if the sky can crack [OTA mingle]

[sixthiteration]

Hail had been falling for two days now, peppering the ground and shredding the grass but rather than melt away like a late spring storm it had only intensified, growing in diameter and moving from a mild annoyance to damned near deadly. As the storm raged, ice flew up through updrafts and was forced back to earth in the downdraft, accumulating layer after layer of murky debris until it went hurtling toward the earth with wicked accuracy.

Shingles were ripped from roofs, the wind howled and lightning cracked. The hail had driven both humans and animals into the safety of the indoors, to the dark corners of buildings that might withstand the assault. With only candlelight and the hushed voices of villagers to stave off fear and boredom, the storm raged like a sentient being heedless of those who might be caught in the path.

After the storm, a calm came over the land and weak sunlight glinted off smoke-tinged ice. Steam rose from the melt and humidity was thick in the air; petrichor hung heavy, a soothing scent after a savage display of natural fury.

[OOC: Your hail mingle post. Feel free to have characters on the run, gathering animals or inside the Town Hall waiting out the storm.]

Comments

[thekittenqueen]

They were all new once and confused. She offered a kind smile, peering outside into the storm. She wasn't joking. They would need to run to get to safety.

"I have a cloak that we can hide under." She always kept a spare one in the police station, giving her something to bundle herself in during the winter when one cloak didn't seem to be enough. She grabbed it, holding it over their heads. "Are you ready?"

[wittyskepticism]

A cloak to hide under is a good idea. Hawke nods, grasping one end to hold it over herself while Margaery has the other end. “Let’s go before we get stoned.”

She’s a good runner, having done so much of it through Lothering and in and around Kirkwall, but she’ll keep pace with Margaery, hoping that the hail won’t do too much damage to them while they’re running. Not quite running for their lives, but it’s still running for something.

[thekittenqueen]

It's not that far from the police station to the inn. A few stay stones land in the right place to hit her hands or arm, it's not nearly as painful as she worried about.

Once they reach the inn, Margaery shakes the cloak, knocking off the balls of ice. There were a good number of people present, all driven to the same location. She smiled at Astrid. "We will have to wait it out for now." Though there was no telling how long it would last.

[wittyskepticism]

Hawke, being as unlucky as she is, somehow draws the hailstones and she ends up pelted with more than a few. By the time they reach the Inn, she feels rather like she's been the subject of some joke in Darktown. Just another day in her life, really.

Still, she shakes off some of the stray hail once they get inside, her hair fluffing up like a cat's. Perfect. Just what she needed.

"Likely so," she agrees. "Which begs the question of what do we do now. I wonder if anyone has a deck of cards?"

[thekittenqueen]

"I believe there are some games here and if need be, I could quickly run to my home and bring back the ones gifted to me. I don't live very far from here." It wasn't that painful to run to and from.

"We can at least begin with cards left behind. Come, let's find a seat."

[ooc: Fade out?]