Consolidation War in the North: The Silver Lining

[Harrul Ulfbitenn]

The humid air latched in each blow against the thick fabric, piercing like myriad needles against the flesh down to marrow, adding to the unnervingness of the surrounding landscape, bleak, and drainned of most colours. A near perpetual fog loomed over the mountain side, engulfing most of the dark woodland in her grasp. The road, tainted by dirt and neglection, led farther West, in places many among the Dunwyn folk dreaded to stride, and yet they, now, were obliged to.

Some thirty riders, all dressed with brigandine or chain armour, were covered by a heavy cloak, soaked by the occasional rainfall that plagued their path. Knights, all; pledged to serve their liege in war and peace alike, in an oath that bound them to his will until their dying breath was cast into the wind, through either sword's bite, or the drain of old age, which seemed all too hesitant to taint their liege himself.

Deprived of any shade but pale, Harrul's face was a cadaver's facade, marked by two black dots that served as eyes. It had been nearly thirty years now, he had led House Ulfbitenn; Transforming it from one of the many noble houses of Eirelunn into the most powerful force of Oirtheroch, Harrul now had fallen for the attricious gamble of power. His hunt for territory had begun with hesitant steps in Laighin and Leylyn, to the South, before exploding in a frenzied aggression, emboldened by the favouring conditions that befell the Isles as a whole, resulting to Harrul's Ulfbitenn finding themselves holding sway on both sides of the Eilean Sea, having bested many an army once thought invincible. The War in the North, as the Eirish called this sudden expansion.

It was not the way of the Ulfbitenn to challenge their foes in direct confrontation. For the most part, they sough to establish relations, or even marital unions, before engaging those they could not sway to their side. Many, among the Eirish feudal lords, found benefit in willingly allying themselves with the growing realm, granting the Ulfbitenn with most needed support for the coming wars.

And so, the tides had waved Harrul against the highlands, as the self-proclaimed "King of Eirelunn" reached out to the inland of Eirelunn, for those nobles who could provide him support. Most of the lands had fallen to his will. Only few remained. But Harrul would not make the journey so far for a mere nameless noble. Especially considering the value of himself, with all the foes that still endured in the war. He was determined to gain a weapon that could shift the balance of power in Eirelunn. A weapon volatile enough that he -had- to bring to his side, for it could be proven a rival far too unpredictable to fight against...
Although by some considered invasive to appear in a lord's gates uninvited, Harrul was fuelled by a determination that was befitting a King indeed. He knew the delicate court etiquette and formal greetings and protocols of nobility were alien to this parts of Eirelunn. Here, feral as they were, people counted more on strength and capability, rather than looks and colourful words.

The bannerman of the contingent rode forth, towards the gatehouse, letting the red flag of the Ulfbitenn fly with the wind. He halted his stallion some two dozen paces from the gate, not to provoke the gate guards into action. The contingent remained farther back, with Harrul observing closely the other side's troops behavior as his rider made himself known. Tension rose; There was no telling how the settlement's guard would react, or how intensely. To even be there was dangerous in and of itself...

 

[House Of Björn]

During the rule of Thror the land of Garðar was nothing but a fortified wasteland. People of Garðar were poor and were facing famines continuously and the social and economic forces exerted a harmful impact on the structure of the land’s income distribution and the ability of its agricultural sector to sustain the populace. The royals took huge amount of food and other materials and lived in extreme luxury while the commoners died of starvation and malnutrition and the harmful processes didn't stop there and the royals simply kept adding new and new taxes and increased the currently existing taxes such as increasing household tax which stated that the house living people should pay tax according to the bill send by the royals.Population tax which stated that a house having more than 3 people should pay extra tax to the royals etc. stagnant agricultural productivity, increased social stratification, and alienation of the commoners from their landholdings were all results of Thror’s rule as a Baron. The interaction of these left clearly defined social and economic groups mired in poverty and indebtedness. The commoners were unable to cope with economic shocks or maintain their access to food beyond the nearest and sometimes even that was scarce and people were punished badly for breaking any laws implemented by the Baron. The people faced numerous, complex and sometimes sudden shifts in their situation and Millions were vulnerable to starvation and death.





But all that was changed when Ragnar returned with his band of mercenaries and burned Thror in front of the people. Ragnar took the rule of Garðar by force. People were initially reluctant to believe that any change would happen. But with the help of his trusted ministers and with his constant looting and raiding of the rich nobles who grew under the corrupt management of Thror, his father, he managed to change the face of Garðar.People of Garðar were no longer poor and were facing famines. The new Baron built Moats and other facilities to bring water to the fields and to the land. The social and economic forces which exerted a harmful impact on the structure of the land’s income distribution was changed when incomes were distributed fairly among the people based on their works.The ability of agricultural sector to sustain the populace was doubled and even foreign crops were introduced to the land and traded into other places in ships and carts.The Baron took enough amount of food and other materials to feed his army and himself and gave away the extreme luxuries for building better infrastructure and defense for the land.The Baron’s ministers made sure to promote health education and better distribution of food materials so that nobody would die of starvation and malnutrition in the barony anymore. The useful processes didn't stop there and the Baron simply kept adding new and improved rules and stopped taxing people unnecessarily.He taxed the rich who grew more rich under Thror’s rule heavily and decreased the currently existing needed taxes to a fair amount for the commoners.He destroyed the household tax and population tax along with other unnecessary taxes for the commoners and put those taxes with an increment on the rich aristocrats who never did a day’s work under Thror.



Surplus in agricultural productivity, Decrease in unwanted social stratification and letting the commoners have their rights to landholdings were all results of Ragnar’s rule as a Baron. These works clearly made a difference in eradicating poverty and indebtedness.The commoners were made able to cope with economic shocks if it ever happened again and maintenance of their access to food beyond the nearest were made possible and sometimes even being able to sell the excess production of rich crops to lands through tradelinks. People were still punished harshly for breaking any laws implemented by the new Baron. But the people didn’t have to face numerous and complex situations and the new administration made sure that no sudden shift in situation ever happened again and Millions were now not at all prone to starvation and death anymore.



This all happened with the addition of a barbaric rule and that did not change. The Baron and his troops made sure to loot and plunder the rich who had something to be plundered from and was prosperous yet bloody in their campaigns leaving a trail of blood and death on the way to prosperity. It led to thieves,rapists,murderers,spies,and even royal traitors of the highest kind getting mass burial and sometimes if the baron is in a more lustful mood for blood he will collect the bloods of the punished in barrels and dump it on the corpses in the mass burial pits or sometimes the blood taken was spread on the walls of his enemy nations as a warning to what will happen if they cross him.Some of the lesser fortunate criminals got hung on the wayside tree and left to rot hung on the tree. Some were pinned to the walls by arrows or by swords and left to die and later rot in that spot. Some were put in a large pit along with the other dying criminals and got poured by hot black oil and set on fire and later the pit was filled in with sand while the fire was still burning. All these were shown to the adults who were criminals of the lesser kind as an example to what awaits them in the future unless they decide to leave the criminal life. There were lesser criminals who later joined the Baron’s army and they were good soldiers too. The land of Garðar was almost free of criminals as people didn’t need to steal and there were good paying jobs and soldiers were given good wages. All of the economic reforms that came under the rule of the new Baron Ragnar were due to the brilliance of his ministers and people in his administration.Ragnar did overview everything though.



Now,in the current day the young Baron still ruled the land of Garðar and the house of Björn with an ironfist with the world around him suffering in his cruelty and brutality. the self-proclaimed "King of Eirelunn with the rough characteristics of the Highlanders were first asked the Pass or in his case the royal Seal to enter the land and when they found Harul Ulfbitenn they felt no fear of the man. They were saved from the brink of death and now they were pledging their undying loyalty to Ragnar.

 

[House Of Björn]

Soldier 1 - You claim to be a King and an ally to our Baron. Why should we believe you? You could be an assassin trying to poison our waters and burn our crops to make us weak. We have to check your packs while we send a messenger to the castle to let a noble come and receive you.

It was a baseless accusation but it had been attempted and succeeded during the reign of Baron Thror who didn’t care that the people suffered as long as he got every luxury that was known to the world.


The sufferings of the past was a harsher reminder that they shouldn’t trust strangers and they knew that letting someone from nearby nation without proper check could lead to disaster and if their Baron Ragnar knew that his soldiers let enemies in without proper checking he will skin them alive slowly like the last time someone did a treason. Their Baron did great things for them but also if it was time to punish he never held back on it.

 

[Harrul Ulfbitenn]

The King reined his horse forth, bypassing the bannermen who held the head of the long tail of knights. The soldier's defiant words caused some of the knights along the Ulfbitenn line reach for their weapon, grasping the pommel of their sheathed sword and craving for a chance to silence the insolent bastard. To their eyes, such defiance could not be tolerated. A fair king Harrul had proven to be, yet he was not much less cruel than his father who had earned the name Sichfrith "The Cruel". The Eirish were tough people. To rule over them, one had to surpass their endurance and earn their respect in both deed and dominance. Harrul, for the time being, had achieved both... Or so the folk of Dunwyn claimed.

"You should't believe anything." the pale king declared with a tilt of his head, not yet removing the heavy hood which cast a shadow on his face. "Nor should you open your gates for half a hundred men-at-arms, or I am sure, your master would have your head, if they didn't first..." His voice was sinister, calm and to the point, with each word spoken in certainty and perfumed with a commanding tone.

He rested his gloved hands atop the peak of his saddle, holding onto the stalion's reins. His gaze fixated on the soldier, studying him.

"Ser Braen." He called. One of the knights approached, dismounted, and drew a folded piece of thick wolf pelt, strapped with leather laces that held it tight. The knight approached the King who offered him a nod and gestured towards the soldier. The knight stepped forth, yet did not approach much beyond his liege.

"I bring a gift for your liege, Ragnar Bjorn." the King declared then. "Have it brought to him, and tell him that King Harrul requests a meeting. Let he decide whether these gates open or not."

Harrul was no fool. He was aware that his claim as King of Eirelunn rung to many of the highland lords as a coming tyrrant. To some extend, they were not wrong... He had conceived a particular, and rather unconventional, way to approach House Bjorn, of all others. Ragnar did not play by the rules. He was a half-born, who did not cower before dire odds and strove for what he craved. His reputation and skill was just some of the talents that Harrul sough... But he was certain, to gain such an asset, one should know better than to simply dance in the rhythm of courtly etiquette and letter exchange.

Instead, Harrul chose to appear unannounced, in what could only be seen as an almost informal meeting between the two, granting the priviledge to the Baron to simply deny him entry, should he wished. A power that, if an embassy was sent, would not matter, as the King would still be unoppoed in his capital. But no. Harrul attempted, by such a bold action, to deliver unspoken respect to the raider and ruler, Ragnar, in a way he could appreciate. Besides, Ragnar's fury against the nobles of the region was renown. To act as one of them would only frustrate House Bjorn away, and open the Kingdom to a potential clash that most certainly House Ulfbitenn could not afford.

 

[House Of Björn]

The soldiers at the gate understood the matter was beyond their comprehension and required a call to the ranks above them, preferably someone who was among the Baron Ragnar’s Guild. They knew that everything must go through the proper channel and so the soldiers decided to report to the knights of Garðar.

Soldier 1 - Please wait here while we send a messenger inside.While waiting please give your Identifications for the registry, It is important that each and every person who passes through the gate is entered into the registry, No matter the status or position, unless they are part of the higher ranks of Garðar.

There was more respect in the voice of the soldier but still there was no fear in it and that was due to the man inside the castle. A horseback soldier ran back into the folds of the land soon disappearing in the walls of the nation. The land was well kept and it was flourishing due to the constant efforts of the people and well planned ideas by the ministers of the nation, who worked well unlike the snobbish ministers of the past who were publicly punished to let the people see what breaking the rules meant here in the Barony. There was free flowing water flowing from a small stoneway that had a strong waterflow all the time, which served as a drinking spot for the travellers and those that passed through the gates of the barricading wall around the Barony. The battlement on top of the towering wall had soldiers ready with arrows who could shoot down any enemy from far or near. The archers didn’t fear to shoot down the whole entourage of Harrul Ulfbitenn if needed and that was clear because the soldiers respected as well as feared the people inside more than any enemy outside and it was a respectable amount of fear unlike the fear Ragnar’s father Thror inflicted on the people. The reason the soldiers held no fear about Harrul Ulfbitenn and his kingdom had to do with the fact that they simply didn’t know about him or his army and such ignorance gave them strength and even if they knew, they would have held the ground as they had such amount of respect and allegiance to Ragnar.

As their information was being registered to the registry. A group of soldiers escorted traders happened to come into contact with the gate asking for passage and they stood aside as they too needed to be registered and written down in the departed session of the registry. The traders as well as Harrul Ulfbitenn had to pay a sum of 1 gold coin per person to the treasury and it was collected at the side of the wall as the information was being entered.

 

[Revna Skjeggestad]

The soldiers who went inside came back with someone who held power in their gaze. It was a woman

Woman - "We are sorry for the delay but we need to check your belongings for poison and if you are indeed our ally, have faith in us and come inside unarmed and alone. You can send a soldier back to your land to deliver the message that if they don’t hear back from their king in two days they can send in their army to lay siege on us."

The woman was not an ordinary woman; She was Revna Skjeggestad, she seemed like a fine maiden but also could be a skilled assassin. She had few battle scars of her own but nothing daunting on her face. Harrul can tell she was feared by the soldiers but was also respected and she waved her hand at the direction of the gate with a proud smile. She seemed to know who he is and what he is capable of and yet she was still confident without a small drop of doubt or fear in her eyes.


The woman was expecting more resistance but liked the calm yet deadly manners of the old man. She checked everything personally and she smiled softly looking at Harrul. He could see in her eyes a burning anger and hatred which burned behind her happy demeanor. It wasn’t something that could be sensed by normal people. Someone who has seen death and battlefields like Harrul Ulfbitenn could sense it much like the Baron of Garðar. She did notice that he was looking good for his age or at least the age she presumed he is in. She had very bad experiences from other nations and life experience aided her to not trust many people outside her circle. She had been preserving her temper and hatred because of it. She had deep distrust for the king and the men and she waited for the answer of the king to judge him to know if he is intelligent or prideful.

 

[Harrul Ulfbitenn]

The King did not respond to the common soldiery. Contrasting the clear discomfort of the knights of his escort, who gazed up to the walls with ill-intent, perceiving the lowborn troops insolent to hold the King by the gate like a commoner, Harrul remained calm. His gloved fingers tapping on the wrapped gift meant for the lord of Gardar. He expected it. He expected such strange customs, unlike those of Eirelunn, for he had come to test the Baron and his subjects. If it wasn't for the gift, one could see his uninvited approach as a hostile act. But Harrul was no fool. He had heard of Gardar's power. He could recognize a sleeping giant, for the Ulfbitenn were one such case not too long ago, until he finally gave rise to the coming Realm now a mighty Kingdom across the Isles and beyond.

When the woman approached, her words were made of velvet, though hiding a memory of axe right underneath. She was no foreign to war. She was no alien to suffering. Harrul could tell simply by gazing her eyes. Gateways to a lifetime of strife, finally becoming the hunter, rather than the prey. It bore strong impact, amidst the populace, especially for someone like Harrul. The very story told of Gardar made him in many ways remember of his own father, Sichfrith the Cuel... Oh, his title well-earned, Harrul admitted to himself.

"Besiege you?" Harrul smirked. An ever so slight amusement broke through his otherwise pale face. His eyes black, almost pupil-less.

"My lord, king!" one of the knights protested. Though he openned his mouth to speak further, he fell silent when the King's hand was brought aloft, signalling for him to be so. The King's gaze fixed on the woman.

"They say your liege offers respect to his guests, and blade to his enemies. I come with no ill-intent." he intoned, nodding to the wrapped gift held still at hand. "I shall come by myself. My knights shall return to the camp, by the shore, and return in three days time. It is tradition, in Eirelunn, not to ask for a noble's sword. I trust you will not dishonour your liege's reputation. A King would not part from his personal guard, if he brought ill-intent to Gardar. I am no fool. If only you would offer a name, of the one who accepted the King of Eirelunn in Gardar, for my knights to know."

 

[Revna Skjeggestad]

The Woman was headstrong and so she was not even batting her eye to the common soldier’s words. She knew war was in the horizon and so stronger people were targeted to be killed so she did not blame the soldier. But there was a certain need to treat the guest if he is indeed a guest. Harrul meant nothing to the soldiers as they had seen kings of his stature before and many were poisonous in heart. They were war seen people and to them Ragnar was nothing less of a godly figure who saved them from the tyranny of Thror. It was an exciting thing to see when the people were with their Duke. There was so much respect for the people of Ragnar too as the soldiers were revering their higher-ranking person in front of them. She was listening to his words with extreme intend and there was doubt in her mind. She was sure that he would be no trouble to Ragnar. She was sure that Ragnar would kill him if he acted suspicious anyways

“In the house of Bjorn, we treat our guests with the utmost respect and we offer our blades to our guests too, but in a different way as to say we will raise our blades for you rather than against you. I truly hope you came with no ill intent because from here on out you are in the realm of Ragnar and there is no way for a traitor to escape him. If you come by yourself I will personally take your guard and I promise you nobody wants to cross Ragnar’s guest unless they wish for the worst outcome, we could save the trouble of having a disagreement with your troops. Your knights can return to the gate in three days to know the result of your visit. If your king proves to be trustworthy your king will see you soldiers in here while if he proves untrustworthy then his body will greet you motionless all the same. It is not a threat, because we will do anything to keep the land safe as ordered by Ragnar under whatever cirucumstances. We hope you understand and even if you do not understand it will be your loss if you can't understand our mind."

She had the words of honesty and she waited for the kind to say something before they decide further actions and she was indeed skeptical of the army that accompanied him. It could be a coup arrnanged by the courupt power hungry people of the unknown lands around so she was careful. She was indeed war seen and she had many battles under her belt to prove it and if it came to a fight she knew how to hold her ground well as well as anyone in her team. She was trained in combat and despite her smaller figure she was an dangerous woman to have on your wrong side. She intended to kill whoever that stood between the land's peace and serenity. She walked ahead and invited the king inside. She was promising his safety inside as she was feared in her land and hurting Ragnar's guest meant certain death in the most worst way imaginable so nobody from outside would try to kill their guests as the consequences were dire.

 

[Harrul Ulfbitenn]

The King's black gaze rested on the she-warrior as she spoke, and his mind tended to her words, as straight as the horison's immensity, and as clear as the mistless view of the North, when the wind blows to the Kraken Sea. There was, perhaps, thoughts of alignment; Of shared values, buried beneath layers of etiquette and cultural difference, yet to the eyes of the King distinguished like flowers amidst thorns, ready to bloom come the spring's blessed breeze.

Of the suspiciousness and ill-awaiting, he could share the vile sentiment, for he had lived through the treacherous times of the Secession, and he had known heresy as much as betrayal better than many. Eirelunn was drenched in treacherous blood and seeded by blasphemous vows, kept in the dark, after all...

He, was one of them.

The King nodded to the knights standing behind him, and walked as if willingly swallowed by the gaping maw that was Gardar's openned gates. The Knights fell silent, turning and riding away like banished shades, yet to be re-summoned in an hour most dark.

But their King, remained.

He followed the she-warrior, the wrapped gift for the Duke resting in his grip. His gaze tall, his pale skin emitting cold judgement to his surroundings. In secret, his eyes beheld the change Gardar had experienced; Known only by the tales told in the Eilean Sea, of the misery and blood born of Thror's vile rule, causing many memories of the King buried deep in his subconciousness to be summoned forth. Memories of his father, Sichfrith the Cruel, and his own reign of tyrrany, now long gone, cleansed by disease and ruthless purge conducted by the King's own hand. A son, Duke and liege, who saw himself ascended to kingship through sacrifice many knew not of. But Harrul, had not forgotten his roots.

He had not yet forsaken the mortal his flesh, now a mere cage of shadow, once represented. Before the Beast. Before the Deep Ones' touch.

The King followed in silence, having words to spare only for the liege of Gardar himself.

The tales, that day, would become facts.

Long lost, or never met realms, would be forged anew.

Or he would watch it all burn.