Red Wizard

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Flagg What did you have in mind?

Also,

@Kassarock Waiting for you, buddy.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Me neither, so no problem. I need preparation or inspiration to produce.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Hope this last post gives you something to work with :)

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Külake

"By the dead."

Kadri was sometimes irritated by the favorite expression of her secret lover, but this was no time to point it out. Sitting on her horse at the top of a ridge, she was just as shocked as Paavo and the rest of the warriors were, stunned by the surprise before them. They had expected a raiding party. Bandits, or Pale-men, or even Seolhi. But this, this was different. This was-

"That's an army." Paavo said, like if he'd had the same thought as her.

"You don't say." she replied, finding a little bit of snarkiness somewhere beneath all the terror she was currently experiencing.

He continued as if he hadn't heard her, eyes wide open. "But they said there'd been a raid, not that a fucking invasion was in the making!"

"Another brilliant observation." she retorted. biting her lip and wearing a worried look in spite of the cynical tone in her voice.

Paavo turned to her, all furrowed brows, an angry expression on his face. "This is no time for witticisms, Kadri! This is serious! We're in terrible danger here, in the field against this many."

"I know." she said, still sounding calm in spite of her speeding heartbeat, but having dropped the cynicism for the time being, "I can see that."

"I'm glad you agree with me! You go ahead and order the retreat, and I'll organize a rearg-"

But Kadri didn't hear him. She was busy observing the devastation before her. On another hill, not too far away, a group of invaders had become separated from the rest of the hoard. There were two banners there which Kadri had never seen before, although she knew perfectly well what they meant. Standards, much like her own. Leaders. Scanning the hill, she could see a man dragging a girl by her hair up the slope. She could not determine wether he was smiling or not, but she imagined he was. And she knew why. An attack on my people is an attack on me. If he takes that girl and I do nothing, he might as well have taken me instead.

"No." she barked, interrupting Paavo. "No, we're not going anywhere."

"What?"

"We cannot let them go unpunished. Send word down the column; riders are to remain with me, foot will return to Kinnisvara to warn the populace and prepare defenses. We are going to teach these mongrels about Maods and their honor." Her voice had started trembling by the end, terror having been replaced by fury.

"Kadri! Please!" Paavo begged, "You can't endanger yourself so, and what would be the point? Look, they have already spotted us! Soon they'll be forming ranks!"

She dared a peek towards the beach. He was right, they were already forming ranks. Shit, shit, shit. An attack now would be risky. Perhaps too-

"You can't do this!"

It might've been the insolence of his claim, or the whining tone of his voice. It might've been the situation as a whole, but at those words Kadri snapped. She turned in her sadle, slapped Paavo across his face and grabbed hold of his collar, pulling him close.

"I can't?" she roared, spit flying, "I can't what? Avenge my people? Reclaim my honor? Defend my lands? You sniveling coward! You dare slander your betters in their absence, yet you yourself cover like a beat dog in the face of an adversary! Retreat, then, if you're so unwilling to fight for what is right! Take the foot and go prepare Kinnisvara for my return. I insist!"

She let him go and turned from him with such finality that further argument was impossible. Instead she was staring straight ahead at that little group on the hill, only just now beginning to scramble to attention. Baring her teeth, she ripped her sword from its scabbard.

"Riders, to me! Let's show these shitstains what real warriors look like! Charge!"

And with a thunderous roar, the Maod did just that.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Well, the warriors of Tinnisvara are certainly not prepared for nearly 2000 enemies. That changes the situation. I'll rethink my post. Will probably have something up by midday tomorrow (I'm from northern europe and it's 1AM here).

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Nice intro. I was wondering, how would you like the upcoming conflict to play out? Personally, I'm thinking "Bad Battle" - a bloody mess for both sides with small victories (your guys get to the safety of the sea / my guys manage to drive you away) but major losses (a lot of dead warriors on both sides), but I'm open for suggestions. I'm also up for discussing it via PM if you're so inclined. EDIT: on a closer inspection, I might have underestimated how many warriors your guys have brought with them. How many are there in the remains of that village, in fact?

@DeadBeatWalking If the letter the Sea King sent was intended for the Maod, would you like me to recieve and present it in my next post? If so, what does it say (discuss it via PM perhaps)? Or would you rather like me to introduce a messenger from the Seolhi, or something, so that you can present the letter yourself?

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Maybe it's an early scout to test the Maods resolve. Or maybe it's the full-blown invasion right away, and poor Kadri is walking right into an ambush. :P

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

@Kassarock Well, a coastal village has been raided in my intro. Might be your guys, might be someone else. I'll let you decide.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

My first IC is up. I've left some suggestions in there to get the plot going, feel free to take me up on it if you want to.

Age of Iron - Reboot Edition

Kinnisvara

The great hall was dimly lit, shades of dark orange and red slowly dancing on the ceiling and wall hangings from the embers of the fire that had roared during the feast the night before. The air was thick with the smell of dried sweat, spilled mead and what food that had been left unmolested. It was a sour odor, with hints of sweet and salt. Enough to make Kadri sick. She was sprawled on her great chair in the center of the dais, observing through slitted eyes the devastation before her. Someone to the side of her grunted.

"By the dead." Paavo moaned, "I must have died and been taken by the wyrm. I can't see how else I could have deserved feeling like this."

Kadri snorted. "One and a half keg of Triinus sweet-drink would do that to you, you fool."

"Perhaps... Although I still suspect the wyrm and all of that."

She only muttered and nodded softly in agreement. That joy and revelry was rewarded with such pain and regret was surely the work of the great snake. Daring a glance at the food left to rot on the tables, Kadri wondered if she should try and eat some, and if any of it was still edible. She started reaching for it but gratefully collapsed back into her chair when Paavo resumed the conversation.

"What happened last night, anyway? I can't remember too much. Did we - ?"

"No. No, we didn't. But it wasn't on part of you not trying, that's for sure."

A sigh. "Shame. But it'd be twice the shame if we'd done it and I'd been to drunk to remember it."

Kadri turned her head sideways and gave the warrior what she hoped was a stern look. "I swear, someday Heino is going to find out, and then he'll kill you. You must learn to control that wriggling little worm of yours."

Another sigh, and a chuckle. "He could try it, but I dare say you'd be a husband poorer for it. Heino is weak."

Kadri reached down and slapped him on his shaven skalp at that. He looked up at her with feigned upset, but soon lost his act and gave way to a fit of laughter. "You're lucky Heino doesn't want me defending his honor for him, you know." she said, "I could have your tounge cut out for that."

"You could, aye." Paavo replied, a wolf grin on his lips, "But you wouldn't. You like that little bugger too much, and besides, you agree with me."

Kadri held his gaze a few moments longer before relaxing and slumping back into her chair, once more looking out over the waste-strewn battefield that had once been her great hall. "I suppose you're right." she admitted, "But, thinking about it, I could always tie that little bugger on a string round my neck so that it'd always be with me..."

Paavo was just about to reply when the double doors on the far side of the halls were opened. Daylight washed over Kadri and her lover like a wave of fire, and all she could do was keep from screaming out loud.

"Jarl Kadri!" a woman yelled, with a serious tone in her voice, "I bear urgent knews from the coast! There has been a raid!"

Shit, shit, shit. Kadri tried to open her eyes, but quickly conceded they would have to remain shut for the time being. A raid so soon after their victory? Could the Pale fuckers already have regrouped? It seemed unlikely, but she didn't put anything past those cave-dwellers. "Where, which village?" she grunted, "And when?"

"Külake, on the coast. We recieved word just now."

"That's not far." Paavo mused, "It must've happened last night. If we move quick we could probably intercept them, whoever they are."

Sure, but I'm not sure if we'd be doing more harm than good in this sorry state. We can't let them get away though. An attack on my holdings is an attack on me. Kadri rubbed her temples, knowing fully well what she had to do but trying desperately to find a way out.

The warrior at the gate spoke up once more. "What is your will, my Jarl?"

Kadri parted her eyelids and forced them open this time. "Muster the warriors." she said, "We're going hunting."