genessia | EVENT: Reign of the Ice Queen

WHO: Winter Schnee, OPEN
WHAT: EVENT - Reign of the Ice Queen begins! See the loose outline for a general idea of when the events take place. You're welcome to make threads here or individual posts to the network.
WHEN: January 14th - 31st (tentative; may end sooner depending on character actions)
WHERE: Fayren
NOTES: Original event post is here for more event details. Don't forget to add your character tags if you join in!

14th - Heavy storm sets in Fayren, castle shrouded in ice, several houses completely frozen. Replacement family/hostages/servants/knights are turned forcefully when they go to the castle from the 14th - 19th (Qrow - Brother, 47 - Father, Hamusuke - Royal Pet, Link/Enno/Lucky - Knights, Winry - Handmaiden)
15th - Guards move throughout Fayren demanding fealty to the Ice Queen. Mirajane refuses, frozen into a statue, brought to the castle.
16th - Mavis goes to the castle to investigate. Returns ~just fine you guys~ also she thinks they should accept the benevolent rule of the good queen.
17th - Spock goes to investigate, worried about Winter's silence. He's captured and taken prisoner, which he accepts once he discovers that Winter is the ice queen. He gets a message out about what's going on. Dray goes to plead with Winter, becomes a statue.
18-19th - Team A plans to sneak in and rescue hostages. Koishi says she can get them in. They're just in time for the royal wedding!
20th - GRAND WEDDING - Team A goes for the attack, but things go terribly wrong and Cloud is turned against them. Team A has the choice of being captured, frozen as statues, or barely escaping.
21st - Winter makes public proclamation as queen forbidding any Schnees from trespassing into Fayren, declares hopes to make a peaceful reign with the help of Guardian Mavis, all who swear fealty are welcome to enter; those who rebel will be arrested and imprisoned.
22nd-30th - Team B makes plans for a second strike.
31st - Final Showdown

Despite the weather predictions in the newspaper...predictions that were seldom ever wrong...the day was not met with sunshine and a smattering of clouds. The temperatures dropped severely, and a bitter wind swept through the towns. Sleet pelted the rooftops, then hail, driving people indoors.

Then a heavy blanket of snow began to drift down, sealing up the bald patches of grass, icing the streets, and piling up higher and faster than seemed wholly natural.

By noon, the whole of the realm was steeped in at least a foot of snow, if not more. It sloped against doorways, weighed heavily on rooftops, and lined buildings with toothy, shining icicles. To the shock of the few townspeople that dared to venture outdoors in the unbearable weather, they saw that the royal structure had been completely covered with a thick sheet of ice that sealed the drawbridge, the windows, even the arrow slits. Stranger still, the castle was completely silent. There were no sounds of soldiers, no captains barking out commands.

Investigating the castle uncovered some unsettling sights. A man near the back was frozen solid with a pick in his hands, undoubtedly attempting to break the ice that sealed the castle. Another person stood close by in the familiar robes of the Ivory Tower, fingers outstretched and mouth opened as if in the middle of an incantation to throw magic fire to melt the ice. It should have been clear to even the dimmest of dimwits that trying to break, thaw, or remove the ice around the castle in anyway carried dire consequences.

By evening, the troops began to move through town - creatures molded of snow and ice were by far the most numerous, but there were also ice trolls, enormous polar bears wearing elaborate platinum armor, even mischievous rime fae. All of them roamed the streets, particularly the bears and trolls that always moved in pairs, and seemed to be openly patrolling. Anyone who defied them were suddenly flash frozen on the spot by a bolt of blue light that stabbed down from the pearly gray skies, and carted away, seemingly back toward the castle, but none truly knew their final destination.

An undercurrent of fear began to spread through the town as more houses were frozen over -- no one could say whose house would be encased completely in ice, but those who fell victim knew the cause just before they were frozen solid.

No one was allowed to defy the new reign of the Ice Queen. No one was allowed to speak ill of her. Either they agreed to continue their lives under her rule, or they would be punished. And that was all there was to it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Do not be frightened. I mean you no harm." The queen turned her head to address the hulking ice troll that dwarfed her. "Grizzelda, unlock the door, if you would."

"Understood, your majesty." The tone of deference was at odds with the gruff rumble of the troll's voice as she unhooked a ring of keys from her hip and inserted one into the lock. The frosted bars swung open, and the queen stepped inside.

"I'm pleased that you share my love of beauty. It is rather exquisite, is it not?" she gestured with her scepter. "Ah, but of course, you may not think so now, but perhaps after you have been released. What my guard has reported intrigued me, and I had hoped you would provide better clarification. You advised them not to draw their swords, did you not? That it would do them no good against you. Why is that?"

When she was met with apparent kindness and not scorn, it surprised her visibly. Her gaze rose to Winter's, and in the back of her mind she couldn't help wondering if all royalty was supposed to be like this. It was oddly comforting, helping her feel a little less cautious and, consequently, more free with information.

There was still a great deal of fear however, considering her own reservations. She had heard that magic was a part of life for those in Fayren though, so maybe it would not be harmful to bring it up here?

She took a breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say before speaking once again, "It is in reference to my magic, your majesty. I was born with the ability to use metal in almost any way that I chose, which would have included their swords and armor. I give you my word I would have only done what was needed to protect myself, but that is what I meant by my words -- had they tried to strike at me with their swords, they would have been repelled by my magic."

A pause, and perhaps it would be a personal cost to pay for what she would say next, but it would be better to be clear that she really had intended no harm to the guards in the long run, right? If nothing else, she thought the mental image would at least be a little amusing.

"That, and perhaps they would have needed new breastplates. I doubt two fused together would do either one much good."

The queen's head canted just slightly as she listened, an indication of interest though her serene expression remained unchanged. When Adela finished, her reaction was not one of disgust or fear -- she smiled.

"A rare and beautiful gift. You must be quite proud. I would ask for a demonstration, but I believe you. You speak frankly, and it is appreciated."

Her empty hand lifted, and with a gentle wave, the ice encasing Adela's legs shimmered before disappearing entirely.

"As you are new to this world, would it be safe to assume that you are in search of employment? If so, I would be most pleased to offer you a position as one of my knights. You would have your own quarters, and all of your needs would be met -- food, clothes, supplies, whatever you wish."

Whether it was some kind of allure or the queen's natural charm, it was difficult to tell which or even to care. It was touching to be met with such trust from someone so far above her standing, someone who may not have even known her name. It may have been no trouble in the least for the queen, but to Adela it meant a great deal.

"I... Such an offer is so kind and great, I know not if I am even worthy of such a thing," The flustered words started to tumble out, though as time went on it was getting more and more difficult to think of why she should have been turning it down, or even to think of what other obligations she might have had before arriving to the castle, "I mean... I could only promise my greatest efforts, and that may not even be enough. Would you not wish for someone you knew could promise more skill as an appointed knight?"

"Skill is something that will come in time, with proper training and dedication. Do not think so poorly of yourself, child." A condescending word, but it was spoken with intended kindness.

"Ah, but I see you are unaccustomed to being treated with proper respect. That, too, will change with time, I promise you." Her heels clicked delicately on the ice as she paced slowly from one end of the cell to the other. "I, too, was in a position much like yours. Ill-treated. Misunderstood. My very family sought ceaselessly to control me as their puppet, and others still swore to 'put me in my place.' But you see me now, do you not? I have become strong, and free. I have risen above them all. You, too, shall receive your proper elevation if you agree to serve at my side."

Had it been anyone but the queen, she would have protested being addressed as a child (eighteen was much older than that, thank you very much!), but as it was from her the words died before they could be given form. Her respect and admiration only grew as she heard from her, the idea of fighting control, rising to live her life the way she saw fit... It was amazing. Something similar in which Adela saw her own life. It made her want to see to the continued success of the woman before her.

She wanted to earn the praise that had just been given. To have the queen only assume that of her without any effort put in would be nothing short of a sin. And to have a life as a knight, being able to provide for herself and fight for a lady she believed in by her own choice... It was not exactly becoming a master blacksmith, but perhaps this life could be good as well. And it would have been just that, a choice. One she would have to put in a great deal of effort towards, but one that she believed was worthwhile as well.

Adela gradually stood then, unsure if she was visible, but deciding then and there in that cell to act. She knelt then, her head bowed and one arm rested on bent knee when she spoke once more.

"If... If you truly find me worthy of such responsibility, then I would see no greater honour imaginable above serving as your sword and your knight, your majesty... My queen."

The queen could not have been more pleased with this response. Had she a heart, it might have been genuinely moved by Adela's humility and declaration of loyalty.

She touched her staff lightly to one shoulder. "Then by royal decree..." The staffed moved to the other shoulder. "...and by the powers vested within me..." The gem glowed softly. "...I name thee one of my most precious knights, blessed and duty-bound to protect my people and the kingdom of Fayren."

Winter leaned down to kiss the top of her red hair, and as she did, a coolness began to spread through the young woman's body. It was like a pleasant tingle that started in the scalp, then spread through her arms to her fingertips and all the way to her toes.

But as the coolness settled, all feelings of warmth faded away. Love, affection, compassion...all of these things dissolved, and her heart became effectively frozen. Now she, too, was an integral piece in the Ice Queen's realm.

The queen stepped back and the gem in her staff dimmed to a quiet and cold glitter once more. "You may rise, and speak your name."

A protector, a knight... What a wonderful thought, and the last true thought of her own as she effectively became frozen in her loyalty to her newfound queen. She sighed, relaxed, before rising at the queen's command.

"My name is Adela, and you honour me so by asking it of me, your majesty."

EVENT: Reign of the Ice Queen

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Hoping I'm playing this all right, if not I can edit

Nope, it's just fine!

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