Yeah I'm FINE

ISKRA

He's quiet as he walks alongside her and Goose. Thoughts and decisions press upon him, a mild threat of asphyxiation as he grapples with their weight. It's been a long time coming, but that only seems to have made it that much worse to bear; a boy at heart trying to finally shoulder a world he's gotten so damn good at ignoring. He'll do it, though. He has to do it, and that's why he keeps walking.

The path to the shrine isn't a familiar one to him, though it's well worn with the practiced use of others. The gods don't generally seem the pleasant type, not very apt to favor him, so he's mostly let them be if they in turn would do the same for him. Until now. He'll stop at nothing to prove himself worthy of her. She didn't ask him to, wouldn't, but he wants her to have the best of the world. Maybe that doesn't include him, he didn't think it did for a long time, but he can at least try before giving up on the idea. He wants to be someone she can depend on again, wants to be someone that's strong enough to stand beside her. For that he knows there's a lot of work to be done, so he hopes the gods might spare a moment to help him recover some of this lost time—it's precious to him now that he could spend stretches of it in her company.

Her descriptions of Ludo sounded the most promising to him. Someone who walks the edge of death and despair yes, but because of that recognizes the value of enjoying life and using it for fun where possible. Iskra wants to bring joy to others; he hopes even if he finally picks up a weapon, that would serve as a means to that end.

Iskra glances over at Mel as they stand by the shrine. He exhales steadily, then stoops down to brush some of the snow away and kneel. Goose, finding this the perfect height for pets, surges forward and expertly digs his snout between Iskra's side and arm, rooting around until his head pops between the two. The driftwood colored duck Mel had given him before squeaks with short repetitive bursts as he attempts to draw on Iskra's attention. The woodcutter, unbothered by these endless antics of the hound, barely registers the interference, only pressing his one arm a bit tighter against the mongrel's head in a mild effort to get him to retreat. He reaches out to ensure each candle is lit, and places a wooden carving he made of Goose before the shrine.

He draws in a breath and bows his head, willing his voice to abandon the uncertainty in his chest. "Ludo... I've heard of your will for the world from your Demi-God." A faint smile, the thought of her always bringing it to his features. "I want to be able to stand with her, so please, I beg you to help me find that strength." A pause, the smile splintering with sadness. "A greataxe, shaped in honor of my mother... it would assist in this endeavor." He wonders if Ludo can mingle with the souls that Mort has taken, if his mother is there with them, as magnificent in death as in life. He's likely disappointed her all this time, but maybe he can amend some of that now. 

---

Melita is going to join to help his roll

Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.

Iskra is requesting a lightning great axe
Ampere: greataxe with feather and lightning design aspects that produces lightning where its blade strikes.

Fingers in a fist like you might run
I settle for a ghost I never knew

to be lit up from within

vein by vein

For all that Iskra seems to be bearing the world, Melita was as light as a feather, skipping along the outstretch of the Citadel in heavy boots and too many furs. Thick mittens covered her hands, but didn’t alleviate her ability to carry all the impending shrine offerings, tucked closely to her frame as they meandered around. She took in all the sights and sounds, the brisk wind and the rush of cold, settling a few thoughts in her mind, unaware of how many circulated through Iskra’s.

Muffling a few giggles at Goose’s antics, she waited patiently, listening to the words Iskra unfurled, humming a little under her breath, arching a brow at the notions of an axe. Fitting, not surprising, something he’d be familiar with wielding…the only tidbit she picked up on was the mention of his mother.

Taking her part, she rushed forward, granting her favored herald a multitude of gifts. Whispering low to Iskra, because she wouldn’t always be here for requests, she added what knowledge and sagacity she could offer. “Ludo likes games, toys, that sort of thing. And candy.” She winked, then grinned, placing the bestowals upon the chilly altar. From her covered fingers, she extended a toy soldier on a horse, a stuffed bat, some saltwater taffy, and licorice. “And doesn’t like the cold,” with a wrinkle to her nose, but adding a large blanket decorated and adorned with ducks, hoping to add to the appeal of her raggedy patron appearing before her friend.

--

Melita puts down some offerings for Ludo!

Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.

to be the sun

MELITA

ludo Braved the forests, braved the stone Braved the icy winds and fire Braved and beat them on my own Melita's raggedy patron is always happy to see her, it's true - but she's also very right in her knowledge of it. About the cold, about the gifts, about its nature. Which is why the blanket is squirrelled away first, yanked against the shrine by invisible hands only to drape across an already rag-clad figure. Its otherwise expressionless porcelain mask has been marked (with, yes, marker) to create a cartoonish frown, and it shivers pointedly. "It doesn't like the cold," it agrees, already cramming Mel's other gifts into the void between its rags. "And you forgot tricks. And cats. I also like cats. But dogs are acceptable." Reaching out with a black fabric tendril, it pats Goose on the head, then snatches up the carving of him to pet that too as they speak. "I can make a greataxe. Don't know what makes them so great though," it continues, rummaging inside itself to bring out the liquorice to munch on. "Do this stuff, and I'll make it all sparky for you and everything. Oh, I threw in something extra too, on account of the cold." Iskra has received a quest! He must: 1. Complete a thread mining for the ore he'd like the greataxe to be created from. 2. Complete a training thread focusing on fighting with an axe. 3. Complete a thread paying respects to his mother in whatever way feels best. 4. Complete a thread being struck by lightning. Iskra has already received an additional bLeSsINg from Ludo! For the three threads immediately following this one (11187) he will only be able to communicate via shouting, AND SO ALL DIALOGUE SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN ALL CAPS.

ISKRA

Her assistance is accepted with a grateful smile, glancing towards her as she adds her known favors to the meager offering he provides. He'll take note for the future, and sucks in a breath of regret at not asking her more outright before forging ahead now, as if he had to do so alone, as if she hadn't reminded him time and time again he needn't. "Thank you," he murmurs to her, settling in then to offer his plea to her god.

Iskra can't quite tell when Ludo appears, but its there all the same suddenly, child-like in size and word. Iskra is struck silent, never having observed a god in such a personal manner, and finds the slightest smile tugging at his lips as Ludo sweeps up each item into the folds and shadows of its robes. The blanket makes a fine mantle, and the licorice wags like wheat in a farmer's maw as Ludo clarifies he likes (and subsequent dislike, of the cold). Goose, as skittish as he can be at times, does not shy away from Ludo's touch, and in fact angles his head into the pats. He is a glutton for praise and affection, be it from spooky rags draped around a divine hand or not.

As Ludo imparts its requirements, Iskra nods in understanding, quietly repeating each task back to himself. The last words though, they leave him wondering, though not for long.

"THANK YOU LUDO" Iskra claps his hands over his mouth, mortified that he's let his excitement run away with him and succumb to shouting at the deity. He clears his throat, an apologetic smile there as he tries again. "I'LL REMEMBER YOU—" Iskra sucks in his breath with a frown, glancing up at Mel with a shadow of panic. "I DON'T KN—" Iskra bites back the rest and presses his teeth together in a grimace as he rises, suddenly anxious to leave. Hell, he needs to go for a run or something, clear his head and his throat. "I'LL BE BACK!" he promise-yells to Ludo with a hand raising in farewell.

(I know this doesn't count as one of the yelling threads but I had to start!)

[FIN]

Chopping my wood, but this tree’s too hard
Chopping my wood, my axe isn’t sharp
Chopping my wood, split through the heart and it tears me apart