You Should See Me In A Crown
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
He’d decided to try something new, and possibly crazy. He’d spent the better part of three days building the raft from dry logs Taliesyn had helped drag home to season and dry out for firewood. They had plenty of them in supply, so Ardyn felt no guilt in trying this out. It could be a boon to the pack if it worked.
The first launch was a little hair-raising. He was reminded of his mother’s story of encountering a strange water-borne den made of wood, and how it had pitched beneath her paws and nearly carried her off into the ocean before she’d jumped off and swum back to shore.
He had fashioned paddles according to Cairo’s mandrill Enito’s descriptions, and they were working pretty well in keeping him going in one direction and not off-course.
The raft had been bound tightly with sinew cordage, and pine tar painted over the undersides of the logs and in the creases to ward off the water.
Compared to his usual time swimming, the trip to the island was remarkably swift, and he couldn’t help the bark of laughter between puffs of breath in the rhythm of rowing oars. Sädir handled the left and Ardyn the right, and between the two the large raft glided and swooped between waves. He had a feeling they could make even better time, as Lyr pointed out, they could try adding a wing of hide to pull it forward with the wind.
The raft scraped against the shore of the island and Ardyn stumbled a bit, before jumping free and hauling on the rope to drag the raft to short. He jammed a stake into the sand and moored his vessel before stretching the kinks out of his shoulders and neck.
In all the action he’d missed the grey form on the beach, but a feeble rattle of a wet coat caught his attention and he found himself about fifty feet away from a woman who looked bedraggled and possibly disoriented.
“Are you alright, Lady?”
The fun of the voyage was forgotten as he padded a few steps closer, concern sparking over his black, light-masked features.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
Her response was a blank gawking look before she stammered out, paused, then tried again. Ardyn lowered himself to the sand, tail flicking habitually to one side, flickering with firelight as he brought himself down to a less imposing level and offered a grin, nodding. “Being alive is a very good start.”
She must have washed up, considering her condition and remark. He twisted around to flip open one pouch on his armor and tugged out two items. One was a beeswax-soaked packet of dried meat, and the other a waterskin. Shortly after came a wooden bowl which he poured the water into and nudged toward her, setting the packet beside it after slicing a claw through the seal and unfolding the packet to reveal the meat.
Her question he answered with a nod, smiling as he gestured northward toward the mainland. “This is an island south of the western end Boreas, one of two main continents in the area. This island is known as Silver Island.”
He plucked one strip of jerky indiscriminately from the packet and chewed, showing the woman that it was untainted and safe to eat.
“I’m Ardyn Adravendi, Ard Rí of Valhalla. How’d you happen to wash up out here, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Depending on where she’d originated from, she was probably extremely lucky to be alive.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
Her soft remark brought a soft chuckle. She wasn’t far from the mark. From the fiery glow that flickered through his ink-black fur at every move and under every buffet of wind to the surprise that ran through his veins, he definitely wasn’t short on surprises.
She drank after a brief inspection, and he nodded at her thanks, intoning lightly, “Of course.”
His description garnered no response of recognition, and he decided it must have been a long way away that she’d come from. As she returned the introduction, Ardyn noted the pause, but the comfort in the surname she did give told him it wasn’t just made up on the fly. What memories had just flashed in those green eyes just then?
Ardyn listened with interest as Cassiela did her best to recollect the events leading up to her arrival on this island, a frown of concern touching his mask-marked features. Chase by whom? And would they be stupid enough to try tracking her down all the way here? Or, perhaps they were stupid, or logical, and thought she obviously would have perished in the ocean?
He didn’t press. It was clear that the memories were foggy, and they might come with time. He nodded in acknowledgement of her efforts, smiling gently.
Her query broadened the expression into a brief grin, the thrill of his first raft venture returning as he answered cheerfully, “Normally, it’d be a couple of hours of swimming or so, unless the currents were working with you. On the raft, it took me a short time, and no swimming.”
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
Her light-hearted query brought a brief laugh. “Probably not, but life is inherently risky either way. I think I may add railings at some point to lower the risk of falling overboard. I’m happy to give you a ride to the mainland.”
He considered the raft thoughtfully, head tilting as he envisioned the changes he’d mentioned. “Certainly will make taking some Island Pork home after a hunt here much easier. Or herbs for our healers.”
His sisters and cousin, as well as Eramaya, Noelle and Viviane, would all be pleased with the ease of transport and lowered risk of waterlogged supplies. Imagine if they could track down that great water den his mother had encountered. That would be something but… perhaps too difficult to steer. How would one even manage it?
“If you need a place to stay until you get your bearings, I welcome you to Valhalla. You need not stay if you don’t want to in the end, but it would give you a chance to gain your feet in a safe place with food, shelter and clean water.”
There were no strings attached in his offer, and his tone was genuine as he studied the small woman and her castaway appearance. He left it open for her to decline, and he would accept her decision.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
Her acceptance of his offer for a ride across to the mainland came after a moment of consideration, and he nodded lightly in return, eyes twinkling faintly. She was deliberate and careful with her decisions. “We can set off when you’re ready; I only came this way to test the raft.”
His second offer took her by surprise, it seemed, and after a brief remark, she trailed into one of her careful considerations, before continuing.
A grin flashed over his features, and he remarked cheerfully, “Well, I don’t tend to get in arguments with myself very often. Now, if it were someone else bringing you in for a place to stay a while, I’d be asking more questions unless I trusted my pack-mate’s judgement, and I trust them all.”
His mismatched fire and ice gaze twinkled at her as he added, “And it wouldn’t be entirely freeloading. We do generally ask that our guests find some way to give back, even if it’s just a piece of useful information and nothing else. Knowledge and stories are just as good as bringing in food or defending the borders.”
His eyes softened from their jovial twinkling as he finished gently, “However, if that is your decision, I won’t force you into my pack.”
His voice was earnest, and he held her gaze long enough to make it clear he meant his words.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.
Ardyn
Master Fighter (250)
Master Hunter (240)
Knight
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1056
BrienaSkysong
Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi |
She did her best to mask her embarrassment as he revealed himself, and Ardyn chuckled softly, lifting a long-digited paw-hand to assuage her concerns. “It’s no issue. It’s usually a surprise to find anyone who speaks the Old Tongue of my family and our allied Nomad friends. Ard Rí means ‘High King’, but just you try introducing yourself as High King and not sounding bloody pompous as you say it.”
His voice was touched with earnest amusement as he spoke, brow-points lifting.
His assurance that she wouldn’t be freeloading seemed to bolster her in some way, and Cassiela accepted his offer of a place to stay. A smile touched his features and he nodded, stating smoothly, “Then, Lady Cassiela Impératoria, welcome to Valhalla. For now, you will be ranked as an Aoi, or Guest.”
She seemed ready to leave, so Ardyn nodded at her words, rising to his paws and gathering the bowl and waterskin, tucking them away and then folding the packet of jerky and slipping that back into his pouch.
Lunira and Sädir padded to the raft ahead of them as Ardyn strolled to the raft at a pace a tired castaway could keep up with and not fall over. “Really, all you need to do is sit back and rest. Sädir and myself have the rhythm down pretty well for rowing.”
He stood at the raft, one paw resting on the log while Lunira yanked the mooring stake and rope free to be tossed on the raft. “Once you’re on, we’ll push off.”
His voice was cheerful as ever, and he scanned the waves to the north, scouting the mainland visible across the water.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
Ardyn at first glance is as black as can be imagined with a raven sheen.
Closer inspection proves that he shimmers in fire tones in every hair on his hide right down to his lashes.
More obviously, he glows like a bed of coals and flames with every movement and brush of fur. His tail is usually wagging, so blazes like a torch.
His adult teeth are in and his saber canines have grown to their full length (see profile). His mane and tail hair have grown to full length, as well as being lightweight and easily buffeted by breezes.
A look at his front paws will give the impression of hands, with his dew claw dropped low and lengthened into a functioning thumb, and his toes elongated into fingers. He has retractable, solid black cat-like claws on every paw.
Ardyn has developed a glowing mast of intricate markings in fire and ice colors over his face, symmetrical over the last seasons of Year 17 (see profile for details). During hunts or raids/sieges, he will smudge them out with black soot to cover the glow, otherwise, they are bright enough to note at first direct glance at his face. Not all his artwork currently portrays the mask markings.
He is also often bedecked in beads, small bells, feathers in blues, ribbons and braids thanks to the Ooze Event of Halloween 2021, and the Coathanger item that he got. The accessories generally are seen most in his mane and tail hair. He removes the brighter items and bells for hunts or battle.