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NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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Summer 9/The Lone-Standing King
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Well... If the King is holding court, why not go ask him directly?
    0~0~0

    In the court of the Lone-Standing King, there are two rules: "Be competent" and "Put the good of the realm before yourself." If it fits both those criteria, then it is lawful in the eyes of God, Man, and King.

    King Alfred, the King of all Free England, rubbed at his eyes as he watched yet another would-be assassin get dragged away kicking and screaming by the Royal Thanes drowning his court in iron. It wasn't so much the constant attempts to end his life that irked him—his children would carry on his work, after all—but the downright pathetic methods the Nobiliary's men used.

    A man sent with sword dangling on the waist, who dramatically draws it with a flourish and a theatrical declaration of intent? Seriously? He's running a kingdom here, not a damned carnival! Show some respect to the title!

    Iohannes shook his head and his long gray beard swayed with the motion. Perhaps befitting the man's self-described status as a 'fighting monk', he wore mail interwoven with his secular-attire and iron forearm and shin-guards on his limbs. A sheathed sword hang from one side of his belt while a hammer mirrored it on the other.

    "You really should do something about those Franks, my King, they've been nothing but trouble since they arrived," Iohannes scowled as Grimbald bristled in the corner. Rounding on the black-robed Benedictine, the graybeard waved his arms at his fellow monk-turned-advisor, "What? Have something to say?"

    "Of course I have something to say," Grimbald rolled his eyes, adding as much dramatic flair as the hook-nosed man could muster, "it's only the same conversation we have every damned time this happens, after all. Our King hasn't the troops to spare and the Knights the Nobles bring are more then enough to make up for the trouble that tags along."

    "Knights!" Iohannes growled as he ground his teeth together, "Frankish fops the lot of them!"

    "Frankish fops who can decimate armies," Grimbald, of course, had a good point.

    "Armies of the lower classes, of mortals! Fat lot of good that does against the damned Norse." And Iohannes, of course, also had a good point.

    "For every Knight that our King has, that's a dozen more Thanes he can put elsewhere. A dozen more Thanes that can keep the peace in their own lands and help improve the realm as a whole," Grimbald retorts with a jutting chin.

    Iohannes shakes his head and sighs, conceding the point, "I will admit, they do good work when you can point them towards the enemy, but they have the loyalty of a wet dog in a freshly cleaned room."

    Grimbald mirrors the sigh as he lets his shiny, tonsured head hang low. "All men want to be ruled by their own and we Franks are no different. I just wish the morons didn't jump at the faintest chance to have it be so."

    And there's the crux of it. The Knights and their Noble masters are an ally of unquantifiable value in an existential fight—there's peace now, but that never lasts with Norsemen. Even in peacetimes, their raids continue unceasingly as they deprive and desolate and drive men to weakness. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of silver and gold only bought a scant few decades—barely enough time to train replacements for the heavy losses taken in the face of undying hordes.

    The few English Knights that have sprung up, eager to prove their worth, keep throwing themselves bodily into overwhelming odds. Sure, the ones that survive are all the stronger for it, but for every one that stands, four fall. A decade-and-a-half spent training—a decade-and-a-half bought with the wealth of those they swore to protect—wasted in pursuit of the foolish idea that they had 'something to prove'.

    Alfred sighed as another wrinkled formed on his brow—with every day that passed, the end of silver-bought time drew closer and his stress rose to ever-greater heights. Honestly, the simple fact that he hadn't had a heart attack was all the more evidence towards the righteousness of this path he walks.

    Soon, Guthrum would come. Soon, he would see if he had redeemed his people in the eyes of God.

    Regardless of the ever-shifting future, he had a court to attend to in the now.

    The doorman nervously shuffled in as he coughed into his fist. The next court-attendees would be coming in soon and, by the looks of the heavy globs of nervous sweat that dripped off the end of the man's nose, they'd be a pleasant break to the monotony of cow-ownership disputes and incompetent, short-sighted Noble assassins.

    "Your Highness and his Graces," the doorman bowed before the court before clearing his throat one last, stalling time, "T-the next courtiers are, well," he gulps, "Well, um, they're, well-"

    "Get on with it, boy," Iohannes growled, iron clanking against iron as he crossed his arms, "They're can be that bad! It's not like they're Vikings!"

    The doorman paled, "Well, that's the thing, your graces, they... kind of are?"

    In the deafening silence that followed, not even the constant scritch-scratch of Asser's ever-scribbling quill could be heard.

    "Grimbald," Iohannes announced with a straight face, "Next time I speak such foolish words, cut out my tongue."

    "Gladly," Grimbald replied, no hesitation in his voice.

    Chuckling at his advisor's antics—while making a mental note to confirm his surgeons' abilities to re-attach tongues—King Alfred turned his attention to the doors as they opened and hands fell to weapons.

    0~0~0

    All eyes are on you as you enter the hall, though all hands are on weapons.

    "Uh," you swallow as you are, quite literally, the flat-out weakest person in a hall with over a hundred-and-twenty well-armed and armored men, "Did I do something wrong?"

    "You, Norwegian," before anyone can respond, the crown-bearing man on a naval-themed throne raises his voice, "have done no wrong—in this court." A fair enough emendation, all things considered. "But how can this court help right the wrongs that have befallen you?"

    You blink, instantly forgetting every bit of prep-work Gabriel had you learn regarding Kingly decorum. "Alfred, right?" The guards bristle, but stop as the king nods. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to trade? I've got some-"

    Before you can finish talking, you find yourself standing in an utterly quiet room. The locale hadn't changed, it's just that not a single person out of the hundred-and-twenty-four men standing, sitting, or otherwise working was making a sound.

    Except for the King, who merely clapped calloused hands together and laughed. The claps echoed eerily through the otherwise noise-barren hall, the laughter only adding to the odd feeling brewing in your gut. "If there's one thing I appreciate about you Norse, it's your audacity. Never fearing the outcome as, after all, you'll either live and win, or lose and die. Do I have it right?"

    "More or less, yeah," you nod and all the guards bristle yet again, yet unable to act against their king. "But, the trading?"

    The King snorts and flicks fingers your way, "Go ahead."

    [ ] What would you like to offer and for what in exchange?
    -[ ] (Optional) The King looks like he's considering something as he looks at you, perhaps asking after it will bolster your trade stance?

    As you think, you find yourself considering the King.

    Specifically, his cultivation power. Or rather, powers—plural. One of them is Anglo-Saxon. The other?

    Christian.

    Very interesting, Mister King Alfred. Very interesting indeed.

    0~0~0

    AN: Ay, I managed it.

    No moratorium
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Imperial Fister said:
    In the court of the Lone-Standing King, there are two rules: "Be competent" and "Put the good of the realm before yourself." If it fits both those criteria, then it is lawful in the eyes of God, Man, and King.
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    This is is really cool and I love it.

    Imperial Fister said:
    A man sent with sword dangling on the waist, who dramatically draws it with a flourish and a theatrical declaration of intent? Seriously? He's running a kingdom here, not a damned carnival! Show some respect to the title!
    Click to expand...
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    He's not even annoyed that people are trying to kill him just that they are so bad and stupid about it.

    Imperial Fister said:
    "Grimbald," Iohannes announced with a straight face, "Next time I speak such foolish words, cut out my tongue."

    "Gladly," Grimbald replied, no hesitation in his voice.
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    HAHAH Iohannes knows he tempted Murphy.

    Imperial Fister said:
    The King snorts and flicks fingers your way, "Go ahead."
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    At least the dude gets some free entertainment. He's also smart enough to acknowledge virtues of his enemies.

    Imperial Fister said:
    Specifically, his cultivation power. Or rather, powers—plural. One of them is Anglo-Saxon. The other?

    Christian.

    Very interesting, Mister King Alfred. Very interesting indeed.
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    WTF he has multiple cultivations!?!!?!? I thought that wasn't possible?
     
    Thanes sound like anglo-saxon cultivators rather than feudal cultivators.

    "While we're talking, are there any local opportunities for violence? Some of the men are getting antsy and, well, we thought we'd have a good brawl at the last stop but they turned out to be kinsmen..."

    See if he'll hire us to raid the estate of an annoying noble in a way that's plausibly deniable for him.

    Also; remember that we want some of that sacred coal.
     
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    ArcanaVitae said:
    This is is really cool and I love it.


    He's not even annoyed that people are trying to kill him just that they are so bad and stupid about it.


    HAHAH Iohannes knows he tempted Murphy.


    At least the dude gets some free entertainment. He's also smart enough to acknowledge virtues of his enemies.


    WTF he has multiple cultivations!?!!?!? I thought that wasn't possible?
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    I think that it means that he has different external and internal powers like Orthstirr and Zeal in one cultivator
     
    [X] Plan: Lay the Cards Out
    -[X] Well, I've got a fairly decent supply right about now, we recently had a pretty large pack of wolves that ran out and ate all the game and whatnot--and I mean an awful lot of them. We managed to sort them out, but we've got well over a hundred pelts right now after everyone who had use for them took their share. Goodly sized, fairly potent, and waterproof due to them being water wolves of all bloody things. On our way down, we took a side trip and managed to sort out a modest problem with one of our neighbors, and picked up a hold full of quality whetstones as well, which are always in demand from my experience. The biggest thing on the table of course comes back to the aforementioned wolf pack--it was led by a monster of particular potency but not very much experience, and I had the good fortune of being among the group that laid it low, gaining access to its pelt. While the monster itself was young and stupid, it was Fenriskin with a hide impervious to ordinary attacks, a skilled artisan could turn it into something really special. I myself, would be an Artisan on that level--though if you wanted Plate, I'd need to cooperate with someone who knows how to work with Fervor rather than Orthstirr, and you'd have to wait for me to get started until at least Summer of next year, it'd be a hefty project and I've only got about another moon to spend here at the most if we want to be off the seas by winter.
    -[X] As for what we need... Well, the aforementioned giant pack of wolves sort of wreaked havoc on the game, and while nature's healing, I figured it would be the neighborly thing to do to see about locking in a supply of extra food to give us that extra cushion to make sure nobody goes hungry this year. I'll admit a personal interest in acquiring any interesting metals you might have access to here that I might not be able to acquire at home, as well as any interesting herbs, trees, or other bits of vegetation that I might be able to find a use for.
    -[X] (Optional) The King looks like he's considering something as he looks at you, perhaps asking after it will bolster your trade stance?
    --[X] I do also have a ship-full of Norsemen, and while trading was the goal, nobody's going to say no to a chance at getting some action, if you've got any local pests that need to get a good thrashing.

    Or, you know.

    [ ] Plan: Lay the Cards Out but as concise as possible.
    -[ ] Trade Offer: You Receive: 100+ Water Wolf Pelts, 2,000 Whetstones, Potentially a component for Top Class Gear and an Artisan who can work it.
    -[ ] Trade Offer: We Receive: Food (Priority One), And of course, once we've got the food sorted out--Interesting Bits and Bobs for Halla's Cultivation and crafting (Interesting Metals, Plants/Vegetation, silver and gold for the crew for their trouble never hurt. If he bites on the commission and wants Plate though, we're going to need some to examine in preparation for the project.
    -[ ] Also: We do Mercenary Work.
    -[ ] Don't be afraid to give examples of the offer, though if we're pulling them out of birb, make sure we give them warning before we call it.
     
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    Imperial Fister said:
    "Uh," you swallow as you are, quite literally, the flat-out weakest person in a hall with over a hundred-and-twenty well-armed and armored men.
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    So, I'm assuming that 100% of the assassins who go after King Alfred have no cultivation, since anyone with cultivation would immediately be able to tell that they are stepping into a dragon's lair as they step into his court.
     
    [x] Plan: Lay the Cards Out
    - [x] Well, I've got a fairly decent supply right about now, we recently had a pretty large pack of wolves that ran out and ate all the game and whatnot--and I mean an awful lot of them. We managed to sort them out, but we've got well over a hundred of them right now after everyone who had use for them wanted some. Goodly sized, fairly potent, and waterproof due to them being water wolves of all bloody things. On our way down, we took a side trip and managed to sort out a modest problem with one of our neighbors, and picked up a hold full of quality whetstones as well, which are always in demand from my experience. The biggest thing on the table of course comes back to the aforementioned wolf pack--it was led by a monster of particular potency but not very much experience, and I had the good fortune of being among the group that laid it low, gaining access to its pelt. While the monster itself was young and stupid, it was Fenriskin with a hide impervious to ordinary attacks, a skilled artisan could turn it into something really special. I myself, would be an Artisan on that level--though if you wanted Plate, I'd need to cooperate with someone who knows how to work with Fervor rather than Orthstirr, and you'd have to wait for me to get started until at least Summer of next year, it'd be a hefty project and I've only got about another moon to spend here at the most if we want to be off the seas by winter.
    - [x] As for what we need... Well, the aforementioned giant pack of wolves sort of wreaked havoc on the game, and while nature's healing, I figured it would be the neighborly thing to do to see about locking in a supply of extra food to give us that extra cushion to make sure nobody goes hungry this year. I'll admit a personal interest in acquiring any interesting metals you might have access to here that I might not be able to acquire at home, as well as any interesting herbs, trees, or other bits of vegetation that I might be able to find a use for.
    - [x] (Optional) The King looks like he's considering something as he looks at you, perhaps asking after it will bolster your trade stance?
    -- [x] I do also have a ship-full of Vikings, and while trading was the goal, nobody's going to say no to a chance at getting some action, if you've got any local pests that need to get a good thrashing.
     
    FOR THE RECORD, IF has confirmed my Concise Version is materially no different than the Not Concise Version. It'll remain there for the sake of people easily eyeballing the objective.
     
    Alectai said:
    --[] I do also have a ship-full of Vikings, and while trading was the goal, nobody's going to say no to a chance at getting some action, if you've got any local pests that need to get a good thrashing.
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    I think 'Norseman' might be a less problematic word here, given the distinction between 'Norsemen' and 'Vikings' and the conversation the English were having just before we came in.
     
    Alectai said:
    [X] Plan: Lay the Cards Out
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    Well I was writing my own plan but this is pretty much what I had in mind.

    Except for two things one of which is more serious and the other more of a joke.

    The first one is offering our services as a healer, maybe they have someone maybe they don't but we lose nothing by offering and we can refund them most of the price if we cant do anything.

    The second is "Hella's opinion" where for the low, low price of five silver ooze hella will tell you her opinion and advise you on a certain topic. Is it labile to be good advice? Maybe is it relevant? Probably not. But it could be.
     
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