The Shield-wall of Humanity

[Malgonious 2758]

 

 

"...Words can no longer be spared upon this issue.  The Dwarfen do not wish for peace, if they did they would have accepted our many attempts prior.  Even with the looming hordes of the seemingly innumerable undead, their petty grudges on Thoromir Armhank, nae even a Rurik, haunts us to this day… And they speak of the banished Ashtyr blood-line?  Baldur the Bastard himself was slain by the Dwarf King’s Host, they had vengeance for their slain King at the hands of our traitorous brother… Let me remind you brothers where Baldur hailed.. can you guess?  Upsalla… the Dwarfen puppet-state.” The disgruntled assembly would sneer and jibe at the name, ‘Upsalla,’ “ The thirst for war is embedded deep within their stunted skulls, just as their Grand Arbiter attempted an assault on our young Prince Artyom before his schooling, they poke and prod even now so they may have their war.  They want blood, retribution, glory.  They want your homes, your wives, your children, they’d seem them all carried away in burlap sacks!  They can try for all. They shall soon find what awaits them here is nothing of the like."  A grin would appear across the young King's face, "Only the All-Father's shield-wall awaits these half-men!  Join me brothers, humanity stands defiant against the threat of the Sons of Urguan, let us rally and stand against the half-men's assembly as one!

 

Donovan would clear his throat briefly as he gazes over his rallied horde once more.

 

"IRON FROM ICE!"

(- Donovan Ruric to his assembly gathered in the Krag -)

 

 

***

 

 

Shortly following the proceeding, Donovan would proceed inward to the Krag’s humble walls, a long drawn-out sigh extruding from his lips.  A hand would slowly come to bear down upon Donovan’s shoulder, startling cold, as he turned to face the man, a short, wrinkled man of many summers stood over him.

 

“...So you must be the Donovan Ruric I’ve been hearing of..”

 

A faint smile would appear on the elder’s mouth as his gaze fixated on the young King, examining his garb and stature.  

 

“That I am, High King of Norland.  What brings you to my castle stranger, how might you’ve gotten past the guards?”  Donovan seemed weary of the old man, his hand rested firmly on the sword sheathed at his side.

 

“I was allowed through by an old friend.. Donovan.  I am Hakon Ruric, your great uncle.  I have come to you for this reason,”  the old man would motion to him two sealed Red Scrolls, and a regular sealed letter.  “This shall make sense in time my boy nephew.  For now, take these scrolls and preserve them.  These are the surviving Red Scrolls from Seahelm’s libraries, I had stolen them with my Ashguard from the occupying Horenite forces.  These are the purest teachings and historias of our All-father…” Hakon would place the scrolls on his desk, and then the final letter into Donovan’s hand.  “You are going through a difficult time, Donovan.  Your people’s fate hangs in the balance.  The Sons of Urguan have been wronged by your elders, that fact is certain… but you should not be the ones to carry the blame.  People and times change.. And it’s time the Dwarves under the mountain learned compassion, as I have done in my old age.”  Hakon looked wearily towards the North, knowing his path was clear.  “Rally your men as you have done, teach them from these Scrolls, and defend our home as I had failed to do so long ago…”  Hakon would suddenly stop as he observed a picture of Avar.

 

A saddened expression would appear across Hakon’s lips.  “So many of my little ones died in the dark walls of Seahelm, burned alive or torn to shred by the hounds of war.. For this I joined the Dreadlands and caused hell upon the men responsible…” Hakon would look at Donovan in the eye.  “This time is different, son.  You’ve a chance to save your people, unlike myself.  You can do this.  You can be the King they need you to be, and you can rally the hearts of Mankind to stand against the dwedmar interlopers… you must only believe in your own strength.” Hakon would place a reassuring hand on Donovan at his speech’s conclusion, smiling as he pats it, and heads out of the darkened study to places unknown.

 

Donovan stood alone in the walls of his study, his gaze shifting from the scrolls, to the door, to the letter now settled in his hand.  “So.. that was Hakon Ruric.”  Donovan sighed as he sat into his chair, breaking the ash-tree seal of the letter, and observing its contents:

 

Spoiler

 

Donovan,

My time here is short.  I can feel my old bones giving way to the years and years of war they weathered.  I have very few regrets, this being my most painful.  After you’ve received my letter and the treasured scrolls I’ve safeguarded in Asul, you should have your mind concluded on what needs to be done.  I have a suggestion for you to stay course...  Seek out allies in humanity, the Dwedmar assailants shall not stop with just Norland, they shall be only sated when the yolk of the mountain stand atop the ruined greatness that is, and was, humanity.  You must stop them with your shields, you must reason with them, and if there is no saving them, you must beat them back to their mountains… Only the cold steel of Humanity has ever shown a Dwed reason-ability, they are anxious for war, and eager to prove themselves.  They see Norland as an easy target, and for good reason… Do not let them take from the innocent.   You are the front-lines of Humanity.   Should you fall, we can only see all other Human factions fall prey to vassalization as the FOLK OF UPSALLA have.  The Dwarfen already show their intentions to create human puppet-states with Upsalla, when we had given them the freedom of independence, they decide to vassalize to Urguan instead.  It is abundantly clear the Dwarfen do not care for the undead threat as well.. In your absence, and until you can get our troops up to the real battle, I shall head there to face the undead with what little strength i have left, for that is the least I can do to save my people on this darkened day.  All-father guide us all in these most trying of times,

 

Yours truthfully,

Hakon

 

 

 

Donovan had finished his letter, and concluded his mind.  Hakon was doing his part, and now it was time for the King to his.  He grabbed the red cloak and Ash-tree shield adorned beside his armour-stand, and headed out with his assembly.  

 

"The shield-wall of Humanity shall not be broken."