• Solo • [Outlands] My Kingdom in the Snow

[Wald Lowca]

8th of Cylus arc 719, Evening

After Traveling north from where he left his companions Wald came across the river he was looking for in the snow covered forest. Tho the top was completely frozen over the river still flowed underneath due to the insulating properly of ice. Even tho it seemed thick crossing the frozen river was definitely not planned right now. Leading his animals to a nearby clearing on the flood plain he released the animals from their burden before getting a fire started. Having to clear the snow from the spot he wanted to fire, he used pots to store an amount of the clean snow. After reaching the ground he went to look for some large stones which covered the edge of the river bank. Lifting each stone one at a time he made a platform out of them in which to light a fire so the melting snow around it would not dampen the emblers.

Moving to the edge of the forest he began to gather sticks that where standing against trees or just hanging off them. Taking an arm full to the cart he placed them down and began braking them down, making kindling and fuel separate from each other. Gathering the material he pulled some of his animal's hay to use as a starter. Taking a match from his camp supplies he lit the hay after putting it under the kindling and the kindling under the fuel. The snow shielding the fledgling sparks from the wind as Wald slowly nurtured it until the upper fuel began to be consumed. Warmth overflowed onto his cold body as the animals came by to bask in the life giving warmth. Not getting carried away by the feeling Wald made sure not to allow the flame to over consume is small supply as he went to gather more from near buy making sure to get thicker fuel sources.

After gathering the amount he would need for a rest Wald began to clear more of the snow away from his camp and left the pots near the fire to melt the snow inside them. After clearing large amounts of snow and building what seemed to be a wall out of it around where his campsite, Wald made sure to keep an opening large enough for his animals to come in as he began to stake his tent down. The snow help to insulate the camp from the wind and cold and bounced the heat from his fire off. This was tiring work tho and after getting the tent up Wald went to get his chest from the cart when he noticed something in the darkness. What caught his eye was a set of paw prints he failed to notice earlier. A close look relieved they were from a lone wolf, one isn't to much of an issue, but if it turns out they are with a pack it could be a problem. A small layer of snow did cover the prints slightly, so they were old enough that the animal was far off. Knowing they could return though Wald set up his camp traps around the small snow wall before finally going into the tent to rest for the night.

Bringing his animals in along with his pots of melted snow giving one each to the animals they began drinking. The smallest one for himself as the cold water hit his lips relaxation fully entered his body. Finishing the final drops he turned to his chest to open it. Pulling out the furs he had gathered the last few hunts he layered them over his sleeping mat to insulate his body from the cold ground where permafrost would be just under the top soil. Being this close to a river means the water table was high, so this was an important part for his safety. Laying down both of his animals came next to him as Wald's eyes slowly closed the the sound of silence surrounding him.

[Wald Lowca]

8th of Cylus arc 719, Near Midnight

A noise broke the silence of the night, Wald woke quickly from this sound. Moving to get his bow and quiver the noise broke again. It was a howling from outside it was a wolf. Moving out of the tent Wald searched the darkness around him, over his small snow wall in which was only to his waist. A bark sounded and he looked to the direction across the frozen river. A small shadow was on the other bank. Barely able to see Wald readied his bow and stood behind one of the camp traps he had set earlier. He watched the figure pace near the ice on the other side of the river. Drawing his bow he knew that he could not let the animal get close, but in this darkness he had to wait for it to come across the river to make the shot.

The lone shadow then began the charge over the river. Watching intently Wald was getting ready to release his bow once his aim was true. Then the shadow disappeared, Wald stood waiting for it but nothing came. He finally relaxed as he realized what happened. The wolf fell into the ice of the river never to be seen again. With a sigh Wald felt sorry for the wolf, it was in for a cold death drowning under the ice. He thought that he should save it, but that would likely get him killed as well.

Before retiring into his tent once more Wald checked his fire to ensure the embers were still untouched by water. The ground around the fire was turned to mud as he checked his foot sunk slightly into the ground. Several glowing embers where still raging on several large sticks. Going into his tent the animals were getting back to relaxing as the noises stopped. Wald went back to sleep so he could be getting ready for the day's activities tomorrow.

[Wald Lowca]

9th of Cylus arc 719, Morning

Wald woke early as always with one of his animals nudging him with their head as they slept. Getting up slowly his joints popped as his body came back to life from his cold sleep. After he stretched Wald grabbed the pots inside the tent and walked out. Still dark only source of true light came from the fire pit in which had small red embers. Moving outside his little clearing he gathered some snow into the pots once again to melt for some water. Taking some of his stored fuel and kindling from the cart placing them on the still hot embers. Wald began to softly blow and ignite the small sparks into a gentle flame that began to consume the fuel. The warmth broke the cold in which he was washed. Placing down the pots to melt he began to do chores around the camp.

Going over to the edge of the forest Wald gathered more firewood to keep his fire going for the day. Gathering five arm fulls of wood and placing it on the cart the pile was high and will allow him to go through the night if needed. The snow near the fire was almost fully melted so Wald took a cup of his grains mixed and poured it into one of the pots. While breakfast was cooking he began disarming the traps around the camp, this was to insure his and his animal's safety. Wald looked to his small barrier around his camp and thought of making it taller to keep more heat in.

Wald wandered to the forest edge with his new hatchet in hand that he got from the blacksmith in Viden, with what little coin he had. Although material wealth is not something he desired, the loss of wealth this hatchet was to him made this trip all the more important. Thoughts of how his human wealth was merely a buffer in case he ever failed in a hunt. With these thoughts Wald still continued his work and measured several small trees with his hands, marking those in which his fingers touched on the other end with a slice with the hatchet. After marking a dozen of them he moved back to camp, and he began to play with the snow on the outside of his wall. Stacking the snow higher it packed down on the bottom with the inner wall iced due to the heat of the flame hardening it.

This process was long and he had a few snow slides off the wall but at the end the wall became chest level ,and when he walked in the flames heat made it feel as if it was summer in Viden. Thinking over his new structure he remembered stories about wild men from northern areas building their homes from snow. The snow acts as an insulator so one could imagine it would be very warm in one of those "snow homes".

Wald sat down near the fire and checked on his pot of grains. They were stuck to the bottom due to lack of stirring while they cooked, but they were cooked and ready to eat. Taking the pot out he took a spoon out to begin eating his grool.

[Wald Lowca]

9th of Cylus arc 719, Late Morning

While finishing his meal movement occurred in the tent getting Wald's attention. When he looked Wald saw his horse dart out quickly and stump on the fire before leaving the walled area. Moving quickly he chased his horse, this isn't the first time for Wald. After getting a hold of the guide rope on the horse he pulled the head towards him. Her eyes were in panic as Wald laid his head on hers stroking her mane gently and softly singing to her, "Where are you going? Said Richard to Robin. Where are you going? Said Dibyn to Dobyn. Where are you going? Said John~. Where are you going? said the Never Beyond." Wald's soft voice didn't keep a note to well, but the way he softly sang it to his horse calmed her. This was the song his father taught him for when times became hard in the wilds. The heart rate still high so Wald continued his song, "Going to the woods, Said Richard to Robin. Going to the woods, said Dibyn to Dobyn. Going to the woods, said John~. Going to the woods, said the Never Beyond." The horse slumped her head over his shoulder as he softly spoke to her, "It is ok girl it was just a nightmare you are fine. I promise you are safe with me." Guiding her back to the walled camp Wald saw the donkey had awoken, and after walking in the donkey nudged the horse as they leaned against each other. Wald decided to get the hey ready for them to eat; after he did the two ate close to each other.

Wald had finished his meal so he took his hatchet and walked off to the trees he marked. He began to chop them down one at a time, being small allowed him to go though them quite quickly. He felled the twelve trees after a break had past. Dragging the small trees near the wall he double check each of their length. The verifying lengths definitely made things difficult for the future. Although his arms were tired he began to chop off several of the limbs from the trunk. Checking each one he did to see if the inside had green, those that did were piled to one side and the ones that didn't were placed with the fire wood. Only striping two of the trees he couldn't swing the hatchet to chop anymore so he stopped.

Needing another stone Wald wondered to the bank of the river. Remembering what happened last night he looked over the icy river. After a moment there it was, a hole in the ice where the wolf meet with their fate. Wald apologized to the wolf since their death wasn't swift by his bow. Grabbing a large stone he went back to his camp with it placing it near the fire. Taking the green limbs he sat next to the rock to begin his work.

Using the back of the hatchet Wald began smashing the limbs against the stone breaking them into a fibrous mess. Moving down the limb until he made it to the end. He then took out the hard wood pulp and bark from the fibers keeping the green and flexible fibers. Placing his hands over the fibers on the stone he began to roll them. One hand still on one end and the other continued to roll them into each other. Before the twisting could start to turn it onto itself he tied both ends and began to braid them together. This process was long but in the end of it he had a small piece of twine. Laying it down on his lap he began to work on the next one.

[Wald Lowca]

9th of Cylus arc 719, Noon

Wald Built up his pile of twine until the twilight of noon came around. Finishing the one he was on he took the small amount of them and placed them in his pocket. Getting up he motioned to his animal companions to leave with him as he walked out of the small walls. Both of them followed him so he grabbed their guide ropes. Walking to the river with his hatchet he used it to smash the ice on the top so the water could be seen. The two animals drank from the cold river as Wald watched to flow of the water. The flow of the river had a small irregularity in it as if their was a blockage up the river. Though Wald couldn't be sure of anything heading up the river should get him to a beaver dam.

When the animals finish their drink Wald took the leads and walked with them up river. The two animals stayed close to him as they walked. This was not just to give the animals a walk but also would make it less likely small predators or lone wolfs would attack if their is a group. Though knowing this it would mean a large pack would still attack if they feel like it. As they walked the donkey pulls off towards the forest's edge. Taking a look Wald saw a patch of green which was strange. Moving over to see what this was Wald was ready to pull the animals back if things were not safe. Arriving at the brush he looked at the leaves, they were smooth and round no sharp spikes and no berries on it. Wald relaxed after the study as the animals both started to take bites from the plant's leaves.

After eating their fill of the bush ,that laid half bare from the two, Wald lead them farther up river. The hunt for the dam was in full swing as he kept searching both sides of the river. The light of the day was at it's midpoint and soon the search would be futile. Both animals were beginning to shake in order to keep the cold off. Wald kept his muscles from shivering though his will that he gathered from countless hours of practice. In his eyes a shaking body couldn't hunt with a bow since his aim would be off. Looking over the distance their was a pile of wood, and seeing this Wald stopped his animals letting go of the leads as he crept up to the pile. The sun nearly gone he only had a break to see if the beavers were in the structure.

Watching over the dam for his remaining light; keeping his attention on the hole on the shore and the water surrounding it. Trying to see any shadows that move in and out of the dam, beavers may not hibernate but they do slow their activity so this could take some time. When the light finally began to disappear a shadow darted out of the dam under the ice. Wald took his hatchet and walked to the area tapping the ice as he crawled on his belly forward. Using the blade of the hatchet he marked the area with a "X" in the ice careful not to hit water so it would stay for a couple days. Crawling back to the land he got up his chest slightly wet from the ice a chill came over him. With a sigh he took off his cloths, knowing that the wet cloths are more dangerous then being naked. On the walk back to camp Wald was freezing as the wind hit his bare chest.

[Wald Lowca]

9th of Cylus arc 719, Evening

After getting back to the camp the dim flame in Wald's fire was barely flickering. He then added a large amount of fuel to the fire, and after a moment it began to roar once again. The heat thawing out his body as he sat down to check on his clothing which were still slightly damp though in camp he could put them on since most of the wind was broken by the snow wall. After the damp cold of the cloths became warm Wald got up with pots in hand. Moving back and forth from the river where he had broke the ice he gathered water and placed them near the fire.

Taking a few swallows of water for himself from the first pot that warmed. Wald began to start on his dinner for the day, the cold forcing his hand to use more food then he wanted. Again it was going to be the mixed grain food, this wasn't good but it was full of energy he needed. While it was cooking he began on his twine production again. Looking up to the moon Wald smiled and thought to himself, "Everything is worth it as long as nature continues to be so beautiful." Wald finished the green limbs he had readied that morning. Taking out all of his twine it looked like he had enough to start his project in the morning.

After eating his meal Wald set the camp traps back up around the wall. While double checking the nearby snow for any tracks from when he was away. Only spotting his and his companions since the wolf was out of the picture his sleep would be much easier. When finally set up he moved his animals inside with some water and some for himself. Finally done for the day he made his plans to complete the project with the small trees tomorrow. Laying down on his furs and between his animals he relaxed into sleep knowing his hunt this trip will be successful.

[Alistair]

Wald

Knowledges
Field Craft: Clearing snow from a campsite
Field Craft: Using stone to raise your fire
Field Craft: Using snow as an insulator
Field Craft: Making twine from fibers
Field Craft: Using snow as a building material
Animal Husbandry: Keep your animals well watered

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: N/A

Points 10

Comments: Oh my gosh, this thread was amazingly detailed. I would give you more points and knowledges if I could, simply because of how well-done the setting was and the progression. It actually inspired me to write a thread like this myself - with timestamps running across more than just a day or a few hours, but even a trial or longer to show the sheer progression of events. Very realistic and easy to visualize; kudos!

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