From the mountain of Wyrmpeak, meltwater flowed down and fell as a waterfall into the eastern end of Middanhal. Here, it became the great river of the Mihtea, passing through the city before disappearin...
2021-04-28 11:43:39 +0000 UTC View PostTheobald looked up as the door to his study opened. The guard standing on post stuck his head inside. “There’s a man from Theodstan here.”
The captain of the city guard nodded. “Fine. Let him...
2021-04-21 07:04:33 +0000 UTC View PostEleanor came rushing into the rooms she shared with Arndis. “Have you heard?”
“I have not,” replied the other woman. She continued eating her breakfast in a calm manner, cutting cold ham into ...
2021-04-14 12:44:54 +0000 UTC View PostIn the small study afforded to him, the captain of the city guard had company.
“Something must be done!” The speaker was an aged man past eighty years; for the last many of those, he had served ...
2021-04-07 07:15:01 +0000 UTC View PostWith his fellow Hawks, Jorund passed through the gate to the Citadel, soon reaching their quarters. The mood was subdued; even if no battle had been lost against Isarn, this was a clear retreat. None of Val...
2021-03-31 08:36:27 +0000 UTC View PostSurcoats with red hawks and black swords stalked each other across the open landscape north of Middanhal. With winter’s end, the armies of Isarn and their allies had left the jarldom ...
2021-03-24 08:53:28 +0000 UTC View PostLess than a week after Fortönn had fallen, the armies of Alcázar reached the mainland. With Thusund’s fleet scattered among the northern isles, fighting rebels, the southerners had easy passage across the ...
2021-03-17 10:24:24 +0000 UTC View PostNearly past noon, a foot prodded the sleeping Damien. “Time to wake,” came the boisterous voice belonging to the count of Verbonne. “You cannot sleep away the whole war!”
“Begone, Hel-spaw...
2021-03-10 10:35:58 +0000 UTC View PostAs the march continued, Damien’s companions changed from day to day, with the exception being Verbonne, who rarely wavered from his friend’s side. Some came to see the name known to many, either from e...
2021-03-03 09:18:47 +0000 UTC View PostAcross Ealond, small bands of men trickled together to form a river of soldiers. It slithered across the land, following the winding roads along streams of water or around hills and other obstacles from one...
2021-02-24 08:06:27 +0000 UTC View PostAt all times, the Order kept watch from the highest tower on Fortönn towards southwest. As the sails appeared on the horizon, the message was sent through the keep; the enemy had been sighted. The la...
2021-02-17 13:58:18 +0000 UTC View PostActivity in the great harbour of Herbergja followed the seasons. The mild summer months saw countless ships arrive and depart, carrying out trade between the inner lands and the South Cities. As the harvest m...
2021-02-10 09:07:46 +0000 UTC View PostEventually, the castle settled into some manner of routine shaped around the new baron. Damien would take off for several days, hunting and riding. On his return, he would spend half his time sleeping, e...
2021-02-03 11:07:33 +0000 UTC View PostA solitary figure trotted along the road that slithered through the small barony of Montmer. Approaching from the north, he reached the small castle town first, as the actual fortress lay further south....
2021-01-27 11:27:55 +0000 UTC View PostThe Mihtea, largest river in Adalmearc, flowed through Middanhal until it reached the sea in the west. Along the way, it passed by Fontaine, serving as the principal route between the tw...
2021-01-20 09:09:50 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the failed assault, the defenders remained on edge for hours; dealing with the dead and wounded could leave an obvious opening for another attack. Yet nothing happened, and while they kept watchful, m...
2021-01-13 10:11:17 +0000 UTC View PostDays in Darkness
Dvaros
When the siege began, the mood inside the castle had been anxious. Now, retreated into the inner part of the fortress, dread lay in the very air. Every other day or so, Harald’s men attempted to breach somepla...
2021-01-06 10:13:10 +0000 UTC View PostTime passed slowly in the castle following the assault. While the mood remained tense, it became less anxious when the jarl’s men did not renew their attacks, but seemed content to continue the siege. Severed from...
2020-12-30 08:42:38 +0000 UTC View PostJana knocked softly on Brand’s door. Behind her, Glaukos stirred from the floor of the parlour where he had slept; Geberic was keeping watch on the walls, as he had not been in the assault last night.
<... 2020-12-23 11:51:52 +0000 UTC View PostThe night passed without incident. Lacking siege weaponry, Jarl Harald did not attempt to assault the castle walls. Instead, his men set up barricades to enclose the fortress, keeping it besieged and protectin...
2020-12-16 16:08:06 +0000 UTC View PostAn hour after dawn, news of the king’s death had reached everyone in the castle. By the end of the day, the whole city would know. Eventually, ships would carry the news to the other islands and the mainla...
2020-12-09 15:50:26 +0000 UTC View PostWith the arrival of nearly all the jarls of the greater islands, about forty in all, it was time to celebrate the solstice. In Thusund, they paid greater heed to this the longest night than anywhere else in...
2020-12-02 16:06:27 +0000 UTC View PostOn the morning of winter solstice, the sounds of weapons clashing guided Brand to the courtyard where the housecarls trained. He had been there several times, pitting himself against the best of Leiknarr’s warriors. ...
2020-11-25 14:59:33 +0000 UTC View PostTen days after arrival, Brand stood in the courtyard shortly after sunrise. Hitherto, he and Jana had spent their time much like on the first day, mingling at court. Now, he met a housecarl to accompany hi...
2020-11-18 14:34:23 +0000 UTC View PostThe bell rang, summoning the inhabitants of the castle to the evening meal. The courtiers gathered in the hall, waiting for the king to arrive; Jana and Brand were among their number, attracting stares. A few...
2020-11-11 16:23:19 +0000 UTC View PostAfter their meeting with the king’s counsellor, Brand and Jana were shown to the quarters made ready for them. A small wing with a chamber for each, connected by a parlour. Furniture was scarce, as was space, bu...
2020-11-04 16:52:53 +0000 UTC View PostThey sailed through the nights, as the wind allowed; the oarsmen needed sleep, after all. The stars provided guidance for the captain or his helmsman, as they steered the longship across the open sea of Drake...
2020-10-28 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostThe Teeth stretched from the mainland in the east to the island of Fortönn in the west. In most parts, they were little more than reefs or shallow spots of land, treacherous to all vessels that dared brave them. ...
2020-10-21 08:50:08 +0000 UTC View PostMaleth had neither size nor significance to be surrounded by walls. Various roads led into the town, with most traffic entering from the south. A pittance of farmland and pastures provided food for th...
2020-10-14 17:50:01 +0000 UTC View PostWhen Brand woke, his eyes slowly moved to survey his surroundings. By his right side, a pole was raised, holding up a tent. He lay on blankets and was covered by one. His left arm lay atop, and his hand ...
2020-10-07 12:08:04 +0000 UTC View Post