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| Warlords of Prydain | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 3 2014, 11:56 AM (1,084 Views) | |
| lamna | Jan 3 2014, 11:56 AM Post #1 |
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The bitter January wind wormed its way though Osberga's thick silks and cottons. Winter was uncomfortable and hard for the peasantry, but it was a time of peace. Few lords wished to rebel while they had to march though freezing mud and snowstorms, and all but the most foolhardy Nords and Fryskes pulled their longships ashore during the dark months. Those that did had to deal with rough seas and unnavigable frozen rivers. She retreated, shivering, inside her new square keep built in the continental style. The castle might be much safer than the great halls of her forefathers, but far less comfortable. It did give her a commanding view of the capital of Lune on the icy river Tam. And I've got the only one in the whole of Prydain. Other castles were being built of course, and old burhs and hill forts were being reinforced with stone, but for now the Tower of the Moon was the strongest fortification in the realm. Her valet Culhwch coughed as he seemed to materialize out of thin air. "Ma'am the foreigners will be getting impatient if you wait much longer." "I'd rather let them stew a bit longer, but you're usually right about these things. Who's brought a begging bowl to my hall today?" Culhwch opened the door back into the keep and disappeared inside. Dagmar pushed inside, looking furtively inside, her red locks flailing as she scanned the corridor for assassins. Once satisfied the safest place in the realm was not compromised, the huge Nord nodded and allowed her in. Culhwch reappeared "Today there is a rather large trade delegation who claim to be from the Caliphate, three Norte knights ready to swear their undying loyalty to you, if you give them lands and titles, and an assortment of other ruffians from here to the Sunrise Ocean." "Claim to be from the Caliphate? What reason do you have to doubt their credentials?" "Well, their signet rings are obviously fake, it looks like they have the correct mould but made these out of bronze rather than gold. Plus their bodyguards are obviously Norte knights. The Caliphate would never use heathen bodyguards for an official trade mission. These have the look of Ishbiliyya smugglers to me." Dagmar grinned "Want me to smash then boss?" She gripped her great axe in anticipation. "Not just yet, we may be able to use this to get a better deal from them." The huge woman looked dejected. "Don't worry, I'm sure those Nortes will find a way to offend me. Remember when I found Ser Hugh lounging in my throne as though he owned it?" Dagmar grinned at the memory, then sobered. "Sorry for smashing chair boss." "It's quite all right, I can afford many more." She nearly cried when she realised she's hacked off the wooden mare's head. No tears for Ser Hugh's though. The party turned a corner and entered the great hall. The assembled crowd stood bolt upright as her huscarls thumped the butts of their spears on the cold flagsones. The herald boomed. "Her Highness Queen Osberga, Queen of the Fearnish, High Chieftain of the MacEircheard, Earle of Lune!" Osberga sat down on her great oaken throne with Dagmar and Culhwch taking their places at her side. She cleared her throne . "Lords, Ladies and Layfolk. Let's begin" |
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| lamna | Jan 9 2014, 02:15 PM Post #31 |
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Zinnorokkrah - Vaanes Kabasilas Spoiler: click to toggle olympianmaster - Galien Dalyngridge Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by lamna, Jan 9 2014, 03:19 PM.
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| Zinnorokkrah | Jan 9 2014, 03:15 PM Post #32 |
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Prime Specimen
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Vaanes smiles at the Prince's word, and after the court has emptied approached him. "My lord, it seems you spoke true when you had another plan. If this campaign is successful, you will have wealth enough to bend some of the other Princes to your will. Well done. Which Clan is Hallvard from, O'Bran or O'Failbhe? Or is he from one of the Nordic royal families? In any case, I have news from my fief. It was not wolves raiding the farmlands, but instead Gailish raiders equipped with hounds from Clan O'Failbhe. I managed to have my men chase down a small band of them, and interrogated a prisoner taken from the survivors after a battle. They spoke of handing the cattle off to 'The Fat King', and mocked me by saying they were probably eaten already. With your permission, my Prince, after establishing myself as your envoy in Lune I will pursue collecting sarhad from Prince Eurig of the Principality of Dyffryn." He sent a letter to Rhun, thanking him for his diligence, and promised to be there as soon as he can to oversee the construction and whip the builders into shape. He also sent a letter to Aelhaeran, saying that the men were marching on Dyflin and to send spies to the city to prepare it for the siege that was sure to come and gather information. Edited by Zinnorokkrah, Jan 9 2014, 03:15 PM.
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| Lycaon | Jan 9 2014, 03:47 PM Post #33 |
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All hail Odin! All hail the Allfather!
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"Sir Kenal, Lady Sigewaru, I understand your reasons for this war, but it is unnecessary. In the lands of your Queen there must be no war among fellow Earls. The watermill has always been Kenal's, so it will be returned to him, but with a few conditions. You must pay for the damage done by your men, your must allow people from Devnen to cross the Darkwater again, and you will compromise between the miller and the villagers. This is what will be done, in name of the Queen's Justice. Now, I will transport you back to your lands." |
The true meaning of hypocrisy
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| lamna | Jan 9 2014, 04:50 PM Post #34 |
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Zinnorokkrah - Vaanes Kabasilas Spoiler: click to toggle olympianmaster - Galien Dalyngridge Spoiler: click to toggle
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| Zinnorokkrah | Jan 9 2014, 08:17 PM Post #35 |
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Prime Specimen
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Vaanes inclines his head "It shall be done, my lord. I am nothing if not patient; Eurig will fall for the benefit of uniting the Principalities. I appreciate you supplying for my needs in the siege, and I can assure you that those walls will fall. Furthermore, I have men within the walls of Dyflin, awaiting orders. They are trained and skilled, and I have no doubt that they will be an advantage when we make the attack. However, I do have one request. Get Hallvard to give me something of his mother's and his half-brother's. Perhaps I can win us this battle before it has even begun." After finishing speaking with Prince Meredith, Vaanes calls his landed Marchog Commander to him, saying that it seems as though he will be staying to lead after all. He appoints the Marchog his second-in-command, and the man in charge of maintaining order and discipline in the ranks while Vaanes himself is busy acting as a one-man siege weapon. He looks through several supply ledgers, and then asks, "Did the crate make it through the journey?" The Marchog nods "Yes, my lord. The crate and its cargo is intact." Vaanes nods, then requests to have it brought to him, and has it opened. He slowly, almost reverently, withdraws a clay ball and examines it carefully. The Marchog clears his throat, and in a low respectful tone asks "My lord, what exactly is that? Why did we need to be so careful." Vaanes grins, a feral twist to the mouth, and looks over at the Marchog. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment in that gaze, and he hefts the clay ball carefully. "Alchemist's Fire. I learned how to make it while serving the Court Magus back in Byzantium. It will even burn on water, and only urine, sand, or strong vinegar will be able to douse it. It ignites with a sound like thunder and a blinding cloud of smoke. I spent a good deal of time making it, back when I spent most of my days locked away in study. This, Commander, will set alight the walls for us and I will be able to focus more of my power towards different ends instead of using most of it by starting the fire. This will win us the battle." Edited by Zinnorokkrah, Jan 9 2014, 08:17 PM.
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