Author Topic: Mythic Sagas: Prologue  (Read 91866 times)

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« on: August 28, 2013, 10:20:15 PM »
You awaken to sunlight and the creak of an oak door.  Another day on the road, you think to yourself.

The men hired on by Ospak to guard his wagons while he traveled had been told yesterday that he no longer intended to head to Niðarós; he was able to sell most of the rest of his wares to the goodwives and farmers you had stayed with along the way, and what little he had left could wait until next year.  He was heading home to Eyrrinberg, and would split off on a side road heading further north later today.  He would gladly pay you an extra two days' wages if you accompanied him, as it would take you a two-day journey on foot to reach Niðarós from Eyrrinberg.

The farmer, Erlend, shuffled into the outbuilding and began waking all of his guests.  Ospak had said he wanted an early start.  Only five days' travel left to go, and he wanted to be done with it.

Erlend was a good host, as any Norseman should be.  The beer* he had provided last night was a little weak, but still tasted good after a long day on the road.  The smell of manure is faint in the "bunkhouse."  In truth it is a barn for overwintering livestock, but farmers often used them for housing guests during the trading seasons.

As you get up, the warmth of your wool blanket gives way to brisk October morning air that is below 50 degrees.  Though it is Laugardagr**, there will be no full bath today.  Just the morning cleaning ritual with the large wooden bowl of water Erlend's wife just handed to Ospak.

She also brought some stale bread cakes, flat little loves hard as rocks.  They'll soften up when dipped in the remnants of last night's boiled stew of lamb bones, beans, peas and turnips.

Before long you are loading Ospak's strongboxes back into his wagon, then riding or walking along the road, keeping watch for trolls or bandits; there was that troll last week, and he didn't go down easy.  After about two hours, you see a smaller wagon path continue eastward, while the main road to Niðarós bends southward a bit, disappearing through the mix of leafy trees and pines.

Most of the handful of people who had met up with and joined your caravan this morning broke off toward Niðarós, but a few seemed to be going to Eyrrinberg, or at least a farmsted up that direction.  The canopy before you glows a vibrant green with the mid-morning sun gleaming through it from the southeast.  You pick up your step and forge ahead, watching the forest before you while listening to the conversations among the other travelers.

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« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 01:28:34 AM by ksbsnowowl »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2013, 10:53:51 PM »
Skulda, dressed only in the light mail armor and cloak she always wears while traveling, seems to be utterly unfazed by the cold. Walking near the back of the group, she watches silently through the eyes of the raven she sent ahead to scout, and spares the occasional glimpse at Thane as he stalks the undergrowth alongside the road, looking for rabbits or other small animals to kill. Excited to have finally caught up with her son's old companions, she still mulls over how exactly to broach the subject with them... She is unsure what, if anything, he might have told them about her...

She also fears what they might have heard about her from others. Although she keeps her hair down and the hood of her cloak up, she fears that some of the locals traveling with them may have noted the elfish tips of her ears, or perhaps the otherworldly angularity of her face and recognize her from the terrible stories told about her. Then they might try to warn Hergier's friends about her, or even to drive her away... So she keeps quiet for the moment, and tries to avoid drawing too much attention...
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2013, 08:37:26 AM »
A good day, I guess...

Agni breathes deeply, enjoying the current climate while thinking about things.

It's good to leave and do some guard work for a change... Being holed up in the same place doing the same thing everyday can get tiring.

His last jobs were all to help protect some Hathran that was immersed in his own rituals... Except said rituals took days. Taking the road and see the world for a change was always good, even though he isn't as young as he used to be.

His "company" also seems to agree with him.

A kind of entity that only Agni himself could see and interact with. A spirit that started to follow him after her older sister died.

"13 years, huh..."

He mutters his last thought without realizing it, with a wry smile in his face.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 10:12:05 AM by Risada »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2013, 09:37:00 AM »
Skulda, walking behind Agni, says quietly to him "Is that how long you've had your fylgja? I detected it last night and worried it was a bad omen, but if it has been with you that long, then it must be your guardian." The small woman smiles at him warmly.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2013, 10:19:51 AM »
"!!"

Agni looks at the woman behind him, surprised. He looks around to see the reactions on the people around, then replies to her with a slightly stiff tone.

"...Well... I guess..."

His voice might be stiff, but his mind was very clear.

How? I thought I was the only one capable of seeing her... Not even the Hathras were able to detect it... Her name... Skulda?

"...But how are you capable of noticing it? "


Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2013, 11:23:53 AM »
She continues smiling and says "I apologize if I startled you by mentioning it. I am somewhat of an expert on spirits of all kinds, and I too have a fylgja. I cannot see yours actually, but can tell that it is there from its aura."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2013, 11:53:34 AM »
Aura, huh...

Agni turns his head to where his "companion" is... And she just shrugs.

"No, no... You didn't startle me at all... I was just surprised. That's all. By the way, where is yours?"

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2013, 12:03:57 PM »
She turns to look at the great white snake coiled next to her that only she sees, then back to Agni. "It is here, near me. It guards me as surely as my friend Thane does, but in different ways."

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« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 12:14:06 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2013, 01:23:27 PM »
"... So, it's like the one with me. Only you can see it, huh..."

After a few seconds of silence, Agni continues. "You seem quite knowledgeable about this... Why these fylgja are not visible to anyone else aside from the one they follow? I know it makes protecting their 'charge' easier, but I think it is quite... Unusual." As he finishes saying that, he makes a gesture to his companion relaying the message "Don't take it in a bad way."
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 05:32:53 PM by Risada »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2013, 05:30:32 PM »
Skulda says "I cannot say for sure, but I think they are mostly removed from our own world. Only their very strong tie to a specific individual allows them to maintain a hold enough to be seen by that individual, and to influence them. Or perhaps it is the individual's tie on the fylgja... Either way, it is not unlike some other spirits whom are tied to places or things, such as the spirits of the land that the Hathran like to talk about. There are even other spirits whom have lost all ties onto our reality at all..."

She catches herself and looks around, as if she was about to say more but thought better of it.

Then she tries to change the subject "Do you know any of the others here?" She glances around at the others traveling with the caravan, and her eyes linger for a bit on Thorgrim and Einar.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 07:59:31 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2013, 11:18:25 AM »
"Well... I don't know much, but Hymir there enjoys his women..." Agni says while pointing to the man in question. "As for the others, I don't know much. They joined us on the road and aside from a few greetings or the eventual fight against trolls... They didn't say much. They seem to be very strong warriors. I know that one will not fall easily in battle..." This time pointing to Thorgrim. "Perhaps they are looking for something?"

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2013, 12:52:15 PM »
She says in a somewhat distant tone "All are seeking something, but not all know what."

Then continues on in a more normal tone "Yes, Hymir certainly is easy on the eyes. I've no doubt he's popular with eager young village lasses. Do you know the other one's name? The one you say stands strongly in battle? He's a tall one, too." and she gestures to Thorgrim as well.

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« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 12:56:00 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2013, 01:12:10 PM »
"Thorgrim, if I recall correctly... Thorgrim is his name. I don't think I could win against him if we fought..."

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2013, 01:26:36 PM »
"Well then, we'd better stay on his good side." she says with a smile.

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I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline skydragonknight

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2013, 01:21:25 AM »
Thorgrim had paid the woman no mind when she had joined the caravan. Many simply sought the safety of traveling with a group and he assumed her to be as much with her scrawny arms. He turned to Einar and for a moment the faintest hint of a smile fell upon his normally stoic face. He had not seen his friend, who was nearly his brother-in-arms, since before last winter. While his skills had improved since then, he was nonetheless relieved to have Einar there to protect his backside.

"I will be glad when we reach our homeland. I miss the taste of Rashemi ale. The ale of other lands does not taste quite right and this beer only does so much." he says. "How fare your kin? I have not seen them since we drove back."

From the corner of his eyes he sees someone point to him. He turns slightly and sees a man...Agni if he recalled. The man appeared to have some training and had a weapon similar to his own. He would at least be more useful than that sickly-looking tall man who really should talk to that traveling priest about his condition.

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Hmm.

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #15 on: August 31, 2013, 12:25:00 PM »
Einar had met up with the caravan earlier that day, only joining it because he recognized Thorgrim.  At five foot eleven and weighing roughly 175 pounds he isn't the largest or most intimidating Rashemi anyone is likely to meet, but there is a litheness to his step and a watchfulness in his eye that insinuates there is more to him as a warrior than just getting angry and striking his enemies until they break.  He is also somewhat better armed than expecting, having a large two-handed sword as well as a longspear and a heavy flail plus a simple dagger for day to day use. 

"I wouldn't know old friend, I have been outside Rashemen since we parted ways."  Einar shakes his head, "I don't know what urge caused me to be away for so long but I don't doubt my travels will serve me well in the future."   He then claps Thorgrim on the shoulder and smiles.  "It is good to see you again."

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #16 on: August 31, 2013, 01:49:12 PM »
Seeing the reunion of the two warriors and overhearing parts of the talk of being homesick for Rasheman, Skulda thinks to herself Perhaps these are the two I seek. Perhaps they know what happened to my beloved son...

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« Last Edit: August 31, 2013, 01:53:42 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline dna1

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #17 on: September 01, 2013, 04:19:09 AM »
Hymir was sitting at the front of a wagon. He had a far off look in his eyes, and was casually strumming his lute. He was far too deep in thought to catch any of the others conversations. Something had been troubling him. All of his life he has been plagued by strange dreams. But recently, after joining the caravan, one in particular has been recurring, and he couldn't help but feel like it had some sort of significant meaning... but what?
He could still picture the Raven in his dream. There was something about it that seemed familiar and terrifying all at once. It made him miss the warm beds of a brothel even more than usual.


As Hymir pondered over the Raven from his mysterious dream he was hit with inspiration. The casual strumming on his lute changed to a more dark and slow tone. His voice dropped to a very low pitch. He sang the words slowly, and sounded somewhat destitute.

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Upon finishing his song the tall man starts rummaging through his bag until he produces a bottle of Ale. Which he proceeds to down with ease.
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Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #18 on: September 01, 2013, 02:47:04 PM »
"So the big one is a skald. No wonder he has a reputation as a ladies man." she says to Agni in response to Hymir's song.

Then she walks over to Einar and says "And you look to be the Hound of Sif, which means your friend must be the Scion of mighty Beowulf. I've been seeking you two, as the spirits told me you were at one time companions of my son, Hergierr. I have not seen him for some time, and wondered if you know of his whereabouts."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #19 on: September 02, 2013, 04:36:17 PM »
"Hound of Sif?  She recieves my worship but I've never thought of myself as her hound before.."  Einar looks lost in thought and somewhat confused for a second, then shrugs it off and returns to the conversation.  "Hergierr, yes we traveled with him but that was long ago.  I have not seen nor heard from him for many seasons.  Have you Thorgrim"