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Frozen Fractals Team 2
- Thread starter Raigryn Vayd
- Start date
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- winter 25
Threads related to the winter 2025 event
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- 43
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The Glacial Approach:
Once again, Rovan found himself flung into the far north of icy realms. But this time, he came prepared.
Three layers, fur, mittens and a heavy woolen cloak with the hood pulled over his face might not exactly be the height of Allirian fashion, but it would keep his ears and fingers from snapping off in the cold. During his last excursion this far into the frozen tears of the Spine, he had learned his lesson -- and the value of keeping one's extremities warm.
But there was one chill he couldn't do away with. A splinter near his heart; the chip of Eldifryst that had lodged itself in his flesh. A parting gift from Strivogg, that tricky guardian. Granting him some curious powers, yes, but also new, intolerable pains and a dwindling credit to his health that was rather less welcome. Even as they approached the gates of the ice palace, Rovan tested his newfound powers, willing circles to form in the hardened ice and snow before his moving hand. They did; but like clockwork, pain lanced in his heart, and no amount of rubbing his chest seemed to do away with it.
No physician had been able to aid him. No alchemist capable of cracking this puzzle. Not even priests, normally so full of promises, could grant him any consolation.
So he had but one place to seek out. A palace in the heart of winter, near where he had picked up this curse. Perhaps the ancient magic within could cure him; or at the very least, provide him with some useful answers.
Sniffing in the cold, Rovan turned to his companions, face near disappearing into a slit for his pine-green eyes between several scarves and the lip of his hood.
"Lovely weather." Breath steamed out from his hood and was promptly snatched by the gale. "Friendly locals," his eye drifted to a malformed phantasm forming in the icy air, seeming to scream silently before disintigrating in the blizzard. "And a view to die for. Now who wouldn't want a palatial residence here?"
Lilette Blackbriar
Thalos Mirecant
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Thalos nodded at the other man, his ponytail whipping wildly in the gale. He raised his blindfolded eyes towards his companions, sensing their energy and general appearance. Tugging at his own dark brown bear-fur coat, Thalos took a singular step forward, snow and ice alike crunching beneath his weight.
"Introductions?" He asked -- to no one in particular -- in a solemn, deep tone.
The only real reason he was here was because he heard he could claim artifacts and treasure. Exactly what his father had been trying to collect for all these long years.
Surely, this would be a good haul... As long as they could make it.
Lilette Blackbriar
Rovan Ravenhill
"Introductions?" He asked -- to no one in particular -- in a solemn, deep tone.
The only real reason he was here was because he heard he could claim artifacts and treasure. Exactly what his father had been trying to collect for all these long years.
Surely, this would be a good haul... As long as they could make it.
Lilette Blackbriar
Rovan Ravenhill
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- 183
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Frozen winds whipped snow-white hair as the armored figure leaned over that glacial edge.
She groaned quietly, her stomach sinking at the view. Turning to the others made for a reprieve at least, though the elf knew nothing about them, nor they her. Her features were covered by the black-steel visage of her angular helm, whilst her body was covered in what few pieces of Godewyn's armor fit her slender frame.
Though ramshackle the knightess may be, she nevertheless marched proudly to her companions' sides, gauntleted fingers coiled tightly around Nightspell—a greatsword of emril steel.
"Tis the ice what bothers me more than the weather." she replied to Rovan.
Her voice was soft, youthful even.
It was the blindfolded man who spoke next, attracting the slit helm towards himself, though sometimes it seemed something silver glinted at him beneath. She craned her head to one side like a curious animal before speaking.
"Ah, mine name is of little importance," she said nervously.
"But if thou shalt knowest me, let it by deed; as a Knight of House Blackbriar, or a doctor if thou'st require."
Lady 'Blackbriar' introduced herself with a well practiced curtsy at odds with her attire.
She groaned quietly, her stomach sinking at the view. Turning to the others made for a reprieve at least, though the elf knew nothing about them, nor they her. Her features were covered by the black-steel visage of her angular helm, whilst her body was covered in what few pieces of Godewyn's armor fit her slender frame.
Though ramshackle the knightess may be, she nevertheless marched proudly to her companions' sides, gauntleted fingers coiled tightly around Nightspell—a greatsword of emril steel.
"Tis the ice what bothers me more than the weather." she replied to Rovan.
Her voice was soft, youthful even.
It was the blindfolded man who spoke next, attracting the slit helm towards himself, though sometimes it seemed something silver glinted at him beneath. She craned her head to one side like a curious animal before speaking.
"Ah, mine name is of little importance," she said nervously.
"But if thou shalt knowest me, let it by deed; as a Knight of House Blackbriar, or a doctor if thou'st require."
Lady 'Blackbriar' introduced herself with a well practiced curtsy at odds with her attire.
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Rovan matched the curtsey with a near automatic bow of his own, hand over his ailing heart, all while his mind worked.
House Blackbriar . . . House Blackbriar?
Where had he heard that name from?
It tugged at his memory, but didn't quite find purchase. Ah, no matter. He could worry about lineages and heraldry once in the snug warmth of an inn; preferably within reach of a generous bar and a roaring fireplace.
"A knight and a doctor? My, an inflictor of wounds and a treater of them in the very same platemail. Well, well, I should count myself fortunate being in such esteemed company. It looks like old Grangomelle selects his agents with astute observance. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Blackbriar. I am Rovan Ravenhill; scholar, scribe, gentleman of means--" he waved his gloved hand, as if batting off a potential stream of other titles for himself. Eventually, the blindfolded man snagged his eye, a twitch of brief worry flickering from his gaze. Hopefully old Grangomelle hadn't placed him in the company of deranged lunatics and murderers. Gods knew adventurers could be a motley lot. "But never you mind that. I'm sure our deeds shall speak for us all, indeed. And you must be, ahh . . ."
Rovan twirled his hand, pretending not to have completely forgotten the other man's name, allowing him to finish his sentence.
Thalos Mirecant
Lilette Blackbriar
House Blackbriar . . . House Blackbriar?
Where had he heard that name from?
It tugged at his memory, but didn't quite find purchase. Ah, no matter. He could worry about lineages and heraldry once in the snug warmth of an inn; preferably within reach of a generous bar and a roaring fireplace.
"A knight and a doctor? My, an inflictor of wounds and a treater of them in the very same platemail. Well, well, I should count myself fortunate being in such esteemed company. It looks like old Grangomelle selects his agents with astute observance. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Blackbriar. I am Rovan Ravenhill; scholar, scribe, gentleman of means--" he waved his gloved hand, as if batting off a potential stream of other titles for himself. Eventually, the blindfolded man snagged his eye, a twitch of brief worry flickering from his gaze. Hopefully old Grangomelle hadn't placed him in the company of deranged lunatics and murderers. Gods knew adventurers could be a motley lot. "But never you mind that. I'm sure our deeds shall speak for us all, indeed. And you must be, ahh . . ."
Rovan twirled his hand, pretending not to have completely forgotten the other man's name, allowing him to finish his sentence.
Thalos Mirecant
Lilette Blackbriar
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"Ah, the pleasure is all mine." she said warmly.
Perhaps a bit much for a man she'd only just heard of, but he seemed a gentleman and that was more than could be said of most adventurers.
The pseudo-knight stepped forward to speak but nearly lost her footing as the ice shifted beneath their feet. It cracked and split, a jagged maw of empty black and cerulean depths of ever darkening shades opening behind her. From those depths came the echoes of crackling and screams of unknown origin.
Lilette hadn't time to look, thin lines snaked through the ice like crystalline webbing, her head having slammed hard against it. The steel around her head rang, and cold wind howled by to herald the startling realization;
She was falling.
"no, nononono!"
The world was powdered white as the glacier they were all standing atop crumbled and spilt towards the castle bridge, a rolling hill of icy chunks the size of farmhouses and snowy mist.
By the time she thought to stop herself Lilette was already well beyond the point of a lethal fall. She still held Nightspell by the blade, slamming it with all her might into the last stable ice remaining with such force that it cracked in a jagged line almost to the top again. It was only by her unusual strength that the sudden stop did not break her arm nor send her tumbling into the abyss.
The snow gently settled till the only mist left were her icy breaths. A wide eyed look down told her the castle bridge was within jumping distance, and another look up told her she'd surely be paste had she not stopped herself.
"Ro-Rovan?" she called out.
"...anyone?!"
Perhaps a bit much for a man she'd only just heard of, but he seemed a gentleman and that was more than could be said of most adventurers.
The pseudo-knight stepped forward to speak but nearly lost her footing as the ice shifted beneath their feet. It cracked and split, a jagged maw of empty black and cerulean depths of ever darkening shades opening behind her. From those depths came the echoes of crackling and screams of unknown origin.
Lilette hadn't time to look, thin lines snaked through the ice like crystalline webbing, her head having slammed hard against it. The steel around her head rang, and cold wind howled by to herald the startling realization;
She was falling.
"no, nononono!"
The world was powdered white as the glacier they were all standing atop crumbled and spilt towards the castle bridge, a rolling hill of icy chunks the size of farmhouses and snowy mist.
By the time she thought to stop herself Lilette was already well beyond the point of a lethal fall. She still held Nightspell by the blade, slamming it with all her might into the last stable ice remaining with such force that it cracked in a jagged line almost to the top again. It was only by her unusual strength that the sudden stop did not break her arm nor send her tumbling into the abyss.
The snow gently settled till the only mist left were her icy breaths. A wide eyed look down told her the castle bridge was within jumping distance, and another look up told her she'd surely be paste had she not stopped herself.
"Ro-Rovan?" she called out.
"...anyone?!"
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"Here," Rovan's voice piped out weakly from up above Lilette.
He stood on a foothold by his own design; having arrested his downward slide by shaping the ice to catch his fur-covered boots. His chest was heaving through all his layers, up and down, shocked by the sudden overturn of his world, mittens planted against the ice wall on his back, willing himself not to tumble into an endless fall.
His breath and mouth settled into one, pressed line; a long exhalation to reclaim control over his senses and nerves.
At least the armed physician had made it. One of his eyes widened in incredulity, spying the crack that had traveled all the way up past him from her black blade. Just how strong was she?
Nevermind, he wouldn't complain. They needed all the strength they could get. Especially now that their blindfolded companion seemed to have disappeared. Fallen down into the abyss? Hopefully not. He didn't want to think about that possibility. Didn't even want to so much as peer at that horrifying, endless fall.
"One moment," Rovan called down, then concentrated on the ice below him. He held one hand to his chest, as if willing the shard of Eldifryst not to pierce further into his squishy organs, while he extended the other, shaping the ice to follow the architecture of his mind.
A primitive bridge crackled and cracked into existence, drawn from the deeper recesses of glacial ice behind him. Like a tongue jutting with icy stalagmites, it crossed the misty air and connected with the bridge ahead. It might have been jumping distance -- but Rovan didn't trust in how far he could jump wearing all his winter clothes.
Dimples twitching from the pain and chill in his chest, he formed a few steps down towards Lilette, so that she might reach his bridge.
"There. That should hold."
I hope, he finished internally.
Lilette Blackbriar
Thalos Mirecant
He stood on a foothold by his own design; having arrested his downward slide by shaping the ice to catch his fur-covered boots. His chest was heaving through all his layers, up and down, shocked by the sudden overturn of his world, mittens planted against the ice wall on his back, willing himself not to tumble into an endless fall.
His breath and mouth settled into one, pressed line; a long exhalation to reclaim control over his senses and nerves.
At least the armed physician had made it. One of his eyes widened in incredulity, spying the crack that had traveled all the way up past him from her black blade. Just how strong was she?
Nevermind, he wouldn't complain. They needed all the strength they could get. Especially now that their blindfolded companion seemed to have disappeared. Fallen down into the abyss? Hopefully not. He didn't want to think about that possibility. Didn't even want to so much as peer at that horrifying, endless fall.
"One moment," Rovan called down, then concentrated on the ice below him. He held one hand to his chest, as if willing the shard of Eldifryst not to pierce further into his squishy organs, while he extended the other, shaping the ice to follow the architecture of his mind.
A primitive bridge crackled and cracked into existence, drawn from the deeper recesses of glacial ice behind him. Like a tongue jutting with icy stalagmites, it crossed the misty air and connected with the bridge ahead. It might have been jumping distance -- but Rovan didn't trust in how far he could jump wearing all his winter clothes.
Dimples twitching from the pain and chill in his chest, he formed a few steps down towards Lilette, so that she might reach his bridge.
"There. That should hold."
I hope, he finished internally.
Lilette Blackbriar
Thalos Mirecant
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