[PQ] (SE, Open) defrosting

CHULANE

Nature is cruel

It was something of a comfort, to dig the snow out again. To have lived through another season – this time with the one who held his heart intact too. To have seen the seed of his idea come to fruition was satisfying in ways he could hardly express; as the ningo farm, while certainly seeing the effects of feeding the entire region for the season of Deepfrost, was set up and ready to recover well in Flowerbirth. And the freezer storage was, well, still very frozen, serving its purpose well, and ready to receive the hunter’s kills once again.

But it could always improve. It could always expand. With a few seasons worth of compost produced by the ningos, they were well on their way to providing the means for residents to grow their own produce as well – though that was a whole other project that he was sure Morgan would address in due course.

For today, the ningo farm needed a bit of love. Longnight had been hard to manage, not just from a literal, physical perspective, but from an emotional one as well. But such things had been mostly resolved – Kiada had returned, and life felt good. Good enough that he could resume his duty to the region.

With a bit of help as well, of course.

He posted the notice to the town board and waited at the ningo farm for volunteers the following morning, shovels and picks at the ready. The primary task would be to start moving the snow along the road and the surrounding area of the ningo facility – and dealing with any particularly icy bits they uncovered. He’d accept help in the form of magical means as well – those Abandoned who could manipulate water and fire would certainly be welcome. Once the snow and ice was moved, they could take a closer look at the facility itself.

--

This is an Open PQ (preference will be given to Halo residents first, sorry! Please DM Whimzi/Whit on discord if your non-Halo character wants to join in).

This PQ will meet the SE requirement of digging out snow/ice over pathways in Halo! It will also focus on doing some general maintenance work on the Ningo farm in the Citadel. There will be some local Halovian NPCs helping out too, so keep them in mind in your posts.

The first task will be to get started on moving the snow – feel free to have your character arrive and receive this instruction from Chuy and get going :)

1. Chulane
2. Deimos
3. Sah
4. Kiada

First round will begin once all spots are filled!

but we don't have to be

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Ningos seemed to be more trouble than they were worth – because he’d gladly spend some time hunting them all down one by one. But with the new season, new distractions, and the immense amount of relief in semblances of normalcy (whatever that happened to be now), had him motioning towards what Halo required. Flowerbirth was already distinctly different, and while the Sword could linger along the portals, and head towards the Hollowed Grounds and likely pick apart the rubble and destruction, it would be best to start here. He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to see the blows and aftermath again anyway. Not at the moment. He noted Chulane’s request on the board instead, grabbing hold of the required tools. Mustering his incantations would likely be easier, but he could start on the physical means, muscle and might and brute force, before fire or other assemblages had to be implemented. So he arrived with all of that in tow, along with Zuriel (in case…they needed healing), Belial back along the barracks, likely annoying soldiers and guards. The beast offered a firm, steady nod in Chulane’s direction, and then hastening on the necessary means, began to dig into the snow. -- Deimos arrives with Zuriel and starts moving snow with his shovel. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

"If I can't move the heavens above, I will move Hell" Sah arrived at the farm, eyeing he ningos with open curiosity. And maybe a hint of hunger. The flora and fauna of Caido was still something he had yet to fully explore, or taste. Regardless, Sah had decided upon seeing the notice to help out in cleaning the farm. It seemed like a decent enough starting point in giving back to the city that had welcomed him so warmly. And Sah always paid his debts. Upon arrival he sent a nod towards Deimos in greeting before receiving his instructions. Manual labor, seemed simple enough. He grabbed a shovel and set to work on removing the snow. Though he did send a glance at the other people working first, just to make sure he was doing it correctly. Sah arrives and also grabs a shovel to help with the snow. sah There stood the wolf in the winter wind Full of fearsome might There stood the wolf in the winter wind King of the winter night. -Tim Vallie

i wanted to be ruined —

a little more than i wanted

— to be loved

Of course she’s there. Now that she didn’t need to be stolen away from him, she’s practically glued at his hip. She doesn’t particularly need instruction, having gone over it with Chulane time and time again, fixing little bits and pieces here that seemed as if they might require a bit more additions or helping hands. But they come to a consensus of what needs to be done and Kiada is here for it, ice pick in hand, prepped and ready to do what she can.

Before she departs, however, she does step up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek, to flash him a wink, before she’s slipping away and chiming a greeting to Deimos and the other that had arrived that she hadn’t met yet. And when she picks her spot, she begins to work to pick at the snow to loosen it up for the shoveling, to open up the Ningo farm again from its icy prison of Deepfrost.

KIADA

CHULANE

Nature is cruel

The farmer grinned at each attendee as they came, nodding and gesturing to various areas as suggestions for where they could start on the snow piled high around the place. There was plenty of work to be done – he was confident that together, they could achieve what was needed to ensure the farm was prosperous for the region for another year.

Deimos made good headway, and Chulane looked curiously at the new creature that accompanied him, wondering when the Sword had bonded with it. He’d have to ask another time – for now, many of the townsfolk who’d also come to help seemed to follow the once temporary-warden, as if hoping to make a good impression. A slanted, amused grin was given at the thought, the farmer well aware of the Sword’s thoughts of being warden for longer than the agreed single season. Whatever their motivation, Deimos and those working near him cleared a decent third of the snow they had set before them.

Sah was greeted with a grin and a nod, and a soft “Hi, I’m Chuy. You new here?” Outlanders had a way of sticking out amongst the Naturals, even when they’d been here for some time. Chulane himself knew he’d never be completely ‘one of them’, but he’d do well enough making himself a home here, and contributing what he could to the town. Sah’s luck was not entirely with him, however – not as many townsfolk went to help him with his area. He managed to get about an eighth of his area cleared.

Kiada was greeted in a way that was to be expected – a grin that radiated complete and utter contentment, that barely hinted at the depth of his feelings for her. He returned the kiss happily, an arm around her in a half hug before she set off to do her bit. And she did quite well – the region suited her, the help she’d been doing around the place giving her a certain familiarity with it and the people. Kiada managed to clear the same amount as Deimos, about a third of the area she was working on.

Chulane on the other hand… Evidently was destined to underperform whenever his beloved was nearby. But he put his strength behind the shovel all the same and worked at it, getting about a sixth of the way through his section.

There was still plenty of work to do.

“Keep on going, we’re almost at the icy layer,” he commented, giving the instruction mostly to himself, but ensuring all those in attendance would hear it.

He hoped everyone was wearing thick gloves today. They were going to need it.

--

Deimos got about a third of the way through his section!
Sah only got about an eighth of the way through his!
Kiada got a third of the way through hers!
Chuy got about a sixth of the way through his bit!

Keep on shovelling guys!

but we don't have to be

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame The Sword presumed he’d never made much of good impressions, not in the way of his silence and quiet demeanor, but apparently he’d been wrong. An arch of his brow followed and flickered over those who accompanied his efforts, muffling a snort and the hints of a smile, then bowing his head, back to their work. Pleasantly surprised by how much they’d accomplished in a short while, the beast continued shoveling, the tool digging into the ground, lifting the snow away from its unwanted sanctions, a cyclical, muscle memory invocation to his methods. Then, perceiving faster, swifter notions, he cast movement and motion into earthen and water incantations, so perhaps while he maneuvered the particles, it did so seemingly on its own as well. -- Deimos continues shoveling, and tries to use his Mastered Earth and Water magic to move the snow too. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

i wanted to be ruined —

a little more than i wanted

— to be loved

There’s pride in her work while she picks away at the ice, creating idle chatter with the rest of the Halovians. She continues to pick away at it, hoping that the rest of the crew with her could break away more and more of it. There was still a lot of work to do, however, and try as she might to focus on it, she can’t help but to notice just how little Chulane had managed to get done in comparison.

Ever the cheeky woman she is, she flashes a smirk toward Chulane, wondering if she might catch his attention. “If all else fails, Chuy, we could stick the top of a table to your antlers and you could push it along.” It’s a playful taunt at how far he’s gone, unable to keep the soft laughter from leaving her as she gets back to work.

---

Kiada continues to pick away at the ice but teases Chulane too ;D

KIADA

"If I can't move the heavens above, I will move Hell" Sah nodded at Chuy, somewhat relieved at the easy welcome. "Yup. Showed up during Leafchange. Good to meet you." Setting to work, Sah tried not to be bitter about the clear avoidance that the Naturals of Halo gave him. Did it really matter where he came from when there was work to do? Rolling his eyes and keeping his temper in check, Sah continued to dig in the snow, trying to turn his frustration into efficiency.  The sooner this was done, and done correctly, he'd be able to leave. It seemed like Sah had yet to truly face the stigma of being an Outlander. The Naturals he'd met previously had all been rather welcoming. Clearly those people weren't here today. Sah settled into a rhythm, doing his best to do his part. But if one more passing person made a comment about going back to 'where he came from' he was either going to scream or bite them. Probably both. Sah tries to ignore the not so warm welcome from some of the townspeople and does his best to get his part cleared. sah There stood the wolf in the winter wind Full of fearsome might There stood the wolf in the winter wind King of the winter night. -Tim Vallie