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Post by Vaklu on Mar 23, 2016 22:09:23 GMT
It was a wet and overcast morning when the lone jotun ship sailed into the port of the Holy City. Thane Heager had been sent to speak on behalf of Jarl Tholarg to the chief priest. He also had other business in city but he wasn't particularly keen on it. He finally found the right person to petition an audience just after noon and was waiting on the reply in one of the outer court yards.
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Post by zurajai on Mar 25, 2016 3:57:20 GMT
On that wet and overcast morning it was, much to the surprise of even himself, Chief Priest Staas of Karmozijn Kerk who had walked out into the cold grey day to meet with the Jotun representative. Chief Priest Staas was, in many ways, unchanged from when he had first left his homeland of Messara to travel to the North to be the representative of those few faithful in the untamed lands that had existed before the Imperial Conquest. However, in many others the deeply aged man had been bent and reshaped by the trials and tribulations that had faced him; the more pacifist leaning of the Messarom had, for one, left him in favor of a more direct approach borne of the impossible attitudes of the northerners. The Jotun had been one such people at one point but, when the time came, they had decided to make the right decision.
"Thane Heager," he spoke with a bow, his crimson robes dark at the bottom from brushing the wet cobbles of the ground below his feet, "I am pleased to welcome you to Karmozijn Kerk. Apologies for not simply inviting you in but I expect your desires are a tad more urgent than ceremony and pomp. Tell me, what is it you seek in the Holy City?"
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Post by Vaklu on Mar 25, 2016 7:50:34 GMT
Heager gave a deep bow. "Your Grace, my Jarl sends his greetings. He wishes to assure you that while we may not have felt the need for grand statements like those made by others the Jotun stand ready to defend the holy city of the north. To that effect the Jarl begs your permision to build an outpost and a village or two to support it in the environs surrounding Karmozijn Kerk. Since our kingdom is farther away than most it would allow us to be able to support the city in a timely fashion." Heager was unsure how the request would be received, even the Jarl had seemed to harbor doubts about it. Though it was agreed among the Jotun it was the most effective way of supporting the Kerk without showing so late that any battles would be over before they arrived.
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Post by zurajai on Mar 25, 2016 16:17:59 GMT
"An interesting proposal," replied Staas as he looked on the giant with curiosity, "And not one without purpose. I can agree to these terms as long as it is sworn that their population will not be levied for any other purpose than to defend Karmozijn Kerk or the entire purpose would be defeated. If such a requirement is acceptable than I see no reason to define the noble Jotun."
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Post by Vaklu on Mar 25, 2016 20:09:37 GMT
"The Jarl thought you might request that. Then our people will set out as soon as I inform him apon my return." Heager had the smile of a man who had been expecting a fight and not found one. But it didn't last. "I also have a letter for the Titanhand. I was ordered in no uncertain terms to hand it to him myself." With one sentance Heager's mood had shifted from pleased to resigned. "It's from Thane Gudrik."
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Post by zurajai on Mar 27, 2016 5:56:18 GMT
"Ah," muttered Staas as his eyes drooped to the letter, "Thane Gudrik. What could he possibly want with the Titanhand, I wonder? I shall see it passed on to the Legate as swiftly as my couriers can bare it to him."
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Post by Vaklu on Mar 27, 2016 14:18:26 GMT
"I'm afraid that if word ever got back to the Jarl's brother that I handed it off to another to deliver he'd..." Heager didn't really wish to contemplate what would happen. "My life could become very difficult to say the least."
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Post by zurajai on Mar 27, 2016 15:55:01 GMT
"Oh, I see," replied Staas, eyes leaving the letter to raise up to Heager's face, "Then let it not be said that I created such a difficult life; Haakon Titanhand is in the city as we speak, I shall arrange a meeting. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
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Post by Vaklu on Mar 27, 2016 23:23:03 GMT
"The meeting with lord Titanhand is most appreciated. I require no more, Thank you with meeting with me your grace."
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Post by zurajai on Apr 16, 2016 17:52:17 GMT
The meeting had been set for a number of days passed, the Titanhand seemingly preoccupied with a number of dealings that a Legate-General of the Tovenaar-Akur would be expected to do. With the day of the meeting finally arrived Heagar was met by the Titanhand in the home of the giant Tovenaar, masterfully crafted for his comfort despite his immense size.
"My apologies, brother," he spoke, seemingly deep in thought even now, "I did not mean to keep you waiting. What is it your Jarl desires of me?"
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Post by Vaklu on Apr 17, 2016 14:28:41 GMT
Thane Heager looked distinctly nervous, mildly fidgeting with a letter in his hand. "Master Titanhand, Thane Gudrik 'requested' that I carry a letter for him when he learned of my mission to the kerk. He handed the parchment to the larger giant with a look of relief. You'd think a millstone had come off his back or an execution had been stayed.
The letter was short and to the point.
To My Goodfather Haakon Titanhand,
Stop hiding in your Aed-damned city and visit your grandson. Visit the crypts while you're here
too. Don't make me drag you out of your hole. I will if you make me, your magic be damned.
With respect
Gudrik Blooddancer Thane of Estval, Husband of Lagertha, Servant of Aed
Gudrik's seal was pressed in wax next to the signature.
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Post by Vaklu on May 18, 2016 20:32:56 GMT
The Bright sunlight of the afternoon fled before storm clouds above the seas near the holy city. Before them a massive warship under full sail was coming into port like the harbinger as it were the storms herald. The Agony slid into the docks with the precision expected of a Jotun crew. The bronzed corpse of General Nel Hjarkin twinkled in the fading light, a few of the fisher swore the dead man twisted and cried on the figurehead.
Thane Gudrik leapt from the deck to the dock in a single bound shouting form someone to take him to Titanhand. He did not wait long instead chosing to march into the city to hunt for his good-father.
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Post by zurajai on May 18, 2016 21:24:29 GMT
At long last, for what seemed like centuries, Haakon Titanhand removed himself from his compound into the light of day once more. The giant's hair had greyed, with thick lines of white running through his ashen-black hair. His beard had grown out ever further, now entirely poorly groomed as opposed to his braided and clasped facial hair. Even his robes, now lacking his standard plates of armor that he usually never parted with, looked haggard. He had heard that his son-in-law had somehow found his way into the city and was well on his way to digging the massive giant from his hiding place. With a sigh and a frown Haakon stormed out to meet the other jotun.
"Gudrik," he shouted as he spotted the lumbering form of the other giant skulking through the streets no doubt on his hunt for the reclusive Titanhand, "Why are you here? I got your letter, I was going to come eventually; couldn't have let me sit in peace and quiet, for once."
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Post by Vaklu on May 18, 2016 21:54:11 GMT
"You, That's why I'm here. You've never met your grandson and guess what, he's nearly a man now. While you wallow in grief like a pig in muck, he's been pestering me to take him raiding. Lead him to death and glory and all that shite. I expected you to be sitting in my hall, talking with the boy when I got back. Instead you're still hiding, Lagertha would be ashamed."
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Post by zurajai on May 19, 2016 0:39:37 GMT
"Quiet, you whelp!" roared the Titanhand, flames immediately surging to life around his fists, "Don't you dare speak for her! I have been busy, the Vaekir has had me busy; nothing I could do! What would you have me do anyway, hmm? Teach the boy how to wrestle? Bah! Tell me, what do you want!?"
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