章 36: Chapter 18 Reunion: Snow:

Act 1 Ritual:

"What you up too? the other girls just got back from getting our camps things." Swandra the witch bandit of the Swannii clans, asked as I worked and made a small shrine to myself with my runes of Space, Fire, Earth, Harmony and Trade on a circle around it drawn using the melted black-gold(Pure metal alloy), a metal that the Fanged-ale clan deemed holy to me.

"I'll be summoning a few more companions Swandra, they should be fully recovered by now." with my inner flames raging as my gates fueled its fire and it's heat given to reality as bargain for the power I wish to wield. . . she denied it asking more of me, I smiled.

I offered a memory of when I was child of the time I was bitten by a dog as I gave it the wrong snack and it bit my small hands. . . it was painful but a good lesson. She accepted my heat and memory and gave me what I needed.

The Shrine was ingulfed by blue my flames as a connection to me and it was establish, and with that connection I was able to feel them those I had influenced and made memories with in this world.

My consciousness splintered one stayed with my flesh puppet and others towards the clans I've befriended, I appeared to them in the form of a shining blue flaming ancestor in each of there clan halls. I did not visit the Swannii clans as I already have Swandra and her wind-cloaks turned bandits.

"Abyss! you have visited us!" I manifested at the entrance of Honey-rose clan, as I appeared I felt the cold within the land so with my flames I burned away the cold and darkness. revealing a sky filled with stars.

"I have come to ask, for some of your people to travel with me Vivienne." I said as I looked down, but I was surprise to see an older Vannessa sitting on the chief's chair, there clan circle had changed as well.

"Abyss it's been 20 years since we travelled together, I worried you've become another casualty of the heavenly wars." I saw Vivienne among the elder looking much older than the first time we've met.

"I will grant your request Abyss, the great builder of halls. but please, grant us your favor! the cold has been eating away at our people for years now. Elmhelia's light has dimmed even with our worship." I smiled at them, and then gave each and everyone of them a blanket of white-feathers, burning with my fire.

"These are blankets made from the feathers of the Swannii people, I've place my blessing upon them, and they would warm you even from the most blistering frost. but the price is me being able to call upon you in times of need, and also to give me kumis."

"We accept Lord Abyss, you who had joined the ranks of our gods. In a week my clan would give you our most sweetest kumis and heroes to accompany you in your travels." I nodded to them and my connection stayed as my manifestation turned into a feathered blanket, with black-golden threads of my likeness building there great hall stitched on it's golden fabric.

The ritual for them to join me was simple, they just needed to lay upon the sacred treasure in the form of my manifestation and they would be guided to my side.

In the Fire-wheat clan things looked worse for wear, as I saw building in disrepair and fields turned hallow by the long winter, my appearance changed that as my light melted the frost bitten land.

My blue flames bathed the clan, and with my fire I burned away the cracks on the walls and broken roofs of the houses, workshops and temples of the clan.

The people seem to not know me as they looked at me with awe and fear, finally a procession of chariots and carts wheeled there way towards me as I seem to have manifested in the middle of there market squire.

"Hail! Abyss the bringer of fire too darkness. It's good to see you again." I looked down and it was Thelia the once young noble that had traveled with me for months. she looked older much like Vannessa.

"We have heard of your visit with our allies the riders of the Honey-rose clan. and we would give the same as they would, but we do not ask for the comfort of blankets, but be given the chance to fight this darkness, that plague our forest!"

I nodded to her request and gave them white Ivory shields, that blaze with my heat. "The frost lords of the mountains in the north of the forest had claim a great victory against the summer gods."

I told them knowledge that reality whispered to me. "Strike with a great raid taking as much of the herds of there descendants and that blow would be felt by there gods, this shields would protect you and the warriors of the other clans of the forest of emerald that would join your cause."

My manifestation becoming that of an Ivory war wagon, with wheels made of my sacred black-gold and with every inch of the War-wagon's Ivory body carved the story of the time I've visited the Fire-wheat clan.

Then I appeared in the center of the Fanged-ale clan, in the form of a titan dressed like a sun worshiper, with my feathered cloak and amber woolen shirt. and in my hands was my Banner-glaive and within it's cloth tell the story of there goddess meeting me under a dark sky.

The rams of the Bear-snake of Summerlantha kneeled at my burning presences as I melted the snow of there pastures and fields, giving them each a brilliant cover of green and black millet.

I stood there not but a handful of seconds before there clan hall bursted open, showing an elderly Biretta, her form even more powerful than day we first met. lightning danced in her eyes as she flew and met my eyes.

Many others Wind-thanes of her clan flew with her. three of them I recognized as the companions I took with me the three red haired sisters grown to maturity.

"Welcome! Abyss the sun who banishes the darkness! I have heard of the plan and ready my new kinswomen of the forest. . ." She fell silent, and then looked to me.

"Is it true? is our goddess, Vesthia Summer, slain by the new enemy?" reality whispered to me what I needed to tell them, that I cannot tell them the truth, that I do not know as many things could be possible.

"She rests in the underworld, waiting with our hungry friends of the Earthen-dark, helping the storm-tribe." My brightness gave my words power as it filled all with fearless resolve to do what must be done.

"Thank you, we would join the Wheels in there grand raid, and my clan and our kin offer to you what the Nivoran folks had offered, we only asked but our lands be able to feed our people and my kin." Smiled as he made a wish I was hoping to grant. he looked puzzled at my amuse smile.

"You are truly a noble sort to have sacrificed so much for the people of the forest." She looked confuse but then the redheaded sisters laughed as they understood me the most.

I planted my banner on the ground it's power bursting forth, steam from there clan raised as my heat became scorching as a pillar of flames travelled into the heavens piercing the dark, revealing stars and white clouds.

My sweetest smile plastered on my titanic face, as the fired burned away the darkness from the skies above the clans the knew of who I am. "I leave this lance here for it will burn away the oppressive darkness of true night, as long as it is in the lands of a benevolent leader."

My manifestation flickered becoming one, with an Ivory shafted Banner-glaive with black-golden thread on it's banner that depicts my true battles with there founder goddess, stitched in feather wool.

My last clan to visit chocked me as the Carrioni had changed, they were riding Emerald-tailed raptors, and herding the cattle size Goats and small fat black tailed chicken of the riders.

They have become a rider clan. I appeared to them as a fellow sun worshiper, a noble of the highest degree with my feathered cloak and richly adorn woolen and soft leather clothes.

I was surrounded by nightingale spirits, burning blue as they danced around me. the market was awed and in great excitement as they celebrated my appearance.

A group of riders approached they where nobles and swords in there bearing, but I only recognized one as they approached me. she was very elderly compare to the first time we met.

"You had changed much Carrioni of the Emerald outskirts. I have come to offer the same bargain that I offered the clans I have befriended even though now your a new people." Smiled kindly down at them.

I felt Nightingale watching me, she was on the shoulder of Elderly Vulivin. "We are now called the Forest-tail clan, Faithful to the Elmhelia the Guardian-sun. oh Lord Abyss, the giver of the blessed flames." I nodded, it was odd that each clan had a different name for me.

"We have readied our people for war, under the starry skies you've given to all of us, we would march, making sure the northern gods would know pain!" I smiled at there enthusiasm, but frowned at there eagerness for vengeance. there chieftess spoke she was of Nivoran blood.

"I would give your clan a boon, for becoming stronger as a people, for letting in the Carrioni and accepting them fully letting them change your people as you changed them." I spoke as the light of the birds that dance around me intensified.

"Becoming not Cottosurings that had adopted Carrioni, but people of both this culture. now name your boon so that I may accept your people to my service and have your goods for me to trade." They looked proud as I praised them of there kindness, of there transformation, it wasn't complete mind you.

As without my intervention it would take more than one generation before they become a true new people, but with my little push they would fully realize it in this generation.

"We asked to worship you! with our goddess of healing Erinna, we know you have not accepted the offer of Elmhelia to join her Summer-tribe but please let us. . ." I placed a hand on her head, the young chieftess was bold to ask.

From what I know of the other gods, they would have smited her, well they're were exceptions specially if she was kin. I laughed and gave her calm. "I cannot give that boon, even with my power, but I would give you something else."

In the skies above us a net was made from feathered wool, with black golden bells stitched upon it's crosses, each bell a ribbon of golden thread, attached ringing them in songs. each tip a pole of Ivory raises it to the skies.

"I call this the mesh of ballads, with this my healing flames would touch every wound that hears the songs of harmony played with it. . .Honor the mender of bones and I, with your songs, healing those in pain. friends or enemies." With that my manifestation entered the treasure stitching upon it my stories of there people now and of the future.

Act 2 Summoning:

A snow filled forest hissing with steam, from the hot land as a naked man with a hand pulled wagon at his background, meditating Infront of a shrine of black-stone, engulfed in blue flames.

My eyes opened, feeling the hot steam, from the quickly melted and bubbled snow flakes that land upon my bare skin. that reddens with heat, my blood turning pale red, becoming more human.

"Haaa" I breathed out a large puff of steam. "I've become more human after that bargain." I felt soft cloak covering me as I regained my breath.

"You look paler, weaker. . .This was the first time I've seen a ritual weaken someone, rather than empower them." Swandra said with her smile, but I felt her worry.

"I'm fine, thank you Swandra." I said to her, kissing her forehead. "Tell your girls to be ready, we'll receive a few guests in a few hours." I stood with nothing but a feathered cloak keeping me from the snow.

I took the camp and readied food, with the help of the bandit girls. "Oh I forgot to ask, now that you travel with me you girls shouldn't act as outlaws or bandits." I told them as I cut into an Ice-fish creating sashimi out of a dozen of them.

The girls paused and whispered to each other and then looked to there leader. "Then, you want to give us a name, oh great one?" She said mockingly, that made the other women laugh, as they worked.

"I was thinking I'll name you my White-daggers, as I've already made each of you an Ivory blade. What do you think Hestia?" The spirit of the Ivory cauldron I was using to cook vegetable soup appeared.

She was wearing Ivory jewelry and the brown fur of the great mammoths, her ears where large, rounded and furred, she appeared human with tusks and an elephant trunk.

"I think it's fine father, they can become the beginning of a hunter core that would stalk your enemies devouring there hearts like those cats that hunted my people, with there long fangs." She said that as looked at her Ivory turned into the body of the Black-gold edge daggers I gave to my new companions.

"Psst, Abyss, is she okay?" Swandra asked jokingly. I laughed. "Maybe no then? what does your people call there best warriors?" I asked her and her girls.

One of the women spoke she was much older than the rest in the end of her mid years. "Our people the Swannii call our best warriors, those that can soar in the sky, and fight like our head goddess are called the Wind-cloaks." she quieted after that.

The next was in her mid years, now that I looked at them they where all much older and rougher in there looks than Swandra. "We all used to be Wind-cloaks or become near there level surviving without a clan. but without a clan we cannot be called as the holy warriors of our goddess."

I nodded. "In respect to your past, and accepting to be mine, to follow me in my path, I name Maidens of the Cloak, warriors that fight with cloak, winds and blades. that fight much like the winds dancing freely and unfettered."

As I gave them a name, I felt reality accepting my meager heat, as my will was place upon them, the clan warriors and women turned exile, turned bandit and now warriors sacred to me.

"Ugh. . ." The women groaned in pain as a fire burned in there skin. "My exile brand. . . it's gone." one of them said as she looked upon her bare belly, seeing not the brand of exile, but my old rune, a circle with a square and dot within it.

"That's my old rune many of those of the summer lands would recognize it. but only those of Nivoran would truly know who it's from." I told them as I gutted another fatty ice fish, feeding it's got too my now hatched snow-ducklings.

"Would the summer people be friendly with us because of it?" One of the maidens asked. "No, they might think you serve a false sun or star captain, they don't recognize, at best think you serve a warlord under the 'Guardian-sun'' I told them honestly as another maiden handed me a bowl of sliced Snow-onion flowers and frost chilly.

"And those of Nivoran? the city of gold where are goddess's mother used to call a place one can rest." Swandra asked as she made the tents with three others.

"Yes, they would be friendly but many would see you as good travelers at worst, warriors capable of banishing darkness or healers that burns wounds and sickness at best." I told them they looked stunned at my words.

"Swandra! you never said we traveled with a Rune-Hero!" one of the maidens screamed towards Swandra as she shook her.

The excitement stopped as the fire of my shrine shone brightly and it made me smile as figures in gulfed in flames of vermilion, gold and non at all, walked out of the shrine.

I wiped my hands and grabbed my banner as I welcomed them. "New friends! it is good that you join me in my travels." I do not recognize or knew any of them but they look so similar to the friends I've made in there clans.

They all gave me a bow. "Thank you, lord Abyss, we will do our best in helping your travels." They were all much older and I felt there power, old wounds from great battles, or rough life they've lived, they really sent me there heroes.

And in each one held the drinks I asked them. "Let's feast and talk!" I yelled and all cheered and we made marry until the night grown old.

Act 3 meeting:

The stories told, the dark ale drunk, the fermented milk with some having honey and others mushroom gulp, only those of the leaders of there parties stayed awake, unlike there downed friends and kin.

I asked them to introduced themselves but before that I gave them a blessing as they saw it, but a psionic projection in my eyes. giving them back there youth retaining there power and knowledge, only taking away the grinding of time upon there souls and body.

"That is my first boon for joining me, now tell me who are you children? you feel and look much like my old friends, but not truly them." I said as I looked at the girl leading the party sent by the Honey-rose clan. she reminds me of Vannessa and her mother.

"I am Vennia daughter of Vannessa, I am the only true sword in my party, I wanted to bring atleast a dozen with me but mother told me to bring our oldest and best herdswomen. . ." She paused looking at her hands and those of her party.

"I know of the story, of how you made it so, that I was able to grow up with my grandmother still young enough to care for me." She finished and I nodded, looking at the twenty or so escort given to her by her clan.

"Vannessa is right, I value your magic over the herds and spirits more than your strength of arms. Now how about you young wheeler." I said motioning to the one that reminds me of Almerie, but with the cold protective eyes of Thelia.

She was uniquely wearing a red-dyed, woolen scarf over her ember and white half toga like long shirt. "I am Melianne, Shield noble of the Fire-wheat clan, my mother and aunts told me the same, stopping me from taking more than my Sworn shield." I looked at her party, they where 21 strong excluding there leader.

"Aside from me and my sworn shield, the rest are elders who are the best in our clan when it comes to food, both cooking, foraging and growing it." She finished with that and nodded to her right, they all seem to know each other already, with a bond of respect and friendship, clear in there essence.

"I am Carnnia, and this is my blood sister Allynish, we represent the Fanged-ale and Honey-fur clans, we gathered are best and eldest artisans, both smiths and woodworkers." I looked curious, why would they be two clans? "Why two clans?" I asked them while I sense the kinship connection of there groups essence.

"The Honey-fur clan is a daughter clan of the Fanged-ale, we splitted from each other ten years before the Northern great raid." oh they named the event it might mean it's been over for years. . . time is finicky in this worlds.

I saw each party was 20 strong excluding there leaders, I wonder if the clans agreed to only send twenty and the leader as a party, I never did say how many they should send.

"Hmm. . .we will talk about that raid later, how about you? it was a surprise to learn the wondering clan of Carrioni, I've met and gifted my Nightingale." I paused looking her up and down, seeing her wear the woolen clothes of the riders and there furred leather jerkins, but her black and brown feathered cape does differentiate her.

"Becoming riders, I was expecting your people to change, become something more, maybe finding more of your scattered people and remember your own golden city" I paused again giving a tired breathe, as she looked sadden and angered at the same time.

"But still, influences of the gods are unpredictable. which mortal can judge what a people does for survival, now tell me your name young one of the Forest-tail clan." I said to her smiling as I patted her head, her ears where pointed, and her tail long and bushy.

"Lord Abyss, I am Vhellin, Priestess of the Bone mender of the sacred flames. I and my party represent the Forest-tail clan, we brought some of our most experienced hunters and scouts" I smiled at her, as I was expecting them to send me healers.

"I expected your clan to bring healers, I'm happy you didn't as I know you and I are enough to keep our caravan alive." I felt her pride as she nodded. "I'll do my best!"

After the introductions I spoke of our route of our incapability to use the route the Swannii people use when trading with the summer people in south, leaping and gliding down there mountain top plate. I told them we needed to go the long route, in which we go the northern edge.

Near the Ice forested hills of the Snow-giants and Stone folks, and then go through the lands of the local rams, which Carnnia guessed as winter tribe rams, or worse winter lord rams.

"What's the different?" I asked her. "The winter tribes would atleast talk first, the winter lords would try gutting us and steal are things before talking." I nodded and took a note of her apparent distaste for those people.

And then after the rams we check on the summer people, and learn if there Nivoran, or survivors of another golden city of the empire. the thought excited both the Honey-rose leader and the Fire-wheat leader less so the Forest-tail.

With our plans set and after I gave them there duties I asked them to join there parties and sleep so that we may leave tomorrow rested.