|
|
Post by Vaklu on Jun 27, 2017 14:10:32 GMT
It had been a long voyage for the jotun longship to reach reach it's destination. Nearly a month to reach the mouth of the Red River and then two weeks sailing up current to reach the lands of the Gospodars. Prince Skarpi of Nordheim had been sent by the High Jarl to once more reaffirm the friendship between the jotun and their horned cousins. Thus the interminable voyage. Theprince wondered at it. It was said his great grandfather had made a hundred such journeys, though it must have been less boring to when you knew a raid was what would come at the end.
When they entered the kingdom of Almuria they soon made port at Mog Golhisar and the crew took it's first leave in half a month.
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Jun 27, 2017 22:06:36 GMT
The Jotun were uncommon visitors to the United Kingdoms; far were the cities of the Almur and the Dwarves from the sea, making them poor destinations and poorer targets. This in addition to the relatively calm and collected relationship shared between the giants had led to a warm but distant relationship over the last century. When they made port in Mog Golhisar, but forty miles from the capital, they were met with decisive curiosity and a royal welcome. A party of Kenyszerit, the highway guard of the United Kingdoms, had marched to meet the Jotun as they landed with an Almur dignitary at their head.
"I trust your sails and oars have not failed you on this journey, brother Jotun," called the giant, dressed in the regal attire of an official agent of the Orzag and the Monarchy, "I am called Kilenc Kymmenen, a representative of the Orzag and the Naryur here in Mog Golhisar. Our Eastern cousins are most welcome here, though I humbly ask to know whom I address."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Jul 1, 2017 15:52:59 GMT
Skarpi strode up confidently. "I am Prince Skarpi of Nordheim, Son of Jarl Thodram Bloodtooth. We have come to pay our respects to the Naryur." He was young barely twenty and the very image of his great grandfather. "The High Jarl also has a proposal he wishes me to discuss with him while I'm here."
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Jul 1, 2017 16:20:19 GMT
The party of Kenyszerit and their ward bowed at Kilenc's insistence, respecting the position of Prince as they would one of their own; it was a rare sight already, that of another giant, and they were certainly not going to disrespect a Prince among them.
"Glorious news, young Master," replied Kilenc, nodding after standing from his bow, "You are most welcome to enjoy the fruits of this city as long as you like. Until you are ready to leave, I shall retrieve the royal seal to ensure your free travel. Since your people's long and storied history with my Lord Naryur, I shall personally waive the fees myself. And, if there's anything else, I would be happy to answer before you continued on your journey."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Jul 8, 2017 13:20:11 GMT
"I thank you for your kindness, may Aed shine his light upon you."
They would spend three days in the city before traveling north to the capital and the court of the Naryur. When they arrived Skarpi lead their column, a bastard sword over one shoulder with a ribbon binding it to it's scabbard in peace bond. The others of his company were similarly bonded. Two hefted a litter covered by a ice blue silk cloth.
"Hail Naryur Kharok Szaboyar-Szekeres, may Aed favor you. I bring the greetings and respect of my father Jarl Thodram Bloodtooth and my cousin High Jarl Vali Wavestrider." Skarpi knelt before the monarch with one fist over his heart in a warriors salute.
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Jul 8, 2017 16:19:18 GMT
Kharok stood immediately upon the young Jotun's salute, grasping his artifact rifle from beside his throne to thrust forward in respect while mimicking the Jotun warrior salute; it had been long since he had been to war but he knew the warrior-way well.
"My greetings to you, son of Thodram," he spoke swiftly, bowing deep after returning his weapon to the side of his throne, "Our cousins from the waves are always welcome in my halls. Please, enjoy the hospitality that I have to offer. May I ask, before you do, what has brought you here if not to simply benefit me with your company?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Jul 8, 2017 16:45:37 GMT
"My journey is two fold my lord, but first my father sen me with a gift for you." Skarpi stepped to the litter and pulled the silk away revealing a massive skull of some horned beast with a maw filled with razor like teeth. As the litter was brought forward for the Kharok's inspection he would be able to see that every inch had been intricately carved with not only the flowing knottwork common of the jotun style but the geometric designs favored by the Gospodars.
"This the skull of the Ice Drake my father and I hunted last summer. The designs come from several of the abandoned ruins we have found in the north. We spent all winter on the carving. I hope it is to your liking. But to the purpose of my visit. High Jarl Vali wishes to know if your nation would be interested in reopening your ports to jotun trade ships as they once were before the great war. He also requests the right to create an embassy in your capital."
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Jul 10, 2017 1:34:12 GMT
"A fine gift," rumbled the Naryur in a surprisingly quiet tone, stepping down to inspect the gift face to face. "Truly one worthy of someone far greater than I."
The assorted crowd in the great hall seemed to share most of the Almuric Lord's favor, especially other Almur hunters who could particularly appreciate the work that went into not only carving the skull but "collecting" it in the first place. Kharok, having been an avid hunter since his early days and one of the members of the Great Hunt put on by his father and the Ikegami nearly a century ago, held it in even higher esteem. The skull was a work of art if ever there was one and had the dual purpose of being a symbol of two artists' crafts; that of the hunter and that of the artisan.
"You do me a great honor with this gift; it shall be hung in my hall for as long as my kin shall rule here, you have my word on that. Even were it not for this gift, I would grant your request but now I feel even more welcoming for it just so that I might find wares like this making their way to Gurhimic stalls. Your ships will have welcome home in our ports."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Jul 11, 2017 0:05:17 GMT
"And the embassy my lord? I would remain here for a year to get it properly established, my father hopes your people might be able to teach how to shoot a rifle properly. I fear I have frayed his patience on the matter." Skapri had a self-depreciating grin. While he was an apt hand at sword and pistol, long arms had thus far eluded him.
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Jul 14, 2017 17:24:10 GMT
"Hah! By the time you return to your father, you shall be the greatest shot in ALL the Jarldoms," asserted Kharok excitedly, "And you shall oversee the construction of this embassy; it is the way of the United Kingdoms to construct such things in the form of their people so who better to assist than such a prince? You shall have your embassy AND your marksmanship by the end of the year, mark my words."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Aug 13, 2017 11:26:08 GMT
Captain Bodram came into the Alurmic colony around mid day. Asking to speak to the one in charge of the settlement.
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Aug 13, 2017 22:36:39 GMT
The colony of Szekemaradek was a small outpost in comparison to the great cities in the East but it remained a symbol of the United Kingdom's skill at construction and organization. Despite the meager supplies they had done an effective job making a number of half-subterranean structures as well as a full mound wall and palisade to surround the encampment. The docks, just outside the outpost itself, waited patiently for ships carrying supplies from the homeland to assist the settlement's continued growth. The Jotun were given several slips to take with any unable to dock directed to the shore; it seemed the Almur intended to give their kin a warm welcome.
"Welcome, Captain," called out a broad shouldered Almur wearing the proper equipment of a military governor, "I am pleased to let our brothers make stay here! Tell me, what brings the sons of Balno so far from their island home in these most western of lands?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Aug 23, 2017 16:25:25 GMT
"Why the only reason for the Jotun to ever visit any land not owned by our cousins, glory and plunder." The grin was that of a shared bit of gallows humor. "I come to ask your permission to use your colony as a base of operations while we are in the west."
|
|
|
|
Post by zurajai on Aug 23, 2017 17:00:48 GMT
The governor looked on with curiosity and then a good amount of worry. The Almur, especially the two hordes that had arrived later in the last century, were not fearful of violence. However, the governor was admittedly cautious about letting raiders make their stay here.
"Hmm. I will need to make one requirement if I am to allow you rights to our ports; you trade with the United Kingdoms already and for that, you have the right to stay in our ports. However, I should ask you not to raid the Kalmar Ecclesiocracy or any who do friendly business with them; this would cause great stress in our friendships and would no doubt summon the wrath of my Naryur on the both of us. What say you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Vaklu on Aug 25, 2017 18:09:19 GMT
"I can promise not raid this "Kalmar Ecclesiocracy". But any who do friendly business with them? I'm afraid I can not make that oath. For one we have no way of knowing that and such promises have never been given before. We do not raid our allies and trade partners it's true, but their allies and trade partners have always been fair game. Since your colony is in the lands of Kalmar I can advise against raids on them because it would harm our allies directly."
|
|
