Closed Go Frost Yourself (Aoren)

[Eselle]

Timestamp: 91st of Fall 514 AV

Simon pawed at the dusting of snow. It had fallen overnight. They had gone to sleep in Fall and woke in Winter. The white countryside felt like home to the Konti. It was the first moment of security she could recall since leaving Mura and her sisters. After a moment of gawking out her apartment window, she fled through her morning routine. Straight from Riverfall she had jogged all the way to Sanctuary to meet her best friend, Simon.

Now the gilding stood on the shore, seemingly alone. His tack was all in order and his saddle bags suspiciously bulging. His reins had been dropped. Before Eselle had bought him the gelding had been trained to stand still when his reins were dropped. It was a lesson the Konti rarely took advantage of.

The ocean lapped up the frost from the sand though it could do nothing to ease winter’s bite on the grass. The spring the horse nibbled on was a sickly yellow sprout anyways, the snow could do little more to further nature’s cycle.

Beneath the freezing waves, was another story altogether though. There life went on, although most piscine animals had begun to hibernate or simply died as it was their time, still the sea bed held a number of creature immune to the deadly winter. Sliding her hand through the sand, she filtered out the silt to reveal the little octopus. The creature squirmed and shot away from her palm.

The Konti laughed, releasing bubbles to float up through the blue world. She followed them on their journey to the surface. As she broke the waves, her laugh chimed and Simon looked up from his grass. Closing the distance from sea to sand, the Konti ran back to her faintly shimmering steed. Drops of frigid water trailed behind her. The vast sea was slow to change temperature but the air brought instant reaction. A wind whipped past them, tossing Simon’s mane and sending a shiver up the Konti’s bare spine.

She held his head between her hands, the animal radiated heat but not enough. She was already headed for the saddlebags which held her clothing when, over Simon’s back she saw someone, “Who is there?” She demanded, pulling at the leather ties protecting her gear.

[Aoren]

Deep within the bowels of Stormhold Citadel, where thousands of people congregated, where torchlights burned steadily and the heat of thousands of hearths made the stones warm, Morwen’s chill was never truly felt. For twenty-five years that was the kind of winter that Aoren had become accustomed to. While the season was no less frigid outside the walls of Syliras, he was always moderately comfortable within the confines of his own apartment.

The same could not be said for his room in the Alements tavern.

Aoren had been feeling the cold of Winter’s chill earlier in the season as Morwen prepared herself for her journey through the world and Bala departed. But when the cold grew prominent enough to allow for the falling of snow it struck through Aoren’s blankets and hit him right in the stomach. He shivered clinging to the covers a bit more tightly. Even having Isikai curled up next to him didn’t make him any more comfortable. Finally when he was certain that he would not be able to go back to sleep he sighed pushing back the blanket. Gently, he nudged Isikai running his fingers through the fur on the dog’s head. Isikai leaned into the attention he was getting from Aoren which made the Drykas man smile.

“Come on, boy. We might as well get moving to warm up these bones.” Isikai yawned eliciting another smile from Aoren before the dog hopped out of bed. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Aoren shivered as his bare feet touched the floor. He stood up stretching, rolling his shoulders to get the lethargy of sleep out of his body. He was, for the most part, dressed. He merely pulled on a black cotton shirt tucking it into the waist of his trousers. Grabbing his boots he tugged them on then turned to make his bed. With a sigh he stood up rolling his shoulders again. He felt the beginnings of a kink in his neck. Reaching up he began rubbing at the stiff spot. Grabbing his coin pouch along with a small amount enough to get through casual purchases throughout the day, he pat his thigh motioning for Isikai to follow him.

Snow was something Aoren found comfort in surprisingly enough. He enjoyed the crispness and had many fond memories of going out to play and have fun in the white powder. Isikai seemed to be having the time of his life. The dog bolted for the nearest pile of snow rolling around in it with fervor. Aoren merely chuckled shaking his head in amusement. The Fall season was ended. In the coming days Aoren would be preparing for his citizenship trial. Normally it would be something he fretted over endlessly, spending hours upon hours preparing himself but at the moment he was filled with a smooth confidence. Aoren was certain he would pass his trial. He was an accomplished fighter who had faced down beasts greater than these Akalak men and lived to tell of it.

His footsteps soon lead him to the beaches of Riverfall and there he was met with the oddest sight. A lone horse stood vigilant over the sands while a very pale and very naked woman rose up from the waters of the sea. Aoren blinked at her as she meandered over to what was obviously her horse. Isikai barked sprinting forward in eagerness, utterly curious about new people and things. The dog trotted up sniffing at the sands before peering up at the horse. As he approached he brought his hands up in the most non-threatening manner he could manage.

“Just a wandering soul enjoying Morwen’s time of year.” He dropped his hands turning away slightly to afford the woman some privacy. She seemed familiar on some level though he couldn’t exactly place why.

[Eselle]

Already her shirt rested on her shoulders and she was merely lacing up her pants. Her pearly mien colored in rose at being found. She had assumed, arrogantly, that the citizens of Riverfall wouldn’t wander so early in the snow. Still it had been worth it and she stiffened her backbone. If nothing else this season had cured her fear of people.

When she peeked around Simon’s chest to see who the newcomer was. There she came face to face with the snout of a big black dog. Eselle liked animals as much as any, but this dog. Even with her lack of experience she could see he wasn’t being aggressive. The Konti trusted Simon to react to aggression at least.

The Seer’s cobalt eyes peered through the dog’s ears, at the individual who had spoken. His face, she remembered it. The delicate thrum of their marks resonating, nudged at her memory. She could place the day but nothing else about him. It was from that night at the Alements. The night before the morning upon which she decided ale was not her drink.

She curled her toes in in the sand, trying to decide how she should handle this. There was a consequence part of her that felt returned, as though she no longer felt the extreme press of time. She had the leisure to make her careful choices, to decide an angle, and to interpret signs.

Nodding, she replied at a volume just above the surf. “I agree. Isn’t the white land peaceful?” She asked, in heavily accented Common. She took in his appearance, neither armor or weapon apparent. Eselle wasn’t sure what to make of him, until she widened her view to his surroundings. Sand beneath his boots brought relief to his image and she saw for the first time in a season, the vision of a card in her life. He looked to her like the Knave of Wands.

The smile was a tad too bright for the situation, still the reinforcing of her abilities lifted her mood. Danced around both Simon and the dog to come in full view with of Aoren. “I am Eselle, have we met?” Though she kept a respectful distance she offered the dog her palm to see if he would greet her as he had Simon.

The horse himself, was less polite. He had shoved his muzzle right down to inspect the dog. As large as the creature was, Simon’s curiosity is undeterred. Eselle had always found him amiable with other animals but she had never seen him interact with something so similar to a predator.

Her fingers itched for her cards. The last time a representation of a card had appeared before her it had been birds. The omen had proved true though and the birds had led to a soul in need of her gifts. This one was yet too far away for her Konti gift to detect any queries. Waiting with sedate patience, time and distance closed held that answer. No need to rush.

[Aoren]

Aoren listened closely to the words that came out of the Konit’s woman’s mouth. She had a heavy accent so it was not entirely discernable for him. It took a moment for him to process the sentence before it registered. When it finally did he nodded in agreement. Winter had to be one of Aoren’s favorite seasons next to Fall. He couldn’t quite explain it but it was just how he felt. While Spring was vibrant and Summer was warm the cooler seasons appealed to him a great deal more. He studied the Konti for a moment. Reaching for his djed he brought it slowly to the forefront of his vision coating his eyes with a layer.

“I…know your face but your name escapes me.” He gave the woman, Eselle, an small smile. As he searched the recesses of his memory for where and how he knew her the djed over his eyes allowed him to perceive the outer most layer of her soul. Nudging the extensions of his own aura to fall in line with Eselle’s he took a few steps closer seeking to learn a little more about the woman. His brow knit in concentration as he studied her. Outwardly it might have only appeared that he was very intent on his focus. After a few moments his own aura synchronized with her and tidbits of information trickled through that tentative link.

“I am Aoren.” He quirked his head slightly doing his best to dissect through the waves of surface information there was to be found in Eselle’s aura. Nothing of note seemed to be forthcoming other than the fact that he became aware of an intense curiosity and an elation of sorts. He blinked away the focus allowing his hold upon the threads of his djed to recede. Then it hit him. A brief memory came back to him in a flash hitting him like a ton of bricks.

Eselle.

Her face, it was less bruised at this point but he definitely recognized her. The echo of a memory skittering across his consciousness even as the gnosis on his hand prodded him. There had been the Alements tavern. There had been drinking. There had been lots and lots of drinking. Aoren went red in the face and with his next step closer he misjudged his footing and lost his balance as he slipped on a small puddle of water just barely frozen over in the sand. Exclaiming in surprise his arms spun in a windmill as he toppled squarely on his rump landing with a thud onto the sand. The sand, cold and hardened with the chill of the oncoming winter, felt none too good as he landed on it. He groaned only growing redder with embarrassment. Reaching up he rubbed at the back of his head.

“Ouch.” Isikai leaned forward sniffing the horse’s muzzle equally curious about the large beast. The dog took a few steps to the side sniffing about before padding up to Aoren nudging him in the chest. The demand for attention was a great excuse for Aoren to pretend he was mildly distracted. He scratched under Isikai’s chin avoiding meeting Eselle’s gaze before clearing his throat.

“I remember. A little. We met at Alements. And…uhh…I don’t remember much after that. Except drinking.” That had probably not been one of Aoren’s wisest moments. It had been a long time since he’d imbibed in that much alcohol. Several years in fact. The last time he’d even considered taking in that much to drink had been on the day he celebrated the season of his birth. He’d been stopped by a friend and the two of them had gone to do something more productive afterwards. Remembering the almost night that he’d had in that brothel made him blush even further. Aoren was not usually one for frivolous undertakings. He supposed that night had just been a release he needed.

[Adrien Dair]

Winter had begun its journey to Riverfall once again. The white powder falling from the sky. Of course it had been on a day that Adrien had decided he would spend the majority of in his other form. He had already dressed and was on his way out of the city. Heading to the shore outside of the city. Once free of the city he went as far out of site as he could. He undressed quickly and packing away his clothes into his bag. as the cold chilled his body. His body changing to his other form. The now two thousand pound beast shook his massive body and sniffed the snow. He snorted, causing the powered to flair outward. Grabbing his bag in his mouth he took off. Running down the shore, his massive feet thundering against the ground as he ran. Leaving the snow and sand disrupted in his wake.

He pranced around happily. Jumping and kicking in the snow as he went. He dropped his bag in the snow, and dropped down to his knees. Caking himself in snow as he rolled on one side and then switching to the other. Standing once again he shook off the snow. Blowing air out of his nose in a happy humming like sensation, he grabbed his bag again and began running again. He stopped dead in his tracks as two figures appeared ahead of him. The curiosity getting the better of him he walked forward slowly. Trying to get a better view of them.

There were two of them, a man and a woman. As well as a horse and a dog. The man looked familiar. The blond hair and similar body style of a man he had met a few days ago. He walked up behind Aoren and nudged the back of the man. The rhino confident in his ability to run and or charge through if he had to. Not paying any mind to the fact that Aoren would not recognize him in this form he waited for him to turn around. The bag still hanging from his mouth, the rhino hid behind the man. Sticking out on both sides of Aoren, the rhino moved his head to pear around at the other two. Like a child hiding behind his mother.

[Eselle]

Eselle tried not to laugh, resulting in a decidedly un-ladylike snort. She took two steps closer to offer a hand up, but stopped her eyes growing wide. Reteaching quickly to pick up Simon’s reins, the Konti spoke shakily “Aoren, be careful. There’s a… thing behind you.” Thoughts of Knaves and wands vanished in an instant. Her gnosis hardly a memory. The snowy morning had turned tense in a number of heartbeats.

There had never been anything like the great grey armored beast in Mura. Not even remotely. “Don’t move Aoren. It could hurt you.” The unskilled Konti reached toward sheath attached to Simmon’s saddle, but the geld didn’t sit still for it. When his reins were lifted off the ground the horse knew it was no longer necessary to stay still. The muscles on his faintly shimmering coat bunched and he pulled his head out of Eselle’s reach.

Simon pushed Eselle to the side with his shoulder. He hind legs dancing briefly in the sand before he turned so his side wasn’t to the Rhino. The gilding had never shown an aggression problem before, but now his ears tilted back in alarm. Forelegs held rigid, quivering under the stress of his muscles.

It had never been a problem before, certainly nothing Eselle had to deal with before. She pulled back protecting her bare toes in the frigid sand. Time and again Simon had proven himself stronger than the Konti could ever hope to match, still she had to try. Aoren was between the beasts and Simon couldn’t hope to stand against such a behemoth creature as this one.

Part of Simon’s reaction was due to her own, and so Eselle took a deep breath and steadied her step. With a firm foot she stepped forward and picked up his reins. He wasn’t normally an aggressive animal, it was all defensive. If the unknown animal was being aggressive in turn it wouldn’t had stood sedately behind Aoren like that. She murmured quietly, evenly in Kontinese the only intelligible word to the men was the horse’s name.

It was in this forced calm that her gift reached past emotion. Not only did Aoren have questions, likely the same as hers, but so did the grey beast. The animal was sentient in a way neither the dog nor the horse were.

[Aoren]

Aoren was just about to open his mouth when he heard the pounding of heavy feet. He nearly turned around to see what it was when he was suddenly nudged forward. It wasn’t an uncomfortable nudge but it was a little startling. At Eselle’s tensing and the panic of the horse Aoren stiffened. He had heard stories of some of the beasts that could be found in Cyphrus. He didn’t know what kind of creatures lurked around Riverfall but the tales of vicious animals came to the forefront of his mind. He swallowed hard turning slowly and cautiously. Aoren’s eyes came to rest on the tough, leathery hide of a creature with big curious eyes, floppy ears and a large horn on the tip of its nose. He flinched scrambling back completely caught off guard by the appearance of the creature.

“By the gods!” He exclaimed loudly jumping to his feet. He was accompanied by a smattering of sand that fell from his clothes. He whirled as quickly as he could mentally preparing himself to have to face down a charging animal. He stood there.

And stood there.

And stood there some more wide-eyed and blinking at the grey skinned beast.

The horse was causing more of a ruckus than the creature was. Isikai emit a bark sniffing at the sand. He barked once more then meandered over to the grey skinned beast. Cautiously Isikai leaned forward sniffing at it. The tip of the dog’s snout edged closer and closer to that of the beasts until there wasn’t much space at all between the two. To Aoren it seemed like he grew stiffer the closer Isikai leaned.

“Isikai.” Aoren stage-whispered to his dog. The canine gave him a quirk of the head before stepping closer to the grey beast leaning down to nudge one of its large feet with his nose. To the casual observer the dog had virtually no qualms about walking up to a completely foreign creature. After the nudge Isikai gave another bark then took a step back still ignoring the plea of his human companion. Seating himself on the sand the dog quirked his head at the beast.

Aoren wasn’t at all comfortable with the sight of his closest friend and companion near a creature of that size. He had no idea how the grey skinned beast was going to react. Between the rearing stallion, the strange beast, Eselle’s uneasiness and his utter embarrassment, Aoren was very flustered at this point in time. He turned to Eselle his lips pursed.

“What is that thing?”

[Adrien Dair]

Adrien watched the two in their utter panic. His head tilted to the side as Aoren scrambled away from him. Why are they so scared? I am not gonna hurt them. Then the dog walked over to the rhino, the same one that had found him in the tall grass a few days past. Isikai began to sniff around the gray animal. Obviously unafraid at the nearly three thousand pound animal beside him. A smile like look spread across the rhinos awkward lips. He leaned forward and blew air through his nose at the dog. Before shaking his massive head. He stepped back ward and trotted around in a circle. His head held high, blowing air through his lips causing a slight humming like noise.

He stopped and looked down at the dog. Laying down in front of him and resting his head in the powdery snow. He ears wiggled back and forth as he waited to see what the dog would do. He looked over at the other two. Still standing there in terror and shock. He sat up, his front two legs extended while he sat on his rear. He tilted his head at them again. Then began to change back into his human self. The now naked man looked at Aoren and Eselle with no shame of being naked. "Hello Aoren, nice to see you again" he said. The cold biting at his flesh. He shivered once before reaching for his bag that he had dropped when Aoren freaked out on him.

"Ah right. I guess you did not know. I am a Kelvic. A black rhinoceros to be exact" he smiled. Pulling his clothing out of his bag and dressing himself. Pulling his coat tightly around his body. He looked over at Eselle and smiled. "Hello, I am Adrien Dair. Budding magecrafter, smith and carpenter" he said. He looked back at Aoren and gave him a wink. He looked down at the dog and rubbed his head. "Hey there Isikai. Whose a good boy!" he said. "Since you are the only one who did not freak out then you deserve all the attention" he scratched behind the dogs ears and chuckled. His eyes returned to Eselle. "I am sorry if I scared you earlier. I have not changed for the last couple of days. I needed to get out and run free" he said. "I do hope you can forgive me."

[Eselle]

Eselle had only just managed to calm down Simon, when the beast vanished wholey and left behind a man. A very much naked man. The Konti’s hair was beginning to freeze into tendrils against her face. With unnecessary care, she retrieved her boots from Simon’s saddlebags. Sliding them over her cold toes, the seer spent the extra time thinking. Trying to process the situation. It was like one of those stories where animals became people. She could recall dreams like that as a child. To be a bird and fly over the ocean. Who wouldn’t want that? Or was this something different such as she had seen earlier this season?

It took the Konti a chime too long to realize she was being addressed. She would have understood most of the words had she been concentrating instead all of it was lost on her except the end, “Forgiveness?” She hesitated, “I do not know what to forgive or think, but I guess that means you are forgiven.” Though wide with surprise and more than a hint a fear the Konti had not let her gaze leave the newcomer’s. Deliberately the Seer refused to look at his form, it was thing to see another woman naked. She had seen any number of Konti, young, old, with child, naked and the form was familiar. Men were another matter, and of course she was young only hardly an adult when she left Mura and so there was no chance of her meeting with a man intimately there. Prolonging the eye contact as she confusedly tried to figure out how to safely turn around.

As if recalling to put on her boots triggered the thought of chill the daugher of Avalis, shivered. If she could see her breath and feel the prick of chill on her skin the new young man must be even more acutely aware. There was an early time in the seasons of the mainland, the Konti had found. This time alone the water had not chilled as quickly as the air and she could swim more comfortably than walk. It had been a blessed reprieve but the morning was not growing younger and it was inevitable that people would venture up the beach. Pulling out her white cloak from the bags, where she had stored it not expecting to need it, she gave it a stark shake and then tossed it over her shoulders.

The black fur lining smelt like the leather bags it had spent the spring and summer in. It was a reminder of the traveling she had done. Of Ravok, where all of her truth had been a secret and how much of a contrast this city was. She had known, intellectually, that the mindsets were different, but still the realization hit her again and again. No one had yet tried to purchase her here, it was a relaxing state of affairs.

Eselle turned back towards the men, who could now both be counted amongst the clothed. All in all it was an awkward state of affairs. Normally Eselle would have been content to the quiet and left the situation well enough. There was nothing truly normal about this morning though. She cleared her throat. Opened her mouth to speak and promptly slipped on a slick piece of driftwood.

With a grunt she hit the ground, flat on her back. Laying there, where the irony was not lost her, she watched the darkening clouds intermittent with their fluffy white kin. Perhaps it would snow more. As if shrugging mentally, the entire situation beyond the acceptable norm, the Konti grabbed a clump of snow. It was already somewhat packed but she molded that in her palms she pulled back on to her feet. “I thought perhaps, tea might be a good idea. But what does… a ‘black Rhinoceros’ drink? So instead I intended to ask that… and then I thought perhaps, you are not forgiven at all.” She tossed the snowball between her hands. “So while lying on the snow, I thought it might be rude to ask without offering some information in return. Before you tell me what Black Rhinoceroes drink, I will show you a game from the island of Mura.” Twice, back and forth was the only warning before Eselle hurled the melting white mess at the men.

[Aoren]

Adrien. The moment the man took shape in front of Aoren as the swirling lights cleared Isikai’s behavior made sense. The dog must have recognized the Kelvic’s scent. Rhinoceros. That was most definitely not an animal that Aoren was familiar with but having just now seen Adrien in his animal form he would be certain to ask the man about it in the near future. Adrien’s admission to being a Magecrafter immediately garnered Aoren’s interest. The Drykas man had been fascinated with the World Magic for some time but knowledge about the craft wasn’t exactly common place. In fact in his time researching difference disciplines of magic coupled with his studies in Zeltiva it had been among the scarcest. The only real direct contact he had with another purported Magecrafter had been his interlude with Eanos, the proprietor of Sultros Blades in Syliras.

It took a moment but Aoren realized he was still standing as if he were ready to charge Adrien. He dropped out of the stance coughing softly in embarrassment. It had been a long time since he’d been that startled by something. Isikai welcomed the attention from Adrien quite happily. The dog nuzzled Adrien’s hand rising up onto his hind legs to place his forepaws on the Kelvic man’s abdomen. The hound emit an excited bark before bouncing off of Adrien and darting away before turning around to sprint back coming down on his forepaws with his rump in the air. His tail wagged excitedly as he barked again. Adrien’s wink received a slightly confused quirk of Aoren’s head but he let it slip by as perhaps nothing more than a weird habit of the man.

He was about to speak to Adrien when he heard a sharper intake of breath coming from Eselle. He directed his attention back to the Konti woman to see her slip over a piece of driftwood and land square in the sand. He took a step forward moving to assist her when she spoke. As soon as she picked up the snow and began packing it in her hands Aoren blinked at her.

“Adrien. Duck.” Before he’d even finished speaking the warning Eselle hurled the snowball in their direction. Aoren ducked down a grin breaking out on his face. He had been in a few snowball fights in his youth. Eselle’s frozen projectile sailed over his head though flakes of snow fell into Aoren’s hair. When Morwen touched the Bronze Wood and turned it silver, he and the sister of his heart had gone out and enjoyed themselves alongside numerous families not far from the walls of Syliras. They were always fun outings and Aoren had had his butt handed to him a number of times. Happy to oblige the Konti he dipped down scooping up a bit of snow packing it into a ball.

“Well then, my lady, if it’s a game you want then it’s a game you’ll get. Consider your challenge accepted.” With that Aoren tossed the ball into the air before catching he threw the snowball in Eselle’s direction. Aoren made sure not to put too much of his strength behind the throw. He didn’t want to hurt her or ruin the fun of the game but he gauged it his best to make sure the snowball would stay on target. Crouching down he scooped up some more snow searching for the Kelvic rhinoceros. When he found Adrien, Aoren was still smiling.

“Well Adrien, you’re about to get your exercise!” Aoren threw his second snowball at Adrien letting out an enthused laugh. It was an unexpected turn of events but he had to ask…

Why not?

NoteHere's your matching white template! Hnnngh!