The Winter kingdom

Version 2.0

The group made their way into the coastal village. The salty breeze carried the tastes of the sea, and the scent of brine lingered in the air. The quaint settlement nestled snugly against the shoreline, weathered structures with flaking wood made up the majority of the village.

The buildings are constructed from sturdy timber and stone. They huddled together, forming a protective barrier against the relentless winds. Nets and fishing gear were strewn about as half-finished boats lay beached waiting for work.

A bustling jetty marked the heart of the settlement, where wooden vessels adorned with sealskins and harpoon hooks bobbed gently in the water. The rhythmic creaking of ships echoed through the air, with the soothing sound of water splashing on the boat side playing.

The people, their faces etched red from the harsh winter winds, moved with purpose. Clad in furs and layered seal leather to shield against the biting chill, they busied themselves with the tools of their trade. Weathered hands expertly prepared harpoons, and laughter filled the air as tales of triumphant hunts were shared among the villagers.

Children played by the water's edge, casting miniature harpoons into the shallows. Seagulls circled overhead, their calls blending harmoniously with the distant roars of waves crashing against the rocky shore.

As the group approached, they were met with curious glances and nonchalant looks. Undeterred, Brandon, Jon, Edric, Lyanna, and Jocelyn strolled through the village. As they engaged with the villagers, the group inquired about any recent disappearances, but the responses were uniformly negative. No one had gone missing recently, and the villagers seemed genuinely puzzled by the notion.

Their explorations took them deeper into the settlement, weaving through narrow pathways between buildings adorned with weather-worn carvings and intricate scrimshaw.

As they ventured towards the outskirts, the ambient sounds of the village faded, replaced by a still calmness.

Beyond the village lay the remnants of a larger forest expanse. The trees, which once stood tall and proud, had been felled over the years, their towering forms reduced to mere stumps. Nature's reclamation was evident in the gradual decay of these arboreal remnants, as moss-covered decay softened the harsh edges of the weathered wood.

Amidst this arboreal graveyard, a solitary heart tree, and a few resilient weirwood companions stood, spared from the encroachment of the axe. The heart tree, in particular, held a special place in the hearts of the villagers, for its odd beauty and wonder.

The heart tree, surrounded by the remnants of its once numerous brethren was nestled close to the little grove of weirwood, and a cluster of quaint houses. Their structures, crafted from a mix of weathered wood and stone.

The people who dwelled in these houses were engaged in gardening, carefully planting and nurturing a variety of flora that flourished under their attentive care. Vibrant flowers and herbs thrived in small patches, casting splashes of colour against the rustic backdrop of the snow-bound village.

Others were focused on the weirwood trees, gently trimming the trees making them as beautiful as should be.

Jon looked around. "Well, I see the village has embraced the children of the forest look. Very avant-garde,"

"Very big words for you, Jon, don't hurt yourself," Edric patted him on the shoulder.

"…Fair play," Jon conceded with a smirk.

"What does Avant-garde mean Jon?" Jocelyn asked quietly.

Brandon focuses on the people around them.

"Think we are in the right area," Edric asked.

"I would hope so. We know that it wants to complete a ritual and needs people. This is the closest location without going over the mountain or heading further north. It won't go there, fewer people. So, I feel confident that it should be somewhere around here," Brandon explained.

"And lucky for us, there is a heart tree for it right here and people close by,"

"Yep, what was lucky for it, is now lucky for us. Without it knowing that we are after it, we can lay and wait," Brandon said.

"Should we tell the villagers what is about to happen?" Edric asks.

Brandon contemplated it for a moment. "We should, it's not fair on them for us not to, they have a right to know what is going on especially as it will affect them. I think we should be able to convince them."

The group cautiously entered the grove, where the remaining weirwood trees and the heart tree stood in silence. The air seemed to carry an eerie stillness, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant whispers of the wind.

Approaching the villagers who were tending to the grove, Brandon took the lead in addressing them. "Greetings. I apologise to be disturbing you in your work, but I need your help, you see we have been tracking something that we believe is going to come to this grove. It will also try and attack anyone here. We would appreciate it if you would allow us to stay here as we lay a trap for it. Ah sorry, I am Brandon, this is Edric, Jon, Lyanna, and Jocelyn."

The villagers, with their hands stained by the soil, looked up from their work, their expressions shifting from surprise to curiosity. An older woman, adorned with a wreath of woven flowers, stepped forward with a warm smile. "Welcome, travellers. Help is granted to those who asked it and asked you have." She said before laughing slightly to herself. "Sorry always wanted to talk all mystic-like. Hehe. You are free to stay here as well. And attack us you say, well then. It can fuck off then."

The group looks at one another with shifty eyes.

"Well come on in then." She says leading the group to one of the houses. "Bandits have been rife around these parts, so we aren't afraid of no fight." She says leading them to a table.

Brandon sat down. "They will most likely act like bandits and will attack the garden that you have here. We came to the north to hunt them down; we think that they have information about why this winter has been like it is."

"Well, we've spent a lot of time taking care of this garden and so one is going to fucking burn it down on my watch." She says as she rolls up the sleeves of her cloths. "But we can't go fighting on an empty stomach, so let's get a soup going and have some tea."