Project Snowclaw: A journey of self

Alnarra was wrapped in a heavier then normal cloak as the wind swept peaks of the north loomed over her shoulder. Giving a sigh her breath froze in the blistering wind, the snow falling with accumulation in feet rather then inches. Shivering she looked for her next location. Her raid of the Section 28 lab in Grizzly Hills had revealed the lab only recently abandoned and a cascade of experiments on druids for almost 10,000 years, going as far back as the war on the Satyr

.

It had also given her the next hopeful clue in her search, a supply route that was identified in some of the paperwork had most of it coming through a small outpost located in the bitter north of the Storm Peaks, buried amongst the rugged terrain and hidden behind countless miles of rock and snow. Had she not spent so much time trying to get used to the various Section 28 facilities when she had started, she imagined it would have been impossible to find

Finally, there it sat before her eye; the doorway marked with several different keys. Arcane, Fel, Druidic, Shamanistic, and more all to ensure that whomever entered was capable. Luckily, she had managed to make a few fake keys for herself, quickly sliding each of the magically imbued devices into their slot, listening as the door began to whir to life with the sounds of mechanisms beginning to unfold behind it.

Her last adventure had proven to be laced with guards, but far from anything she was concerned about handling. Here though it was possible that what waited for her was far more than a common guard defending an abandon outpost. This was even during her tenure an active facility that was used to move supplies, experiments, and more through the Section 28 supply line. She had even met with the overseer for this depot during one of her staff meetings.

Making her way in, she was quick to shift to her Saberon form, conjuring forth an Ironwood Halberd. She wanted to make no mistakes with this place and had no intention of being taken off guard. When she entered though, the lights were dim, and the entire area seemed almost abandoned. Her ears and hair stood at attention listening and waiting for the tiniest sign of life.

It did not come, not even the faintest drip of water upon the ground was heard, instead only the quiet chill of the frozen north, not something she particularly delighted in even on the best of days.

Then she heard it, a voice

“Well well well… the prodigal daughter of the claw returns?” the whispered voice asked with a laugh.

She tried to focus on the source of the sound, unsure of where it might be coming from, to prepare herself for what she assumed would be the inevitable strike

“I told the priesthood that letting you go was a poor waste of time, and that eventually you would come crawling back to us one way or another”

Her eyes twitched, trying to find a shadow in the room, any clear indication of who or what was stalking her.

“Of course, you’re not here to return are you? You’re here about project Snowclaw”

“Who are you, show yourself” she stated calmly, holding her Halberd tight against her frame ready to strike at whatever wished to come leaping at her from the shadows.

“Oh now why would I go and do a thing like that when Tormenting you like this is so much more fun,” the voice practically grinned with excitement “You know they never let me come to the staff meetings, they said it might… dampen the mood”

The druidess let her eyes continue to search the room, starting to call upon Fey Magics to enhance her eyesight

“Oh there it is…” the voice whispered “Those enhancements, the training, all finally coming together. The eyes, the arcane shards pulsing through your blood, the augmentation to prevent the negative effects of chronomancy. The shamanistic charm they implanted in your lungs to help you underwater.” An open mockery in the tone

Alnarra was quiet still, clearly whomever ‘it was had made themselves aware of the seemingly countless little modifications that Section 28 had made to enhance her combat capabilities

“I told them you were enough, that the mastery of Fae, Ironwood, and This Saberon Form that we guided you too would be all that were required”

She paused at his last words, blinking a bit as she took a moment to try and take in what he had said.

“Oh look at that, the cat has come out with her curiosity and she doesn’t even know what it is she is hunting for. A finely crafted weapon that cannot see an answer so plain it is in front of her face.” The whispers continued now seeming to come from a variety of directions. “Project Snowclaw, the results of which are standing right in front of me and she doesn’t even realize it…”

Alnarra shifted in her position before speaking  “What do you mean?”

“You of all people should know that Section 28 doesn’t take risk… we never did and we never will. Our plans must be perfect, unknowable even to those who are supposed to know. It was all part of the plan my dear. From giving away your father’s position, to stationing your children at the same outpost, to sending Veraldan and yourself on that suicide mission”

The druidess suppressed growled, a deep seething hatred rising in her but she dare not speak, not shed this illusion of calm she hoped to maintain

“We needed the perfect weapon and well… you saw how spectactually the druids of the pack had failed. They lacked control, lacked stability. But a druidess? Now that might show some promise. And with these results we can create a more… stable tomorrow” it boasted

The druidess could take it no more and she began weaving her hands and fingers together an in intricate fashion, what followed was the saberon woman spitting a purple fire from her mouth lighting effectively torching the entire room. The shadows gave no answers even exposed to light, no person, nor source of the voice to be revealed

“Temper Temper” the voice chided “We created you, do you think we don’t know exactly what you’re capable of. From the fae magic implant in your eyes to the ironwood which you grow, it has all been according to plan. Though I must admit, I did not expect you to come… so far” a small laugh followed “Nevertheless, plans have been set in motion and you brought us such a wonderful treat to experiment upon next~”

“Inodraen!?” She called out a look of shock and horror on her face

“Yes who would know that you would draw yourself so close to another druid with such a delightful and… useful tie to Ashamane” the voice snickered “But I’ve teased you enough. Till next we meet Alnarra Elsora Stargrove”

The voice stopped and the druidess roared with contempt. She felt utterly played