The Winds of Ysgard - Part One

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison fluffed her red curls. "I'm a cursed woman. Plus I ain't a dog person." She patted her wolfskin cloak.

"Aw, okay, I'll tell ye the whole of it, but ye need to trust I did what I had to. Chrissy ran off—don't know why, maybe Bendalitz's dance made her think demons were jumping into bodies and didn't want to be next—so I sent King Milford to find her. He's an obnoxious bird that can talk, and if ye know beast speak, don't ever link with a talking bird or they tell the world all the things ye know better than to blurt aloud. But anyway, King Milford found Chrissy in an alley cornered by wild dogs. It was maybe a hundred feet, or a hundred yards, or a hundred somethings away, but me mind moves faster than me body, so I overtook the alpha. But here's the thing, I don't speak 'dog.' If I'm linking with a beast he can think, 'oh, woe is me, a wolf ate my mother,' and I can even know what his mother looks like. But behind a beast's eyes, I'm meself. Don't know what the beast's thinking, though I got the beast's muscle memory."

She turned to Chrissy, though left no air in the conversation as she went on a tangent, "Me friend I told ye of… she's very strong. Always going on about muscle memory. Smart too. Maybe muscle memory is a thing she does combining brawn and brains."

Addison's head whipped to Farrun, and in the same instant she was back on topic. "So I bit the weakest dog in the nose. The other dog took the opportunity to challenge the alpha—or maybe he was the alpha, and that's why they were so quick to gang up on me. So me action got a dog killed, but he was a no good people-biter and a lousy alpha if his own pack was willing to rip into him. But on the upside, me action saved Chrissy from an excruciatingly painful death."

To Chrissy, she said, "Seriously, I'd rather go by Loke's axe than be ravaged by dogs. Getting your skin torn off really hurts. A lot." She put her hand on Chrissy's shoulder. "And I'd die just as painfully to save ye again if I had to. Though preferably in the body of a beast I don't give two shits about rather than me own body."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Unsure how to take the sudden and deep loyalty, Chrisania was stunned to silence. When she finally recovered, she said, "We only know each other for very short time, but you are already good friend. Healing potion is nothing compared to saving my life. Today, you are my sestra. I also have very special potion I am vorking on. I still need some rare ingredients, but vonce I have completed it, it is yours. For now I give you this."

Reaching between her cleavage, Chrisania unsheathed a small knife. She often kept it hidden on her body for protection, but the location was always changing depending on the outfit and mood of the day. Using the knife, she cut a lock of her hair, around 6 inches in length. She then pulled the wavy strands taut and braided them tightly into a short rope of hair. She offered the short rope to Addison and said, "Personal belongings are very powerful in magic, and there little more personal than part of someone's body. To skilled magician vith such personal belonging, any curse, hex or blessing against that person vould most certainly take hold. My family takes curses very seriously and it is not light that ve allow someone to have such power over us. Please take this, sestra Addison. I am choosing to trust in you."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison took the lock of hair and studied it for a moment—a bit fascinated by the braiding, a skill she lacked but her other lady friends mastered. She tucked it into her purse.

"I don't know nothing about curses, hexes or blessings, but if sestra means 'sister' then I'm certainly honored. I'd tell ye the Cærnish term for it if I knew. A beautiful language me folks have, but I do me best with the common tongue. Same with druidry. Always suspected having me way with animals, but never thought to study on it. Just studied what a Huntress needs to know. Just acting on instinct, letting the beast in me take over when there's a need."

Addison was taught the dangers of hesitation. Rushing to the aid of a friend or ally is just what Huntresses do. But she didn't want to say that for fear of coming off a braggart.

"Ye'll come with me on a hunt, won't ye? Or a gathering for herbs if ye prefer. The hunt's not for everyone. Everyone likes the taste of a good steak, but no one likes to see a bull fall dead."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Chrisania laughed as she slipped the knife back into its sheath and said, "I am no good vith veapons other than knife and knife is not good for hunting. Animals run too fast and I like do things slow." She gave a little wink after that last part before adding, "One thing I need for potion is marrow from magical creature. Stronger magic is better marrow. Very dangerous. Maybe you help me get this someday?"

Continuing, she said, "I know many herbs and plants though. I use them for potions all times. Maybe ve teach each other some things, yes?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison bit her lip as she grinned. "And here I was making clothing o' me kills. Never occurred to me to make a potion o' one. Well, as long as ye don't ask me to shoot a rainbow-maned unicorn or something lovely and harmless and not really that tasty… but if there's a magic beast deserving o' death, I'll shoot him in the face. Or maybe I could get into his head and inevitably get him killed without even trying.

"I don't know if my recipes're even close to as interesting as yours, but I think I make a decent herbal tea. Maybe I can make something ye ain't yet tried, if such a thing exists."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Chrisania opened her mouth then closed it again. Unicorn horn was actually quite valuable for all manner of magical potions. One of the most rare and useful items in all alchemy in fact, next to perhaps a philosopher's stone. In truth, she would be overjoyed to get her hands on one as the profits from the potions she could make from it would be able to fund her research for life. That was even before considering the value of the rest of the body (which, according to legends she had heard, was very delicious). Not wanting to offend her new "sestra" however, Chrisania chose to remain silent about this. She finally responded with, "I vill not ask you kill tasteless animal. Only tasty or deadly one."

 

[Nimue]

Farrun made his way through the remainder of his breakfast, raising an expressive eyebrow as the two young women talked. He wasn't sure what to make of Addison's adventure with the feral dogs, not having been there himself, but it sounded like recklessness. Still, if no one had been harmed, and someone rescued, it must have been worth it. He'd been in a poor mood when he'd shouted at her for playing with her magic after the gytrash attack, and his mood was anything but poor now. Buoyant was more like it.

He looked around the brightening common room. Einan and Troia had come down and were eating at the table nearby, looking tired but far from suffering. Loke had cleaved to his valiant purpose alone, it seemed. As he liked it, no doubt.

But all of the nestlings were awake, and his cup and trencher were clean. Farrun stood, his chair scraping back leisurely. "Well, we'd best be off soon," he said, to the company. "I'll go and see to the horses. Not to worry, we'll keep a nice, gentle pace."

Inwardly totting up the coin he'd owe the stablehand, he nodded politely to the Ettarlandish woman. "Fine meeting you, Chrisania."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Chrisania gives a polite wave to Farrun and says, "And you too, sir."

With breakfast coming to an end and the others apparently about to head out on the road, Chrisania excuses herself and heads upstairs to gather her things. The restless feeling in her stomach is telling her that she also should be on her way, though the feeling goes to no particular lengths as to explaining where she should be going, or why she should be going there. Though this is normal, it frustrating none the less.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison got a good look at Chrissy as she waved goodbye to her. Someday, somehow, they would cross paths again, and Addison would have an outfit ready for her. Her next deer or whatever big game she could find—the skins would be for Chrissy. Love potion or not, Addison would keep her promise.

She quietly finished her meal...

 

[Nimue]

Evening found them in the crook of a stream, fifty paces downhill of the road, under a splendid golden sunset. In Farrun's estimation, it had been a splendid day altogether--his fine mood had lasted until now, as he checked the horses' hooves and whistled between his teeth.

The forest behind their little camp was wild and burgeoning green with spring. They were not far from Ilstenford and the farms and hamlets that ringed it, like streamlets feeding into a river, but this was a fine untouched place. Addison had wanted to set out on a hunt, though their supplies were high as ever. He'd thought it a good idea to let her run off some of her energy, as they'd had a few lively conversations around the campfire keep them from their bedrolls on other nights. Nor was she the only fidgety one--Rikhard and Troia had elected to go with her, along with Ari, of course.

The game would still be fat here, Farrun reflected, and would not likely be after the road turned fully northward. Best to enjoy the green heartlands, and the congenial sun, while they could.

He straightened, and gave Boar an affectionate pat as the gelding butted his chest. The horses were set and tethered to graze, and Bendalitz had got the fire going, with Loke's help splitting wood. They'd gotten campmaking down to a quick routine.

Einan was sitting on the footboard of the waggon, watching the fire crackle and expand in its wooden nest. Farrun remembered something they'd talked about earlier that day, stopping to rest and water the horses around noon. He had the feeling he'd neglected the young elf a little in favor of Addison--well, not in favor, exactly, but more because she need the most imminent training.

"Einan," he called, brushing horsehair from his surcoat as he strode over. "You still up for a test of your magic? Nothing strenuous--just reach out to your boundaries, try a thing or two, and I'll see what your power looks like."

--

The shadows were growing thicker in the forest. The trail they were following was a long one, but both Addison and Ari seemed excited about its potential. A big old stag, meaty enough for everyone. They'd bagged two wood pigeons, but going back without a proper kill now seemed wasteful. It was a straight shot north back to camp along the creekbed, so they would have to try hard to get lost.

The ground sloped suddenly downwards, growing rockier, and the stream chuckled over the stones. Below lay a dense thicket of black pines, that might hide any number of deer. They were picking their way down the slope when a cry rang out on the other side of the trees.

"Help! Anyone! Please help me!" It was a woman's scream, cracked with fright.

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard jerked and swung his head toward the scream, his hand moving to his spear. Was that a person, or another illusion made by a monster, like the gytrashes? He looked to the others. "Should we investigate?" If it was an illusion, they'd ave the advantage of numbers, as long as they were able to stay together.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison didn't answer Rikhard. She darted toward the scream, resisting the temptation to beast-speak with Ari, and trusting her own instincts as she always did.

Still, she was rescuing a person. Magic and instincts weren't the only way to save her.

"Keep talking," Addy called out as she ran full sprint, hoping, praying, she'd not be too late. "Come to me voice!"

 

[AkamaruGames]

As the late afternoon gave in to early evening, Chrisania prepared to camp for the night. Reaching into her bag, she retrieved a small vial containing an alchemical mixture and uncorked it for a moment before giving it a shake. Fires were nice for light and keeping one warm at night, but they also tended to attract trouble. Generally said trouble would think nothing about taking advantage of a young woman, resting alone at night.

The contents of the vial grew warm as it reacted to the surrounding air and Chrisania soon replaced the cork to avoid exposing it for too long. Wrapping herself in a cloak, she gripped the warm vial tight between her hands as she considered her most recent events. The unsettling feeling in her stomach persisted, though she wished that it would grant more specific advice. It was at that point that she heard a scream. A woman calling for help.

Tucking the vial into her bag, Chrisania unsheathed her knife and chanted a cloaking spell to hide herself from view followed by a second to muffle the sounds of her footsteps trampling over grass and dead leaves. The visual illusion would be ruined the moment she touched anyone, but it would at least allow her to assess the situation before getting too deeply into trouble. Satisfied with her preparations, she cautiously approached the source of the sounds.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

As Addison drew closer to the source of the sound, she considered who she was working for—a queen with enemies. She might be running full sprint into a trap.

Despite that, she stuck to her present course of action. She had her arrow, her shockers, allies behind her and all around her. Any wild beast could become her ally. But not yet. She needed her mind to stay sharp…

 

[Tom]

Troia ran after Rikhard and Addison, her heart thumping. Ari was bounding ahead, head up and ears trained on the noise. She considered calling him back in case of danger--but he was a large, strong dog, and more than able to defend himself. Besides, his barks could give them warning if anything seemed wrong.

As they approached the scream's source, Troia drew her sword. She ran through the few attacks and blocks Addy had shown her, desperately hoping her meager skill would be enough to protect her.

 

[Gryphos]

Bendalitz sat by the fire he was very much proud of, burying himself in a thin tome titled 'Sir Cooker and the Old Dark Well'. An old, comforting favourite of his, which by now he could practically recite word for word. The individual words written on the thick, worn pages had lost all meaning beyond their relationship to each other, and the images they conjured collectively in Bendalitz's mind.

"It occurs to me," he said upon reaching the bottom of a page, to nobody in particular, "that depending on how this goes, people will tell stories about us." The thought made his eyes narrow. "I don't know how I feel about that."

 

[Nimue]

The screams began again, louder than before in frantic reply to Addison's shout. "Help! Over here!" Ari leapt into the underbrush, and his furious, staccato barking added to the uproar.

The three hunters burst through the trees in a flurry of whipping pine needles. On the other side, amber sunlight struck them and illuminated an arrested scene. A woman in a red skirt stood in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by four rough men in leathers and dusty clothes--axes and daggers glinted in their hands. But the woman seemed unharmed, and stared back at them now with a look that had nothing to do with fear.

A roil of movement as men dropped out of the trees on either side of them, and burlap sacks dropped over over the hunters' heads. Ari's furious barking was suddenly stifled. And over the chaos, the woman's voice rang out again. "Oh help me, please oh please!" Her genuine screams slid unnervingly into a mocking falsetto, then into stomach-turning laughter.


--


Farrun glanced up at the Queen's Dagger, amused by his philosophical turn. "Unless you make some grave mistake, I'd not worry about it. Folks like to hear about heroes more than ordinary men. Stories tend to be--generous." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'd say that living it is harder than sitting through the tale afterwards."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Creeping through the foliage, it was not long before Chrisania found the source of the screaming. As she did, she realized that this was clearly a trap to capture the unwary and she decided to turn around and go her own way. Before she could, she noticed a couple of people burst through the foliage and quickly become overtaken by the ambush. Their heads were stuffed into burlap sacks far too quickly for her to make out who they were, however. Cursing to herself, she realized that walking away would not be an option anymore. If she did not do something quickly the hunters might be murdered and dumped into a shallow grave or worse. Her conscience simply wouldn't allow her to let that happen without doing anything to help. Though she knew she would not be able to take on so many brigands alone, perhaps she might frighten them enough for them to forget about their captives.

Taking a deep breath, Chrisania clasped her necklace for a moment before releasing the breath in a deafening roar that seemed to echo from every direction. The roar was soon followed by the sounds of massive wings flying overhead. "Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!" the flapping went, seemingly approaching the ambush point. The thick foliage masked the source of the sound, but it would not take a very creative mind to imagine a massive beast approaching in the sky. However, just in case the bandits were too dense to connect the dots, Chrisania magically threw her best bandit voice into the center of the group, shouting, "In the sky! It's a dragon! Run for your lives!"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison fired an arrow at one of the men. She was sure it would hit her target, but a man with a sack blocked Addison's view before she could confirm: wound or kill?

She didn't feel anything about shooting a man. There was no time. She dropped her bow and fell to her knees. "Ye got me," she said to the bag man. She looked up at the man as he brought down the sack. They made eye contact. The man saw easy prey. What he didn't see was Addison's shocker.

The man cried out as the world went white with dancing jagged arcs. Addison cursed as she fumbled with the sack on her head, then darted toward the lightning. The seemingly random bolts bent and darted away from their mistress.

She drew her axe. As the blade absorbed the Lightning from her trap, Addison pivoted, making a quick assessment of who's shocked, who's dead, who's next.

 

[DMThaane]

Loke hurled one of his new throwing axes, watching it dig into the tree stump with a satisfying thunk. They were good weapons, as finely made as any in the Hintercrown. He looked forward to an opportunity to test them.

He turned to Bendalitz and Farrun. "Do not forget the scene we made when all of us were chosen. They're already telling stories of us and it will only take so long for those stories to fall on elven ears. Yvalhyn ears," he corrected, glancing at Einan.

He drew the second axe, sending it next to the first. They had a pleasant song as they cut through air and tree alike.

"If we survive, a few songs will cause little harm, regardless of their quality. If we do not, than what care have we for the content of a song?"

He walked to the stump, pulling the axes free. He would gladly trade a song to see them imbedded in elven skulls.