From Snowy flat to Volcano.

by **Nemori** on December 17th, 2016, 10:18 am

27th of Winter, 516

Nemori wandered through the streets, increasingly confused. Her pale green eyes would only flicker upward for a moment, not daring to show her face for longer. Sometimes she could see the posters that decorated the streets. The posters that called for her death as a symbol to her Goddess, Morwen. Travelling was a terrible idea. Why did she leave her home? She was going to be captured and murdered and she could not even work out the streets. Everything was terrifying and unusual. A shop she had already seen appeared once more and she sighed with frustration and concern. She was tired, her legs hurt from walking. Overheating was starting to be a problem, the city streets were not nearly as cold, especially without Morwen’s touch. Her coat did her few favours to avoid the heat, but it kept her covered readily enough. She did not have anywhere to sleep and was rapidly running out of food and water. Fear kept her voice silent, worried that talking to anyone would make them notice her hair, eyes or accent. People bustled past her, knocking her slightly and she would hide her face more, attempting to push through.

Another few roads down and she found herself more alone. A quieter path. Was she making progress? She was not sure. She did not even know where she was trying to go. With the lack of people she took the opportunity to look up a bit more. The streets themselves seemed to be morphing around her and a dizzying sense of height hit her suddenly. For a moment she felt as if she was looking down from the mountains. She missed the flat plains of Avanthal that were so familiar to her. Nausea drove her in another direction, hoping to get away from whatever had caused her reaction. The movement seemed to make it worse, and she felt heat started to ebb into her. Was she getting snow stroke? She paused at the thought, this city was just warmer than her home, and without Morwen it lacked any snow at all. For a moment she was struck by wondering what this city was like when she was travelling, did it become similar to what she was used to? As she wondered she continued to move, her legs had started to ache from the movement but she fought of the feeling. She knew she would have to find somewhere to rest soon, why was it so warm?

Suddenly she found herself besides a volcano, layers of lava flowing slowly down from its peak. She squeaked at the suddenness of its appearance, jumping back instinctively. The lava seemed strange, unlike what she had expected from the stories she had heard of volcanoes. The heat was unpleasant, but not blistering as she had imagined. Her eyes sank into a deeper green as she chastised herself, she had to pay attention. Unlike in Avanthal everything was new, and she could easily get lost or attacked. Getting distracted did her no favours and would likely lead to her capture. She refocused, reminding herself of the danger she was in and her eyes returned to the paler green they had been since entering the city. A deep breath and she took a step back, preparing to turn around and once more search for somewhere she could rest safety.

by **Alexander Faircroft** on December 17th, 2016, 6:28 pm

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Lost in the city. As per damned usual. Alex sighed as he stepped through the streets Alvadas had a bad sense of humour when it came to messing with him. Or at least it seemed that way. As he rounded through a series of streets he arrived in a much wider space. A slowly rolling lake of molten rock streaming down the side of a mountain before him. OR at least as close to what Alvadas could cook up.

Alex sighed at the fact he’d been taken to another point of madness over the grandiose spectacle in front of him. He grumbled lightly, the heat from the slow flow of lava was enough to make him peel back from the lip of the rock. He took to hiking up the side of the mountainous faux mountain. As he did his eyes spotted a figure in the distance. With a thick coat on. Perhaps this was another person expecting to visit the avanthalan area and having gotten lost upon the way. At least with a coat that thick in a place as temperate at this he was a little confused. His pace quickened as he took off up the mountain, his mind was telling him to check this person out.

Despite the fact he was not carrying a large variety of weaponry he chose to carry his bow and quiver of arrows along with his bastard swords and the single dagger he had strapped beneath his coat. After a chime or two of walking he caught up with the figure his hands stuffed into his pockets and openly away from his weapons. Creating a much more peaceful presence than he usually would carry. After all with the amount of agitation people felt this season he simply wanted to appear non-threatening.

“Excuse me miss. You seem a little lost. Can I help you?” His words disarming and his demeanour even more so still he was a big guy carrying a plethora of weapons. And now as he drew closer to her he could see that he absolutely towered over her. Over a foot of height difference between them.

by **Nemori** on December 17th, 2016, 7:01 pm

Nemori heard speak from behind her, causing her to startle once more. She twisted around quickly, glancing up at the stranger. Her eyes were orange as she looked up at him, uncertainty on her features. He was tall, far taller than her. She looked up for a moment, forgetting herself before glancing down. It was easy to hide her features from someone so tall. His hands were hidden, he seemed pleasant enough but her eyes spotted the large sword strapped to his back. Pale green resumed in her eyes once more and she gulped, unable to move her eyes away from the terrifying metal weapon. He would find drawing it about as difficult as her drawing her own spear. She wondered if running would be a better option but the bow seemed to suggest otherwise.

“I…” The words were lost and she tried to focus herself on the unfamiliar language. What was it he had asked her? Lost. Yes, she was lost. “Very, lost. Sorry. Am I not allowed?” Her voice was very quiet, partly from uncertainty and partly from fear. She was taken by the realisation that she might have stumbled onto private property, or worse the land or temple of the god that was seeking her blood. She knew very little about the god of the city, but it seemed reasonable that he would be a contrast to her own.

languages :

by **Alexander Faircroft** on December 17th, 2016, 8:40 pm

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex watched the figure freeze. Hardening and then flicking it’s head over their shoulder towards him. As he drew closer she glanced up towards his face for a moment his eyes catching a hold of hers. A bright orange almost like heated steel meeting the eternal summer of his green. He then watched her dip her head again like she was afraid. A familiar series of actions that prodded at his mind. What sealed it for him was the broken common. He listened to her words the inflection upon them in the same region as the ones on Infilia’s voice.

“No it’s fine." He spoke in slowed simple common, having at least some semblance of an idea of how to communicate with her. His hands pulled from his pockets palm up so she could see he wasn’t carrying anything or going to go for his weapons. “You’re a little over dressed for this heat.” He stepped up a little closer fully imposing the height differential but speaking much softer. His voice quieter barely above a whisper. “Look at me.” He wasn’t going to harm her but he wanted to be sure before he did anything else.

His arms crossed in front of his chest as he stood there. She could try to run, and he wouldn’t chase, she could lash out at him and he’d simply step back. He wasn’t there to cause her harm. But with everything that was happening he was cautious and she from what he could glean simply from her body language. Was terrified. In a reversed situation he’d probably be feeling the same depth of fear but he’d hold himself together. At least as much as he could see her trying too and had seen Infilia doing something similar. “I don’t mean any harm.” The last words that escaped him before she could or did act.

by **Nemori** on December 18th, 2016, 1:18 am

He still sounded reassuring. Part of her was annoyed by that, if he was going to attack her why had he not already done it? Why did it all have to be drawn out? If she was going to die did she really have to suffer all this?

Despite the faint annoyance biting at her brain; he was right, she was overdressed. She had expected as least some cold around the city, most people talked about the cold of winter in their stories. His insistence to look at him startled her and she took a deep breath, stepping slowly and cautiously out of arms reach before glancing up at him once more. Her steps backwards were careful, feeling the heat increasing as she got closer to the flowing lava. It was not the best position to run from, but it was further away from him.His arms were held, palm open and away from his weapons. This eased her slightly. The gesture was universal, one she was used to using with the animals she had tended before. Pale green eyes met his similar colored eyes. Her hand twitched towards her spear but he held it only slightly closer. Two kinds of people approached with open palms, those who genuinely meant no harm, and those who were certain they’d be faster. She wondered which he was. He looked young, older than her, but still young enough to be dangerous. No obvious scars showed on his face, perhaps he was genuine?

“No harm.” She repeated, wariness still carried on her features. Her eyes flickered between his face and the bastard sword he wore, she assumed it would be the first weapon he would reach for and could reach at least the distance she could, probably more. If it came to a fight she was certain that he would win. “Promise?” It was almost pleading. She had not intended it to sound so desperate.

languages :

by **Alexander Faircroft** on December 18th, 2016, 1:36 am

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

He reached a couple of feet away from her as he looked down at her they orange eyes he’d seen before had shifted to a sharp and pallid green. His motions were slow. Purposefully slow as with his words he was tending to tread carefully after all a scared animal was the most likely to lash out. The same promise carried over with people those who knew they were in trouble were more likely to fight. He could see easily on her features that he was scaring her but that came with the territory.

“Yes, no harm.” He repeated back to her as she scanned him looking him over and trying to figure out friend or foe. As she said promise he nodded slowly, again a universal sign that most everyone knew. He couldn’t help but catch on the edge of her words the sound of her voice almost cracking with the pleading. He took a deep breath and stepped up closer. Speaking again softly just barely above a whisper. “I’m here to help” Not his original intent setting out today but he’d be damned if he’d let someone that frightened leave his sight without some reassurance.

If she wanted to take a swing at him now she could but he was showing that he wasn’t a fool and that he knew what she was. Sometimes that was all it took to let people know how true your actions were. When you knew what was hiding behind the wall they tried to present. He let his arms droop again. Hoping she wouldn’t take it as an aggressive motion. Over all he’d approached with the most non-aggressive manner possible.

Still though he couldn’t be certain, and as such if she drew any form of weapon on him he was going to have to rely on his experience and his practice without a blade. Still though his breathing was calm, and even not giving away the hint of anything. Even as he caught sight of her hair catching the glint of the sun.

by **Nemori** on December 18th, 2016, 2:17 am

He stepped towards her, his hand still exposed as a show of peace. Her instincts told her to grab her weapon, but she fought against the sensation. Not wanting to spur the man into thinking she was attacking him. He carried an air of safety, and was clearly trying to appear non-threatening despite his weaponry.

“Help. A rest place? Safety?” She inquired staring him in the eyes, a mock of certainty forming. She was still uncertain, expecting him to overpower her, or to be lying to draw her away. A place to sit down would do her wonders, she felt herself wobble slightly, the pain in her legs flaring dreadfully suddenly. She fought to steady herself, her arm reaching out into the air slightly in an attempt to balance herself. She partly blamed the mountains she knew she was in, and the heat from the strange lava. The pain flickered across her face as the internal conflict between standing and collapsing into the ground played out. Now was not the time to be weakened, she could not afford it. She needed to rest, and perhaps this stranger could supply it for the moment. The idea of sleeping around the stranger or alone seemed equally unsafe.

languages :

by **Alexander Faircroft** on December 18th, 2016, 2:37 am

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

He could see the weariness in her. The sense of uncertainty clear in her actions and motions. She was out of her comfort zone in the middle of somewhere she didn’t know being hunted by most everyone. He watched her angles and motions his eyes still looking in hers, he could see some barest hint of a feeling of certainty. He smiled lightly to offer that reassurance again. He could see the lack of focus in her starting to take control even as he watched her legs start to give out. He saw her hand reaching out to try and grab a hold of something. But she was going down.

He instinctually swung around and caught her on his back. He slipped his hands together beneath her rear clasping them together and supporting her on his back. “Yes, safety.” He spoke calmly shifting her weight a little to carry her with the least loss of stamina on his part. He then rose to his full height, carrying her on his back her weight pressing into him as he piggybacked her. The heat from the “lava flow” wasn’t helping the situation.

“Open your coat.” He said softly. “It will help.” Then started to move. She was clearly exhausted and he could feel from her breathing that she was about to collapse. So to minimize the amount of energy she had to use to stay in place he leant forwards slightly helping her keep her balance. Of course this meant that there was now an odd sight of a man piggy backing a fully grown woman through the streets of Alvadas but this was Alvadas. Clearly stranger things had happened with even less cause.

His foot falls on the stone cobbles were paced and balanced trying to keep from shaking her, but now began the part he was dreading and beginning to despise. The trip back to the inn. “Sorry, might be a while. Streets like to shift.” He spoke to her his voice soft and even. And his motions trying not to rock her as he stepped through the streets.

by **Nemori** on December 18th, 2016, 3:01 am

Nemori dropped suddenly, desperately trying to fight it. The pain blazing through her entire body momentarily. Her eyes closed as she felt the movement of the stranger around her. Her being picked up and placed against his back. For a moment she feared a sudden blade but it never came. His first words were calm, but barely heard through her haze. The pain seemed to subside slightly into a daze of fatigue as he carried her and started to move. She wrapped one arm around his shoulder and his other closer to his neck, trying to hold steady through the movement. Her voice being lost momentarily as he carried her through the streets.

She obeyed his instructions to undo her coat, leaving the top few buttons tightly closed. These held her hood in place, she buried her head into her back, holding the hood in place with one of her hands. She recognised the smell of metal tinged with rust. It reminded her of the Icewatch barracks, when the knights were practicing their weaponry. It felt strangely familiar while also foreign.

His footsteps pattered against the ground. He was moving fast, she was surprised by just how fast he was while carrying her. For a moment she wondered as to his profession. A knight of this area would have obeyed their god and slain her, surely? In truth they was doubt to that idea, she could not imagine Morwen calling for such actions to take place and so the Knights she knew would never have to make such a decision.
“Sorry, might be a while. Streets like to shift.” She pondered his words for only a moment. Was it some kind of metaphor for the vastness of the city and how easily she had gotten lost?
“It’s okay. You promised safe. I’ll hold you to that.” Nemori felt herself almost giggling as she spoke but she was unsure if he heard her mumbling into his back. By way of distraction her mind focused on the texture of his cloak. She ran her fingers over the fabric gently with her loose hand. Slowly she started to notice the passing of street, twists and turns that she felt in his fabric as he ran through the street. Briefly she wondered where they were going but settled on the fact it likely did not matter.

Languages :

by **Alexander Faircroft** on December 18th, 2016, 3:30 am

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

As he balanced her weight a little he felt her arms shift around him one looping over his shoulder slightly and the other by his throat. If she really felt the need she could have ended him there. And called it an afternoon. But that never came, it seemed as if her lack of energy and the fatigue that dawned on her was genuinely real. Even through his coat he could feel how hot she was when she opened her coat. Like someone had placed a coal fresh from the fire on his back. Though what he didn’t expect was the feeling of her burying her head in the back of his shoulders.

A smart idea to hide her face and her eyes from those that would look on. Ale kept up a somewhat decent pace as he moved foot falls heavy but to absorb the impact and not rattle her around too much. And despite the fact he was carrying her she didn’t weigh all that much more than the armour he’d spent the last three seasons wearing. Though when her common picked up in fluency a little he began to wonder if her broken common was simply an act to throw people off of her. And again wondered if she could help as a translator between himself and Infilia.

And then he felt a series of vibrations mumbling through his back. Almost like she was trying to talk to him but intentionally muffling the words into the coat he wore. Feeling her fingers fumbling with the material he subtly ignored it at least as best he could. And as usual the city lead him on a merry goose chase, the speed he had at the beginning slowly starting to taper off a little as the time crept by. Less from exertion on his part more from the fact that he didn’t want to take a wrong turn and have to start all over again.

“You won’t have too.” He spoke calmly his words carrying a weight to them. “I promised safety and I mean to keep my promise.” He picked up the pace finally arriving in front of the cubacious inn. The large cubes of the rooms slowly spinning in front of him. “Well that took longer than it needed too.” He said mostly to himself as he walked inside with her stull resting upon his back.

Completed From Snowy flat to Volcano.