What is in the snow?

Between the city and the mountains lay the vast forests and countryside of Omeaque territory. The Omeaque Territory lay far in the north along the slopes and base of the long mountain ranges. Anyone who lives in the settlements south of this area avoid it at all costs. Only a few have ever ventured into the land that is covered in snow for months on end, but never return. Rumors and tall tales of monsters lurking in this land. All the inhabitants to the south ever see coming out are wild animals. Such tales were dismissed as myths created to keep children away from the territory. Despite all those tales and the few never coming back people spread word of huntsmen, and explorers coming in from the west and the south to enter the territory.


One veteran chose to buy a cottage that lay right on the borders of the Omeaque territory. He had friends in the infantry who were natives from certain tribes that often hunted in this area. They warned him about moving to anywhere near that area. Divorced, the black sheep, a veteran, and some how wealthy thanks to an aunt who kept in touch Ethlando Aradonson drove his jeep up the road up to his new home ten to twenty miles away from the nearest settlement. Two weeks after moving he decided to get a fox as a pet. He named it Maurice as commemoration to a comrade who was missing in the Unknown Lands. Ethlando had no doubt his brothers n arms lay dead, resting in peace after a long conflict. Victory was achieved just three years ago and some resemblance of peace swept across the globe. No invaders, any vast hordes, or any crazy massive cults trying to take over.


The drive was easy until he came upon the rocky parts that were the bumpiest in the road. His jeep rattled and almost jumped in the air. He smiled feeling he vibrations and seeing home just ahead. Ethlando turned to his fox.


"It is another day back home from the village again isn't it Maurice?" He said to the fox who looked at him with a bemused look. Ethlando cracked up and rubbed the foxes head who made its little whine. It was not a whine that meant he hurt his fox, but the usual noise of a fox.


Ehtlando came to a stop at his new cottage that he purchased right next to some woods. He installed a fence connected to the structure for the fox to play in and sleep outside. The veteran often let his fox inside the house when temperatures got lethally cold even for a fox. Living alone had both positives and negatives in life. At least he did not live too far away from a settlement. Wasting no time Ethlando turned off the vehicle let Maurice out and gathered up the groceries. The door stood locked with a warning sign hanging over the door. The veteran removed the sign and unlocked the door. He entered his own little home that had three rooms and two bathrooms that must have been made by a Dwarf or Mechanic from the Tank Brigades. As he put groceries away Maurice scurried all over the cottage like he had been waiting to see home again for months.


"Home again eh buddy?" He said the fox who was too busy running about happy to be home again.


While his pet fox leapt from chair to couch Ethlando made himself some hot chocolate. He looked out the window with a view of the snow just now falling down. He recalled the butcher telling him it would be cold this winter meaning he'd better be ready for lethal dose of winter's kiss. That butcher was a fat brown skinned goblin with a hint of human beige as well was always friendly to him. From time to time Ethlando would shoot a stray animal from a ranch or deer then bring it over to the butcher. He mostly killed pigs, or cattle that got lost. Outside the window stood a small patch of trees standing close to the woods. The stove was left heating the water allowing him to go to the furnace and put new fuel, wood to heat up his home. He returned to the stove when he saw something big standing in front his window.


Just a big mass of stone colored flesh standing in the window. Ethlando did not see the face nor did he really want to. Acting fast he snatched up his old bolt action rifle, loaded it and prepared himself to go outside. He was used to dangers, he fought for ten years as a soldier.


"You can handle this Ethlando, you fought those invaders." He said to himself as he cautiously made his way to the door still wearing his boots, and winter clothing.


Ethlando slowly opened the door and exited his cottage hoping his fox would not follow. Outside he crept along the wall towards where this thing was. At his window stood a large fat gray looking creature with an ugly head and covered in moss, mud and snow. He raised his rifle taking careful aim at whatever this thing was. In moments he had this creature in his line of fire when something else approached him from his flanks. Ethlando paused lowered his rifle a little and turned to see two more large gray monsters staring at him with black eyes, hunched necks, loincloths, and wielding clubs. As a veteran he proved tough fighting off rogues, bandits, and drunks at bars. Yet these might do him in. Taking swift action he tried to turn his rifle and shoot, but the large beasts grabbed him. They threw him up in the air causing him to shoot. His bullet nearly hit one of them causing more anger than there was before. They caught him then slammed his body into the wall hard. It knocked the wind out of him. Ethlando managed to hit one of them with the butt of his rifle. He struck one in the eye just as he felt his adrenaline kick in giving him more energy to haul ass and rush back to the safety of his cottage and truck.


When he got to his jeep Ethlando opened the door in search of his trusty flare gun. His hands rummaged allover the back of his truck as the adrenaline blinded him. Grabbing what felt like a gun handle Ethlando whirled around and fired the flare he always had loaded. He watched with hope as the flare exploded in the air. His focus returned to the trio of monsters coming towards him. What were these monsters? He asked himself as he went for an actual weapon. Feeling something long Ethlando pulled out a spear and threw it at his pursuers. He always enjoyed hunting the old fashioned way. The spear struck one of the beasts only forcing them to charge him. He jumped in the jeep slamming the door moments before the trio of monsters rammed into the vehicle. All he saw was the world spiraling before his eyes as his jeep was nearly catapulted and made to spin a few times. In his mind he prayed to the Elf Goddess his Fox was safe, his wife would forgive him, his children would love their father again, and his own family would see him as a son again.


Everything went black as he lay crushed and nearly freezing inside his toppled jeep. Some hours later he heard dogs, and shouting followed by a few vehicles. He regained consciousness when the door to the jeep was ripped off by a huge orc in winter clothing.


"I found him!" The orc yelled to someone. A woman he barely recognized came up to the jeep. She made a shocked, horrified, yet relieved expression forcing her to cover her mouth and look away.


"Mrs. Aranonson is this him?" The big orc asked the woman. She was dressed in thick wintery clothing one would buy in a big city.


"Yes." She said in a small voice that was holding back tears.


"Get him out of there quickly." commanded a voice full of authority. Ethlando closed his eyes appearing to black out again. He felt arms pull him out of the jeep and place him carefully one what felt like a bed. Someone came up to question him as he sat him with his eyes wide open. He ignored this idiot to search for Maurice who had been let out of the cottage by a man he recognized. The fox raced up to him and jumped on his legs whimpering and crying. Ethlando rubbed its head as a native looking man nabbed the fox and held it like a father would do a child. He turned to the interviewer and asked.


"What is in the snow?"

Former military Flag of Grussia

A military flag of the Grussian military who were allied to the Vestrisian Union before the Gantronese overwhelmed their defenses. Grussia was conquered, which forced many military units into exile.

Flag of the Meze Kingdom

Meze also known as the "Fertile Arm" is a nation on an island cut into three factions. Sitting next to the Nahemine Kingdom the Meze people choose to be neutral in the conflict however they are somewhat hostile towards another neighbor that is an empire. Covered in sandy beaches, beach floral, and flat rock formations Meze has a vast amount of jungles, few swamps and miles of fertile land. Although it's people are traditional in terms of religion, clothing, and food it still attempts at gaining new technologies through trade with various nations including some outside this world.

Tuxir Confederacies

Flag of the Tuxir Confederacies. The Tuxir are an Uxane group that live among the slopes of the Sarcagos Mountains and have various neighbors such as Dwarf Kingdoms, the Uwaux Nation and the many savage tribesmen and beast men.

Discarded Commando Part 42

When he put the radio away Maurice went over to where his companions were. They packed up what they had brought with them for this journey in case they had to leave the next day. Maurice thought it would be best to lay low for awhile. His decision was overruled by the unit he was given who wanted to leave this city before the city guards and soldiers found them. Pressured to leave Maurice felt that he needed to compromise with his unit. He was the leader of this unit and made the decisions as the commander. The Lieutenant flipped his lid on the unit demanding they stay put unless they'd like to go hunt down the remaining gangs of this city. Hilastes, Amonif, Brittany, Oraceth, Taregan, and Eyanosa stared at him with disbelief.

Before any of them could speak Maurice pulled out his revolver getting ready to shoot one of his own men. This was something he normally would not do to his own companions or countrymen. Each one backed away from him with their hands up. He felt tension rise in him with sweat coming down all over his body. The atmosphere around him felt like it was going to swallow him as adrenaline started to kick up. For what felt like hours Maurice stood there with his revolver pointed at the companions who joined him on this long mission that could take a year. His grip grew tighter on the handle causing his hand to shake. Maurice did not want to kill or harm any of his companions. This forced him to hesitate and hold back from pulling the trigger. None of his companions wanted to do the same either. His heart beat faster and faster beating out of his chest.

Over the shoulders of his companions he saw shadows coming out of the walls. He warned his companions to look out behind them when someone large grabbed him from behind. Whoever grabbed him had him in a half nelson and grabbed his revolver hand. The grabbing caused Maurice to fire one shot that hit Eyanosa in the leg. His companions reacted to their leader being attacked from behind. Hilastes and Amonif pounced on Maurice's assailant beating him to the ground. Eyanosa fell onto the floor while Oraceth, Taregan, and Brittany turned around to face the shadowy figures behind them. Maurice looked in both directions of their flanks. On either side of the alley were more figures coming towards them. He counted five on their right flank, and eight on their left flank. Inside their hideout Oraceth, Eyanosa, and Brittany shot at the three figures who were coated in dark substance. There were just three of them in dark clothing, and pale like skin. Each one seemed to have their teeth filed into fangs.

His attention returned to their flanks when he saw one of the trio fall to the ground. Toberis and Minerva sprang into action and charged the five figures who appeared to be covered in dung, and rags covered in muck. As a duo they cut down the five muck covered figures who were armed with a spiked club, war hammer, strange flail, machete, and an ax. Their movements were too swift for any of the five to block or strike a blow. Maurice turned to the other flank where the eight figures came running at them armed with thick blades, and makeshift weapons that could easily be concealed. He fire the other five shots into this group. Two of them fell to the ground before they clashed with his fellow warriors. His Unseen Bears, Ranger and Eyanosa met the rest of these figures in the middle of the alley. Four against six never meant the larger number was going to win. Whoever these figures were they were no match for Maurice's unit. He turned his attention to the wounded Eyanosa who gripped his pistol in one hand and held his other hand over the wound. Maurice raced over to the wounded warrior he had shot by mistake.

The Uxane gritted his teeth and sucked on them in pain. He helped the companion as best he could while his other companions kept an eye out for any more attackers. Minerva came to his side offering some help with Eyanosa's wound. His Tuxir tried his best not to scream in agony. Minerva wrapped the wound in a cloth patching it up as best she could. When the coast seemed to be clear they carried Eyanosa inside. What they needed now was a surgeon and hoped one of the Vestrisians they found was a medic at least. Minerva had some type of healing herbs and some magic to stop the bleeding. It left a hole in Eyanosa's leg and the bullet in there as well. Getting him inside was the easy part the hard part was settling their large cat steeds down. Taregan, Oraceth, and Hilastes rushed to settle the large beasts down before they started jumping on people and running a muck in the streets.

Not all of them had to be settled down making it easier for them to get a hold of the ones who went wild. Once the steeds were calmed down Maurice changed his mind about staying put however the Tuxir's wound would slow them down. Minerva wrapped the wound up with a cloth in case the bleeding came back. With the steeds calmed down, and the wound wrapped up Maurice checked on the corpses of their attackers. Toberis was already looking at them with some intrigue. The new companion turned to see him approach where he was. Toberis pointed out who these figures were. Each one of them were gang members. He listed them as the Sewer Dragons, Naga Itaks, Pacong Brothers, and the Vampiric Trio. Maurice took in that they had just eliminated the last of the gangs in the city.

A meeting inside the dwelling was called and the entire unit gathered around in a circle. They discussed whether they should leave or wait until the other Vestrisians come back. Amonif insisted they leave immediately hoping the Vestrisians would be able to find them again. Hilastes wanted to get out of here and head straight for Oceanrest Var. Brittany wanted to head back to the fort saying screw this mission. Taregan did not know what to do about this situation. Oraceth desired to call up their Captain friend or retrieve the Vestrisians to help them. Maurice wanted to stay put until the other Vestrisians found them.

There were several different opinions on whether they should go, stay put, head back to the fort, or call for help. Every option weighed in against one another. They each argued their point, and in turn were overruled by one another. This went on for too long a decision needed to be made. Either they stay here or go off onto the road towards Oceanrest Var. Maurice felt the tensions rise again only this time he kept himself cool. As he was about to put his foot down something came up in his head. He did not want to leave anyone behind in this part of the city. An idea entered his head that would actually benefit the whole party. Have three people go search for Lieutenant Zomere and her unit of Vestrisians while the rest of them stay put. The Lieutenant hand picked Hilastes, Brittany and Toberis to join him in tracking down Lieutenant Zomere and her squad. After picking out the ones going with him Maurice realized the Khansungai Guards might go after them as well if they come out.

He looked up at the sky which was partially blocked from his view by overhanging parts of the buildings. An idea cropped into his head on how to get through the city. He turned to Brittany and Toberis requesting for some cloaks that they might have in their possession. Brittany raced over to where their equipment was stashed. She came back to them with several cloaks. Hilastes grabbed one that looked big enough for him. Toberis snatched the most colorful looking one, which was more of a darker shade of green. Maurice and Brittany put the last ones on moments before heading out of the alley.

The Visiting Omnivore

Here is the Black Bear in case there are any one who doesn't believe the story.

Tante Republic