Barbarians, tribals and monsters.

[The Fox and The Spider]

​

For three weeks he rode on horse back. His steed tired from the journey; hooves stained from dust of dirt road. Through the woodlands they traveled; until they reached the misty peaks of the Aliantro mountain ranges. There his once trusty friend died from exhaustion. In silence Ulfric offered him a prayer before continuing his journey on foot. Time was of the essence.

Just three weeks ago he received a letter from Julissa. She spoke of apparitions and a coming storm. A darkness which would blanket the heavens; giving birth to a new age. To new seeds of evolution. With haste he rose, leaving the company of his favorite prostitute Mary behind. Whom though had charged him no coin, would find a small pouch filled with golden currency waiting for her when she awakened.

Ulfric was a silver eyed demon; an orphan whose body was twisted by science and alchemy into something other then human. Bred for a single purpose, the destruction of monsters and demons alike. However despite slaying countless hordes of beast. Ulfric was at best tolerated by society. Still he did find acceptance amongst the Julissa's group of nomads.

The normal clamor of wild life was absent in these parts. As if something silenced their beautiful orchestra. Even the wind itself spoke to Ulfric; it's once spring seasoned aroma replaced with something far more stale yet daunting. Julissa was right, something foul was afoot. However Ulfric could tell she was ignorant toward the true depths and nature of what was to unfold. This only motivated the silver eyed witch to make haste.

"It's Ulfric! Open the gates!" The guard would bellow as he observed the silver eyed demon from a distance. With haste the men would open the gate once more. After closing it behind the elves. With uncanny speed he closed the distance between himself and the mouth of their precious gate. Without so much as stopping Ulfric would rush through the now tiny opening. "Where is Julissa?" He would inquire into without pause or delay.

"She is near her meditating grounds. Why do you ask sir Ulfric?" One sentry would reply. "Close the gate...Prepare your arrows and tell whatever spell casters you have to convene at the center of camp. No one enters or leaves..." Ulfric declared with authority. "Why?" Asked the sentry; testing Ulfrics patience. "No time...do as I say or perish!" With that being said he would depart from the entrance. Making his way toward their queen.

The sentries would obey; having already learned not to doubt Ulfric. The once somewhat static camp had become frantic. As each able body...male or female rushed to grab arms.

By the time the queen and her guest heard the commotion Ulfric would already be within their line of sight. Within seconds standing before her offering no bow. "It seems I have arrived in time Julissa." In most eyes this would come across as disrespectful. But the queen and tribe as a whole held Ulfric in high regards. For over the years he had slain and removed many obstacles for them. Seldom requesting payment.

"I sense the evil you spoke of in your letter. Sadly there isn't much time all I require is your trust and faith." A bold request considering what was to follow. His gaze shifting toward the woman and her armed escorts. "Pardon my intrusion." With this he would conclude.

 

[Eolande]

Jensine watched the man and queen converse. Something strange and dangerous was going on, and she had a feeling she was not going to want to be around much longer. She idly stroked Brutus, but only managed to get two strokes in as the large black mutt shot forward in the direction of the noisy crow. Jensine made no attempt to stop him. She could not imagine a crow being valued, and if the dog actually managed to feed himself, it would mean more food for her.

Brutus bounded toward the crow, barking loudly in a deep, husky voice. The fur along his spine stood up a bit in the way it usually did when he had unpleasant intentions. Most likely he would only succeed in scaring the creature off. He was no sneaky predator, and birds were fast. In her experience, even smart.

"No need for apologies..." She said, gesturing nonchalantly toward the strange eyed man. He was quiet the handsome thing, in an odd way. And his casual attitude toward a queen, barbarian or not, was odd, but Jensine would not let that distract her. "You two, go get that stupid dog..." she said shortly to both her escorts. Some small chore to get them out of the way while she made her proposition. As soon as they were out of earshot she turned toward the two. "I see that you are preparing for battle... I am no soldier, and though I feel that I should help I"m certain I would only get in the way." She looked over her shoulder at the two men who were currently chasing down Brutus. "Those two men are strong, and resilient. They have defended me against many dangers during my journey." The gypsy turned back to look at the two, carefully studying both their reactions while carefully disguising any emotion other than a faux smile. "I'm very close to my destination now... and city life does not suit them. So, I would be willing to trade their services for... very little." She sighed, making it clear to them that her guards would be greatly missed. "You seem to need the boost in numbers more than I will need my two wonderful men."

After the gypsy made her offer she would watch the pair, waiting for them to accept or decline her generous offer.

 

[Copper]

The raven squacked again and flapped its wings hard as the dog bounded towards it. It managed just in time to evade the dog and looked to Ryan to be about to fly away when it stopped mid-wing and flapped back again. It settled down on the dog's back and pecked at the dog's fur, not in a harmful way but to show that he wasn't going to be eaten any time soon.
Ryan watched it, distracted from the elves and wished that the raven would, for once, not be a pest. Why it followed him of all people, he had no idea, but he couldn't help grinning at the crow's antics as it suddenly flew off of the dog's back and towards the woman's two escorts. Making more of a nuisance of itself, it started to flap around them and peck at their ears. To Ryan it looked playful but he doubted the two men would take it that way. He hadn't the first time the crow had pecked at him. The ragged thing had been lucky to miss the knife he'd thrown at it.
He turned as Ulfric entered throught the gate and continued to stare, remaining still despite the frantic activity around him.

 

[Copper]

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