Many forces have tried to take Esper over the years, the fortress of ice build high into the sky as a means of protecting not only the queen, but their precious stones of life. A new power had arisen from the East and the whispers in the wind speak of bloodshed and horrors that haven't been seen since the demon's escaped and ravaged the earth, purging from the core all means of innocence and youth. Those days are long gone, but Varin remembers them all to well, her people still scarred from the loss of their children and loved ones. This new power is something to behold and yet she will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of her race and her tight grip on the crown.

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The first snow of fall had begun to fall, Esper welcoming the activity and yet the land was already covered in the ice of winter, the land never fully thawing because of climate and altitude. The pristine white castle of Queen Varin sat at the edge of a steep cliff the purpose one of fortification. The dark city of life loomed behind her home, the front posing a reminder to those ignorant enough to approach her home that she was in fact ready to stand out front with her warriors and protect her people. She had been queen for almost twenty years when the sands of time shifted the balance of good and evil, a power rising from the East, a people called the Mahia. They were amazonian warriors that lived in the warmest climates on each, so the counsel of Esper first determined that they had nothing to prepare for - nothing to worry with.

These warriors would've travel through the frozen wasteland that completely landlocked the country of Esper for they would perish like all those before them. They couldn't have been more wrong and yet nothing had occurred to date, but the oracles, including the queen had seen into the future where the color of life coated the streets and very few people remained alive, a whole country wiped out by the hands of a madman. The timing of the vision never made itself clear and so the counsel would meet yet again to try and discern their next steps in an effort to get ahead of the approaching threat.

"What is the news you bring us traveler?" The adviser to the queen spoke with a sharp tongue, his patience tried by the full day of deliberations on the matter already.

"I've already told you, great on. The heathen's have destroyed every land from Zarinth to Valence. It's no more than a two month span before they make it here if they continue on the path that they've begun with." The traveler was a young man with sandy-blonde hair and sun-kissed skin, his purpose to collect a bit of coin from his information and travels.

"How do you know at which rate these men are traveling?" The adviser turned to look at his queen as she touched his shoulder, his attention always due her if and when she wanted it. The young man gave his answer, but the adviser was kneeling before Varin, his dark gaze looking up at the stately beauty. "Yes, my queen."

She looked at the young man and back at her adviser before nodding to let him know that she would be speaking. "Stand, my adviser, move to my side."

"As you wish." He stood and offered his hand as she moved to her full height, her body lithe and tight with youth that didn't belong to her age. She'd been blessed or cursed - oh which he wasn't sure and would never think it his place to ask. She moved a few steps forward, her eyes on the young man as he stared at her in unabashed lust. His eyes moved along the curves of her body, the thigh lace stretching across her full breasts. The adviser started to reprimand the boy but the queen held up her hand.

"He is lying. They will be here in no more than a month." A smile touched her smile as she watched shock wash across his face, his skills bar none to her own. She reached behind her, the adviser placing a small knife in her hand, a smile touching his. She was the coldest bitch he'd ever had the pleasure of working for and he'd kill his own mother to stay on her good side.

"I am not lying, your majes.." he never finished his response before she flicked her wrist, the knife plunging into his forehead and sinking to the ground.

"Clean it up and find me bounty hunter or someone that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. We have plenty of jewels for payment. Find me the best or everyone of you will stand before my blade. Is that clear?" She looked around the room and everyone shook their heads, fear painted on their faces. She moved her long black dress out of the way, reached for her headdress and slipped it on, exiting the room without another word.

Asgeirr pulled the furs about his broad shoulders then sat before the fire, weary eyes stared past the yellow flames that danced wildly in the winds that swept past the rocks and crevices that surrounded the camp, he uttered a simple blessing for the falling of the fresh snow, it would cover his peoples tracks, nevertheless he had given orders for the Sentries to remain vigilant for it would not be till near close of the new dawn before their tracks were covered completely. He sighed deeply as he stared past the flames and into the darkness of the past, for nearly four seasons now he had led his people along the mountainous Terrain that was their homeland.

Though they had eventually been driven away from their villages, they were by no means refuges, for four seasons his Warriors had harassed the enemy, disrupted they're supply lines and added to they're misery aided by the fierce winter weather and the near impossible ability to maneuver large forces along the mountains rocky passages. His people were hardy, strong and proud, but four seasons of running battles were taking its toil, the little ones had long since lost their youth and the old ones longed for either a place to rest their bones for more then just a night, or longed to return to the burial caves of their Ancestors.

As long as there was breath to be drawn within their bodies, he nor his Warriors would ever give up the fight, but four seasons of constant battle and the dwindling losses of Warriors irreplaceable had made him wiser to the plight of all his people, and he found himself at the crossroads of either finding a place to put down roots and rebuild Families, or his people, his Clan disappearing from existence. Within a days walk now from the stronghold of Esper, it had been decided earlier that eve, by a Council meeting that an Envoy would be sent to seek audience with the Queen and permanent refuge sought, begrudgingly he had agreed, but refused to send an Envoy, stating their case would be better received if one Leader stood before the other and pleaded their cause as it should be. Despite the Councils protest that he should risk himself, he held his ground and told them that short of subjugation, he would return with word of a place for them to make home.

It had taken nearly to the eve of the following day to traverse the Terrain, but now he stood on a mountain next to a lone winter pine tree overlooking the stronghold of Esper, his breath caught in his throat as he surveyed the grandeur of the fortified City. He turned his weathered face skyward at the sound of the Snow Hawks screeching and lifted his muscular left arm for the bird of prey to land, cooing softly to his feathered companion as she carefully landed on his arm, her sharp talons gripping into the furs that covered his shoulder and bicep.

He laughed heartily as the Snow Hawk chirped and fussed and he spoke with the bird as he would any other being, "Now you are sounding as if you are one of the Council, my winged friend, aye I intend to go in, the need of the Clan is far too great, we cannot survive another winter, and this one to come by all indications looks to be the worst yet...you my friend will remain here, little doubt room would there be enough for the spreading of your wings...and I need you out here to return to the Clan and show the way back here to my Warriors should you not see me again in two days time...now go my friend, it draws late and I must make it to the gates before there drawn close for the eve".

Icy cold dots of snow scattered from the heavens, the temperature lost on the reduced body heat that she kept, her skin a light blue as it had always been. Being the queen of Esper and once the princess meant never venturing out beyond the walls of the city to explore. She was honestly quite unsure of how she would fair in a climate different than her own as her parents had used various methods of reminding her that she'd not last. The time had gone for her to do anything adventurous as her days were spent making decisions and solving various political and socioeconomic problems. She removed her headdress, long white & silver hair sweeping around her shoulders and accenting the deep crystal color of her gaze, her eyes moving along the sharp edges of the cliff, looking for something, anything.

The people of Esper lived behind a large stone wall, the black city a sight for sore eyes as its beauty rang out for miles and miles, the allure almost irritatingly obvious. She'd wanted to change it many years back, but the counsel would have none of it, their concerns lost on things in the moment and not in dealing with the future. Having the foresight to run a country took more than getting the things done at present that needed to be done and she was the one that pushed the dastardly group of aging men to make decisions. She very much had the power to trump their ideas and decrees, but tried hard to maintain a sense of democracy and not dictatorship though if things went south she was ready to stand before everyone and require them bow.

Varin abhorred the idea of bringing a stranger into the kingdom to assist them with this threat, her men well prepared to fight any opposing force, but the issues wasn't to deal with brute strength, but cunningness and investigation. She supposed her adviser, Jerim was correct in his assessment to find "the best" to assist them. She paid him well and spent many years learning to trust him. To stop now would just be irrational and unfounded. Pressing her long fingers to the bridge of her nose she exhaled slowly, releasing the angst that rode up the back of her neck and shoulders, hoping to find peace in the beauty that played about all about her. No one but her stood in the icy snow of early afternoon and yet she felt a million eyes on her, her own castle lined with protection in the form of strong warriors.

Most of the towns people often wondered why she never aged and yet knew that she'd been at the helm of their world for twenty-plus years. Her body retained the appearance of a luscious woman in her late thirties, but to catch a glimpse of her gaze would tell a very different story no doubt. She cared not for an sensuality in her appearance, the men of Esper not calling her to feel anything more than a ruler-like protection over all of them. The time for romance and sex was not at hand and she remained focused on the things that mattered most - her charge. The dilemma of the situation before her was pressing and yet she couldn't see a way to get the word out properly that they needed help. She'd pray to the god of protection and ask him to send a warrior their way - one like they'd never seen.

"My queen, you must come inside. The snow is only going to get worse and I know that you were born for this, but please." Jerim walked toward her, stopping a few feet away, knowing that she would not appreciate his closeness.

She turned at the sound of his voice, a snarl on her lips but she held it back. Her temperament was violent most days and if ever too calm then people began to gain concern - as they should. "I'll come in when I'm ready. Thank you, Adviser."

She turned away from him and closed her eyes, lifted her head and let the wind sooth her fear as her voice lifted to the heavens in a language that only the gods understood.

They would send someone.

There was no other choice.