Footsteps in the Snow [PM to Join]

[Alexander]

The loud chorus of laughter from the drunken patrons within the Sheepskin Tavern bled out into the frigid Ilian winds, lost in the sudden upturn in wind as it howled through out the valley. Its refreshing lash of biting cold gusts were lost upon the dark haired boy who stood outside the Tavern. His pose suggested not a comfort within the frozen climate, but a general familiarity that allowed him to function. A pre-existing knowledge as to how to adequately handle it all.

Through tossing winds, he quietly stood with his back to it; large mixed animal furs lining his shoulders atop a heavy black cloak that shielded him entirely from the wrath of winters bite. A gloved hand was resting atop the pommel of his sheathed blade which rested at his hip. Leather clad fingers lightly clasped around the metallic tip of his blade while he shifted his weight to his left leg. The black chain-mail covering his leather was stacked so effectively beneath the cloak that it almost looked to be once complex layer of apparel. Alexander's other hand idled at his hip as he moved to pace a few feet to the left; footsteps crunching loudly and compacting the snow beneath his weight while he tried to bide his time.

At his left, a faithful comrade. One who he trusted with his life, and perhaps more so than any living man. Fernus. Though only three years of age, he was remarkably large for his age. Well fed, and a superb specimen of his kind. A primarily white wolf, burning candy eyes being the only trait that distinguished him from the pale snow around him. The wolf seemed perfectly within it's comfort as he sat in place, occasionally gazing right to left, or vice-versa with his head inclined and sniffing at the air quietly. Milky white fur laden ears were swiveled forwards in an ever attentive direction as he kept vigil over the location around his owner. Standing near him? The other loyal dog of a companion for Alexander.

A burly looking boy, just barely older than him, and only a few inches taller in height. Where Alex had a clean shaven, narrow jawline, the other boy had a large layer of thick curly golden hair. A short layer of hair coated his head as well, but was clearly kept lightly trimmed. The boy was as heavily adorned in furs and heavy layers as Alexander himself. Strapped to his back was a great blade, sheathed lightly and with a few leather wrappings that the zweihander had firmly wrapped. Both waited quietly for a scheduled arrival.

Their first official contract under Alexander's budding Mercenary group was upon them. He was going to take on a contract that required them to escort a merchant from Timberdale, the current home of Alexander's family, to Rookwood. It was a small town between Timberdale and the mountains to the east, but a trading hub built around a checkpoint for Ilian Pegasus knights. With the forests starting to grow further dangerous as "monster" sightings increased, people were hiring guards by the dozen. The black haired mercenary had put a posting for a few others to join them, given the distance they'd have to travel; numbers being the optimal choice. The two men they waited on were both older than he, and far more experienced, but he knew that was just all the more reason for him to ensure that he seized every chance to test himself.

[Giles Brand]

It was, in a word, cold. Giles had never been a fan of the cold, it didn’t agree with the man, but when there was a job to be done it would be. End of story. He wore woolen undergarments to combat the cold, but they weren’t working too well. The gaps in Giles’ armor allowed chilly air to seep in and bother his skin. Meanwhile the covered parts of his body were still managing to perspire. The man wore a outer cloak over his armor to keep flakes of snow and ice from freezing on the metal. Giles was uncomfortable and annoyed because of it. He had contemplated returning to a warmer climate before he caught wind of another job.

The great knight found himself atop his sturdy steed, Aurochs, in search of a small mercenary group. He would be assisting in an escort mission from Timberdale to Rookwood. Giles didn’t know the Ilian cities and towns very well so he would have to rely on others to determine and navigate the best path. Giles’ eyes fell upon a couple men in the distance, standing outside a tavern. He rode closer to get a better look. Upon inspection Giles saw that the two were barely men. Hardly old enough where they could frequent taverns. Giles breathed out a sigh that was momentarily visible in the cold air. Some companions.

Giles remained undeterred however, he would simply have to help these two survive as well as the travelling merchant. It would be no small task, but Giles was no small man. Giles rode Aurochs a bit closer before the armored horse suddenly bucked, almost sending Giles crashing to the snow covered ground. Giles managed to get control of the steed before his eyes caught sight of what had spooked the horse. A white wolf, nearly invisible in the snow, was stalking the two men. Giles drew a lance from his side and pointed it at the wolf. The great knight prepared himself to run the wolf through or at least chase it off for scaring Aurochs. He shouted to the young men standing in front of the tavern.

“You two, move aside. You are in danger. I’ll take care of this beast.”

[Alexander]

A horse was never quiet in the snow. Each step that would normally releasing a "clopping" sound instead had a much heavier impact, and crunched snow loudly beneath it as it condensed the freshly laid white crystalline tears from which the heavens wept. Alexander's fingers still clutched the tip of his blades hilt as he turned to directly face the source of this abrupt sound, his cheeks a slight flushed red from cold as his body circulated blood to preserve warmth. In earnest, he couldn't say he disliked the cold at this point because he was so used to it that he seldom distinguished it. It was the norm. However, it seemed that not all shared this mentality. His eyes diverted to the man clad in purple armor, both boys visibly seizing the man up. That was, until it got so..intense.



The horse began to rear and buck slightly, which obviously startled both boys. While the man had withdrawn his spear and started to level it, both boys were already moving. Fernus hadn't seemed bothered by the horse reacting in such a way, but was smart enough to recognize a threat as he moved to all fours and lowered himself. Lethal gleaming fangs glistened with a slick coating of saliva as the canine snarled in a low guttural feral tone. Burning candy red eyes leveled towards the man and the wolves fur stood on end while it started to back up in slow calculated steps. He was almost instantly obscured though as either boy, clad in black, moved between the knight and the timber wolf; Alexander in front and his hand gripping the blade tightly with intent to unsheath it if the man moved to strike. His features shifted to an expression harder than granite while he met the man's gaze directly.

He was young, but unrelenting.



“You two, move aside. You are in danger. I’ll take care of this beast"

Alexander's fingers wrapped so tightly around the sheath that his knuckles had bled white beneath the black gloves he wore. A powerful gust of wind sent white fine powder scattering into the air and briefly obscuring direct vision of eachother, before clearing as Alexander started to slowly walk forwards. His hand slowly ungripping his blade as he reminded himself of the truth of the situation. Unless one was from Ilia and knew the Orpheus family, they wouldn't know of their affinity for wolves. Alexander spoke loudly, the raven haired mercenary's voice somewhat deep in tone, a slight accent to it that emphasized the middle syllable of each word.

"Fernus. Here boy."

His lips pinched together as he whistled loudly, in a short brief interval while moving his hand off his blade entirely. The snarling wolf slowly lifted his head, and though cautiously, started to move towards the Ilian boy's side. Alexander knelt before Fernus arrived, his knee pressing to the snow while he pivoted to tug the wolf closer and begin petting the top of his head and side of his body simultaneously. The wolf's snarling was still present, rumbling through his body and reverberating to Alexander's hands, such that he could feel it even through gloves. Had anyone else tried to touch him, they'd have likely lost a hand, or more. Alexander gazed back up at the mounted knight before standing first. Snow clung slightly to his lower pant, but the multiple layers did their job remarkably; no trace of cold felt upon his knee from the frigid white flooring.

"This beast will be fighting with us. He's my companion. I'd trust you to lower your weapon sir, as I have mine."

He tilted his head back to the man behind him, who still visibly didn't trust the knight just yet; given his hand still firmly clasped his blade. He was ready to pull his zweihander out at a moments notice. Until Alexander spoke his name.

"This is Thomas. He's as smart as he looks, and twice as slow. But he's honest. And loyal. I take it your the man we were waiting for, to make the run to Rookwood? Armor and steed seem to fit the description at-least."

Thomas had lowered his hand, and was already striding over as he folded his arms over his chest. A half-grin on his face as he snaked a look to Alexander. He had a gruff tone, with a chiding bite to it that made it obvious their friendship survived and thrived off of such comments.

"If I'm twice as slow, how slow does that make you?"

[Giles Brand]

It seemed as Giles had made a mistake. Although he was somewhat embarrassed that he had threatened to attack the younger man’s companion, he would never let it show on his exterior. The man simply grunted and stored his lance. Clear to Giles, Aurochs was still uncomfortable around the wolf so he rode him to a nearby post. After tying up the armored horse, he returned to the small group on foot. He left his weapons behind to show he meant no harm after the previous misunderstanding. The two boys were joking around like old pals while introducing themselves. Giles had been accustomed to more formal of introductions with his previous jobs, but the lightheartedness was somewhat refreshing.

The great knight stood firm with a solid chest and introduced himself. “My name is Giles Brand. I am pleased to make both your acquaintances. Thomas and… ” Giles trailed off leaving space for the other man to interject his name. Giles’ gaze fell upon the white wolf in the snow. “I am pleased to meet you as well, Fernus. Don’t get any ideas about my horse now, you might just get yourself into trouble.” Giles said, more for the benefit of his owner. With introductions complete, Giles could move on to business.

“I am indeed the man you believe me to be. I am to escort you and the merchant to Runwood.” Giles looked around the immediate area and found a distinct lack of any travelling merchant. The man didn’t particularly enjoy waiting for his employers. Giles posed the question that was on his mind. “Where is this merchant we are to escort anyway? Also, aside from the merchant, is there anyone else I will have the duty of escorting?” Giles spoke as if to make it clear that he expected to be doing the majority of the work on the venture. He was accustomed to heavy lifting and he chose not to place much faith in the abilities of the younger men. Even if they are loyal as they claim, I still trust myself more.

[Alexander]

Alexander nodded to the man, when he introduced himself. Though he was quiet and did not inject his own name, he welcomed the man through gesture. Alexander's right hand clasped now atop the blade resting within its sheath once more. Fingers squeezed the leather tightly as they wound around the pommel of his blade. It was no heroic weapon. There was no gemstone within the pommel. His blade wasn't coated in ornate metals or expertly crafted with special symbols. It was a simple longsword. His left hand grazed along the side of the large arctic wolf which was now sitting aside him, fingers brushing along the top of the snow caked fur of the wolves head.

The young Ilian Mercenary shifted a moment later, facing the armored man in full. There was a solid contrast between them. Giles was larger. Adorned in heavy armor. Toted a lance and fought atop horseback. Alexander was shorter. Leaner. A bit less imposing, but more suited for the climate. Black leather, coated atop a tunic, heavy furs along his shoulders that came down to the heavy cloak around him. It all helped to keep him warm within the cold. The heavy snow was no hindrance to him with heavy boots that were more than effective at keeping him warm, but more importantly, dry. That was perhaps the single most important thing within the Ilian cold.

Alexander paused while the cruel frigid wings bit at his face and swirled around them. Part of Giles words were drowned out by winds, but he caught the bulk of it. Ignoring his friends quip, Alexander moved through crunching snow steps with wolf in tow. He tilted his head as he turned to gaze past the armored man towards the tavern with the heavy wooden door still eased shut. He nodded before speaking up loudly, above the occasionally howling wind.

"He's in there, drinking ale and enjoying the warm. He wanted us to wait here until you got here. Now, we can retrieve him, and be off."

Alexander had already started moving towards the door. Fernus was at his side, moving through the snow lightly with no sound in opposition to the black clad male's crunching steps. Alexander spoke up once more, as his fingers wrapped around the ring shaped handle of the tavern door.

"The name is Alexander by the way. A pleasure to meet you. Now..shall we?"

He pulled the door open, as warmth and light burst forth once more. The carrying bellows and shouts have carried full and drunken yelps and hollars were the norm. It was here that they would find their merchant. Alexander's wolf was still to his side, as was his man-at-arms. Once the knight entered, they could make their way to their employer.

[Giles Brand]

Giles followed the young man to the door of the inn without speaking a word. The interior sounded of drunkenness and belligerence, two things the great knight had no intention of dealing with. The man folded his arms across his armored chest. As far as he was concerned, it made no difference if he entered with the young man or not. Either way, the employer would be notified that it was time to go. Giles allowed the others to enter while he stood outside the door. “I’ll wait out here.” With that simple statement he moved to where his armored horse was tied up.

Aurochs had his mouth full of feed as Giles approached. As he walked, he left heavy imprints in the muddy snow beneath his feet. The man placed a hand on his steed’s head while it ate. Smart move. You have to keep eating in this weather. Keep your strength up. Giles took to examining the weapons he had brought for this particular mission. Axereaver should make quick work of any axe wielding brigands we come across. The weapon was still fairly new and in solid condition. The hand axe he had brought for ranged fighting was in poorer shape, but it was still effective.

With his weapons in order, he began to examine his defenses. He had checked his armor once already before he had put it on, but he felt the urge to check it again. Everything was as it should be, if it was mostly covered in a thick cloak. The great knight then gave his horse’s armor a thorough once over. It too was ready for anything.

“Looks like we are fully prepared for another mission. All we need now is the man we are responsible for.” Giles eyes moved to the door of the tavern and would remain there until they opened.