Vanskaar Mead hall

The woman's entrance was announced by the boom of the opening door as it clapped against the wall and quickly followed by the excited barks of three dogs that rushed in to sniff about beneath the tables of Vanskaar Mead Hall for anything of interest - namely scraps or spills.

The voice of Kord brought about her head to look upon him across the bar, revealing a trio of scabbing scratches across her face that smeared the deep blue paint on her face. She had already rubbed dirt into the wounds and they were healing, though it had only been two days. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips that bore a cross of a sneer at his jives. Both arms were back and over something lugged across her shoulders that made finding out her head in the dim lighting by the door difficult.

"Maybe you get lost in a thicket, dunga, an' that's why I do the huntin' and you sit behind the bar," she barked back with a short chuckle. Her boots thudded across the floor as she came near the closest table between Kord and herself, hoisting off the load from her shoulders and letting the heavy body of a killed lynx slam on the surface - very little blood to the lovely pelt, and dead from a hard bludgeoning to the neck to kill it quick. She settled a hand on her hip with her weight on the other as she gripped the side of the table and gave the man an exasperated look. "Sure, my first trip back an' yeh wanna send me back out. What, we got a feast comin' up?"

... bear. They wanted bear roast. Was this a joke?

The woman's eyes bulged a bit in utter disbelief. She couldn't find the voice to speak immediately until after she put some pieces together in her head. "They want fresh bear - wait a damn minute, Kord, how long do we have until the ceremony?" she barked, ignoring Dagny as she romped up and proceeded to headbutt her knee for attention.

It damned well would have to be pushed back - she was looking at weeks, more than likely, just to find tracks or evidence of one alone. And then following them down to try and find the beast - and THEN hope she hasn't found a mother bear with cubs.

"Yer gonna have t' do that, Kord - you know what it's gonna take to hunt one down, and then bring it down. I'll have to borrow a horse to carry what I need out and THEN haul the carcass back!" She let out a frustrated sigh, bringing a hand across her face before casting her eyes to the ceiling. "You'd think the Skul would at least remember this with bears bein' such a part of their histories."

She mulled it over a little bit before looking over to Kord once again, and jabbing a pointed finger at the man. "I'll go it - y' know I will - but yer payin' me for it, and I want the pelt. I'll even make proper rites for the skull like we're supposed to."

Seeing the man under strain like that made Asta cringe slightly - despite the pressing ceremony by the Skul, everyone was under this cloud to make sure the demands were met for it. She mulled over in silence for a few moments, finally scratching one of her canine companions behind her ears. She glanced back at the lynx she had just set down and thought a little longer, and brought a hand up to gently pat the carcass.

"... if ya have to, prep this, too. Have someone skin an' tan the hide - make it a wedding gift. Maybe that'll get 'em off yer back a bit." With that, she turned to leave, following a sharp whistle that brought all three hounds after her barking excitedly.

Just outside the Mead Hall, the wind began to pick up only moments before the centuries old Valkyrie dropped from the sky. She looked at the entrance to the Hall as her wings folded themselves against her back. Her hand found the pommel of one of her swords, and she made her way inside, moving to sit at the back of the hall. Her eyes scanned about the hall, before she motioned for one of the servants to bring her some ale. She rolled her shoulders and leaned back in her chair, her eyes never ceasing to move, watching the occupants inside. Soon enough, the servant came back and she had her ale. She quietly nursed the drink as watched for a lead in her little journey. So far, nothing. She was beginning to hate this part of her quest all over again, because finding someone capable of contacting ghosts was hard. It was especially hard to find someone who was accurate in their works.

Isgerd was the first person to make her way to the sign up desk for the Great Hunt. It was always an exciting time of the year, and as the Wayfinder for the Tain, she had to point the way by being the first to mark her name on the paper. “Hi Kord!” she greeted the moustachioed innkeeper. “Fine day for sign-ups! And is that boar I smell roasting?” She scratched the runes of her name, signing up as “unteamed”. “I’ll go with anyone who is short a team member, or if someone catches my eye,” she winked at Kord, hoping that perhaps Rutgard or even Freya might be among the competitors this year. “Also Tain Erik asked me to be on hand to locate any of the hunters who get lost.” She laughed as though getting lost was a hilarious idea to her, which it was. After she had successfully signed up, she made sure to get a big mug of mead and join the folks at the fire to listen to tales and watch for interesting strangers coming through the door.

The doors of the illustrious mead hall would swing open once again, letting through Rune Naimon IV. He wore his usual flashy attire. He had long pink hair, with black ribbons as well. Perhaps an interesting sight, he was, to the locals, but he didn't notice.

He walked over to the registration desk upon spotting it, noticing another standing there, "Hello friends! I am here to sign up for the hunt. Oh, is this where I sign up here?" 

Rune stepped forward, standing beside Isegard. He signed his name in a fancy cursive, also indicating he had no one else on his team.

The Seeker had opened the door with purpose and zeal befitting his status of the hunter of the most dangerous prey. Closing it with equal force, his boots echoed across the wooden floor, resounding, until he finally stopped before the registration desk. As a laine had begun to form, though, he had stopped at the rear of a woman who was shorter than him, he could see over her hair.

"Good day, is it not, to join in the hunt of beasts the locals will not hunt themselves?"

The Mead Hall had started bustling seriously now with more participants for The Great Hunt appearing inside and the queue was getting longer still. The next one after Isgerd was a short fellow with pink hair and a slight frown formed upon Kord's face as he looked down upon the little man. He had to remind himself that some of these people came from very foreign, sometimes even simple, cultures and that their fighting abilities may be easily above his own despite their short stature and odd fashion. Still he wondered if this guy was going to be alright?

"Well what is your name mister? And preferred fighting method?" he asked as he passed Rune the papers as this one once again declared to be 'unteamed'. Usually this changed as the foreigners would start having beers with each other and formed partnerships - luckily the registration papers weren't final. "Thank you mister, good luck and know that beer and food is free the first day of registration and the Vanskaar Meadhall provides accommodation for fair prices." he said and nodded indicating for the next to step forward.

"Miss." Kord said indicating Elizabeth Finch. "From Isra it seems..?" Kord commented and looked at the pin indicting the Isran empire, he was quite apt at noticing the small details that told where foreigners hailed from. "On official business or just here for the challenge?" he asked knowing that if she was here on official duty she would probably want to speak to one of the tains. "What is your name and preferred fighting method?" he asked before passing her the letter to be signed.

There was a 'profound diversity' among the foreigners and even Kord didn't quite know what to think of the next one who was almost as tall as himself and wore a beard worthy of a Taingaardian warrior. "If it's The Great Hunt, please sign this and tell me your name and preferred fighting method." he said and passed Dietrich the papers.

Kord was definitely in for a long day if it continued like this but at the same time the businessman in him was quite content seeing all the customers.