ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 9, 2013 4:57:11 GMT -5
Aran pushed strider as hard as he dared, but the furious roar of the beast was frightening the horse, and Strider was riding even harder then Aran had expected. Tapping the horses head, Strider titled his downward, and Aran slipped a leg over the horse, steadying himself with his free hand while keeping his bow held fast in the other. With one leg over, he began moving his other leg over Strider's back, turning around in his horses saddle completely. Strider was well trained, and there was no need to push him any harder. The warhorse would guide himself on the road, all the way to Mournoth if need be.
Using his new position to see behind him, he nodded to Chloe reassuringly, or at least as much as he could, watching the shadow of a massive winged nightmare slowly gaining on them. In a swoop, it dived into the trees for a moment, limbs cracking, but they were still too far away. It was however, enough for Aran to finally see their pursuers face. His fears were confirmed by the head of a horned dragon, and for a moment, he could see the dragon looking straight at him. With a shudder, he drew back the arrow and let it fly, but it bounced harmlessly off the dragons tough scales. As it rose back out of reach, Aran carefully knocked an arrow, knowing he had nothing better to fight the dragon with on the move, and watched the shadow in the sky growing closer and closer.
A second dip into the road brought a burst of flame from the dragons mouth, and Aran could feel the scorching heat despite the flames falling short. Frowning beneath his helm, he released another arrow, this time striking the dragons wing as it rose back into the sky. An ear splitting roar confirmed that he'd hit the dragon, but he'd only managed to enrage it even further. He hated to waste his arrows, but he could worry about that after their lives were no longer in danger. Drawing another arrow and nocking it, he glanced at Chloe, waiting for the dragon to swoop down again. Or at the least, until she is safe. For him, in that moment, all that mattered was protecting his new master.
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 9, 2013 5:48:40 GMT -5
Blazing heat, it was a surprise to Chloe who was keeping her head down close to Avril. She couldn't remember ever feeling such heat, ever since she'd practiced using her Magicka she'd known how to block the heat. She'd created a firestorm before and not even felt it.
But this. This was something different. It felt different. She looked over at Aran, facing her with his bow and releasing arrows upon the beast. No, the Dragon. She'd remembered reading about them, they were more than beast. They were clever. Dangerous. Chloe held a hand to her Horse's shoulder, releasing a wave of Magicka. A shield spell formed around the Horse, it wouldn't help much but it would ease her comfort if the monster released a wave closer to them.
A third dip below the tree line brought the monster closer to them, Chloe felt helpless as a roar of words spilled forth a spray of fire. It fell short, but not by much. She tried to turn around to face the monster, or at least look at it, but the brightness of the flames and the heat caused her to turn away. She could feel her cheeks burning.
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 9, 2013 6:15:47 GMT -5
Aran loosed arrow after arrow, slowly depleting his quiver as they rode, the dragon relentless in his pursuit. The scorching heat left flames in their wake, some too large for the rains to put until they'd burned out the plant life the dragon had scorched. It soared close again, and Aran faced the beast as it snapped its jaws towards Strider, barely beyond reach. Hunger had made it careless, and it let forth a spew of flame as it faltered, singing both Aran and his horse. For the moment at least, he had the dragons attention, enough that it would not attack Chloe without provocation.
Aran breathed heavily, having lost his breath from the dragon's flame, and nocked yet another arrow. The trees slowed the dragon every time it dipped below their branches, but he could see from the shadow it would return soon. The arrows in it's wing had not managed to slow it at all, and he drew back as the fearsome creature descended once again. It went for a bite out of Aran yet again, but this time the dragon was far too close. His aim true, Aran let the arrow fly, and with a bloodcurdling roar it sunk into the dragons eyelid. It crashed to the ground in pain, and the speeding horses quickly left it behind.
Aran breathed heavily, watching the distance as the dragon grew farther away. He realized underneath the adrenaline that his heart felt as though it were beating out his chest, and the fear of the situation finally settled in. For a moment, he was paralyzed with it. The sharp fangs, the searing heat.... The look of pure bloodlust in the dragons eye. Had he missed, the dragon would have pulled him from the saddle and devoured him like a sack of meat, it's might jaws shredding his armor to pieces.
He regained himself, staring into the distance behind them until he could no longer make out the dragon in the clouded forest. "I believe we have lost it my lady...." He said as calmly as possible, his breath heavy from exertion. He worried for the horses health, but did not dare stop their gallop for when the dragon resumed his attack, if it did. Carefully, he placed his bow over his back and turned per to face forward once more, hoping against hope that was the last they'd see of the dragon.
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 9, 2013 6:52:14 GMT -5
Chloe watched, eye wide in fear like a rabbit caught in a fox's jaws, as the Dragon swooped down just next to her to tear Aran from his saddle. Avril had to move out of the way of the beast's wings which came dangerously close to tearing a hole on the horse. Chloe could feel the strain of breath on her horse's ribs as it pushed itself beyond the point. Fear was driving the horse now, but at least training kept her from bucking or attempting to run off the road.
As the Dragon came down again, signalled by the cracking of branches and the crash of wood against the floor, Chloe was readying herself for the beasts teeth. She hadn't thought a lot about dying before, the realisation that the next breath could be her last really struck home. Fear gave way to a determination that she didn't want to die, adrenalin told her to fight off her death but she had no means, not from this angle.
A roar unlike any she had heard before, it made her hair stand on edge, was followed quickly by a heavy, earthy, crash. Chloe turned to look behind her, finally getting a true look at the monster that had been tailing them. Scales, horns and a mouth that looked almost sculpted to be intimidating and scary. A beast of Oblivion wouldn't have put such fear in her as the sight of this winged behemoth thrashing on the road, knocking trees aside with its tail and wings. She watched, until she could no longer see it.
Her ears throbbed, cheeks flushed with blood. She hardly registered Aran's words, she just turned forwards and let the adrenaline wash from her system. She had no words to say, no thoughts on what was happening or what had happened. She just felt so. . . Weak. She was nothing in comparison to that beast, she could do nothing to stop it. A fleeting thought of home snapped into her mind, a slight regret of leaving in the first place. Her head turned to Aran, her words failed her, but she managed a weary "Thank you."
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 11, 2013 16:48:03 GMT -5
Aran began slowing Strider down, the horse thankful for the reprieve, turning to the side to ensure his master was okay. Chloe seemed shaken over the ordeal, and Aran could not blame her. "My lady?" he started, frowning underneath his helm when he garnered no response. "Chloe." Aran repeated, hoping that she was okay.
"Thank You."
He smiled beneath his helm, glad that she was okay, and he did his best to appear as stoic as possible. Despite the rumbling of his heart and the fear running through his veins, he kept his voice cold, glad for his helmet as it would impossible to keep the fear from his face.
"I do believe we have just survived a Dragon Attack my lady Chloe. Few can claim such a feat. Assassins, Lizardmen, and a dragon. If you were seeking adventure, you have certainly found it."
He could see a building in the distance now, somewhat distorted by the trees, and hoped that it was Mournoth. He had no idea how long they had been riding, but knew the horses must be tired. It would be good to give them a rest, and Aran expected his master could use one as well after such a scare. In fact, he probably needed one himself. More importantly, he would need to start making more arrows, or find a good fletcher in the city.
"I believe we have almost reached Mournoth, Chloe. It will be good to finally get out of the rain, yes?" It was the best attempt at small talk he knew how to make.
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 15, 2013 16:19:00 GMT -5
The poor young Breton couldn't help but let out a nervous fit of laughter at Aran's comment about Assassins, Lizardmen and Dragons. It was quiet, drowned out by the rain, but in it could be noted her weariness at the situation and the shock of what had just happened. She had no idea what time of the day it was, the storm made everything dark and the sun seemed to not want to shine on this part of Hammerfell. It couldn't have been long into the evening yet her body was drained of energy, not even Magicka just the willingness to stand.
The sight of the building in the distance brought no shortage of joy to Chloe, she thought of the warmth of a lit fire and the liquid refreshment that would be on offer at the inns. A dry set of clothes, wouldn't hurt too. The horses slowed, tired as they were, now that they were far from the Dragon behind them. Even at the slow speed, Mournoth would be upon them quickly. She couldn't quite make out what the structure between the trees was, a spire of a castle? A tower? The shape was tall and strong, but it brought with it the promise of the comforts of civilization.
"I believe we have almost reached Mournoth, Chloe. It will be good to finally get out of the rain, yes?"
"Yes," Chloe said in response, "I wouldn't mind leaving this rain behind for good. I don't think I want to see the blasted thing ever again, I'd almost be glad for the deserts of Hammerfell if I didn't fancy becoming a Scorpion's breakfast, lunch and supper."
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 21, 2013 20:55:08 GMT -5
"Yes," Chloe said in response "I wouldn't mind leaving this rain behind for good. I don't think I want to see the blasted thing ever again, I'd almost be glad for the deserts of Hammerfell if I didn't fancy becoming a Scorpion's breakfast, lunch and supper."
"My lady... You've survived a dragon attack. I do believe scorpions should no longer hold any fear for you." In the distance, he could see the wooden walls of Mournoth now, as the trees began to open up before them....
_________________________________
The next morning........
Aran pulled Strider to a halt at the base of the mountain, as the road began to slope upward. According to the locals, no one had taken the road since the weather had went bad, so there was likely to be a fresh layer of snow and ice. He was worried for the horses safety, but it was the safest road through the mountains and if they were careful, he and Chloe could make it down the other side before the nights end.
After their encounter with the dragon, Aran was still on edge, and he was more quiet and distant this morning then on others, not that it made any real difference on the surface. The previous day he had negotiated with the inkeep to allow them to stay for his performance, then tended to the horses while letting Chloe get out of her wet clothes. He took on as much responsibility for the night as he could, iron their clothes dry, feeding the horses, and fetching them both meals. His performance was less grand then the last one, though he had added a new song to the rotation, of a beautiful and courageous magess, fighting off a dragon with her incredible spells while riding on horseback.
He made it to his bed late, but managed to rise early, fetching bath water and coals to have a warm bath ready for his lady when she woke, before grooming the horses and doing his morning routine.
He turned to look at Chloe at the base of the mountain, his helmet doing the job of masking his face for the moment. "Chloe, my lady, perhaps it would be best to wait for a caravan to come this way. The mountains can be very dangerous, and with the recent storm there are bound to be high snow drifts and fresh ice. If another storm begins while we are atop the mountain, we may find ourselves trapped for a few days." They could always burn their way out, but the energy it would take would delay them for several days, where as traveling with a caravan would likely only take a few hours to burn out a path. In truth though, he admitted he was still somewhat shaken from the dragon attack, and the looming snow-capped peaks above them did nothing to assuage his spirits.
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 24, 2013 14:28:34 GMT -5
In contrary to her previous mood, Chloe was feeling confident today. It had all started when they had reached Mournoth, the wooden walls hiding a city not as grand as Wayrest but home to all the creature comforts Chloe needed after her ordeal, like a warm room to change into dry clothes for the night. It was in her room, after evening food and awaiting Aran's performance, that she came to an epiphany of sorts. She had survived a Dragon! A beast of legends, truly a storybook monster until but a few year ago and she had survived coming within biting distance of one of the beasts. It had changed her whole idea of the situation, she had survived. Few could say they had ever seen a beast let alone been so close and lived to tell the tale. If a Dragon couldn't kill her, at the start of her adventure, then what could?
Her mood had only been solidified by Aran's entertainment, although it seemed half hearted in comparison to the night before (and she couldn't blame him for that), the song he sung about the magess, about her. It made her beem with pride, noone here knew about the correlation between song and the days events, even if it didn't really quite match up with the actual story, but she had been written into song. She couldn't help but let the song go to her head and that night her dreams were filled with adventure, the presence of the nightmarish Dragon lurked throughout but no Dragon vanquished her that night.
The next morning, as Avril and Strider wound from the drenched hillside forest up towards the snow covered pines, Chloe was less shaken than her companion. She felt stronger for her escape from the clutches of doom and this mountain wouldn't stop her. Her woolen robe had been dried the night before, her leather pants and linen shirt provided her more warmth beneath the thick robe. Even as the cold bit at her nose, she looked to Aran with a strong resolve and a wide smile on her face. "You idea has some merit, waiting for a caravan, but didn't the innkeep say few had traveled up this way what with the storm?" She looked up the mountain, the sky was supririnslgy clear after the storm had passed over them. "We could be here for quite a while waiting for a caravan, if one ever comes."
She pondered for a few minutes longer, before coming to a conclusion that she thought would be the best way to mix in Aran's idea. "Let us continue, if we come across a caravan we can venture with them. If not, perhaps a caravan will catch us up along our journey." she finished with a smile, "Sound like a good idea? Don't worry about snow, I'm a Mage remember?" her smile turned to a grin as she raised her hand up to show a flickering ball of flame, the heat radiating even that far away to warm her face.
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 24, 2013 20:25:05 GMT -5
Aran waited patiently for Chloe to make her decision, but he had a feeling she was going to press them forward anyway. If she had ever had a fear of the danger of the road, they would be on a ship heading for Norvos instead of fleeing from dragons and avoiding assassins.
"Let us continue, if we come across a caravan we can venture with them. If not, perhaps a caravan will catch us up along our journey." she finished with a smile, and beneath his helmet Aran frowned. "Sound like a good idea? Don't worry about snow, I'm a Mage remember?"
He forced himself not to sigh as she conjured flames, worrying about what would happen if another storm hit. Her magic would mean little if a blizzard struck the mountain and caught them in the open. The an'Kin had warned him about such things, and he felt the pressure now. If the caravans had not yet traveled, it was unlikely any would, and they would certainly not catch up to Chloe and Aran who could move much faster then any large group.
He had no say in the matter however, not as a servant, and he hoped his fears were unfounded. He was still on edge after the Dragon, so perhaps that clouded his judgement. "Of course my lady. As you wish." Besides, they had plenty of food that would last days, perhaps weeks. Warmth would never be a problem, nor would dry clothes, and he could heal any frostbite they might have.
Chloe still seemed to be in a hurry, and as the escape from the dragon seemed to embolden her, he was worried he'd have an even more difficult time convincing here that he was just a tool. The longer it took to reach Norvos, the more time he had to make things right. Or the more time she has to convince you you're wrong.. he thought, frowning again.
He tapped Strider with his heels, and the horse began trotting up the path into the snowy mountain. Aran eyed the clouds ahead, raising a silent prayer they stayed calm through the journey.
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 25, 2013 12:23:25 GMT -5
With a content smile at Aran seemingly agreeing to her idea, Chloe snuffed out the flames in her hand and put it back on Avril's reigns. Without so much as a slight nudge, the Horse begun its trot up the mountain. Avril was High Rock bred, a Breton-stock purebred from the mountains near Evermor. Chloe was sure in Avril's ability to traverse ice and snow, granted not as much as the thick heavier horses from Skyrim, but the Horse was used to cold, icy winters.
Wind picked up strands of her hair, knocking them into her vision, that wasn't generally a good sign in itself but as she looked in its direction, she saw no clouds to speak of. The southern-rushing wind must have blown last nights storm over the mountain peaks and into Hammerfell proper, or what Chloe saw as Hammerfell proper. . . Mournoth and the surrounding lands seemed more like High Rock to her than the typically dusty, desert environment she thought of when she imagined Hammerfell.
As the two horses trotted up the mountain path, Chloe found her mind wandering back to last night's events. Specifically the song Aran had sung about, well her, she hadn't asked him much about it. In fact they hadn't talked much that night, or this morning. He seemed a little more aloof than usual, if that was at all possible. Time to lure him into conversation.
"Did you pen that song yourself, last night? I'd never heard it before. Of the Magess fighting the Dragon." she kept her head facing forwards, watching for trouble along the road or icy slips, but her mirth was clear in her voice. "I thought it very. . . Touching, inspiring."
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 25, 2013 13:03:20 GMT -5
"Did you pen that song yourself, last night? I'd never heard it before. Of the Magess fighting the Dragon. I thought it very. . . Touching, inspiring."
Aran cleared his throat. It had seemed fine when he started it, but he was worried he had overstepped his bounds with the song. It was hardly completed to the standards he wanted having only worked on it in the time after they reached Mournoth. That was one of the reasons he managed the silence so well. It gave him plenty of time to think to himself. He hadn't even penned the song yet, just going over it several times in his head. One of the few books in his pack was a book mostly filled with songs, only a few of which he had written.
"I am glad it pleased you, Chloe," he said, careful not to use an honorific since she had ordered him not to when they were alone. It definitely tore at what he had been taught, but with Chloe he was coming to find things were much less cut and dry then they had been with the an'Kin. "I apologize that I have not finished it yet, but I will do so if it please you. Any encounter with a dragon should be put into song..... Perhaps I could write down the story of your journey, if it continues to be so... Exciting."
Dangerous was more like, but he began to wonder why it bothered him so. Was this not what he had wanted? There was certainly no worry of a lack of adventure. He had wanted to experience all of the things he had studied. Certainly it was stressful, trying to protect her, but excitement an adventure was what he wanted.
He watched the road in front of them, as the snow grew closer in the distance as they rose through the mountain. He was surprised that Chloe had not shied away from adventure after the first encounters. He himself was still somewhat worried, though that was just from escaping the Dragon. He had thought her soft, yet there was clearly more to her then a simple merchants daughter wanting to see the world.
"Chloe, if I may ask. What led you to want to to travel as such? It is a dangerous world, as I'm certain you have noticed."
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 26, 2013 5:57:07 GMT -5
Aran had brought up a good point, what did make her want to travel so? And continue traveling. There were so many reasons Chloe could think of, she hadn't really collected them into one yet. Now she'd have to, "It's a dangerous world," she agreed, "but that doesn't stop me from wishing to see it all. Knowledge is power, isn't that right Aran? I want to see the people of Tamriel, see the lands, see the goods. But I also want to see what's hidden beneath the outer layer, I want to see ancient civilizations, to delve into their artifacts and emerge with knowledge and. . ." Her voice trailed off, as though her mind was elsewhere as she reverently said the final word, "Power."
Hairs bristled across her body at the thought of it, "I'm a good Mage, but I want to be a great Mage. I want to be remembered. To be able to defend my home. The only way to do that, is to see the world and all the mysteries it holds." She paused, there was one other reason. A little more childish, perhaps, "And it all beats sitting at home, being groomed to be the next owner of our Estate. Business deals, sucking up to other merchants, negotiating." with a short sigh, she continued on, "I suppose it's better than being married off. Like so many other women. Thank the Eight I don't have a brother."
A smile emerged across her face, teeth were briefly exposed to the cold air and she immediately regretted that. "Quite childish reasons for travel, don't you think. Fame and running away from your parents! It's not like I could go out for the wealth, I have no need for that, so long as my parents remain wealthy."
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 27, 2013 3:55:17 GMT -5
Aran had regretted the question as soon as the words left his mouth. It was inappropriate for a servant to ask such personal of their masters. He expected some kind of punishment for his insolence, but was surprised that she just began answering his questions. He should know better then to assume she'd take such actions at this point, as kind and different as Chloe seemed. He still couldn't understand the way she acted towards him, despite the things she said. Outright asking questions though, as if he were simply thinking allowed, Chloe was clearly messing up his head somehow. Aran needed to be much more careful if he was going to be a good servant.
"Quite childish reasons for travel, don't you think. Fame and running away from your parents! It's not like I could go out for the wealth, I have no need for that, so long as my parents remain wealthy."
He pondered her statement for a moment, silent as they steadily walked up the mountain. The wind had grown colder, and snow had begun to crunch beneath the horses hooves. On the sides of the road evergreen trees heavy with snow and laden with icicles sagged with weight. Aran thought he saw an elk dart across the snow, but it was too far away to be sure. Dangerous though it might be, as he pulled his cloak tighter around him, Aran appreciated the beauty of the mountain top, the untouched white ground sparkling like diamonds.
"To seek adventure instead of a life of drab seclusion and solitude, where your experiences are given to you, rather then taken for yourself. A desire for power has been the undoing of many a great warrior, as has greed... Lust.... Vengeance..... Fame.... But I would not say any of these are childish. Children never wish to leave their mothers skirts. Independence is a sign of maturity my lady Chloe."
He thought of the book in his bag, filled with poems and songs. "Many an adventurer has had tales written of his great deeds. No one ever writes why they ever left home in the first place. I am sure your reasons are better then most, Chloe."
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 28, 2013 23:13:31 GMT -5
"You're right." Chloe said, the smile on her face a sign she was quite pleased by Aran's words. "It does take something to leave your parents, I'm sure I'll regret it some days. I know I was cursing my decision when the Dragon came. But I didn't turn back and head home, like you said: If I can face a Dragon, I can face an adventure. I'll keep going, until I can't anymore or I'm. . . Done. Until I don't wish to go anymore, until I've fulfilled whatever it is I've set out to do. Or I grow out of this phase if it's such a thing. At least I'll have you by my side, eh? Unless I drop you off with some farmer along the way, for a few septims." she ended with another of her little smiles. "I jest, you have to stick around and write stories about me."
Chloe looked to the mountains ahead, she was too busy trying to make out the road ahead that she didn't notice the sound of the slight crunching snow beneath the horse's hooves until it was deep enough to make a far louder noise. She looked down towards the road, there was no noticeable horse prints or even the prints of man or mer. This road hadn't been traveled for quite a while.
"Do you think we will come across much in these mountains? I read Orcs used to inhabited these hills but moved further North during the Fall of Orsinium. Trolls, but they can't be that common can they? Ooh. . . Giants? Do Giants live here?" she thought on them for a second, remembering her stories, "I've read they herd giant animals, raid Orc strongholds and steal fair maidens from their houses in the dead of night. Giant in name ans stature, able to tear the roofs off houses and eat cattle whole. Sounds like something that would be fun to observe, don't you think?"
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ShockHelix
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Post by ShockHelix on Dec 30, 2013 18:28:15 GMT -5
Aran was worried for a moment when she threatened to drop him off at a farmers for a few Septims. He still wasn't sure how much she actually wanted him around, but he hoped he had proved his worth. He could only imagine what might've happened if he had not been around to help with the trouble she'd already managed to get herself into. The smile on her face brought relief, and he knew at least for the moment she was only joking.
"I jest, you have to stick around and write stories about me."
"I hope I can be of more use to you then just writing stories, my lady... Chloe."
"Do you think we will come across much in these mountains? I read Orcs used to inhabited these hills but moved further North during the Fall of Orsinium. Trolls, but they can't be that common can they? Ooh. . . Giants? Do Giants live here? I've read they herd giant animals, raid Orc strongholds and steal fair maidens from their houses in the dead of night. Giant in name and stature, able to tear the roofs off houses and eat cattle whole. Sounds like something that would be fun to observe, don't you think?"
"They'd certainly be easier to outrun then a dragon. From what I understand, they are not so dangerous as that. At least, not the normal giants, the ones most common in Skyrim. They are largely peaceful, and certainly not prone to raising any strongholds or stealing any fair maidens. You'd have nothing to worry from those, so long as you did not disturb their mammoth herds."
He looked up at the mountains above them, hoping against hope they would not find any threat amongst the untraveled peaks. The lack of markings worried him. No man had traveled this way, not since the storm. They were the first, and any traps ahead lay unsprung until they stumbled onto them.
"There are other breeds of giant though. If we were to encounter any in the mountain, they would likely be Frost Giants. Taller then the largest man on horseback, they are blue like ice, with fur covering their body and horns atop their head. Stronger then any normal giant by far, and fiercely territorial. It's said they have not two eyes, but four, and they're unholy spawn of both giant and frost trolls. They have massive teeth that can tear a man limb from limb, an their horns can take a full grown horse to the ground. Were that not enough, they have massive weapons that match their stature. Large bone clubs, massive icicles, or even broken trees..." He trailed off letting the threat of a frost giant sit for a moment before adding. "And of course, it's rumored that after large storms, they crawl from their mountain caves in search of fair maidens to drag back to their lair." His voice was cold and serious as always, but beneath his helmet, he grinned.
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