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Author: Exofluke
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At first touch you can feel a soft warm heart growing within the white fluffy rim of the hat. The plush bright red color forming up into a peak, where at last: a fluffy white ball sits. Such a simple hat Grimhild thought. Twirling the hat in her hands “I wonder if I should even wear it this year” Grimhild said. Liran sitting next to Grimhild, sowing together guild emblems “and why wouldn’t you wear it this year?” he said. “Well every year I wear this hat, my hair gets all mangled”. Grimhild puts her Yule cap back into her backpack “not wearing the hat doesn’t mean I’m a grinch”. Liran giving Grimhild a deep stare “You might not be a grinch, but you’ll definitely be a loner in Lion’s Arch”.
Grimhild stands up and brushes off her armor “Yea well, thanks for the thought. However this year is going to have to celebrate without Grimhild's Hat”. She takes the bag with her Yule cap and hands it to Liran “Just make sure nothing gets stolen this time”. Liran sighs “of course, you just make sure you find me my 400 gold you still owe me from your last design”. Grimhild rubs her forehead from the pain of constantly being reminded and aside from that all those blonde jokes are starting to sink in. “Don’t worry Liran. I’ll pay you back”.
In the middle of the night, a spark of light lit up the sky over Lion’s Arch...
“The brittle softness of the Yule.”
Something was brewing.
The next morning was devastating to the citizens of Lion’s Arch. Everything was destroyed. All of Liran’s capes were trampled and ripped. The merchant’s items were bashed like broken glass. Grimhild was stumbling her way across the town. Puzzled at what could have done this. “Hey Grimmy”! Liran yelled from the distance. Grimhild turned her head to see Liran running towards her holding her backpack. “Liran, who could have done this”? Grimhild said. Liran was trying to catch his breathe, “I have no idea who would ruin our town.” He gave Grimhild her backpack “but here, take your bag. Lucky you it wasn’t trashed”. In the background you could hear everyone complaining about their gold pieces being stolen. “Gold was stolen”? Grimhild asked. “Yes, all of my gold is gone.” Liran explained. Grimhild had never seen everyone so depressed and shattered during the holidays. Liran giggled a little, enough to make Grimhild raise her eyebrow “and what would be so funny right now?” Grimhild asked. “Oh, just the fact that I really need that 400 gold now” Liran said as his laughter turned into drenching sorrow. Grimhild noticed Liran starting to cry. She grabbed his shoulders to comfort him “Liran, it’ll be okay. I’ll get you 800-gold.” Grimhild said. Liran’s eyes widened with hope “Grimmy, you’re the best no matter what anyone says”.
Grimhild lets go of Liran “however under one condition”. Liran nods his head “uh huh”. At least he stopped crying Grimhild thought. This next part is going to kill him. “You have to wait for ten days. I need to travel to Kamadan” Grimhild said. Liran started to melt with agony. She could see Liran starting to get red and angry. “I’m glad you agree Liran.” Grimhild said as she began packing up her items and heading to the docks. Her voice was slowly fading as the distance grew “I’ll pay you back triple if you don’t throw anything at me”. Liran just collapsed to his knees. “Oh Grimmy, you had better hurry.” he whispered to himself.
On her way to the docks she took a stop by the armor merchant. While Samuka was cleaning up the shattered armor pieces, Grimhild snuck behind his back searching around some barrels. There, on top of one barrel was the red beauty. Grimhild grabbed her Yule cap and noticing the weight of the cap had grown quite heavy. She peaked inside to find a load of gold pieces. This is the one moment in her life where she felt the true meaning of greed. Her grin could have given inspiration to even the most unmotivated troll. She quickly stuffed the cap into her backpack and made her way to the docks.
As she boarded the ship, her thoughts dwelled on the expensive items she was going to buy when she reaches Kamadan. Those glorious wands and a nice set of Vabbian made armor. Oh yes, her wintersday was going to be grand.
During the first night of boat travel, nightmares of her past were clenching her mind. Not a day passes when her confidence fails because of all those who made fun. Everyone who ever made the slightest smirk to her would surely fell the wrath of vengeance. This nightmare was like no other. Grimhild’s body had gotten cold and stiff while she was sleeping. Images of the dark brute horns and sharp deadly teeth crowded her head. The darkest time was coming. Grenth’s power was growing stronger every second she kept that Yule cap.
Grenth’s deep words spoke in her dream “My power will give you strength. Don’t cry my child. I will embrace you with my happiness”.
Suddenly a large wave rocked the boat waking Grimhild from her nightmare. She rolled out of her sheets and went for her backpack. Inside was all the stolen gold, but the Yule cap was no where to be found. Suddenly a loud scream came from the main deck. Grimhild grabbed her wand and made her way outside to find a few crew members shuffling their bodies on the deck floor. Standing in the rain was a large spiked figure. Lightning struck and a glimpse of the creature was seen. There stands an evil ice hulk with the fluffy Yule cap on top of its spiked head. Grimhild’s eyes stood still as life flashed before her. Crew members rushed passed Grimhild. “Quickly, aim for its legs!” yelled a crew member. The bulky ice monster ravaged the fighting crew. Hitting so hard, men flew off the boat. Grimhild awoke from her daydreaming past to horrible screaming and cries for help. What was supposed to be the happiest time of the year is now a death defiling massacre? “This isn’t what I asked for, Grenth!” Grimhild yelled into the sky. Then from the dark cloudy storm a figure formed. The image of cold horns and those musk bone chilling teeth. Grenth’s words spoke with the thunder “you begged for my help, Grimhild. You can’t take back a gift from a god”.
Some of the crew noticed the conversation between Grimhild and the sky. “Her, she is the source!” yelled the boat Captain. While the ice monster was entertained by destroying everything in its path, the ship Captain and some of his crew aimed to take out Grimhild. “From great pleasure comes great pain.” Grenth spoke as his last words. The form in the clouds faded. Grimhild knew that this wasn’t her time to die. She was devastated to be the cause of death to innocent people. But her vow of forgiveness had to wait. The crew discovered her secret and weren’t very happy. Grimhild began chanting her spells. Flash of purple and pink lights began lighting up the sky. Spells being cast left and right. Pushing back the crew, she tried not to harm anyone. But the spells flashes had gotten the ice hulk’s attention. More anger stirred from the monster. It bashed its way across the deck. Nearly all of the crew was unconscious. The boat captain ordered his remaining crew to fight back at the creature. Now that Grimhild wasn’t the threat anymore, her time to escape was dire.
She raced below deck to her bunk and grabbed all her belongings. As she lifted her backpack, the heaviness from the gold reminded Grimhild of what she had done back at Lion’s Arch. As the beginning to her vow, she poured all the gold out. The large amount nearly covered her whole bed. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. Liran still needs his gold though. Grimhild sighed; she counted eight hundred gold pieces to keep. Tossing the pieces into her backpack and then shuffling her way out.
The next morning at Kamadan, the ship wrecked itself into the docks. Citizens made their way onboard to find the ship completely destroyed. Crew members lay unconscious and in the center on the deck was the fluffy white and red Yule cap. One man yelled from inside the boat “You’re not going to believe what I found”!
“This is a time of giving. Greed only makes for death”. Grimhild placed down her ink feather after writing those words. She looked at her hand and could remember the warm feeling she felt when holding that Yule cap. She grunted at herself and shaped her hand into a fist. “Never again, I promise”.
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