The Winter Rose... and Her Heart

The Forest of Trenir always had been a dangerous place to venture, which often makes one wonder about the sanity of those who would continually traverse this untamed region. You even wonder how in the seven circles of hades you got lost in this forested cauldron of malcontent and predatory carnage only nature could so abundantly supply. Shaking your head of unwanted thoughts, you press forward through the dense underbrush. Moving aside a bit of the foliage which blocks your path, you lift your gaze a bit to fall upon a fairly large clearing, which holds in its borders a residence, one that might belong to someone of wealth, though not so grandiose as to be a manor of any kind. Wild flowers and small shrubs and herbs sporatically decorate the area around the home along with trellises of rose vines and other wall-crawling plants. A cobblestone path leads to a set doors of dark mahogany, which you find to be unlatched -- a rarity, you're certain.... Almost immediately, you feel a sense of warmth upon your entry of the secluded house, not at all sure if the feeling comes from the arrangement of the room with its furniture in place around a deep brown, low-standing table, accented by a carpet of complementary color, which seems to have a bird of some kind, perhaps a pheonix, spread over its length in thread of gold... or if the feeling comes from the soothing, almost illusionary saturation of yellow-orange brought forth and cast about by the fire which burns with a living intensity not quite placed, though it roars oh so softly. The several paintings which line the walls glow with the faint light from the hearth, above which the largest painting perches silently, like a famed masterpiece that just sort of draws those near to gaze upon it with awe. Depicting the mounted image of a man, resolute and strong, holding the hand of a woman who stands beside him as he prepares to head off on some sort of journey, his white hair long and braided down his back as he begins to lean toward the youthful and attractive lady who stands on her toes to touch her lips with his as though in fond farewell of a love she might never see again but hopes defiantly that she will. A soft smile creeps over your lips as you stare at the painting a moment, wondering what inspired such work...or whom these two could be.... Taking a quick glance about your surroundings, you ponder the scenes within the remainder of this haven, wondering if the other chambers are similar to this room...or completely different and filled with more homely surprises. Seeing no one or nothing to inhibit your exploration, you decide to do just that....