None of them were certain how much time had passed, but upon awakening, each found themselves enveloped in dense Yeti fur hooded coats and trousers. Their faces were obscured by a thin fabric, and their footwear had been replaced by thick boots also lined with Yeti fur. Stationed on makeshift beds made from compacted snow, covered in blankets crafted from some sort of wool, they all experienced a surreal awakening.
Idris was the first of the trio to regain consciousness. Expecting excruciating pain, he was relieved to discover stiffness and soreness instead. Memories of The Old King's threat loomed, and he had anticipated their demise, either by the king's blade or the freezing cold when Taharqa succumbed.
Fortunately, their savior recognized their non-native status.
"Good, you're finally awake," a voice called out, prompting Idris to survey the surroundings. The entire structure, meticulously constructed from ice and snow, bore an unmistakable magical infusion. It seemed purpose-built for this specific occasion, designed to withstand the elements, albeit with limited headroom. As Idris stood, his horns nearly grazed the ceiling, if he was any older, they would cut into the ice made ceiling.
Turning the corner, he encountered an enigmatic figure reminiscent of a Frost Giant but not made of ice. Standing as tall as Idris, their whitish-blue body displayed intricate grooves resembling tattoos. Defined biceps and a chiseled abdomen hinted at formidable strength. Adorned with a belly button piercing, dangling a gold piece with an emerald, they wore dark blue pants with gold cuffs, matching the sleeves covering their shirtless frame.
A necklace with a central emerald adorned their frame, and a chain extended to their abdomen, secured by small chains embedded under their skin. Cold red eyes, three golden dots above their brows, an array of ear piercings, and long, thin horns resembling a crown contributed to their striking appearance. Gold beads and chains adorned their hair, emphasizing a regal aura.
Approaching Idris, they extended a hand adorned with gold rings and chains. "My name is Loki. And you?"
When Idris clasped Loki's hand, he sensed the formidable strength within their firm grip and dense aura. "I am Idris, Idris of Goliath’s Gate."
"Ah, the Kikimaru Islands, interesting," Loki remarked, turning away to sit back at their makeshift table. Gesturing at the food, Loki asked, "You hungry?" Idris gestured to his comrades, but Loki interjected, "They'll be awake in due time, then they can join us."
Taking a seat across from Loki, Idris examined the spread—a variety of fruit and some kind of meat sliced evenly on the plate in the center, steam rising from each piece. "Please help yourself," Loki offered. "As much as you'd like. I can always make more when your friends finally come to."
Idris began filling his ice plate, hesitating for a moment before glancing at Loki. "Ah, don't worry, it won't melt," Loki reassured, gesturing to the ice structure. "I'm pretty good at this whole ice thing." As Loki spoke those words, frost curled around their dark blue lips, expelling onto the table. He looked at Idris, a curious smile on his face. "You're an awfully long way from home, my Gargoyle friend...but you're not entirely Gargoyle, are you?" He leaned in, gesturing toward Taharqa. "He doesn't know, does he?"
Idris paused, his expression a mix of confusion and partial acknowledgment. Unsure how Loki acquired this information, he opted for a cautious response. "Know what? That I’m part Dark Elf, I actually just told him, funny enough."
Loki shook his head in annoyance, taking a bite of fruit. "Please. Don't play games," he said, revealing his sharp teeth. "The Elf, you two are brothers."
Idris choked on his food briefly, then shook his head. "Not brothers, cousins. Second cousins, if you care about specifics."
"I do," Loki replied, taking another bite. "Do continue."
"My mother is his mother’s sister’s child, something like that," Idris explained, taking another bite. "I don't really know the specifics, but she left Nazzaroth long ago, met my father while he was still an Adventurer."
"Is that why you've returned? To see where she is from?" Loki inquired.
Idris denied, lowering the food. "No, I'm here for an entirely different reason. We were heading to Nazzaroth because Taharqa wanted to see home before we spoke to the Dwarves."
"Dwarves?" Loki leaned in, intrigued. "What business do you have with the Dwarves?"
"Oh…" Idris instinctively reached for the rapier but realized it was gone. "…shit."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"
Idris shook his head, taking another bite, and then asked, "I'm sorry, I don't know enough about you to be sharing my whole life story. You knowing about Taharqa and me was weird. Who are you?"
"What about us?" Taharqa's voice echoed from their beds. "I heard my name."
Idris motioned him over and gestured for Loki to keep quiet. As Taharqa approached and took a seat, Idris handed him a plate. "Don't worry, the plate won't melt." Taharqa began eating, and Idris smirked, nodding at him. "I was just telling him how you and I have known each other the longest."
Taharqa nodded at Loki. "And who are you?"
Loki tossed the remaining fruit into his mouth, chomped once, and swallowed. "I am Loki, Warlord of Ayce."
Idris set down his food, eyes widening. "You're a Warlord?"
Loki nodded. "That is what I said, wasn't it?" He glanced down the short hall to Menelik, still fast asleep. "Will he be joining us anytime soon?"
Idris promptly stood up. "What are you doing?" Loki asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Frozen in place, Idris shifted his gaze from Menelik to Loki. "I was gonna go wake him up."
"No," Loki stated firmly. "You sit. He will wake when he is ready." He looked at Menelik and then back at Idris. "Eat your fill, and when your friend awakes, we can fill him with food and the details."
"Details of what?" Taharqa asked between chews.
"What we're doing here," Idris replied, turning his attention from Taharqa to Loki. A slight smirk played on Loki's face, as if contemplating something beyond the present. "You asked why we are going to see the Dwarves."
"I did," Loki acknowledged, picking up another piece of fruit. "But the Dwarves don't take visitors."
"So we've been told. That's why we have to give them a name, then they'll let us in," Idris explained.
"Whose name?" Loki inquired.
Idris glanced at Taharqa, who shrugged. "He seems alright."
Idris turned back to Loki. "Maeve."
None of them were certain how much time had passed, but upon awakening, each found themselves enveloped in dense Yeti fur hooded coats and trousers. Their faces were obscured by a thin fabric, and their footwear had been replaced by thick boots also lined with Yeti fur. Stationed on makeshift beds made from compacted snow, covered in blankets crafted from some sort of wool, they all experienced a surreal awakening.
Idris was the first of the trio to regain consciousness. Expecting excruciating pain, he was relieved to discover stiffness and soreness instead. Memories of The Old King's threat loomed, and he had anticipated their demise, either by the king's blade or the freezing cold when Taharqa succumbed.
Fortunately, their savior recognized their non-native status.
"Good, you're finally awake," a voice called out, prompting Idris to survey the surroundings. The entire structure, meticulously constructed from ice and snow, bore an unmistakable magical infusion. It seemed purpose-built for this specific occasion, designed to withstand the elements, albeit with limited headroom. As Idris stood, his horns nearly grazed the ceiling, if he was any older, they would cut into the ice made ceiling.
Turning the corner, he encountered an enigmatic figure reminiscent of a Frost Giant but not made of ice. Standing as tall as Idris, their whitish-blue body displayed intricate grooves resembling tattoos. Defined biceps and a chiseled abdomen hinted at formidable strength. Adorned with a belly button piercing, dangling a gold piece with an emerald, they wore dark blue pants with gold cuffs, matching the sleeves covering their shirtless frame.
A necklace with a central emerald adorned their frame, and a chain extended to their abdomen, secured by small chains embedded under their skin. Cold red eyes, three golden dots above their brows, an array of ear piercings, and long, thin horns resembling a crown contributed to their striking appearance. Gold beads and chains adorned their hair, emphasizing a regal aura.
Approaching Idris, they extended a hand adorned with gold rings and chains. "My name is Loki. And you?"
When Idris clasped Loki's hand, he sensed the formidable strength within their firm grip and dense aura. "I am Idris, Idris of Goliath’s Gate."
"Ah, the Kikimaru Islands, interesting," Loki remarked, turning away to sit back at their makeshift table. Gesturing at the food, Loki asked, "You hungry?" Idris gestured to his comrades, but Loki interjected, "They'll be awake in due time, then they can join us."
Taking a seat across from Loki, Idris examined the spread—a variety of fruit and some kind of meat sliced evenly on the plate in the center, steam rising from each piece. "Please help yourself," Loki offered. "As much as you'd like. I can always make more when your friends finally come to."
Idris began filling his ice plate, hesitating for a moment before glancing at Loki. "Ah, don't worry, it won't melt," Loki reassured, gesturing to the ice structure. "I'm pretty good at this whole ice thing." As Loki spoke those words, frost curled around their dark blue lips, expelling onto the table. He looked at Idris, a curious smile on his face. "You're an awfully long way from home, my Gargoyle friend...but you're not entirely Gargoyle, are you?" He leaned in, gesturing toward Taharqa. "He doesn't know, does he?"
Idris paused, his expression a mix of confusion and partial acknowledgment. Unsure how Loki acquired this information, he opted for a cautious response. "Know what? That I’m part Dark Elf, I actually just told him, funny enough."
Loki shook his head in annoyance, taking a bite of fruit. "Please. Don't play games," he said, revealing his sharp teeth. "The Elf, you two are brothers."
Idris choked on his food briefly, then shook his head. "Not brothers, cousins. Second cousins, if you care about specifics."
"I do," Loki replied, taking another bite. "Do continue."
"My mother is his mother’s sister’s child, something like that," Idris explained, taking another bite. "I don't really know the specifics, but she left Nazzaroth long ago, met my father while he was still an Adventurer."
"Is that why you've returned? To see where she is from?" Loki inquired.
Idris denied, lowering the food. "No, I'm here for an entirely different reason. We were heading to Nazzaroth because Taharqa wanted to see home before we spoke to the Dwarves."
"Dwarves?" Loki leaned in, intrigued. "What business do you have with the Dwarves?"
"Oh…" Idris instinctively reached for the rapier but realized it was gone. "…shit."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"
Idris shook his head, taking another bite, and then asked, "I'm sorry, I don't know enough about you to be sharing my whole life story. You knowing about Taharqa and me was weird. Who are you?"
"What about us?" Taharqa's voice echoed from their beds. "I heard my name."
Idris motioned him over and gestured for Loki to keep quiet. As Taharqa approached and took a seat, Idris handed him a plate. "Don't worry, the plate won't melt." Taharqa began eating, and Idris smirked, nodding at him. "I was just telling him how you and I have known each other the longest."
Taharqa nodded at Loki. "And who are you?"
Loki tossed the remaining fruit into his mouth, chomped once, and swallowed. "I am Loki, Warlord of Ayce."
Idris set down his food, eyes widening. "You're a Warlord?"
Loki nodded. "That is what I said, wasn't it?" He glanced down the short hall to Menelik, still fast asleep. "Will he be joining us anytime soon?"
Idris promptly stood up. "What are you doing?" Loki asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Frozen in place, Idris shifted his gaze from Menelik to Loki. "I was gonna go wake him up."
"No," Loki stated firmly. "You sit. He will wake when he is ready." He looked at Menelik and then back at Idris. "Eat your fill, and when your friend awakes, we can fill him with food and the details."
"Details of what?" Taharqa asked between chews.
"What we're doing here," Idris replied, turning his attention from Taharqa to Loki. A slight smirk played on Loki's face, as if contemplating something beyond the present. "You asked why we are going to see the Dwarves."
"I did," Loki acknowledged, picking up another piece of fruit. "But the Dwarves don't take visitors."
"So we've been told. That's why we have to give them a name, then they'll let us in," Idris explained.
"Whose name?" Loki inquired.
Idris glanced at Taharqa, who shrugged. "He seems alright."
Idris turned back to Loki. "Maeve."
