Anne sat calmly and with a slightly curious expression. Her professional look crashed with the leather jacket that she had on top of the turtle neck and the woman scratched her neck.
Truth to be told, she didn't catch any of that. Few greetings were familiar, but everything else went over her head. She glanced to her sides: on the right side is a woman with red braids and left (although way further away) a huge man with a long, black braid.
Anne turned to her right to face the way taller woman. She seemed to be fidgety.
:sweden: "Hey, could you translate me that?" she asked with a smile and leant forwards to get the other's attention. She hadn't really seen Bergström for a long time and it took embarrassing amount of time to recognize her. Anne was still sure the other wouldn't recognize her either.
A redheaded bear of a man enters surprisingly silently. His clothes mark him out as a sailor of some kind, reinforced both by the scars on his face and the harpoon he is for some reason carrying on his back. A full-grown wolf, grey with amber eyes, trots at his heels, panting with its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth.
The redhead gives Sirus a blank look before sitting down.
Anne sat calmly and with a slightly curious expression. Her professional look crashed with the leather jacket that she had on top of the turtle neck and the woman scratched her neck.
Truth to be told, she didn't catch any of that. Few greetings were familiar, but everything else went over her head. She glanced to her sides: on the right side is a woman with red braids and left (although way further away) a huge man with a long, black braid.
Anne turned to her right to face the way taller woman. She seemed to be fidgety.
:sweden: "Hey, could you translate me that?" she asked with a smile and leant forwards to get the other's attention. She hadn't really seen Bergström for a long time and it took embarrassing amount of time to recognize her. Anne was still sure the other wouldn't recognize her either.
Upon hearing Anne speak, the bear-man lets loose a string of words that might, if not spoken by someone with a horrendous Norwegian accent, have borne some small resemblance to Swedish.
Elin realized she had been staring, not for long, yet a moment of staring was still a bit too long for having just been asked a simple question after all. She sat up in her chair and answered the woman's question, " :sweden: Oh, uh, of course I can translate!"
She desperately scrambled to remember what had just been said, " :sweden: He just said: 'Welcome back! Familiar and unfamiliar people!' and uh... 'No need to be stiff, I won't keep you too long.'"
:iceland: "I believe that's all of us" she stated openly, more to the old man than anyone else.The man nodded to her and took a one tack to his palm.
Anne's eyes locked immediately to the man with a...huge dog also on his side now that she looked closer. The words he let loose sounded something like a Swede with hangover, so that must have been a somewhat of a greeting.
The woman waved her hand modestly to him. Her lips quirked into an amused smile.
Anne turned her head back to look Bergström again. Her eyes wandered then to Sirus, who himself eyed carefully the whole group.
:sweden: "Thank you. Should've chosen Icelandic in school", she said with grateful tone that had a slim regret in it. Her smile didn't leave the face at any moment, but it slightly dimmed out when Sirus tapped the table.
Sirus had waited for everyone settle down and took the mug from a table.The man nodded to her and took a one tack to his palm.
:iceland: "That's right, so it's better to get straight to the point. Holmquist will surely come later"
Sirus' face cringed clearly when he mentioned Vilma's name.
:iceland: "I'm glad you all have decided to take the mission to discover the Silent World", he said with a smile again and stuck the tack into the map.
:iceland: "Or more precisely, the Old World called this part 'Scotland'", he pointed at the tack that he had just stuck into the map.
:iceland: "I'm sure you all know the risks and facts that you might not come back and so on - I at least suppose you all have read the contract before signing up. The mission description was also there: bring anything valuable back from there. That includes books, items and information about rash and cure, academics in this group know will known more."
Sirus looked at Sanni and Runar when he mentioned academics.
The man inhaled.
:iceland: "Here's the route on the map. The sea defense's ship will take you and the equipment from Selbjorn to the place formerly called John o' Groats. There, the tank will go the straightest route to the former city of Perth and then to Aberdeen, where the sea defense's ship picks you all up. The trip will take the whole winter."
Sirus pointed at the map before him.
"You have to report at least once a week to the main radio station and tell the situation. The leader of the group is Amelia Vinter and the second-in-command is Anna-Inga Thorvaldsen."
Anne heard her name and waved to everyone automatically, fixing her stature and puffing her chest out. Her face told that she didn't understand any of that.
:iceland: "Any questions?" Sirus asked with a smile and took a sip from the mug.
Anne's eyes locked immediately to the man with a...huge dog also on his side now that she looked closer. The words he let loose sounded something like a Swede with hangover, so that must have been a somewhat of a greeting.
The woman waved her hand modestly to him. Her lips quirked into an amused smile.
Anne turned her head back to look Bergström again. Her eyes wandered then to Sirus, who himself eyed carefully the whole group.
:sweden: "Thank you. Should've chosen Icelandic in school", she said with grateful tone that had a slim regret in it. Her smile didn't leave the face at any moment, but it slightly dimmed out when Sirus tapped the table.
Sirus had waited for everyone settle down and took the mug from a table.The man nodded to her and took a one tack to his palm.
:iceland: "That's right, so it's better to get straight to the point. Holmquist will surely come later"
Sirus' face cringed clearly when he mentioned Vilma's name.
:iceland: "I'm glad you all have decided to take the mission to discover the Silent World", he said with a smile again and stuck the tack into the map.
:iceland: "Or more precisely, the Old World called this part 'Scotland'", he pointed at the tack that he had just stuck into the map.
:iceland: "I'm sure you all know the risks and facts that you might not come back and so on - I at least suppose you all have read the contract before signing up. The mission description was also there: bring anything valuable back from there. That includes books, items and information about rash and cure, academics in this group know will known more."
Sirus looked at Sanni and Runar when he mentioned academics.
The man inhaled.
:iceland: "Here's the route on the map. The sea defense's ship will take you and the equipment from Selbjorn to the place formerly called John o' Groats. There, the tank will go the straightest route to the former city of Perth and then to Aberdeen, where the sea defense's ship picks you all up. The trip will take the whole winter."
Sirus pointed at the map before him.
"You have to report at least once a week to the main radio station and tell the situation. The leader of the group is Amelia Vinter and the second-in-command is Anna-Inga Thorvaldsen."
Anne heard her name and waved to everyone automatically, fixing her stature and puffing her chest out. Her face told that she didn't understand any of that.
:iceland: "Any questions?" Sirus asked with a smile and took a sip from the mug.
:iceland: "What is our equipment?" the mountain grumbled from the corner. "And who is the non-immune member?" He was still eyeing the wolf. His kitten climbed on the top of his head and was staring at it with wide eyes.
:norway: "I hope you speak proper Norwegian," the redhead said.
:iceland: "What is our equipment?" the mountain grumbled from the corner. "And who is the non-immune member?" He was still eyeing the wolf. His kitten climbed on the top of his head and was staring at it with wide eyes.
:norway: "Proper enough to have a talk through the radio, don't worry", Sirus said with amused voice, but his Norwegian had very strong Icelandic accent in.
:norway: "Though my Danish is bad and Finnish is non-existent. Swedish is okay."
Sirus glanced at his papers and scratched his head.
:iceland: "You will have a one tank that pulls one bigger van. The weaponry is, due to our budget, non-existent and you all have to survive with your own weapons. But in need, Vilma can surely get something."
Sirus didn't look sure at all of it though. He started to rummage through the papers after the answer.
:iceland: "And true, you have one non-immune with you, uhhh...Sanni Lampinen, yes you."
He nodded at the girl that sat in the corner
:iceland: "We will provide that the tank and van are safe from the rash and its creatures as long as you take precautions. There will also be spare masks."
:norway: "Good. I will assist Vilma in securing supplies. I know some people on this base."
The wolf at his heels barked at this statement, continuing to pant.
Sirus beamed when he heard Axel's suggestion.
:norway: "That's great! Your tank can't fit inside a lot of things along with the food supplies, but maybe you can get few rifles and ammunition for them. Whatever you all see suitable, but remember that there has to be space for the books and items also."
The man shuffled again around the table.
:iceland: "If anybody doesn't have other questions, I won't keep you here longer. I can escort you all to the tank."
man in a knitted sweater and comfy socks would indeed be a slightly humorous sight in the midst of the military members that are stuffed into thick jackets.
Sirus snickered to himself. Vilma would find it funny.
But about the thick jackets-
:iceland: "Oh- and I hope you don't have too much packed. We give you all military set of warm clothes from here."
Anne had just listened quietly the man's talking, without getting a lot of information about it. Only what was spoken in Norwegian got through her head. It slightly ticked her off to not have a clear communication going on, but she would ask later Vilma or this man.
If things got really tight, Bergström would actually be the best choice to ask.
Sirus took a replica of the map, that he had on the table, from one shelf.
:iceland: "The trip is supposed to start tomorrow. You all still have to sleep tonight in the tank due to, err, lack of space."
He and Vilma had to sleep in this shaggy control room, military's goodwill could only go that far.
The redhead nodded, and stood silently. :norway: "Ylva, come."
The wolf gave Runar and his cat a friendly glance before following in the redhead's footsteps.
Elin turned to Anne and gave her a nervous smile. Translator was a bit more work than she was expecting, but what was she supposed to do? Just let this lady not understand what's going on? Elin started her translation, " :sweden: So that place where that guy, Sirius, stuck the tack in the map? He says that's what the old world called Scotland and that's where we'll be headed. He also says 'I assume you all know the risks. Your goal is to bring back anything valuable, like books, items and information about the rash. The sea's defense ship is gonna take you all and your equipment to Selbjorn to a place called'" Elin gave a brief look of confusion, "'John o' Groats. Then the tank will take you to the old city of Perth and then to Aberdeen. The ship will pick us up there. It'll take the whole winter. You have to report once a week to the main radio station.' Our leader is Amelia Vinter and the second in command is you. We have a tank that pulls a bigger van. We have to bring our own weapons. You should also know that Sanni, the little one with the braids, is not immune. We all have a military set of warm clothes and jackets here. Also, we're gonna have to sleep in the tank tonight."
Elin giggled nervously, "I hope that was alright. Oh! And also, do you have any questions?"
Elin tried for one more smile, it most definitely did not look like she was smiling.
Anne looked with a small confusion Bergström, but then fell to listen her translation of the whole talking and information. Some she had known beforehand, naturally, but some were even new to her.
The blonde looked the taller woman with a beaming look and felt so much more eased. She tended to overthink these things so much.
:sweden: "I can't even tell how grateful I'm to you. I got very worried of how I can handle this", Anne said with a hand on her chest and sigh escaped from her.
She stood up now and saw already the man with the wolf go ahead of them. Others in the room seemed to wait.
She turned back to the taller woman.
:sweden: "Elin Bergström, right? I don't know if you remember me", she said with a small chuckle and decided to stop the teasing. Clearly the other didn't recognize her, so better just say it straight.
Anne started to walk outside of the room.
:sweden: "Scouts and cleansers don't work that much with each other", which was a true pity.
Sirus waited for Amelia, Sanni and Runar, but started also creep closer to the doors.
"You have to report at least once a week to the main radio station and tell the situation. The leader of the group is Amelia Vinter and the second-in-command is Anna-Inga Thorvaldsen."
:iceland: "Any questions?" Sirus asked with a smile and took a sip from the mug.
Anne looked with a small confusion Bergström, but then fell listen to her translation of the whole talking and information. Some she had known beforehand, naturally, but some were new even to her.
The blonde looked the taller woman with a beaming look and felt so much more eased. She tended to overthink these things so much.
:sweden: "I can't even tell how grateful I am to you. I got very worried about how I can handle this", Anne said with a hand on her chest and sigh escaped from her.
She stood up now and saw the man already with the wolf go ahead of them. Others in the room seemed to wait.
She turned back to the taller woman.
:sweden: "Elin Bergström, right? I don't know if you remember me", she said with a small chuckle and decided to stop the teasing. Clearly the other didn't recognize her, so better just say it straight.
Anne started to walk outside of the room.
:sweden: "Scouts and cleansers don't work that much with each other", which was a true pity.
Sirus waited for Amelia, Sanni and Runar, but started also creep closer to the doors.
When Sirus said her name, Amelia half-assedly put her hand in the air for a moment as she looked around, but quickly focused her attention back on the map.
:iceland: "I have a couple of questions before we go. First off, what is the procedure for emergency extraction? Second, the route goes through this major city, uhmm, Inverness? Do we have solid intel on the status of the bridge over the straight? Whether still standing and not blocked by vehicles?"
Eiln stood up, rising much higher than Anne. She felt shorter. She stared wide-eyed for moment, someone remembers me. Elin tried to remember her reasons for coming on this trip, she found her mind empty.
Elin narrowed her eyes, this woman was familiar, " :sweden: Uh, yeah it's Elin Bergström. You do seem pretty familiar, but I don't recall exactly where I've seen you before... sorry."
Elin felt stupider by the moment, she was already starting to regret coming on the trip. Too late to turn back now, hopefully she'd at least be able to make some friends or maybe punch some stuff here.
" :sweden: So, you worked for the cleansers?"
Sirus stopped where he was going with the others and walked back to the map, next to Amelia. He brushed his chin.
:iceland: "For your first question, it is hard to answer. It all depends of the situation, but as a guideline you all will contact us through the radio and get immediately to a closest point of the coast."
The man pointed the island's seashores.
:iceland: "If contacting through the radio isn't possible, we will wait three weeks for you to get in Aberdeen. This all depends of the situation though."
Sirus glanced to his side as he saw everybody else get outside of the room.
:iceland: "To your second question: no, we don't", the man cracked into a smile.
:iceland: "That's why you are here, going to get books and investigate the area. If such problems come into the way, you as a leader have to decide what to do. We at the other end will of course help."
He glanced at the door.
:iceland: "Do you have other questions? If yes, I can escort you to the maintaining area personally later."
There seemed to be already someone else to escort the eager ones.
Behind the control room's door was waiting a young man with a very bony structure, a shaved head and wispy mustache. He twitched slightly when he saw the huge men and few women come there.
:norway: "Hey, Jaakko Yläkangas from the Finnish military unit of Keuruu", he introduced himself with slightly shaky hands, but stared them all one by one to the eyes.
:norway: "Vilma Holmquist asked me to escort you all to the maintaining area, when you were finished."
Jaakko looked anything than comfortable, but he tried to maintain his professionalism.
He waved his hand as a sign to follow and started the walking in the hallway.
Anne looked at the Elin's surprised expression and smiled in amusement. She waved her hand as a sign to be calm as she walked behind the huge man with a small cat.
:sweden: "Don't be sorry, most of the scouts are hard to remember", she said and poked slightly fun of her own profession.
Anne nodded to the taller woman's question.
:sweden: "Yeah, I do night and day scouts in the cleansed areas, so I'm kind of a co-worker to the cleansers. That's why I know you."
Se glanced after their leader, but then decided to just follow the lead of the man, who would escort them.
:sweden: "Well, of course I would know one of the leaders. But what you were before doesn't change this situation."
Anne stretched out her arm to shake Elin's. She looked excited.
:sweden: "Now we are group members here. Nice to meet you, I'm Anne-Inga Thorvaldsen. Shortly Anne."
Those who followed Jaakko closely would have started to see the maintaining area. It had inside there ships in need of fixing, few tanks and some amount of vans. One door had a sign of "equipment hall".
:norway: "You should be able to find your tank in the D-17 slot", Jaakko commented off-handedly and cleared his throath.
Those who followed Jaakko closely would have started to see the maintaining area. It had inside there ships in need of fixing, few tanks and some amount of vans. One door had a sign of "equipment hall".
:norway: "You should be able to find your tank in the D-17 slot", Jaakko commented off-handedly and cleared his throath.
The redheaded man looked the maintenance area over and nodded, before approaching Jaakko. :norway: "I will need to visit the armory, first," he said flatly.
He nodded still at the Vilma's direction there and started to go after the Runar.
:norway: "Holmquist is getting to you all the set of clothing. Please, get the tank ready and have a rest in it - or try the equipment hall, whatever suits your boat."
Jaakko looked like he was ready to pass out.
Anne looked at the Elin's surprised expression and smiled in amusement. She waved her hand as a sign to be calm as she walked behind the huge man with a small cat.
:sweden: "Don't be sorry, most of the scouts are hard to remember", she said and poked slightly fun of her own profession.
Anne nodded to the taller woman's question.
:sweden: "Yeah, I do night and day scouts in the cleansed areas, so I'm kind of a co-worker to the cleansers. That's why I know you."
Se glanced after their leader, but then decided to just follow the lead of the man, who would escort them.
:sweden: "Well, of course I would know one of the leaders. But what you were before doesn't change this situation."
Anne stretched out her arm to shake Elin's. She looked excited.
:sweden: "Now we are group members here. Nice to meet you, I'm Anne-Inga Thorvaldsen. Shortly Anne."
Rúnar was concerned. Jaakko guy seemed very nervous. Either he was like that by nature, or they were about to get trash for the expedition.
He headed for the tank.
If it only needs minor repairs, he can probably be done by morning.
And who's gonna drive if you're out, smarty-pants?
Well, he'll get some sleep on the ship.
Jaakko turned to Axel and eyed him slightly with his arms crossed.
His look locked on to the huge dog though. The man clearly pondered in his mind.
:norway: "...they won't let you have anything too much, you know. The budget is what it is", Jaakko said with a straight face and glanced at the "Equipment hall" door.
:norway: "You will also need Holmquist with you-"
Loud chattering could be heard now as a woman emerged from another door and went to talk with someone at a stand next to "Equipment hall" door.
Jaakko inhaled deeply. Runar went already ahead of the others, but he stared the ones left there.
:norway: "Well, the Holmquist is there. I still warn all of you, this trip was barely funded by the Northern Council", Jaakko said with a straight face, but didn't seem to be annoyed. He just stared all of them with a doubt and shaking hands.
:norway: "Please, don't test your luck too much."
He nodded still at the Vilma's direction there and started to go after the Runar.
:norway: "Holmquist is getting to you all the set of clothing. Please, get the tank ready and have a rest in it - or try the equipment hall, whatever suits your boat."
Jaakko looked like he was ready to pass out.
Elin shook Anne's hand with a quick and firm grip, grinning. "Thanks, it's very nice to meet you, Anne," she said.
Feeling a bit reassured, Elin wandered out into the hallway and joined the others.
:norway: "What's wrong with the damn thing?" Rúnar asked him, clearly in a bad mood.
He said D-17, right?
D... 1, 2, 3...
Amelia turned to Jaako. :norway: "Thanks. Luckily i brought my own gear"
She shouted at the woman :norway: "Hey Vilma" as she waved, before sprinting after Runár to find her things and look at the tank.
Anne chuckled to her and felt eased also. Things went better than she expected and what better than be positively surprised. She walked after Elin and looked around the hall.
Jaakko flinched to Runar's tone of voice and he swiped the sweat off his own forehead. Suddenly he looked like he was very careful of what he chose to say.
:norway: "Umh well, I'm not a mechanic. Still, to me it looks pretty fine."
The man looked very hesitant right now and walked on without running his mouth again.
He turned his face to their leader and nodded, puffing his chest a little out after getting a thankful note.
:norway: "No problem, that's what my job in this expedition is."'
He didn't turn back to Runar again.
Little further away Vilma was having a conversation with a man close to equipment door. She rubbed her temples and sighed dramatically.
As soon as she heard her name yelled out, she turned to see the whole group of six expedition members. Her face brightened up more and a confident smile was on her face now.
:norway: "Hi crew!"
Oh, there were also Axel, Anne and Elin. Anne gave a wave to Vilma also and she hummed slightly. Truly, no matter how things will go, they will somehow manage this.
:norway: "If there's something you need, just ask me: I'm here all evening", which was unfortunate to Vilma. Well, after this she will get rest.
Jaakko finally stopped as he guided them to the tank that was pretty deep in the maintain hall. There was a van close to it, but both of them were covered in a slight rust here and there. Some parts were little dusty despite the cleaning effort that Sirus, Jaakko or Vilma had done and the tank looked like it had its glory days many years ago.
Jaakko sighed again.
:norway: "I think its plausible. It works, that has been tested."
He pointed at the van. Close to it, they could see now their luggage and other items that they had brought with them.
:norway: "Your sleeping space will be in this van. There's also extra space in the tank, but we have calculated that for the books."
He cleared his throath.
:norway: "If you need me or Sirus, we are in the controlling room. Vilma is around here."
Little further away Vilma was having a conversation with a man close to equipment door. She rubbed her temples and sighed dramatically.
As soon as she heard her name yelled out, she turned to see the whole group of six expedition members. Her face brightened up more and a confident smile was on her face now.
:norway: "Hi crew!"
Oh, there were also Axel, Anne and Elin. Anne gave a wave to Vilma also and she hummed slightly. Truly, no matter how things will go, they will somehow manage this.
:norway: "If there's something you need, just ask me: I'm here all evening", which was unfortunate to Vilma. Well, after this she will get rest.
...
:norway: "Umh well, I'm not a mechanic. Still, to me it looks pretty fine."
The man looked very hesitant right now and walked on without running his mouth again.
He turned his face to their leader and nodded, puffing his chest a little out after getting a thankful note.
:norway: "No problem, that's what my job in this expedition is."'
He didn't turn back to Runar again.
...
Jaakko finally stopped as he guided them to the tank that was pretty deep in the maintain hall. There was a van close to it, but both of them were covered in a slight rust here and there. Some parts were little dusty despite the cleaning effort that Sirus, Jaakko or Vilma had done and the tank looked like it had its glory days many years ago.
Jaakko sighed again.
:norway: "I think its plausible. It works, that has been tested."
He pointed at the van. Close to it, they could see now their luggage and other items that they had brought with them.
:norway: "Your sleeping space will be in this van. There's also extra space in the tank, but we have calculated that for the books."
He cleared his throath.
:norway: "If you need me or Sirus, we are in the controlling room. Vilma is around here."
The redhead looks in Vilma's direction and approaches quickly. The wolf, for its part, elects to go to Runar and sit next to him, before whining piteously.
The kitten fluffed up and hissed again. Rúnar took her off his shoulder and put her on the top of the tank.
"...shoo" he said to the dog.
The wolf's tail wagged as it whined again, giving Runar puppy-dog eyes that honestly shouldn't have been as effective as they were, considering that they were coming from an apex predator rather than an adorable puppy.
Rúnar made a face that was somewhere between so cute and please go away. He patted its head. "Shoo" he said again.
The wolf sat back on its haunches and made no motion to actually go anywhere, still panting with its tongue hanging out the side.
As soon as they turned the corner to the tank, Amelia got a sinking feeling. Always more work, she thought to herself, rest is for the dead and dying. She started to grin.
:norway: "You guy, Jaakko was it? Have these two been tested together? And if so, why have they been unlinked since? Linking and calibrating the power steering on the rear unit will take some time"
The redhead looks in Vilma's direction and approaches quickly. The wolf, for its part, elects to go to Runar and sit next to him, before whining piteously.
Rúnar decided to just keep the kitten out of its reach. He went back to work.
Anne looked at the Elin and the girl with blonde braids. Other three had taken their own ways already and she yawned. She stared with a contemplating look at the trailer and picked up her small backpack from the pile of their luggage
:sweden: "I recommend to get already a bed from the trailer", she said to Elin and the blonde girl as a suggestion. She went inside and threw her backpack to one of the upper bunks, jumping out of the trailer after it.
Anne started to go around the tank and found the man with a small cat there, as well as the huge dog.
:sweden: "Hi, do you need any help?" Anne asked casually and rubbed the huge dog.
:norway: "No" he said. The nervous idiot was right - in only looked bad. The army did a good job fixing the worst problems. What he was doing now was just some fine-tuning.
The tank should survive, as long as they don't try to drive over some massive rocks.
Or run into a building.
Vilma stood at the equipment hall's door, but walked towards Axel when she saw him getting closer.
:norway: "Hi Axel, what do you need?" she asked immediately and grinned.
Anne started to go around the tank and found the man with a small cat there, as well as the huge dog.
:sweden: "Hi, do you need any help?" Anne asked casually and rubbed the huge dog.
Anne blinked few times as she got such a short answer to her. She stared as the man fixed something within the tank and she didn't move anywhere from there.
She shifted slightly and then opened again her mouth.
:sweden: "You sure? I'm not doubting your skills, but I wouldn't mind helping. Actually, I would be really glad", she said with a smile and leant on to the tank.
:sweden: "Asking again just to be clear."
:norway: "Weapons and ammunition, mostly," Axel said. His tone was short without being rude - more the tone of someone who has a lot of things to do and little time than someone who hated talking to people. "Half these people don't have guns."
The wolf licked Anne's hand.
Rúnar also blinked and stopped working. He looked very confused, and he had no idea what to do. :norway: "Uh... I-I'm good" he said. He stayed like that for a few seconds, wondering what to do. "Maybe hold the light?" oh gods what do i do why won't she go away also HOLD THE LIGHT very classy you bloody idiot what if she is also a mechanic now she will be insulted oh gods you are an idiot.
Vilma stared at Axel and looked thoughtful for once. She crossed her arms and leaned on the right side.
:norway: "That's a plausible reason. I've tried to ask for more weapons, but they've been pretty fed up with me at this point. Well, maybe two pestering people could get through."
She said that with a lighthearted tone, but looked slightly frustrated and tired.
:norway: "Let's get going then."
Vilma walked to the stand next the door, where one of the military members was in a duty. He stared the newspaper in his arms and flipped it few times. She waved Axel to tell his reasons to get weapons from the equipment hall.
Anne chuckled and rubbed the dog behind her ear. She didn't see dogs so often after all, so Anne took all the fun out of this.
:Denmark: "What a good girl", she muttered to the dog.
As she heard the mechanic's suggestion, she nodded to him and started to rummage around for a flashlight.
:sweden: "I can do that, it's the least I can do to help you", she said and clicked the flashlight open, lighting the interior.
She got slightly closer and tried to look the man. What a long hair-
:sweden: "Are there any big fixes needed?" she asked with a clear curiousness.
Anne chuckled and rubbed the dog behind her ear. She didn't see dogs so often after all, so Anne took all the fun out of this.
:denmark: "What a good girl", she muttered to the dog.
As she heard the mechanic's suggestion, she nodded to him and started to rummage around for a flashlight.
:sweden: "I can do that, it's the least I can do to help you", she said and clicked the flashlight open, lighting the interior.
She got slightly closer and tried to look the man. What a long hair-
:sweden: "Are there any big fixes needed?" she asked with a clear curiousness.
Anne looked at the Elin and the girl with blonde braids. Other three had taken their own ways already and she yawned. She stared with a contemplating look at the trailer and picked up her small backpack from the pile of their luggage
:sweden: "I recommend to get already a bed from the trailer", she said to Elin and the blonde girl as a suggestion. She went inside and threw her backpack to one of the upper bunks, jumping out of the trailer after it.
Elin waved after Anne then turned to the small blonde girl, " :iceland: Do you speak Icelandic? I sure hope so. Anyway, Anne, the lady that was just talking to us said that we should head out and get our beds ready."
"Oh- uh, no problem!" Elin said.
She figured she ought to make an introduction for herself as well, "I'm Elin, I was formerly a captain of a team of cleansers, now I'm here. Lemme guess, you're the scout?"
Elin snickered, "Looks like I was wrong then."
Then she grinned, "It's really cool that we have a mage on our team. I mean it'ss probably standard for these sort of teams and all, but still, I've never worked with a mage before. I don't think I've ever even properly met a mage before," Elin stopped a moment and gave a thoughtful look, "How do you guys even do you mage-ing anyway. Like, how does that even work?"
To say the least, Elin was thrilled that she was going to be on a team with a mage. In all her excitement about this, she forgot that she was ever nervous about the trip.
Axel smiled. It was not a very nice expression, and it probably wouldn't have been even if it hadn't come from someone who looked like they'd spent their formative years headbutting a brick wall.
The man looked up from his newspaper, saw Axel, and went an interesting shade of white.
:norway: "M-mister Johansen. What brings you here? Business?"
:norway: "Of a sort," Axel answered. "I need to withdraw some items from the armory."
"Ah...I see. Um...right this way!"
The man practically leapt from his seat and nearly bolted down the corridor. Axel followed at a rather more sedate pace.
:norway: "No" he said. "I'm just gonna make sure they ain't gonna be needed later." He then focused on his work again.
The wolf barked.
Vilma stared Axel and the stand where the guarding man had been some time ago. She turned then to stare Axel again and followed him as soon as the Equipment hall's door opened.
:norway: "Well that was quite easy. Do you know these people?" she asked from him casually, but didn't let her eyes off him.
Vilma walked through the aisle, only to meet another door that the guarding man was opening with his keys.
:norway: "Double safety?" she said with more idle tone now and the man nodded.
:norway: "Yeah, you don't know who might smuggle these out", the man said with a dry tone, staring at Vilma with a knowing look. She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows.
:norway: "I have my pride still."
The man didn't look at Axel though and got soon out of their way as the door opened.
Vilma walked inside.
:norway: "So how many weapons do you need? Only guns?" she asked.
Anne smiled and looked very pleased.
:sweden: "Makes sense, I'm glad you're responsible of our tank."
She patted the tank and well into a silence after it, lighting the interior of the tank. She gave more rubs to the dog with her other hand, but soon noticed a cat on top of the tank. She stared at it slightly.
:denmark: "I guess cat-in-work wouldn't take rubs", she muttered silently and continued the patting of the dog.
:denmark: "Maybe when you're in a free-time."
Axel shrugged. :norway: "I've done some work around here," he said.
Once the armory was opened, Axel started grabbing weapons and ammunition, stuffing them into a convenient duffle bag. First in were a few rifles and pistols, and a liberal quantity of ammunition. Several bricks of plastic explosives and a spool of detcord followed, then a truly alarming quantity of knives and hand axes. Axel paused in front of a heavy machine gun that was set up on a tripod, before shaking his head. He did, however, pick up a steel roundshield that had runes painted on it in what looked suspiciously like blood. That went over his back, joining the harpoon.
The clanking duffel filled, Axel left the armory and rejoined the group.
[Runar looking around the tank].
:norway: "You wanted work? Go to the guy that's terrifying the staff with his wolf, tell him we need some spare tires." He can fix a broken track, but a flat tire? Not really.
:norway: "Also go get 18 blankets, 10 pillows and 12 sets of sheets. And an extra mattress. Put extras in the trailer, set up beds and start mopping the floor." If they lose heating, he'd prefer they don't all freeze while he's trying to fix it. Extra pillows, just in case. Extra sheets to get some proper hygiene going, especially if someone falls ill.
He, meanwhile, went to get some nice good paint that can't be removed that easily.
Time to draw some runes.
Anne let go of the flashlight and stepped further away as the mechanic started to work around the tank. She looked at him and rubbed the dog.
When the commands came, it took a lot to remember all of them. She blinked few times and felt sour taste to come into her mouth.
She cleared her throat.
:sweden: "Of course, the earlier we get everything finished the better", she said to him and started to get to her job.
This was for everyone's good.
Anne walked towards the dog's owner, but saw him being integrated with some military men. Well, he seemed to be busy then.
Instead, the woman walked herself to the equipment hall. After being questioned by the new guard there, she got in and took few tires off the shelf there.
Anne knew she wasn't as strong as the others here, but she wasn't useless either. She could manage few tires alone.
The woman started to carry one tire, but then decided to roll it through the hall, next to the tank.
She did that with the few other tires too and was sweating after it, but with a good mind.
Vilma stared the amount that Axel took with him and she sighed slightly. Whatever was out there, please don't let Sirus come out of the Communication room.
She walked behind Axel and saw how the amount of the armory attracted the military base's attention. She glanced slightly to the side and retreated, leaning against one tank and waiting to see how much needed to be carried back.
Soon she, indeed, saw one member of the military with the equipment hall guard and with him. The man frowned and the hall guard looked troubled.
:norway: "Where did he go?" the man asked and his frown deepened.
Vilma pointed to Axel's way and let them handle the situation. She slipped off to find Jaakko somewhere.
The man walked after Axel and stared the amount he had taken from the armory. He deeply inhaled and rubbed his temples.
:norway: "Mr. Johansen, I know we are indebted to you in some ways, but this is-", the man stared the armory with almost a blank look, "-too much. At least let go of those axes and knives."
By then, Rúnar returned with cans of paint and a brush. He took a look at the tires. He took a look at the trailer.
:norway: "These are wrong size."
He then climbed on top of the tank and sat there, imagining the rune clearly in his head.
His most powerful protection rune, this size...
He started to paint a complex shape.
As they walked to the luggage that laid next to the van, Amelia noticed Sanni and Elin talking.
:iceland: "Come help while you talk, we have to get this all in, and there's plenty we need to go get afterwards"
As they walked to the luggage that laid next to the van, Amelia noticed Sanni and Elin talking.
:iceland: "Come help while you talk, we have to get this all in, and there's plenty we need to go get afterwards"
Axel stared at the man flatly.
"It's on business. You know what your job is. Go do it."
By then, Rúnar returned with cans of paint and a brush. He took a look at the tires. He took a look at the trailer.
:norway: "These are wrong size."
He then climbed on top of the tank and sat there, imagining the rune clearly in his head.
His most powerful protection rune, this size...
He started to paint a complex shape.
Amelia came up to Anne and gave her a friendly punch in the side
:norway: "You're the swedish gal, right? Come help me with this crate and these bags, then i'll help you put the tires back and get the right ones from storage"
Amelia didn't know any swedish, but the few cleansers she'd worked with had understood well enough, so she hoped the woman would get the gist too.
As they walked to the luggage that laid next to the van, Amelia noticed Sanni and Elin talking.
:iceland: "Come help while you talk, we have to get this all in, and there's plenty we need to go get afterwards"
The man inhaled and stared Axel right eye-to-eye. He didn't say anything and adjusted his hat.
:norway: "Very well, I'm doing my job right here", he said to the taller man finally with a stiff voice.
He tipped his hat to the Axel and walked besides him to go on his own ways.
:norway: "But I would advise to drop some of them if you don't want to be suspicious", he said as his final message and was after it quickly gone.
Axel visibly did not care.
He hauled the duffel up to the tank, setting it down carefully. This done, he scanned the area quickly, before electing to walk up to Amelia and Anne in complete silence.
:norway: "Anything you need a hand with?" he asked.
:norway: "Wheels, beds, sweeping the floor" Rúnar said from above, painting the roof of the tank. He looked extremely focused on it. "Supplies, luggage- w... what are you doing with all those weapons?" WHAT IS HE DOING WITH ALL THOSE WEAPONS??? WHO WILL USE ALL THIS?! Not even his fear of embarrassment could handle this and stop him from asking the question.
DID HE JUST TAKE THE ENTIRETY OF THE BASE'S WEAPONS?!
:norway: "Do you have a gun?" Axel asked.
:norway: "Yes" he said.
Axel visibly did not care.
He hauled the duffel up to the tank, setting it down carefully. This done, he scanned the area quickly, before electing to walk up to Amelia and Anne in complete silence.
:norway: "Anything you need a hand with?" he asked.
:norway: "Then you are ahead of three-quarters of the people I've worked with."
...
Anne twitched when she felt a gentle punch on her side. She whipped her head immediately and stopped her train of thought.
Her frustration eased slightly and the woman could smile to their leader.
:sweden: "The danish woman", she corrected and picked up few big bags, sweating slightly. She stammered with them to the back unit as the leader called the blonde and Elin to help.
As Anne came out of the unit, she swiped her head.
:sweden: "I'm Anne-Inga Thorvaldsen, the scout of our group", she said with more brighter attitude.
:sweden: "And you're our leader Amelia Vinter, right? Nice to meet you, but I will leave the other pleasantries for later."
Anne picked up few bags to her arms and huffed.
Anne only glanced the huge bag that Axel stuffed in as she held few bags, ready to carry them.
She stopped for a moment as she saw him getting closer.
The woman propped the bags in her hold and nodded after he had talked with the mechanic.
:sweden: "About your question: yeah, actually. Could you bring 18 blankets, 10 pillows, 12 sets of sheets and an extra mattress? I know that our mechanic asked me to do it, but I'm kinda busy here now as I promised to help Amelia with this", she said with a happy tone and huffed. Anne carried them inside to the trailer and stepped then outside.
:sweden: "Also mopping equipment would be nice. I will start to work on mopping when I get this finished with the others and the wrong tires changed-", she chattered away and tried to pick up the crate, huffing even more and somehow lifted it into an air.
She wobbled slightly.
Anne only glanced the huge bag that Axel stuffed in as she held few bags, ready to carry them.
She stopped for a moment as she saw him getting closer.
The woman propped the bags in her hold and nodded after he had talked with the mechanic.
:sweden: "About your question: yeah, actually. Could you bring 18 blankets, 10 pillows, 12 sets of sheets and an extra mattress? I know that our mechanic asked me to do it, but I'm kinda busy here now as I promised to help Amelia with this", she said with a happy tone and huffed. Anne carried them inside to the trailer and stepped then outside.
:sweden: "Also mopping equipment would be nice. I will start to work on mopping when I get this finished with the others and the wrong tires changed-", she chattered away and tried to pick up the crate, huffing even more and somehow lifted it into an air.
She wobbled slightly.
Amelia was turning to speak to Axel, when she saw Anne's attempt out of the corner of her eye.
:norway: "Be carefull! Let me help you with that, it's meant for two. Wouldn't have you blowing up on us before we've left"
As she moved to properly hold the other end of the crate, Amelia spoke over the shoulder to Axel.
:norway: "I've also got a rifle. Anyway, cut three blankets from that order and add two duvets and covers, if i'm gonna be in enemy territory for months, by Thor, i'm gonna sleep comfortably. Don't know how many of you want blankets" The last part was to the whole team.
Amelia was turning to speak to Axel, when she saw Anne's attempt out of the corner of her eye.
:norway: "Be carefull! Let me help you with that, it's meant for two. Wouldn't have you blowing up on us before we've left"
As she moved to properly hold the other end of the crate, Amelia spoke over the shoulder to Axel.
:norway: "I've also got a rifle. Anyway, cut three blankets from that order and add two duvets and covers, if i'm gonna be in enemy territory for months, by Thor, i'm gonna sleep comfortably. Don't know how many of you want blankets" The last part was to the whole team.
Anne looked thankful and laughed in a bashful way.
:sweden: "Sorry, I got too excited. I'm used to handle these alone."
She glanced to the Axel and hummed in a happy way. Nothing made her happier than getting everything finished in a group. The initial annoyance had calmed down, even though she would feel frustrated if she thought about the tires deliberately.
:sweden: "Oh yeah, about the blankets, I'm fine even without a one. I would like some soft place to sleep thought", she chuckled.
After she carried with Amelia the crate inside, she looked the amount of the bags there and crossed her arms in a thoughtful way.
:sweden: "We have carried a good amount, there are only few bags left. I can already start to roll the tires back and get the ones in a right size."
Anne inhaled and lifted one tire up and measured it to the tank's tire. Yeah, little too small. The next size should be fine then.
She started to roll it into the equipment hall and sweat slightly. Anne stretched her back and put the tire to its right place.
The woman picked up the next tire. It was little heavier and she huffed.
Elin heard a noise coming from the top of the tank and looked over, visibly confused. She saw a huge man frantically painting the roof of the tank.
" :iceland: Oi!" she yelled, "What the hell are you doing up there?"
" :iceland: so you're vandalizing the tank?" Elin asked.
There was a faint cracking noise of the paint brush.
Rúnar continued to work, not responding.
Sanni paused as she placed another bag in the tank. There was another mage on this expedition, then? She craned her neck, trying to see to the roof of the tank, but couldn't. Scanning the side of the tank for footholds, she pulled herself up to the roof and sat down crosslegged at a fair distance from the man to watch him work.
Axel wasn't visible behind the tower of blankets and sheets he was carrying - a pile that also had a mattress on top of it.
He placed the whole assemblage next to one of the tank's doors.
Axel walked over and hoisted the tire out of her hands and off the ground with apparent ease.
Anne's face was very surprised, when the weight on her arms disappeared with the tire. She looked up and saw Axel holding the tire with ease. She grinned and stretched her arms.
:sweden: "Thank you-"
The woman blinked few times and let her arms fall to her sides.
:sweden: "Ah, we haven't introduced ourselves yet."
Anne took another tire from the shelf and huffed. Her head could be barely seen behind the tire.
:sweden: "Anne-Inga Thorvaldsen, scout of the group. Thanks again for the help."
:sweden: "Axel," the redheaded giant grunted, before rolling his eyes at Anne's attempts to lift things far larger than she was able to. He picked the tire up, holding the other end.
By the time Axel and Anne returned, Elin and Amelia had finished putting all the luggage and belongings that people hadn't put by the front camper-tank, into the rear storage-van.
:norway: "So, do you actually know where we can get the other stuff?" Amelia asked Axel as she picked up a too-small tire.
"You mean food, maps, everything else?" Axel asked.
Amelia replied as the group walked toward the equipment hall with the smaller tires:
:norway: "We already have a map, what's his face - Sirus gave me a copy at the briefing. I doubt we can get a better one of any particular area. Food though, yes, as well as a few rash-masks for Sanni. I'll get those from Vilma. Then there's the bedding. We need 7 blankets, duvets, duvet-covers and sheets, 8 pillows and pillow-covers, and a spare mattress. Less than our engineer wanted, but we'll have to limit our spares"
Amelia replied as the group walked toward the equipment hall with the smaller tires:
:norway: "We already have a map, what's his face - Sirus gave me a copy at the briefing. I doubt we can get a better one of any particular area. Food though, yes, as well as a few rash-masks for Sanni. I'll get those from Vilma. Then there's the bedding. We need 7 blankets, duvets, duvet-covers and sheets, 8 pillows and pillow-covers, and a spare mattress. Less than our engineer wanted, but we'll have to limit our spares"
Axel wordlessly pointed at the pile he'd already deposited next to the tank.
Anne gave thumb-ups as she was rolling another wrong spare tire away.
:sweden: "I can get the rash masks when I return this tire."
Anne looked as the other expedition members had mostly free time, herself included. It started to sink in that she would be a whole winter with them in the Silent World, full of mysteries and dangers. Everything that nobody has seen after the Old World crumbled down.
She smiled and clapped her hands together, walking closer to the tank.
:sweden: "Would it be nice to have a meeting now? Since we all have some free time and the trip has officially started."
It wasn't her idea, but Anne herself saw the opportunity here. She had already introduced herself to some people, but others were a total mystery to her. It would be important for them to know each other well since they needed teamwork.
The woman cleared her throat.
:sweden: "I can start. As some of you might know already, I'm Anne-Inga Thorvaldsen and the trip's scout. I don't know how many of you can understand Swedish, but I also speak Danish."
She waited for others to introduce themselves.
Elin leaned over the rail and stared down at the sea, watching the waves and looking for anything in the water. She seemed rather sick but the look on her face didn't say sick. She glared at the water like she was daring something to come out of it. Then she threw up.
Elin trudged over to the tank and slumped against it's side. She then noticed that Anne had asked for people to give introductions.
Elin looked up at the other members of the group, " :iceland: I'm Elin Bergström, I was captain of a team of cleansers, now I'm here to just help out and stuff. I speak Swedish and Icelandic."
Elin repeated herself, this time in Swedish in hopes of getting her introduction around to everybody.
Axel let loose a torrent of horrifically Norwegian-accented Swedish. Someone skilled in both languages would probably be able to decipher his name- Axel- his occupation- scout and 'violence dispenser'- and a short diatribe about how he hated the ocean.
Axel let loose a torrent of horrifically Norwegian-accented Swedish. Someone skilled in both languages would probably be able to decipher his name- Axel- his occupation- scout and 'violence dispenser'- and a short diatribe about how he hated the ocean.
Anne twitched when she saw Elin throwing up into the sea and she walked close to her with a small pity on her face. The woman took few used paper tissues from her pocket and tried to offer them to the cleanser to help her clean herself.
Both Axel and Elin were already familiar to Anne, since she had shared introductions with them. Her glance went to Axel though when she heard something about 'violence dispenser' and scout.
:sweden: "Oh, you are also a scout? I don't think I read it from the papers", the woman said with a curious tone.
Anne leaned on the rail.
:sweden: "We can split the scout work then. Are you a day or night scout?"
Amelia looked like she had just woken up, her hair a little messy and her eyes weary, despite having woken up with the rest a couple of hours earlier.
She chuckled at Axel's remarks.
:norway: "Calm down, it isn't as though we'll be out here for long, a couple of days and then we're back on land"
She looked around at the rest of the crew
:norway: "My name is Amelia, combat engineer in the norwegian army. I'll be leading this expedition, but i'm also an explosives expert. I speak Norwegian and Icelandic"
Oh no they're talking what do I do they expect me to join in don't they oh no :sweden: "I'm Rúnar. Icelandic. Mage. Mechanic." He repeats the same in Icelandic.
This was good, right? Right.
Sanni looked down from her perch on the top of the tank, which she had discovered she rather liked. Silently, she listened to the others introduce themselves, then said, as loudly as she dared:
:iceland: "I'm Sanni Lampinen. I'm a mage and medic from Finland, and I speak Finnish, Icelandic, and Norwegian. Good to meet you." She paused, and then repeated herself in Norwegian, unsure whether it mattered.
:sweden: "Day," Axel said shortly, and surprisingly intelligibly.
:norway: "A couple of days is long enough for things to go horribly wrong and for us to be stuck with only fishing to give us supplies. If that happens, I call dibs on eating the tall one first."
It was very difficult to tell if Axel is joking.
"Also, there's some plastic explosives in that duffel I brought if you want to make use of them."
Anne waved to both of them as she didn't catch their names. Looks like she could understand most of the people here, which she had been worried about. Tenseness melted away from her frame.
Anne nodded to his short answer and cringed inside her. She didn't know how much her expression gave away the displease that this outcome gave.
No, she had to think about this positively. At least the work was split now. The woman rubbed her face with tired movements.
:sweden: "I'm also a day scout, but honestly, I've done a lot of night scout's job", she said with a smile.
:sweden: "I can take that since you are also, uh, violence dispenser."
Interesting job title, but she wasn't one to judge it. She learnt new things everyday.
Anne waved her hand as dismissing and leaned on the rail.
:sweden: "I would die by starving than get sick and a brain damage", she said with upbeat tone and joking tone, but realized how wrong it sounded. She steered away from the topic quickly.
:sweden: "Now that we have introduced ourselves, is anybody hungry?" she asked with more enthusiastic tone.
:sweden: "I talked with few of the crew members and they promised us food! How generous." she said to all of them and tried to get energy to this group.
Well, the breakfast was semolina porridge but it was better than nothing.
:sweden: "Someone interested to come with me?"
:sweden: "Now that we have introduced ourselves, is anybody hungry?" she asked with more enthusiastic tone.
:sweden: "I talked with few of the crew members and they promised us food! How generous." she said to all of them and tried to get energy to this group.
Well, the breakfast was semolina porridge but it was better than nothing.
:sweden: "Someone interested to come with me?"
:norway: "A couple of days is long enough for things to go horribly wrong and for us to be stuck with only fishing to give us supplies. If that happens, I call dibs on eating the tall one first."
It was very difficult to tell if Axel is joking.
"Also, there's some plastic explosives in that duffel I brought if you want to make use of them."
:sweden: "Now that we have introduced ourselves, is anybody hungry?" she asked with more enthusiastic tone.
:sweden: "I talked with few of the crew members and they promised us food! How generous." she said to all of them and tried to get energy to this group.
Well, the breakfast was semolina porridge but it was better than nothing.
:sweden: "Someone interested to come with me?"
:sweden: "Now that we have introduced ourselves, is anybody hungry?" she asked with more enthusiastic tone.
:sweden: "I talked with few of the crew members and they promised us food! How generous." she said to all of them and tried to get energy to this group.
Well, the breakfast was semolina porridge but it was better than nothing.
:sweden: "Someone interested to come with me?"
Anne glanced at everyone as most of them followed her and she stretched as they walked away from the tank.
There was an area inside the tank behind the control room, that had few tables and tools and also something that reminded of a counter. A few ship's staff was eating there, including Vilma who wasn't so happy about the porridge's quality that Anne had hyped to others few moments ago. The blond went on the counter and took a plate where she smacked the porridge that looked like a soup.
She stared blankly into it for some time and then inhaled deeply. After it there was a smile again on Anne's face and she took a seat close to a round window, in a same table with few others and Vilma.
:sweden: "So how's the trip? When we are at Selbjørn?" she asked from Vilma to distract her thoughts. Part of her porridge slipped on to a table when the ship moved with the waves.
Vilma shrugged and tried to put sugar into the porridge.
:sweden: "Captain said we should be soon on the big sea. We have been having very good weather now - sounds fishy to me", she jinxed with porridge in her mouth to all expedition members.
Some creature with frogs legs jumped in a distance from water and disappeared into depths again. Anybody who looked out of the window saw that.
Rúnar just took a plate of porridge and sat at a table next to the group's one. If he isn't sitting with them, he doesn't have to join any awkward conversations again. But if he's sitting too far, he could miss vital information.
Good weather was good, though.
That means nobody will get rained on when he kicks them all out to paint the floor rune.
Axel took note of the frog-thing, and put his hands in his pockets while glaring out of the porthole.
Runar felt something bump his thigh.
Somehow the wolf had gotten under his table, and put its head on his leg. It whined softly, tail wagging.
Elin gazed longingly at her porridge. It wouldn't be worth it to eat she was too sick and the porridge too gross. Elin turned and glared out the window. All these goddamn waves, she thought, I just want some solid ground and some half-decent food that's not all mushy.
Elin continued staring out the window, listening to the drone of conversation on the ship. Suddenly she noticed something, vaguely frog-shaped jump through the waves, then a few more appeared.
Better not come here, she thought, I'm not fit to beat anything up right now.
She nudged Anne, " :sweden: Hey, do you see those things out there? Do you think they'll be an issue or...?"
Anne twitched slightly when she saw Elin nudge her and turned to the red haired woman. She glanced then out of the window and saw few frog-like creatures jump again from the water. The woman stopped her eating for a moment.
She squinted her eyes.
:sweden: "I have never seen those, not that I use too much time on the sea", she said back with suspicious tone. Vilma shrugged and looked at both of them.
:sweden: "Oh you were thinking about those, Bergström? They aren't hostile."
One of the crew members next to Vilma sighed.
:norway: "You say that? I hate them, they are like fleas on your clothing."
Suddenly one creature jumped and slammed against the window that Axel was staring through. It had, indeed, frog-like legs, but the whole other body didn't match at all. It was a size of a medium dog, but lacked any sort of fur. There wasn't any recognizable facial features on it and the creature had an odd tail that reminded otter's tail.
Anne got slightly startled and spilled porridge on her shirt again.
Vilma looked at Sanni now and a realization went through her.
:sweden: "Oh crap, I think it's not safe for her to go on the deck now-", Vilma said with a hand on her mouth and pointed at Sanni.
Anne tried to clean with the back of her hand her shirt.
Anne twitched slightly when she saw Elin nudge her and turned to the red haired woman. She glanced then out of the window and saw few frog-like creatures jump again from the water. The woman stopped her eating for a moment.
She squinted her eyes.
:sweden: "I have never seen those, not that I use too much time on the sea", she said back with suspicious tone. Vilma shrugged and looked at both of them.
:sweden: "Oh you were thinking about those, Bergström? They aren't hostile."
One of the crew members next to Vilma sighed.
:norway: "You say that? I hate them, they are like fleas on your clothing."
Suddenly one creature jumped and slammed against the window that Axel was staring through. It had, indeed, frog-like legs, but the whole other body didn't match at all. It was a size of a medium dog, but lacked any sort of fur. There wasn't any recognizable facial features on it and the creature had an odd tail that reminded otter's tail.
Anne got slightly startled and spilled porridge on her shirt again.
Vilma looked at Sanni now and a realization went through her.
:sweden: "Oh crap, I think it's not safe for her to go on the deck now-", Vilma said with a hand on her mouth and pointed at Sanni.
Anne tried to clean with the back of her hand her shirt.
Rúnar grabbed a piece of paper and a pen out of his pockets and started drawing on it, mumbling something to himself. He then got up and gave it to Sanni.
Elin jumped in her seat when the frog hit the window.
She took notice of what Vilma had just said, " :sweden: Do we have any masks on hand for her or do you need me to go and get one."
Elin wasn't in much of any state to be running around but these things weren't large and Vilma said they weren't hostile. After all, if the situation got any worse Elin at least had her knife on her.
Anne twitched slightly when she saw Elin nudge her and turned to the red haired woman. She glanced then out of the window and saw few frog-like creatures jump again from the water. The woman stopped her eating for a moment.
She squinted her eyes.
:sweden: "I have never seen those, not that I use too much time on the sea", she said back with suspicious tone. Vilma shrugged and looked at both of them.
:sweden: "Oh you were thinking about those, Bergström? They aren't hostile."
One of the crew members next to Vilma sighed.
:norway: "You say that? I hate them, they are like fleas on your clothing."
Suddenly one creature jumped and slammed against the window that Axel was staring through. It had, indeed, frog-like legs, but the whole other body didn't match at all. It was a size of a medium dog, but lacked any sort of fur. There wasn't any recognizable facial features on it and the creature had an odd tail that reminded otter's tail.
Anne got slightly startled and spilled porridge on her shirt again.
Vilma looked at Sanni now and a realization went through her.
:sweden: "Oh crap, I think it's not safe for her to go on the deck now-", Vilma said with a hand on her mouth and pointed at Sanni.
Anne tried to clean with the back of her hand her shirt.
Amelia had gotten a bowl of sloop and was about to dig in, when the... "thing"... slammed against the window.
:norway: "Hva faen?!"
She jumped from her seat and drew her axe, staring at where the aberration had just been.
At hearing Vilma's words, Amelia's face lit up, though with what emotion was hard to decipher. When Sanni herself chimed in, Amelia reached over with her left hand and held back the strap so Sanni could put on the mask with one motion.
:iceland: "Yes, right now!"
Amelia had gotten a bowl of sloop and was about to dig in, when the... "thing"... slammed against the window.
:norway: "Hva faen?!"
She jumped from her seat and drew her axe, staring at where the aberration had just been.
At hearing Vilma's words, Amelia's face lit up, though with what emotion was hard to decipher. When Sanni herself chimed in, Amelia reached over with her left hand and held back the strap so Sanni could put on the mask with one motion.
:iceland: "Yes, right now!"
Sanni had watched the frog-things leaping with mild curiosity, but when one slammed against the window she jumped involuntarily. She gathered her composure as quickly as she could, hoping nobody was paying attention to her, but when she looked up, several of her crewmates were pointing. Most definitely talking about her.
She heard Elin ask if she needed to get a mask, and shook her head, holding up the one she had.
:iceland: "Do I need to put this on?" she asked.
The Icelandic mage who had drawn a roof on the ceiling of the tank walked over to her, handed her a piece of paper. She studied it: a rune.
:iceland: "Thank you," she said, smiling a little.
Sanni pulled the mask on quickly, eyes wide, and put Rúnar's rune in her pocket.
:iceland: "Sorry--they can't get in, can they?"
:iceland: "Yes, put the mask on" Rúnar said. He stood appropriately far from her and placed his hands together in a wordless prayer.
Somebody who is a Finnish mage could clearly see the protective rune form around him, slowly growing until the whole room was encompassed. He then started to make it even larger, praying for the creatures to go away.
Axel smiled. It was a horrifying expression.
He then stood, unslinging both harpoon and shield from his back as he headed for the stairs up to the deck.
She looked to Vilma
:norway: "Did i understand right that it is not safe for her to be here? Why, can they get in? If the deck is unsafe, how do we get her back to the tank?"
:iceland: "Yes, put the mask on" Rúnar said. He stood appropriately far from her and placed his hands together in a wordless prayer.
Somebody who is a Finnish mage could clearly see the protective rune form around him, slowly growing until the whole room was encompassed. He then started to make it even larger, praying for the creatures to go away.
When Axel arrived to the deck, it was indeed quite a sight.
The free crew members had their short swords, few spears and even less shields. All of them were smacking away the jumping creatures that, after the jump on the deck, wriggled around like something had cursed them all. One creature had taken a tight grip from one crew members leg and chomped it's needle-like teeth on the man's flesh. One other member had a one on their arm and they all were occupied with the creatures that, after being smacked away, jumped back to the deck.
Spear impaled one and it let out a horrifying screech, making more of the creatures to wriggle and jump around.
One jumped in front of Axel and tried to get a grip of his ankle.
Anne had abandoned her porridge and looked how everybody had taken quick care of Sanni. She tried to somehow clean herself up and was now standing. Vilma ate calmly there and talked with the few crew members, having her eye on them in case something seemed to get inside.
Vilma ate her porridge.
:norway: "It's hard to say. We haven't had before a non-immune member in this ship. There has always been a lost soul somewhere so it's better to be safe than sorry."
Another creature tried to slam against the window again, but it let out a horrible shriek that someone next to the window could hear clearly. The body fell to the water, looking like a burnt meat with slime layer on it.
Anne looked at them.
:sweden: "I will check the deck of what there's going on", she said to expedition members, as it was clear that Sanni was safe with the other three. The woman got only the stairs up and stared the chaos that was going on there.
:sweden: "Sweet afterlife-", she mumbled and drew out her own short sword, standing on the deck close to stairway and making sure that nobody jumps in.
-
Sanni could hear a mess of voices screaming over each other. Some could be heard under the ship and on the other sides of the walls.
"I'MMM BUURNIING"
"Nom NOM NOM
"I CAN'T BITE"
"digdigdigdig"
"IT's fEasT"
Sanni could hear a mess of voices screaming over each other. Some could be heard under the ship and on the other sides of the walls.
"I'MMM BUURNIING"
"Nom NOM NOM
"I CAN'T BITE"
"digdigdigdig"
"IT's fEasT"
:iceland: "Odin All-Father, give me wisdom and strength to protect those who cannot protect themselves..." Rúnar mumbled. The rune continued to slowly grow, but it was visibly tiring him at this point.
When Axel arrived to the deck, it was indeed quite a sight.
The free crew members had their short swords, few spears and even less shields. All of them were smacking away the jumping creatures that, after the jump on the deck, wriggled around like something had cursed them all. One creature had taken a tight grip from one crew members leg and chomped it's needle-like teeth on the man's flesh. One other member had a one on their arm and they all were occupied with the creatures that, after being smacked away, jumped back to the deck.
Spear impaled one and it let out a horrifying screech, making more of the creatures to wriggle and jump around.
One jumped in front of Axel and tried to get a grip of his ankle.
"I'MMM BUURNIING"
"Nom NOM NOM
"I CAN'T BITE"
"digdigdigdig"
"IT's fEasT"
Axel punted the creature attempting to gnaw on his boot back into the ocean, before harpooning the closest and then smashing the second closest with his shield.
:norway: "YLVA! KILL!"
The wolf rocketed out from under the table and up the stairs, before laying into the creatures with teeth and claws.
Anne barely dodged the huge dog, when it rocketed besides her from the downstairs. She stared when Axel and the dog seemed to have things under a control and inhaled with an ease.
To help slightly the crew's burden, Anne stabbed few of the closest wriggling messes that had burnt under the sun and kicked them out of the deck. This could be rhetorically fun if they weren't looking so unappealing.
One tried to jump on Anne and she stabbed it swiftly again, throwing it further away. She threw away the slime that got stuck on her hand and looked pretty pleased despite of her being in an alerted state.
That was, until one of the creatures jumped right past her.
Her breath almost locked when it jumped towards the stairway and through the open door. Anne couldn't even think clearly and she jumped right after the creature, trying to catch it with her arms. It only resulted into huge crashing noises as she fell down the stairs right back to the room.
The rash monster got stuck to the stairway due to Runar's barrier, wriggling there like a madman.
Elin turned around rapidly at the sound of a crash from the stairwell. She turned back to the others, hand still at her knife. Whatever the hell it was Rúnar was doing it seemed to be keeping the trolls from coming any closer, but Elin wasn't familiar with mage stuff and she couldn't be sure how much longer this would hold up.
Elin moved toward the stairwell, " :iceland: I'm gonna check that out, something could've gotten past blonde-lady."
She locked her gaze on Sanni, " :iceland: I'll be back soon. Be safe."
With that as her final word, Elin rushed out into the stairway to find a desperate monster midway down the stairs and an even more desperate Anne fallen down toward the top. Elin raced up the stairs to the squirming troll, as soon as she got close the troll latched onto her arm.
Elin winced, but the troll was nothing compared to some things she'd seen before and it was awfully small as well. Elin shook her arm about, troll was latched on good.
Welp, she thought, here we go, and she drew her knife and drove it straight into the heart of the beast. The troll wiggled a bit and gave short screech as she twisted her knife and pulled it out. The creature fell slack and came of her arm.
Elin made her way back to the others, covered in blood and goo. She stood a bit farther from the others than before, careful not to get any troll stuff near Sanni. She tried for a smile which looked more like a grimace.
" :iceland: Hi," she said shakily, waving at the people she'd been talking to only a few short minutes ago.
That all happened very...quickly, Sanni thought. Elin came back in covered in blood and she stood hurriedly, already reaching for her medic's bag. :iceland: "Is that your blood?" she asked. "Where are you injured?"
Elin looked down at her arm, she hadn't even thought about being injured.
" :iceland: Oh, huh," she said, looking down at some of the blood on her sleeve, her blood, "would'ya look at that."
There was a lot of blood, but most of it wasn't hers, but still some. She looked back to Sanni, " :iceland: just my arm, could you patch that up for me?"
Oh man, Elin thought, I should've been more careful. Now the tiny lady has to do more work and she's non-immune. Oh man...
:iceland: "Of course," said Sanni. In a single motion she had an apron over her head and was tying it on. She adjusted her mask, made sure it was on her face properly, and finally pulled on gloves up to her elbows. "Sorry for the delay. Sit down." Gesturing, she took needle and thread and set about carefully stitching Elin's bite.
Elin's eyes started tearing up, " :iceland: Thank you, I'm sorry you have to- uh- do all this patching up and stuff. I should've been more careful, I'm so sorry."
Elin kept her arm still, drumming her fingers and tapping her foot, paying no mind to the careful stitching Sanni was doing.
Sanni paused and looked up. :iceland: "It's okay. I know what I signed up for. Don't apologize." She turned back to her work. "Oh, and please don't tap your fingers. Sorry, it's distracting."
Anne got herself up after some time from the floor. Her head pounded and her back and limbs ached, but it all felt so trivial compared to what had really just happened.
Her eyes looked at the staircase, where was the dead body of the creature and then at Elin, who was being fixed by Sanni. She almost stumbled when she walked close to them with shaken expression.
:sweden: "Are everybody else okay?" she asked, knowing well that Elin had just been bitten by the look of the wound. Anne patted dirt off herself and tried to stay collected.
It got past her so quickly. No, she just didn't focus enough-
Anne almost pressed her palms on to her face, but dropped them awkwardly to clean off her clothing.
:sweden: "I'm sorry", she said with a tightened expression. "This won't happen ever again."
It was her job not let something like this happen.
-
Vilma had already stood up to go and help, when fell down with the creature, but the situation had been taken quickly care of. She had sat down and had an eye on them if something really bad would happen.
Amelia had been standing by Sanni this whole time, axe at the ready in both hands. She had been just about to go help when Elin got grappled, but she had handled it so fast that there had been no need.
Amelia gestured to Sanni working on Elin's arm as Amelia spoke to her;
:norway: "Once this is done, are you able to defend yourself? Can you defend Sanni?"
Meanwhile, on deck, Axel continued to do things to the frog-beasts that, if they were human, probably would have been enough to land him in front of a war crimes tribunal.
Elin looked to Amelia, " :sweden: oh this?" she made to raise her bitten arm but then remembered Sanni was still working on it, "This is nothing. I'll be able to defend myself anyone else who needs it just fine. I've had much worse, this is just a scratch honestly."
All these people seemed decently worried about Elin but she hardly noticed the wound.
Anne looked at Elin with a serious expression. Many thoughts wandered through her head that, no, that wasn't indeed okay. She had thought this over many times. Instead, Anne tried to breath in and out, calm herself down and get her stuff together.
Smile came on her face faintly. Her hands shook.
:sweden: "-I'm glad that you are here then. You did great job", she said with slightly calmer tone.
The creatures started to get way more sparse now, thanks to the crew and Axel and because the ship started to get close to the open sea. There were now five to seven on the deck and few ones tried to jump back again.
Amelia smiled
:norway: "Fantastic"
She sat off in a jog, which turned to a sprint as she reached the stairs. Almost flying up onto the deck, she went to the first person having trouble with a beast, depositing the momentum into its head through her axe.
Elin looked up from her stitches to Anne, " :iceland: No worries, Anne. It's okay, this is what I'm here for anyway."
It was really only the work of a minute to finish off the last of the damned things.
Once it was done, Axel looked around, spotting Amelia. :norway: "See this? This is why I hate the ocean."
Anne stared at Elin and stayed quiet for a some time. She breathed in and out and tried to calm herself down. She was getting too much worked up and couldn't think straight.
Did the other talk to her? At least it looked like so, Elin was looking at her but Anne couldn't make any sense of her words.
Anne smiled faintly to Elin.
:sweden: "I feel flattered that you believe in my fluency in Icelandic", she said.
Axel and Amelia could see that the ship was getting closer to the mouth of the sea. The ship crew started to fumble around and fix each other and themselves. The members that got helped by Amelia and Axel thanked them quickly, but they all had to get back to their jobs.
Everybody on the deck can see Selbjørn's waterfront in the distance and a few buildings. The ship wasn't going towards them and instead curved to left with a tight turn. The solid rocks peaking out of the water were harsh, but the ship curved besides them like knowing every inch of the ocean.
Some of the crew members started to carry out harpoons and nets.
Amelia suppressed a giggle.
:norway: "Well, it would have been a lot more fun if i hadn't been stuck down there for most of it. It'll take some time getting used to protecting a non-immune squadmate, but i suppose this was as good a time as any to start figuring it out. What i joined the army for, after all. Don't see what's to hate"
- she said, giving a sly, smirky smile and winking, obviously mocking Axel slightly.
Elin looked confused for a moment, then she realized, " :sweden: OH! Oh, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting who speaks what around here."
Elin gave an awkward smile, " :sweden: Anyway, I had said 'No worries, Anne. It's okay, this is what I'm here for anyway.' I still stand by that statement by the way."
:norway: "Yes, it's immensely funny until it kills most of your family," Axel replied in an utterly dead tone.
Seeing the crew clearly preparing either for a fight or an extreme fishing expedition, he hefted his own harpoon.
Emelia stopped and looked Axel in the eyes, her expression devoid of the jauntiness from a moment ago
:norway: "It is for our fallen that we must keep laughing. If we don't live our life to our fullest, what did they die for?"
She paused and looked out to sea, the first signs of winter on the breeze.
:norway: "...i'm going downstairs to eat some damn breakfast. You should too"
Anne snorted out of laughter.
:sweden: "I'm glad you and the others were here, really."
She brushed her hair and sat on the opposite side of Runar. She pressed her head against the table and tried to ease her aching body. Her stomach was full now, so she didn't touch her porridge anymore.
The woman glanced at Runar. She stared him for a some point, until her eyes brightened.
:sweden: "Oh, I think I never asked, but what are those symbols that you were painting on to the tank?" she asked suddenly from the man. Anne tried to get her focus away from the fact that the attack of very weird rash creatures just happened - and ended pretty absurdly too.
Oh no, please let me eat in peace. Why is she here? :norway: "It's a rune. It magics gross s*** away."
Oh no, please let me eat in peace. Why is she here? :norway: "It's a rune. It magics gross s*** away."
Elin listened in on Anne and magic man's conversation, waiting for a spot to interject, " :sweden: Wait, so if the magic graffiti magics gross s*** away what exactly happens to the gross s***?"
Elin tried to talk with her hands, but quickly stopped herself when she remembered Sanni's stitching.
Elin idly tapped her foot and eavesdropped while Sanni worked on her stitches. Elin was having trouble resisting the urge to tap her fingers too.
Elin listened in on Anne and magic man's conversation, waiting for a spot to interject, " :sweden: Wait, so if the magic graffiti magics gross s*** away what exactly happens to the gross s***?"
Elin tried to talk with her hands, but quickly stopped herself when she remembered Sanni's stitching.
Anne's expression couldn't be read clearly. Slight skeptic look was on her face. She finally raised her head from the table and crossed her arms.
:sweden: "Pretty cool. I've heard of mages but never seen a one."
Anne tried to come up with something, but it was really hard and that could be seen from her expression. She shifted on her chair.
:sweden: "I think it depends of magic they use", she tried to answer but clearly struggled with it.
:sweden: "For example, this one guy told me that his girlfriend was, uh, exorcist I think."
:norway: "Gross s*** doesn't wanna be near the rune. It's power's fueled by the gods, and whatever Rash is, it don't like gods." Rúnar says. "And I wouldn't call it :sweden: exorcism. :norway: Reasoning with evil doesn't involve punching it in the face."
Can I go back to eating please, none of you believe me anyway.
He is mocking me.
Anne looked at Runar and inhaled deeply.
:sweden: "The runes are new to me honestly. I didn't know mages use things like that", she said.
:sweden: "I've only heard about exorcism, like said."
She ruffled her own hair and took her porridge that had gone cold. "Are there differences then in Finnish and Icelandic mages then?"
Anne took a spoonful of the porridge.
:sweden: "I'm just curious, I won't be probably a lot around when the expedition starts for real", she said porridge in her mouth.
:sweden: "You all will be spared from my never-ending questioning", she said with a grin, but her eyes didn't smile.
:norway: "It's fine. I don't mind" Rúnar said. I kinda do, but educating people is cool I guess. "Icelandic mages get power from the gods. Runes channel it. Finnish mages have their own. They channel it on their own. They can pray, but it's mostly them. They overdo it, they die. I overdo it, I need a nap. They're good at defending themselves. I barely have any protection. Difference in gods."
Anne tried to tie the sparse words of Runar to a bigger picture. She crossed her legs and blinked in realization after few minutes.
:sweden: "So Finnish mages can defend themselves, but they can die of overuse. Icelandic mages are weak in defending themselves, but they can use their magic more."
She propped herself to a better position.
:sweden: "I think I got it. To think there's a system I have never heard of - definitely shows how there are so much things I don't know about."
It didn't matter if Anne didn't believe in them, she looked content enough of learning things she didn't know about.
:sweden: "There is probably- no, there's definitely so much in Silent World."
Elin idly tapped her foot and eavesdropped while Sanni worked on her stitches. Elin was having trouble resisting the urge to tap her fingers too.
Elin listened in on Anne and magic man's conversation, waiting for a spot to interject, " :sweden: Wait, so if the magic graffiti magics gross s*** away what exactly happens to the gross s***?"
Elin tried to talk with her hands, but quickly stopped herself when she remembered Sanni's stitching.
Sanni winced. :iceland: "Please. I'm almost done." She steadied Elin's arm and finished the last few stitches. "You're fine now."
She stood up, unsure what to do with her gloves and apron now that they were contaminated with Elin's blood. There was too much discussion in the room for her to ask, so she listened as Rúnar explained the differences between Icelandic and Finnish mages, tensing when he mentioned that she could technically die of overuse. She didn't need them worrying about her more than they clearly already were. When the talk died down, she held up her hands. :iceland: "Ah--I'm sorry, what should I do with these things?"
:norway: "Just take them off and put them on the ground, we'll wash it later in the ship's washery"
Amelia had just entered from the deck. She sat down at the table and found her plate of sloop, most of its original contents now littering the surrounding area with the rest of the spill and blood. Regardless, Amelia dug into what was left.
:norway: "Also don't worry about the rash, doesn't survive long outside a host, should be fine now"
Sanni winced. :iceland: "Please. I'm almost done." She steadied Elin's arm and finished the last few stitches. "You're fine now."
She stood up, unsure what to do with her gloves and apron now that they were contaminated with Elin's blood. There was too much discussion in the room for her to ask, so she listened as Rúnar explained the differences between Icelandic and Finnish mages, tensing when he mentioned that she could technically die of overuse. She didn't need them worrying about her more than they clearly already were. When the talk died down, she held up her hands. :iceland: "Ah--I'm sorry, what should I do with these things?"
:norway: "NOPE. Full disinfection. Come" Rúnar said, getting up. He gently, but absolutely sternly, pushed Sanni out. "You too!" he ordered, pointing at the injured woman
:norway: "Yes. Runes I'll make protect us" he said. "Silent World's very dangerous." With that, he continued eating.
...
When Runar went to get disinfection to Sanni and Elin, Anne leaned now ahainst the wall and sat on her seat. The ship rocked and now it was again calm after the whole incident with the creatures.
The woman's face fell neutral and tired for some time as she lulled in her own thoughts. After some time being quiet, she looked at Amelia and cleared her throat.
:sweden: "Looks like you and Axel finished the things up there", she said as a conversation starter and a smile on face.
:sweden: "Also me letting the creature past me: that won't happen in the expedition again."
Anne felt for some reason a need to explain herself.
:norway: "I didn't get to do much, the crew handled it well. And Axel's description of his role, as dumb and childish as it was at that meeting, it fits what he did up there. When i got up on deck, i barely got my pulse up before it was over"
Amelie smiled at Anne, clearly exaggerating.
:norway: "I didn't get to do much, the crew handled it well. And Axel's description of his role, as dumb and childish as it was at that meeting, it fits what he did up there. When i got up on deck, i barely got my pulse up before it was over"
Amelie smiled at Anne, clearly exaggerating.
:norway: "As for the beast? I'll take your word that it won't happen again - as long as you're talking about not trying to do it again at all. Seriously, cut it out. You are part of a team. Not relying on your teammates and trying to do things alone will get you killed"
Axel heard Amelia's comment and elected not to respond to it at all, simply sitting down and finishing his breakfast as quickly as possible.
After a moment, he looks at the other members of the expedition. :norway: "Who knows how to use a gun?"
:norway: "NOPE. Full disinfection. Come" Rúnar said, getting up. He gently, but absolutely sternly, pushed Sanni out. "You too!" he ordered, pointing at the injured woman.
Elin grinned, " :iceland: thank you!"
She happily stretched out her arms.
Elin jumped, " :sweden: AaAaa! Me? Okay."
Elin followed after the two.
Sanni grimaced but said nothing as Rúnar pushed her out of the room. She didn't like people fussing over her at unnecessary times, but it was nice to have someone making absolutely sure that she wasn't going to die of the rash. After a moment, though, she realized that did have one question. :iceland: "Do we have the capacity for a full disinfection in this vehicle? How does that work?"
:iceland: "The tank is fully equipped with necessary tools. I made sure of it. For one, the gloves, tools and apron shall go under the UV light for two hours, along with the mask. You will wash your hands with a disinfectant, and I will spray any parts of your body or clothes or other equipment with disinfectant in spray. You didn't touch your face or hair, I hope... And then I will clean the other woman up -that bloody jacket is going straight into the washing machine- and you two will sit on the tank roof for an hour. You can never be too safe with this." He carefully walked Sanni around the carcasses or liquids of the critters. The crew was working hard on cleaning it up, but you can never be too safe.
Sanni wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at his thoroughness, but she went along with it. At worst, it would be uncomfortable and an inconvenience. At best, it would save her life, or possibly her soul. Both, she decided. Yes. She would definitely go along with it. She smiled. :iceland: "Thank you, I appreciate your carefulness. And no, I didn't touch my face; what do you take me for?"
:icelandic: "You went on a-" Don't answer. "Right." He left the two girls outside the tank and went inside to prepare everything.
When Rúnar had disappeared inside, Sanni looked up at Elin. :iceland: "I went on what? This expedition? He means this expedition." She sighed slightly and trailed off, murmuring to herself.
Elin looked down at Sanni, " :iceland: well... you did do that, but I suppose you do have your reasons, right? I mean even if you are immune it's not exactly the wisest decision to go on this trip."
Elin stood for a moment then said, " :iceland: Magic-man does know I have a name, right? My name iS ELIN."
Sanni smiled ruefully. :iceland: "I have my reasons, just like everyone else." In answer to her second question: "I don't know if he knows your name. Maybe he wasn't listening when we did introductions."
Elin thought for a moment, " :iceland: Do you mind if I ask you your reasons?"
She smiled hopefully.
Anne blinked few times and leaned her chin to her palms. Her eyes had widened slightly.
:sweden: "Yeah I know, right? " she smiled more.
:sweden: "I saw that up there too, I didn't even get a time to blink", Anne exagerated back and twirled her finger in air.
Anne's smile turned into an apologetic one and she waved her hand in the air.
:sweden: "Of course, please don't misunderstand me. It wasn't because I didn't want to rely on you. I panicked and that's why I'm sorry. I shouldn't lose my cool."
She sighed.
...
...
Axel heard Amelia's comment and elected not to respond to it at all, simply sitting down and finishing his breakfast as quickly as possible.
After a moment, he looks at the other members of the expedition. :norway: "Who knows how to use a gun?"
...
Anne twitched when she heard Axel's question. She raised her arm.
:sweden: "I know."
Rúnar returned from the tank it a simple, translucent plastic box, an extra jacket, soap, water and both liquid disinfectant and one in spray.
:icelandic: "I am not good at remembering names. I apologize. Take the jacket off and drop it on the ground" he ordered Elin. "Gloves, mask, apron, tools, into the box" he ordered Sanni.
Sanni removed her gloves and apron, then hesitated. :iceland: "Should I take off my mask in proximity to these things?" She gestured at the blood-flecked gloves and apron in the box.
Sanni grimaced. She knew what Elin would think of her reasons--she knew what most people thought of her reasons. She didn't need another person worried more for her sanity than she already was. Of course, Elin had been kind to her so far, and part of her felt she owed it to tell her...but... :iceland: "I--I'd really rather not," she said finally. "I'm sorry. Maybe another time?"
Rúnar returned from the tank it a simple, translucent plastic box, an extra jacket, soap, water and both liquid disinfectant and one in spray.
:icelandic: "I am not good at remembering names. I apologize. Take the jacket off and drop it on the ground" he ordered Elin. "Gloves, mask, apron, tools, into the box" he ordered Sanni.
Rúnar debated that for a few moments. :iceland: "It would be wiser not to" he then agreed. "Wash your hands" he ordered, handing her the soap. He took the water and poured some of it on her hands.
" :iceland: That's okay, I get it," Elin said, trying for a smile, "We're all stuck on this mission now anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter why any of us are here anyway."
Elin removed her jacket, which was still a bit sticky, and dropped it on the ground. She glanced at the new jacket, I hope that one will fit.
As Sanni washed, she looked over at Elin. :iceland: "Thank you," she said quietly.
:iceland: "Your turn, wash your hands" Rúnar ordered Elin, repeating the same process. Then he put the liquid disinfectant on their hands, to rub it in, and cleaned up Elin's wound with both the disinfectant and the spray. He used the spray Elin's clothes and hair, too. And Sanni's hair, face-mask, arms and clothes. Neither stepped in the remains of the grosslings, so that was fine. "Go on the tank roof, both of you. Keep the mask on, since you will be outside. Just make sure it stays in the sun. I will clean the filters when you are safe in the tank." With that, he took the box inside and placed it in the UV chamber, setting the time to 2 hours. Then he went out to figure out what to do with the jacket.
Full of grossling blood, torn sleeve. Nobody had other dirty clothes yet, but he couldn't just let contaminated thing to be inside the tank like that.
Hand-washing it is.
He took the necessities out of the trailer and filled the big bucket with water from the ship's supply. Why should they already waste their own?
He started to intensively scrub the blood off the jacket. He'll change water at least two times to make sure it's all well and clean. And then use the disinfectant. Or put it in the UV when other things are done. Or just dry it in direct sunlight for a day.
Sunlight.
:iceland: "Your turn, wash your hands" Rúnar ordered Elin, repeating the same process. Then he put the liquid disinfectant on their hands, to rub it in, and cleaned up Elin's wound with both the disinfectant and the spray. He used the spray Elin's clothes and hair, too. And Sanni's hair, face-mask, arms and clothes. Neither stepped in the remains of the grosslings, so that was fine. "Go on the tank roof, both of you. Keep the mask on, since you will be outside. Just make sure it stays in the sun. I will clean the filters when you are safe in the tank." With that, he took the box inside and placed it in the UV chamber, setting the time to 2 hours. Then he went out to figure out what to do with the jacket.
Full of grossling blood, torn sleeve. Nobody had other dirty clothes yet, but he couldn't just let contaminated thing to be inside the tank like that.
Hand-washing it is.
He took the necessities out of the trailer and filled the big bucket with water from the ship's supply. Why should they already waste their own?
He started to intensively scrub the blood off the jacket. He'll change water at least two times to make sure it's all well and clean. And then use the disinfectant. Or put it in the UV when other things are done. Or just dry it in direct sunlight for a day.
Sunlight.
Elin layed* down on the roof of the tank and stretched out. She turned to look at Sanni, " :iceland: So what exactly do we do now? Just wait? How long do you think he'll take?"
Some short curls fell loose from one of Elin's braids, she blew it out of her face, " :iceland: I wish we at least had some board games or something."
Sanni laughed softly. :iceland: "Board games? I don't know how long he'll take. I think he's hoping the sun will sterilize any remaining infection. But--why board games?"
Elin, still laying down, raised her arms, " :iceland: Why not board games? Would you rather just flip through newspapers in silence? Newspapers are silly anyway, what am I gonna do with it? Read it? That's so boring. Anyway, board games are fun and sitting and doing nothing is not."
Sanni looked at Elin in confusion. :iceland: "We could just sit here. Look at the ocean." She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around her knees and staring out at the water, any sign of land lost to view. I hope I've made the right decision. Gods, what if I didn't? I'm not old enough to die yet, I still have things to figure out. Emerging from such thoughts, Sanni let out a short, frustrated breath, shaking her head slightly. "Why did you come on the expedition?" she asked shyly.
Elin propped herself up with her arms, " :iceland: I- uh- I needed a vacation and some friends," she clearly lied, chuckling nervously.
Elin sighed and looked over at Sanni. Sanni was nice and all but Elin didn't want the mess that she was to follow her on this trip. There was a chance everyone would still figure out why she was on this trip with Anne having recognized her and all, but Elin wasn't quite ready to be judged yet. Elin felt like she and Sanni were are pretty good terms, maybe even friends, she didn't want to take a chance at ruining that just yet.
Elin took a deep breath, letting the cool, sea air fill her lungs, " :iceland: If you really want to know, ask me later."
Of course. If Sanni had her secrets, so would they. :iceland: "Fair enough," she said. "Maybe someday we'll trade stories. Or maybe not." She glanced at Elin, then back out at the sea, completely absorbed in her thoughts.
Anne didn't talk or fuss around much more, as she started to get tired at this point. By the time they couldn't almost see the Norway's coasts, Anne had fell asleep on the bench.
The ship's crew fished and kept the agile sea beasts away. Due to the bright day and crispy air, they avoided dangerous encounters.
By the time the sun was on its peak and now could only go down, the ship had traveled over half of the trip. Everything was peaceful on the ship and the captain was in a good mood. Anne fell under the table from the bench but continued her sleep.
When it started to be clearly evening, people on the crew started to be more active and get ready for the worst. Anne changed her side under the table and got sting by a stowaway nail. Vilma finished finally her breakfast.
When they could see land clearly, Anne had been awake for some time and she was standing now on the deck, looking the coast of the lost world.
She stared it intently. Vilma was looking it too, but her expression couldn't be read. Something longing passed there.
:sweden: "What that land was called again?" She asked from Vilma almost as a passing thought.
Brown haired woman shrugged.
:norway: "Scotland."
The ship finally hit the shore of the John O'Groats. The water had gone muddy and grass grew sparsely on the rocky shores. After the shores came a huge land of grass that went on and on everywhere.
On the left were in distance buildings and a collapsed dock. The most prominent building was a white one with tower that had somehow stayed there intact.
Vilma was now standing close to the tank and eyed the expedition members. She inhaled deeply.
:norway: "This is where you all start the trip. We will expect contact through the radio twice or once a week."
She opened her arms and smiled with an expecting and encouraging way.
:norway: "Hopefully we will see after the winter in the old Aberdeen."
Anne was standing and nodded to Vilma, capable of still smiling despite her body being slightly rigid.
The crew members started to work with getting the tank down.
Anne didn't talk or fuss around much more, as she started to get tired at this point. By the time they couldn't almost see the Norway's coasts, Anne had fell asleep on the bench.
The ship's crew fished and kept the agile sea beasts away. Due to the bright day and crispy air, they avoided dangerous encounters.
By the time the sun was on its peak and now could only go down, the ship had traveled over half of the trip. Everything was peaceful on the ship and the captain was in a good mood. Anne fell under the table from the bench but continued her sleep.
When it started to be clearly evening, people on the crew started to be more active and get ready for the worst. Anne changed her side under the table and got sting by a stowaway nail. Vilma finished finally her breakfast.
When they could see land clearly, Anne had been awake for some time and she was standing now on the deck, looking the coast of the lost world.
She stared it intently. Vilma was looking it too, but her expression couldn't be read. Something longing passed there.
:sweden: "What that land was called again?" She asked from Vilma almost as a passing thought.
Brown haired woman shrugged.
:norway: "Scotland."
The ship finally hit the shore of the John O'Groats. The water had gone muddy and grass grew sparsely on the rocky shores. After the shores came a huge land of grass that went on and on everywhere.
On the left were in distance buildings and a collapsed dock. The most prominent building was a white one with tower that had somehow stayed there intact.
Vilma was now standing close to the tank and eyed the expedition members. She inhaled deeply.
:norway: "This is where you all start the trip. We will expect contact through the radio twice or once a week."
She opened her arms and smiled with an expecting and encouraging way.
:norway: "Hopefully we will see after the winter in the old Aberdeen."
Anne was standing and nodded to Vilma, capable of still smiling despite her body being slightly rigid.
The crew members started to work with getting the tank down.
Anne didn't talk or fuss around much more, as she started to get tired at this point. By the time they couldn't almost see the Norway's coasts, Anne had fell asleep on the bench.
The ship's crew fished and kept the agile sea beasts away. Due to the bright day and crispy air, they avoided dangerous encounters.
By the time the sun was on its peak and now could only go down, the ship had traveled over half of the trip. Everything was peaceful on the ship and the captain was in a good mood. Anne fell under the table from the bench but continued her sleep.
When it started to be clearly evening, people on the crew started to be more active and get ready for the worst. Anne changed her side under the table and got sting by a stowaway nail. Vilma finally finished her breakfast.
When they could see the land clearly, Anne had been awake for some time and she was now standing on the deck, looking at the coast of the lost world.
She stared at it intently. Vilma was looking at it too, but her expression couldn't be read. Something longing passed through her face.
:sweden: "What was that land called again?" She asked from Vilma almost as a passing thought.
Brown haired woman shrugged.
:norway: "Scotland."
The ship finally hit the shore of John O'Groats. The water had gone muddy and grass grew sparsely on the rocky shores. After the shores came a huge land of grass that went on and on everywhere.
In the distance on the left were buildings and a collapsed dock. The most prominent building was a white one with tower that had somehow stayed there intact.
Vilma was now standing close to the tank and eyed the expedition members. She inhaled deeply.
:norway: "This is where you all start the trip. We will expect contact through the radio once or twice a week."
She opened her arms and smiled with in an expecting and encouraging way.
:norway: "Hopefully we will see after the winter in the old Aberdeen."
Anne was standing and nodded to Vilma, still capable of smiling despite her body being slightly rigid.
The crew members started to work on with getting the tank down.
Anne didn't talk or fuss around much more, as she started to get tired at this point. By the time they couldn't almost see the Norway's coasts, Anne had fell asleep on the bench.
The ship's crew fished and kept the agile sea beasts away. Due to the bright day and crispy air, they avoided dangerous encounters.
By the time the sun was on its peak and now could only go down, the ship had traveled over half of the trip. Everything was peaceful on the ship and the captain was in a good mood. Anne fell under the table from the bench but continued her sleep.
When it started to be clearly evening, people on the crew started to be more active and get ready for the worst. Anne changed her side under the table and got sting by a stowaway nail. Vilma finally finished her breakfast.
When they could see the land clearly, Anne had been awake for some time and she was now standing on the deck, looking at the coast of the lost world.
She stared at it intently. Vilma was looking at it too, but her expression couldn't be read. Something longing passed through her face.
:sweden: "What was that land called again?" She asked from Vilma almost as a passing thought.
Brown haired woman shrugged.
:norway: "Scotland."
The ship finally hit the shore of John O'Groats. The water had gone muddy and grass grew sparsely on the rocky shores. After the shores came a huge land of grass that went on and on everywhere.
In the distance on the left were buildings and a collapsed dock. The most prominent building was a white one with tower that had somehow stayed there intact.
Vilma was now standing close to the tank and eyed the expedition members. She inhaled deeply.
:norway: "This is where you all start the trip. We will expect contact through the radio once or twice a week."
She opened her arms and smiled with in an expecting and encouraging way.
:norway: "Hopefully we will see after the winter in the old Aberdeen."
Anne was standing and nodded to Vilma, still capable of smiling despite her body being slightly rigid.
The crew members started to work on with getting the tank down.
Rúnar helped with the tank in every way he could. Once they landed, he opened the maps. Not close to any larger settlement... the sun was setting... Hopefully, the commanders won't be stupid enough to order them to head out. For now, this place seemed safe enough. :iceland: "Can you hear anything close by?" he asked Sanni.
Sanni listened a moment for the faint familiar clamor in her head. It was there, like always, but faint. Any trolls were far off, not a threat. :iceland: "No," she said. "Nothing nearby." And then she paused and asked, finally, "Can you not hear them?"
:iceland: "Icelandic mages cannot hear the voices of the damned or see their trapped souls. But I can see free spirits" he says.
Sanni's eyes widened. :iceland: "You're fortunate," she murmured. A moment later she added, "And yes, I can see the spirits too."
:iceland: "Perhaps I could attempt to create a rune to silence the voices" he offered.
Jack yawns and uncurls from where he had holed up for the night, despite his work at rounding up missing cows the nearest village had not had space and so, shruggingly he had slunk off into the night.
He honestly wasn't 100% sure of where he was, just that he was along the coast road. The part of the country he was in people didn't really frequent the much due to migrating selkies during this time of year.
He yawns again and glances up through a half ruined roof, judging by the light and angle of the shadows....
He sat upright cursing silently as he gathered his things.
'faaaaaaaaaak... I slept away the day!'
Suddenly he froze realizing he heard the murmor of voices... Not the dead and departed but living people.
'no one comes here right now...why?'
Carefully he crept to a dusted up and partially broke window to look out at the docks.
Axel saw movement in the tower's broken window, and stopped dead, staring at the source of it and trying to make out whether it was an imminent threat or not in the evening light.
Jack freezes as he sees someone staring at the tower.
'ohcrapwhyarepeoplehere'.
He slowly slinks back away from the window trying to figure things out.
Jack freezes as he sees someone staring at the tower.
'ohcrapwhyarepeoplehere'.
He slowly slinks back away from the window trying to figure things out.
Seeing the biggest and baddest person from the expedition freeze up and stare at something has a way to attract attention to the said something.
Rúnar saw the shadow move out of sight and pushed Sanni in the tank, grabbing his rifle on the way out. All the tank doors were closed, so that was good. He placed himself between the lighthouse and the tank, looking pretty adamant on not letting anything come close.
:norway: "Could be animal. Girl said nothing's close" he told Axel.
Seeing the biggest and baddest person from the expedition freeze up and stare at something has a way to attract attention to the said something.
Rúnar saw the shadow move out of sight and pushed Sanni in the tank, grabbing his rifle on the way out. All the tank doors were closed, so that was good. He placed himself between the lighthouse and the tank, looking pretty adamant on not letting anything come close.
:norway: "Could be animal. Girl said nothing's close" he told Axel.
Sanni opened her mouth to protest at being shoved unceremoniously into the tank, but thought better of it. Instead she asked quietly, :iceland: "What's out there? Did you see something? I swear I heard nothing."
:norway: "Something's in the lighthouse" Rúnar said. "Maybe."
Seeing the biggest and baddest person from the expedition freeze up and stare at something has a way to attract attention to the said something.
Rúnar saw the shadow move out of sight and pushed Sanni in the tank, grabbing his rifle on the way out. All the tank doors were closed, so that was good. He placed himself between the lighthouse and the tank, looking pretty adamant on not letting anything come close.
:norway: "Could be animal. Girl said nothing's close" he told Axel.
Axel nodded, before returning to the group.
:norway: "There's something moving in the tower. Didn't get a good look, could be a troll. Want to go deal with it?" he asked Amelia.
...
Anne looked Runar and Axel's talking and patted her clothing to get the dirt out of them. She had no idea how the Finnish girl could be sure of it, but nobody questioned it. She shrugged the thought off.
:sweden: "I'm going to scout the area anyway since we aren't going to move tonight.", she said and stretched her arms. At least under her watch, dusk had already set down.
:sweden: "Wouldn't hurt to check the tower with a bigger group if there still happens to be something."
Anne glanced to Amelia when she started to stretch legs.
:sweden: "Unless the leader has anything to say about this", she said in a more light-hearted way and her smile was amused.
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
:norway: "I didn't expect to have any contact so soon, seems like the silent world is anything but. No objections here, we should check it out. Two stay, four go. Someone needs to keep an eye on the troll-detector on the tank's dashboard while we are split. I want to have Rúnar along up there, but we need the tank to be mobile. Elin and Sanni, does any of you know how to drive this? If not, i'll stay with Sanni while the rest of you go".
She took her rifle off her shoulder and checked that the internal mag was full and that a round was chambered. No need to flip the safety off yet though.
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
:norway: "I didn't expect to have any contact so soon, seems like the silent world is anything but. No objections here, we should check it out. Two stay, four go. Someone needs to keep an eye on the troll-detector on the tank's dashboard while we are split. I want to have Rúnar along up there, but we need the tank to be mobile. Elin and Sanni, does any of you know how to drive this? If not, i'll stay with Sanni while the rest of you go".
She took her rifle off her shoulder and checked that the internal mag was full and that a round was chambered. No need to flip the safety off yet though.
Axel nodded, and immediately started walking closer to the tower.
Jack shuffles a little closer to the window in an attempt to get a look at the people again, he'd seen a ship, but they had some kind of metal monstrosity as well. He'd heard of something that the Britons were rumored to have when they tried reclaiming London called a tank, but it didn't have a big gun on it.
'is that what a tank really looks like? Are they Britons? But why so far north?'
He freezes up again as he realizes the big guy is moving towards the building.
'They have guns... A conquest maybe?'
Another movement.
Axel is heading out.
Rúnar follows Axel. By the time the others sort themselves out, the man could already die.
:norway: "Try not shooting. Is loud" he mumbles.
Axel nodded, not speaking as he stalked towards the tower silently. Ylva followed. Both of them made no sound as they passed.
As they drew closer, Axel holstered his pistol and drew a long, slablike knife to replace it, the shield going up on his other arm. His eyes scanned their surroundings constantly.
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
:norway: "I didn't expect to have any contact so soon, seems like the silent world is anything but. No objections here, we should check it out. Two stay, four go. Someone needs to keep an eye on the troll-detector on the tank's dashboard while we are split. I want to have Rúnar along up there, but we need the tank to be mobile. Elin and Sanni, does any of you know how to drive this? If not, i'll stay with Sanni while the rest of you go".
She took her rifle off her shoulder and checked that the internal mag was full and that a round was chambered. No need to flip the safety off yet though.
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
:norway: "I didn't expect to have any contact so soon, seems like the silent world is anything but. No objections here, we should check it out. Two stay, four go. Someone needs to keep an eye on the troll-detector on the tank's dashboard while we are split. I want to have Rúnar along up there, but we need the tank to be mobile. Elin and Sanni, does any of you know how to drive this? If not, i'll stay with Sanni while the rest of you go".
She took her rifle off her shoulder and checked that the internal mag was full and that a round was chambered. No need to flip the safety off yet though.
Axel reached the base of the tower very quickly. The crumbling door offered about as much resistance to his kick as balsa wood, shattering under his boot as the huge man strode in, and began ascending the staircase carefully, obviously wary of being attacked.
Axel reached the base of the tower very quickly. The crumbling door offered about as much resistance to his kick as balsa wood, shattering under his boot as the huge man strode in, and began ascending the staircase carefully, obviously wary of being attacked.
Jack let's out a startled 'meep' as Axel crashes through the rotted wooden for and spins around from where he was standing at the base of the spiral stairs leading up into the lighthouse and throws his hands up, smacking them on the ceiling in the process.
:scotland: "I surrender! Please call off the bear!
Jack let's out a startled 'meep' as Axel crashes through the rotted wooden for and spins around from where he was standing at the base of the spiral stairs leading up into the lighthouse and throws his hands up, smacking them on the ceiling in the process.
:scotland: "I surrender! Please call off the bear!
Axel stopped dead. :norway: "Well s***, a human. And I know that language..."
He sheathed the knife. :scotland: "Sorry. Thought you were a troll. Didn't expect to find living people."
Axel stopped dead. :norway: "Well s***, a human. And I know that language..."
He sheathed the knife. :scotland: "Sorry. Thought you were a troll. Didn't expect to find living people."
:norway: "What the-"
:norway: "What the- HUMAN??? HOW???" Rúnar looked deeply disturbed. First of all, the man (debatable) was abnormally tall. Second of all, nobody should be alive in the Silent World.
"Stand back" he ordered Axel. He took the kitten off his head and approached the man (debatable). He lifted the kitten so it was at the height of the man's (debatable) face.
The kitten remained undisturbed, and gave him a boop on the nose.
Jack arches an eyebrow, ":scotland: what is... 'troll'..?" he asks warily testing the word as Rúnar approaches with the cat.
He blinks his unnaturally green eyes and flinches backwards smacking his head into a rusted metal screen, a part of the stair well behind him.
"Ow, what is that language.. is it customary to have a holy critter smack any new people you meet in the face? So many questions?"
He's rambling quietly.
Jack arches an eyebrow, ":scotland: what is... 'troll'..?" he asks warily testing the word as Rúnar approaches with the cat.
He blinks his unnaturally green eyes and flinches backwards smacking his head into a rusted metal screen, a part of the stair well behind him.
"Ow, what is that language.. is it customary to have a holy critter smack any new people you meet in the face? So many questions?"
He's rambling quietly.
:scotland: "Big, made of flesh, hates sunlight and people, made by the Rash?"
Axel regarded the human flatly, almost predatorily. "And cats don't like their lot, so you're not infected."
:norway: "We sure got in trouble fast," he muttered.
:iceland: "He could be sick, even without my kitten knowing. Cats cannot detect early stages of the disease. We must not allow him come close to the mage girl until at least two weeks have passed. If it even is a human" Rúnar mumbled back, waiting for the man to take the paper.
:scotland: "Big, made of flesh, hates sunlight and people, made by the Rash?"
Axel regarded the human flatly, almost predatorily. "And cats don't like their lot, so you're not infected."
:norway: "We sure got in trouble fast," he muttered.
:iceland: "He could be sick, even without my kitten knowing. Cats cannot detect early stages of the disease. We must not allow him come close to the mage girl until at least two weeks have passed. If it even is a human" Rúnar mumbled back, waiting for the man to take the paper.
Jack arches his other eyebrow, ":scotland: .... You described fiends...horrible things... I sometimes get paid the lure them away from villages and farms..."
He gingerly takes the paper glances at it and goes to his thoughts, 'they... Don't seem like Britons... Accent wrong... Lost Norman's maybe? Here to hunt the Britons?'
"Are... You from across the sea?"
Amelia had trotted with Anne and was now standing by the entrance
:norway: "I was kinda hoping for a light-house troll, but this beats that a by a mile!"
She smiled and was extatic, but kept the stock of her rifle to her shoulder, though she pointed the barrel down a little
:norway: "What's he saying?"
:scotland: "Yes."
:norway: "He wants to know where we're from, also apparently there actually are locals. Can we get the ship to come back, then, since we've already accomplished a lot?"
Amelia had trotted with Anne and was now standing by the entrance
:norway: "I was kinda hoping for a light-house troll, but this beats that a by a mile!"
She smiled and was extatic, but kept the stock of her rifle to her shoulder, though she pointed the barrel down a little
:norway: "What's he saying?"
:scotland: "Yes."
:norway: "He wants to know where we're from, also apparently there actually are locals. Can we get the ship to come back, then, since we've already accomplished a lot?"
Amelia looked at Jack and thought for a second, before answering Axel's question
:norway: "Probably not, though we will have to report this over the radio. Ask him if he wants to lead us to the nearest surviving settlement. Oh, and keep an eye on him, the man is weird, too tall"
She turned and started walking back to the tank
Axel shrugged. :norway: "Could just shoot him if he turns out to be some freaky thing. And possibly burn the corpse. That usually works."
Jack arches his other eyebrow, ":scotland: .... You described fiends...horrible things... I sometimes get paid the lure them away from villages and farms..."
He gingerly takes the paper glances at it and goes to his thoughts, 'they... Don't seem like Britons... Accent wrong... Lost Norman's maybe? Here to hunt the Britons?'
"Are... You from across the sea?"
Amelia had trotted with Anne and was now standing by the entrance
:norway: "I was kinda hoping for a light-house troll, but this beats that a by a mile!"
She smiled and was extatic, but kept the stock of her rifle to her shoulder, though she pointed the barrel down a little
:norway: "What's he saying?"
He visibly relaxed once the man took the rune. :norway: "Definitely human. Maybe sick. Don't shoot him until confirmed."
With that, he took a few steps back. This was now Commander's problem. Or something. He hoped they'd just leave the guy alone. He looked a bit freaked out.
Anne had waited at the entrance when Axel had just broke down the door and went up with Runar. There were so many things that were just wrong with that approach, not to mention that she hadn't even got any sensible answer.
No communication at all. It was their first day here and this looked very bad. Anne pressed few fingers on her temples and looked very disgruntled when nobody could see her.
When Amelia trotted after her and Anne could hear weird language speaking up, her eyes widened.
:norway: "A human? I didn't dare to expect see one here", she said to Amelia but had a vary smile on her face.
Some things sounded way too good to be true.
Anne frowned. She didn't even see anything up there and still felt like that human was probably freaking out by seeing two huge men with guns and knives.
Anne turned to Amelia.
:sweden: "What should we do? In case the human wants to come with us, we can't keep Sanni locked in the tank either for two weeks. Pampering her around isn't professional nor respectful towards her."
The woman rolled her shoulders. She itched for something.
:norway: "Should be good enough if he's got a face mask. And if we clean him up" he said. "But maybe we just let him be, once we contact the locals. Diplomacy and all that."
:scotland: "Commander wants to know where the nearest town is," Axel said, staring at Jack unblinkingly.
"So.... that other language you're using.......no nevermind.." he trails off and tries to compose himself a little. He still looks mildly terrified.
...
When Amelia trotted after her and Anne could hear weird language speaking up, her eyes widened.
:sweden: "A human? I didn't dare to expect see one here", she said to Amelia but had a wary smile on her face.
Some things sounded way too good to be true.
Anne frowned. She didn't even see anything up there and still felt like that human was probably freaking out by seeing two huge men with guns and knives.
Anne turned to Amelia.
:sweden: "What should we do? In case the human wants to come with us, we can't keep Sanni locked in the tank either for two weeks. Pampering her around isn't professional nor respectful towards her."
The woman rolled her shoulders. She itched for something.
:norway: "Should be good enough if he's got a face mask. And if we clean him up" he said. "But maybe we just let him be, once we contact the locals. Diplomacy and all that."
Anne looked satisfied with the answer and slightly glad that the girl wouldn't be under constant monitoring. She crossed her arms and tried to look more into the stairs. The woman didn't see a much of the strange human that they found immediately.
:sweden: "Depending of course how he is willing to help."
At least the person doesn't seem to be hostile, otherwise there would be no interaction up there.
She crossed her arms.
:sweden: "It's already big news that here are even any humans, maybe it gets a small newspaper column."
Smile was on her face.
Having come down from the stairs, Amelia had stopped when Anne had asked Amelia as she had passed Anne on the way out, though Rúnar, having followed right behind her, had answered before she could.
:norway: "What? This is the biggest news since... i don't know what. I would be surprised if this won't reach all the way to Finland before tomorrow is over. For now though, this complicates things. I guess the best we can do is just stay out here as not to intimidate the scott up there, and let Axel finish talking to him. Though the idea of Axel alone being responsible for diplomacy doesn't comfort me, eh"
Amelia gave a light jab to Anne's shoulder, grinning.
His kitten jumped off his head before he left, and sat down on Jack's foot.
Jack stares at the cat, not as someone who has never seen one, but more as someone who wasn't entirely sure what to do about this situation.
Cat meowed.
Meanwhile, in the tank, Sanni sat, peering out the window. One hand was idly twisting her braids round and round. Finally she spoke, quietly. :iceland: "Do you think it's always going to be like this? I mean, at the first sign of anything, I'm locked in the tank? I told them there aren't any trolls nearby. I'm sure of it." She trailed into silence, realizing how childish she sounded. She muttered sorry under her breath, but in Finnish.
Jack speaks quietly at the can, ":scotland: please move off my foot..."
Elin looked over at Sanni, the silence had been killing her, " :iceland: Well- uh... I'd say it probably won't be like this. We all have jobs to do out here and once things really get rolling we probably won't have time to be protective like we have been now, and you probably won't have time to be protected either. You have a job to do out here too." Elin smiled weakly, "I know you're not immune but if you signed up to go out here I think you'd have some idea of how to protect yourself too."
Elin lowered her voice, " :iceland: and if it turns out to be like this the whole time I'll sneak you out of the tank every so often as long as you keep your mask on and don't wander off."
She paused for a moment and thought about what Sanni had just said, " :iceland: How do you know whether or not there are trolls nearby? I'm sorry, I just really don't know anything about mage stuff."
Sanni grinned before she could help herself. :iceland: "Thanks," she said. And she moved to answer Elin's question and the grin slipped away as quickly as it came. "Finnish mages," she went on hesitantly, "can hear...the voices of the trolls. Well, of anything the rash took. So, if there were a troll nearby, I would be able to hear its voice louder than the rest. And I don't. So. There's nothing there."
The kitten stared up at him for a few seconds, and then she obliged. She wasn't on his foot anymore. She was climbing up his trousers.
'why?'
Jack sighs and resigns himself to his fate and waits for the kitten to finish it's climb before he starts collecting his things.
As he waits he glances at the piece of paper that Rúnar had handed him, he is still confused about that.
The kitten successfully climbed all the way up and nested herself on Jack's shoulder. She was an ordinary, cute and fluffy kitten, but she wore a strange black collar. She was also purring loudly, now that he reached the shoulder.
The piece of paper had some odd doodle with lots of squares, circles, and a general shape of a snowflake that forgot how to snowflake.
Elin raised her eyebrows, " :iceland: Trolls have voices? What do they sound like? ... If you don't mind me asking. Also it's pretty good that you don'y hear anything right now then."
Sanni made a noise that could almost be a laugh, if it weren't so bitter. :iceland: "Very upset," she said.
Elin blinked, " :iceland: oh, huh. I mean I can't imagine them sounding- erm- good or anything."
Sanni nodded. :iceland: "No. They're in constant pain, of course not."
As Jack steps out of the building next to the three others, Amelia pokes her head in to Axel.
:norway: "So, what did he say? Which direction is the nearest surviving settlement?"
Amelia sighed heavily and held her head, rubbing her right temple with her thumb while she thought for a moment then she looked back up at Axel.
:france: "Dear god" :norway: "And here i thought this was going to be easy. We'll have to ask him again later, or tomorrow. For now, ask him what he intends to do. We need to sleep, but with him and potentially other uninfected around, we have to take shifts staying awake, so nobody comes and steals our things"
She turned to Anne.
:norway: "Since we can't get anything out of this guy for now, you're going to scout the planned route, we can take a look at the map when we get back. Can you start night-scouting now or do you need a day to change schedule?"
Rúnar meanwhile, returned to the tank. First of all, he wordlessly gave Elin a bottle of water and salty crackers, so that she eats something while the dinner's cooking.
Then he went to make food.
Jack quietly stands there listening, before he digs through his messenger bag and starts flipping through a tattered looking book, and occasionally glances up as though trying to catch a word.
"Doo...are normaneer?"
Very mangled Norwegian from someone trying to pronounce the language based off having only seen it written: [You are Normans?]
Amelia sighed heavily and held her head, rubbing her right temple with her thumb while she thought for a moment then she looked back up at Axel.
:france: "Dear god" :norway: "And here i thought this was going to be easy. We'll have to ask him again later, or tomorrow. For now, ask him what he intends to do. We need to sleep, but with him and potentially other uninfected around, we have to take shifts staying awake, so nobody comes and steals our things"
She turned to Anne.
:norway: "Since we can't get anything out of this guy for now, you're going to scout the planned route, we can take a look at the map when we get back. Can you start night-scouting now or do you need a day to change schedule?"
As Rúnar left, Amelia shouted after him: :norway: "Turn on the radio when you get there!"
Amelia looked at Jack, and her right eye twitched once 'What the hell is up with this guy? Is he trying to speak Norwegian?'
A surprised smile formed on har face. She dug her 8 inch by 6 inch notepad out of her satchel and quickly flipped through it to find a page that wasn't covered in math equations.
She jutted something down, then showed the note to Jack
On it was a big question mark, and two words in capital letters: NORDMENN, and NORMANNERE (Norwegian for norwegians and normans, respectively).
:norway: "Which did you mean?" Amelia asked Jack
Anne sighed slightly as she listened and ruffled her hair. Small frustration was on her face as the communication was too unclear for her.
Amelia's words to her made her attentiom to get back and she thought it, smiling slightly.
:sweden: "It's my duty, I can do the night scouting now", she said with a confidence.
:sweden: "I slept in the ship anyways."
It didn't change the fact that changing her schedule would be pain, but she didn't join to this expedition only to be an extra weight.
When the weird human came to interact with Amelia, Anne stood besides the woman and waited for further instructions. Man, she was hungry.
Hopefully Runar was a good cook.
Jack shrugs and holds up his book and motions to it as though asking 'aren't they the same?'
The book is tattered and ancient, and probably was originally a very heavy duty tourism guide, the title is barely readable, ':england: Winery's and Cheesieries of Normandy and Norway with local transliteration'. There also is the outline of the country of France and the faded shapes of the Normandy region of France, and all of Norway hi-lighted and tucked within the shape of France as though both are to be found there.
:norway: "By Odin, how did they get that so wrong?!?" Amelia exclaimed as she saw the cover of the book.
Amelia motioned for everyone left to follow her to the tank.
:norway: "I'll show you on the map, then you can tell us of scotland after. But first we'll have to sort out this night's scout-run. Actually, first there's food, am i the only one who's getting hungry? Anne, run ahead and tell Sanni to put on the mask before we get there with him, we still don't know if he's infected"
Amelia turns back to Jack while they walk
:norway: "Still, you have to stay at least 15 meters from the car so Sanni can take her mask off to eat"
Jack, looks confused and seems have only caught... Maybe a third of what Amelia was saying.
As they walk towards the tank he glances around apprehensively and looks to Axel, ":scotland: What is she saying... And where is your wardnet? It's getting late demons will start to manifest soon..."
He glances at the tank and relaxes a little on seeing the runes painted on the side of the trailer and looks around again.
He also notes a mild distortion of magic coming from the roof of the tank and from within the machine as well.
:scotland: "Okay, demons manifest at night. Wonderful..." Axel sighed. :scotland: "Okay, we don't have that problem in Norway. Trolls, yes, the occasional angry spirit or ghost, yes, but not demons coming out at night to murder you."
:norway: "By Odin, how did they get that so wrong?!?" Amelia exclaimed as she saw the cover of the book.
Amelia motioned for everyone left to follow her to the tank.
:norway: "I'll show you on the map, then you can tell us of scotland after. But first we'll have to sort out this night's scout-run. Actually, first there's food, am i the only one who's getting hungry? Anne, run ahead and tell Sanni to put on the mask before we get there with him, we still don't know if he's infected"
Rúnar was cooking. Nobody asked him what they found. Nobody paid attention to him.
He was fine with that.
Whatever he was cooking seemed to smell alright, especially considering the fact that it was made from whatever food army gave them that could last for several months.
Mostly it was canned food.
But it wasn't absolutely horrible, so that was nice.
Abandoning her conversation with Elin, Sanni shook off melancholy and sat up straight, tapping the other woman lightly on the arm. :iceland: "Look! Who is that?" An excessively tall figure had returned with the others. Eyes wide, Sanni tried her hardest to hear what they were saying, but only made out some garbled language that didn't sound Scandinavian at all.
Abandoning her conversation with Elin, Sanni shook off melancholy and sat up straight, tapping the other woman lightly on the arm. :iceland: "Look! Who is that?" An excessively tall figure had returned with the others. Eyes wide, Sanni tried her hardest to hear what they were saying, but only made out some garbled language that didn't sound Scandinavian at all.
Anne looked at Elin and Sanni who were both there and leaned on the door frame.
:sweden: "Hello both! Sanni, leader said that you have to put a mask on. We don't know if the stranger is infected."
She tried to smile in reassuring way.
:sweden: "Not like we force you to stay inside though! Food is soon ready outside, it smells pretty good."
Elin sat up and leaned over to get a better view out the window. There she saw an unnaturally tall man with the other members of the crew.
She looked back to Sanni, " :iceland: I think they found someone, but that doesn't make any sense... We've barely been out here for a few hours and things are already going off the rails. Do you think they'll be coming with us?"
Sanni gestured to the mask, which she was already wearing. Hearing the second part of Anne's speech, she smiled and called back :norway: "thank you!"
Sanni turned to Elin. :iceland: "I don't know. I haven't any idea what is going on."
":scotland: So.... no wardnet... who's your warder then? Those greatwards are good to keep most fiends away, but they and I will need to set up a proper net before it gets dark."
He begins rummaging through his messenger bag and pulling out the lacquered wooden plates he'd only just put away. There's quite a few of them and each of them has what appears to be a specific runic mark carved into the surface and marked with paint and finished with the lacquer coating for longevity.
Even jumbled and out of order the plates have some form of power and create something of a lensed effect around them.
Jack is quietly mumbling to himself, the words even more indistinct because of the low speaking and his wool scarf.
"won't need these ones... too much moisture in the air for fire demons... water sand... maybe stone... never seen an air but [indistinct]..."
He looks up and asks a pointed question, "You have paint right?"
Anne grinned back to her. She didn't understand any of the Icelandic, but rolled with it.
:sweden: "Thank Runar, he is our cook. I recommend to get out though before I go and eat all the food."
The woman jumped from the tank, but kept the door open.
:sweden: "And remember the mask! Elin, please take care of it."
She felt slightly tired and pressed the door shut. Anne walked towards Runar and glanced inside the pot to see what was filling her stomach tonight.
:sweden: "What's there?" she asked with curiosity.
Axel elected to answer Jack's request by wordlessly pointing at Rúnar and then leaving the abnormally tall man behind.
Ylva continued to stare at Jack, watching him continuously.
Axel walked back to the tank, picked up a bowl of food, and ate quickly and soundlessly before tapping Rúnar on the shoulder. :norway: "Please tell me our skinflint bosses didn't skimp on the proximity alarm," he said emotionlessly.
:norway: "...food" he said. "It's edible." I cooked with what I had, what do you expect??? Oh no she'll hate it. And she'll hate me. And they'll never let me cook again. Or do anything. They'll just hate me. Oh no.
He took a bowl of food and sat down by the burner. It was nice and warm. Sitting next to it was good.
He made good food, too.
What if they hate it anyway. Oh no.
...alright, that got his attention. :norway: "What?"
Axel looked at Rúnar flatly. :norway: "Weird tall guy said demons come out at night. And trolls, which he calls fiends. Either we have a working alarm system and wards or I have to camp out on top of the tank with a gun."
"We have the proximity alarm..." Rúnar looked back into the bowl.
Then back up at Axel. :norway: "What?"
Axel sighed. :norway: "Yes, I don't know what the hell he's talking about either. But he mentioned wardnets so maybe you and he can figure out some magic s***."
Mages did weird stuff...and made Axel's life and job more difficult in general. Not that the big lunk here needed to know that.
:norway: "I don't speak whatever he does" Rúnar stated.
Axel elected to answer Jack's request by wordlessly pointing at Rúnar and then leaving the abnormally tall man behind.
Ylva continued to stare at Jack, watching him continuously.
Axel walked back to the tank, picked up a bowl of food, and ate quickly and soundlessly before vanishing into the tank's storage.
After several minutes, he came out carrying a rifle and several magazines of ammunition, as well as some grenades. He clambered up on top of the tank with surprising agility, and sat there with the weapon across his knees and the grenades close at hand, watching the horizon.
Jack warily picks his way into the camp and looks around.
":scotland: He, " he points to Axel, "said you are your groups warder? Can you make some more of these?" He holds up some of the carved wooden plates. "they don't need to be carved... just the marks copied."Spoiler: ooc show
Rúnar stared at him. :norway: "What?"
Jack glances at Axel then pulls out the wine and cheese guidebook and flips through it a bit...
"kan duu.... kopayrer det ... hair??"
[Bad :norway:; Can you copy these?]
He holds up the wood plates.
:norway: "...food" he said. "It's edible." I cooked with what I had, what do you expect??? Oh no she'll hate it. And she'll hate me. And they'll never let me cook again. Or do anything. They'll just hate me. Oh no.
He took a bowl of food and sat down by the burner. It was nice and warm. Sitting next to it was good.
He made good food, too.
What if they hate it anyway. Oh no.
:norway: "What are they?" he asked.
He flips though his book some... he thinks he knows what was asked, "avdil-neengar... utan fer? banshees ock kelpies."
[Bad :norway: ; They ward off banshees and kelpies.]
He motions at the greatwards on the tank and trailer and automatically swaps back to gaelic. ":scotland: Those are good for fiends, doesn't stop the other two."
:norway: "... translate...?" Rúnar told Axel. He clearly gave up on trying to figure out what Jack was saying.
:norway: "I thought I spoke other languages poorly...he said they help ward off whatever local weird s*** there is. I dunno what a 'banshee' or 'kelpie' are but they sound nasty. He wants you to copy the marks on the wooden plates so the weird stuff will leave us alone," Axel said shortly.
Rúnar contemplates throwing a shoe at Axel's head, but decides against it. While he deserved it, he had a feeling Commander wouldn't like it.
:norway: "I don't know the magic you use" he said to Jack.
Jack takes a moment to make sense of the statement then glances at the greatward, then axel and back to Runar. "Det air bookstavleegen det ... dair. Saamma magee." He motions at the greatward on the trailer to emphasize his point before arranging the wooden plates on the ground to show Runar the arrangement and the way the magic works.
The way the magic from the lacquered plates arranges itself once put into order and face up is very similar to the way that magic flows around Runar's runes.
[Bad :norway:; "it's literally that... right there. Same magic."]
He consults his book again and points out three plates in particular.
"Gore statister av dees? vair saw sneel?? Deet er eek min magi."
[bad :norway:;Make extras of these? please? It's not my magic.]
:norway: "It ain't my magic. Not Icelandic. Pretty doodles or whatever, but not mine" Rúnar slowly explained.
Jack stares at Runar in disbelief before looking at Axel, ":scotland: .. do you have another warder or a caster?... I need someone that can see the magic and understand it's the same."
:norway: "SANNI!"
Rúnar rubbed his eyes. Sanni was the mage girl, right? :iceland: "Stay at least ten meters away from him" he ordered. He got another bowl and put food in it. And then he put it in Jack's hands. He'll need a full cleanup before he's allowed in the tank, and he will have to have the mask whenever he's inside.
:norway: "SANNI!"
Rúnar rubbed his eyes. Sanni was the mage girl, right? :iceland: "Stay at least ten meters away from him" he ordered. He got another bowl and put food in it. And then he put it in Jack's hands. He'll need a full cleanup before he's allowed in the tank, and he will have to have the mask whenever he's inside.
Sanni, who had just made her way out of the tank to get some food, stopped in her tracks. :norway: "...yes?" she started to say, but was cut off by Rúnar's order. She sighed and nodded to him, then turned back to Axel. :norway: "What do you need?" she asked.
Sanni, who had just made her way out of the tank to get some food, stopped in her tracks. :norway: "...yes?" she started to say, but was cut off by Rúnar's order. She sighed and nodded to him, then turned back to Axel. :norway: "What do you need?" she asked.
:norway: "Talk to the weird foreign mage guy, apparently he needs someone who can 'see' magic and Runar doesn't count."
the kitten seemed to enjoy Jack's company. She was rubbing her head with his face, still sitting on his shoulder.
She also meowed expectantly.
Jack tries to ignore the weird languages and focuses on the food. It's the first warm meal he's eaten in about a week.
'... What services can I even provide them for this meal...they have no animals to herd... no messages to deliver... information?.. but I still don't know if they're conquerors... ' He ponders this, clearly not even considering getting their wards into proper order a 'service' that can be bartered for since it's a basic necessity of survival, '... Hopefully they honour guest-right...'
:norway: "Talk to the weird foreign mage guy, apparently he needs someone who can 'see' magic and Runar doesn't count."
:iceland: "Also, you wouldn't happen to have a test kit with you, would you? It would be good to see whether he is immune or not. If he is, we could just clean him up, without worrying he is potentially contagious to you" Rúnar said. He knew he didn't bring a test kit along. He didn't expect to have to test anybody's immunity.
Although, the kitten seemed to enjoy Jack's company. She was rubbing her head with his face, still sitting on his shoulder.
She also meowed expectantly. Rúnar went to get her food.
Jack tries to ignore the weird languages and focuses on the food. It's the first warm meal he's eaten in about a week.
'... What services can I even provide them for this meal...they have no animals to herd... no messages to deliver... information?.. but I still don't know if they're conquerors... ' He ponders this, clearly not even considering getting their wards into proper order a 'service' that can be bartered for since it's a basic necessity of survival, '... Hopefully they honour guest-right...'
Ylva didn't stop staring at Jack, golden eyes boring into him.
Meanwhile, inside the front cabin, Amelia had been eating while turning on the radio, nobody did it as she ordered.
She was about to open a connection to the ship when Axel called on Sanni and Rúnar cut in.
Amelia but down her bowl in the middle row, stepped outside and trotted over to Jack, staying a few meters away.
:norway: "Hey dude, we never got to introductions. I'm Amelia, i lead this expedition" She paused "These two muscle-bundles are Axel and Rúnar" she gestured to each as she gave their names "Anne is over there. The girl who just ran is Sanni, please don't touch her until we have tested you. Elin... is around somewhere. What's your name?"
Meanwhile, inside the front cabin, Amelia had been eating while turning on the radio, nobody did it as she ordered.
She was about to open a connection to the ship when Axel called on Sanni and Rúnar cut in.
Amelia but down her bowl in the middle row, stepped outside and trotted over to Jack, staying a few meters away.
:norway: "Hey dude, we never got to introductions. I'm Amelia, i lead this expedition" She paused "These two muscle-bundles are Axel and Rúnar" she gestured to each as she gave their names "Anne is over there. The girl who just ran is Sanni, please don't touch her until we have tested you. Elin... is around somewhere. What's your name?"
Anne perked when she heard Amelia mention her name. The woman waved her hand to the guy, but didn't go and interrupt them.
:sweden: "Elin is in the tank."
The sun had gone down even more and the night started to fall around them, enveloping everything into the darkness. Only light source was from the tank.
Anne left the bowl on to the rock after eating food and trotted slightly closer to Amelia.
:sweden: "My work is just about to start", she said lightly and rolled her shoulders.
:sweden: "I'm back by morning."
Without further words, she walked to the back unit and rubbed her eyes. Anne changed her thick jacket away and put on more clean clothing. She picked up gun and knife and rolled the collar up to cover part of her face.
Her anxious look reflected to her personal bowl. Anne slapped her cheeks and breathed in deeply.
She hopped off from the back unit and looked at the people she could see on the outside. Everything's ready, she waits a little if someone has something to note before her leave.
:norway: "Hey! Wait" Rúnar quickly took a pen and an empty piece of paper out. He quickly drew a rune and handed the piece of paper to her. "He's talking about some bad stuff around. If this ain't forcing them to back off, run here. I'll leave one door open for you." He can sleep on a seat next to the unlocked door. He won't let bad stuff through.
Anne twitched slightly when heard Runar's yell and looked at him with confusion. When he gave a piece of paper with scribbles on it, Anne furrowed her eyebrows.
Was this some kind of mage thing? The symbol looked similar to the ones on the tank.
The woman decided not to press about it, not like one paper is inconvenience to her in any way.
She smiled back to Runar when he mentioned about the door.
:sweden: "Wow, you are a life-saver! But will the tank be safe? I don't want anything unpleasant to crawl in just because you left a door open for me."
Anne's tone was worried, but she looked still pleased. It would make her life much more easier.
Anne perked when she heard Amelia mention her name. The woman waved her hand to the guy, but didn't go and interrupt them.
:sweden: "Elin is in the tank."
The sun had gone down even more and the night started to fall around them, enveloping everything into the darkness. Only light source was from the tank.
Anne left the bowl on to the rock after eating food and trotted slightly closer to Amelia.
:sweden: "My work is just about to start", she said lightly and rolled her shoulders.
:sweden: "I'll be back by morning."
Without further words, she walked to the back unit and rubbed her eyes. Anne changed her thick jacket away and put on more clean clothing. She picked up gun and knife and rolled the collar up to cover part of her face.
Her anxious look reflected to her personal bowl. Anne slapped her cheeks and breathed in deeply.
She hopped off from the back unit and looked at the people she could see on the outside. Everything's ready, she waited a little if someone had something to note before she left.
Axel handed her a grenade. :norway: "Don't die."
:norway: "...bad word. Not locked. I'll have it not locked and keep guard. Door'll be closed, but you can come in easy" he explained. "And proximity alarm will warn me if something's near."
Axel handed her a grenade. :norway: "Don't die."
Anne nodded. It made sense to her and she was glad Runar cleared up the misunderstanding. If he is sure that things will be alright, she won't press about it then.
She held the grenade only for a short time before Runar snatched it from her hands and confiscated it back to the back unit. Anne stared after it with a slight confusion and turned then to look Axel. Her confusion slightly died down and her demeanor calmed down.
:sweden: "I won't", she said shortly, but Anne has never sounded so sure of something as she stared Axel into the eyes.
She wasn't tall enough to pat Axel on his shoulder, so she patted him on the arm.
:sweden: "Thanks for the concern. I would just kill myself with the grenade though."
She took few steps away to see all the expedition members who were outside (and one odd human). Anne felt somehow very rigid and tense but she smiled.
:sweden: "I will trust everything else to all of you. Don't get hurt", she said with more light tone to them. Anne still meant every word she said and her expression told it.
She fixed the collar of the jacket and jogged away. After some time her jogging turned into a running and a gray figure disappeared into the open fields.
Axel flinched slightly at the contact, before watching Anne run away.
Jack silently watched the exchange of words of warning, a metal stone that the 'broken' warder immidiatly took from the person who apparently was going to go out into the night?
'why? Do they know people here? Some message to be sent...?'
He arched an eyebrow and finished his bowl of food and waited for the one called Amelia to start speaking again.
Amelia looked at Jack as he watched the others, the questions in his eyes clear as day.
:norway: "What are the questions on your mind? We've asked so many of you - You seem to have so many of your own. It's only fair that i answer. What do you want to know?"
:iceland: "Do-not-give-grenades-to-people-if-you-do-not-know-whether-they-can-use-them" he told Axel slowly. I can't believe I have to say something like that. Why do I have to say something like that? What's wrong with him? First, he raided the weapons storage in the base, without asking who has or who can use weapons, and now this?
Whatever.
He went back to start cleaning up.
He shrugged, not sure how to word it all right at this moment.
Jack made a methodical circuit around the camp to keep a minimum of ten meters between himself and the person named 'Sanni' and offered up the empty bowl to Runar.
"er det noe jeg kan eye-dere ah??"
[Bad :norway: mixed with bad :france: ; Is there anything I can help with?]
Sanni was just coming out of the tank when she saw Jack moving around the perimeter of camp. :norway: "Um. Excuse me!" she called, waving a gloved hand. "...sir? I need to test your immunity!" she helpfully gestured to the immunity testing kit in her other hand. "Would you please come over here?"
She glanced at Rúnar. :iceland: "Can he understand me? What is his name?" She asked under her breath.
:iceland: "He said his name is Jack. He speaks horrible Norwegian, but I think he somewhat understands it" he quietly replied. "Let me know if you require assistance."
:iceland: "Thank you."
Unsure whether Jack had heard her, Sanni called again. :norway: "Excuse me. Jack! Please come over here, I need to test you!"
Jack glanced towards Sanni, then Runar, Then Axel and shrugged.
":scotland: What do I do here? He said, " he pointed at Runar, "to not get closer than 10 meters to her. " He moves his pointing hand to focus on Sanni.
Sanni was wearing a face mask, and Rúnar was there to clean up if a mess was made. He gestured Jack to come closer. :norway: "It's fine. She's gonna test you."
Sanni was wearing a face mask, and Rúnar was there to clean up if a mess was made. He gestured Jack to come closer. :norway: "It's fine. She's gonna test you."
With a glance at Rúnar, Sanni walked over to Jack and set the immunity test kit on the ground. She opened it, pulling out a long and very sharp-looking syringe. :norway: "Give me your arm," she said to Jack.
Jack patently ignored Runar, waiting for Axel's response.
Suddenly to Jack's perspective she was there, too close with a needle.
"Wowwhoawhoa..." He immidiatly jumped and stumbled away, "haava er daat fer, hovolfor sérieusement hovolfor, joor deg opp en menag sir we su juice..."
[mix of :scotland: :france: and :norway: "what is that for, why, seriously why, make up your minds on how close I stand where."]
Jack glanced towards Sanni, then Runar, Then Axel and shrugged.
":scotland: What do I do here? He said, " he pointed at Runar, "to not get closer than 10 meters to her. " He moves his pointing hand to focus on Sanni.
:scotland: "You ever see someone turn into a fiend? We can test if you're immune to that or not. That's what she's going to do."
Amelia had put down her dish by the pot and was headed for the front cabin when the testing spectacle began.
Amelia was almost about to step in, when Axel spoke to Jack and calmed him down.
Satisfied that foreigner wasn't about to go amok on Sanni, Amelia continued walking to the vehicle. She entered, and sat down in the radio station's seat.
Amelia flipped a couple switches, and the machine came to life, awaiting input. She punched the ship's code, and started a call.
:france: "Damn the hour, you press-wrangled slop better pick up"
The ship had stopped to a small island in the middle of the way between 'Scotland' and Norway. The sea was too dangerous to travel through the night and the captain didn't want to risk more than was needed. Vilma understood as much so she hadn't pressed about it. The base member had been way too tired and she had gone sleep immediately.
The ship's radio station was quiet. A lone woman was playing solitaire with the tattered cards. They were laying on one empty table. She listened crackles on the radio and heard faint voices, ignoring them. Queen of spades was slapped half-heartedly to the table.
The woman twitched when radio started suddenly to signal for an on-coming call. A card fell from her hand to solitaire table and she cursed, picked up a headset, pressed few buttons and cleared her throat.
:norway: "This is Blå Kjell on channel 9", she said with a neutral tone."
:norway: "Over."
She waited for an answer with a very wary look on her face. It's so great when you can talk without worrying of exposing your feelings through body language.
Black noise ringed in her ears and the woman rubbed her eyes.
Amelia smiled, and it seemed lighter on her face than before.
:norway: "This is Amelia Vinter calling from Arctic Fox. Urgent message for Vilma Holmsquist. Can you call for her, or if not, are you ready to write down?"
The woman blinked few times with confusion and raked her memory of what Arctic Fox was. She opened her mouth for a moment and an unintelligible Norwegian noise came out (":norway:").
Finally, she remembered something and picked up hastily some paper, dropping few cards from the table.
:norway: "Eghn...the Bv580, right? The expedition in Silent World."
Yes, the one they had dropped hours ago there. It's not that she forgot about it, the woman just didn't expect the call so soon.
Getting Holmvquist up would be a pain and the woman grimaced of the thought. The nosy woman had earlier asked questions from her and made a call to Dalsnes that took a whole hour.
:norway: "I will write down what you have to say when the radio connection is still good", she said with business manner and fumbled a pen out of her pocket.
It wasn't a lie, the black noises were pretty quiet right now.
:norway: "Yes, that is us"
Amelia would like to talk with Vilma, but the woman made a good point.
:norway: "Good, great. The message is: Scotland has survived, there are people here. Encountered man in the lighthouse named Jack, speaks what i assume is Scotlandic, and very bad Norwegian. He has talked of other locals, possibly multiple settlements, hard to get details. Currently testing him for immunity. If we get location of a settlement, will change route to it, establishing communications are priority. Otherwise, will continue on planned route"
The woman started writing with a solemn expression, but her handwriting turned shaky and few lines went off when she actually heard the information.
Humans are there. Humans in a Silent World...?! Wait what-
She sweated and was glad that her jacket was now on the table. What is even this information?
:norway: "So uh, let me make sure I'm writing right. There are humans in the Silent World, possibly settlements also", she said with oddly more high-pitched voice.
It felt abnormal to even say the information. She had to stay quiet about it though, it would break the privacy protocol to say about this.
Well this was a bizarre night. She just had been playing solitaire like every day.
:norway: "-And you will change the route depending of where are settlements", she continued and rubbed her temples, sigh accidentally slipping out.
Amelia just stared at the radio in front of her. 'I should have expected this. I don't know why i didn't expect this. This is heavy information'
:norway: "...big news, huh? They'll have to remake the council logo after this" Amelia chuckled "You know what, that's good enough. Yes. Bring that message to Holmsquist, tell her to reply soon. Arctic Fox over"
Jack arched an eyebrow, ":scotland: .... there's immunity to that?..."
It seemed that he had calmed down considerably now that someone was explaining things to him.
After almost a minute of contemplation he carefully approaches Sanni.
"Huvaa nah?"
[Bad :norway: "what now?"
:norway: "This only takes a moment." Before the skittish man could protest, Sanni pushed up his left sleeve and stabbed him with the syringe. :norway: "Thank you," she said, "You're good to go, I'll have the test results in a few minutes."
Sanni bent over the immunity kit and fiddled for a few minutes with various pieces of medical equipment. Finally a smile broke across her face and she stood. :iceland: "He's immune!" And then, again in Norwegian, she called: :norway: "Jack! You're immune!" Having delivered her message, she sank back down to the ground and began packing up the immunity kit, stowing the used syringe in a plastic bag.
Sanni bent over the immunity kit and fiddled for a few minutes with various pieces of medical equipment. Finally a smile broke across her face and she stood. :iceland: "He's immune!" And then, again in Norwegian, she called: :norway: "Jack! You're immune!" Having delivered her message, she sank back down to the ground and began packing up the immunity kit, stowing the used syringe in a plastic bag.
After eating and finishing their tasks, the group on the tank started to get ready for sleeping. The debate of Jack sleeping outside was solved by Runar having a watchful eye over him.
Night started to go on and while others were knocked out, Runar was awake and sewed a rune on on Sanni's jacket.
Around a midnight, everyone was fallen asleep and only small eyes gleamed through the grass. They watched over the tank, staying on their place for a long time. When the sun started to crawl up, the eyes retreated to the shadows of cliffs. Only rustling could be heard.
When sun got slightly more up, rustling could be heard again. This time there came a figure with agile jogging and tired posture. Anne's jogging got sloppy, when she was close to the tank and the woman sighed. She whined and got into the back unit to do the cleaning of her clothing. Protocol needed to be followed or else she would get yelling.
Tired Anne dropped her every item and the outer jacket to the back unit. She didn't bother to pick them up and walked instead to the tank's door that Runar had promised to leave open. The weird human slept on the ground and Anne squinted her eyes.
The woman opened the door and scrambled inside. She kicked her boots out.
:denmark: "M'rning", she grumbled under her breath to Runar and tried to slightly shake him.
:denmark: "Is the leader awake? I wanna get soon to sleep."
Anne looked very grumpy.
Axel had slept sitting up behind the passenger chair, having found that he couldn't stretch out fully on one of the bunks. Ylva had claimed the actual chair as Her Spot.
The moment Anne approached, Axel's eyes opened and he stood up, collecting his shield and harpoon from where they'd been close at hand.
He then grinned, and slammed the shield against the side of the tank, producing a ringing sound that was guaranteed to wake everyone up.
After eating and finishing their tasks, the group on the tank started to get ready for sleeping. The debate of Jack sleeping outside was solved by Runar having a watchful eye over him.
Night started to go on and while others were knocked out, Runar was awake and sewed a rune on on Sanni's jacket.
Around a midnight, everyone was fallen asleep and only small eyes gleamed through the grass. They watched over the tank, staying on their place for a long time. When the sun started to crawl up, the eyes retreated to the shadows of cliffs. Only rustling could be heard.
When sun got slightly more up, rustling could be heard again. This time there came a figure with agile jogging and tired posture. Anne's jogging got sloppy, when she was close to the tank and the woman sighed. She whined and got into the back unit to do the cleaning of her clothing. Protocol needed to be followed or else she would get yelling.
Tired Anne dropped her every item and the outer jacket to the back unit. She didn't bother to pick them up and walked instead to the tank's door that Runar had promised to leave open. The weird human slept on the ground and Anne squinted her eyes.
The woman opened the door and scrambled inside. She kicked her boots out.
:denmark: "M'rning", she grumbled under her breath to Runar and tried to slightly shake him.
:denmark: "Is the leader awake? I wanna get soon to sleep."
Anne looked very grumpy.
Suddenly a shield slammed against the tank and the whole tank ringed. The noise pierced Anne's ears and her eyes opened wide. She panicked and her whole body went rigid in mere seconds. The woman tried to run safe, but she hit her head immediately to something and a horrified shriek left her mouth.
Anne knelt down in pain.
:denmark: "Why would you do that?!" she asked from Axel and held her head.
After eating and finishing their tasks, the group on the tank started to get ready for sleeping. The debate of Jack sleeping outside was solved by Runar having a watchful eye over him.
Night started to go on and while others were knocked out, Runar was awake and sewed a rune on on Sanni's jacket.
Around a midnight, everyone was fallen asleep and only small eyes gleamed through the grass. They watched over the tank, staying on their place for a long time. When the sun started to crawl up, the eyes retreated to the shadows of cliffs. Only rustling could be heard.
When sun got slightly more up, rustling could be heard again. This time there came a figure with agile jogging and tired posture. Anne's jogging got sloppy, when she was close to the tank and the woman sighed. She whined and got into the back unit to do the cleaning of her clothing. Protocol needed to be followed or else she would get yelling.
Tired Anne dropped her every item and the outer jacket to the back unit. She didn't bother to pick them up and walked instead to the tank's door that Runar had promised to leave open. The weird human slept on the ground and Anne squinted her eyes.
The woman opened the door and scrambled inside. She kicked her boots out.
:denmark: "M'rning", she grumbled under her breath to Runar and tried to slightly shake him.
:denmark: "Is the leader awake? I wanna get soon to sleep."
Anne looked very grumpy.
Axel shrugged. :norway: "People needed to be woken up."
Rúnar woke up from beeping of the proximity alarm, but he relaxed when it was just Anne. He was just about to tell her everyone was still asleep, when Axel decided to be an idiot.
:norway: "...she's awake now" he said. "You got decontaminated?"
:denmark: "And probably something else!" she said with an annoyed voice. Her shriek probably did that too and Anne couldn't help but feel frustrated with her and Axel's actions.
She stumbled up and rubbed her forehead.
Anne glanced at Runar and could only nod to him.
:denmark: "Yeah I did. Outer clothing and gun and all that stuff are there", she said with a slightly calmer voice, but looked very pissed off.
:denmark: "With something else than shield against the wall!" she said with an annoyed voice. Her shriek probably woke up something outside and Anne couldn't help but feel frustrated with her and Axel's actions.
She stumbled up and rubbed her forehead.
Anne glanced at Runar and could only nod to him.
:denmark: "Yeah I did. Outer clothing and gun and all that stuff are there", she said with a slightly calmer voice, but looked very pissed off.
:norway: "I didn't have a pot and spoon handy. And there's nothing around that'd be woken up, cat's still fine."
"Wait." He took the disinfecting spray he left next to his seat and started cleaning up Anne's hair, face, sleeves and hands.
:norway: "I didn't have a pot and spoon handy. And there's nothing around that'd be woken up, cat's still fine."
:norway: "Don't do that anymore" Rúnar said.
The kitten very much didn't like loud noises. When Axel made them, she ran out of the tank and sat on Jack's shoe, evilly looking at Axel.
:norway: "I didn't have a pot and spoon handy. And there's nothing around that'd be woken up, cat's still fine."
Anne scrunched her nose as a spray suddenly attacked her. She coughed few times when her face was being cleaned and shut her eyes tightly when the hair got cleaned. She had been sure that she had cleaned herself well with a spray, but looks like Runar hadn't been happy with it. This felt like an attack she didn't expect - and it definitely didn't feel nice.
I'm so done-
Her expression told everything when she stared both of them with a damp hair. She huffed her hair away from her face and stared both of them.
:denmark: "There would be no problem with this if you both explained what you are going to do to others", she tried to explain calmly, but looked just like a tired and wet dog that got a big scare.
Jack sighed and offered the cat a bit of jerky.
It tasted gamey and strongly of pepper and salt.
A seal beast barked loudly in the distance sounding like wet laughing, though with a confused tinge, not like it was on the prowl. More like a creature that woke up and realized the rest of it's group was gone.
Anne scrunched her nose as a spray suddenly attacked her. She coughed few times when her face was being cleaned and shut her eyes tightly when the hair got cleaned. She had been sure that she had cleaned herself well with a spray, but looks like Runar hadn't been happy with it. This felt like an attack she didn't expect - and it definitely didn't feel nice.
I'm so done-
Her expression told everything when she stared both of them with a damp hair. She huffed her hair away from her face and stared both of them.
:denmark: "There would be no problem with this if you both explained what you are going to do to others", she tried to explain calmly, but looked just like a tired and wet dog that got a big scare.
Jack sighed and offered the cat a bit of jerky.
It tasted gamey and strongly of pepper and salt.
A seal beast barked loudly in the distance sounding like wet laughing, though with a confused tinge, not like it was on the prowl. More like a creature that woke up and realized the rest of it's group was gone.
:norway: "Sorry boss" Rúnar said.
Kitten struggled to eat overly salty thing she didn't like and gave up with a sad meow, which quickly turned into a hiss at the faraway beast.
:norway: "Sorry boss" Rúnar said.
Axel nodded. :norway: "I will try to do so in the future," he said, with complete and utter sincerity.
Axel looked up at the noise, and bared his teeth. Then he paused. :norway: "I'm gonna go kill it. Is that sufficient explanation?" he asked, again with complete innocence and sincerity.
Anne blinked few times as she watched both of them silently. She scratched her neck. Yeah, she was the second-in-command. It still took her by surprise that they would actually listen her.
She nodded to both of them.
:denmark: "Good, that's all I need to hear", she said to both of them with more calmer attitude. The roam of a sea beast in distance made her rigid and wary. There should be no worry, sea beasts don't get to the land.
Anne got taken aback again and her brains tried to do work. She felt utterly exhausted.
:denmark: "...sure. I can't stop you, can I?" she said finally and exhaled deeply.
:denmark: "If Amelia gets mad, it's my fault then. Just don't get killed."
"If I die, I can't do my job anymore. Ylva, stay."
The wolf whined, but sat in the passenger seat anyway.
Axel walked out of the tank and strode towards the sound of the seal beast, harpoon in hand.
"If I die, I can't do my job anymore. Ylva, stay."
The wolf whined, but sat in the passenger seat anyway.
Axel walked out of the tank and strode towards the sound of the seal beast, harpoon in hand.
When Axel left to hunt the seal beast, Anne almost pressed her hands against her face. She glanced at Runar and shrugged slightly.
:denmark: "I'm sorry. It wasn't professional from me to blow up", she said to him and glanced at the bunks.
Anne looked back to him.
:denmark: "Also, no need to call me a boss. Just Anne or Anne-Inga is fine."
The seal beast tried to flap around and drag itself back to water. Gooey texture and different kinds of branches and rocks were stuck on it. The tail was huge and had holes everywhere on it. Bones and flesh could be seen from places where the skin didn't cover it.
Axel had slept sitting up behind the passenger chair, having found that he couldn't stretch out fully on one of the bunks. Ylva had claimed the actual chair as Her Spot.
The moment Anne approached, Axel's eyes opened and he stood up, collecting his shield and harpoon from where they'd been close at hand.
He then grinned, and slammed the shield against the side of the tank, producing a ringing sound that was guaranteed to wake everyone up.
Jack tore up the jerky and soaked it a little in some drinking water to wash some of the excess spices off and make it softer for the kitten before he re-offered it and scratched her behind the ears. ":scotland: Don't fret little cait, nothing to hiss at, just a lost selkie, probably won't come near here..." 'so long as people stop making absurd noises anyway'
When Axel left to hunt the seal beast, Anne almost pressed her hands against her face. She glanced at Runar and shrugged slightly.
The woman glanced at the bunks and then looked back to him.
:denmark: "Also, no need to call me a boss. Just Anne or Anne-Inga is fine."
Axel had slept sitting up behind the passenger chair, having found that he couldn't stretch out fully on one of the bunks. Ylva had claimed the actual chair as Her Spot.
The moment Anne approached, Axel's eyes opened and he stood up, collecting his shield and harpoon from where they'd been close at hand.
He then grinned, and slammed the shield against the side of the tank, producing a ringing sound that was guaranteed to wake everyone up.
Kitten purred when he petted her, and sniffed the meat again. Then she licked it. Alright, not evil anymore. She nommed and looked ways more happy.
:norway: "Yes boss" he said.
[Axel killing the seal beast]
Axel walked back to the tank in silence.
Anne stared Runar for sometime and opened her mouth. She looked annoyed, but then really realized the whole situation.
She was going to fight about something so trivial like this. A thing that didn't matter in a bigger scene.
The woman sighed and could only smile tiredly. She wasn't being rational here right now.
:denmark: "Fine then, I will go see how the others are doing."
She shrugged: "Feel free to call me with my name though."
As Anne walked closer to the bunks, she saw Axel coming back. That was quick then, the seal beast wasn't that hostile. The woman felt relieved that nothing actually happened - there was always the small lurking thought that things might go wrong.
She walked to the bunks and saw Elin and Sanni already awake. She waved her hand.
:sweden: "Sorry 'bout that, it was just Axel waking everybody up and me shrieking", she said and sounded genuinely sorry. She looked at Sanni carefully and glanced quickly at Elin. Anne walked carefully towards Sanni.
:sweden: "Hey, are you alright?" she asked as she stood next to her bed and looked at the girl that had curled into a ball.
:sweden: "Nothing bad happened. Though I got a big scare too."
Yeah, Axel better not to do that again since everybody are on their toes.
Once the kitten had finished eating Jack scooped her up and set her atop his shoulder rather than waiting to go through the whole motions of asking her to move and her taking up a perch atop his head again.
He then busied himself with collecting the ward plates he'd set out the night before.
Rúnar looked in the back of the tank.
Sanni was freaking out thanks to the idiot.
:iceland: "The runes are here for a reason. They should ward most, if not all trolls and grosslings. Axel is just an incredible :norway: a**hole" he said.
He got up, stretched a bit, and went to take care of the boss' clothes.
Kitten purred happily, casually digging her claws into his jacket. She stretched her leg and booped one of the wards..
Anne stared Runar for sometime and opened her mouth. She looked annoyed, but then really realized the whole situation.
She was going to fight about something so trivial like this. A thing that didn't matter in a bigger scene.
The woman sighed and could only smile tiredly. She wasn't being rational here right now.
:denmark: "Fine then, I will go see how the others are doing."
She shrugged: "Feel free to call me with my name though."
As Anne walked closer to the bunks, she saw Axel coming back. That was quick then, the seal beast wasn't that hostile. The woman felt relieved that nothing actually happened - there was always the small lurking thought that things might go wrong.
She walked to the bunks and saw Elin and Sanni already awake. She waved her hand.
:sweden: "Sorry 'bout that, it was just Axel waking everybody up and me shrieking", she said and sounded genuinely sorry. She looked at Sanni carefully and glanced quickly at Elin. Anne walked carefully towards Sanni.
:sweden: "Hey, are you alright?" she asked as she stood next to her bed and looked at the girl that had curled into a ball.
:sweden: "Nothing bad happened. Though I got a big scare too."
Yeah, Axel better not to do that again since everybody are on their toes.
:norway: "People have called me such, yes," Axel said from directly behind Rúnar. "Usually the words 'freak', 'psychopath', and 'monster' are also appended." It is completely impossible to tell if he's messing with him or not.
:norway: "People have called me such, yes," Axel said from directly behind Rúnar. "Usually the words 'freak', 'psychopath', and 'monster' are also appended." It is completely impossible to tell if he's messing with him or not.
Elin looked over and considered saying something to Sanni, but Sanni already had a couple of people trying to comfort her so Elin decided against saying anything. Instead Elin did her best to catch Sanni's eye an give her a supportive smile and a thumbs up.
" :sweden: Who would've thought?" Elin mused sarcastically, but slightly concerned as to any other reasons Axel had acquired such nicknames.
:norway: "No surprise" Rúnar said. "Do it again, no food for you. Clean yourself before going in the tank" he added, spraying him with the disinfectant.
He then turned his back to Axel again and continued cleaning up Anne's clothes.
Kitten purred happily, casually digging her claws into his jacket. She stretched her leg and booped one of the wards..
There was no reaction from the ward, or any of the magic surrounding it because the kitten was not a malevolent spirit or rashed beast.
Jack seemed to be quietly explaining the significance of the parts of the wardnet to the cat as he separated out the older wardplates, and the ones he'd made the night before. The rune he's currently holding up for the kitten to see looked like a squiggle, but if you looked at the right angle it kinda looked like a bloody stake,
":scotland: Now this one little cait, the story goes was stolen from a powerful baobhan by a wily child who had no fear of the vampire seras, it can be set up pointing south or north and weakens if it faces the east where the sun rises or west where it sets....the trick though is to have two, one in the north one in the south and then run lines of salt between them, or a chord that's been brined will work too"
:sweden: "Sorry 'bout that, it was just Axel waking everybody up and me shrieking", she said and sounded genuinely sorry. She looked at Sanni carefully and glanced quickly at Elin. Anne walked carefully towards Sanni.
:sweden: "Hey, are you alright?" she asked as she stood next to her bed and looked at the girl that had curled into a ball.
:sweden: "Nothing bad happened. Though I got a big scare too."
Yeah, Axel better not to do that again since everybody are on their toes.
Rúnar looked in the back of the tank.
Sanni was freaking out thanks to the idiot.
:iceland: "The runes are here for a reason. They should ward most, if not all trolls and grosslings. Axel is just an incredible :norway: a**hole" he said.
He got up, stretched a bit, and went to take care of the boss' clothes.
Rúnar looked in the back of the tank.
Sanni was freaking out thanks to the idiot.
:iceland: "The runes are here for a reason. They should ward most, if not all trolls and grosslings. Axel is just an incredible :norway: a**hole" he said.
He got up, stretched a bit, and went to take care of the boss' clothes.
" :sweden: Who would've thought?" Elin mused sarcastically, but slightly concerned as to any other reasons Axel had acquired such nicknames.
Hearing her fellows' reassurance, Sanni laughed sheepishly and uncurled. :norway: "Thank you," she said, pulling off the mask. "He frightened me." To herself, she thought, he's next on my list of people to stab if I get the chance.
As Rúnar walked away, she wondered whether he knew she spoke Norwegian, and why he had bothered to censor his language.
Amelia pulled the bunk curtain open, already fully clothed, and crawled out of her bottom bunk.
:norway: "I'm going to kill whoever did that and then they're getting the cleaning duty for a week"
She stands up, then motions for Anne to sit at the desk station where Amelia put the map before going to bed.
:norway: "First though, lets get this over with so you can get some shut-eye. You look worse than a conscript after first day lugging wood logs. So what did you find?"
Kitten seemed to be carefully listening to what he was saying. She booped the squiggle, too.
Anne didn't have energy to share her opinion about the whole situation and she just rubbed her neck. She just found it startling and slightly dangerous, but not anything else. Looks like people had their share of opinions.
:sweden: "Well everybody is awake now. Should someone check the stranger?" she asked and tried to keep the command when Amelia wasn't exactly up yet.
Anne startled when she heard the curses of Amelia and saw her getting up. She looked very confused, but relief washed over her face when the leader mentioned sleep. She followed to the desk station.
:denmark: "You wouldn't have wanted to see me after my first night-scout mission then", she joked and inhaled, tiredness taking over her.
The woman stared at the map and visualized the dark environment.
:denmark: "The thing here is that there is no forest at all, so the creatures we might encounter can be seen pretty soon. The problem is, the creatures can notice us easily too, so-"
Anne pointed the big road on the map that went through the village's center.
:denmark: "There were trolls around the big road that had houses on the way. We should go to the west and take a detour instead of staying on the coast. The detour takes us later back to the big road."
She pointed the detour route that made almost a square with the big road. The woman explained more about the environment and the detour road, but they were just details about where the detour would meet the big road.
The shadows underneath Anne's eyes deepened. She looked with expecting expression at Amelia and waited for her judgement of the situation. She leaned her chin on her hands and her gaze got lost behind the leader.
:denmark: "What about the stranger? Is he coming with us or do we leave him here?"
Anne sounded very suspicious and couldn't hide it.
Axel had, at some point prior to Anne starting her explanation, appeared behind her. He listened intently to the route, pulling out a small, extremely battered journal and scribbling in it as she spoke.
:norway: "I can take up night scouting if need be," he said. "Wouldn't be the first time I've had to work nights on a job."
Anne didn't have energy to share her opinion about the whole situation and she just rubbed her neck. She just found it startling and slightly dangerous, but not anything else. Looks like people had their share of opinions.
:sweden: "Well everybody is awake now. Should someone check the stranger?" she asked and tried to keep the command when Amelia wasn't exactly up yet.
Anne startled when she heard the curses of Amelia and saw her getting up. She looked very confused, but relief washed over her face when the leader mentioned sleep. She followed to the desk station.
:denmark: "You wouldn't have wanted to see me after my first night-scout mission then", she joked and inhaled, tiredness taking over her.
The woman stared at the map and visualized the dark environment.
:denmark: "The thing here is that there is no forest at all, so the creatures we might encounter can be seen pretty soon. The problem is, the creatures can notice us easily too, so-"
Anne pointed the big road on the map that went through the village's center.
:denmark: "There were trolls around the big road that had houses on the way. We should go to the west and take a detour instead of staying on the coast. The detour takes us later back to the big road."
She pointed the detour route that made almost a square with the big road. The woman explained more about the environment and the detour road, but they were just details about where the detour would meet the big road.
The shadows underneath Anne's eyes deepened. She looked with expecting expression at Amelia and waited for her judgement of the situation. She leaned her chin on her hands and her gaze got lost behind the leader.
:denmark: "What about the stranger? Is he coming with us or do we leave him here?"
Anne sounded very suspicious and couldn't hide it.
As anne listed off details, they were filled in on the map when the scale permitted it, otherwise jutted down verbatum on paper.
Amelia sighed before giving Anne an amused look.
:norway: "I don't know. We'll have to ask him straight-forward, was hoping get to it more naturally. Lanky knoll isn't easy to communicate with. But I had planned to take his input before we take off for the day in any case, i'll go speak with him. Good job though, this is plenty to work with. Go get some sleep, dismissed"
Leaving Anne and Axel, Amelia jumped out the door and closed it, before walking over to Jack, smiling from ear to ear.
:norway: "Good morning!"
She waited for a response before continueing on
:norway: "So... do you want to guide us through Scotland? Maybe just for the first bit? We'll give you food"
As anne listed off details, they were filled in on the map when the scale permitted it, otherwise jutted down verbatum on paper.
Amelia sighed before giving Anne an amused look.
:norway: "I don't know. We'll have to ask him straight-forward, was hoping get to it more naturally. Lanky knoll isn't easy to communicate with. But I had planned to take his input before we take off for the day in any case, i'll go speak with him. Good job though, this is plenty to work with. Go get some sleep, dismissed"
Leaving Anne and Axel, Amelia jumped out the door and closed it, before walking over to Jack, smiling from ear to ear.
Rúnar finished cleaning everything up, and what wasn't clean, ended up in the UV.
He started to prepare breakfast.
Kitten was meanwhile loudly purring on Jack's shoulder.
Elin crept out of the tank, walked up to Rúnar, and leaned over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of what he was doing. After carefully observing everything the man was doing she delicately asked, ":iceland: Breakfast time?"
:iceland: "Yes, you may help."
":iceland: Cool. What do I do, though?" Elin asked, picking up a spoon, holding it completely wrong, and smiling like she wanted people to think she knew what she was doing.
Jack seemed to still be caught up in explaining stuff to the kitten and didn't immediately respond, on realizing he was being directly spoken to he flipped through his book and glanced around nervously.
"errrrr .... becklaager jeg ... genta det?"
On receiving a repetition of the question he shrugged, "...... Jeg vet eek ... vorefor er deeer menneskar selv her?
'....please don't be invading...please don't be invading...'
[bad :norway: "errrrr.... sorry I... please repeat that?"
"......I don't know... why are you people even here?"]
When Jack asked the question, Amelia got a puzzled look on her face, looked away and muttered to herself:
:norway: "Huh? Why are there people here? What- oh! Why are we here"
She turned back to Jack and spoke clearly:
:norway: "Knowledge. We find books from the old world, and other things with information, bring them back with us"
A pause, to make sure Jack followed.
:norway: "While we do it, we get to see how things are here, write it down on the map. Also valuable knowledge"
Jack considered the earlier question for a bit, 'so... They're explorers, not Invaders... Still not sure where they're actually from... But nan did say exploration is the first step towards conquering a place...'
His frown was, thankfully, hidden by his scarf.
'... But if I led them around I could get the measure of them... And if they are planning to conquer the place.. well I can just lead them into the bogs and let a few hundred .... No ..nah that ain't right even for Invaders ..'
Jack finally came up for air within his thoughts as he gently scratched the kitten's ears some.
"....ok.. jeg kan vees deg till nest bee."
[Bad :Norway: ..ok, I can show you to the next town...]
Amelia eyes lit up.
:norway: "You will? Thank you"
She turned her head back towards the tank
:norway: "AAAAXEEEEEL!"
She waited for him to come near, then barked
:norway: "New guy is coming with us, at least until he's lead us to the first town. That means you and him will work together on the scouting. You can also speak scotlandic, right? Makes things a lot easier that you two work together"
She motioned to Jack
:norway: "Get some food both of you, then get ready and head out. The rest of us will follow in the Arctic Fox, uh, the vehicle"
Amelia eyes lit up.
:norway: "You will? Thank you"
She turned her head back towards the tank
:norway: "AAAAXEEEEEL!"
She waited for him to come near, then barked
:norway: "New guy is coming with us, at least until he's lead us to the first town. That means you and him will work together on the scouting. You can also speak scotlandic, right? Makes things a lot easier that you two work together"
She motioned to Jack
:norway: "Get some food both of you, then get ready and head out. The rest of us will follow in the Arctic Fox, uh, the vehicle"
Axel nodded, and grabbed and ate breakfast with alarming speed and silence before turning to Jack as the latter was finishing their own food.
:scotland: "You're with me. Let's go."
Without further explanation he began heading in the direction of the town, Ylva trotting at his heels.
It was difficult to tell, but he seemed vaguely irritated by... something.
Jack quietly ate some food, he seemed a little concerned about something, but it was hard to pin down what all it was.
As soon as Axel started off Jack grabbed his bag, returned the utensils to Runar, and attempted to return the kitten before he took off to follow along, his long stride allowed him to easily catch up to Axel. Once they were out of earshot of the rest of the group Jack spoke up,
":scotland: what is '[bad :norway:]Scouting'?"
Jack quietly ate some food, he seemed a little concerned about something, but it was hard to pin down what all it was.
As soon as Axel started off Jack grabbed his bag, returned the utensils to Runar, and attempted to return the kitten before he took off to follow along, his long stride allowed him to easily catch up to Axel. Once they were out of earshot of the rest of the group Jack spoke up,
":scotland: what is '[bad :norway:]Scouting'?"
Axel blinked. :scotland: "Scouting?" Seeing Jack's blank incomprehension, he sighed. "Right. So. We move out ahead of the main group, and we check out the way to our destination - in this case, that town you mentioned that supposedly has people living in it. We make sure nothing to bad is nearby, the tank follows us, et cetera. Speaking of - which direction is that town?"
":scotland: Ok then."
He gave the kitten some earscritches as he followed along for the explanation. After a few moments of contemplation he points southwest along the coast, "About a day's walk."
":scotland: Ok then."
He gave the kitten some earscritches as he followed along for the explanation. After a few moments of contemplation he points southwest along the coast, "About a day's walk."
Axel nodded, and set off at a loping run. :scotland: "Try to keep up."
- The tank followed the two trekkers, who scouted ahead for anything dangerous. Nothing turned up luckily as they passed the city with a side-road. Air was crisp and refreshing and the fields and occasional trees glowed with orange and yellow leaves. The sun had gone past its peak and now it started to get late. Second day of the expedition started to get its end and the darkness started to loom over the crew members and Jack.
In the horizon Axel and Jack could see a silhouette of a town. Few houses started to wind up on the small road the tank and scouters went on, but they all seemed to be abandoned. No sights of trolls were still seen despite them coming close to a town.
Jack would know that this is the town that had the scrapes of what was left of the Scotts. -
Anne yawned and ruffled on her bed. Finally she sat up with a slow movement and her hair was messy. The woman listened the rolling of the tank and blinked few times as she looked around her.
In the tank she couldn't see how far the day had gone already. The sleep she had gotten was still enough to keep her moving.
Anne slid off from her bed and a thud could be heard when she fell down in agile way. She tried to sort her hair and walked quietly in the moving tank.
She sleepily glanced at Elin. Anne tapped the Swede on her shoulder.
:sweden: "Morning. Where are we heading?" she asked nonchalantly and tried to glance through the windows what could be seen. Oh, it was getting dark - she had slept pretty long.
:sweden: "Egh, looks like I slept pretty late. I've became an owl then", she cracked a sleepy smile.
- The tank followed the two trekkers, who scouted ahead for anything dangerous. Luckily, nothing turned up as they passed the city with a side-road. Air was crisp and refreshing and the fields and occasional trees glowed with orange and yellow leaves. The sun had gone past its peak and now it started to get late. Second day of the expedition started to get its end and the darkness started to loom over the crew members and Jack.
In the horizon Axel and Jack could see a silhouette of a town. Few houses started to wind up on the small road the tank and scouters went on, but they all seemed to be abandoned. Still, no sights of trolls were seen despite them coming close to a town.
Jack would know that this is the town that had the scrapes of what was left of the Scotts. -
Elin turned to Anne, glad to see she was awake, " :sweden: Oh, we've just been following Axel and that new guy all day, I think they're taking us to the next town. We haven't encountered any trouble yet, so we've just been relaxing in the tank," Elin smiled, "I'm pretty sure all night scouts are owls."
:norway: "Town! Almost there" Rúnar loudly announced. He's been driving al day, few short breaks aside.
Anne blinked few times and it took a lot of time for her to catch a hint. Oh yeah, didn't Amelia talk about some town with people alive? She looked uncomfortable and scratched her neck but flashed a smile to Elin.
:sweden: "You bet! I haven't met any scout that hadn't been at some degree an introvert."
She glanced through the window.
:sweden: "But I bet you know more about that", she said but didn't look Elin into her eyes.
Anne looked through a side window and yes, Runar was right: there was a silhouette of a town ahead. Pit formed into her stomach and the woman moved her tense arms and tried to do anything. She wasn't even fully awake.
-
A man sat besides a gate and felt his eyes shut time to time. The rusty gate made out of an old time's metal wouldn't keep anyone out if they tried to barge in, but he didn't look too worried about that. His glance perked up when something move in the horizon. He stood up and bit his nails as he ran another hand through his dirty and shaggy black hair. He wasn't that big and looked very ordinary, but had odd birthmarks on his face. His arms tensed and he inhaled.
People came and went off and it's perfectly normal. But the rumbling noise in the distance made him uneasy and the figures swaying towards didn't look familiar at all.
:scotland: "Bearnas", he said with an odd tone and that made a round woman with short brown hair peak behind the metal mess that they called a gate. Her eyes fell to the man and she stood up and walked over to him.
The man nodded towards the horizon and the woman squinted her eyes. She pat the mans back.
:scotland: "What's with that rumbling?" she asked but the man shook his head. None of them didn't move anywhere though and they waited calmly but with alert close to the gates.
:norway: "Town! Almost there" Rúnar loudly announced. He's been driving al day, few short breaks aside.
He was pretty tired. And uncomfortable from sitting in the same position whole day.
Maybe someone else will cook. And clean.
Yes.
Jack looked up from his mail sorting, glanced towards the tank, then the town and, after putting the mail carefully back into his bag, he suddenly took off at a jog... Well for him it was a jog. And headed down the path.
As soon as the gate was in sight properly and he could make out the gate guard he stopped his jog and waved a hand. His voice shifted tone, a masque per se as he sounded far more confident as he spoke up enough for the gate guard to hear him from the distance.
":scotland: Hoy, I carry mail and news from afar, myself and a group of travellers seek shelter from the night and shingles over our heads, perhaps warm food too, What-say you?"
Both of them looked one of the figures that started to jog towards them. The more closer it got, the longer it started to become and the man props his gun. He didn't have a lot with him, a rifle and knife. The air wasn't cold enough for him to have a jacket, but the chill air could be felt through the warm sweater. Bearnas didn't have a lot with her either, but she had at least a jacket on her.
When the human - looking like a huge man - came closer and spoke to them fluently, Bearnas crossed her arms and they both stared at the tall twig of a human. It didn't take a long for the woman to have something light up in her head and she pointed the tall person.
:scotland: "Hey, you're the Tree, right? The weird mail-man", she said with a more brightened voice and the man looked like he wanted to smack her. He looked grumpy next to the woman who was blissfully ignorant about her blunt and almost careless approach.
The man roughed his hair. He stared Jack for a longer time and tried to make some decision in his head. As the man didn't say anything and tried to come to some conclusion, Bearnas pat his shoulder and looked at Jack.
:scotland: "The old Frang said we can let you in but the strangers-", she said, hearing the rumble in the background and gave a small wave to the side.
:scotland: "Dunno, what to say. Don't have food to spare nor safety. Hard times have struck."
Both of them fell into a tired silence. She struggled to find conclusion as much as the man next to her.
:scotland: "Look, the disease has been roaming around. We wanna help as much as the next person, but we really don't need right now someone to turn into a monster or spread the disease more."
Sanni had been laying listless on a bunk all day, scribbling idly in a notebook and casting covert glances at her medic's bag. As they approached the town, she heard the exhaustion in Rúnar's voice; and thinking to make herself useful, she wandered over. :iceland: "Do you need any help with anything?" she asked.
Jack nodded along as they responded, it seemed reasonable. ":scotland: ... fair enough.... how about this... close enough in that that posts and stones of the wardnet can keep off any roving kelpies and banshees, but far enough out that the greatward in the square will keep them out if one of them becomes a fiend overnight?"
He quietly kicked at a pebble, while waiting on a response. "Truth be told I don't know what to make of them... they showed up in a boat, have a great big tracked truck... I think they're normans but here to explore rather than mess with the britons.... language sounds like some of what my book about the cheese and wine stuff is like when I try and sound it out."
He stopped the tank a few polite meters behind Jack. :norway: "Twig's talking to some guys. Someones should be there" he added.
Anne glanced at Runar's way and leaned little forward so she could see him behind Elin. The blond crossed her arms.
:sweden: "Axel is there with the stranger", which didn't sound too hopeful, but she was positive.
She was quiet and tapped her fingers on the surface. Anne's eyes looked at Elin and she smiled.
:sweden: "I volunteer that Elin should go to check the situation. She's reliable and I think it's better that someone other than Amelia and Axel get to know them."
Suddenly a puff of blond hair appeared to the rear window and then disappeared. Anne blinked few times, but dismissed it.
The man scratched his neck and eyed a tank behind the Tree. It definitely looked like old world technology that tend to lay around the town. This one was clean though and definitely in use. The furrows on his face deepened and the man got even more tense when Jack mentioned about them showing up in a boat. Bearnas was keeping her arms even more tightly crossed on her chest.
The joking didn't fly too much over the woman but the man was unsure how to react. She smiled with underlying worry.
:scotland: "That's what I was thinking of, letting them stay on the town but far away from our village center. But if they are behind the sea, you won't know what they have with them."
The man glanced to her and they both were in a solemn silence for a moment.
:scotland: "...can we speak with them? Or communicate some way?" he asked and frowned.
Anne glanced at Runar's way and leaned little forward so she could see him behind Elin. The blond crossed her arms.
:sweden: "Axel is there with the stranger", which didn't sound too hopeful, but she was positive.
She was quiet and tapped her fingers on the surface. Anne's eyes looked at Elin and she smiled.
:sweden: "I volunteer that Elin should go to check the situation. She's reliable and I think it's better that someone other than Amelia and Axel get to know them."
Suddenly a puff of blonde hair appeared to the rear window and then disappeared. Anne blinked few times, but dismissed it.
Anne blinked few times and it took a lot of time for her to catch a hint. Oh yeah, didn't Amelia talk about some town with people alive? She looked uncomfortable and scratched her neck but flashed a smile to Elin.
:sweden: "You bet! I haven't met any scout that hadn't been at some degree an introvert."
She glanced through the window.
:sweden: "But I bet you know more about that", she said but didn't look Elin into her eyes.
Anne looked through a side window and yes, Runar was right: there was a silhouette of a town ahead. Pit formed into her stomach and the woman moved her tense arms and tried to do anything. She wasn't even fully awake.
-
A man sat besides a gate and felt his eyes shut time to time. The rusty gate made out of an old time's metal wouldn't keep anyone out if they tried to barge in, but he didn't look too worried about that. His glance perked up when something move in the horizon. He stood up and bit his nails as he ran another hand through his dirty and shaggy black hair. He wasn't that big and looked very ordinary, but had odd birthmarks on his face. His arms tensed and he inhaled.
People came and went off and it's perfectly normal. But the rumbling noise in the distance made him uneasy and the figures swaying towards didn't look familiar at all.
:scotland: "Bearnas", he said with an odd tone and that made a round woman with short brown hair peak behind the metal mess that they called a gate. Her eyes fell to the man and she stood up and walked over to him.
The man nodded towards the horizon and the woman squinted her eyes. She pat the mans back.
:scotland: "What's with that rumbling?" she asked but the man shook his head. None of them didn't move anywhere though and they waited calmly but with alert close to the gates.
The man scratched his neck and eyed a tank behind the Tree. It definitely looked like old world technology that tend to lay around the town. This one was clean though and definitely in use. The furrows on his face deepened and the man got even more tense when Jack mentioned about them showing up in a boat. Bearnas was keeping her arms even more tightly crossed on her chest.
The joking didn't fly too much over the woman but the man was unsure how to react. She smiled with underlying worry.
:scotland: "That's what I was thinking of, letting them stay on the town but far away from our village center. But if they are behind the sea, you won't know what they have with them."
The man glanced to her and they both were in a solemn silence for a moment.
:scotland: "...can we speak with them? Or communicate some way?" he asked and frowned.
Anne glanced at Runar's way and leaned little forward so she could see him behind Elin. The blond crossed her arms.
:sweden: "Axel is there with the stranger", which didn't sound too hopeful, but she was positive.
She was quiet and tapped her fingers on the surface. Anne's eyes looked at Elin and she smiled.
:sweden: "I volunteer that Elin should go to check the situation. She's reliable and I think it's better that someone other than Amelia and Axel get to know them."
Suddenly a puff of blonde hair appeared to the rear window and then disappeared. Anne blinked few times, but dismissed it.
:iceland: "Yes. I am exhausted. I hope someone else is able to cook because I would really like some rest" he said.
He stopped the tank a few polite meters behind Jack. :norway: "Twig's talking to some guys. Someones should be there" he added.
:norway: "Axel ain't really giving off that diplomacy feel. Send anyone else" he said.
Something about the way Anne avoided Elin's eyes made her uncomfortable, she couldn't place why it made her feel that way but it did. Elin faked a smile, ":sweden: Yeah, I guess I do."
Elin perked up after hearing her name, finally something to do. ":sweden: Oh, I'll go gladly," Elin smiled, "I'd do anything to get me out of the tank this point."
Elin didn't consider herself a great diplomat but Axel wasn't exactly a high bar to pass. She took a step toward the door, ":sweden: Does anyone need anything before I join them?"
Jack considered the answer for a bit before shrugging, ":scotland: Seems mostly like questions to be answered come morning then.. where do you want to have them put the thing" he motioned at the tank, "and sleep?"
Anne shrugged but a small smile tugged her lips.
:sweden: "Didn't say he is diplomatic - but he is there", she commented in off-handed way and leaned against a wall. Sanni talked to Axel now so she left them alone to have.
Anne hummed and crossed her arms. She glanced at Elin and tried to think.
:sweden: "Not really. Any information about our situation and who the strangers are would be great", she said and looked uncomfortable when she glanced out of the window. Something bothered her and she couldn't pin-point it.
The man hesitated and so did Bearnas. Both of them were too uncomfortable to take responsibility of these strangers.
Finally, the woman sighed and threw her arms on her side.
:scotland: "Let's let them in to the city - but they have to stay close to the barrier. I want to see at least one of them though before letting them in. It doesn't matter if we can't speak", she said with a defeated voice. The man didn't look like he agreed at all and glared Bearnas.
:scotland: "Be us all damned then", he muttered.
Anne shrugged but a small smile tugged her lips.
:sweden: "Didn't say he is diplomatic - but he is there", she commented in off-handed way and leaned against a wall. Sanni talked to Axel now so she left them alone to have.
Anne hummed and crossed her arms. She glanced at Elin and tried to think.
:sweden: "Not really. Any information about our situation and who the strangers are would be great", she said and looked uncomfortable when she glanced out of the window. Something bothered her and she couldn't pin-point it.
The man hesitated and so did Bearnas. Both of them were too uncomfortable to take responsibility of these strangers.
Finally, the woman sighed and threw her arms on her side.
:scotland: "Let's let them in to the city - but they have to stay close to the barrier. I want to see at least one of them though before letting them in. It doesn't matter if we can't speak", she said with a defeated voice. The man didn't look like he agreed at all and glared Bearnas.
:scotland: "Be us all damned then", he muttered.
Anne shrugged but a small smile tugged her lips.
:sweden: "Didn't say he is diplomatic - but he is there", she commented in off-handed way and leaned against a wall. Sanni talked to Axel now so she left them alone to have.
Anne hummed and crossed her arms. She glanced at Elin and tried to think.
:sweden: "Not really. Any information about our situation and who the strangers are would be great", she said and looked uncomfortable when she glanced out of the window. Something bothered her and she couldn't pin-point it.
The man hesitated and so did Bearnas. Both of them were too uncomfortable to take responsibility of these strangers.
Finally, the woman sighed and threw her arms on her side.
:scotland: "Let's let them in to the city - but they have to stay close to the barrier. I want to see at least one of them though before letting them in. It doesn't matter if we can't speak", she said with a defeated voice. The man didn't look like he agreed at all and glared Bearnas.
:scotland: "Be us all damned then", he muttered.
Jack arched an eyebrow.
":scotland: I was honestly just going to have them park on the side of the road here... it's close enough in the standingstones will protect, and far enough out the greatward will keep something out, I've even got my own ward plates to wrap an extra layer of net around them just in case, plus it's outside the town proper too."
He glanced back to see who else might be coming from the tank, hoping it isn't just Axel... while he'd be glad for someone who can speak the language, one of the others would be a... probably better face for the gate guards to meet.
" :sweden: Alright, I'll see what I can understand. Hopefully someone can translate for me," Elin said then closed the door on the tank and met up with the rest of the group. She saw an unfamiliar man and woman talking with the new guy in front of what could be called a gate.
Elin leaned over to her crewmates and lowered her voice, " :sweden: Hi, I'm gonna be out here now. What's going on?"
Axel seemed either unaware of this or just didn't care, but he did make an effort to appear nonthreatening despite his...unconventional appearance...as he approached the gate guards. He consulted a list in his hand. :scotland: "My name's Axel Johansen, since we weren't expecting to find living people I'm the only one who speaks Gaelic. I'll be translating for whoever actually wants to handle diplomacy..."
A storm of indecipherable Swedish came from Axel, which was accompanied by some gestures that carried the gist of the message - ie, get over here so that we don't cause a major diplomatic incident, I am by no means qualified to handle this situation.
It was surprisingly expressive gesturing.
Elin hardly understood a lick of what Axel had just said, but she got the message (somewhat) and she knew what she had come over here to attempt to do, be diplomatic.
Elin slowly turned to Axel and started speaking, talking as much with her hands as with her words to get the point across, ":sweden: I'm gonna need you to translate for me," she looked desperate, "Can you please tell the two people at the gate that I say, 'Hello, I'm Elin Bergström. We're from what we thought were the only remaining countries over... uh- there,'" Elin waved off toward where they came. "'Our new friend here' -oh no, I've forgotten his name, please say his name instead of 'new guy'- 'Our new friend here, new guy, was going to show us around a bit if that's alright. Also, it's very nice to meet you."
Elin gave a trying smile at Axel and hoped that he would somehow be able to get the message across.
Jack arched an eyebrow.
":scotland: I was honestly just going to have them park on the side of the road here... it's close enough in the standingstones will protect, and far enough out the greatward will keep something out, I've even got my own ward plates to wrap an extra layer of net around them just in case, plus it's outside the town proper too."
He glanced back to see who else might be coming from the tank, hoping it isn't just Axel... while he'd be glad for someone who can speak the language, one of the others would be a... probably better face for the gate guards to meet.
Axel seemed either unaware of this or just didn't care, but he did make an effort to appear nonthreatening despite his...unconventional appearance...as he approached the gate guards. He consulted a list in his hand. :scotland: "My name's Axel Johansen, since we weren't expecting to find living people I'm the only one who speaks Gaelic. I'll be translating for whoever actually wants to handle diplomacy..."
Axel translated faithfully.
The man and Bearnas looked at Jack and looked unsure.
:scotland: "Well that's the problem here. It isn't any less dangerous to leave them out of the barrier after the-", Bearnas continued her ramble and looked genuinely distressed. The man let his hand fall on her shoulder, but didn't look any less worried. He was just more composed.
:scotland: "...do your countries have the disease?"
Bearnas didn't beat the bushes around. The man had covered his face with his hand and looked like he wasn't going to touch the strange travelers even with a long stick.
The man and Bearnas looked at Jack and looked unsure.
:scotland: "Well that's the problem here. It isn't any less dangerous to leave them out of the barrier after the-", Bearnas continued her ramble and looked genuinely distressed. The man let his hand fall on her shoulder, but didn't look any less worried. He was just more composed.
The guards tensed immediately when they saw a man with a pure white jacket. They both looked less suspicious after they heard him speaking their own language and they glanced behind them to see if there were others coming. Looks like they had to handle this themselves.
Then the red haired woman appeared and there was a rather quick exchange with her and the man. Bearnas stepped forward and the man stayed slightly behind her. She stared them with icy eyes as the man was just very distressed.
Bearnas stared this Elin Bergström and huffed. Her icy glare didn't ease, but the woman nodded slowly.
She didn't look like a danger, but then again...
:scotland: "The Tree told us that. You strangers came from beyond", she said the obvious. For a moment she looked like she lost her words.
:scotland: "...do your countries have the disease?"
Bearnas didn't beat the bushes around. The man had covered his face with his hand and looked like he wasn't going to touch the strange travelers even with a long stick.
:iceland: "I can cook," said Sanni. "When should I start and is there anything I need to know? Rationing?"
Jack motioned towards the kitten, ":scotland: This cait's theirs, they used it to check an see if I was sick with it... ain't floofed up at none of them."
Elin listened carefully to Axel's translation, ":sweden: Okay you can- wait," Elin looked befuddled, "Did you say they said the tree told them we were coming? Are you sure that's right?"
":sweden: Anyway," Elin waved her hands, "you can tell them I say 'Yeah our countries have the disease, if by the disease you mean the rash, and trolls, and beasts, and all that. We had thought the disease wiped out everyone but us, that's why we're so surprised that you're not dead!'"
Elin tried to keep eye contact with both the freaky ice-glare woman and Axel as she spoke.
The man stared quietly the small kitten and squints his eyes a little. Bearnas stares the cat too and they look very hesitant, but start to melt to the idea a little more.
The woman looked at Elin and was a little less icy. She glanced again at the cat and the man shrugged quietly.
:scotland: "They seem to be pretty knowledged", he commented off-handedly, but tried definitely to prod Bearnas into accepting them. She shrugged with a defeat and looked Elin again. She straightened her hand towards her as a peace offer.
:scotland: "...what else we can do. This is a weird situation itself - come inside the barrier", she said in a curt way and the man looked with a look of a winner at her.
:scotland: "Sleep there. Others in the village can decide what we will do to you."
The blond hair peaked behind the tank.
Elin grinned and shook the woman's hand then turned back to Axel, ":sweden: Tell her I say 'thank you very much!'"
Elin turned and walked inside the gate, suddenly she froze up, her face fell, and she turned to the rest of the group with a worried look on her face, ":sweden: Wait... did she say the village is going to decide what to do to us?"
Elin then continued walking into the village, her pace a little more frantic and a little more quickened, while she gathered stares from the people around her.
Rúnar tiredly drove the tank inside.
Elin grinned and shook the woman's hand then turned back to Axel, ":sweden: Tell her I say 'thank you very much!'"
Elin turned and walked inside the gate, suddenly she froze up, her face fell, and she turned to the rest of the group with a worried look on her face, ":sweden: Wait... did she say the village is going to decide what to do to us?"
Elin then continued walking, her pace a little more frantic and a little more quickened.
Anne twitches when the tank gets moving and she glances through the window. Smile plasters her face and she looks at Runar, Amelia and Sanni.
:sweden: "I'm going to get out", she says quickly to them and jumps out of the slowly moving tank.
Bearnas and the man nod and the man makes sure the gate is closed after the tank and walkers are inside. The woman looks still worried, but is walking ahead Elin and the others.
Everything around looks gray but somewhat cleaned up. Anything useful has been dragged out of the decaying buildings. The walkers can see in a distance some weird block of buildings that differ from the other ones.
It's still pretty quiet.
Anne jogs ahead and slows next to Elin. She gave thumb-ups to Axel on the way.
:sweden: "I knew you could do it", she said with upbeat tone to Elin.
Elin looked surprised, ":sweden: You did? Honestly there was like a 50% change of that working."
Anne shrugged her shoulders.
:sweden: "Of course I did. That's why I volunteered you", she looked at the horizon, "And even if you had failed, it wouldn't been an end of the world."
Anne gave a meaningful look to Elin. She walked for a moment in a silence.
:sweden: "Sometimes we just fail, you know. That's life."
-
Bearnas waved her hand towards a building that protected an empty area. The area had cars from the Old world lying around, but there was still some empty space for the tank.
The woman looked at Jack and Axel.
:scotland: "This would do for the night", she said with an unsettled look.
Bearnas waved her hand towards a building that protected an empty area. The area had cars from the Old world lying around, but there was still some empty space for the tank.
The woman looked at Jack and Axel.
:scotland: "This would do for the night", she said with an unsettled look.
Elin struggled and failed to hide a look of concern. Her voice turned uncharacteristically serious, ":sweden: I doubt me failing to be diplomatic would summon every troll to us on the spot but if we hadn't gotten into here we'd probably be in a lot more danger out there," Elin gestured to the world beyond the gate. "Besides, even if it isn't the end of the world mistakes still have consequences. That's just the way it goes."
Elin's voice grew low and quiet, like she didn't want to be heard, "Trust me... I'd know it better than anyone."
Anne looked at her with a little softer smile.
:sweden: "I know."
She looked at the woman who showed their tank a place, but didn't longer on her any longer. Anne stopped instead a little further so that their talk couldn't be heard by everybody.
She chuckled and gave a small nudge to Elin's side. The blond sighed after it and lets her demeanor calm.
:sweden: "But it's about how you handle the consequences and mistakes. That divides the people."
Anne stretched her arms.
:sweden: "Just have a confidence in yourself, okay? I know there's a lot of potential in you."
Elin chuckled, ":sweden: Heh, you know I used to have confidence... and they all used to tell me I had potential too. Now look where that got me... I have my reasons for coming to the silent world and it's not because I needed a vacation."
Anne stared Elin for some moment without moving. She got on her tip-toes and ruffled her hair as much as she could.
:sweden: "Others can't decide what's your potential.", she said and crossed her arms, leaning her hips to left.
The woman didn't stop the staring.
:sweden: "Of course other than me. I have a knack to these things", she joked.
Anne sighed.
:sweden: "If it's hard to have confidence, fake until you make it", she said and smiled, "Human brains are really stupid. If you give a fake smile, brains think you are happy."
She gave again a gentle jab to Elin's side.
Elin laughed, ":sweden: Psh, okay."
Elin gave a real smile, then she playfully jabbed Anne back.
Axel seemed content to observe the pep talk for a moment. He didn't stop watching Anne.
With the tank now parked Jack sidled back up to the gate guards and asked in a low whisper, ":scotland: Did something happen since the last time I can through?"
Quietly he repeated the phrase 'pleasedon'tsayhags, please don't say hags... There's already issue enough up North with them....' in his head
Anne glanced to look Axel. She waved to him.
:sweden: "Interested of a campfire?"
The man from the gates had walked close to Bearnas, who had been looking the tank with a rather suspicious but also curious look. She turned to Jack slowly and looked little sorrowful.
:scotland: "...we've lost people. More than normally - maybe in a full or half year one dies, but this is different thing."
The man didn't want to speak up, so Bearnas let her arms fall down and inhaled to continue.
:scotland: "Normally it's easy to keep monsters out. Even when the warding doesn't work on them, we have a good system to keep them out."
She shrugged in defeat and took few steps closer to Jack.
:scotland: "But then night guards and people out started to disappear. Even poor Seath disappeared and never came back. You know, the guy who was the druid apprentice", she rambled and glanced the man that stared the stain on the tank like it was the most fascinating thing ever.
:scotland: "There's something unpleasant out there that the warding won't protect from. Leaving strangers on their own luck is like abandoning a brother."
Axel opened his mouth to answer Anne, but then overheard the two Scots talking and slowly turned to glare at them.
Message communicated, he turned back to Anne. :norway: "Sure, why not. I'm going to set up some landmines, though, those two a******s apparently have something moving around at night and neglected to tell us."
Anne glanced to the locals and then back at Axel. Her blood went cold and she cleared her throat. The woman was taken aback by Axel's comment and she felt like fainting of the thought of having landmines.
:sweden: "Um- the landmines will just call more beasts here", she said and could only shiver to thought of a human stepping into a one. She should really make someone to stash them away from Axel's hands.
:sweden: "More so, there's something moving around?" she tried to change the subject and crossed her arms with a slight frown and her smile defusing. Was that the main reason they even let them come inside the barrier?
:sweden: "I agree though that they should've told about it to us. Elin, what did you and the locals discuss about? Did the whole subject come up even once?"
She looked at Elin. A bad feeling crept on her spine. The whole crew, especially Amelia, should know about this.
Anne huffed.
:sweden: "We can only get direct answers by tomorrow. The guards are so wary of us."
She looked slightly relieved and rubbed the place where Elin had jabbed her. The tank had stopped on its place now and the blond turned her eyes to look around. The old rubble of buildings were protecting the remote area where the tank was, but it was easy to observe it in distance. Unease went through her.
:sweden: "Now that you feel better, we should have a campfire", Anne suggested suddenly and put her hands together, "I don't think it's necessary to scout tonight. The locals wouldn't probably be too happy about it."
She should ask from Amelia about it.
The thought of campfire got Anne way too excited though.
:sweden: "We haven't had any proper time as a team. You know the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer -actually, that doesn't really fit in this case. But you know what I mean."
Anne glanced to look Axel. She waved to him.
:sweden: "Interested of a campfire?"
The man from the gates had walked close to Bearnas, who had been looking the tank with a rather suspicious but also curious look. She turned to Jack slowly and looked little sorrowful.
:scotland: "...we've lost people. More than normally - maybe in a full or half year one dies, but this is different thing."
The man didn't want to speak up, so Bearnas let her arms fall down and inhaled to continue.
:scotland: "Normally it's easy to keep monsters out. Even when the warding doesn't work on them, we have a good system to keep them out."
She shrugged in defeat and took few steps closer to Jack.
:scotland: "But then night guards and people out started to disappear. Even poor Seath disappeared and never came back. You know, the guy who was the druid apprentice", she rambled and glanced the man that stared the stain on the tank like it was the most fascinating thing ever.
:scotland: "There's something unpleasant out there that the warding won't protect from. Leaving strangers on their own luck is like abandoning a brother."
Anne glanced to the locals and then back at Axel. Her blood went cold and she cleared her throat. The woman was taken aback by Axel's comment and she felt like fainting of the thought of having landmines.
:sweden: "Um- the landmines will just call more beasts here", she said and could only shiver to thought of a human stepping into a one. She should really make someone to stash them away from Axel's hands.
:sweden: "More so, there's something moving around?" she tried to change the subject and crossed her arms with a slight frown and her smile defusing. Was that the main reason they even let them come inside the barrier?
:sweden: "I agree though that they should've told about it to us. Elin, what did you and the locals discuss about? Did the whole subject come up even once?"
She looked at Elin. A bad feeling crept on her spine. The whole crew, especially Amelia, should know about this.
Anne huffed.
:sweden: "We can only get direct answers by tomorrow. The guards are so wary of us."
The man from the gates had walked close to Bearnas, who had been looking the tank with a rather suspicious but also curious look. She turned to Jack slowly and looked little sorrowful.
:scotland: "...we've lost people. More than normally - maybe in a full or half year one dies, but this is different thing."
The man didn't want to speak up, so Bearnas let her arms fall down and inhaled to continue.
:scotland: "Normally it's easy to keep monsters out. Even when the warding doesn't work on them, we have a good system to keep them out."
She shrugged in defeat and took few steps closer to Jack.
:scotland: "But then night guards and people out started to disappear. Even poor Seath disappeared and never came back. You know, the guy who was the druid apprentice", she rambled and glanced the man that stared the stain on the tank like it was the most fascinating thing ever.
:scotland: "There's something unpleasant out there that the warding won't protect from. Leaving strangers on their own luck is like abandoning a brother."
Rúnar parked the tank, and then he kinda sorta just went to sleep.
:norway: "Hrmph. Worked at home. Local beasts learned to avoid me right quick. Still think we need better defenses. Stake traps?"
A strange light gleamed in Elin's eyes, campfire.
Elin made a face like she was trying very hard to remember the conversation she had not too long ago, ":sweden: Uhm... I don't recall them talking about any beast. We mostly talked about where we came from and that we wanted to come through the gate. They did mention a tree, though. I don't know what that's about.
Jack nodded and solemnly looked out into the rapidly darkening night and subconsciously reached into his messenger bag and checked that his violin was indeed there.
":scotland: ....good to know.."
Bearnas sighed and rubbed her neck.
:scotland: "Honestly, I don't still trust the strangers you took here."
The woman nodded to the man and started to fix her clothing.
:scotland: "We will continue discussing the matter tomorrow. Are you coming with us to the village?" she asked from Jack.
More traps?!
Anne tried to keep her expression calm and she pressed her hands together.
:denmark: "What about if we don't have any traps?" she asked slowly and thought about someone impaling their foot to a stake. She inhaled and let her arms fall down.
Anne looked at Elin and crossed her arms. She sighed and shrugged.
:sweden: "...we all should keep an eye on them, just in case. We could ask form the stranger more about this village", she said and waved her hand to the way where Jack was.
The sun had started to go down ages ago and it started to get slightly dark. Anne rolled her shoulders.
:sweden: "But we all can continue this around the campfire, nothing we can do right now! Do we have any fire wood with us and anything we can fry?" she changed suddenly the topic and had lighter tone.
Bearnas sighed and rubbed her neck.
:scotland: "Honestly, I don't still trust the strangers you took here."
The woman nodded to the man and started to fix her clothing.
:scotland: "We will continue discussing the matter tomorrow. Are you coming with us to the village?" she asked from Jack.
Jack considered the question for a good amount of time before shaking his head, ":scotland: No... No I think I'll keep an eye on things around them.. I brought them here, I may as well be helpful if something happens tonight."
:norway: "Then whatever or whoever is wandering about probably kills us in our sleep, even with the motion detector."
Bearnas nodded slowly.
:scotland: "Do as you wish, though we would appreciate if you did that."
The man walked close to her and they both started to prop things for leaving. New night guards needed to be alarmed back there.
:scotland: "I suppose we will see at morning. Bye", she said to Jack with tired look and walked away with the man. They both disappeared behind the corner without any noise.
Anne inhaled and tried to think. Was she being unreasonable here? What if someone really got harmed by it?
She crossed her arms and kept her stance.
:denmark: "What if that trap harmed someone from the town?" she asked, "I know, there's something around that's no-good, but is there another way?"
She really wished there was another way. Anne tightened her grip on her arms.
:denmark: "If there isn't, I will give permission to some sort of a trap", she finally admitted.
Bearnas nodded slowly.
:scotland: "Do as you wish, though we would appreciate if you did that."
The man walked close to her and they both started to prop things for leaving. New night guards needed to be alarmed back there.
:scotland: "I suppose we will see at morning. Bye", she said to Jack with tired look and walked away with the man. They both disappeared behind the corner without any noise.
":norway: Bare minimum, tripwires rigged up to flares and flashbangs, warn the townspeople beforehand, and sleep with weapons close to hand."
Anne did what all the good leaders would do in this situation: delegated it forward.
:denmark: "Well, in that case Amelia might have a thing or two to say!" she said with a more upbeat tone and felt relieved when the responsibility of the traps wasn't on her anymore.
The night fell like a heavy blanket, but luckily the crew put up fire (that couldn't really be called a campfire due it being pretty pitiful, but was enough for some of them). There were crumbled pieces of houses they could sit on. Food that they could grill was mostly just dry meat or canned food.
Anne took all the fun out of this and tried to set a grid over the fire. She put a can of some food on it and hoped for the best. She leaned on her legs and glances the others around them.
:sweden: "What a lucky bunch we are", she said particularly to no-one.
The night fell like a heavy blanket, but luckily the crew put up fire (that couldn't really be called a campfire due it being pretty pitiful, but was enough for some of them). There were crumbled pieces of houses they could sit on. Food that they could grill was mostly just dry meat or canned food.
Anne took all the fun out of this and tried to set a grid over the fire. She put a can of some food on it and hoped for the best. She leaned on her legs and glances the others around them.
:sweden: "What a lucky bunch we are", she said particularly to no-one.
Axel seemed to have relaxed a great deal once the perimeter was, in his opinion, properly secured. He wasn't exactly smiling, but he looked moderately less likely to resort to murder as the first solution to all his problems.
":norway: I doubt luck is the reason any of us are here."
Anne glanced to Axel and waved her hand.
:sweden: "No no, didn't mean that. I mean we are pretty lucky that we found people out of anything we could've found."
She had optimistic smile.
:sweden: "We could've found just some troll infested place and get injured. So far we've been avoiding them well and there are only good news to the base."
Maybe even too well, but Anne didn't dwell on it. She looked at the can of fish that was over the fire and didn't have any idea what would happen to it. All she could do was to hope that it could make for a good roast.
Anne looked the others around them.
:sweden: "So I'm pretty optimistic about this trip."
Anne did what all the good leaders would do in this situation: delegated it forward.
:denmark: "Well, in that case Amelia might have a thing or two to say!" she said with a more upbeat tone and felt relieved when the responsibility of the traps wasn't on her anymore.
The night fell like a heavy blanket, but luckily the crew put up fire (that couldn't really be called a campfire due it being pretty pitiful, but was enough for some of them). There were crumbled pieces of houses they could sit on. Food that they could grill was mostly just dry meat or canned food.
Anne took all the fun out of this and tried to set a grid over the fire. She put a can of some food on it and hoped for the best. She leaned on her legs and glances the others around them.
:sweden: "What a lucky bunch we are", she said particularly to no-one.
Anne did what all the good leaders would do in this situation: delegated it forward.
:denmark: "Well, in that case Amelia might have a thing or two to say!" she said with a more upbeat tone and felt relieved when the responsibility of the traps wasn't on her anymore.
The night fell like a heavy blanket, but luckily the crew put up fire (that couldn't really be called a campfire due it being pretty pitiful, but was enough for some of them). There were crumbled pieces of houses they could sit on. Food that they could grill was mostly just dry meat or canned food.
Anne took all the fun out of this and tried to set a grid over the fire. She put a can of some food on it and hoped for the best. She leaned on her legs and glances the others around them.
:sweden: "What a lucky bunch we are", she said particularly to no-one.
Elin had been watching Sanni cook so she had (shockingly) neglected to mind the fire, but the fire wouldn't be neglected for long. She turned to take a quick glance at what the rest of her crew was up to. Her eyes locked on their weak, pathetic fire.
This fire was anything but proper, it couldn't even be considered half-decent. This fire was just a pile of things burning. It held no structure, it held no glory. How could a team be strong when the fires they create are so weak? Something had to be done about this.
Elin turned to Sanni, " :iceland: I'm sorry... something has to be done about this. I'll be back later."
She headed toward the fire and the rest of the crew, her face more serious than it had ever been during her time with this crew, ":sweden: What- what is this? Who did this? This is bad. This is a bad fire."
Elin had been watching Sanni cook so she had (shockingly) neglected to mind the fire, but the fire wouldn't be neglected for long. She turned to take a quick glance at what the rest of her crew was up to. Her eyes locked on their weak, pathetic fire.
This fire was anything but proper, it couldn't even be considered half-decent. This fire was just a pile of things burning. It held no structure, it held no glory. How could a team be strong when the fires they create are so weak? Something had to be done about this.
Elin turned to Sanni, " :iceland: I'm sorry... something has to be done about this. I'll be back later."
She headed toward the fire and the rest of the crew, her face more serious than it had ever been during her time with this crew, ":sweden: What- what is this? Who did this? This is bad. This is a bad fire."
Axel shrugged, pointed at Anne, and remained silent.
Axel nodded. "Fair enough." He paused. "What are your reasons?" he asked.
Elin turned to Sanni, " :iceland: I'm sorry... something has to be done about this. I'll be back later."
She headed toward the fire and the rest of the crew, her face more serious than it had ever been during her time with this crew, ":sweden: What- what is this? Who did this? This is bad. This is a bad fire."
Axel shrugged, pointed at Anne, and remained silent.
Elin turned to Anne looking stern, ":sweden: I'm sorry Anne, but this fire is awful. It won't last the whole night. I have to douse this fire and start again. It won't take long, but I'll make sure it'll last."
Anne looked at Axel and tried to think a way to elaborate. Of course she had good reasons, but she was also going with her gut feeling.
:sweden: "Well I-", she started.
Anne's talk got interrupted by Elin and she blinked few times. Finally she leaned on her chin and mumbled to herself.
:sweden: "I think it's a decent fire", she said off-handedly.
She looked at Elin and crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow. She straightened her posture and tried to look Elin with her best hurt face.
:sweden: "Hmmh, it's very decent fire as said. Look, everyone else are pretty content with it", Anne huffed as she pointed to Runar, Axel, Sanni, Amelia and the stranger.
:sweden: "Non-dangerous, gives light and is hand-made with my gentle hands. What is even bad about it?" she asked from Elin and pointed the campfire with her finger as she stood up.
The flame flickered off and on.
Elin looked a little remorseful but then regained herself out of necessity, ":sweden: Well it serves its purpose for now, but it won't last all night. It'll burn through that fuel really fast since it's just a pile with no air coming in through the bottom. It'll use all that fuel really quickly and burn out within the next two hours at best, probably sooner."
Elin stood up straighter and put her hands on her hips, ":sweden: I know my fire. You may have worked with the cleansers, Anne, but I was born to be one. I got expelled from school when I was 8 for lighting fires on school grounds. I know my stuff. I insist on dousing this fire and building a new, sustainable one."
She looked much too proud of this statement.Spoiler: show
Elin looked a little remorseful but then regained herself out of necessity, ":sweden: Well it serves its purpose for now, but it won't last all night. It'll burn through that fuel really fast since it's just a pile with no air coming in through the bottom. It'll use all that fuel really quickly and burn out within the next two hours at best, probably sooner."
Elin stood up straighter and put her hands on her hips, ":sweden: I know my fire. You may have worked with the cleansers, Anne, but I was born to be one. I got expelled from school when I was 8 for lighting fires on school grounds. I know my stuff. I insist on dousing this fire and building a new, sustainable one."
She looked much too proud of this statement.Spoiler: show
Axel seemed to find the entire situation amusing. He tossed Elin a large flask.
Said flask was labelled 'Honest Bjorn's 200-proof Whiskey and Fire Starter (Not for Human Consumption)'.
:iceland: "Pyromania is a dangerous hobby, please keep yourself under control and try to not set the tank on fire..." Rúnar mumbled quietly.
Axel seemed to find the entire situation amusing. He tossed Elin a large flask.
Said flask was labelled 'Honest Bjorn's 200-proof Whiskey and Fire Starter (Not for Human Consumption)'.
Elin looked a little remorseful but then regained herself out of necessity, ":sweden: Well it serves its purpose for now, but it won't last all night. It'll burn through that fuel really fast since it's just a pile with no air coming in through the bottom. It'll use all that fuel really quickly and burn out within the next two hours at best, probably sooner."
Elin stood up straighter and put her hands on her hips, ":sweden: I know my fire. You may have worked with the cleansers, Anne, but I was born to be one. I got expelled from school when I was 8 for lighting fires on school grounds. I know my stuff. I insist on dousing this fire and building a new, sustainable one."
She looked much too proud of this statement.
Axel seemed to find the entire situation amusing. He tossed Elin a large flask.
Said flask was labelled 'Honest Bjorn's 200-proof Whiskey and Fire Starter (Not for Human Consumption)'.
Elin caught the flask, almost dropped it, caught it again, and then nodded in Axel's direction as to say, thanks, man.
She pointed at the fire, ":sweden: Someone kill this thing for me, it shouldn't be too hard. I'm gonna go gather some junk to build a new one out of." With that, she walked off, smiling mischievously, toward some of the abandoned houses to gather supplies for her new project.
Anne let her melodramatic attitude fall and listened Elin's gushing about the fire. She sighed and smiled with given up look.
:sweden: "It's fine, do the fire", she said with a relaxed attitude and waved her hand.
Anne froze on her place when she saw the bottle that Axel gave to Elin. A small panic flashed in her expression and she tried to calm down.
:sweden: "Hey, we don't have a meaning to burn the whole place down", she said with a little concerned tone and looked a little worried. She sneaked away from the fire closer to Runar and stared the small fire.
Jack glanced about as Elin spoke pointedly about the fire, and then stalked off. He then motioned to Axel as Runar moved away from the fire. ":scotland: what all was that about? she sounded like she was gargling potatoes so I didn't understand half of that."
To be fair Jack also hadn't really been paying much attention.
":scotland: The leader made a s*** fire, so Elin is going to make a better one. Apparently it's a point of pride for her."
Jack arched an eyebrow as more people moved away from the fireplace as Elin began her work.
":scotland: Soo.... Why does everyone else look concerned about this?"
Axel shrugged. ":scotland: They're a bunch of weird people? I don't know. It's not like she's cackling."
Jack, somehow arched his eyebrow further, ":scotland: cackling.... You people have hags out there too and don't do basic wardnets?....", he seemed puzzled at this prospect.
":scotland: What do old people have to do with things? Elin's not old."
":scotland: Old people?.. no.. beasts of flesh that once were druids that sacrificed their villages in pursuit of power over the kelpies and fiends..."
":scotland: What do old people have to do with things? Elin's not old."
Axel considered this for a moment. Then he slowly reached into his pack, and pulled out a detonator tied to a cord, which he looped around his neck. ":norway: I'm going to go check the perimeter," he said to Anne.
Jack glanced around, double checked his book and looked towards some of the other people, "... vah, er det han nett-opp har truck- kit fra pack-en sin?"
[Bad :norway: "what is that thing he just pulled from his pack?"]
Rúnar's head immediately turned to Axel. :iceland: "Axel!! Where are the bombs!?"
":sweden: Looks like you've made a pretty decent firebed, here! Good work on that, Anne," Elin said, turning to Anne and grinning. "I'll get started on the fire now if nobody has any issues with that. I could use some help clearing the firebed of this old stuff, though, my arm's a little sore."
Axel considered this for a moment. Then he slowly reached into his pack, and pulled out a detonator tied to a cord, which he looped around his neck. ":norway: I'm going to go check the perimeter," he said to Anne.
She flipped open her lighter. A small flame rose out of the top. A manic grin showed on her face. ":sweden: Time to light this puppy up!"
[Elin lighting the fire like a maniac]
Elin wandered back over to Sanni, ":iceland: So! When's dinner gonna be ready?"
Anne crossed her arms and smiled warily to Elin's snappy comment.
:sweden: "I'm the one making the way, so no problem", she said but looked still unnerved. Things didn't seem too wild yet though.
Anne blinked few times when Axel talked to her and it took some orientation to actually get serious. Being worried of Elin's fire took all her attention.
:denmark: "The perimeter? It should be in the tank, Runar used it the last night afterall."
She looked at Axel and had puzzled look.
:denmark: "Why you ask? Is there some urgent need to it?"
Anne's attention snapped immediately to the fire and she stared it with a more than slightly horrified look. Suddenly a realization dawned on her and she snapped her head towards Elin.
:sweden: "Elin- ELIN! What happened to the food on the last fire?" she asked and could only hope that it was somewhere tucked neatly and not melted into the big fire. Her attention was all over and the worrying of the perimeter and food filled her mind.
Sanni looked up from where she had been bent over a little notebook, ignoring everyone else. :iceland: "Anne made it! Or--I thought I saw her making food. Was I supposed to?" Her voice was heavy with worry and guilt.
":iceland: I heard Anne say that there was food cooking. I remember Runar asked you to make some, but as long as somebody made food we're fine!" Elin said, "But the thing is... nobody knows where the food went."
Sanni glanced at the ruined remains of Anne's fire buried under the inferno Elin had created. :iceland: "...right," she muttered, and jumped up to make some more food.
Anne blinked few times when Axel talked to her and it took some orientation to actually get serious. Being worried of Elin's fire took all her attention.
:denmark: "Sure, you can do it."
She looked at Axel and had puzzled look.
:denmark: "Why the sudden need to check it? Is there some urgent need to it?"
:norway: "Apparently the local evil mages can control trolls. Therefore, more security is required. Bye!"
Axel moved far faster than a man of his size could have been capable of, into one of the deserted houses.
:norway: "Apparently the local evil mages can control trolls. Therefore, more security is required. Bye!"
Axel moved far faster than a man of his size could have been capable of, into one of the deserted houses.
So, the only one who knows the true information besides him is...
Anne looked the strange human who sat alone. She pressed her lips together and crossed her arms. Anne contemplated something alone for a while and stepped few times towards the deserted house and the strange human. Finally she made a decision and walked towards the stranger.
She stood stiffly and a safe distance away him. Anne tried to take an eye contact with him.
:norway: "Uhm...wet did you spe-speker with Axel?"
[What did you speak with Axel?]
Axel has acquired more detonators.
A lot more. They're strung around his neck like a vaguely ominous necklace.
The redhead grins very widely, and enters the tank.
Axel has acquired more detonators.
A lot more. They're strung around his neck like a vaguely ominous necklace.
The redhead grins very widely, and enters the tank.
Rúnar stared. :norway: "...Commanders, both of you. Come with me, now, I think Axel needs a talk."
Amelia had put the pot back over the fire, and had added the new food to it.
It had been cooking for a little while, and Amelia sat watching the fire, when suddenly Axel reappeared from a different direction.
Amelia's head turned, and she got up. She was about to say something to Jack when she was cut off.
Amelia fell in behind Rúnar, steely eyes looking to the tank into which Axel had disappeared.
:norway: "Situation report?"
Jack glanced up from his violin, and then quickly flipped through his wine and cheese book and carefully selected his words before speaking again.
"Jeg snackett...need ham ohm...hags. Mine ord var daarleague, og haan tror de ... Control?...Fiends und Kelpies. Dey joor det ikke. Dee faar bear craft fra den ...corrupt? ... magien som de laager .."
[Bad :norway: "I talked at him about Hags. My words were bad and he thinks they control kelpies and fiends, they don't they just gain power from the corrupt magic that they create."]
Jack sat there quietly hoping Anne doesn't have follow-up questions, but guessed she probably would.
Rúnar stared. :norway: "...Commanders, both of you. Come with me, now, I think Axel needs a talk."
Anne stared at him and slowly blinked. She tried to make some sense of it and she inhaled.
:denmark: "So, there is a thing-", she said slowly and tried to make every syllable clear.
:denmark: "-that gain some power from corrupted things?" she said and ended with an asking tone. It's not too far off from what Axel told to her and that took time to really think. Unease came back again.
Amelia looked weird at Rúnar, then looked back to Anne.
:norway: "Where did Axel get landmines?"
Anne furrowed her eyebrows and glanced back at the tank.
:denmark: "What landmines? And what Runar asked about?" she asked with very alerted tone.
:norway: "I said we gotta deal with Axel before he blows us up" Rúnar said. He opened the door of the tank. "Axel!" he called.
Axel looked at Rúnar, appearing completely calm. :norway: "What?"
Rúnar was equally calm. :iceland: "Where have you been, what have you done, and where did you obtain the landmines?" he asked. "Or other explosives. Again, what have you done?"
:norway: "I said we gotta deal with Axel before he blows us up" Rúnar said. He opened the door of the tank. "Axel!" he called.
Rúnar was equally calm. :iceland: "Where have you been, what have you done, and where did you obtain the landmines?" he asked. "Or other explosives. Again, what have you done?"
:norway: "Landmines? What? No, the commanders don't want landmines, so I didn't plant those. Just needed to stick some more flare traps around, since there's openings that a creature will avoid normally but if commanded will push through." He smiled. "Now we have a very secure perimeter, and I rigged up a return system so I don't have to spend two hours tomorrow disarming everything."
Anne glanced behind the fire where Elin and Sanni were still doing something by themselves. The stranger was sitting further away.
She looked at Axel again.
:denmark: "I don't know what he meant with them, so could you go and talk with him about it?" she asked and ruffled her hair with frustration and face white as sheet.
Elin leaned back and folded her arms, looking from all the other crew members then back to Sanni, ":iceland: What do you think they're going on about? I keep hearing the word 'explosives.'"
Sanni looked up; she had retreated into herself, lost in thought. :iceland: "I have no idea," she said, shaking her head.
Anne's face went white for a moment and she glanced around with alerted look. She was searching something frantically with her look.
Anne pressed fingers to her temples and sighed to herself. She removed herself from this situation for a moment and pretended that she didn't hear anything of this. Anne let her hand fall from her face and stared both Axel and Runar.
:denmark: "Look, it's about what the Silent Lander said, right?" she said immediately to Axel and rubbed her eyes and arms.
:denmark: "I went and talked with him", which was a bit of an overestimating thing to say, "and I got the words 'control', 'fiends and kelpies' and something about 'they don't'"
Anne glanced behind the fire where Elin and Sanni were still doing something by themselves. The stranger was sitting further away.
She looked at Axel again.
:denmark: "I don't know what he meant with them, so could you go and talk with him about it?" she asked and ruffled her hair with frustration and face white as sheet.
Axel shrugged. :norway: "Sure."
He stalked over to where Jack was sitting. :scotland: "What exactly did you tell Anne?"
Jack hadn't exactly been paying attention and when Axel started talking his head jerked up in surprise from where he had been adjusting the strings of his violin.
the subtle flow of magic he'd been infusing into the strings faded into the night as his concentration was broken.
He blinks a couple times recalling the questions Anne had asked,
":scotland: she asked me to clarify what I said to you...and I told her my phrasing was bad and... Kind of implied that hags have power over fiends and kelpies, when it's just they gain power from the corrupt magics that Kelpies and fiends produce...also there's none out here that I know of, I can pick up their tune from far off...if that makes any sense... They just bring a weird... discord to the flow of magic around them.. very distinct...most mage's can sense them from leagues away and know to stay away..."
Axel blinked. "Huh. Guess I don't need these, then."
He gathered up his necklace of detonators and hit the triggers all at the same time.
Axel blinked. "Huh. Guess I don't need these, then."
He gathered up his necklace of detonators and hit the triggers all at the same time.
The largest frying pan comes flying directly at Axel's head.
The largest frying pan comes flying directly at Axel's head.
The pan bounced off the back of Axel's head with a loud clang.
The Viking went cross-eyed, and fell over.
There was a series of loud twanging noises, and several dozen bundles of wires and metal hurled themselves into the air towards the tank.
All of them landed in an empty cardboard box.
Ylva stalked towards Rúnar, growling low in her throat.
The pan bounced off the back of Axel's head with a loud clang.
The Viking went cross-eyed, and fell over.
There was a series of loud twanging noises, and several dozen bundles of wires and metal hurled themselves into the air towards the tank.
All of them landed in an empty cardboard box.
Ylva stalked towards Rúnar, growling low in her throat.
Elin had been idly watching the rest of the crew, she just so happened to have her focus on Axel and new-guy when a very large flying pan flew into her view and hit Axel directly in the head. The huge man toppled onto the ground. She looked in the direction of where the pan came from. Rúnar.
Elin marched up to Rúnar (with complete disregard for the angry wolf making its way toward the man as well) and decked him.
She was red-faced and fuming, ":iceland: Are you trying to KILL our teammates?!"
Rúnar fell on the ground, clearly unused to being punched. :iceland: "I apologize. I saw he was about to press all the detonators he was holding, and I reacted without thinking." He was feeling slightly dizzy, and a bruise was forming on his face. "I did not mean... I apologize" he said again, and attempted to get up. He walked up to Axel. "Is he going to be well?" he asked Sanni.
Axel's hand shot out, grabbed Runar's ankle, and yanked hard, pulling the larger man to the ground. The redhead moved far faster than a man that size should've been capable of, and in a flash he was sitting on Rúnar's chest, blood dripping down his face from his head wound. An extremely large knife was slammed point-first next to Rúnar's neck, and quivered slightly as Axel let go of it.
:norway: "Do not do that again," Axel said, very quietly, in a completely unaccented tone. After a moment, he stood up, and walked away.
Rúnar fell on the ground, clearly unused to being punched. :iceland: "I apologize. I saw he was about to press all the detonators he was holding, and I reacted without thinking." He was feeling slightly dizzy, and a bruise was forming on his face. "I did not mean... I apologize" he said again, and attempted to get up. He walked up to Axel. "Is he going to be well?" he asked Sanni.
Axel blinked. "Huh. Guess I don't need these, then."
He gathered up his necklace of detonators and hit the triggers all at the same time.
The largest frying pan comes flying directly at Axel's head.
Axel's hand shot out, grabbed Runar's ankle, and yanked hard, pulling the larger man to the ground. The redhead moved far faster than a man that size should've been capable of, and in a flash he was sitting on Rúnar's chest, blood dripping down his face from his head wound. Some of it fell onto Rúnar's face.
An extremely large knife was slammed point-first next to Rúnar's neck, and it quivered slightly as Axel let go of it.
:norway: "Do not do that again," Axel said, very quietly, in a completely unaccented tone. After a moment, he stood up, and walked away.
She stared both of them. Anne couldn't stop staring and her legs could only move when Axel walked away. Only common sense gave her orders as she quickly sprinted after Axel.
The woman felt her hands shake as she approached him.
:denmark: "You aren't going anywhere. Your forehead bleeds", she said to him with commanding tone and took a tight grip of his arm. She looked at him with lips pursed together.
Axel's hand shot out, grabbed Runar's ankle, and yanked hard, pulling the larger man to the ground. The redhead moved far faster than a man that size should've been capable of, and in a flash he was sitting on Rúnar's chest, blood dripping down his face from his head wound. Some of it fell onto Rúnar's face.
An extremely large knife was slammed point-first next to Rúnar's neck, and it quivered slightly as Axel let go of it.
:norway: "Do not do that again," Axel said, very quietly, in a completely unaccented tone. After a moment, he stood up, and walked away.
Axel visibly flinched as she touched him. :norway: "Can handle it myself. Not the first time I've stitched up a head wound."
Anne didn't stop holding, but she eased her grip.
:denmark: "And I don't doubt that", she said back with a strong voice.
:denmark: "But there's more stitching to do than just your forehead."
Anne looked at Axel with demanding look.
Elin's yells a moment ago echoed still in her head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. After opening them again she looked at Axel with more hardened and determined look.
:denmark: "Come back. This isn't a request, I will drag you there if needed", she said with a command, "and I'm fully capable to do that."
Elin had been watching Runar approach Axel with a sinking feeling inside her.
Her sinking feeling was correct, as soon as Runar was close enough he was knocked to the ground again and Axel had a knife to Runar's throat. Elin rushed over.
":iceland: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" She was beginning to panic, her eyes were watering, her breaths were short and quick, "Can you please contain yourselves? I- I know I did something but can we stop?!"
She took a deep breath and tried to regain composure, she was still red-faced and teary-eyed, but there was something more serious in her voice, ":iceland: I was captain of a group of cleansers and - CHRIST - I thought that was a mess at the beginning, but as rowdy as they were nobody even came close to killing someone else! We're in the Silent World, we're supposed to kill trolls and possibly get killed by trolls, not each other!"
Elin dropped her hands down, ":sweden: I give up," she walked back to the fire, cursing under her breath. She sat down idly threw small things into the flames.
:norway: "Understood." He shrugged out of her grip, and started walking back to the camp.
Back at the camp, Ylva still regarded Rúnar as if she was considering whether he was tasty enough to be worth eating. Every time he made a move to get up, she growled at him.
:norway: "Understood." He shrugged out of her grip, and started walking back to the camp.
Rúnar slowly sat up and wiped Axel's blood off his face. He checked his ribs. They were in place. His throat also wasn't bleeding, despite him still feeling the cold blade as if it was pressed to his neck.
Light shudder went down his spine, but he quickly composed himself again.
He calmly observed the dog instead. He was reasonably certain she will not attack, so he wasn't looking particularly afraid. However, he still didn't try to get up, still waiting for his numerous pains to wane.
:iceland: "Axel, I apologize for attacking you. I reacted without thinking, and it was not my intent to harm you. Elin, I apologize for starting a fight. It was not my intent to divide the group." He looked extremely calm, and as if she bore no ill will for anyone who attacked him.
Axel cocked his head, internally being impressed at Rúnar's ability to contain his murderous tendencies.
:norway: "Hmph. If all Icelanders threw like too, the Silent World would already be cleansed." The accent seemed to have made a return. :norway: "Ylva. Off."
Immediately the she-wolf stopped growling.
Anne listened silently as Runar and Axel talked something that was outside of her understanding. The situation seemed to be calm though, so she let her attention drift away.
Not many were really doing any of her orders to go asleep, but at least they were doing something else. The silence fell over them and Anne crossed her arms.
She looked over them and tried to assess the situation. Runar was already moving and putting the dishes away, so he wasn't outwardly immediate yet. Sanni would know better how to treat him anyway.
Even Anne knew about taking care of bleeding wounds though. She walked to the medical cabinet inside the tank and got back with some sort of a first-aid kit.
The kit clanked against her leg as she walked with it to Axel.
:denmark: "Here", she said and put the kit on ground. The woman opened it and started to look for somewhat useful things.
:denmark: "Sanni can check your condition later when she isn't busy. First-aid is something everyone can do though."
She put out few items like cleaning alcohol.
Anne listened silently as Runar and Axel talked something that was outside of her understanding. The situation seemed to be calm though, so she let her attention drift away.
Not many were really doing any of her orders to go asleep, but at least they were doing something else. The silence fell over them and Anne crossed her arms.
She looked over them and tried to assess the situation. Runar was already moving and putting the dishes away, so he wasn't outwardly immediate yet. Sanni would know better how to treat him anyway.
Even Anne knew about taking care of bleeding wounds though. She walked to the medical cabinet inside the tank and got back with some sort of a first-aid kit.
The kit clanked against her leg as she walked with it to Axel.
:denmark: "Here", she said and put the kit on ground. The woman opened it and started to look for somewhat useful things.
:denmark: "Sanni can check your condition later when she isn't busy. First-aid is something everyone can do though."
She put out few items like cleaning alcohol.
Sanni was not busy, but had been dozing off in the corner where she was sitting with Elin. She had woken with Elin's shouts but was too disoriented to realize she was needed. Seeing Anne treating Axel, Sanni jumped to her feet too late and ran to Anne. :norway: "I'm sorry! I feel asleep. I'm very sorry. Should I double check him? Or check Rúnar?"
Axel treated the injury silently.
Once this was done, he got into the tank, and vanished into the cargo area. Judging from the noises, he had chosen to sleep there.
Rúnar calmingly raised his hand to imply he was quite alright. He looked slightly messed up physically, but he seemed completely undisturbed, and moved normally as he was cleaning up.
Axel treated the injury silently.
Once this was done, he got into the tank, and vanished into the cargo area. Judging from the noises, he had chosen to sleep there.
Feeling a bit better and munching on her crackers, she wandered over to Anne. ":sweden: Hey, Anne. I'm gonna go to sleep soon, but you might want to know that Axel is asleep in the cargo room," she stuffed a few more crackers in her face, "Should we do something about that or... ?"
Anne watched Axel treating his injury with a keen eye. When he was done, she let her attention slip and put all the unused equipment back to the first-aid kit. She glanced around to see Sanni talk with Runar - good, she took care of him then.
Anne focused on her breathing. She closed her eyes and didn't move from her place.
Anne twitched and opened immediately her eyes. She stood up and turned to Elin as she listened her concern. After it she sighed and pressed her temples.
:sweden: "Jävlar, Axel! Hon är omöjligt och-"
She inhaled deeply again and let her hand fall from her temples. It's not time to curse when things were already tense enough before.
Anne looked at Elin and shook her head finally.
:sweden: "Let him sleep there then if he wants so badly to sulk", she said with frustrated voice.
:sweden: "I will talk tomorrow with him."
She looked Elin for a lingering moment and almost opened her mouth to say something. Nothing came out though and Anne was quiet again.
:sweden: "Could you explain to me what really happened? I know that Axel pressed the buttons and nothing happened, but everything after that is beyond me", she asked now with a calmer voice and crossed her arms.
[Elin having a mental breakdown.]
Elin got more watery-eyed as her recount of events went on, but she sniffled a bit and wiped her eyes then noticed Anne again, ":sweden: Have you eaten anything yet tonight? You can have some of my food if you want, or I could go get you more?"
Sanni grimaced and walked purposefully over to him. :iceland: "At least let me clean you up. Or do it yourself."
Elin being Kyösti
Anne listened the story with keen ear. It was all just misunderstandings after another and it all led to this situation. She felt anger bubbling up, but she tried to hold it down when Elin got into a clear panick.
She looked at Elin quietly and patted her on the shoulder. Anne gave a small smile to her and tried to calm her breathing.
:sweden: "Elin, I wouldn't hate any of you."
She rubbed with a firm take her shoulder and looked firmly at her.
:sweden: "It was a misunderstanding from the start. Everybody in that situation made mistakes, even me. Don't beat yourself over it too much, just remember for the next time."
Anne patted few times her shoulder and then let her hand fall down.
She shook her head and kept her smile.
:sweden: "I will stay on watch and make something for myself later. Get some rest, we all need it."
The stranger's words and the ones Axel had translated were on her mind still on top of this all and Anne felt restless.
Elin put her hand on her shoulder, giving a faint smile, ":sweden: Yeah... okay- um thanks. Yeah, thank you."
She walked to her bunk, feeling just a bit better, and did her best to fall asleep.
:iceland: "I assure you I am quite alright. I will clean up before I go to bed" he said. He didn't look like he was faking being fine. He was fine. He was just lightly shaken and messed up. One of those is easy to fix, and neither really required assistance.
Sanni narrowed her eyes at Rúnar, but before she could argue further he had walked off. Gods. She figured it wasn't worth going after him and turned to Anne. :iceland: "I--Rúnar seems to be doing all right. Could I go to bed?"
Anne blinked few times when she heard an Icelandic answer to her. She smiled with a little empty look and froze for few moments.
:iceland: "Nai Icelanda", she said.
With his black hair freely flowing down his back, Rúnar stepped on the hexagonal stones on the ground. With the loud waterfall behind him, and the black stone formations below his feet, it truly felt like he was home again. And in a way, he was. Comfortable white and blue Icelandic mage robes, covered in runes, also made him feel better.
He could hear the music coming from somewhere. A small bird landed on his shoulder as he walked out of his haven onto the water. Curious, he started walking towards the source.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/573882030039760906/614751572773175307/19086536963_fe1a02ea19_h.png)
As Runar made his way towards the music and Jack's Haven the music slowly became more and more distinct. He had changed the time from a more somber tone to something more upbeat.
It finally becomes clear that Jack is actually singing along to the tune as well,
"Last thoughts of a life by candlelight,
Halfway, between the black and gray
It's no place for a life to fade away,"
His voice and violin echoed across the bogs and soft earth separating the Haven's and the group of silvery ghosts at the edge of Jack's haven continued to sway and twist in time to the song.
Hmm...
His magic was certainly very interesting.
Rúnar really wanted to ask him some questions, but he'd feel somewhat awkward if he just waltzed in during the concert and started interrogating... The guy clearly wanted some peace. He didn't want to bother, now that he made sure the origin of the music wasn't dangerous.
But what if they need to talk later...? With his broken Norwegian or Axel's translations...
He decided to wait for a few more moments, standing outside the stranger's place. If Jack spots him and doesn't try to talk to him, he'll leave. That sounded reasonable enough.
Jack continued his music for some time before finishing up the concert.
After a few moments the silvery outlines of the ghosts faded off into the ether.
He glanced around and noticed Runar there, and just stood there for a bit and fidgeted a little with his violin, not sure what to do.
...oh gods. We're the same.
After just looking at his fidgeting for a moment, Rúnar was certain this man would never start a conversation with anyone.
So this time, he had to act. Otherwise, it would just be even more ridiculously awkward.
"Good evening" he greeted.
Jack nods silently, "..... You're not here to hit me with pots and pans too right?"
"Nnnnnnnnnnnnno. No. I do not usually do that. No" he said. "I overreacted to Axel's actions and I deeply regret that. I have apologized to him" he informed him. "I have enjoyed your concert. You are a very good violinist" he said, trying to change the subject.
Jack nods quietly. "Thanks.."
Jack tries to come up with something to talk about, and glances about for a bit before seizing on something, "your wards, why do you only use a greatward and no wardnet?"
"Ah, yes." The reason he came. "We need to talk. I do not understand a single thing you are saying. Are wards the runes that I drew? What is a wardnet? What dangers will await us when we head to the south?"
Jack arched an eyebrow, ".... Yes... But no. Not quite..."
He sighed and motioned for Runar to enter his haven and began drawing in the dirt using his violin bow. The first thing he drew was basically the wardings that Runar had painted onto the tank.
"So, a greatward, it more or less acts as your basic protection and pushes most things away. Most towns have a large one build into the town square using paving stones in the correct pattern.... A wardnet... "
He began pulling wooden plates from his pockets and setting them around the large time,
"Does that and pushes off the dark creatures that can still think, like hags, malevolent ghosts and the occasional still thinking kelpie... Most travelers just use a wardnet... It's basically the same magic, it's just when you make the ward plates when making it you also mix in a corresponding herb in the paint and then flow your magic through it while you write it."
He glanced at Runar to make sure he was still following what he had said.
Rúnar silently observed as he talked, following him into the haven.
"I see" he said. "We use something relatively similar, I suppose. We carve runes into fences. Usually, what you call a greatward is more than enough to keep evil beings away from the group. Why would a wardnet be a necessity? Why is it a better alternative?" he asked. "...and I would also like to know what kelpies and hags are. It appears we use different words for same creatures..."
Jack considered the question for a bit, "Like I said, a greatward only pushes fiends away, the ones that cant think and it also only reaches so far enough... the wardnet goes around that and creates.. well a net of magic around the greatward and act like a...."
He trailed off thinking of the proper word, "...the glass thing that magnifies pictures... it makes the power bigger, and the herbs in the wards on the plates are what push the smarter ones away."
He waited for any followup questions before giving a quick rundown of the infected creatures of the scottish highlands, "Fiends are what we call most animals that are infected and can spread the infection, kelpies are people and animals that have been infected and got changed by it into monsters... hags are.... they're magi that tapped into the dark magics that the the kelpies create... I don't hear the songs of any of them near here though.... you can hear it on the weave of magic...well I can... and in the dream if any are around.... anyway kelpies and hags are usually smarter than fiends and can throw things, and use tools to poke through the magic of the greatward to get at people, the wardnet pushes the effect far enough out that they can't get in."
Jack deigned to not mention that hags can just walk through the magic of a greatward, and that's why a wardnet have nightshade and ground houndstoungue in their ink
"Let us see... That means fiends are... beasts. Kelpies are beasts and trolls. And hags are basically the Finnish kade" he said. "I will assume at least some of these are spirits, but it got lost in translation..." Rúnar mumbled. "Very well. I can guarantee you that all of the things you counted so far, with possible exceptions being hags, can be easily stopped by my runes. Some experiments might be necessary with the spirits, but I do not think a wardnet would be necessary. But, if it would put your mind at ease, I will attempt to create one tomorrow night, after my group stops to rest. I am assuming you will not go with us any further south?"
Jack shrugged and decided not to mention he had mail that he would be taking south of here. "Dunno what a...you called it a kade... is...... what is it? sounds ominous?... mind if I play some? A couple ashrays are back."
He motioned to the edge of the haven where a set of silvery ghosts had formed up at the waters edge and were fidgeting. Unlike the normally black shadowy spectres of the silent world, these ghosts seemed to retain at least some of their humanity, vauge features and the implication of clothing. A faint semblance of who they once were.
"I am not completely certain what kade are. I heard of them, I have never seen one, and a lot of it probably got lost in the translation. We do not have them in the areas where I served, and what I heard from the Finns was... very poor Swedish, mostly. Evil mages, I assume. I cannot tell you much else" he said. He gave him a nod. "Do not mind me. Go ahead."
Jack shrugged and slowly drew his bow across his violin starting up another song, it sounded quit somber, and for a time, he didn't actually sing to the tune, though the two ashrays slowly waltzed to Jack's rendition of the song.
"To ride the storm, to an empire of the clouds, To ride the storm, they climbed aboard their silver ghost..."
Anne blinked few times when she stared a fire that smoldered quietly its orange glow. She had a wool blanket wrapped her shoulders and a stick in her hands. The stick poked the fire few times and she listened the quietness with blank eyes. Few wrinkles appeared in the glow under her eyes. Anne rubbed her face few times.
Her slightly rigid pose was a clear sign that she wasn't in ease.
Sanni finally made it off to bed, curled in the corner of her bunk.
She opened her eyes in a forest. Darkly wooded, tall trees rising around her as far as she could see. Shafts of golden light threaded through the branches from somewhere high above and traced shifting patterns on the mossy ground. Sanni uncurled herself and sat ponderously for a moment on the banks of the quiet river she knew so well.
Rúnar wondered if that was his cue to leave. Jack clearly preferred ghosts, rather than his company. And Rúnar, while he liked the music, had a very distinct feeling it wasn't for him.
So he politely stayed until the song finished, gave Jack a nod, and moved on.
Slowly, Sanni became aware of the sound of music wafting through the trees, thin and mournful. That was peculiar--it had definitely never happened before. She stood up slowly and looked around for the source of the sound, but it seemed not to have one. She started walking through the trees at random, following the river.
Elin rolled over in bed, thoughts bouncing around in her head to no end. She closed her eyes, opened then, pulled her blanket up to her chin, took off her blanket, rolled over, closed her eyes, opened them, and nothing worked. It was no use trying to fall asleep, she was exhausted still, but she couldn't rest. She sat up in bed and put her jacket back on. She was going to head out to the fire and try to relax, but noticed Anne by the fire. She rushed back to her bunk and pulled some spare snacks out of her pillowcase.
Elin made her way over to the fire and sat next to Anne, " :sweden: Hey," she handed over the snacks, "I won't bother you, I just.. couldn't sleep."
Jacks singing at some point would probably have become audible as Sanni approached his haven,
'Said the coxswain, “Sir, she’s heavy, she’ll never make this flight“
Said the captain, “Damn the cargo, we’ll be on our way tonight“
Groundlings cheered in wonder, As she backed off from the mast
Baptizing them her water from the ballast fore and aft...
Now she slips into our past...'
His voice trailed off as the song shifted into one of the longer sections of the song that sinply had no verses, though he continued to play.
As the two ashrays continued to sway in time to the music Jack quickly spoke up, "......so where is home for you people?.... Normandy?... Norway?...I'm still more than a little lost as to the geography?"Spoiler: ooc show
Anne turned around immediately when she heard a noise. The cogs in her brain were moving and there was this slight sense of panic of what it might be. However, she didn't expect it to be Elin with dried rye bread badges.
She smiled to Elin and nodded.
:sweden: "Try to get some sleep later then", she said and took the snacks. Anne stared again the embers of a fire and tightened the blanket around her. All the words were lost for some reason and she couldn't even come up with a small-talk topic.
She rubbed her eyes.
:sweden: "Was everyone else fine?" Anne finally asked.
Anne turned around immediately when she heard a noise. The cogs in her brain were moving and there was this slight sense of panic of what it might be. However, she didn't expect it to be Elin with dried rye bread badges.
She smiled to Elin and nodded.
:sweden: "Try to get some sleep later then", she said and took the snacks. Anne stared again the embers of a fire and tightened the blanket around her. All the words were lost for some reason and she couldn't even come up with a small-talk topic.
She rubbed her eyes.
:sweden: "Was everyone else fine?" Anne finally asked.
Ylva approached Anne, and laid her head on the woman's lap.
Elin nodded, ":sweden: For the most part yeah. I guess Axel might be a little off, he was sleeping in the cargo area after all, but I'm not sure what's normal for him yet," she was quiet for a moment, "It was kinda weird how fine Runar was. I mean I punched him in the face, and Axel held a knife to his throat and he just- didn't care. He didn't seem to at least. He apologized and all but... I don't know. I'm probably just being crazy."
Anne moved slightly and stared the dog in silence. After a moment being frozen she let the dog's head be on her lap. Its head was warm. Anne rubbed the dog gently and almost sighed.
She looked at Elin and listened her rambling with attentive look. Finally Anne looked at Elin and shook her head.
:sweden: "No, no you aren't", she said finally and looked Elin into her eyes.
"Both of them are acting weirdly - or at least in a way that might be dangerous in future. I will talk with them tomorrow, don't worry."
She didn't look too happy about the thought and Anne looked like she had shrunk when her shoulders hunched. Small smile was still on her face.
"I know I need to talk with you too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not scolding you"
"Just..."
Anne's voice trailed off. She stared Elin with a thoughtful look and didn't get words out of her mouth for some time.
"Are you fine? You panicked there", she asked finally.
"From what I remember of my geography lessons, Normandy is far to the south from here, on the European mainland" he replied. "Our expedition left Norway yesterday. Norway is a Scandinavian country, north-east from here. I myself come from Iceland, which is an island to the north-west. I do not believe we currently possess maps with scales so small, but I could attempt to sketch one."
Elin looked back into Anne's eyes and something softened inside her. She sighed, ":sweden: I- I mean I guess so... I'm just- I'm not really sure. I've just been like this for a little while now so it's gotten hard to tell. Most of the time I'm alright it's only when something goes wrong when I'm not alright," she inhaled deeply and scratched at her arm, "I don't usually uhm- go off like that. I was just really worried someone was gonna get really hurt and I didn't know what was going on. We can't have that happen when our mission just started."
Elin looked back into Anne's eyes, ":sweden: I'm just worried things are gonna go horribly wrong again, I was trying to get away from that... Things going wrong I mean."
Elin's face softened into a look of slight but genuine concern, ":sweden: But what about you? Are you alright?"
Jacks singing at some point would probably have become audible as Sanni approached his haven,
'Said the coxswain, “Sir, she’s heavy, she’ll never make this flight“
Said the captain, “Damn the cargo, we’ll be on our way tonight“
Groundlings cheered in wonder, As she backed off from the mast
Baptizing them her water from the ballast fore and aft...
Now she slips into our past...'
His voice trailed off as the song shifted into one of the longer sections of the song that sinply had no verses, though he continued to play.
As the two ashrays continued to sway in time to the music Jack quickly spoke up, "......so where is home for you people?.... Normandy?... Norway?...I'm still more than a little lost as to the geography?"Spoiler: ooc show
A mist surrounding the dreamworld's waters started to ease a little. Just then an island could be seen. It's figure was unclear but a clear river fell into the waters.
Anne looked at Elin and listened. She pat the dog again. She was quiet for a moment and opened her mouth few times to start speaking.
:sweden: "It's something you have to solve yourself with time. But remember that you aren't leading anything here", she said finally and gave a pat to Elin's shoulder.
"Amelia and I do that responsibility. Please, nobody hates you - it was just a misunderstanding."
She gave Elin an encouraging look. Her eyes told that she fully believed in her own words.
Anne looked confused of Elin's question.
:sweden: "Me?" Anne asked but smiled widely after it.
"I'm fine", she waved her hand in a dismissing move and took the snacks.
"Maybe we should open this package", she said and ripped it open, "Want a rye snack?"
Elin gave a small smile, ":sweden: Thanks, I promise I'll be better by tomorrow... probably."
Elin grinned, taking a rye snack, ":sweden: Sure!"
She munched quietly on her food for a moment, ":sweden: I know you used to do something with the cleansers, what brought you out here then? ... If that's not too much to ask."
Anne sighed lightly to Elin and took a rye snack with a smile. When the question came up, she munched her snack and crossed her arms under the woolen blanket.
:sweden: "It's alright, I can answer to that", she said to her but had a little thoughtful look again. Anne's smile turned to a little more awkward.
"Well, let's say my work didn't really meet my expectations anymore", she laughed but her laugh had ashamed tone.
"It's not that big of a secret, my colleagues saw that coming."
Anne looked at Elin and stretched her arms.
"They say I'm always looking for a thrill, but...", Anne started but let her voice fade away.
"I guess it isn't really about that either."
She was quiet for a moment and quickly a smile came back to her face.
"Awfully interested of me, are you?" Anne teased Elin and gave a gentle shoulder punch.
"It's okay, I stuck my nose into your private life so it's fair. I can answer to your every question."
Anne took another snack and let her blanket fall on her lap.
Elin rubbed her shoulder and smiled, ":sweden: Ah don't worry about asking about my private life, we all will have to get to know each other over this trip one way or another. Besides, it's not like my private life was ever really private."
":sweden: Has the ship getting attacked and your crew beating each other up been thrill enough for you yet?" Elin joked, nudging Anne.
Anne leaned on her hand.
:sweden: "But I'm snooping sensitive things. Some people don't like to share a lot about themselves", she said to Elin and took another snack.
Anne groaned.
:sweden: "I regret now my promise", she said to Elin with a sigh but the smile didn't leave her face.
"Enough thrill for my whole life. Might as well retreat from work after this and move to Iceland", she said with a playful tone and leaned on her hand again.
"What do you think of doing after this trip? Go back to work?"
"Do you know that area, or should I go and see whether it is dangerous?" Rúnar asked.
Jack shrugged, "If I had to hazard a guess, it's probably the haven of the local magic."
He continued his music.
"Ah, thank you. I believe I should visit them, to thank them for their hospitality" he said. He gave Jack a nod and walked out of his place and over the water.
"Excuse me?" he spoke.
Elin leaned back a bit, ":sweden: Yeah I guess, but if you were around the cleansers there's probably not anything you haven't heard already."
Elin laughed, ":sweden: You'll have to learn Icelandic first!"
Elin looked up at the sky, her expression becoming pensive, "I'm not really sure, I'll have to see once this is all set and done. It all depends how much I change, gods know I couldn't go back in this state. I'm not sure how much I'm suited for a regular life... I mean, don't tell the rest of the crew but I dropped out of school when I was, like, 10 or 11 years old. Anything I know after that I got taught by my dad at home. I dunno, maybe I'll move to Mora or Iceland and open a candle shop, that would be fun and less traumatic," she joked.
"Making candles can't be that hard, right?" she said, smiling and looking back to Anne.
Anne looked at Elin and she listened her again. She smiled with an understanding look.
:sweden: "But for that you too would need to learn Icelandic first and the art of candles", she said with teasing tone and was amused.
She poked the smolder with her stick again and breathed calmly. The rigid pose had already eased some time ago.
"I met this one person who actually makes candles and sweaters. It's really meticulous job - everything has to be on its place and perfectly to make them look good", she said and relived her memories in the time she visited Mora.
Anne was quiet for some time and then opened her mouth again.
"It's never too late to start normal life or go to school. Nobody is too old to learn", she said and hummed.
"I'm sure you would learn a thing or another from there."
"Ah, thank you. I believe I should visit them, to thank them for their hospitality" he said. He gave Jack a nod and walked out of his place and over the water.
"Excuse me?" he spoke.
Sanni gasped. She recognized that voice. "Ah--Hello?" She glanced nervously through the trees.
Rúnar spotted her and froze a bit. "I apologize. I did not wish to intrude in your haven."
Sanni’s eyes were wide, but she shook her head and a relieved smile flickered across her face. “No—don’t apologize. But how did you get here?”
"I saw your haven from Jack's haven through the fog. I assumed you are a local mage, and I planned to thank them for their hospitality" he said. "If your question refers to my ability to enter your protected area - I can enter any haven. All Icelandic mages can. I am aware how rude that is. I apologize.
“You can? Oh my gods, there is so much I don’t know. And, really, don’t apologize. It’s good to see you.”
"Ah. Thank you" he said.
“Of course. Do you...want to come sit down or something? I’m sorry. I don’t know what good manners are for inviting someone into your haven. I don’t even know if you want to be here. Sorry.” She frowned slightly at the mossy ground, as if it were somehow responsible for the necessity of navigating social interaction—albeit social interaction with a person she actually did want to get to know better—even in her sleep.
":sweden: I do speak Icelandic actually!" Elin said lightheartedly, "My dad was from Iceland, he moved to Sweden because that's where my mom was and she had an important job doing some sort of important thing. My mom wasn't around as much as my dad so me and my brothers all learned and spoke Icelandic from him."
":iceland: See, I'm speaking Icelandic right now!" Elin teased, "You have no clue what I'm saying!"
Elin didn't have to think long to come up with a response, ":sweden: I'm not sure I could go back to school, I don't do well in still and quiet places, I get... jittery. Maybe I could just work in a candle shop until I learn how candle making works," Elin's eyes lit up, "Or maybe I could be one of those people who tosses flaming torches and catches them again and stuff!"
She sighed, ":sweden: Probably not, but still, I could probably work something out that's not military. This trip is kinda like, me seeing if I really could go back or not in a way. This isn't a normal life but it's definitely not what I was doing before either. I dunno, I just kinda needed a change and quick,"
Elin took a deep breath, she didn't feel like she was going to tear up when she spoke about... needing change... anymore, at least not right now. She looked to Anne, ":sweden: If you get a normal job when we go back, what do you think you'd be doing?"
"I do not mind being here" he said. The small bird on his shoulder nodded, chirping. "However, I would still like to see if there are any local mages nearby. It would be polite to meet them if there are. And I would like to see if there are any dangers nearby. The villagers did mention something of the sort." He paused. "Would you like to come along?"
Sanni hesitated. "Can I?" she asked. "I can't leave the boundaries of my haven. At least, not that I know of. Not without permission from other mages to enter their havens."
"From my understanding, you are free to leave your haven. However, I believe you are unable to walk on water, and to enter other mages' havens without them letting you inside" he said. "I can walk on water, however. You should be able to follow if you walk on my footsteps."
"Yes. Alright. But how will I get into the havens of any local mages?" She tried to cover up her bewilderment about the phrase *walk on water,* hoping to appear at least somewhat knowlegeable.
"We politely wait until they allow us inside. If they don't, we turn back" he said.
She shrugged. Nodded. "That works. Lead the way?"
"I will" he said. He exited her haven, completely unaffected by her barrier, and stepped on water. He made a few steps, and waited for her.
Eyes wide, but with an eager smile spreading across her face, Sanni set off after him. "I wonder why Icelandic mages can pass haven barriers, but we can't," she mused, only half-expecting an answer.
"I do have a theory" he said, walking ahead. "From my understanding, what Finnish people worship are the spirits... Not gods per se, but forces of nature. Personified somewhat, but not too much, because looking at them like people would distance them from what they are supposed to be - nature. Meanwhile, our gods are flawed, have more character and live in a divine place, separate from mortals. They still represent some concepts, or occurrences found in nature... But they are far more human." He paused. "So if we say dreams are halfway between life and death, that means all mages are drawn towards death, while normal people stay safe beneath the waters. I believe this is the Finnish Bird's Path...?" He waved in the direction of the shiny stars in the sky. "And if we are drawn to death, we should be drawn to it in a manner that would represent our patrons. Your gods reside in nature. They live in the same world as you do. That is why you sink into the water. They are calling for you to return to the land of the living. My gods are, meanwhile, in Valhalla. Their call keeps me afloat. Your gods want you to return to them, so they give you means to protect yourself - your barrier. You also draw a lot of magic from yourself, unlike me. I have nothing without them. My gods offer me powerful magic, but in this state, I am quite defenseless. My haven has no protections, and if attacked, I can only pray to gods to give me magic again. As I am also able to walk through all protections as if they are not here, it means that gods offer me refuge with people like you - or that I am nothing more than a spirit fated to die and join the others."
Sanni nodded. "That...makes sense," she said quietly. "I hadn't thought about it much before. Well, I hardly know anything about Icelandic mages. I thought I learned a lot about you in school, but...seems not." She turned her attention back to the ripples in the water left by Rúnar's feet, making sure she didn't fall through. She was worried--worried that she knew too little--not just about Icelandic magery, but about everything. It was frightening to realize that their might be more gaps in her knowledge. She had much to do and she needed to be as prepared as she could.
The water streched out on all sides, glittering with the light of the stars that formed Bird's Path, and fell away into fog and darkness. It was very quiet.
"Rúnar," she said after a moment. "Did you go to school?"
"Yes. To several" he said. "If you need help with anything, you can simply ask. I will answer every question I can."
Sanni smiled widely at that. "Thank you. Not yet, but I might. Will. Probably." She trailed off, letting her gaze fix itself back on the dark water.
He nodded.
"By the way, the music comes from our new friend, Jack. It appears he is a very skilled violinist."
":sweden: I do speak Icelandic actually!" Elin said lightheartedly, "My dad was from Iceland, he moved to Sweden because that's where my mom was and she had an important job doing some sort of important thing. My mom wasn't around as much as my dad so me and my brothers all learned and spoke Icelandic from him."
":iceland: See, I'm speaking Icelandic right now!" Elin teased, "You have no clue what I'm saying!"
Elin didn't have to think long to come up with a response, ":sweden: I'm not sure I could go back to school, I don't do well in still and quiet places, I get... jittery. Maybe I could just work in a candle shop until I learn how candle making works," Elin's eyes lit up, "Or maybe I could be one of those people who tosses flaming torches and catches them again and stuff!"
She sighed, ":sweden: Probably not, but still, I could probably work something out that's not military. This trip is kinda like, me seeing if I really could go back or not in a way. This isn't a normal life but it's definitely not what I was doing before either. I dunno, I just kinda needed a change and quick."
Elin took a deep breath, she didn't feel like she was going to tear up when she spoke about... needing change... anymore, at least not right now. She looked to Anne, ":sweden: If you get a normal job when we go back, what do you think you'd be doing?"
Axel woke up, and slithered out of his extremely safe crate.
Time to see what was going on.
Axel listened quietly, not wanting to intrude.
Sanni smiled widely at that. "Thank you. Not yet, but I might. Will. Probably." She trailed off, letting her gaze fix itself back on the dark water.
Anne stared Eli and blinked with slightly surprised face. She huffed when Eli started to speak Icelandic and gave her the look.
:sweden: "Fine fine, you won this round. Just stop the Icelandic", she sighed and crossed her arms.
She listened her with a little more thoughtful look and blinked few times.
:swede: "Change of pace, huh", she said and smiled gently in a secretive way. Anne leaned on her hand and pet Ylva carefully again.
Anne smiled even more widely and looked at Elin with a teasing expression.
"Hmm, you tell me what you would think as fitting", she said and gave a grin to her.
Anne felt slightly uneasy. She looked around her and turned her head around. She tried to keep her calm look but her body got rigid again.
She looked Ylva and gave her a pat to the side.
:denmark: "Hey, can you sense anything?" she asked from the dog in a rhetorical way, if only to ease herself.
Anne smiled even more widely and looked at Elin with a teasing expression.
"Hmm, you tell me what you would think as fitting", she said and gave a grin to her.
Anne felt slightly uneasy. She looked around her and turned her head around. She tried to keep her calm look but her body got rigid again.
She looked Ylva and gave her a pat to the side.
:denmark: "Hey, can you sense anything?" she asked from the dog in a rhetorical way, if only to ease herself.
Ylva wurfed softly and licked Anne's nose.
Axel went on guard. Was there something out there?
Elin tapped her chin thoughtfully, ":sweden: Hmm, well," she grinned, "You could work in a candle shop with me,"Elin gave a playful wink.
Then she noticed Anne tense up, Elin went back to a more serious composure. ":sweden: Do you think something is out there?" she asked carefully.
Elin scanned the landscape in front of her, nothing. Then she turned to the landscape behind her, there was a figure looming back there, or at least there seemed to be.
Elin gasped, ":sweden: The hell..." she grabbed Anne's shoulder, "Is something back there or is that just my imagination?"
Sanni could see that in a distance was heavy fog that didn't seem to ease. There were few lonely islands peeking out and seemed like there was more than one. Still, they were far away.
Rúnar squinted his eyes. He began to walk a bit faster, still careful to not have Sanni fall behind and into the water.
Rúnar squinted his eyes. He began to walk a bit faster, still careful to not have Sanni fall behind and into the water.
Sanni hurried her pace to keep up with Rúnar's much longer strides, trying all the while to look ahead at the fog. She was beginning to be afraid that if she didn't fall through the water right here they would meet some unspoken danger up ahead. "Well," she thought to herself, "it can't be any worse than whatever I'm likely to encounter in the waking world, anyway."
Then she noticed Anne tense up, Elin went back to a more serious composure. ":sweden: Do you think something is out there?" she asked carefully.
Elin scanned the landscape in front of her, nothing. Then she turned to the landscape behind her, there was a figure looming back there, or at least there seemed to be.
Elin gasped, ":sweden: The hell..." she grabbed Anne's shoulder, "Is something back there or is that just my imagination?"
Axel spun around. What was sneaking up on them?
Ylva sighed, and slowly raised one paw to her muzzle.
They both walked closer to the foggy area for a time that took way longer than expected. Slowly, the water started to get more darker. Water plants grew densely around the area. The Islands were now way more bigger. With a closer look, oe of them it didn't seem to be a massive island though. The silhouette was mostly just a huge building that seemed to be made out of rocks. It stood there quietly and with a prideful but lonely air. Nothing stirred around them: rather, everything was almost abnormally quiet.
Finally they could see clearly the shores and the slightly collapsed rock building.
Rúnar stopped, observing the area carefully.
"This does not look like a normal haven of a mage. It might be wise to turn back."
Sanni shot him a glance. He knew more about this than she, but-- "I'm curious," she said. "Let's explore."
"I am mostly defenseless like this" he said. He slowly started to walk onwards to the island.
They both walked closer to the foggy area for a time that took way longer than expected. Slowly, the water started to get more darker. Water plants grew densely around the area. The Islands were now way more bigger. With a closer look, oe of them it didn't seem to be a massive island though. The silhouette was mostly just a huge building that seemed to be made out of rocks. It stood there quietly and with a prideful but lonely air. Nothing stirred around them: rather, everything was almost abnormally quiet.
Finally they could see clearly the shores and the slightly collapsed rock building.
Anne stared quietly into the way where Elin looked at. Her whole body tensed and any trace of rest had disappeared quickly. She got quietly but swiftly up around the fire.
She listened and twitched when the firewood cracked. Anne sniffed the air and pressed her lips together tightly.
:sweden: "We know you are there", she said finally with louder voice and waited for any kind of sign. Her tenseness didn't ease, but she gave a side glance to Elin. Anne's hand hovered around her knife, but she didn't take it out.
She had no idea what there might be.
Axel paused as Anne shouted. He was no stranger to living away from civilization, but Anne must be sensing something he couldn't.
Hm.
Best be silent. He needed to be ready if the thing struck.
In utter quiet, he climbed on top of the tank.
Sanni and Runar walked to the shores and onward from there. Everything was misty and didn't seem to get any clearer when both of them continued to the gate of the rock building - or that's what they supposed it was. Grass was growing wildly everywhere but after the gate there was growing flowers neatly. Grass was slightly shorter too.
In the distance, they could see a collapsed piece of the building and a hazy figure standing.
Anne listened again into the distance and felt just uneasy. She shook her head and turned around to look behind her.
There was greeting only Axel on top of the tank.
Anne's eyebrows went up and she crossed her arms. The unease didn't leave her.
:denmark: "So you can't sleep either", Anne said to him and pressed her lips tightly together.
:denmark: "...there's probably something out there. I don't feel safe enough to leave it even when it is out of the borders."
Probably something like trolls strolling through the night. She glanced at Elin.
:sweden: "So...you both get what I'm saying, right?"
"Cover your eyes" Rúnar ordered. He started walking towards the person. He moved his hair to the front, and pulled a hood over his head, partially shielding his eyes.
The figure was standing in front of an old tree and seemed to do something to its branches. It heard Runar walking towards it and turned towards him.
"Who's there?" the figure asked. The voice belonged to an older man and it echoed through the stony place.
Rúnar stopped approaching. "We are travelers from the North."
Anne listened again into the distance and felt just uneasy. She shook her head and turned around to look behind her.
There was greeting only Axel on top of the tank.
Anne's eyebrows went up and she crossed her arms. The unease didn't leave her.
:denmark: "So you can't sleep either", Anne said to him and pressed her lips tightly together.
:denmark: "...there's probably something out there. I don't feel safe enough to leave it even when it is out of the borders."
Probably something like trolls strolling through the night. She glanced at Elin.
:sweden: "So...you both get what I'm saying, right?"
Anne listened again into the distance and felt just uneasy. She shook her head and turned around to look behind her.
There was greeting only Axel on top of the tank.
Anne's eyebrows went up and she crossed her arms. The unease didn't leave her.
:denmark: "So you can't sleep either", Anne said to him and pressed her lips tightly together.
:denmark: "...there's probably something out there. I don't feel safe enough to leave it even when it is out of the borders."
Probably something like trolls strolling through the night. She glanced at Elin.
:sweden: "So...you both get what I'm saying, right?"
Axel nodded, a rifle in his hands as he scanned the horizon. :norway: "Could hunt it," he said in barely-understandable Norwegian.
There was a wild glint in Elin's eyes and a smirk on her face, ":sweden: What you're saying is we should go kill it?"
"Cover your eyes" Rúnar ordered. He started walking towards the person. He moved his hair to the front, and pulled a hood over his head, partially shielding his eyes.
The figure was standing in front of an old tree and seemed to do something to its branches. It heard Runar walking towards it and turned towards him.
"Who's there?" the figure asked. The voice belonged to an older man and it echoed through the stony place.
Rúnar stopped approaching. "We are travelers from the North."
"We? I thought there was just a one lad."
The figure approached slowly Runar and Sanni. It dusted its clothing from something and, through the mist, its figure became clearer.
It was a man who was clearly very old and stood with shaking hands and hunched back. He had gardening equipment on his hands. His head had started to bald but it still had slightly curly, gray-brown hair. The roughly textured beard had gray streaks on it and his face had many scars and wrinkles.
He took few steps closer with his muddy pair of boots.
"Well well, from the North? Many people don't come to visit the old me from there", he said and turned to a new bush.
"I remember when good ol' Lilith moved to the viking's land. Told here there was cold and no flowers like my benches had but she didn't take a word. A word, can you believe that!"
"We? I thought there was just a one lad."
The figure approached slowly Runar and Sanni. It dusted its clothing from something and, through the mist, its figure became clearer.
It was a man who was clearly very old and stood with shaking hands and hunched back. He had gardening equipment on his hands. His head had started to bald but it still had slightly curly, gray-brown hair. The roughly textured beard had gray streaks on it and his face had many scars and wrinkles.
He took few steps closer with his muddy pair of boots.
"Well well, from the North? Many people don't come to visit the old me from there", he said and turned to a new bush.
"I remember when good ol' Lilith moved to the viking's land. Told here there was cold and no flowers like my benches had but she didn't take a word. A word, can you believe that!"
Anne looked both of them and nodded, snapping her fingers.
:sweden: "Exactly, both of you."
She looked back at the tank with slightly unnerved look. Anne had no idea if Amelia approved this unofficial mission of theirs. Then on the other hand, Anne was the second leader and could probably make decisions.
Such thing felt like huge burden and responsibility just on her and that's what made her nervous.
However...
:sweden: "It's night here, so it isn't safe to go too far away. Trolls and beasts are moving everywhere - so this is a sneak mission", she told both of them very slowly and clearly.
:sweden: "Our only mission is to get rid of anything that is out there and close - or at least make sure it isn't dangering us. Maybe we could get the village on our side with that."
Sweat drops on her forehead told though that this was such a risky move.
Anne looked both of them and nodded, snapping her fingers.
:sweden: "Exactly, both of you."
She looked back at the tank with slightly unnerved look. Anne had no idea if Amelia approved this unofficial mission of theirs. Then on the other hand, Anne was the second leader and could probably make decisions.
Such thing felt like huge burden and responsibility just on her and that's what made her nervous.
However...
:sweden: "It's night here, so it isn't safe to go too far away. Trolls and beasts are moving everywhere - so this is a sneak mission", she told both of them very slowly and clearly.
:sweden: "Our only mission is to get rid of anything that is out there and close - or at least make sure it isn't dangering us. Maybe we could get the village on our side with that."
Sweat drops on her forehead told though that this was such a risky move.
Axel nodded, and leapt down from the tank soundlessly, moving in utter silence. Ylva got up from her resting position and sat at his footsteps as they both waited for Elin.
Not much later, Elin hopped out of the tank, flamethrower in hand and dagger sheathed at her side, ready to hunt some trolls. She walked up to Axel and Anne, ":sweden: I'm ready to go now, where do you guys think we should head first?"
Rúnar gave him a shrug. "We traveled here by the sea. I thought it would be polite to greet the mages of the village that was so hospitable to us. We are spending the night here."
By the dark circles under her eyes you tell that she was tired, but by the wild grin on Elin's face you could see that she wasn't too tired for some troll hunting. ":sweden: Rad! I'll grab my flame thrower, and get right on that."
She gave Anne a friendly punch on the arm and a smile, then ran off to the tank to grab her stuff.
Not much later, Elin hopped out of the tank, flamethrower in hand and dagger sheathed at her side, ready to hunt some trolls. She walked up to Axel and Anne, ":sweden: I'm ready to go now, where do you guys think we should head first?"
Axel looked Elin over, nodded wordlessly, and started walking off the street in complete and total silence, Ylva following like a shadow.
The man raised his eyebrows and looked lost there for a moment. Her let out a hearty laugh and pointed with his small gardening shovel at Runar and Sanni.
"Mage? Well that's not a word I've heard for some time."
He took a plastic watering can and watered some flowers. The mist got heavier but it didn't seem to damp his mood.
"I would consider myself a one, too. A world that is about sterile hospitals sometimes forgets about the 'touch of nature', don't you think?"
He walked towards them slowly and with shaking hands and unsteady legs.
"Want a cup of coffee? I don't get a lot of visitors - actually nobody visits here."
The man continued his walk to a doorway and just didn't stop talking.
"Before this I thought this all was just some limbo. The end of the world happened after all."
The man raised his eyebrows and looked lost there for a moment. Her let out a hearty laugh and pointed with his small gardening shovel at Runar and Sanni.
"Mage? Well that's not a word I've heard for some time."
He took a plastic watering can and watered some flowers. The mist got heavier but it didn't seem to damp his mood.
"I would consider myself a one, too. A world that is about sterile hospitals sometimes forgets about the 'touch of nature', don't you think?"
He walked towards them slowly and with shaking hands and unsteady legs.
"Want a cup of coffee? I don't get a lot of visitors - actually nobody visits here."
The man continued his walk to a doorway and just didn't stop talking.
"Before this I thought this all was just some limbo. The end of the world happened after all."
"Flamethrower-!"
Anne rubbed her arm and let out a small, strangled sigh. This was a bad idea, she already regretted this with these maniacs. The unease didn't still ease though and it just grew her paranoia.
However, she hoped for stealth mission.
Anne jogged ahead of Axel and Elin. She turned to face them and slowed slightly her jogging pace.
:sweden: "I sensed something out there - which shouldn't be a surprise at night. However, it feels too close, if you get what I mean."
They walked on the streets of the small, abandoned town. Rusted cars were laying around, everything was taken by nature and anything wooden had crumbled down already.
Unknown signs had fell apart. Anne's eyes darted everywhere - there were so many places to hide and it was a night.
When the campfire's light faded, Anne took her torch and was ready to lit it up.
:sweden: "What I got, the villagers guard this city. Do they guard all the time though? Maybe they just take care of the village center all the time."
She coughed.
:sweden: "We shouldn't split up for the sake of safety, but we should take one block at a time and go through it. How that sounds?"
Anne tried to follow her instincts. She turned her torch on and turned around the corner, walking towards the frontier of the village.
Axel considered for a long moment as he followed Anne, then stabbed the air directly behind him.
"...I apologize, I did not realize you were a lost soul. Do you require assistance to move on?" he asked. He now definitely had a hood cover his eyes. And was standing in front of Sanni. Just in case.
"...I apologize, I did not realize you were a lost soul. Do you require assistance to move on?" he asked. He now definitely had a hood cover his eyes. And was standing in front of Sanni. Just in case.
A quiet shuffling and snuffling draws the attention of Anne and Axel, out of the darkness looms a thing.
Well looms is an overstatement, it's a rather small creature, a bit smaller than the average working dog. It has gray speckled fire with a black and white striped and a short stubby tail. It sniffs in their general direction then resumes snuffling at the ground and digging into the soft dirt to get at something buried there.
It certainly looks healthy.
Axel considered the badger.
:norway: "These things are delicious, you know. Pain in the ass to catch, but delicious."
Ylva looked at the badger, and tilted her head sideways, tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted.
The badger stops it's digging and snuffs at Axel and Ylva before resuming it's digging.
A snuffing noise from the dark beyond anyone's sight answers the badger. It seems there's more than one.
From ylva's perspective, the second badger sounds far larger than the young badger digging in... This is definitely someone's garden. It's hard to tell from the low light to the humans, but there is definitely the scent of a person's blood sweat and tears that has gone into the worked earth and plants growing here
Ylva barked loudly.
Axel nodded, and threw his harpoon at the badger.
Ylva's barking attracted the attention of the badger and it saw the harpoon coming. It lazily rolled out of the way and disappeared into the night with a light clinking of metal on metal as it moved away.
Axel frowned, and yanked on the rope tied to his wrist, pulling the harpoon back to him. He drew his knife with the other hand. "Ylva, hunt," he ordered, before following the wolf as it charged after the badger.
Jack lightly dropped off the eaves and landed in the garden and darted past Anne, Axel and Ylva before spinning on his heel and planting himself between them and the retreating Badgers. He speaks in an angry whisper.
":scotland: what the hell are you doing?!"
:scotland: "Badger hunting," Axel replied in a bored tone.
Jack stared at Axel for a solid three or four seconds a mixed bag of confusion, anger and a little tinge of fear roiling over his face before he managed to at least outwardly lock that down into an icy stare before he let out a quiet whisper, though he did grow louder and more animated the longer he spoke.
":scotland: what kind of ass backwards country where you comin' from th' yet firs instin' on seeing a living animal, much less some wit' a colla' and jangly bits signifyin' 's someone's pet o' familliar, tha' yer firs' instint... Is ta trow a damn harpoon at it!
Jack didn't seem to be calming down and actually was getting a little louder in speaking, ":scotland: 's still duckin' rude even if you didn't see nor hea' the collars, this is a person's yard next to a town, use your 'ead, what'd ye 'ave done 'ad you hit em and then found out it was someone's animal then?"
:scotland: "Apologized profusely for the error, offered restitution, and avoided conflict," Axel said, speaking in unusually clipped tones. "Or do you think I would stab them as well?"
":scotland: Yes. Yee've given me no reasons not to regret interactin' with the whole lot of yeh' so far! Yoah' magi een't got no concept o' wardnets an wandered off into that mists oh' that dream to poke a' gods know whot' yah knowin'ly brout folk that can'nnae even breath the air in som' places, and yah don' have the decency tah not attack stuff that could be pets oar livestock."
Jack had, over the course of his tirade grown hoarse from talking so much and had devolved into harder accented words and phrases making his speech far harder to understand before he finally threw his hands up and turned to stalk off into the night.
The gate guards had probably heard some of it before he strained his voice enough for it to collapse back into a hoarse whisper.
Anne had tensed when she had heard some shuffling, but it turned out only to be badger. She watched from the sidelines with a tense look when Axel and Ylva tried to hunt it down without success.
Her heart did a leap though when the very, very tall companion of them got out of nowhere.
:denmark: "Dear-", she hissed quietly and tried to keep herself composed. It was a little hard when Axel and Jack got into a heated argument though in this unknown language. Anne crossed her arms and waited on the sidelines patiently until the tall man disappeared into the dark of the night.
As much as she didn't like the man to go on his own, it was his area and he knew about it. However, Axel was another story.
Anne walked quickly after him and showed around with her torch.
:sweden: "What was that?" she asked from him and stared Axel.
Axel growls something in heavily accented Swedish that sounds highly derogatory towards the tall man.
The man stood at the door and listened the adamant words of Runar. His wrinkly face scrunched up and he looked with annoyance at him.
"God no, I'm not. Sometimes I just feel like going on and off - little lucid if you get it."
He shrugged and stretched his arms. He had still a stern look on his eyes.
"There are just some questions I want to ask from you two. Miss there looks like she wants to have a cup of coffee at least."
The man pointed gently at Sanni and smiled to her.
Sanni's recklessness faded at being addressed so directly, and she glanced up at Rúnar for confirmation. :iceland: "Shall we? It's worth exploring. I think."[/u]
Axel growls something in heavily accented Swedish that sounds highly derogatory towards the tall man.
Elin had zoned out. She was staring blankly at the ember's of the fire for a good bit, then she heard voices. Elin ran over to where the voices were coming from, standing there was Anne, Axel, Jack, and a weird small dog. ":sweden: Ah, sorry I didn't catch up with you guys! I was... busy."
She looked to Jack, ":sweden: What's new guy doing here?"
Then glared confusedly down to the strange dog, ":sweden: ...and what's up with this weird large rat?"
Sanni's recklessness faded at being addressed so directly, and she glanced up at Rúnar for confirmation. :iceland: "Shall we? It's worth exploring. I think."[/u]
"It does not appear he is dangerous. But I am mostly defenseless like this, so please, at the very least refrain from looking directly into his eyes" Rúnar cautiously said.
Anne sighed and she really didn't have energy for this. The woman turned around to look the trails of tall man, but he had disappeared already a long time ago.
All she could do was to deduce something out of this. It was clear that they shouldn't wander here and look for the beasts that might be lurking. Anne really needed to talk about this tomorrow with the whole crew and possibly with the locals.
Oh good grace, she really needed to learn this language. She glanced at Axel.
:sweden: "You need to teach me their language", Anne said with a determined look that didn't falter, but her expression was tired.
Axel nodded. :sweden: "Tomorrow," he said flatly.
Axel was already awake, making breakfast for everyone with the aid of a small campfire and some of the supplies. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing a mixture of old scars and ancient burns dotting his forearms - nothing out of the ordinary for a veteran troll hunter or Cleanser, but still an alarming number of injuries.
Ylva attacked a large thigh bone happily - where she'd gotten it, nobody knew, but she seemed to be having fun with the femur.
Rúnar took a moment to consider the bone. It wasn't fresh, so the wolf didn't kill anyone during the night. It didn't have the signs of the Illness, either. So... grave robbing? Desecration?
...maybe best he doesn't involve himself. Not after yesterday.
Axel gave Rúnar a slight nod, and handed him a plateful of food. The big man's expression was unreadable.
:iceland: "Ah, thank you" Rúnar said, accepting it. "And good morning. Are you feeling well?" he asked as he sat down.
Axel cocked his head, then nodded. "Been better, but had worse," he grunted in thickly accented Icelandic.
:iceland: "That is good, I would say. If you have had no signs of a concussion yet, you will likely be well" he said. "Still, it might be wise to ask Sanni for a second opinion."
Rúnar's face had a bruise from Elin's punch, but it looked as if it was several days old.
Axel nodded. :iceland: "Water under bridge?" he offered.
:iceland: "In my book, it already was" he said, offering him a hand to shake.
After a moment's hesitation, Axel shook Rúnar's hand.
A large knife appeared in the big man's other hand. He offered it to Rúnar, hilt-first.
ಠ_ಠ
:iceland: "I do not think I require this knife" he said, very stiff.
:iceland: "It's a gift," Axel said.
[spoilers=ooc] THREAD NECROMANCY POWERS ACTIVATE![/spoilers]
After exchanging pleasantries with the guard for a bit more Jack eventually returned near the cooking fire and stared at the food silently.