Open Chronicles The Arrival

[Dulthir]

(Will do a bio once it's fixed)
Dulthir and Karrazark, his trusty Iffrean Muc (war pig), arrived in Arethil. He'd heard wonderous things about this land. It was a far cry different from Deep Forge, his birthplace. He had left nearly a decade ago, but, it felt like century. The horror he witnessed haunted him. He shook his head.
"Well, brother..." he said as he patted Karrazark's head.
"Looks as if we've made it. Arethil, land of opportunity. Or, so they say."
Karrazark grunted and rooted in the ground. Karrazark was no normal pig. No, he was nearly three feet at the shoulder. His head as big as a boulder. And two, six inch, razor sharp tusks protruded from his bottom. He easily weighed fifteen hundred pounds, although that was just Dulthir's estimate.
"I know, brother. I know. I'm eager to find those bastards as well. But, we must first find civilization. This will take money, and money means we need work. But, mark my words, we will find them. I swear it."
He grabbed the hammer pendant that hung around his neck, and squeezed it tight. He nudged Karrazark, and they went onward, in search of a town.

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri lay in the sun in a field of flowers not far from the path that lead to the city. She was idly looking to the sky, her long white wings stretched out as she lay there in her human form. Her long crimson hair sprawled out around her. She had wandered many days now, seeking out somewhere to call home, having grown bored where she had lived the last 38 years of her life. She needed something new, a new challenge, persay. She couldn’t just sit around and farm forever, be another housewife like her mother.

As she lay in the sun she heard a grunting in the distance. It was an odd sound, like the swine of her homelands. She sat up quietly, her hawk-like emerald eyes catching the sight of a short, stout man and a pig like creature travelling together. She tilted her head slightly, remaining sitting in the flowers as she looked their way curiously. She pulled her knees to her chest, pushing her sky blue dress down over her legs to cover them as she watched the travelers wander along the path.

As they ventured closer Ceri stood and pranced over to them, swinging her skirt a little, her crimson hair flowing behind her, her ivory wings tucked neatly to her back. She smiled slightly, keeping plenty of distance between them as she watched the pig cautiously.

“Hello fellow wanderer!” she said softly, smiling. “Where be thee off to??”

Dulthir

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir and Karrazark came trudging up the road. The sunshine was bright. Dulthir was still getting used to it. Living in a mountain had it's advantages, but, sunshine wasn't one of them. He began thinking of the past. The laughter, the love, and the love making. His thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful red haired woman with... wings. Startled, Dulthir grabbed his axe. Karrazark dripped his head, prepared to fight. Then she spoke. Her voice was soft. Angelic even. Dulthir stopped Karrazark and patted him. He put his axe away.
"Easy brother. I don't think she means harm."
He dismounted, and stepped towards the woman.
"Hail lass. I am Dulthir Ironfist. The meat head over there is Karrazark. We're new to these lands and are seeking work. What be yer name lass?"

Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri stopped in her tracks as the man pulled and ax and the pig dropped its head defensively. She opened her wings slightly she could use them if needed.

"Easy brother. I don't think she means harm."

She smiled softly as she watched the man slide from the back of the pig, her sky blue dress flowing slightly in the soft warm breeze. She lifted a hand, brushing her hair from her face as she watches the pair curiously but cautiously.

"Hail lass. I am Dulthir Ironfist. The meat head over there is Karrazark. We're new to these lands and are seeking work. What be yer name lass?"

"Ceridwen, Ceri for short!"

She said brightly as she stepped closer, reaching her hand into her pocket before pulling it out and bringing it forth holding her hand out lightly to the pig, offering an apple she'd picked earlier in the day.

Dulthir

 

[Dulthir]

Karrazark sniffed the apple, then looked to Dulthir. Dulthir roared with laughter.
"Go ahead brother. Even if it's poisoned, your iron gut'll move it along."
Karrazark greedily took the apple and nearly swallowed it whole. Dulthir chuckled and scratched him between the ears.
"So, lass, Ceri ye say. Tis a lovely name. Eh, forgive me, but... what are you? Never seen the likes of you before."
Dulthir stroked his beard, then pulled out his pipe and began cleaning it.

Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

"Go ahead brother. Even if it's poisoned, your iron gut'll move it along."

Ceri smiled brightly as the beasts whiskers tickled her hand as she held it out flat for it to take the apple, thus it would not leave with any of her fingers in the act of grabbing it. She moved her hand lightly and touched the beasts cheek gently before it pulled away.

"So, lass, Ceri ye say. Tis a lovely name. Eh, forgive me, but... what are you? Never seen the likes of you before."

She giggled softly as she folded her wings once again to her back, realizing that was what his inquiry was in regards too.

"I am a shapeshifter, this is just one of my forms...."

Dulthir

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir packed, then lit his pipe. He looked at and, not thinking about it,, stroked his beard..
"Well, lass, I've heard tales of shapeshifters. Thought they were only stories. Well, if ye don't mind me saying so, yer a right pretty lass. Wings and all."
Dulthir puffed his pipe then stuck his hand out.
"Not sure if ye'd be interested or not, but, Karrazark and I wouldna mind a bit of company on the road. If ye'd be so inclined. Which reminds me... do ye have any idea where the closest town be?"

Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri smiled softly watching the man smoke, this was definitely not a healthy habit. Her emerald orbs scanned the pipe quietly as she tilted her head before turning her eyes back to his.

"Well, lass, I've heard tales of shapeshifters. Thought they were only stories. Well, if ye don't mind me saying so, yer a right pretty lass. Wings and all."

She smiled brighter as he complimented her, looking to his hand curiously. She set her small hand in his tentatively.

"Not sure if ye'd be interested or not, but, Karrazark and I wouldna mind a bit of company on the road. If ye'd be so inclined. Which reminds me... do ye have any idea where the closest town be?"

She looked towards the path… “This path leads to Alliria. I was heading there from where I was born, Fal’Addas. It is supposed to be very populated, so… Sounds like there would probably be work for you there. I am just wandering, I need to find new people and things to do outside of the elven world I was raised in. So I can go there with you if you want."

Dulthir

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir smiled and shook her hand, somewhat gruffly. Been awhile since he had a woman around. Not since... he looked at the ground. He looked back up, a single tear rolled down his cheek and disappeared in his beard. He bowed... kind of. It looked awkward. He wasn't used to bowing, but, figured the situation warranted it.
"Lass, we'd be honored. In fact, ye can ride this meat head for a bit if ye like. He's really a softy once ye get ta know him. Aren't ya brother?"
He patted Karrazark's flank, and laughed. Karrazark grunted, then nuzzled Ceri's with his snout.
"See, big softy he is. Now, shall we head down the path, lass?"
Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

She tilted her head again as she noticed the awkward bow and the tear. She thought to ask, but figured it wasn’t really her place… So she did not.

"Lass, we'd be honored. In fact, ye can ride this meat head for a bit if ye like. He's really a softy once ye get ta know him. Aren't ya brother?"

She shook her head slightly at the idea of riding his friend. She was quiet capable, and more comfortable with the idea of shifting and flying in her pure form. She smiled as she reached out and pet Karrazark's head between his ears gently as he nudged her with his strong snout. She leaned a little towards him, kissing the wiggly, strong rubbery nose with a laugh.

"See, big softy he is. Now, shall we head down the path, lass?"

“Do you mind if I take my pure form. I can fly ahead a little and make sure everything is safe on the path. See what we’re walking into!” She giggled lightly, waiting patiently on a reply.

Dulthir

 

[Dulthir]

(My very own Lady Hawk. Lol)
Dulthir nodded. He was curious to see a shifter, well... shift.
"Absolutely lass. Whatever your the most comfortable with. Well, then let's be off. Karrazark, let's go."
Dulthir mounted Karrazark and waited for Ceri to shift.
Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

"Absolutely lass. Whatever your the most comfortable with. Well, then let's be off. Karrazark, let's go."

Ceri nodded as Dulthir remounted Karrazark. She shifted, rapidly growing snowy pelt, marked with ebony stripes and spots as she dropped to her hands, which quickly grew scales and sharp sickle talons. Her dress disappeared as her lower half became feline like, her tail lashing in the air. She tilted her eagle-like head as she blinked bright green eyes at him, opening her large ivory wings slightly, prancing a little in place with her bird-like forelimbs, showing off playfully with a soft screech.

“Taaaa-Daaaa” She chirped, playfully before turning and heading back towards where she had been laying originally, ducking her head into the strap of a bag, pulling it over her neck as she readied herself to go as she bounded back towards them. Within the last few seconds before she would have run into them she opened her wings fully and slammed them towards the ground. The wind gust from her wings against the ground forced her into the air and she lifted off slightly, flapping her wings hard to keep herself off the ground, looking down to them.

“I am ready…” she said in her sing songy voice.

Griffin Form

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir watched, jaws agape. "Amazing..." he thought. She was an incredible site, and a griffin as well.
"Amazing lass!!! Well, we'll follow the path. If ye need anything, let me know. If there's any danger, ye've got Karrazark's and me axe. So, lead on."
Dulthir nudged Karrazark and they started back in the direction they were headed. This town she spoke of, Alliria, sounded promising. Do some smithing, maybe some merc jobs, if he absolutely had to. But, either way, his vengeance was that much closer.
Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

"Amazing lass!!! Well, we'll follow the path. If ye need anything, let me know. If there's any danger, ye've got Karrazark's and me axe. So, lead on."

She nodded as she slammed her wings downwards again and lifted herself higher heading in the direction of the city. She went ahead quiet a ways, making sure the path was clear before landing and trotting by foot back to them. She chortled slightly as she circled them playfully, bumping her head against Dulthir ’s leg that rested against the pig. She walked slowly besides them as they headed down the path. Lean muscles rippling beneath her ivory pelt, her ears perked as she looked around, the ivory tufts wiggling in the wind.

She smiled slightly, the corners of her beak lifting slightly as she nudged against the pair slightly as she walked. A butterfly flew past, distracting her and she bounded after it playfully, fluffing her feathers up as she bounded after it. The butterfly on delicate wings fluttered up higher than she wanted to go, wanting to keep her feet on the ground for now. She bounded back to the pair and smiled.

“So what’s your story??”

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir watched Ceri flew off. Then saw her come bounding back. She nudged his leg playfully and then rubbed against them. Karrazark grunted in disapproval. Dulthir laughed heartily. Then Ceri asked the question. A question Dulthir would've avoided normally, but, he figured she was not associated with the humans he hunted. He sighed, pulled his pipe and relit it.
"I was born in Deep Forge Mountain. My family, Clan Ironfist, were the greatest blacksmiths around. We had a technique to forge steel that made it nearly indestructible. People came from thousands of miles to obtain a weapon forged by an Ironfist. All kinds. Elves, dwarves, even orcs. And... humans as well. I learned the secret of forging at a young age. I was a master smith at the age of 15. Youngest of my clan to achieve that."
He paused for a moment, remembering the look in his father's eyes as he passed the test required to be considered a master smith. He puffed his pipe.
"Life was good. I married my childhood sweetheart, Valya. And we had two sons, Bagrin and Gramir. They were good strong lads. Valya was a beautiful, fierce woman. Strong. She was....
A tear formed and ran down his cheek. He wiped it quickly.
"They died and I made my way here. So, how bout ye lass?"
Changing the subject quickly.
Ceridwen

 

[Ceridwen]

"I was born in Deep Forge Mountain. My family, Clan Ironfist, were the greatest blacksmiths around. We had a technique to forge steel that made it nearly indestructible. People came from thousands of miles to obtain a weapon forged by an Ironfist. All kinds. Elves, dwarves, even orcs. And... humans as well. I learned the secret of forging at a young age. I was a master smith at the age of 15. Youngest of my clan to achieve that. Life was good. I married my childhood sweetheart, Valya. And we had two sons, Bagrin and Gramir. They were good strong lads. Valya was a beautiful, fierce woman. Strong. She was… They died and I made my way here. So, how bout ye lass?"

She tilted her head slightly as she looked to him through the corner of her eye from her vantage point besides them. He teared up a lot more than she was used to, for a male. The males she grew up around never cried, not in public anyway, and while this male wasnt exactly crying, she wasnt used to seeing tears shed and she didnt know how to react, so when he changed the subject, she went with the flow.

“I was raised by elven… I was hatched by an elven woman and her children. They found my egg abandoned. So I dunno really much about my blood family. They raised me to farm and hunt… and I can speak to animals too sometimes, but it is kind of a mental thing so I try not to do it too much, because I feel like I am intruding on their thoughts.”

She shrugged lightly as they came to Alliria. She slowed a little, looking around cautiously. One couldnt tell how her presence would be taken so she kept her eyes on everyone around her.

Dulthir