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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 9:51 am
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 11:44 am
Rhidian ll 1
Despite the multitude of layers covering her body Rhidian couldn't seem to get warm. Last winter season the family had gone with far to Jauhar and a few surrounding areas for a change. They'd helped out with his work as much as they'd learned about the world outside of Zena and Rhidian had sort of hoped they would do it again this year. However, somehow they'd gotten roped into going with Yngvara and her hunting party to the ancestral lands of the Ild'vann. They weren't meant to stay long; just enough to get a taste of what their forbearers had to endure, but then the mountain had other ideas.
A storm had settled in unlike anything Rhidian had ever seen. At first she'd only been mildly worried, but when the older, more experienced of their group were found making preparations she'd done her best to keep up. The only structure left standing was the stor stal, or the great hall, so all efforts had been made to strengthen it. Supplies were brought in, a spot had been made for their mounts and companions and now...now they just had to wait it out.
The teenager shivered and tugged her thick, furred blanket up tighter around her head. Her mor talked about storms like these; storms that the weak didn't make it out of....would that be her? She wasn't as tough as some of the other Ild'vann so maybe...
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 11:55 am
Silfi ll 1
In truth Silfi wasn't sure why she'd bothered coming. She was a tradesman, better suited to life on the road between the Ild'vann and their buyers in Zidel. At first she'd declined the trip all together, but there was something about the look in her elder sister's eyes...that look of barely disguised sadness that made her change her mind. She knew in her heart that Yngvara only wanted the best for her, but the huntress had also never been able to hide the glee she felt whenever Silfi asked for help learning to shoot. Or tan a hide or just anything from Yngvara's world.
She wanted to stay close and that resulted in being buried under leagues of snow with hunters she barely knew, their anxious beasts and her siblings.
"Don't forget your ears, Rhidian," She murmured, and made sure to tuck the fur tighter around her little sister. When she caught the worried look in the girl's eye she offered a little smile and leaned in to tough her nose to hers. "Ikke bekymre deg; du er trygg her." When she leaned back she straightened her spine and went to place a few more logs on the fire. A massive pit sat in the center of the stor stal with a chimney funneling the undesirable smoke out out through the roof. So long as that was never buried by snow and ice they should be fine...
...but that would also depend on how long they stayed. For now the wood would hold out, but after a few days? Who knew.
Once the fire was stable once more, Silfi went about stirring a large pot of soup she'd kept over the fire. It wasn't much; barely anything more than broth, but at least it was warm. She didn't dare use too much of their stores, but for anyone foolish enough to go outside they would need something to warm their bones.
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:10 pm
Yngvara ll 1
"It's never ending," Serrilda called over the wind and Yngvara begrudgingly nodded. "We should go back."
The pair had taken morning watch and even with the sun high above them it's warmth barely cut through the blizzard. Yuli had only been able to carry them so far before the chiavi could no longer fly. His bitter impatience showed in the way he fought Yngvara, who tugged on his reigns to get him through the snow. Serrilda walked before the pair, the iceling raising her arms to block the wind and the sheer height of the snow nearly swallowed her.
Yuli made a noise of discontent once more, raising his wings to fan them and in his rage he only ended up fanning the snow around them more. Serrilda muttered a curse while Yngvara's was much more audible. It was bad enough trying to discern just where the blizzard was coming from or trying to judge how long it might stay without this stupid, upstart fugl causing issues.
"You wanted to stretch your wings and you did! Rolig!" She gave his reigns a good, hearty tug and while Yuli did settle the dark chiavi's feathers stayed puffed. An outsider might think it was because of the cold but Yngvara knew better.
Have a fit if you want to, you still have a job, Yuli. "I see the smoke!"
"Oh thank the goddess!" Serrilda laughed. "It's only...dritt why is it so far?"
"Because we flew out and we're walking back?"
"...right..."
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 5:25 pm
At first Rhiannon had been excited to see their mar’s ancestral lands, but now she wondered if she much preferred the lands of their far. Even if Jahaur had been sticky with heat and humidity, she at least knew that she could survive there. Currently the blizzard outside had her shivering, the teen worried about the safety of all those who had come along for this trip. She was even more concerned about those who were still outside of their temporary camp, the more experienced hunters still suffering in such an extreme and unexpected blizzard. Still, she tried her best not to show her worry as she helped to pass out what blankets everyone had to each other as they waited for the hunters to return from scouting and bringing back more meat and whatever wild herbs they could gather for the stew. She smiled towards Silfi as she passed, motioning that she could help if needed, but for now she wanted to settle next to Rhidian for a moment to calm her own nerves. “Solen kommer tilbake i morgen.” She whispered, sitting down next to her twin and pressing against her for support as she shivered. All she could hope was that her words weren’t an empty promise and that truly the sun would rise tomorrow once the snows finally stopped tonight.
Rhiannon 1
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 5:25 pm
"Easy, Støv." Ziya patted the side of his ash gray Chiavi as the winds howled around them. The original plan to just go and see the ancestral lands of the Ild'vann for a quick day and then return home had evolved into something that no one was enjoying as the warmer season of Zena somehow transitioned into something more frigid than most winter snows. While others went out to bring in supplies, Ziya had managed to help pull in what he could find with Støv before returning to help settle the familiars that were with the party.
Now he was inside the stor stal with the others, Støv refusing to leave his side even as other chiavi and raptrix huddled together in the corner of the structure where they had piled straw and food for the mounts. Ziya knew that the beasts were taken care of and now his focus was on his family. "Have your søstre not returned yet?" He asked Rhidian and Rhiannon who he saw in the corner, his bi-colored gaze softening as he realized that they were shivering. Despite the bitterness in the air, Ziya had at least been to their ancestral lands a couple of times before and somehow felt more prepared for the cold even though this truly was the worst weather he had seen in ages...if ever. "Yngvara should be fine, but Revna..." Ever since she had taken a chiavi as a mount his middle sister seemed a bit more reckless, thinking that she could easily fly away like any of the larger birds through these skies, and he had to worry that she would push herself too hard in this weather to try to impress others. For now though he wanted to help out more with those he could see, Ziya taking off an outer fur so that he could drape it around the twins. "Regardless…Stormen vil passere snart nok. Let’s try to eat first.” He could go look for the others in a bit if they did not return. For now it would do no one any good if he left their younger sisters alone and ran off into this blizzard without a bite to eat to gain some strength. He needed his energy as well as Støv to fight against those winds.
Ziya 1
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 5:26 pm
“Polaris, fly høyt!” Despite the chilling winds, Revna flew with her chiavi gliding on each gust of wind that came from the upper mountains. The pair of them had sneaked out to track after Yngvara, the hybrid worried about her sister once some time had passed and also wanting to brave the weather. Eventually though even the pair of them couldn’t seem to handle the mix of snow and ice, Polaris slowly sinking closer to the ground as he hovered a few feet from the surface. Revna could only wrap her arms tightly around her mount in support as they glided over the top of the snow. “Yngvara!” Revna managed to raise an arm in greeting as her sister and Serrilda came into view, Polaris scattering snow everywhere as they skidded on the ground in landing.
Revna 1
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 3:59 pm
Rhidian - 2
Her eyes brightened as her twin came into view and Rhidian raised some of her furs, offering Rhiannon a place beside her in the warmth. "Jeg håper det," She murmured. Even with the sounds of the stor stal surrounding them it was impossible to deafen the wind. It battered against their strong hold like a vicious, living creature and surely some spirit must have been angry with them for leaving. Why else would they have been caught up in such a mess?
As she settled into her twin's side, she looked to Ziya and shook her head. "Maybe they're together?" Yngvara spent more time on the mountain than anyone she knew and Revna was wild enough to be a chiavi herself. Surely if anyone could find each other it would be those two?
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 4:13 pm
Silfi - 2
Silfi waved Rhiannon off with a soft smile and motioned toward Rhidian. Her sisters were far from the little girls who clung to one another's hand, but they were still young enough that a little comfort from a sibling could go a long way. Every so often her own eyes would dart toward the door, as if the storm outside were the scouting party instead and once she'd even thought it was; only to see her brother instead.
Once she was sure the 'soup' was as done as it could be, she started to ladle servings into wooden bowls and hand them to however came to claim them. "Maybe you could tell us a story, Rhiannon? I'd love to hear one." It was a poorly disguised attempt at a distraction, but Silfi figured their entire group could use one. "And Rhidian - " She gave her little sister a wink. "-maybe you can do the thing."
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 4:24 pm
"Is that-?" Serrilda held a hand over her eyes, her mouth slightly ajar as she looked up.
"Revna!" There was nothing, but pure worried anger in her tone. "Hva gjør du?! Har du det bra? Hvor lenge har du vært ute?" She held firm to Yuli's reigns as the already agitated Chiavi grew more so upon seeing Polaris. The huntress shushed him, reaching up to place a hand on his beak and bring him into focus.
"I for one am glad to see you," Serrilda beamed. "Storm's bad and it's not letting up. We might be able to leave by morning, but not a moment sooner." She raised her voice just so she could be heard, but even as close as they were it was hard for Yngvara to pick up on some of it. The wind was just getting worse.
Yngvara turned back the way they'd come and was immediately assaulted with a blast of frozen wind. The tips of her ears had started to lose feeling, even with the multitude of layers covering her. "Come on, we need to get back."
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 1:16 pm
“Her er håp.” Though if Revna had gone out there then he had to wonder if she would be in more trouble from the storm or from their sister’s wrath. Ziya’s jaw clenched at the thought. Not from Yngvara chastising their reckless sibling, but from his own concern as well. Even he would be tempted to lecture Revna about this one, but all he could do is hope that they would all return safely soon enough. If not then he would be the next one to go scouting, but for now he wanted to have faith in his sisters and give them time before leaving the others here.
“A story sounds good.” Ziya mused with a thankful smile towards Silfi as he reached for a bowl. “It’ll be a good way to pass time.” Maybe that would ease some of their nerves as they waited out this blizzard together. Though he would feel even better once Revna and Yngvara returned to them, something he hoped would happen sooner than later.
[Ziya 2]
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 1:16 pm
A story? Rhiannon’s gaze lit up at the suggestion as she settled into place next to her twin, the girl enjoying the comfort of their shared warmth beneath the furs. “If you’re certain.” She finally replied, her voice steady even though she was always eager to share stories with those who wanted. She had collected a plethora of folk tales over the years, learning from her elders and from passing merchants while even creating her own twists on stories as well. It would be fun to tell one now, the girl wanting some relief from the stressful situation that they were all currently in.
“Have you heard about the trold that used to roam Zena? Giant creatures mostly of stone that would sluke younglings or even fully grown hunters?” She began quietly, the girl shifting as she prepared to begin a story for her siblings and anyone nearby that was listening in on their conversation.
[Rhiannon 2]
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 1:17 pm
“Ikke lenge!” Revna called out towards Yngvara, her gaze bold despite her older sister’s tone. She was thankful at least towards Serrilda and gave the huntress an appreciative smile. Admittedly she had expected Yngvara to be upset because it was a bit reckless of her, if not a lot in all honesty, to come out in this storm alone and without warning. Revna just hated being still though and there was only so much that one could do at the shelter with so many helping hands already moving about already. “I was worried too.” She added after a moment, bracing herself against the gust of wind even as Polaris stayed at her side now that she had dismounted as a barrier of sorts. The chiavi was trying his best even though he was also feeling the tension of the weather and their meeting, the giant bird’s feathers fluffing in response to Yuli.
“I brought these, just in case.” They wouldn’t last too long, but it might be enough to help them with the final bit of the trek back to shelter. Revna held out two bundles of cloth, one to her sister and Serrilda, and even had one herself tucked in the pockets of her fur lined coat. Inside of the rough material were smooth stones that she had taken directly from the fires back at the encampment, the warmth from the fire still lingering on the stones and more possible to deal with thanks to the cloth wrapped around them.
[Revna 2]
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 4:37 pm
Silfi - 3
A few of those closest to them had already turned; first by the offer of a warm meal and then by the story. Silfi handed her brother a bowl before starting the process of serving the others. She wanted to make sure not to give out too much, though, so her sisters and the other scouts could have some once they'd returned.
And they did. Bit by bit, a few scouts and hunters trickled in, each more frost weary than the last. Though there was still no sign of her sisters...
"Trold? I haven't heard about them since I was a liten gutt." A man murmured into his soup.
"Shhh," his partner hissed. "I want to hear."
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 4:55 pm
Rhidian - 3
Breathing deep through her nose, Rhidian exhaled on a puff of sentient air. For a moment it hovered in front of the twins, as if forbidden from dispersing and instead took life. Rhidian raised a shaky, nervous hand and gently curled her fingers, giving an image to the air as a trold started to form. It's limbs were monstrously thick, it's face a horrid mess and while she wasn't sure this was exactly what Rhiannon was describing she tried.
It was the first time she'd used magic in front of the Ild'vann. Up until that point she'd kept her gift quiet, and the only one who knew was Silfi, who'd stumbled across Rhidian during a moment of experimenting. She turned her eyes to her twin; curiosity and fear fighting for dominance.
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