Winterland Adventures

[Aephyr]

The book slammed shut as Aephyr had finished yet another history written by some little known man, who thought he knew much about the world. By making previous connections, remembering several other stories and citing many other books, Aephyr concluded that the book in which he had just gotten done reading was mostly bogus. The facts of the country of Eiskalt recorded in this history could be cleared up as false by even the most illiterate orcs around, yet the entry still fascinated Young lord Valentinius. As all books did, they drew in the knowledge craving boy and took up a great deal of his time, whether they were Fact or Fiction. It mattered not. The idea of getting everyone's side and story of things is just one of the many things on the road to absolute intelligence, the thing Aephyr valued most in the world.


Of course, the boy felt as though he'd know quite a bit more if it wasn't so important to his parents that he and his siblings learn and be skilled in the things that made the great house of Valentinius what it is today. Things like weapon wielding, Swordplay, Horse Riding, Basic survival in the harsh wilderness of Salvar, should the need of such skills arise. And then there were the more "Noble" activities, or so his mother called it. Manners, Dancing, Hosting of things, Proper dress and code, Being massively articulate, Playing an instrument, and many of the things of the like. Of course, none of this was very much uncommon in any Noble houses throughout Salvar. Though the Lords themselves were far too busy running their fiefdoms or plotting to cheat or conquer other Lords' belongings, they encouraged the caretakers of their numerous amounts of children (The House Valentinius was always bad, or good, depending on how you see it, about that last bit) to do the more "manly" things. Whereas the many Mothers the Children of Valentinius shared always taught their own children the latter.

The boy's book left him with a sense of adventure; and off in the distance were the towering, impassable Mountains known as the Peaks. On these snowpeaked Mountains lied Ruins of the Ancients, most of which had long been looted and explored. Yet, Zelrius still felt the need to atleast walk around inside of them, finding anything of interest. The Noble boy made his way to the Courtyard of the Stronghold, and he began calling out to workers. "Servants and Slaves, Hear me! I, Aephyr Valentinius am giving you an opportunity to get out of your duties for a bit. Whether this be a few days or just the evening. I need Five of you, Any takers?"

[Joxina]

Joxina had only recently arrived in the household of the Valentinianus. It had been a few days or so away from her family and she had already begun to miss her brother Ciren very much. However, her younger brother had no need for her anymore. Indeed, it was unfitting for one's older sister to be the servant of her brother. Hence, Joxina had been cast out due to her father's cold wishes to an entirely different household. To her father, women were meant to be servants. Sure, she was more educated than most women due to her family background, however, because of the social class that had been implanted into her life, she was worth nothing if ranked in order with power. Joxina sighed as she lay on her bed in the quarters as she had already completed her duties here in the household. Joxina was feeling emotionless... Her life had been a confusing pile of mess and all she was good for was to serve and heal. Joxina sighed once more, laying her arms across her chest as she decided that she was going to take a nap and deal with her later duties.

Soon enough, after a while, Joxina awoke to the calling of someone. It was a peaceful evening in the servant's quarter. The rich household owned many servants and different slaves as well. However, the power that the two had was pretty much identical. With a yawn, Joxina arose from the poor-qualitied bed that she had slept on. Joxina then stood up and looked outside to see someone out of place there. Indeed, it was quite a rare sight to see the son of her master. Personally, Joxina had been bought to serve the son, himself. However, it appears that the father had yet to tell Aephyr of such a thing. No matter... Joxina thought and listened to the man's requests and yells. It appears that the man was looking for a few servants and slaves to accompany him for something. Indeed, he had wanted to head out for either a few days or this evening.

Life here had gotten rather boring. Her duties had been to clean and this duty was just not enough for her. Joxina was particularily advanced in such chores and the duties laid out to her was just easy as pie. She could go about finishing the chores easily and then spend the rest of the day talking to the other servants that are around her. For her, this was a great opportunity to get closer to master Valentinius and perhaps get a pay-raise for her family... Not that they really needed it. Still, such an event could bring certain eventfulness into her lame life and she was going to take advantage of it. Joxina smiled and opened her quartering door to wave at the young man that was seeking for workers. "I shall be delighted to serve Master Valentinius on this voyage." Joxina said simply and bowed her head like she was taught to.