The road south from Frostmourne, the northern most city in all of Norsia, is cold, long, and arduous. It is a great journey that sets off weeks prior to the Jarlsmoot, and it is faced with the great perils of the forsaken land that is The Province of Arda’Njor. Biting cold winds that pour in from the Shivering Sea that can freeze a man in his place, rolling hills that have seen ages upon ages of snow laid upon them, and the treacherous Hold Mountains that have claimed the lives of many who attempt to pilgrim south.

Though to the proud people of Arda’Njor, the weather is simply a challenge to be met, and conquered. It is the driving spirit of the clans that has tamed the land in opposition to the will of the Gods. The same will that drove the armies of the Province to march south in support of the King in his campaign against the Kingdom of Gothra. Armies that knew they’d likely never see their home land again, yet were content in the knowledge that they would die in service to the King, and in securing and advancing the borders of the Norsia. However, this contentment was broken when the war ended with a “mutual” peace was brokered between the warring empires.

Jarl Koval the Greater remembers the great journey north at the end of the War, passing through the lands of Tyr, whom he and his men had fought so brutally to defend. Koval might not have been of Tyr, but he viewed it as he did all of the other Provinces of Norsia, as the sacred lands of the Nordic people. He knew then, just as he knows now, that Tyr, along with all of Norsia would have been safe, had the war continued, and had Gothra been brought under lock and key, rather than a knee.

All of this Koval had contemplated as he and his entourage had made their way south for the Jarlsmoot. All of this he contemplated as he sat quietly at the great table, his hand placed carefully beneath his strong chiseled and bearded chin. Koval was a massive man, standing nearly two meters tall, with shoulders as broad as an oxen. He stared across the table at the other Jarls of the Kingdom, measuring them up in his head by what he knew of each.

There was Henrik, who’d all too excitedly put forth himself as a candidate for the throne. His bid to power was obvious to Koval, who could see the desire in the old man to establish a lasting legacy. He knew that it was this that fueled him, not the desire to serve his Kingdom. It was one reason why Koval knew he could not offer his support of Henrik to the Jarlsmoot. Another, was Henrik’s blind and loyal support of the King in the past, a King who served with honor and distinction early, but later with cowardice and even madness later on.

Then there was Bertil of Escgor, whom came to power thanks to his expertise in mercantile, and a deep purse. Koval held no ill will toward merchants, but he certainly didn’t trust them, and when Bertil offered up his support of Henrik so quickly, he knew there must have been a promise of gold made. He narrowed his eyes as he examined Bertil, knowing he was a cunning man, and respected that in him. But at the same time, his mistrust of Henrik was growing, as he was all but certain of their arrangement.

And while Henrik answered the question asked by the young Jarl from Coldmarch in a manner that Koval had liked, he couldn’t dismiss the feeling of distrust he had.

Koval turned to look to his Arls standing against a wall nearby, themselves watching over the proceedings. His son, Koval the Lesser, and his closest advisor, Toral Stone-Fist. Toral raised a curious eyebrow as he spotted Koval’s gaze, as though they were thinking the same course of action. Though, they’re gaze was broken when Eyildr, the eldest of the Jarldom rose to speak.

Long had Koval respected her, even though they might not have always agreed on things. He’d always known that it was the unity of the Kingdom that drove her, rather than an ulterior motive. As she spoke, he listened with a reverence deserving of her age, and of her long service as a Jarless. Her words might well have directed at him in a sense, as she brought up the long lasting bitterness regarding the war against Gothra, and it’s abrupt end. He understood where she spoke from, and respected her for her honesty.

It was becoming obvious to Koval that Henrik had brokered many deals with the other Jarls, as the next one to speak was the youngest of all the Jarldom, and immediately after offering her support of Henrik, demanded a spot within his council. Koval fought the urge to roll his eyes at the obviousness of her approach, and the groveling manner in which she offered fealty toward Henrik in exchange. If she wanted to earn respect from the other Jarls, she failed to do so in the eyes of Koval.

Koval then mused at how quickly Ragnar offered his fealty to the would be King, only to offer up an actually audible chuckle at Jarless Eyildr’s comments regarding Henrik’s age, and her own. He’d actually not considered this before, but it did seem to make sense. Though, Henrik did an admirable job of disarming the thought, Koval hadn’t entirely bought his sell job.

The old warrior had finally heard enough, and thought it was time for him to offer up his thoughts to the Jarlsmoot. Pulling his hand away from his bearded chin, he leant back to slide his chair out from underneath of the great table, and stood slowly. For what seemed a long moment, he stood silently, his eyes going over each of the other Jarls, before he turned toward Henrik in particular.

[i]”It is obvious that the support you’ve mustered up for yourself is nearly overwhelming. If I’m not mistake, that makes five who favor you for the ascension to the Throne. Impressive.”[/i] He let this linger a moment, wanting the accusing nature of his tone be clear.

[i]”You even speak of resuming the war against the Kingdom of Gothra, something that maybe I, and other members of the moot might favor. But I must wonder, as one who was so very close to our former King, do you not support the peace that he brokered? A peace that I, and others have questioned? A peace that may have brought the threat of peril to your Province, and all of Norsia?”[/i]

[i]”I ask, because if you are to ascend as King, as it appears you will, it will be the armies of Arda’Njor, as well as the armies of all our Provinces that will congregate within your lands to drive back the Gothran threat, and I wish to know if you truly have the convictions to see it done in completion. Or if you are made of the same stock as our former King?”[/i]