Closed Survival of the Splashiest [Chev]

[Una Tanta]

2nd Day of Summer, 513 AV, Night Slipping out of the water that morning she smiled shaking herself free of the water droplets as she avoided the fishermens' curious gazes at the exotic nude sea creature fleeing into the shadows. Picking up the waterproof sack she took out the black velvet underclothes and slipped them on, the feel of the fabric on her rubbery skin making her giggle every single time. She was used to the freedom of being nude and the only clothing she'd had were rough and constricting, she had never known clothing so lovely as this. Slipping on the loose brocade blouse and black breeches she jumped around struggling to get it all on, the process unfamiliar. Pulling on the wooly knee-high white stockings and red leather boots she sat down to do up the laces. Lined with fur the clothing kept her intensely warm. Finishing up, she pulled on the red leather gloves, coat and hood wrapping the brocade scarf around her neck. Strutting out of the darkness proudly she passed the fishermen working hard at the boats not recognizing her as the creature of a few moments ago. Walking into the city she passed by the guard, he smiled and nodded recognizing her. She passed by him everyday since she'd come there, though she had never had the nerves to approach him and his beautiful Kelvic he treated her as he did the fishermen who left at dawn and returned at dusk, with friendly familiarity. By now Una knew her way around the city, if not the shortcuts and alleyways. Having explored the city to be close to Cy she had begun to feel as if she were a ghost, wandering the frozen north of Mizahar, purposeless. Instead she had turned her sights to the Frost Hawk she had promised the woman who had first shown her the great Inartan eagles. Slipping into various stores throughout the city she purchased a light one person tent, a fur trimmed sleeping bag and a traveling ruck sack with a weeks worth of food. Though she had spent many nights in the cold dark sea she had never been camping on land before. Finding flint and steel she wrinkled her brow wondering how she would light a fire without an abundance of wood. Purchasing a block of animal fat she stuffed everything into her bag and strapped it to her back. Moving her shoulders experimentally she shifted in place never having felt so heavy. She had purchased the items earlier and was merely retrieving them this morning so the process only took a few hours as she marched toward the Ice Wall Gates she gritted her teeth determined. She wouldn't venture far this time, the white oblivion beyond those gates was to be respected, but she knew the wildness of the sea and could survive there, and this knowledge gave her undue confidence. Striding out of the gates she caught the disbelieving smirk of the Iceguard and the worried frown of the other. Though they said nothing as she raised her chin defiantly. In the time she been to Avanthal she had grown enormously and could stand as straight and proud as she had her first day there but without the use of alcohol. Though she didn't realize or credit herself yet with this growth her confidence made her an even more compelling and exotic force in Avanthal. Red coat pulled around her tightly and the many layers underneath, including a healthy addition of fur kept her temperate in the flying snow that constantly obscured the landscape. Following the gentle groove of the typical hunting trail away from Avanthal the Iceguards disappeared behind the flurries. Though only a few yards away lay the safe walled city Una felt the press of vulnerability and the exquisite peace of solitude.

[Chev]

Chev had never seen anything quite so exotic in his entire life. His jaw unhinged in pure, raw shock. The creature’s appearance sent a cold shiver down his spine—an equally strange feeling, for he had grown comfortable in the unforgiving northern lands. His skin seemed paler than the sparkling snow on the ground. The leather sack that carried the lute, an antique, was snuggled in a nest of white, beside Chev’s leather boots, as the boy, so ignorant of the outside world, gaped and stared in awe. His father had requested the musical instrument from a member of the Snowsong Hold, and had presented Chev with the task of obtaining it and delivering it to him, safe and sound. The future of that endeavor was terribly bleak, but that was not the issue at the moment. Frosty, perched on Chev’s shoulder, seemed to be equally mesmerized by the creature. Therefore, it was only natural that the snow ferret would jump down and run up to sniff it, pawing it with curious, snow ferret-y hands. “No, stop!” Chev sped after the snow ferret, but it was faster by miles. Chev only managed to snag Frosty before any further harm was done. Upon closer inspection, what Chev had thought to be hair from afar was actually what looked like a rubbery fin, like the kind of thing you’d find on the side of a sea animal. The rest of her blue skin was smooth in texture, and Chev wondered if she was from the ocean. The creature exuded something ethereal. Maybe she was a sea goddess. This only caused his blood to rush from excitement. Behind the messy locks of brown hair, teal hues sparkled with curiosity. “Excuse me,” he stammered. “I—I’m sorry. My friend didn’t mean to.” He didn’t realize that he was already past the gates, but there was no time to think about it. “What are you?” he blurted out. A silent moment passed before his hands shot up to cover his mouth, eyes wide with embarrassment and shame.

[Una Tanta]

Anger infused her fingertips and she turned away from him. She was sick of being treated like a beast instead of a conscious creature equivalent to the Vantha. Standing between her and her path she turned back to face him before stubbornly brushing him aside and moving out into the snow. Moving North she followed the wall until he was out of sight behind her but she hadn't lost the psychological protection of the city. While there was little tree cover near the wall Una found a place to put up her tent where the wall would protect her from the cold western winds. She fumbled to get her tent out. She had never built it before and didn't want to try building it later in the day when her fingers would be numb from the cold. Taking out to folding sticks she tied them together at their apex and buried the ends in the snow. Draping the heavy fur cover over the sticks she crawled inside and draped a heavy fur floor. It wasn't a standard tent, nor would it stand up the wind further afield but the slightly larger than necessary top sheet draped across the snow on the outside closing the gap between the two sheets of fur. It was dark and dank, but it was warm. She had read several books on putting up tents but the complexities had alluded her. So instead she had come up with this idea. The beams that held up the top bent and creaked under the weight making her nervous and hopeful it wouldn't snow. Strapping her pack tighter to her body she slid out of the tent and gazes at the brilliant dazzling snow. It crunched a thousand different sounds beneath her feet as she marched into the distance. Found along the coast, much to Unas relief, she had read that the Frost Hawks were a pest but were still seen rather infrequently. She supposed she would be spending many more hours looking for one rather than capturing one. Being the coldest part of the year Una assumed that they would be easier to spot close to Avanthal causing a nuisance or far out to sea were the ice was thinner. Marching through the knee-deep snow Una bit her lip wishing she had bought snow shoes and making a mental note to do that in the future. She spent the day making a path from her tent to the coast where she could walk out along the ice scanning the sky. Everything was white here, spotting a white bird was like trying to find a square snowflake in the vastness before her. She heaved a sigh as night approached and she was forced back into her tent. More reading would be necessary Una decided. She would pack up and walk back to the entrance tomorrow. Next time she would have to hire a Frostfawn, there was no other way she could succeed. BOUGHT: 6gm - Tent, One person (Two flexible wooden bars and made of fur) -10gm - Waterpack -1.5sm - Sleeping back ( Fur trimmed (x1.5))

[Noblesse]

Una Tanta :

Experience:

• Wilderness Survival (Tundra) +1
• Observation +1

Lores:

• Going Camping On Land
• Newfound Confidence
• I’m Not a Beast!
• Building a Tent in the Snow
• Frosthawks: Winged Pests of Avanthal
• Note to Self: Buy Snowshoes

Other:

Possessions:

• One person tent - 2 GM
• Waterpack - 10 GM
• Bedroll - 1 SM

Chev Frostfawn :

Please update your ledger with your living expenses for Spring and Summer 513. While we are on that topic, specify for which season you are deducting these expenses (i.e. -135 GM, Spring 512). After you had done this, PM me for your grade.

Additional Notes :

For Una, instead of a sleeping bag, we have bedrolls instead. These are often made of fur and other cloths so you don’t need to specify it as fur-trimmed anymore, since that particular multiplier is for clothing. And in what thread did you purchase your clothing? I checked your ledger and found that your value for the brocaded blouse is wrong. You may have to review your computations for all the clothes again.

The Aurora flames coldly in the skies above

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.