Old Gods/Practices/Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice 2021
Letter from Fjolfrin Message sent to Message to everyone in Old Gods The frigid winds of winter tore through Jedinchel, the Roof of the World. They howled through the narrow passes and plunging valleys. Fjolfrin was no stranger to the cold but up here, high above the trees bellow, it seemed vicious. He felt as though it stalked him; relentlessly. The rising sun offered only a brief respite. It’s small slivers of warmth quickly cut away with the wind’s frozen bite. He threw another set of furs around him, strapping them tight across his chest. He could barely move but at least he was warm; warmer than he had been anyway. Fjolfrin gave an aching grunt with each step. It was midday now, the seemingly heatless sun high above him. He shivered at the thought of coming night, paused, and took a drink from his small keg. “Ahhh…What would we do without you?” He said to himself. “You’ll keep us warm won’tchya?” With a smile he patted the keg and placed it back into his bag. “Alright you…,” He said shaking his fist to the uppermost peaks of Jedinchel, “We’ll make ya ours soon!” He gave a laugh but stopped short, something didn’t seem quite right. He had become used to the droning of the wind, but there was a different sound coming from behind him; painful, longing moans… Fjolfrin (Tribune of the Old Gods)
Letter from Eowyn Doesire Message sent to Message to everyone in Old Gods In A Quit Room inside the Private Dwellings of Queen Éowyn. Light from 8 candles flicker in the deeping darkness of night. 4 candles on a tall candelabra to the left and 4 more to the right. A shrine of small wooden figures sit upon a long narrow table in front of the Doesire family heraldry. The figurines vary in quality and weathering. Sitting upon her knees before the shrine is the current Queen of Thalmarkin. Her youthful voice echoes in the chamber as she raises a small saucer into the air. A prayer to the old ones to bless the sacred wine. As words end and a quiet once again falls the Queen remains still for a few moments more before lowering the wine for a small sip. Setting the remaing wine saucer down upon table in front of the newest statuette of a plump round woman. A tear streaks down Éowyn's cheek. Drawing out a long reed coated in incense Éowyn extends out her hand to light the incense in the closest candle. A quiet song fills the room as Éowyn raises up smoking incense into the air filling the room with the scent of honey. Placing the reed in a small unseen hole it stands perfectly upright allowing an even burn. Lowering her head to the ground as the litany ends Éowyn scouts backward upon her knees. Quietly Éowyn retreats to the entry way were she pauses and looks upon the newest figurine. "I miss you, Mom." Éowyn whispers to the statuette. "I hope I've made you proud. I'm Queen now. Watch over me as you have always done and guide me once again with your wisdom." With a Long silent gaze Éowyn turns and leaves. Eowyn Doesire (Queen of Thalmarkin)
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Message to everyone in the Old Gods Winter Solstice In Binoaramet - Possible home of the Twinkling Trickster Stars dance behind the veil of light, while snow crunches in the dead of winter. An arctic roar responds to the slice of a spear, and the furious shaking of the lumbering beast splashes ichor from the wound. Ice bursts where it lands and a few drops kiss a chitin covered cheek. Chittering at the sting, the dark figure dodges writhing limbs and scuttles around the armoured cuirass hand over hand. The thrashing thing had been wounded in dozens of places by the spear, but still stood. A crushing claw narrowly misses the skittering figure, but clips the haft of her weapon. Vaulting along with the blow, she pounces toward the serpentine neck as the spear flickers into the darkness. The strain of holding so many Grafts was starting to take its toll. She had to finish, and soon... Landing with a cloud of frost, she bites at the gap in the thing's gorget, spilling ichor across her grotesque expression. Her jaw numb, she bites again and, while the beast writhes, brings a blade up to deflect an axe blow. Climbing and biting. Slashing and dodging. Her jaw is stained with ichor and ice before the thing finally collapses with a shudder. The slender figure looms over her kill before letting out a hissing call mixed with clicks. "Witness! I defy Fate and claim this beast's power!" Carving into the Ice Queen's champion under the dancing light of the stars, she eats the frozen flesh and shudders at the taste of raw magic. Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)
Roleplay from Soren Navaar Message sent to Message to everyone in the Old Gods No matter where he traveled today, Soren somehow ended up back at the temple in Seven Rivers, or just outside the ferry over to The Sick. A grim shadow hung over him by the third trip between them, and with nothing at the temple, he had finally resigned himself to checking out the ferry. An hour later, Soren found himself setting foot on the cursed swampland of Seven Rivers, alone, and grumbling to himself. If the Trickster wanted to lead him along, he may as well see what would happen. It'd be his own cursed luck if he died here. Step after step, he trudged forward, boots sinking in slick muck and lifting out again with a wet pop all the while stalked by silence. This continued until, exhausted, his boots found stable dirt. He wanted to collapse on the ground right then and there, tired from the slow struggle to get this far. An easy death. Unfortunately, curiosity got the better of him. Wherever the Emperor was leading him, he was determined to see it through to the end... Another hour or so passed. It was hard to tell by just the position of the sun, but it had to be about mid day, but the true marker was the old stone building he came across. Having come into this part of the region several times now, he usually knew when a building was safe and when it wasn't, but this one was questionable. The stone steps were peeking up from the earth and the door had turned dark from moisture. Assuming what he sought was inside, Soren made a test of the structure. His leg came around at full force as he kicked the door in, wood splintered away, long since having given up on supporting anything. Nothing fell. Not stones stirred, just the crash and rain of what could barely be called wooden bits. Not even dust stirred, held down by moisture, and the cobwebs that danced as he passed only gave the slightest of efforts before returning to rest. The building was once a townhouse, probably the home to a local leader or a well off farmer. No stairs or second floor existed, but a frail ladder to a loft suggested some storage. There were several rooms, but not one had a sign of what may have lived there in the past. A turned over chair, an empty barrel, a table. Everything had to have been carefully packed up to leave so little behind, or the place had already been cleared out several times by thieves. Why had the Emperor brought him to this place? He paused before a window to look outside. Was I even supposed to come in here? Golden eyes peered back at him from the reeds. A black snout and a whirl of fur as it bolted into the woods. Black Jaw? Did the legendary grim wolf truly exist? Growls filled the air. Multiple, and Soren flinched as he realized what had happened. The wolves of the swamp had followed him inside and were hungry. Turning, looking for an out, he realized the room he was in had little to offer. A single bookshelf, a couple of windows, and only one doorway. Closed windows offered a bit of protection as he decided to act, pushing the bookcase to the doorway. It proved harder than expected, not budging despite his every effort. Claws scratched the floor as he counted at least three wolves in the room nearby. He had to block the doorway. He shoulder checked the door as he heard a howl from across the house. Nothing. Move! Move Damn you! He bit his tongue trying to not yell aloud. Now he tried to rip the shelf from the wall, desperate for some kind of cover. Crack! Crick... Crcik... CRACK! The shelves began to tip over almost in slow motion as once more he could rely on the rotten wood. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and as the first snout poked its way into the doorway to check the noise... YELP! A whine and a cry as the wolf's nose was clipped with the shelf as Soren slammed it into place. It wouldn't last, but it would by him time. Heart racing he looked around again, eyes resting on a small alcove that hadn't existed before. A growl sounded from the edge of his hearing, but Soren focused instead on the small indent. A shelf, and a box. Small, metal, rusted. A banner hung behind it, a black flag with a white paw that looked like it would fray the second he touched it. "A Melite safe house," he wondered aloud as he reached out for the box. Nothing appeared trapped as he grabbed the lock and twisted. Rusted through, it broke into smaller pieces that clattered to the ground as he opened the box. A vision of the Sennex glaring him came to mind. He didn't know over what. That list was too long. Instead, it was her letter that re recalled as he reached into the box and withdrew a silver signet ring. Now he had to get out of here. Happy Solstice indeed... Soren Navaar (Count of Seven Rivers)
Roleplay from Tyler Message sent to Message to everyone in the Old Gods so this was the home of the seeping giant. A tree of massive proportions created by the wolf god of life. He had been steeped in meditation for several weeks stopping only long enough to eat and sleep when needed. For weeks and weeks he waited for some sign. Something from the wolf god letting him know that he has been noticed and found worthy of the wolf gods attention. he had almost given up hope. Nearly abandoned his quest before it was started. But just as any hope was about to be lost and he began to pack his belongings their was a rustling in the massive trees above him. From high in the tree a small object came spireling downward at an alarming speed. In just a mere moments time a small object buried itself halfway into the ground right at his feet. Looking down at the object it resembled an acorn of abnormally large size. When Tyler reaches his hand down to grab the acorn assuming it a sign from the wolf god, the acorn sank into the ground until it could no longer be seen. There was a tremor at his feet. At first he thought his legs were going weak however the trembling turned to a violent shaking. The ground around his feet was being displaced. From the ground shot out several thick long roots. These roots would entwine with one another. The roots would try to wrap their way around the legs of Tyler. However he would quickly use one of the roots growing from the ground as a spring board using the unnatural speed and force of the roots to propel him into a front roll. Tyler turned around expecting whatever these things were to be chasing him however what he saw was much worse. The roots continue to entertained seemingly unconcerned with his quick escape. More and more roots erupted from the ground and very quickly the roots began to take shape. Before long the twisting roots resembled a wolf. And a very large one at that. The head of the wolf stood a foot taller then him and the beast could have easily weighted over a thousand pounds. The wolf let out menacing howl. And stares defiantly at Tyler. For a moment he feels fear creeping into his body. The urge to flee was nearly irresistible. But he would not back down. This was his test. The wolf only allows those who are strong to survive. And if you truly wanted his blessing you would need to be stronger then most. Tyler removes the sunlight dagger from his sheathe the light of the setting sun shining from the blade like a beacon for just a moment as it leaves his sheathe. His thrice blessed shield comforted him as the weight of it settles on his arm. for just a moment the monsterous root wolf and Tyler the mere adventurer stared at each other in defiance. And then the battle begins. In mere seconds the wolf closed the distance between them catching Tyler nearly completely off guard. The wolfs jaws clamped down on where Tyler's head had been mere moments ago. Luckily in place of Tyler's skull was his shield. Any normal shield would have crumpled like useless paper but his shield held strong and the beasts jaws crunched against the top and bottom of the shield. With Tyler's hand stretched above his head to stop the wolfs attack their was a brief stalemate as the beast tried in vein to crush his precious shield. Tyler took advantage of the distraction and sliced at the beats legs with his free arm gashing the beast causing it to let out a menacing howl that caused his ears to ring violently. As the beast let go of the shield to let out it's cry of pain Tyler used his now free shield arm to smash the beasts face causing the wolfs head to dip down in pain. In a one fluid motion Tyler brought his dagger from his intial slash at the beasts legs into an upward slash catching the wolfs drooping head with a deep slash from mouth to the forehead right between where the beasts eyes would have been. He then brought the dagger back down in the same motion to burry the dagger square in the beasts forehead. Tyler was flung sideways as the wolf shook his head with such force that Tyler let go of his dagger now buried in the beats forehead like some brutal horn. This sent Tyler flying sideways right next to the beast. Now unarmed Tyler scrambled to his feet using the wolfs pain as a distraction Tyler would leap onto the side of the wolf using the many thick roots as handholds and begins climbing to the top of the beast. It would be the only place safe from the beasts snapping jaws. The beast would thrash and howl and smash against the great seeping giant and any other rocks or trees to shake off the adventurer upon his back. Tyler's body had been smashed against tree as he attempted his climb to the top of the beast the impact smashed in his armor now he was being slowly impaled by his own armor. He will need to end this fast if he wishes to survive. AFter finally making it to the top of the beast Tyler finally finds what he's looking for a weakness. In-between the roots of the beast he could see a glowing pulsating object beating rythmically like a heart. He did the only thing he could and began to reach his hand toward this oddity it was a tight fit trying to squeeze his hand between the roots that made up this monsters body. And the beast made it all the harder as it seems to thrash and wail without end. He was close but his pinky finger stopped him from reaching the final distance between the roots and the strange glowing object. So gritting his teeth he did what he had to. With a sickening crack tyler forced his pinky to bend much farther sideways then any finger should. But with this last bit of room he grasped the strange pulsating light and crushed it in his fists. And then there was silence. The roots dissolve back into the ground almost as fast as they appeared. In mere moments he is alone with the seeping giant once again. His blade is on the ground not far from him. In the distance a single long howl can be heard. He had passed the wolf gods challenge. His gift would be life. That and the now crushed acorn he held in his closed fist. With a smile on his lips Tyler passed out from exhaustion where he lay. His wounds were painful but not life threatening and could wait to be tended to for now he must rest. Tyler (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Tyler Message sent to Message to everyone in the Old Gods Priestess Nerta, ​I have done as you asked I have made a pilgrimage to the seeping giant. There I meditated for several weeks seeking the wolf god of life and his guidance. As I was about to give up hope I was attacked by wolf made of roots. It stood a foot taller then I and was very nearly the death of me. I can only assume this was a test of mettle to see if I deserved the life I was blessed with. However I live and the beast is vanquished. Since the encounter I feel like something has changed.. though what I cannot yet be sure. I would like to come discuss this with you in person if you have the time. Tyler (Adventurer)