Solo Snowed In

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow 13th Day of Winter514 AV, Early Morning H aving settled into her campsite and feeling the bite of winter rapidly approaching, Saraphina had finally broken. She needed more supplies. It might have been a bit foolish to have waited so long and so close to Morwen’s season, but compared to the biting, icy fury of Avanthal, Syliras’s snowy embrace was almost summer like. But it was still best to get a few things from the city. Thus, the ginger Kelvic had saddle Abaccus and headed for the Fortress of Peace. The walled city still managed to make Saraphina a bit nervous, she found it hard to understand how anyone could feel safe inside the massive castle, surrounded by stone and gate. For her, the freedom of the open world was far more comforting, but she had to remind herself that she also wasn’t human. Maybe that was why she couldn’t relax around the barrier that blocked the wilds from the city. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by her spirted mount. Abaccus had apparently decided that he’d been behaving far too well over the last few days and now was an opportune time to act up. Before Saraphina could stop her temperamental mount, the Bloodbane lunged forward. Yelping in shock, the Kelvic instinctively tightened her legs around the sorrel’s girth and gripped the saddle horn in both hands. The stallion raced forward with his ears pinned to his head in a full, breakneck gallop. The heaving motions would have thrown the inexperience Kelvic off, but her death grip on the saddle kept her grounded. The road was still rather rough and the jarring stomps of her mount rattled her teeth. But she dared not release her grip to rein Abaccus in. As it turned out, she didn’t need to. A baccus suddenly skidded to a halt. The whiplash of the abrupt stop caused Saraphina to be flung forward so she ended up partial draped over her Bloodbane’s neck and the saddle horn plunged into her gut, knocking the wind out of her. But by some miracle, she managed to stay on the stallion’s back. Pushing back, Saraphina looked to see what had caused her mount to stop so quickly. Coming down the road, probably from the city, was a small group of people. With armor and weapons seen, she assumed them to be Knights of the Order on patrol. They were all human that as far she could tell, but Saraphina still didn’t understand the meaning of mixed blood or that there were different cultures of humans. Taking the reins, the red head quickly slide off her mount. She didn’t feel like having him run off on her again, they could walk to the city from here. One of the knight looked over at her, cocking his eyebrow in a silent question. The Kelvic waved a bit sheepishly to indicate that she was alright. A nod was returned and the Knights passed by her without any other words. T urning to her troublesome mount, Saraphina grabbed Abaccus’s bridle and pulled the sorrels head down to her level. Growling lowly, she mutter darkly, “That was completely uncalled for horse. I might just change my mind about buying you a winter blanket if you keep trying to toss me to the ground every time we go for a walk.” Her dominant mount merely tossed his head into the air and snorted, pawing at the frozen ground. The two had a few more moments of back and forth fighting before Abaccus finally stopped trying to get away and surrendered to her. Pleased by that, she gave the Bloodbane a scratch behind the ear in reward. It was a love/hate relationship the two had, one that Saraphina was trying hard to work through. Taking the reins, she walked the remained of the distance to the city. However much she might threaten Abaccus, it was a technique she used to try and temper the beast. Never would she allow her horse to suffer, she just wished he’d calm down a bit. But then…things would be boring if he did. Passing through the massive gates of the walled city, Saraphina swallowed down her discomfort. The bustling city made her wince, but in some ways it was also a comfort. Isolation was what she loved, but a bit of exposure to the public never hurt either. Her first stop was the Elegant Weave. She was in need of some new clothing, some warmer attire for the winter months. Her current clothes were getting worn and stained, they’d be useful as strips for bandages or ties in her campsite once they were replaced.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

L eading her tall horse through the city made a few people look at her, but most had other things to do. Finding the famous clothing store, Saraphina secured Abaccus to a hitching post before entering the building. The open space was filled with racks of clothes and bolts of fine fabric. A lovely, dark haired human women perked up as she entered, approaching her with a smile, “Can I help you with something?” Saraphina nodded and plucked at her clothing, “I need to replace my clothes and get a second set that’s a bit warmer for the winter season. I live outside the city, so something in wool might be best.” The saleswomen nodded in understanding and the two started browsing. A little while later, Saraphina had 2 new pairs of pants, one cotton pair and one wool pair, both dyed black. Which she was happy about. She’d fingered a soft pair of leather pants, but decided against them. She wanted warmth right now and seeing as she was going to be hunting a lot, her clothes probably won’t be worn quite as much. Two shirts had been selected as well. Again one of cotton and one of wool, but she’d only managed to find them in an off white color. Which was alright, her shirts tended to stay fairly clean anyway. Her boots were still in good condition, the calf high leather footwear didn’t need to be replaced. But she picked up a few more undergarments and a pair of soft, wool gloves to keep her hands warm. T here had been a heavy wool cloak she’d considered getting for a moment, but something else had caught her eye. A lovely, full length forest green dress. Saraphina brushed her hands over the soft fabric and bit her lip in hesitantion. Really she didn’t need the pretty dress, but then she remembered that Yuri was suppose to join her in Syliras. Blushing a bit, she thought of how he might like to see her in a more feminie appeal as opposed to the warrior aspect she usually displayed. Swayed by her more human side, she added the dress to the pile of clothing. The sales women who’d help her folded all of the clothing up and smiled gently, “That’s everything then?” Saraphina nodded and untied her pouch from her belt. “Your total is 6GM and 5SM.” Saraphina paused in though as she collected the coin before responding, “Can I ask for a discount at all, given that I bought quite a bit?” The young saleswomen shook her head, but smiled kindly none the less. Shrugging, the Kelvic handed a few of the gold coins over to the human. She’d hadn’t been expecting to succeed on the weak hearted debate, but figured it was worth a try. Thanking the lady, she gathered up her new belongings and headed back out to Abaccus. Her back pack had been empty and secured on the saddle. Pulling it down, she set her new clothes inside and tied it back onto the gear. The warmer clothes would help when it got really cold, hopefully she wouldn’t need them too often. N ow that her clothing needs were met, it was time to see to her mounts comfort and care. Abaccus was developing a good winter layer of hair, but he wasn’t a cold weather horse like the Avanthal Frostfawns or Sleigh Horses. He’d need some extra protection and she needed to get him some feed for the cold season as well. A few sacks of grain, maybe a bale or two of hay, though she might need to ask for someone to help her get those items out to her campsite. But for now, she untied her unruly mount and headed for the Windmount Stables. This might be more of a fight for Saraphina than a blessing, her dominant Bloodbane still tried to fight pretty much any other horse he came across. Hopefully there was a more isolated area she could tie him at till she’d purchased his items. The sky was grey and gloomy and the wind whistled through the city with a fury only Morwen could provide. The snow that had been threatening to fall was now starting to pour down in fat, fluffy piles. Even as she led Abaccus towards the stables, the powder started to stick to her boots and coated the streets. Houses started to get snow gathering on the roofs and whirlwinds of white snow spun through the air. The moist, frozen water clung to Saraphina’s hair and she increased Abaccus’s pace to a brisk jog to try and get to their destination faster. Receipt1 Cotton Pants: 5 SM 1 Wool Pants: 2 GM 1 Cotton Blouse: 5 SM 1 Wool Blouse: 2 GM 3 Pair Undergarments: 3 sm 1 Gloves: 5 sm / pair 1 Cotton Dress: 5 SM Total : 6GM, 3SM.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

B y the time the two had reached the Sables, the snow was falling so heavily that she could barely see in front of her. But they’d found the stables…finally. As she approached, Abaccus snorted a bit as two horses passed nearby, but seemed too put out by the snowstorm to try and fight with them. Someone approached from the whiteout and spoke to her, a young male, possible a worker for the sable, “Are you looking to board your horse for a few days Miss. Word from the walls is that the storm is getting worse. Snow’s piling up higher and faster than it can be cleared, the Knights figure they’ll need to shut the gates out for a few days till the weather clears.” For a few moments, Saraphina didn’t really understand what the human was saying…then it hit her, “Close the gates!! You mean I’m stuck here! Where am I supposed to stay?” Yet another reason to hate the walls, now she was stuck inside because of a snowstorm. If the city was open, she could pass in and out with ease, but no….these people had to cage their citizen in a stone prison painted to look like a portion of paradise. The worker held up his hands and tried to calm down the rapidly angering Kelvic, “Calm down Miss, Syliras usually has a big storm hit at least once every winter season. We can board your fine looking stallion here in the stables and there’s sereval Inns that’ll have space for you. The White Swan’s a fine establishment, and if you’re short on Miza’s, the Broken Casket’s always got a few rooms open.” S ighing in defeat, Saraphina still growled a bit in displeasure. Being locked in the city hadn’t been on her list of things to do, but on the upside, at least Abaccus would be pamper for a few days. Maybe the luxury would make him act a bit better for a while. Nodding to the horse hand, she followed the young man into the stables. The inside of the building was warm and well lit. It smelled of horse flesh, hay, manure and grains. Her stallion pranced happily once he was out of the snow storm and she chuckled a bit. An empty stable was opened by her escort and she lead the sorrel into it. Pulling off the saddle, blanket and bridle, she slung the gear onto a wooden rail set up near the stall. The young stable worker had already pour a bucket of fresh grain into the feeding trough and Abaccus was munching happily at his meal. Patting her stallion fondly, she stepped out of the stall and closed the door. Untying her backpack, she slung it over her shoulder and walked with the worker, questioning costs as she moved, “How long is the city supposed to stay closed and how much do you charge for boarding?” The sandy haired man smiled kindly and replied as they walked, “Boarding is 5 Silver Mizas a day and I’m not sure how long the storm is supposed to last. Sorry Miss.” Now annoyed at both the unfortunate circumstance, Saraphina stopped and put her hands on her hips, “Listen…I’m going to be buying a winter blanket and feed for my horse, and probably some saddlebags as well. That’s extra income in the middle of winter you were anticipating. Can you take some of the cost off of the boarding? After all….its not my fault Lady Morwen choose today to pass through your…fine city. I just got caught in the winds. Can you do anything for me?” The worker paused in thought and replied lightly, “I’ll speak to the owner and see if we can arrange for something, but in the end its her decision. I just work here.” Saraphina ground her teeth together, but nodded regaurdless. She shook the workers hand and took in a bracing breath, heading back out into the cold. T he thick, whirling mass of snow and wind buffered against her. Pulling her cloak tighter around her body, Saraphina gritted her teeth. She couldn’t be angry with her patron Goddess Morwen for the storm. For winter was often times as cruel a mistress as any. But for those who could see through the icy heart, the true beauty became clear and lit the soul with such warmth than none could deny the depth of majestic the Lady of Snow so deserved. Shielding her eyes, she forced her way through the blizzard to her next stop. Mostly, she could handle famine by hunting game. But with her new job as a hunter for the city, she could not eat everything she killed. The larger game was going to have to be brought to the butcher shops for profit. Which meant she needed some food around her campsite to munch on. As well as some tools for trapping smaller game such as rabbits and squirrel. And then there was the need for a few more tools, such as a larger axe for splitting firewood and perhaps a pan for frying meat. After all, she was still expecting Yuri to come to Syliras when his job was done. It won’t do to let her dear friend do all the work. But for such a wide variety of items, there was only one place to get all of that. The Great Bazaar. And Saraphina was not looking forward to going into the crowded, underground cavern. Receipt5 Days Boarding at Windmount Stables: 5SM/Day 1 Blanket And Hood, Horse, Large: 8 gm 1 Saddlebags, Large: 8 gm 3 Bags Feed, 10lbs : 15 cm Total: 18GM, 5SM, 15CM Prices to be adjusted by Grader if desired.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

S he was almost tempted to head for one of the Inn’s and retire for the day rather then go into the marketplace, but that won’t stop the fact that she still needed to go there. Mind as well get it done with now, especially since she was annoyed and growly. Maybe her attitude might work to get her a bit of a deal on some items. Saraphina didn’t much care for skimping Miza like some did, she would spend the gold to get what she wanted. But it did feel nice when she managed to haggle a bit, it made her feel more human. The walk to the fourth tier of the hold was mostly indoors, which was nice. At least she was out of the storm. But a lot of other people had the same idea and the pathways were crowded. Saraphina had to use a lot of her feline agility to duck and dodge around people, but she eventually made it to the massive, underground Bazaar. The noise was nearly deafening, vendors yelled at people that passed by, trying to draw them to their stalls. Children scurried about and she was pretty sure she saw a dog skittering around peoples legs. Sighing and determined to get this trip over with before finding a room and a hot meal, she stopped by the information booth to briefly talk to the human about locations of stalls she needed to find. D odging past the numerous stalls, Saraphina walked with purpose and didn’t glance at the other wares. The vendors seemed to realize she wasn’t interested in browsing, so very few tried to get the red head’s attention. Reaching a larger table that was filled with fresh produce and dried goods, Saraphina nodded to the vendor behind it. Gather up a cluch of carrots and apples, both because she like them and because she was sure Abaccus would enjoy a treat once and a while. The vendor also had dried meats packaged into standard trail rations so she pointed to that and added it to her pile. A pound of beef was also picked up and a bag of walnuts. The extra protein would be good to have on hand in case she got caught by the snow while outside the walls. She might pick up a few more things, but as far as food went, seeing as she was stuck in the city for a few day, the Inn she stayed at could provide her with her meals. Saraphina didn’t try to barter with this vendor, food was expensive. She knew that, so trying to save coin on this was kind of pointless. Bagging up her purchases, she smiled at the salesman and moved onto her next stop. H er next stop among the bustling stalls was piled high with items needed for wilderness survival. She passed her hand over several sharp knives, picking up a few to test the weight and balance. Fine steel, worked to a deadly point. She was in need of a good skinning knife and one for cutting though bone and sinew. Turning to the vendor she waved a hand over the display, “I’m a hunter, new to the area. Which one do you recommend for the game around here?” The vendor’s eyes seemed to light up a bit at the prospect of selling his ware and he pulled out two daggers. One was shorter in the blade, but narrowed to more of a point. The second blade was wider and longer in the handle, enough for her to be able to wrap both hands around it if she wanted. Both were good quality and she nodded to the vendor, “How much?” The vendor though for a moment then answered smoothly, “6 Gold Mizas.” Saraphina frowned at the merchant darkly. Even as young and inexperienced as she was, she knew that was too much to ask for. Shaking her head, she put the knives down and raised her chin stubbornly, “That’s unreasonable. Even if they are good quality, two daggers of equal size and strength would be half of that. 4 Gold Mizas and I’ll buy a large axe, a metal pan, one of your Trapper’s Kits, as well as rope and a winter blanket. All for a fair price. Agreed?” Saraphina put a strong emphasis on the word ‘fair’, to let the vendor know she would go elsewhere if he tried to cross her. The man seemed to deflate a bit, but he nodded. Gathering up her new tools, Saraphina left the Bazaar as quickly as she could. The stifling atmosphere was starting to wear on her. Receipt2lbs Apples: 2 gm 2 oz Carrots: 2 gm 1 lb Smoked Beef 4 gm Rations, trail (10 days) : 5 gm 2 lbs Walnuts: 6 sm 1 Skinning Knife: 2gm 1 Meat Cutting Knife: 2gm Axe, Splitting: 5 sm Pan, 16" / 16 oz: 4 cm Toolkit, Hunter/Trapper's: 25 gm Rope, Hemp (50 ft.) : 1 gm Blanket, Winter: 5 sm Total: 41GM, 16SM, 4CM Cost for the knives is a standard Dagger price.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

R elief filled the young Kelvic as she emerged from the underground and back into the thick swirling blizzard that coated the city. Pulling her new purchases closer, Saraphina bowed her head and braced herself against the storm. She was feeling the pinch of the coin she’d spent and from what she’d heard, the White Swan Inn, while very nice, was a bit to expensive for her. Once she made some more Mizas from hunting, she might consider dining at the fine establishment. But she was at heart, a girl of simple tastes. Saraphina headed towards the docks. The trip was fairly miserable with the blistering wind and beating flakes of snow. It was somewhat tempting to shift to her animal form, but then she wouldn’t be able to carry anything. Plus…the knights might object to a Kelvic changing forms inside the holds walls. Though with the thick layer of snow, they probably won’t be able to see her anyway. After about half a bell of struggling through the rapidly growing snow, Saraphina’s sharp ears heard the faint sound of jaunty musical interments, some kind of strumming thrum and a whistle of an air blown flute. T he worn wooden structure, coated with flaky powder and bearing a faded crab decoration on the door, seemed to suddenly appear from the heart of the blizzard. Smiling a bit, Saraphina walked carefully up the steps and only slipped once on the slick wood. The overhang from the roof gave her a slight amount of protection, and she stomped off her boots to clear it of snow. Looking back out into the storm, Saraphina smiled fondly despite being wet and uncomfortable, “Your touch is always welcome Lady Morwen, even when it locks me in a stone prison. I hope to return to you lands someday. For now, I stand in awe at the beauty you bless the world with once a year.” Saraphina bowed her head in respect to the storm before opening the door to the Inn. The inside was much warmer, lit with a cheery fire and holding a small crowd of people cowering from the sudden onset of winter. G lancing around with a questioning look, she was approached by a grizzled man with a long, stringy beard and deep creased eyes that sparkled with life. He used a cane to help him walk and smiled at the sopping Kelvic, “Looking fer a place to wait out da storm Lass?” Saraphina nodded with a reserve air. She would rather not be stuck in Syliras, but there was little choice when her patron Goddess choose to pass her hand. The elder gentleman chuckled a bit and waved her to walk with him, “Glad to hear. I’ve got a few rooms still open. 1 Gold Miza each day and we serve meals here in the common room.” Saraphina brushed a hand over her wet hair, wincing when her figners got caught in a knot. The rate was reasonable, so she agreed to the price. Coin changed hands again, and she accepted the key to her room befoe walking off. She was in need of a change of clothes and a warm drink. Pity she was stuck here, but it might make for an interesting stay anyway. Receipt5 Days Rent at the Broken Casket: 5 gm 5 Breakfast Meals: 5 gm 1 Dinner Meal: 5gm Total: 15GM

[Nivel]

Saraphina Skyglow : XP Award: 1 Riding 2 Observation 3 Intimidation 2 Rhetoric 3 Negotiation Lore: Location: The Elegant Weave No discounts for you Location: The Windmount Stables Location: The Great Bazaar of Syliras Location: The White Swan Inn Notes: Good job just remember to add your expenses to your character sheet. Additional Comments: If you have any questions or concerns please message me.