LouLou

After the End

Aishla followed obediently, doing her best not to notice the small girl on the floor and the grieving couple looming over her body. The sisters remained silent, aside from Shytora's traditional phrases. It was good to be outside again. The air was cold here, as far as Aishla knew this was the farthest north the tribe had ever traveled. Winter here would be difficult. She sat on the log opposite her sister, moving in reflex rather than conscious thought. Her sister's hands moved quickly among her various tools. It reminded her hours spent on wasted lessons in her mother's hope that both daughters would be wise women. That wasn't a comfortable memory.

" Are you eating enough? You look weak. A scout should be strong!" Aishla looked up and blinked at her sister then frowned, dropping her gaze back to Shytora's hands. If it was mockery, it stung coming from her own sister. She involuntarily crossed her arms over an all-to un-rounded stomach.

"I came here out of respect for tradition, not to be chided at by my younger sister." If that was the part she was going to play, Aishla would simply leave. More tensions here would distract her out there, time was too short for that.

After the End

"You have to go in sometime."

Aishla looked up from her work to see Koric standing over her. His face and shoulders shown with newly painted red and black symbols. That was wrong; they should have been white.

"We are not headed to fight. Unless you have changed your mind?" she didn't acknowledge his first comment, instead returning to wrapping hide around the hot wax keep holding the spearhead to the staff. Her husband only grinned down at her.

"No, but there had been a change, Norti and your father confront the outsiders today."

Aishla didn't respond, looking down at the newly made spear in her hands. All the more important they leave soon then. The change in shadows warned that Koric had shifted to beside her.

"You worry about him fighting?" that caught her off guard, and she jerked away, suddenly angry. How could men be so blind? Her father was old but to imply the war leader was no longer battle-worthy was offensive to the extreme.

"No! I-" she stopped. She found it difficult to explain her worries to Koric in the recent weeks. More than anything else, he was her friend, even before they married. But now that they where she could not express herself. Unjustly or not she blamed her sister for that as well. If Shytora had not been such a child there would be no rift between them, and Aishla would be able to speak with her husband. But there was a rift, and the goddess of family would never grant her a child if did not make peace with the family she already had. She stood, bowed her head and raised an open palm to Koric in supplication.

"I apologize husband, the stronger winds of this pace make me uncertain. I will go make final preparations." He touched his forehead in acknowledgment and began to inspect the contents of the pack she had left open on the ground.

The sanctuary was at the far end of the tribes camp. In the place, they had found an uncovered building with three walls. This layers of hide and fabric closed it to the rest of the camp, in an effort to contain the smell. It wasn't terrible these days, they where not yet at war so there where fewer here for treatment. Not that there only being the very sick and elderly made the place any more appealing to Aishla. Death was one thing, the slow slipping away that happened here was something else. She scanned the room quickly until her eyes landed on one of the women holding a water basin.

"Shytora," she raised her palm in greeting but did not lower her head "I leave to discover learn of the neighboring outsiders, I would asks for the gods blessing." Her sister knew perfectly well why she was here. But there was ceremony, and a possibility she would want to be difficult.

After the End

@The Narrator /poke

The Battle for Astrea III [Always Open]

Sorry if I held you guys up. I've unexpectedly moved again, but hopefully everything's calm now.

The Battle for Astrea III [Always Open]

Maggie's attention was distracted for a moment to the young boy's companion standing next her, shifting uncomfortably and seemingly trying to make himself invisible. Her eyes didn't linger on his personage long, but his staff.  She frowned at it, not looking up until Irisara had already left the table.



"I don't think I caught your name," she smiled at the blond girl who had first approached, before following the others to get herself a glass. Did they all use magic? The thought made her uneasy, and she took a large first swig to ease her concerns.


"Miner's brew," she said absently continuing to sip the drink, clearly accustomed to the taste "the pride and shame of Earth kingdom."
"-I'm something of a demolition expert, I suppose." She added quickly, realizing his question had been directed at her.

After the End

Finished mine! I think.

The Battle for Astrea III [Always Open]

Things are moving so fast! Sorry if I missed anyone in my post, not a lot of time to make it but wanted to keep things moving.

The Battle for Astrea III [Always Open]

Maggie didn't notice that the blonde woman was speaking to her at first. She stared at her blankly before forcing a smile. Time to test out her people skills.
"Fine," she replied, examining the woman "just isn't my usual crowd." Not that she had a crowd. As her eyes shifted again to the surrounding groups she found another woman staring, at her or her new acquaintance? Either way she was smiling, approaching even.

A genuine smile crept to Maggie's face upon hearing Irisara's greeting, and only flinched for a moment upon seeing the magic displayed on her hand.
"Maggie, and any number of drink would make all of this go down easier. This is-" she stopped in mid gesture to the blonde, realizing they hadn't actually gone through introductions. Thankfully two more showed to their table. To think she was worried about finding people merely seconds ago. The first man, Cypher looked young, especially to be in a war. Gideon didn't apparently to much of a warrior either. But looks didn't mean much, as she well knew. She smiled at the newcomers and folded her arms.
"That depends. I'm only interested in the serious work, the big ranks." She raised an eye brown as yet another man came to the table. A very social group they had growing here.

The Battle for Astrea III [Always Open]

This was not Maggie's day. Dragged out of her work to attend a meeting for soldiers? And arriving late. The glares she had received from commanders. As though there was time to go through every report that passed through the camp each day. But this was wholly unfair. Maggie had expected to fight, this was war and she was a sort of soldier. Technically. Part of her was even looking forward to it, first hand observations of her work. Any grunt could use her tools, but none of them knew what to look for as she had quickly learned.

Still, it was supposed to be orderly, teams assigned and formed by generals with lists and knowledge about candidates. This put her in a futile position.  She was not unaware of how she looked, especially surrounded by fully armored warriors. Nor was there any chance of being mistaken as a magic user. No, there where no misconceptions in Maggie's mind. Barely scraping past five feet, small frame, mangled hands, and generally disheveled looks would not win her allies. If anything she appeared to have just lost a fight. A small growl of frustration slipped out and she kicked the table leg. So much for testing; she'd be stuck scouting around the camp for bandits with this system in place. If she was going to fight it had to be the big baddies.

The other soldiers around the room where an odd collection to be sure. Only a few where in uniform, Earth Kingdom troops she recognized but couldn't differentiate ranks. Most where in their own clothing, or armor. Warriors where easiest to pick out, the way the others carried themselves gave off the same effect as full plated armor and heavy arms. No, these people wouldn't see her worth. She'd have to show them. Silently grumbling, Maggie scowled, slouching in her seat and began to knaw at a blacked thumbnail in thought.

After the End

Are you still open for new players?

<Snipped quote by LouLou>

This [hider=My Hider][/hider] is how it should look like. If you're lucky changing the capital H to a normal one will do.

@Xhala

Muchos gracias