<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i58.tinypic.com/2whnwv7.png">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-size: 85%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #BFBFBF">This private role play between the wonderful <span style="font-style: italic">AWritersLove</span> and <span style="font-style: italic">myself</span>, is related to our group RP: <a class="postlink" href="https://creativefreedomrpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=73&amp;t=44250">Once Upon a Time.</a><br/>The purpose of this private one-on-one is to enrich the history of these two characters as they encounter one another for the first time, for OuAT RP purposes.</span></span></div><br/><br/><br/><br/>The sun came up upon the left giving way to the mist and out of the sea a ship has come, flying the shamrock flag.<span style="font-style: italic">''Land! Land ho!''</span>A crew man cried out joyfully from above and began to dance. Suddenly embarrassed, he glanced down at his Captain and apologized, remembering his assignment. That did not leave the other ten members of the crew without a cheer or two, for they all laughed and drank beer as the ship sailed towards the shores of a Kingdom known as Arendelle.<span style="color: #BFBFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">''Belay there, mates. This is no time for dancing or drinking beer now. Prepare to weight the anchors!''</span></span>The Captain shook his head and chuckled and through the telescope he studied the sightings of the shores and the port. Guards in blue and silver attires rode their horses, behind them flew flags of the land. Golden-yellow crocuses - a symbol of rebirth and spring  - with three petals and two leaves appeared on each of them flags. These crocuses were emblazoned upon a split background featuring purple on the left and green on the right. The view was crowded, colorful and the Captain joyed in the scenery. Anything was better than the last six months they sailed, lost at sea. They were lucky to have had enough supply of food and beer to last them a year, but men he lost as they succumbed to fever and other unpleasant deceases.<br/><br/>The Kingdom – small and ruled by a monarch  - was located on a fjord, making it a viable trading center. Its human population was densely concentrated within the castle perimeter, although there were minor human activity in the forests surrounding the town. There were also non-human populations, such as animals in the forest and trolls in the Valley of the Living Rock. In addition to the fjord and forest area, Arendelle was also in the vicinity of mountains, the most prominent being the imposing North Mountain. The kingdom was subject to the succession of seasons, having both warm summers and frigid winters. In the winter, there was a noticeable decrease in plant life and animal activity. However, in the summer, Arendelle's flora flourishes, with lush vegetation covering the cliff sides and flowers growing plentifully. Arendelle was also in a position that is conducive for observing the aurora boreali.<br/><br/>Six months prior to their arrival to Arendelle, leaving Ireland they set out sail on a ship full of thirty happy seamen. They sailed towards Norway only to be caught up in a terrible storm which took them to a world unknown to mankind. A world where magic was believed by all of the inhabitants and fairy tales had lives of their own. From one land to another they sought guidance but no local or vagabond seemed to know how to help these seamen find their way home. They continued their sail, until once again they were blown-off course and plunging deeper and deeper into the unknown, they reached an island. The inhabitants greeted the sailors with food and water. Julian and his men remained for thirty days to regain physical strength and mental power.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">''Rumpelstiltskin.''</span>The witchdoctor of the island one day whispered to Julian.<span style="font-style: italic">''If you wish to find your way back home, find Rumplestiltskin. They call him the Dark One. He would make any of your wishes come true, with one price to pay.''</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">''How do I find this man?''</span></span>Julian asked.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">''You mean this <span style="font-weight: bold">beast</span>, for he is no man. Sail north for twenty-nine days. You will chance upon a maritime realm where people clothed themselves in silver and blue and their flags of purple and green swayed the golden crocuses. Arendelle, they named their home. From there, Ancient Mariner, seek your way to Misthaven. Its citizens call it the Enchanted Forest...''</span>And the Witchdoctor spoke the directions to Julian. Once that was done, he immediately set sails to the North.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________<br/>One week later after arrival...<br/>__________________________</div><br/>A thumb came to brush across Julian's lips as he walked around the Marketplace destined for traders and merchants alike. As he made his way towards the stables to buy a ride, the merry man marveled at what the market had to offer and his breath was caught in his throat as he exclaimed,<span style="color: #BFBFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">''By the powers!''</span></span>He found himself pausing to catch his breath and silently thanked God that he was still alive. Of all the strange things, the angels and sea monsters; the ghostly ships and walking-dead buccaneers, and of all the supernatural sensations his eyes had seen during his voyages with his crew, the man has always felt as though his own people from his own world will never understand or believe the truth ingrained in his tales. And so the man kept a journal close to his heart. On white paper he inked the memories of the marvels he had seen in the life he spent at sea.<br/><br/>The task remained, and so he took himself towards the woods and on a grandiose journey he rode his black stallion for five hours until the sun faded into the horizon. He silently tried to recall the directions of the Witchdoctor which were supposed to lead him to the Dark One – Rumpelstiltskin – as he sat camp near a sparkling river to sooth his thirst and sleep for the evening. The man lit a lamp and placed it on the grass. He leaned back against the tree and began to write in his journal.<br/><br/><br/>Julian ran a hand through his light brown hair and inhaled deeply as he glanced briefly up at the starry heaven. His other hand sat the diary aside and the man's grey eyes absent-mindlessly began to survey the tiny orbs of light, twinkling between the trees. Suddenly, a noise, a cry; a laughter or a scream alerted him and he found himself quickly rising to his feet.<span style="color: #BFBFFF">''Who is out there? Show yourself.''</span>He called out bravely, unsheathing his longsword. He was not imagining things. He was certain he heard<span style="font-style: italic">something</span>, out there in the woods.