Winter Is Coming [SSC Dominion of Midvinter]

[Coci Heavenshield]

Spirit of Illusions​

Everything around her was clear, through the force all was seen and hear as if looking through a shimmering film of water, she needed to maintain the illusion until they had a chance to form up. The Vinterbound had fallen for it, she knew they would since they are of little intelligence and do not possess any ability to see through such things. The more she stood as if in a trance like state, the more she grew in strength of the mind, this was a test for her, Coci had never had to maintain such an illusion for so long before this. And she would continue to do so until all was safe and gathered to regroup. Even if that meant she would fall.

She could feel Thurion .. he is a little distance away fight for the lives of others, a peak in the force powerful told her much power had issued from him in defense of those around him. She felt it, through their bond and even through the ground on which she stood, the wave felt through her feet and ran up her body. It gave her further strength to continue and so she did.

Coci did not know, that [member="Vilaz Munin"] had saved her life, so deep in concentration to protect the coalition, allies and the Valkyri to see the fallen undead nearby her, but it was not until she heard her name called, like a whisper on the wind did she come back to them. They needed to go, all of them needed to get out of the forest as it is a death trap.

She looked into Thurion's face as his question met her ears, "Yes I am fine my love", she is tired but mentally so, physically she can make it. It was now she noticed the 'slayed' body of the undead near her, head removed by what looked like a firearm wound, and it was clear to her someone had saved her .. she looked around to find who could have done this, the only person nearby and with the weapon of capacity to so do was the Mandalorian. To him, she smiled and bowed in respect and gratefulness. But now was not time for words but she would make sure if they are to get out of this battle, she would met him in the Grand Hall.

"We still have a fight to fight .. I am ready to go", she saber hit her palm with a firm thud. "Lead us onward Lord Heavenshield". The use of his title of Midvinter more appropriate as the men and women of his country moved forward. The Jedi, and their allies alongside the Valkyri warriors have lives to save.


(7)

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="George O Rourke"] | [member="Matsu Ike"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Solan Charr"] | [member="Maya Whitelight"] | [member="Coryn Raxis"] | [member="Arrik Terran"] | [member="Azel Elerel"] | [member="Romeo Sin"] | [member="Ren Colvet"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Kaida Taldir]

(8)

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="George O Rourke"], [member="Matsu Ike"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Coryn Raxis"], [member="Arrik Terran"], [member="Azel Elerel"], [member="Ren Colvet"], [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"], [member="Audren Sykes"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"]


"Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind."

Kaida knew not who had coined this saying, but given the situation it seemed quite apt. Her eyes were an icy blue, frost covered her armour and her body temperature had sunken to a point where the uninitiated would have good reason to think she should seriously get warmed up. The Eldorai was high up in the air as she rained down destruction upon the beasts. They were not living but twisted abominations, but frankly it would not have mattered to her if they had still been human. Idealistic notions had been burnt out of her in Kaeshana's many civil wars and palace revolutions. To maintain her levitating position as she shot through the sky was difficult and cost plenty of energy, but there was also a certain thrill to it.


It also meant that the ice mistress had been ideally positioned to drive the strong whirlwind that swept across the zombie horde. The beasts were already reeling under the onslaught of Jedi and Valkyri warriors, not to mention terribly confused by the web of illusions Coci had caught them in. They were helpless against the power of the elements and so their bodies were broken, bent, crushed.


With an Eldarai curse upon her lips she let loose with a wave of cold that seemed to congeal the air itself, strong enough to freeze blood, to freeze undead, as paralysis set in. Her gauntleted, frost-covered hand made a fist and made a thrusting motion forward, then abruptly the bodies of the frozen undead shattered into pieces. After all, though they were undead, they still had plenty of water inside them. Freeze them, increase the pressure to an absurd level, then boom. Without even a rudimentary brain, they could not function.


The mighty, howling wind whipped across the land as she slowly descended slightly, slowing down her speed, for this whole exercise cost energy. The ground of the forest was filled with the bodies of zombies and Valkyri warriors. The smell of death and blood, along with that of roasted or charred flesh, was so strong in the air that it was palpable. Dimly she had heard one of the Coalition allies say something about using the ship to bomb the zombies. She decided that was a good idea. Then again, he had been an elf. Not an Eldorai, but still almost as good!


Napalm sounds like a good idea, too. Should've brought Tempest or Lavina, she thought to herself grimly. She tilted her head slightly as she looked at the Sephi. "Agreed. Bomb the scum in the open and it'll muck them up, combined with mind frakking and a storm. Valkyri can hold them at bay with their shieldwall. Cavalry may lure the undead into the kill zone. Ideally, " she said calmly, emotionlessly. Her voice was modulated by her helmet's speaker, giving it a mecanical quality. Not all Angelii cryomancers fit the stereotype of being cold and aloof, but she certainly embraced it. Seeing Aerin Firebrand, who probably had the coolest name in the thread, on her black horse, she spoke up. "I'll join you," she spoke spoke most laconically, as she descended down from the sky, the snow crunching beneath her boots once she had solid ground under her feet once more.

 

[Nima Tann]

Objective: Ambush!
Location: Near to Fafnersvik
Allies: Team Mind Rape! ([member="Sumiko Tanaka"]) , Silver Sanctum and friends
Enemies: Zombies
2/20

The undead were countless, as she cut the rotten flesh of one, three more were appearing to the scene. Not only she was tired from the fight since she was spending so much Force, yet this time there was a headache bugging her head as she continued fighting. As if the undead were trying to say her something. Breathe in, breathe out. She lashed out towards one of the zombies, yet this time one of them reached out to her, she could feel the rotten flesh touching her body and for a second she lost herself to thoughts as the touch show herself some not so pleasant visions of something which she couldn't understand, it wasn't stable yet she could hear some voices clearly from all this, it was very, very creepy... Even creepier than the undead, to be exact. Not cool at all.

"All flesh must be consumed.

"We are legion."

"Who are you?"

The sound echoed in her head, over and over and over again, and it stopped as she shook her head and opened her eyes to the reality, shaking off the zombie's hand on her and cutting its head without mercy, as her breathing speed increased slightly from this little event with all the creepiness and disgusting smell of rotten flesh clearly can be smelled from her body. Yet, it created another question. Why didn't the zombies attack her while showing her the image? The question had to wait since as the vision passed the zombies got aggresive again, leaving the Twi'lek no chance but to fight them, which she did, until hearing another voice, this one was particularly familiar in between the mumblings and moans of the zombies and it made sense to be a zombie, she realized that it was the Grandmaster, saying to regroup. The army was regrouping from the ambush and from this event she understood that it was the time to say goodbye to the zombies as she started to clear her way towards the main army.

Yet her mind was still shaken by the sudden voices. What did they mean? And the more important question was... how did the zombies send a message through the head, considering the fact that they're actually dead and brainless, or more like not intelligent. Well, the monsters may not be the monsters that they've thought, yet the mystery clouds were still in the area so only the time would tell what this place was going to offer more.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Syala Daivik"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Matsu Ike"] [member="Ren Colvet"] [member="Maya Whitelight"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] @Others that I am too lazy to write

 

[The Red of Sinner]

Location: Hasnt Changed
Objective: Poke some fun while my men do all my work

3/20

Romeo's gaze shifted to his com channels, each on set to a private line that linked up to all his forces. Celty watched him carefully, knowing what was about to happen.​

"Dont do it."​

His looked over at his second in command.​

"Romeo, dont you dare."​

He grinned a roguish smirk.​

"Damn it Romeo."​

He make a motion with his hand, changing the frequency of all coms to open so that anyone on the planet would hear him if theirs was open.​

"What do you think you're doing Sin?" She yelled at him, all of it going over the coms.​

"Im just having some fun, I am fully aware of what is going on on the planet."​

"Yes, people are dying."​

Romeo waved this comment with a gesture.
"No, no, people are surviving. Silly girl."​

Meanwhile, all his men stopped for a split second while their coms became full with childish chatter.​

"Ignore it. Offense, search and destroy. Defense, begin relying all the civilians." His commander in chief of the Drakons said.​

Back on the Ryuk, Romeo was still having devilish amusement with his admiral.
"Damn it Sin, no one wants to hear your voice unless you have something important to say!"​

There was the sound of smack, and a moment of silence. Romeo stared at Celty who had just hit him. The mask he wore had slid of his face, and across the bridge being picked up by one of the officers. His cheek now bright red, matching his eyes, Romeo smiled.​

"Oh, but my words are important."​

He grinned.​

"They are always important. Heavenshields, if you can hear me, worry not about your people's safety. I am seeing to this, not personally of course, but I have my best men on the job."​

Down below, Drakons fired into the undead, dropping them in rows, while the defense team was moving people away from the fight. Most of them had never seen anything like this, but fear was not something they felt easily.​

 

[Matsu Ike]

Location Outside City
Objective: Defend the City
Allies: [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"] [member="Nima Tann"]
7/20

The movement through the city was a great thing as she saw another jedi appear. A child but her attention was on him while her spinning saber came back to her hand deactivating while she slid it back on her hip. The saber in her hand glowing as it sliced through one with her hand come out to bring a pillar of ice to launch another into the air. Her body spun around slashing into more when they came as she flew up into the air. She hovered there holding the saber while she was feeling the others in the city now that were working and fighting. Her attention was shifting while she spoke into her comlink. "Does anyone see where they are coming from?" She had a thought to seal if there was a pass or trap them to ease pressure while her display were showing where they tracked some. Small traces of rot and she was flying over searching.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Objective: Survive the Ambush
Location: Forest of Fafnersvik
Allies Near: [member="Syala Daivik"] | [member="Ren Colvet"]
Enemies: The Undead
Gear: Combat Armour | Blue Bladed Lightsaber
Post: #5 / 20

Connor gripped the scruff of Ren's neck and threw him forward and down, and ignited his blade with a snap-hiss, the blue blade coming to life and impaling a decaying body of the Undead into a tree, showing him in frost and mud. He held the blade as the Undead gurgled as the energy started to burn it's black organs from the inside out. He turned to Sy, a way behind him.

”You will watch your tongue, Sy - you show me the respect you promised, or I will leave you behind to fight your own battles!”

He withdrew the blade with a satisfying slice and pushed forward a stumbling Jedi beside him moving onwards, the blades flashed the the bodies fell, but they were strong in number and resolve. Turning, Connor moved to grab Ren again with a grunt.

”Ren if you have a blade, use it! Now is not the time to be fearful of your own ability! Fight and move with us, because your life and the life of everyone around you depends on YOUR actions! Now move!”

Casting a sideways glance to Sy, the call from Thurion rang out, and the roar of the Valkyri. The Heavenshield duo command so much more than the Silver Jedi it seemed. They couldn't give both their undivided commitment could they? Connor looked down, shaking his head at the wave of bitterness he felt; it was unlike him, but there was no time for remorsse.

Exhaling, he sidestepped a lunging Undead warrior and sent his gauntlet swiping across the back of his neck to cleave it from the shoulders. He span his blade around in his palm and looked back to make sure the others were behind him. Then, with resolve, he stepped forward and ran towards the horde to cut through and out towards the village.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="George O Rourke"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Solan Charr"] | [member="Maya Whitelight"] | [member="Coryn Raxis"] | [member="Arrik Terran"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Azel Elerel"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

Location: Ambush location
Objective: Survive
Allies: People with a pulse
8/20

She was still jumping and moving deeper into the snow and woods as she came down. The light dimmed but she came down kicking off a tree as she came down and held the blade. Her cloak wrapping around her in the wind before she was moving now and could barely feel the force with the gem in the palm of her hand no longer glowing with the force energy she had converted and absorbed. Her thoughts going before she was slashing into another undead with her blade smashing and shattering when he fell back the ice with her falling down into the cave below. She could see the sky above and the ice and rock, then her attention went to the sounds of shambling while she looked up to see whar was there.

Upside down while someone in a seat was trying to move with their restraints on and a half jaw snapping. From her view upside down it was almost funny in that very bad and scary way as she rolled over and scrambled on the snow and ice feeling it bite into her hands and face. The pilot was there as she moved forward and slashed to stop him before looking up. "This is a terrible time to not be able to use most skills." She was saying it to the zombie crawling on the ground more because she didn't want to sound crazy before granting some mercy before she was looking. Maybe the ship had something she could power up and absorb to jump out of the hole she was in... or maybe she'd get lucky and someone would find the hole... either way she held the blade up to illuminate the cave.

She couldn't tell what there was inside as she saw some carved stone and more bodies where the ship had crashed. Her attention going to them while she walked past and was hoping they didn't reach out and try to grab her. The attention she had going towards the different things and section of the ship that had been opened from the inside out and made the hole. She didn't want to face some of the thoughts going inside and finding a half frozen power cell as she pulled at it to get it out of the wall to defrost a little. There might be some juice left inside it enough to convert to jumping energy or send a call into the force for help as her thoughts of the damaged comlink in her ear were there pulling at it. She grabbed a piece of hull and started prying at it as it came out and she sat on a fallen over case of old rags and equipment.

 

[Darth Libertas]

(9)
Objective: Research, mind rape spam for Master rank
Location: Near settlement
Allies: Dark Side, [member="Nima Tann"]
Enemies: Zombies, non-pragmatic Jedi.


What a coincidence that Sumiko, still rendered invisible by the cloak of shadows, happened upon a battlefield in the forests. The stench of death, blood, rotten and burnt flesh hung over the air like a pall as she reached the site of the great slaughter. Her head was hurting not only from the concentration required to maintain the cloak, but also because the annoying, disembodied voices. Her eyes narrowed slightly when, from the distance, she beheld the columns of soldiers advancing and heard the gallop of the horses. Most of them wore the livery and carried the weapons of Valkyri warriors, those she paid little attention to. But there were others among, whose aura identified them as Jedi. Presumably Silvers.


"How noble of them to come to the aid of these primitives. It would be entertaining to watch the zombies devour them...but I'm afraid they lack the intelligence. Even more beautiful if the relic drove their leaders into madness," Souldrinker spoke into her mind. Only she would be able to hear it.


"I agree. It's amusing to find them so full of self-righteousness when they've lost the Mandate of the Force a long time ago. But they may be useful," she thought as her eyes fell upon one Jedi in particular, a Twi'lek. There was something about her, something that Sumiko could not quite place.


Had she been touched by the voices as well? Her thoughts were cut short as more zombies appeared on the spot. Presumably these were stragglers who had not been cut down by the advancing legion. Glowing blue eyes ablaze and with the swords and pikes still splattered with the blood of humans, the beasts moved to attack as Sumiko dropped her cloak.


A spear missed her neck by a few inches and ignored it, lips moved as she spoke in the ancient tongue of the Sith, chanting words that were both arcane and dark. Blood...blood was life. Fortunately she had plenty given her injuries by now. The blood in the open palm of her frost-covered hand abruptly seemed to darken as she intruded into the minds of the beasts. A zombie charged upon her, swinging a mighty greatsword, then suddenly it growled ferally and instead pounced upon another of the undead, several of its brethren following suit.


Their minds were primitive and easily misled, what gave them focus and direction was the relic of evil that jealously guarded its control. Sumiko could feel the dark power fighting against the loss of control and her mind reeled as a mental wave slammed into it, but she persisted, Blood dripped down the open palm of her hand as she cut deeper with the knife, using to fuel the dark magicks she was calling on.


Within a few moments a horde of zombies was busy tearing itself apart in a cannibalistic frenzy. Stepping over a corpse and idly kicking a head aside she stepped towards the Twi'lek. There was no doubt that Sumiko's aura was very dark. Not in a 'dark is not evil' sense like Siobhan - or a 'I use both dark and light and am melodramatic all the time' one. Still she did not appear to be directly hostile. At least she was not one of those weird Kindly Sith types. "Well, well, what have we here? Here to nobly save the planet, I take it. I take you've heard the voices from the undead as well?" Totally the way to start a conversation.

 

[Matsu Ike]

Location: Sky
Objective: Survive
9/20

There were more sounds coming as she buzzed down slashing with the blade and coming in. With the circlet on her arm she couldn't feel the cold while she was moving through the area and brought up a small map. Imaging before with her location compared to the others like Saeko in the city before she was letting her attention go around. Running towards a section of the woods while she slashed feeling the others around in the distance. The blade deactivating while she was walking in and tapped the ground with her foot getting the attention as they were chasing after her into a cave and section away from the other ones that were fighting just outside of the city. Getting them to chase her in while making her way through a ruined section while shouting with a wall of ice sealing them in.

"Come on.... the rotting hasn't made you that slow has it." Her laugh was there more taunting before launching up into the air and pushing at two to smash together. She was going deeper as her eyes caught sight of a place to make a nice stand touching down with her hands grabbing the saber blades. The silver engraved blade in one hand as a snap hiss brought its silvery white blade forward with a pulse of energy from the baas crystal. The other reaching and taking the second blade as she felt the spirit within it activating and the purple blade sprang forth slicing into the undead while they were coming up to reach her on a small section of ship. Matsu kicked with the force seeing one of the chunks popping open a large case a body was grasping with a cube that glowed.

Her eyes darting to it while she spun dragging a saber around her in a small barrier to drop down towards it. One foot kicking it up while she almost played hacky sack with it before she was moving. A spin kick clipping to keep it in the air before a saber was deactivating with it clipping on her hand and Matsu caught it. The circlet keeping her warm and relaxed while also preventing the noxious odor of rot and decay even frozen from getting to her nostrils before with one hand she held the blade and kicked off the wall letting her foot come out with a force powered kick to let the energies ripple down and blast them back. Her silvery blade pulsing before she was moving and letting the power flow along her arm securing in her belt the cube. The trek back while fighting might take awhile but she had a grin on her face working with it.

 

[Ren Colvet]

Objective: Survive the Ambush
Location: Forst of Fafnersvik
Allies Nearby: [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Syala Daivik"]
Enemies: The Undead
Items: Lightsaber (Green), Black Cloak

(3/20)

Ren nodded and stuck behind Connor as the Silvers charged forward. It was amazing. Ren had never seen such skill with a Lightsaber before, Connor was graceful yet assertive while taking out his enemies. The precision alone made Ren want a Master as powerful as Connor.

But.

If there was anything Ren had learned from the Master, it was that cowardliness and distractions were a combination for disaster, so, with all his might, he strayed from the safety of Connor's path, and carved one of his own through the thick hoard.

He raised his right arm and slashed down on the torso of an Undead to the northwest of him, then repeating the process to another one to the right of him. He continued to do this until he had carved a path for himself.

He looked to his right and saw Connor also making his way through the crowd. Ren had no doubts that they would win this fight.

He was just worried about the casualties that would come with it.

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

Location: Cave
Objective: Survive
Allies: People with a pulse
Music: 2NE1 - I am the Best
10/20

THe sounds of them clawing around after her was coming to her ears while she moved, attention on the ship and what she would be able to use while her initial plan to defrost a powercell on a planet with winter twelve months out of twelve months a year as the primary thing. She wasn't feeling it while her attention was moving to it while she kicked the thing. "OWWW" the sound of snarling came when a hand reached through the broken door. "RAWWWWR." She stood there then slashed the hand. "See I can be irritating to." She was thinking about what she coul do while holding the blade and contemplating what would her master do? She'd order some surgical strike and kill everythign with a nuke from orbit to be sure. It would be the only way to be sure.

That wasn't a good thought while she had the rest of her thoughts going over some of the things letting her foot kick the powercell again while she looked at some of the crates before she was sitting down ready to admit defeat.... Then she felt something, a sensation prickling along her skin under the cloak before she was getting a few ideas. She did have the image caster in her utility belt and its powercell could be overloaded... small contained explosion but the gas they use for it was nicely and explodable. She kept a grin looking around for the different things she could use to defend herself. Setting the one crate while she was clearing it out and getting the different things she could use as padding.

The zombies were going to force their way through so she would give them something while she was looking at the different things and settling on one of the cubes that looked like her synthetic healing crystal. Might be wasted slightly on her but damn if it didn't help for preserving someone until a real healer appeared. SHe set it in her belt and cracked the cell as it was hissing and flashing. Tossing it at the last moment while she closed the lid and braced herself hearing the pop of the cell, the scraping of the metal as they were coming through and for a moment she thought it had failed until there was something. A pop and a kick then her ears were popping and she was spinning in the crate feeling her stomach going to one place while she went to another.

"AHHHHHHHH" Lorna was screaming as her crate launched and slammed into the snow starting to slide down picking up speed and she got the lid off looking up as a branch smacked her in the face brushing her cloak back with the sight of lights in the distance. Lorna could just see the area ahead of herself and the steep decline of snow in front of her as it was going down the mountain which she was hoping for a moment would make her stop until she saw what was behind her and coming in front of her. The sound of bodies being squished as her nuking the fridge gave her the speed to go sledding down the large hill. as it started running over more od the zombies. She had no idea how to control it but hey.... she was getting down the mountain and surviving... that was a plus.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Location: Forest
Allies: Silver Sanctum Coalition and Valkyri
Enemies: The Walking Dead
Objective: Regroup
Post Count: [4/20]

Moments after he had knocked off the head of the Vinterbound, who was a threat to Coci, Thurion reunited with his wife from slaying the relentless undead that continued to grow in numbers no matter the combined strength from everyone who opposed these creatures of the dead. It seemed that every time when one of these foul monsters was struck they multiplied to cover the loss. Where were they coming from? A logical answer would be if one of them had bit down on the body of someone but it would take time for a fever to strike a victim and reincarnate the man or woman from the bit. It didn't matter where they were coming from, what did matter was how they were going to survive this horde?

The Rally Master gave a brief bow from his head to both the Grandmaster and his wife right after they showed their thanks and gratitude through nonverbal communication. There was no emotion to be seen from him as he had his emotionless buy'ce on his head with the traditional T-visor. His helmet was to put the fear into his adversaries but knowing that they were dealing with spawns that didn't know anything except feed off from life it was useless to instill fear into the minds of the Vinterbounds.

An order was given by Thurion and a Valkyri officer to regroup to Thurion as they were going to attempt find a route around the undead just to avoid any fighting with soulless beings. Indeed, he was a Warrior and war was in his veins but he was tactful and knew when to retreat. The Redneck obeyed the order and entered the shield wall. His crossbow was slung around his shoulders and both of his pistols, fully reloaded, were in his hands. Any Vinterbound would be met with no mercy from Vilaz.

[member=Coci Heavenshield] [member=Thurion Heavenshield] [member="Lorna Halcyon"] [member="Ren Colvet"] [member="Matsu Ike"] [member="Sumiko Tanaka"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Romeo Sin"] [member="Nima Tann"] [member="Kaida Taldir"] and a bunch of others that I missed cause phone posting.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Objective: Carve a path to the village

Ulfgaard sounded the horn once more, and the Valkyri moved out in unison. Their raised shields worked like a battering ram, crushing all and any undead who found themselves in their path. Thurion kept Coci close, never letting go of her hand as they double-timed their way through the woods. The Vinterbound still surrounded them, but had no effective way of preventing their advance with their numbers so scattered.

Finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel. The army took its first steps out of the woods and basked in the faint sunlight breaking through the heavy clouds above. It seemed while they were busy fending off an ambush the weather had taken a turn for the better. It had stopped snowing, making for a vast difference in how far one could see as well as breathtaking change in scenery. Mountains too high to imagine on all sides reaching for the skies, with a frozen river running down the mountainside towards the picturesque village of Fafnersvik. It appeared unharmed, meaning the bulk of the undead horde had not yet commenced their attack. "Just a bit further," he reassured Coci at his side.

Sounding the horn once more, they were met with a similar signal from within the fortified village. As they approached, the wooden gates swung open to let them inside. At last they were given a respite, however brief it may be before the Vinterbound would attack again. For now, however, they were safe. Valkyri brethren embraced one another as their forces combined with the dozen or so warriors within the village, raising spirits and putting smiles on the faces of those who believed all hope to be lost mere minutes ago. Thurion found a place for Coci to rest on a wooden bench and sat down with her to catch his breath. His armour was stained with blood and grime from the ambush, his face dirty and sweaty. Despite this, it didn't take long for an old man and his grandchildren to recognise him.

"Forgive me, my lord and lady. The little ones just wanted to say hello," the white-haired man spoke with endearing accent. "They don't speak your language." Even so, the two children smiled and waved. Thurion returned their smile and leaned forward to get a better look at them. Both were dressed in thick furs from head to toe, but he was able to make that one was a girl and the other a boy. "It's no trouble," he told the elder before reaching out to the children, a palm-sized disc-looking gadget in his hand. Turning it on, the holo-projector showcased his father, the High King, standing tall with greatsword in hand. The children thought it some kind of witchcraft at first, but after Thurion demonstrated how it worked and that it was harmless, the girl carefully plucked it from his palm. Thurion figured that these remote people rarely get to even see the capital, let alone who sits upon the throne. The two children expressed their gratitude with a bow from the boy and a rather unsuccessful attempt at a courtsey from the girl. "Thank you, your grace! We will sing songs about you and yours for years to come."

The old man and his grandchildren then left them in peace. Thurion leaned back and put an arm around Coci. "They reminded me of Nina and Théo," he told her while resting his head against hers.

[5]​

​

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="George O Rourke"] | [member="Matsu Ike"] | [member="Lorna Halcyon"] | [member="Mysa Snowstrider"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Solan Charr"] | [member="Maya Whitelight"] | [member="Coryn Raxis"] | [member="Arrik Terran"] | [member="Spencer Olin"] | [member="Sumiko Tanaka"] | [member="Azel Elerel"] | [member="Inger Strömfire"] | [member="Romeo Sin"] | [member="Ren Colvet"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Sor-Jan Xantha"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Syala Daivik"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

It was time to conserve energy, the small reprieve from the fight afforded everyone valuable time to gather themselves and rest. The push forward through the forest and into the light of day a welcome to them all she suspected, even the air seemed less thick and more refreshing to the soul. Not that the Vinterbound would care or even feel much of anything. Behind them .. the ones that are left would come for them, even is crawling and clawing their way along the ground with broken body.

She pulled a breath in hard, trying to put precious oxygen into her blood to sure up the energy of a more natural kind, the force would soon be aiding her in other ways. But trudging through snow and ice is hard work on the body even with force assistance, such use takes a toll on all levels of rank.

Coci sat on the bench looking around the village, there is fear set among all that live here and rightly so for outside these walls evil stalks and will not stay away long. She too addressed the children that approached to see their Lord and smiled. "They do, I just hope Nina and Théo are staying out of trouble", she added, strange the parents do not take their own advice. She closed her eyes and rested against him, her mind going back to times alone and in peace, whether home on Tabaqui or resting on the lawns of Temple enjoying the sun. Coci pulled on those memories to steady herself and calm her mind. But only for a moment, such indulgences fleeting...

"We must see to everyone, make sure everyone is alright".

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="George O Rourke"] | [member="Matsu Ike"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Solan Charr"] | [member="Maya Whitelight"] | [member="Coryn Raxis"] | [member="Arrik Terran"] | [member="Romeo Sin"] | [member="Ren Colvet"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​

(8)

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]

"Climb up behind me, we have orders to move to the village". She said to the woman that had approached.

With orders received, Aerin commanded a reformation of the cavalry. They are less in numbers, but still the warriors rode high in the saddle. Forming three lines the riders moved forward onward to the village. Cutting right through the horde of undead at full speed, mowing them down if they got in the way, or killing them with fire and sword. The cavalry broke through and soon would be out into the fields that lay before the village.

A white cloud of snow kicked up behind the horse man and women as they rode onward, the village not far and in sight. There is no sign of the Vinterbound besieging the township as yet, but the force told her different, they would soon come.

The horses breathes billowed out of their flayed nostrils with every forward push until they reached the gates. The cavalry will not enter but form a defensive line until the Jedi and her allies arrive.

(9)

 

[Zak Dymo]

Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi? Part 3
Post 5 of 20
Location: Coldwind Pass, just north of Hafnir
Frenemies: The Silver Sanctum Coalition
Gear: Primeval Light Combat Armor (minus helmet), Amphistaff, EX-1 Blaster Pistol, MedPac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6OtF7daIPM​

The young Pantoran patrolled around the hamlet until sunset.

It was like walking through a ghost town. The houses emptied. Toys littering the ground where children had played. Plates, meals left on the table as though people had just gotten up from their lives and disappeared. By all appearances, Hafnir was a town that had been abandoned. And, yet, the report from Mission Specialist Garibaldi had indicated that this was a town alive with people. And that transmission had only been a week ago.

At the dying of the light, the sun vanishing behind the jagged teeth of the mountains which overlooked the valley where Hafnir lay in a shadow of giant, the Pantoran had come inside of one of the smaller huts. Fresh cut wood tossed on a fire pit, as the boy settled down on the floor and produced a ration bar from out of his pocket. Tearing off a piece of the nutrition block, the boy held it out for the amphistaff. The Yuuzhan Vong shaped biot slithering across the floor to take it from the boy's hand, before coiling in front of the blossoming fire.

Amber eyes slid back to the crackling flames. In his mind, he continued to try and piece together the mystery of Hafnir. The food practically still warm on the tables, and yet the people just absent. Gone, as if in the blink of an eye.

Bracing himself up against a farmer's table, the boy tried to put the questions out of his mind as he closed his eyes.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Objective: Survive the ambush
Location: Forest of Fafnersvik
Allies Near: [member="Syala Daivik"] | [member="Ren Colvet"]
Enemies: The Undead
Gear: Combat Armour | Blue Bladed Lightsaber
Post: #6 / 20

Gritting his teeth as he threw an Undead grunt over his shoulder and slice it's head off those manky shoulders, the horn alerted all those around Connor. But more so it alerted him to the fact Ren had parted his own path towards the village as the Valkyri made a break for it.

Cursing, he turned and ran, taking out a torso of an Undead as he did and bolted over a fallen tree to Sy.

”Sy, get to Ren - get him and yourself to the village with the others at once. I'm holding back to make sure all stragglers get through. Do not question me. I know you can do this. Move!”

Taking a breath, he turned and backed carefully away from where he was, to hopefully lead Sy to find Ren and get them both safety. She may not be pleased with his direction, but when he gave a command, Connor liked to think she wouldn't argue with the greater intention of those lesser experienced than them in battle.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="George O Rourke"] | [member="Matsu Ike"] | [member="Kaida Taldir"] | [member="Coryn Raxis"] | [member="Arrik Terran"] | [member="Romeo Sin"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Audren Sykes"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Post 6 of 20
Objective: 1 & 2
Location: Marching to Fafnersvik
Allies: Silver Jedi and Friends
Gear: Warden Cloak (green), Sasori Robes, Lightsabers (green and amber), Hold-Out Blaster

On the bright side, he'd been meaning to get in some Niman practice.

The acrobatic jumps of Ataru blended into the lateral blade movements of Shien. Form V flowed into the simple vectors of Form I, which in turn were drawn close to the body in the defensive orbits of Soresu. Then, from out of those orbits, the powerful ripostes and strikes of Djem So.

Niman was not a single form of lightsaber combat, rather it sought to find balance between a multitude of classical forms. It eschewed Makashi, focusing instead on Shii-cho, Soresu, Ataru, Shien, and Djem So. It was the ultimate jack-of-all-trades, making it a master of none. But it's true strength was realized through the apt application of the right style at the right moment. To compensate for it's lack of an overall specialty, the Niman practitioner augmented their bladework with a variety of other skills. Telekinetic shields, Force throws, and enhanced dexterity and speed making the small Consular a deadly opponent as his green blade weaved through the sea of wights which attempted to throw themselves upon the Valkyri.

Bodies and parts of bodies were splayed in all directions around the Anzat, as he stayed on the flank of the marching Valkyri in the approach to the town.

At the sounding of the horn, the boy knight fell into step behind the last of the Valkyri to enter into the gates of the village. Not until the way was shut did he secure his blade. A slow exhale of breath bringing with it the sudden realization of the physical exhaustion extolled upon his slight frame. Stepping out of the way of the main path, the boy dropped down to his knees and again worked to quiet his mind and meditate -- that he might find solace and rejuvenation through the Force.

There was no way to know how long until the attack would come anon.

 

[Baalagor]

Objective: Regroup
Location: Forest near Fafnersvik
Allies: [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Ren Colvet"], SSC
Enemies: The Others The references have to begin somewhere.
(3/20)

It would have been easy to respond and continue their bickering, but there were more important things at hand, and appearances of a sort to upkeep. So instead of retorting Syala remained silent, her focus instead turning to the sea of the undead that was beginning to clash with the just as obstinate gathering of Valkyri and Jedi alike. Blades comprised of both plasma and steel sliced through the air, cutting down their enemies where they stood as the horde charged towards those marching. His comments weighed on her mind, but she pushed them away as the tunnel-vision that often encompassed those in battle stretched to include her as well, the Force itself acting as a guide.

Her movements were entirely fluid, each swing connected to the next, no action wasted. While she was far from the most combative sort, having chosen the path of a Consular as her primary focus, her training as a Shadow had ensured that she was more than capable of defending herself. For each wight that she cut down two more seemed to take its place, and for once she was thankful for her sightlessness. It meant she was spared the visual horrors of a battle such as this, but those witnessed on the ethereal took on another form altogether. It was one thing to witness things physically, but those on the metaphysical plane were far easier to forget. The impression they left was almost unerasable.

The horn that sounded didn't go unnoticed, nor did Connor's order. And, as much as she still had to say to him, she would obey. Lashing out against and felling the undead warrior she was clashing with she stepped back, following him through the snowy terrain littered with corpses and pieces of them. His guidance left her near the Padawan whose fear she could sense despite his covering it up with a carefully gleaned sort of bravado. Reaching out through the Force she touched on his mind to simply alert him of her presence nearby. "Follow me, Padawan. We'll continue on towards the village." Hopefully he would listen to her, allowing her voice to penetrate through the fog of battle.

Her gaze cut briefly to Connor, "We will see you in the village. I believe in you, Master." With those words left for him she gently took Ren's arm, beginning to guide him towards the village, assuming he didn't resist. The pair would reconvene with the others towards the end of the line of those marching, and she extinguished her blade only when she stepped through the boundary of the gates. Once more the weapon found itself clipped at her waist, and she turned to the one that had accompanied her. "I would suggest that you rest yourself and perhaps meditate. If you would like to speak, I am more than happy to listen." She offered a smile, hoping to ease the tension of the previous fight. "I'm always willing to help."

 

[Zak Dymo]

Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi? Part 4
Post 7 of 20
Location: Hafnir, west of Fafnersvik
Frenemies: The Silver Sanctum Coalition
Gear: Primeval Light Combat Armor (minus helmet), Amphistaff, EX-1 Blaster Pistol, MedPac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-_mrWP_JfI​

C O R U S C A N T
2 years earlier...

He was starving.

He hadn't eaten in a day and a half. He'd swiped a moldy loaf of stale foodboard from out of the trash bins behind the Chiss and Whistle, but Surl had taken it from him. The Zabrak was older and larger than the Pantoran boy, whose pale blue flesh was stretched gaunt over the sickly, emaciated frame of the street urchin.

He'd returned to those rubbish bins now, hoping to find some discarded cheese or something else which might still be edible.

Instead, Avvin was starting back at him. His skin pale, almost chalk white. His body broken, contorted in ways that even the uneducated youngling could recognize as impossible. A gash across the boy's throat left jagged edges stained red.

Avvin Darvin was another orphan. Another member of the gang of thieves and beggars who ran this section of the red light district. He'd been working the block over from where Boo had been trying to find a mark to earn his keep for the day. For all his troubles, all Boo had come up with was three credits and an identicard he hoped was worth something to somebody so that maybe he could eat.

There was always the possibility of consequences if they were caught. And it seemed that those risks had caught up with Avvin. The boy knew that the youngling wasn't sleeping. A fly walking on top of the open eye that stared vacantly up toward the sky.

Luminous, blue eyes. Like the heart of ice, lit up by hellfire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

M I D V I N T E R

He woke still in the dream.

Disoriented as he opened his eyes and was presented with a reality that wasn't Coruscant. That wasn't the ghetto. Just an empty hut and a dying fire, not the boulevard of broken dreams where he'd learned to hide from police in sewers and eek out a living in the trash. Blinking several times, he tried to banish the thought from his mind.

Which, he wasn't certain. The dream or the memory. With each passing second, the recollection of what he'd seen in his mind's eye was rapidly fleeting. Leaving him only the husk of memories too fresh to forget, and to painful to dwell upon. The overwhelming riptide of emotion seemed to tear open old wounds in the soul, as the boy huddled into a fetal ball and rocked himself.

They said that Jedi found peace in the Force.

Boo... didn't know what peace was to recognize it.

The viper-like head of the amphistaff peeked up by the child's face, a forked tongue darting out to tap against the side of his cheek. Cradling the head of the biot in one hand, the Pantoran tried to excise himself from out of the reverie. His heart was pounding in his throat, his ears ringing, and his mind swimming.

There was something about that dream.

There was something about this place.

It felt like...

Craning his head around, the boy popped up into a three-point crouch as he stared up at the window. The silhouette of a small, human-like shape was indistinctly present in the glass. Watching from behind blue eyes.

Luminous, blue eyes. Like the heart of ice, lit up by hellfire.