Not even wincing as the much larger warrior woman's hand grips his, cause no matter how rough they got it was always a comforting feeling, Neverhome squeezed back as he looked around at the greenery in awe as his rage bled away.
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The elf gently begins to float to the ground, one of the leaves lands on his shoulder, as their paths intercept. As Ered reaches up to brush the stray bit of foliage off, it encases in a thin sheet of ice, looking almost like glass before shattering into little tiny bits of dust, ice, and snow. Ered's eyes narrow for a moment, as his boots crunch into the ground. It is at that moment that he feels it:
COLD
An intense feeling, radiating through his heart, the veins in his body, the very blood coursing through his muscles. Deeper than dragon's breath, the magic of Irrisen, stronger than any pain his imagination has ever dreamed.
He crumples to the ground in a heap, but before anyone can approach closer, he puts a hand up to stay anyone approaching him. Ice and snow begin to swirl around him, the Winter that is inside him suddenly coming out. The bit of color that is in his cheeks leaves, at least based the glimpses between swirls of the localized winter weather that envelops him. He grunts, and it is clear to the more battle hardened members of the party that Ered is fighting the urge to scream, although much longer, and he won't have the energy for that luxury.
Thankfully, the "storm" covers all sight of him before his body shows just how much damage the cold of the North can do. The sword at his belt screams from its sheath, as the outline of something stands over him and he rises up to his feet.
The moment passes, and with a flourish of blade and a flash of light, the weather surrounding the elf passes, and the traveling companion steps out once more.
To those who knew him before, he appears much different. Where once the elf maintained a close cropped and orderly head of pale blonde locks, his hair now flows down to near his waist, appearing either as white and pristine as snow or the slight blue of frostbite. Fitted white leather boots, trimmed in filigree and rabbit fur sit tall on his calves. Despite their height, they flex with each movement, appearing as soft and flowing as silk. The same filigree covers the shirt, cut down to mid chest, exposing an intricately formed shirt of chains, which whisper slightly, like wind across icicles. Wrapping around his arms and across his shoulders is a heavy coat, the hood of which features a bear's head resting against the middle of his back.
The elf stretches, and where once cords of muscle stood out against the skin, a dancer's figure moves with an almost unnatural grace. Elongated ears peek out from behind a mask that, although radiating no magic, bears a striking resemblance to a certain dark individual the group met earlier in their travels. The blade in his hands glows black, and where Ered's hand grips, the veins in his hand glow slightly blue and all pigment is lost from the flesh.
Through slits in the mask, his eyes now swirl, a mixture of the bluest blue that even the gnomes have ever imagined and a black darker than the most Northern night.
"So, THIS was Mother's plan..." is his single response.
Neverhome blinks at Eredhaias' transformation.
He blinks again as he looks down to Percy. "Please stop breaking stuff."
Percy holds up her hands in mock surrender, but the exited grin never leaves. That was not me, promise. Breaking the boundary between worlds was quite enough for me for one day. I think. No promises.
You look good, Ered. Though I would like to know how you pulled that off.
Zses hasn't even the time to take in his surroundings (like even realizing that the leaves were falling in the wrong side), before Ered gets caught up in the blizzard.
After the elf re-emerges, changed, from the magical storm the witch just stares in disbelief for a moment, before gesturing to him.
"What plan? I don't think that counting on the fact that you'll end in the First World after crossing a portal in front of an hut with chicken legs corresponds to any definition of plan."
"I didnt. My mother is Jadwiga, but not an immensely powerful one. She did know one thing, though. I was born to magic, and my skill with a blade was unmatched as a child. Those two made me uncommon, and a commodity. With the right magic, she could hide me away for a time. Long enough for either me to stay forever safe from these events that have been brewing, or long enough to gain the strength to do something about it. I don't think Her intentions were for the magic to break here. The magic of the Black Rider and the powers of those even more powerful...we've seen what that does to the best of plans. Now, the real battles begin."
The elf sheaths his weapon.
"Huh. I didn't see that comin'. And here I thought you were already pale."
"Well that was impressive." Sigrun says her body returning to it's normal size.
When Sigrun returns to her normal size, it becomes obvious that the elf is actually taller than he was when they were on the battle field. Or maybe his limbs or longer. Or both. Even Ered seems surprised by this revelation.
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The elf gently begins to float to the ground, one of the leaves lands on his shoulder, as their paths intercept. As Ered reaches up to brush the stray bit of foliage off, it encases in a thin sheet of ice, looking almost like glass before shattering into little tiny bits of dust, ice, and snow. Ered's eyes narrow for a moment, as his boots crunch into the ground. It is at that moment that he feels it:
COLD
An intense feeling, radiating through his heart, the veins in his body, the very blood coursing through his muscles. Deeper than dragon's breath, the magic of Irrisen, stronger than any pain his imagination has ever dreamed.
He crumples to the ground in a heap, but before anyone can approach closer, he puts a hand up to stay anyone approaching him. Ice and snow begin to swirl around him, the Winter that is inside him suddenly coming out. The bit of color that is in his cheeks leaves, at least based the glimpses between swirls of the localized winter weather that envelops him. He grunts, and it is clear to the more battle hardened members of the party that Ered is fighting the urge to scream, although much longer, and he won't have the energy for that luxury.
Thankfully, the "storm" covers all sight of him before his body shows just how much damage the cold of the North can do. The sword at his belt screams from its sheath, as the outline of something stands over him and he rises up to his feet.
The moment passes, and with a flourish of blade and a flash of light, the weather surrounding the elf passes, and the traveling companion steps out once more.
To those who knew him before, he appears much different. Where once the elf maintained a close cropped and orderly head of pale blonde locks, his hair now flows down to near his waist, appearing either as white and pristine as snow or the slight blue of frostbite. Fitted white leather boots, trimmed in filigree and rabbit fur sit tall on his calves. Despite their height, they flex with each movement, appearing as soft and...
well, hello there...
"Have fun Mamushka." Neverhome quietly says with a grin while slowly shaking his head.
Focused on her charges and the task at hand, Vashti barely notices the growth around them until it cuts off the icy battle behind them.
Coming up short at Ered's transformation, her mouth drops and she tilts her head to the side for the duration.
Closing her mouth, she circles him several times, poking him in the arm, examining his eyes, and testing his muscles.
After her examination, she places her hand on his cheek and pats it.
It's nice to meet the real you, you remind me of my husband, before he grew a beard.
Noticing Vashti's expression, and the slight flush of color rising in her pale cheeks as she studies Ered's true form, Sigrun cannot help the smile that creeps across her face.
Leaning over to Sigrun Neverhome not so quietly says "Pity Nyet tower of ice for them to melt... perhaps they will make flowers bloom?"
He watched dully friend Eredhaias transformation blinking. Any other time he would probably have had a million questions to sate his curiousity but right now at the moment he didnt have the energy to do so. He nudged Mule forward with his knees waiting for his friends to be ready to travel through the strange woods torwards the hut. He was trying very hard not to think of those behind them left to deal with the witches wrath.
Vashti is the first one to really notice that the muscles that were so iconic to the previously known Ered are now nowhere near as hardened, and much more graceful and flexible. The elf smiles down at Vashti.
"It's...different. I'd imagine that he was not so pointy eared." The realization seems to strike him as odd, although whether he finds it odd being touched or odd that his ears are even pointy by elf standards, that's anyone's guess.
Looking into Lyosha's eyes, Sigrun smiles warmly. Thinking for a moment she squeezes his hand leading him a bit away from the others she sits down on a fallen tree, vibrant with colors she'd never seen before. "We should talk, about the battle and what happened before."
Smiling back the expression drops somewhat out of concern once Sigrun raises her own concern. "Okay, is everything alright?"
"In a way yes, I mean I'm still feeling the rush of us having taken down a dragon. But I'm a little worried about before. If Silence hadn't come back that fight could have gone very differently, and we need to stick together a s a group, especially now that we're.....who knows where?" She says gently.
"Da," he simply said, as he had a feeling there was more she wanted to say and so waited for her to continue.
Sigrun takes a deep breath. "Why do you hate Hila so much?"
Waiting intently for what she had to say that question alone jarred him, it had defiantly not been what he had been expecting to hear leave her lovely lips. "What?! Because she is Winter Wolf, you know this already."
"I know that but...she has fought on our side, risked death just like the rest of us. She can never go back home because she chose to fight with us. Does she really deserve your hate?" she asks quietly.
"So she knows how to fake smiles. Other wolves were with Jadwiga that came until they turned on them. How long till she turns on us?" he responds, his voice steadying.
"It's...different. I'd imagine that he was not so pointy eared."
Reaching up to touch his newly elongated ears.
My, so tall now...I like it..
No, he was human as I am.
You two were alike in your skill with magic and blade, although he favored magic more than his sword.
You are also much taller than he was, it was awkward some days when I would tease him about his bald spot!
Why is Red looking at me like tha...oh, my....er, this is awkward...did the witches hit me with a spell?
"They turned on them perhaps because they tired of the control of the witches. It's true most winter wolves seem pretty evil, but what if that's because of the environment they're raised in? Hila's parents were killed leaving her completely alone in the world, with out them to guide her......I don't know how I would have turned out without my father.....if someone evil had raised me....maybe I would have been too." Sigrun responds looking into Lyosha's eyes.
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Noticing the flush in her cheeks, shortness of breath and heat in her belly for the first time, Vashti clenchs her teeth and closes her eyes, while taking several deep breaths to gain her composer.
bunnies, puppies, little chickens....nope, not helping...preparing dinner, washing the laundry, sweeping him into my arm.....nope, nope, nope...MUCKING THE STALLS, THE WINTER HERD CULLING, AXING CHICKENS, PLUCKING CHICKENS...so tall
A deep crimson flush runs across her face.
Zes, girls, Ered...was there a spell of some kind we walked into?
Some trap..magic..thingy?
I do not feel..myself?!? Anyone else feel...adjusted?
it's not funny, sig...no, really..
Percy can't help but giggle. Relax Mamma. It's the First World. Everything is more vibrant here, more Primal. Most people are about two kind words from diving into the hay the entire time they're here. The effect varies per person and won't last after we leave. Probably. No promises.
Percy winks at Hobbes, and leaves him guessing at how strongly the Plane was affecting her.
"And Giants and Witches turn on each other constantly as they tire of each other. Just because Wolves did same does not make them better. And remember, we killed her parents." he says with a sigh.
"That couldn't have happened Sigrun, you're not monster. Much less if your parents' murderers tried to raise you."
Neverhome hasn't really noticed the effects of the First World on his body. Mostly because he always felt that way around Sigrun. Any enhanced effects though were lost in the seriousness of the conversation.
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The trees begin to sing a festive sing in a strange ancient language. Something about "Fah hoo for aye." Mistletoe descends from the sky to form a ring around you as boxes wrapped in shiny material materialize in front of each of you. There's also a tall tree covered in multicolored bulbs and topped with a glowing star.
Allie
Small globes that can be clipped to a belt Inside is a Squit.
Ered
A black leather sword grip etched with snowflakes
Hila
A white dragonhide collar/choker
Hobbes
A dragonhide quiver full of arrows
Neverhome
A Linnorm tooth on a golden chain
Percy
A miniature set of weightlifting equipment
Sigrun
White dragonhide weapon grips
Silence
A crystal snowglobe depicting the city of Whitethrone
Vashti
A Pharasman holy symbol carved from dragon bone
Zses
A shadow that animates and merges with your own
There's also a larger package that contains the neatly-folded hide of a White Dragon along with its polished bones, teeth, and claws
Allie fumbled around with the little balls and suddenly one pops open. Surprised, Allie watches a small bird with fire enveloping its wings and body. Smiling, Allie pets the small being. Surprisingly, the birds flames were cool to her touch and tickled a bit as the heatless flames licked her fingers. She squeels in delight and hugs the bird tight.
Mini Allie watches on in a jealous huff.
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Glaring up at the mischievous plants Neverhome cautiously opens his present. Retrieving the gaudy ornament and letting it dangle between his fingers he focuses on the tooth, something familiar and comforting and at the same time aggravating and taunting eating at his thoughts as he looks the gift over.
As light as it is as he slips it over his head it rests heavy against his chest, his blood speeding up and boiling through his veins.
Zses smiles at Allie's enthusiasm about the small fire-bird, before opening his box: surprisingly, it seems completely empty, if not strangely dark on the inside.
Rotating it upside-down, the witch shakes it to see if anything comes out, and after a moment a swarm of black butterflies (or, at least, the shadowy outline of them) comes forth from the box, glittering around Zses before diving into his shadow.
Silence was brooding and quiet, so much so that when the gift materialized he almost fell off of Mule's saddle. As curious as everyone else he opened his gift and blinked at the item. It was a globe... of whitethrone it appeared. His whiskers twitched at it and he frowned for a moment glancing torwards the others.
They too were receiving presents which was good. He patted Mule's head and slide the globe thing into the satchel alongside the horse, he would take a greater view of it later, but he did slide off the saddle and moved torwards the larger package tentively poking at it, his eyes wide and gleaming. . .
Percy examines the weights with a confused look. Suddenly it clicks and she snaps her fingers. Rocky, Burnee, Squirt, and Zephyr (his friends call him Wiff) appear around her. They look very pleased (you think. It's hard to tell with elementals), and start a vigorous workout session before fading back to their homes, weights in... hand.
Percy can't help but giggle. Relax Mamma. It's the First World. Everything is more vibrant here, more Primal. Most people are about two kind words from diving into the hay the entire time they're here. The effect varies per person and won't last after we leave. Probably. No promises.
Percy winks at Hobbes, and leaves him guessing at how strongly the Plane was affecting her.
Hobbes barely has any time to comprehend Percy's words before his gift drops into his hands. He admires the craftmanship of it as he starts taking arrows out of it, twirling them on his fingers. He then puts the collar around Hila's neck.
Hila eyes the halfling oddly as the collar is slipped onto her neck.
"Is this supposed to happen? Wait, what is going on?" She says surprised at her own words.
"I believe that it isn't that black and white. We are who we are, partially because of out nature, and partially because of what happens as we grow up. I believe that she should be given a chance to be who she will be, not who you expect her to be." Sigrun replies softly. "You're judging her based on what you think she will be, rather than everything she's done so far and that really isn't fair to her. Percy hates witches, yet she has been able to put that aside because Zses has been nothing but a good fried and ally. What we do is more important that who people assume we are just because of some accident of birth."
Sigrun studies the dragonhide weapon grips with a smile, taking the time to apply them.
Hila eyes the halfling oddly as the collar is slipped onto her neck.
"Is this supposed to happen? Wait, what is going on?" She says surprised at her own words.
Percy giggles some more. She is clearly overjoyed to be here. Looks like we can understand you now, pup. I look forward to getting to know you.
"And when she finds out we killed her parents?"
"She has seen us face Winter Wolves and understands that they were our enemies. We will explain it to her and she will have to make her choice. You can't judge someone based on what you fear their reaction will be."
"Even if doing so will put people I care about in danger?"
Percy giggles some more. She is clearly overjoyed to be here. Looks like we can understand you now, pup. I look forward to getting to know you.Hila eyes the halfling oddly as the collar is slipped onto her neck.
"Is this supposed to happen? Wait, what is going on?" She says surprised at her own words.
"Oh, good. I can talk to someone besides Mister fur feets."
Indeed. Though I never realized just how sexy fuzzy feet could be until recently. Anyway. Glad to have you out from behind that language barrier. I always felt a little guilty for not learning more of your speech.
"Its okay. You can make it up to me with treats." Hila grins, at least as much as a wolf can.
"Here's the thing love, mistreating her will only alienate most of the people you're trying to protect. We're all aware of the possible danger and willing to risk it. There's no point to living in fear of what might happen. We've all had a lot of bad things happen to us, every last one of us, but living in fear of what might happen risks missing out on the good that's happening right now." she says bringing a hand to his cheek. "Hate has it's place....on the battlefield. Try to let it go when you're around the people fighting alongside you."
Normally her touch would be welcome, even calming to his pysche. But now it just added to the turbulence inside his head. "Why do you trust her so much?"
"Because she hasn't given me a reason not to."
"But she's-" he wanted to say Winter Wolf, but he realized his concerns were falling on deaf ears. Slowly lowering his head he uselessly twitched his hands out to the side in frustration.
Just try seeing her based on what she does rather than what she was born, that's all I ask." she says stretching up to kiss his forehead.