RP:A Berserkers Adoption

Part of the Vakmatharas' Jar Arc

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Location: Artia's Ranch

Synopsis: Artia and Ava have their daily activities interrupted by the Berserker. Where they discuss the Curse upon Ava, the Jar and Brennia. Eirik promises to seek Brennia out, and to bring the information to Josleen. Ava, is also formally adopted into the Rognvald tribe. They are now, the only two in existence!

A Berserkers Adoption

Artia would be found sitting in the backyard, braiding Ava's long curls of black hair. The child of fourteen humming gently to herself as Artia finished up. Tapping her shoulder, "All done Ava." With that Ava smiled and moved to the flower bed where she began to pick flowers, "I am going to go inside, grab us some drinks. And an apple for you to snack on, stay here. Don't wonder off, if someone comes along come inside and tell me." Artia being overly protective over her child, but with the curse affecting her daughter she couldn't be too safe.

Eirik is a disheveled mess of his former self. Features taught in a mirage of anger, hatred or disgust; no one ever knew with him. Silver eyes which were once filled with a flickering fire behind them, sit lifeless and cold within his square jawed head. To be honest it had been sometime since he wandered this way. Booted feet fall carefully as if they were tracing steps from some time ago - chasing some memory of a forgotten time. Though this story is not lost on him. When was the last time he had confronted Artia? Had she fared well in her new life? Did he even care to know? All these thoughts however, wash away, and the dam that held the emotions at bay, crumbled. He is on edge to say the least - hand reflexively snagging the hilt of his blade. Who was Artia with? No doubt she could smell or sense the Lycan from across the yard. Never mind the new set of eyes glaring at her. The Northman can't bring himself to say anything. Not yet at least.

Artia came back outside, calling Ava over as she smelt a lycan nearby. Ava took the drink and apple from her mother stand a height of five foot three, placing a kiss to Artia's cheek. "Thank you, mama." She said a loud, moving to sit in the lawn chair behind Artia. Once Artia found the location of the lycan, staring back into the glaring eyes at her. "Ava, why don't you go inside and grab my drink I forgot it on the counter." She indeed did as she sense a new beating heart near, and wanted to quickly get to her daughter who was very much a human. Unlike her mother who was a vampire, "Hello." She said to the lycan, and as soon as Ava heard her mother speak out, she turned back around and came back out of the ranch. Staring out to the back yard.

Eirik flicked those frigid silver eyes from Artia back down to Ava. Heavy breaths give way to confusion. Ava was naught but a small child the last time he was here. How can this be? "Ava." Eiriks voice is harsh and gravelly, like rocks being crushed beneath a weighted boot. "You said her name is Ava?" He panicked briefly. It hadn't been years since the last time he had visited. "That's not possible." Frigid gaze twists back to her mother. "Unless of course there's more trickery behind such a twist of events." Oh, Artia would know that Eirik might be accusing her of more, 'witchery'. Even if she wasn't a witch. How else could you explain such things? Jaw clenches hard as he watches further, waiting for the edge of his inner turmoil to end.

Ava nods, and offers a smile, "Yes, I am Ava Marie Kerrigan, this is my mother Artia." Artia turn to grab Ava hand keeping her from stepping towards Eirik, "Ava, this is Eirik." Of course as soon as she said his name, Ava broke from Artia's grasp and jumped into Eirik's chest wrapped her arms around him. "Uncle Eirik!" Artia lifted her hands, "I didn't do this, I never would rush her growth as bad things would happen, and are. A jar was opened and a curse spread through the lands. Every land is affected. Larket children are aging, and dying. Or pregnancy are sped up and babies born early. Each city has something going on." Tears swell in Artia's eyes as what she said about the Larket children meaning Ava is affected which means if a cure isn't found in time Ava would die with the rest. "I cant find Odhranos to have him help me find the cure, but Brennia is helping she opened the jar not knowing what it was. Just that it was some old antique." Ava pulled away from Eirik, smiling widely. "Its true, but I am going to be fine, I keep telling mama that. Adjusting to this age is hard, but mama says I am getting it very well." Artia just shakes her head, moving to place a hand on Ava's back. "So, yes it is possible."

Eirik is a mix of emotions. Furious, confused. Ava had the same hands on manners as her mother. Gods help him. He hated the contact. The touch. The Northman however, is surprised to see she hadn't been turned by Artia. As for the hug he had received, it only has him withdrawing his hand from the blades hilt. No more. He looked as though judging Artia's words; weighing her story. "I'm surprised she didn't turn you." Truly he was. Silver eyes move back to Artia. "She knows who I am? Have you also told her where we currently stand Artia?" As for the curse that is ravaging the lands, perhaps there was work to be done. Eirik, after all, is a sucker for children. He had saved one which he would never forget back in Chartsend.

Artia Ava narrows her eyes at Eirik, "My mother loves me and would never feed from me or turn me unless I ask. Which she said even if I begged she would never turn me. She is doing everything she can to save me.." Artia snapped, "Ava! Mind your manners." She looked back to Eirik, "Yes she knows, but she still cares about you, thinks family is family no matter what. Even if aren't related by blood." Ava nods, speaking up, "She has even turned suitors away, and told them to behave or leave. Can you help us, Uncle Eirik?" Artia then spoke, "Ava Marie, stop asking everyone you meet. You might ask the wrong person one day that is behind this. Eirik is different to ask, but he has other things to do." Pausing she looked to Eirik, "What brought you here, eirik? Not that I am complaining it is nice to see you, especially when your hand isn't on the hilt of a blade."

Eirik tilts his head to one side. "Not much I can do to help unless it involves killing. As the world has noticed, I'm darn good at it." Even her previous comment proved his own thoughts. "And Ava, you and I will always be family, no matter what stance your ma and I take on the other. But here's the truth of things, had your mother not been strong enough the first few nights as a youngling, she very well might have ripped up your guts and drank from your entrails. I've seen it done. " There is a comment in there. Something smeared in his distaste for vampirism. Artia, by Eiriks own words, is strong. "I’m glad to see you're alive and well." For the first time in this meeting, Eiriks grim visage is broken by a gentle smile. A barbarian smiling… Could mean something grim. Though honestly, he was glad to see Ava alive and strong, despite her current curse. "What do you need help with?" he asks, ignoring her question about why he was here.

Artia picked up on a hint of compliment given that she was strong enough not to rip Ava apart. Truth was she was losing her sanity and guarded like a rare creature was in a sanctuary. Ava smiled, "Your always my hero, mom wants to make sure no one tried to corrupt me. If someone tried anything, you get to enjoy killing."

Eirik lofts a brow at Ava and her response. Eirik enjoyed killing often. It is one skill that his heartless ego often found itself lost in; especially when it came to witches. The last big killing had been Hanna, in Larket. Though, if he admitted to himself, there is a certain coven in Venturil which will soon feel his wrath. "I don't think I should be anyone's hero Ava." That's the truth of it! He's just a strong-willed man who blunders or bashes his way through opposing forces. Head on. Those thoughts quickly fade. "So, this Brennia," her name falls of his tongue ungracefully - laced in that foreign accent. "Opened a jar? This Jar spread a curse?" Eirik is mostly repeating these words because he can't really believe that some Jar is responsible for the aging of children in Larket. Did they know what this jar was? He idly reaches up to scratch at his stubble ridden features. "And this curse is what is responsible for aging children, and causing rapid maturation of children still in the womb?" Was she really so sure of that?

Artia nods, nudging Ava as Ava bent in to lay arms about his waist. Her head resting against his chest, whispering, "I can hear your heart." She chuckles, Artia moving to sit to watch the two. Her family, the only family she was given in her life. All rest had left her behind, these two were her everything and world. "Yes the prince was born early too, Ava aged from 11 to 14 to 16 in a months time. Brennia is Ava god mother, just incase you and I parish." Ava moved away from him to sit with her mother, "You are mine."

Eirik couldn't be sure if he had ever even met Brennia! If he had, it must have been some time ago and briefly. Though Ava, continues to press his personal bubble space, the Lycan caves, and gives only a small sampling of a hug. One arm, nothing more. Such things are not in Eiriks nature. Though the smile smeared upon his visage would say enough to Ava. The berserker prefers his space, as always. Though at times she gets a free pass. These two had much to discuss. At length about Eiriks heritage, and the line of people she had been adopted into as his niece. There is a certain standard she must learn, so long as Artia allows it. As for Eiriks heart, it is a deep and strong beat - a combination of his Lycan heritage and his ever calm interior world. Even as the raging Berserker, that heart always beat as if they were the very slow Rhythm of death; war drums blaring from deep within his chest. Despite the odd-ball interactions between Eirik and Artia, having Ava around seemed to pull the edge off his dislike. Dislike of what she had chosen to become. "So, if I'm to help, I must seek out Brennia?" Eirik would speak at length about his culture and customs later. For now, it's business.

Artia and Brennia had done an event together before, and thus has met her before but only just an, 'hey this is my friend brennia.' He d idnt seem interested or to care much at the time as he was busy at the time deciding in Artia and news she had grown up to be a witch, a powerful one. But now she declined such title and worked as a necrobotanist, can still do spells if wanted but she avoided it. Ava had enjoyed finally breaking her uncle down and got a hug, in doing such she gave him a kiss to his cheek. "Love you, the best uncle in the world!" Artia would allow such, she trusted eirik judgement and care of Ava. Very few she trusted such way. at the moment she d idnt trust Odhranos, worried he would rub off on Ava and she would run off to traveling too. But once kids grow you can't do much to stop them, but only support what they want to do as long as it wouldn't kill them. "We have, she is doing some research on helping Ava since she opened such jar.

Eirik nods, "I see." The Lycan knew someone who was searching for answers about the curse. Josleen. She needed to hear about this before he did anything else. Though Eirik intends to leave here shortly, he pulls forth a runic ring, plucked from his own finger. The item, is eye-balled for a moment, and then handed to Ava. "It might be a little big for you," Eiriks fingers like sausages compared to her teenage fingers, "But I'm sure your mother knows someone who can adjust the sizing to fit you." Another half-smile is given to Ava. "That ring, carries the pride of our Rognvald tribe. It is the symbol for all our Fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers - stretching back to the beginning of times. Pray to them and they might answer. With it, I, Eirik Jegersmund Vergessen, Chieftain of the Rognvald Tribe, and Wolf of the North, do herby formally adopt you into my tribe. Take pride in such a thing Ava, for you and I, are the last of our kind." A single digit reaches to point at the stone around his neck that carries the same symbol; showing her that he had another. Of course, in Lithrydel, such things are only superstitions, but they are traditions which Eirik wishes to continue. "There are many things which you must learn, but I will teach you, in time." The Lycan smiles to her one last time, and turns to Artia. "I must be off to deliver the information I have gathered here today. I will seek out Brennia once that is complete. Ancestors guard you." Twisting on foot, the berserker takes his leave of Ava and Artia. Who knew when he would be back?