Marcus and Phylomena

Marcus: Kislev, the northernmost domain, a realm allied to the Empire. There was work to be found here for the daring, the wealthy czars were often known for recruiting mercenaries into their ranks, typically this was to rid themselves of the occasional strigoi, the cursed khitai dark shamanistic raiders had long ravaged their settlements, the czars could not afford to lose any more of their serfs or wealth to creatures of the night. Thus far military expeditions had failed, it was too expensive to feed a hundred men in the dead of winter and besides it almost seemed their opponents were one step ahead. Marcus's elaborate mannerisms and persuasive speech had seemed to win over the reigning boyar, he thought it would be a simple enough hunt.. besides it was only one creature plaguing a village.. but he soon learned that the worst aspect of Kislev was not the myriad beasts haunting it's endless forests but the weather. A march through knee deep snow quickly became exhausting whatever this beast was, it was elusive. A strategic enemy was often difficult to fight, Marc adopted the time tested and proven strategy of deploying traps with the aide of the local huntsmen before they departed for the village. Nearly the entire patch of border forest had been rigged with various mechanisms, Marcus did not believe in giving his enemy an ignoble end.. none of these traps were lethal.. they would have at least a fighting chance but beyond this it stirred his curiosity to see what sort of being was haunting these locals.. what creature inspired such terror. " Gods grant me strength, i hope to capture this fiend soon so that i may be rid of this place.. never again shall i take the road to Kislev " he remarked with a certain ire desperately trying to cultivate a flame that would likely be his lifeline through the merciless winter night, the whip of winds was like needles being thrown upon his face.. he had never experienced a cold like this.. so vehement and bitter.. to him It represented nothing more than a shiver. As the fire finally began to blaze a triumphant grin came upon his features looking back to the short stocky horse that had carried him here, infinitely better suited to the winter than he was though his only companion for now.. " Now we wait " he remarked petting it's side and giving the creature a feed of grain, something that most peasants here would kill for by now. He almost felt some sympathy for this creature, survival was so harsh here.. it could've just been attempting to find something to eat.. though the way in which the corpses were mangled.. it had to have been some wild animal. Marcus made quick check to his blade, swiping upon thin icicles on a tree branch that were cut perfectly without disturbing the tree or letting the snow fall off the branch, a nod of approval followed as he finally settled near his fire.. not conceding to slumber in his days as a soldier, he was often first upon the night watch.. it was agonizing then but over time he learned to rest with his eyes open.

Phylomena: Shit....another bounty. The creature huffed with it's long snot. The snow furred wolf looked at the reward bounty on a near by tree and shook it's head. It's bright emerald eyes looked around to see nothing but the trees and muffled leaves. It was being hunted alright. The she wolf was being hunted, though she didn't know who or by what really. The fact that she was being hunted at all was jarring at best.