Burning Ice

[Ivar Frosted Helm]

Rhen Var was a strange planet that Ivar had never seen before with his own eyes but the tales of frozen nature brought back memories of Deucalia and Hoth, both past homes for Ivar. Today the Deucalians had arrived from the sky to explore the natural wonders of this mysterious world while also keeping an eye to the planets dwindled but settled population.

The Deucalians did not come for a full reave but instead, a small party would scout ahead of the main host of explorers to conduct a reconnaissance in force on one of the larger settlements. Ivar himself would be leading a band of six Deucalians, all five hand-picked for the task and ready to die for the cause.

The small party would slip into the cold atmosphere and glide down quietly, trying to avoid detection they moved to set down just out of view of the main settlement and some hours of walking ahead. Ivar was prepared for the journey and wore his usual weapons and armor that would keep him warm in the frigid temperatures while his companions wore similar equipment.

Their trek would only take a few hours but they would attempt to avoid running into people en route if they could avoid it, they were here as scouts after all.

@TheMorrigan

 

[Marion Espaa]

The village they approached was formerly a lively one, made up of a small mock barrier and arrayed with tents that dot the area. Once it was well populated compared to the surrounding areas, but the weather and nearby predators caused the denizens to flee in favor of a larger tribe. Though the migrant people where safe within the tribes themselves, equipment and items of value had surely been left behind. It was for this reason a team of six scavengers had entered the area, searching from tent to hut in a bid to find any rations or medical equipment left behind. The Varite tribesmen where equipped with basic armor and an assortment of melee weapons. The scavengers where in groups of two, and found themselves spread out around the village.

"-yet. I'm certain that if we search farther in, we'll find something worth... what was that?"

Marion's ears peaked as she raised her head and looked around. The pseudo leader of the scavengers, Marion was dressed in durasteel and cloth armor, meant for mobility. Her sword hung by her side, a vibro-knife stuck up her sleeve, this time leaving any blasters behind. The noise that had aroused her had been nothing more than creaking, perhaps the snap of wood giving way against the weight of the heavy snow. Still, her warrior instincts went sharp, ordering those around her to ready their weapons, stay still, and observe the surrounding area with caution. Marion would not be caught by surprise today, not that there would be any reason for an attack. Wild predators could just as easily sneak up on them, it was wise to stay vigilant.

"Hold. Keep searching, but keep your eyes open. Something feels strange."

A cold feeling had begun to wash over her. Not the kind of cold you feel when realizing the weather is atrocious, but the cold and empty sensation that follows a warning sign. Almost as though an omen and forewarning of what is to come. She began to gather up her powers around her, on the off chance a massive creature or hostile combatant came bursting through the door. Her own knowledge of the Force, while limited, was usually enough to give her the edge in most surprise conflicts. But one this occasion her senses played haywire and was causing her no end of concern. If it was an issue or threat that needed to be dealt with, she would deal with it when it presented itself, worrying those around her served no purpose beyond dividing them.
@Xorism

​

 

[Ivar Frosted Helm]

The journey was largely uneventful toward the settlement with only wild creatures sporadically making their presence known but otherwise deathly silence washed across the landscape. The dearth of heat on the planet was not lost upon Ivar as they continued their trek unopposed, it brought him much comfort and reminded him of home. The Deucalian people were natural explorers, taking to the skies after their world disappeared in darkness without a star to heat it. Generations of lost souls became bound with the void with no resources to call their own but what they were willing to take for themselves and thus the raids began in earnest.

This planet did not appear to offer any significant bounty for plundering at first sight, although the world itself held a special kind of beauty that few could truly appreciate. Ivar began to consider if his people might take such a world for themselves when ahead of himself, a lead scout reported that they had spotted something. Silence beckoned as the group dissolved into cover and waited, expecting perhaps an ambush or another animal wandering about. It did not take long for Ivar to step forward and see for himself the settlement that they had come for, and the myriad of tents and the like scattered around.

From their hidden perch, the Deucalians could not see more than a handful of humans scattered around picking the encampment clean in a similar manner that they perhaps might of. Signaling his warriors, Ivar pulled his ax from the belt and held it firmly, holding a vibro-spear in the other while walking forward to meet these strange looking people. The Deucalians shifted across the bleak snowdrift in complete silence as predators stalking their prey in a hunt. The group split up to surprise and capture the numerous and spread out wildlings, while Ivar breached tents looking for hidden treasures amongst them.

Before Ivar stood a red-headed warrior, being caught off guard by the fact that she seemed to be prepared for his entry. His weapons were drawn as he watched her from the tent's entrance, considering his options and watching her intently to gauge her response.

Freyja, Gyðja? Ivar was quiet for a moment afterward, looking down at her and hesitant to move as the woman's rare red locks aroused within him of the old Deucalian stories of Freyja the goddess. Of course, such stories were ancient relics, children's stories meant to believed only by the younglings who listened and the old nan's who spoke of them but yet Ivar was not willing to risk angering the gods if he were wrong.

"Are Goddess?" Ivar stuttered in broken basic, if the woman in front of him did not recognize Deucalian tongue, then it would be unlikely that she would be the one he thought. By repeating himself in basic, he would study her reaction to determine the differences between the two tongues.

@TheMorrigan

 

[Marion Espaa]

Roars of warning caused the hair on Marion's arm to stand on end. The sounds of fighting, of steel clashing against some form of energy, the hymn of loss and triumph started to echo around her. She did not yet abandon her search of the hut, overturning furniture and opening anything that looked like storage. Nothing to be found, barely even medical supplies remained to be scavenged. What worse, then, was a failed hunt and a battle that awaited her. The Force still swirled about her, and she began to feel herself move to the sounds of an axe falling. Alacrity flashed from it's sheathe through sheer muscle memory, her eyes closed for a moment in silent prayer. She knew what her friends in the Jedi Order would say of such a prayer, but she had no alternatives here. Defending her clansmen was a responsibility she could not shirk.

"We praise them all, that you may savor in each of your guises, and by whichever name pleases you the most.

May these words reach you, and may you bestow upon me, whose mouths overflows with adoration and praise, the terrible grace of your blessing."

She did not know if the Great Wolf would heed her calling, but the blessing of a berserker's rage would certainly turn the tide of battle in their favor. The Maiden could enter the state of her own accord by entranced herself in the throes of combat, but through a blessing the risks where far lessened. The Varite felt the entrance to the tent open, Alacrity raising outstretched to greet whoever came. She could not recognize his presence in the Force, nor the foreign markings on his armor and person. This was one of the attackers. When he spoke, his words where gravely and tuned in an ancient tongue, one she had only twice before. Deucalians, and Marion doubted these where the pacifistic Jedi kind. What he asked, she could not truly understand, though she recognized the name of a diety within his words. The second statement, in a butchered variant of basic, asked a simple question. Goddess. Her eyebrow raised as once again the hue of her hair inspired others to view her as something more than mortal. She was but a devotee, she was but a mortal, the High Ones where not her kin.

"Nei. By what right do you trespass here?"

The elder tongue fell from her lips candidly. The Maiden knew precious little of their tongue, and the Force helped a great deal in translation, but it utilized only her knowledge of the language. Marion finished her sentence in basic, as clearly he could at least somewhat understand it, never dropping her guard. Not attacking her immediately held little meaning to her, she was trained to expect trickery, and this may very well be a ploy. Even as she spoke, the man would notice that she was poised to pounce or flee, her limbs locked and her body as wound as a feline's might be. Her pale eyes held no emotion, but within Marion feared for the sake of the others that had accompanied her. If the redhead had to cut through every single pillager between the clansmen and freedom, she would do so without hesitation.

@Xorism​

 

[Ivar Frosted Helm]

The wind lisped across the tent whilst the pair spoke, providing a quiet backdrop for their conversation not to carry beyond the walls. The strange woman stood before him wielding a very unique and old looking sword, coupled with her words both old and new, did answer some questions but raised others. Nothing else about her appearance gave away information that he might have known, which might normally not have bothered him except for the fact that she appeared to at least understand what he was saying without a translation.

Ivar held his ax lovingly, swaying it calmly in front of him for her to see. "Am free man, take needed for survive." The Deucalians were known to plunder settlements for resources or slaves they then used to further their war against the galaxy, a never-ending raid that made many foes and few friends. Ivar stepped back outside the tent while keeping the door open to watch her, his eyes transfixed and waiting.

"You come, Ivar win .. win or loss." A loss would likely result in a quick death at the hands of a better warrior, something that would be considered honorable or desirable for him.

@TheMorrigan

 

[Marion Espaa]

And so, in that moment, Marion understood. His speech was coarse, but what he said provided her with enough information to piece together his purpose here. The axe he touted about did nothing to frighten her, her own weapon was more than a match for such a crude tool. Her eyes thinned as the man backed out from the tent, her legs tensing up as she followed his steps backwards into the winter's cold. All about them the chaos of battle raged, neither side seeming to have an obvious advantage at present, locked in combat as their leaders prepared to fight. With a deep and profound sigh, she moved her blade forward and gently slid from the inside of the tent. The snowy backdrop that greeted her was both a gorgeous vista and crimson field. So many had fallen, yet the ferocity had yet to die, a glorious battle. He taunted her, but the Maiden did not reply.

She had come, and Ivar would have his loss - his actions would determine the worth of his life. Bringing her weapon forward to guard, Marion reached out and focused on wrist wielding the axe, slowly cooling it to freezing. Marion was prepared to dodge or break to block, if necessary.

@Xorism

 

[Ivar Frosted Helm]

Ivar smiled as the red-headed woman came forth to engage him, she held back not out of fear but of purpose that much he could see. Between the metallic clanging of weapons and the wintery weather that surrounded them, the beauty of it all did not escape the Deucalian.

With the flick of his wrist, Ivar's ax roared into life as the ax head itself burned a cyan shade when the thermal component energized along the weapon itself. He was a man of the Frosted Helm clan, the cold did not bother him in the slightest as he now made his way forward to begin his attack.

In his left hand, he held a 2-meter long vibrospear at its central point as his offhand weapon while maintaining the elduröxi in his primary right hand. He held the spear in a low guard defensive position while the ax would be held in a mid-guard. Making his attack finally after arriving within striking distance, he would stomp with his left foot and swing his ax toward her left shoulder at a forty-five-degree angle.

This attack would hit her shoulder on the armor if not blocked, damaging but not breaking it. Of course, he expected that she would easily move to block it, what he did next would depend on how she did.

@TheMorrigan

 

[Marion Espaa]

Come, stranger. Let us see how you fight.

He began to close the distance with that energy axe weapon he was carrying. It was similar to a lightsaber, but a mockery of sorts. A weapon you would expect to hear of in myths and legends, but it was not intimidating. A simple spear was in his off hand, but Marion was undeterred. The sword was superior to both weapons, and that would be demonstrated. And she was a far superior weapon than either, he maneuverability serving her well in this instance. As the man stomped and went forward to swing, Marion sprung backwards and out of striking range, letting the swing continue off to her right. If he continued the swing or tried to turn and hit her, Marion would slash the outside of his arm. If he did nothing, she'd jab at his exposed side as quickly as she dared. Either way, she was ready to guard or pull backwards at any moment. If he attempted something, Marion was prepared.

Please don't bore me.

@Xorism

 

[Ivar Frosted Helm]

Marion easily avoided his first swing as it completed by springing backward and then attacked him herself with a slash the outside of his arm with her lightsaber which connected as he turned to avoid her full strike and the saber burned his exposed arm by its touch. The pain was sharp, extremely hot and like nothing he had ever felt which almost made him drop his weapon but instead spurred him on as the rush of endorphins flooded his system to combat the challenge set.

From his slightly bent over post strike stance, the ax head was twisted in his hand toward her again and extended back to try and catch the sword hand before she could reset her pose from attacking him. Meanwhile Ivar's offhand would thrust his spear directly toward her armored stomach, giving her a second immediate threat to combat. If she was quick enough to pull her hand in then his ax might catch the lightsaber blade and lock it up momentarily, giving him time to try and pull the hilt away from her by the fact of weapons locking together.

@TheMorrigan

 

[Marion Espaa]

Spoiler: OOC Note

I just realized most of the links in Marion's profile are dead. I think I stated it in opening, but I linked the armor below in case you wanted to see the stats.

I am the sword, deadly against all weapons. Neither spear, nor poleax, nor dagger can prevail against me.

Alacrity stood at the regular length of an arming sword, complete with a wired hilt, silver finish, and a razor sharp edge. Though not the plasma of a lightsaber, it's cutting power would surprise most.

Especially when delivered by a warrior maiden who had spent most of her life practicing with the very same blade. The moment Marion felt the blade reach flesh, she withdrew directly into a high guard, rotating her body in anticipation of the spear. What Marion found, however, was the hooked end of an axe clapping the crossguard but just barely catching. Instead of running or trying to block with her sword, the redhead moved low and closed the distance completely - moving into grappling distance of Ivar's body and almost slamming into his chest with Alacrity's edge. The maiden had moved to half-sword, breaking the axe's grasp by using both of her hands - one on the handle and the other on the blade itself - and lunging it forward as she moved. The spear wouldn't be able to pierce her armor in that time, and since the axe would be suddenly jerked downwards with the force of both her arms it would have no real way to block the impale. The Maiden had no time for games, yielding would save his life, fighting would end it. Ivar did have an option available to him; if he disengaged, the Varite would not have the distance needed to preform a half-sword. Even if by chance the spear did strike her armor critically, dead center in the chest - an almost perfect jab - she would angle her body so it would skim her shoulder pauldron and roll off. The cloth armor was designed to be stabbed and slashed, thought it would be rendered useless after the first direct hit.

I can be used at long range or close range, or I can be held in the half sword grip and move to the Narrow Game. I can be used to take away the opponent’s weapon, or move to grapple.

@Xorism

 

[Marion Espaa]

Spoiler: OOC Note

As the 72 Hour limit is up, my attack would autohit. This time, he's going to live, but next time we PvP if you time out I'm putting a sword through your characters chest. K?

Just as Marion had anticipated, the foolish marauder's brawn was no match for the cold calculation of her precise training. There were many things Marion couldn't do. Battle was not among them. Empowering the pommel of her sword with the Force to add impact, Marion swung her pommel directly into his forehead from the half-sword. At any given second the Maiden could have ended this invader's life, but Marion had come to be curious. He would live, and he would explain all.

"Such a disappointment. And here I was, hoping for a fight."

The day she would meet an equal foe had yet to come. Though Marion would be prepared for that day, should it come, and she would end her foe rightly - should they prove a detriment. If it was that they too strove to better themselves in battle, a rivalry was among the most joyous of bonds among allies. The redhead wasted no time in stepping over the fallen Deucalian and roaring to his men. Her voice crackled with a fury and power that none would have heard before, accented by the blizzard that formed in the distance, casting a shadow across the outcropping and it's battles. The Varite warriors were among the best in the Galaxy, and though the Deucalians had taken lives this day, she chose to spare their lives for a greater purpose. They would serve, or they would perish.

"BEHOLD! THE ONE WHO LEADS YOUR PACK HAS FALLEN BY MY HAND. I OFFER YOU BUT ONE CHOICE, SURRENDER YOUR WEAPONS. OR I SHALL PERSONALLY TEAR YOU APART, ONE BY ONE!"

Marion had every intent of doing just that if they refused, but to her surprise they began to lay down their weapons and regard her with a newfound respect and admiration. This was unprecedented. The pack would band together as one, carrying the wounded to the nearby tribal village of the Espaa, where Ivar would learn his fate.

/End Thread.

@Xorism