Tag Archives: Ethelred

Flame in the Swamp

Posted on by
Reply

As the time of training with the fighters comes to an abrupt end, Red switches focus inward. The task of the flaming dagger become his sole focus. The days become a time to sleep. Nights are spent mostly in the dark, with a single candle he will not light.

He starts with warming his fingers. Feeling how his heat can work to barely soften the wax. Gradually conjuring more heat, but only enough to slightly melt, and never enough to even hint at lighting the candle. Slowly reducing the heat, with the goal of leaving the candle visibly undisturbed.

Night after night he works with the candle, taking it apart more and more. Eventually reducing it into parts: as glob of wax, a bit of wick, some flecks of dirt. Then slowly shaping it back, as if it was never apart.

The material now fully yields to him and reforms. Only then does he begin to bestow light upon the candle. Drawn from, elsewhere than the candle, a few sparks dance around the wick. Without letting them grown to fire or go out, he works them into a dance. One more nights spent with just the sparks.

And then the groups seems restless to do other things with their days the be in camp. Red’s wants no part of exploring, of looking around.

Bandages

Posted on by
8

After a particularly active afternoon of training with the fighters Ethelred submits himself to Gustav for some bandaging. While watching the ranger work a phrase from the scrolls pass through Red’s mind.

“Gustav, what do you think about when you are healing people? Does the skill you have flow out of you like water? Are you a river or an ocean of healing?”

Red, for the first time, seems genuinely interested in the healing arts.

Training in the Swamp

Posted on by
Reply

When Red delivered the killing blow to the crocodile something in him stirred. He felt for a moment some kinship with the true fighters of the group. As if a small flame that had been growing within him caught a gust of wind.

Each morning he would rise, eschew his studies and join Rask and Ca’armine for morning training. The work was hard, and Red gained many bruises. Each day seeing small gains in how he held himself, how the weapons felt more like an extension of him.

After the fight training Red would then lead his own lesson in swimming. The cold water felt good, washing away the sweat, calming the wounds. Swimming made Red miss his home and the pools he helped build, and swam in, in Aigier. Aigier seems like such a distant memory now. Home but yet not as familiar as it once was.

As the days wore on Red finally was able to learn some new skills from the fighters. The path of a hero was visible about before him. But that changed…

An off hand comment from Alexis about Ezrin struck Red to the core. The memory of the last time he saw Ezrin laying on the ground, a lump. Could Red have picked up Ezrin and carried him out? Maybe. What would be different now if he had rescued the best magic teacher he has known.

When Red returned to his bed that night he takes up the scrolls, that all seem to echo with Ezrin’s voice in his ears. That night be does not sleep, does not rise to train. He turns his focus from the physical, to the material.

A Humble Request

Posted on by
1

One evening after dinner, after a full 15 days have passed since the group arrives, Rask looks at Ethelred and inquires:

“He- Mastercraftsman, would it be possible for you to make a me fine wooden sword, like a practice sword, perhaps out of a dense wood like ironwood, that I could wield as it were mine own Blade?

Rask unconsciously nods at the bundle tucked in against his bedroll, where it has lain except when so recently examined by Ca’armine, Blessed Priest of Raiden.

“Should we find the right wood of course, and perhaps wrapped in leather like the cudgels Brother Blade has been using.”

Alba Left Behind

Posted on by
6

Early in their stay along the Llanos river Alexis sits down next to Ethelred on the same log. Alexis starts talking when Ethelred looks up from his reading materials at him.

“Poor girl. I hope she doesn’t get herself killed before we get back. A lot of potential in our little miss of house Veronia.

“She’d sure like a message.” Alexis says, clearly intent on not going out of his way to make this happen.

Songs in the Key Of Raiden

Posted on by
Reply

Since arriving in Sutheron, Rask and Ca’armine and occasionally Ethelred, have been singing hymns of Raiden together. At first none of them really remember the words very well, and none of them are trained singers, but Rask and Ca’armine are fervent, and Ethelred is a true Aegierien, so they persevere.

“I wonder if there is anywhere we could show our faces and sing songs of Raiden with a big group again?” Rask wonders wistfully to the whole team while settling in for bed after the most recent session

A little later, after realizing that, without talking about it, they have all been editing Aedelfrid out of their renditions, he sleepily adds,

“Could we pay Grimsby to write and sing songs about Aegir and Sutheron and Raiden without Aedelfrid in them? Or a song about Aedelfrid the Pretend Raiden? Grimsby sang about Fjellsby, isn’t that where… the leaders of the Rebellion were from?.”

The Confusion of the City

Posted on by
4

Gustav gets up the morning after going through Malkar’s crucible. He got plenty of sleep, but looks exhausted by anxiety. The large gleaming crow keeps poking at Gustav’s side since it hasn’t eaten yet and is hungry. Gustav ignores the crow and mindlessly throws some hard tack pieces and a bit of leftovers from Mavon’s dinner the night before on the ground. The crow quickly plops down to the ground and eats the kernels of food.

Gustav sees Ethelred is up and inventorying his remaining equipment.

“Ethelred, Do you like being in the city? I am getting confused.

There are so many people, so many factions all in such a small area. Gangs, Guilds, Collegiums, Temples, Stores, Taverns, Stalls, Houses, Barracks, Briggs, Jails, Mansions, Palaces. Then there are Thieves, Priests, Scholars, Brigands, Mercenaries, Soldiers, Dogs, Rats, Cats, Barkeeps, Torturers, Executioners, Nobles, Mongers, Engineers, Mages and Morticians. And we have met and dealt with many of these just in the last few days.

Sure, I meet these people and factions over time out across Aegir, but it takes years and many miles of travel. Most days out in the real Aegir are just travel, eating, talking to your team, sharpening weapons, shaving coins. Every once in a while meeting another group of travelers. And then repeat the next day.

I wonder if Sutheron was created by evil magical forces as a way to enslave a large amount of people to keep them busy arguing and fighting against each other. There are small groups helping each other, but usually created in opposition to another group. Gangs created to protect their neighborhood eventually take to stealing, blackmail and the “protection” racket in their own neighborhood. Before Aegir took over Sutheron and before Aedelfried and the Red Cloaks took over, was Sutheron a wonderful place where everyone helped each other? I doubt it. I suppose that is a question for Alexis.

I feel lost in Sutheron. I will stay and help as long as Alexis needs. But this place is well outside my heart. What do you think about Sutheron now? I know you are interested in becoming a member of the Collegium as there are many gifts of knowledge of materials for pit fighting they can give you. But what about after? Are you getting used to the city, do you like staying here? The rat is good I guess.

Perhaps this is just a reaction to Malkar’s Torture and I am feeling down today. Ignore me if I am talking nonsense. But I do miss Aegir.”

Game Recognize Game

Posted on by
4

Before settling in for the night, shortly after meeting the Crimson Calling, Rask finds Ethelred separately from the others and catches his attention.

“I can see it in your eyes Ethelred. Your first time?”

Rask looks into Ethelered’s eyes.

“Recently.” Rask nods,

“If you want to talk about with someone who’s been there, let me know. You’ll never forget, but it does get… easier.”

Rask’s thousand yard stare is sad and determined, but welcoming and hopeful too.

The Choice of Steel

Posted on by
1

The night forest is shadowed in the soft glow of lamplight and Alexis’ magical light, revealing old trees, dead bodies, and pools of blood. In the center Alexis stands amidst his weary but resilient team. Their faces are etched with concern and anticipation. Gustav stands slightly apart, clutching a simple dagger with a look of stubborn defiance.

ALEXIS
(seriously, addressing the group)
“This isn’t just about a choice of weapons. It’s about understanding the weight of our decisions, especially when they put others at risk.”

Alexis looks over the group, capturing their post-battle adrenaline-state, Ethelred’s post-battle dread, and highlighting their reliance on each other for survival.

ALEXIS(CONT’D)
(firmly)
“We’re in this together. Choosing a dagger over a magic sword, in the face of bow-wielding orcs no less, it’s not just a personal mistake. It’s a risk to every single life in this camp.”

Alexis walks over to Ethelred, wiping off some of the blood running down Ethelred’s armor and looking at it on his fingers, his voice softening as he turns back to Gustav.

ALEXIS(CONT’D)
(softly)
“Gus, your bravery isn’t in question here. But bravery without wisdom is folly. We needed that sword, not just for its power, but for the protection it would offer us all.”

He steps closer to Gustav, looking into his eyes, searching for understanding.

ALEXIS(CONT’D)
(gently)
“Every choice we make in our crusade against the Dark Hand has consequences. Today, it was a close call. Tomorrow, it might not be.”

A moment of silence fills the room as Gustav stubbornly meets Alexis’ gaze.

ALEXIS(CONT’D)
(curiously, with a hint of something else)
“So, I have to ask… Gus, why? Why choose the dagger over the sword and put Red in dire peril? What was it that you saw in this choice that we didn’t?”

Gustav, looks down at the dagger in his hand, then back up at Alexis. The rest of the team looks on with curiosity.

The Fallen Protectors of Raiden

Posted on by
3

Ethelred waits for Gus to return from his morning ‘prayers’. As he approaches the trees Red stops him near on of the fallen trees outside of the Grove.

“Gustav, I have been thinking, studying.. pondering…”

Ethelred looks around walks a bit farther away from the Grove and indicates for Gustav to follow him. Red touches the fallen tree, ensures it is does not talk.. which as he does this seems crazy. But then talking trees, also crazy.

In a hushed tone.

“As I was saying I have been studying some ways to protect use in battle. While I have a path that is simple.. there is another path that would be more.. effective.”

Ethelred takes another few steps farther from the grove and indicated of Gus to follow. Even quieter he begins to talk again.

“But it would require a bit of a sacrifice.. and I would need your blessing to even start. This tree (indicates the a closest fallen tree) for example could be utilized to give a protective blessing of Raiden… could form a sort of armor… But it would require removing the bark from a fallen tree….”

Ethelred pause as waits to see what reaction Gustav has.