Play@YSDC

Chapter 1 : BLOOD AND SNOW



Aglakti rose early in the morning to make all the use she could muster of the short arctic day. She would not dare travel alone at night so far from the village and she had many herbs to gather for her magics. Her visions have of late been problematic, but Aglakti refused to burden her tribe with her nightmares. She was forced into the Arctic tundra to fend for herselves. If she did not leave on her own, Aglakti feared the village elders would force her to leave or worse in time. She could not shake her dreams and no matter what herbs she prepared or sacrifices she made to Sedna, the vision was always there, spreading fear and doubt in Aglakti's mind and fear meant failure for a Shaman.

A dark bear was coming. Every night she would awaken, screaming from her dreams. The bear had killed her so many times she had lost track of all the inventive ways the bear had tortured her soul. Aglakti was certain this spelled doom for the Dorset tribe but could do nothing to help her people until she gained some inkling of contol over her nightmares. Visions were always terrifying for the untrained heart, but Aglakti was an accomplished Shaman of the Dorset people. She should have mastered this vision by now and gained some insight into its purpose and design. She had done neither. Aglakti could not overcome the intense fear and doubt that accompanied the black bear with each visit. Each night the bear would come and each night Aglakti would flee for her life and possibly her mind and soul.

Aglakti pulled the furs from her igloo door and squinted as the sun illuminated her home. As she surveyed the snow covered plains, the fear returned. There were bear track leading up to her igloo. They came from the South and left to the East, changing direction at her igloo door. Judging by the tracks, it even seemed the bear stopped to sit a while before moving on.

Aglakti retrieved her spear, torn between following the bear tracks or attempting to gather her herbs. Finally, she decided to follow the bear tracks for a little way and then attempt to gather what she needed.

Aglakti grabs Sedna's Spear and heads East out onto the plains. Holding the spear and heading out inot the wild always reminded Aglakti of her first hunting ceremony, when Sedna had given her the spear....... metaphorically.

Aglakti could barely remember the experience. She was far too high on halucinagenic herbs to recall most of the experience. She was supposed to dive down into the icy water and comb Sedna's hair. Sedna would bless the hunt and the following year would be prosperous. Aglakti knew that she could have been brushing seaweed for all she knew with the drugs she had taken, but then there was the spear. She dove into the water, as she was born, with nothing save her shaman's teeth and a few ivory trinkets. She remembers little of Sedna herself and that did not change over time. Sedna was always a mystery to the Shaman. For all her doubt and drug enduced euphoria, Aglakti surfaced with Sedna's Spear. The spear served as Aglakti's totem for the next ten years as the Dorset people's Shaman and spiritual leader. Aglakti was the first woman in centuries to join the hunt. Not since the clan wars had a woman thrown a spear or pierced flesh.

Now Aglakti, alone on the the Arctic circle, would use the Spear of Sedna daily. It had served her well. She had fed herself with the spear for seven months now, voluntarily exiled from her people. Tommorrow morning, her friend Yuralria would partake in her first hunting ceremony. She would take the halucinagenic herbs and dive down to meet Sedna.... metaphorically.

Aglakti missed the herbs. Aside from the confusion and overwhelming madness that accompanied the first hour of their use, the next day was fun. Sure there was some vomiting and once she thought a Quallapilluk had taken a child she had never had seen before and in fact was a cariboo skull, but the hunting herbs were fun. Aglakti knew the best palces to find them on the island. She had planned to give the most potent of herbs to Yuralria as a gift for her first hunting ceremony. It would have saved her the trouble of finding them herself, but these tracks changed everything.

It wasn't normal bear behavior to sit outside ones igloo. Bears did not like to approach human settlements for any reason unless they were desperately hungry. This year brought no shortage of food for the Dorset people or the bears. Aglakti eyed the tracks outside her door one last time. The bear definitely sat down right in front of her door. It was odd...

Aglakti began to run East with her thoughts and her spear, following the mysterious tracks in the snow.

She peered at the horizon as she ran, scanning for any sign of the bear. If she saw it, she would surely run back. The last thing she wanted to do was be pitted against a bear. There was no joy in that. The bear had haunted her dreams long enough but that did not mean she was ready to face it out on the snow.

Aglakti follows the tracks for an hour to the east. She passes a herd of cariboo and that lifts her spirits somewhat. The Hunting ceremony is tommorrow and that marks a new year for her people. Perhaps with the new year, her visions will return. Then she can return to the Dorset tribe and take her rightful place as village Shaman. Yuralria will not be happy when that happens. But first she must deal with the bear.

ooc - Spot Hidden Check
ooc - Track check
ooc - Luck Check

Please and Thankyou

Aglakti continues to follow the tracks through the herd of cariboo with little difficulty. The bear began to move south again and it seemed to Aglakti that the bear was doubling back towards the ocean. She follows the tracks for another hour and finally arrives at the ocean. The tracks walk straight into the icy water and then disappear. Miles off in the distance Aglakti can see a giant brown serpant floating on the water with huge white wings.

Aglakti gasps and offers a quick prayer to Sedna. She looks about for any sneaky route to get a better vantage point. She tries to mentally calculate how far off the shore the dragon is.

The brown serpant is at least a mile off shore and heading west alongside the island. There is a small short mountain range just to the west. Aglakti has been there before, searching the caves. She could get a much better look from there. If anything the serpant appears to be coming closer to shore as it slowly crawls through the water traveling west.

Aglakti moves to the mountain range, her heart hammering in her chest, the bear temporarily forgotten.

Aglakti has an easy time keeping pace to the distant serpant from the shore line. She enters the small mountain range and is momentarily confused as to which path will take her to the mountain peak the quickest.

ooc - Own Kingdom check.

Unsure, Aglakti turns left and follows the path closest to the ocean so she can keep her eyes on the distant brown serpant. Her intuition pays off. The path climbs up the small mountain to its very peak. She looks to her right and sees with her own eyes, the difficulties the other path would have given her. After a short 15 minute climb, she reaches the peak, which plateaus into a sheet of ice. From her vantage point Aglakti can see the ship much more clearly. The serpant has 10 legs moving frantically over the water, its white wings stretched high, they are unable to give the beast flight. It is a very strange sight to see.

Aglakti watches it with nervous anticipation, trying to judge where it will settle, and strives to think whether she should warn the others or remain to watch. She tries to judge where its landing will be compared to where her old village is.

OOC: Is there any chance she could have a communication spell as one of the seven? If so, she'd contact the other shaman?

The dragon seems to be heading to the southern most tip of the island. Now, after climbing so high, Aglakti can see smoke in the distance to the south. The same direction the dragon is heading. Alot of smoke judging by how far away it must be. More than a week's travel by dog sled. Something terrible has happened to her Thule cousins. The Thule village is on fire.

ooc- Aglakti is Dorset. The Thule is another name for Dorset. On Baffin Island, I'm saying the Thule is one tribe and the Dorset is another. The Thule live right on the south eastern most tip of baffin Island. The Dorset live about 4 days sled ride to the North at the base of the largest mountain range on Baffin Island. There is another tribe called the Inuit. They live on the Northern coast of Baffin Island. They are a much more aggressive tribe and keep to themselves except when food is short. Then they journey south and hunt on Dorset land. OK sorry - History lesson over.

Aglakti knows the Thule Shaman well. Yuralria has not met her yet as she just took over Aglakti's role as Shaman of the Dorset people but she is sure the two would get along. She is an old and powerful woman. If something has happened to her, there is no telling how the island would respond to her death.

Aglakti decides the dragon is a bad thing that needs to have its fire drowned. She looks about, wondering whether she might call upon a storm to bring it to ruin.

Aglakti knows a storm can always be summoned this time of year. Her magic is powerful but comes with a heavy toll. At this distance, however, its effect would be difficult to judge. If Sedna agrees with the use of her magic in such a way, her storm could be powerful indeed.

Aglakti makes a decision. If she could come within range and then draw upon Sedna's wishes before the dragon lands, then she will. Otherwise, she will make her plea from this position.

Aglakti takes a few roots from her medicine pouch and chews them quickly. Almost immediately she feels the effects of the root. Colors swirl in her minds eye. She seems to see every crystal of snow and can sense her gods' touch on everything. The Sun smiles down at Aglakti and the sea parts before her. Her body seems to melt into the ice around her and she is drawn quickly and violently to the ocean floor. Aglakti holds her focus on the storm and she asks the sea questions she doesn't even understand and recieved just one answer to them all.

Yes!

Sanity check please. 1d6/2d6

Aglakti feels her purpose hold her senses straight. She is titillated and disoriented by the powers that rise about her but she feels its truthfulness and is not afraid. She wishes only destruction upon the dragon!

Aglakti falls over as a gust of wind suddenly rushes all around her and then races towards the ocean. Clouds begin to thicken in the sky and a pillar of grey cloud and unearthly smoke arcs to the water like a wild tornado. Aglakti can see the ocean struggling to remain calm as another pillar forms not far from the second. Then another pillar and another. Five in total. Aglakti had performed this spell once before to prevent a raiding Inuit band to the north from crossing an ice patch to hunt her tribe's seal grounds, but the effect was nothing compared to what she had conjured today. It was as if Sedna herself was feeding the storm. The five pillars of wind and cloud thickened at an alarming speed and intensity. They seemed to merge with each other to form an angry wall of wind and storm The black cloudy wall moved towards the dragon slowly, like a wolf stalking its prey.

Aglakti stood up to watch her storm do its work. As the storm moved towards the Dragon, Aglakti could spot 6 large shadows following her storm in the water. She was ceratain they were whales.

A deep calm voice rumbled behind her.

That was unnecessary... but we thank you nonetheless for your help. That storm should help my kin a great deal.

She spins, her eyebrows arching, her lips twitching into a ghastly smile of shock and power-fed madness. "Yes?"

Just a few yards away sits a polar bear, it's red eyes flash in the morning sun. Crouched in an awefully human sitting position the bear looks off into the distance and watches the storm slowly moving across the sea. Two cubs play at it's feet, unafraid of the magics at work all around them. The Bear lies down close to its children and turns her head quizically, regarding Aglakti



Very impressive Shaman. This will make my brothers' job that much easier.

One of the cubs turns to the larger bear.



Can we play in the storm mother?

"Thank you," says Aglakti. "I do not trust that dragon... It is all wrong and should not be on Sedna's waters. Forgive me, but what may I call you? And what does your brother want with the dragon?"

ooc - Aglakti instantly recothe bear and her cubs to be Ijiraat by their red eyes. (see Eskimo homewrok for details).


Indeed. Well said Shaman. My name is Furyok and these are my cubs Pandavol and Mya. As for my brothers. They will make short work of the Dragon's passengers. We wish only to protect the secrets of the island.

Furyok looks out to the sea and the pod of Narwhales still trailing behind Aglakti's violent ocean storm.

Pandavol, brave as the artic wolf, crawls up to Aglakti's feet and sniffs her confidently.


Are we going to eat the magic lady mamma?

Furyok smiles.

Not yet my precious child.

Furyok then turns back to Aglakti

You needn't fear me shaman or my brothers now at sea. We are for Sedna and will risk everything for her.

Pandavol swipes snow onto Aglakti's feet and growls a high pitched purring noise that could only be seen as threateningly hilarious.

Awwww Momma?

"How might I help in the destruction of the passengers?" asks Aglakti, curiously unafraid. Her long journey from her village had left her bereft of much emotion.

You may help by staying out of our way Shaman. I do not wish to offend you, but my brothers will deal with the Norse blasphemers. They will all feel Sedna's rage and wrath.

Furyok turns back to watch the storm and a toothy grin washes over his face. The giant wind towers moving at a haunting pace across the sea are collecting water as they move towards the Dragon. A giant wave is beginning to form. The Narwhales pass through the storm and then neither the Dragon nor the Narwhales can be seen beyond it's powerful intensity. Soon the storm will be on top of the Dragon. Aglakti swears she hears a cackling voice echoe in the distance from the sea. A devilishly hollow, femanine voice calling to some power she was not aware even existed.

Furyok snarls at the air and then turns to Aglakti.

Would you walk with me and my children for a while?

Mya hides behind her mother's legs and whispers.



Noooo Mama!

"Yes, Furyok," says Aglakti, bowing her head respectfully.

Aglakti follows the three bears. She turns her head to catch a last glimpse of her beautiful storm. Mya and Pandoval stop with her to watch the storm. It has now overtaken the Dragon and its passengers. A wave like none Aglakti had ever seen was rising out of the sea, forced ever upwards by the giant tornados of wind. Aglakti could still hear the chanting through the storm. A terrible cackling and a shrill voice permeated the very air around her. Aglakti knew there were great magics at work here. Worse, the magic was more powerful than her own. She could not help but fear it for the evil it was. Furyok's cubs knew it too. They shivered as they watched and listened.

Furyok motions for her cubs to catch up and they quickly bounce and prance after their mother. SHe grins her sharp toothy smile.

That was some storm Shaman.

"I wish only to aid Sedna," says Aglakti fiercely, feeling her heart thump with the thought of further demonstrations of her own power. "I would do anything to see that the dragons shall not reach our shores."

Good! There is someone I would like you to meet Shaman! I think that you could be of great service to the Ijiraat and to the island.

Furyok picks up her pace and the cubs struggle to keep up, both with very excited looks on their faces. Mya pants with child like enthusiasm as Pandoval skips beside her.



Huff Huff! Are we going to see the Big man momma?



Can I be a bird momma? I could fly up and tell him we're commin momma?

Furyok shakes her head at her cubs and turns back to Aglakti.

No dears, that would be rude to our guest. I'm sure she would much rather have your company, wouldn't you Aunty Aglakti?

Both cubs cry out their objection.

Ahhh momma!

"I do enjoy your company but I would not stand in Sedna's way would she wish you all to abandon me. This is the nature of the path I tread. I am willing to walk alone or with you, whichever it is, that she wishes."

OOC: Fanatic, much?

So say we all Shaman..... So say we all.

Furyok continues to walk East along the shorleine with her two children and Aglakti. Mya takes a liking to Aglakti almost immediately. (once she overcomes her incredible shyness) She almost never leaves her side. Pandoval is harder to break. His rebellious age and naughty by nature attitude becomes tiring to Aglakti. Her patience is tried on several occasions as the young red eyed cub dives into the water to swim alongside them. Every so often Pandoval would emerge from the water as a red-eyed baby seal or a baby Beluga and splash Aglakti. Furyok, obviously used to Pandoval's ways, just smiles and continued on. Eventually, Pandoval changes back into a cub and continues alongside his mother, throwing mistrusting glances back at Aglakti as they journeyed East.

oc - you can ask questions now. It is a long walk. Or just talk casually with the Ijiraat

Example questions:

"So what was that dragon and why was it coming here?"

"Why does the dragon so anger Sedna?"

"What role is it that you have planned for me?"

That Dragon was a vessel. It carries many men with white skin who come to our island to wreak havok like none these lands have ever seen.

Pandovol, haven given up tormenting Aglakti, interrupts Furyok.



We'll stop em won't we momma. I'll bite em and then shake em real good!

Furyok rolls her eyes and smiles at Aglakti She continues.

Those men on the dragons seek something hidden here. We haven't yet discovered what, but we believe it is important to Sedna that we protect it. The Big man will not discuss it with the ijiirat, but I believe he knows more than he lets on. He will only speak with a Shaman of your race. Many of my brothers and sisters have betrayed Sedna and now follow a shadow. It too takes on many forms. I have seen a Black bear wandering the plains. It moved like nothing I have ever seen. A fear like none I had ever known took me and I fled. I am so ashamed. Many of my kind followed it into the mountains.

"This bear you speak of has haunted my dreams and lured me into a self-imposed exile in order to seek the meaning of it," says Aglakti. "I shall do my best to aid you and your kind, dispose of these white-skinned beast-men and whatever else is necessary to our cause. There is another shaman, too, I could rally to our cause, Sedna-willing."

I like you Shaman! I would welcome you with open paws into our fold. If this other Shaman you speak of has half the heart and courage as you do, perhaps together we could defeat this shadow bear. The Big man will tell us. He will know what must be done for he has been here longer than any on Qikiqtaaluk .

oc - Qikiqtaaluk is the name the Inuit call Baffin Island. (Qikiqtaaluk = Helluland = Baffin Island)

Aglakti and Furyok head north across the flat and barren plains of Qikiqtaaluk. The ominous range of mountains lie miles ahead and Aglakti knew that's where they were headed. Mya and Pandoval would ahead and lead the way and then fall behind as children tend to do. Every so often, Mya would walk near Aglakti and asks her odd questions like "Was your mother a lemming?" and "If you had to live in the sea, which of Sedna's creatures would you chose to live with?" Pandoval raced Aglakti whenever he noticed she was speeding up her pace. He felt in direct competition for his mother's affection and used uver chance he got to prove he was better than the shaman. Furyok smiled and encouraged her son and apologized to Aglakti when Pandoval was out of ear shot, which Aglakti soon learned was a fair distance. Darkness quickly fell on the travellers as mid day arrived on Qikiqtaaluk. Furyok's mannerisms tightened somewhat as she kept a relaxed, yet watchful eye on her cubs through the night.

Anningan's wicked smile shone down on Aglakti willing her to fail in everything she will ever do. It began to snow as winter gained an even greater foothold on the Artic plains and time seemed to pass more slowly as Aglakti blindly followed Furyok through the snowy wasteland.

They would have to stop and make a fire soon and Furyok knew it. She began to dig a hole in the snow. Within no time she had carved a large space out of the snow for Aglakti to rest and start a fire. Pandoval and Mya joined Aglakti in the makeshift igloo and warmed themselves next to the fire. Mya changed herself into a lemming so Aglakti had more room. She crawled inside Aglakti's seal skin jacket and nuzzeled up under her chin, warming the Shaman like a fur scarf. Pandoval was far less accomodating and sprawled his furry polar cub body as far as it would stretch and seemed to claim space on the igloo floor that he was not even using at the time. Furyok stood silent vigil outside the igloo and soon sleep took Aglakti into the dream world. A world she was not as confident in as she once remembered. In the dreamworld, Aglakti would often see the shadow bear and although Aglakti knew she could not be harmed in her dreams like she could in the spirit world, the bear was getting stronger. Who knew when the dark bear would gain the power to harm the shaman even in her dreams.