Snowblind

Log Info

• Title: Snowblind
• Emitter: Tawyse
• Characters: Tawyse, Skielstregar
• Place: The Wilderness
• Time: December 15th, 2021
• Summary: Out on a snowy, sleeting day, Skielstregar is patrolling the wood trails, ensuring they were clear from felled trees, as well as keeping an eye out for anyone trapped just in case. Tawyse has similar plans, though spots Skiel wandering about. She hides, pelting him with snowballs before revealing herself. They converse, him helping clear out another log in the way that would take the small gnomish woman far too log to clear it herself. As reward, Taw offers Skiel rabbit stew, which he accepts and follows back to her camp. They converse, Skiel discovering how dense he is, as well as conversing about his affliction. Taw offers to help reach out some folks, and Skiel accepts. They go hunting for dinner.

The sleet and freezing rain makes for a miserable day in the woods, for most.

The Gnome, cloaked decently against the weather, works carefully along a small trail. Dead brush is moved off the trail, and she spends a good portion of an hour clearing a fallen tree that lay across the path. A few smaller trails that branch off of the main one are carefully concealed, with footprints in the snow obscured as best she can manage.

There is a lumbering figure in the rain and sleet. Silhouette massive. Weapons sticking out from over their back and one in hand. Unperturbed, they wade through the snow with heavy stomps on the trail.

The figure, armored from shoulder to tail, slows at the part of the tree that blocks the path. They take a moment to lean down, not spotting the footprints, and lift the trunk with a grunt as they slowly move the rest of it aside. They werent dressed for the weather, aside from a hood over their head to block the rain from getting in their eyes.

As the large, armored figure pauses, a bit further down the trail, a lone snowball arcs in from behind.

PLAFF!

The figure slowly lowers the log with a grunt, and he wipes his hand off on his cloak, starting to resume his-

>PLAFF!<

The figure staggers some, then quickly turns, confusion written on his scaled face. "... was... is... ssssomeone... there?" he asks aloud, then looks up at a tree. His face relaxes, then he chuckles, patting the trunk of it. "My apologiesss, thisss one didn't mean to disssturb you."

A second snowball arcs in from a different direction, though still from the rear quarter. This time, it's a solid hit on the Sith's behind.

"Yesss, all isss well a- DRAGONFATHER'S TALONS!" Skiel yelps, pivoting around and pulling up a shield off his belt. He squints through the sleet. Moving his polearm to the frog on his back, he slowly leans down, scooping up a large amount of snow into his hand.

GAME: Tawyse rolls stealth: (20)+6: 26
GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (16)+7: 23

Another snowball arcs in, this time spotted as it nears Skiel. It splatters against his shield, snowy chunks and water rolling down its front.

The man just barely manages to catch where it comes from, him flinching as snow scatters across his face. He chucks his snowball in the direction it came from. Skiel's snow balls were... perhaps a hearty size that would knock down any small folk were it to connect.

"Caw caw caw.", says a middling-sized crow as it lands on a treebranch near Skiel. It preens its feathers for a few moments, before it leaps into the air, flapping a few times, and landing upon Skielstregar's shoulder. It taps at the metal of his armor.

Skiel looks up at the crow, then freezes as it lands on him. "... ah... thisss one... wouldn't do that.." he quietly says to the bird, holding out his hand to see if it would jump onto it. "Don't want your feet to ssstick..."

Still anxious about being pelted out of no where again.

The crow eyes the hand a moment, and carefully steps into the hand. It caws a few more times, and begins preening once more. It regards the man for a few long moments, before it takes to the air once more, landing behind Skiel.

Moments later, Tawyse stands in its place. "Hah, so that's three times I got you."

Skiel lightly sighs in relief as the bird saves its poor feetsies from being stuck. And watches it fly off-

Wait. Blink blink.

"Guh!" he yelps once more, taking a step back out of surprise. "A-Ah.. Sssshaman Tawyse...! P... Peace on your nessst..." he murmurs, rubbing his neck. "Wasss all that you, earlier?"

Tawyse giggles lightly at his slight embarrassment. "Peace on your nest, Warrior Skielstregar. And please, call me Tawyse, or Taw for short." She offers a light bow. "Indeed, I was the one tossing snowballs at your bum."

Skiel bows his head some in return. "Very well, Taw. You may addressss thisss one as Ssskiel, if it is easssier."

He blinks, then rubs the side of his neck again, this time on an empty patch where scales should be. "... a-ah. Your aim is impeccible. Thisss one is glad they did not hit you with theirsss. Otherwissse..." he didn't need to explain.

"I have no problem saying Skielstregar. But I will happily call you Skiel." Tawyse giggles lightly. "You were able to get it into the area where I was hiding, but I was moving when I threw the snowballs. Standing still gets you hit in the bum."

The Gnome giggles a bit more, and then reaches out to pat his forearm. "So, what were you out here for? Looking for me? Or just enjoying the outdoors?"

The makari slowly puts his shield away onto his belt, him bobbing his head. "Jussst some sssoftskinsss have isssuesss pronouncing it isss all."

He blinks down at her, tilting his head to the side. "Ah... thisss one wasss enjoying the weather, asss well as keeping the trailsss clear. Treessss are notoriousss for falling over during thisss weather. And alssso making sssure none were trapped in the foressts."

The arm is frigid cold, yet he seemed unperturbed by this.

Her head cants slightly to one side. "Brr. Your arm is freezing." Both of her hands press lightly to his forearm, quite warm in contrast to the weather. "Is that another symptom of your condition?" One of her hands slides down to his, gently tugging on it, as she heads down the trail in the direction he'd originally been facing.

"Me, I tend to the trails as best I can, keeping important ones clear, hiding trails meant to be secret, and making sure the woods are clear of .. not nice things."

The makari's dead eyes slowly glide to the side, his jaw shut. But the man slowly nods. There's a twitch to pull his arm away, but he's being lead off.

He lumbers behind her, having to duck slightly so he's not lifting the gnome off the ground from his gait.

"Thisss one hasss similar dutiesss," he rumbles, letting the druid hold onto his pinky finger to lead him along. "... where are we going, might thisss one asssk?"

"There is a tree down here that is much bigger, and it is partially blocking the trail. It would take me hours to chop up and move. Would you help me with it?", she asks, smiling up at the bronze-scale. "Then after, I can show you one of my camps. Work before leisure, right?"

At the prospect of being able to help, Skielstregar visibly brightens. "Ah, yesss, of courssse! Thisss one would be glad to help!" he chirps, following along with a bit more confidence.

Tawyse cheerfully leads him along the trail, giving polite warnings when the overhead clearance may be in Skielstregar's way, until they encounter the tree in question. Easily twice as thick around as the Gnome is wide, it definitely would be a lot of work for the diminutive woman. But it likely weighs less than the mammoth amount of wood Skiel was able to manhandle the other evening. The fallen tree shows signs of someone having given it a go at removal by axe, but obviously had given up.

"Think you're able to move it? Please be careful, don't hurt your back."

Skiel ducks under some overhangs, seemingly used to needing to do such, but is appreciative of the heads up.

Then they arrive to the obstructing log, him putting a hand on his hip and looking it up and down. With a chuff, he cracks his knuckles and strides forward. "Fear not, thisss one can handle it," he assuages with a rumble in his chest.

The man looks down at it, rolls his shoulders, and gets down on his haunches. With his back straight and his tail parallel to the ground, he reaches down to grab the offending tree. Too-long talons sink into the wood, and large arms bulge. He grunts, exhaling a large stream of black-laced, frozen air from his nostrils as it lifts with moderate effort. "... where... do you want it...?" he asks in a deep rumble, his eyes barely peeking over the log as he has it held against his chest, parallel to the ground.

The Gnome's jaw drops as he lifts the entire tree from the ground. She blinks a few times and then shakes her head in amazement. "Oh! Uhm, how about just here." She moves to the north side of the trail, and gestures along its edge. "It can be a resting spot for people travelling along here. With some shelter from the elements."

It was difficult to see if he acknowledged the direction, but Skiel starts to stride over to the side of the trail as pointed out, his tail swishing wide from side to side to keep his balance from the large tree.

He slowly lowers himself to a crouch, then carefully releases his talons, the log rolling out of his grasp and coming to a >thunk< in the snow.

The makari shakes his arms off, him wiping a bit of a black residue from his jaw with the back of his hand afterwards. "Any other treesss?" he joking asks, smiling.

The Gnome pulls her axe from the loop on her belt. "No, but I'm tempted to chop one down just to watch your muscles do their thing again." Putting her axe back on her belt, she laughs. "Do you like roasted rabbit?"

Skiel stares down at the gnome, his tail swaying behind him for a moment before stops in the air.

Blink.

Blink blink.

...

.......

"... pleassse don't, the treesss did nothing wrong," he rumbles. It was hard to tell if he was joking, or serious. And the rain didn't help at all to find the mannerisms that weren't obvious. Though, his animates once more. "Ah, yesss, roasssted rabbit is good."

She reaches for his pinky again, and chuckles. "I'm a druid, I would not intentionally hurt the forest. What I am saying is that I appreciated your feat of strength, and enjoyed how your body moved." Taw moves away before the blush in her cheeks is too noticeable.

"I caught a few rabbits this morning. I feel you should be rewarded for your hard work. So, let me get you a late lunch, hmm?"

Tugging lightly on his finger, she leads him further up the trail, and then a sharp turn into the woods. A decent distance from the trail, a small camp comes into view. Surrounded on all sides by a short wall of branches driven into the ground, with two lean-tos, and a few logs for benches, arranged around a fire pit. Three trees, roughly equidistant from each other, provide strong anchor points for the camp's wall. A smaller wall stands a few feet from the main one, providing cover for the entrance.

Skiel is lead by the pinky, him looking down at Tawyse out of the corner of one dead, silver eye. "... thisss one sees...." he rumbles. It uncertain if he caught anything from Taw. If at all. "Very well. Thisss one thanksss you for your reward."

He plods along carefully, making sure to not accidently hip check the short woman and send her sprawling into some snow bank. With how he moved, it's clear he is very careful not do bumble into anything. A swiftclaw in an elvish dishware shop, so to speak.

He slows as they reach the camp, him looking about with a light, approving nod. "Thisss looksss well," he comments, unbuckling a strap on his front to pull off the quiver of weapons on his back and dangling from a bandolier. Slowly, he sets each thing down and away until it's just him and his armor. The makari ducks in, slowly finding a spot he can sit down on the ground. His tail curls into his lap, and he sits cross legged, not wanting to bump into anything. Being warmed by the fire, and still dripping wet from the sleet, he looks over to Taw. "Can thisss one do anything to help?" he asks of her.

The Gnome moves to one of the lean-tos, which seems to be packed full of supplies. Wood, a few folded blankets, clothing, a few wooden crates, and other assorted things. She returns with a brace of rabbits. Her next chore is poking and prodding the fire into its former glory, having slowly died down to coals during the time she'd been away. A few more logs are added, and soon, the fire is taller, and warmer.

"Yes, you can.", she says lightly. A towel and a blanket are offered to the bronze-scale Sith. "You should dry yourself off a bit so you don't catch your death." Tawyse then takes the time to hang her cloak in the other lean-to, which seems dedicated to sleeping. Another trip to the storage lean-to, and she returns with everything needed for cooking up the rabbits.

"So, tell me of yourself. How long have you walked Ea?", she wonders, as she gets to work preparing the rabbit's for cooking, as well as chopping a few vegetables, and adding spices.

Skiel bows his head some, accepting the towel and blanket. He puts the blanket away on a dry spot, before wiping himself dry. He chuckles, shaking his head. "Thisss one wasss seriousss about the cold, they do not mind it in the sssslightest. Catching ssssomething isss the leassst of thisss one'sss worriesss."

More dried now, he moves his cloak and the towel to dry in the ambient heat of the fire, him pulling the blanket over to warm his lap. The question gets him to scratch his chin. "Ah... that anssswer is a bit hazy. But thisss one isss about a ssscore and ten winterss. Fairly young, sssstill, with many more wintersss ahead of them. And of yourssself?"

The Gnome pauses her peeling of a potato, and nods. "I know, I know, but I am still... concerned. You're a guest, so, I have a duty to care for you. At the very least, a duty to care /about/ you." She returns to her task at hand, grinning brightly at his question.

"Don't you know asking a lady her age is impolite?" Taw giggles lightly and shrugs. "I'm no lady, though. And I have seen three score summers." She falls silent for a time, halving and quartering potatoes into manageable bites.

"So you are impressively strong, Skiel. I was not teasing when I said I was impressed. That tree was incredibly heavy, but you lifted it like it was much less so. What is your weapon of choice?"

Skiel rumbles, a chuckle deep in his chest. "Perhapsss with sssoftskinss, but that iss a normal quessstion for us," he points out, flaring a hand out. "Besssides, it isss only fair, you asssked me. But, thisss one sssees."

The observation makes his head tilts to the side, and bobs it. "Yesss, thisss one'sss strength isss how they get thingsss done. And, well, thisss one hass been moving trees around for sssome months. And did sssso with traveling with sssoftskinss for some time. It isss only natural for nature to adapt." He flexes an arm, holding it up with a cheeky, closed eye grin.

At that, he leans over, picking up a weapon that was just as tall as he. He doesn't swish it about, just lifting it to be seen. It was a pole arm, with spear on the end with a a connecting axe. "A halberd. But, thisss one can usse just about anything they can get their handsss on."

"This is true, but I was only seeing how much younger you were than I.", she says with a cheeky wink. The potatos, a few carrots, and a number of hearty spices, are dropped into a pot, which is then filled with water. It's set over the fire to cook.

"How well do you like your meat cooked?", she wonders.

"Ah, you spent a long time lifting your wood. Were you already very strong, or did it make your strength greater?" The rabbits are quickly reduced to their component parts: edible on one side, not-edible on the other. The edible pieces are skewered on little pine sticks.

Her grin is suddenly back to being full cheeky. "Oh, you can use annnything you get your hands on, you say?"

GAME: Skielstregar rolls sense motive: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL)

Skielstregar nods at that. "Underssstandable," he says, watching the pot as the aromatics fill the air. He inhales deeply, and sighs contently.

"Ah, uh... thisss one prefersss rare, but it isss better to cook it longer for thisss one."

His scaled brow pinches some, and he scratches his chin. "Thisss one certainly hasss, lifting wood. They prefer ssspear-like weaponsss from home. Thisss one was already born large, ssso they had to ssspend many long hoursss training their ssspear thrusst to pierce even the toughest hidesss in Am'ssshere."

He blinks, then looks at Taw. His head tilts to the side. "... yesss, ussually. But thisss one's clawsss get in the way, ssso takes care not to hurt anything."

The Gnome nods as she sets the rabbit skewers over the fire, save for one. "Alright." She stands and moves to him, and simply settles into his lap, and holds up the uncooked skewer for him. "I'll cook the others, but you deserve this as a treat." Her grin returns, "You're good with your spear, you say? So uh... if you had your hands on me, how would you use me?"

Skiel takes the offered skewer, him smiling politely and putting the skewer with the others. "Thisss one thankss you, but wishess not to. It isss.... part of thisss one's condition," he simply explains.

The gnome is on his lap. There's a lot of lap. He's massive, it's almost like sitting on an entire end couch. He blinks, then gives a little shrug.

The question makes him blink, and his dead eyes widen slightly. "W.. wha...? Thisss one would not usse you. Thisss one would put you behind him ssso he can stand in front. That'sss dangerous, thisss one would break you."

"Of course, I understand. I thought I would at least give you the opportunity, if you wanted to take it.", she says, regarding the skewer.

She makes herself comfortable on his lap, moving back enough so that she can lean slightly against his chest.

"Oh, you think you would break me? That's a shame. Is it really that big?"

GAME: Skielstregar rolls sense motive: (2)+1: 3

"Thank you though," Skiel rumbles, looking down as the gnome gets comfortable.

Dead eyes snick twice.

"... what isss big? Thisss one'sss handss are large, they suppose. They are weary of their ssstrength, and would not wisssh to harm you if they wielded you. But that isss... a sssilly concept to think of."

It's now clear that the man is indeed, actually just thick skulled.

Tawyse blinks and giggles lightly.

"Your spear.", she says, casting her eyes downward momentarily, as a gentle hint. "Not your weapon."

GAME: Skielstregar rolls sense motive: (4)+1: 5

GAME: Tawyse rolls 1d20+1: (15)+1: 16

Skiel stares at Tawyse for a long moment.

.......

............

......

He seriously can't be this dense.

......

"...... oh."

He coughs into a fist, looking off to the side, the fire, the snow. ".... thisss one thinksss that isss a bit personal questions, Taw," Skiel mumble rumbles.

"I'd tell you how big mine is.", she deadpans. She can't keep a serious face long though, and she smiles brightly, chuckling as she stands.

"I was teasing. You talked about lifting wood, and being able to use anything you get your hands on. I thought I'd see your reaction." Two bowls are retrieved, as well as forks. The boiled herb, carrot and potato mixture is carefully spooned into each bowl. She offers one bowl and fork to Skiel, as well, ten skewers are lifted from the fire and offered to him as well. She gathers the rest for herself, and settles down across from him.

Skielstregar blinks one last time as Taw stands and deadpans. He holds up a finger, rises slightly, and slips out of the camp. He doesn't go far, him just moving some feet away before sticking his face into a snow bank all the way up to his neck.

There's a muffled, rumbling, "....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........."

The man returns, calmly sits down, and accepts the bowl. So small it was in his hands, and the skewers are carefully placed along his leg. ".... thisss one mussst apologize. They are... no good at any sssort of that." A skewer is picked up, lined behind a fang, and its contents are pulled free as he nibbles quietly.

Tawyse blinks as he stands up and departs, and her confusion is only relieved when she hears the nearby muffled .. scream? When he returns, she cants her head lightly. She is quiet while she quickly wolfs down a skewer of rabbit.

"While I was teasing, I was actually really curious what you might have done with me, had you caught on to what I was saying. I thought it could have been fun to find out."

The Gnome focuses on her potatoes and carrots, eyeing Skiel curiously.

The makari eats quietly, mostly using the bowl like a large cup and sipping it down. He signs contently, clearly the meal was good. Though, he fidgets some in his seat.

Fidget.

"Ah... thisss... one... um. Isssn't interested in thossse sssorts of thingsss at thisss pressent time," he answers with a murmur. "Though, they are flattered. They would not do anything, asss they have no interessst. Thisss one apologizes."

The Gnome pulls a piece of rabbit from a skewer with her teeth, and chews. She nods, giggling after she swallows the mouthful down. "Ah, just as well. It was fun, though, to tease you. Though, I should apologize, I did not realize it would cause you some trouble."

"I also promise not to tell your sister, so she can't tease you with it."

Skielstregar weakly chuckles, looking into his bowl. "It isss funny, in hindsssight. It isss fine, you were unawaresss. And ah, pleassse don't, this one would never hear the end of it."

The man nibbles on some more skewers. Then, quietly, he elaborates. "It... relatesss to thisss one's condition. They do not wisssh to get clossse like that any for the time being."

She nods slowly. "I understand." The Gnome rubs at her chin. "I am sorry, though, that I don't have more to give you. It seems so small, compared to your size."

Skiel gives a small shake of his head. "It isss well, thank you for it regardlesss. It tassstes splendid." He gives a smile, an honest one at that.

A pause to eat. To think. "... Taw. How familiar are you with the Forgotten?"

The already pale woman pales further. "You... you're not, are you?"

Skielstregar spies the blanching, him hanging his head. "... yesss. At one point. They are sssort of... stuck halfway now. Once they looked like their sssister. Silver and full of life. Now... it isss different, and difficult."

The Gnome slowly stands up, and in a few steps, settles back into his lap. "Can it be reversed?", she wonders softly, her expression one of hope tinged with slight sadness.

Skiel shakes his head slowly, moving the skewers off his leg as she reclaims her seat. "No," he says simply. A nibble. Then some exposition. "Thisss one mussst learn to live with it. To ssstarve it. To make it hisss own. Already thisss one can makes ussse of it'sss foulnesss. Though, it isss a constant challenge to ensssure thisss one keeps their head on ssstraight. Ssssome days are harder than otherssss."

Tawyse hmms, tapping her chin. "I wouldn't give up on it. There has to be a way, yes?" She hmms a bit more. "So you don't wish to eat meat as you prefer, because you fear that the other side of you will manifest itself? Or engaging in uhhm, strenuous physical activity in close proximity to members of the opposite sex... you might lose yourself just enough for bad things to occur?"

"Ah, well, thisss one jussst doesn't want to give th-"

Skielstregar blinks, him staring a hole into the bottom of the soup bowl. "........ thisss one... uh. Jusst.... doesssn't want to entice their Forgotten instinctsss in any manner. Until they have a grasssp on it fully."

...

He coughs in a fist. "To explain it better. Thisss one's mind is clear. Thisss one's body is corrupted. Both like to fight each other. Ssssome daysss thisss one can handle being around othersss. Some daysss, it is bessst to be near only thossse he trusssts."

"This one has an idea.", the Gnome says. "I know of a group that has helped people infected with lycanthropy. Would you like me to contact them and see if they might help you? I don't know if they could find a cure, but they have to have lots of experience in keeping control of themselves."

Skiel blinks, him looking down and tilting his head to the side as he cleans off the last of his skewers. "Mmmm?" he rumbles in his chest. "... you.. would do thisss? Who ssshould thisss one keep an ear out for ssshould they run into thisss group?"

The Gnome shrugs. "I don't know yet. I am part of a group of people dedicated to protecting and preserving the Grove of the Great Tree. I can talk to people who know who to talk to, to find out how to reach this group I am thinking of. I have to be careful, though. This other group is paranoid to the extreme, I am told. So, it will be slow going."

Tawyse reaches up to lightly pat his shoulder. "Yes, I would do this for you."

Skiel gives a slow nod, him smiling a bit more. "That... would be good. Thank you. That... doesss mean quite a bit to thisss one, asss any inssssight would help immensssiely. That isss fine. Thisss one can wait, they have much time ahead of them."

A pause. "You are kind."

Tawyse smiles in return. "Of course, you are most welcome."

This time she stretches up a hand to gently touch his cheek. "So are you."

Skiel closes his eyes, a slow sigh leaving him as his large head carefully leans against into the hand. "... thank you."

Those fangs were as thick as her wrist, now that they could be compared side by side.

Her hand strokes ever so lightly, the Gnome's smile broad. "You are most welcome.", she says quietly. "Would you like to stay for dinner? I was thinking of catching a boar."

The rumble in his chest grows stronger. The question is poised, and he considers it for a moment overlong. "... thisss one can aid in hunting it. And bringing it back."

His eyes open. Still, they were glazed over and dead. But the smile still reached them.

-End Scene-