mao
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Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 7, 2020 22:42:15 GMT
Derric had piled broken sticks together, his hands now working on igniting his would be campfire. Within his arm’s reach was a couple of skinned rabbits. Upon appearance he seemed focused but not on what he was doing. He was mulling over his past few days and how exactly he could gain more of a following. Once the spark caught flame, he sat back and watched the fire blossom. He had already spoken to a few people around, but he would need more, especially to please Velka. A small chill moved over his skin at the thought of the two powerful beings he was now a servant to. Either death would be terrible, yet both were welcoming. Regardless he didn’t want to fail the godly creatures. His eyes closed briefly after he brought the meat closer to the fire to roast, he felt oddly tired despite this new flow of life inside of him. Derric leaned against his feline companion that was laying beside him, his fingers getting lost in her fur absentmindedly. At a glance, both of them seemed to be asleep, though their ears were attentive to the surroundings around them.
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Post by Elvander on Feb 8, 2020 3:10:59 GMT
Fenris crept through the forest, his brother Fell at his side. The man was tall, dark, and broad with long brown hair and a thick beard that suited his handsome, but rugged face. He wore animal pelts over his shoulders to keep him warm, and the rest of his clothes were handmade within his village. At least, the village that had been. It had been eviscerated as Nethilor expanded their territory. He and his younger brother were all that remained. As a fire flickered in the distance, Fenris felt his stomach growl. It was scarce hunting these days, but the two accomplished hunters had eaten a couple of days ago. He nodded to his brother, and together, they approached the source of the flame, observing a man and his tiger. Fenris hesitated. But they were not hostile, and he hoped the man and his animal companion would be the same. Fenris stepped into the open, clearing his throat to get Derric's attention.
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mao
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 8, 2020 4:12:38 GMT
As if the tiger and man were connected, they both looked at the same time to the two men but there was a sense of calmness still. He sized both of them up, confident he would come out on top with Ember at his side had they been aggressive. His dark eyes observed their attire and nodded in approval that they had been similar to his own garb. They were alike, “What is your business?” Derric asked as he gestured for them to join him by the fire.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 8, 2020 21:10:40 GMT
Fell, a younger but almost identical replica of Fenris, stood slightly behind his older brother. His face was adorned with white tattoos on his forehead, down his nose, and along the sides of his face. He shifted nervously as they were invited to the fire, but approached first. "We hoped to share a meal," he spoke gruffly, and with a thick accent. He held up a couple of rabbits, "If we share your fire, we will share our food."
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mao
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 8, 2020 21:44:11 GMT
“Very well,” Derric responded as he looked over his own rabbit that had been cooking over the fire. He tilted his head as he observed the two, wondering if the younger brother often spoke for the older one due to how abrasive Fenris came off at first glance. The Gypsy assumed their dynamic was opposite, almost like the Lion and the Mouse fable, not that they each couldn’t handle their own. Had they found him a few days ago, Derric may not have been so welcoming, but he felt like a new man, more approachable. “What is your story? You clearly don’t look like you belong to either kingdoms,” he said as he cleared his throat. “Most people in the forest keep to themselves.” He couldn’t help in returning his gaze to Fell’s face, curious about the permanent artwork and how painful it must have been. He wondered if there was more on either men and if it were only for aesthetic or if it was cultural.
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Post by Elvander on Feb 9, 2020 1:12:52 GMT
Fenris approached when given permission, putting his battle ax down at his side. He studied Derric carefully, grunting at the question. "We don't belong to either one. Nethilor saw to that." He began to skin and gut the rabbits as they both settled in. "And what about you? You look like you don't belong either." He observed, skewering the prey and setting it above the fire. "You can call me Fenris, and that's Fell," he nodded to his brother. Unlike him, Fenris did not sport facial tattoos, but there were enough scars to make up for it.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 10, 2020 21:26:12 GMT
Fell settled nimbly in, allowing Fenris to prepare the rabbits as he studied Derric and Ember. “Your pet is... quite spectacular. Only the most accomplished in our tribe were permitted to tame an animal. How did you earn her?” He queries, gazing at Derric with eyes that held laughter and mirth, despite the sullenness of his brother and the obviously terrible circumstance that had led him and Fenris to be clanless. Fell had always been eternally optimistic, and recklessly resilient.
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mao
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 11, 2020 1:04:39 GMT
A chuckle escaped him, “That seems a bit unfair doesn’t it? Nothing should get in the way of companionship,” Derric said as he ran his hand across Ember’s broad forehead. The tiger remained still, observing the men around her calmly while giving her tail the occasional flick. “I didn’t earn her through some rite of passage or accomplishment. We trust each other, we share a bond. I have a connection with all animals, but they come and go. Ember here stayed by my side entirely by her choice. She reminds me of a past lover, so clingy.” Again he chuckled a little more softly this time as he reminisced. “I’m just a vagabond, I live here in the forest under Velka’s protection. I occasionally reside with the Gypsies when the weather is too cold.” His gaze fell over the fire yet again, the lightheartedness in his eyes suddenly disappearing as he now inquired of the two men, “What happened to your tribe?”
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Post by Elvander on Feb 11, 2020 1:50:14 GMT
Fenris eyed the tiger, in awe of the beast, though he would never say that to Derric as openly as Fell had. Their tribe had been destroyed before either of them had managed to earn the right to an animal companion. But he supposed... there was nothing that kept that pleasure from them now. He turned the rabbits on the spit, watching the flames. The light cast dark shadows over his face, making him look all the more intimidating. "Nethilor wanted our lands, and we refused a treaty. So they sent a small force, and they took it from us. Most of our clansmen were killed, some were captured, the rest were scattered." He looked up at Derric, anger smoldering in his eyes like the embers in the fire.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 11, 2020 2:49:36 GMT
Fell warmed his hands on the fire, considering Derric's way, but was distracted as Fenris spoke of their loss. The grief clouded his eyes momentarily. But he was grateful he still had Fenris, his strong protector for as far back as he could remember. "Who's Velka?" he asked curiously. Was there a deity he had not heard of? His tribe had worshiped many gods and goddesses, though none had answered their prayers in their time of strife.
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mao
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 11, 2020 3:04:56 GMT
Derric listened with a grim expression. Raevaryn has their own turmoil he had heard whispers about, but Nethilor’s King seemed always so pure in his eyes, though Derric knew the truth after being gifted with the visions from the Wendigo. He wondered if Alaric knew of the real damage he was doing to others or if he simply turned cheek. Regardless he would show the truth in blood, “Velka is a goddess, all she asks of us mortals is loyalty and faith. She provides fully in any way desired. I’ve been blessed by her myself,” Derric explained with a sureness in his eyes. “No matter what is asked,” he said as he turned his head to lock eyes with Fenris, “Nethilor will pay in due time.”
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Post by Elvander on Feb 11, 2020 3:58:51 GMT
Fenris was admittedly curious. Gods and goddesses were not a foreign concept to him. "You met this goddess?" he grunted as he removed the cooked rabbits, tossing one to Fell before ripping a leg off of his, offering it to Derric and Ember. This man was intriguing- he served a tangible goddess, he walked with a white tiger, and he claimed to have been blessed. "Not to sound rude, gypsy. But what gift did she bestow upon you?"
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 11, 2020 4:11:17 GMT
As Fenris tossed him his rabbit, Fell took out a small, jagged knife, beginning to carve away the meat. He ate as he listened to his brother ask the questions, awe in his eyes. Derric was truly an impressive man. "How did you meet her? Why have we never heard of her before?" He asked more questions before Derric had a chance to answer, mouth full of rabbit, a thin dribble of the juices dripping down into his beard.
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mao
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by mao on Feb 11, 2020 4:25:25 GMT
“Did I stutter? I wouldn’t lie. I couldn’t believe it myself at first,” he closed his eyes and recalled the events in his memory as if it were a movie. He turned to Fell, taking the rabbit and nibbling on the meat so he could speak without a mouthful, not that hare had much meat to offer. “I was hunting. I came across a herd of deer but.. it was off. Have you heard of the Wendigo? The cryptid of the forest, it came to me. It would have devoured me had it not been for Velka. She saw the faith I had, the hope, she knew I was willing to give my all to stay alive. She saved me. I give my all to her in exchange for her saving me. She’s blessed me with power, keen senses,” he paused to smile and shake his head, “she gave me life and for that I’m forever faithful. I could best you both had we not been so alike.” Derric fed Ember who was sniffing greedily for the meat in his hands. “As for why you’ve never heard of her, perhaps she is too powerful to others or rather too real. Think of it, a powerful goddess that truly answers prayers? It would be anarchy. But with the way the kingdoms are taking over us, over our land, I see it only as a blessing. We need the power, her power, and she will happily give it to us. The more faith we give... we would be truly unstoppable to the likes of Nethilor.” Derric once again leaned onto Ember, chewing his meat with a smug and reasonably confident smirk.
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Post by Elvander on Feb 11, 2020 4:46:27 GMT
Fenris had nothing to lose, and Derric didn't even need to use his powers of persuasion to make him want to tap into this power. "And all you had to do was swear to her that you would be loyal?" He asked, a little skeptical. After all, it was his job to watch out for himself and Fell. His instincts told him that Derric was trustworthy- but this seemed just too good to be true. Fenris had always envied those in his tribe blessed with magic. If he had the chance, what would he ask for?
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