Oak7ree

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

It was well past midnight, when the four thanes left the Howling Wolf. Bram, Gorlund, Harlan and Aubry had played a dozen or so round of cards, and emptied more than just a couple pints of beer. The sky was well lit with stars, and the moon was full, so it wasn't a trick to see in the streets.
Most buildings in Serpentstone were built of wood. They were low and small, built to conserve warmth during the cold wintewr months. The street starting from the Weavers' Gate housed many weavers and other artisans, as one might guess, and it ran quite straight to the castle in the centre of the town. But the four thanes walked in no straight line, to be honest. Gorlund and Harlan had to lean each other to stay upright, while Bram had borrowed a walking stick from the tavern. Only Aubry tried to walk without a support, and it didn't go as well as he thought.
This would be easier if the street kept still, Bram thought in his mind. Thank the gods the earl isn't here to see me.
They passed many alleys. Most of them were dark, and that made them good places for cutthroats to ambush them. Never Bram had been robbed or attacked by a thief or a rogue in the dead of night, and he prayed that their streak of good luck would continue.
But the gods must have slept at the moment. Three figures erupted from an alley, moving lightly and hitting fast with sticks and wooden maces. Bram couldn't react to the attack, as one figure hit him hard to his stomach with a mailed fist. Bram, and his comrades, had been ambushed and struck like green recruits. Bram fell down to the ground, and he could see that Gorlund was been held by one of the attackers. Aubry and Harlan were both on the ground.
Damn it, ran in Bram's head, as he comtemplated on the situation, feeling the pain and trying to get up. Three had attacked them, but a fourth figure emerged from the alley.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

And concerning magic - it is there, but it burns slowly, so to speak. Supersitions live on, but there might not be wizards and sorcerors throwing magic missilies and prismatic sprays 24/7.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

Ouroboros - A Dragon Eating it's Tail

BRAM

A sword.
Bram saw it was coming, and so he took a step away and raised his shield to turn the blow away. It would have hit him on the shoulder, but now Bram had a chance of taking the initiative from Ragnar the Red. Ragnar had been his opponent for most of the morning. The young warrior was eager and fast, but he wasn’t that fast. Ragnar was two or three years younger than Bram, but he was also bigger and a bit taller than Bram. He could put some weight behind the blade and hit you good into your head, but then again, he was too eager at times. He wasn’t patient enough to watch for the small things.
They were in Serpentstone, the very centre of Harkland. Trade and money of the region flowed through the city, and only Beornhall, the kingdom’s capital was richer or bigger of size. Inside the city, a might castle called the Jormundgard was located. Bram and Ragnar, along with many other warriors, both old and new, recruit and veteran, were changing blows and training on the courtyard. There were half a dozens practice circles erected on the courtyard, and those who weren’t fighting in the circles, were watching with keen eyes.
Bram had deflected the blow and now was at an arm’s length from Ragnar, and without much hesitation, Bram gave him a good smack with a longsword. The redheaded warrior gave out a grunt of pain, but continued with more wariness. He had been reminded of keeping a distance and watching for his opponent.
”Come on, you milk-drinker”, Bram taunted Ragnar. ”Such a big man, and cannot take a small hit.” Bram had been a thane for Earl Hjalmar for three years now, and he had the responsibility of training new recruits of his household. They would become thanes for the Earl of Harkland, if they had enough skills and potential, but the training weeded most of the bad or the ill-prepared. They were commonfolk; sons and daughters of carpenters, farmers, blacksmiths, tanners, weavers and other such folk, who hoped a taste of another life. Thanes would live, drink and fight together.
It was rumoured that Earl Hjalmar was preparing for a war with Earl Alarik, and thus needed as many capable warriors as he could. The King of Borrland was old and out of his mind, and would sooner depart this world than later. Alarik, the king’s grandson and Earl Hjalmar weren’t at the best of terms, Bram had heard in the many taverns of Serpentstone. When the king would die, a war for the crown would erupt with the two men, and Bram Halvorson, the firstborn son of a blacksmith didn’t know much more about it. He knew the way of the sword and spear, of bow and shield, and he liked the way it was.
The fight went on for a while. Ragnar had grown more cautious and wary of Bram… for a few moments. He took into himself again to attack more recklessly and with more frustration, as Bram blocked, parried and evaded his blows. After few minutes, both of them were breathing deeply and getting more and more tired. Time to end this play, thought Bram, and started his attack. He closed on Ragnar, exchanging a few fast blows and then grappled him. It was like a bear hug, but Bram had acquired momentum and speed, putting his weight on Ragnar, toppling him and forcing him to the ground. It wasn’t over, as an wrestling match started, and at that, speed and agility played a crucial role, or so Bram had been taught in the streets of Serpentstone. He took the initiative from the tired Ragnar, who had been surprised by the grapple by a couple seconds.
He resisted bravely a moment or two, but Bram countered his moves and flailing arms with quick movements. ”I yield”, the big man said to Bram. ”I yield”, he repeated, whimpering.
Good, Bram thought. He rose to stand, and said to the small crowd of few recruits watching their fight. ”Never overlook an opponent. He might be smaller or slower than you, so surprise your opponents and enemies. Be realistic, and keep your wits with you and eyes open, and you all might become thanes sooner or later for Earl Hjalmar.”
Bram took a look at them. All of them were younger than him, looked a bit malnourished or as green as grass. He had eight recruits under him, and Ragnar the Red had the most potential of them. A son of a tanner, he wanted to become a thane so he could bring honour and fame to his parents. Like all of them want to do, Bram thought.
”Next pair. Riordan and Halvdar, you’re next. Ragnar, take a small break and then go to practice javelin throwing. I need to take a piss.”

---

Later that day, Bram found him himself in the tavern of the Howling Wolf near the Weavers’ Gate. It was a nice little tavern for fifty or so people. There was a smell of fire and smoke in the air, and the tavernkeep was cooking a meaty soup on the fire of the common hall. Bram was sitting the evening with Aubry the Hammer, Gorlund the Unicorn and Harlan the Younger, some other thanes of Earl Hjalmar. The tavern was their other home besides Jormundgard, and they had spent many an evening there playing cards, dice and board games. Today’s business, however, was politics.
”The whole thing stinks, boys”, Harlan the Younger talked. He was called the Younger, but was clearly the eldest of the four. He was pushing forty, but was still board shouldered and thick haired and bearded. He took a sip of his beer and continued. ”We have rarely taken in so many recruits and green boys to be trained as thanes, and now we’ve gotten nearly fifty people in the past two months. Something is up, let it be known.”
”Well, reports have said that goblin raids have increased in the fringe villages. Some villages have been burned, and some other have been ravaged by pissed-off giants. You shouldn’t interrupt them for their mammoths, I’ve heard” Gorlund answered. He was often the realist of the group, often saying what he thought in his mind.
”Goblins have never been hard to kill, and some villages have become quite proficient on that regard. Even our dear Bram has killed a few”, Aubry pointed out.
“I don’t know about that”, Bram said. The other thanes were older than him, and he wasn’t as keen on politics as them. “Perhaps a civil war is coming, but we’ll see it when it happens. Until then, we’ll train the recruits and prepare them the best we can. But now, let’s order more beer and enjoy the peace we have.”
“I’ll drink to that, Bram. Toast today, and suffer tomorrow”, Harlan said. “Enjoy the moment, as we don’t know we will see the end of the week.”
Drinking continued, until the late of night. They laughed and played dice and cards and joked. As the night went, only Odin knew what would come of tomorrow. It was late summer season, and the nights grew darker and longer. Day by day, the winter was approaching.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@Lurking Krog, @Master I've been biding my time because my studies just started, and I've got more time on my hands on the weekend.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@Lurking Krog & @Master Both of you can put your characters ro the characters tabs, by the way.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@Lurking Krog I've done some updating for Harkland.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@Lurking Krog By weekend most likely, but we'll see. I just started my university studies.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@Lurking Krog, @Master An idea: we could use patronyms, for example, as their surnames, if you like, as has been done in Scandinavia. But your sheets look promising. If you can or like, you still can expand them.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

@omni023 Probably not, but I will not rule them out completely yet. We'll see.

Ouroboros - A Viking/Mythology Inspired RP

Important characters

High King Jorvi the Elder (Weyland), son of Sigurd the Hammerer.

The elderly king of the realm, Jorvi has reigned for over thirty years, and has grown weary and old. His legacy is going to be contested by two candidates – his young grandson Alarik, the Earl of Grensmark, and by Jorvi's younger brother Hjalmar, the Earl of Harkland. A feeble old man, his mind isn't what it used to be. He rarely leaves his castle anymore.

Prince Alarik (Weyland), Earl of Grensmark

Alarik is just a boy and an untested youth by Borrland's standards, but what he lacks in years and experience, he lacks it not in courage, ambition or martial prowess. His father Rickard died of wound gone bad, when he fought a duel agaisnt Hjalmar. They fought over the ownership of a longboat named Wyvern, which passed to the hands of Hjalmar. Thanks to this dispute, Earl Alarik holds a personal grudge agaisnt Earl Hjalmar.

Earl Hjalmar (Weyland) of Harkland

Earl Hjalmar rules the lands of Harkland in the northwestern coast south of the Isles of Hjorska, and he has come close to the Earl of the Isles, Bannon More. He is brother to King Jorvi, and many years younger than him. A man in his late fourties, Hjalmar is a figure of great stature in Borrland's politics. He has fought against a giant and won, though it happened decades ago.

Earl Sigmund Ivarson of the Isles

A man in his thirties, Sigmund has been titled as the Dragon of the Seas, as he has raided many trading ship from Taranis. He is a cunning man, who has a notorious comtempt for authority - as long he and his people can live as they always have, Sigmund is content. The Isles are highly autonomous, but still a part of Borrland, as the king hasn't put Earl Sigmund into too tight a leash.

Thane Bram Halvorson of Serpentstone

A wiry young man in the service of Earl Hjalmar, Bram is one of the Earl's trusted lieutenants. About six feet tall and just above twenty, Bram has progressed quickly in Harkland. The son of a thane, Bram was taught the ways of the sword, the shield, the javelin and the axe in his childhood and youth. He became a thane at the age of seventeen, after leading a raid against the goblins and killed a very large goblin.

Harlan the Younger, Gorlund the Unicorn and Aubry the Hammer, thanes of Serpentstone

These three are friends and comrades of thane Bram. Harlan is nearing forty years of age, and is the senior of the group. Gorlund the Unicorn claims to have seen a unicorn one times in the forests of Harkland, but he also claimed he was dead drunk at the time. Aubry the Hammer, as the name suggests, likes to use hammers as his weapons. He often wields a two-handed warhammer.

Burgomeister Georg Whitehair of Beornhall

Georg is the burgomeister in charge of Beornhall's city council. The council consists of him, the captain of the guard, a judge and five other members from the city, like notable merchants and well known individuals.