Solo [N Kabrin, E Syliras] Land learning for a Snakesicle

[Zydrunas]

25th Winter 514 AV
Morning, 10th Bell

Zydrunas had been crouched in the cold undergrowth for a while now, form low, his eyes occasionally peaking over the yellowed tips as they swayed. Lips puckered, sucking in the air as silently as he could muster, his nostrils flaring as he gave a peer over. There was stillness, the stopping of movement as the twigs tickled his face, a halt in movement as the whole world seemed to hold its breath - and then promptly exhaled a plume of white. Movement returned once more, the gust of the winter air tangling into his hair and then drifting onwards once more. Muscles gave a strain, a gentle ache in complaint to the holding of the posture for such a long amount of time, but he kept low, placing a hand firmly upon the ground and attempting to maintain the balance.

It was a much needed exercise - in the loosest sense of the word. Syliras was a new location to him, filled with strange "exotics" and peoples that should have existed somewhere in stories and myth. But here they were, resting within their throne of stone and rising above the blue torrent of water - the Suvan Sea -, with the great expanse stretching out further than the eye could see. It was completely and utterly mind boggling, enough so that it seemed to knock him off his normal level of being somewhat grounded and left him spiralling in confusion. Shaking his head, his left hand gave a grip around the quarterstaff and focused at what was at hand.

Besides, he was a squire now - it would be vital for him to know the lay of the land he was to set to work in for the foreseeable future. Though it would be fruitless, he reasoned upon the first day of entering the city, to attempt to perform a successful patrol with no prior knowledge of the location - that and the winter season was well within a firm grip. It was a new place to him, alien in every aspect, but that did not mean he was not going to attempt to blend in. Hide, conceal, become something he was not despite the urges to answer and become something that called to him - it was a usual routine he was growing used to. But before he could even do that he needed to learn the land to use it effectively. Having awakened himself early in the morning, he had dragged his form from his bed, the colours barely peaking out of the dawn sky as he did and managed to drag himself out of the gates.

From there he gave a roam up and down the beaten path the locals had called the Kabrin road, eyes studying the sea of snow and trees that swayed gently in the winds. Looking for the narrow game trails between the undergrowth, the crunched snow marking it clearer, came after that, gaze lowering to the ground level, and setting his fingers into tracing the tips. Which, in turn, lead him to the position he was presently in.

Wincing, Zydrunas shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He was a hunter, a predator within the still woods, seeking some unknown wild monster of a beast - at least, that was what he told himself. Secretly he knew that reality would not grace him with such an opportunity, but that did not stop him from at least imagining it all. Though, even he knew it was little more than a lie to help displace his boredom. Toes flexed, form low as he turned his gaze down to the beaten game trail where the thin grass had been pressed flat to the ground. Foot raising he gave a stare down it and then brought himself to move. Waiting around was not exactly going to reveal the world to him.

[Zydrunas]

Moving bent double through the undergrowth, he paced. The small crackle of dried strands beneath his feet, the rub of fabric upon his flesh. He plucked up a broad twig between his fingers, a careful study of it, looking down its withered edge and the peeling bark. It took a careful squint to see that something had gnawed away at it, the jagged cut along the edge being something he would compare to teeth. He bent it between the digits, and let it flutter to the ground at his feet. What did that tell him about the surroundings?

The air was different here too, he noted after a while. Full of dampness that was absent in the desert or even on the border, enough so that it seemed to hug against the skin and tickle upon the senses. His head gave a turn, a gentle press down upon the ground with the butt of his staff, it lacked the grains and silt texture too, harder earthed and more compact - it truly was beginning to feel like an alien environment to him. Or perhaps worse than simply than just unusual. His eyes blinked, his thoughts paused and considered his next move.

Longer, careful and more thought out steps came next. His form gave a slink down as he curled in upon himself, fingers cold and gradually growing numb. He released a hiss, the sound juddering as he tried once more to find the sensation to pair it up to. A likeness of the past. His only line was the cold, open nights of the desert - but even then that chill did not even compare to this. With his shoulders hunching in, he simply lifted his gaze to look once more and take in the stillness of the land. Nothing, he could not hear a thing that suggested any waking wildlife. He continued his prowling for a moment, and bit by bit he eased himself up to stand.

Hands swung upwards, a moan of displeasure as he clicked out. The cold was certainly biting hard down onto him, sinking its way in and proving to be largely uncomfortable. It was with such a mindset that he inevitably forced himself into movement - else the chill take him. With the staff hitched up, Zydrunas made his move. To begin with it was merely forcing his stiffening legs into steps, but as he continued did they grow firmer. Stronger, more dominant steps, full of intention on getting the blood pumping and the mind going. He gave a staggering slip back onto the game trail, boots crunching in the snow, a shrug in as he pulled cloak and scarf in around him. The beating track that made up the fabled Kabrin road was not far, the pressed and mudded treads of hooves marking it out clearly and the bitter sense of crushed earth and distant bonfires met his nostrils. Yes, it was indeed certainly cold - and the was the dreaded pit in his stomach that suggested it would get colder still. And it was the cold that forced any potential game deeper and further away.

[Zydrunas]

He hummed, the faint tang of saliva within his mouth, the cold seeping in a bit too firmly now as he stamped forward. Even to the point that his hands clenched and his eyes felt the urge to grow heavy. It was at that moment, that Zydrunas forced the body into producing heat. Stumbling onto the Kabrin, he gave a firm stamp of a foot, a firm shake of his extremities as he swung them. The Quarter staff gave a wobble in the air - foolish swings as he continued to twist about and force the muscles into contraction - a delayed warm up for the snow. The plumes of escaping white chased the air, the firm fighting back against the sense of drowsiness and the chattering of teeth.

A jump up on the spot, the bile resting upon his tongue as the simple process of getting his blood pumping took over. The air of course looked to fight against that, but he was not about to let it win - not yet at least. His offhand gave a broad swing, punching wildly at the stray flakes that came his way, a loud, hissing curse escaping his lips, "Too! Petching! COLD! SSStupid! SSSnow!"

Zydrunas promptly threw the staff down to the ground, and threw his hands up into the air despite the urge to crawl up into a ball. Breaths grew heavier, the ridiculous nature of the cold firing up his mind and temper - a rarity for him. He continued to slap his hands together - gaze turning across and down the road to the overcast skies of the city proper. A place he was certain was receiving another blanket of snow, the damned persistent thing that it was. The Iyvess pumped up his chest, scowl forming on his face as he once more took up the staff and waved it angrily at the heavens. Another warring cry rose up from his stomach, a turning stagger as he dipped once more to the side of the road, "Zulrav!" There was a pivot round, a faster spin as he continued to accusingly point upwards feet digging into the snow, "Don't you dare bring more of that cursssed white ssstuff here! I'm watching you! Too cold for my kind, you, you-"

The trampled snow hardened, thickening and loosing the grip he would have had. His feet continued to stamp down, and it was only with the coming of the left that his foot slipped out beneath him. It was a muffled thud when he hit the ground, a sharp intake of breath as the ice clung to him and refused to let go. Even the golden orbs, widened as pure discomfort caressed him. Around him the embankment of snow closed in, the layer of damp sinking and freezing. Zydrunas shot up, hands releasing the staff to instead clap around his shoulders whilst his face screwed up into a scowl. A juddering, hissing mutter escaped as he stiffly pushed himself up, "Petch you Zulrav. Don't you-" A gush of wind cut through him, the tree branches juddering and shifting their loads. There was stillness as he looked up to the snow laden branches, his shoulders slumping with regret as they gave in.

[Zydrunas]

It got everywhere, seeping deep into his shoulders. A searing chill that sunk into his muscles and flesh, clinging and gripping as he hauled himself out. The snow rested upon him, melting and damping his clothing, his skin prickling to the cold. It was with a clap against his arms that the Iyvess focused simply on the idea of being warm, fingers massaging at his muscles. He gave a grunt, prying himself free, his fingers tightly grasping around the shaft of his staff. Planting the butt of it against the ground he used it as a leverage, dragging himself out of the snow slump, teeth gritting into a line as he braced.

Knees bending, the Dhani crawled, his form huddling down into his scarf and coat, his brow dipping into that of fury. It was only when her finally managed to hold onto his footing that he moved his hand to brush against his shoulder and the layer of powdered snow that rested there. He released an annoyed grunt to long after, knees locking as he balanced himself upon the uneven surface and gently swatted the flakes away. It was from there that he gave a stab at the surfaces with his staff and forced himself into a reluctant, steady movement. How happy he would have been to simply curl up in some warm, dark den and sleep away the winter - a sort of hibernation from the world and against the elements. No, instead he managed to foolishly convince himself that it would be a good idea to travel within the chill and outside of his preferred seasons.

Zydrunas hissed, eyes blinking as he looked down to the prints and the tell tale sign of where he had fallen, and then switched his attention back along the road. Yes, warmth sounded like a very good idea at the moment. His bones ached for it and the darkness of a den with the others of his kind. Feet itched, and gently pushed him back along it - cautious this time with a distinct bitter disappointment resting upon his tongue. With the staff serving as a support, the Dhani gently tapped his way out and forward. Boots crunched, teeth chattered, but he kept a forced steady pace despite the sluggishness before him. He had people he had to get used to, a city to understand, and could not wait forever to do so.

It was to be his home for now at least.

[Sayana]

Zydrunas Skills: Skill EXP Stealth +1 Endurance +4 Observation +4 Land Navigation +3 Tracking +3 Acrobatics +2 Rhetoric +1 Lores: Location: Kabrin Road near Syliras Tracking: Crushed grass and snow indicate game trails Tracking: Bitten off leaves indicate animals Syliran weather: Cold, damp, alien Land Navigation: Using a staff as a traveling aid Shield Points: Shield Points Earned Reason +2 Training Total: +2 Shield Points Comments : Poor little frozen snakey. He didn’t really get that far but he fully deserves the endurance points. It was a nice read. Don't forget to edit/delete your grade request in the grade request thread. However, make sure to keep the link so that the DS can review graded threads with ease. If you have any questions or concerns about your grade please feel free to send me a message (like really, I’m all ears if you feel like I missed something). Enjoy.