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A Slithering Scheme (Ebonfort)

The sword-wielder was surprised at the agility with which the Charr had scaled the tree, but cats were cats. Even more surprising that he'd found apples on this tree in the winter. He was lucky they were older, rotten, so they did no damage. But when they struck him, they exploded in a foul mess of disgusting juices, and served their purpose of distraction, for some of the juices got in his eyes. An arm shot up to his to try and rub them clear, when a body collided into him from above. He felt his sword cut into something, and it wasn't him, so he could only assume he'd managed to cut his assailant.

Then there was a loud female shout from atop the ridge. Kladissa looked up to see the pale woman standing there with several heads of Screamers being held by the hair. This was enough distraction for Tricia to maul the archer, ripping him to pieces with ease. The other screamer that had been after the raptor dropped his weapons and held his arms up, the universal sign for surrender. The man beneath Chartrose shoved hard and pushed the man off him and rolled away, finally clearing his eyes. He saw the heads of his fellow Kvaren and was enraged. But he was outnumbered, outflanked, and on his ass. He set his swords down, seeing that he'd managed a decent slash into the Charr's left bicep, smirking.

He didn't speak, expecting them to kill him. Kladissa slithered over, clearly other ideas on her mind. "Someone patch up the cat, wrap it up or whatever." She looked down at the man, wondering his use, "You will come with us. Should we encounter more of your kind, you will grant us safe passage to our destination. If not, you're dead." The Screamer rolled his eyes and nodded, they weren't knights, so not necessarily inherent enemies. Besides, if they came across other Screamers, it wouldn't be difficult to get them to save him.

The pale woman tossed the severed heads aside, and tied up the spear wielder's hands, and helped him into a saddle, which she tied him to as well. She repeated the process with the sword wielder, taking their weapons and storing them on the various mounts. "Can we get going now?" She sounded annoyed and impatient, returning back to her own horse.

Kladissa nodded, checking her lizard over before deeming him healthy, "Everyone good to go?"

Eventually, the group entered the zone where no animals dared go. All of the mounts were skittish and nervous, Tricia included, and each person could feel a deep, boding bloodlust in the area. Then Kladissa led them to the entrance. She dismounted, and the others followed suit, clearly leaving their mounts outside. "You don't know what will be found in there, so keep your eyes open and your reactions sharp." She untied the screamers from their saddles, but kept their hands bound. Smiling at them, then nodding at the entrance, after handing one of them a torch she'd just lit, "Lead the way."

The entrance led to a sloped ramp, heading deep into the ground, the aaenshi following the prisoners, poking at them with the head of his axes, laughing each time. Kladissa followed him, and the pale woman wait for Chartrose to head in, so she could bring up the rear. The walls were finely crafted stone, ancient, spider webs everywhere. As the group descended, a small ledge, barely large enough for a mouse to fit on appeared on either side of the hall. As they continued further, the ledges grew wider and wider. Ahead, they could see where the ramp ended in a large open door way, growing ever closer as the group progressed.

[Ebonfort] Ringing in the New Year

There were many things that Shenzi had said that gave Verissa much to think about. Ash held a very prominent position in the tribe. That was when she realized that she didn't even know which tribe this was. Great. That wasn't just something she could ask anyone, it would probably offend them terribly. And if her new... master were so important, she didn't want to embarrass him, if only so she wouldn't be punished for it.

The fact that the woman had so many students was impressive. Verissa couldn't imagine trying to teach so many people anything. Not having a business was such a... foreign concept. Business was... well it was everything in Ebonfort. It was how they sustained their way of life, and yet, here, here was another culture surviving and thriving without it. Then the woman mentioned magic, and Verissa immediately stiffened.

The woman had said that they don't push mages into hiding, and she wanted to trust her. But that was her one secret. Her... security blanket, her ace in the hole. But, part of her wanted to bring it in the open, to be able to practice it freely, to learn more about it without the fear of death. It was definitely something she'd have to consider.

When she said that she was sure that Verissa would work with her and the other healers, Verissa felt a wave of relief. At least she'd have something familiar to help get her through the day.

Then her new master arrived, a wolf in the hen house. Verissa could see the exhaustion in his eyes, behind the scowl. He immediately began talking in his native tongue, leaving Verissa completely in the dark. She saw him reveal some food, and that was when she realized how hungry she herself was. At the festival she'd had a lot of wine, but not much in the way of actual food. She wasn't sure how many stretches had passed since then. Verissa quickly realized that Shenzi was speaking in Common again, and complimenting her. And gave the request for Verissa to come to her in the morning. She'd have to thank her if he allowed it to happen.

And before Verissa could give her name, the healer was gone. And it was just the slave and the master. When he spoke, he said something that made her a bit happier. He'd remembered food for her pups. She nodded, muttering a barely inaudible, "Thank you." She saw the paleness in his face, watching him undress. This wasn't for any intimate desire, but as a medic, to determine the extent of his injuries. He was incredibly fit and strong, that much was very evident. A nasty set of bruises were along his ribs and arm, the wound on his neck still oozing, albeit slowly. She watched him attempting to clean himself, doing a very poor job, eliciting a frown from the woman.

When he reached for the ale mug and set it atop of a barrel, she knew she needed to take charge of her patient, regardless of being his slave. She moved over to the mug, grabbed it, and moved to the table. She filled it with the herbal tea, still steaming, and set it next to the chair she'd set by the table. She took a deep breath, mustering her courage, that she'd used for helping unruly patients. As stern as she could muster, "Sit. No ale. Ale will make your wound worse. Drink the tea, it will help. I will fix you up." She attempted to couple her stern tone with a commanding look.

She then grabbed some of the meat he'd brought, and set it down for her pups to eat while she worked. Moving behind him, she grabbed a rag, and started scrubbing at the uninjured skin first. Once that was all clean, she began scrubbing at the wound, changing out the rags as needed, as the dried and sticky blood was washed away. The wound was wide but not as deep, the flesh and muscle not terribly damaged. She generously applied the salve, coating the inside of the wound, happy that it wasn't bleeding and oozing as much as it could've been. She cleaned her hands, then grabbed her needle and suture string. Pinching the skin lightly on one side of the wound, she inserted the curved needle, pushing it down into the flesh. She then pushed it across the chasm of the wound, and into the flesh of the opposite side and upward through the skin.

She then prepared for a doctor's knot. She took one length of the line, and put it parallel with the other, curving them both about, one longer than the other. She then led them together with the curve, then down beneath the loop and upward through it. She crossed them both back over the loop and down once more, coming back up through again. She then pulled it tight, making sure that it was tied to one side of the wound rather than over it. She cut the excess, and began doing it again, further up. She continued in this fashion, until she was done. She put a thin coat of salve over it, then bandaging it up, wrapping around that side of his neck, across his chest, under his opposite arm pit, and up over his back.

"You need to take it easy to not tear those open. No ale or wine for a couple days, drinking can make the bleeding worse. I'll change your bandages and check it in the morning." This was not a request, but a statement of fact from a medical professional. She then cleaned up everything, putting away her tools and ingredients, cleaning out his bowls and such, putting them away. Once everything was cleaned, then, and only then did she grab her food. She could've warmed it up, but the weariness was wearing on her, and everything was already cleaned. She ate slowly, watching him in silence, waiting for anything, be it a command or refusal of her advice. She wasn't sure what to do next, nor what she could expect. Her pups had already finished eating, and were sleeping at her feet.

All Roads Lead to Death (Ebonfort)

Trix watched wide as the man lurched forward, thrown off balance by something. His free arm flew wildly, revealing the large knife he'd had hidden. He turned, immediately on the attack, Trix only now seeing the arrow in the back of his shoulder. Having stopped suddenly, she realized she'd left her impromptu staff with the injured woman. Not that it mattered, she'd never used a weapon before in her life. Not knowing what to do, or who the latest mystery attacker was, she turned back, running to the babbling woman, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process. Quickly she bent and grabbed the staff, running awkwardly back to the crest of the hill that the man had already disappeared over.

The man on the other hand only had a smile on his face as he quickly began closing the gap on the archer that had assaulted him. She could see him yank up the sleeve on the injured arm, and tap what seemed to be a tattoo of a white five petaled flower, with three petals looking withered. There was a glowing about him, as he continued to move, arms pumping, knife held fast. When the glowing stopped, the arrow was gone, as was the wound it had inflicted. It didn't take long to catch up to the archer, as he did a wide sweeping slash at her abdomen, revealing the flower tattoo once more, this time with a fourth withered petal. His slash was followed by a straight kick aimed at the woman's left knee, strong enough to cripple should it hit.

Once Trix saw what was happening, she saw the other woman, bow in hand, under attack. She had to help, for the woman had helped her. She continued to run forward, her breath already coming faster, as she was not the most exercised, staff held awkwardly before her. When she was close enough, but out of reach, she stopped and shouted, "HEY!" trying her best to at least distract the assailant. She kept her staff coiled back, ready to swing it as hard as she could, clearly holding it like an amateur.

[Ebonfort] Ringing in the New Year

Verissa nodded, she had heard of plantain, but had never used it personally before. She made sure to mentally note it as a wound aid, and substitute for elderberries. The compliment, or rather, statement of fact about that she knew more than the woman's students. So Shenzi was both a healer and a teacher. She'd have to learn to find it and grow it then. Then she realized that one thing everyone knew about Screamers was that they are nomads. It was why they were so hard to destroy, always elusive and mobile. If they lived in one place, the knights would've wiped them out years ago.

When the woman continued again, Verissa felt her throat tighten. So it was inevitable. He was going to rape her no matter what. She would always be his slave, and eventually his slave-wife, to be raped whenever he pleased under the covenant of marriage. The thought nauseated her. But then the woman said something else. She heard the bit of him not being cruel, and the blonde believed her, after what she'd seen so far from him. A child or marriage meant... freedom? If she were... a citizen, she could do whatever she wished, right?

But both meant giving up her innocence to a man she didn't like, didn't love, to a total stranger. Though maybe, if it were her choice, to do so for her freedom, it might not be so bad, justifiable if still terrible. A one time prostitution. Then she found herself wondering if this was how people ended up as whores, 'Just one time.'

She snapped out of it as the woman continued, taking care of a man in every way but... that way wouldn't be so bad. Though, she wasn't much of a cook. But she knew enough herbs to make most things taste better. Cleaning was easy enough, fixing him up even more so. Though, she didn't know what other responsibilities came with her new 'job'. But making herself useful was easy. Verissa hated getting bored.

But talking to him. What does one talk to her slaver about? 'I think these manacles should be painted blue.' Her mother had always told her to not ask her future husband a lot of questions, for it annoyed men. Her father, on the other hand, had encouraged her to ask him anything about anything.

"I..." her mind back on the virtue keeping now, resigning herself to what was clearly inevitable, "I can do that." Verissa didn't bother to put her breast wrap back on, getting her shirt back on gingerly. She picked up her tea mixture and set it on the table, picking up the salve ingredients as well, keeping them separate. She began looking around his tent for some cooking implements. She spotted a pack near the stove, "What is a Swordmaster exactly? I know he's a warrior, but that title sounds.. important. Is it his... job? Or an honor?"

Opening the pack, she found a few varying size pots, so she grabbed the biggest first, dipping it into the basin to fill it and setting it on the lit stove. This was so she could split it off, one for the tea, one for the salve, and the rest for the bandages. While it heated up, she decided to ask another question, "How many students do you have in healing? I've never seen so many in one place as I had when we arrived. Except maybe at Scream Watch, but most of them are... crude."

Once the water was boiling, she grabbed two bowls. The first she put in the herbs for the tea, and with the second she scooped the water out of the pot carefully. She then poured it slowly over the leaves, and set it aside to steep. She then added a generous helping of honey from her jar, her last jar of it. Grabbing a small spoon, she stirred above the leaves, letting them stay settled on the bottom. She grabbed some socks from her pack, and used them to protect her hands as she lifted the pot off the stove. Grabbing a much smaller pot, she half filled it with the hot water, and set it back on stove, waiting as it quickly returned to a rolling boil, before adding in the ingredients for her salve.

"Maybe I can work there if I'm ever..." she wanted to say free, "Not a slave."

She tossed a few clean rags into the larger pot of water, then, on a whim, added a handful of lavender petals as well. She returned to the smaller pot, stirring with a wooden spoon, until much of the water was boiled off and she had a nice goopy mess, which she deposited into a clean bowl. She set the bandages, needles, and sewing string on the table, and moved a chair next to it all. Everything was ready for his return.

[Ebonfort] Ringing in the New Year

Verissa couldn't help but keep her attention on the woman, watching everything, from the way her eyes moved like a curious child's, but with the wisdom to understand what she was seeing, like an elderly man. It was pretty difficult to determine the age of an aaenshi, there were many alive from before the death of magic, and even some of those were deemed young among their kind. She watched her dig through his things, wondering if she had a special relationship with Asher, or if there simply was no privacy among these people. It was nice to be able to talk to someone, after all that she'd been through. Maybe that was why her mouth spilled like a waterfall. Maybe it was just helping her ignore the shock of what had happened to her.

The woman began boiling water, Verissa watching her, finding herself wondering if they'd made it themselves, or stolen it. Probably the latter. There was nothing heroic or impressive of taking from others, her father had taught her that. A proper person made their own way. When her bag was handed to her, Verissa grabbed it gently and set it next to her, away from her pups. Her pups were staring at the woman more curiously after her little whuff rather than threateningly or having been intimidated, as if they understood what she said, but still didn't get it. Listening still, the blonde definitely preferred to stay in her line of work versus... something else.

The name Ozlo was mentioned again, and Verissa was almost positive he was the Warlord now. She paid close attention, trying to learn as many of the customs as she could. Warriors were expected to present themselves to the Warlord after a raid, unless severely injured. Killing a Sergeant was an honor. Then Verissa heard the challenge presented to her. The woman was going to clean her back, so she slowly, wincing at the pain, lifted her shirt up and off. She knew her breast wraps would be in the way, so she undid those too, hoping Asher wouldn't return until she was dressed again.

Then her mind went to work. She tried to think back from what she saw, since she didn't spend any proper time examining him. When he'd dismounted from the horse, he'd winced in pain. She suspected leg wounds, but didn't remember seeing any blood. So probably just deep bruising. The gash on his neck was the most prominent. She'd seen it back at her shop, when the silo flared up, lighting the area. It couldn't have hit the artery, or he'd already be dead. It was definitely the most pressing. He'd had bruising around his face as well, but again, no big deal.

"The bruising on his legs and face can be ignored. They'll heal fine on their own, and I doubt he'd want any painkilling herbs. The slash on his neck though is concerning. He's lost a good deal of blood already..." Already rummaging through her pack, pulling her kit out and opening it. She pulled out several ingredients, setting them aside. "I'd make a tea from purple coneflower leaves, feverfew leaves, elderberries, and honey, to give him to drink. Will reduce pain, prevent fever, help him heal, and help keep him from passing out from blood loss." Rummaging through her kit once more, "And more honey, lavender flowers, marigold petals, dried, powdered, and boiled with the honey."

She pulled out the leaves and petals and her mortar and pestle. She filled the mortar about one-third of the way and pressed the pestle into it and began twisting, holding the mortar firmly in her opposite hand. Twisting and twisting, until she could feel the powder within. She peered in, happy with the results, and dumped the powder into a bowl from her kit. She repeated this process until she felt she had enough for the wound.

"Once the salve is boiled down, and cooled, the wound is ready to be cleaned. I personally prefer to boil salted water, though some like wine. Once the salt water is boiled, with rags dipped waiting in it, I'd scrub the wound clean, of dried and sticky blood, any debris that may have gotten in it, and then any dead flesh. I'd determine how bad the bleeding is, and see if needed to..." she paused, realizing that lately she'd been using her magic to stop bleeding so she could work, "uh, sear it. His wound isn't bad enough for that though. Once cleaned, I'd apply the wound generously to the flesh within the wound. Then I'd prepare to stitch him up, after recleaning the needle and thread in the salt water. Depending how deep it is, I'd use a simple interrupted stitch if shallower, or vertical mattress stitching if deeper. Once stitched up, and put more salve over the stitches, a light layer, and bandage over it. After the first day or two of salve and bandage changes, I'd switch him to just bandages. I'd also not let him have any beer or wine for the first day or two, don't need him bleeding more. When the wound is nearly healed, I'd remove the stitches so as to minimize the scarring."

She had delved so quickly into her explanation that she hadn't even noticed the brave comment. She looked down at the floor before her, seeing that she had everything ready to treat him whenever he came back, that she just needed to boil the tea and salve, and the skin of salt water. She hesitated for a moment, before she had just one question for the woman, "Is... is he going to rape me? I'm still... I've never been with a man."

[Ebonfort] Ringing in the New Year

Trix saw a woman holding a short spear, saying something to her gruffly, in that foreign language that she was deciding to dub as Screamish. Trix found her choice of hair to be very masculine and not at all proper for a woman. She hoped she wouldn't be forced to cut her hair like that. She loved her messy blonde locks. Standing and following the woman, her pups sticking to her side loyally, it didn't take long to reach what she assumed to be Asher's tent. Her tent. Her... new home. The pups immediately set about to sniffing at their new surroundings. She was glad they were house broken, Asher probably wouldn't like them marking in his tent. It was dark, a little smoky but not terribly so, warm, comfortable. He didn't have much in the way of adornment, but she was okay with that. Much better to have nothing than bones of those you've killed. He needed plants, that much was evident. To make it homier, make the air smell better.

She wasn't sure what the floor was made from, some sort of animal skin. On the wall was a fur from something else. She knew nothing about these things, whatever they came from. In her gazing, the other woman grabbed her restrained wrists and secured her to a chain, attached to a post she thought would be heavier than herself. Her guardian left her there, standing outside. The pups returned to their mother, confident that the space was safe. She sat down on the weird skin floor, and they came up, each laying a head in her lap. She rubbed them each in turn, her bound hands preventing her from rubbing them both simultaneously.

Speaking to them softly, lovingly, "Remus, Remilia, this is our new home. We have to stay here. And we have to protect each other. I'll always protect you both, and I know you'll do the same for me, and each other. We're family, and that's all we have in this strange place. I'm so proud of you both, you did so good today. You'll both be big and strong soon, and no dogs here will be able to challenge you."

She planted a soft kiss atop them both, leaning back against her pole, closing her eyes. Her stomach, thighs, and back were a bit stiff and sore, but she had expected it to be worse. A few slips past and an Aaenshi woman entered. The woman started with an insult, and what seemed to be a condescending remark on her situation. Trix decided to look at her, but not respond. When Trix was unhitched, she looked at the woman quizzically, momentarily thinking this was one of those spy rescues some knights told stories of. But her latest words killed any hope of that. She asked of her profession.

Trix nodded, "I ran an herbalism shop and treated ailments and wounds back hom... back in Ruby Banks. My father taught me medicine and herbalism from when I was a little girl. I grew and gathered my own plants, did all the work myself. My kit is in my bag there, though it's not nearly as stocked as my shop was." She considered leaving it at that, but something had been nagging at her. "The man who took me," she didn't want to say his name, "He's weak from pain and blood loss. I could hear his breaths growing more ragged as we came here. I asked him to stop, so that I could treat him, but he refused. He needs to be treated, soon. Infection can set in quickly. I have salves, and the skills, to treat that."

She made no mention of her own pains and injuries. They weren't severe, though she wished she could get her wounds on her back cleaned at least. They'd stopped bleeding a while ago, her shirt sticking to her back uncomfortably. She wanted to ask more of this woman, but she didn't feel... safe and comfortable with her. So she only spoke when spoken to.

[Ebonfort] Ringing in the New Year

Trix heard his words and understood them. He wouldn't take sound advice from a slave. She continued the riding motion, trying to pay attention to anything else he did with the horse, relaxing her grip on the mane. When he asked for her name, she almost answered automatically. But she wanted to hold onto that small part of her. So she didn't answer with Trix, rather, "I am called Verissa." It was the name her mother had given her, and she was the only one that called her that. It seemed fitting, for Trix was the nice, kind herbalist in Ebonfort. Verissa could be the Screamer slave. She didn't ask for his, as she'd heard it earlier, and continued the ride in complete silence.

They rode around some rocks and suddenly there was a camp before her. Her new home, she realized. It wasn't as scary as some of the knights had made them out to be. There weren't people dying on stakes and skulls of slain people as decorations. It was quaint, comfortable looking even, reminded her of when she'd visited Silent Rise. At least she had that comfort. It was very busy, more people than she'd expected to see, especially this time of night. The air seemed celebratory, with a successful raid she assumed. As the horse slowed to a walk, it was much easier to maintain her posture, as she could feel the physical weariness setting in. She leaned tiredly against the horse's neck, making sure to keep her hips slid back against Asher, as they passed a large tent filled with injured people. Her heart ached, knowing that wasn't going to be her life anymore.

Then she heard her pups growl, followed by many other growls that didn't belong to them. Immediately she tried to extricate herself from the horse, her back cramping up and her wincing in pain, hissing through her teeth. She heard Asher call to a man, and soon the pups were beneath her, look up at her from next to the horse. She smiled at each of them, so proud that they'd managed to keep up. They were her only family now, her only friends. They stuck close now that they were at a walk, sentry eyes checking every person and creature for threat. Eventually they arrived at a huge tent, well lit and active.

Suddenly Asher was not behind her, and she felt her hips slide back just a bit, finding a bit more comfort. She heard his hiss of pain as he dismounted, wondering just what the state of his injuries were. Trix eyeballed the girl, who seemed to be about the same age as her, wondering if she was a slave or native. She heard her speak, about a Warlord, which she knew from stories was their leader. And that she called him Swordmaster. She didn't know how prestigious such a title was, but the fact that he had one meant he was important too. She watched him take her bag, wondering if it was his bag now.

When he gave her the command, she reached her hands out, using them to support herself on his, and slid off to the side he was at. This threw her terribly off balance, and she found herself falling toward the Swordmaster. She felt herself collide with his chest, wincing painfully, before realizing she'd not hit the ground. He'd caught her, with ease it seemed. She found herself inches from his face, her hair a mess all over, and for a brief moment, her face looked thankful. Once she was back on solid ground, she immediately turned away from him, crouching down to her pups that were already at her side. She'd heard his words to the girl, knowing someone would be along soon to "keep an eye on her." As if she was going to run in manacles while in the middle of a village of Screamers.

She patted her pups lovingly, inspecting them for injuries, satisfied that there was nothing more than minor scratches. They licked at her face and snuggled in close, as she awkwardly put her arms over them in a manacled hug, crying into Remus' fur. At least she still had them. She was still crying as she heard Asher's footsteps leave, and eventually, another set arrive. She looked up, wiping away her tears, wondering who her babysitter would be.

[Ebonfort] Dead Men Tell No Tales (Unless You Ask Politely)

Baileia smiled slightly, "Pleasure to meet you Amrik. I've never heard of Azure Strand before, but I doubt the pickpockets here will find anything worthwhile on my person." At that, she began chuckling lightly. When he changed his voice, her eyes looked at him inquisitively. But he did say he was a jester, so she shrugged, listening intently. This man was quite the oddity it seemed, and she wouldn't be surprised if that simply scratched the surface.

"We left our port of Meskara on an exploratory mission. We'd heard from a dragon that there was an archipelago that wasn't on any of the world maps. Naturally, that piqued the interest of our benefactor. He was a great navigator, absolutely loved exploring the unknown, just as I do." She looked away sadly, her face looking as if she were crying silently, "We made our way to the rough location the dragon described, with little trouble. We met the locals there, many different types of winged peoples, mostly avien. We traded, partook of their customs, and learned much of their ways, before we departed. That was when the storm struck. It was one of the roughest squalls any of us had ever seen, and we were sure so many times that the Swift Lady would break in half.

In the distance we saw clear skies, no clouds at all, an oddity in the ocean. We thought maybe it was the center of the storm and would offer some sanctuary. We sailed through it and the seas were calm. We knew immediately that we'd sailed through a massive Summoning Portal to a world we didn't recognize. The stars were different, the air was hotter, there were too many moons. But of course, our captain pressed us onward, for our benefactor would want maps of this unknown world."

She turned now to face the jester again, "We traveled many years, meeting many differing peoples and creatures. The lands were all the same though. Barren, dry, wastelands. We lost some crew members and even gained some others. When we had charted all the coast lines we could find, we returned to the portal to our world, for everyone knew portals of that size would last centuries. But it was not there, and our Aurist was able to tell that it had closed, recently.

We were about to head back to one of our favorite ports, when we were attacked. We don't know what they were exactly, similar to dragons, but they didn't have physical bodies. Like we are now. But magic couldn't hurt them. They... drank our magic, every last bit, including the magic that grants life. So we all died, and a side effect of their magical draining was becoming ghosts. When we found we could still man the ship, we continued to do so, to hunt these creatures down.

So many years passed, until we found our old portal once more, and took the plunge, unsure of how long had passed. And now we find ourselves here. Or so we thought. But the stars are all wrong. The theory is that this isn't our world at all, but a completely different one. We don't know how long we've been at sea. What year is it now?"

Ebonfort

Calendar of Events for Jadeyan 301 DM has been posted! Feel free to begin signing up for various events, asking for information, whatever :D

If you wish to have anything added, please let me know!

Ebonfort

Calendar of Events for Jadeyan 301 DM

The new year has come to Tessanis, bringing with it many new tidings, new opportunities. Make sure to update your Ledgers with latest Pay Day. This post will also include signups for anything, and if new things are added, we shall update the OOC. Feel free to request things as well.

OH! And if your character has a birthday in Jadeyan, update their age now :D

Ebonfort Capital

The Capital is covered in snow for the entire season. Squires and pages are used to keep the main roads and rooftops clear of snow, and are an ever present sight. The rivers that wrap around the walls are frozen over, and are thick enough for crowds to walk upon safely. Many of the food vendors and the like are offering many hot beverages and foods now, for a price of course.

1st
11th - A Doctor named Geralt can be found reaching out to duelists, bounty hunters, and mercenaries for a job.
25th - Knights' Tournament is held in the mountains around Stone Crest.
44th - The Festival of the Found Ones begins with a parade from the Citadel, honoring orphans and their adoptive parents.
59th

Azure Strand

Azure Strand is frigid all season long, but never sees snow. The cold has led to an increase of more reckless, noticeable crimes, particularly when it comes to stealing food and clothing. For the first half of the season, the harbor is completely frozen, locking all the ships in place. They thaw out in the second half, however, and that leads to a new wave of work for people repairing them.

1st
6th - A Lieutenant Knight kills a young girl caught stealing a coat from a shop.
9th - Various commissions are sent out to make the lives of all the Knights in Azure Strand uncomfortable.
15th - The Lieutenant Knight is executed by a masked individual, from atop a building in full view of the public during the Sailor's Song Fair.
21st - The Knights start rounding up people without cause, and torturing them, seeking answers about the murder.
35th - The leaders of the many criminal groups decide to fight back fully, commissioning assassinations of ranked knights, and offering bounties for any sashes and pins from them.
59th

Green Fall

Green Fall is covered in snow for the entire season. The village is staying productive. Because of the abundance of timber, bonfires and public cooking pits are common sights everyday.
1st
13th - Many citizens and knights begin complaining that random things of theirs are going missing with no explanation.
28th - Small pets and critters have begun going missing as well.
33rd - A Sylph fortune teller arrives and sets up a booth for one day only.
41st - All of the missing objects and animals return.
59th

Ruby Banks

Ruby Banks is cold and crisp, all of the crops are dead. It's a fairly relaxed season, most people working on their hobbies and sidecrafts. The Ruby River is frozen over for the entire season.
1st - Ruby Banks was raided during the Winter Moon Festival. Much of the western portion of the village was set ablaze, people killed and captured.
3rd - Citizens of Ruby Banks are holding a vigil in the center of town for those dead and missing.
5th - Citizens work together to begin rebuilding the damage done.
17th - The Annual Ice Ball is held atop the frozen Ruby River.
29th - A Squadron led by their new Sergeant Edoward leaves Ruby Banks for Scream Watch.
41st - A large group of flighted races and creatures put on an aerial play over the river.
53rd - The farmers get the city together for a feast consisting only of the preserved foods they've grown and made in the past year.
59th

Scream Watch

Scream Watch is very cold, the winds frigid and unforgiving.
1st
5th - Following the recent raid on Ruby Banks, Scream Watch has been focusing its scouts and spies on learning which tribe was responsible.
13th - Scream Watch has commissioned masons and wood workers from Green Fall and Stone Crest to aid in building large outposts and watchtowers along the patrolled borders of the region.
28th - The local brothels and prostitutes celebrate their patron day that they dub Big Love Day. They do this by selecting people they deem they are very fond of, and offering them an exorbitant amount of money for sex.
40th - Several Squadrons join with the Sergeant Edoward, and go out into Screamer Territory, a vindictive rampage for the New Year's Raid.
59th

Silent Rise & Silvermist

Silent Rise and Silvermist are completely covered in snow, and the main village seems much more quiet than normal. Hunters are kept especially busy, as winter is the ideal time to hunt for Dire animals.
1st
14th - A large mass of cats, hobbicats, catkin, felinoids, and other small feline races migrate into the village for the winter. Lii
25th - A Retiring Silent Hunter puts up his bow as a prize as a reward for most dangerous solo hunt, trophy must be brought back. Ahmal, (Lii on Standby)
33rd - A large group of youth discover a cave that leads into the underdark. Lii
45th - A group of treants come from the northeast, speaking of needing help in their forest from an unknown threat. Ahmal, (Lii on Standby)
54th - An unexplained explosion occurs in one of the larger trees, starting a large fire, putting Silvermist at risk. Ahmal, Lii
59th

Stone Crest

1st
6th - The Drow living in the Underdark are reporting strange deaths to their livestock.
13th - The strange deaths are attributed to a discovery of dead creatures being brought back to "life"
19th - The Knights declare the undead threat to be vanquished, celebrate with raucous parties in the local taverns.
28th - The monsters return, stronger than before, killing several civilians, before being driven back.
35th - A loud boom is heard through the land, triggering many avalanches through out the mountains. Search and rescue parties are sent out to check out the various mountain villages.
43rd - A group of Deep Dwarves from the Underdark wipe out a drow settlement.
51st - A massive frost troll bard visits the city with many songs and stories.
59th

Pyresia & Ilumírë

Weather: Temperatures are the coolest they will be all year with days around 78F/25C and nights dipping as low as 65F/18C. Skies are mostly overcast and brief cool showers blow in from the sea every few days. There is a high chance for fog in the mornings in the vicinity of the volcano due to open lava floes reacting to the precipitation.

1st: This is an election year for the Wyrmoot. As new year celebrations wind down there is a disturbance in the Gem Deeps. The corpse of a prominent Ixen (fire dragon) is found stuffed in a sapphire mine-shaft, cause of death...uncertain. A joint investigation between the Dwarven Mining Guild and the Wing Host is begun to discover the killer.

13th: A trading carrack called the Wavecutter sets sail from the harbour under the command of a new captain. Her mission is to trade precious gems down the coast for goods and metal.

16th: A dwarven mining party doesn't report in for two days. Tunnel Runners discover the bloody aftermath of a slaughter. The carts of raw gems remain, but the bodies are gone, a trail of blood leading down into the Underdark. While there is no proof of drow involvement, tension rises between dwarf and drow Pyresians.

20th: An unofficial Shade Market is held by drow and dwarves in the middle of the night in a cavern in the subterranean portion of the city. The goods and services are dubious and illicit even by Pyresian standards, and a noted poison-maker is held for questioning.

25th: Wing Host scouts spot unfamiliar sails in the seas to the south but must turn back to the coast before they can investigate further.

31st: The annual Svantapzik or 'Sky Match' is held above a meteor crater slightly to the east of the city. This tournament is a test of the Wing Hosts skills in combat. The fighting starts at dawn. The morning is a bracketed tourny with flighted combatants in the skies and flightless fighters on the ground. The afternoon hosts a Last Man Standing dog fight in which any true dragon can enter. Much of the city turns out to watch the show.

40th: Two lightning dragons, a mated pair, are found dead in their balcony home, their corpes blackened by fire, their single infant wyrmling missing. The Shochra clan (lightning dragons) retaliate against the Ixens in a series of skirmishes that leave several homes and businesses trampled. Tensions between the four dragon clans mounts as dwarven citizens attempt to remain neutral, many petitioning the Wyrmoot for reparations.

45th: A small tribe of barbarians is discovered on the northeastern borders, many of them carrying armour and equipment crafted from dragonhide and bones. Enraged, the two-dragon patrol kills and eats all but a few of these "Kvaren", bringing the rest back as captives to be imprisoned and questioned.

49th: Ilumírë is victim to a plague of small creatures who primarily seem bent on destroying the faerie city's beautiful architecture. But as more of them move into the area they begin attacking resident faerie dragons and fairies.

57th: A small group of dragons of the Xarzi (frost) Clan absconds from the Ash Peak, stealing a great deal of gold from the city's treasure hoard. It is rumoured that they are headed to a region to the northeast perpetually shrouded in winter.

Valley of the Screamers/Kerawac

Kerawac sees no snow, only frigid cold and fierce biting winds. This season hosts one of the biannual Gatherings, held in the center of the region. It is a massive festival, that all Warlords, Shadewalkers, and Swordmasters are required to attend. Most tribes come in full, however, to trade and barter, to settle disputes as a public spectacle, to catch up with old friends and rivals, and revel in their victories and tease those in defeat.

1st
15th - The Gathering begins with a massive collection of bonfires, upon the center of which all Sashes collected since the last Gathering are thrown. Asher, Trix
18th - The Howling Storm tribe and The Winged Frogs tribe go to war. It is an impressive battle, that comes down to the two best swordsmasters from each tribe. The victory went to a female katzheer of the Winged Frogs, who was celebrated before being deemed Tribeless. Trix
21st - All of the Warlords meet in a massive tent to discuss future raids for the next half year. Major topics include new regions to raid, Pyresia and New Vircastoria in particular. Asher, Zenovia
23rd - All of the swordmasters host a training festival for the youth, regardless of tribe, separated by preferred weapon. Asher, Trix, Zenovia
30th - The Gathering comes to a close. Asher, Trix
33rd - A massive hoard of unknown creatures attack many tribes over the entire region, leaving many casualties. Asher, Trix, Zenovia
43rd - The camps closest to Scream Watch are completely destroyed by the Squadrons under Edoward's command.
55th - An unusual structure has appeared in the center of the region, right where the Warlords met during the Gathering. Asher, Zenovia
59th