[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/q020OKO.png[/img][hr][b][color=0054a6]Event:[/color][/b] Best Served Cold [b]|[/b] [b][color=0054a6]Location:[/color][/b] Meldheim.[/center][hr]
[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/CDMIbVFCz7A[/youtube]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/p5vAZQq.png[/img][/center]
Asier was at least provided a blanket upon the final leg of the journey south as even the sea had lumbering mountains of ice as the approach the homeland of the Eskandr. What surprised him was more the familiarity of such a place, where the city hasn’t been overtaken by stone but wood, closer to the traditional tourrare yurt’s, outside the more established fortifications upon the steppes.

Despite the constant torment, the Eskandr have actively tried to keep him alive on the way there, being one of the lucky ones when it came to consistently being fed and well treated, and in the cooler climate, they kept him by the mast, a little too close to the small fire, but this kept him warm as he listened to the stories and conversation of the others, picking up the odd word and phrase from their interactions.

As the longboat approached the port, there were crowds starting to appear as news of their arrival brought excitement and those eager for the latest from the war. Crowds brought opportunities he aimed to take advantage of. As the men on the boat go to greet their loved ones, and bring out what treasure remained after the Eeiako had their fill, the dockhands came on board to start herding off the prisoners and supplies.

Asier ends up being released and dragged over to the others. The various prisoners fared differently, out of those severely neglected in the hold, what came out were scrawny creatures barely resembling humans. The ones who were captured and deemed prizes were far better treated, generally those strong and could be used as labourers. The man in front of Asier must have an ancestor who was an Ox, still looking strong even after this journey. Though whilst his body was strong, his spirit was broken, very servile, good for a slave, what the Tourrare call an hombre muerto, a dead man walking.

There were shouts towards the dockhands by one of the crew, [color=DFFF00]“Ikke ham! Hrothgar beordrer at han skal være forberedt på blót”[/color]. Asier realised they were talking about him, a mistake had been made, this was the opportunity. One of the dockhands came over to where he was standing, trying to decide if it was him or the Ox that was to be the blood sacrifice. Asier looked towards the back of the Parrench man's head, repeating a term and gesture often given towards him, as he spat against the back of it, [color=0054a6]“níð”[/color]. The dockhand stared for a moment, processing what was said, then moved to unfasten and drag the Ox away. With the bindings lightened, Asier seized the moment, using the sharp shell he was given, cut loose his hand bindings, unfastened himself, then moved off quickly into the Eskandr crowds.

Asier didn’t have long as the mistake would soon be spotted as he made his way over to another crowd of people, hoping to use the opportunity to hide out amongst them. As he approached and mingled in, there was an Eskandr man giving out instructions. The man paused for a moment as he saw Asier come near, then held out a baton-like instrument, barking towards him. [color=4F2683]“slaver er til høyre”[/color], the crowd started to disperse around him, revealing his position, though a few unfriendly shoves directed him towards another sorry lot looking just like him, the thralls. Asier was soon in bondage again as he was directed towards the  glacier.

Work was slow going, but having the opportunity to use pick on the axe did get the blood flowing again, rather too well when it came to the otherside of that batton, but it his placement amongst the thralls allowed him to escape the notice of the port authorities which were on the lookout for him. As it grew dark and the fires for the night began to light, Asier started preparing for the next step of his second escape. He had begun to dig out a makeshift tunnel with his ice, enough to provide some cover as he drew the overseer’s attention towards a discovery he made. A simple distraction as he used the gift to lodge the tool into the back of the man’s skull. He quickly started to exchange clothes for the far warmer furs, taking his place as the overseer, as he went to free the other thralls upon the ice. They will most likely not get far, but they will serve as enough of a distraction for his escape as he makes his way back across to Meldheim.

Asier was behind the curve on his own plans, and trying to get to locations based on verbal instructions alone was a difficult task. He stumbled through the streets as he attempted to survey the area. He was able to make out the major landmarks as they stuck out like a sore thumb in a place like this. With the fur wrapped around him and his hood up, the scraggly unkempt beard blends him in with the rest of the folk, with enough words to grunt his way through any one who tried to stop him.  He makes his way to various points around the coastline as he begins to disable the sea locks. 
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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/60P31tD.png[/img][/center]
[color=DFFF00]“Der er du en hestejävel”[/color]

It should be a rather seamless task with celebrations of Eskandr’s victory over the Perrence, but there were far more vigilant eyes on watch than he gave credit for, as the one who has made his life out at sea a hell. Ragnarr walks up as he drags his axe drawn as it scratches along the ground behind him.

[color=0054a6]“Ragnarr Rakfiskson”[/color], Asier said with a groan, [color=0054a6]“One would have thought we were rid of your wretched odour”[/color]. He continues to pull upon the chain as he finishes lowering the sea lock.

[color=DFFF00]“Hestejävel, you thought you could ride away with the waves?”[/color] Ragnarr clenches his axe, the gift channelling through his very being, [color=DFFF00]“You’re no longer in Parrence, little man. And Hrothgar was foolish to capture you with both your legs intact.”[/color] he telegraphs his next action well as he sprints forward and attempts to descend his axe onto the Tourrare’s right leg.

Asier was lowering his guard as a feint whilst he allowed the Eskandr to approach. He starts to pull the slave-batton out of his furs whilst he has his back to the man. [color=0054a6]“By any chance do you have a longboat to lend? Promise not to burn it like the last thousand or so”[/color]. As the telegraphed attack can, with a touch of thunder magic, he hits it away with the slave-batton, knocking it to the side, then moves to thrust it against the mans shoulder to push him back.

Ragnarr’s attack was deflected and Asier successfully repulsed him a few metres away, [color=DFFF00]“You’re Rakfisk, horse man.”[/color] enraged, the axe he wields ignited thanks to the gift! A flashy display of swings follows as he attempts to downright cut down Asier, forgetting his initial goal to simply incapacitate.

Asier finds himself a hot headed opponent who seems to be in a frenzy already, and isn’t going to take this lightly, especially as he is only armed with a stick. He starts to duck and weave as he uses the environment to his advantage, moving towards boxes, kicking up dead fish, and even throwing a crab pot with one of the creatures still inside of it towards the man. [color=0054a6]“Is it true that they consider you as one the Æresvaktr? Heard they will bestow you the honorific of Utrolige Stinken“[/color], couldn’t resist giving another low punch to this man’s hygiene habits.

The crab is instantly prepared and cooked for the occasion the moment it meets the axe. The Eskandr doesn’t escalate in his anger much further, as he charges forward in an attempt to seize Asier by the neck with his free hand, [color=DFFF00]“I’ll shut you up for good, little horse man.”[/color] His breath stinks of garlic, bringing some truth to Asier’s taunting, but now he is serious and readied his axe for a decisive blow!

Asier was running out of places to run, moving onto the small kayak that was tied up along the side. With nowhere to go, Ragnar takes a firm grasp of the Tourrare horseman, holding in close. Asier really did struggle to breath as the man appeared to have eaten the looted cloves of garlic and onions like apples. He is held by that hand as the axe is ready, moving backwards. As the blow was about to strike, the weight of the kayak grew too much as it sent them both over the side and into the water. Asier fully intending this came prepared, grabbing upon the side of the boat whilst Ragnarr falls into the water ill-prepared, the load hissing as the axe evaporates water into steam upon contact. The Tourrare man pulls himself upon the underside of the Kayak as it floats upon the water, using it to drag himself up along the pier.

Now Asier has done it, Ragnarr was furious. Wailing an echoing warcry, he downright shatters the kayak before him with a single swing of his now extinguished axe. Drawing even more with the Gift, he then flung his axe, causing it to swirl in the air, and manipulated it remotely via concentrated force magic. Rows upon rows were being destroyed with Asier having very little place to run while Ragnarr appears to have no issue dwelling in the water.

Asier curses as he tries to pick himself up, stumbling as she was making haste along the pier as he was being chased by a madman with an axe. Wood and splinters fired around him as the planks cracked and broke like twigs. Asier, having drawn during the thunderstorm on their travels here, was already brimming with thunder energy, one he had been reserving for a specific purpose. [color=0054a6]“Better now than never”[/color], the air starts to become stilted but alive with energy as he starts to cast his spell. Asier managed to secure his footing as he managed to get ahead, buying enough time to turn around, the axe coming far too close for comfort as he finally delivered a charge of lightning into the water where Ragnarr appeared to be. Expelling a sheer amount of that energy to put an end to the Eskandr for good.

As the residue energy dissipates, the area appears silent and lifeless. The axe nestled into the wood between Asier’s feet as there is a bob in the water. The body of Ragnarr floats to the service, charred severely by the lightning attack.

Asier after using a moment to recover stands up and pulls the axe free from the wood. Claiming it as his own for now. [color=0054a6]“Time to find some fresh clothes. This is going to be a long night”[/color].

[hr][hider=TL;DR Summary]
Asier escapes the boat, as the dockhand mistakes another as him.
In his escape from the boat, ends up in the hands of a glacier mining crew and their thralls.
Murdered the overseer, takes his clothing.
Frees the other thralls as a distraction, using the opportunity to escape into the city.
Uses the information he was told to figure out general directions of key landmarks.
Proceeds to the water to start lowering the sea defenses. This is to help enable a quick get away, or allow access to a Parrench fleet.
Gets caught by Ragnarr 'Rakfiskson', resulting in a duel.
Asier uses the energy he stored up for a final attack, sending out a signal that things may not be quite right in the city.[/hider][hr][hr]