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Bjorni Silverstone

Bann of Silverstone

0 · 209 views · located in Isles of Penumbria

a character in “Forth Rode the King”, originally authored by Tempest, as played by RolePlayGateway

Description

Image


Name:
Bjorni Silverstone
Bann of Silverstone
The Engineer

Age:
58

Occupation:
Bann of Silverstone

Description:
Bjorni is an old man now. Once he stood tall and proud next to the greatest warriors of the realm but now, as he ages, his body has slowly begun to fail him. Bent slightly at the shoulders and with a heavy limp on his right leg, now a wooden peg, he looks nothing like the warrior he once was. His hair has long fallen out though he has managed to retain his beard, grown white with age, the passing of his years reflected in his blue eyes and there is no disguising the keen intelligence and wisdom brought on by age. Though his fingers may no longer hold a sword steady they certainly can turn pages and he has amassed a tremendous library that he studies. For those who would seek his advice, there are few who can match his tactical knowledge.

His armour now hangs on a stand in his rooms and he is most often seen swathed in black cloak, boots, tunic and pants, all of it trimmed with the white fur of a mountain beast.

Personality:
With his skills as a warrior nought but legend now, the Ban of Silverstone has turned to more mental pursuits. This has made him perhaps kinder and more gentle than the Bjorni of old but the steel of his line still shows itself when the time comes. From time to time his people have seen the hint of a younger man in his meting out of punishment upon thieves and criminals.

Silverstones unique position in the kingdom as the wealthiest of all cities has made him wary and eager to prevent more powerful lords from trying to usurp his line. As such he pays his taxes to the Warden of the Lowlands in return for her protection and rarely makes any commitment or pledge that might bring the wealth and seeming neutrality of Silverstone into jeopardy.

Biography:
The Silverstone line is a unique one in that no two male offspring seem to live. Bjorni was actually the third son to be born but the only one to live past the age of four. No brothers followed but several sisters have and they still live within the city walls.

As a young man Bjorni was groomed for the eventual task of becoming Bann of his families holdings. He was learned in all things but he showed his greatest gifts in warfare, though in time he would find he possessed great skill in lordship as well.

In his youth he ranged far and wide at the command of the Warden of the Lowlands, serving faithfully as all young noblemen must. His skill with a sword was not greater than any other man but his ability to use his head for more than a helmet stand was soon obvious.

He grew rich through war and developed a taste for learning all he could about his family’s enemies. When he at last took a career ending wound in battle he was forced to lie in the care of healers for months with nothing to do but read. He discovered he had a passion for this work that almost matched his interest in warfare.

Upon returning home he set about amassing a massive library of books on every subject ever written. His father, keen to have the young man fixated on something other than the loss of his leg, indulged him. He began to study the art of seige warfare and even assembled various small working models of his inventions though only a few have ever seen actual use.

By the time his father died , Bjorni was better read than his fellow lords and almost more so than the scribe and clerical classes. His veracious lust of knowledge taught him many things, including how to better delve for precious stones and minerals deep beneath his city.

These days he is ever at his books, designing new and wonderful machines that can be used to better the lives of his people or shorten those of his enemies. Silverstone not only stands as the wealthiest city in the kingdom but perhaps the most advanced as his inventions are built, sometimes with limited success.


Image

The City of SilverStone

The City of Silverstone is a marvel of the realm. While many cities boast larger walls, more troops, high mountains or impressive castles, Silverstone stands alone in her natural defenses.

Built on a series of rocky outcroppings in the middle of the Silver Falls, so named for their colour under the moon, the city is accessible by only a single bridge, though rumours suggest that the Banns of Silverstone have dug several deep tunnels that allow them access far beyond the city walls.

The mines that make Silverstone wealthy stretch beneath the raging waters and their stone river beds. Constantly flooding and being pumped dry, this network of deep caves, tunnels and mine shafts only add to the mysteriousness of the waterfall bound city. Slavery is not unfamiliar here since it would not do to have the cities citizens drowning beneath the very feet of their families.

The citizens of the city number no more than 10,000 but the wealth they glean from their home is enough to ensure that the city gleams of marble, gold and silver. Several universities can also be found within the walls and the students here are known far and wide for their accomplishments and teachings. The merchants guild has their main chapter house here and even the most feared thieves and assassins are thought to have found homes in the tunnels beneath the city. Some even suggest that the Banns only son is one of those who serve the darkest of purposes.

Silverstone is a city of wealth, education and promise though some doubt they can ride out the war in peace.

So begins...

Bjorni Silverstone's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone Character Portrait: Alrek Alrekson
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#, as written by Tempest
Bann of Silverstone

Bjorni Silverstone stood alone on the balcony of his personal apartments, eyes tracing the river as it twisted its way east towards the distant ocean that glimmered as a silver band on the horizon. He was sore today, in fact he was sore most days, his age was slowly gaining on him and he could no longer move with the vigour he had once possessed.

He absent mindedly scratched at a phantom itch on his knee, not even noticing as his fingers touched the silver plate that covered his wooden leg. He had lost it nearly 40 years ago and it had never ceased to itch, it was maddening at times.

The Banns palace stood apart from the city on its own rocky promontory, joined to the city by a bridge of white marble that gleamed with the moisture thrown up by the river that raged beneath it. On three sides the river tore at the stone, on the fourth it plummeted away into the vast space of the falls themselves. The roar of those waters were ever present in Silverstone and even when beneath them in the tunnels, or inside the thick stone and marble buildings, a deep rumble never let you forget where you were.

But it was not the itch, the view, nor the roar of the falls that had brought the Bann out onto this terrace to be alone with his thoughts. It was the war, a war that he feared more than any other.

Silverstone was sworn to the warden of the Lowlands and though Bjorni found the woman to be cold and calculating she was not an unfair lord. She clearly recognized the value of such a city as Silverstone and its additions to her treasury and as long as he paid his taxes she left him well enough alone. Even if she did take exception to him, he was well certain he could hold his city against her armies for many years but he hoped it would never come to that.

What he now feared was the interest of other Wardens. The wealth of Silverstone was no secret and any lord who could command even a portion of its wealth would find themselves well supplied with gold. He did not doubt that the Lady Fitzwarren would fight to protect her income but would Silverstone survive such a battle?

He did have one hidden weapon that might prove useful, a legend that he knew to be true. The Thirteen. This small band of highly skilled assassins had long ago taken up residence deep in the old mines below his city and, he suspected, his own son might be a member of their order. No one had said as much but as he aged his son had grown stronger, faster, stealthier, and showed an incredible skill with any number of weapons. It was the sort of thing only a parent would notice and since the boys biological birth mother had died twenty years ago giving birth to him, only Bjorni seemed to be aware of the changes.

“Won’t you come to bed my lord?” A voice startled him from his thoughts and he turned to see his wife, the sixth to come through his home, standing nude in the archway of the terrace. She was eighteen, or maybe nineteen, he could not remember, and had an insatiable appetite for delights of the flesh, not that he was complaining of course.

He smiled at her and took her hand, leading her to the bed. His worries could wait, at least for a while.


Alerk Alerkson

Alerk stared down at the two naked women before him who shivered both because of the cold and through absolute terror of the huge man who towered over them. They were the prettiest of the slaves taken by his men when the raiders had struck the eastern most of the Temperance Isles.

The villagers had stood no chance as their vigil had been towards the west where storm clouds gathered over Penumbria. None had thought to keep an watchful eye on the eastern horizon and it was the clouds that cloaked the surface of the sea that their true enemy had come.

The raiders had slaughtered the few soldiers amongst the populace and ransacked the places of worship on the island and predictably they had found much wealth. That wealth, including a line of wretched slaves, all lay beneath Alerks gaze now. Each of his men would receive a part, his sons two arts and he himself would take ten as their lord.

“Her.” He gestured to the blonder of the two and the girl gave a piteous howl as two men stepped forward, grasping her by the arms and dragging her away towards his ship. The other woman was claimed immediately by Clapa and her screams began there on the beach. Alerk had never been one for rape but he could not deny it to his men, most of whom did not have a woman of their own.

Under his eye, serenaded by the screams of the captured women, the raiders split their captured hoard. It was not great by Penumbrian standards but Alerk knew that it would serve as a taste to his men and the word would spread that Alerk, son of Alerk, was a gold giver and men would come. Maybe only a few at first but those few would soon become entire ships and crews until his might had swelled.

Until then he would use the Temperance Isles as his new base and, when he had gathered enough men and ships to his cause, he would launch his attack on the land to the west and build for his line a kingdom to make the world tremble.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Alerk Alerkson Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Alerk Alerkson

The ships were coming, one by one, slowly the filling the bays of the Temperance Isles. News that Alerk the Strong was now a gold giver was drawing all the ships of his kindred from across the sea to his side. Even pirates from the Hightowers, fearing their own leaders weakness, had sailed to join the growing horde. No ships could sail west for Alerk had thrown up a screen of long sleek ship killers that hunted the waves for any who might betray his presence to the Penumbrians. A few trusted merchant captains were allowed to pass with tails of the raiders moving into the northern seas and, if the gods willed it, the enemy would not suspect what was to come.

Alerks temporary home was the hall that had once served the Bann of Temperance. It was an impressive building of stone and heavy wooden timbers. At its centre a large fire blazed, illuminating the men who sat in a semi-circle on the floor with Alerk. Each of these men had come to him with more than two ships and so could demand to be part of the council. Erik the Butcher, rumoured to have slaughtered a hundred men alone. Derfel the Boneless whose skin was stretched so tight over his bones he looked like a walking skeleton. Kjartin the Restless, famed for his far reaching journeys and wondrous items captured from far off lands. And Ragnar the Fearless, said to have killed all the giants of the east and strangled the dreaded sea monster Hyrlious with his bare hands. These men made up the small council and they, having sworn their oaths to Alerk, were planning the next stage of the campaign.

A sixth man knelt with them, smaller than the rest and without the heavy furs that would mark him as a Northman. He was slight in build with a sharp face, fine bones and a speed with a dagger that could defeat all the but most seasoned warrior. His name was Finian, a thief by trade and a Penumbrian by birth. Like all men however the lust for gold had proved more than he could resist and he had heard the whisperings of a gathering Northman fleet and so sailed to join Alerk. Now he helped plan the fall of the very nation that had given him birth and he did it with glee.

"The wardens are strong my lords." He said, looking about the assembled men. "An attack on any of their fortresses with the small numbers we have would be a disaster." He touched each of the main cities with the tip of his dagger.

"However, the Banns of Penumbria are not nearly as strong, and most of them less than intelligent. They have been at peace for to long and while Hightower threatens war he is no military mind and will certainly fail but it should be enough to draw Penumbrian troops away from where we wish to land."

Alerk grunted and then bent over the crude map. "We will need to strike hard and fast. The strike must also land somewhere that can provide us much gold. When our kin hear of such a victory they will flood our camps with new and willing men. Without that gold, this army is doomed to nothing more than the petty raids of our ancestors."

"Then, my lord," Said the thief with a sly grin. "I suggest we attack here."

He pointed with his dagger, the silver gleaming in the firelight, the well used tip resting on Silverstone.


Bann of Silverstone

"Stop your worrying." Bjorni snapped at his guard commander. "At present we have nothing to fear from anyone and I won't go down a route that will lead me into war. If I start summoning soldiers, buying mercenaries to protect us, anything like that, our dear Lady Fitzwarren will only assume we seek to start a war and smash us into the dust." He waved a hand to stop any protest. "No, I will not allow a course of action that thrusts us any further towards fighting then we already are."

Sir Tavan, commander of all Silverstone, groaned and nodded his assent. He, unlike his lord, knew how weak the entire region could be against a determined enemy though he had faith that even his untested soldiers could defend against any attempt to cross the bridge and breach the heavy gates long enough to reinforcements to arrive.

"And what of the mines beneath the city?" Tavan asked. "My men had searched far and wide down there and found no trace of the rumoured secret entrances."

"That's because there are none, or none that our cavern dwellers have made obvious and if you cannot find them Sir Tavan, none of the fools who would seek to take my home will either." Bjorni was getting tired of the conversation. He wanted to return to his bed and position himself between his young wife's thighs. The war was far to the north and no threat to them at the moment. The river still ran strong and he had a well trained, though untested guard, to protect him. The security of his city and lands came from the gold given to others, not strength of arms.

"As you say my lord." Sir Tavan responded, bowing and sweeping from the room without another word. He was furious but there was nothing that could be done but to train his men harder and ensure that when the eventual call to arms came, he would be ready. He had already called up additional levies, some 2,000 spears that could swell his current forces to make sure no one could simply march through their lands.

Once outside he took a deep breath of the moisture filled air and smiled as he looked at the narrow bridge in the distance and the thick walls. It looked impressive and perhaps the Bann was right after all, Silverstone would be safe.

He could never have been more wrong.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Alerk Alerkson Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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#, as written by Tempest
Bann of Silverstone

Duremis Harbour was the main point of shipping for the Silverstone lands. It lay at the mouth of the Great River that flowed through Silverstone itself and provided berths for the trade ships that carried the wealth of the city to Penumbria and beyond. Only there were no ships to make the journey.

The local Reeve, Harald Houral, had thought at first that it might be jitters about the war but now that virtually no vessels had come from the north or east he was convinced that something else altogether more sinister was afoot so he had requested the Bann to join him and asked his lordship to suggest a course of action.

"You can see from the figures lord that within the last week we have received fewer than six vessels. That is our normal visitors for a single day!" Houral had opened the huge ledger he kept on his desk. His office was located within his own home, a hall built of bright new timber with a thatched roof that did well to keep the rain out though the smoke from his fire was already blackening the golden straw above.

"It must be that bloody man, Hightower." Bjorni snarled. "His festering nest of pirates are certainly out on the loose, snapping up everything they can lay their hands on. Those they miss I am sure the bloody Danescral raiders snap up." He was in a foul temper. No ships meant everything had to go overland and that meant he needed to hire men to guard the precious metals. Those men would have to be paid well or they might steal the cargo themselves. War was bad for business.

"The Lady Fitzwarren could pay for her own protection. Does she not have an army?" The Reeve suggested quietly. He, like his lord, had no interest in spending more money than was needed.

Bjorni nodded slowly in agreement. "Why just her? Everyone needs or wants what I have, they can damn well send soldiers to guard their own cargoes." He rubbed his hands together. "This might actually save us some money."

He turned on the Reeve and gestured for him to pick up the quill. "Write me something complimentary that apologizes for being unable to ship by sea due to Hightowers pirates. Also add that the safety of shipments cannot be guaranteed since I do not have the soldiers to make it so. I suggest they find alternate forms of security."

Without waiting for a response the Bann limped from the room, his leg making a hollow "thunk" sound on the wooden docks outside. He stared out to sea and only a single sail could be seen. It was square and bright red but was racing swiftly northward and showed no intention to make for Duremis.

Had bothered to mention it to anyone he would have discovered that it was not the first time the red sailed ship had been sighted nosing about the harbours borders.


Alerk Alerkson

Eighty ships. Eighty ships to take a city reckoned unobtainable. Alerk liked a challenge. All that week strong winds had blown from the east and more ships had come bringing with them more Spear-Danes, Sword-Danes and Shield-Danes, big men hungry for land and riches.

For nearly a thousand years the people of Danescral had been raiders, only leaving their barren home to take what they needed from others but Alerk had a vision, a vision told to him by a blind virgin who could see the future. She had told him that he would be a gold giver, a lord of men, a king in the lands of the west.

Fascinated by her predictions he had sent word for every man who had been there to come to him with news. Merchants, raiders, even Hightower Pirates, had come to his hall, drunk his ale and eaten of his food while they told him everything about the Kingdom of Penumbria. What he learned was that the land was rotten. A bastard King, Wardens that struggled amongst themselves, Banns who believed themselves immune to harm and at last he dared to believe that the blind virgins visions had been true.

Now he stood on a bluff overlooking the long beaches of the Temperance Isles. He could easily count the number of ships that had come, eighty. Each of them had come with no less than thirty warriors, proper Danes, who could kill and kill well. Like the embers of a fire they had to be drawn together and when bunched together they made a mighty blaze.

The sands around the ships were alive with the movements of the ships crews and their families. Warriors fought mock battles up and down the beach, their women repaired torn armour while slaves scrubbed the rust from weapons with sand and straw. Even the children were busy, scrapping the hulls of the ships clean so that they might slide faster through the waves.

A sudden splash of colour showed against the white cloud sky, mercifully absent were the rain clouds that had hammered them the last few days. A single red sail had appeared and Alerk grinned through his massive beard. Finian had returned and with him would be news of Silverstone.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Alerk Alerkson Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Bann of Silverstone

"I think it looks wonderful." Exclaimed the Banns sixth wife. She wasn't much over sixteen and always incredibly cheerful about everything and it annoyed him most of the time.

"It looks bloody awful." He growled as he eyed the object in question, a new statue of his own likeness. It was being erected over the cities main gate to replace the one of his father.

"Well I think you look very handsome." She replied, planting a kiss on his cheek before turning away in a swirl of skirts and perfume. Her bodyguard followed dutifully as she strode into town not bothering to acknowledge the admiring looks of passerbys. Bjorni was sure that she had wrapped hr legs around at least two guardsmen now but decided he couldn't care less, she was going to get nothing of his when he died anyway.

"My lord!" A shout came from the gate above him and he followed the pointing finger to see large mounted party passing beneath the far gatehouse. They rode with a purpose and the banner of the Masher lord rode with them.

"Now what the hell do they want?" The Bann muttered under his breath before gesturing to Sir Tavan who stepped forward at once.

"Go find out what they want Tavan."

The man nodded, bowed and then, with several guards in tow, made his way out onto the bridge, holding up a hand to halt the Marsher soldiers.

"The Bann of Silverstone bids you welcome, men of the Marsh. I am Sir Tavan, commander of the Silverstone garrison. What brings you to us this day?"


Alerk Alerkson

"Alerk the Strong!" A great black bearded, barrel chested man, roared as he strode across the stones before the lords hall. "I challenge you!" As he finished the last sentence he threw down his sword and shield upon the ground where they clattered noisily and brought immediate silence to all those inside the palisade.

For a moment it seemed as if nothing would happen but then the hall door was thrown open and Alerk strode into the sunlight. He was naked to the waist, clad only in leather breeches, his blonde hair and beard cascading down his back and chest.

"Who challenges me?" Alerk demanded, staring at his opponent for he did not recognize the man.

"Siegfried the Bold, son of Siegfried the Giant." The black bearded man responded, his massive chest swelling with pride as he spoke.

"I have heard of your father." Alerk said, thereby paying great honour to his challenger. "But I have not heard of you, by what right do you issue a challenge?"

"The right of lordship!" Responded the other. Warriors were gathering around the two, slowly forming a fighting circle and it was clear that nearly half of them bore the same black bears head on their shield as Siegfried did. "I brought with me sixty ships and by that right I challenge you to lordship of this army." He gestured around at islands.

"Then I accept your challenge Siegfried, son of Siegfried." Alerk replied with a smile that was most unpleasant. "To the pain or to the death?"

It was Siegfrieds right as challenger to determine if the two men would fight until one lay slaughtered upon the stone, or until one submitted by virtue of wounds or exhaustion.

"I see no need to have either of us dead. I would fight alongside you as your lord or as your man, Alerk the Strong."

A growl of appreciation for the decision went through the gathered warriors. All knew that the death of a single one of the two men would certainly lead to fighting between the two factions and this would ensure that the army grew stronger rather than suffer a serious setback.

"Agreed." Alerk nodded then spread his massive arms wide. "Weapons!" He roared and two lads hurried forward to hand him his shield and sword as Siegfried picked up his own.

The two men were matched in size, virtual giants to amongst their own men they would tower over any Penumbrians. Both carried swords in one hand that other men might need two, it was a clash of the titans. They advanced until they were several paces away and then each bowed slightly and introduced themselves formerly as was good manners before such a battle. Then they touched blades and stepped apart as the crowd bellowed its support.

Alerk attacked first. He was older then his opponent and had long ago learned that striking first could mean all the difference. His blade crashed into the other mans shield with enough force to cut a massive chunk of wood from it. Not to be out done, Siegfrieds blade flickered out, trying to catch him in the thigh but a deft side step and the two men moved apart again.

Several more times they engaged, swords flashing, wood shattering until each man held nothing but a shield boss and sword. Both were breathing heavily, sweat glistening on their massive muscled frames. They made eye contact and nodded, both men dropping their weapons. With a roar that must have been heard in Penumbria they hurled themselves together.

Siegfried, younger and perhaps faster, managed to wrap his arms around the older man and began to squeeze. Alerk could feel his chest constrict and his vision blurring slightly as he fought for air. He reared back his head and slammed it into the nose of his opponent and the other man staggered, loosing his grip enough for Alerk to flex his own biceps and break the hold. Two quick blows to Siegfrieds midsection brought the man doubling forward so Alerk could smash his knee into the black bearded face.

With a groan from his men, Siegfried collapsed backwards and before he could recover himself Alerk was on him, wrapping his head in a massive headlock that sealed his windpipe. Siegfried struggled, trying to free himself but as his face turned blue and his struggles weakened he managed to grunt out a single word.

"Yield."

Alerks men shattered the air with their cries of victory, slamming spears and swords against their shields. Alerk himself released his opponent and took a few seconds to suck deep gasps of air into his lungs before standing and pulling Siegfried to his feet, ambracing him like a brother.

"Well fought Siegfried the Bold, your name is well deserved."

The black beard, now red with blood, parted in a grimace as Siegfried took his own welcome breaths of air. He cast about with his eyes before spotting his sword. He picked it up and knelt on one knee, offering the blade to Alerk.

"Alerk, son of Alerkson, I swear here and now to be your man in all things, and so with me, my men shall become yours. So witness earth, so witness sky."

"So witness earth, so witness sky." Resounded the crowd.

Alerk touched the sword, his acceptance of the oath and then took the others hands between his own.

"I, Alerk the Strong, swear to do right by me all those who are sworn to me. I shall honour my brothers in arms, see to their families should they fall and promise to always bring them glory and victory even should it lead to my death. I so pledge this to Siegfried the Bold, my sworn man."

He turned as Siegfried stood, raising his huge arms above his head and calling out in a voice so deep it sounded like the rumble of a thunderstorm.

"We have an army and in a few days time we will sail and we will conquer!"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Lieutenant Xanders

The small ban of soldiers rode from the Marsh camp to Silverstone. They were made up up forty heavy cavalry and twenty horse archers. Xanders was chosen to treaty with Silverstone because he was loyal yet very expendable. This he knew as well. As they came closer to the town the troops became anxious to see the city of wealth. Most had never been to anywhere other than the Marshes. As they moved to the gatehouses the guards seemed anxious as well. Probably because of well armored cavalry seem to be intimidating even to those on a wall. They stopped when they were about to be addressed.

"I am Lieutenant Xanders. I have orders from General Cade to inform you that we will be setting up a camp to protect Silverstone from any threat. We do expect for the expenses to be aided by the Bann of Silverstone financially." Xanders told Tavan. No doubt the bann would be in outrage.

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Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Bann of Silverstone

Sir Tavan didn't even bother to pass the words back on to the Bann. Inwardly he seethed with rage that someone, especially this pathetic Marsher with his less than impressive cavalry, could even think to simply impose their rule on Silverstone. He did not however give vent to his anger but rather he did as he knew his lord would and smiled thinly.

"You are most welcome in Silverstone, as is any ally of the Bann of Silverstone." He gestured grandly to the city where it sparkled in the morning mists. It was an impressive city, possibly the most beautiful of all cities in Penumbria and the Marsher soldiers would not the first to be taken in my its magnificence.

"We of course do not require protection from so small a number of soldiers for Silverstone has her own armies in these lands." He waved to the direction from which the riders had come. "I am sure the Warden of the Marsh seeks only to commit himself to our defence rather than offer us insult?"

"Should you offer insult then I suggest you ride back the way you came at once, if not, you are most welcome as guests and will be made comfortable."

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Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Lieutenant Xanders

Xanders smiled as Tavan when the man welcomed them to the city. It wouldn't hurt to rest a bit before setting out to gather materials for the camp, would it? Then Sir Tavan spoke of the soldiers who accompanied Xanders as being the ones to protect the city. At this not only Xanders, but rest of the soldiers as well, broke out in laughter. He didn't know whether the man was joking or serious. Eventually after a minute the laughing stopped when Xanders held up his arms.

"I believe we have a misunderstanding. For you see we're only the messengers. I don't know of any force under a hundred men that could defend a city this large from a major offense. General Cade will be arriving with the main force. Probably...eight to nine thousand. Most are still in the Marshes being trained so there won't be very many soldiers...yet." He told Tavan. "Actually I need wood, stone, and other materials hauled to a nice flat area that we spotted outside of the city. Those General Cade will pay for once he arrives. Also, do you have any slaves in this city?" Slaves were important as it made construction that much easier.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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#, as written by Tempest
Bann of Silverstone

Sir Tavan ground his teeth but kept his calm as the Marsher soldiers laughed, clearly these country bumpkins knew nothing about manners, or for the matter most likely, fighting. He waited until their mirth had subsided and listened in disbelief as the informed him that the Marsher lord himself, along with eight to nine thousand troops would be arriving soon. This was clearly an invasion under the guise of "protection"!

"We do have slaves." Tavan responded to the question however. "Though they are not cheap nor will be the supplies. But come, lunch will soon be served and we can talk more over the meal."

He turned and led the entourage into the city. The Bann had long left the walls and made his way to his own palace where he would await the arrivals. They journey took them through the main street, the cobblestones of marble gleaming up at the, the buildings as bright with strains of silver trimming doorways and windows, each house a display of the cities massive wealth.

At the first gatehouse into the palace they stopped and Tavan addressed Xanders. "As is custom no man may carry weapons past this point unless he is of the Banns household guard. Men, drink and weapons are not a potent mix! IF you so chose to not leave them here you will not be allowed to visit the Bann."

They stood just beyond the massive gateway that controlled access to the long bridge leading to the palaces. Here, their faces slowly dampening beneath the spray of the river, they could hear and feel the awesome power of the water below as it thundered into the vastness of open air.

The setting changes from Isles of Penumbria to Silverstone

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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Lieutenant Xanders

Xanders gave his weapons to his own soldiers and told them that only two would accompany him. The rest would return to the flat area outside the city. He became a bit curious about the slaves. In the Marshes the closest thing to slaves were the indentured servitude of criminals who committed grave crimes. He wondered if the slaves in the city ended up as slaves because of their own choices or if they were born into it. He was sure the general wouldn't care but Lord Sivareth on the other hand might want to get involved.

"The three of us will accept your invitation to lunch. The rest will get ready for General Cade's arrival." The others rode out. "On the way I would like to discuss about your slaves in this city. Are they born into their roles or did they do something wrong?" Xanders asked Tavan as he stared in awe of the buildings. They certainly showed off the wealth of the city though they didn't look like they would be very sturdy in a siege.

The setting changes from Silverstone to Isles of Penumbria

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Alerk Alerkson Character Portrait: Frederick Cade Character Portrait: Bjorni Silverstone
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#, as written by Tempest
Silverstone

The attack on the Marsher soldiers was sudden, brutal and ruthless in its undertaking. The heavy horse, released by their commander to return outside the city found themselves trapped on the long bridge that connected the city to the mainland, the gates slamming shut on either end. Crossbowmen appeared on the walls and within moments the stones were slick with the blood of falling men and horses, their screams drowned out by the thunder of the falls below.

Only once the last man had been shot from his horse did the Silverstone soldiers move in, swiftly killing those who still lived with a knife thrust beneath the chin. Any who offered resistance were simple shot from close range, the wounded horses quickly put out of their misery with axes. The dead Marshers were stripped of their equipment and their bodies hurled over the parapets and into the falls below where they vanished beneath the curtains of spray.

Xander and his two chosen men were simply seized without even laying eyes on the Bann and hauled away to the Mines where they were clapped in irons, stripped of everything and given simple white shifts. It took no time at all for them to simply become faceless slaves amongst the rest. In a cruel gesture the Bann ordered their tongues cut out so that they might not tell their tale to anyone.

It was as if the Marshers had never been to the city at all.


Alerk Alerkson

The Great Army they called it. The single largest force ever assembled by the Danes. A man who was good with numbers would simply count the ships that had come and even now they seemed beyond count, drawn up on every available bit of beach as far as the eye could see, naked masts rising like a forest into the sky.

Orders had come from Alerk that morning, the army was to sail and one by one the ships were slipping into the surf, long oars reaching out like insect legs to propel the craft to sea. Brightly coloured sails were raised and the fleet moved swiftly before a westerly wind that some said came as a gift from the gods, driving the invasion fleet towards its goal.

They filled the sea from horizon to horizon, a seemingly endless line of ships that swept west beneath a sky devoid of clouds. Several times small ships, pirates, fishermen, perhaps men from Hightower, would be caught in their path and were devoured, decks reeking with blood as they slowly sank beneath the waves.

Death was coming to Penumbria.

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