It's early in Frost here in Karnor. The air is cold and still these days, a warning of those yet to come. The sky is cloudy, but bright, not yet ready to drop the snow on the already freezing landscape. Birds and squirrels and other creatures forage desperately in the grasslands and forests of Karnor, racing against the snow that will bury everything without exception. The world is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen, for anything to happen.
Because something will.
The light around the area is dimming, earlier now than an at any other point in the year. And as those few stray beams of light begin to vanish, the temperature continues to plummet. The Wild King's Forge has never been forgiving, and those who enter it unprepared never come out unscathed. All the caravans that take the merchant roads have settled in for the night, building campfires, cooking stews of potato and hare, the luckier ones having deer. The trains have stopped for the day, resting at their respective stations, and the airships continue on their journeys, not at all concerned with the mundane happenings of those on the ground.
But for those choosing to not take the well worn path, there is little comfort to be found here in the wilds. Luckily for them, bears have all begun their hibernation, removing one such danger, but many others, the wolves, the large cats, and the many other predators are out hunting with a fervor. This is when the predators make bolder choices, attacking riskier potential prey, for in winter, one can never be sure of their next meal. And those off the beaten path would hear the wolves, always.
And never hear the cats.
However, even those off the main way aren't alone. There are a myriad of reasons to not take those traveled ways, and just as many people carrying those reasons as torches. And one such group is huddled around a large fire in the bend of a frozen river. Their presence can be detected from a good ways off, and that is quite intentional. They make their presence loud and known, as a warning to the desperate creatures looking for an easy meal. The group was nearly a dozen strong, half of them human of varying shapes and looks, the other half a smattering of others, as Zaichaer would put it.
One man, some type of elf if his ears were any indicator, was singing a deep throated, joyful jubilee, a song of welcoming strangers to the fire, a song of warmth and camaraderie, and a warning to those who might wish harm. The others chatted and played games and laughed with one another as the man sung his song, over and over, until the sun finally disappeared and with it, the song would end. The song was a promise from these people, and those like them, those that come bearing no ill will would be warmed and fed and most importantly, accepted as who they presented themselves to be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Elsewhere and Elsewhen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Constantine looked annoyed as the man in the plain suit straightened his tie, his plain and forgettable face devoid of any emotion. All monsters have masters and all peons have bosses. "This is quite the mess you've found yourself in. Many resources were lost when Subjects 065, 172, and 457 escaped." There was no hint of blame or malice there, simply cold facts. "We, of course, have to now spend resources recovering those subjects if possible. Our people are on the ships, on the roads, and on the trains. They will be found, but the patience of our," he says as he straightens his tie once more, "masters, well, it is wearing thin. They've given a timeline on this recovery, and if it isn't met, the subjects will be terminated by the spies we have hidden in place, should they turn up."
Constantine's eyes went wide, "No! You can't! That research is of vital importance! I've given years of my life to it!"
The man in the suit waited for Constantine to remember his place, and when the doctor went quiet once more, the man continued, "The decision has been made. However..." He adjusted his tie more, "This is an opportunity for us. A chance to showcase some of our other discoveries, to abate them. Two birds, one stone, as they might say." Constantine looked on curiously, "What are you getting at, sir?"
"Give a sample from Subject 457 to Subject 000, and turn him loose into the Wild King's Forge. Use him to flush 457 out, drive him to ground."
Constantine's eye went wide once more, betraying the fear within, "Sir, we can't turn 000 loose. We haven't figured out how to kill him, let alone control him. We lost so many resources the last time he escaped."
The plain man grinned just ever so slightly, "We'll send a tracking team to follow 000, record the findings and observe, from a safe distance, and clean up as necessary. This is a chance to see your research in the field. See which route is better, 000 or 457, and then we can use that information to see which we wish to pursue. Make the next generation."
Constantine still looked worried, "457 could've been the future. Far more stable than 000."
The man straightened his tie once more, "Yes, but there's something special about 000's efficient brutality." He turned to leave Constantine's office, "And I do love that look in his eyes when he's draining people. He shows so much pain, but keeps doing what we need him to do. It's so satisfying."
MOD NOTE
