The Struggles and Efforts to Put Food on the Table.

[Sir Balder]

Daybreak.

The first, tentative beams of sunlight spread across the landscape, as if trying to recognize a long lost friend. The light sparkled as it broke into thousands and thousands of smaller sunbeams, divided through the glistening frost crystals covering all the buildings and most of the ground in the still sleeping Svargrond. Baldorill fully emerged from the fur tent he had spent the night in, hungry for yet another day’s adventures. He was thrilled to be back in the northern lands, among the ice and snow he felt so at home with. But this trip was not only for leisure, he reminded himself as he walked towards the outskirts of town, but also for an important purpose. He had taken it upon himself to gather and prepare the food for the upcoming Sunday lunch at the Red Rose guildhall.

At first he hadn’t had any clue what to serve, but then it had hit him. Exotic mammoth-meat would probably be something that some of the lunch guests had never tasted. They were in for a treat, he thought, smiling. Compared to the meat usually served in pubs and inns, the mammoth-meat was something quite extraordinary. Because of the sheer size of the animals, and the weight the muscles had to bear up with every step, it’s meat was naturally much denser and “heavier” to eat. Tasty, though, and that’s what he inteded to show the others.

Just as the ice elf entered the wilderness outside the town, a small bird swooped down past his head, singing happily as it went. It made a few twirls in midair before flying a bit to the northwest, sometimes interrupted by a short backtrack towards Baldorill, before it continued. Looking amazed after the bird, Baldorill couldn’t help but think that the bird wanted to show him something. It was crazy, of course, but he couldn’t let go of the thought. Shrugging to himself, he gave up and followed the bird. Slowly but steadily he and the bird made it across some icy and sharp heights, and at the peak the ice elf could gaze down over a wide open landscape – all of it blindingly white in the morning sun, only broken in colour by lots and lots of tiny, dark dots. Moving dots, Baldorill thought and squinted. Mammoths!

Swiftly un-sheathing his slender sword, Baldorill crept together and moved as fast and silent as he could downhill, preferably without sliding too much on the treacherous ice. The way down proved to be far longer than he’d estimated, and the topography of the terrain only made it worse. It wasn’t long before he had to accept his misjudgement, and put back his sword in its sheath to better be able to climb down. Minutes turned into an hour, and as he worked his way down the weather began to change as well. The bright morning sky was now gone, and misty clouds came sweeping in with chilly winds in company. The day darkened considerably, and it became harder and harder to see anything as snow started to get whipped up from the ground all around him.

Stumbling into a group of small bushes, Baldorill decided to ride out the storm by them. It wasn’t much of a shelter, but at least it was a steady point in a world of white haze. He covered himself up as well as he could, pulling up the cloak of his cape and clutching his arms around his legs as he sat on the ground. He didn’t know for how long he just sat there, but the wind was sooner or later pierced by deep, grunting sounds. Ominous sounds, and they were right next to him! He quickly stared both ways around, and soon enough he discovered the source…apparently he had made it to the bottom of the heights, down to the plain, and he now had mammoth visitors all around him! Right back out went his sword, in the same fluid motion as he jumped to his feet. A few quick stabs and slashes towards the closest beast kept it at bay, as he found his bearings.

His life was in imminent danger, he thought to himself, as he saw the giant beasts closing in and staggering to their hind legs from pain. If one of their feet hit him, he would be done for. Retracking his route the way he had come, quick-stepping between two hairy mammoths, Baldorill reached a jagged rock edge emerging from the snow. He stood against it, to at least have his back free and safe, and faced the mammoths who approached. He thought it strange that they would come after him like this, considering they were usually pacific beasts, but he guessed the storm and the sudden discovery of his presence had caught them off guard. It seemed only one of the beasts was certain of his new whereabouts, and it made its way straight towards him. Trying to use all the knowledge and experience he had gathered through the years, the ice elf danced from side to side in front of the mammoth, keeping it moving, all the time stabbing and slashing away when he found an opening. Within minutes, the majestic creature went down on its knees, weary by the blood loss. It didn’t take long for Baldorill to finish it off after that, and he decided to ride out the last of the storm in cover of the huge body.

Hours later, at least that’s what he thought, a familiar sound woke him up from his slumber. The bird he had followed earlier now sat above him, on top of the hairy mammoth, singing a crisp and beautiful hymn, as the daylight, just like the storm, faded away. Baldorill smiled at the bird, and then went to work, since he knew he had precious little time to finish what he needed to do and get back to the safety an comfort within the Svargrond town. Cutting out as much meat as he could carry, along with a large amount of fur, he prayed for the fallen animal and then headed back towards his awaiting tent as fast as he could, happily accompanied by the small bird.

~~~

A few days, and a ship journey over rough seas, had now passed since his encounter with the mammoths. Baldorill was back in the Red Rose guildhall, preparing the food for the upcoming lunch. He was a bit nervous. He’d never been good at preparing any extravagant food. Sure, he could throw something together to keep the hunger away, but when it came to proper dinners and such, people tended to frown at his creations. For that reason, Baldorill had decided to ask for some help with the preparations. Several of the Roses were rumbling about in the kitchen, cutting up sallad, peeling potatoes or just drinking some beer and wine. His dear brother and guildmate Rob was not in the kitchen, however, because it had a tendency of going ablaze when he was. A burning inferno was the last thing they needed right now, with the lunch so close at hand.

The ice elf looked around, and seeing how hard everyone had worked, he felt certain that they would be ready in time for their other guests arrival. He went over to the main door, and looked out over the Fibula town square. Closing his eyes, he let the sun warm his face and his ears drown in the mix of bird songs and the laughter and noises from inside the kitchen. Yells and cheers made him open his eyes, and who did he see if not a group consisting of several invited guests, all from various friendly guilds, that shared the Red Rose way of life. At least when it came to having a good time with friends, eating, drinking and laughing.

“Welcome, friends!”, he yelled, and beckoned them into the main floor of the guildhall, where flowers and herbs decorated the floor, and beautiful plates and golden mugs where set up on the table. “Come take a seat, and dinner will be served in minutes!”

The guests poured in, and soon they were all seated with each a large helping of mammoth meat, mashed potatoes and – for those who were into that – some sallad and vegetables. Most helped themselves to some of the famous Fibulan wine, although yet some preferred beer, which had been brought there from both Thais and Kazordoon.

Reactions on the meat were varied – some had had it before, others not, but most of the guests enjoyed the taste at least. Baldorill was grateful to those who had roasted the meat, since he was certain their good work had helped giving it some extra fine taste and tenderness. During the meal, the ice elf took the opportunity of retelling what had happened to him during his quest for the meat – the sudden storm, the struggle and even the encounter with the small bird. Just as he half jokingly raised his goblet of wine in celebration of his small, feathery comrade, a flicker by the door caught his attention, and fractions of a second later his little buddy bursted through the open door! Amazed, Baldorill thought of the distance the little fellow must have flown the last couple of days. It was just incredible…he couldn’t help but wonder what the little guy was up to now, so as the bird turned and, still singing, turned back out through the door, Baldorill quickly tanked the guests for their company, asked them to please stay as long as they wanted to enjoy the feast, and the enxcused himself as he leapt out into the sunlight, in persuit of whatever adventure his bewinged companion was going to steer him into this time…

[Skyzo]

Awesome Baldorill,,
You know how to write stories :]

[Nirdor]

Nirdor chewed happily the dinner Baldorill, his brother in arms was serving.

"Excellent food my friend, I have heard that if you eat mammoth meat, you don't have too eat rest of the week", Nirdor paused and looked at the food quickly.

"But, to be sure I think I have to take a portion and maybe one more just in case" he ended fast, turned around and looked on Skyzo's plate.

"Hoi, Skyzo do you need more of that?".



OOC: Nice work ,brother. Always exiting to read stories from this mystical ice elf of yours

[Skyzo]

Yes, of course!
I can not refuse this generous invitation
Baldorill is the best chef I know in all Tibia