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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Mar 27, 2019 18:37:54 GMT
The stark difference in height between Kelziro and the moose-like creatures made his legs work hard to catch up to them. He noticed the ones transporting Usken had snowshoes attached to their hooves. That way, they would not sink too far into the snow and risk hurting her further. They spoke in a language he did not comprehend, but it closely resembled the one he had heard Usken chant in.
Kelziro felt uncomfortable when the enormous black moose that led the group looked over his shoulder towards him and frowned after being asked something by another of the antlered titans. It seemed as though the brutish being was issuing him a distrustful or malcontent look, but in reality, the moose was questioning himself with how he was going to tend to Kelziro and his strange floating friends. He had no idea just what the scaly little creature was. The only scaly beasts he knew of were fish. But this one possessed wings.
And the only winged, scaly creatures the moose knew of were dragons, ancient enemies of his people.
---
After an hour of mostly silent travelling, interspaced only by the sound of the snow crunching underneath the feet of the travellers, light buzzing noises from the Ophanim and the occasional chatter between the moose-like barbarians, the group reached a large, wooden lodge nearing a frozen lake.
It stood fairly tall and ominous, yet it was quite majestic to look at. It was primarily constructed from round logs. Intricate sculptures and patterns adorned it. A massive, threatening antlered skull loomed over the entrance. Over the double-door leading inside were runes carved in the wood, presumably, to Kelziro, the name of the place.
The rustic interior was warm and cozy. Tables were strewn about, much like a tavern, where more of the moose creatures sat. Some of them were playing games, others simply talking. It seemed as though each and every one of them had a drink on their table. The fireplace provided the grand room with warmth and relaxing sounds. Some were sitting on pelts in front of the fire. In the corner of the room stood a gruff-looking individual resembling the moose, though it had actual horns as opposed to antlers. Arms folded, the bull-like brute stood apart from the rest, observing everything and everyone from afar. Whether it had been told to stay there or whether it was simply more of a loner was a mystery. The blue eyes of the bull practically bore holes in Kelziro as it sized him up. It appeared not to trust him.
The trackers, as well as the rest of the group beyond the black moose and the two that were carrying Usken, split off from the band. The group ascended a set of stairs, the rails of which were trimmed with what appeared to be shed antlers from the moose creatures themselves. A short walk into a small room later, the antlered folk gently placed down Usken on one of the two beds found in the chamber. Left on a perch offered to him by the dark moose — who assumed him to be some sort of bird — Kelziro was left outside of the room proper while they tended to the giant’s injuries. A few came and went out of the room.
He was allowed to come in several minutes later. Usken lay in one of the two beds of the room, in front of the door. Bandages now covered her wounds. Her crossbow was propped up against the wooden wall at her side. The Colossian was just in the midst of stirring from her sleep with a groan. The black moose let his companion eagle perch in front of Usken as he stood in the doorway, seemingly so that he may answer the undoubtedly many questions his guests had...
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 28, 2019 1:11:19 GMT
While it had been a quiet walk for Kelziro, that had only been externally. Within, the star drakon's mind was bubbling with thoughts and concerns, especially around the moose creatures. He was nowhere near their size, and by all accounts, a harmless threat to them, yet they were incredibly weary, and the glares they had sent to them told him they didn't trust him. A smart move, he had to admit, though rather annoying. Still, none had threatened him with physical violence yet, so he had to breath a sigh of relief there. He was many things, but a competent fighter was not one of them.
Though, this place was rather warm and cozy. It warmed his heart to be in such a well lit, toasty environment that melted the frost off his scales... yet there was one thing here that was missing, the one thing that made this place meaningless for him... Arbanium Crystals! There was none in sight, not one at all rather than the one he kept gnawing on. Any place that lacked such a fundamental material was a garbage dump in his eyes... but this was the coziest garbage dump he had ever been in.
Outside, the Ophanim were waiting, watching, eager to do whatever his next command was. For now, they were merely to observe, and send their location back to the others on the ship. If something went horribly wrong, at least he could possibly be avenged... hopefully. If these creates weren't hiding some trick up their fur. But as it stood, it was just uneasy looks.
He hobbled into the room with his arbanium crystal for a cane, and looked on Usken's wounded form. The injuries she had taken were severe, but she was recovering, though Kelziro would have much preferred to think it was the Ophanim who had done the bulk of the healing rather than these creatures. She at least seemed to be content, which was good.
His eyes shifted over to the black moose. "Thank you for the assistance... but why did you come to help her? Who exactly are you and... your kind?" He asked. Perhaps if he found out more about them, he could think of where exactly they fit into all of this...
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Apr 4, 2019 1:38:48 GMT
The black moose considered Kelziro for a moment.
“We are the Olgfolk, children of the great moose Olghjortur. Keepers of the forests,” he explained. “And helping those in need is simply the natural thing to do, especially when the Undead are involved.”
He then went on to introduce himself.
“I am Gunthor, the Chief. You are welcome here in Tarstan Mead Hall, as are any and all visitors, so long as they behave themselves. In this, we have much in common with the Kollagskaren,” the black moose said as he glanced over towards Usken.
The weary giant smirked.
“The Olgfolk...” she snickered. “It has been too long since I have had contact with your kind. The skilled hunters and woodworkers...”
“The Winterhorn Tribe's skalds like to bring up your generosity often, Chieftain. You have saved Olgfolk from an Undead problem, and now Olgfolk are helping you with an Undead problem in turn. It is almost poetic...”
Gunthor scratched his chin thoughtfully, directing his attention back to Kelziro. “Now, what about you, little one? Scaly critters are quite rare out of the water...”
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Post by Executus Gira on Apr 4, 2019 1:57:23 GMT
"Very interesting, very. Helpers of the lost. An occupation much needed and deserved. For that, again, thank you." Kelziro scratched his lower jaw slowly, letting his claws rake over the scales and nearly ripping one from its place. "As for me, I am Kelziro. My kind are called Star Drakons, reptiles born from the core of stars and wander the galaxy. Most of my kind becomes very, very large, but I am... well, I am a runt, to be blunt. So, a far cry from my superior brethren, I wandered across the cosmos."
He turned, and ran a hand down the side of the Arbanium Crystal. " I met many people, learned many things, made from friends and allies, like the flying wheeled beings outside. They are the Ophanim, harmless healers from a higher place. We ended up here in this frozen area, when I lost my way. I'm used to the cold of space, but this is a little more than that. As for why I'm here... In search of more crystals like these for me."
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Apr 13, 2019 1:53:44 GMT
"A crystal," Usken drawled. "So that is what it was..."
Gunthor, who still had his hand over his chin in deep thought, carefully observed the gleaming mineral.
"What is it? I have never seen one such as this."
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Post by Executus Gira on Apr 15, 2019 21:28:07 GMT
Kelziro rubbed his head against the side of the purple hued crystal in his possession. "This... This is Arbanium, a very rare element. When certain energies are present in the right concentration at high pressures, Arbanium is formed. When applied to metal, it becomes both malleable and reinforced."
He looked at the black moose. " Also they have a very peculiar taste, these crystals hardened in such depths. This taste I adore, only for me."
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on May 7, 2019 18:11:00 GMT
Gunthor held the crystal up to his eye level, seeing the lights from the nearby sconces reflect and bounce amidst and inside of its glinting surface.
He lowered his brow in thought.
“The Ironhorn tribe would be the ones to know. They are the best miners among our people. However, there is no way to know if they also have been… transported here like us. Back on our world, they used to live in the mountains northeast of us. Perhaps you can investigate. If you do, bring Tumma with you. She knows the area even better than us.”
“Shall we meet this Tumma, then? I am eager to meet her,” Usken said. She was always happy to meet new folk.
The chief of the meadhall was about to turn and call for Tumma when a black-furred creature, much like Gunthor himself, came into the room. Though she could not see her, Usken could tell this being was different from the others. Her scent was completely unfamiliar. She was not of the Olgfolk, yet she was not of the Borskall either. She was not even of the Skallbor. Just who was she? What foreign species did she belong to?
Kelziro, who was able to see the newcomer, was no less confused than Usken. He was surrounded by all sorts of strange shaggy creatures, all of them completely new to him. Even he noticed that Tumma did not seem to belong to any of those he had seen, though. She stood the same height as the moose, but was adorned with different horns and possessed three fingers on each hand as opposed to the five he had seen on Usken and the Olgfolk. Her eyes were orange and glowed dimly like hot coals.
“Hej, chieftain! And little scaly bird! You seek Ironhorn, eh? I take you to them. Ah, but first, will you hand over crystal so I can have look at it?”
Given the mineral by Gunthor, she brought it up to her face, lowering a brow as she analyzed it.
“Neibb… that is new,” she concluded after barely a second. “Perhaps Ironhorn know it. We can hope, ja?”
She spun around on a hoof and walked out of the room.
“Oh!” she almost immediately let out, before stepping back inside.
“Almost forgot… Time to get up, chieftain. Your people need you.”
Raising her hand in front of her, the mysterious giant coiled swirling green energy around her arm. A flick of her wrist sent that energy blanketing the wounded Usken’s injuries. When it disappeared, the chieftain felt no pain. She patted her hand around her stomach, but the gaping wound that had formerly been there was gone.
“There. Now get up! No more laying in bed!”
Helped up by both Tumma and Gunthor, Usken slowly stood up. She was wobbly at first, but quickly was capable of standing on her own.
“Thank you, friends,” the co-chieftain of Kollagskar said gratefully. “I am a bit sore still, but I can walk. We should get going.”
“You plan to go climb fjall on empty stomach? Not on my watch. Come on down. Have some Stenhud stew. Then we go.”
She turned around and headed downstairs. Gunthor smirked, amused at the sight of a figure as important as the chieftain of Kollagskar being treated like a cub.
“I will see you down,” he said, before inviting his pet eagle to step up on his hand. The vicious talons of the avian seemed to have no effect whatsoever on him as the bird climbed up, wings outstretched to help its balance.
“I would have said ‘we might as well accept the offer’... but that was no offer, was it? It was an order! The very same I give my daughters!” Usken commented as she put her coat back on and grabbed her crossbow from the wall.
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Post by Executus Gira on Jul 24, 2019 4:05:04 GMT
Kelziro glared at the proceedings around him, and especially at Usken's vanished injuries. Very interesting. These creatures had healing properties more advanced than what the Ophanim were capable of, healers made by the Creator himself.
What else were they capable of?
"Glad to see you're better." Kelziro mumbled. "Now you're in perfect shape. Much better, very better."
To the newcomers, he pondered for a moment. Though being parted from his crystal put him on edge, and every fiber of his body screamed at him to take it back by force, he restrained himself somehow. His own personal preferences had to be put on the backburner for this to work. "If you find more of those crystals, I'll be surprised. Arbanium is rare, VERY rare, and highly desirable."
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Jul 24, 2019 16:41:47 GMT
"So I am told," Usken answered as she retook the crystal from Gunthor and handed it back to Kelziro. She grabbed her crossbow from the wall and re-attached it to her back, carefully following Gunthor as he led her and Kelziro to the stairs. As she had her hand along the ramp while she walked, the blind beast was made aware of the presence of stairs as soon as the ramp curved downwards. The antlers making up the railing made it tricky for her to feel around, the numerous pointed shapes stopping her hand's progress and catching her sleeve constantly. The thought of asking Kelziro to be a dear and help her with the stairs crossed her mind, but with the massive size difference between her and the star drakon, he would be crushed were she to fall. So, the chieftain took matters into her own hands.
"Hmmm," she hummed, pulling her fishing harpoon from her back and holding it by its pointed end. "Slowly now..."
She dipped the harpoon down until it touched the first stair, a loud noise of the heavy object touching the wood heard as the Kollagskaren chieftain put her clawed foot where the spear was. She repeated the process a second time and was about to do so a third time when Gunthor, ahead of his two guests, quickly climbed back up to help her out.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, embarrassed by his forgetfulness in regards to his particular guest's condition. "Let me help you."
The intimidating black moose held out his hand and invited Usken to hold it as he helped her down. Once the stairs were cleared, the master of the lodge led them to a wooden table near the fire. He left them with the promise of fetching them something to drink, leaving the two alone to appreciate the crackling of the fireplace. The smell of burned wood nearly overpowered Usken's senses, but she would get used to it. She barely had the time to take the crossbow off her back and set it besides her when the hosting moose returned to offer her and Kelziro some of what his people called "cider". Usken accepted the drink gratefully.
"So," the co-chieftain of Kollagskar began as she turned to face Kelziro. Her eyes were directly onto him, without actually seeing him at all. "What will you do if the Ironhorn do have more of your crystals? You going to eat them?" she chuckled.
The arbalist took a sip off her drink and was immediately taken aback by the new, unusual taste, though she rapidly cleared her throat and doused her reaction to avoid it being noticed by her host.
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Post by Executus Gira on Jul 29, 2019 0:59:03 GMT
Kelziro had been all too happy to get his crystal back. He held tightly to it, to where his claws had begun to scratch into the surface. With a free hand, he took the cider, and had a sip. It was scalding hot, and he was tempted to wait a while before drinking, but he could handle the heat. It wasn't too much for him, he was used to drinks this hot before.
"One or two, yes, but the most, safe keeping is preferred. Arbanium crystals contain high quantities of power, corrosive power that most creatures fall ill to." He explained carefully, taking another sip after blowing on the cup. "I can safely touch them and contain them, but others might be at risk. It's partially why I journey around to find them, that and others, but primarily as well."
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Jul 29, 2019 14:40:40 GMT
"Vente!" Usken frowned in concern, putting her drink back on the table.
"Corrosive power? Does that not mean the Ironhorn might be in danger, then?" she asked. Her fingers clenched tighter against the tankard, even the nub of her missing finger bending although it touched nothing.
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Post by Executus Gira on Jul 30, 2019 4:46:41 GMT
Kelziro shook his head. "Not from short term contact, but prolonged exposure can... do things to people. It can erode the mind, and twist it into something it quite isn't, and further exposure will mutate the body as well. If they don't stick around for too long, there's no harm in them."
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Aug 14, 2019 18:11:03 GMT
"Well... I hope Chieftain Ironhorn and his people have not been exposed too long, then. Assuming they even found any of your things," Usken answered, her concern relieved by only the slightest amount.
The Skallbor warrior in the back was still watching them. Usken felt her gaze on her back. The blue-eyed beast watched on as Tumma brought two bowls of Stenhud stew for the Kollagskaren and the reptile.
"Thank you," Usken said, before taking in the scent of the food. "Mmm... now, does that not smell like just the best thing?"
She fumbled around the table in search of a spoon, claws tapping against the wood. When she finally found one on the opposite side of the table, she twirled it the correct way around with her fingers and went to work on the stew, taking the first bite off of it. Whoever, or whatever, Tumma was, she was quite the cook.
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Post by Executus Gira on Aug 27, 2019 4:27:20 GMT
"Hard to find, but present. I can tell where they are... somewhat." Kelziro explained, before quickly adding, "That food does smell better than any crystal, though."
He took the bowl meant for himself and sniffed it again. It was hot, just as he liked it. Cold food wasn't his forte.
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Post by Ferobbcious Beast on Oct 12, 2019 1:30:31 GMT
"You can sense where they are?" Usken asked, the nub of her mutilated finger trying to hold onto her tankard.
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Post by Executus Gira on Oct 24, 2019 23:23:58 GMT
"Not keenly, no." Kelziro mused. He scratched against the edge of the crystal in his hands. "They have a particular scent, one I'm used to, but it's very faint. I have to be nearby to know exactly where. Otherwise, all I have is intuition, which has rarely failed me."
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