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 Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:32 pm
 (Lines by The Only Black Uke, Color by Phieth)|| Stat Page || Updated: Sep/02/17
Experience || 117
Inventory
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:31 am
 Name: Ruelash[Roo-Alsh]Species: Ice Tribe, MaleClass: SwordsmanTraits:
Violent:
Ruelash is an angry young man who lashes out at his problems with physical force. He likes to hurt things, he likes to be hurt, he likes the act of hurting. Its simply who he is, and he sees nothing wrong with it.
Bitter:
Ruelash blames his problems and failings on external sources. He is never at fault; the world is, and the world sucks! Everybody else sucks! He doesn't suck. However, he doesn't have such a high opinion of himself either. He just doesn't care.
Chivalrous:
Ruelash has a soft spot in his angry turbulent soul: females of all ages. He's not testosterone driven, highly sexual, or even highly territorial about women, he just tends to be more willing to be nice to them than men, and maybe a bit protective. He likes strong women – he's certainly not about to say that a woman's place is the home – but he tolerates that role for a woman, and not so much for a man. He also will go out of his way to help a woman, even offering to do things for her. His actions, though, will always be rough around the edges – nice really is not something he is used to. Personality: Ruelash is a bitter, angry, violent young man. There doesn't seem to be any reason for his attitude: he has been this way since he was little, so you can't blame it on hormones, and he has a good family, so you can't blame it on them either. He doesn't care, seeing the rest of the world as annoying for nagging him about something he doesn't see as a problem.
When he was little, he used to hit other children and otherwise play rough. Seeing this, his parents and the elders tried to channel his anger into something benefiting the tribe, usually things such as scouting or checking a hunter's traps: things that get him away from the tribe.
As long as he's pointed in a direction, he is livable to be around. This is in part because, on these missions, he has found that he likes to be away from his tribe in the middle of nowhere. He likes to be active and doing something, preferably something violent: A fight would be the best. But if he cant do that, then at least moving around and doing something will keep him from starting something out of boredom. Not being particularly bright, tasks have to be laid out fairly clearly, but he will do them, and is competant at most things set before him.
Ruelash is, and has always been, a vicious jackass. However, he has a soft side towards women. He has no idea where this comes from, aside from it being so deep within him that it is beyond control. Interacting with a woman invokes a primal desire to not hurt her and to be, if not nice, than genial.
So, he is very likely to have friends who are women, and perhaps even really like some of them.
Winta, especially, intrigues him. She is 'real', like most other people are not. And, he is starting to realize, he likes her, he actually likes her.Internal Trait: Rugged- The outdoors is more his home than the house he grew up in.
Internal Concept: Blood Red sunsetColor: Murky Purple [color=#6B036B] [/color]
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:03 pm
The Story:
When Ruelash was little, he was a violent, tempermental child, lashing out at others and playing very rough with his peers. His mother managed to help him gain an appreciation for the wild and outdoors, and his brother tried to instill something akin to a sense of duty in him. He encouraged the elders to send him out on various missions where he could put his violent tendancies to good use.
They hoped that it would ingrain in him the meaning of responsibility and, perhaps, mellow him a bit. Its been a mixed success: he takes the missions willingly, but has no regard to the consequences of those missions. He just wants to get out there, do something, and hit stuff.
Unfortunately in a stroke of bad luck, his brother- the one person he really cared about and respected (Not entirely counting Jawaad) took a fatal fall down a ravine. It was no fault of Ruelash and he knows it. But the village, knowing his violent tendencies, blamed him for the death, going so far as to spread rumors of murder. No evidence was found and his explanation was plausable, but it shook him up to no end and fueled his constant anger into a smouldering rage. After all, he hadn't done in his brother. And when he did kill someone, he knows that he would make sure they all knew.
When he helped some bounty hunters kill a bandit and his raptrix, he didn't shut up about it for a week. Everybody in Secer knew what he had done. He had killed a man, and he was not hiding it.
Boueyed by this victory, he waltzed into the tournament with great eagerness- despite it being hot as hell. He carved his way all the way to the third place slot before he was downed by a shield wielder. It was fun, and he felt pretty good.
Especially since Winta was there.
Winta. The strange Leaf woman that stole some away something from him. He doesn't know what, or whether he wants it back. All he knows is that he doesn't hate her. Maybe... even likes her. It was strange having someone to talk to who understood him so well. After the tournament ended and he had to return home, he found himself looking forward to seeing her again.
He was, however, distracted when a woman was found dead by his house, the murder weapon in his room. The issue was resolved when he found the real killer, not because he had tried, but because he had just been in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
Once that affair had passed, he went on with his life. He would go on hunts alone, or with his new companion, a black Aldabuk named Direk, using his new shiny dual blades to cut down animals to bring back. He traded the goods he got from the animals for other things, and even made a coat for Direk.
But there was one prey that stuck in his mind – a Nehredile he began to name Kashib. Kashib the trickster, Kashib the annoying. The nehredile constantly humiliated and evaded him, through many attempts to kill it.
His obsession was interrupted by a group of men who took him under their wing, training him and letting him go with them on 'jobs'. He learned how to tolerate people, as well as a series of new sword and fighting techniques.
He had to bid them a brief and not-particularly-tearful adeiu when Direk began to enter heat. Concerned for his Aldabuk, he travelled to Jahuar, where the Beast tamer Lassarra (and Direk's former owner) lived to consult her. Along the way, he met a stupid wind tribe boy trying to go to Zena in the winter, got into another fight with the Alkidike Hybrid with the hammer he had beaten in the tournament (he was crushed mightily) and, also, met a horrible little girl that got him attacked by Radaku.
All this to find out that there was nothing wrong with Direk at all and that she would be fine.
Fortunately, war was approaching, and he could take out his frustrations there.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:26 pm
Positive: Iroia ---Winta She thinks like me. She likes what I like. Where has someone so real been all of my life?
Hopefully, I'll see her again. And maybe she'll have some interesting weapons for me.
I'm... actually.... excited.Neutral: Keilana She's a foreigner, but hey. I guess she ain't all bad, is she? We had a great talk 'bout hammers. Got a new 'preciation for hammers. A few good ideas too! Ya can throw hammers, ya know...Bhima ----Kaalnia ----[Dyakida ---Biroki ---Chalcedony ---Negative:Yaholo Stupid ugly hammer b*****d. Them hammers... they hurt. I can't wait to fight 'im again and stab him a buncha times. grrrrrIkkio AUUUGHHH this brat is horrible an' I don' like her. She got me inta a Radaku den, which was all well and good, but then the little s**** has the gall to be a little piss and lie to me!Other:Direk My Aldabuk. Yes, her name is neat. Yes I named 'er m'self. No, she ain't for sale.
She's a real vicious beauty, ain't ye? Aww, lookit 'er bitin me! Just like I taught her! Good girl!
Father (Travelling): Ruelash's father, like his brother, is a scout and is often abroad, making sure the known paths through the wastes are clear, safe, and current. He's rarely home, but when he is he is a fairly amicable guy. He loves to play with his grandchildren. Ruelash is neutral towards him.
Mother (Deceased): His mother was a hunter, and very protective of him. She died of illness when he was young, maybe 6 or so. no matter what he did or didn't do, no matter what he was blamed for, she still found the time to give him a hug and a kiss. She is, perhaps, one of the root causes of his more pleasant attitude to women.
Veshki - brother (deceased): The only male Earthling that Lash could be said to have liked and respected. He looked up to his brother, but when veshki died the 'weak' way he did, lash felt betrayed somewhat.
Ranla – Sister-in-law: Ranla was Veshki's wife. She dislikes Ruelash intensely and tries to keep him away from her children... which is difficult when her daughters actively seek him out. She feels that he is responsible for her husbands death and remains convinced that he is a murderer.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:47 pm
Home Ruelash has no real home in his heart, save for the wild outdoors. However, when back at the village, he lives with his sister in their parent's old home.
Its a moderately roomy home where he can brood, eat, and make his own rough clothing and acessories.
Inventory:
A thick lovely coat
Sharp things
Slingshot
A lucky paw
Various trinkets and trophies dangling from a belt
Spike-soled boots for gripping ice
He also has rations, a beltknife and other useful things for surviving outside at a moments notice.Skills and Abilities:
Ruelash is a swordsman, and so he can use his swords to great effect. Strategy, however, is not his strong point. He is relentless and ferocious but not particularly intelligent.
He is cunning, and has good instincts.
They don't serve him well when dealing with people, but when he's alone in an harsh and unforgiving environment, he comes out of it alive and satsified. Survival is his skill. One day he will be good at fighting, but for now, he is good at not dying.
As for magic, he has such a deep respect (and, possibly devotion) to Bergchi that he learned a little ice magic. Its a homage to the harsh, icy tundra and the ferocity of the blizzards he often faces. He cant really do anything productive with it, but he can use a few small spells in a pinch, maybe make snowdrifts. He's definitely not a mage, but he likes having it at his fingertips.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:49 pm
* does not count
In Progress
X A storm rolls in ** Ruelash and Iriyana
Trashed:
X In his Footsteps we Walk... ** Ruelash, Jawaad *
X Trying not to Kill Each Other ** Group RP: Ruelash, Winta, Sin'qua, Borra, Jawaad?
X The Song and the Avalanche ** Ruelash and Shiri
X Tea Time? ** Ruelash, Alek, ....
X Travelling + Blizzards = NO ** Viveka and Ruelash *
X Alda-Buckingham ** Ruelash, Lassarra, Direk
X Frost Burns ** Ruelash and Kiyelt *
X Caution: Volatile if Handled! ** Ruelash, Uquin, Biroki
Complete
X Musings and Critters ** Solo, 1716 words
X Blizzard pt 1 ** Solo, 469 words
XX An Old Story ** Ruelash, Zuri (in the past)- response is 107 words
X Blizzard pt 2 ** solo, 634 words
X Blizzard pt 3 ** Solo, 609 words
X Blizzard pt 4 ** Solo, 400 words
X Blizzard pt 5 ** Solo, 448 words
X Blizzard pt 6 ** Solo, 446 words
X Blizzard pt 7 ** Solo, 339 words
X Blizzard pt 8 ** Solo, 857 words
XX Its Snow, You Moron. ** Ruelash, Keilana - Response is 350 words
XX Bring a Coat! ** Ruelash, Winta - Response is 127 words *
X The Hunt ** Class Affinity Solo, 2789 words
X Burnt Purple ** Ruelash, Winta
XX ** Meta Ch 4: Tournament Stands * (10 posts) Response is 167 words
X Meta Battle: Tournament Round 1 ** Ruelash vs Kaalnia (WON)
X Battle: Tournament Round 2 ** Ruelash vs Bhima (WON)
X Battle: Tournament Round 3 ** Ruelash vs Yaholo (WON)
X Battle: Tournament Round 4 ** Ruelash vs Chalcedony (LOST)
X Changing Tides ** Winta and Ruelash
XX ** Class Quest, Response is 221 words
X Direk ** Solo 1046 words
X Coat ** Solo 830 words
X BEAST BATTLE: Poked ** Nehredile, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Delicious Walking Jerky ** Parak, Wonx3
X BEAST BATTLE: Poked... Again ** Nehredile, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Feeling Badass AND getting Furs! ** Raoti x 2, WON x2
X BEAST BATTLE: Direk Kicks Lash's Butt! ** Aldabuck (Direk), Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Oh crap, it brought a friend... ** Nehredile x2, Lost x2
X BEAST BATTLE: Its getting sneakier... ** Nehredile, Lost
X The Hunt for Khasib ** Solo, 614 words
X BEAST BATTLE: Teach Him some Manners! ** Aldabuck (Direk), Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: CLAWS IN MY HAIR ** Sailscale, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: It got away... ** Raoti, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Can't Get Those damn Eggs... ** Sailscale x2, Lost x2
X BEAST BATTLE: Not Worth a Fourth Try ** Sailscale x 2, Lost x 2
X Eggs ** Solo, 1226 words
X BEAST BATTLE: He'd probably deserve to get stomped ** Awatta, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: No 'Moby' in this title... ** Nehredile, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Hide n' Seek ** Nehredile, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Seek n' hide ** Nehredile, lost
X BEAST BATTLE: No more hiding ** Nehredile, lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Exasperation ** Nehredile, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Not Khashib, but still a victory ** Nehredile, won
X BEAST BATTLE: Treats are Owed for this Nonsense ** Aldabuck, lost
X BEAST BATTLE: Classless Oaf ** Aldabuk, Lost
X BEAST BATTLE: We tire of these antics. ** Aldabuk, Lost
X Training ** Solo 705 words
X Leaving ** Solo 587 words
XX Crossing The Border ** Nuawahn and Ruelash, response is 177 words
X ** BATTLE: Ruelash vs Yaholo (Tale, LOST)
XXXXXX Red in Tooth and Claw ** Ikkio and Ruelash (Biroki Cameo), Responses are 255 and 149 words
X ** Meta Ch. 5: Invasion, Camp
X ** Meta Ch. 5: Invasion, Into the Thick of things (Battle Credit)
X ** Meta Ch. 5: invasion, Preparing for the worst
X ** Meta Ch. 5 Invasion Response (341 words)
X Hate and Betrayal ** Solo, 1235 words
XX Two Peas in a Very Scary Pod ** Ruelash and Iroia (Response is 268 words)
XX BEAST BATTLE: The Best way of finding Supplies ** Sailscale win x 4 loss x 1 (Response is 257 Words)
X BEAST BATTLE: Meat to go with Meat ** (Ruelash and Ogbonna vs Sailscales)
XX Class Quest
X ** Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Oban Camp
X ** Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Tale Camp
X ** Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Battle
XX ** Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Responses (180 words, 466 words)
X ** BATTLE: Ruelash vs Kiyelt (Tale, Won)
XX ** Tis the Season, Versatile Prompt: Iroia, Ruelash, Votzhem, Sezarra, Sauron (Response is 286 words)
X BATTLE: Ruelash vs Sauron and Nuawahn (Won?)
XX ** Rain isnt the only problem, Versatile prompt: Ruelash, Neska, Vollerai (Response is 155 words)
X ** BATTLE: Ruelash vs Kaalnia (Jahuar, Won)
XX Stop yer Squalling ** Ruelash, Kiunyki
X Disaster Market ** Ruelash, Kiunyki, Iroia, Votzhem, Kaalnia *
X Longing for Ice and Snow ** Solo, 1076 words
X Meta: Ch 7 Rising Storm (Sauti/Zena)
XX Meta: Ch 7 The Time has Come (Response is 180 words, 1 vp and 1 battle)
X Battle: Kaalnia vs Ruelash ** WON
X Finding the Elusive Safety ** Solo, 561 words
X Survival, Pure and Simple ** Solo, 350 Words
X Direk is Not Happy ** Solo 340 words
XXXXX Boredom and Competition** Crafting - Necklace Solos
X Getting my Bearings ** Solo, 500 words
X Longing for War ** Solo, 679 words
X Its a Twin Thing ** Ruelash, Iroia, Arronthain, Volkarosh
XX Sins and Virtues ** CYOA, 218 words
X Bittersweet Achievement ** Class Solo, 2318 words
X At Large ** World Event, Ruelash and Aldren
XX Walls Between Mountains ** PRP: Ruelash and Votzhem, 285 words
X ** Meta: Jauhar's Festival of Lights - Prayers to Serin
X ** Beast Battle: Blood Kin, Kin of Blood - Witu, winx1 losex1
X ** Crafting Solo: Delicates - Skirt, Failure
X In Sickness ** Solo, 1143 Words
---- Growth Progress Stage 4-Legendary RP Growth Reqs 14/80 EXP Growth Points 1/20 Legendary Quest Needed
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:03 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:04 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:39 pm
** Musings and Critters - Solo- 1716 words **
Ruelash looked down the deep ravine, blue-white with ice. He could see, far below, the vein of rushing white water who's roar echoed up the ravine, shaking the air with a contemplative growl.
He knelt at the very edge, taking in the beauty of it all and its hard harshness. It was deadly and uncaring, this mouth of Bergchi.
If he looked down, very carefully balancing so that he wouldn't fall off the edge, he could see the huge boulders of ice and the jagged spires that lined the walls and sides of the river, the takers of his elder brothers life. Well. The fall itself had probably done it, but the sharp sword-like edges below had finished the job. Ruelash was very familiar with them. After all, he had been the one to climb down the fissure and bring his brother's broken body back to the village.
At the time, he had just become a Prentice. And already, they believed that he had murdered his brother.
He could see why they would think such a thing. It was well known that he was a violent teenager, and was certainly capable of murder. They knew that he hated all of them, with their whining and stupid superiority complexes. He wouldn't mind an excuse to slit their pretty little blue throats. Any excuse. He had made sure they knew that he was a threat to them since he first got in trouble. It was more fun that way.
Just...
He couldn't understand why they blamed him when he told them, quite honestly, that his brother, through no fault of his own, fell off a cliff. He didn't lie about things like that. It was just another example of those stupid snot-brained shitheads whining about something they believed to be true. Yes, he hated all of their guts. But if he had killed Veshki, he would have let them all know. He didn't see the point in covering up his deed. He hadn't killed anybody yet, and when he finally did, he would make sure everybody knew.
Veshki's death bothered him on a deeper level, too. Ruelash had never thought about his brother dying in anything more than abstract terms before it actually happened... but he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Veshki had been tough. He should have died a warrior's death, fighting against a massive predator or in a blizzard. Or, hell, against Ruelash. But instead he fell off a ******** cliff! Where was the bravery in that? The glory? The valor? Nowhere! It wasn't as bad as dying of old age, but to Ruelash it was pretty damn close!
Add to that the look on Veshki's face just before he fell... a look of fear. Ruelash was certain it was fear on his brother's face. It was his last memory of his brother, and it was deeply engraved in his mind. Ruelash didn't think he could ever forget it. Why would he have been afraid? Was it the fall? Was it the prospect of a gruesome death on the sharp edges below? Or had he been afraid of Ruelash himself? Either way, Ruelash felt slightly betrayed. His brother was strong and tough! He should have faced death with bravery, or even surprise! Not fear!
Ruelash himself felt no fear as he looked down into the fissure, only exhileration. He thrived for danger. Lived for it, even.
He drew back from the edge. Whatever. What was done was done, what happened had happened, and it had happened years ago.
He was here to do a job because those whining b*****d elders had told him to. They spoke with equal parts threat... and fear.
They were afraid of him, which he relished. To try to control him, they threatened him.
He wasn't afraid of them, he bet he could take them. Eventually. He was aware of his abilities, and okay, he did respect one or two of the elders. It would be annoying if he got himself killed quickly in a fight. You couldn't test your strength at all in a quick fight. It had to go on for a while.
The other reason he didn't fight them yet was because he enjoyed it. He enjoyed being ordered to do boring tasks because it meant that they feared him, and thought they could control him. He relished their fear and false relief. False, because he could always say no and stab at least one of them before they finished him.
He relished the power he had over them that made them afraid, that made them need to control him.
It was ******** great.
As an added bonus, he had an excuse to get out of the stupid village for a while without some villager whining that he was neglecting whatever or whatever, because they had to whine at him about something, didn't they.
He had been ordered to do this, so they should shut the ******** up.
They usually did.
Weak, whining idiots.
He stood, spitting a fat clump of saliva down into the ravine. It probably froze long before it hit the river's narrow bank, far below. He didn't particularly care about that.
It was chill in that early morning way, except moreso. This was Zena, after all, land of cold and snow. He wouldn't have it any other way. It was a merciless, harsh land. Mother Bergchi ruled here, and she didn't whine. She howled, with the voice of a blizzard. And, when she did not howl, she whispered with the quiet patter of snow on snow, a hiss that became silence.
In other words (ruelash's words) damn nice. When Bergchi spoke, his entire body listened, his ever-present frustration falling silent before it, leaving him empty and filling him with her quiet chill. There were some who could articulate this feeling, put it to words, describe it so that even those in steamy Jahuar could know the feeling.
Not Ruelash.
To Ruelash, it was a feeling, just a feeling. A damn nice feeling that he couldn't put to words.
He walked along the ravine, paying it no further heed. Why should he? He could visit at any time.
In this chilly dawn, he was trying to find a lost pet. Tracking was a noble, brave profession, sure. His mother had been a tracker, and he had only respect for her, even though she died of sickness instead of at Berghi's hands.
But a pet?!
The Elders were probably running low on things to make him do.
The tracks led here, and- though there was fresh snow blotting out the small footprints of the critter, he could track it further.
What if it had gone over the edge? That would be hilarious. Of course, it would mean more whining and baseless accusations, but it would be funny.
Finally, he saw it, sniffing at a patch of small flowers near the edge of the ravine. Huh. It was a tiny, pudgy... thing. Cute, in a disgusting way. And stupid. Ruelash supposed it was lucky that he came along and not some predator.
Briefly, he contemplated punting the stupid creature into the ravine. Or, better yet, having it for breakfast. It was its own fault for running away from its cushy home and into Bergchi's jaws. Ruelash stared down at it, and, after some obliviousness, it stared right back with limpid, idiotic, trusting eyes. He smirked.
He returned to the village holding the -very much alive- critter snuggled in his arms. A child, bundled up in furs, their face shining with frozen tears, was talking anxiously with the elders. The child spotted him and, before the elders could react, the youngling had streaked over and looked up at him with big yellow eyes that shone with joy.
"Its Tadija! You brought back Tadija!" The smile on the child's face made Ruelash grin all the more, and not entirely pleasantly.
But then he noticed something.
The youngling was a girl, a little girl. The grin faded into a soured expression, the sort a person makes when they drink spoiled milk.
He had been intending to be horrible and give them all an actual reason to hate him. He had planned it out in the pink glow of dawn, something so horrible and cruel that it felt good even to imagine it.
But... he couldn't do what he had planned. Not to a girl, even one who wasn't afraid of him yet. Especially one who wasn't afraid of him yet. It was just... Just... No. He couldn't do it.
He knelt and held out the critter.
"Here." he growled, "Take it."
The youngling took her pet, hugged it, and bounded away before coming to a halt, turning around, and uttering two words he had genuinely, wholly not expected to hear.
"Thank you!"
Then they ran off to where anxious parents eyed him as if he was a dangerous beast.
Hell, he was a dangerous beast. He glared after the kid, but couldn't help feeling a little... good.
Then the whispers started, people staring at him. Talking about him. He had keen ears. He didn't care what they said about him, but ugh. It was so annoying. He gave them a piercing, fierce glare and stomped off.
It was all too sweet. Too cute. Too... too... nice. He felt good and crummy. He had really wanted to punt the annoying little thing. Especially after it had pissed all over his sleeve cuff, freezing the fur into a useless, smelly state. Not that his furs weren't smelly, but they weren't frozen either! Stupid, stupid creature.
But...
The child was a girl. He couldn't do that to her. It would have been wrong.
He discarded his rough gloves and punched the painted stone behind his sister's hut hard enough to bruise his knuckles. The pain released his frustration and anger.
He grinned maniacally as he became charged with adrenaline, and punched the rock again and again, imagining the stupid little creature's face under his fists. He kept going until his knuckles began to bleed, staining his blue skin a dark purple.
Only when he was sated with violence, did he respond to the delicious smell of breakfast emanating from his sister's hut. His stomach rumbled and he rubbed his hurting knuckles and strode home.
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Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:33 pm
** Blizzard pt 1 - Solo- 469 words **
This time, Ruelash was certain that the elders were trying to kill him.
He was carrying a package to a settlement just through a nearby pass. Grunt work, not all that interesting, honestly, but it got him outside and away from everyone. Just how he liked it.
Thing was, though it was early in blizzard season.
Everybody knew that there was always a big one that hit like a ram, just to start it off.
And it was happening right now, right in the pass... and he was stuck in it. Cold snapped and bit at him through his thick furs, and the wind roared white with snow against his face.
He was sure that the elders had known that this storm would hit. They were a bunch of clever old birds.
So they wanted him dead, but didn't have the guts to stab him themselves? Of course not! They were cowards, waiting for Bergchi to do their dirty work.
Well, he couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when he returned alive!
The thought brought him some much needed warmth.
First things first- He needed to find shelter before things got too bad even for him. He kept to a wall of the pass, scouting along it. He knew this pass, and he knew that he was near a nice hollow he could duck into, that would protect him from the worst of it.
His questing hand dipped suddenly as he brushed it in the moving whiteness.
Ah! There it was!
He ducked in and suddenly the howls seemed further away, though the world roiled white just a few inches away.
He used his climbing pinions to pin up a 'door' made from some hides he was carrying with him for blankets. He made a made a small fire out of what fuel he had brought with him, and waited.
Icicles in the hollow dripped in the warmth and Ruelash, happy to have a new source of water and not relishing those icicles falling down on his head, shook them free, broke them up, and put them in a cauldron to melt down into fresh water.
Actually... he took out a bag of powder. He should heat up the water and celebrate a bit. He was outsmarting those elders, and he might as well enjoy it. He warmed his hands by the fire and listened to the storm outside his little shelter.
As the icicles began to melt, he laid back and relaxed on his pack. It would be a while. Sure, later he would have to find a break in the storm and grab some more firewood, but for now he was prepared enough for at least a few hours. He always was.
But for now, he simply enjoyed the thrill of danger, of survival.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 6:25 pm
** An Old Story - Solo- Ruelash, Zuri (in the past) **
Response is 107 words
(Technically the blizzard happens before he meets Kei)
Ruelash drank the cup of warm soup. A bit thin, yeah, but it at least kept him going.
Yeah. That whole fight thing with the halfbreed had been a bit of a dissappointment, to be ******** sure.
He wondered where she was now. He'd heard a rumor she'd up and ******** been to wimpy to fight him, so obviously her trek to the far corners of Tendajii was doomed to failure. She'd die, and the... whatevers... that were out there... would pick her bones.
Whatever. WHATEVER.
He drank more of the soup, letting it warm his bones.
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:29 am
** Blizzard pt 2 - Solo- 634 words **
Ruelash awoke to silence.
He was wrapped in furs in the smoke-filled alcove, warmed by the dying embers of his fire, the heat held in by the stone around him and the fur he had hung up.
It would not last for long, but he had at least gotten some rest. He finished off the cooled soup in a gulp and pulled back his improvised curtain to look outside.
The world was a world of neatly split white and grey. The winds were calmed caresses, though the promise of more of their wrath rode on the nipping breaths that came down the pass.
The blizzard wasn't over, but it was, for now, calm.
Ruelash picked up his pack, leaving the makeshift shelter intact.
He'd go and make the most of this lull, get himself some supplies.
He didn't pack everything up. Even if he found a better shelter and would really like some of the supplies he had here, he didn't want to waste time packing them up. He had a good sense for when the winds would bite again, and a good sense of direction.
He'd rather be outside and able to come back then to have never left at all.
He stepped out, making tracks in the virgin snow with great care. He'd be good once he got to the bottom- not many pitfalls in this pass. He knew this area, knew where he could find more wood and some food.
Wood was important. The fire had to be kept up. It was warmth. It was life.
Without it, he'd freeze to death.
Food was good too, it would sustain him.
But warmth was more important in these lands at times.
He made his way to the pass floor- though the word 'floor' itself was debatable as everything was covered with a thick fall of snow- and headed towards the forest he knew- KNEW- was there.
It took him a while, but it stood, still, cloaked in sparkling white. Even if he got no meat, it at least would give him wood. He took out his dagger- a twisted thing of glass that he was proud of- and stalked towards the woods, ears and eyes alert.
Movement in the eternal stillness. A rustle on a tree, a plop of snow.
Ruelash slowed, his sharp eyes scanning the tree.
Movement.
It was a Chuka, a grey and brown rodent with a fluffy tail. It used this tail to signal, but Ruelash cared only that he could get a nice, furry trophy from the Chuka, as well as some small furs and meat. Normally lean meat, but it was blizzard season, so there would be more of the nourishing fat.
It skittered along the branch of the tree, sniffing at the air.
Ruelash's face contorted in concentration as he knelt down slowly and formed a snowball before rising, equally slowly, and taking aim.
He threw the snowball, hitting the Chuka with enough force that it unbalanced and fell, landing on a patch of unsnowed ground, stunned.
His concentration dissolved into a wild grin as he hurried forward and picked up the recovering creature by the neck ruff. He looked at it for a moment as it's eyes cleared and its breathing grew less labored.
Then he smirked as he broke it's neck.
He strung the corpse on his pack.
Good. That would be dinner.
He made another snowball and looked around for more Chuka to kill, but none presented themselves.
Dissappointed, he began collecting wood from the ground. It was wet from the snow, sure, but he had enough wood back at the shelter to dry it off, and if he had to, he could always ventilate his shelter and smoke meat.
He placed the pieces of deadwood in his pack, and moved on.
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:09 am
** Blizzard pt 3 - Solo- 609 words **
The wind was starting to pick up again. He could feel it playfully nipping at him as he nabbed a third Chuka and tied it to his pack. He had wood, he had meat and he had a few herbs and roots he had found around, sheltered from the snow by the trees and the ground.
A few grubs, too, that he had found hibernating under a rock. Tasty little morsels, full of fat and delicious when fried up.
There weren't many insects in Zena, though a few small ones came out in the thawed months. Most crawled under the ground.
Ruelash... did not know these things. He knew what he felt he had to know, and didn't know what he felt he didn't have to know. He did know that the bugs he found under rocks were safe to eat (he'd tried them before) and had a satisfying crunch.
He turned back the way he came, tromping through the woods with his refreshed supplies.
The sky grew more and more ominous and, on a hunch, he set up his hood and face covering. Wouldn't do to lose his ears to the blizzard's bite.
He knew this kind of blizzard. It'd be peaceful for one moment and then, out of nowhere, it would hit you with the gusts of a thousand howling winds. It was like a Mammu. Big and powerful, bursting with speed, but as still as a rock until then.
He liked mammu. Not as much as he liked Raptrix, though!
Zena was full of amazing creatures who knew that life was bloody in tooth and claw.
The villagers didn't realize this, oh no!
They thought they were safe in their homes, snuggled in their superiority complexes. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...
He had reached the pass. He just had to climb up the ledge to his shelter. He began to follow his own footsteps, the most reliable trail here.
The n** of the wind suddenly swirled around him and, like a wall of ferocity, the winds came back. Snow pelted into his eyes as the blizzard returned for act two, sending him reeling to one side.
"STUPID STUPID BASTARDS!!!" he screamed his thoughts with the wind, finishing his thought as he struggled to climb with his new load and the wind. He hunkered down, using the fallen snow to defend against the torrential snow, carving his old tracks into a trail. He couldn't see much more than footprints and snow- white on the ground, speckled green-grey at top. His digging hands reached the fur and he ducked inside to the shelter, seeking reprieve.
He shook off the snow at the entryway, lest his coat become wet.
The fire was mostly dead so he began building a new one, using some of the dry wood and some of the wet wood.
He poked at his fledgeling fire moodily, watching it lest it struggle to burn.
It hadn't been a bad day, overall. He managed to get food afterall.
He'd been hoping for something bigger than a Chuka, though.
But he'd survive, and have a bunch of little pelts and fluffy tails to bring home.
He was proud of the snowball trick, actually. He didn't usually think very much, but that was a clever idea.
Ideas were just so rare. He had no choice but to be pleased with himself.
He poked at the fire, wrestling it into something resembling life-giving heat. He poked at it some more before setting up the stewpot with some snow for water.
Chuka soup. Cooked Chuka meat.
Chuka for dinner.
He licked his lips. Yum.
He set about to cleaning the Chuka carcasses.
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:21 am
** Blizzard pt 4 - Solo- 400 words **
The blizzard roared on mercilessly outside, but Ruelash's shelter was actually quite homey.
It smelled of herbed soup and roasted Chuka meat. He stirred the soup and flipped the cooking pieces of chuka meat in the fire, adding some more wood to it as he did so.
This was turning out great! The blizzard could go on and on outside! He had plenty of food here, and water if he ate the snow!
The snow he had brushed from his coat was a puddle on the floor of the alcove, his coat fairly warm and dry with his pack on the opposite wall.
He was hungry. The soup would be done soon, but he speared a piece of meat on his little dagger and inspected it, picking it up and cutting off a small piece .
Yeah. That was the stuff. He had another piece before putting it back in the fire for a bit longer. Wouldn't be bad to cook it a bit more.
He contemplated the smoke wafting out the entryway at the roof of the alcove.
If he was REALLY stuck, he could get more meat and smoke it.
That'd be a good idea.
For now, though, he didn't have the stuff to build a smoking apparatus or anything.
an... he realized as an afterthought, I wouldn' be able ta' breathe.
So maybe no smoking meats.
He stirred the soup again, watching how it flowed.
Yeah.
It was just about done.
He got out his bowl and spoon, wiping them with a dirty cloth.
His sister Jawaad had bought him these bowls. He was pretty damn happy about them.
They were good, functional bowls with a design on them.
He didn't mind designs, just stupid and frivolous designs like leaves n' s**t.
But this bowl? No fancy-smancy pictures or leaves or whatever. Just a nice glaze and a dark bluish border. Nice. Practical. And even he could admit (out loud, even) that it was pretty to look at.
He spooned himself a helping of soup and grabbed a hunk of meat, and helped himself to his dinner, feeling very smug and, as he tore into the meat, very satisfyingly savage.
It was a good feeling to be so uncivilized as the wind followed suit, roaring like a dragon outside and spewing icey whiteness at the land.
The world was savage too, after all.
Just ask the Chuka.
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:54 am
** Blizzard pt 5 - Solo- 448 words **
Ruelash dozed.
He didn't know how long he had been trapped in his alcove, or how long the blizzard planned on raging on outside.
What he did know was that he still had plenty of food, not quite so plenty of wood, and that he had scooped snow from outside to fill his drinking cup a few times. Also, eventually he had needed to sleep a bit.
Other than that, time seemed to stand still.
*Crack.*
A blast of chill, snowy air roused him. He sprang to his feet, crouching, dagger in hand.
his 'door' had been damaged. One of the corners of the hide now drooped down, the piton used to hold it up dangling from it. Snowy winds breezed in through the hole as he cursed and glowered.
The damn thing must have lost it's hold on the rock and come off. He pulled his coat on and climbed out into the raging storm, grabbing the piton and his hammer. He could barely see his own hands in the driving wind that nipped through his gloves as he tried to reattach the piton to the outside of the shelter. He tried to work as quickly and quietly as he could- The snow was many feet high now, and he didn't want an avalanche to happen.
The piton was damaged and it was being difficult. He raised his hammer once again when he felt... something.
A tremor.
He paused, suddenly wary.
Another tremor, like the very earth was growling.
He did not like that at all.
He dropped the piton and, following instinct honed in the wilds of Zena, ducked into his shelter as a loud cracking sound rang out and a solid curtain of white tumbled down like a vicious, solid waterfall, cutting off the opening and splashing pieces of snow on the hissing remains of his fire. He protected his face as the snow splashed at him and the alcove suddenly became very ******** avalanche.
Ruelash glared at it as if the heat in his soul could melt the disastrous snow.
He'd have to start digging now. Wood had been the problem before, but now it was air.
He'd have to dig, and dig up. Less of a chance of cave in if he packed the snow, and he could get in and out.
And it would get him air.
He looked at the embers of the fire.
Didn't fire breathe too? It was cooling already, and he needed the fire, but what if fire used air too?
He scowled. As he nudged it with a boot and resurrected the flame into a low, desperate blaze.
He'd just have to dig quickly then.
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