Trial by Ice
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Spoiler
The path through Dimwold was at least clearly marked, along the way it quickly became apparent someone artistic was living in the area as the tree trunks became more and more heavily carved with swirling designs, and carved designs of people and ships, oceans and monsters, some of the carvings even looked similar to primals. The house itself was covered with such carvings, one of the front doors ajar. This was the place Oddmar wanted to meet.
Anstarra Silverain makes her way into the cabin, wearing an outfit that COULD be something like a survivalist's.. but those tights look a bit too silky, and the way her shirt bulges under her breasts - not to mention the open jacket - suggest that aesthetics played a larger part in her dressmaking than functionality. She beams at Artoria when she sees her. "Hey~"
Artoria Aldsan returns the smile with a small one of her own. "Anstarra. It's a pleasure to see you. I suppose we'll be working together then?"
Anstarra Silverain: "Beats the alternative~" Her grin widens briefly, before she casts a look over at the third member of their party, assuming she's here already. "Hello there~â€
Adeya Evenar glances over towards the other two. "Hi. I'm Adeya," she says. "And I caught your names," she adds with a small smile. "So what do you all make of this so far?" she asks, gesturing towards the carvings they had passed on their way here.
Anstarra Silverain wonders when the other girl might've caught Artoria's name, then has a quick mental image of Artoria talking about herself in the third person for some reason before An herself arrived. She shakes it off, looking around suspiciously for spores in the air. "Hmm? Oh! Yes, it's very pretty. Clearly this person has some artistic bent. Though with a name like Spittle..."
Artoria Aldsan: "With the amount of work done, he's likely been out here for sometime.... or his is not the only hand to carve them."
Oddmar perks up at the last name and shakes his head, "What? Me? No no no! I ain't got no skills at carvin' things. The spittle is uh... nickname... that stuck..." the highlander was big, but other than that nothing particularly out of the ordinary, nothing that would cause him to stand out from among other highlanders.
Anstarra Silverain looks sympathetic. "I understand. I used to be a sailor, I know how nicknames stick. Incidentally, I hope you CAN fight. Unless you wanted us to do the heavy lifting and say YOU beat some legendary warrior. In which case, I hope you can pay."
Adeya Evenar shrugs. "I've heard of stranger things," she says, though she doesn't seem especially confident about that. She then looks over towards the highlander, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studies him. "I see," she says slowly. "And yes, I agree. Especially if you want us to keep quiet about it."
Oddmar shakes his head and hefts up a fairly large sized club that is fairly well studded, "Oh have this t' fight with, can swing mighty good jus' you know, makin' it through to the hills, hear tell he's perched up where can see the garlean's bridge."
Anstarra Silverain: "Ahhh..." She nods, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You want us to go into dangerous territory in the middle of a war. Well, I hope you can pay anyway!" She laughs. "Though honestly that sounds kinda fun ANYway."
"Well if things weren't in a stand still liken as they are now... wouldna be able t' get away t' do this any which way. Jus' lucky I was that I was posted guard away from where everything when sour."
Adeya Evenar wrinkles her nose. "Because just what we needed was having to worry about the Garleans as well," she grumbles. She arches a brow at that, debating whether to ask, then shakes her head slightly. "So anything else that may try to kill us on the way there?"
Oddmar frowns a bit, "Well th' trees... hear might be large cats in the hills too, spirits, garleans, whelks... ya know, normal stuff anymore."
Anstarra Silverain laughs, "Sounds exciting~" She moves over and nudges Artoria, smiling. "Gonna protect me?"
Artoria Aldsan: "Sounds like quite the journey. Still, I suppose that is why you called on us. And of course, I can hardly let some bear pin you down."
Anstarra Snickers.
Oddmar shifts uncomfortably, "Depends... long as he's completely furred, c-could be better 'en the last bear dealt with."
Anstarra Silverain blinks, and tilts her head.
Artoria Aldsan: "You fought a naked bear?"
Adeya Evenar wrinkles her nose. "Wonderful," she mutters. She then gives Oddmar an odd look, apparently wondering the same thing.
"T-that was the hellsguards name you know him?" Oddmar looks a bit more hesitant now.
Anstarra Silverain: "A defurred bear? A bare bear?" Anstarra Silverain gazes upon Oddmar in deep reflection.
"Ah y-yes please." Oddmar nods his head and starts for the door, "Uh...a-anyone a tracker?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No... and I suspect I might like it to stay that way." She glances over towards Anstarra and nods. "That's probably a good idea."
Anstarra Silverain smiles at Adeya Evenar.
Anstarra Silverain hums as she pads along.
The dimwold is darkening as the day creeps along, the shadows casting ominously upon the carvings upon the trees, and the wooden walkway, for such an abandoned area the path is incredibly well kept and sturdy.
Anstarra Silverain thumps her feet a bit on the wood, ears twitching. "Huh. I would've.. hmm. Did you work on this walkway, Oddmar?"
Adeya Evenar glances around curiously as they walk. "So who /is/ doing all of this, if it's not you?" she asks. "It's certainly not the Garleans."
Anstarra Silverain: "Well, the Garleans do like their roads.. but yeah, wood, not so much."
Oddmar shakes his head, "No ain't done no work, only arrived bit before you all did, um... might have...scouted, supposed someone lives here, but ain't seen no bodies."
Anstarra Silverain: "Hmm. Mysteries~"
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "So I suppose we can add that to the list of "things that might come bother us"," she remarks.
There do appear to be a fair few Diakka about but no more than when everyone showed up originally.
Anstarra Silverain eyes the giant tree-person-things, tail slowly swishing.
The sight of one of the Diakka focusing intently on the group and following them at a distance causes Artoria to miss a step causing her to end up with a /sprained ankle/ as her foot jabs into the ground next to the pathway.
Anstarra Silverain looks at Artoria Aldsan in shock! “Oh wow! Are you okay?!â€
Adeya Evenar pauses and looks over at that. "Everything alright?" she asks, her ears tilting back slightly.
Artoria Aldsan lets out a small grunt of pain. "Fine. The local flora seems to have taken a liking to us, however."
Anstarra Silverain: "The flor-" She looks around, blinking.
Adeya Evenar blinks at that, then glances back behind them. "Well... that's odd," she remarks slowly.
Anstarra Silverain: "Hrm.." Her fingers drum against her legging. "Maybe they're just making sure we don't go into their territory. Or getting ready to ambush us."
Adeya Evenar considers this for a moment. "It /would/ make it harder for us to run, if it's the latter," she admits.
Artoria Aldsan: "No need to run. If they intend to come for us, then we need simply cut them down."
Anstarra Silverain: "Putting the 'leaves' back into 'levequest'."
Adeya Evenar rolls her eyes. "That could be more difficult if they have friends waiting up ahead," she points out.
Oddmar gives a nervous chuckle towards the group, adjusting the grip on his club, "But ah we need t' keep going, only path ah know of is up that way int' the hills."
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm... either of you any good at scouting?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "Not particularly," she admits.
Artoria Aldsan: "It's never been my preferred way of operating."
Anstarra Silverain chuckles. "And I'm not really dressed for it." She sighs, and shrugs. "Well, looks like the best we can do is get ready. Incidentally, Adeya, are you a healer?"
Adeya Evenar nods. "It's not my specialty, but I know how to cast a few spells, yes," she says.
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm.. can you toss up a protective barrier? The sort that lasts a while? Might not be a bad idea now, before we're in the middle of a fight."
Adeya Evenar considers, then nods. "I can try," she says as she reaches for her grimoire. Flipping through it, she considers a few pages, before finally settling on one. A soft light glows from the pages as she starts to cast.
Adeya Evenar makes a sharp gesture, and magic expands outwards from the pages of her book, settling over each member of the group in turn. "That should hold up for awhile," she says as she closes her grimoire once more.
Anstarra Silverain motions joyfully to Adeya Evenar, “Well done!~â€
Adeya Evenar smiles. "Thank you," she says.
Anstarra Silverain takes out her spear, giving herself a little space as she begins twisting it.. turning and spinning, loosening herself up. Her movements are sharp and focused, and done with only one hand at a time.. it's not that she's trying to intimidate anything, but hey, if it works.
With the preparations complete the group continues along to the end of the carved wooden walkway, the carvings one the trees becoming progressively newer looking.
"Huh.." She frowns scratching her head under the beret. "Newer carvings.. maybe it's our man who's done them all, and he's been moving along this way over the.. moons? Years?"
Artoria would notice that the Diakka that was keeping an eye on the group had moved on ahead of them, but maintained a fair distance until it scaled up into the trees prior to their arrival at the end of the walk.
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "I wonder if we'll find our mysterious wood carver up here," she remarks. "And mayhaps. It would make some sort of sense, at least."
Artoria Aldsan frowns softly, eyes following the diakka's path. The trees here were large, and relatively lacking in foliage.
The Diakka jumps to the large tree ahead before landing heavily in the cart, "Who trespasses the dimmenvold?"
Anstarra Silverain 's tail curls this way and that, an inadvertantly sensual little dance, especially in conjunction with form-hugging tights... but then goes a bit poofy as suddenly the tree-man leaps down ahead of them. Her eyes light up with excitement. Would it be a fight?
Adeya Evenar arches a brow at this. "We're adventurers, that's all," she says to the Diakka. "We're just here on a job, nothing more."
Artoria Aldsan: "Oddmar, you're the leader of this expedition. Do you care to answer the diakka?"
Oddmar glances at the group and the highlander steps out to the front, just when did he slip behind them, "Ah j-jus' here t' fight th' thing tha's been beatin' everyone. I-is that you?"
Anstarra Silverain chuckles. "C'mon, don't stutter~" She steps up and with her free hand gives Oddmar a firm, open-handed SMACK on the butt.
Oddmar yelps as he is smacked and stumbles forward, the Diakka grumbles and waves his staff about, "You seek then the one who has defiled my kind with his blade and left the dimmenvold then?"
Artoria Aldsan: "It could be the same person. It's hard to say for sure, unless you care to come with us and identify him."
Anstarra Silverain 's tail is dancing once more. "Oh, yes. Oh wait." Her smile flips over. "He left? I hope he's not gone far."
The Diakka pauses his staff rattling, "Cautious... you folk could be playing trick on old baum bart here..." he narrows what passes for eyes, "What business again? A fight? Why would you fight your kind?"
Anstarra Silverain: "Well, we don't even know if he's our kind yet, to be fair. Is he? Does he have ears like me and Adeya?" Wiggle, wiggle.
Adeya Evenar: "Just because he's "our kind" doesn't mean we have to be friends with him," she remarks.
Baum bart tilts his head jerkily, his motions a mimicry of human movement that was jerky and unsettling due to being close but not quite right, "Kind kind...yes true kind kills own kind... soft ones kill soft ones and call the Diakka uncultured, barbaric and backwards."
Anstarra Silverain: "We do? That's rude." She smiles and spreads her hands. "We can be mean, but we can also be friends. Wanna be friends with us? Then we can go beat up that guy you don't seem to like much anyroad~"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "I don't think anyone here has called the Diakka uncultured. Because yes, it /would/ be quite rude," she agrees. "And it's not quite as simple as you say. Surely you can see that there are differences between all of us?" she asks, swishing her tail pointedly.
Anstarra Silverain walks forward a bit, lowering her spear. A spear's not threatening to a tree anyway, right? It's not like it was an axe. "See, ser Baum Bart~ There are nice 'soft ones' and mean ones. But we're just like you in some ways, right? Surely you're mean to people who deserve it, and nice to those who also deserve it. We're not so different. I mean aside from being much smaller and squishier and funnier-looking than you~" She inclines her head. "Would you kindly let us move along? Or even better tell us where we might find the man we're looking for? I'm sure you wouldn't mind if we got a little revenge on your behalf.. especially since it suits our purposes, too. Everyone wins~"
Baum Bart tilts his head back and forth, the beard of leaves flopping about and rustling as he does. He appears to be considering Anstarra's words before he nods firmly, "Fine... points good you have made the trail is there that he has taken." he points with his staff towards what's best described as a goat trail, "Harrassed you will not be if alive you return."
Anstarra Silverain bows courteously to Baum Bart, "Thanks kindly~ May, Azeyma's warmth, uh, nourish your.. head?" She looks to the others. "We should go."
Adeya Evenar glances over to Anstarra. "Nice job," she murmurs. "And yes, we should," she adds more loudly. "Just so they don't change their minds," she adds under her breath.
Artoria Aldsan: "Let's."
The trail was simple, and the ascent pleasant enough until a chill began to settle in, it was mild at first, but it grew as the group continued along the trail. Whole Logs were lodged into the ground and carved, no bark unlike the trees below, these had seen more care, sanding, even some basic treatment
Adeya Evenar draws her coat tighter around her as the temperature begins to drop. "I'd say we're getting close," she remarks as she studies the carvings around them. "I don't think it should be this cold, even up here."
Anstarra Silverain takes deep breaths, seeming to take a perverse enjoyment from the chill. Or perhaps she has piercings under her shirt. "Mrrr. I'm thinking my hypothesis was correct.. our warrior is a warrior-artisan. I admit I'm getting more intrigued. It's the creative ones who are so much more.. Interesting."
Artoria Aldsan doesn't even seem to notice the cold, though her breath mists with each exhale. "One wonders what he is doing up here."
Oddmar stops to examine some of the wood carvings before he continues along with the group, a curious look to his eyes, "S-stories are-" he is cut off by a voice from just across the rise, "What stories are they telling of me boy?" the voice echoes. At this point, the ground was covered in snow. There were frozen remains of garleans, ala mhigans, a shattered reaper lies crumpled to the side. At the far end was a large highlander with a girdle that looked of cracked rock and ice, next to him was an axe that would make a warrior weep with the carvings along the haft and etched into the metal. Strewn about is everything for an open air smithy and wood carver, a half carved log resting before him on the ground.
Anstarra Silverain 's tail and ears perk up at the sight of the man... and the devastation, all around. A light comes into her eyes, an excitement that's almost sexual. "Oh my..." she murmurs, walking forward a bit more as she examines the damage that was done.
Adeya Evenar draws in a breath as she looks around. "Well, it looks like we've found who we're looking for," she murmurs, eyeing the frozen reaper warily before looking back to the highlander. "Well, it seems the stories about you being good in a fight aren't wrong," she remarks.
The man sighs as he stands up, dusting himself off, "That is all there is, fighting and carving." he reaches over, his motions slow, practiced as he pats the haft of his axe, "Are you here then, to defeat me in battle as well? Or try?"
Artoria Aldsan: "So it would seem. Though, this cold isn't natural to the region-- not at this time of year, at any rate. I take it you are responsible?"
Anstarra Silverain is fingering the haft of her spear lovingly... though it's with a regretful sigh that she admits; "Technically we're just here to escort our friend here to fighting you..." she nods to Oddmar, then quirks her ears at Artoria's comment. "Isn't it? We're high up..."
The highlander hefts the axe up, resting it against his shoulder, "The snows follow me wherever I go, the ice is as my breath, the frost is my blood, no gigas nor dragon can resist me forever, for I am Jotun, the ever waiting ice."
Adeya Evenar narrows her eyes at that. "So... you're not really a highlander then." It sounds more like a statement than a question. "I don't suppose you're friends with Shaitan then?" she inquires.
Oddmar was shaking at the back of the group and doing his best to not run like a scared rabbit. Jotun reaches up to stroke at his face, "Shaitan... the one of the cracking earth. Yes I knew him, when we were all simply the elements, and then after in Allag." he rests the haft of the axe against the ground, leaning against it, "Have questions before I take on whoever has come to challenge me?"
Artoria Aldsan: "So you are like the others. I take it that body of yours is stolen as well, then?"
Anstarra Silverain blinks, then looks to Adeya. "Shaitan? The earth creature Seito fought?" She looks back to Jotun, tail swishing with renewed interest. "We encountered Marid, he and I. It sounds like you're all waking up at the same time..."
Adeya Evenar nods to Anstarra. "I was with him for that," she says. "And yes, that's the one." She reaches up to run a hand through her hair. "How did you end up here?" she shoots to Jotun. "After the fall of Allag. It /has/ been a very long time."
Jotun raises an eyebrow, "Indeed, I have taken this body, as I have taken countless others, from the time when this place was awash with waters and raging elements, to now. Many simply died because it was time, others died as I was defeated, and then I took the victors body for my own. Hubris comes at a price I have heard one man say, and this is that price."
"How? Great waters tore the ground that covered me away, and ripped me from the box the Allagans put me in until the waters left me in a cave and a man came upon me. I whispered to him, over and over until he put me on."
Artoria Aldsan 's lips thin, and after a long moment of silence, she slowly draws her sword, golden aether igniting along it's length.
Adeya Evenar sucks in a sharp breath. "The only flood I can think of that was that large was the one that destroyed Nym, Amdapor, and Mhach," she says slowly. "Gods... I can't even imagine how many people you must have taken then."
Anstarra Silverain: "Hmmmm..." She nibbles her lip. "I do so cherish a good fight... but I don't particularly fancy being possessed..." She absentmindedly twirls her heavy-looking spear in a smooth spiral as she contemplates the situation. "Marid took a body to save a drowning girl... and otherwise she despises those who defile the water. Shaitan sounds like he does it out of hatred for those who defile the earth, which is pretty much everyone on it... what about you, Jotun? What motivates you? Fight and carve?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No. Shaitan does it because he wants revenge on Allag... and seems to think that that includes everyone alive, because we're descended from them. So I don't think it's that simple... " she murmurs, watching Jotun curiously.
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm.. conversely, Marid seems like she's gonna go after Garlemald, since they're hurting the water… And they’re more Allagan-ish.â€
Jotun sighs, "I fight, because people desire my power, to best me. I carve..." he pats the log, "So that their memories are not entirely lost, each tree I have carved the stories of the people who I have taken, they are the record that they came, and bested me."
Artoria Aldsan lets out a slow breath, the glow of aether around her blade gradually growing brighter, her muscles tensing. "Yet you held no compunction over possessing their bodies for yourself when defeated."
Anstarra Silverain clicks her tongue, and sets the butt of her spear in the snow. "Are you telling us you don't -want- to fight? That you don't delight in battle, crave it, long for the rush and fury of combat and slaughter?"
Jotun hefts the axe again, "I did once, year after year did I kill... and that was it... it was just myself, and then it was Raijin, and then he left to seek peace and I was left here. As for those I took over, they showed no compunction over killing me, or killing others, what compassions should they be shown when they have blood on their own hands as well."
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "So it seems to all come back to Allag. Except perhaps for him," she adds, eyeing Jotun and his axe. "If that is the case..." she begins slowly. "Then it seems like this Rajiin was perhaps the wise one. Do you /want/ us to just leave you be then?"
Anstarra Silverain huffs, and slings her spear back into its bandolier. "Well that's no fun. Fighting someone who doesn't WANT to fight." She looks to Oddmar. "Should probably give up on it. The best name you might get here is 'Jotun', it sounds like."
Jotun nods his head a bit, "I would like to finish this mans story before I am taken by another, it begins to become...complex with the memories that are not the newest." he looks to the group, "If you are set on testing yourselves against me, I will consider it agreeable. I match of sparring instead of life and death has not been a thing in ages."
Adeya Evenar considers this for a moment, then shrugs. "It is certainly preferrable than becoming possessed," she points out. "And it could be useful to see what one of these... creatures can do."
Anstarra Silverain looks back to the possessed warrior, ears perking back up and tail twitching. "A spar, hmm? That could be interesting anyroad..." She draws her spear again. "I hope you won't take it amiss if I fight one-handed," she smirks, slowly wheeling her spear again.
"I do not mind that one bit." Jotun holds his axe one handed, a chain of ice descending to the ground as he stands there, waiting.
Artoria Aldsan glances at Anstarra and Adeya. "When you're ready.
Anstarra Silverain: "Alright~" She whips her spear in a tight arc. "Let's have some -fun-!"
Adeya Evenar reaches for her grimoire. "Same here," she says as she flips it open.
Jotun hurls the chain about before slinging the end of it at Adeya, attempting to snag her with the blunted hook at the end.
Adeya Evenar isn't nearly fast enough. The chain wraps around her, and she's nowhere near strong enough to resist being dragged over towards Jotun. The chill is even more intense... and worse, she still has the chain wrapped around her.
Anstarra Silverain laughs, even as Adeya is grabbed and pulled, as she begins twirling her spear faster. The air catches in it, in grooves along the befanged and scaled length, and she slams it into the ground. Again, and again, pounding out a rhythm. Glints of her own azure aether suffuse the motions, suffuse the music, inspiring her allies to aggression and violence…
Artoria Aldsan growls and rushes forward, her sword coming around to slam against whatever defense Jotun could offer in an attempt to set him off-balance.
Jotun was set /off-balance/ by Artoria's sword slam even though he had attempted to parry, the moment Artoria and Adeya got this close they could feel the cold seeping in painfully, slowing down down their thoughts, and muscles.
Adeya Evenar eyes the chain wrapped around her leg. Trying to block out the bonechilling cold, she focuses on Jotun, sending a blast of aether towards him.
Jotun stumbles towards the side, barely managing to evade the blast of Aether before he whirls on the most immediate threat, bringing his axe down at Artoria.
Oddmar gains a new name of wetbritches at the sight of the fighting before him.
Jotun stumbles towards the side, barely managing to evade the blast of Aether before he whirls on the most immediate threat, bringing his axe down at Artoria.
Artoria Aldsan twists and handily parries the axe to the side, Adeya's earlier magic slowing it just enough to make things easy for her.
Anstarra Silverain howls as she surges forward, eyes bright with violent glee as she lets the notes for her own song set her pace. Her footstep become the drumming percussion beat of ONE - TWO - THREE - SLAM!! - as her last step carries her the final three yalms and with a fearsome howl she drives her lance in with one-handed thrust! IMPALING him before dragging it out! She hisses in chagrin, the crazed light draining a bit from her eyes. This wasn't to the death!
There was a cough and a gleam of craziness in Jotun's eyes as Anstarra nails him good with the spear, this wasn't a light hit he took.
Artoria Aldsan brings her sword around, aiming for Jotun's waist in an effort to keep his attention on her, her aether radiating out as pure heat to reduce the chill on her.
Adeya Evenar grits her teeth, still trying to ignore the cold, as she sends a blast of twisting purple magic towards Jotun. Could he even be poisoned? She wasn't sure, but thought it couldn't hurt to try to find out.
Khunbish Avagnar: Jotun /deftly evades/ Adeya's spell as he rushes at Anstarra taking a mighty axe swing at her in an attempt to repay her kindness.
Anstarra Silverain parries the blow with her spear along her forearm, grunting as the force behind it bruises her despite the protective magics absorbing much of it; she grins, the light rekindling in her eyes. "That's it!!" Before grabbing Adeya, and attempting to JUMP right back out of melee.
Anstarra Silverain then abruptly turns from Jotun and grabs the unsuspecting Adeya by both arms. "Yoink!!" And BACKFLIPS 30 FULMS, tearing her out of the chains in the process!..while somehow keeping hold of her spear.
Anstarra Silverain grins at Adeya, flushed from the exertion and excitement, and also the suddenly-not-freezing-their-asses-off. "Looked like you could use a hand~"
Adeya Evenar doesn't seem quite certain about this plan as Anstarra reaches for her. "Wait--!" she starts to say, but suddenly they're flying through the air. She grits her teeth as they land, but she can't complain much... it was at least warmer here. "Thanks," she says to Anstarra as she reaches down to try to rub feeling into her leg before looking back up to glare thoughtfully at Jotun.
Artoria Aldsan makes a slow circle around Jotun, doing her best to keep him focused on her-- and not able to chase after the two that had just retreated, his /movement hampered/.
Adeya Evenar opens her grimoire once more and this time aims carefully. She would send a brilliant burst of aether directly towards Jotun's face, trying to /temporarily blind/ him.
Jotun blocks the flash with the flat of his axe used as a shade.
Oddmar starts backing away from the fight, stumbling backwards. He certainly is in over his head.
Jotun snarled as Anstarra jumps away but then Artoria bonks at him so he turns and just swings at her directly.
Anstarra Silverain has barely landed from depositing Adeya that she has begun whirling her spear again. The wind seems to pick up, a howling dirge that promises violence. Easy to forget that it was but a spar... stamping of her feet, powerful leg muscles of a Dragoon, sending snow flying and pebbles shuddering, as the combative tempo accelerates…
Artoria Aldsan parries Jotun's axe, letting it skid off of her armor as she ducks her shoulder and rams it into his gut, /knocking the wind out/ of him.
Adeya Evenar purses her lips as Jotun blocks her first spell. She considers for a moment, then sends a blast of sickly green aether towards him.
Khunbish Avagnar: Jotun evades the attack from Adeya again before whirling on and then resting the haft down, "Unless one of you plan to hand over your body, I should rest and return to my work."
Artoria Aldsan snorts softly, but grounds her sword. "Quitting already, are you?"
Jotun sticks a finger in where he was stabbed, "This body is bleeding out."
Adeya Evenar arches a brow at that. "Well.... okay, that is a good point," she has to admit as she closes her grimoire.
Anstarra Silverain 's eyes flash... the aggressive music pounding through the air, and especially through her... and she stomps over aggressively, spear in hand... and grabs Artoria, and drags her into a very violent kiss.
Khunbish Avagnar: "...Marid is awake." he wipes his hand off, "I may go find her, this body has done me well so far." he blinks a few times at Artoria and Anstarra, "You children of Allag are strange."
Artoria Aldsan 's eyes go wide as she's suddenly grabbed, losing her grip on her sword as gloved fingers try (and fail, due to padding) to claw along the back of Anstarra's neck, strangely warm despite the fierce cold emanating from Jotun nearby.
Adeya Evenar blinks and looks away. "Well then," she remarks. "This just got rather awkward... " she murmurs before looking over to Jotun. "I could probably do something about the bleeding," she offers.
Anstarra Silverain is super not paying attention to Jotun or Adeya right now, and in fact seems to be trying to wrench off some of Adeya's armor, without much success as she's never worked on this particular make. The obvious solution is to kiss harder, and pull her own shirt more open.
Jotun tilts his head a bit, "That would be good. If it keeps this body from dying."
Artoria Aldsan , despite her ferocity in combat, seems to have a hard time resisting An's sudden aggression. She doesn't assist with the armor removal, but her body does press in close against An's, her eyes fluttering shut.
Adeya Evenar opens her grimoire once more and steps forward (being careful to avoid the other two). "Well... no promises, but I can try," she says. Then she starts to cast a healing spell.
Jotun rolls his shoulders once he is healed and motions towards the distance, "Take your boy and go, I am going to get back to work on carving this bodies history."
Anstarra Silverain growls as she kisses Artoria, overpowering her for the moment on grounds of sheer animal hunger, bending her back and kissing her until she starts to get melty... before dragging herself back abruptly with a sharp intake of breath. "HOOOALright. Let's not get you frostbite, Rena will kill me." She licks her lips, stepping back and shaking out her hands and feet.
Anstarra Silverain: "Oh! You healed him. Good call." She looks to Jotun and smiles. "Sorry, I got a bit carried away! No hard feelings?"
Khunbish Avagnar: "None, if you're planning to die, I would not mind the body, it would last a long time and a stab like that, plenty of stories." Jotun moves back to his chair, "I should go find Raijin maybe..."
Artoria Aldsan , now freed, is left with a dreamy sort of stare, whatever thoughts she might have had before the make outs wiped from her mind. It's a long moment before she finally seems to come out of her daze, shaking her head and picking up her sword once more.
Adeya Evenar nods. "It's probably best he doesn't need to go body hunting soon," she points out. "Especially for all of us."
Anstarra Silverain blinks, and looks at her own body, pensively. "I'm rather attached to myself... but if I had to go, I can think of worse fates than to keep being a badass fighter..." She smiles then. "But not anytime soon. And yeah, Adeya. Are you alright, by the way?" She's gravitated back to Artoria and is kinda stroking her hair.
Anstarra Silverain asked this of Adeya. Artoria is CLEARLY okay. She got to check that out up close.
Oddmar managed to eventually make it down the goat trail by this point.
Artoria Aldsan favors An with a small smile, leaning a bit into the touch.
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No, thank you. I can do without that," she says firmly. "And yes, I'm fine. Just looking forward to getting out of the cold now." She eyes the two of them. "I don't think I need to ask about you two." She then glances back over her shoulder. "And Oddmar fled." She sighs softly. "No surprise, I suppose."
Artoria Aldsan: "The coward. I suppose his nickname was well-earned in the end."
Anstarra Silverain giggles. "Yup, just fine~" She snickers. "Ahh, who knows~ The day he overcomes his fear, he'll be the bravest of us all!"
The path through Dimwold was at least clearly marked, along the way it quickly became apparent someone artistic was living in the area as the tree trunks became more and more heavily carved with swirling designs, and carved designs of people and ships, oceans and monsters, some of the carvings even looked similar to primals. The house itself was covered with such carvings, one of the front doors ajar. This was the place Oddmar wanted to meet.
Anstarra Silverain makes her way into the cabin, wearing an outfit that COULD be something like a survivalist's.. but those tights look a bit too silky, and the way her shirt bulges under her breasts - not to mention the open jacket - suggest that aesthetics played a larger part in her dressmaking than functionality. She beams at Artoria when she sees her. "Hey~"
Artoria Aldsan returns the smile with a small one of her own. "Anstarra. It's a pleasure to see you. I suppose we'll be working together then?"
Anstarra Silverain: "Beats the alternative~" Her grin widens briefly, before she casts a look over at the third member of their party, assuming she's here already. "Hello there~â€
Adeya Evenar glances over towards the other two. "Hi. I'm Adeya," she says. "And I caught your names," she adds with a small smile. "So what do you all make of this so far?" she asks, gesturing towards the carvings they had passed on their way here.
Anstarra Silverain wonders when the other girl might've caught Artoria's name, then has a quick mental image of Artoria talking about herself in the third person for some reason before An herself arrived. She shakes it off, looking around suspiciously for spores in the air. "Hmm? Oh! Yes, it's very pretty. Clearly this person has some artistic bent. Though with a name like Spittle..."
Artoria Aldsan: "With the amount of work done, he's likely been out here for sometime.... or his is not the only hand to carve them."
Oddmar perks up at the last name and shakes his head, "What? Me? No no no! I ain't got no skills at carvin' things. The spittle is uh... nickname... that stuck..." the highlander was big, but other than that nothing particularly out of the ordinary, nothing that would cause him to stand out from among other highlanders.
Anstarra Silverain looks sympathetic. "I understand. I used to be a sailor, I know how nicknames stick. Incidentally, I hope you CAN fight. Unless you wanted us to do the heavy lifting and say YOU beat some legendary warrior. In which case, I hope you can pay."
Adeya Evenar shrugs. "I've heard of stranger things," she says, though she doesn't seem especially confident about that. She then looks over towards the highlander, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studies him. "I see," she says slowly. "And yes, I agree. Especially if you want us to keep quiet about it."
Oddmar shakes his head and hefts up a fairly large sized club that is fairly well studded, "Oh have this t' fight with, can swing mighty good jus' you know, makin' it through to the hills, hear tell he's perched up where can see the garlean's bridge."
Anstarra Silverain: "Ahhh..." She nods, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You want us to go into dangerous territory in the middle of a war. Well, I hope you can pay anyway!" She laughs. "Though honestly that sounds kinda fun ANYway."
"Well if things weren't in a stand still liken as they are now... wouldna be able t' get away t' do this any which way. Jus' lucky I was that I was posted guard away from where everything when sour."
Adeya Evenar wrinkles her nose. "Because just what we needed was having to worry about the Garleans as well," she grumbles. She arches a brow at that, debating whether to ask, then shakes her head slightly. "So anything else that may try to kill us on the way there?"
Oddmar frowns a bit, "Well th' trees... hear might be large cats in the hills too, spirits, garleans, whelks... ya know, normal stuff anymore."
Anstarra Silverain laughs, "Sounds exciting~" She moves over and nudges Artoria, smiling. "Gonna protect me?"
Artoria Aldsan: "Sounds like quite the journey. Still, I suppose that is why you called on us. And of course, I can hardly let some bear pin you down."
Anstarra Snickers.
Oddmar shifts uncomfortably, "Depends... long as he's completely furred, c-could be better 'en the last bear dealt with."
Anstarra Silverain blinks, and tilts her head.
Artoria Aldsan: "You fought a naked bear?"
Adeya Evenar wrinkles her nose. "Wonderful," she mutters. She then gives Oddmar an odd look, apparently wondering the same thing.
"T-that was the hellsguards name you know him?" Oddmar looks a bit more hesitant now.
Anstarra Silverain: "A defurred bear? A bare bear?" Anstarra Silverain gazes upon Oddmar in deep reflection.
"Ah y-yes please." Oddmar nods his head and starts for the door, "Uh...a-anyone a tracker?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No... and I suspect I might like it to stay that way." She glances over towards Anstarra and nods. "That's probably a good idea."
Anstarra Silverain smiles at Adeya Evenar.
Anstarra Silverain hums as she pads along.
The dimwold is darkening as the day creeps along, the shadows casting ominously upon the carvings upon the trees, and the wooden walkway, for such an abandoned area the path is incredibly well kept and sturdy.
Anstarra Silverain thumps her feet a bit on the wood, ears twitching. "Huh. I would've.. hmm. Did you work on this walkway, Oddmar?"
Adeya Evenar glances around curiously as they walk. "So who /is/ doing all of this, if it's not you?" she asks. "It's certainly not the Garleans."
Anstarra Silverain: "Well, the Garleans do like their roads.. but yeah, wood, not so much."
Oddmar shakes his head, "No ain't done no work, only arrived bit before you all did, um... might have...scouted, supposed someone lives here, but ain't seen no bodies."
Anstarra Silverain: "Hmm. Mysteries~"
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "So I suppose we can add that to the list of "things that might come bother us"," she remarks.
There do appear to be a fair few Diakka about but no more than when everyone showed up originally.
Anstarra Silverain eyes the giant tree-person-things, tail slowly swishing.
The sight of one of the Diakka focusing intently on the group and following them at a distance causes Artoria to miss a step causing her to end up with a /sprained ankle/ as her foot jabs into the ground next to the pathway.
Anstarra Silverain looks at Artoria Aldsan in shock! “Oh wow! Are you okay?!â€
Adeya Evenar pauses and looks over at that. "Everything alright?" she asks, her ears tilting back slightly.
Artoria Aldsan lets out a small grunt of pain. "Fine. The local flora seems to have taken a liking to us, however."
Anstarra Silverain: "The flor-" She looks around, blinking.
Adeya Evenar blinks at that, then glances back behind them. "Well... that's odd," she remarks slowly.
Anstarra Silverain: "Hrm.." Her fingers drum against her legging. "Maybe they're just making sure we don't go into their territory. Or getting ready to ambush us."
Adeya Evenar considers this for a moment. "It /would/ make it harder for us to run, if it's the latter," she admits.
Artoria Aldsan: "No need to run. If they intend to come for us, then we need simply cut them down."
Anstarra Silverain: "Putting the 'leaves' back into 'levequest'."
Adeya Evenar rolls her eyes. "That could be more difficult if they have friends waiting up ahead," she points out.
Oddmar gives a nervous chuckle towards the group, adjusting the grip on his club, "But ah we need t' keep going, only path ah know of is up that way int' the hills."
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm... either of you any good at scouting?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "Not particularly," she admits.
Artoria Aldsan: "It's never been my preferred way of operating."
Anstarra Silverain chuckles. "And I'm not really dressed for it." She sighs, and shrugs. "Well, looks like the best we can do is get ready. Incidentally, Adeya, are you a healer?"
Adeya Evenar nods. "It's not my specialty, but I know how to cast a few spells, yes," she says.
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm.. can you toss up a protective barrier? The sort that lasts a while? Might not be a bad idea now, before we're in the middle of a fight."
Adeya Evenar considers, then nods. "I can try," she says as she reaches for her grimoire. Flipping through it, she considers a few pages, before finally settling on one. A soft light glows from the pages as she starts to cast.
Adeya Evenar makes a sharp gesture, and magic expands outwards from the pages of her book, settling over each member of the group in turn. "That should hold up for awhile," she says as she closes her grimoire once more.
Anstarra Silverain motions joyfully to Adeya Evenar, “Well done!~â€
Adeya Evenar smiles. "Thank you," she says.
Anstarra Silverain takes out her spear, giving herself a little space as she begins twisting it.. turning and spinning, loosening herself up. Her movements are sharp and focused, and done with only one hand at a time.. it's not that she's trying to intimidate anything, but hey, if it works.
With the preparations complete the group continues along to the end of the carved wooden walkway, the carvings one the trees becoming progressively newer looking.
"Huh.." She frowns scratching her head under the beret. "Newer carvings.. maybe it's our man who's done them all, and he's been moving along this way over the.. moons? Years?"
Artoria would notice that the Diakka that was keeping an eye on the group had moved on ahead of them, but maintained a fair distance until it scaled up into the trees prior to their arrival at the end of the walk.
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "I wonder if we'll find our mysterious wood carver up here," she remarks. "And mayhaps. It would make some sort of sense, at least."
Artoria Aldsan frowns softly, eyes following the diakka's path. The trees here were large, and relatively lacking in foliage.
The Diakka jumps to the large tree ahead before landing heavily in the cart, "Who trespasses the dimmenvold?"
Anstarra Silverain 's tail curls this way and that, an inadvertantly sensual little dance, especially in conjunction with form-hugging tights... but then goes a bit poofy as suddenly the tree-man leaps down ahead of them. Her eyes light up with excitement. Would it be a fight?
Adeya Evenar arches a brow at this. "We're adventurers, that's all," she says to the Diakka. "We're just here on a job, nothing more."
Artoria Aldsan: "Oddmar, you're the leader of this expedition. Do you care to answer the diakka?"
Oddmar glances at the group and the highlander steps out to the front, just when did he slip behind them, "Ah j-jus' here t' fight th' thing tha's been beatin' everyone. I-is that you?"
Anstarra Silverain chuckles. "C'mon, don't stutter~" She steps up and with her free hand gives Oddmar a firm, open-handed SMACK on the butt.
Oddmar yelps as he is smacked and stumbles forward, the Diakka grumbles and waves his staff about, "You seek then the one who has defiled my kind with his blade and left the dimmenvold then?"
Artoria Aldsan: "It could be the same person. It's hard to say for sure, unless you care to come with us and identify him."
Anstarra Silverain 's tail is dancing once more. "Oh, yes. Oh wait." Her smile flips over. "He left? I hope he's not gone far."
The Diakka pauses his staff rattling, "Cautious... you folk could be playing trick on old baum bart here..." he narrows what passes for eyes, "What business again? A fight? Why would you fight your kind?"
Anstarra Silverain: "Well, we don't even know if he's our kind yet, to be fair. Is he? Does he have ears like me and Adeya?" Wiggle, wiggle.
Adeya Evenar: "Just because he's "our kind" doesn't mean we have to be friends with him," she remarks.
Baum bart tilts his head jerkily, his motions a mimicry of human movement that was jerky and unsettling due to being close but not quite right, "Kind kind...yes true kind kills own kind... soft ones kill soft ones and call the Diakka uncultured, barbaric and backwards."
Anstarra Silverain: "We do? That's rude." She smiles and spreads her hands. "We can be mean, but we can also be friends. Wanna be friends with us? Then we can go beat up that guy you don't seem to like much anyroad~"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "I don't think anyone here has called the Diakka uncultured. Because yes, it /would/ be quite rude," she agrees. "And it's not quite as simple as you say. Surely you can see that there are differences between all of us?" she asks, swishing her tail pointedly.
Anstarra Silverain walks forward a bit, lowering her spear. A spear's not threatening to a tree anyway, right? It's not like it was an axe. "See, ser Baum Bart~ There are nice 'soft ones' and mean ones. But we're just like you in some ways, right? Surely you're mean to people who deserve it, and nice to those who also deserve it. We're not so different. I mean aside from being much smaller and squishier and funnier-looking than you~" She inclines her head. "Would you kindly let us move along? Or even better tell us where we might find the man we're looking for? I'm sure you wouldn't mind if we got a little revenge on your behalf.. especially since it suits our purposes, too. Everyone wins~"
Baum Bart tilts his head back and forth, the beard of leaves flopping about and rustling as he does. He appears to be considering Anstarra's words before he nods firmly, "Fine... points good you have made the trail is there that he has taken." he points with his staff towards what's best described as a goat trail, "Harrassed you will not be if alive you return."
Anstarra Silverain bows courteously to Baum Bart, "Thanks kindly~ May, Azeyma's warmth, uh, nourish your.. head?" She looks to the others. "We should go."
Adeya Evenar glances over to Anstarra. "Nice job," she murmurs. "And yes, we should," she adds more loudly. "Just so they don't change their minds," she adds under her breath.
Artoria Aldsan: "Let's."
The trail was simple, and the ascent pleasant enough until a chill began to settle in, it was mild at first, but it grew as the group continued along the trail. Whole Logs were lodged into the ground and carved, no bark unlike the trees below, these had seen more care, sanding, even some basic treatment
Adeya Evenar draws her coat tighter around her as the temperature begins to drop. "I'd say we're getting close," she remarks as she studies the carvings around them. "I don't think it should be this cold, even up here."
Anstarra Silverain takes deep breaths, seeming to take a perverse enjoyment from the chill. Or perhaps she has piercings under her shirt. "Mrrr. I'm thinking my hypothesis was correct.. our warrior is a warrior-artisan. I admit I'm getting more intrigued. It's the creative ones who are so much more.. Interesting."
Artoria Aldsan doesn't even seem to notice the cold, though her breath mists with each exhale. "One wonders what he is doing up here."
Oddmar stops to examine some of the wood carvings before he continues along with the group, a curious look to his eyes, "S-stories are-" he is cut off by a voice from just across the rise, "What stories are they telling of me boy?" the voice echoes. At this point, the ground was covered in snow. There were frozen remains of garleans, ala mhigans, a shattered reaper lies crumpled to the side. At the far end was a large highlander with a girdle that looked of cracked rock and ice, next to him was an axe that would make a warrior weep with the carvings along the haft and etched into the metal. Strewn about is everything for an open air smithy and wood carver, a half carved log resting before him on the ground.
Anstarra Silverain 's tail and ears perk up at the sight of the man... and the devastation, all around. A light comes into her eyes, an excitement that's almost sexual. "Oh my..." she murmurs, walking forward a bit more as she examines the damage that was done.
Adeya Evenar draws in a breath as she looks around. "Well, it looks like we've found who we're looking for," she murmurs, eyeing the frozen reaper warily before looking back to the highlander. "Well, it seems the stories about you being good in a fight aren't wrong," she remarks.
The man sighs as he stands up, dusting himself off, "That is all there is, fighting and carving." he reaches over, his motions slow, practiced as he pats the haft of his axe, "Are you here then, to defeat me in battle as well? Or try?"
Artoria Aldsan: "So it would seem. Though, this cold isn't natural to the region-- not at this time of year, at any rate. I take it you are responsible?"
Anstarra Silverain is fingering the haft of her spear lovingly... though it's with a regretful sigh that she admits; "Technically we're just here to escort our friend here to fighting you..." she nods to Oddmar, then quirks her ears at Artoria's comment. "Isn't it? We're high up..."
The highlander hefts the axe up, resting it against his shoulder, "The snows follow me wherever I go, the ice is as my breath, the frost is my blood, no gigas nor dragon can resist me forever, for I am Jotun, the ever waiting ice."
Adeya Evenar narrows her eyes at that. "So... you're not really a highlander then." It sounds more like a statement than a question. "I don't suppose you're friends with Shaitan then?" she inquires.
Oddmar was shaking at the back of the group and doing his best to not run like a scared rabbit. Jotun reaches up to stroke at his face, "Shaitan... the one of the cracking earth. Yes I knew him, when we were all simply the elements, and then after in Allag." he rests the haft of the axe against the ground, leaning against it, "Have questions before I take on whoever has come to challenge me?"
Artoria Aldsan: "So you are like the others. I take it that body of yours is stolen as well, then?"
Anstarra Silverain blinks, then looks to Adeya. "Shaitan? The earth creature Seito fought?" She looks back to Jotun, tail swishing with renewed interest. "We encountered Marid, he and I. It sounds like you're all waking up at the same time..."
Adeya Evenar nods to Anstarra. "I was with him for that," she says. "And yes, that's the one." She reaches up to run a hand through her hair. "How did you end up here?" she shoots to Jotun. "After the fall of Allag. It /has/ been a very long time."
Jotun raises an eyebrow, "Indeed, I have taken this body, as I have taken countless others, from the time when this place was awash with waters and raging elements, to now. Many simply died because it was time, others died as I was defeated, and then I took the victors body for my own. Hubris comes at a price I have heard one man say, and this is that price."
"How? Great waters tore the ground that covered me away, and ripped me from the box the Allagans put me in until the waters left me in a cave and a man came upon me. I whispered to him, over and over until he put me on."
Artoria Aldsan 's lips thin, and after a long moment of silence, she slowly draws her sword, golden aether igniting along it's length.
Adeya Evenar sucks in a sharp breath. "The only flood I can think of that was that large was the one that destroyed Nym, Amdapor, and Mhach," she says slowly. "Gods... I can't even imagine how many people you must have taken then."
Anstarra Silverain: "Hmmmm..." She nibbles her lip. "I do so cherish a good fight... but I don't particularly fancy being possessed..." She absentmindedly twirls her heavy-looking spear in a smooth spiral as she contemplates the situation. "Marid took a body to save a drowning girl... and otherwise she despises those who defile the water. Shaitan sounds like he does it out of hatred for those who defile the earth, which is pretty much everyone on it... what about you, Jotun? What motivates you? Fight and carve?"
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No. Shaitan does it because he wants revenge on Allag... and seems to think that that includes everyone alive, because we're descended from them. So I don't think it's that simple... " she murmurs, watching Jotun curiously.
Anstarra Silverain: "Mmm.. conversely, Marid seems like she's gonna go after Garlemald, since they're hurting the water… And they’re more Allagan-ish.â€
Jotun sighs, "I fight, because people desire my power, to best me. I carve..." he pats the log, "So that their memories are not entirely lost, each tree I have carved the stories of the people who I have taken, they are the record that they came, and bested me."
Artoria Aldsan lets out a slow breath, the glow of aether around her blade gradually growing brighter, her muscles tensing. "Yet you held no compunction over possessing their bodies for yourself when defeated."
Anstarra Silverain clicks her tongue, and sets the butt of her spear in the snow. "Are you telling us you don't -want- to fight? That you don't delight in battle, crave it, long for the rush and fury of combat and slaughter?"
Jotun hefts the axe again, "I did once, year after year did I kill... and that was it... it was just myself, and then it was Raijin, and then he left to seek peace and I was left here. As for those I took over, they showed no compunction over killing me, or killing others, what compassions should they be shown when they have blood on their own hands as well."
Adeya Evenar purses her lips. "So it seems to all come back to Allag. Except perhaps for him," she adds, eyeing Jotun and his axe. "If that is the case..." she begins slowly. "Then it seems like this Rajiin was perhaps the wise one. Do you /want/ us to just leave you be then?"
Anstarra Silverain huffs, and slings her spear back into its bandolier. "Well that's no fun. Fighting someone who doesn't WANT to fight." She looks to Oddmar. "Should probably give up on it. The best name you might get here is 'Jotun', it sounds like."
Jotun nods his head a bit, "I would like to finish this mans story before I am taken by another, it begins to become...complex with the memories that are not the newest." he looks to the group, "If you are set on testing yourselves against me, I will consider it agreeable. I match of sparring instead of life and death has not been a thing in ages."
Adeya Evenar considers this for a moment, then shrugs. "It is certainly preferrable than becoming possessed," she points out. "And it could be useful to see what one of these... creatures can do."
Anstarra Silverain looks back to the possessed warrior, ears perking back up and tail twitching. "A spar, hmm? That could be interesting anyroad..." She draws her spear again. "I hope you won't take it amiss if I fight one-handed," she smirks, slowly wheeling her spear again.
"I do not mind that one bit." Jotun holds his axe one handed, a chain of ice descending to the ground as he stands there, waiting.
Artoria Aldsan glances at Anstarra and Adeya. "When you're ready.
Anstarra Silverain: "Alright~" She whips her spear in a tight arc. "Let's have some -fun-!"
Adeya Evenar reaches for her grimoire. "Same here," she says as she flips it open.
Jotun hurls the chain about before slinging the end of it at Adeya, attempting to snag her with the blunted hook at the end.
Adeya Evenar isn't nearly fast enough. The chain wraps around her, and she's nowhere near strong enough to resist being dragged over towards Jotun. The chill is even more intense... and worse, she still has the chain wrapped around her.
Anstarra Silverain laughs, even as Adeya is grabbed and pulled, as she begins twirling her spear faster. The air catches in it, in grooves along the befanged and scaled length, and she slams it into the ground. Again, and again, pounding out a rhythm. Glints of her own azure aether suffuse the motions, suffuse the music, inspiring her allies to aggression and violence…
Artoria Aldsan growls and rushes forward, her sword coming around to slam against whatever defense Jotun could offer in an attempt to set him off-balance.
Jotun was set /off-balance/ by Artoria's sword slam even though he had attempted to parry, the moment Artoria and Adeya got this close they could feel the cold seeping in painfully, slowing down down their thoughts, and muscles.
Adeya Evenar eyes the chain wrapped around her leg. Trying to block out the bonechilling cold, she focuses on Jotun, sending a blast of aether towards him.
Jotun stumbles towards the side, barely managing to evade the blast of Aether before he whirls on the most immediate threat, bringing his axe down at Artoria.
Oddmar gains a new name of wetbritches at the sight of the fighting before him.
Jotun stumbles towards the side, barely managing to evade the blast of Aether before he whirls on the most immediate threat, bringing his axe down at Artoria.
Artoria Aldsan twists and handily parries the axe to the side, Adeya's earlier magic slowing it just enough to make things easy for her.
Anstarra Silverain howls as she surges forward, eyes bright with violent glee as she lets the notes for her own song set her pace. Her footstep become the drumming percussion beat of ONE - TWO - THREE - SLAM!! - as her last step carries her the final three yalms and with a fearsome howl she drives her lance in with one-handed thrust! IMPALING him before dragging it out! She hisses in chagrin, the crazed light draining a bit from her eyes. This wasn't to the death!
There was a cough and a gleam of craziness in Jotun's eyes as Anstarra nails him good with the spear, this wasn't a light hit he took.
Artoria Aldsan brings her sword around, aiming for Jotun's waist in an effort to keep his attention on her, her aether radiating out as pure heat to reduce the chill on her.
Adeya Evenar grits her teeth, still trying to ignore the cold, as she sends a blast of twisting purple magic towards Jotun. Could he even be poisoned? She wasn't sure, but thought it couldn't hurt to try to find out.
Khunbish Avagnar: Jotun /deftly evades/ Adeya's spell as he rushes at Anstarra taking a mighty axe swing at her in an attempt to repay her kindness.
Anstarra Silverain parries the blow with her spear along her forearm, grunting as the force behind it bruises her despite the protective magics absorbing much of it; she grins, the light rekindling in her eyes. "That's it!!" Before grabbing Adeya, and attempting to JUMP right back out of melee.
Anstarra Silverain then abruptly turns from Jotun and grabs the unsuspecting Adeya by both arms. "Yoink!!" And BACKFLIPS 30 FULMS, tearing her out of the chains in the process!..while somehow keeping hold of her spear.
Anstarra Silverain grins at Adeya, flushed from the exertion and excitement, and also the suddenly-not-freezing-their-asses-off. "Looked like you could use a hand~"
Adeya Evenar doesn't seem quite certain about this plan as Anstarra reaches for her. "Wait--!" she starts to say, but suddenly they're flying through the air. She grits her teeth as they land, but she can't complain much... it was at least warmer here. "Thanks," she says to Anstarra as she reaches down to try to rub feeling into her leg before looking back up to glare thoughtfully at Jotun.
Artoria Aldsan makes a slow circle around Jotun, doing her best to keep him focused on her-- and not able to chase after the two that had just retreated, his /movement hampered/.
Adeya Evenar opens her grimoire once more and this time aims carefully. She would send a brilliant burst of aether directly towards Jotun's face, trying to /temporarily blind/ him.
Jotun blocks the flash with the flat of his axe used as a shade.
Oddmar starts backing away from the fight, stumbling backwards. He certainly is in over his head.
Jotun snarled as Anstarra jumps away but then Artoria bonks at him so he turns and just swings at her directly.
Anstarra Silverain has barely landed from depositing Adeya that she has begun whirling her spear again. The wind seems to pick up, a howling dirge that promises violence. Easy to forget that it was but a spar... stamping of her feet, powerful leg muscles of a Dragoon, sending snow flying and pebbles shuddering, as the combative tempo accelerates…
Artoria Aldsan parries Jotun's axe, letting it skid off of her armor as she ducks her shoulder and rams it into his gut, /knocking the wind out/ of him.
Adeya Evenar purses her lips as Jotun blocks her first spell. She considers for a moment, then sends a blast of sickly green aether towards him.
Khunbish Avagnar: Jotun evades the attack from Adeya again before whirling on and then resting the haft down, "Unless one of you plan to hand over your body, I should rest and return to my work."
Artoria Aldsan snorts softly, but grounds her sword. "Quitting already, are you?"
Jotun sticks a finger in where he was stabbed, "This body is bleeding out."
Adeya Evenar arches a brow at that. "Well.... okay, that is a good point," she has to admit as she closes her grimoire.
Anstarra Silverain 's eyes flash... the aggressive music pounding through the air, and especially through her... and she stomps over aggressively, spear in hand... and grabs Artoria, and drags her into a very violent kiss.
Khunbish Avagnar: "...Marid is awake." he wipes his hand off, "I may go find her, this body has done me well so far." he blinks a few times at Artoria and Anstarra, "You children of Allag are strange."
Artoria Aldsan 's eyes go wide as she's suddenly grabbed, losing her grip on her sword as gloved fingers try (and fail, due to padding) to claw along the back of Anstarra's neck, strangely warm despite the fierce cold emanating from Jotun nearby.
Adeya Evenar blinks and looks away. "Well then," she remarks. "This just got rather awkward... " she murmurs before looking over to Jotun. "I could probably do something about the bleeding," she offers.
Anstarra Silverain is super not paying attention to Jotun or Adeya right now, and in fact seems to be trying to wrench off some of Adeya's armor, without much success as she's never worked on this particular make. The obvious solution is to kiss harder, and pull her own shirt more open.
Jotun tilts his head a bit, "That would be good. If it keeps this body from dying."
Artoria Aldsan , despite her ferocity in combat, seems to have a hard time resisting An's sudden aggression. She doesn't assist with the armor removal, but her body does press in close against An's, her eyes fluttering shut.
Adeya Evenar opens her grimoire once more and steps forward (being careful to avoid the other two). "Well... no promises, but I can try," she says. Then she starts to cast a healing spell.
Jotun rolls his shoulders once he is healed and motions towards the distance, "Take your boy and go, I am going to get back to work on carving this bodies history."
Anstarra Silverain growls as she kisses Artoria, overpowering her for the moment on grounds of sheer animal hunger, bending her back and kissing her until she starts to get melty... before dragging herself back abruptly with a sharp intake of breath. "HOOOALright. Let's not get you frostbite, Rena will kill me." She licks her lips, stepping back and shaking out her hands and feet.
Anstarra Silverain: "Oh! You healed him. Good call." She looks to Jotun and smiles. "Sorry, I got a bit carried away! No hard feelings?"
Khunbish Avagnar: "None, if you're planning to die, I would not mind the body, it would last a long time and a stab like that, plenty of stories." Jotun moves back to his chair, "I should go find Raijin maybe..."
Artoria Aldsan , now freed, is left with a dreamy sort of stare, whatever thoughts she might have had before the make outs wiped from her mind. It's a long moment before she finally seems to come out of her daze, shaking her head and picking up her sword once more.
Adeya Evenar nods. "It's probably best he doesn't need to go body hunting soon," she points out. "Especially for all of us."
Anstarra Silverain blinks, and looks at her own body, pensively. "I'm rather attached to myself... but if I had to go, I can think of worse fates than to keep being a badass fighter..." She smiles then. "But not anytime soon. And yeah, Adeya. Are you alright, by the way?" She's gravitated back to Artoria and is kinda stroking her hair.
Anstarra Silverain asked this of Adeya. Artoria is CLEARLY okay. She got to check that out up close.
Oddmar managed to eventually make it down the goat trail by this point.
Artoria Aldsan favors An with a small smile, leaning a bit into the touch.
Adeya Evenar shakes her head. "No, thank you. I can do without that," she says firmly. "And yes, I'm fine. Just looking forward to getting out of the cold now." She eyes the two of them. "I don't think I need to ask about you two." She then glances back over her shoulder. "And Oddmar fled." She sighs softly. "No surprise, I suppose."
Artoria Aldsan: "The coward. I suppose his nickname was well-earned in the end."
Anstarra Silverain giggles. "Yup, just fine~" She snickers. "Ahh, who knows~ The day he overcomes his fear, he'll be the bravest of us all!"
§{Khunbish Adarkim}§