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Elryn -> RE: =AQ= Flaming Undead War Stories and Poetry 2012 (1/22/2012 22:02:24)
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The drums of War stir once again - Continued
Gathering of allies - The Northlands
A foot landed with a muffled thud, dampened by the fresh fallen snow, silenced by the howling winds. The storm had begun only hours ago, yet already a foot of snow had fallen. The snow fell thick and fast so much that one could see no more than 50 feet in front of himself. Coupled with threading uphill and all made for tedious travels. The cloaked figure was not dithered however. He made on, cold winds blowing on his back. Moments later, in the raging storm, the figure came to a halt.
''Hmmm... If memory serves, the Frozen Halls are not far.'' thought Elryn.
He sighed and resumed his gait.
''The weather, although quite nice, does not help.''
The thought made him chuckled. Part of it was likely his fault and an appropriately contrived spell would likely solve the issue.
Then all of a sudden, the mage sidestepped only for massive snowball to shoot by. Breaking into a sprint, half a dozen more of them appeared out of the haze of the storm. He dodged one, than another two, two more and striking the last with a fist.
Further up the slope lied a pack of Yeties. Lose, thin white hair dangled from there chins like the beard of an old man. Their foreheads jutted forwards over the eye sockets in such a way that one would fancy that an ancestor had frown for a while too long. A massive lower jaw revealed one or two large canines. Broad arms and big hands were busy contriving more large snowballs.
Taking advantage of the pause in the assault, the mage jumped, a blast of air beneath his feet, and bypassed the pack. He resume his dash and the chase began.
He frowned. As the slope slipped by, other yeties caught sight and join the ranks of the thundering firsts who, surprisingly, were neither gaining nor losing ground.
''Where is it?''
Just as he uttered that phrase, he came to a immediate halt. A few feet before him, shrouded by the storm and barely visible, stood high walls of ancient ice. The proportions of the walls were unfathomable. He could neither see, though the storm was of no help, the end of its height nor of its length. One thing he knew was that his back was to a wall with at least twenty yeties on his trail.
He peered at the monsters. The throng had again increased and was fast approaching. He turned to face them. He took a step, then two...
The snow beneath his bark boots shifted and turned. It began to melt, spreading outwards as if trying to remove itself from an unearthly foe, hissing as it evaporated, fearing. The mage's demeanor was growing more menacing by the second, as if he had been twice as tall and twice as imposing then previously thought. The air smelled brimstone. Fire enveloped him like an aura while he muttered low, strange words. The yeties were close. The snow before him melted. The ground beneath boiled. The world slowed...
Molten...
He was aware of the sound of slow, heavy doors opening.
He turned and ran.
Doors closed and darkness.
A series of fires erupted to life on either side of the hall along its length. The blue flames bathed the place in a cold light. Striking was the intricacy and precision that had gone into the contrivance of this place, sculpted as it was out of the ice.
In the middle of the corridor stood five figures. At the front stood a man garbed in knightly armour of a dark, dark shade of green. His eyes were hidden by his helm though a sharp, thin nose and a smileless face was visible. Behind him lied a man garbed in dark cloak. A sickly, magical aura emanated from this one as well as a certain affinity for nature. Three more stood behind. One somehow similar to the former and another, beholden to a feminine countenance.
Elryn grinned.
''I see the place has changed quite a bit since I last came...''
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