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Post by Vaklu on Nov 24, 2014 9:05:38 GMT
Gudrik came into the fight not with his longsword and shield, but with a simple infantry hammer. in his belt were 4 long iron spikes. On each of their heads were engraved a different word Poisoner, Traitor, Coward and Fool. His movements were measured and careful but his eyes blazed with rage. He'd make this jumped up halfling pay for his transgressions the way Jotun law demanded. He'd show the people here and all the lords of the north that the vengeance of the Jotun would never be denied.
They called him Blood Dancer with cause, his every movement was no pitted towards the goal of maneuvering Lord Sarvo closer to the tree that was so important to these people. He planed to make it a landmark all over again. Once he'd decided they'd gotten close enough he would give this gnat a proper wallop and send him toward that damn tree. once there he'd have the crucifixion his laws demanded. While he hadn't begrudged King Azlyn his inability to contemplate such a punishment, Gudrik had no such qualms. He'd bury his spikes in so deep that it would be impossible to remove them.
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 24, 2014 9:57:59 GMT
The fight was practically over before it had begun. Lord Sarvo, body tense and eyes focused intensely on the movement of the giant's hammer, ducked and shuffled his way to dodging the first, downward blow. But the old man was too slow for the follow-up: Swift and graceful, Thane Gudrik's empty left hand parted from his right like a bobcat out of the brush, landing square on the Elonese nobleman's face. The punch was delivered with finesse and concentrated force on Sarvo's already-wounded face. The sound generated was half-crack, half-squish. It was far beyond the limits of the man's determination or survival instinct: His head bobbed back and forth for a moment like a bell hit by a hammer before he crumpled to the ground, either dead or dying.
But the spectacle didn't end there. Gudrik wasn't done with his opponent, dead or not. He lifted the nobleman by his collar like a doll, letting the sword slip onto the ground with a clang along with a spattering of blood from Sarvo's face. Once the giant had him pressed against the Tree of Oleo, he finally made good use of his hammer.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The first spike drove steadily into the tree, bark cracking and caving in before it. Once it had made its way into the sappy flesh of the plant, the second began its journey.
Two hands, wide apart: Poisoner, Traitor. Two feet perforated together: Coward. Heart pierced and exploded with a splat and a gush of blood: Fool. The whole while Sarvo stayed eerily silent: Even if he had technically been alive before the final spike was driven in, the damage to his brain was too much even for a last struggle against certain death. For all intents and purposes, for several grinding minutes, the Elonese crowds watched a foreign giant nail a corpse into their most sacred monument.
__________
-- Lord Sarvo is KILLED. His corpse is crucified to the Tree of Oleo. His body may be removed immediately, but the nails are more difficult. Even if they can be removed, it is uncertain they can come out without irreperably damaging or breaking the tree itself.
-- Thane Gudrik gains new trait: Stained Honor.
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 24, 2014 19:17:14 GMT
There was collective sense of horror in the crowd of spectators, not so much on behalf of the rapid and gruesome death on one of the nation's most powerful lords, but because of how Gudrik had defiled the Tree of Oleo. The tree was the center piece of their culture, its emblem was on their banner and every year they danced under its branches and symbolically hung their hopes and prayers upon it. Many believed that beneath it's bark flowed the soul of their long dead martyr. Gudrik hanging a body upon it, marring it so deeply with his spikes was beyond insulting, it was sacrilegious.
As fool was driven through Lord Sarvo's heart and his blood to drench the tree and the square before it, cries of outrage and anger began to go up. Words such as "Savage!" and "Heathen!" were heard.
Azlyn was just as stunned as the rest of the spectators, until he heard a voice he knew well shout out and saw Alan Sarvo break away from benches. The king had made sure his cousin didn't have his sword, at the beginning of the duel, but Alan had gotten ahold of someone else's. The king didn't think, he just acted on instinct. Jumping down from a platform, he intercepted Alan, before the younger man could take more than three paces toward Thane Gudrik and the tree where his mangled father hung.
"Alan don't!" he caught hold of his cousin in both arms half restraining him, half embracing him.
"I can't let him get away this!" shouted Alan, there were tears of rage on his face and he tried to fight his way past Azlyn, not taking his eyes off Gudrik. "They're savages! Just like my father always said!"
"It was a duel," Azlyn managed to grab the wrist of Alan's sword arm and then looked down into his cousin's eyes. After seeing Gudrik in action, Azlyn wasn't only concerned for the sanctity of the law, but frightened for his friend's life. "It was s formal duel. You can't fight him, Alan. I won't let you."
The new Lord Sarvo looked Azlyn in the eyes, bitterness and anger building behind them. "This was your fault," he said between his teeth. "You made him agree to this fight. I saw it in your eyes at the trial, Azlyn. You knew this would happen. You wanted it to. He wouldn't have done this himself, but you made him! It wasn't a true duel at all if he had no choice!" He shoved Azlyn in the chest and tried to push by again, his face still streaming with tears.
"Alan!" Azlyn shouted and twisted his cousin's wrist, ripping the sword away from him. By now some of Azlyn bodyguards were gathering around, but Azlyn waved them back and put a hand on Alan's shoulder. "Don't go down this path, Cousin. We are like brothers, but I can't let you break the duel. You will let this be."
Alan met his eyes then looked back at Gudrik, before looking back at Azlyn. "I'll let it be," he said stonily, "But we aren't brothers anymore, not ever again." He knocked Azlyn's hand away and strode past the guards, away from the square.
By now, the upcry in the stands was worse and the guards were having to hold others back from jumping into the fighting arena. Boos and angry yells were being called down and weather they were directed at Azlyn or Gudrik was hard to tell. "You can't let him get away with this!" "Kill the heathen!"
"Quite!" Azlyn said, waving a commanding hand. His voice was deep and authoritative. It was a tone few men had and even fewer could ignore. The crowd quieted, their eyes on Azlyn and Gudrik.
Turning to the giant Azlyn glared at him. "You needlessly and deliberately defiled the holy tree of my people," he said, cold anger in his tone, "You had your vengeance upon the man. If you wished so dearly to also take it out upon my country, my people's honor and culture, you should have challenged me, their King. Desecrating the emblem of all we hold dear is not something Elon can forgive."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 24, 2014 19:47:39 GMT
Gudrik shook his head in disagreement. "You claim this is a place has been touched by the god. I made sure that that god would take notice of what happened here today. That he could tell my men of my actions. That your people will never forget what the actions of one fool can cost." He paid the crowd no mind, peasants didn't scare him. "The Jotun know this, I know this as a battle commander. If you hate me for the rest of your life I can live with that cost, because my men have been avenged. Paint me as the blackest villain if you wish. But do not forget I choose to return your blade even after you refused my offers. You demanded this be done the way you wanted." He let out a heavy breath as if exhausted. "Either way the matter is finished and the Tournament awaits. If you wish we will stay aboard our ships until it's commencement."
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 24, 2014 19:59:10 GMT
Azlyn stared at him, "God has taken note, Thane Gudrik, and all Elon with him. I can assure you that neither will forget. Weather or not you were justified, shall be determined by Aed at the end of time. For now, however, you will return to your ship. Your brother and the rest of your people may do as they like, but when the tournament is over, you will leave and not return. You will no longer be welcomed in Elon. I banish you from my lands, Thane Gudrik."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 24, 2014 20:09:56 GMT
Gudrik gave Azlyn a bow. "As you wish your majesty." And with that the giants march ed back to their ships. They did not celebrate, they did not gloat. They understood what it was to angry and would not hollow what had been done by be graceless winners.
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