[center][h3][color=black]A collaborative story based on [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3720191]Marches of Man[/url], a roleplay set in a fictional medieval world.[/color][/h3][/center]

[quote=@Odin]
[center][h2][color=black]ℰxpedition for the ℬanner of St. ℱriedrich.[/color][/h2]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jk9H_Ogx7E]Theme song for the arrival of Ketill[/url][/center]
[hr][hr]

The road from the fortress of Coedwin had seen a few changes, not in it's appearance, but more so in the surrounding areas. As Ketill traveled, he noticed the shifts in the air. Though they were common, as you traveled from the warm South to the colder North, they gave him an unbecoming feeling, as if something that was coming in the future was going to go awry. But, Ketill thought, he also knew he had the Monarch at his back. A Servant never walks alone, they said, and that much had been true. Besides his brothers in arms, the other Servants, it was a comforting thought that where ever he went, the Monarch went, and as such he always felt blessed. Even in troubled times. But now he had received news, while on duty in the large fortress of Coedwin, that he was being recalled by the good lord Jachsen. 

[hr]

It was believed, apparently, by not only lord Jachsen but also the king, that the assassin had appeared in order to neutralize the expedition before it happened. This was in fact the first real lead they had on the banner - if the Sawarim sultanate cared so much as to send an assassin, surely they held the banner. This was not only a religious expedition for that matter, but had immediately turned into a political one too. None knew of the true intentions behind the assassination, but ignorance was bliss, and it was easy for the church to see less practical but more holy reasons in this assassination. Everyone knew lord Jachsen, and his wife, were both pious Monarchists. In fact, the princess-lady of the North was related to the king, and thereby stood in close relation to the Monarch. She was, after all, a daughter of the Monarch on Earth. Perhaps, the church thought, she'd been the intended target instead. No matter. According to what little Ketill had heard, the man was caught and his head put on a pike as a warning.

It had been a year ever since, and preparations for the expedition had just completed. It had taken a year only because there had to be a gathering of money, resources and of course, the churches approval. This came in the shape of the king's blessing.

Almost immediately, in the very earliest stages of the expeditions preparations, the help of the Servants was asked for by lord Jachsen and the king, and one name in specific was asked for by lord Jachsen; [i]Ketill Grímhilðrson[/i]. The close ties to lord Jachsen that Ketill himself held were reason enough, but he was also a seasoned veteran, who knew the Sawarim enemy better than most. His scars were proof of that. 

He had not been warned of this request however, and thus he was caught by surprise when a year after the request, he was told by the grand master of the Servants that he was released from service at Coedwin, and was to travel to the Barren Halls to receive a new task as advisor of the Expedition in name of the Servants. It would serve them well, it was thought, to have some holy knights.

Without question, he agreed, and left the day after.

[hr]

It had been nearly two weeks travel, including a visit to the capital of Broacien. For such a small country, Broacien had treacherous roads and mountainous regions, especially in the south, where the sand dunes grew tall - though, not as tall as the deeper territories of the Sultanate - and in the north, where a natural border with the tribes was made by the Monarch in the form of these mountains.

During his visit to the Hoffburgt, he spoke briefly with the king in a rather formal ceremony. He was blessed by the Monarch on Earth, which gave him a better feeling about the journey ahead of them at least. Furthermore, he received some more practical notes about the expedition from the kings marshal. Supposedly, there were a mere ten knights and professional soldiers. It was relieving to know that there would be some professionals, though it was discomforting to know there would be so few. 

Then, there would be five main leaders. These were divided, of course, into separate groups. There was lord Oliver, a young lad with ambition. His father was a noble in the far reach of the Murkran territories, and thus he was noble and therefore deemed fit to lead. From what Ketill knew, the boy was young, ambitious, brave and a good fighter - but not tactically gifted. 

His father had bargained with the king to give his son this position, and as such, lord Oliver was set aside by Ketill early on as 'the noble blood that gives us a name'. A useful person to have, if you need him, but otherwise unremarkable and annoying. But he reserved judgement until he met the boy at least. 

There was also two quartermasters, one that took care of armor, weaponry, and necessities for battle. The other one took care of necessities for travel - food, horses, carriage, camp followers, traders, [i]money.[/i] The names that were given were of little importance, but what was important was that they came from the Hoffburgt merchants guild. That meant they were influential - and wealthy. Possibly they were investors in the expedition. 

Regardless, they would be interesting, required, and above all, not of noble blood. The people you'd seek out if you needed a certain item. 

The other three were simply put a leader of the militia, a veteran man called Gregor who had served in the wars before and had ever since taken up positions in various villages, training the militia for a small fee. He was known to be pious, zealous even. A capable fighter, good strategist, but a pain in the ass to get along with. He had brought the rest of the people - 80 militiamen. Though, in Broacien, [i]militiaman[/i] just meant [i]peasant with a sword.[/i] Or club, bow, spear.. cannon fodder.

The second was a slavemaster of the Coedwin region. He was Sawarimic in descent, though he did not follow the Sawarim faith. A dishonorable man that traded in slaves. He was only brought along because he had promised to pledge slaves for free if he was granted the opportunity to join the expedition. His reasons were unsure, but the slaves a welcome addition.

The last person was a priest, a bishop of a region in the North. He was put forward by lord Jachsen himself, which was interesting since there were many bishops to choose from, and Ketill knew this bishop in particular personally. Perhaps that was done on purpose, but Ketill knew that lord Jachsen did not like this bishop. It gave him food for thought, on the road for the rest of the travel to the Barren Halls.

[hr]

When he arrived, he was greeted by the lord himself. He took Ketill to the main hall, where his wife was also seated in one of the thrones. Ketill followed him closely, and when he walked up to the center area in front of the thrones, bowed lightly to the princess while the lord took his seat.

[indent][i]“Ketill, your arrival is timely. The expedition is ready to leave - they wait for your command,”[/i] the lord spoke, glancing at his wife as he did. 

[i]“I see. There is no time for idle chatter then, my lord?”[/i] The lord shook his head, to which Ketill nodded. [i]Understood.[/i] 

[i]“Although, there is one thing I might offer you yet,”[/i] the lord then added after a moment of silence. He looked upon the steward, near the large double doors that lead to the main hall, who nodded and left quickly. [i]“.. for your prolonged service and loyalty to my family, Ketill, I would like to offer you a servant of your own. Though, I know you are not of noble blood, it seems fitting that a Servant of the Monarch has someone to share his burdens with.”[/i][/indent]

As if on cue, the doors swung open again and a olive skinned woman was lead into the halls. Certainly not a northerner. Not from Murkran either, though perhaps the Redsand province. Unlikely but possible. Maybe from the Sultana-

[indent][i]“.. took her in a year ago, and she's served us well. Though, she's yours now. Do with her as you wish - that's your right as a Servant, I suppose,”[/i] the voice of the lord interrupted his thoughts, as he had been staring at the woman for a good 2-3 seconds. 

[i]“.. thank you my lord.”[/i] Ketill said, looking back at the lord now.[/indent] 

He bowed quickly and turned around, facing the woman. His feet moved towards her rapidly, and with a firm grasp he took her arm, taking her along with him. There was no time to be wasted if this expedition was to be successful, and she would only complicate matters in the short run. He took her to the guest room he had gotten assigned to him, and closed the door behind them.

Furiously he began packing his bags again. [i]“Your name?”[/i] he asked, with a certain masculine, forceful undertone in his voice. He was not angry with her, but perhaps it was possible to discern that he was not satisfied with the situation either. 

It did not cross his mind to have this new slave of his pack his bags for him, or at the very least help him. She was, more or less, left standing in the corner of the room awkwardly, possibly depending on herself to make a move - or none, if she wished to be lazy about it. [i]“You're not from here, you're not from Murkran, spare me the lies. You're from Redsand or the Sultanate - which is it?”[/i]
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