Wisp2
Tenebrae - Wednesday, February 03, 2016, 10:59 AM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* W02: Mictlan *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Located within the Deep Woods, and hours past Wilderness Pointe, in the heart of its northern woods, bones frame this hollowed-out space. Massive and heavy, they reach towards the sky, meeting--almost--in the center like great and worn stalagmites. Or giant teeth. After a few seconds--it's quickly evident that this is a space carved from a dragon's bones. A very, very large...dragon's bones. The air smells of ash, brimstone, and earth. Underneath the apex of the bones lie the workings of a ceremonial pyre.
The grounds are run by shamans of the sith-makar, and the sacred space dedicated to the Death Singing Dragon, one of their names for the goddess, Vardama. The sith use it to sing the souls of their dead back to the land of Wing and Flame. It was here that brave heroes stood, and vanquished the ashen warriors of old, thereby freeing the land from Thul's curse.
Dire Wolf chuffs softly in amusement as she watches the Sith shaman quickly find the pup's issue and seems to immediately ease it. "She may never leave your side, now..." The large lupine stands near Durrankar at one of the cook fires, with a far, far smaller wolf pup is consoled by the sith.
Krom travels slowly, less bothered by the winter than for respect of the pair of sith he follows. Topping the rise, the northman stops, and stares. He'd heard of this place, but it's quite another to actually see it.
A small swirl of snow circles the warrior, quietly chiming like the tone of a crystal bell. Krom idly tries to quiet the tiny being, which has utterly zero effect.
Durrankar hrfs at Uneth. "hang around them enough and you get to learn the difference in their 'speech'. That one it was doing was pain." he says as he continues to rub, but he turns his head at the new person in Mictlan. "Peace on your nest, strange. Those who are respectful of nature are welcome here."
Dire Wolf looses an amused snort at Durrankar before her muzzle turns to follow his gaze to the newcomer. "Peace on your nest," she growls in similar greeting.
Krom clasps his hands together, and offers a formal bow. "Peace. Am Krom Linnsbane of the Mestnorr. Krom hear of this place, come to see for self. Krom is awed and humbled." Glancing around a moment, he motions to the swirl of snowflakes that moves without regard to the winds, currently spiraling up towards the peaks of the bones high above. "Little One holds no true name, is messenger from the King of Winter."
"What is king of winter?" Durrankar says as he looks to Uneth. "I am Durrankar, one of the stewards of Mictlan." he says as he begins to stand up. "She will be on more meat soon. And she will outpace her brothers."
"Perhaps she will be the one to bring food to them soon," Uneth growls with more bemusement. Her focus then shifts fully, for the moment, to the arrival and his acquaintance, head tilting in curiosity. "What message does it bring?"
Krom motions vaugely. "King of Fey, far in Mestnorr. Rules the Court of Winter. Krom holds pact with Winter King, King lends power when Krom is young, that Krom may lend power when Krom is strong. King sends word, great Snow Wyrm attack Mestnorr. Great Valley still stand, but not without loss."
Durrankar listens to Krom as he explains what is going on with him, before he looks to Uneth. "that is a strange story to tell, but ot without merit, I suppose. King of Winter. I don't think he means Heth, does he?" he says to Uneth.
Dire Wolf attempts to follow the description, herself. "Heth is only death and destruction. Snow is not, but ... I do not know." She ponders this, though looks back to the human. "Was this Wyrm defeated, or only survived?"
Krom shakes his head. "Not Heth. Wyrm creep amoung snow, no wings. Krom not know if killed or driven away. Wyrms come from top of world, try to destory Great Valley, escape beyound. Guardians of Mestnorr stand strong, stop wyrms. Krom think have nothing to do with Heth, but not sure. Krom never meet Heth, not know Heth plans."
Durrankar says, "That answers that." he says leaning down to lightly stratch on the top of the pup's head...which makes it lean into Durrankar's hand. it begins to bark, which at it's size sounds like a squeak. "I think he's hungry, Uneth." he says before looking to Krom. "Are you asking for help?""
Dire Wolf glances to Durrankar, "Do you have more rabbit? If meat now will strengthen her, feed her all she will eat." Her nose pans back to the human. "If you seek aid, most will not travel so far. Not when these lands are already in danger."
Krom shakes his head. "Guardians of the Valley still stand. Some day Krom will return, stand with them. But for now, Krom remain in southlands. Train. Learn. Grow." The warrior starts as the tiny fey darts down in front of him, the swirl of snowflakes assuming an almost humanoid form as it chimes musically for a moment before flitting to rest upon Kroms head.
Durrankar hrfs a bit. "As long as your home is okay." it's then that Durrankar walks his way forward....as he strips a piece of rabbit off and lets the little one gnaw on it to it's satisfaction....and it's cooked all the way through, so the meat is soft. he can't help but sniff at the humanoid on Krom's head.
Dire Wolf tilts her head as she watches the swirling becoming a diminutive form. "This Winter King and messenger, like Ea's Breath. Wind, water, storm?"
Krom spends a moment trying to look at the little wisp on his head, but lets it be, nodding to the Wolf. "Fey, old as the world, made from nature, but apart from it. Most tiny, barely real. Other, pixie, fairy, play and think, hold games. Nyrad, dryad, strong, big, protect forrest, stream. Greatest stand the royals, keep lesser fey from fighting, settle disputes, protect from great evils."
Durrankar says, "So what is this one on your head?" he says as the smaller pup actually begins to try and chew at the bit of rabbit with her gums. it's soft enough for her to eat, and it's eating it right out of Durrankar's hand. "Good little one. You like the taste of rabbit.""
"So you are favored," Uneth dips her muzzle simply in something akin to a humanoid nod. Perhaps spying an opportune moment, her snout lowers to the pup busily gumming her prey into submission. While the little female is occupied, Uneth laps at her neck and cheeks. Spot cleaning... or possibly quality control on the rabbit.
Krom mmms. "Little wisp, smallest of fey. Weak, simple, barely real. Only one thought at a time." He eyes the cub, frowning thoughtfully. "Little one, is without mother? Killed in mistake by shy huntress?"
Durrankar says, "Even a wisp can be powerful. One's size should not determine someone's worth. Even a lucht can be strong with others." he then looks to the pup and tailthumps, which the pup seems to have gotten used to....beginning to wag her tail herself. "Yes. Uneth here had taken it in as their mother was killed.....and this one and I have developed a bond....a friendship, but she is not my companion.""
"Yes, that is my role, by choice," the larger lupine comments after straightening up from the brief pup hygiene. A task that the pup seemed almost oblivious to. "This pup, and her brothers, will survive, grow, and hunt for themselves before summer's end."
Krom nods. "Knom think has met little pup before. Was other day it-" he blinks, distracted as the fey wisp suddenly lands upon his nose, chiming with laughter.
Durrankar hrfs at the wisp. "perhaps it's telling you that you're right." he says as he pets the pup with a claw, and it continues to gum the meat.
"If you came here before, the pups have been here," Uneth explains. While there are a number of Sith younglings of various ages in and out of Mictlan, there are few wolf pups. "Iadoth cares for one of her own, as well." Though perhaps not so well as Durrankar does, as she eyes the pair once more.
Krom idly swats at the fey, who flits away from his nose to expore the camp a little, and Krom nods. "Iadoth, that was the name. To Krom, one cub look much like another."
Durrankar says, "then you should learn that differences are subtle from one wolf to another, much like softskins, Sith-makar, and eaglefolk." he says as he sits down....abd egins to eat the rest of the rabbit. "Iadoth is learning as well......she will learn better.""
Durrankar says, "Don't harm the wisp, Krom. It may be here to help you." he says with a chuckle. "No matter how annoying it seems to be.""
Krom chuckles. "Krom will not harm. King told wisp to deliver message, so delivered. Did not tell to return, so does not return. Wisp will grow bored in time."
Durrankar says, "mmm....so it stays to see if things are interesting, hmm?""
Krom considers a moment, and shakes his head. "Krom think not. Thoughs of future... too complex for little wisp. Is only now. No past, no future. Just series of now. Comand of Winter King, bigger than wisp, give more than could hold on own. Impossible to disobey."
Durrankar shrugs. "You never know, Krom. but if you are friends with fey, then you should be welcome here."
Krom nods, and bows politely, wandering off to explore the structures of Mictlan. The little wisp of a fey does it's own exploring, but never strays for long from the warrior of Mestnorr.