Post by gryn on Sept 5, 2019 1:41:35 GMT 1
Nothing seemed to be in focus as Gryn wandered in a hallucinatory state. Colours blended dizzyingly and shadowy shaky objects blurred together while the whole world seemed to rock and roll. She felt like a crouton in a bowl of soup on a boat in a rough ocean crossing. When she broke from the dream, regained consciousness and her eyes focused she was on her back staring at a wood board ceiling. She sat up and blood rushed from her head and a cloth fell from her body. The door swung open and a Leafborn entered speaking before Gryn had time to move.
“Good to see you’re awake, but we need to cover you up before you attract unwanted attention.” Said the Leafborn
Gryn’s faced flushed red when she realised her nakedness and jumped back into the corner on the bed. The Leafborn came towards her and Gryn snarled.
“Not one more step, or it will be your last.”
“Well if this is the thanks I’m going to get for bringing you back to life then count me out.”
The healer walked out the room and slammed the door. Gryn noticed some clothes on a stool. The Giant pulled herself off the bed, stood up and banged her head on the ceiling. She was dressed just as the door swung open.
“Now what’s all this nonsense you ninny? Oh my, why aren’t you a fine filly. A fine filly, indeed.”
A half sized man strutted in with a walking cane wearing a bejeweled horned helm and ceremonial coat.
“Mayor Askytos is the name, but you can call me Asky.”
Before Gryn was aware of herself he was shaking her hand vigorously.
“So glad you made it through. Come now, follow me I’ve got lots to do.”
Gryn looked around the room taking stock of what just happened while the half man walked out the door.
“Well?” Came a voice from outside the room.
“Come on big Gryn, no time to waste. It’s nearly ale o’clock and I’ve got the taste. Now move! More speed, more haste!”
As she peered out of the room there were people busy with work, nonchalantly getting on with things. After knocking her head on the door frame she continued through the next room with head bowed. Askytos lead the way stamping his cane every second step. He opened the door and invited her into the street. Gryn stepped outside slowly. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the pale blue light. Clouds spread through the sky whiter than white reflecting the warm sunlight. She took a deep breath.
“This way.” Askytos said “Giddy up!”
And with a quick cane to her backside he set off. Quick feet for a half man Askytos scurried down the street. He disappeared among the pedestrians and Gryn nearly lost sight of him but thanks to folks parting and staring at the Giant she kept up. Askytos paced through town addressing anyone who was startled. “Magnificent”, he said, “isn’t she. Come on big Gryn, this way!” They arrived at an impressive dark wood building. Columns, statues and the intricate carvings gave the structure some presence. Askytos paused, looked up and took in the sight of it.
“Ah, home sweet home. What do you think of New Heaven so far missy?”, Askytos questioned.
Gryn shrugged her shoulders.
“Well the first thing you’ve probably noticed is the smell, or lack there of. All thanks to my political efforts you see. The Bathing Initiative, made all the difference.”
The Giant looked down at the half man unsure of what to say.
“Right, lets go in shall we?” said Askytos.
The half man turned the key and put his shoulder into double solid wood doors. He leant in with all his weight and nearly fell flat on his face when Gryn put her hand on the door. He composed himself and said, “That’s the kind of hand I could use around here.” Gryn stepped through the doors, which were high enough so that she didn’t have to duck. The place smelled of sour ale and the floor was sticky on her feet. The mayor hung his helm behind the bar and placed his coat on a rack.
“Now, make yourself at home young girl. There is plenty of food in the larder and you can drink anything you like as long as you keep your mitts off my special brew. I reserve that for special occasions and, well… me. Anything else is fair game.” He said.
Gryn was looking around the room taking it all in. Paintings of Agonia, used shields and rare weapons hung above the dado rail on the walls.
“This way.” Askytos called as he walked up the stairs. With each step Gryn took the staircase groaned and creaked. As she reached the landing the corridor stretched along with three rooms on both sides and a seventh at the end of the corridor where Askytos stood. Each door depicted ornate and intricate carvings of creatures from all over the island. The first a fearsome eagle (Teratorn), next a bear roaring (Hemicyon), door three was the saber-toothed tiger room (Smilodon), the next a rhino charging (Coelodonta), a snake themed room (Madtsoia) and at the end on the right the white wolf. Askytos stood in front of the seventh door, which was the dragon room, and said,
“You can choose any room you like and it will be yours, except this one. This is my room.”
Gryn walked back down the hallway pausing at each room and looked at the murals.
“Each room is themed,” called out Askytos, “and the door is a give away.”
She arrived back at the white wolf stopped and put her hand on the carving.
“That one?” He asked.
She turned to him and nodded.
“Well, in you go. Have a look around.” He said.
The four post bed sported wolf heads atop each leg. Above the headboard a painting of a white wolf howling on a snowy mountain hung on the wall. The dado rail had been meticulously carved by hand showing wolves running. A white wolf skin rug lay at the foot of the bed. Gryn brushed her foot across the soft fur.
“That was a sacrifice made by our War Master, Ragnar. Ah, he loved that beast.” Askytos explained. “So, what do you think?”
Gryn said nothing but smiled and nodded pensively. The half man smiled and nodded too.
“Right I must prepare the bar for opening.” Said Askytos.
As he walked out of the room he heard a faint “Thank you.” The mayor stopped and replied, “Don’t mention it.” His little feet scurried down the hallway. Gryn came to the door and watched as the mayor jumped onto the banister and slid all the way down with a “weeeeeeeeee…”
“Good to see you’re awake, but we need to cover you up before you attract unwanted attention.” Said the Leafborn
Gryn’s faced flushed red when she realised her nakedness and jumped back into the corner on the bed. The Leafborn came towards her and Gryn snarled.
“Not one more step, or it will be your last.”
“Well if this is the thanks I’m going to get for bringing you back to life then count me out.”
The healer walked out the room and slammed the door. Gryn noticed some clothes on a stool. The Giant pulled herself off the bed, stood up and banged her head on the ceiling. She was dressed just as the door swung open.
“Now what’s all this nonsense you ninny? Oh my, why aren’t you a fine filly. A fine filly, indeed.”
A half sized man strutted in with a walking cane wearing a bejeweled horned helm and ceremonial coat.
“Mayor Askytos is the name, but you can call me Asky.”
Before Gryn was aware of herself he was shaking her hand vigorously.
“So glad you made it through. Come now, follow me I’ve got lots to do.”
Gryn looked around the room taking stock of what just happened while the half man walked out the door.
“Well?” Came a voice from outside the room.
“Come on big Gryn, no time to waste. It’s nearly ale o’clock and I’ve got the taste. Now move! More speed, more haste!”
As she peered out of the room there were people busy with work, nonchalantly getting on with things. After knocking her head on the door frame she continued through the next room with head bowed. Askytos lead the way stamping his cane every second step. He opened the door and invited her into the street. Gryn stepped outside slowly. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the pale blue light. Clouds spread through the sky whiter than white reflecting the warm sunlight. She took a deep breath.
“This way.” Askytos said “Giddy up!”
And with a quick cane to her backside he set off. Quick feet for a half man Askytos scurried down the street. He disappeared among the pedestrians and Gryn nearly lost sight of him but thanks to folks parting and staring at the Giant she kept up. Askytos paced through town addressing anyone who was startled. “Magnificent”, he said, “isn’t she. Come on big Gryn, this way!” They arrived at an impressive dark wood building. Columns, statues and the intricate carvings gave the structure some presence. Askytos paused, looked up and took in the sight of it.
“Ah, home sweet home. What do you think of New Heaven so far missy?”, Askytos questioned.
Gryn shrugged her shoulders.
“Well the first thing you’ve probably noticed is the smell, or lack there of. All thanks to my political efforts you see. The Bathing Initiative, made all the difference.”
The Giant looked down at the half man unsure of what to say.
“Right, lets go in shall we?” said Askytos.
The half man turned the key and put his shoulder into double solid wood doors. He leant in with all his weight and nearly fell flat on his face when Gryn put her hand on the door. He composed himself and said, “That’s the kind of hand I could use around here.” Gryn stepped through the doors, which were high enough so that she didn’t have to duck. The place smelled of sour ale and the floor was sticky on her feet. The mayor hung his helm behind the bar and placed his coat on a rack.
“Now, make yourself at home young girl. There is plenty of food in the larder and you can drink anything you like as long as you keep your mitts off my special brew. I reserve that for special occasions and, well… me. Anything else is fair game.” He said.
Gryn was looking around the room taking it all in. Paintings of Agonia, used shields and rare weapons hung above the dado rail on the walls.
“This way.” Askytos called as he walked up the stairs. With each step Gryn took the staircase groaned and creaked. As she reached the landing the corridor stretched along with three rooms on both sides and a seventh at the end of the corridor where Askytos stood. Each door depicted ornate and intricate carvings of creatures from all over the island. The first a fearsome eagle (Teratorn), next a bear roaring (Hemicyon), door three was the saber-toothed tiger room (Smilodon), the next a rhino charging (Coelodonta), a snake themed room (Madtsoia) and at the end on the right the white wolf. Askytos stood in front of the seventh door, which was the dragon room, and said,
“You can choose any room you like and it will be yours, except this one. This is my room.”
Gryn walked back down the hallway pausing at each room and looked at the murals.
“Each room is themed,” called out Askytos, “and the door is a give away.”
She arrived back at the white wolf stopped and put her hand on the carving.
“That one?” He asked.
She turned to him and nodded.
“Well, in you go. Have a look around.” He said.
The four post bed sported wolf heads atop each leg. Above the headboard a painting of a white wolf howling on a snowy mountain hung on the wall. The dado rail had been meticulously carved by hand showing wolves running. A white wolf skin rug lay at the foot of the bed. Gryn brushed her foot across the soft fur.
“That was a sacrifice made by our War Master, Ragnar. Ah, he loved that beast.” Askytos explained. “So, what do you think?”
Gryn said nothing but smiled and nodded pensively. The half man smiled and nodded too.
“Right I must prepare the bar for opening.” Said Askytos.
As he walked out of the room he heard a faint “Thank you.” The mayor stopped and replied, “Don’t mention it.” His little feet scurried down the hallway. Gryn came to the door and watched as the mayor jumped onto the banister and slid all the way down with a “weeeeeeeeee…”