Snippet #2401811

He pulled his collar up tighter around his neck as the cold wind bit into his skin like an angry knife. He took the two punches from Zander and shrugged. Zander's faculties must be out of order, punching an armored shoulder. He turned to look back at everyone. "Watch where you step up ahead, the snow can hide holes in the ground more deadly than any Troll." Taking his own advice, he stepped up to a tree and drew his sword. He leapt and kicked off the tree to reach a thick branch and cut it cleanly at the base. He landed, crouching as he hit the ground to prevent injury, and sheathed the blade. He used a thick knife to cut off the smaller branches, making a rather rough walking stick, about four feet tall. He used this to test the ground before he took a step, checking for holes or other unpleasant things. He looked and talked like a fool, but apparently he was quite lucid.

His steel plated boots crunched in the snow with each step, and soon the whole world turned white and blue. He didn't have to worry about frost bite, all his equipment was made with frost troll leather, and each metal plate has been treated with a mix of Troll's blood and salamander oil, making them highly temperature resistant. He kept his hand on his sword, the other hand checking every step with the walking stick. If anything did happen this trip, he'd be ready. He wore no smile now, focused on the job at hand.