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Post by Vaklu on Nov 19, 2014 0:23:14 GMT
The Jotun Thane had invited his imperial counterpart to dine with him after one of the marches that would constitute the expedition's departure from the wastes. The meal would consist of roast warg with water as the drink of choice. The concept of wine had been forever spoiled for Gudrik. They were seated in his personal tent and would be able to speak freely with the concern of worrying about their subordinates overhearing.
"Tell me General, how do you feel the expedition has fareed? By my count we have killed a little under 6,000 fighting orcs, destroyed one of their forts and captured on of their war leaders." Gudrik had grin that almost took the top of his head off. "I count 11 thousand jiien in bounty thus far. Not counting what Furtaker might be worth. Not a bad haul considering."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 19, 2014 1:06:24 GMT
"Aye, not a bad haul at all," affirmed the Survaekom general, taking his seat. His dark tan skin and maroon gambeson bore various blood-stains and powder burns from the battle, but Pjjokhat seemed not to mind. He probably would have been less comfortable without them.
He took a swig of water from his glass and let his lips curve into a wide smile. The Thane towered above him even when sitting, forcing him to look upwards to meet the giant's gaze. "But let's not be hasty, friend. We've got to get out of this hellhole first! Carrying our wounded and a one-thousand and one-hundred strong herd of larder at that. And there's a thousand warg-riding scumbags that'll be following us." He grinned. "All to say, there's plenty of fun ahead before we go back to Court dullery."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 19, 2014 1:27:32 GMT
"Yes there is that. I have to say I've never seen cannons in the field before now. I understand that the guns that accompany you are the lightest of their kind. They're almost of a size for my people to use as muskets. They'd need to be made little smaller of course but wouldn't that be sight to make these mainlanders quake. Five hundred Jotun fireing small cannons into their ranks." Gudrik calmed himself a bit. "Well, now that we're all vassals of the empire that isn't really a good goal I suppose. Though I think we two own Elon a reckoning before we go home. I want the man responsible for this. Would you be willing to support me in this? It's not really your fight, but it's shaming to know my men died by poison rather than fighting properly." He dove into his food afterwards taking his frustrations out on the meat before him.
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 21, 2014 7:51:57 GMT
"Of course I will support you!" the General exclaimed as if his utmost honor depended on it. "Whatever scum of the earth did this and nearly botched our campaign will go with us in chains to face Imperial Justice." He have a cruel smile. "We'll see how far they get next time without a tongue or fingers to speak or write their bribes and trickery.
"As for the guns, could make quite an impressive sight," Pjjokhat admitted with a little glow of awe in his fiery eyes. "You lot have ten times over the valor to deserve it. I'll pass the word onto the Vizier and see what he thinks."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 21, 2014 8:27:08 GMT
Gudrik's grin widened at the general's ardor. He'd liked the fire with which the man aprached things. "You know my friend if life in New Byrnis bores you so perhaps you'd think of re-location. I'm sure my brother would be honored to have you as a guest in Volthiem. And if you find it to your liking perhaps we could try talking the vizier into allowing a garrison to be built in the city. We could set up for another bloody adventure or two."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 21, 2014 8:35:02 GMT
"Be careful," Pjjokhat warned with an amused grin. "If you keep making offers like that, I might just take you up on them!" The General's eyes rolled downwards for a moment, softening in contemplation. "But hey," he mused, eyes slowly looking back up, "if the Northern Giants of Survaek want a Surv-Akur garrison and need someone to command it, I'd be a fool not to oblige. As long as I can count on something better than Elonese wine at the feasts in your parts, that is."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 21, 2014 8:43:47 GMT
"Mead." Gudrik replied tightly. "I suppose we'll be back there soon enough, with the grand tournament and all. Though I won't drink their swill even if their own king drinks from the same goblet." There was a sound of tortured metal as the cup he'd been holding turned into a small lump in his hand. Water covered his arm completely now. "Damn me if I don't ring their necks before it through though."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 26, 2014 8:26:24 GMT
A series of firm knocks sounded against the door of Thane Gudrik's cabin.
"Oy!" the visitor shouted. "You sent the Jarl after me?!" The tone was jovial, even wry. "This better be important, or you owe me a barrel of mead for what I'm missing at the feast!"
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 26, 2014 9:52:54 GMT
Gudrik opened the door to his cabin, a grin on his face. "There is enough mead on this ship alone to drown you in my thirsty friend. But come in and do stop caterwauling like a drunken wastelander, otherwise the Firetooth will get jumpy." He ushered the smaller man inside the cabin. It was sparse just a cot and table wit a pair of stools. A horn of mead soon entered the generals hands, a jotun sized horn. "Sorry if it's a bit big but it's all I have about." Gudrik held a horn of his own in his hand and he was sitting on his stool. "To getting out alive, eh?" He raised his horn in toast giving the general his first good look at the tattoo the had been newly applied. He took a long drought from his horn. "You didn't have to leave the feast on my account. Though I suppose it was probably a bit heavy on the pomp side."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 26, 2014 22:21:40 GMT
"Tell me about it," the General grumbled, smile momentarily backflipping into a grimace. "It's one thing to hold a meeting with fellow war commanders, but the 'sir and madam and esquire' platitudes going on back there is too much. I leave it to the Vizier to do any mingling he figures ought to be done. My Duty is on the battlefield and in the war-room, not fancy dinner parties half full of people I don't even care to meet." He sighed and allowed himself to take a hearty swig from the oversized mead horn the giant had provided him.
"So, I heard about your duel. Gave the man the treatment he deserved, if you ask me. As for the Tree of Elon business, I figure it'll help stop the half-heretics from praising their own oh-so-holy and glorious heritage all day long. They're just as muddled as the rest of us, and it's time they get used to it. Even Survaek has the Unholy Ruins of Waentaer's campaign to keep us humble, so why should some middle of nowhere Northern kingdom be any different?" Pjjokhat chuckled softly, but kept open eyes and ears on his host. Even as he made light of it, he knew the subject might not sit well with Gudrik.
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 26, 2014 23:15:29 GMT
"I did what was necisiary, if Azlyn had just handed the fool over to us. But he couldn't give one of his countrymen over to another's judgment. I hear he'd royally pissed of the high priest over some healer. He should have known what was going to happen. You go to the local wisdom or the church. Never both, the priests hate it when they aren't the ones who provide the miracles." Gudrik snorted roughly. "Hells, my feet start to itch if I'm around a priest for more than ten minutes. Feels like they're measuring you up for thumb screws, cause you can't possibly not need to do penance. I can't keep track of these so called sins. Don't kill, don't drink, don't wench. They even grumble about slaves, but I'll take notice of that when the empire says it's no longer lawful to do so."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 26, 2014 23:54:00 GMT
"Ha! No slaves?!" Pjjokhat scoffed. "The Prophet-Emperor himself declared that enemies of Aed could only learn to serve in servitude!" It was a slight misquotation, but true to the essential of Raegar's command. "And who's more an enemy to Aed than our enemies, both domestic and foreign?" The general grinned, dimples pressing in vain against skin hardened by sun and scars.
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 27, 2014 0:05:46 GMT
Gudrik smiled along with his friend. He truly appreciated the man's company even if he was in a less than ideal mood. "I spoke with my brother, he agreed to petition the vizier to allow us to build garrison. It wouldn't be until the new year if he agrees. But I thought I should let you know. Maybe I we'll even get them to endorse my plans for Jotun musket companies."
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Post by aspenivan on Nov 27, 2014 0:15:09 GMT
"I included just such a recommendation in my report to the Vizier, as a matter of fact," Pjjokhat shared proudly. "The old bugger's hesitant as always, but I think I can get him to cave. Some of the other generals are taken by the idea of a new elite northern regiment. After all, we can only ship over so many Southerners."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 27, 2014 0:24:05 GMT
"If the emperor is willing to give us the resources we can find him Jotun willing to fight for him." The Thane drank the remains of his horn.
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