mother was hoping for- the scout idled on the idea of leaving them in a safe location while the Ulrich, Ansgar and herself trekked ahead..
"Perhaps then it would-" Ansgar wasn't listening- and she could no longer find words. Her head had followed his movement and she stepped aside as he brushed past them. Jade eyes landed heavily on Keldan, looking frightened and ashamed. Alone. "Signe.." She hissed under her breath, taking a few steps towards Ansgar to where the little hoof-prints delved away from them and into the fine shroud of mist.
"Find my Daughter.."
Synn spared nothing but a nod to Cerys before she cantered off, going full tilt down the hill and towards the town of Holmsa. She could hear Ansgar right behind her, but once they got there the scout split in the opposite direction of her mentor to cover more ground. Logically, and tactically, it made sense- on the other hand.. There were Forged everywhere. If they were caught then-
"Signe!" she heard Ansgar not far off, and her ears laid back in shock. He'd lead them right to him! Synn growled under her breath in frustration, torn. Coming to a halt she hugged her grey body against a wall, cautious for passerby. Ansgar could hold his own- but certainly not against a dozen of the low-landers.. And yet, Signe would be his priority- it should be her priority- She'd been ordered to find her.
The mare drew a shaky breath through her nose, closing her eyes and steeling herself. It wasn't going to be easy finding the filly, Synn had to consider her options. The gytrash had to be with Signe, there was no doubt. The grey mare wished fervently that her nose was as keen as the misty hound's.. Perhaps then this would be easier.
It hit her like a strike to the face.
A burning sensation passed through her muzzle as if she'd snorted brandy- wet and scalding. Synn could hardly suppress the string of cusses that flew from her mouth and the tears that welled up in her eyes. But all at once it was over. A second barrage came upon her nose then- this time however, it was more of a sensory overload. She could smell it- even more profoundly than she could before. The moss and trees drenched in rain, the stench of bodies- sweat, and damp fur mingling with old leather. Synn was taken by surprise and came to the sudden realization that her dream had not been a dream at all. She must have been blessed by the Earth-Mother that night in the woods. The scout whispered a quiet prayer, both in thanks- and in fear.
With her nose as her guide, and the increasing fog, the grey horse moved as quickly and and as quietly as she could, inhaling deeply until a familiar smell hit her nose. It had to be Signe. "Signe?!" Synn called quietly, the scent getting stronger.
She hardly had time to react when a stallion rounded the corner of a half sunken building with a surprised- then suddenly angry look on his bearded face.
"Who are you? These are the War-Lord's lands, state your business!"
Well fuck. Synn took a half step back, going for her hatchets but stopping halfway- Signe had to be nearby.
"I'm looking for a child.." she didn't alter her stance, but kept her voice even- much as she liked the idea of ripping that damn ring out of his beard her words now could mean the filly's safety.
Post | 2 WC | 675 - Synn charges with Ansgar into Holmsa. - In her desperation and flaring of emotions her blessing takes on her will. Super sniffer! - Gets close to where Signe is, but is confronted by Beard-Ring NPC. |
|
|
|
Post by akitapup on Jul 16, 2018 19:32:38 GMT -6
ULRICH
BLOODY FLANKS
Ulrich, short of words as he realized that Signe had gone and disappeared on them, only had one thing to say; “Fuck!”
He froze. What a shit situation- his breath caught in his throat, and he looked to Ansgar for direction and order, the only thing that truly kept him level-headed. His captain looked to him and spoke, and Ulrich noted that it sounded like his voice was about to break.
“Don’t leave her side, and protect your brother,” Ansgar said, and he spun on his ankles and ran into the mist ahead, leaving Ulrich standing with Cerys and Keldan. This was a first for him; he had fought in countless raids, but never did he have a kid by his side. Keldan wasn’t just any kid, though. He glanced at the sniffling colt, tucked into Cerys’ side.
Dipping his head down, Ulrich nudged Keldan, his lips brushing over the tips of his ears. The colt looked up, his red eyes wet and on the verge of tears.
“We’ll find her, alright little man?” he promised, smiling even though it felt rather useless in the predicament they were all stuck in. Wiping Keldan’s tears away as best he could, he looked up at Cerys, heart pounding. She was not well-versed in the language of war or fighting with weapons, or else Ansgar would have had her come along to find Signe. Even though he couldn’t run alongside his mentor, he felt a swell of pride to know Ansgar trusted him enough to protect his family.
With a swift nod, and looking into Cerys’ eyes, he said, “I’ll keep you safe, I swear.” Now that Cerys and her child were at his side, he looked ahead, the sprinkles of rain obscuring the full view ahead. He gulped, a knot building in his throat. Did they stay? Or go? He knew they were several men short of a full search party, and Ansgar certainly needed his help, but he had precious cargo by his side. He drew a deep breath before making his decision.
“We’ll go and help look, but let's stay back at a distance,” he told Cerys. His eyes turned pleading as he looked down at Keldan. He did not want to run into any unsavory characters with him there. “Whatever you do, don’t leave my side.”
He started to walk ahead, the mare and her son behind him, and he steeled himself for whatever lay ahead in the mist. He wasn’t foolish enough to think the War-Forged would spare a child simply because they were a child. The stories told him better. Word Count: 422 Post #2 |
|
|
|
Post by hey-stardust on Jul 17, 2018 22:03:30 GMT -6
CERYS | BLOODY FLANKS | MERCHANT
We’ll never get it back, but we’ll try
some things are best left behind.
Ansgar's touch was as fleeting as his affection for her.
Before Cerys could lift her head to respond to him in turn, she felt his body stiffen beside her - staring beyond the horizon.
Signe was gone, leaving a trembling Keldan in her wake.
She didn't have to hear the words to know what Ansgar was going to do next, merely watched him take off with Synn in tow, evidently frantic.
Cerys knew the Forged could be cruel, but they weren't complete savages. They wouldn't strike down an unarmed child without good cause. She had been one of them not all that long ago, after all.
Still, the thought didn't slow her pace or racing heart.
Her curled ears pinned in acknowledgment to Ulrich's command, and she promptly ignored him. Cerys began to trot, moving slowly past the roan stud and towards town; head bobbing viciously each time her injured leg struck the ground.
Keldan remained stuck to her side, sniffling every few strides and bumping into her whenever the terrain changed.
Cerys was well aware of what Ansgar and Synn were best at when it came to conflict resolution, but they were at a severe disadvantage here.
She had never been granted the opportunity to learn how to fight, but at the very least, she knew herself to be a far better liar than the lot of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweet-like-the-storm on Jul 18, 2018 20:29:14 GMT -6
Veresk - Scout
Veresk was about to pull out another one of the flowers he fancied - a pink one this time, when he heard Lark's voice cut through the air. "Stop, identify yourself!" "Who is he yelling at?" Veresk thought to himself as he watched the heavy shape of the Shield move quicker than he had ever imagined it could. It was probably just a figment of that stallion's imagination, it wasn't like this town was actually haunted or something... right?
The scout sighed in irritation as he watched the other workers shift their attention to where Lark was. They all seemed to be gravitating to where he stood, muttering among themselves. With this town already being creepy enough as it was, he rolled his eyes at the commotion and after setting down his things in a place where no one's unwanted teke would go grabbing it, carefully made his way around the bustle. He raised his head and sniffed at the air - all familiar scents were there - leather, sweat, flowers, wood, and something he couldn't quite understand yet - nothing seemed off. He continued around the corner of a building and through a littered passageway which he could only assume used to be a rather populated street, the sounds of the nervous clatter of hooves fading away. Droplets of rain fell on his nose and rolled off his whiskers - there almost seemed to be an eerie calm about the entire place. After peeking into a few more dusty windows, some submerged a good half way into the undisturbed earth, he was sure he could return to his work and affirm to everybody that it was nothing more than a bird or a rabbit when his ears instinctively twitched to listen to something behind him.
Veresk froze, his muscles aching to loosen, but he was sure he didn't hallucinate - he was hearing something, as tiny as it was, as camouflaged as it seemed to be through the rain. The stallion let out a shaky breath, trying to make as little sound as possible as he turned around and followed the swiveling of his ears. "Please, don't let it be a ghost, please, don't let it be a ghost," he muttered under his breath as he rounded the corner of what seemed to be a shack - or at least, a solid fourth of a shack now. His head practically jolted back as he came to face to face with... well, it wasn't a ghost. In fact, he would've been less surprised if it had been a ghost. Instead, it was a filly - very young from the looks of it, one that Veresk knew didn't come along with them once Hira had assigned a generous group of her able-bodied workers to clear out the forsaken little town. However, he knew he recognized those crimson eyes from somewhere... he felt like it wouldn't be just to make assumptions yet, but the sight of the filly's face was eerily familiar. His mind frantically rolled around for things to ask the young filly in hopes of not frightening her, and while he perhaps should've said something along the lines of "What are you doing here?", Veresk blurted - "Who are you?"
WC: 531 POST #2 |
|
|
|
Post by mariahwhy on Jul 21, 2018 12:50:59 GMT -6
Tobias | Raider
Toby frowned. "Strange magic" was definitely not as exciting as necromancers or any number of other answers. This place might be odd, but apparently it was just a let down. Nothing but wreckage and flowers. Stupid. Boring. He was too preoccupied with thoughts to see the small shape zoom into their area, but the fleeting, faint sound of hooves on damp grass drew his head up. He squinted into the fog before Lark's voice drew him back around. He grinned at the shield, liking the apprehension he noted in the stallion's voice. Finally some excitement! He doubted it was much more than some animal wandering, but hunting anything would be better than stacking wood. He excitedly grabbed his spear from where it was propped against the outside of a nearby house, and, grinning, followed after Lark. The colt did see the flash of a body this time, definitely unfamiliar even in what little he caught of it, racing past the alley in front of Lark. Toby wanted to burst forward, spear at the ready, but Lark, perhaps for the best, was the first to rush from the alley. Toby bounded after him, landing in the open splay-legged and ready to rumble. He shoved his weapon towards the newcomer. "And who is Signe?" he asked,ears twisting to try and hear the small sound of hooves again. He couldn't hear any movement, but was that another shout in the distance? His hide itched eagerly. There was more than one intruder in the town. He shifted his weight and got a steadier grip on the spear, just in case. (Post 3: 267 words) |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2018 13:42:12 GMT -6
ansgar Fog surrounded his legs. It was Culainn leading him to his daughter, but before Ansgar could take another step he was intercepted by the sound of a harsh command.
Ansgar came to an abrupt stop, eyes narrowing as two bodies approached him, their weapons glinting as they neared closer. The growling grew louder as the fog around Ansgar thickened, and the raider mirrored his companion’s anger as sparks began to crackle in the air. Tiny bursts of flames licked at the feet of the Forged before quickly fading away as Ansgar took a step back - away from the enemy's weapon.
He did not yet unsheathe his sword, but his teke firmly grasped its hilt - fully prepared to fight if the delicate situation turned awry. The restlessness of the boy aggravated him, as did his carelessness of flinging his weapon around. The raider’s attention went to the - clearly - more experienced of the two, and he breathed deeply.
“I am looking for my daughter. She wandered ahead by mistake - my family and I are simply trying to find her.”
There was a tense pause before he continued.
“We were on our way to Skeldr Town.” 3 | 198 |
|
|
|
Post by Sargeant-Knoxx on Jul 22, 2018 3:24:53 GMT -6
|S Y N N|
| Bloody-Flank Scout |
"Humanity is not Honor-"
A flicker of recognition and a pondering crossed the stallion's gaze as Synn stood there, tense and wound up tighter than the horns of a rutting apana.
"That kid is with you then?" A flicker of teke brushed over his beard. "Little hellion grabbed my ring and ran off-" He straightened up slightly, giving her a look over. Synn swallowed hard, mouth dry, blood racing. "Perhaps like you best be doing mare this is no place for children- I don't recognize you from anywhere, whose your husband?" a snort, a shifting of his weight "Why was she alone-?"
The scout was in no mood for the stallion's questions, and his words turned to a drone in her ears when she saw the hindquarters of a tall horse looking down at something around the bend just beyond the town block. Her blood suddenly ran cold. They'd appeared from around one corner- seemingly oblivious to the confrontation- more interested what was nearer to the ground. Synn felt the air thin within her lungs and her senses dull once more as worst-case-scenario turned the ground beneath her feet to pins and needles.
Signe..
The silence of that perpetual moment rang in her ears. No audible sound other than the buzzing of concerned voices from the nearby square- and the words of the raider in front of her.
"Hey, answer me!", tattered ears flicked to the trilling sound of a shortsword being drawn, and before she could even blink all that tension that'd been pent in her body snapped forth like a bolt of lightning. The cobbles and dirt beneath her hooves yielded to the sudden force of Synn lunging at her aggressor with every ounce of her weight- but she wasn't attacking.. The chimera drew a weapon of course but she only shoved past the other gray equine, knocking him off balance and out of the way before bolting head-long down the overgrown streets. Her target, the unsuspecting bay peering behind the sunken shack.
Once within earshot, she bellowed with all the unbridled rage and fury of a brown bear, her eyes lit with desperation and anger. "DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!". She closed the space quickly, and once within throwing range she twirled her axe deftly in her teke, prepared to let loose should the stranger make any sudden moves against her. Synn paid no mind to the grey that called after the wild mare. "Stop her!"
Post | 3 WC | 404 -Synn gets lectured, Synn isn't here for lectures. -Shoves Ring-Beard out of the way- seeing Veresk at the end of the block. -Assumes the worst and charges Veresk, weapon at the ready in case of resistance. |
|
|
|
Post by tarriedsea on Jul 22, 2018 13:46:23 GMT -6
Lark War Forged | Shield
The flames at his feet crackled briefly, but Lark dared not look down in case the stranger took the opportunity to make a move. The heat surged into his shoes but stopped short of burning him.
This guy was peeved.
Tobias said something behind him, asking the identity of Signe, but Lark wasn't interested in knowing the stranger's purpose as much as identifying him. Forged were welcome to come and go. Vagabonds were to be driven out.
Lark winced as Toby pushed his weapon at the stranger. The Raider was so willing for adventure or excitement; Lark could practically feel his envy at not being chosen to travel southward with his brethren. Though Lark was more than willing to slice the throat of anyone with malice, escalating the situation unnecessarily was risky. He preferred to return home in one piece.
"Tobias, stand down." he finally muttered. The stranger didn't draw his own sword, and Lark was not going to bear the weight of drawing first blood. He held his sword at his side, unsheathed but now facing away from the stranger.
"Are you farmers? Traders? We're a long way from Skeldr Town." The flash he saw was probably the daughter, if the stallion was telling the truth. But Holmsa was hardly a passing point as it was situated on the coast; more likely this group of vagrants was stopping in to steal any goods unswallowed by the earth.
He didn't want to be so suspicious- it wasn't in his nature- but recent events put him on edge. Holmsa was a strange place with strange magic, and treading carefully was the most defensive posture he could take. Post #3
WC: 284
chibi by the fantastic fynli |
|
|
|
Post by akitapup on Jul 22, 2018 23:40:08 GMT -6
ULRICH
BLOODY FLANKS
His words didn’t seem to have an impact on Cerys as she jogged forward, albeit at an uneven gait with her child by her side. Ulrich scowled, pinning his ears as the mare trotted forward, and he watched her lame foot slow her down. Screw it. He cantered ahead down in her direction.
“Can you wait?” Ulrich said with narrowed eyes, swatting his thick tail as he caught up with the worried mare. Keeping pace, he stole a quick glance towards her and released a pent up snort. “I can’t let you get hurt. Ansgar would hate himself if anything happened to you.” No, he would hate me, and blame me, the roan stallion thought, and the simple idea of that sent a piercing pain through his abdomen.
He strode ahead despite the fact he was trying to slow himself down, the multitude of metaphorical insects crawling through his body. Anxiety built up in his veins, his mind rummaging through the most terrible of outcomes that were possible. No, no, no. He shook his head. They would be fine. Just fine.
Ahead in the distance he saw Ansgar, surrounding by two stallions, the air tense. He sighed in relief, because at least no one was fighting yet. Ears twitched forward, he opened his mouth to shout out to him, but in the corner of his eye, there was a ghost, sneaking away from Ansgar. The dog of mist, who followed the children around like a moth to flame, darted far off into the immersed buildings, as if he were trying to show them something.
Ulrich paused. Casting a look to Cerys, he tried to shake off the inexplicable tug on his hooves, urging him to run into the buildings. Ansgar was just up ahead, and surely everything would be fine if they just went his way. Yet, it did not seem right.
“Go to Ansgar’s side, Cerys!” he snapped, and he broke out into a run past the swallowed town. Huffing through the crisp air, he almost lost sight of the elusive Culainn until the glow of his red eyes pierced through the fog, and Ulrich slammed his feet into the ground, swinging around.
“Don’t you touch her!” Gods, he’d recognize that voice anywhere. Dashing forward, he prepared his war hammer, a familiar excitement budding inside of him.
He saw the gray mare, prepared to launch at a black stallion, but the attention quickly shifted elsewhere as a bearded stud followed her, teeth bared. Synn wouldn’t get caught off guard, not if he could help it.
Barreling his weight into the lowlander, he snapped his jaws in a frenzy, tearing skin and hair. Not forgetting his weapon, he slammed the hammer into the grey’s shoulder. Ulrich fell with the stranger, and he pushed himself up and back before the other could do any damage. He took a deep gasp of air, the rush of adrenaline throwing him off.
“Synn, are you alright?” He yelled, without budging his gaze. Now this was what he was used to, and what he was ready for.
Word Count: 513 Post #3 |
|
|
|
Post by hey-stardust on Jul 23, 2018 2:21:39 GMT -6
CERYS | BLOODY FLANKS | MERCHANT
We’ll never get it back, but we’ll try
some things are best left behind.
Cerys almost paused midstep at Ulrich's words - which were threaded with what seemed to be genuine concern - though towards the wrong person.
“He’s not worried about me.” She said softly, more to herself than the raider; almost laughing aloud at the absurdity of it, but instead falling silent as she continued to jog towards the figures shrouded in mist.
She was thankful when Ulrich's anxiety finally got the best of him, omitting his captain's orders and taking off after Culainn, as it allowed her to continue unencumbered towards her husband and to what she now perceived to be the biggest threat to her family.
The unicorn weaved deftly through sunken buildings and stopped just short of Ansgar's flank, angled towards him ever so slightly so that Keldan was jostled and placed behind her shoulder, mostly shielded from view.
Her blue eyes flicked straight to Ansgar, purposefully ignoring the sharpened blades held at the raiders' sides, knowing that they were surely itching to be used at the sight of them.
"Did you find her?" She asked, acting out of breath and attempting to sell the lie he had woven, seconds before all hell seemed to break loose.
3 | 197
note: cerys is maxed out in perception. |
|
|
|
Post by sweet-like-the-storm on Jul 23, 2018 13:52:11 GMT -6
Veresk - Scout
Veresk could feel the pounding of his heart against his rib-cage so violently he thought it might burst. His emerald eyes darted from first the mare and then to the stallion behind her, both of their faces fueled with aggression, as well as concern. He was now completely sure where he had seen the child before, though during that night with them pressing their flanks to a cold stone wall in the middle of a blizzard, she probably hadn't even had a name yet. He recognized both of the others too - Synn... Ulrich..., the names sat heavy in his mouth, trying to recall all he could about them when they had met those many months ago. If he made one wrong move he knew he was going to get killed; he wasn't going to risk it, not in these circumstances. "I apologize," his aunt's etiquette training came into play as he bowed his head and took a tentative step back. "I didn't mean any harm to the child..." He bowed his head further and stared down at their feet. You're not a raider, he reminded himself. This isn't a fight you can win. And what would he fight for? Hold the child for ransom against a group of an angry band of skilled warriors? The axe that the grey mare in front of him menacingly held aloft with her teke stood as a reminder of the correct answer. That answer was no, absolutely NOT.
Veresk's curiosity was beginning to boil to the surface, however - this was a completely chance meeting, he never thought he would see any of them again, he couldn't just sit quietly this time, he couldn't. "You're with... Ansgar? Right?" he managed out, hoping that the question wouldn't cause anymore conflict than was already brewing between them.
WC: 294 POST #3 |
|
|
|
Post by Callousal on Jul 23, 2018 19:43:01 GMT -6
Wide eyes darted frantically from shadow to shadow, anxiety biting at her heels and forcing her further back into the shed. Then a voice. It questioned her and she only caught glimpse of the perpetrator's nose before it was chased away by a familiar voice. Synn.
It instilled a sense of confidence within her, enough for Signe to crawl out of the shack.
“I’m sorry...” The child murmured, pawing at the ground nervously with a hoof before glancing up to meet the mare’s gaze; she didn’t mean for all this to happen, she had just been bored and perhaps took a bit too far, but, never did she intend to put her family in danger.
“Where’s Keldan?” The filly prodded, looking behind Synn to see Ulrich approaching, a small smile spreading across her face, ears lowered in guilt.
Though, her attention was suddenly drawn to an individual that entered her peripheral, turning with a jump to face him.
“Who’s he?” She spoke harshly, backing up closer to Synn and Ulrich as her crimson hues remained glued on the stallion.
Mentions:
Synn, Keldan, Ulrich, Veresk
179 WC
GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!
|
made by eden @ gs and thq |
|
|
|
Post by Sargeant-Knoxx on Jul 24, 2018 0:38:58 GMT -6
|S Y N N|
| Bloody-Flank Scout |
"Humanity is not Honor-"
Synn came to a skittering halt as Veresk whirled and looked her in the eye, she could see Signe crouched there at the mouth of the building and relief washed over the ashen mare instantaneously. "There you are.." Synn relaxed a bit, knowing that of all the Forged or unlikely individuals she'd met in the south this Veresk fellow wouldn't hurt a fly. Thank the stars.
Though she recognized the stallion, and it showed on her face as she went to speak- to apologize in turn- she was promptly alerted to the cacophony of hoof-beats on old stone. The bearded grey was hot on her heels but all at once a flash of white and roan intercepted his charge, colliding with the Forged raider in a gnashing of teeth and swinging weapons. They fell to the ground together and Synn was quick to step back and shield Signe- and Veresk inadvertently- from the tussle. Next to her, the fog thickened and morphed into the ambiguous and writhing form of Culainn, ever the faithful hound as eerie as his presence was, he growled menacingly. "Ulrich?!" Synn sorted, the younger horse was quick to rise and the scout's wide green eyes scoured his hide as she gave a shake of her scarred head. "By the Goddesses- Y-Yes I'm fine. Where's Cerys? Keldan?" Signe echoed her, curious about her twin, apologizing about her little venture.
Ulrich had been brash, stupid. But so had Synn in this situation. The scout didn't blame the captain's daughter for their current state.
"Who's he?" came Signe's inquiry, and Synn's pale jade eyes flickered to Veresk in that brief moment. She gave a nod in his direction.
"That's V-" Synn quickly realized how poor her judgement had been when the bearded raider slowly rose to his feet, wincing as he put weight on the foot connected to his now bruising shoulder. Blood speckled his crest where he'd been bitten, and a snarled painted his features.
"Veresk! What are you doing just standing there? They must be vagabonds, they attacked us!" shouted he. Synn felt the hair along her spine bristle with uncertainty and she quickly moved a leg to step protectively over her charge, head lowered and ears laid back.
"You mean to say you wouldn't react the same towards a stranger if a child was in danger?" the mare felt anger bubble in her bones, but understood that she'd perhaps acted out of turn even for a Forged citizen- which she wasn't. The dappled huntress didn't look like the usual mare either.
"Far as I can see you two are the only danger here.." The stallion picked up his shortsword and took up his own defensive stance. "Raiders!" he called over his shoulder, his voice carrying enough to attract the attention of several more equines nearby, the sound of their hooves drawing near until they rounded the corner.
Pinned, and outnumbered, Synn grit her teeth and glanced at the foal underneath her chest, she murmured to the young girl. "Don't worry.. your father is nearby. We'll get out of this just fine." she looked up at Ulrich, willing him to stay put. Then looked to Veresk, willing him to perhaps relay what he'd seen and heard that stormy night in the cave.. he was their only chance at talking this guy down until they could find Cerys and Ansgar..
Post | 4 WC | 560 - Synn's blessing is no longer active. - Recognizes Veresk and realizes the gravity of the situation. - Stands down to protect Signe as a few more horses come by, Beardie NPC is not pleased. |
|
|
|
Post by akitapup on Jul 24, 2018 18:02:08 GMT -6
ULRICH
BLOODY FLANKS
Shaking blood and hair from his maw, he glanced at Synn, his wide blue eyes flickering with rage. “They’re fine, Cerys and the little man are with Ansgar. I saw him,” Ulrich’s voice strained, as he indicated the bearded raider, “charging at you.”
Ulrich’s skin bristled as the lowlander kept spewing words out of his mouth while trotting forward, the rage from both parties growing as more raiders joined in the fray. He wasn’t going to apologize for protecting his friend, especially not to some ass.
“We’re not vagabonds,” he hissed, and stomped his hoof on the ground, his nostrils flaring. “All I was doing was protecting her and my s- Signe from you! You really mean to threaten us with a child by our sides?”
Ulrich backed up, his heart beating like war drums as he glanced back at Veresk, Synn flanking his . A recognizable face in all of this mess, thank Gods. Not company the Flanks would typically keep, but he remembered him, from that night the twins were born.
“No half sane raider would storm another,” the old grey spat, glaring the vulnerable group trapped between the Forged horses. “Didn’t I ask you the first time, mare, to state your business? So state it; now.”
The roan didn't have an answer. Out of instinct, he shielded Signe with his body, and realized they were very, very screwed.
Word Count: 227 Post #4 shut up ulrich |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2018 19:34:59 GMT -6
ansgar The tension between the three had not lessened in the slightest, suspicion still palpable on all fronts, but he was relieved when the weapons of the opposing stallions were withdrawn. He didn’t need their trust - he just needed enough time to find his daughter and leave before they were caught.
Cerys’ sudden appearance cut him off before he could respond to the stranger’s inquiries, and then -
He wasn’t given a moment to question why Cerys was alone or where Ulrich was before the distinct sound of distant shouts rang through the air.
“Stay with me,” He murmured to Cerys as he turned to follow the source of the noise, keeping close to both her and Keldan until all three came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the situation. There were more Forged coming in from every angle - too many - and he saw his daughter being shielded by his crew. His crew that stood snarling at those who would kill them all if they discovered who they were.
Signe’s presence in the middle of it all made him bristle, and he immediately charged towards the Flanks, nearly barreling into Ulrich as he came to a stop mere inches away from him. The large stallion thrust his face into Ulrich’s, seething as he glared the boy down into submission. His posture was rigid - pissed - and he took another step forward - effectively forcing the colt back.
They couldn’t afford to look divided in front of strangers. They couldn’t afford to let the cracks of their fragile facade widen, and they most certainly couldn’t afford to start a fight Ansgar knew they couldn’t win, not when his family was involved. It was one thing to throw oneself into danger when it was just themselves at risk, it was another to knowingly endanger the lives of both his children and wife.
“Stand down.” He hissed through gritted teeth, unspoken fury glinting in his eyes. His gaze then swung to Synn, the command repeated to her as well with just his expression alone.
He knew the Forged were watching them, assessing them. Any little slip and he knew their throats would be slit on the spot.
Ansgar inhaled deeply, glaring at Ulrich for half a second more before harshly turning away, glancing at the strangers that now surrounded them - demanding answers.
“State your business.” One of them commanded, and Ansgar flattened his ears, noting the increasing level of aggression in his tone.
“We are on our way to Skeldr Town.” 4 | 423 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2018 20:27:53 GMT -6
Veresk - Scout
Veresk furrowed his brow as he watched the raiders crowd around, shouting questions and misconceptions at all of them, Ansgar trying to keep his calm in the situation, a literal child at stake if anything went wrong. He gulped nervously - if he didn't act, they would be the ones getting killed and by all the gods above he did not want that. "I'm sorry, Hira," he mumbled under his breath as he loudly cleared his throat and marched out to the front. He unsheathed his dagger from where it hung on his harness and tentatively pressed it against each weapon that he could reach that was pointed at either Synn and Ulrich or Ansgar himself. "Lower your weapons, or so Kaia help me..." he narrowed his eyes. Intimidation wasn't the most effective method, he knew, but the brashness of the raiders staring daggers at them made his blood boil. He hated them - he had to admit it to himself there and then. Their thoughtless decisions, their immediate call to arms, he hated Raiders, and at this point he couldn't care less if his father had been one. The faces in front of him were painted with expressions of disbelief and disgust, he knew he was going to get in trouble for this soon enough, he felt it in his very bones and yet... "They do not mean you or anyone here any harm. I have met them both before during a scouting trip during the winter, they are not hostile and neither are they Vagabonds. They're just..." he glanced at Ansgar with what he hoped was a "I'm on your side" type of look. "...travelers." Veresk's words were met with skepticism and more bloodthirsty stares. "But that doesn't change the fact that they attacked us," the big grey stallion that stood in the front scowled down at him, casting a brief glance at Ulrich. "And you have the nerve to defend someone that attacked members of the Forged?" "Would you react any differently if the life of one of your children was at stake? Would it end at mindless pride," Veresk spat. "If it was between a herd member and your child?" He gritted his teeth. He was willing to fight them at this point - he was. He was sure that Ansgar had no intentions of attacking the squabbling work-crew of the miserable town of Holsma, not with children by his side, but could you convince a massive mound of sheer brawn over one scout's gut feeling? Raiders' eyes wandered aimlessly around in guilt, but none of the raiders moved from where they stood. "I repeat, lower your weapons and let them pass. They've stated their business and they have every right to be left alone." His word was the only thing that sat between blood being spilled on what was likely already a graveyard. He threw an apologetic look to all three of them, even to the little filly - at least he had tried. The young stallion managed out the tiniest sighs of relief as he heard the scrape of metal return to its sheath. Movement among the crowd was still cautious, still dubious about the intentions of the strangers, but at least no one was going to get hurt. He hoped. "Vagabonds or not, Hira will be hearing about this, mark my words," the big grey stallion was the last to sheath his weapon, and curled his lip menacingly at Veresk, the young stallion puffing out his narrow chest in defense. He didn't know how he could get himself to be this emotional, to go against his own herd, but if Kaia was on his side, perhaps they'd understand... life was, after all, quite precious in this cold wilderness.
WC:621 POST #4 |
|
|
|
Post by mariahwhy on Jul 28, 2018 15:50:02 GMT -6
Tobias | Raider
Toby didn't not lower his head, but allowed himself a small glance down at the wisps of flame crackling briefly around his hooves. Instinct told him to jump away from the fire, but he forced himself to stand still as Lark was doing. He was glad he had, when the flames died and he realized they hadn't burnt hm at all. They had just been a warning. He narrowed his eyes further at the offending stallion. If he was truly innocent surely he wouldn't have been so worried about their questions. A liar was always good at spotting another liar. And yet Lark told him to stand down. Reluctantly Toby lowered the spear, but his teke gripped it tighter when suddenly another body entered the picture. Oh, just some mare. She definitely was not a threat, with the splint and a slight limp. His teke lightened its grip just ever so slightly on his weapon. He gave a scoff at Lark's retort, but before he could even consider throwing in another unnecessary remark a call of "Raiders!" sounded through the fog. It was an immediate call to arms for the young stallion. His spear came back out, and he looked up at Lark questioningly. Was he of better use here, with the shield and these two strangers, or with whatever trouble had warranted a raider call? The paint stallion made the decision for them though. "Hey!" Toby called after him. Sure, he himself had been considering trotting off to investigate, but for this stallion to do so was unacceptable under interrogation. Who did he think he was? He followed them doggedly, surprised to see there was a foal with the mare that had appeared. He held his spear out as if herding them though he had no say on where they went right now. The scene they came upon was... not what he had expected. All the raiders were surrounding two other strangers, Veresk, and some foal. The paint with them became immediately tense, and charged forward. The appaloosa readied his spear, expecting an all-out brawl to break out. But to his surprise (and slight amusement) the young, roan stallion got the same "stand down" that he had received. But then the Scout had to chime in. Toby did not like scouts. He much preferred the raider approach of "weapons first, questions later." Instead of putting away his spear his jabbed the hilt into the ground, frowning at Veresk and nodding at the grey raider's words, realizing how roughed up the former looked. They had attacked and now Veresk expected them to do nothing? Children had nothing to do with it, as far as Toby was concerned. There could always be more children. His mom had proved that. "If they deserve to leave unharmed then surely they can answer our questions first. Where do you come from?" he directed back towards Ansgar. He motioned towards Lark, "Like he said you're a long way off from Skeldr Town."
(Post 3: 497 words)
|
|
|
|
Post by tarriedsea on Jul 28, 2018 16:01:44 GMT -6
Lark War Forged | Shield
When the mare and child entered behind the painted stallion, Lark's gaze softened by a hair. Maybe he truly was traveling with family.
Before he had a moment to ask the strangers where they hailed from, shouts rang through the air. The stranger glanced at his mare and moved toward them. Lark opened his mouth to tell him to stop, but realized holding him too long here would be foolish if they were telling the truth. He clenched his jaw, stepping in line behind the mare & foal.
And what he saw next was his team- his crew- beginning to gather around a couple of strangers in assessment. Suspicion.
And of all of them, Veresk was the one to speak up.
"They do not mean you or anyone here any harm. I have met them both before during a scouting trip during the winter, they are not hostile and neither are they Vagabonds. They're just travelers."
Lark had underestimated the scout.
Echoing Veresk's advice, Lark strode into the center of the tension. "Do you mean to tell me that my Raiders and scouts are threatening to harm a child?"
He glanced at the daughter in question, hidden behind the flanks of the strangers. Were his soldiers seriously ready to attack any stranger that entered the premises? Had his team lost their goddamn minds?
Toby attempted to rekindle the interrogation, but by now Lark was silently raging in embarrassment at his Forged's actions.
"Tobias, I appreciate your persistence, but I believe we've caused them enough stress today." A headache loomed in Lark's forehead. The young soldiers were always so eager to throw blood. Had no one here heard of honor? They looked like fools. "The least we can do is let them go in peace and hope word of our actions doesn't return to Hira."
He turned to the crowd gathering.
"Disperse!" he shouted, stomping his hoof. With shuffles and low grumblings, most of them sheathed their weapons and sauntered away.
Lark turned to the painted stallion. "I apologize for the escalation. I'm glad that your daughter is safe."
He dipped his head in blessing and fully sheathed his sword. "Stone beneath your hooves."
Post #3
WC: 370
chibi by the fantastic fynli |
|
