RP:Signs of the Yeti Tribe
Part of the Yeti Tribe Arc
Part of the Snow Maiden Arc
OOC Note
This is part of an on-going group of RPs aimed to develop other regions around Frostmaw, and as such is going to be categorized as one of the "Planned Arcs".
Characters
- Satoshi is here with a Griffin named Frostwing.
- Feline, mage.
- Taeme is here with a dire hawk named Erythros.
- Human, druid.
Episode 1: First Search for the Yeti Tribe
Satoshi sits cross-legged upon a plush, chocolate-brown mammoth's pelt, hands limp in her lap and eyes lightly closed. Her breath comes so sparsely and so softly that her chest doesn't seem to rise and fall beneath her coat, only the faintest wisps of mist coming from lips barely moving in an inaudible song. A song that entices the snow around her to glisten with renewed luster. Not even her ever-flicking tail moves, lying coiled around her legs like a dozing dragon. Any knowledge of mages and one can easily guess this little one is in the midst of meditation. But, she's not defenseless in this state, for beside her regally lounges a magnificent beast of a guardian. Where a typical gryphon is a mixture of eagle and lion, this hybrid is that of a snowy owl and snow leopard. Fur and feathers a shimmering white, bespeckled with rosettes of silver, gray, and black, a perfect camouflage in the snow-covered rocks of Frostmaw. Fierce golden eyes of an owl glare imperiously at their surroundings, daring any hostile being to get within the mage's vicnity to be tested against claws and talons. With the wild Frostwing on duty, Satoshi is more than safe.
Taeme :: Slender, pale fingers grope carefully along the rock face seeking a ledge or hold to snag allowing the human to further her climb up the mountain. Stretching, fingertips wiggle into a suitable crevice drawing a sigh of relief that issues from parted lips a cloud of mist while she hoists her light-weight higher up the vertical wall. From behind a hawk swoops and dives allowing its gaze to arrow upon the struggling girl and her surroundings transferring gathered data visually to blind eyes behind spelled glasses. "Almost there, just a little further and I can rest." It was a chant she'd been muttering quietly for the past fifteen minutes, however, to her great delight and surprise her words were now truth. As her free hand rises searching for another branch or ledge fingers slide over the edge signaling she'd reached the peak of her climb and would so be able to release the strain in her wearied arms.
Satoshi's ears give the slightest twitch, catching the sound of pebbles shifting under the weight of a body at the ledge and sending a faint notice to her distant consciousness. Slowly the mage begins to stir, bringing herself back to the present. But not before the gryphon is also alerted to the noise and clambers to her talons with a wary clack of her black beak. Feathers rustling together as she moves, Frostwing begins pacing the gap between Satoshi and climbing stranger. As a hand appears, the animal guardian voices a challenge in the form of a snarled screech, wings flaring to increase the appearance of her already impressive size.
Satoshi said, "Easy, Frostwing." The mage hasn't opened her eyes yet, but she's almost fully back to herself and is at least aware enough to call, "Who goes there? Be warned, a rather edgy gryphon es up here with moi."
Taeme pauses in her climb recognizing the all to familiar voice of the Ice Mage that sounds from above. "Ashen's Ghost? I, the Wandering Sparrow go here." Lips quirk into a light grin as she awaits the command that will subdue the creatue now caught inthe hawk's keen gaze as it swoops in tight circles above.
Satoshi halts mid-stretch at catching the equally familiar voice and can't help a smile at the thought of a blind girl climbing cliffs. With a laugh, the feline finishes her stretch and gets to her feet, moving to the gryphon's side to place a steadying hand on her feathery head. Clearly, it's a silent command, as Frostwing promptly shakes herself, yawns, and flops down to resume her rest. "Sparrow~," the mage calls, going to the ledge and offering an icy hand in assistance, "what in hellfire's name are you doing up here? This es a dangerous place to be~." Even if Satoshi finds it downright cozy.
Taeme , with the aid of the hawk's sharp gaze, easily grasps the offered hand hoisting herself upwards and over the edge, rolling to a comfortable sitting position facing Satoshi. "I," She says emphatically lifting nimble fingers to tame strands of raven hair streaked with white as a darkened night by lightening. Sightless hazel eyes glitter mischievously fixed as they are upon her friend though the cat may note a slight haunting now present. It has been but a day since Taeme has escaped from the clutches of Labyrinth and the experience is neither one she will easily forget nor one that she has emerged from unscathed. "I am questing for adventure."
Satoshi picks up... something, about the girl. Something new about her, but something equally familiar to the feline. It's the inexplicable scent of chaos and the almost physical remnants it can leave on people. And this scent is of a chaos she's known, even if the forgetful nature of a cat's mind keeps the memories hazy and distant. Shaking her head and banishing the faint tendrils of recollection, the mage straightens suddenly and folds her arms behind her head in a casual manner. "Adventure, hm~? This is certainly the place for it." Pausing, she glances sidelong at the girl and puts on an impish smirk. "In fact, I'm in the midst of one myself. Ever heard of the creatures called... yeti?"
Taeme 's spine straightens as if an invisible string connected to her crown yanks upwards snapping her to attention. "A Yeti? I have heard of yeti only in stories. Books tucked away in old libraries lost and forgotten. Are there Yeti here?" A quavering note of surprise and hope shivers through her lyrical tones. Satoshi's impish smile mirrors itself upon the girl's lips as she draws the folds of her light robes tightly against her body to ward off the air's subtle chill. One hand rises towards the staff secured at her back, fingertips brushing along its edge comfortingly as if just knowing the weapon and conduit for her gifts are enough to chase away fear or discomfort.
Satoshi raises a brow slightly at the hand on weapon. "I should hope we won't need weapons, or magic respectively. I'm here to discover if they're as intelligent as the books say. I..." the mage glances over her shoulder thoughtfully, ears flicking. "I'm in need of their assistance, if they have the wits for it. We'll only need to arm ourselves in case they're merely bipedal beasts. Or... unfriendly to strangers." A glance at the gryphon hints that the mage is confident traveling on friendly terms with a legend of the mountains will be enough to impress any tribe enough to prevent an attack. Looking back to Taeme, she adds, "Care to join moi? I've been able to get a vague location from the snows, due west of here~." Without another word, the feline turns and strolls off, gryphon immediately on her heels.
Taeme hastily clambers to her feet and sets off in the Feline's wake hungry for an adventure and more than willing to help her friend in this quest.
Satoshi leads the way, rather poorly without a proper map but that's beside the point~. For a long while she weaves a path between rocks, and trees, through ravines, and across half-frozen rivers, until she raises a hand abruptly, a silent signal to stop to women and bird-ish companions alike. Without a word, the feline looks to Taeme and jerks her head in the direction of the trees ahead. A few paces forward and the treeline opens into a snowy clearing somewhat visible between the low branches. A low wailing comes from the clearing, caught between a baby's cry and an animal's pained howl, a sound that send shivers down spines with its misery. And the owner of the voice, lying in the center of the field, is just what they've been looking for. A yeti. Albeit... a very young one, luxurious white fur heavily tainted by fresh blood. A trail of the crimson liquid behind the youngling shows he's dragged himself this far while wounded.
Satoshi said to Taeme, "What do you think..? Help it? Even if what damaged it es still following, most likely? Hellfire, it's going to call down the forest's predators with that wailing alone..."
Taeme halts upon the signal given, sightless eyes gazing steadfastly forward giving no clue to her knowledge of the surroundings. Boots squeak lightly as they sink into thick snow indicating their poor nature for this climate, but she voices no complaint to the cold seeping into pale flesh through the soaked shoes. A brow perks thoughtfully as the hawk dives allowing her to see with more clarity the young thing though her world is a vast pool of grey's, white and black. The crimson blood upon white snow appears as a thick grey sludge upon a layer of white fluff. "I am a druid, perhaps still in training, but I cannot walk away from the poor creature." Hazel eyes flick towards the Feline before the human sets off boldly towards where the yeti lies trapped while her voice carries over one shoulder. "I simply cannot, Ghostie."
Satoshi lingers behind, narrowed eyes scanning the area with intense scrutiny. She's a natural born predator and with that mindset she knows full well no hunter would leave such a helpless and nutritious prey to a whimpering death in the snow. It's as Taeme approaches the yetling, his wailing dropping off into anxious squeaks and grunts upon sighting her, that Satoshi goes rigid. "Sparrow!" is the only warning the blind girl gets before the uneven mounds of snow filling the clearing suddenly explode in a diamond dust storm, an ear-splitting screech announcing the predator's ambush as the snow settles again. Coiled around the entire clearing, with Taeme and yeti in the center, is a monster of a frost worm, icy mandibles clacking together as it rears back in preparation for a lethal lunge upon the pair. The deathblow doesn't come however, as a flurry of white and gray flashes before the worm with a snarl. Frostwing's latched onto the beast's face now, clawing and rending at armored flesh as wings flap frantically. Which leaves Taeme to deal with injured yeti and the thrashing body of the worm.
Taeme glances from the wounded yeti towards the great worm now writhing as it attempts to dislodge FrostWing who has clearly latched onto its face for good. Screeching its fury, the hawk dives down aiding Ghost's pet by lashing out with its talons when available bits of flesh are exposed. From the peripheral of the hawks gaze Taeme sees herself and the worm's body though its thrashing makes enough noise she can place its position with ease as she can the yeti now positioned behind her. Retreating several steps she drops to her knees beside the baby placing one hand upon its body despite the swipe it takes with sharpened claws that tear through her robes leaving lines of crimson beading upon her skin. The brief touch, however, is enough to tap at the surplus of power stored within the Druid. A wave of healing washes over its body sealing the wound for now unless it reopens it with its desperate movements though the pain is now dulled . Hopefully this is enough to calm it, for now. This first real, deliberate usage of her power saps a bit of energy causing her to say a step to one side away from the baby when she stands. Balance returns a moment later allowing her to face the great worm while calling towards the Feline. "Can you freeze all of the moister in the air and snow around it?!"
Satoshi goes into action not long after Frostwing, dropping into a cautious crouch as lips begin moving with a steady stream of magic-laced words. When Taeme's call reaches vulpine ears, they serve as a directive for the building spell and the feline merely nods in answer before she complies. With a crackling noise reminiscent of slowly breaking glass, already chilled water in the air freezes and spreads with alarming speed over every surface available. Not even the allies and yeti are spared from the crawling frost, albeit a twist to the enchantment keeps the worst of the cold from them. A twist that is furthered to allow the druid access to the bewitched layers of ice, as the feline is hoping Taeme has a plan with this. Otherwise, what Satoshi has conjured will do no more than add armor to the worm, immune to the cold as it is. And, the beast itself seems oblivious to the magic, preoccupied with snapping massive pincers at its avian attackers.
Taeme shivers with the growing cold, arms unconsciously drawing round her petite frame in hopes of warding off the biting colds Ghost's magic embodies. Slender fingers tighten round the staff held in both hand, it lifts into the air surrounding her twirling in a tight circle that draws the bitter winds upon command. Hoping against hope and praying that her antics work she focuses raw magic into the simple, singular thought. Druidic magic strengthens the moisture now hardened into ice around the great worm. Suddenly, she forces a spike of magic into the ice shield shattering it into sharp shards of many sizes that, with the force of winds pressing upon all within the clearing, force their way beneath many of the plate-like-scales imbedding themselves deep into the soft skin lying beneath.
Satoshi's crouch becomes a kneeling cringe with hands clasped over sensitive ears as Taeme's alteration of the magic forces a deafening screech from the frost worm. Writhing, the hulking beast continues its high-pitched cry of outrage before suddenly arching above the druid and yeti in a pose to strike his original prey in revenge. And then, just as abruptly as the screech started, it ends. The frost worm sways in place for a moment longer before dropping forwards, heavy head crashing into the snow beside Taeme with a quaking shudder sent through the permafrost. A final tremor runs through its skewered body before all lies still in death, dark blue blood oozing from the icy wounds. The silence of the area doesn't last long, however, as Satoshi gives a shrill whistle, impressed at the sight, upon her slow approach. "Very nice, Sparrow. Slayed yourself a beastie there. Et~, we've saved ourselves just what we were looking for." Winding her way around the worm's body as she talks, the feline eventually reaches girl and yeti, only to frown as the young creature scuttles behind Taeme nervously. "Now, now, little one. No need to fear us. We're not hunting you~." Satoshi flashes the druid a look then, as if asking her to help reassure her new friend.
Taeme chuckles softly, completely unaware of the worm's placement before her or its gruesome sight. A small smile curves her pale lips, a single nod given in response as she turns to kneel besides the furred beast hiding behind her lithe frame. "Quiet little one, quite. We are not going to hurt you, not at all." As she speaks, one hand reaches out lightly falling to rest atop the baby yeti's head. A sudden yelp issues from Taeme's lips as she realizes that the blue blood of the dead worm has soaked through the bottom of her violet robes, turning them tacky and stiff in the bitter air. "Ick, if this is what slaying monsters is like I would not have any part of it!"
Satoshi can't stop a laugh at the outburst and requires a moment to compose herself once more. "Sparrow, that es nothing compared to the usual gore of monster-slaying, I assure you. You got off rather well. We'll have to get you out of this area soon, though. You'll freeze to death otherwise~," the feline seems amused despite the seriousness of it as her attention flits to the yeti slowly emerging from behind Taeme and inches away from them step by step. "Little one. I've been looking for your kind for a bit now, in hopes they can help moi... Don't suppose you could point me in the right direction now, hm?" The child blinks once, glances toward the west, and quite promptly scampers off before he can be stopped.
Satoshi said, "Oh. Hellfire. Little runt... but at least he gave away where the tribe es~. That's for later, though. We need to get you out of here, Sparrow."
Taeme nods, shivering wracking the slight frame of her body, as the hostile climbs assault her from all directions. "Yes. Yes, out of here. Please, but do not go to the yeti without me, yeah? I'll dress warmer next time."
Satoshi nods sharply. "Oh, certainly. We'll make another adventure of it. And I'll be bringing a few others too, I think. Let's go~." With another nod, the feline turns on her heel and heads back to her camp.
Taeme rises unsteadily and tramps after the departing feline, the chattering of her teeth making their profress none too silent.
The Birth of a Rumor
Segment 1 of the Frostmaw Arc
"Have you heard?"
"Whatta 'bout?"
"The fox-woman that slew a frost worm."
"Slayin' frost worms is nothin' special. What's this 'bout a 'fox-woman' though, eh?"
"Well, I didn't see her myself, but Jinreh did while on patrol. Said she killed that one worm that's been hunting younglings, before he got to. And with ice, no less!"
"Hah. Tha's impossible. Ya can't kill a frost worm wid ice. They live in da stuff, like us."
"Jinreh says she did, she sang and the ice did her bidding. He says she has to be a powerful spirit with how easily she controlled the snows of Frostmaw with just a song. And she was so pale, and white! With the ears and tails of a white fox! And moved like no living creature can move."
"How do ya know, eh? Jinreh tell ya that too? He's got too much imag'nation."
"He swore by his father's warhammer that was what he saw! She was saving a little yeti and a human girl that that old beast was hunting. And you know what else he said?"
"I coul'n't guess ta save meh life, 'm sure."
"The Snow Maiden had a snow griffin with her! If that isn't proof enough that she's not normal, I don't know what is."
"Well, tha' -is- somethin', at least. Those griffins don't listen ta just anyone. Wild things, they are. So yer callin' her the Snow Maiden now? Heh. Haven't heard that name in a long time..."
"That's what Jinreh called her. Said she reminded him of a story his mother used to tell him, about a pure-white woman who drifted about the coldest lands, calling up a permanent Winter with her songs of blizzards and flurries. Snow and ice are her servants, and the snow griffins are her guardians. What Jinreh saw is just like in the stories! Don't you remember them?"
"Aye, I do. Old myths, those are. They also used to call her da 'Frost Queen'. Tha stories say our Jarl's crown was created by her, long ago when she gave a giant the strength to survive in these lands. She shoul' take it back. Swipe it off tha Jarl's head, like she promised she would one day. Haha! Could be rid of him once an' for all. Didja hear he sent his champions out on an exile hunt? Our best fighters, out huntin' low-lifes. What's he thinkin'? That used ta be a job for green warriors."
"I bet the council of elders doesn't like that..."
"Lord Ezezil has those old fools eatin' outta his hand."
"Grandfather! Don't let anyone hear you say that. They'd make you an exile too..."
"Eh. What do I care? I'm too old to survive many more Winters. What's a few spent outside tha city, with how things are righ' now? We ain't what we used to be. We're forgettin' the old ways, an' the tribal legends tha' made us what we are. Like your Snow Maiden. The old ways are as dead as she is a spir't."
"Maybe she's here to bring back the old ways!"
"Now that'd be somethin'. I'd believe in Jinreh's little tale if tha' were true. A legend, bringin' back our traditions."
"I'm gonna tell the council about her!"
"Best no- ... No. Go ahead. A story nev'r hurt anyone. Maybe it'll scare some sense into one of 'em, if they remember the tales their mums told 'em. Hah."
~An overheard conversation between an elderly Frost Giant and his grandson, concerning the building rumors of the 'Snow Maiden', recorded by the adventurer, Cliff Edge.