Hell Frozen Over

[Zelrius]

The cold winds came in harsh, washing the freezing waters up against the desert made Hull of the ship. With much luck to those aboard, Zelrius included, This was not a usual poor made Ateryii River carrier. This boat was commissioned and built by the wealth of the Jya, whom'd sent the young Blackfyre on a quest to redeem himself in the eyes of Suravani. Zelrius was more than eager to sail to anywhere he was told to sail to, by order of the Jya. There were many in the court who feared his loyalty to the religion and willingness to go to great measures for what the boy called "The Greater Good".

All that aside, Snow was something new in perspective to The young Blackfyre. He had heard tales of it before from those in Irrakam, but could never quite invision it in this way. The frigid winds blowing against the sails, tossing the boat back and then forward once more annoyed all those aboard. It wasn't until the vessel began to lurch and settle down against the shore that Zelrius was the least bit content with his voyage. It had been a long journey, and he wasn't even half way done yet, this brought sleep to the male's eyes. The thought of that long of a trip, and there was still much to come, could be seen taking it's toll on the members of the ship already.

One by one the men loaded off the great embedded wooden beast and landed on the icy sands of Eiskalt. Blackfyre shivered, something he had done only a few times in Fallien, and most if not all those times were in key with his trip through the Desert and minimal shelter. The cold here was different, One could feel it in their bones and with each step, a new jolt of cold was sent up and down the body. This was truly going to be a long quest for Blackfyre, and even longer for those who were not here by free will...

The boy and his crew, after what felt like an eternity of following the Map came upon the great gates that separated Eiskalt from the rest of the known world. Much to the boy in the lead's relief, for it was beginning to be questioned among the group that the Boy really had no idea where they were going. Of course, they were none to speak, since much of them couldn't read or write themselves, they had to trust that the Aristocrat knew what he was doing and that was it.

Once within range, Zelrius and his men could hear the ringing of alarms and bells. Most clearly being one of the things the Jya had talked about: The fact that no one could even so much as glance at the gate without the Guards knowing you're there. Continuing to march on, Zelrius almost walked right into the gate head first, expecting it to open. However, the Gate remained locked and shut. Blackfyre looked around. None of the guards were even glancing at him, and the towers seemed to have taken no notice of the approaching group. It wasn't until a man on a horse rode through that Zelrius understood before being Told - "You must be the Envoy sent from Fallien. We heard of your coming, and as of such have prepared for your arrival... Howeve-" Zelrius lifted an open palm to the Speaking man on the horse. "I understand, The Eistalk war makes it impossible for any large or even medium sized groups to move in together, and you wish for me to withdraw." To which the man on the horse only gulped and nodded. The boy sighed and turned to his crew and began jabbering on in The Fallien Native Tongue.

"That was one hell of a Ship ride boys. However, as you have just been informed, our journey together ends here. You are to go back, load the Ship, and head home. For those wondering how I myself will get home. All I say is this: Either I get what I need to be finished, and those of Eiskalt will help me home, or the less unfortunate fate is..." Even the cold hearted and devoted Suravani follower Zelrius couldn't speak of death lightly. Though the men understood, all curtly nodding and walking off.

Now back to common tongue of Althanas: "Now, may I proceed?" The man on the horse now, suprised he was once again acknowledged haistly spat out words "O-Of course! Please provide Proper Documentation" The young Lord Blackfyre complied, unwrinkling a folded piece of paper that had been damaged by water many times over the boat and handing it to the man on the horse "Is this sufficent?" And with much surprise to Zelrius: "No, These are Fallien papers only. Not worldwide or even Althanas wide papers..." The boy stomped his foot in the snow. He had assumed that these papers wouldn't get him anywhere except in and out of Fallien. Now Zelrius, or Vesuvius as he was sometimes called, needed a more help than he was willing to admit in order to gain access to the Frozen hell of Eiskalt.

[Silverline]

A simple agent was to be sent on an important mission. Make sure a certain fugitive stayed out of Eiskalt. For good.

It was a mission that excited Johnson, but he knew the job would take him far from Eiskalt. He was at the Stahl Gate, trying to gather up what details he could on her location. So far, Penelope Miller was an attempted go at an entirely new noble family. The thought of the noble families made Johnson burn inside. He hated the Icebreaker and Tabor clans; how they abandoned their country in their darkest hours. Fulgur II Icebreaker had been murdered, Julius Tabor had succeeded his position in favor of allowing Fulgur to have more powers. Even Ashla Icebreaker, who had been popular to the peoples, just ran off close to the war's end. She had forsaken the people she had been fighting so hard for... and it had taken its toll. A civil war broke out right after Alerar and the Order of the Crimson Hand withdrew their forces. The sick, plagued deserts of snow were currently a dead battlefield for kin amongst kin. It took what little life a farmer had left away from his land. It forced Johnson to follow another path... the path of a warrior.

A trained warrior and assassin, he had his twin sickles hung on his back, his leather armor and filthy clothes the only things he owned now. He was leaving Eiskalt, a life outside it saving it. He couldn't bear the thought though, the thought of living and breathing next to a possible future noble. The thought sickened him. A stuck up lady rising into power and ruling with a fist iron as Fulgur I's...

He shook such thoughts out of his head. He couldn't feel murderous towards someone he hadn't even met yet. As for now, he was making his rounds around Stahl Gate. It was a shadow of what it used to be, but Stahl at least was doing its job again.

He noticed a visitor at the gate, he looked incredibly foreign. He obviously came from far away. He could help me find Penelope... he hoped. The Eiskaltian took his chance and walked up to him, he was negotiating with a gate keeper.

[Zelrius]

Zelrius continued to curse as he rifled through papers and documentations of all things he had in his pocket and folded. However, Zelrius would not doubt he had lost something within these "pockets". The concept of such was brand new to the Fallien born and raised aristocrat, and had never had to wear anything outside robes and turban hats of the sort. Recently, The Jya insisted that he wear imported fur coats and a cape. Though the cape, Zelrius thought, was overkill. That much was outside of his jurisdiction, He just did whatever it was the Jya told him, even if he didn't like it. The easily annoyed boy was even more so by the thickness of the clothes and how many layers there were. It was needed, or so he was told, and once more, he was being ordered by the Jya herself to wear it, so Zelrius listened much to his dismay.

The aristocrat continued to go through all papers one last time and sighed. Glancing around, he noticed a nearby male. He pointed to the stranger at hand "You there. Do you speak the Common tongue? Eh, everyone speaks it and those who don't are dimwits. I have a wealth of accessories, and if this land takes it, gold as well. I will be willing to share such belongings of mine. That and you may, or may not, receive the favor of the Jya's Keep in Fallien if you so please to ever visit."

[Silverline]

"..."

"Um... I speak common tongue. I'm not some kind of idiot or retard. And I can let you in."

Johnson crossed his arms, glaring at the visitor who seemed only as old as he was. The snow blew lightly around, something that caused most visitors to shiver. Eiskalt was a harsh landscape, but it's people were used to it. The black haired boy smiled, "If you are from a foreign country we're not trading with, you will need an escort as of now. If you'll allow me, a dimwit, to take you to our village Marchal to get all that arranged, I can do that." He looked towards the gate keeper and nodded, "I'm a member of the Eiskaltian Democratic Agency, I have authority to take him."

The gate keeper nodded and stepped away. The democracy had control over Stahl as of now, but invasions from the tyranny could be launched at any time. His brethren of war would have to be careful. Especially when receiving outsiders... But an outsider is what I need.

[Zelrius]

Zelrius only gave a wry smirk. His blonde hair blowing with the breeze, causing a slight shiver to crawl down the desert boy. The nights in Fallien were cold, but never this cold. Yet it was day here, Zelrius could only dread what night would bring to this place. "Very well, "Dimwit", Your words not mine, take me to this location you speak of. I noticed that you just claimed yourself to have a little title there. May I ask by whom's authority did you recieve this title, and if at all possible, I'd like to speak to them if there is such a person."

As the gates open, Zelrius quirked his head in the direction of the person, and did a bit of studying. This much he concluded: Easily raised here in Eiskalt, Around Zelrius's own age, albeit a bit older, and as Zelrius has favor with the Jya of Fallien, This boy has favor with the Government here. Atleast one of them anyhow. The Democracy. The soldier of Fallien himself didn't enjoy the idea of Democracy all too much. Even the Jya and High priestess system of Fallien was far too Republic-y. No, In Vesuvius' mind, One person with many skills and clearly one of the, if not THE, best in a country should rule it. All Beside the point Zelrius decided that if he was to work with this agent, he should get to know him just a bit.

"Aye, Agent. My name is Zelrius Blackfyre. Lord Blackfyre of one the "Wealthier" families in Fallien. Which so happens to be one of the few Families in Fallien, given most of it is ruled by tribes. Introduce yourself now." A Bad habit of Zelrius': Pushy and straight to the point. Which is why he was easy to rise to the top. The old woman of a Jya was tired of the blunt dimwitted men who attempted the beat around the bush methods.

[Silverline]

Johnson scoffed, forming mixed feelings towards this visitor already. He was rich, quite obviously leading to his little attitude issue there. Johnson held his head high when asked to introduce himself. He was but a farmer before this conflict... before becoming a victim of the noble families and their poor deeds. Now, he fought to prevent the same things from happening all over again. He was proud of it.

"Cloud. You may call me Cloud. I'm a working agent of the democracy that attempts to cleanse this land of anarchy's tyranny." Cloud frowned as he began to lead Blackfyre through the gates, we're cleansing the land of stuck up jerks like him... his richness means he must know a lot about the wanted around even here though; and that's a bright side. "I received such status from our council, our working government, which dictates all our needs together. United under the banner of the people."

Cloud led them down to a wagon. It was covered in several layers of matted blankets, but the rags didn't hide the splinter ridden, shaky wood. It was to be pulled by a tame moose. This was the vessel which would take them to Marchal, as it already took Cloud here. The wagon was large enough to hold two people and additional luggage - barely.

"Welcome aboard." Cloud smirked as he motioned Blackfyre to get on, "It isn't glamorous or anything, but it's what we've got." Cloud jumped on, causing the snow sprinkled wagon to slightly moan, "When we take over though, we'll have so much more..."

[Zelrius]

Zelrius' face almost instantly contorted at the sight of the snow covered and what Zelrius believed to be a Hideous wagon. And to add even more peculiarity to the area which Zelrius was not familiar with, at the head of the wagon was a moose. But not one of those he had heard of in stories and what not. No this one was not frenzied and knocking men down with it's antlers. It was in fact sitting there, much like an oxen or a horse, ready to serve the men and women that had domesticated it. He sighed, knowing complaining wouldn't do anything, yet he couldn't help throwing offhand whispers about how next time he'd bring his own land transportation from Fallien and show these Snow Peasants a real stead. Or even better he could help "Them" take over. That way Blackfyre need not to make such a voyage just to show off his own wealth. Speaking of "Them"...

"So, Cloud, What is it that exactly happened here. Of course growing up I have heard stories from travellers and what not of the war here. And then heard off hand reports about the heating up of the Civil war. But what caused all of it? Though I am sure that I probably could answer you some questions, beings that I ha-" Zelrius stopped himself. Deciding that it was not worth the Aristocrat's time to explain to this ice Agent how extensive Blackfyre so thought his knowledge to be.

[Silverline]

As Blackfyre rambelled on and on, Cloud started the ride. He pulled the reigns to the moose and the wagon jerked into... 'action'...

As the bumpy ride took them into the barren, snowy hills, Cloud silently observed the landscape. Yes, it was freezing; and yes, it only looked like mounds of snow at first. Buy Cloud saw how the snow sparkled and rolled under the chilly winds. He saw the sun peaking through the ends of the mountains, causing odd light to shine through. The blue sky above looked like an ocean, right above the ocean of snow they traveled in. This was home.

Cloud sighed at Blackfyre's questions, "This is actually the country's fourth civil war. Back when Jared Tabor was in control, just at the peek of FulgurI the first's reign as family head, conflicts broke out amongst minors and soon... a full scale civil war broke out. Of course, it ended in the 'rebels' falling and Jesse Tabor becoming the new family head of the Tabor's."

"Years later, after Fulgur II finally took over, Julius Tabor chasing him from behind, forces from Alerar came and decided to make soup out of us. I'm sure the Icebreakers did their best... everybody loved their duchess Ashla - until she suddenly resigned close to the end of this. The war ended in ruins. Fulgur was dead, Julius Tabor and Ashla ran off from their duties... we had no one to lead us. So some of us wanted leaders from another noble, then some sought out alternative solutions. Like me, I feel like a democratic government would solve the corruption and malicious things the noble families have done for so long."

Cloud was going to go into how the main two sides clashed and started the war. However, he felt like this prince knew enough about the country's own matters, especially if he wasn't considerate about his people. As the wagon pulled the pair across the mountainous terrain, Cloud saw the sickness of it. Acid from Madison Briarheart's spells could still be seen choking plant life. A small stream was brown and green in water color, obviously not a good thing to drink. One could swear they saw the hand of a skeleton motionless above the snow, long having rotten from war. Despite these terrors, Cloud knew something the noble families didn't... This was home.

[Zelrius]

Arrogance and egotism left Zelrius as Cloud spoke of history. The only thing that could ever shut Zelrius up or get him off his high horse was knowledge. Oh how the boy craved the information and secrets of the world. Then came the questions, not long after Cloud started talking. The boy could hardly contain himself, but he was always good about waiting his turn. Most of the time. "What led those families to Corruption? I just mean that clearly there is not a whole lot here to be constantly stealing from the people and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of people to gain too much power over. So Corruption seems like it'd be a minimal thing." the lines and creases of thought crossed Zelrius's face rather than his usual scowl he kept on the world around him. The narcissistic curve of his lips slowly lowered into a flat line of thought and questioning. "Furthermore, Why not a republic first? Quite honestly, A country full of illiterate ice herders probably don't know the first thing about Government. A Democracy would be such a terrible idea with people who know nothing but fighting." He stopped, the "old" self returning for a moment to ask the question of a typical Aristocrat. "How much longer is this trip? This seat is rather uncomfortable and every second feels like a nice frozen afterlife. Oh, I lied there. "Nice" is not the correct word. A very uncomfortable frozen afterlife." Though Zelrius was just complaining for the sake of doing so. One thing he could admit to: The landscape was quite lovely. The mountains forming a bowl around the country stood tall on the horizon all three hundred and sixty degrees around. The snow piles sparkled and glistened in the sunlight giving the land a nice mystical enchanting effect. The now looked so soft, so peaceful compared to the raging desert sands of Fallien