Snow Whales

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Rhedd

Jul 12 2006, 03:16 AM

"Something new," Aricyn said.

 

He led the two to the East Gate, which was opened for them, revealing the broad, ancient stair that wound endlessly up the mountain. Here and there, tough little trees clung fiercely to the rocks, but they fought a loosing battle against the wind and ice.

 

Somewhere, far above, was the ancient home of the Tongues; revered old men who bound their mouths to control the power of their voices.

 

The little party wasn't going so far up, though. Still, they were going far enough. The snow to either side of the stair became piled, and deep. A man on a horse would easily sink into it and be lost.

 

"Look there," Aricyn said, pointing suddenly across the mountainside.

 

The snow spread out on the mountainside like a white sea, tilted at a wild angle. In the whiteness, something moved, leaving a wake.

 

A little further off, the snow suddenly sprayed high into the air, like a fountain.

 

There was a moment of utter silence, then a huge creature, as long as a Nordic hall and as gleaming white as the snow, burst from the mountainside and flipped joyfully in midair. Jutting from it's heavy, round head, a single twisted horn sparkled in the late morning sun, and then the creature disappeared again in a glittering spray of snow. It's broad tail flicked once, as if it were waving, and then it was gone.

 

A mournful yet joyous keen could be heard from the beasts as they rounded the mountain and were lost to sight.

 

"Snow whales," said Aricyn. "It is said that they swim in the clouds, as well as the snow. Who knows if that's true. Anything is possible."

---

 

Sheogorath

Jul 12 2006, 03:23 AM

High Hrothgar

 

Waughin Jarth stared, not wanting to look back to Aricyn for fear another whale would surface and he wouldn't see it. How could he do this sight justice in his book? He immediately began penning metaphors in his mind, editing them because fantastical sights just seemed like metaphors for something else ... Which perhaps this was. Aricyn as the snow whale?

 

"Are they dangerous?" was his rather prosaic question.

---

 

Rhedd

Jul 12 2006, 03:28 AM

"No," Aricyn said, quietly. He, too, had never seen such a sight, and it brought a cold tear to his eye.

 

"Legend says that the snow they spray causes endless happiness, if tasted by men. They are bringers of joy, and quellers of battle.

 

"Also, it is said, they are only seen when the king of the land is righteous, and blessed by the gods."

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Sheogorath

Jul 12 2006, 03:36 AM

High Hrothgar

 

Waughin Jarth could not help but smile. He should have known that Aricyn hadn't brought him up here simply to share a spectacular, once in a lifetime vision with a dear friend. It was for the book. Of course, it was good, and Jarth could look up more about snow whales and quote from the original legend in the book. That was good. It was always more dramatic when you could find old text to back up your prose.

 

It also seemed to the author a bit presumptive that quellers of battles would appear when surely there were many more wars ahead for Aricyn.

 

"It's good to see creatures of great power and great goodness," is what he said, and meant.

---

 

Sheogorath

Jul 13 2006, 11:57 AM

Summary

 

In nearby High Hrothgar, the Princess Rinnala awaits rescue at the hands of our stalwart heroes. She's not the real Princess actually, but the Princess's double Istimna taken by Aricyn by mistake.

 

Aricyn's other prisoner, the famous pensmith Waughin Jarth, after having seen some of the wonders of the mountain, the snow whales and the never-before-seen valley of waterfalls he has named Vakkervanir, is on his way to Whiterun now under escort, and from there to the library at Winterhold, to establish a blood tie between his captor and Talos Stormcrown.

 

The real Princess Rinnala, called publicly Lietta, is asleep in the mines of Mount Einar, the mountain neighboring High Hrothgar. Having channeled Ayleid magicks in order to save the party from an avalanche, she is understandably exhausted.

 

Also exhausted is her brother Goranthir, known publicly as Lietir, having nearly died in that avalanche.

 

In a different plotline, the beautiful androgynous witch called Keown is meeting Suiko, Slyvos, and Dragon at the Shrine of Vaernima for a very dangerous mission to save Somnia Nyx from the Prince's land of Quagmire.

---

 

Rhedd

Aug 2 2006, 01:19 AM

The spells and potions helped. The cold and height was unbearable, but survivable, with magic.

 

The wailing, keening sound did not go away, however.

 

The mountain did not stop swimming unsteadily before everyone's eyes, either.

 

Without warning, something huge, solid, and gleaming white burst from the snow. As it sailed gracefully over the Stair- and the heads of the adventurers- its wailing song grew louder. The long, spiral horn that tipped its flat nose gleamed in the moonlight, and it's smooth white length was ghostly against the black, airless sky.

 

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it dove into the flowing icefall, and with a wave of its tail, disappeared.

 

All was silent for a moment, then the mountain came alive as an entire herd of the whale-like beasts followed the first. Their glistening white bodies blocking out the sky, before diving headfirst into the icefall.

 

The fall was alive, now, with playful, singing, giant creatures. Some swam as easily upstream as down, while others lept clear of the ice, flipping joyously in the night air before returning to the flow.

 

Despite the burning cold, and the shortness of breath, it was utterly impossible not to share the creatures' happiness.

---

 

Stargazey

Aug 2 2006, 01:21 AM

Tyradil looked up in awe at the whales, squinting through his frost covered eyelashes.

 

"Beautiful ..." He managed to say.

---

 

 

Nirreln

Aug 2 2006, 01:22 AM

 

Heaving heavily Shimnar stared with awe at these magical beast.

---

 

Sheogorath

Aug 2 2006, 01:23 AM

Rinnala gasped from surprise and delight as much as absence of air. She felt her tears freeze on her face, as she laughed.

 

Goranthir heard the song and understood it, and it brought warmth to him that had nothing to do with temperature. He tried breathing as shallow as he could, to try to call out to them. It would not be easy.

---

 

 

Nalion

Aug 2 2006, 01:24 AM

 

Nalion smiled, frost falling from his cheeks as he moved his mouth. He breathed fast, very fast, but there was just not enough air for him. Snow sparkled and specks of light danced in front of his vision as if they would dance with these marvelous creatures.

 

Nalion stretched out a weak hand to touch one of them, then tried to take a hold...

 

"Fly..."

---

 

Allerleirauh

Aug 2 2006, 01:25 AM

"Snow whales," Allerleirauh said. She was weeping; the tears instantly froze on her cheeks. Snow whales were creatures of Kyne. "Many men have frozen solid trying to catch just a glimpse of them - but the snow whales save them if they can."

 

Tris had no understanding of what he was seeing, but he stood up, mouth wide open, the cold forgotten.

---

 

 

Rhedd

Aug 2 2006, 01:28 AM

Warmth and happiness spread through Nalion's fingertips the moment they touched the flawless white hide.

 

The whale slowed, rolled smoothly to pull the Breton gently onto its back, and then with a flick of its huge tail, shot down the icefall, leaving its cavorting brethren far behind.

---

 

Sheogorath

Aug 2 2006, 01:31 AM

At the sight of that, Goranthir caught his breath and called out to the whales, in a high, keening wail.

 

Rinnala, still holding Istimna's trembling hand, stepped forward, reaching out to touch one of the magnificent creatures.

---

 

Allerleirauh

Aug 2 2006, 01:31 AM

Tris gasped. "There aren't enough for one whale apiece... careful now, stay together." He took hold of Goranthir's arm.

 

Allerleirauh was already approaching another Snow Whale, her hand outstretched.

---

 

Stargazey

Aug 2 2006, 01:33 AM

Tyradil watched the whale carry Nalion away, in amazement.

 

He stumbled to his feet, and walked towards the whale that Rinnala and Istimna were touching, extending a hand toward it.

---

 

Rhedd

Aug 2 2006, 01:42 AM

How the creatures could keep their huge bodies steady in the rushing stream of millions of tons of ice, and why that ice didn't tear them- or their riders- to shreds, were questions no one thought to ask. It was enough that the carefree whales did what they wanted, and that all they did was right.

 

Goranthir knew for a fact what the others only assumed; almost all of their beautiful song was simply laughter.

 

The creatures were strong and patient, and held steady in the current until their backs were full of secure passengers. Only then did their huge muscles ripple under their smooth skin, and their tails drive them flying down the mountainside.

---

 

Nirreln

Aug 2 2006, 01:44 AM

Shimnar reached out to the whales, no they were more than just whales they saviors sent by the gods themselves the bard though.

---

 

Sheogorath

Aug 2 2006, 01:46 AM

Rinnala roared with delight, finding air she didn't know she had in her lungs. Her brother joined her.

 

Istimna, not quite able to scream from the flood of warmth in her body, still kept her eyes closed all the way down.

---

 

Allerleirauh

Aug 2 2006, 01:50 AM

Tris felt terrified and delighted at the same time - the rush of speed was intoxicating, but he was used to speed being under his own control. He tightened his grip on Goranthir, but never shut his eyes for a moment.

 

Allerleirauh felt herself in a beautiful dream. The snow the whales blew out through their blowholes was a potent alchemical ingredient - for that reason men hunted them. She wondered if she would be able to gather some when they arrived at their destination.

 

Tris was wondering what, if anything, their destination was.

---

 

Nalion

Aug 2 2006, 01:57 AM

Nalion didn't even have to cling onto the whale, the ride was as smooth a lying on a soft pillow. The music was soothing and calming, his breath grew steadier and he felt that life and warmth came back to him. The moonlight glistened between the icicles of the towering icefall, breaking the light into it's marvelous colours, bright like the rainbow, peaceful...

 

Nalion softly brushed the snow whale's skin savouring the feeling of you and committing it to memory. Then, the mage shouted, a cry of joy and the Breton's laughter chimed in with the song of the whales, celebrating them simply being alive, riding the winds, the coulds and the snow...

---

 

Rhedd

Aug 2 2006, 02:17 AM

It seemed like only a short, joy-filled time, but the sun had risen above the peaks, coloring everything a warm orange, and bringing new warmth to the adventurers.

 

Long ago, the whales had veered away from the stair, and all familiar sights had passed behind the mass of High Hrothgar. They had lept clear of the great icefall at some point, and had continued downward through a sea of spotless white snow.

 

After the long march up the mountain, the lower altitude air seemed positively warm as it blew across smiling faces and through flowing hair.

 

All too soon, the group found themselves in a low-lying valley at the foot of the mountain. The snow whales circled slowly, then rolled over, dumping their laughing passengers in the soft, comfortable snow.

 

They made one more circle of the little valley, some leaping high in the air, catching the morning sun, and then the herd turned to the mountain.

 

Within moments they were lost in the endless white snows of High Hrothgar, leaving only a dreamy memory in their wake.

---

 

Allerleirauh

Aug 2 2006, 02:19 AM

Tris lay still. After the heights, the snow felt warm and the air felt thick as water.

 

"Where are we?" he asked, looking up at the sky.

 

Allerleirauh was scrambling to collect the snow left by the whales before it dissolved into the ordinary snow around it.

---

 

Sheogorath

Aug 2 2006, 02:24 AM

Goranthir sang back to them as they ascended back up the mountain. He still couldn't get the huge grin off his face.

 

Rinnala gave Istimna a little shake. "We're on solid ground again."

 

She knew she would have to open her map and see where they were, but she still did not feel that they were anywhere real. It took the familiar chill of the Skyrim wind, not as agonizing as it had been on the mountain, but still persistent, before she turned with a sigh to the map.

---

 

Nalion

Aug 2 2006, 02:26 AM

Nalion still smiled, even as the snow-whales vanished into the clouds. The mage lay with his back in the snow, arms spread out wide, letting the snowflakes trickle through his fingers, feeling its softness. The flakes didn't seem cold to him, just soft and feathery. He took a bit of the snow, seeing it melt and drank from the water, a smile on his face. As he saw Allerleirauh collecting the snow, he smiled and nodded to her. The mage stood and walked over, wordlessly handing her an empty vial out of his pocket.

---

 

Allerleirauh

Aug 2 2006, 02:31 AM

"It melts quickly," Allerleirauh said. "It melts when ordinary snow is still frozen..."

 

She smiled at Nalion, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

 

Tris forced himself to sit up. He shifted his shoulders, stretched, drank a potion against the chill.

 

"We did it," he said. "We got Istimna out and no one's dead."

 

He looked around at the peaks of the mountains, tried to piece together the trip down Hrothgar. As best he could figure they were... no where they had ever been before.

 

---

---

 

Archive references:

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_26.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_27.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_37.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_38.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_39.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_40.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_44.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_47.htm]

[http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/f/RP_From_the_Ashes_Part_49.htm]